Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.3
Journals
IJERPH
Special Issues
Advances in Male Reproductive Health and Urology
ijerph-logo
Submit to IJERPH Review for IJERPH Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Advances in Male Reproductive Health and Urology

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2024) | Viewed by 11484

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Guglielmo Mantica

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Urology, Policlinico San Martino Hospital, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy
Interests: endourology; andrology; laparoscopy; kidney cancer; bladder cancer; prostate cancer; urethroplasty; kidney stones; social media; urogenital infections

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are currently organizing a Special Issue to be published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. This Special Issue will focus on male reproductive health and urology.

The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes articles and communications pertaining to the interdisciplinary research area of environmental health sciences and public health. For more detailed information on the journal, please visit the following website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph. 

Male reproductive health is a branch deeply connected with public health, associated with various problems, both in developing and western countries. Similarly, urology is a branch that treats widely diffused pathologies, both in the young/pediatric population and in the elderly population, such as urolithiasis, BPH, and genitourinary cancers. These diseases lead to countless treatments and hospitalizations, which, especially in public health emergencies, such as that experienced over the last two years, represent a huge problem that may no longer be sustainable by most healthcare systems in the future.

In this regard, this Special Issue is open to any subject area related to the impacts of the built environment on public health. This includes technological and pharmacological advances, both in the andrological and urological fields, that can bring benefits, in terms of reduced hospitalization, but also a simple improvement in the quality of care and patients’ outcomes.

The keywords suggest just a few of the many possibilities of topics accepted for publication in this Special Issue.

Please note that clinical studies not sufficiently addressing the aim of the journal will not be considered.

Dr. Guglielmo Mantica
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • andrology
  • aging male
  • public health
  • genitourinary cancer
  • laparoscopy
  • robotic surgery
  • quality of life
  • urolithiasis
  • BPH
  • pediatric urology
  • reproductive medicine
  • new technologies
  • biomarkers
  • reconstructive urology
  • urethroplasty

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

8 pages, 259 KiB  
Article
Prostate Cancer Knowledge, Beliefs and Screening Uptake among Black Survivors: A Qualitative Exploration at a Tertiary Hospital, Limpopo Province, South Africa
by Shai Nkoana, Tholene Sodi and Mahlapahlapana Themane
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(9), 1212; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091212 - 15 Sep 2024
Viewed by 778
Abstract
Men of African ancestry suffer disproportionately from prostate cancer (PCa) compared to other racial groups in South Africa. Equally concerning is that black South African men generally present later and with higher stages and grades of the disease than their non-black counterparts. Despite [...] Read more.
Men of African ancestry suffer disproportionately from prostate cancer (PCa) compared to other racial groups in South Africa. Equally concerning is that black South African men generally present later and with higher stages and grades of the disease than their non-black counterparts. Despite this, a small percentage of black South African men participate in screening practices for PCa. This study sought to explore knowledge and beliefs of black South African PCa survivors, and the potential impact of this on the limited screening uptake within this population group. A hermeneutic phenomenological study design was undertaken. The sample comprised 20 black South African PCa survivors, between the ages of 67 and 85 years (meanage = 76 yrs; SD = 5.3), receiving some form of treatment at a tertiary Academic Hospital, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The sample was selected through a purposive sampling method. Data for the study were collected through in-depth, semi-structured individual interviews and analyzed through interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The findings demonstrated that black South African men had poor knowledge of PCa and that this may create an unfortunate system that precludes this population group from taking part in life-saving PCa screening services. The results highlight a need to elevate knowledge and awareness of PCa among black South African men and ultimately enhance screening practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Male Reproductive Health and Urology)
13 pages, 1131 KiB  
Article
Maternal Serum α-Fetoprotein Levels during Pregnancy and Testicular Cancer in Male Offspring: A Cohort Study within a Danish Pregnancy Screening Registry
by Cecilie S. Uldbjerg, Youn-Hee Lim, Clara H. Glazer, Russ Hauser, Anders Juul and Elvira V. Bräuner
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(21), 14112; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114112 - 28 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3260
Abstract
Testicular cancer is believed to originate from disruptions of normal androgen-estrogen balance in-utero. α-fetoprotein (AFP) may modify fetal response to estrogens via estrogen interaction. In a cohort study, we investigated the association between circulating maternal pregnancy AFP and testicular cancer risk in offspring. [...] Read more.
Testicular cancer is believed to originate from disruptions of normal androgen-estrogen balance in-utero. α-fetoprotein (AFP) may modify fetal response to estrogens via estrogen interaction. In a cohort study, we investigated the association between circulating maternal pregnancy AFP and testicular cancer risk in offspring. Of the 56,709 live-born males from a pregnancy screening registry in 1980–1995, our study included 50,519 singleton males with available second trimester blood samples from their mothers and complete covariate ascertainment. Testicular cancer diagnoses and covariate data were obtained from nationwide Danish health registries. Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier analyses estimated the prospective risk of testicular cancer (all, seminoma, nonseminoma) by AFP multiples of the median. During follow-up, 163 (0.3%) of the included males developed testicular cancer, of which 89 (54.6%) were nonseminomas. Maternal serum AFP levels greater than/equal to the median were associated with a relative risk of testicular cancer close to unity (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.76; 1.41) compared to AFP below the median. Associations differed by type of testicular cancer (RRseminoma 0.81, 95% CI 0.51; 1.29, RRnonseminoma 1.31, 95% CI 0.85; 2.02). On balance, our findings do not support that serum AFP in pregnancy can be used as a predictor of testicular cancer in offspring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Male Reproductive Health and Urology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 616 KiB  
Article
Verbal Instruction for Pelvic Floor Muscle Contraction among Healthy Young Males
by Noa Ben Ami, Ron Feldman and Gali Dar
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12031; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912031 - 23 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2340
Abstract
Teaching Pelvic Floor Muscle (PFM) contraction is a challenging task for clinicians and patients, as these muscles cannot be directly visualized. Thus, this study’s objective is to compare the effectiveness of six verbal instructions for contracting the PFM among young men, as observed [...] Read more.
Teaching Pelvic Floor Muscle (PFM) contraction is a challenging task for clinicians and patients, as these muscles cannot be directly visualized. Thus, this study’s objective is to compare the effectiveness of six verbal instructions for contracting the PFM among young men, as observed with transabdominal ultrasound imaging. Thirty-five male physiotherapy students, mean age 25.9 ± 1.9 years, participated in the study. A 6 MHz 35-mm curved linear array ultrasound transducer (Mindray M5) was placed in the transverse plane, supra-pubically, and angled 15–30° from the vertical plane. During crook lying, participants received six verbal instructions for contracting the PFM, with bladder base displacement and endurance evaluated. Following the instructions, “squeeze your anus”, “shorten the penis”, and “elevate the scrotum”, over 91% of the participants performed a cranial (upward) bladder base displacement. During instruction six, “draw in”, which involves breathing, the PFM, and the transversus abdominis, only 25% performed cranial bladder base displacement (p < 0.001), and the endurance was the lowest (p < 0.001). Our findings suggest that several simple verbal instructions can be used for teaching PFM contraction to young males. Moreover, two instructions should be avoided: “draw in” and the general instruction “squeeze your PFM”, as they did not produce effective elevation of the bladder base. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Male Reproductive Health and Urology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

18 pages, 992 KiB  
Review
The Andrological Landscape in the Twenty-First Century: Making Sense of the Advances in Male Infertility Management for the Busy Clinicians
by Ahmad Motawi, Andrea Crafa, Taha Hamoda, Rupin Shah and Ashok Agarwal
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(9), 1222; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091222 - 17 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1029
Abstract
Male infertility represents a significant global problem due to its essential health, social, and economic implications. It is unsurprising that scientific research is very active in this area and that advances in the diagnostic and therapeutic fields are notable. This review presents the [...] Read more.
Male infertility represents a significant global problem due to its essential health, social, and economic implications. It is unsurprising that scientific research is very active in this area and that advances in the diagnostic and therapeutic fields are notable. This review presents the main diagnostic advances in male infertility, starting from the changes made in the latest WHO Manual of semen analysis and discussing the more molecular aspects inherent to “omics”. Furthermore, the usefulness of artificial intelligence in male infertility diagnostics and the latest advances in varicocele diagnosis will be discussed. In particular, the diagnostic path of male infertility is increasingly moving towards a personalized approach to the search for the specific biomarkers of infertility and the prediction of treatment response. The treatment of male infertility remains empirical in many regards, but despite that, advances have been made to help formulate evidence-based recommendations. Varicocele, the most common correctable cause of male infertility, has been explored for expanded indications for repair. The following expanded indications were discussed: elevated sperm DNA fragmentation, hypogonadism, orchalgia, and the role of varicocele repair in non-obstructive azoospermia. Moving forward with the available data, we discussed the stepwise approach to surgical sperm retrieval techniques and the current measures that have been investigated for optimizing such patients before testicular sperm extraction. Finally, the key points and expert recommendations regarding the best practice for diagnosing and treating men with infertility were summarized to conclude this review. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Male Reproductive Health and Urology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 756 KiB  
Review
The Role of Novel Bladder Cancer Diagnostic and Surveillance Biomarkers—What Should a Urologist Really Know?
by Rafaela Malinaric, Guglielmo Mantica, Lorenzo Lo Monaco, Federico Mariano, Rosario Leonardi, Alchiede Simonato, André Van der Merwe and Carlo Terrone
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9648; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159648 - 5 Aug 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3090
Abstract
The aim of this review is to analyze and describe the current landscape of bladder cancer diagnostic and surveillance biomarkers. We researched the literature from 2016 to November 2021 to find the most promising new molecules and divided them into seven different subgroups [...] Read more.
The aim of this review is to analyze and describe the current landscape of bladder cancer diagnostic and surveillance biomarkers. We researched the literature from 2016 to November 2021 to find the most promising new molecules and divided them into seven different subgroups based on their function and location in the cell. Although cystoscopy and cytology are still the gold standard for diagnosis and surveillance when it comes to bladder cancer (BCa), their cost is quite a burden for national health systems worldwide. Currently, the research is focused on finding a biomarker that has high negative predictive value (NPV) and can exclude with a certainty the presence of the tumor, considering missing it could be disastrous for the patient. Every subgroup has its own advantages and disadvantages; for example, protein biomarkers cost less than genomic ones, but on the other hand, they seem to be less precise. We tried to simplify this complicated topic as much as possible in order to make it comprehensible to doctors and urologists that are not as familiar with it, as well as encourage them to actively participate in ongoing research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Male Reproductive Health and Urology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop