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Objective.The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED), as well as associated demographic and clinical features, in men with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), by means of a systematic, standardized evaluation.Methods.We performed a transversal study in 8 tertiary care centers in Latin America. We included male patients ≥ 16 years who fulfilled ≥ 4 American College of Rheumatology criteria for SLE and had regular sexual activity, and evaluated them with the International Index of Erectile Function-5 questionnaire. Relevant demographic, clinical, and serological characteristics were recorded. We included 2 control groups: the first was made up of healthy men and the second of men with autoimmune diseases other than SLE (non-SLE group).Results.We included 590 subjects (174 SLE, 55 non-SLE, and 361 healthy controls). The prevalence of ED in the SLE group was 69%. Mean age in that group was 36.3 ± 1.03 years. Among SLE patients with and without ED, these factors were significantly different: the presence of persistent lymphopenia (p = 0.006), prednisone dose (9.3 ± 1.2 vs 5.3 ± 1.3 mg, p = 0.026), and the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics damage score (1.25 ± 0.14 vs 0.8 ± 0.16 points, p = 0.042). Independent risk factors for ED in patients with SLE were persistent lymphopenia (OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.37–5.70, p = 0.001) and corticosteroid use in the previous year (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.37–3.37, p = 0.001).Conclusion.Regardless of comorbidities, treatment (excluding steroids), and type of disease activity, patients with SLE have a high prevalence of ED, especially considering that most patients are young. Recent corticosteroid use and persistent lymphopenia, which could be related to endothelial dysfunction, are risk factors for this complication in men with SLE.

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in Mexican men. To improve its detection and prevent needless biopsies, we investigated the convenience of a combined analysis of prostate-specific antigen, androgen-receptor gene CAG repeats, and glutathione-S-transferase P1 and Ras association domain family 1 isoform A gene promoter methylation as a noninvasive option. The data from 186 patients who had undergone prostate biopsy were studied. The combined analysis increased detection confidence and could avoid unnecessary prostate biopsies.

Abstract This pilot clinical trial was performed to evaluate the safety and impact on quality of life and incontinence episode frequency of nonsurgical radiofrequency energy (RF) tissue micro-remodeling in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The palpation-guided treatment produces focal denaturation of submucosal collagen, resulting in reduced luminal wall compliance without luminal narrowing. Forty-one women suffering from SUI associated with urethral hypermobility were enrolled into four treatment groups which differed in total number and lower urinary tract location of micro-remodeling sites. No serious and only limited minor adverse events were associated with the treatment. Incidence of quality of life score improvement at 12 months ranged from 75 to 78%, and statistically significant incontinence episode frequency reduction was demonstrated by three of four treatment groups. RF micro-remodeling demonstrated 12-month safety, quality of life improvement, and incontinence episode frequency reduction. No one treatment group demonstrated clear superiority in efficacy outcomes.

This initial human study was performed to determine the safety and quality of life impact of transurethral radiofrequency energy (RFe) tissue micro-remodeling of the proximal urethra and bladder outlet in patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Forty-one patients with SUI were sequentially enrolled into four treatment groups and then underwent rapid outpatient treatment under conscious sedation using an investigational RFe delivery device. The device is passed through the urethra and palpably positioned by the anchoring of a balloon within the bladder outlet. Four small needle electrodes are deployed into the proximal urethra and/or bladder outlet submucosa, and RFe is delivered. No patient has suffered a serious adverse event in 6 months of follow-up. At 6 months, 75%–80% of patients in all four groups have demonstrated an improvement in quality of life. Two groups demonstrated statistical significance in both mean quality of life improvement and incontinence frequency reduction at 6 months.