bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
(181) LOW INTENSITY SHOCKWAVE THERAPY FOR ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION: A SHAM-CONTROLLED RANDOMIZED TRIAL
Authors: Goldstein Sue W , Goldstein Dr Irwin , Kim Dr Noel N 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Objectives
A sham-controlled, randomized prospective trial in men with ED was performed using an electrohydraulic shockwave device (Softwave/Urogold, TRT).

Methods
In this single-blind study performed in men with ED, participants were randomized 2:1 to active low intensity shockwave therapy (LiSWT) (4 Hz, 0.12 mJ/mm2) or sham. Arm 1 consisted of 3 treatments of 5000 shocks every 3 weeks. Arm 2 consisted of 5000, 3000, 3000 shocks during weeks 1, 2, 3, respectively, followed by an identical cycle of treatment 3 weeks later. Doppler ultrasound/grayscale was performed at weeks 20 and 32. Participants completing sham treatment crossed over to LiSWT. Post-treatment end diastolic velocity (EDV) and peak systolic velocity (PSV) were measured, and visual grading scores used to assess hypoechoic regions in the corpora cavernosa. Data were analyzed by 2-way repeated measures ANOVA with Geisser-Greenhouse correction. Pairwise comparisons were performed to baseline using Dunnett’s multiple comparison test. Missing data were imputed by “last observation carried forward”.

Results
36 participants (22 active, 14 sham) were randomized. Sham treatments showed no significant changes. Visual grading scores in the proximal region were consistently higher with active LiSWT vs sham (Arm 1 = 88.9% vs. 11.1%; Arm 2 = 40.0% vs. 20.0%, respectively), statistically significant in Arm 1 at weeks 20 (p=0.005) and 32 (p=0.001). Sham participants also had improved grayscale ratings after LiSWT (Arm 1 = 33.3% vs. 11.1%; Arm 2 = 40.0% vs. 20.0%). After LiSWT, greater numbers of patients had higher PSV, lower EDV, or no worsening relative to baseline. Decrease in EDV was statistically significant in active treatment Arm 2 at Week 32 (p=0.003). Adverse events were transient.

Conclusions
Statistically significant changes from baseline between sham and active treatments in primary outcome measures with no adverse events support safety and efficacy of LiSWT for treating ED.

Conflicts of Interest
No conflicts of interest.
(388) EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK WAVE THERAPY (ESWT) IN THE TREATMENT OF PEYRONIE'S DISEASE: OUR INITIAL EXPERIENCE
Authors: Saitta Dr Giuseppe , Di Paola Dr Giuseppe , Mantovani Dr Franco A , Meazza Dr Attilio L , Seveso Dr Mauro 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Objectives
To evaluate prospectively the efficacy of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) as a conservative treatment for Peyronie's disease.

Methods
112 patients from January 2022 to January 2023 were included in the prospective study. Each patient was treated with a minimum of three sessions of ESWT (3000 shock wavs at an energy density of 0.11-0.17 mJ/mm2) at 3-week intervals. The angulation was calculated by auto-photography: the mean angulation before treatment was 48 degrees (range 10°-100°). The severity of pain on erection was assessed by a visual analog scale (0-5): all patients had symptoms (60 scored 5). Moreover a self-evaluation questionnaire (International Index of Erectile Function) was used: 42 patients had erectile dysfunction (IIEF&lt;18). The plaque was located by palpation. The mean disease duration was 18 months (4-60 mo). The mean follow up was 9 months (4-24).

Results
All patients completed the protocol. The tolerance and safety were excellent. The results were analysed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Of the 60 patients with pain on erection, 54 (90%) noticed immediately relief after ESWT with mean reduction 2.9 on the visual analog pain scale (p&lt;0.00001). An improvement in angulation greater than 10 degrees was observed in 64 patients (57.1%), with a mean reduction of 30 degrees (p&lt;0.001). 11 patients with erectile dysfunction (26.2%) han an increased IIEF score greater than 4. 62 patients (55.4%) thought the plaque was smoother. Only 2 patients (1.8%) experimented minimal bruising at the site of treatment the day after, no major complications were reported.

Conclusions
ESWT represents an effective, feasable and safe conservative treatment for Peyronie's disease. It seems to reduce pain during erection and sometimes improve the penile angle. Long-term follow up and further results are required.

Conflicts of Interest
No.
(268) FAILED HYPOSPADIAS REPAIR IN ADULTHOOD - TRANSITIONAL UROLOGY
Authors: Kojovic Vladimir , Marjanovic Dr Marko , Cvetinovic Dr Ana , Cico Dr Emre , Ilic Predrag 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Objectives
The exact incidence of failed hypospadias repair (FHR) in adult patients remain unknown, but the number is rapidly increasing. The study aims to evaluate the most common issues in adult patients requiring additional surgical treatment due to FHR in childhood.

Methods
From January 2015 to January 2023 patients with previous hypospadias repair in childhood, who underwent additional surgery in adulthood, were evaluated. The most common complications, total number of surgical procedures and time span between childhood and adulthood surgery were recorded. Postoperative follow-up included 1-, 3-, and 6-months evaluation and annually afterward.

Results
Fifty-five patients were treated with a mean age of 26 years. One stage repair was performed in 47 (85.5%) and staged repairs in 8 (14.5%) patients. The most common reasons for surgical repair were: urethral stricture in 8 (14.5%) patients, failed urethroplasty with abnormal meatal position in 10 (18.2%) patients, residual curvature or deformity in 10 (18.2%) patients and combination of several complications in 27 (49.1%) patients. Urethral repair was performed using buccal mucosa graft (BMG), penile skin flap, or combination of BMG and skin flap. Penile curvature and deformities were corrected by plication procedures. Mean time interval between the last surgical procedure in childhood and the definitive correction in adulthood was 16 years. Twenty-four (43.6%) of 55 patients underwent one surgical and 31 (56.4%) patients underwent two or more surgical procedures in childhood. Mean number of procedures was 4. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 18 months. The overall successful outcome was achieved in 50 (90.9%) patients while 5 (9.1%) patients were considered failures, as additional procedures were necessary.

Conclusions
Surgical treatment of failed hypospadias repair is challenging due to poor quality of available tissue and excessive scar formation. Regular and long-term follow-up after primary repair is necessary and these patients should be referred to a center of excellence.

Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
(143) THE EFFECT OF SMOKING CESSATION ON SEMEN QUALITY
Authors: Ragheb Dr Ahmed , Mohamed Dr Mahmoud AEK , Abdelbary Prof Ahmed , Massoud Prof Amr , Elmarakby Dr Akram 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Objectives
Our primary aim was to investigate the reversibility of the negative impact of smoking on male fertility. Secondarily, we studied the effect of both time after smoking cessation as well as smoking index on semen quality improvement.

Methods
Our study included 60 participants who applied to a smoking cessation program. After completing a fertility background questionnaire, 2 semen specimens, provided 2 weeks apart, were analyzed for each candidate on three different occasions. First, right before smoking cessation then at 3 and 6 months after stopping smoking, respectively. Semen quality was compared between the 3 occasions. The degree of change was correlated with the level of smoking. Nicotine level in urine was used for smoking cessation compliance monitoring during the study.

Results
Comparing semen quality on the 3 different occasions respectively, we detected a significant improvement in semen volume (3.33 ml ± 1.07 vs. 3.88 ml ± 0.80 vs. 4.34 ml ± 0.67, P &lt; 0.001), sperm concentration (14.77 million /ml ± 6.49 vs. 17.71 million /ml ± 6.41 vs. 19.27 million/ml ± 6.46, P &lt; 0.001), total sperm count (49.33 million ± 25.31 vs. 70.16 million ± 30.85 vs. 84.01 million ± 31.00, P &lt; 0.001), progressive motility (20.7% vs. 35.3% vs. 42.28%, P &lt; 0.001), total motility (41.48% vs. 60.33% vs. 67.67%, P &lt; 0.001) and abnormal morphology (69.32% Vs. 50.88% vs. 40.82%, P &lt; 0.001). Improvement in all parameters was positively corelated to the duration after cessation. Higher smoking indices were related to higher levels of improvement in semen volume, sperm concentration, and total count (areas under the curve of 0.867, 0.852, and 0.863 respectively, P &lt; 0.001 for each).

Conclusions
The negative effect of smoking on semen quality is reversible. Smoking cessation has a time-dependent positive effect on main semen parameters, hence, positive potential for fecundity improvement in men.

Conflicts of Interest
The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
(266) BRAIN ACTIVATION PATTERNS IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN WITH SEXUAL DESIRE-AROUSAL DISORDER: PRELIMINARY RESULTS
Authors: Torres Dr Laura R , Acedo Sònia A , Flores Prof Camil C-B 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Objectives
To define brain activation patterns in postmenopausal women with FSIAD during visual and olfactory sexual stimulation.

Methods
A cross-sectional study in a tertiary university hospital is being conducted with postmenopausal women with FSIAD (N=18) and postmenopausal women without FSIAD (N=5). A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been performed to measure brain blood flow and oxygen level dependent changes induced by neuronal activation during visual and olfactory stimuli (non-sexual, neutral, sexual).

Results
The mean age (mean ± SD) of our sample is 55,8 ± 6,9 years old (54,2 ± 4,3 for postmenopausal women with FSIAD, 62,3 ± 10,4 for postmenopausal women with normal sexual desire). A tendency of increase in the activation of the insular lobe and association parietooccipital cortex with sexual olfactory stimulus has been found in postmenopausal women with normal sexual desire. This differential activation has not been found in postmenopausal women with FSIAD. As for visual sexual stimuli, a tendency to activate the prefrontal cortex in postmenopausal women with FSIAD has been found, in contrast to postmenopausal women with normal sexual desire.

Conclusions
Preliminary analysis suggests an increased activation of the prefrontal cortex with visual sexual stimuli in postmenopausal women with FSIAD, which is associated with self-referential mental activity (thus related with detrimental effects on sexual functioning). A diminished brain response to olfactory sexual stimulus has also been found in these patients. However, further data needs to be collected in order to confirm these results and expand them once the recruitment is completed.

Conflicts of Interest
Authors declare no of interest.
(242) INDOOR CYCLING AND PUDENDAL ENTRAPMENT NEUROPATHY: AN INCREASINGLY COMMON CAUSE OF VULVODYNIA
Authors: Galán JM Poyato , Rodríguez Á Rivera , Bravo R Samaniego , Millán V García , Ruiz M García-Baquero 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Objectives
Most cases of Vulvodynia are mainly caused by Vulvitis-Vaginitis-STD-Allergies, but past year we´ve detected an increase in the Neurotraumatic etiology for young women practicing Spinnig. We analyze the incidence and causes in our population.

Methods
Retrospectively, 121 cases of Vulvodynia referred to our Clinic from Emergency, General Medicine and Internal Medicine (January'22 to January'23) were selected. Anthropometrics were: 49±6 years (21-59), weight 52±4Kg, height 159±9cm. 24 patients in this group performing indoor cycling (36±7 years, weight 47±5Kg, height 162±8cm) had been diagnosed with Pudendal Nerve Neuropathy. They presented perianal+vulvoperineal pain, vulvar hypoesthesias/paresthesias and diffuse genital discomfort modified with postural changes (pain when sitting, relief when standing up and disappearance when lying down). Due to Vegetative Nerve component, 18 women also reported urinary urgency.
Detailed Neurological examination was performed to identify the Sensitive nerve fascicles involved and a specific evaluation of exercise dynamics and bicycle/saddle design as causal factors.
After a joint Medicine-Physiotherapy-Psychology assessment, an integrated/individualized treatment was carried out for each case.

Results

Conclusions
1. Pudendal Neuropathy is an entity to take into account as cause of Vulvodynia
2. Often takes a few months to be correctly diagnosed
3. Mainly affects young athletic women
4. The hardness of the seats of the bicycles used in Spinning and the anterior vulvar compression position are the main causes of this disorder

Conflicts of Interest
Authors have no conflicts of interest.
(362) PSYCHOMETRIC VALIDATION OF THE FEMALE SEXUAL FUNCTION INDEX – ROMANIAN VERSION (FSFI-RO)
Authors: Dăescu Ana-Maria C , Dehelean Prof Liana , Navolan Prof Dan-Bogdan , Pop Gheorghe N , Stoian Prof Dana L 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Objectives
Our study aimed to develop a Romanian Version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and to measure its psychometric reliability and validity.

Methods
Although female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a highly prevalent health disorder, no self-report questionnaire on female sexual function was available in Romanian. We considered the FSFI due to its excellent psychometric properties. The original version of the FSFI was translated into Romanian and then reverse translated. A pilot study was conducted to assess comprehensibility. Then, 385 women aged 18 to 51 volunteered for the present study, that were categorized into two groups, based on the DSM-5 criteria for sexual dysfunction: the FSD group and the control group. Participants then filled in the FSFI-RO. A sample of 50 women agreed to re-answer FSFI-RO in a 4-week interval in order to evaluate the test-retest validity of the questionnaire. The data were summarized using descriptive statistics.

Results
The findings demonstrated high test-retest reliability, both for the individual domains and for the total score. Regarding the internal consistency of the FSFI-RO, it was found to be high. Convergent construct validity was established as moderate to high in the desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and satisfaction domains, and weak in the pain domain. In terms of discriminant construct validity, there were statistically significant differences in scores for each domain and for the total score between the FSD group and the control group. Regarding the factor structure, the six-factor solution included the domains: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain.

Conclusions
The FSFI-RO showed similar psychometric proprieties to those of the original version, therefore being a reliable and valid instrument that can be used in Romanian-speaking women in order to assess FSD.

Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
(220) SCHIZOPHRENIA AND SEXUAL DIFFICULTIES
Authors: Biedková Paula , Androvičová Renáta , Novák Ondřej 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Objectives
Patients with schizophrenia (SCH) often experience low rates of sexual satisfaction and high rates of sexual dysfunction. Despite available evidence on the specific nature of sexual difficulties in patients with SCH, current research tends to disregard this subject. Our study aims to identify whether sexual difficulties in patients with SCH could be connected to a decreased ability to interpret and respond to courtship signals.

Methods
Thirty-four male participants (23 patients, 11 controls) were exposed to our experiment “Does she like me?” task (Zikanova et al., 2018). The task involves a video stimuli that depicts a woman displaying different nonverbal behaviors (rejection, courtship, and neutral attitude). Each participant evaluated the woman’s sexual interest, attractivity, interest in this woman, and the tendency to approach/avoid the woman on a nine-point scale. For data analysis, we used Repeated measures ANOVA.

Results
While there was no statistically significant difference between the control group and patients in approach/avoidance behavior, perceived attractivity, and subjective interest, the significant interaction effect suggests different overall evaluations of women’s interest between the compared groups (F(2,64) = 7.83, p &lt; 0.001, n2p = 0.20). The control’s reactions followed the expected pattern of positive &gt; neutral &gt; negative in a clear and low-variance manner. Conversely, the patient's reaction pattern was flattened with a much larger variance in ratings.

Conclusions
Findings suggest that the subjective interest in women and the ability to respond to courtship signals do not differ significantly between controls and patients. However, patients do not differentiate women's sexual interest signals in the same manner as controls. This may suggest that individuals with schizophrenia could face challenges in intimate relationships due to difficulties in detecting signals of rejection from women.
The study was supported by the Czech Health Research Council, no. NU21J-04-00024 and by the Charles University, Fac Med1, GAUK no. 56123.

Conflicts of Interest
No conflicts of interest.
(332) EXPERIENCES RELATED TO THE BODY, INTIMACY, AND SEXUALITY IN INTERSEX INDIVIDUALS
Authors: Decaro Sofia Pavanello , Anzani Dr Annalisa , Prunas Prof Antonio 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Objectives
This study aimed to explore the experiences of intersex people in relation to their affective and sexual relationships, body, sexuality, and physical intimacy. It also investigated the subjective perception of the persons’ condition, and the ways and times in which their status as intersex emerged.

Methods
Five interviews with Italian adults with Sex Characteristic Variations were conducted in a non-directive style with the aid of a thematic outline, to allow participants to set their own priorities and respond freely. The interviews were fully transcribed and thematic analysis was carried out on. Four resulting themes were identified.

Results
The themes deal with 1) participants’ medical history, 2) identity and relationship with the body at different points in the life cycle, 3) prejudice and stigma, and 4) resources.

Conclusions
Our results show that participants were strongly impacted by their experiences with medicalization and by professionals they encountered. The resulting themes confirm that there is a need for greater visibility in scientific and professional fields such as medicine and psychology, regarding the first-person experiences of intersex people.

Conflicts of Interest
The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.
(336) CONFIGURATION OF PUDENDAL THIGH FLAP IN RECURRING PERINEAL URETHROSTOMY STENOSIS
Authors: Falcone Dr Marco , Preto Dr Mirko , Ferro Dr Ilaria , Lavagno Dr Federico , Cirigliano Dr Lorenzo , Peretti Dr Federica , Plamadeala Dr Natalia , Scavone Dr Martina , Gontero Prof Paolo 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Objectives
We present the case of a 41yo transgender man, assigned female at birth. After pubic phalloplasty and configuration of perineal urethrostomy the patient suffered recurrent perineal urethrostomy stenosis, for which he underwent multiple surgical procedures, also with buccal mucosa graft, all unsuccessful. Our indication was the configuration of a pudendal thigh flap to prevent further perineal urethrostomy stenosis.

Methods
From october 2020 to july 2023 we performed 6 pudendal thigh flaps: 2 in women with vaginal stenosis, 2 in transgender females for vaginoplasty stenosis and 2 in transgender males for urethral reconstruction.

Results
Median age was 34 years, median BMI was 28 and median follow up was 13 months. Median operative time was a hundred and fifteen minutes, half of the procedures required bilateral flaps and half were monolateral. We had no intraoperative or late complication, the only complication was a wound infection, solved with antibiotic therapy.
Overall, 83% of our patients were satisfied with the aesthetic appearance after one year follow-up, all of them had a positive impact on their quality of life and all of them would suggest the procedure to a friend if needed.

Conclusions
In conclusion, Pudendal thigh flaps are very versatile and safe flaps, with few complication rates and high patients’ satisfaction rates.
Due to the rarity of cases in which indicated, this procedure should be offered in tertiary centers.

Conflicts of Interest
We have no conflict of interest.
Fundamental effective temperature measurements for eclipsing binary stars – V. The circumbinary planet system EBLM J0608–59
Authors: Maxted P F L , Miller N J , Sebastian D , Triaud A H M J , Martin D V , Duck A 
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT
EBLM J0608$-$59/TOI-1338/BEBOP-1 is a 12$^{\rm th}$-magnitude, F9 V star in an eclipsing binary with a much fainter M dwarf companion on a wide, eccentric orbit (P = 14.6 d). The binary is orbited by two circumbinary planets: one transiting on a 95-d orbit and one non-transiting on a 215-d orbit. We have used high-precision photometry from the TESS mission combined with direct mass measurements for the two stars published recently to measure the following model-independent radii: $R_1 = 1.32 \pm 0.02 {\rm R}_{\odot }$, $R_2 = 0.309 \pm 0.004 {\rm R}_{\odot }$. Using $R_1$ and the parallax from Gaia EDR3, we find that this star’s angular diameter is $\theta = 0.0309 \pm 0.0005$ mas. The apparent bolometric flux of the primary star corrected for both extinction and the contribution from the M dwarf ($\lt 0.4$ per cent) is ${\mathcal {F}}_{{\oplus },0} = (0.417\pm 0.005)\times 10^{-9}$ erg cm$^{-2}$ s$^{-1}$. Hence, this F9 V star has an effective temperature $T_{\rm eff,1} = 6031{\rm \, K} \pm 46{\rm \, K\, (rnd.)} \pm 10 {\rm \, K\, (sys.)}$. EBLM J0608$-$59 is an ideal benchmark star that can be added to the sample of such systems we are establishing for ‘end-to-end’ tests of the stellar parameters measured by large-scale spectroscopic surveys.
A statistical approach to polarimetric and photometric investigation of the intermediate-age open cluster NGC 1912
Authors: Biswas Samrat , Medhi Biman J , Deb Sushmita , Deb Sukanta , Das H S , Perren G I 
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT
This paper presents a comprehensive multiwavelength investigation of the intermediate-age open cluster NGC 1912. We identified 401 member stars for NGC 1912 using K-nearest neighbour and Gaussian Mixture Model machine learning techniques. The fundamental parameters determined for the cluster are metallicity (z) = 0.0141 $\pm$ 0.0006, log(age) = 8.519 $\pm$ 0.040, binary fraction ($b_{\text{frac}}$) = 0.445 $\pm$ 0.035, visual extinction ($A_V$) = 0.864 $\pm$ 0.033 mag, total-to-selective extinction ratio ($R_V$) = 3.007 $\pm$ 0.096, distance = 1096 $\pm$ 15 pc. The central density ($\rho _o$), core radius ($r_c$), tidal radius ($r_t$), and background density ($\rho _{\mathrm{bg}}$) for the cluster are obtained as 0.643 $\pm$ 0.067 stars arcmin$^{-2}$, 7.743 $\pm$ 0.784 arcmin, 84.633 $\pm$ 7.188 arcmin, and 0.001 $\pm$ 0.000 stars arcmin$^{-2}$, respectively. Dynamical mass segregation study revealed a concentration of some apparently massive stars towards the cluster centre. Polarimetric analysis of 90 stars in $BVR_cI_c$ wavelength bands revealed that the observed polarization in NGC 1912 is not solely attributed to interstellar dust. The Galactic magnetic field is dominant in this region. Dust grain sizes within the intracluster region are found to be relatively smaller than that of the general ISM. The extinction map revealed the existence of a potential ‘interstellar bubble’ located close to the cluster region. Towards the periphery of the probable bubble region, which displays an ovoid-like geometry, 16 probable young stellar objects have been detected, suggesting the ongoing triggering of secondary star formation events in this region.