Gonococcal infections of the penile skin and accessory glands in men: high-frequency ultrasound features and their clinical significance / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective:To investigate ultrasonographic manifestations of gonococcal infections of the penile skin and accessory glands in men, and to assess their clinical significance.Methods:From January 2014 to January 2021, male patients with gonococcal infections of the penile skin and accessory glands were collected from Department of Dermatology, Changshu No.1 People′s Hospital. The diagnosis had been confirmed by laboratory examinations, and these patients had not received relevant treatment. The real-time ultrasound imaging system SIEMENS ACUSON X300 was used to examine the penile skin and accessory gland lesions infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, with the probe frequency ranging from 7.5 to 15 MHz. Patients with tubular anechoic fluid-filled areas on the high-frequency ultrasound images received a single dose of intramuscular ceftriaxone (1 g) ; those with oval-shaped anechoic fluid-filled areas on the high-frequency ultrasound images received incision and drainage followed by intramuscular injection of ceftriaxone at a dose of 1 g once a day for 5 consecutive days; those with hypoechoic or mixed echoic areas on the high-frequency ultrasound images received intramuscular injection of ceftriaxone at a dose of 1 g once a day for 5 consecutive days, and if the nodules did not regress after 1-month treatment, local resection would be performed. One month after the treatment, the patients were followed up, and the efficacy was evaluated. Results:A total of 32 male patients with gonococcal infections of the penile skin and accessory glands were collected. They were aged 28.54 ± 3.27 years, all had a history of non-marital sexual contact, and the duration from non-marital sexual contact to the onset of symptoms was 4.45 ± 1.03 days. The disease course was 8.64 ± 1.87 days. Lesions were all solitary, and located at the external urethral meatus in 16 cases (50.00%) , at the glans penis in 7 cases (21.88%) , beside the foreskin frenulum in 5 cases (15.62%) , and at the penile raphe in 4 cases (12.50%) . Sixteen patients (50.00%) presented with sinus-like lesions, 9 (28.13%) with abscesses, 7 (21.87%) with nodules, and all had tenderness on palpation. High-frequency ultrasound examination showed tubular anechoic fluid-filled areas in 16 cases (50.00%) , oval-shaped anechoic fluid-filled areas in 7 cases (21.88%) , hypoechoic areas in 5 cases (15.62%) , and mixed echoic areas in 4 cases (12.50%) . Gonococcal infections involved the cavernous body of the urethra in 16 cases (50.00%) , cavernous body of the penis in 5 cases (15.62%) , and subcutaneous tissue of the penis in 11 cases (34.38%) . After the treatment, all the patients were cured.Conclusion:High-frequency ultrasound can be used in the assessment of skin lesions and selection of treatment regimens for male patients with gonococcal infections of the penile skin and accessory glands.

Acquired premature ejaculation and male accessory gland infection: Relevance of ultrasound examination / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

We have previously demonstrated a high frequency of premature ejaculation (PE) among patients with male accessory gland infection (MAGI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the ultrasound (US) features of patients with MAGI and acquired premature ejaculation (APE) associated (MAGI-APEpos). US evaluation of 50 MAGI-APEpos patients compared to 50 patients with MAGI without PE (MAGI-PEneg) which represent the control group. The diagnosis of APE was made through the evaluation of Intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) and confirmed with the questionnaire PEDT (Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool). The main outcome measure was represented by the frequency of US criteria suggestive of P (prostatitis), V (vesiculitis), and E (epididymitis) in MAGI-APEpos and MAGI-PEneg patients. MAGI-APEpos patients showed a total number of US criteria significantly higher compared to MAGI-PEneg patients. MAGI-APEpos showed a higher frequency of US criteria of V and E (complicated forms of MAGI). Finally, in MAGI-APEpos group, it was found a positive relationship between the anteroposterior diameter (APD) of the caudal tract of the epididymis and the APD of the seminal vesicles, as well as between both diameters and the PEDT score. MAGI-APEpos patients have a peculiar US characterization compared to MAGI-PEneg patients. According to these results, US evaluation of the epididymal and of the prostato vesicular tract should be considered in the practical clinical approach of patients with MAGI and APE. In particular, it could be a support for a possible pathophysiological interpretation of this clinical problem in these patients.

Sexually Transmitted Infections and Sexual Function in Relation to Male Fertility

Infertility affects about 8% to 12% of couples, with male infertility being responsible for about 30% of cases. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are known to cause complications of pregnancy and are associated with tubal infertility in females, but the association with male fertility is still controversial. The prevalence of curable STIs has risen to an estimated 448 million a year with the number of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at 34 million. This review looks at the evidence available to date, regarding the effect of STIs and male accessory gland infections on markers of male fertility and the evidence that STIs negatively affect sexual functioning, thus adversely affecting the ability to conceive. The review will also cover new developments in the use of medications and fertility treatments as an aid to conception in couples serodiscordant for HIV.

Morphology of male reproductive system of two solitary bee species (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Bees can form all levels of social organization, from solitary to advanced eusocial societies. Although 80 percent of the species exist as solitary species, most researches emphasize social species. This study focuses on the description of the male reproductive system of the solitary beesThygater analis (Lepeletier) and Melitoma segmentaria (Fabricius) and searches for traits that support behavioral and phylogenetic studies. The reproductive system of males were dissected, fixed in 2.5 percent glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M sodium cacodylate buffer pH 7.2 and post-fixed with 1 percent osmium tetroxide. The tissue was dissected and included for light microscopy. The species presented similar anatomical traits, including paired testicles, seminal vesicles, deferent ducts, accessory glands and an ejaculatory duct. Each testicle was composed of four follicles. In both species, a testicle and a seminal vesicle were surrounded by a joint capsule, forming a seminal vesicle-testicle complex. The two species presented accessory glands with very distinct morphological traits. The anatomic pattern and the histological traits of the reproductive system of the species studied were similar to those described for other bees. In addition, these traits can be used to differentiate species and allow inferences concerning their reproductive biology.

Comparative anatomy of the male reproductive internal organs of 51 species of bees / Anatomia comparada dos órgãos do aparelho reprodutor masculino de 51 espécies de abelhas

A anatomia dos órgãos internos do aparelho reprodutor de machos (ARM) adultos e pupas foi comparada em 51 espécies de abelhas, incluindo representantes de seis famílias. Foram obtidos quatro tipos diferentes de ARM. O tipo I está presente em machos das famílias mais basais (Colletidae,Andrenidae e Halictidae) e é caracterizado por três túbulos seminíferos por testículo, o qual é quasetotalmente envolvido pela membrana escrotal. O tipo II é um tipo intermediário entre os tipos I e III e estápresente em Mellitidae e Megachilidae, como também em alguns Apidae estudados, sendo caracterizado por possuir dutos deferentes pós-vesiculares fora da membrana escrotal e possuir três ou quatro túbulos seminíferos por testículo, exceto Apis mellifera L., a qual possui secundariamente um número aumentado de túbulos. O tipo III foi achado somente nos Apidae estudados e é caracterizado por apresentar os testículos e dutos genitais (exceto o duto deferente pós-vesicular) encapsulados separadamente, as glândulas acessórias são bem desenvolvidas e o duto ejaculador é calibroso, apresentando fissuras em sua parede externa, as quais podem ocorrer também no tipo II. O tipo IV está presente exclusivamente na tribo Meliponini e é caracterizado pela ausência de glândulas acessórias.

The anatomy of the internal organs of the male reproductive apparatus (MRA) of adults and pupae was compared among 51 species of bees, including representatives of six families. Fourdifferent types of MRA were found. The type I is present in males of the less derived families (Colletidae, Andrenidae, and Halictidae) and is characterized by three seminiferous tubules per testis, which are almost completely enveloped by the scrotal membrane. The type II is an intermediary between types III and I and is present in Melittidae and Megachilidae, as well as in some Apidae studied, being characterized by post-vesicular deferent ducts outside the scrotal membrane and by three or fourseminiferous tubules per testis, except for Apis mellifera L., which has a secondarily increased number of tubules. Type III was only found in the Apidae studied and is characterized by separately encapsulated testes and genital ducts (except for the post-vesicular deferent duct). Accessory glands are well developed, and the ejaculatory duct is thickened with fissures in its wall, which may also occur in the type II. Type IV is present exclusively in the tribe Meliponini, and is characterized by the absence of accessory glands.

Effects of Induced Hyper/Hypoprolactinemia to Gonad and Sex Accessory Gland in Male Rat / 대한비뇨기과학회지

High plasma levels of prolactin induced by transplants of four donor pituitaries under kidney capsule in adult male rat resulted in suppression of the plasma levels of testosterone, decreased numbers of Leydig cells and decreased height of prostatic glandular cells. In contrast low plasma levels of prolactin induced by treatment with bromoceiptine in adult male rat resulted in increased plasma levels of testosterone, increased number of Leydig cells and increased height of prostatic glandular cells. The area of the seminiferous tubule was not changed under any circumstance. And the basal plasma levels of testosterone in testicular vein were proportioned to its levels in I.V.C. It suggests that adrenal gland has minimal effects on action of prolactin to gonad. The change of basal plasma level of testosterone accompanied by the change of numbers of Leydig cells under induced hyperprolactinemia and hypoprolactinemia suggest that prolactin affects the testis including the anatomical change. These results support that hyperprolactinemia appear to sensitize the hypothalamic-pituitary axis to the negative feedback effects of gonadal steroids and that bromocriptine has indirect or direct effects on steroidogenesis of testis.