Perineal floor efficiency in sexually potent and impotent men.

Given the knowledge that the ischiocavernous and bulbocavernous muscles are involved in the erection of the penis, we studied the voluntary contractile activity of the perineal floor muscles in sexually potent and impotent men to investigate whether or not a different muscular efficiency can be found in these subjects. The activity of perineal floor muscles was studied in 76 sexually potent men and in 97 impotent men matched by age. A further group of 217 older impotent men was also studied to verify the impact of age on the efficiency of perineal floor contraction. The average myoelectrical activity of 24 maximized contractions of the perineum was measured in microV by anal plug electromyography. Perineal floor muscle contraction was significantly higher (P = 0.0007) in potent than in impotent men matched by age. In addition, in older impotent men the less perineal floor efficiency was also negatively correlated to age (r = -0.21, P = 0.002). Our results clearly demonstrated that a reduction of contractile activity of perineal muscles may be related to erectile dysfunction in younger men and an additional influence of age on perineal floor efficiency can be present in older impotent men.     

Alpha-adrenoceptor function in isolated penile circumflex veins from potent and impotent men

Alpha-adrenoceptor functions were investigated in isolated human penile circumflex veins from six potent and four impotent men. Contractions elicited by noradrenaline and phenylephrine were inhibited by prazosin, yohimbine, phentolamine and papaverine. No differences were found between vessels from potent and impotent men. The results suggest that alpha-adrenoceptors in penile circumflex veins are of both alpha 1- and alpha 2-type, and that no changes in alpha-adrenoceptor function occur in impotence associated with an increased penile venous outflow.     

Anatomy of penile venous drainage in potent and impotent men during cavernosography

Recent data suggest that approximately 80 per cent of the men with vasculogenic impotence have evidence of failure to store blood (venous leakage) within the corpora cavernosa. To identify the venous channels into which corporeal blood drains in impotent men, we performed cavernosograms after intracorporeal injection of papaverine in 44 consecutive men presenting with erectile dysfunction and these were compared to studies in 10 potent men. The cavernosograms were examined for evidence of venous drainage from the penis and the site of leakage was identified. It was determined that among the impotent population with vasculogenic impotence 37 of 40 evaluable men (92.5 per cent) demonstrated contrast medium in the venous system draining the penis: the deep dorsal vein was visualized in 55 per cent, proximal cavernosal and crural veins in 55 per cent, deep dorsal and proximal veins in 22.5 per cent and corpus spongiosum in 25 per cent. Only 2 of the 10 potent men demonstrated contrast medium in the venous channels draining the penis. From these observations we conclude that in men suspected of having venogenic impotence identification of the drainage vessels by cavernosography appears to be important in planning any surgical approach to occlude these veins. However, the finding of a venous leak by cavernosography must not be considered a sine qua non diagnosis of venogenic impotence, since a certain percentage of potent men will demonstrate this radiographic finding.     

Neurophysiological investigations in potent and impotent men. Assessment of bulbocavernosus reflex latencies and somatosensory evoked potentials

A multidisciplinary investigation was carried out on 130 patients with erectile dysfunction. The bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) latency times were evaluated in all patients and in 116 the somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) were also assessed. BCR latency times were examined in 39 potent control patients and the SSEP were measured in 30 members of this group. There were no abnormal findings in the control group. Of the 130 patients with erectile dysfunction, 65 had anomalies in the BCR measurements and 36 of 116 patients had abnormal SSEP findings. When compared with the control group, 76 of 130 patients with erectile disorders (66%) had irregularities in BCR latency times and/or SSEP. As a result of these findings, lesions of the somatic penile innervation are considered to be one of the many causes of erectile dysfunction.     

Prevalence of corporeal venous leakage in impotent men

To provide insight into the prevalence of corporeal venous leakages as a factor in impotence, 44 consecutive impotent men who failed to achieve an erection after intracorporeal papaverine injection underwent dynamic infusion cavernosometry and cavernosography. If venous leakage is defined as either a failure to increase intracorporeal pressure greater than the systolic blood pressure or a rapid decrease in intracorporeal pressure after cessation of saline infusion during cavernosometry, 30 of the 44 men (68 per cent) fall into this category. If cavernosography (43 men) is used to define the presence of a venous leakage in these impotent patients 37 (86 per cent) fall into this category. These data support recent observations that there is a high incidence of venous leakage as defined by these criteria in men with organic impotence. The significance of these findings can be determined only once a similar study in age-matched potent men is performed.     

Dynamic infusion cavernosometry and cavernosography in diagnosing and classifying venoocclusive dysfunction

Dynamic infusion cavernosometry and cavernosography (DICC) were performed in 22 patients who were referred with symptoms of partial erection and transient erection and who were diagnosed as deep dorsal venous leakage by means of colour Doppler ultrasonography. We reached the diagnostic values for corporovenous leakage (CVL), also classified them and showed the veins that need to be ligated. With these advantages, DICC is a very cost-effective and safe technique that can be performed routinely in the diagnosis of corporovenous leakage.     

Computerized analysis of smooth muscle fibers in potent and impotent patients

Reduction or dysfunction of the intracavernous smooth muscle fibers can provoke impotence. Computerized digital image analysis of corpus cavernosum biopsies was performed in potent and impotent patients to quantify the percentage of smooth muscle fibers. In 5 normal patients the smooth muscle area represented 40 to 52% of the specimen, in 20 patients with cavernous dysfunction it was 10 to 36% and in 10 patients with arterial disease it was 13 to 25%. This method appears to be important to understand better certain mechanisms of impotence and to approach the potential treatment.     

Application of computerised penile arterial waveform analysis in the diagnosis of arteriogenic impotence. An initial study in potent and impotent men

A new method is described for evaluating arteriogenic impotence by means of noninvasive quantification of penile Doppler arterial waveforms using computerised analysis based on the Laplace Transform model. The haemodynamic changes occurring during a papaverine-induced erection in healthy potent volunteers have been recorded by this technique, which has also been shown to be capable of discriminating between a normal and an abnormal penile arterial supply in an initial study of potent and impotent men.     

Correlation between intracavernous papaverine injection and Doppler analysis in impotent men

One hundred impotent men were evaluated with Doppler pulse-wave analysis and intracavernous papaverine. Fifty-four men with normal Doppler study response had abnormal responses to papaverine. A normal Doppler study response failed to predict the inability of papaverine to induce an erection in 54 per cent of cases. Twenty-seven patients had abnormal Doppler study responses, and only 2 of these men had a normal response to papaverine. An abnormal Doppler study response was highly predictive of a vascular abnormality.     

Is routine endocrine testing of impotent men necessary?

Endocrine screening of impotent men is performed in an effort to identify a treatable cause of impotence. However, the prevalence of endocrinopathy in this patient population is low. We determined whether any historical or physical findings obtained during the initial office visit would identify a subgroup of patients at risk for endocrinopathy to decrease the cost of endocrine screening. The results of routine endocrine screening of 330 consecutive impotent patients formed the basis of this study. A total of 7 patients (2.1%) had endocrinopathy. Testicular atrophy was observed in 5 of these 7 patients and 6 reported decreased libido. All of the patients with endocrinopathy had either decreased libido or bilateral testicular atrophy. Our results indicate that the cost of impotence evaluation can be decreased by screening only those patients with clinical signs of hypogonadism, that is either decreased libido or bilateral testicular atrophy.     

Cerebral-evoked response from stimulation of dorsal nerve in impotent men

Cerebral-evoked responses from 128 uncategorized, impotent men were compared with responses from 17 healthy age-height matched controls, after stimulation of two penile sites, and one tibial nerve at the ankle. Our goal has been to establish a simple screening test to identify neurogenic impotence in patients with normal superficial sensation. High-frequency stimulation at 5.7 c/s and minimal repetitions (300) per trial, allowed thirty to forty minute sessions in alert subjects. With these methods, the amplitudes of cerebral responses at N2 were most informative. All volunteers had measurable amplitude while 11.9 percent of patients did not. An additional 4.5 percent of patients had amplitude suppression of 2 SD compared with the control mean, suggesting that as many as 16.4 percent of such patients may have neural damage. Prolonged latencies alone were rare and not included in this total. Ninety-two of these 128 patients had Doppler flow studies, and only 2 showed both Doppler and electrical abnormalities. This suggests that neurogenic problems may often be independent of vascular disease. This evoked-response screen of the entire genitocerebral neuraxis offers a safe method of identifying a portion of those patients with neurogenic impotence.     

精索内静脉高位结扎术治疗精索静脉曲张不育症随机对照研究

本研究在证明女配偶具有正常排卵功能及输卵管通畅的前提下，将６２例Ⅱ°及Ⅱ°以上精索静脉曲张且伴有精液质量低下的不育患者，通过随机抽样方法分为手术组（３１例）与非手术组（３１例），手术组采用经髂窝腹膜外精索内静脉高位结扎术。之后，所有病人均每３月随访１次，共１２月，观察其阴囊皮肤温度、睾丸体积、精液分析、精索静脉管径、有无返流及配偶怀孕等情况。结果表明，手术组病人术后阴囊温度、精液质量等指标改善明显，与非手术组相比有显著性差异（Ｐ＜０．０１）；手术组随访１年累计怀孕率为２９．０３％，而非手术组为１２．９０％。作者认为精索内静脉高位结扎术确可提高精索静脉曲张不育患者的生育力，而血液返流则可能是引起精索静脉曲张不育的重要原因。     

阴茎海绵体动态测压及造影的检查流程和临床应用

目的:探讨阴茎海绵体动态测压及造影(DICC)的操作流程及其在静脉型勃起功能障碍(VED)诊断中的价值。方法:临床行彩色多普勒超声检查筛选阴茎海绵体注射试验(ICI)阴性、高度怀疑VED的103例ED患者,对其进行DICC,对比观察检查结果维持灌注速度(FTM)和海绵体压力衰退值(PD)。结果:21例检查结果正常,其余VED患者根据其FTM和PD分为可疑静脉漏(5例)及轻度(39例)、中度(25例)、重度(13例)静脉漏;仅4例出现阴茎皮下血肿,3~5 d后均消失,无其他并发症发生。结论:DICC诊断VED微创、可靠、安全、可重复性高,可依据其检查结果将患者做进一步分类。     

Topical glyceryltrinitrate causes measurable penile arterial dilation in impotent men

The current understanding of the intracavernous changes that cause or accompany penile erections has encouraged the use of vasodilators as therapy for erectile dysfunction. An established vasodilator, glyceryltrinitrate, was selected for in vivo study because of its rapid transdermal absorption. Color coded duplex ultrasound was used to assess penile vascular response. In a large group of men with erectile dysfunction significant dilation was noted in response to a small amount of nitroglycerine paste applied to the penis. There is a measurable vasodilatory response that can be induced by synthetic nitrates in penile tissue in impotent men.     

Objective measurement of the different collagen types in the corpus cavernosum of potent and impotent men: an immunohistochemical staining with computerized-image analysis

Summary Quantitative measurements of the collagen types (I, III, and IV) in the corpora cavernosa of potent and impotent men were carried out to investigate whether quantitative immunohistochemistry might contribute additional information as to the cause of erectile dysfunction. The study group consisted of 22 men with various etiologies of impotence and 4 normal, potent men. The quantitative immunohistochemistry measurements were performed by means of a cell-image processor. Three variables for each of the three types of collagen were studied, namely, the mean optical density (MOD), which relates to histochemical staining intensity; the labeling index (LI), which is positively related to the percentage of immunostaining; and the quick score (QS) index, which takes into account both LI and MOD values. None of the quantitative parameters taken individually (monovariate statistical analyses) made it possible to obtain any statistically significant difference between the types of collagen of the group under study. The mean QS value recorded for collagen type IV was significantly lower than that noted for collagen type I in the psychogenic (P = 0.019), arteriogenic (P = 0.012), and venogenic (P = 0.001) groups, whereas the MOD value was significantly lower in the normal (P = 0.043), arteriogenic (P = 0.013), and venogenic (P = 0.001) groups but not in the psychogenic group. The mean MOD of collagen type III was intermediate between that of the other types. In contrast, the mean LI value recorded for collagen type IV was significantly lower only in the venogenic (P = 0.032) and psychogenic (P = 0.049) groups as compared with the other groups. No objective qualitative change in the collagen types was observed that could be correlated to the etiology of erectile dysfunction. The significant difference seen in the quantitative parameters with regard to collagen type IV and the observed increase in the type I/III collagen ratio might attest to the notion that the response of the erectile tissue to ischemia is similar to that of other organs. The net effect of these changes is a restricted capacity for corporal expansion and alteration of the veno-occlusive mechanism.     

Correlation between penile angiography and duplex scanning of cavernous arteries in impotent men

During the diagnostic evaluation of patients with vasculogenic impotence duplex scanning has been proposed as a reliable noninvasive method to evaluate the cavernous arteries. However, the sensitivity and specificity of this test have never been elucidated. To provide insight into the clinical value of this test 25 men who presented with impotence and failed to respond to 60 mg. intracavernous papaverine were evaluated with duplex scanning and the results of this modality were compared to penile angiography. The cavernous arteries were considered normal by duplex scanning if the artery demonstrated either a 60% or greater increase in diameter and/or a peak flow velocity of greater than 25 cm. per second 5 minutes after papaverine injection. Penile angiography was considered normal if both cavernous arteries were visualized and appeared to be normal radiographically (after intracorporeal papaverine). In the 25 patients studied there was no significant difference in peak flow velocity between patients with normal or abnormal cavernous arteries by angiography. In addition, arterial dilatation (more than 60%) after papaverine injection did not correlate with the results of the angiogram. These data demonstrate that duplex scanning of the cavernous arteries does not correlate well with what is observed by penile angiography in a selected population of men with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction. Since penile angiography itself has limitations in the evaluation of the penile arteries, the reliability of duplex scanning to identify cavernous artery dysfunction needs additional confirmation.     

Responses of erectile tissue from impotent men to pharmacological agents

Erectile tissue was removed from the corpora cavernosa of 25 impotent men undergoing surgery for insertion of penile prostheses. Strips, set up in an organ bath, were contracted by the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine. There was no significant difference between tissue taken from men with diabetes, alcoholism, Peyronie's disease or men with no obvious condition causing the impotence. The sensitivity of tissues from hypertensive patients was significantly reduced but this was probably due to drugs being taken for hypertension. Precontracted tissues could be relaxed by acetylcholine or isoprenaline. The responses, however, were inconsistent, so that no difference between the different groups of patients was apparent.     

Controlled clinical trial of arginine for infertile men with oligozoospermia.

64 infertile men with oligozoospermia took part in a double blind cross-over trial. Each patient received matching capsules of a placebo and arginine for periods of 12 weeks. There was no difference in the conception rates of the wives or changes in the quality of the semen during each period of treatment.