Tubularized incised-plate urethroplasty for distal and proximal hypospadias

OBJECTIVE: To describe the tubularized incised-plate (TIP) urethroplasty for distal and proximal hypospadias. PATIENTS AND METHODS: TIP urethroplasty was undertaken in 83 consecutive boys (mean age 14.1 months, sd 7.8) within the past 3 years; 65 (78%) had distal and 18 (22%) proximal penile hypospadias. This was the primary attempt at hypospadias repair in all children. RESULTS: All patients were assessed 7 days after surgery at the time of dressing and catheter removal, and subsequently at a median of 4 months in the clinic, before being discharged. The overall late complication rate was 12% and 10% required a second operation. There was a urethrocutaneous fistula in three (5%) of those with distal and in one of the 18 with proximal penile hypospadias (P = 0.56). Glans dehiscence in distal hypospadias occurred in one (1%) and three, respectively (P = 0.01). Secondary surgery for fistula repair and glans closure was successful in all patients. All children void with a single straight urinary stream in a forward direction, and have a normally situated vertical slit-like glanular meatus. CONCLUSIONS: TIP urethroplasty is a versatile, simple operation with good cosmetic results, which uses the urethral plate to its maximum potential.     

Classification of prepuce in hypospadias according to morphological abnormalities and their impact on hypospadias repair

PURPOSE: We investigated the morphology of the hypospadiac prepuce to develop a classification of different prepuce types in hypospadias. We also assessed the correlation between morphology and vascularization of the prepuce and their impact on results of hypospadias repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 1997 to December 2001, 174 patients 18 months to 24 years old (mean age 49 months) underwent hypospadias surgery. The prepuce morphology was analyzed by evaluation of the prepuce skin distribution, development and deformities. The development and course of blood vessels were analyzed using preputial illumination. According to morphology and blood supply, different types were compared. Of 174 analyzed cases 163 prepuces were used for urethroplasty. RESULTS: Based on the predominant morphology characteristics and abnormalities, we classified the analyzed prepuces into 6 groups of A-"monk's hood" or "1 humped" (43 cases, 24.7%), B-"cobra eyes" (80, 45.9%), C-"normal" (intact) (4, 2.3%), D-"flat" (24, 13.8%), E-"v"-shaped (16, 9.2%), and F-"collar-scarf" (7, 4.0%). Cobra eyes and monk's hood prepuces had the most favorable vascular pattern for the creation of flaps, the prepuces while the "flat" and "v"-shaped prepuces had the most unfavorable vascular pattern. Mean followup after hypospadias repair was 34 months (range 24 to 48). Complications (stenosis, fistula diverticulum) developed in 8.9% of the patients after "cobra eyes" and "monk's hood" prepuces were used for urethroplasty and in 25% when "v"-shaped and "flat" prepuces were used. CONCLUSIONS: Morphological characteristics correlated with vascularization of the hypospadiac prepuce. Underdeveloped prepuces and those with unfavorable vascular pattern used for urethroplasty had a higher percentage of complications. In severe hypospadias the anatomical features of the prepuce have greater influence on the proper choice of 1 or 2-stage repair.     

尿道延伸术结合局部皮瓣治疗远端型尿道下裂

目的:探讨尿道延伸术结合局部皮瓣治疗远端型尿道下裂的疗效。方法:总结1年内收集的10例行尿道延伸术接使局部皮瓣治疗远端型尿道下裂患者的资料。年龄4～21岁,平均年龄12岁。结果:10例全部成功,术后随访6～12个月,阴茎外形满意,排尿通畅,无尿瘘及尿道狭窄。结论:尿道延伸术接合局部皮瓣适合于治疗远端型尿道下裂,具有手术成功率高,术后并发症少的优点。     

Developmental anomalies and disabilities associated with hypospadias

PURPOSE: The incidence of developmental anomalies and disabilities associated with hypospadias is still a matter of controversy and data on this issue are sparse. We describe our experience with and evaluation of developmental anomalies and disabilities in a population in which posterior hypospadias was the most common anomaly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 356 patients who underwent hypospadias repair from January 1986 through April 2000. Collected data included the Barcat classification of the hypospadias anomaly, anatomical penile variants, associated urogenital and extra-urogenital anomalies, and associated disabilities of physical and mental development. RESULTS: Of the 356 patients 234 (65.7%) had posterior, 88 (24.7%) anterior and 34 (9.6%) mid hypospadias. Anatomical variants, including penoscrotal transposition, bifid scrotum and micropenis, occurred predominantly in patients with posterior hypospadias, while penile torsion was present exclusively in the other 2 groups. Inguinal hernia, which was the most common urogenital anomaly, was distributed evenly among the 3 groups with a prevalence rate of 12.4%. Undescended testis in 26 cases (7.3%) was most often associated with posterior hypospadias. In order of frequency associated extra-urogenital anomalies included congenital heart disease in 19 cases (5.3%), musculoskeletal anomalies in 11 (3.1%), anorectal malformation in 6 (1.7%), cleft palate in 3 and other in 7. In 21 patients (5.9%) associated disorders were related to physical and mental development, including growth retardation in 6, cerebral palsy in 2 and psychological disorders that significantly impaired patient bodily function, behavior and performance in 11. Most extra-urogenital anomalies or disorders were associated with posterior hypospadias. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior hypospadias was the most common anomaly in this study. It was associated with a high rate of extra urogenital anomalies, and physical and psychosocial disabilities. The significance of the latter findings with respect to the development of affected patients needs further clarification.     

Laser tissue soldering for hypospadias repair: results of a controlled prospective clinical trial

PURPOSE: Laser tissue soldering has been shown to provide safe and effective tissue closure by creating an immediate leak-free anastomosis with minimal scar formation. We compared the results of laser tissue soldering and conventional suturing for hypospadias repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A consecutive group of 138 boys 4 months to 8 years old (mean age 15 months) was divided into a standard suturing (84) and a sutureless laser (54) hypospadias repair group. Urethral repair was defined as simple (Thiersch-Duplay or Snodgrass) and complex (onlay island flap or tube) in 101 and 37 cases, respectively. Laser tissue soldering was performed with 50% human albumin solder doped with 2.5 mg./ml. indocyanine green dye using an 808 nm. diode laser at 0.5 W. In the laser group sutures were used for tissue alignment only. At surgery neourethral and penile length, operative time for neourethral construction and the number of sutures or throws were measured. Postoperatively patients were examined for complications of wound healing, stricture or fistula. RESULTS: Mean patient age, urethral defect severity, type of repair, neourethral length and stenting time plus or minus standard error of mean were not significantly different in the 2 groups. Mean operative time was a fifth as long for laser tissue soldering in simple and complex hypospadias repair compared to controls (1.5 +/- 0.1 and 5.1 +/- 0.3 versus 8.5 +/- 0.8 and 26.7 +/- 1.7 minutes, respectively, p <0.001). The mean number of sutures used for tissue alignment in the laser group for simple and complex repair was significantly less than in controls (3.0 +/- 0.2 and 8.2 +/- 0.6 versus 8.5 +/- 0.8 and 23.2 +/- 1.5, respectively, p <0.001). All patients were followed a mean of 12 months (minimum 6, maximum 22). The complication rate was 4.7% in the laser group and 10.7% in controls with fistula in 2 of 54 cases, and fistula and meatal stenosis in 7 and 2 of 84, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results indicate that laser tissue soldering for hypospadias repair may be performed in almost sutureless fashion and more rapidly than conventional suturing. The ease of the laser technique and the lower complication rate in the laser group indicate that laser tissue soldering is an acceptable means of tissue closure in hypospadias repair.     

先天性尿道下裂患儿阴茎组织中多种性激素受体的比较研究

为了进一步探讨先天性尿道下裂患儿的内分泌异常,作者应用冰冻切片直接荧光组织化学法对２３例患儿阴茎组织中的雄激素受体、雌激素受体和孕激素受体进行了检测。结果发现：（１）尿道下裂和正常阴茎组织中均有这三种受体的表达,而且它们在尿下裂和正常阴茎组强的含量和分布情况相似,都是ＡＲ含量最高,ＥＲ最低。     

Vascularization of the hypospadiac prepuce and its impact on hypospadias repair

PURPOSE: Only sparse data are available on the blood supply of the hypospadiac prepuce. We investigated the development and course of the preputial blood vessels, and applied the results of this study to surgery for hypospadias. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 157 patients who underwent hypospadias surgery from October 1996 to December 2000 the prepuce was illuminated by a front and back lighting technique using endoscopic cold light and then photographed. Its blood vessel course and development were schematically presented. In 65 patients in whom the prepuce was not used for urethroplasty or penile body skin reconstruction the specimen was removed and its blood vessels were identified after injection with gelatin and Indian ink. The results of the 2 methods were compared. RESULTS: Based on the predominant blood vessels we classified preputial vascularization in hypospadias cases into groups, including 1-1 blood vessel predominant in 43%, 2-2 blood vessels predominant in 12%, 3-an H-like form with communication between 2 well developed blood vessels in 14% and 4-a net-like form with no predominant blood vessels in 29%. After comparing the results of the illumination technique versus specimen study in the same preputial tissue the illumination method was confirmed to be precise and easy to perform. CONCLUSIONS: Vascularization of the prepuce is crucial for hypospadias repair. Identification with high precision is achieved by the illumination technique. This method helps create the best vascularized flaps, whether longitudinal, oblique or spiral.     

False-positive Y-microdeletion result for a fertile male caused by an alteration under a PCR primer

The pathogenic relationship between the presence of Y chromosomal microdeletions and male infertility is unclear. Nevertheless, a causal relationship is thought to be probable when loci are shown to be deleted in infertile males but are present in fertile males. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the Y chromosome is now routinely performed in the evaluation of the infertile male, although, until recently, there has been no consensus on how the diagnosis should be performed and which loci or markers should be analysed. The European Academy of Andrology (EAA) published guidelines for the molecular diagnosis of Y chromosomal microdeletions in 1999. Following these guidelines, our laboratory developed assays that incorporated the suggested primer pairs for the recommended Sequence Tagged Sites (STS). A number of fertile (n = 117), infertile (n = 17) and unknown samples (n = 20) were tested in our laboratory as part of the validation to provide a clinical assay. Two multiplex PCR assays were optimized, each of which examined STS markers in the centre of the AZFa, b and c regions of the Y chromosome. We correctly identified all but one of the 154 samples (according to the expected result based on fertility or previous testing at another laboratory). A single equivocal result was observed for a sample obtained from a known fertile male who appeared to be deleted for a single marker, sY84, in the AZFa region but not the adjacent marker, sY86. Follow-up analysis showed that proximal and distal markers within the same region (sY82 and sY98) were also present. Sequencing the region flanking and including the sY84 primer set revealed a single base alteration under the reverse primer, which probably caused the amplification failure. Furthermore, the sY84 sequence itself was present, as was the flanking sequence 50 bp on either side of both primers. This observation underlines the importance of using at least two closely linked STS markers for the reliable diagnosis of Y chromosome microdeletions as proposed by the EAA guidelines.     

Achieving a natural glanular meatus for distal hypospadias with a narrow and shallow plate: Tubularized incised plate versus modified Barcat repair

Objectives:   Although the tubularized incised plate (TIP) repair has become the most popular surgical procedure for distal hypospadias, some authors suggest that this is not suitable for hypospadias with a narrow plate or shallow groove.
Methods:   The configuration and position of the reconstructed meatus were postoperatively analyzed in patients with distal hypospadias whose preoperative urethral plates were shallow or narrow. The findings were compared between six patients undergoing TIP repair and seven patients undergoing modified Barcat (BAVIS) repair.
Results:   Among those undergoing the TIP procedure, a slit-like meatus at the tip of the glans was achieved in one patient, a slit-like meatus at the mid portion of the glans in four patients and a round meatus at the mid portion of the glans in one patient. In those repaired by the BAVIS procedure, a slit-like meatus at the tip of glans was achieved in three patients, a round or irregularly shaped meatus at the tip of the glans in two patients, an irregularly shaped meatus at the mid portion of the glans in one patient and neourethral dehiscence in one patient.
Conclusions:   The present study confirms that a higher rate of achieving slit-like meatus but a lower rate of locating in the glans tip can be attained after TIP repair. On the other hand, there is a higher rate of locating the meatus in the glans tip but a lower rate of achieving a slit-like meatus after BAVIS repair.     

Incidence and diagnoses of disorders of sex development in proximal hypospadias

Background

Evidence-based guidelines on evaluation of boys with proximal hypospadias for the possibility of a disorder of sex development (DSD) have yet to be developed. We aimed to investigate the incidence and diagnoses of DSD in patients with proximal hypospadias.

Human papillomavirus prevalence, distribution and correlation to histopathological parameters in a large Swedish cohort of men with penile carcinoma

Study Type – Aetiology (case series) Level of Evidence 4

OBJECTIVE

• ? To analyse the overall and type‐specific human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and distribution in penile carcinoma and determine the correlation to histopathological parameters.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• ? In this retrospective study, we analysed HPV status in 241 patients with penile carcinoma, treated at Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden, between 1984 and 2008. Age and date at diagnosis was recorded.
• ? The tumour specimens were categorized according to the UICC 2002 TNM classification. A subset of patients was operatively staged with regard to lymph node status.
• ? A commercially available Real Time PCR was used to detect 13 different types of HPV (6,11,16,18,31,33,35,45,51,52,56,58 and 59).

RESULTS

• ? We excluded 25 patients due to low DNA quality. Of the remaining 216, 179 (82.9%) tumour specimens were HPV infected. The majority of cases positive for HPV (70.4%) were infected by a single‐type. The most frequent type was HPV 16 followed by HPV 18.
• ? No significant association between HPV status and pathological tumour stage, grade or lymph node status was found.

CONCLUSION

• ? The HPV prevalence found is higher than in most other studies, further strengthening HPV as an etiological agent in penile carcinoma. Furthermore, the high prevalence of HPV 16 and 18 raises the question of what potential impact current HPV vaccines that target these specific HPV types might have on penile carcinoma. No significant association between HPV status and histopathological parameters was found in the present study. Additional investigations are needed to draw final conclusions on the prognostic value of HPV status in penile carcinoma.

     

Notch1在邻苯二甲酸二丁酯致大鼠尿道下裂发生中的表达

目的:利用邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)胚胎期暴露诱导子代SD大鼠发生尿道下裂,检测Notch1在尿道下裂胎鼠与正常胎鼠生殖结节(GT)中的差异表达,探讨其在DBP致大鼠尿道下裂发生中的作用。方法:SD孕鼠20只,随机分为两组,实验组和对照组各10只。妊娠(GD)14～18 d,实验组和对照组分别给予DBP 800 mg/(kg.d)和大豆油2 ml/(kg.d)灌胃,孕第19天剖宫产后记录雄性胎鼠出生体重(BW)、肛门和生殖器之间的距离(AGD)及尿道下裂发生率。取DBP组中发生尿道下裂的雄性胎鼠和对照组中的雄性胎鼠,分为尿道下裂组与对照组,提取生殖结节,用Western印迹法和免疫组化法分析Notch1的表达。结果:实验组子代雄性胎鼠体重为(4.40±0.30)g,对照组为(6.11±0.40)g,实验组较对照组明显下降(P<0.05);实验组AGD为(2.17±0.18)mm,对照组为(3.28±0.16)mm,实验组较对照组明显缩短(P<0.05),尿道下裂发生率为42.9%。Notch1在尿道下裂组的相对表达量为0.671±0.021,正常对照组为1.327±0.031,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);Notch1主要定位于生殖结节上皮细胞,尿道下裂组染色强度明显弱于对照组。结论:染毒期间DBP对雄性子鼠有明显毒性作用,改变了生殖结节中Notch1的表达,可能影响细胞的增殖和凋亡及上皮-间质转化(EMT),导致尿道下裂的发生。     

Polymerase chain reaction-based identification of Propionibacterium acnes types isolated from the male urinary tract: evaluation of adolescents, normal adults and men with prostatic pathology

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether colonization of the male urinary tract with Propionibacterium acnes, in particular types IB and II (which are associated with inflammation in radical prostatectomy specimens and might be involved in the development of prostate cancer), is associated with prostate disease, and thus to develop a urine test to detect men at risk of prostate disease. PATIENTS, SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We developed the first polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technique for identifying P. acnes types IA, IB and II, and used this in combination with selective culture medium to compare the prevalence of these subtypes in the urinary tract of adolescent males, healthy adult men and patients with confirmed prostate pathology. RESULTS: P. acnes types IB and II were no more prevalent in the urinary tract of patients with prostate pathology than in normal control men. However, the prevalence of types IB and II appeared to be higher in adult men (at 11 of 15 and six of 15, respectively) than in adolescents (two of six and one of six), suggesting an age-related increase. Comparison of urinary tract and facial skin P. acnes from three subjects showed that type IA was more often predominant on facial skin, whereas types IB or II were more often predominant in the urinary tract. CONCLUSIONS: A urine test might not be useful for detecting men with prostatic P. acnes infection and thus at greater risk of associated prostate disease. However, this work validated our technique for detecting and identifying the three P. acnes subtypes, and identified some interesting trends worth further investigation.     

Mathieu and Barcat repair with a V incision sutured meatoplasty for secondary hypospadias surgery

AIM: Today single-stage methods are more frequently selected for hypospadias repair than multistaged methods, but complications cannot always be avoided. We employed two kinds of meatal based flip-flap urethroplasty procedures for those with an unsuccessful primary hypospadias repair. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1997 to 2005, a meatal based flip-flap urethroplasty was performed as a secondary hypospadias surgery on 17 patients. Basically we attempted the Mathieu repair, but when the wings of the glans were not generously widened and the urethral groove was not sufficiently deep we applied the Barcat procedure. While 11 patients were repaired with the Mathieu technique, six patients underwent the Barcat repair. The V incision sutured meatoplasty was added to obtain a natural ventral slit-like meatus. RESULTS: Ten of the 11 patients who underwent the Mathieu repair had a good outcome, but one patient developed a urethrocutaneous fistula. None of the six patients repaired with the Barcat procedure encountered postoperative complications. Cosmetically, a vertical slit was constructed near the normal neomeatus with the Mathieu and V incision sutured (MAVIS) meatoplasty and the Barcat and V incision sutured (BAVIS) meatoplasty. CONCLUSIONS: The Mathieu or the Barcat meatal based flip-flap urethroplasty procedure is feasible as a salvage surgery for those with relatively short urethral defects and adequate mobile ventral skin if an exact procedure is selected. Excellent cosmetic results could be obtained by adding the technique of V incision sutured meatoplasty.     

Human papillomavirus associated with bladder carcinoma? Analysis by polymerase chain reaction

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to assess the possible etiologic role of human papillomaviruses (HPV) in bladder tumors. METHODS: Forty-two fresh biopsy specimens from different grades and stages of bladder tumor cases and 10 normal bladder mucosa biopsies were studied. Specimens were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with HPV-specific general primer set for the detection of viral DNA. Polymerase chain reaction-positive samples were also tested with HPV 16- and 18-specific primers by the same method. RESULTS: We found two samples (4.8%) containing HPV DNA among the TaG1 bladder tumors. All other specimens, including the control group, were found to be negative by PCR. Neither of the two HPV-positive patients had immune deficiency and/or genital wars. Human papillomavirus 16 was detected by type-specific primers in one sample, but the other HPV-positive sample could not be typed. CONCLUSIONS: The low prevalence of HPV in this and many previous studies does not support an etiologic role of HPV in bladder carcinogenesis. We detected the virus in two early stage tumors, but none was detected in the high-grade samples. However, to clarify the positivity of HPV in these occasional cases, future studies must be designed by using in situ PCR techniques, including samples from tumors and normal bladder mucosa from the same patient.     

Anesthesia for children with Wolf-Hirshhorn syndrome: a report and literature review

Wolf-Hirshhorn is a rare chromosomal defect syndrome. We present two cases of children diagnosed with Wolf-Hirshhorn syndrome, and discuss the ramifications of anesthesia for these patients.