Environmental Benefits of Electronic Table of Contents of Journals Over Print.

Recent discussion has driven debate on the best format for journals to deliver content to their readers. Traditional dogma necessitated a physical print copy, which was sent to subscribers automatically and came with the benefits of ease of use and familiarity. With the passage of time, electronic tables of contents, with or without the option for a print copy, have been used in lieu to save cost and environmental concerns and to allow content to be consumed in a more convenient, tidier way.

Pancreatic Exocrine Secretion and Weight Gain After Pancreas Transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Weight gain after pancreas transplant is a poorly understood phenomenon thought to be related to increased posttransplant insulin production, immunosuppressive medications, and appetite changes. No study has investigated the effect of increased exocrine secretion posttransplant. AIMS AND HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that exocrine function, measured by fecal elastase-1 (FE-1), was normal posttransplant and not correlated with weight gain. Our primary aim was to investigate changes in FE-1 levels with pancreas transplantation and to correlate this with weight gain. Establishing weight trends and identifying additional correlating factors were secondary aims. DESIGN: Forty-two patients that underwent simultaneous pancreas and kidney or pancreas after kidney transplant at a single center between 2013 and 2021 were included. Fecal elastase was measured prospectively in each patient at a single time point, with >500 µg/g categorized as high. Weight and C-peptide values were obtained. All the patients were on steroid-free immunosuppression. RESULTS: Nineteen patients (45%) had fecal elastase levels >500 µg/g, with a maximum of 3910 µg/g; 43% had levels greater than twice the upper limit of normal. The biggest increase in weight occurred between years 1 and 2, which continued to a median weight gain of 14% at 3 years. There was no correlation between weight gain and FE-1, pretransplant C-peptide levels, or duration of diabetes. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated supranormal fecal elastase levels and weight gain posttransplant; however, there was no correlation. Future study with serial FE-1 before and after transplant is needed to better assess its correlation with weight gain.

Necrotizing Vaginitis in a 45-Year-Old Woman With Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Vaginitis emphysematosa (VE) is a rare, benign, and self-limited condition often diagnosed by the presence of intramuscular vaginal air observed on computed tomography (CT) scan. Although it is a nonpathologic, self-limited condition requiring no intervention, it is important to rule out a more serious infectious pathology. This report highlights a clinical dilemma and the potential consequences of over-reliance on CT in distinguishing benign VE from pathologic necrotizing vaginitis. A high clinical suspicion for infection should be maintained, especially when relevant clinical and laboratory markers suggest a more serious pathology. We describe the case of a 45-year-old woman who presented to the hospital with abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. CT scan demonstrated intramuscular vaginal air, which was reported as VE. Classic imaging findings of VE falsely reassured clinicians. She died shortly thereafter of necrotizing vaginitis.

Malignancy: A Rare, Important and Poorly Understood Cause of Priapism.

INTRODUCTION: Priapism is rare yet has the potential to inflict significant suffering on patients, often with lasting consequences such as erectile dysfunction, corporal muscle necrosis, and a loss of sexual function. Although rare, it is a pathology that has received little focus in the literature, particularly that caused by malignancy, and it is in this form that the long-term prognosis becomes particularly poor. AIM: This review looks at malignant priapism in detail moving from the etiology and pathogenesis through investigations and management to provide an up-to-date picture. METHODS: In so doing, more than 30 articles are reviewed and examined from databases such as PubMed. Significant cases are provided as examples to provide a comprehensive review of a topic that receives little attention but can cause significant patient morbidity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The main outcome measure was the use of aspiration, sympathomimetics, and surgery as the main treatment modalities and how each one is used with regard to both the underlying etiology of the priapism and also the prognosis. We look at the need for treatment and how that relates to quality of life and erectile function thereafter. RESULTS: Solid tumor invasion-both primary and secondary-and hematologic malignancies represent the key etiologies of malignant priapism and aggressive treatment is needed. Recovery of erectile function can occur if intracavernosal phenylephrine is quickly administered or distal shunts are placed; however, the prognosis is often poor, and subsequent chemotherapy treatment is often required. CONCLUSION: The importance of a clear history and examination cannot be understated, and although the prognosis is often poor, this review hopes to give clinicians better understanding to be able to recognize malignancy as a potential cause of priapism. Ralph O, Shroff N, Johnson MJ, et al. Malignancy: A Rare, Important and Poorly Understood Cause of Priapism. J Sex Med 2021; 9:312-319.

Unconscious Bias in Speaker Introductions at a Surgical Oncology Meeting: Hierarchy Reigns Over Gender.

BACKGROUND: Recent reviews of medical conferences have shown that women were less likely to receive a formal introduction compared with men. We examined speaker introductions at the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) annual meeting to determine whether similar biases exist within our organization. METHODS: An observational study of video-archived speaker introductions at the 2018 and 2019 SSO annual meetings was conducted. Professional address was defined as professional title followed by full name or last name. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with form of address. RESULTS: There were 499 speaker introductions reviewed. Speakers included 290 (58%) men and 238 (49%) post-graduate trainees (residents and fellows). A non-professional form of address was used to introduce 148 (30%) speakers and was most often used for post-graduate trainees (33%). Full professors were more likely than junior faculty to introduce speakers with a non-professional form of address (37% of full professors vs 18% of assistant professors, p < 0.001). In multivariable regression analysis these findings persisted. Trainees were 2.8 times more likely to receive a non-professional form of address (p = 0.003). Use of a non-professional introduction did not significantly vary by the speaker's nor the introducer's gender. CONCLUSIONS: Residents and fellows were more likely to receive a non-professional form of address, and the likelihood of this increased with rising seniority of the introducer. The manner of speaker introduction did not vary by gender in our organization. More research is needed to explore the influence of these disparities on academic advancement for the next generation of surgical oncologists.

The surgical management of ischaemic priapism.

Priapism is a urological emergency that is defined as a prolonged penile erection lasting more than 4 h, remaining despite orgasm and in the absence of sexual stimulation. Without prompt and complete detumescence, time-dependent changes occur to the smooth muscle of the corpus cavernosa that can result in permanent erectile dysfunction and penile deformity (curvature, shortening and loss of girth). The diagnosis is confirmed with a hypoxic and acidotic blood sample from the corpus cavernosa. The trapped blood inside the corpus cavernosa is aspirated and can be irrigated with 0.9% normal saline. Intracavernosal injection of a sympathomimetic agent is used to cause smooth muscle contraction if the previous measures fail. Failure or recurrence of priapism following these conservative measures is an indication for surgical management. Shunt procedures that create a connection with the corpus cavernosa and a neighbouring structure are often used first line. Multiple shunt procedures have been described and these are summarised in this article. Distal shunt procedures are the most commonly used as they are easier to perform and seem to have at least comparable detumescence and potency rates. Refractory or prolonged (>48 h) ischaemic priapism maybe an indication of immediate placement of a penile prosthesis.

Repair of the penile suspensory ligament for congenital and acquired pathology.

OBJECTIVE: To review the mechanisms and patient outcomes for men presenting with abnormalities of the penile suspensory ligament (PSL) and their correction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of a total of 118 patients who presented with a variety of PSL abnormalities that necessitated surgical repair from 1993 to 2018. The patients mean (range) age at presentation was 29 (12-60) years with a mean (range) follow up of 8 months (3 months-12 years). The diagnosis was made clinically, often with a history of penile instability, pain or curvature/torsion, which was confirmed on artificial erection testing. Nocturnal tumescent testing and magnetic resonance imaging were used where necessary. The surgical repair was performed by placing non-absorbable sutures between the tunica albuginea of the penis and the symphysis pubis. Postoperative outcomes were reported in the clinic by direct questioning and a repeat of the investigations above when patients were unsatisfied with the result. RESULTS: The aetiologies and surgical indications in the 118 patients included: abnormality subsequent to sexual trauma (n = 66); congenital curvature of penis and/or congenital absence/laxity of the ligament (n = 37); Peyronie's disease (n = 8); and venogenic erectile dysfunction (ED; n = 7). A good surgical result, as defined by stabilization and straightening of the penis and a return to normal sexual function, was achieved in 85% of the patients and 82% were very satisfied with the outcome. Complications included long-term ED in four patients. CONCLUSION: Abnormalities of the PSL are uncommon and often subtle, but with the appropriate diagnosis, a good cosmetic and functional result is usually achievable.

Safety and effectiveness of collagenase clostridium histolyticum in the treatment of Peyronie's disease using a new modified shortened protocol.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH; Xiapex® , Xiaflex® ) in the treatment of Peyronie's disease (PD) using a new modified treatment protocol that aims at reducing the number of injections needed and reducing patient visits, thus reducing the duration and cost of treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study of 53 patients with PD who had treatment with CCH at a single centre using a new modified protocol. The angle of curvature assessment after an intracavernosal injection of prostaglandin E1, the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Peyronie's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ) were completed at baseline and at week 12 (4 weeks after the last injection). The Global Assessment of Peyronie's disease (GAPD) questionnaire was completed at week 12. Under a penile block of 10 mL plain lignocaine 1%, a total of three intralesional injections of CCH (0.9 mg) were given at 4-weekly intervals using a new modified injection technique. In between injections patients used a combination of home modelling, stretching and a vacuum device on a daily basis to mechanically stretch the plaque. Investigator modelling was not performed. RESULTS: The mean (range) penile curvature at baseline was 54 (30-90)°. Of the 53 patients in the study, 51 patients (96.2%) had an improvement in the angel of curvature by a mean (range) of 17.36 (0-40)° or 31.4 (0-57)% from baseline after three CCH injections. The final mean (range) curvature was 36.9 (12-75)° (P < 0.001). There was an improvement in each of the IIEF questionnaire domains, all three PDQ domains and the GAPD. CCH was well tolerated by all patients with only mild and transient local adverse events. CONCLUSION: The new shortened protocol using CCH treatment is safe, effective, and cost efficient. The results of using only three CCH injections according to this modified protocol are comparable to those of the clinical trials that used eight CCH injections.