Total corpora mobilization for penile reconstruction

ABSTRACT Purpose: Total corpora mobilization (TCM) is a novel technique that is used for penile reconstruction in cases of micropenis and penile amputation. Its principle is based on Kelly's procedure for bladder exstrophy (1). In contrast to the Kelly procedure, TCM is performed entirely through the perineum with the patient in the lithotomy position. Materials and Methods: TCM was performed on three patients. The first was a boy who suffered trauma from a dog bite at an age of eight months. At 23 years old he underwent TCM. The second patient had genital self-amputation induced by psychiatric disorder. After treatment, at 27 years old, he desired surgery for penile reconstruction. The third patient had partial androgen insensitivity syndrome (PAIS) with a micropenis and at 23 years old had TCM procedure. The patients were placed in the lithotomy position with a perineal incision in the midline. A subperiosteal incision was made and the corpora cavernosa were detached from the pubic arch and the ischial rami. The periosteum and the neurovascular bundles were preserved. Subsequently the corpora cavernosa was mobilized upward and the periosteum that was left attached to them was sutured to the pubis. Results: At twenty-four, nine, and six months, respectively, in the follow-up process, all patients expressed satisfaction with the final cosmetic appearance, penile length, and erectile function. Conclusion: TCM may prove to be an alternative for patients with a functional disturbance because of small penile length, though a higher number of cases and a more extended follow-up are needed to draw a more definitive conclusion.

Corporoplasty: A simplified technique for clitoroplasty

ABSTRACT Introduction Clitoroplasty constitutes an important step in feminizing surgery for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) ( 1 ). In this video we present a technique that aims to preserve clitoral sensitivity and engorgement while minimizing the risk of neurovascular lesion. Materials and methods We present a video of a three-year-old girl with history of CAH classical form, PRADER-III, who underwent clitoroplasty. After an initial endoscopic evaluation of the urogenital sinus, the clitoris was degloved and a rectangular incision was made on the ventral corpora cavernosa 15mm above the corpora bifurcation and 0.5 mm below the coronal sulcus. The cavernous tissue was partially resected. The upper and lower borders of the rectangular gap were closed by a 5-0 PDS running suture similar to the Mikulicz technique. Next, the edge of the glans was deepithelialized to reduce its size. For improved clitoral positioning, the clitoris was sutured to the pubic fat. From that point onward the procedure followed that of a standard vaginoplasty using the en-bloc technique ( 2 - 4 ). Thus far we have performed this technique in 33 patients, with 31 of them being girls with CAH and 2 being women with clitoral hypertrophy. Conclusion Corporoplasty is a simplified technique for clitoroplasty, with the advantage being that is faster and safer than the technique that involves the dissection of the neurovascular bundle. In addition, corporoplasty has the possible benefit of preserving the cavernosal blood flow that permits the engorgement of the clitoris during sexual arousal.

Clonal diversity and conservation genetics of the medicinal plant Carapichea ipecacuanha (Rubiaceae)

The roots of the understorey shrub Carapichea ipecacuanha (ipecac) have medicinal properties, and the uprooting of wild plants has supplied most of the world demand for this species. Although under severe population decline, C. ipecacuanha lacks legal protection. In the wild, the aerial stems of ipecac clump together to form clusters with well-defined borders. Cluster size may range from several to hundreds of aerial stems. To investigate the extent of clonality among aerial stems in ipecac clusters, we sampled 50 wild clusters (a total of 291 aerial stems) and screened them with 89 inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. The 291 aerial stems were grouped into 42 putative clones. The clonal groups generally consisted of aerial stems from the same cluster, and there was little or no genetic differentiation among aerial stems at the cluster level. These findings suggest that strategies designed to conserve ipecac in situ should not rely upon census data, which are based on the number of aerial stems per cluster and the number of clusters per population, because such data greatly underestimate the species effective population size and genetic diversity. Our results also indicate that this species needs protection at a federal level.