Effect of Blackcurrant Consumption on the Genitourinary System: A Literature Review

Both in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that functional plant-based food such as fruits, vegetables, and berries can enhance health, have preventive effects, and reduce the risk of several chronic diseases. This review discusses blackcurrant fruit usage in humans and experimental animals and its effect on the genitourinary system (GUS). This comprehensive review demonstrates that blackcurrants and their bioactive compounds possess medicinal and therapeutic properties related to the GUS. Emphasis in the literature has been placed on the bioavailability of the active blackcurrant components. Nonetheless, future clinical trials are needed to investigate and improve the bioavailability of blackcurrant phenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins, and to expand the evidence that active blackcurrant compounds can treat various genitourinary diseases.

Recreational use of oral erectile dysfunction medications among male physicians - A cross-sectional study

Introduction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the persistent inability to attain and maintain an erection sufficient to permit satisfactory sexual performance. Bypassing health-care providers and obtaining ED medications (EDM) without a prescription are an issue that is faced globally.

Aim

We attempt to assess erectile function (EF) among a local sample of physicians, the psychological effects of recreational EDM use, and compare EF among different user groups.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study done solely on physicians in Saudi Arabia. A self-designed questionnaire including demographics, sexual characteristics, use of ED medication, sexual satisfaction, and the validated international index of EF (IIEF).

Outcome

Physicians misused EDM.

Results

A total of 503 physicians completed the questionnaire. Among participants reporting sexual problems, only 23% received counseling and 3.4% were professionally diagnosed with ED. Among users, 71.2% were using EDM recreationally, 14.4% prophylactically, and 14.4% were prescribed. Participants aged 20-29 IIEF-5 score was significantly lower than participants aged 30-39 years. Prescribed users had a lower IIEF-5 score compared to both recreational users and nonusers.

Clinical Implications

Many healthy sexually active men use EDMs recreationally to increase sexual performance.

Strengths and Limitations

One of the limitations of our study is that we did not use standardized tools to determine the diagnosis of some important disorders like premature ejaculation. Our study strengths include the very high response rate, with our results truly showing a nationwide self-assessment of sexual dysfunction.

Conclusion

Recreational use of oral EDMs may adversely impact the psychological aspects of sexual function. In our study, physicians misused EDM. We recommend labeling EDMs as restricted medication that requires a prescription to use by a licensed physician.

Assessment of lower calyceal single-access percutaneous nephrolithotomy for staghorn stones: A single-surgeon and a single-center experience at KAMC, Riyadh

Introduction:

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is still the mainstay and the treatment of choice for most complex renal stones. The success of PCNL is defined by achieving a stone-free rate (SFR). Lower calyceal access PCNL is established to be the safest percutaneous access to the renal system, but controversy is present when it comes to SFR in comparison to upper calyceal and middle calyceal accesses.

Aim:

We aim to prove that lower calyceal access PCNL is the safest PCNL access and has the same efficacy as upper calyceal access PCNL for staghorn stones.

Methodology:

All lower calyceal access PCNLs done from May 2012 to August 2017 were included in the study. Postoperative complications were reported using the modified Clavien Grading System.

Results:

Sixty-seven patients were included in the study. The mean age was found to be 49.39 years; most (36 [53.73%]) patients were male. The prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and chronic kidney disease was 40.91%, 47.76%, 37.31%, and 20.00%, respectively. The mean hospital stay was 7.9 days; mean operative time was 138.52 min. The mean staghorn stone burden was 476.34 mm². About 80.59% (n = 54) of patients had complete stone resolution after the first session. Only 3 (4.47%) patients had complications and classified as Grade 2 on the modified Clavien Grading System and the remainder were classified as Grade 1, two patients needed postoperative blood transfusion, and one had a renal pelvis perforation.

Conclusion:

When it comes to safety and efficacy, the use of lower calyceal single-access PCNL has a very low complication rate compared to upper calyceal access PCNL, especially pneumothorax and bleeding.