How Atypical Penile Curvature Influence Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Peyronie’s Disease Receiving Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum Therapy?

Andrea Cocci,Fabrizio Di Maida,Giorgio Ivan Russo,Marina di Mauro,Gianmartin Cito,Marco Falcone,Andrea Minervini,Giovanni Cacciamani,Riccardo Campi,Andrea Mari,Francesco Sessa,Nicola Mondaini 대한남성과학회 2020 The World Journal of Men's Health Vol.38 No.1

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) in patients with Peyronie’s disease (PD) suffering from atypical deformities. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively collected data of patients with atypical penile curvature (PC) secondary to PD. All patients underwent a modified treatment protocol, consisting of 3 intralesional injections of 0.9 mg of CCH performed at 4-week intervals at the point of maximum PC. Patients were instructed to follow a strict routine, involving daily modeling of erect penis and stretching at the urinary toilette time, two minutes each. Success was defined as a decrease in PC of ≥20° from baseline. Results: Sixty-five patients were included in the analysis. Median age was 59.0 years (interquartile range [IQR], 53.0 to 63.0 years), median curvature 40.0° (IQR, 30.0° to 45.0°) median duration of the disease 12.0 years (IQR, 6.5 to 24.0 years). Fiftythree patients (81.54%) had ventral PC, 7 (10.77%) hourglass PC, and 5 (7.69%) shortening PC. Median changes of PC were -20.0 (IQR, -20.0 to -10.0; p<0.01) in ventral PC, -20.0 (IQR, -20.0 to 0; p<0.01) in hourglass and -15.0 (IQR, -15.0 to -15.0; p<0.01) in shortening PC. At Kruscal–Wallis test, significant differences between groups were not found. The rate of PC success was 56.60% (30/53) in ventral PC, 57.14% (4/7) in hourglass and 20.00% (1/5) in shortening PC (p=0.29). Treatment success was not influenced by characteristics of curvature (odds ratio=0.66; p=0.20). Conclusions: CCH intralesional injections could represent an effective therapeutic option for the conservative management of patients with atypical PC.

Comparison of Intralesional Hyaluronic Acid vs. Verapamil for the Treatment of Acute Phase Peyronie's Disease: A Prospective, Open-Label Non-Randomized Clinical Study

Cocci Andrea,Di Maida Fabrizio,Cito Gianmartin,Verrienti Pierangelo,Laruccia Nicola,Campi Riccardo,Mari Andrea,Di Mauro Marina,Falcone Marco,Cacciamani Giovanni E.,Garaffa Giulio,Minervini Andrea,Russ 대한남성과학회 2021 The World Journal of Men's Health Vol.39 No.2

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of intralesional hyaluronic acid (HA) as compared with verapamil injection in patients with Peyronie’s disease (PD). Materials and Methods: Between January 2015 and December 2018, men in PD acute phase were prospectively recruited. This open-label, prospective study included 2 different protocols. Group A: 8-week cycle of weekly intraplaque injections with HA; Group B: 8-week cycle of weekly intraplaque injections with verapamil. Penile curvature, plaque size, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-15 score and visual analogue scale (VAS) were assessed at baseline and after 3 months. Results: Two-hundred forty-four patients were enrolled. Of these, 125 received intralesional HA (Group A), 119 received intralesional verapamil (Group B). At enrollment, median age was 56.0 years (interquartile range [IQR]=47.0–63.0 years), median curvature 35.0° (IQR=25.0°–45.0°), median IIEF-15 score 19.0 (IQR=16.0–23.0), median VAS 4.0 (IQR=4.0–5.0). Median difference for IIEF-15 was 1.0 (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.12–1.94) in Group A and 0.0 (95% CI=-0.04–0.14) in Group B (p<0.05) and median difference for VAS score was -4.0 (95% CI=-4.11–-3.65) in Group A and -1.0 (95% CI=-0.50–2.01) in Group B (p<0.05). Plaque size decreased by -1.50 mm (IQR=1.60–2.10 mm) in Group A and -1.20 in Group B (p=0.10), while penile curvature decreased by -9.50° (IQR=4.50°–13.00°) in group A and -4.50 (IQR=2.50–7.50) in Group B (p<0.01). Conclusions: Intralesional HA injections could represent a reliable treatment option for the conservative management of patients with acute phase of PD.

The Natural History of Peyronie's Disease

Di Maida Fabrizio,Cito Gianmartin,Lambertini Luca,Valastro Francesca,Morelli Girolamo,Mari Andrea,Carini Marco,Minervini Andrea,Cocci Andrea 대한남성과학회 2021 The World Journal of Men's Health Vol.39 No.3

Peyronie’s disease (PD), a fibrotic disorder of the tunica albuginea fully described in 1793 by French physician Francois de la Peyronie, is characterized by pain, plaque formation, penile deformity, and ultimately sexual function decline. The epidemio-logical data on PD vary considerably across previous studies, with recent evidence reporting a prevalence of up to 9%. PD is generally divided into two different phases: active or acute and stable or chronic. Plaque formation generally occurs during the acute phase, while during chronic phase pain usually tends to complete resolution and penile deformity stabilizes. PD’s pathophysiology is still subject of great discussion. Tunical mechanical stress and microvascular trauma are major contribu-tory factors. However, better understanding of the molecular pathophysiology of this condition remains paramount towards an in-depth comprehension of the disorder and the development of newer and more effective disease-targeted interventions. In this review we provide a detailed overview of natural history of PD, specifically focusing on clinical manifestations and the underlying molecular regulation patterns.

Serum IGFBP4 concentration decreased in dairy heifers towards day 18 of pregnancy

Marie M Meyerholz,Kirsten Mense,Michael Lietzau,Ana Kassens,Matthias Linden,Hendrike Knaack,Elisa Wirthgen,Andreas Hoeflich,Mariam Raliou,Christophe Richard,Olivier Sandra,Hans-Joachim Schuberth,Marti 대한수의학회 2015 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.16 No.4

This study was conducted to determine if the main components of the somatotropic axis change during the early phase of pregnancy in the maternal blood system and whether differences exist on day 18 after pregnancy recognition by the maternal organism. Blood samples of pregnant heifers (Holstein Friesian; n = 10 after embryo transfer) were obtained on the day of ovulation (day 0), as well as on days 7, 14, 16 and 18 and during pregnant, non-pregnant and negative control cycles. The concentrations of progesterone (P4), oestrogen, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 and -2 (IGF1, -2) and IGF-binding protein-2, -3 and -4 (IGFBP2, -3, -4) were measured. The mRNA expressions of growth hormone receptor 1A, IGF1, IGF2, IGFBP2, IGFBP3 and IGFBP4 were detected using RT-qPCR in liver biopsy specimens (day 18). In all groups, total serum IGF1 decreased from day 0 to 16. Notably, IGFBP4 maternal blood concentrations were lower during pregnancy than during non-pregnant cycles and synchronized control cycles. It can be speculated that the lower IGFBP4 in maternal blood may result in an increase of free IGF1 for local action. Further studies regarding IGFBP4 concentration and healthy early pregnancy are warranted.

The course of fatigue in patients with gynecologic and breast cancer

Marie Vollrath,Markus Zenger,Susanne Singer,Jens Einenkel,Andreas Hinz 대한부인종양학회 2013 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.24 No.3

Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the course of fatigue in female cancer patients during the first months after treatment. Methods: We examined a sample of 110 patients suffering from gynecological or breast cancer. Fatigue was assessed with two questionnaires, the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) and the fatigue scale of the quality of life questionnaire European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC QLQ-C30). Participants were tested during their stay in the hospital (t1), two weeks after discharge (t2), and three months after discharge (t3). Results: Fatigue in the patients’ sample was markedly higher than the general population reference values. At t1, the effect sizes are d=0.81 (MFI) and d=1.21 (EORTC QLQ-C30 fatigue scale). Age and tumor stage had no significant influence on fatigue, but patients with a long time since diagnosis had higher fatigue levels than patients with a shorter time since diagnosis. From t1 to t3, fatigue mean scores decreased. The correlations between the t1 and the t3 fatigue scores were weak, with correlation coefficients of only about 0.30. Conclusion: Though the mean scores of fatigue, averaged across all patients, decreased over the first three months, the individual courses could not be predicted from the t1 score.

A Tetra(Ethylene Glycol) Derivative of Benzothiazole Aniline Enhances Ras-Mediated Spinogenesis

Megill, Andrea,Lee, Taehee,DiBattista, Amanda Marie,Song, Jung Min,Spitzer, Matthew H.,Rubinshtein, Mark,Habib, Lila K.,Capule, Christina C.,Mayer, Michael,Turner, R. Scott,Kirkwood, Alfredo,Yang, Jer Society for Neuroscience 2013 The Journal of neuroscience Vol.33 No.22

<P>The tetra(ethylene glycol) derivative of benzothiazole aniline, BTA-EG<SUB>4</SUB>, is a novel amyloid-binding small molecule that can penetrate the blood–brain barrier and protect cells from Aβ-induced toxicity. However, the effects of Aβ-targeting molecules on other cellular processes, including those that modulate synaptic plasticity, remain unknown. We report here that BTA-EG<SUB>4</SUB> decreases Aβ levels, alters cell surface expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP), and improves memory in wild-type mice. Interestingly, the BTA-EG<SUB>4</SUB>-mediated behavioral improvement is not correlated with LTP, but with increased spinogenesis. The higher dendritic spine density reflects an increase in the number of functional synapses as determined by increased miniature EPSC (mEPSC) frequency without changes in presynaptic parameters or postsynaptic mEPSC amplitude. Additionally, BTA-EG<SUB>4</SUB> requires APP to regulate dendritic spine density through a Ras signaling-dependent mechanism. Thus, BTA-EG<SUB>4</SUB> may provide broad therapeutic benefits for improving neuronal and cognitive function, and may have implications in neurodegenerative disease therapy.</P>

The impact of age on the morphology of the 12th thoracic vertebral endplates

Nefeli Garoufi,Andreas Bertsatos,Marie Louise Schjellerup Jørkov,Chiara Villa,Maria-Eleni Chovalopoulou 대한해부학회 2022 Anatomy & Cell Biology Vol.55 No.4

The current article explores the aging effects on the overall morphology of the endplates of the 12th thoracic vertebra (T12), while screening for sex differences. It further evaluates the suitability of T12 for estimating age-at-death in bioarcheaological contexts. We captured the morphology of the vertebral endplates, including the formation of osteophytes, in a novel continuous quantitative manner using digital photography. 168 Greek adults from the Athens Collection were used for modeling the aging effects and another 107 individuals from two Danish archaeological assemblages for evaluation. Regression analysis is based on generalized additive models for correlating age-at-death and morphological variation. Our proposed measurement method is highly reliable (R>0.98) and the main differences observed between sexes are size related. Aging has considerable effect on the endplate morphology of the T12 with the total area of the endplate, the area of the epiphyseal rim, and the shape irregularities of the endplate’s external boundary being mostly affected. Multivariate regression shows that aging effects account up to 46% of the observed variation, although with differential expression between sexes. Correct age prediction on archaeological remains reached 33% with a prominent tendency for overestimation. The morphology of the T12 endplates is influenced by age and it can provide some insight with respect to the age-at-death of unidentified individuals, especially when other skeletal age markers are unavailable. Our proposed method provides an age-estimation framework for bioarchaeological settings, especially for estimating broader age ranges, such as discriminating between young and old adults.

Skin Barrier Function Assessment: Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy Is Less Influenced by Daily Routine Activities Than Transepidermal Water Loss

Huygen Lisa,Thys Pauline Marie,Wollenberg Andreas,Gutermuth Jan,Krohn Inge Kortekaas 대한피부과학회 2024 Annals of Dermatology Vol.36 No.2

Background: Skin barrier function assessment is commonly done by measuring transepider- mal water loss (TEWL). An important limitation of this method is the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a lesser-established method for skin barrier function assessment. Some influential factors have been described, but no guidelines exist regarding the standardization of these measurements. Objective: To evaluate the effect size of daily routine activities on TEWL and EIS, as well as their correlation with age and anatomical differences. Methods: Healthy participants (n=31) were stratified into three age groups (18–29, 30–49, and ≥50 years). In a climate-controlled room, EIS and TEWL measurements were performed on the left and right volar forearm and abdomen. Results: Body cream application decreased TEWL and EIS values after 15 and 90 minutes. Skin washing decreased TEWL for 15 minutes and EIS values for at least 90 minutes. TEWL was in- creased 5 minutes after moderate to intense exercise. Coffee intake increased TEWL on the ab- domen after 60 minutes. TEWL and EIS values did not correlate with participants’ age and no anatomical differences were obser ved. No correlation was obser ved between TEWL and EIS. Conclusion: Body cream application and skin washing should be avoided at least 90 minutes prior to measurements of TEWL and EIS. Exercise and coffee intake should also be avoided prior to TEWL measurements. EIS may be a promising tool for skin barrier function assess- ment as it is less affected by daily routine activities than TEWL.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in Peyronie’s Disease: Clinical Efficacy and Safety from a Single-Arm Observational Study

Marina di Mauro,Giorgio Ivan Russo,Pier Andrea Della Camera,Fabrizio di Maida,Gianmartin Cito,Nicola Mondaini,Marco Capece,Marco Falcone,Francesco Sessa,Andrea Mari,Riccardo Campi,Carlotta Sabini,Serg 대한남성과학회 2019 The World Journal of Men's Health Vol.37 No.3

ItalyPurpose: In this study, we aimed to determine the role of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) in the management of Peyronie’s disease (PD). Materials and Methods: A total of 325 patients suffering from PD were enrolled in this single-arm clinical study. All patients were received ESWT using a schedule of 1 treatment/wk. Penile curvature was measured by a goniometer after intracavernosal drug-induced erection using Alprostadil. Plaque size was measured with a ruler and sexual function assessed by the international index of erectile function (IIEF)-15 score. Severity of erectile dysfunction was classified as severe (IIEF-15 ≤10), moderate (IIEF-15 between 11 and 16), or mild (IIEF-15 between 17 and 25). Results were evaluated at baseline and 3 months after the treatment.Results: All the patients completed the study protocol. Median age was 59.0 years (55.0–64.0 years). After treatment, the median (interquartile range, IQR) plaque size reduced from 1.78 cm2 (1.43–2.17 cm2) to 1.53 cm2 (1.31–1.96 cm2) (p<0.001); the median (IQR) penile length in erection increased from 13.0 cm (12.0–14.0 cm) to 14 cm (13.0–15.0 cm) (p<0.001) and the median (IQR) penile curvature from 30.4° (22.2°–35.4°) to 25.0° (20.2°–30.4°) (p<0.001). We also observed a decrease in pain assessed by visual analogue scale (7 vs. 3; p<0.001), an improvement in each of the IIEF sub-domains (p<0.001) and an improvement in all three PD questionnaire domains (p<0.001). Conclusions: Based on our findings, ESWT could be considered a safe and efficient minimally invasive option for the management of the patients suffering from PD.

Cranberry supplementation improves physiological markers of performance in trained runners

Francis Parenteau,Veronica Furno Puglia,Mary Roberts,Alain Steve Comtois,Andreas Bergdahl 한국운동영양학회 2023 Physical Activity and Nutrition (Phys Act Nutr) Vol.27 No.4

[Purpose] Cranberries have the highest polyphenol and antioxidant capacity among fruits and vegetables and may protect against exercise-induced free radical production, consequently improving performance. This study aimed to investigate the effect of polyphenol-rich cranberry extract (CE) on time-trial performance and lactate response following exercise. [Methods] A total of 14 trained runners were tested at i) baseline, ii) 2 h following an acute CE dose (0.7 g/kg of body mass), and iii) 4 weeks after daily supplement consumption (0.3 g/kg of body mass). At each time point, runners performed a 1500-m race followed by a 400-m race where the live vastus lateralis oxygenation changes were determined by near-infrared spectroscopy and blood lactate was measured at rest and 1 and 3 min after each trial. The Shapiro-Wilk test and repeated-measures analysis of variance were used to establish significance (P <0.05). [Results] Cranberry supplementation over 28 d improved aerobic performance during the 1500-m time trial, whereas the acute dose had no effect. More specifically, muscle reoxygenation rates were significantly faster after 28 d compared to baseline (P = 0.04; η2 = 0.29), and a trend towards slower deoxygenation rate was observed (P = 0.13; η2 = 0.20). Chronic CE consumption also buffered the post-exercise lactate response for the 400-m race (P = 0.01; η2 = 0.27), while no effects were seen for the longer race. [Conclusion] Our results suggest that cranberry supplementation may have ergogenic effects, as it improves physiological markers of performance during short- and long-distance running.