RESUMO
Objective: According to the high prevalence of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the subsequent risk of men's sexual health, we decided to investigate the efficacy of tadalafil on improvement of men with erectile dysfunction caused by COVID-19. Methods: In this study, 70 outpatients who were recovered from COVID-19 without acute respiratory distress syndrome with negative polymerase chain reaction test and a complaint of erectile dysfunction were divided into two groups: 35 patients who received tadalafil 5 mg daily and 35 who received placebo. For each patient, basic assessment of sexual function was performed using the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. Then, treatment was started from two months after complete recovery of COVID-19 with negative polymerase chain reaction test for 3 months. At the end of the treatments, the patients were re-evaluated for sexual function using the complete version of IIEF questionnaire. Finally, the results before and after treatment in the intervention group were compared with those of the control group. Results: Treatment with both tadalafil and placebo improved the patients' sexual function criteria compared to the baseline. However, this improvement was significantly higher in the intervention group with tadalafil than the control group with placebo (p<0.05). Conclusions: Daily administration of tadalafil 5 mg seems to be effective and safe for improvement of erectile dysfunction caused by COVID-19.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Accurate etiology of azoospermia is required for optimal management of patients. The aim of this
study was the determination of serum hormonal levels and testicular long axis cut off points to distinguish obstructive
azoospermia (OA) from non-OA (NOA) in Iranian patients as well as the evaluation of the necessity of diagnostic
testis biopsy in azoospermic patients.
Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, data of 471 azoospermic patients such as history and physical
examination, serum hormonal level, semen fluid parameter, and testicular long axis based on ultrasound were
evaluated from 2016 to 2020. All patients were examined by a single urologist and underwent a diagnostic testis
biopsy for a definite diagnosis. The diagnostic parameters were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social
Sciences (SPSS) version 16 with t test and chi-square test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to
distinguish NOA from OA.
Results: A total of 127 patients with OA and 284 with NOA were included in this study. The mean serum testosterone
level was significantly higher in OA than NOA (4.2 vs. 3.4 ng/ml), whereas the mean serum follicular stimulating hormone
(FSH, 5.3 vs. 19.1 mIU/ml) and luteinizing hormone (LH, 5.3 vs. 11 mIU/ml) were lower in OA. ROC curve analysis
showed that FSH and testicular long axis were the best diagnostic predictors. Using a combination of serum FSH (8.9
mIU/ml) and testicular long axis (39 mm), the positive predictive value for NOA was 97.02% and for OA was 78.8%.
Conclusion: Combination of serum FSH higher than 8.9 mIU/ml and testicular long axis lower than 39 mm were
strong predictors to distinguish NOA from OA in Iranian participants in this study. In addition, diagnostic testicular
biopsy seems to be necessary for patients with OA and NOA characteristics.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Hypospadias is one of the most common congenital disorders of the urogenital system that is repaired by surgical method. Literature review shows that silicone gel is effective in preventing and improving hypertrophic scars after surgery. Thus, we conducted this study to evaluate the effect of silicone gel on scar reduction after surgical repair of hypospadias. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized double-blind clinical trial, 64 patients who had undergone surgical repair of hypospadias were divided into two groups: 32 patients in the intervention group (silicone gel) and 32 in the control group (placebo). Then, the patients in the silicone gel treatment group were treated twice per day for two months on the site of surgical wound, and the patients in the control group were treated with Vaseline twice per day for two months on the site of surgical wound, too. Scar characteristics (pigmentation, vascularity, pliability, and height) were recorded based on Vancouver's scars scale. Finally, the results of the two treatments on reduction of scars after surgical repair were compared between the two groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS-24. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the two groups in scar characteristics after surgical repair of hypospadias, such as vascularity, pliability, and height (PË0.05); however, there was no significant difference in pigmentation (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that silicone gel had considerable effects on reduction of scars after surgical repair of hypospadias. However, further studies with larger sample size are recommended to confirm our conclusion.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of azelnidipine-carboxyl methyl cellulose (AZL-CMC) gel and carboxyl methyl cellulose 2% gel (CMC) on the healing of full-thickness skin wounds of diabetic rats. METHODS: Fifteen Sprague Dawley male rats were studied. The rats were divided into three groups: AZL-CMC gel-treated, CMC 2% gel-treated, and control group. Wounds were assessed by wound area measurement every 3 days and histopathology samples were collected at 4, 7 and 12 days post wounding to evaluate the healing process using stereological study. Mann-Whitney U-test repeated measurement and non-parametric one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the data using SPSS, version 18. RESULTS: Numerical density of the fibroblasts of the AZL-CMC gel treated group was 59.17±2.69 (×104/mm3) and higher than the control 22.64±1.34 (×104/mm3) and CMC 2%-treated groups 40.80±5.27 (×104/mm3), respectively, P<0.001. The volume density of the collagen bundles and LV of the vessels were 83.1±4.46 and 42.16±5.78, respectively, in the AZL-CMC treated group, and higher compared to the control (53.96±5.07, 9.9±2.49) and the CMC 2%-treated (65.88±2.13, 18.1±2.20) groups (P <0.001). CONCLUSION: The healing of AZL-CMC gel-treated wound was better than the control wounds, grossly. Wound healing processes and wound closure in the intervention group began sooner and was completed more quickly. The quantitative and qualitative parameters showed the significant wound healing effect of the AZL-CMC gel-treated group.
