Does Varicocele Repair Improve Conventional Semen Parameters? A Meta-Analytic Study of Before-After Data

PURPOSE

The purpose of this meta-analysis is to study the impact of varicocele repair in the largest cohort of infertile males with clinical varicocele by including all available studies, with no language restrictions, comparing intra-person conventional semen parameters before and after the repair of varicoceles.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The meta-analysis was performed according to PRISMA-P and MOOSE guidelines. A systematic search was performed in Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases. Eligible studies were selected according to the PICOS model (Population: infertile male patients with clinical varicocele; Intervention: varicocele repair; Comparison: intra-person before-after varicocele repair; Outcome: conventional semen parameters; Study type: randomized controlled trials [RCTs], observational and case-control studies).

RESULTS

Out of 1,632 screened abstracts, 351 articles (23 RCTs, 292 observational, and 36 case-control studies) were included in the quantitative analysis. The before-and-after analysis showed significant improvements in all semen parameters after varicocele repair (except sperm vitality); semen volume: standardized mean difference (SMD) 0.203, 95% CI: 0.129-0.278; p<0.001; I²=83.62%, Egger's p=0.3329; sperm concentration: SMD 1.590, 95% CI: 1.474-1.706; p<0.001; I²=97.86%, Egger's p<0.0001; total sperm count: SMD 1.824, 95% CI: 1.526-2.121; p<0.001; I²=97.88%, Egger's p=0.0063; total motile sperm count: SMD 1.643, 95% CI: 1.318-1.968; p<0.001; I²=98.65%, Egger's p=0.0003; progressive sperm motility: SMD 1.845, 95% CI: 1.537%-2.153%; p<0.001; I²=98.97%, Egger's p<0.0001; total sperm motility: SMD 1.613, 95% CI 1.467%-1.759%; p<0.001; l2=97.98%, Egger's p<0.001; sperm morphology: SMD 1.066, 95% CI 0.992%-1.211%; p<0.001; I²=97.87%, Egger's p=0.1864.

CONCLUSIONS

The current meta-analysis is the largest to date using paired analysis on varicocele patients. In the current meta-analysis, almost all conventional semen parameters improved significantly following varicocele repair in infertile patients with clinical varicocele.

Impact of Varicocele Repair on Semen Parameters in Infertile Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

Despite the significant role of varicocele in the pathogenesis of male infertility, the impact of varicocele repair (VR) on conventional semen parameters remains controversial. Only a few systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMAs) have evaluated the impact of VR on sperm concentration, total motility, and progressive motility, mostly using a before-after analytic approach. No SRMA to date has evaluated the change in conventional semen parameters after VR compared to untreated controls. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of VR on conventional semen parameters in infertile patients with clinical varicocele compared to untreated controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A literature search was performed using Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases following the Population Intervention Comparison Outcome (PICOS) model (Population: infertile patients with clinical varicocele; Intervention: VR [any technique]; Comparison: infertile patients with clinical varicocele that were untreated; Outcome: sperm concentration, sperm total count, progressive sperm motility, total sperm motility, sperm morphology, and semen volume; Study type: randomized controlled trials and observational studies).

RESULTS

A total of 1,632 abstracts were initially assessed for eligibility. Sixteen studies were finally included with a total of 2,420 infertile men with clinical varicocele (1,424 patients treated with VR vs. 996 untreated controls). The analysis showed significantly improved post-operative semen parameters in patients compared to controls with regards to sperm concentration (standardized mean difference [SMD] 1.739; 95% CI 1.129 to 2.349; p<0.001; I²=97.6%), total sperm count (SMD 1.894; 95% CI 0.566 to 3.222; p<0.05; I²=97.8%), progressive sperm motility (SMD 3.301; 95% CI 2.164 to 4.437; p<0.01; I²=98.5%), total sperm motility (SMD 0.887; 95% CI 0.036 to 1.738; p=0.04; I²=97.3%) and normal sperm morphology (SMD 1.673; 95% CI 0.876 to 2.470; p<0.05; I²=98.5%). All the outcomes showed a high inter-study heterogeneity, but the sensitivity analysis showed that no study was sensitive enough to change these results. Publication bias was present only in the analysis of the sperm concentration and progressive motility. No significant difference was found for the semen volume (SMD 0.313; 95% CI -0.242 to 0.868; I²=89.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a high level of evidence in favor of a positive effect of VR to improve conventional semen parameters in infertile men with clinical varicocele. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first SRMA to compare changes in conventional semen parameters after VR with changes in parameters of a control group over the same period. This is in contrast to other SRMAs which have compared semen parameters before and after VR, without reference to a control group. Our findings strengthen the available evidence and have a potential to upgrade professional societies' practice recommendations favoring VR to improve conventional semen parameters in infertile men.

Consensus and Diversity in the Management of Varicocele for Male Infertility: Results of a Global Practice Survey and Comparison with Guidelines and Recommendations

PURPOSE

Varicocele is a common problem among infertile men. Varicocele repair (VR) is frequently performed to improve semen parameters and the chances of pregnancy. However, there is a lack of consensus about the diagnosis, indications for VR and its outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore global practice patterns on the management of varicocele in the context of male infertility.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty practicing urologists/andrologists from 23 countries contributed 382 multiple-choice-questions pertaining to varicocele management. These were condensed into an online questionnaire that was forwarded to clinicians involved in male infertility management through direct invitation. The results were analyzed for disagreement and agreement in practice patterns and, compared with the latest guidelines of international professional societies (American Urological Association [AUA], American Society for Reproductive Medicine [ASRM], and European Association of Urology [EAU]), and with evidence emerging from recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Additionally, an expert opinion on each topic was provided based on the consensus of 16 experts in the field.

RESULTS

The questionnaire was answered by 574 clinicians from 59 countries. The majority of respondents were urologists/uro-andrologists. A wide diversity of opinion was seen in every aspect of varicocele diagnosis, indications for repair, choice of technique, management of sub-clinical varicocele and the role of VR in azoospermia. A significant proportion of the responses were at odds with the recommendations of AUA, ASRM, and EAU. A large number of clinical situations were identified where no guidelines are available.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the largest global survey performed to date on the clinical management of varicocele for male infertility. It demonstrates: 1) a wide disagreement in the approach to varicocele management, 2) large gaps in the clinical practice guidelines from professional societies, and 3) the need for further studies on several aspects of varicocele management in infertile men.

An Important Risk Factor Affecting Hypercalciuria in Children: Vesicoureteral Reflux

INTRODUCTION

 A large number of genes and environmental factors, like dietary habits, play a role in the development of hypercalciuria in children. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of the presence and grade of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) on hypercalciuria status in children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 Data for 165 patients who admitted to the Pediatric Urology Department were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were composed of following four different groups: (1) urinary stone patients, (2) VUR patients under follow-up, (3) corrected VUR patients, and (4) control. The demographic features, clinical data, and laboratory tests for the groups were compared.

RESULTS

 The mean age of the patients was 100.6 ± 54.69 months and the female/male ratio was 79:86. The mean urinary calcium/creatinine (UCa/Cr) excretion and the frequency of high UCa/Cr ratios in the corrected VUR group were similar to those in the control group (p = 0.375 and 0.965, respectively). In contrast, the mean UCa/Cr excretion and frequency of high UCa/Cr ratios in the urinary stone and follow-up VUR groups were significantly higher than those in the corrected VUR group (p < 0.001, < 0.001, 0.003, and 0.029, respectively). The mean UCa/Cr excretion and frequency of high UCa/Cr ratios in the follow-up VUR group were similar to those in the urinary stone group (p = 0.323 and 0.425, respectively). In the follow-up VUR group, although reflux laterality had no effect on the UCa/Cr ratios (p = 0.180 and 0.108, respectively), the mean and frequency of high UCa/Cr ratios were higher in high-grade reflux cases (p < 0.001 and p = 0.042, respectively).

CONCLUSION

 Both the mean UCa/Cr ratio and the rate of hypercalciuria in the corrected reflux group were significantly lower than the corresponding values in the follow-up VUR and urinary stone groups. Further, the follow-up VUR patients had similar urinary calcium excretion levels as the stone patients. VUR treatment is associated with a decrease in urinary calcium excretion to the normal population level. A positive correlation between reflux degree and calcium excretion was observed.

Changes in percutaneous approach to kidney stones in children: A single institute experience over 500 cases

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to identify the changes in patient age and stone sizes with technological advancement over time.

METHODS

This study was conducted retrospectively with 404 patients (504 renal units) who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) between January 1997 and June 2020. Patient characteristics and trends on instrument preferences were investigated.

RESULTS

Median age was 7 (1-18) years. Male to female ratio was 1.48:1 (301/203). Median stone burden was 2 cm² (0.20-25) and median operative time was 90 minutes (20-240). The stone-free rate was 74.6%. Patients were divided into four groups according to the size of the instrument. It was found that the size of sheath used increased significantly with increasing age and stone burden. The micro-PCNL group had the shortest hospitalisation and lowest blood transfusion rate. Chronologically categorised four equal groups were compared to analyse changing patient profiles and trends. Median patient age, stone burden, operation time, sheath size, blood transfusion and complication rates decreased significantly with time. However, the use of tracts smaller than 20F and the number of patients with previous intervention increased significantly.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated that the patient's age and stone size at the time of initial diagnosis decrease over time while miniaturisation techniques increase in paediatric urology.

Predictors of ISUP score upgrade in patients with low-risk prostate cancer

INTRODUCTION

The literature contains few studies that focus on the relationship between International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) score upgrade and complete blood count (CBC) parameters for patients with low-risk prostate cancer and studies achieved inconclusive results.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed our institutional database for patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) between 1994 and 2017. In total, we included 633 patients with low-risk prostate cancer in the study. We investigated the effects of clinicopathologic factors on ISUP score upgrade. Moreover, we compared RP pathologic outcomes between the patients with and without ISUP score upgrade.

RESULTS

The mean age and follow-up periods were 61.09±6.61 years and 41.9±1.8 months, respectively. ISUP score upgrade was observed in 207 patients (32.7%). In multivariate analysis, high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density and percentage of positive cores were found to be significantly associated with ISUP score upgrade (p = 0.003 and p = 0.003, respectively). The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-lymphocyte ratio, and eosinophil-lymphocyte ratio were found to have no effect on ISUP score upgrade (p = 0.856, p = 0.353, p = 0.128, and p = 0.074, respectively). The percentage of tumors, surgical margin positivity, seminal vesicle invasion rate, and extraprostatic extension rate in RP pathology were higher in patients with ISUP score upgrade (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately one-third of the patients in our series had ISUP score upgrade in RP pathology. PSA density and the percentage of positive cores were found to be the factors significantly associated with ISUP score upgrade. CBC-related factors had no effect on ISUP score upgrade.

Prognostic significance of pre- and post-treatment PD-L1 expression in patients with primary high-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer treated with BCG immunotherapy

PURPOSE

Programmed cell death-1 ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression has been associated with prognostic implications in urologic malignancies. We aimed to investigate prognostic significance of pre- and post-treatment PD-L1 expression in patients treated with BCG for high-grade non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

METHODS

We reviewed a total of 141 high-grade NMIBC cases treated with transurethral resection +  ≥ 6 BCG instillations between 2004 and 2017. PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) scoring was done on 0-3 scale, and cut-off for positive and high-level PD-L1 expression was set to ≥ 1% and ≥ 5% staining of tumor-infiltrating immune cells (IC), respectively. Clinicopathologic characteristics and oncologic outcomes [recurrence-free (RFS) and progression-free survival (PFS)] were compared, stratified by PD-L1 positivity. The prognostic role of PD-L1 was assessed using Kaplan-Meier, and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses.

RESULTS

Pre-treatment, 46.2% and 6.8% of high-grade NMIBC demonstrated positive and high-level PD-L1 expression, respectively. Positive PD-L1 expression was associated with submucosal invasion and refractory-tumor recurrence. PD-L1 expression was not associated with RFS or PFS in regression analysis. Post-treatment, 55.1% and 11.6% of recurrent tumors demonstrated positive and high-level PD-L1 expression, respectively. Down-regulation of PD-L1 expression was noted in patients with refractory recurrence (p = 0.012).

CONCLUSION

Pre-treatment PD-L1 expression was associated with unfavorable pathological features in primary high-grade NMIBC and its expression level after BCG immunotherapy was significantly decreased in patients with refractory recurrence. PD-L1 expression did not have prognostic value for PFS or RFS; therefore, further research is necessary to identify novel biomarkers for prediction of disease outcomes in high-grade NMIBC.