Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The impact of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on male infertility has been poorly studied. We recently reported that MetS is associated with hypogonadism, poor sperm morphology and testis ultrasound inhomogeneity. However, the possible associations between MetS and prostate-related symptoms and signs are still lacking.Methods: Out of 351 subjects without genetic abnormalities previously evaluated for couple infertility clinically and by scrotal u...

Introduction: The disorders of orgasm/ejaculation include premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation and perceived ejaculate volume reduction (PEVR). To explore the specific associations of PEVR in subjects with erectile dysfunction (ED).Methods: A consecutive series of 3141 subjects (mean age 51.6±13.1 years old) was studied. Among these, 71 have been excluded because they underwent prostate surgery. Different clinical and biochemical factors were ...

Objectives: BPH is characterised by prostate inflammation, which frequently occurs in men with metabolic syndrome (MetS). MetS is often associated with low testosterone (T). Recent evidence shows that low, rather than high, T is associated with BPH/lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). To evaluate if T replacement therapy (TRT) for 6 months in BPH men with MetS and low T, is able to improve LUTS and prostate inflammation.Methods: 120 men in waiting list f...

Introduction: Concern about a testosterone-induced PSA increase is often perceived as one of the main limitations in treating hypogonadism even when it is symptomatic, such as in subjects with sexual dysfunction (SD). The aim of the present study is to evaluate the relationship between testosterone (T) and PSA levels in subjects with SD.Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the relationship between T and PSA in 2291 subjects seeking medical care at our O...

Human bladder contraction mainly depends on Ca2+ influx, via L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, and on RhoA/Rho-kinase contractile signalling, a pathway up-regulated in overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome. Elocalcitol (Elo) is a vitamin D receptor agonist inhibiting RhoA/Rho-kinase signalling in rat and human bladder, shown to ameliorate OAB symptoms in a clinical study. Since in normal bladder from Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats Elo treatment delayed the c...

Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common disease in the aging male, often comorbid with erectile dysfunction (ED). PDE5 inhibitors (PDE5i, sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil) decrease lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients with ED and BPH. We studied PDE5 expression and activity in the human bladder and PDE5i effects both in vitro (human and rat) and in vivo (rat). PDE5 is highly expressed in rat and human bladder and immunolocalized in vas...

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) are often comorbid. Chronic inflammation, a determinant pathogenic factor for BPH, is a putative link between the two conditions.Methods: In a multi-center cohort of BPH patients (n=244) who underwent prostatectomy, we evaluated whether MetS is associated with prostatic inflammation in BPH specimens. In addition, we investigated the in vitro inflammatory effects...