[Correlation between gut microbiota and erectile dysfunction: An update]

Gut microbiota is closely related to health and diseases as well as a frontier subject in medical research. Lots of studies have shown a close relationship of gut microbiota with the risk factors for ED, such as stress, anxiety, hormonal disorders, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and thyroid hormones. This review focuses on the correlation between gut microbiota and ED in the aspects of mental psychology, neurotransmitters, vascular endothelium, androgen and thyroid function, hoping to provide a new research direction for the pathogenesis and treatment of ED.

[Combined use of the unit AMUS-01-INTRAMAG and AIR-U-plus device in the treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis]

The studies of the authors including 60 patients with chronic bacterial prostatitis and erectile dysfunction allowed them to conclude that a combination of systemic and local antibacterial treatment, physiotherapy with introduction of proteolytic enzymes in the prostatic gland has advantages over combined chemotherapy.

Erectile dysfunction influences the subsequent incidence of lower urinary tract symptoms and bother

It is unclear whether lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) cause erectile dysfunction (ED) independently or through common underlying pathophysiology and shared risk factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ED on the incidence of frequency and bother of LUTS. Target population consisted of men aged 50, 60 or 70 years residing in the study area in Finland in 1994. Questionnaires were mailed to 3143 men in 1994 and to 2837 of them 5 years later. The follow-up sample comprised 1683 men who responded to both baseline and follow-up surveys. ED was assessed by two questions on subject's ability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for intercourse and LUTS by the Danish Prostatic Symptom Score questionnaire. A dose-response relation was found between the severity of ED at baseline and the incidence of LUTS or bother during follow-up. After adjustment for the confounders, the incidence rate ratio (RR) of LUTS was higher in men with moderate (RR 1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-2.3) or severe ED (RR 2.3, 95% CI 1.4-3.8) than in those free of ED at entry. Compared with men free of ED at baseline, the RRs of urinary bother were 1.6 (95% CI 1.1-2.4), 1.9 (95% CI 1.1-3.2) and 2.2 (95% CI 1.1-4.3) for minimal, moderate or severe ED, respectively. In summary, ED is associated with an increased incidence of LUTS and bother. ED and LUTS may have a common underlying pathophysiology or shared risk factors.

Infection induced inflammation is associated with erectile dysfunction in men with diabetes

BACKGROUND

In diabetic patients with erectile dysfunction, endothelial dysfunction is a major underlying cause. Infection-induced inflammation may be associated with endothelial dysfunction. The goal of this study was to determine whether erectile dysfunction in patients with diabetes is associated with infections of Chlamydia pneumoniae or cytomegalovirus and/or with low-grade inflammation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Diabetic patients, 57 with and 33 without erectile dysfunction, were enrolled in a case-control study. Both groups of patients consists of type 1 and type 2 diabetics. Serum antibodies against cytomegalovirus and C. pneumoniae and markers of inflammation, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fibrinogen, were measured.

RESULTS

Adjusted odds ratios for erectile dysfunction in cytomegalovirus IgG, C. pneumoniae IgG and C. pneumoniae IgA seropositive men were 2.4 (95%CI; 1.0-6.0), 3.0 (95%CI; 1.2-8.1) and 1.8 (95%CI; 0.7-4.6), respectively. Odds ratios for the highest tertiles of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fibrinogen concentrations compared to the lowest tertile were 4.3 (95%CI; 1.4-13.1) and 6.6 (95%CI; 2.1-21.2), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein or fibrinogen serum levels and infection with cytomegalovirus or C. pneumoniae were associated with erectile dysfunction in diabetes. The relation between cytomegalovirus and erectile dysfunction is markedly present in patients with elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fibrinogen levels, suggesting a modifying effect by the inflammation.

Chronic prostatitis in premature ejaculation: a cohort study in 153 men

INTRODUCTION

Premature ejaculation is a common male sexual dysfunction, affecting 30-40% of sexually active men in an age-dependent manner. Chronic prostatitis has been suggested as an important organic cause of premature ejaculation.

AIM

The aim of this study was to confirm previous data reported on the incidence of chronic prostatitis in a large cohort of patients with primary and secondary premature ejaculation.

METHODS

A total of 153 consecutive heterosexual men aged 29-51 years with premature ejaculation and another 100 male healthy subjects were included in this study. Sequential microbiologic specimens were obtained according to the standardized Meares and Stamey protocol. Nonbacterial prostatitis was defined by the evidence of prostatic inflammation but negative cultures of urine and prostatic fluids in men with various genitourinary symptoms.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between patients and control subjects regarding age, education, or intercourse frequency. Prostatic inflammation was found in 64% and chronic bacterial prostatitis in 52% of the patients with premature ejaculation, respectively, showing statistical significance compared with control subjects (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Results in our study showed a high prevalence of chronic prostatitis in patients with premature ejaculation. Examination of the prostate, physically and microbiologically, should be considered during assessment of patients with premature ejaculation.

Early treatment of cavernositis resulted in erectile function preservation

INTRODUCTION

Some of the more common complications of intracavernous injection (ICI) therapy include pain and prolonged erections. Rare reported complications include intracorporeal needle breakage and postinjection cavernositis.

AIM

We report a case of early management of postinjection cavernositis resulting in preservation of erectile function with no angulation.

METHODS

A 53-year-old male with no history of diabetes mellitus presented to our department with a small painful penile swelling 36 hours after ICI of 15 microg prostaglandin E1. Clinical, laboratory, and ultrasound assessments suggested the occurrence of cavernositis. Surgical debridement, abscess drainage, and antibiotics resulted in marked improvement. Follow-up showed normal erectile function with minimal scarring.

CONCLUSIONS

Timely management of cavernositis can help prevent loss of erectile function. Stringent supervision of patients, after adequate ICI training, together with drug prescription, is essential.

Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of penile prosthesis infection

The implantation of inflatable penile prostheses for the treatment of erectile dysfunction continues to be widely practiced in the United States and internationally. As third-line therapy for erectile dysfunction, the numbers of implants continue to rise as the population of men treated for erectile dysfunction increases. Complications of penile prosthesis implantation continued to decline as mechanical malfunctions have decreased as a result of re-engineering inflatable penile prostheses. Inflatable penile prostheses from both available vendors continue to be reliable, effective methods for restoring erectile function with high satisfaction rates. The most troublesome complication of these prostheses, however, is not mechanical but rather that of prosthesis infection. Prosthesis infections may result in further surgery, loss of penile tissue, and even the inability to replace penile prosthesis. While standard sterile technique perioperative antibiotics and careful surgical procedures continue to be the cornerstone of penile prosthesis infection avoidance, newer designs of penile prostheses for antibiotic coating have resulted in an improvement in the prevalence and incidents of penile prosthesis infection. For those patients in whom penile prostheses become infected despite adequate prophylaxis, newer techniques of salvage have demonstrated increasing success. Once and still the most dreaded complication of penile prosthesis implantation, prothesis infections can now be avoided by perioperative preparation and antibiotics as well as antibiotic-coated penile prostheses. Treatment of penile prosthesis infections once associated with severe loss of function can often be successful with modern salvage techniques. Implanting urologists must be familiar prophylaxis, avoidance, and treatment of penile prosthesis infections.

Treatment alternatives for the infected penile implant

Infection associated with placement of a penile prosthesis is rare. When it does occur, the implant and all associated foreign material should be removed. The surgeon has the option of leaving the device out, allowing the wound to heal, and returning at a future date for prosthesis replacement if the patient wishes, or cleansing the wound and replacing the implant at the same procedure, termed a salvage procedure. The success rate of 'salvage' in this series of 101 patients was 84%. This approach is less likely to succeed when the infection is manifest soon (weeks) after the placement procedure, is accompanied by extensive cellulitis and is caused by virulent organisms. Relative contraindications to salvage include, sepsis, ketoacidosis, penile necrosis, and bilateral urethral erosion of the cylinders.