AIMTo evaluate the effect of Chinese Traditional Medicine, acupuncture and moxa treatment, on the semen quality in patients with semen abnormalities.

METHODSIn a prospective, controlled and blind study, nineteen patients, aged 24 years approximately 42 years and married for 3 years approximately 11 years without children with semen abnormalities in concentration, morphology and/or progressive motility without apparent cause, were randomized into two groups and submitted to acupuncture and moxa treatment at the therapeutic (Study Group) and the indifferent points (Control Group), respectively, for 10 weeks. Semen analyses were performed before and after the treatment course.

RESULTSThe patients of the Study Group presented a significant increase in the percentage of normal-form sperm compared to the Control Group (calculated U=16.0, critical U=17.0).

CONCLUSIONThe Chinese Traditional Medicine acupuncture and moxa techniques significantly increase the percentage of normal-form sperm in infertile patients with oligoastenoteratozoospermia without apparent cause.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; therapy ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Semen ; cytology ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; abnormalities

AIMTo examine the treatment efficacy of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) in impotent men with erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODSA total of 60 patients presenting mild or mild to moderate ED were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in which the efficacies of KRG and a placebo were compared. The patients received either 1,000 mg (3 times daily) of KRG or a placebo.

RESULTSThe five-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) score after the treatment was significantly higher in the KRG group compared with that before the treatment (from 16.4 +/- 2.9 to 21.0 +/- 6.3, P < 0.0001). In contrast, there was no difference before and after the treatment in the placebo group (from 17.0 +/- 3.1 to 17.7 +/- 5.6, P > 0.05). In the KRG group, 20 patients (66.6%), reported improved erection, significant in the global efficacy question (P < 0.01); in the placebo group there was no significance. Scores on questions 2 (rigidity), 3 (penetration), 4 and 5 (maintenance), were significantly higher for KRG than those for the placebo when those questions were answered after 12 weeks of each treatment (P < 0.01). When the score in the KRG group was compared to the placebo group after the treatment, there was a significant improvement in total score (IIEF-5 score) in questions 3 and 5 for the KRG-treated group (P < 0.001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). The levels of serum testosterone, prolactine and cholesterol after the treatment were not statistically significant different between the KRG and the placebo group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOur data show that KRG can be an effective alternative to the invasive approaches for treating male ED.

Adult ; Aged ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Double-Blind Method ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; blood ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Panax ; Patient Satisfaction ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Prolactin ; blood ; Testosterone ; blood

PURPOSE: Early surgical management is the standard of care for penile fracture. Conservative treatment is an option with recent reports revealing lower success rates. We reviewed the data and long-term outcomes of patients with penile injury submitted to surgical or conservative treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2004 and February 2012, 42 patients with penile blunt trauma on an erect penis were admitted to our center. We analyzed the following variables: age, etiology, symptoms and signs, diagnostic tests, treatment used, complications and erectile function during the follow-up. One patient was excluded due to missing information. Thirty-five patients underwent surgical repair and 6 patients were submitted to conservative management. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 19.2 months (range, 7 days to 72 months). The mean elapsed time from trauma to surgery was 21.3+/-12.5 hours. Trauma during sexual relationship was the main cause (80.9%) of penile fracture. Urethral injury was present in five patients submitted to surgery. Dorsal vein injury occurred in three patients with false penile fracture and concomitant spongious corpus lesion was present in three patients. During follow-up, 31 cases (88.6%) of the surgical group and four cases (66.7%) of the conservative group reported sufficient erections for intercourse, with no voiding dysfunction and no penile curvature. However, the remaining two patients (33.3%) from the conservative group developed erectile dysfunction and three patients (50%) developed penile deviation. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical approach provides excellent functional outcomes and lower complications. Early surgical management of penile fracture provides superior results and conservative approach should be avoided.
Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; Retrospective Studies ; Standard of Care ; Veins

PURPOSE: Lower urinary tract symptoms are numerous, but the specific impact of each of these symptoms on the quality of life (QoL) has not been evaluated in community-dwelling men. An assessment of these symptoms and their effects on QoL was the focus of this study. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study with 373 men aged >50 years from a community setting. Patients completed the International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaire, which includes questions on each of the specific urinary symptoms and a question addressing health-related QoL that are graded from 0 to 5. We used the Pearson correlation test to assess the impact of each symptom on QoL. RESULTS: Nocturia (58.9%) was the most prevalent urinary symptom. The mean score was 0.9+/-1.4 for incomplete emptying, 1.0+/-1.5 for frequency, 0.9+/-1.3 for intermittency, 0.8+/-1.3 for urgency, 1.0+/-1.5 for weak stream, 0.5+/-1.0 for straining, and 2.0+/-1.6 for nocturia. Nocturia and frequency were the only symptoms associated with poorer QoL, with nocturia showing a stronger association. CONCLUSIONS: Nocturia affects 50% of community dwelling men aged >50 years, and is the lower urinary tract symptom with the greatest negative impact on QoL.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Nocturia* ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Quality of Life* ; Rivers ; Urinary Tract*