Efficacy and safety of on demand tadalafil in the treatment of East and Southeast Asian men with erectile dysfunction: a randomized double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled clinical study / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To assess the efficacy and safety of tadalafil in comparison to a placebo, when taken on demand for 12 weeks by East/Southeast Asian men with erectile dysfunction (ED).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled study was conducted at 17 centers across East and Southeast Asia between August 2002 and February 2003. Men more than 18 years of age with mild to severe ED of various etiologies were randomized to receive a placebo or 20 mg of tadalafil taken as needed (maximum once daily). Efficacy assessments included the International Index of Erectile Function, the Sexual Encounter Profile diary and Global Assessment Questions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Tadalafil significantly improved erectile function as compared to the placebo (P < 0.001). At the endpoint, the patients receiving 20 mg of tadalafil reported a greater mean per patient percentage of successful intercourse attempts (Sexual Encounter Profile question 3: 70.9% compared to 33.5% in the placebo) and a greater proportion of improved erections (Global Assessment Question: 86.2% compared to 30.1%). Most (= or < 3%) treatment emergent adverse events were mild or moderate. The most common treatment emergent adverse events were headache, back pain, dizziness and dyspepsia.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Tadalafil was an effective and well-tolerated treatment for ED in East and Southeast Asian men.</p>

Clinical and pathological correlation of the microdeletion of Y chromosome for the 30 patients with azoospermia and severe oligoasthenospermia / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>To review the accumulated 30 patients with different area of Y chromosome microdeletions, focusing on their correlation with the clinical and pathological findings.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 334 consecutive infertile men with azoospermia (218 patients) and severe oligoasthenospermia (116 patients) were screened. Complete physical and endocrinological examinations, general chromosome study and multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay to evaluate the Y chromosome microdeletion were performed. Ten patients received testicular biopsy. Then the clinical and pathological findings were analyzed with reference to the areas of Y chromosome microdeletion.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There is a decline of the percentage of sperm appearing in semen in the group that the gene deletion region from AZFc to AZFb. The clinical evidence of the impairment (decreased testicular size and elevated serum FSH) is also relevantly aggravated in this group. However, the pathology of testicular biopsy specimen was poorly correlated with the different deletion areas of the Y chromosome, which may be due to the limited number of specimens.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The clinical correlation of spermatogenic impairment to the different AZF deletion regions may provide the information for the infertile couples in pre-treatment counseling.</p>

Penile venous anatomy: application to surgery for erectile disturbance / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>AIM</b>The structure of the human penile venous system has been well studied, but disappointing outcomes of penile venous surgery in certain patients have called into question on the anatomy. We planned to extend the anatomic knowledge with the ultimate goal of improving operative success.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-five patients, who had undergone penile venous surgery, complained of poor erection developed gradually 6 months to 7 years postoperatively. Cavernosography was performed again during their return visit. Seven new patients underwent spongiosography followed by immediate cavernosography. Eleven male cadavers were carefully dissected. The anatomical findings were applied to venous surgery in 155 patients, who were then followed with the International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire-5 (IIEF-5).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Imaging observation demonstrated that the deep dorsal vein served as a common vessel of the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum. A prominent cavernosal vein was found coursing along each corpus cavernosum distally to the glans, in contrast to its reported description as a short segment at the penile hilum. All cadavers had two sets of para-arterial veins sandwiching the dorsal artery. In 148 men available for follow-up, their mean IIEF-5 score was 9.3 preoperative and increased to 22.7 after the operation. The 88.5% (131/148) of the patients believed that venous stripping was a worthy treatment modality. Five cases required sildenafil to maintain their potentia, which was not working preoperatively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The failure of penile venous surgery has traditionally been ascribed to penile vein regeneration. However, our finding of a long and independent cavernosal vein and an independent set of para-arterial veins may be the principal cause in patients experiencing poor postoperative results.</p>