[Radio wave electrotherapy with a radiofrequency of 448 khz for the treatment of patients with organic erectile dysfunction: a prospective, randomized, blind, Sham-controlled, parallel-group study].

AIM: To evaluate the efficiency of radio wave electrotherapy (448 kHz) for the treatment of patients with organic erectile dysfunction (ED). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, randomized, blind, sham- controlled clinical trial was carried out. Inclusion criteria were as following: 1) patients with 5 to 20 points on the IIEF-5 score; 2) patients with proven organic erectile dysfunction lasting at least 6 months; 3) patients with penile arterial insufficiency and/or venous insufficiency, confirmed by doppler study of penile vessels with pharmacological stimulation (peak systolic velocity (PSV) <25 cm/s, end-diastolic blood flow velocity (DPV) >5 cm/s, resistance index (IR) < 0.8). The participants were randomized into two groups (experimental and control) in a 1:1 ratio. The full treatment course lasted 9 weeks. Patients underwent an assessment of erectile function based on questionnaires (IIEF-5, SEP, Schramek), as well as Doppler ultrasound of the cavernous arteries before inclusion in the study as well as a after treatment. RESULTS: The study included 61 men (experimental group [n=31], control group [n=30]. There was a significant difference in the IIEF-5 scores after treatment between the experimental group and the control group (19.5+/-3.2 vs. 15.1+/-5.4, p=0.017, respectively). Significant differences were also noted in mean total score of the SEP questionnaire: an increase to 3.6+/-1.0 in the treatment group compared to 2.4+/-1.1 in the control group (p=0.004). The results of the Schramek questionnaire also demonstrated a significant increase in the mean score in the experimental group compared to the control group: 4.2+/-0.6 vs. 3.2+/-1.0 (p=0.011). The response time to the drug and the detumescence time also significantly differed between the two groups: 11.9+/-4.0 min vs. 15.5+/-4.1 min, p=0.001 and 126.6+/-60.7 min vs. 66.2+/-40.9, p<0.001, respectively. Neither complications nor any adverse events were recorded during treatment or after its completion. CONCLUSIONS: Radio wave electrotherapy with a radiofrequency of 448 kHz can improve the IIEF-5, SEP and Schramek scores, as well as the indicators of ultrasound Doppler ultrasonography in patients with organic ED. To assess the feasibility of this method in patients with organic ED of different stages, further studies are needed.

[Aberrant expression of arrestin-1 and recoverin in kidney tumors].

INTRODUCTION: Early diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is extremely difficult, due to the late development of clinical manifestations. The study of the aberrant expression of tumor-associated antigens and a production of autoantibodies to these proteins seems promising and novel method for RCC diagnosis. AIM: To evaluate the possibility of using arrestin-1 (Arr-1), recoverin (Rec) and autoantibodies against arrestin-1 (AAA1) and recoverin (AAR) as a kidney tumor biomarker. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary kidney tumors and metastases of 62 patients were investigated. For immunohistochemical studies, tissues were incubated with polyclonal antibodies against Rec and Arr1 as the main antibodies. Detection of AAR and AAA-1 in the serum of patients was performed using Western Blot analysis according to a standard protocol. RESULTS: Among 62 tumors, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) constitutes 50 cases (86.4%), and oncocytoma was diagnosed in 12 patients (19.4%). In 11 (22%) cases of RCC, distant metastases were detected. Positive expression of Rec was observed in almost 71% of all types of kidney tumors. In 61.3% of patients with RCC, Arr-1 expression was seen. In the serum, AAR was found only in 1 patient (1.6%) with RCC. However, unlike AAR, AAA-1 in the serum of patients was observed much more often (75.8%). CONCLUSION: According to our data, the presence of AAA1 in the serum, unlike AAR, can be considered as an early kidney tumor biomarker. The high expression of recoverin and arrestin-1 in kidney tumors suggests the use of these proteins in future as a marker for the diagnosis or even as a potential target for immunotherapy.