1,721,059 research outputs found
Cryopreserved Penile Tunica Albuginea for Allotransplantation: A Morphological and Ultrastructural Investigation
Full text linkIntroduction. Peyronie's disease, a connective tissue disorder of penile tunica albuginea (TA) associated with penile deformity, curvature, pain, and erectile dysfunction, is best managed surgically, but suitable graft biomaterials are not available. Aim. To establish whether cryopreservation affects human TA in view of its use in allotransplants. Methods. The effects on TA samples of the two most widely used tissue cryopreservation methods were investigated using an ad hoc panel of histochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural tests. Apoptotic cells were evaluated using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase method of end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Main Outcome Measures. Assessment of tissue integrity and arrangement of collagen and elastic fibers in thawed TA. Results. Both cryofixation methods provided TA tissue suitable for use as graft material. Significant ultrastructural changes, namely, a greater diameter of collagen fibrils, were detected in sections preserved in liquid nitrogen; nonetheless, such increase never exceeded the normal range. The comprehensive panel of assays used proved suitable to characterize the thawed tissue. Conclusion. Human TA is suitable for cryopreservation; freezing at -80°C provides better results than preservation in liquid nitrogen. Loreto C, Orlandi A, Ferlosio A, Djinovic R, Basic D, Bettocchi C, Rutigliano M, Barbagli G, Vespasiani G, Caltabiano R, Musumeci G, and Sansalone S. Cryopreserved penile tunica albuginea for allotransplantation: A morphological and ultrastructural investigation. J Sex Med **;**:**-**
Penile reconstruction
No full textDuring the most recent years, a variety of new techniques of penile reconstruction have been described in the literature. This paper focuses on the most recent advances in male genital reconstruction after trauma, excision of benign and malignant disease, in gender reassignment surgery and aphallia with emphasis on surgical technique, cosmetic and functional outcome
Simultaneous Penile Lengthening and Penile Prosthesis Implantation in Patients with Peyronie's Disease, Refractory Erectile Dysfunction, and Severe Penile Shortening
No full textIntroduction. Due to loss of length, patients who had penile prosthesis implantation for Peyronie's disease (PD) show a statistically significant reduction in their levels of satisfaction when compared with the general implant population. Aim. The aim of this study is to report our experience of penile lengthening with circumferential graft during penile prosthesis implantation in patients with PD and severe penile shortening. Methods. Between March 2006 and February 2008, 23 patients with PD, refractory erectile dysfunction, and severe penile shortening underwent penile lengthening with circumferential graft and concomitant implantation of an inflatable penile prosthesis. Main Outcome Measures. Surgical outcome and complications have been recorded during postoperative follow-up. Patients' satisfaction has been assessed 6 months postoperatively with the administration of the modified Erectile Dysfunction Index of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) questionnaire. Results. After an average follow-up of 22 months (range 6-36), 20 patients attended all the postoperative follow-up visits and returned the EDITS questionnaire. An average length gain of 2.8 cm (range 2.2-4.5) was recorded, and all patients were able to cycle the device and engage in penetrative sexual intercourse. Patient recorded complications included diminished glans sensitivity in four (20%) and persistent dorsal curvature of less than 15° in three (15%). Overall, 18 patients (90%) were satisfied with the cosmetic and functional result of surgery. Conclusion. Penile lengthening with circumferential graft during penile prosthesis implantation in patients with PD represents a safe and reproducible technique that yields higher satisfaction rates than penile prosthesis implantation alone in patients with severe penile shortening. Sansalone S, Garaffa G, Djinovic R, Egydio P, Vespasiani G, Miano R, Loreto C, and Ralph DJ. Simultaneous penile lengthening and penile prosthesis implantation in patients with Peyronie's disease, refractory erectile dysfunction, and severe penile shortening. J Sex Med **;**:**-**
Classifying human emotions in HRI: applying global optimization model to EEG brain signals
No full textSignificant efforts have been made in the past decade to humanize both the form and function of social robots to increase their acceptance among humans. To this end, social robots have recently been combined with brain-computer interface (BCI) systems in an attempt to give them an understanding of human mental states, particularly emotions. However, emotion recognition using BCIs poses several challenges, such as subjectivity of emotions, contextual dependency, and a lack of reliable neuro-metrics for real-time processing of emotions. Furthermore, the use of BCI systems introduces its own set of limitations, such as the bias-variance trade-off, dimensionality, and noise in the input data space. In this study, we sought to address some of these challenges by detecting human emotional states from EEG brain activity during human-robot interaction (HRI). EEG signals were collected from 10 participants who interacted with a Pepper robot that demonstrated either a positive or negative personality. Using emotion valence and arousal measures derived from frontal brain asymmetry (FBA), several machine learning models were trained to classify human's mental states in response to the robot personality. To improve classification accuracy, all proposed classifiers were subjected to a Global Optimization Model (GOM) based on feature selection and hyperparameter optimization techniques. The results showed that it is possible to classify a user's emotional responses to the robot's behavior from the EEG signals with an accuracy of up to 92%. The outcome of the current study contributes to the first level of the Theory of Mind (ToM) in Human-Robot Interaction, enabling robots to comprehend users' emotional responses and attribute mental states to them. Our work advances the field of social and assistive robotics by paving the way for the development of more empathetic and responsive HRI in the future
Multicentric study of reconstructive technique of the glans after partial penectomy for squamous cell carcinoma
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The spectrum of pelvic fracture urethral injuries and posterior urethroplasty in an Italian high-volume centre, from 1980 to 2013
No full textObjective To describe the emergency and delayed treatment of patients with pelvic fracture urethral injuries (PFUI) presenting to an Italian high-volume centre. Patients and methods In a retrospective, observational study we evaluated the spectrum of PFUI and posterior urethroplasty in an Italian high-volume centre, from 1980 to 2013. Patients requiring emergency treatment for PFUI and delayed treatment for pelvic fracture urethral defects (PFUD) were included. Patients with incomplete clinical records were excluded from the study. Descriptive statistical methods were applied. Results In all, 159 male patients (median age 35 years) were included in the study. A traffic accident was the most frequent (42.8%) cause of PFUI, and accidents at work were reported as the cause of trauma in 34% of patients. Agricultural accidents decreased from 24.4% to 6.2% over the course of the survey. A suprapubic cystostomy was the most frequent (49%) emergency treatment in patients with PFUI. The use of surgical realignment decreased from 31.7% to 6.2%, and endoscopic realignment increased from 9.7% to 35.3%. A bulbo-prostatic anastomosis was the most frequent (62.9%) delayed treatment in patients with PFUD. The use of the Badenoch pull-through decreased from 19.5% to 2.6%, and endoscopic holmium laser urethrotomy increased from 4.9% to 32.7%. Conclusions The spectrum of PFUI and subsequent treatment of PFUD has changed greatly over the last 10 years at our centre. These changes involved patient age, aetiology, emergency and delayed treatments, and were found to be related to changes in the economy and lifestyle of the Italian patients
Penile length and girth restoration in severe Peyronie's disease using circular and longitudinal grafting
No full textTo report patient outcomes and satisfaction with our technique for penile length and girth restoration in severe Peyronie's disease (PD)
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