Testicular Torsion Research Articles

Thirty-five years of the French Association of Urologists in Training (AFUF) a scoping review and bibliometric analysis of scientific literature conducted by urologists in training.

The objective of this scoping review was to identify the topics of research and the types of studies published by the French Association of Urologists in Training (AFUF) since it was created, 35 years ago and to perform a bibliometric analysis. A scoping review on PubMed, Google scholar, Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE) was conducted from 1989 until the 31st of December 2023. The PRISMA extended guidelines for scoping reviews were followed. Articles were independently screened and analyzed by two reviewers. The theme type, primary results, language of publication, number of male and female authors and number of citations from each included article were extracted. A total of 32 articles were included among which 17 surveys and 11 cohort studies. There was a median percentage of 20% women among authors. Fifteen articles (47%) were published in French and 17 articles in English. The median number of citations was 4.5. The topics covered were urologist in training's surgical education, well-being, professional practice, and urologic emergencies: renal trauma and spermatic cord torsion. The creation of large national databases enabled the generation of multiple studies focusing on previously under-represented topics. Over the 35 years since it was created, The AFUF has had an interesting and prolific scientific output. It has shown its concerns for urologists in training.

A Case of Torsion of the Undescended Testis

This article presents the case of a 14-year-old male who experienced acute torsion of an undescended testis located in the right inguinal canal. The patient presented with severe right inguinal pain. Imaging studies, including CT and MRI, revealed the underlying pathology. Intraoperative findings confirmed testicular necrosis, necessitating an orchiectomy. This report aims to highlight the clinical presentation, radiological findings, and surgical management of this condition, supplemented with relevant images.

Right Orchiopexy to Correct Undescended Testicle and Circumcision to Correct Phimosis

Cryptorchidism is a condition in which one or both testicles fail to descend to its normal position in the scrotum. The testicle may reside in the retroperineum, in the internal inguinal ring, in the inguinal canal, or even at the external ring. The exact cause is unknown but several risk factors have been linked to this condition such as premature birth, low birth weight, family history, Down syndrome, alcohol use, and cigarette smoking. Undescended testis occurs in approximately 30% of preterm infants and 1-3% of term infants. Diagnosis is made during examination at birth or shortly thereafter, and timely recognition and management of this condition prevents adverse consequences. The goal of treatment is to relocate the undescended testicle to its proper location in the scrotum. Treatment before 1 year of age lowers the risk of complications such as infertility, testicular cancer, inguinal hernia, and testicular torsion. Treatment can be hormonal, surgical or a combination of both. Hormones such as hCG can sometimes induce descent of the testicle; however, surgery is the preferred option. Orchiopexy is the surgical procedure to free an undescended testicle and implant it in the scrotum. Phimosis is the inability to retract the foreskin covering the glans of the penis. It may appear as a tight ring of the foreskin around the tip of the penis preventing full retraction. Phimosis can be physiologic or pathologic. Physiologic phimosis is seen in children born with tight foreskin at birth and separation occurs naturally overtime while pathologic phimosis is caused by scarring, infection or inflammation. A tight foreskin can interfere with the passage of urine as seen as ballooning of the foreskin during urination. This can lead to inflammation of the penis called balanitis or inflammation of the penis and foreskin called balanoposthitis. Physiologic phimosis does not require intervention and will resolve with daily gentle retraction while pathologic phimosis is treated with topical steroid cream or circumcision. Here we present the case of a young male with an undescended right testicle and phimosis. The right testicle was located in the right inguinal area and was brought down into the scrotum. Circumcision was also done to resolve the phimosis.

Phosphodiesterase inhibitors and testicular torsion: A systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies.

Testicular torsion is a common urological emergency in children and teenagers that, in most cases, requires surgical exploration and detorsion. However, even after a successful intervention, a high number of patients still develop irreversible damage. To investigate whether the administration of phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE) in animal models of testicular torsion can reduce damages caused by the ischemia-reperfusion syndrome. A systematic search of the Medline, Web of Science, Embase, and Ovid databases for studies up to December 2023 was performed using PRISMA guidelines. A detailed search was conducted using the following key terms: "testicles," "ischemia," "reperfusion," and "phosphodiesterase inhibitors." There was no restriction regarding language or year of publication. We investigated spermatogenesis by the Johnsen's biopsy score (JTBS) and histological damage by the Cosentino's biopsy score (CBS). Malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) testicular levels were also analyzed. Initially, 296 articles were identified. However, only 20 studies met the inclusion criteria. PDE inhibitors improved JTBS (MD=2.53, CI=1.94 to 3.13), CBS (MD=-1.11, CI=-1.25 to -0.97) and SOD (SMD=3.27, CI=1.59 to 4.95) outcomes. PDE did not improve MDA (SMD=-0.93, CI=-2.19 to 0.34), NO (SMD=-0.54, CI=-1.56 to 0.48), and GPx (SMD=0.77, CI=-0.38 to 1.92) outcomes. A higher dose of PDE inhibitors only improved CBS outcome. This review indicates that the administration of PDE inhibitors in rats ameliorated the outcomes, representing a promising complementary strategy for spermatogenesis recovery following testicular torsion. Our review suggests that JTBS and CBS could be translated into future human studies, validating and extending these findings within the context of human physiopathology, while providing applicability of interventions in real clinical practice.

Testicular Torsion Following MMR Vaccination in an 18-Month-old Infant: A Case Report

Introduction: The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is associated with known complications, such as salivary gland involvement and aseptic meningitis. Isolated reports of epididymal orchitis following MMR vaccination have also been reported, but no reported case of testicular torsion in infancy has been explicitly attributed to the MMR vaccine. Objective: Here, we report an 18-month-old male infant presented with a history of gradually worsening painful left scrotal swelling following a booster dose of MMR that finally led to orchiectomy with the diagnosis of testicular torsion. Case Presentation: An 18-month-old male infant presented with a one-day history of gradually worsening painful left scrotal swelling following a booster dose of MMR. No evidence of blood flow was detected in the left testicle in color Doppler sonography, which was compatible with testicular torsion. In surgical exploration, the left testicle seemed firm and dark in color. The spermatic cord vessels were thrombotic in appearance, and the testicular appendix seemed completely necrotic. The nonviable left testicle was removed. Conclusions: Although testicular torsion after MMR vaccination is rare, in the case of any pain, swelling, and redness of the scrotum, the patient should seek an urgent medical consultation. Physicians should be aware that testicular swelling after the MMR vaccine might not be just epididymal-orchitis but really a medical emergency.

Interfacility Transfer of Children With Time-Sensitive Surgical Conditions, 2002-2017

Surgical care for children in the United States has become increasingly regionalized among fewer centers over time. The degree to which regionalization may be associated with access to urgent surgical care for time-sensitive conditions is not clear. To investigate whether transfers and travel distance have increased for 4 surgical conditions, and whether changes in transfers and travel distance have been more pronounced for rural vs urban children. This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed data from 9 State Inpatient Databases from 2002 to 2017. Participants included children aged younger than 18 years undergoing urgent or emergent procedures for malrotation with volvulus, esophageal foreign body, and ovarian and testicular torsion. Residential and hospital zip codes were categorized as rural or urban. Hospitals were categorized as pediatric hospitals, adult hospitals with pediatric services, and adult hospitals without pediatric services. Primary outcomes were transfer for care and travel distance between patients' home residences and the hospitals where care was provided. Transfer and travel distance were analyzed using multivariable regression models. Among the 5865 children younger than 18 years undergoing procedures for malrotation with volvulus, esophageal foreign body, ovarian torsion, or testicular torsion, 461 (7.9%) resided in a rural area; 1097 (20.5%) were Hispanic, 1334 (24.9%) were non-Hispanic Black, and 2255 (42.0%) were non-Hispanic White; 2763 (47.1%) were covered by private insurance and 2535 (43.2%) were covered by Medicaid; and the median (IQR) age was 9 (2-14) years. Most care was provided at adult hospitals (73.4% with and 16.9% without pediatric services); the number of hospitals providing this care decreased from 493 to 292 hospitals (2002 vs 2017). Transfer was associated with rural residence (adjusted odds ratio [aRR], 2.3 [95% CI, 1.8-3.0]; P < .001) and increased over time (2017 vs 2002: aOR, 2.8 [95% CI, 2.0-3.8]; P < .001). Similarly, travel distance was associated with rural residence (adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 4.4 [95% CI, 3.9-4.8]; P < .001) and increased over time (2017 vs 2002: aRR, 1.3 [95% CI, 1.2-1.4]; P < .001). Rural children were more frequently transferred (2017 vs 2002) for esophageal foreign body (48.0% [12 of 25] vs 7.3% [4 of 55]; P < .001), ovarian torsion (26.7% [4 of 15] vs 0% [0 of 18]; P = .01), and testicular torsion (18.2% [2 of 11] vs 0% [0 of 16]; P = .04). Travel distance for rural children increased the most for torsions, from a median (IQR) of 19.1 (2.3-35.4) to 43.0 (21.6-98.8) miles (P = .03) for ovarian torsion and from 7.3 (0.4-23.7) to 44.5 (33.1-48.8) miles (P < .001) for testicular torsion. In this cross-sectional study of children with time-sensitive surgical conditions, the number of hospitals providing urgent surgical care to children decreased over time. Transfers of care, especially among rural children, and travel distance, especially for those with ovarian and testicular torsion, increased over time.

A young patient with chronic epididymal-orchitis develops testicular ischemia: a serious complication of a common disorder

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Rare complications of acute epididymitis include ischemia and infarction of the testicles. Both clinically and radiologically, it is challenging to distinguish from testicular torsion. The project aims to increase the radiologist's digital picture library to facilitate a prompt and accurate differential diagnosis. This instance emphasizeshow crucial it is to perform a comprehensive radiological assessment and how a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to guarantee an accurate diagnosis. METHODS: A 24-year-old man experienced severe left testicular pain; he didnt come to the Emergency Department while the clinical situation was acute; but two weeks after he came to the Hospital, arrived at the Radiology Department, and reported that he had painful ejaculation, pain during intercourse (dyspareunia), redness/swelling at the scrotal level, genital inflammation, chills, swollen inguinal lymph nodes, dysuria and still today he has a few pains at scrotal region. All diagnostic procedures are done: first US and after MRI was required by the urologist. RESULTS: The results of the imaging show that he had left testicular ischemia, and a chronic orchid-epididymitis was suspected cause the clinic was positive. So, the young patient didnt have a leftorchidectomy but only medical therapy, cause the ischemia area was not too large. The patient has also a left varicocele. CONCLUSIONS: The images acquired with the different MRI sequences were carefully examined. Is important to consider that a rare instance of epididymal-orchitis, has been described as a potentially dangerouscomplication of epididymitis and needs to be considered if sudden, severe scrotal pain is experienced. This information can help with optimal patient management and help avoid needless interventions.

Mediastinal Teratoma with Angiosarcomatous Overgrowth in a Background of Vasculogenic Mesenchymal Tumor

Abstract Introduction/Objective Vasculogenic mesenchymal tumor refers to neoplastic reiteration of embryonic vasculogenesis. It is most commonly associated with nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of the mediastinum, in particular yolk sac tumor. In rare instances these lesions progress to angiosarcoma. Herein, we describe a case of angiosarcoma in a background of vasculogenic mesenchymal tumor in the setting of a mediastinal teratoma. Methods/Case Report A 33-year-old male, with a past medical history of anxiety, and right orchiectomy for testicular torsion, presented with shortness of breath, chest pain, and left arm swelling. Imaging studies demonstrated a mediastinal mass. Biopsy of the mass showed a germ cell tumor most compatible with a teratoma in the limited specimen. The patient received two rounds of chemotherapy and additional treatments were discontinued due to poor tolerance. Subsequent imaging showed continued increase in the size along with mass effect causing moderate to severe compression of the superior vena cava. Subsequently, the patient underwent resection of the mass. Grossly the mass was predominantly encapsulated with areas of capsular disruption. Sectioning revealed heterogeneous cut surfaces with fleshy, cystic, and necrotic areas. Morphologically the tumor was composed predominantly of teratomatous elements with areas of anastomosing atypical vascular channels within a hypocellular stroma suggestive of vascular genic mesenchymal as well as areas reminiscent of Masson lesion. Focally within these areas were malignant spindle cell proliferations compatible with angiosarcoma. The patient had an elevated AFP; however, no yolk sac tumor component was identified after thorough sampling. Final diagnosis of teratoma with angiosarcoma in a background of vasculogenic mesenchymal tumor was rendered after expert consultation. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) NA Conclusion Somatic-type malignancy and sarcomatous overgrowth are known to occur in mediastinal germ cell tumors; however, classification of the sarcomatous overgrowth can be challenging. Vasculogenic mesenchymal tumor is an exceedingly rare sarcomatous overgrowth that can rarely progress to angiosarcoma.

Diagnostic efficacy and value of ultrasound in children's scrotal testicular torsion: A retrospective analysis.

The purpose of this study is to explore the diagnostic efficacy and value of ultrasound detection for testicular torsion in children with scrotal and testicular diseases. A total of 120 children with acute scrotal swelling and pain who were treated in our hospital from August 2017 to August 2022 were selected for preliminary diagnosis through color Doppler ultrasound diagnostic instrument examination. The final diagnosis was made through surgical or conservative treatment. At the same time, 40 children with acute epididymitis during the same period were selected as the control group, and the clinical treatment of patients with testicular diseases was retrospectively analyzed. A total of 120 children were diagnosed with testicular torsion disease, with 57 cases affecting the left testicle and 63 cases affecting the right testicle. Ultrasound examinations revealed no blood flow signal in 78 cases, a significant reduction in blood flow in 38 cases, and no change in 4 cases. Among the pediatric patients who underwent manual reduction, 79 cases had a favorable prognosis. Surgical reduction was performed in 41 cases, with 35 cases successfully treated and 6 cases resulting in testicular removal. Follow-up examinations conducted 6 months to 1 year postoperatively showed testicular atrophy in 4 out of 35 cases with preserved testicles, while the 6 cases that underwent testicular resection had good outcomes. The non-active subgroup had a longer disease course and a greater degree of torsion (P < .05). There was no statistically significant difference in testicular volume and the ratio of healthy testicular volume between the 2 groups (P > .05). The sensitivity of ultrasound diagnosis was 95.24% (73/77), specificity was 78.57% (34/43), and accuracy was 89.29% (107/120). Ultrasound can effectively diagnose testicular torsion and evaluate the success rate of testicular reduction. Early treatment of patients with testicular torsion leads to better efficacy and higher survival rates.

Protective Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Melatonin on Testicular Torsion-Induced Infertility

We aimed to explore the effects of systemic melatonin and intratesticular Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AdMSCs) administration on rats with acute unilateral testicular torsion. Rats were randomized into Sham group (S) (n=8), torsion/detorsion group (T/D by torsion of right testis with rotated 720° counter clockwise for 3 h, then detorsion) (n=8), Melatonin group given 25 mg/kg after torsion/detorsion (M) (n=8), Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell-treated group after torsion/detorsion (MSC) (n=8), Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell-treated group with melatonin after torsion/detorsion (MSC+M) (n=8). We measured MDA, Testosterone, FSH and LH levels, performed histopathological analyses in testicles, and identified SOX, VASA and Caspas-3 reactions immunohistochemically. Testosterone, FSH, LH values did not yield any significant difference between the groups. While the Johnson score in the right testis remained the lowest in T/D, the highest score was noted in the S. The T/D manifested some degenerative seminiferous tubules, abnormal spermatogenesis and maturation arrest. The degenerative appearance monitored in M, MSC and MSC+M groups persisted in some tubules, while markedly reduced degeneration was observed in some other tubules. The highest Caspase-3 expression in T/D, whereas SOX-9 expression remained significantly higher in the treatment groups. Another aspect deserving attention is that MSC were characterized by low VASA expression. Our experimental trial suggests that the torsion-induced degeneration in testicular tissue was ameliorated in all the treatment groups. Although MSC, MSC+M and M administrations decreased the torsion-induced degeneration in the testicular tissue, these treatments did not prove to be superior to each other.

Effect of sulforaphane on testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury induced by testicular torsion-detorsion in rats

Testicular ischemia-reperfusion induces enhanced concentration of reactive oxygen species. The increased reactive oxygen species harm cellular lipids, nucleic acids, proteins, and carbohydrates, and ultimately cause testicular injury. Sulforaphane, a kind of natural dietary isothiocyanate, exists predominantly in some cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli and cabbage. It can protect tissues from oxidative stress-induced damage. Herein, we analyzed the effectiveness of sulforaphane in treating ischemia-reperfusion injury occurring after testicular torsion-detorsion. Male rats (n = 60) were grouped as follows: sham-operated group, unilateral testicular ischemia-reperfusion group, and unilateral testicular ischemia-reperfusion group receiving sulforaphane treatment at 5 mg/kg. No testicular torsion-detorsion was performed in the sham group. Unilateral testicular ischemia-reperfusion model was created by detorsion after 2 h of left testicular torsion. In the sulforaphane-treated group, intraperitoneal sulforaphane (5 mg/kg) was administered at left testicular detorsion. Biochemical assay, Western blot, and hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to evaluate testicular malondialdehyde content (an important marker of reactive oxygen species), protein levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase (intracellular antioxidant defense mechanism), and testicular reproductive function, respectively. In testicular tissues, malondialdehyde content was significantly promoted, while protein levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase, and testicular reproductive function were significantly reduced in ipsilateral testes by testicular ischemia-reperfusion. Nevertheless, sulforaphane administration partially reversed the effect of testicular ischemia-reperfusion on these indexes. It can be concluded that sulforaphane elevates protein levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase, and suppresses reactive oxygen species content, thereby preventing ischemia-reperfusion injury in testis.

Decoding Acute Scrotum: Diagnostic Accuracy of Ultrasound in Urgent Clinical Settings.

Background Acute scrotum is a medical emergency commonly encountered in clinical practice, particularly in pediatric and adolescent populations. It is characterized by sudden onset of scrotal pain and may involve swelling, redness, or tenderness. The most common etiologies include testicular torsion, epididymo-orchitis, trauma, and, less frequently, tumors. Early and accurate diagnosis is critical, especially in cases of testicular torsion, where timely surgical intervention is required to preserve testicular viability. Ultrasound (US), particularly high-resolution gray-scale imaging combined with color Doppler (CD), has emerged as the primary imaging modality for evaluating acute scrotal conditions due to its accessibility, non-invasiveness, and high diagnostic accuracy. Aims and objectives This study aims to assess the diagnostic accuracy of US in differentiating the causes of acute scrotum, specifically focusing on testicular torsion, epididymo-orchitis, and varicocele. We also evaluate its role in reducing unnecessary surgical explorations and improving clinical decision-making in urgent settings. Materials and methods This retrospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care center in Puducherry, India. A total of 250 male patients, ranging in age from 10 to 70 years, presented with acute scrotal pain over the 12-month study period. Inclusion criteria included all patients with sudden scrotal pain, regardless of clinical suspicion of underlying pathology. US scans were performed using a 7.5- to 12-MHz linear transducer. Gray-scale imaging was used to evaluate the testes, epididymis, spermatic cord, scrotal wall, and inguinal region, while CD was used to assess vascular flow. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS Version 18 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Diagnostic accuracy was calculated based on sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Results The most common cause of acute scrotum was inflammatory pathology, including epididymo-orchitis, accounting for 56.4% of cases (141 patients). Varicocele was the second most common cause, diagnosed in 11.6% of patients (29 cases), while hernias and epididymal cysts were found in 8% and 7.6% of cases, respectively. Testicular torsion was diagnosed in 2% of cases (five patients). US demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy for inflammatory pathologies, with sensitivity and specificity reaching 97% and 96%, respectively. The sensitivity for testicular torsion was 62%, reflecting the challenges in diagnosing partial or intermittent torsion, while specificity was high at 99%. US's performance in identifying varicocele was excellent, with a sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 98%. Conclusion US, especially when combined with CD, is an indispensable tool in the emergency evaluation of acute scrotum. It provides high diagnostic accuracy for inflammatory pathologies and varicocele while serving as an effective screening modality for testicular torsion. This study reinforces the role of US in reducing unnecessary surgical explorations, guiding clinical management, and improving patient outcomes in urgent clinical settings.

What matters in testicular torsion? Association of hospital transfer, race and socioeconomic factors with testicular outcomes in a single center experience

IntroductionTesticular torsion is a surgical emergency that is managed with either septopexy-only or tunica vaginalis flap with septopexy if the testis is potentially viable or orchiectomy if not. Minimizing time from ischemia onset to surgery maximizes the likelihood of testicular preservation. While factors such as time from door to OR can be easily targeted, others such as inequalities in access to care are more difficult to address. ObjectiveWe sought to determine whether patient transfer affects testicular outcomes intraoperatively and in the long-term. Secondary goals included investigating the impact of race and Child Opportunity Index (COI) on testicular torsion outcomes and defining the optimal time cutoff from symptom onset to presentation that predicts salvage. MethodsWe reviewed our prospective testicular torsion database to identify boys who underwent operative intervention for testicular torsion between January 2015 and March 2022. The association of race and COI with testicular salvage, defined as septopexy-only, was evaluated with univariate and multivariate logistic regression controlling for time to presentation, while the association of transfer with salvage was evaluated with univariate and multivariate logistic regression controlling for age, time to presentation, and time to OR. To determine the optimal cutoff for time to presentation to predict testicular salvage, the Youden index was calculated. ResultsRace and COI were not associated with testicular salvage on either univariate or multivariate logistic regression that controlled for time to presentation. Transfer status was not associated with salvage, while age, time from symptoms to presentation, and time from institutional arrival to OR were associated with salvage. The optimal time cutoff to predict salvage using the Youden index was 10.5 hours from symptom onset to presentation and 14.5 hours from symptom onset to detorsion. DiscussionTime to presentation was the strongest, modifiable risk factor associated with testicular salvage. As it may be difficult for children to accurately communicate their symptoms, diagnosis and prompt management of testicular torsion can be delayed. Improvement in outcomes can be achieved by placing greater efforts into patient, parental, and primary care provider education of the signs and symptoms of testicular torsion. ConclusionsRace, COI, and transfer status were not found to have a statistically significant effect on testicular salvage outcomes in patients presenting with testicular torsion. Despite the common premise of a six-hour window until testicular loss, we found that intervention within the acute window of 14.5 hours from symptom onset is still associated with salvage.

Thrombosed Spermatic Vein-a Rare Cause of Testicular Mass

Acute thrombophlebitis of spermatic vein is an uncommon pathology with an ill-defined etiology. Most patients present with acute testicular or inguinal pain, frequently misdiagnosed as incarcerated inguinal hernia or testicular torsion. We report the case of a 29-year-old male, a policeman with prolonged standing hours, who presented to the clinic for severe left testicular pain and a palpable mass. Doppler-ultrasound revealed left spermatic vein blood flow alteration. CT angiography confirmed the presence of left spermatic vein thrombosis. Conservative management was adopted with anticoagulant and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Spontaneous spermatic vein thrombosis is a rare entity with a high likelihood of misdiagnosis.

EPIDIDYMO-ORCHITIS CAUSED BY HAND, FOOT, AND MOUTH DISEASE IN ADULTS

Abstract: Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease (HFMD) is predominantly recognized as a childhood disease and is not generally anticipated to manifest in adults. In addition to inducing symptoms such as fever, herpangina, and distal-extremity rashes, HFMD can also lead to rare complications such as encephalitis and onychomadesis. Epididymo-orchitis; however, is not considered an expected complication of HFMD. In our case, a patient diagnosed with HFMD presented with testicular pain four days later, and epididymo-orchitis was subsequently identified in the patient initially suspected of testicular torsion. Cases of Coxsackie virus-related epididymo-orchitis have been reported in the literature, and these cases can be mistaken for torsion, thereby posing the risk of unnecessary surgical interventions. Testicular pain in a young adult with a history of HFMD should be considered as a potential diagnosis of viral epididymo-orchitis.

C-Jun N-terminal Kinase Supports Autophagy in Testicular Ischemia but Triggers Apoptosis in Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Oxidative stress triggered by testicular torsion and detorsion in young males could negatively impact future fertility. Using a rat animal model for testicular IRI (tIRI), we aim to study the induction of autophagy (ATG) during testicular ischemia and tIRI and the role of oxidative-stress-induced c-Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) as a cytoprotective mechanism. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: sham, ischemia only, ischemia+SP600125 (a JNK inhibitor), tIRI only, and tIRI+SP600125. The tIRI rats underwent an ischemic injury for 1 h followed by 4 h of reperfusion, while ischemic rats were subjected to 1 h of ischemia only without reperfusion. Testicular-ischemia-induced Beclin 1 and LC3B expression was associated with decreased p62/SQSTM1 expression, increased ATP and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity, and slightly impaired spermatogenesis. SP600125 treatment improved p62 expression and reduced the levels of Beclin 1 and LC3B but did not affect ATP or AP levels. The tIRI-induced apoptosis lowered the expression of the three ATG proteins and AP activity, activated caspase 3, and caused spermatogenic arrest. SP600125-inhibited JNK during tIRI restored sham levels to all investigated parameters. This study emphasizes the regulatory role of JNK in balancing autophagy and apoptosis during testicular oxidative injuries.

Avanafil Mitigates Testicular Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury via NLRP3 Pathway Modulation in Rats.

In our study, the effectiveness of avanafil, a second-generation phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor, on testicular torsion (TT) related ischemia/reperfusion injury via NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), which triggers inflammatory response, are studied molecularly, biochemically and histopathologically. This study was performed on 24 male Wistar albino rats randomized into four groups. Testicular ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) model was created for groups 2, 3 and 4. Groups 3 and 4, respectively, were administered a dose of 5 and 10mg/kg avanafil before reperfusion by gavage. The testicles which were left in ischemia for two hours, were detorsioned for four hours. All animals were sacrificed after reperfusion. Testicular tissues were examined molecularly, biochemically and histopathologically. The NLRP3, Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and Tumor Necrosis alpha (TNF-α) mRNA expression levels were observed to be significantly increased in the I/R group compared to the healthy group (p < 0.001). After both doses of avanafil, NLRP3, IL-1β and TNF-α mRNA expression levels, which increased as a result of I/R, decreased in both avanafil groups. (p < 0.001). The greatest decrease was seen at the dose of 10mg/kg (p < 0.001). Increased Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels due to I/R were statistically significantly decreased in both doses of avanafil (p < 0.001). Decreased Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) levels due to I/R damage increased statistically significantly in both doses of avanafil (p < 0.001). It was found that avanafil can reduce the damage caused by testicular I/R and that it will find new applications in the future with the support of advanced experimental and clinical studies.

Bilateral orchidopexy for intermittent testicular torsion

AbstractObjectivesTo assess the effect of bilateral orchidopexy in preventing future torsion and testicular loss in patients with intermittent testicular torsion. Secondarily, this study aims to assess the rate of pain improvement following orchidopexy.MethodsThis is a prospective cohort of patients. Participants were men who underwent elective bilateral orchidopexy for intermittent testicular torsion. All consecutive cases were treated by a single surgeon in a single centre between 2015 and 2023. The primary outcomes were prevention of torsion and testicular loss. The secondary outcome was the resolution or improvement in pain.ResultsThe success rate of bilateral orchidopexy in preventing testicular loss due to torsion was 100%, at a follow‐up of mean 33.5 months. Of the 50 patients, 88% were pain‐free following orchidopexy, and 12% had an improvement in their pain. There were no cases of hydrocoele or haematoma in this series. To our knowledge, this is the largest series reported in the literature.ConclusionsElective bilateral orchidopexy prevents torsion and preserves testicular viability. Pain is resolved in most but not all cases. This is important in counselling men who are considering surgical management of intermittent torsion of the testicle.

Aloperine protects the testis against testicular ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

Testicular torsion/detorsion can cause testis loss and infertility. Aloperine is a major active alkaloid extracted from Sophora alopecuroides Linn. It has been shown to have organ-protective effects. However, the effects of aloperine on the testis and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the effect of aloperine on testicular torsion/detorsion injury in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to the sham-operated (sham), testicular I/R (TI/R), or aloperine preconditioning (ALOPre) or postconditioning (ALOPost) groups. All rats except for the sham-operated rats were subjected to 3h of right spermatic cord torsion (720°, clockwise), followed by 3h of detorsion. Aloperine (10mg/kg) was intravenously administered before testicular torsion (ALOPre) or at the onset of testicular detorsion (ALOPost). The therapeutic efficacy of aloperine was evaluated by histological analysis, oxidative stress evaluation, inflammatory response examination, apoptosis analysis, protein analysis, and immunohistological assessment. Compared with TI/R, aloperine protected both the ipsilateral and contralateral testes against unilateral testicular I/R, as evidenced by a reduced testicular weight to body weight (TW/BW) ratio (ALOPre: p=0.0037; ALOPost: p=0.0021) and volume (ALOPre: p=0.0020; ALOPost: p=0.0009), less structural damage with better Johnsen (ALOPre: p=0.0013; ALOPost: p=0.0021), and Cosentino scores (ALOPre: p<0.0001; ALOPost: p<0.0001), increased mean seminiferous tubule diameter and mean seminiferous tubule epithelial height, decreased testicular apoptosis, and less oxidative stress and inflammatory response. In addition, aloperine significantly stimulated the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3 in the ipsilateral testes following detorsion. Administration of Ag490 suppressed STAT-3 phosphorylation, thereby abrogating the protective effects exerted by aloperine on the ipsilateral testis. Aloperine has a strong testicular protective effect on the ipsilateral and contralateral testes after testicular torsion/detorsion. This aloperine-induced ipsilateral testicular protection is mediated via the STAT-3 signaling pathway.

A Survey of Preoperative, Perioperative, and Postoperative Management Practices for Testicular Torsion in Pediatric Patients among European Surgeons.

Management of testicular torsion varies between specialties resulting in lack of standardization. The aim of this survey was to assess pre-, peri-, and postoperative differences. An online questionnaire was distributed in 2023 to general and pediatric surgeons, pediatric urologists, and urologists by the Trainees of European Pediatric Surgery. Among 88 respondents (92% tertiary referral hospital), 38% always or usually perform sonography in case of suspected torsion respectively. In addition, 15% always attempt manual detorsion and 44% depending on the clinical presentation. Most surgeons (93%) favor a scrotal approach. Interestingly, pediatric surgeons choose a transscrotal while other specialties opt for a midline incision (p = 0.002). The majority (57%) employ a three-point fixation, while 42% opt for a two-point fixation. In case of necrotic testis, 61% puncture the testis with 52% opting for surgical removal, while 33% perform orchiectomy and 6% leave it in situ. Regarding necrotic or borderline-appearing testis, 54% take a biopsy. Furthermore, 82% perform prophylactic orchidopexy of the contralateral side during the same session. Postoperative antibiotics are always administered by 12%, while 52% do so sometimes. Most perform sonographic (58%) or clinical (57%) follow-up 3 months postoperatively. Notably, pediatric surgeons and urologists perform follow-up more frequently themselves, while general surgeons/urologists recommend follow-up by pediatricians (p = 0.002). In addition, 76% of responders affirm adhering to European Association of Urology guidelines. Unawareness of guidelines and institutional practices are reasons most commonly cited for nonadherence. Our study reveals significant disparities in the pre-, peri-, and postoperative management of testicular torsion underscoring the need for establishing standardized practices.