Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (LiESWT) represents a promising treatment for patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). We investigated the efficacy of LiESWT combined with tadalafil 5 mg once daily in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and ED and compared LiESWT protocols administering different number of shockwaves. We performed a retrospective matched-pair comparison using data from a prospectively maintained database. Seventy-eight patients who received tadalafil 5 mg once daily for 12 weeks + LiESWT performed with an electrohydraulic source for 3 weeks (Group A) were matched 1:1 to patients who received tadalafil 5 mg once daily alone for 12 weeks (Group B). A subgroup analysis was performed according to the number of shockwaves delivered during each session (1500, 1800, and 2400 in subgroup A1, A2, and A3, respectively). The mean International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) score variations with respect to baseline recorded at 4, 12, and 24 weeks after the end of the treatment were investigated as treatment outcomes. The mean IIEF-5 scores significantly improved in all groups and subgroups at 4-week follow-up without intergroup differences. At 12-and 24-week follow-up, the mean IIEF-5 improvement was significantly higher among patients in the A3 subgroup (+5.0 ± 2.1 [P < 0.001] and +4.7 ± 2.3 [P < 0.001], respectively). The combined approach with tadalafil 5 mg once daily and LiESWT with a protocol involving 2400 shockwaves provides significant advantages in terms of IIEF-5 improvement and durability compared to tadalafil 5 mg once daily alone in patients with T2DM and ED.

PURPOSE: We aim to evaluate the efficacy of pollen extract in association with vitamins in patients affected by chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) and to evaluate the level of the pro-inflammatory mediators interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-10. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed with CP/CPPS between January and December 2015 were enrolled in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to receive oral capsules of pollen extract and vitamins (group A) or bromelain (group B) for 3 months. At the enrolment time and 3 months after enrolment, all patients completed questionnaires (the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index [NIH-CPSI] and the Short Form-36 and underwent urological examinations and microbiological evaluation. Levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were evaluated in seminal plasma. RESULTS: Sixty-five male patients (mean age of 32.7±4.7 years) were analysed (group A, n=32; group B, n=33). At the follow-up examination, 24 of the 32 patients in group A showed a significant reduction in the NIH-CPSI total score compared with 8 of the 33 patients in the bromelain group (p<0.001). Moreover, the mean level of IL-8 was significantly lower in the pollen extract and vitamins group when compared with the bromelain group (298 pg/mL vs. 736 pg/mL, respectively; p<0.001). In group A we found a statistically significant reduction in the levels of IL-8 between enrolment and the follow-up visit (878 pg/mL vs. 298 pg/mL, respectively; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with pollen extract and vitamins improved the quality of life in CP/CPPS patients by reducing the levels of pro-inflammatory IL-8.
Bromelains ; Capsules ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8* ; Interleukins ; Male ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Pelvic Pain* ; Pollen* ; Prostatitis ; Quality of Life ; Semen ; Treatment Outcome* ; Vitamins*

Sexual disorders following retroperitoneal pelvic lymph node dissection (RPLND) for testis tumor can affect the quality of life of patients. The aim of the current study was to investigate several different andrological outcomes, which may be influenced by robot-assisted (RA) RPLND. From January 2012 to March 2020, 32 patients underwent RA-RPLND for stage I nonseminomatous testis cancer or postchemotherapy (PC) residual mass. Modified unilateral RPLND nerve-sparing template was always used. Major variables of interest were erectile dysfunction (ED), premature ejaculation (PE), dry ejaculation (DE), or orgasm alteration. Finally, fertility as well as the fecundation process (sexual intercourse or medically assisted procreation [MAP]) was investigated. Ten patients (31.3%) presented an andrological disorder of any type after RA-RPLND. Hypospermia was present in 4 (12.5%) patients, DE (International Index of Erectile Function-5 [IIEF-5] <25) in 3 (9.4%) patients, and ED in 3 (9.4%) patients. No PE or orgasmic alterations were described. Similar median age at surgery, body mass index (BMI), number of nodes removed, scholar status, and preoperative risk factor rates were identified between groups. Of all these 10 patients, 6 (60.0%) were treated at the beginning of our robotic experience (2012-2016). Of all 32 patients, 5 (15.6%) attempted to have a child after RA-RPLND. All of these 5 patients have successfully fathered children, but 2 (40.0%) required a MAP. In conclusion, a nonnegligible number of andrological complications occurred after RA-RPLND, mainly represented by ejaculation disorders, but ED occurrence and overall sexual satisfaction deficit should be definitely considered. No negative impact on fertility was described after RA-RPLND.
Male ; Child ; Humans ; Robotics ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal/surgery* ; Testicular Neoplasms/pathology* ; Lymph Node Excision/adverse effects* ; Retroperitoneal Space/surgery* ; Erectile Dysfunction/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome