Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Tadalafil 5 mg once daily (T5od) has been recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), along with erectile dysfunction (ED). Recent pooled data analyses demonstrated that T5od–International Prostate Symptom Score related improvements were significant regardless of confounders. In addition, PDE5 inhibitors exert a positive effect on ejaculatory latency. We assessed the clinical outcome of 30 d...

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) therapy is a potential treatment option in idiopathic infertile men with normal FSH levels. In fact, a recent Cochrane meta-analysis showed that FSH treatment of men affected by idiopathic oligozoospermia significantly improves pregnancy rate. Hyaluronic acid (HA) binding capacity of spermatozoa is considered a marker of functional competency, consequently the evaluation of the percentage of HA bound spermatozoa in the ejaculate can serve as ...

Introduction: Conventional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors identify only half of subjects with incident major adverse CV events (MACE). Hence new markers are needed in high CV risk subjects, as those with erectile dysfunction (ED). A role for dynamic peak systolic velocity (D-PSV) at penile color Doppler ultrasound (PCDU) has been suggested, but it is operator-dependent and time-consuming. Flaccid penile acceleration (FPA) is a PCDU parameter that reflects PSV, the systolic r...

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a diagnostic category which identifies subjects at high risk for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, erectile dysfunction (ED) and male hypogonadism. However, MetS impact on male infertility has been poorly studied. We systematically evaluated possible associations between MetS and clinical characteristics in men with couple infertility.Methods: Out of 367 consecutive subjects, 351 men (36.0±8.0 years) wi...

Introduction: Smoking habit has always been considered to exert a detrimental effect on male reproductive health. However, several studies do not clearly demonstrate a negative effect of smoke on semen parameters. In addition, the effect of smoke on male genital tract has been poorly studied by ultrasound (US). We evaluated the correlations of smoking with seminal and US characteristics in males of infertile couples. Methods. A consecutive series of 426 men was systematically ...

Introduction: Measurement of testis volume (TV) is a reliable clinical procedure that predicts reproductive fitness. However, the role of TV in overall and cardiovascular (CV) fitness has never been studied.Aim: The study aims to analyze the clinical correlates of TV in patients with sexual dysfunction (SD) and to verify the value of this parameter and its determinants (i.e., luteinizing hormone (LH) levels) in predicting major adverse CV events (MACE).<...

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...

Objectives: Recommending general dynamic penile color doppler ultrasound (D-PCDU) screening in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) has been questioned due to an inadequate cost-benefit ratio. The aim of the present study is to asses the validity of different risk scores in the identification of patients being screened for arteriogenic ED at D-PCDU.Design and methods: A consecutive series of 738 (mean age 53.6±9.2 years) patients with ED was stud...

Introduction: Although in females of infertile couples abnormal PRL has a definitive role in the medical flow-chart, its role in males is less clear. Animal models suggest that PRL does not play a major role in male reproduction, although its trophic action on male accessory glands was often observed. Studies in humans are scanty. We systematically evaluated possible clinical and ultrasound correlates of PRL in males of infertile couples.Methods: Out of ...

Introduction: ‘Prostatitis-like symptoms’ (PLS) are a cluster of bothersome conditions defined as ‘perineal and/or ejaculatory pain or discomfort and National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) pain subdomain score ≥4’ (Nickel’s criteria). PLS may originate from the prostate or from other portions of the male genital tract. Although PLS could be associated with ‘prostatitis’, they should not be confused. T...