Studies have reported that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may cause erectile dysfunction (ED), however, its role in the pathophysiology of ED has not yet been fully elucidated. We aimed to elucidate COVID-19\'s effects on cavernosal smooth muscle, which has a pretty important role in erection physiology, by corpus cavernosum electromyography (cc-EMG).
Twenty-nine male patients aged 20-50 years who applied to the urology outpatient clinic due to ED were included in the study. Nine patients that had COVID-19 and were treated as outpatients were classified as group 1, 10 patients who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 were classified as group 2, and 10 patients who did not have COVID-19 were classified as the control group (group 3). Patients underwent diagnostic evaluation including International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-5 form, penile color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS), cc-EMG, and fasting serum levels of reproductive hormones (07-11am).
According to penile CDUS and hormonal values results, there was no significant difference between the groups. According to cc-EMG results, amplitudes and relaxation capacities of the cavernosal smooth muscle of patients in group 3 were significantly higher than those in the other groups.
COVID-19 can cause ED not only by psychogenic and hormonal factors but also with cavernosal smooth muscle damage.
NCT04980508.

The objective was to determine the prevalence of erectile dysfunction in men over 40 years of age and their relationship with frequent pathologies in Primary Care.
Three hundred two men (40-79 years) were included. Anthropometric medical history, habits and parameters were determined. They were given the international prostate symptomatology questionnaire (IPSS), the male sexual health questionnaire (SHIM) and the Goldberg test for anxiety and depression. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction was determined and the relationship of the different variables obtained by univariate and multivariate analysis was studied.
The prevalence of erectile dysfunction was 36%. Older patients, smokers, with abdominal obesity, hypertensive, diabetic, at risk of depression or with voiding symptoms had lower scores on the sexual health questionnaire. According to the multivariate analysis, the risk of suffering from erectile dysfunction increased with age, if the person was diabetic, or if there was voiding symptomatology.
Age, diabetes mellitus and the presence of voiding symptoms are factors associated with erectile dysfunction in the field of Primary Care.

Penile prosthetic surgery is the definitive treatment for those patients with erectile dysfunction refractory to medical treatment. Although it associates satisfaction rates>90%, it is known that men with Peyronie\'s disease, body mass index>30kg/m2 or those previously operated on radical prostatectomy have lower satisfaction rates than the general population. The main reasons for dissatisfaction are the subjective loss of penile length and glans\' flaccidity. Given such circumstance, several adjuvant surgical techniques have been described to improve aesthetic and functional outcomes after the implant. In our review, we wanted to investigate the different maneuvers used in patients with Peyronie\'s disease, those used to avoid the reduction of penile length and those used to avoid the floppy glans syndrome.

Diagnostic tests for vascular erectile dysfunction (ED) depend on cavernous smooth muscles (CSM) relaxation following an intracorporal injection (ICI). Enhanced sympathetic tone, which is not uncommon during performance of these tests, can bias its results. Also, CSM diseases can cause veno-occlusive diseases (VOD) ED. Corpus cavernosum electromyography (CC-EMG) potentials\' amplitudes represent the integrated sympathetic activity of healthy CSM. Stem-cells and gene-therapy are potential therapeutic options for impaired CSM.
To utilize CC-EMG, as a new diagnostic technique that can confirm the integrity of CSM, and to identify patients with impaired CSM activity, among those diagnosed as vascular ED per Color Duplex Doppler Ultrasonography (CDDU).
Group 1 included 24 patients with ED and negative response to ICI. Group 2 included 10 men without ED. Patients included in group 1 had penile CDDU examination and all participants had spontaneous CC-EMG recordings.
According to CDDU parameters, group 1 was sub-grouped as nine arterial, ten VOD and five mixed type. CC-EMG potentials\' amplitudes ranged 223-320, 179-237, 103-250 and 83-200μV for group 2 and arterial, mixed and VOD subgroups respectively. The widest ranges of potentials\' amplitudes were recorded in the subgroups of patients with an element of VOD. Four patients with ED, within these subgroups, had CC-EMG potentials\' amplitudes ranged 200-250μV that exceeded/approached the lowest value recorded from men in group 2.
CC-EMG recordings elicited marked differences of CSM activity among patients diagnosed with an element of VOD ED per CDDU. This finding highlighted the need to utilize CC-EMG to assess the integrity of CSM. Identifying patients with impaired CSM activity may modify the chosen methods for therapeutic interventions.

To assess the effects of monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate (M-TURP) and bipolar TURP (B-TURP) on overall sexual function.
From December 2014 to September 2016, 100 eligible candidates with benign prostatic hyperplasia were prospectively recruited and randomized 1:1 into M-TURP/B-TURP arms (58 and 42 patients, respectively) and followed up at 1, 3 and 6 months. A univariate and multivariate analyses using the chi-squared test and a logistic regression model were performed. We recorded the age, medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, history of smoking, preoperative prostatic volume, prostatic symptoms scale, sexual function assessment, surgeon experience, resected grams, percentage of resected tissue and presence of retrograde ejaculation. Prostatic symptoms and erectile function (EF) assessment were quantified using self-administered IPSS scores and IIEF-5, respectively, at baseline and in each subsequent visit.
Mean age was 66 years (50-82). No statistical differences were found between both groups regarding medical comorbidities, preoperative IPSS and IIEF-5. Mean prostatic volume was 37.2 cm3 (10-68) and mean amount of resected tissue was 11.75g (6-58). At baseline 77,6% of patients has severe LUTS, and 50% has moderate-severe erectile dysfunction. Univariate analyses show that in both groups, history of diabetes mellitus, age and preoperative IIEF-5 were associated with poor EF. However, multivariate analyses revealed that age was the only factor associated with a poor EF. These results were similar at 3 and 6 postoperative months. We did not find an association between surgeon experience, source of energy employed or percentage of resected tissue with the development of postoperative retrograde ejaculation (52%). At first postoperative month, 44% of patients were still referring moderate prostatic symptoms and 50% had severe erectile dysfunction maintained at 6 months in both groups.
There were no differences between the source of energy employed and changes on overall sexual function. Age is the only factor associated with a poor EF status.

The mean platelet volume (MPV) has important role in the pathophysiology of vascular diseases as a marker of the platelet activity. To investigate the association between mean platelet volume and erectile dysfunction (ED) and to search whether this marker can be used for diagnosis of ED.
Of the 312 patients with ED of various degrees, 122 patients without ED (IIEF-5>21) were included in this prospective study. Severity of ED was determined according to IIEF-5 questionnaire. MPV, fasting serum glucose, cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and serum testosterone levels are also recorded. The mean platelet volume was calculated by the Coulter counter technique and sexual function was determined by International Index of Erectile Function erectile function domain (IIEF-5).
The mean age of patients was 58.4 years. The mean MPV value of patients with ED was significantly higher compared to the non-ED patients (8.91 vs. 8.22, p=0.0001). The severity of ED was shown to have a positive strong correlation with MPV values (r=0.719, p=0.001). Mean serum triglyceride, glucose, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels were noted higher in patients with ED. MPV values were found to be significantly higher in patients with ED.
MPV level shows significant correlation with severity of ED. This cheap laboratory test can have potential to be a marker of ED. Further prospective larger studies with vascular wall thickness measurements should be conducted.

Prostate cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in men. The initial diagnosis is made in increasingly younger patients, so it seems to be essential to guarantee optimal functional results. We carried out a systematic search to define the functional results of each of the therapeutic options for localized prostate cancer. Radical prostatectomy generates a greater negative effect on urinary continence and erectile function compared to active surveillance and radiotherapy. Robotic surgery seems to offer better functional results, especially at the level of erectile function. Urinary and bowel symptoms are more pronounced after radiotherapy compared to other options. Patients must be warned of the possible functional results prior to choice of treatment.

Given the high prevalence of erectile dysfunction in male population between 40-70 years old and the effect of radical prostatectomy on this domain, it is important to perform a baseline study.
Prior radical prostatectomy, erectile function has been assessed prospectively in 112 prostate cancer patients using the erectile function (EF) domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (EF-IIEF), Erectile Hardness Score (EHS) and a penile doppler ultrasound (PDUS). Comorbidities and Charlson index were collected. The EORTC QLQ C-30 and PR-25 tests were administered.
According to EF-IIEF questionnaire, 50.9% of patients showed normal EF and EHS grade 3-4 erection was achieved in the 75.9%. PDUS was normal only in 28.6% of patients and 51.8% showed arterial insufficiency. We found a significant association (P<.0001) between categorized EF-IIEF (normal, mild/moderate/severe) and the EHS value. Between PDUS (normal vs. pathologic) and EHS (3-4 vs. 1-2) statistically significant association (P=.005) was found. Just 35.3% of patients with EHS 3-4 showed normal PDUS. Correlation between the PDUS and the EF-IIEF (≥26 vs.<26) was statistically significant (P=.043). Moreover, only 38.6% of patients with EF-IIEF≥26 had a normal PDUS.
In order to predict EF recovery after surgery, global assessment is required. Solely self-administered tests are not enough. In this baseline study, PDUS can play an important role.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of castration and subsequent losartan administration on the fibrosis-related parameters in the corpora cavernosa of castrated rats.
Twenty-four male rats were divided into four equal groups. Group 1:sham surgery plus vehicle (0.9% NaCl) (control:con), group 2:sham surgery plus losartan (con+los), group 3: castration plus vehicle (castration:cast) and group 4:castration plus losartan (cast+los). After four weeks of oral losartan treatment, corporal levels of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), alpha-actin, beta-actin and fibronectin were investigated by ELISA kits. Changes in the collagen and smooth muscle content were evaluated by histological analysis with Masson trichrome staining.
Initial and post-treatment body weights of rats were similar among groups. Castration significantly increased the expression of TGF-β, TSP-1 and fibronectin and resulted in a significant decrease in alpha-actin levels in the corpora cavernosa. Administration of losartan reduced the levels of TGF-β, TSP-1 and fibronectin in castrated rats. Alpha actin levels also increased after losartan treatment. Beta-actin levels were not significantly different among 4 groups. The levels of all markers were similar in group 1 and 2. Rate of fibrosis was significantly higher in castrated rats and treatment with losartan reduced this rate.
Castration increased the expression of fibrosis-related markers in the corpora cavernosa of rats. Administration of losartan significantly attenuated those changes and exerted an antifibrotic effect.

A 46 year-old male presented suffering from refractory erectile dysfunction. The patient had a past history of pelvic chondro-sarcoma. This case was a challenge for us; the surgery performed for excision of the sarcoma has resulted in the elimination of both pubic ramia together with excision of part of both corpora and left hemiscrotum. The procedure included a sling application on one side with a mesh sock wrapped around the rear part of the extendor cylinder. Another sling was applied on the contra lateral side without a mesh sock.