Testis cancer is one of the few solid organ malignancies for which reliable serum tumor markers are available to help guide disease management. Human chorionic gonadotropin, alpha fetoprotein, and lactate dehydrogenase play crucial roles in diagnosis, staging, prognosis, monitoring treatment response, and surveillance of seminomatous and nonseminomatous germ cell tumors. Herein we discuss the clinical applications of germ cell tumor markers, the limitations of these markers in the management of this disease, and additional serum molecules that have been identified with potential roles as novel germ cell tumor markers.

BackgroundIn a recent placebo-controlled Phase III study, oxybutynin chloride topical gel (OTG) significantly improved urinary continence in patients with overactive bladder. In this post hoc analysis, the effect of incontinence severity on OTG-mediated improvement in continence was evaluated.MethodsChange from baseline in the number of incontinence episodes was evaluated in patients with two to three incontinence episodes/day (moderate incontinence) and those with more than three incontinence episodes/day (severe incontinence).ResultsIn patients with moderate (n = 171) and severe (n = 556) incontinence, reduction in incontinence episodes (mean ± standard deviation) was greater (P < 0.01) with OTG (moderate, −1.7 ± 1.4; severe, −3.6 ± 3.0) than with placebo (moderate, −1.2 ± 1.3; severe, −3.1 ± 3.4). Continence achievement rate with OTG was 48.2% (placebo, 24.4%) among patients with moderate incontinence and 17.8% (placebo, 12.1%) among those with severe incontinence.ConclusionAbsolute placebo-adjusted reduction in incontinence episodes with OTG was not affected by baseline incontinence severity. Continence achievement was more likely if symptoms were less severe.

BackgroundThe purpose of this research was review the epidemiology of the association of obesity and urinary incontinence, and to summarize the published data on the effect of weight loss on urinary incontinence.MethodsA literature review of the association between urinary incontinence and overweight/obesity in women was performed. Case series and clinical trials reporting the effect of surgical, behavioral, and/or pharmacological weight loss on urinary incontinence are summarized.ResultsEpidemiological studies demonstrate that obesity is a strong and independent risk factor for prevalent and incident urinary incontinence. There is a clear dose-response effect of weight on urinary incontinence, with each 5-unit increase in body mass index associated with a 20%–70% increase in risk of urinary incontinence. The maximum effect of weight on urinary incontinence has an odds ratio of 4–5. The odds of incident urinary incontinence over 5–10 years increase by approximately 30%–60% for each 5-unit increase in body mass index. There appears to be a stronger association between increasing weight and prevalent and incident stress incontinence (including mixed incontinence) than for urge incontinence. Weight loss studies indicate that both surgical and nonsurgical weight loss leads to significant improvements in prevalence, frequency, and/or symptoms of urinary incontinence.ConclusionEpidemiological studies document overweight and obesity as important risk factors for urinary incontinence. Weight loss by both surgical and more conservative approaches is effective in reducing urinary incontinence symptoms and should be strongly considered as a first line treatment for overweight and obese women with urinary incontinence.

Infectious complications related to prostate ultrasound and biopsy have increased in the past decade with the emergence of increasing fluoroquinolone bacterial resistance. We investigated the addition of intravenous (iv) piperacillin/tazobactam immediately prior to prostate ultrasound and biopsy with standard fluoroquinolone prophylaxis to determine if it would decrease the incidence of serious infectious complications after prostate ultrasound and biopsy. Group 1 patients were a historic control of 197 patients who underwent prostate ultrasound and biopsy with standard fluoroquinolone prophylaxis. Group 2 patients, 104 patients, received standard fluoroquinolone prophylaxis and the addition of a single dose of iv piperacillin/tazobactam 30 minutes prior to prostate ultrasound and biopsy. There were ten serious bacterial infectious complications in group 1 patients. No patients in group 2 developed serious bacterial infections after prostate ultrasound and biopsy. There was approximately a 5% incidence of serious bacterial infection in group 1 patients. Subgroup analysis revealed an almost 2.5 times increased risk of infection in diabetes patients undergoing prostate ultrasound and biopsy. There was a 10% risk of serious bacterial infection in diabetics compared with a 3.8% risk group 1 nondiabetes patients. The addition of a single dose of iv piperacillin/tazobactam along with standard fluoroquinolone prophylaxis substantially reduces the risk of serious bacterial infection after prostate ultrasound and biopsy (P < 0.02).

BackgroundHormonal derangements potentially contribute to the diagnosis of infertility in over 60%–70% of couples investigated. Use of hormonal and antihormonal agents has achieved great success in the treatment of male infertility. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of hormonal abnormalities in males diagnosed with infertility.MethodsMales diagnosed clinically with infertility and referred from the gynecologic clinics of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, and some private hospitals in and around Enugu metropolis were recruited for the study. They were grouped according to whether they had primary or secondary infertility on the basis of the World Health Organization definition. Routine fertility test profiles for the subjects were evaluated, and detailed hormonal assays were analyzed.ResultsOf 216 men, 173 (80.1%) were found to have a hormonal imbalance. The mean age was 47.7 ± 3.5 (range 30–55) years for primary infertility and 47.2 ± 6.8 (range 33–61) years for secondary infertility. Patterns of hormonal abnormalities diagnosed amongst the 62 (35.80%) primary infertility subjects included hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism in 39 (62.90%), hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism in 18 (29.03%), and hyperprolactinemia in five (8.07%). Among the 111 (64.2%) cases of secondary infertility, there were 55 (49.55%) cases of hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism, 52 (46.85%) of hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, and four (3.60%) of hyperprolactinemia. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean values between the two groups (χ2 < 1.414; P > 0.05) for hormonal indices.ConclusionThe hormonal profile should be considered as the gold standard for diagnosis and management of male infertility.

Editorial foreword Janet ColliDepartment of Urology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USAThis is the third year of publication of Open Access Journal of Urology, and I am enthusiastic about the future prospects of this journal. As science and technology becomes increasingly complex, researchers require methods to improve efficiencies.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to compare the risks and benefits of Mathieu repair of hypospadias with or without circumcision in consecutive operated cases.MethodsEighty-six children with midshaft or distal hypospadias were randomly divided into two groups and underwent circumcision (Group A) or preputial reconstruction (Group B) during hypospadias repair. Postoperative complications, outcomes, and parental satisfaction were assessed for circumcised and uncircumcised patients. All patients with midshaft or distal hypospadias with or without minimal chordee were included.ResultsNo statistically significant differences in urethral complications were found between the two groups. Meatal stenosis occurred in one case in Group A and one case in Group B. Fistulae occurred in five cases in Group A and six cases in Group B. Urethral dehiscence occurred in no case in either group. No case of phimosis was seen in Group B. After a mean follow-up of 6 months, all parents of Group A cases stated that they were satisfied with the circumcision for religious and/or social reasons, but no parents of Group B cases were satisfied with preputioplasty (P ≤ 0.05). No case of hypospadias repair failure was seen in our operated cases. Finally, no cases in Group B required redo hypospadias surgery.ConclusionMathieu repair with synchronous circumcision is feasible in all patients with distal or midshaft hypospadias with or without minimal chordee, and should be considered in accordance with surgeon preference. In the case of prepuce preservation, parents should be informed that there is a benefit of tissue banking for probable redo hypospadias repair but with an increased risk of complications and a need for another procedure, ie, circumcision.

ObjectiveTo review the literature on the surgical and nonsurgical treatment options for stress urinary incontinence in women, focusing exclusively on randomized clinical trials and high quality meta-analyses.Materials and methodsA computer-aided and manual search for published randomized controlled trials and high quality meta-analyses investigating both conservative and surgical treatment options for stress urinary incontinence. In the case of a treatment that is not studied in these formats large case series have been used.ResultsArticles were reviewed and the results summarized on pelvic floor physical therapy, pharmacotherapy, bulking agents, and surgery (open and minimally invasive).ConclusionThere are numerous high quality studies in the literature. It can be difficult to make definitive conclusions on the most appropriate treatment options due to the variability in the outcomes used to define success in these articles. There is also a dire lack of studies evaluating and comparing the surgical options for patients with intrinsic sphincter deficiency.

Brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy are effective and commonly used treatment modalities in men with localized prostate cancer. In this review, we explore the role of radiation therapy in the curative management of prostate cancer, including the use of conformal therapeutic techniques to allow for the escalation of radiation doses to tumor, along with the use of combined radiation and hormonal therapy to enhance disease outcomes in men with aggressive disease. We also review the possible anticancer role of HMG-CoA reductase inhibiting agents (statins) in men with prostate cancer. Laboratory evidence suggests that statins may have antineoplastic effects when used alone and may sensitize cells to radiation therapy when given in combination. We explore the biologic basis for an anticancer effect and the clinical evidence suggesting statins may aid in improving outcomes with radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer.

ObjectiveThe uroselective α-blocker silodosin significantly improved International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) in two 12-week, double-blind (DB), placebo-controlled Phase III studies in men aged ≥ 50 years with symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and maintained symptom improvement during a 9-month open-label (OL) extension. This post-hoc analysis evaluated the effects of estimated prostate volume (EPV) on silodosin-mediated symptom improvement.MethodsPatients were stratified by EPV (<30 mL or ≥ 30 mL) calculated from prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentrations using a published algorithm. Group comparisons were done by analysis of covariance with last observations carried forward.ResultsOf 890 patients with PSA baseline data, 192 had EPV < 30 mL and 698 had EPV ≥ 30 mL. During DB treatment, silodosin was associated with significant symptom improvement (adjusted mean difference versus placebo) in men with EPV < 30 mL (−2.0; P = 0.038) and those with EPV ≥ 30 mL (−3.0; P < 0.0001). Among patients who received silodosin during DB treatment, changes from baseline in IPSS to the end of OL extension (mean ± standard deviation) were similar for EPV < 30 mL (n = 60, −7.0 ± 6.8) and EPV ≥ 30 mL (n = 242, −8.0 ± 7.1; P = 0.416). Also, among patients who received placebo as DB treatment, symptom improvement at the end of OL extension was similar for EPV < 30 mL (n = 62, −6.2 ± 8.1) and EPV ≥ 30 mL (n = 275, −6.7 ± 6.1; P = 0.339).ConclusionSilodosin effectively relieved BPH-related symptoms for up to 12 months, irrespective of prostate size, including in patients with enlarged prostates.