Andrology最新文献

{"title":"Electroacupuncture at SP6 Modulates Functional Brain Networks and Reduces Plasma Norepinephrine to Ameliorate Premature Ejaculation in Rats.","authors":"Ning Wu, Tong Wang, Dawei Ni, Yutian Dai, Yanxin Song, Hongchao Wang, Qinggui Zhong, Jianhuai Chen, Chunlu Xu","doi":"10.1111/andr.70374","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.70374","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The brain plays a critical role in premature ejaculation (PE), but the specific regions involved remain unclear. This study aimed to identify functional brain network alterations in PE-like rats and investigate the modulatory effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at SP6.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Sixteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into PE-like (n = 8) and control (n = 8) groups based on ejaculation frequency (EF). Copulatory behavior (EF, ejaculation latency [EL]), resting-state fMRI, and plasma norepinephrine (NE) were assessed at baseline and after 4 weeks of daily EA at SP6. Functional brain networks were constructed using graph theory, and nodal measures were compared between groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>PE-like rats exhibited significantly shortened EL and elevated plasma NE. Global network measures did not differ between groups. However, PE-like rats showed: (1) decreased nodal strength and betweenness centrality in hypothalamus; (2) decreased betweenness centrality in retrosplenial granular cortex zone a/postsubiculum; (3) increased clustering coefficient and global efficiency in RSD/RSGa; (4) decreased local efficiency in primary somatosensory and dorsal thalamic nucleus. EF and NE were negatively associated with dorsal thalamic nucleus local efficiency, while EL was negatively associated with hypothalamus strength and betweenness centrality. EA treatment significantly reduced EF and NE, prolonged EL, and normalized most nodal abnormalities; the improvement in dorsal thalamic nucleus local efficiency survived FDR correction.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>PE-like behavior in rats is associated with specific nodal alterations in hypothalamus, thalamus, and somatosensory cortex, alongside elevated NE. EA at SP6 was associated with partial normalization of these abnormalities, suggesting potential neuromodulatory mechanisms for PE, though causal relationships require further investigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":7898,"journal":{"name":"Andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148890708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long-Term Satisfaction With Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Using the Satisfaction Survey for Inflatable Penile Implant in a Veteran Population.","authors":"Anessa Sax-Bolder, Tad Manalo, Alan Makedon, Gary Shahinyan, Jeff Morrison, Rohan Bhalla, Mark D Sawyer, Granville L Lloyd","doi":"10.1111/andr.70339","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.70339","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) is the gold standard for refractory erectile dysfunction, yet long-term outcomes in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care population remain incompletely characterized. Using the Satisfaction Survey for Inflatable Penile Implant (SSIPI)-a recently validated, English-language, IPP-specific instrument (16 items; 1-5 Likert scale; total score 16-80)-we conducted a retrospective chart review and telephone-administered survey as an Institutional Review Board-approved quality improvement project at our regional VA medical center. All men undergoing primary IPP implantation from 1993 to 2021 were identified. Of 114 patients (82 living, 32 deceased at census date), 52 of 82 living patients (63.4%) completed the SSIPI. Median follow-up was 129.4 months (IQR 46.9-203.0), and median age at first surgery was 62 years (IQR 58-67). Median total SSIPI score was 67.5/80 (IQR 58.0-76.0); 67.3% of respondents were satisfied or somewhat satisfied. Smokers reported significantly lower satisfaction with post-implant penile length than non-smokers (SSIPI item #8: median 3.0 vs. 4.5; Mann-Whitney U, p = 0.032), and 48.1% of all respondents scored ≤3 on this domain regardless of smoking status, highlighting the importance of preoperative counseling on length expectations. Patients with lower comorbidity burden (ASA ≤ 2) reported higher overall satisfaction than those with ASA ≥ 3 (mean 70.36 vs. 61.13; p = 0.028). Older age at surgery was positively correlated with overall satisfaction (Spearman ρ = 0.463, p < 0.001), supporting IPP as appropriate management in older patients. No significant differences in overall SSIPI score were observed by diabetes status or BMI. Long-term IPP satisfaction in this VA cohort was favorable overall. Smoking history and higher comorbidity burden identify patients warranting enhanced preoperative counseling. The SSIPI demonstrates utility as a long-term quality improvement outcome measure for IPP in a real-world VA setting.</p>","PeriodicalId":7898,"journal":{"name":"Andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148890719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Altered Functional Coherence of the Right Anterior Insula in Men With Nonorganic Erectile Dysfunction: A Resting-State fMRI Study.","authors":"YuXin Bai, Weilu Chai, Min Guan, Xin Chen, Janniko R Georgiadis, Xiangsheng Zhang, Minghao Dong","doi":"10.1111/andr.70373","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.70373","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Nonorganic erectile dysfunction (nonorganic ED) is a common subtype of ED characterized by impaired erectile function in the absence of identifiable organic causes. Although ED is increasingly recognized as a multidimensional condition involving interacting biological, psychological, relational, and sociocultural factors, how these influences are integrated within central neural systems in nonorganic ED remains incompletely understood. Objective neurobiological markers are therefore still lacking.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To investigate whether patients with nonorganic ED exhibit abnormalities in local intrinsic brain activity and to examine the association between these alterations and erectile function.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired from 29 patients with nonorganic ED and 29 age-matched healthy controls. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) was used to assess local synchronization of spontaneous neural activity across the whole brain. Between-group differences were evaluated using voxel-wise analysis. Correlation analyses were performed to assess associations between altered ReHo and erectile function as measured by the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with healthy controls, patients with nonorganic ED exhibited significantly decreased ReHo in the right anterior insula (family-wise error corrected). Furthermore, reduced ReHo in this region was significantly associated with greater ED severity.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These findings indicate that nonorganic ED is associated with disrupted local functional coherence in the anterior insula, a key region involved in integrating interoceptive, emotional, cognitive, and autonomic processes. The observed association with erectile function suggests that impaired integration of these processes may contribute to the central neural mechanisms underlying nonorganic ED.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Patients with nonorganic ED exhibit reduced local functional coherence in the anterior insula, which is associated with ED severity. These findings provide preliminary evidence linking central neural dysfunction to clinical symptoms and support the further evaluation of resting-state fMRI metrics as candidate neurobiological markers for nonorganic ED.</p>","PeriodicalId":7898,"journal":{"name":"Andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148878984","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seminal Biomarkers and Sperm Proteomic Signatures Differentiate Acute and Chronic Male Accessory Gland Inflammation.","authors":"Emanuela Teveroni, Fiorella Di Nicuolo, Giorgia Mazzuccato, Alessandro Oliva, Emanuele Pierpaolo Vodola, Francesca Mancini, Carla Di Nardo, Edoardo Vergani, Michela Cicchinelli, Federica Iavarone, Cassandra Serantoni, Giuseppe Maulucci, Alessia Riente, Alfredo Pontecorvi, Andrea Urbani, Domenico Milardi, Silvia Baroni","doi":"10.1111/andr.70349","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.70349","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Male accessory gland inflammation (MAGI) comprises a heterogeneous group of inflammatory conditions that may differentially affect the seminal microenvironment and sperm function. However, whether transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-defined MAGI phenotypes correspond to distinct biological profiles remains insufficiently characterized.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To evaluate whether TRUS-defined phenotypes of MAGI can be discriminated using seminal inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers and sperm proteomic profiles, and to assess their potential clinical relevance for disease stratification.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>In this case-control study, 20 men with MAGI and 10 healthy controls were enrolled. Patients were classified by TRUS as hypertrophic-congestive (acute) or fibro-sclerotic (chronic) phenotypes. Semen analysis, seminal plasma antioxidant capacity, and sperm lipid peroxidation were assessed. Seminal inflammatory biomarkers were quantified and evaluated by receiver operating characteristic analysis. Proteomic profiling of purified spermatozoa was performed with multivariate and differential expression analyses, followed by functional enrichment and immunofluorescence validation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Both MAGI phenotypes showed reduced sperm concentration and motility compared with controls, whereas abnormal morphology was more pronounced in the fibro-sclerotic phenotype. Antioxidant capacity was reduced, and lipid peroxidation increased in both groups, with greater oxidative imbalance in the hypertrophic-congestive phenotype. SuPAR discriminated MAGI patients from controls with high specificity, whereas sST2 accurately differentiated acute and chronic phenotypes. Proteomic analysis identified distinct, nonoverlapping molecular signatures across groups. Pathway analysis showed downregulation of proteins involved in sperm function and fertilization, with additional impairment of motility-related processes in the chronic phenotype. Immunofluorescence confirmed reduced expression of a key flagellar structural protein, most markedly in fibro-sclerotic MAGI.</p><p><strong>Discussion and conclusion: </strong>TRUS-defined MAGI phenotypes are associated with distinct biomarker and proteomic profiles, consistent with different inflammatory states and patterns of sperm molecular injury. These findings support a biomarker-assisted approach to phenotype stratification and provide mechanistic insight into inflammation-driven male reproductive dysfunction.</p>","PeriodicalId":7898,"journal":{"name":"Andrology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148872677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Artificial Intelligence in Patient Education: ChatGPT for Penile Prosthesis Surgery Counseling, a Likert Scale Analysis.","authors":"Gabriele Tulone, Nicola Pavan, Rosa Giaimo, Alchiede Franco Simonato, Alfonzo Salzano, Davide Cosentino, Francesco Claps, Alchiede Simonato","doi":"10.1111/andr.70236","DOIUrl":"10.1111/andr.70236","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Erectile dysfunction (ED) significantly impacts quality of life. For patients unresponsive to conservative treatments, penile prosthesis implantation represents an effective solution with high satisfaction rates. However, the complexity and sensitive nature of the procedure often generate multiple patient concerns. Artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots such as ChatGPT are increasingly used for medical information, although concerns remain regarding accuracy and misinformation. This study aimed to evaluate the clarity, accuracy, and clinical appropriateness of ChatGPT's responses to frequently asked questions (FAQs) on penile prosthesis surgery.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Fifteen representative FAQs were identified from patient forums and educational platforms. Questions were submitted to ChatGPT (GPT-4, November 2024) in a single session. A panel of seven expert urologists evaluated responses using a four-point Likert scale across four domains: clarity, medical accuracy, relevance, and risk of misinformation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>All responses achieved mean scores above 3, indicating overall clinical acceptability. The highest ratings were observed for relevance (3.40 ± 0.54) and clarity (3.37 ± 0.57). Slightly lower scores were reported for medical accuracy (3.19 ± 0.67) and risk of misinformation (3.18 ± 0.59). A strong positive correlation was found between clarity and relevance (ρ = 0.80), while medical accuracy correlated with lower misinformation risk (ρ = 0.77).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>ChatGPT provides generally clear, relevant, and clinically acceptable responses for patient education in penile prosthesis surgery, although minor clarifications are often required. It may serve as a supportive tool to complement traditional counseling but cannot replace physician-patient communication, which remains essential for individualized care and informed decision-making.</p>","PeriodicalId":7898,"journal":{"name":"Andrology","volume":" ","pages":"1684-1700"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13432411/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147760178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ClpP Ensures Mitochondrial Integrity and Spermatocyte Meiotic Progression in Mice.","authors":"Hai-Wei Feng, Yan-Lin Gao, Bin-Jie Jiang, Muhammad Zubair, Dong-Teng Liu, Zhi-Shen Xu, Zheng-Zhu Wang, Hong-Ling Wang, Xue-Mei Wang, Jing-Xia Sun, Guo-Hua Zeng, Li-Jun Huo","doi":"10.1111/andr.70274","DOIUrl":"10.1111/andr.70274","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Caseinolytic peptidase P (ClpP) plays a key role in maintaining cellular homeostasis for mitochondrial quality control. However, the specific function of ClpP during meiosis and its subcellular localization in spermatocytes remain poorly understood.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the function of ClpP in spermatocyte meiosis.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>ClpP expression was examined in mouse spermatocytes, and tamoxifen was utilized to achieve spatiotemporal-specific deletion of Clpp mediated by Ddx4-Cre^ERT2 in spermatocytes. We analyzed the meiotic progression of Clpp conditional KO (Clpp^cKO) using spermatocyte chromosome spreading, combined with immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy, to determine the morphology and number of spermatocyte mitochondria in Clpp^cKO mice.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A progressive increase in ClpP expression levels was evident from the leptotene stage to the pachytene stage in mouse spermatocytes, and a decrease in ClpP expression was observed from the diplotene stage to the metaphase I (MI) stage. Compared with wild-type male mice, adult Clpp^cKO male mice had reduced testis size and no mature spermatozoa in their epididymides. A large proportion of pachytene and diplotene spermatocytes, as well as round or elongated spermatids, were eliminated from the seminiferous tubules of the Clpp^cKO mice. The mitochondria of Clpp^cKO spermatocytes appeared as \"giant mitochondria.\" However, Clpp^cKO spermatocytes exhibited normal meiotic synapsis and impaired recombination, with reduced RAD51 foci and abnormal MLH1 localization.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>ClpP is critical for spermatocyte survival and mitochondrial integrity during meiosis. As a consequence of its deficiency, meiotic progression and spermatogenesis are disrupted, highlighting its essential role in the meiosis of spermatocytes.</p>","PeriodicalId":7898,"journal":{"name":"Andrology","volume":" ","pages":"1777-1788"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13432486/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148222655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"USP2 Attenuates Spermatogenic Cell Apoptosis Via PINK1/Parkin-Dependent Mitophagy in Varicocoele: A Functional Study.","authors":"Rui-Jie Yao, Hong Xiao, Jun-Hang Zheng, Bin Lin, Shi-Jie Liao, Hao-Han He, Ning Xu, Hui-Liang Zhou","doi":"10.1111/andr.70230","DOIUrl":"10.1111/andr.70230","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Varicocoele is a major cause of male infertility, yet its underlying molecular mechanisms and determinants of surgical efficacy remain unclear.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to identify key proteins involved in varicocoele-related infertility and to investigate the expression and functional role of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 in spermatozoa and spermatogenic cells.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 expression in spermatozoa from varicocoele patients was analyzed before and after varicocelectomy by Western blotting. In vitro, ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 was overexpressed or silenced in mouse GC-2 spermatocyte cells to assess mitochondrial autophagy (PINK1/Parkin pathway), autophagic flux, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species. In vivo, a left-sided varicocoele rat model was established, and ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 activity was inhibited by intratesticular injection of ML364. Testicular histopathology and sperm motility were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 protein expression was significantly reduced in spermatozoa after varicocelectomy. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 overexpression enhanced PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitochondrial autophagy and protected spermatogenic cells from apoptosis, whereas ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 knockdown impaired mitochondrial autophagy and increased cell apoptosis. In varicocoele rats, ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 inhibition aggravated seminiferous tubule damage, reduced spermatogenic cell density, and impaired sperm motility. In human spermatozoa, ML364 treatment significantly decreased progressive motility without affecting sperm concentration.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 is essential for maintaining mitochondrial quality control and spermatogenic cell survival in varicocoele by regulating PINK1/Parkin-mediated autophagy and oxidative stress, highlighting its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target for varicocoele-related male infertility.</p>","PeriodicalId":7898,"journal":{"name":"Andrology","volume":" ","pages":"1656-1668"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13432537/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147643671","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Low Free Testosterone Is Independently Associated With Long-Term Mortality in Men With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury.","authors":"D Tienforti, L Spagnolo, C Moretto, G Terrana, R Di Geronimo, E Perfetto, G Felzani, M G Baroni, A Barbonetti","doi":"10.1111/andr.70251","DOIUrl":"10.1111/andr.70251","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Testosterone deficiency is highly prevalent in men with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) and is associated with obesity, sarcopenia, systemic inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction. However, the independent prognostic role of low testosterone in long-term mortality in this population remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To investigate whether baseline calculated free testosterone (cFT) independently predicts all-cause mortality in men with chronic SCI.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective cohort study including 152 men with chronic SCI admitted to a rehabilitation center between 2017 and 2023. Participants were followed until death or December 2024 (median follow-up 62 months). Severe hypogonadism was defined according to European Male Ageing Study criteria. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between testosterone and mortality. Fully adjusted models included age, comorbidities, inflammatory status, functional independence, injury duration, age at injury, autonomic dysreflexia, body mass index (BMI), HDL, and testosterone-binding factors, including albumin. Prespecified parsimonious models (age + CCI or albumin) were also tested. Kaplan-Meier curves were compared by log-rank test and model discrimination was evaluated using Harrell's C-index.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-four deaths (15.8%) occurred. Deceased patients had significantly lower cFT (48.9 vs. 85.4 pg/mL; p < 0.001) and lower serum albumin levels. In fully adjusted Cox models, lower cFT independently predicted mortality (HR 0.97 per pg/mL increase; 95% CI 0.95-0.98; p = 0.0139). Serum albumin was also strongly associated with mortality in multivariable models, confirming its role as a marker of nutritional and clinical frailty. The association between cFT and mortality remained robust in parsimonious models (HR 0.82 per 10 pg/mL increase; p = 0.001), including those adjusted for albumin. The age-cFT-CCI model showed good discrimination (Harrell's C-index 0.85). ROC analysis identified an internally derived threshold of 59.55 pg/mL (AUC 0.839), with significantly lower survival in men below this threshold (log-rank p < 0.0001).</p><p><strong>Discussion and conclusion: </strong>Low cFT independently predicts all-cause mortality in men with chronic SCI. These findings suggest that cFT may represent an integrative biomarker of systemic frailty beyond markers of nutritional and clinical status in this high-risk population and warrant confirmation in prospective multicenter studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":7898,"journal":{"name":"Andrology","volume":" ","pages":"1712-1722"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13432611/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147809610","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Congenital Penile Curvature Is Associated With Larger Penile Dimensions: A Matched Case-Control Study.","authors":"Celeste Manfredi, Simone Tammaro, Lorenzo Spirito, Lorenzo Romano, Marco Stizzo, Marco Terribile, Carmelo Quattrone, Francesco Bottone, Savio Domenico Pandolfo, Luigi Napolitano, Biagio Barone, Riccardo Lombardo, Marco Falcone, Luca Boeri, Marco Capece, Felice Crocetto, Ferdinando Fusco, Javier Romero Otero, Riccardo Autorino, Marco De Sio, Davide Arcaniolo","doi":"10.1111/andr.70260","DOIUrl":"10.1111/andr.70260","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Clinical observation suggests that men with congenital penile curvature (CPC) often appear to have larger penile dimensions, yet this association has never been objectively investigated. Establishing whether CPC is linked to increased penile size could refine its morphometric characterization, improve preoperative counseling, and inform normative penile measurement references.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To determine whether men with CPC have greater stretched penile length (SPL) and mid-shaft penile circumference compared with age-, height-, and BMI-matched controls.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This single-center, retrospective, matched case-control study was conducted at a tertiary referral andrology center. Consecutive men with lifelong penile curvature ≥ 30°, without plaques, fibrosis, or trauma, were identified through standardized assessment using pharmacologically induced erection or self-photography (Kelami method). Each case was individually matched (1:2) with controls for age (±2 years), height (±3 cm), and BMI (±2 kg/m²). SPL was measured dorsally from the pubopenile junction to the glans tip under manual traction to maximal non-painful extension; mid-shaft circumference was measured in the flaccid state. Primary outcome was SPL; secondary outcome was mid-shaft penile circumference. Continuous variables were compared using paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests as appropriate within matched triplets.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifty men with CPC and 100 matched controls were analyzed. Matching achieved an adequate balance for anthropometric parameters (all standardized mean differences < 0.10). Men with CPC had significantly greater SPL (mean within-set difference 1.82 cm; 95% CI 1.48-2.16; p < 0.001) and mid-shaft circumference (0.72 cm; 95% CI 0.48-0.96; p < 0.001). In exploratory subgroup analyses, length differences appeared greater in men with more severe curvature, although these findings should be interpreted cautiously.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Men with CPC showed significantly greater penile dimensions than matched controls, supporting the hypothesis that CPC may be associated with a distinct morphometric pattern and suggesting potential relevance for surgical counseling, measurement standards, and future research.</p>","PeriodicalId":7898,"journal":{"name":"Andrology","volume":" ","pages":"1723-1730"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13432560/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147969973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Online Andrology: Real-World Status Quo of Patients' Online Information Sources and Comparison With Large Language Models in Germany.","authors":"Traeger Max, Gloeckler Paulina, Hess Jochen, Kranz Jennifer, Morgenstern Saskia, Himmelsbach Ruth, Gratzke Christian, Schlager Daniel","doi":"10.1111/andr.70286","DOIUrl":"10.1111/andr.70286","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The internet, including websites and large language models (LLMs), is an increasingly important information resource for medical patients. However, information quality varies, potentially leading to misinformation. Andrological patients may particularly rely on online sources due to the sensitive nature of their conditions.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To assess the prevalence and quality of internet research among andrological patients and evaluate common online sources for comprehensibility, readability, and accuracy.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Patients (n = 283) at four German andrological centers completed a questionnaire on their online information behavior between November 2022 and October 2023. Common online sources were objectively evaluated using the DISCERN tool and Flesch readability index in 2023. Popular LLMs were also assessed in October 2024 and compared to traditional websites.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>67% (n = 190/283) of andrological patients seek medical information before appointments, primarily using the internet (52%, n = 148/283) and general practitioners (49%, n = 139/283). Patients under 50 predominantly use online sources (60%, n = 74/122). Official medical association websites and Wikipedia are preferred, but 30% also use commercial sites (n = 91/283). In general, most common websites and LLMs provide sufficient information but lack easy comprehensibility and readability.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The study highlights the widespread use of online resources by andrological patients and emphasizes the importance of high-quality medical information. While online tools show promise, the value of physician-patient communication remains irreplaceable and cannot be replaced by chatting with LLMs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Official medical association should provide accurate and easily understood information for andrological patients. Efforts to improve the online media literacy and communication skills of medical personnel are necessary.</p><p><strong>Trial registration number: </strong>The study was registered in the German WHO primary registry, the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) (Number: DRKS00029651).</p>","PeriodicalId":7898,"journal":{"name":"Andrology","volume":" ","pages":"1823-1830"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13432683/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148300719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}