On 31 December 2019, China informed the World Health Organization they were facing a viral pneumonia epidemic of a new type of Coronavirus. Currently, 10 months later, more than 43,000,000 people have been infected, and about 1,150,000 deceased worldwide from the disease. Knowledge about the virus is updated daily, and its RNA was isolated from several human secretions, e.g., throat, saliva, pulmonary alveolar washing, and feces. So far, only one publication found the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in semen. In this 5-month cross-sectional study, we recruited 15 patients diagnosed with a positive nasal swab for SARS-CoV-2 with no or mild symptoms in our institution. A semen sample after a shower was retrieved and tested for viral RNA in the semen. The samples were tested for the viral RNA with RT-PCR with two different genetic probes. The samples were re-tested 24 h after the first test to confirm the results. The SARS-Cov-2 viral RNA was present in 1/15 patients [6.66%] in our sample. Even in a small sample, the RNA from SARS-CoV-2 can be isolated from human semen. This information should alert the scientific community and public health officials about a possible new form of transmission of the disease and long-term clinical effects on the population.

Khalil MI, et al. World J Mens Health. 2021 Jan;39(1):75-82. https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.190172

Penile amputation causes severe physical and psychosocial distress. Microsurgical implementation in penile replantation is presumed to be superior to surgical repair. This assumption has been difficult to verify. The purpose of this study was threefold: (1) to produce an updated review of penile replantation, substantiated by the largest sample size to date; (2) to appraise the comparative value of the novel PENIS Score and propose the PACKAGE Checklist, a guide for standardization of future case reports and reviews; and (3) to improve confusing terminology and recommend the standardization of vocabulary. A literature review assessed 432 full-text case reports in 20 languages and identified 123 microsurgical and 40 surgical cases of penile replantation. The novel PENIS Score stratified penile amputations based on 5 criteria: position along the shaft, extension through the penis, neurovascular repair, ischemia time and type, and severed edge condition and contamination. For the outcome measurements, a Kendall tau coefficient evaluated the association between each PENIS criterion for short-term postoperative complications and 3 outcome measures: erection, urination, and sensation. Less than half of surgical reports on penile replantation are sufficiently detailed to complete all PENIS Score criteria. The viability of microsurgical and surgical replantation was equivalent at 92% and 94%, respectively. A statistically significant correlation was found between microsurgical repair and the return of sensation but not with nerve repair. Return of sensation with nerve repair was 51%, and microsurgical replantation without nerve repair was 42%; both were significantly higher than the 14% for surgical replantation. Preservation of a skin bridge was associated with a 40% reduction in severe postoperative complications. Microsurgical replantation is superior in return of sensation, with or without nerve repair. Implementing the PACKAGE Checklist and PENIS Score will help inform case reports and reviews.

Introduction: Peyronie’s disease (PD) is a fibroproliferative disorder of the tunica albuginea characterized by localized plaque formation, penile curvature, and erectile dysfunction, most commonly affecting men between 40 and 70 years of age. Although François Gigot de La Peyronie is credited with the first formal description of the disease in 1743, depictions of penile curvature predate his description by millennia. Objectives: This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the historical and contemporary evolution of therapeutic strategies for PD, highlighting the shift from anecdotal remedies to evidence-based approaches. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases were searched without restrictions on publication date, using keywords related to PD and its therapies. Key interventions, including oral and topical agents, intralesional injections, penile traction therapy (PTT), and surgical techniques, were analyzed in the context of clinical trial data and guideline recommendations. Results: Early therapeutic approaches focused on oral and topical agents, which failed to demonstrate consistent efficacy in randomized trials. Intralesional injection (ILI) therapy has emerged as a leading option for nonsurgical management, with collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) as the standard treatment supported by robust evidence of significant improvements in penile curvature. PTT has undergone considerable refinement, with second-generation devices yielding excellent outcomes, particularly when combined with CCH. Surgical intervention remains the gold standard for definitive treatment of severe or complex deformities. Technical modifications have developed, including the use of biologic grafts, inflatable prosthesis placement with manual modeling, and graftless techniques such as tunica expansion and auxetics. Conclusion: A review of the historical progression of PD management demonstrates the shift from anecdotal claims of treatment efficacy to evidence-based practice. Current guidelines recommend ILI and PTT as first-line nonsurgical management, with surgery providing exceptional outcomes. Future progress aims to gain a greater molecular understanding of fibrosis and tissue remodeling to foster targeted therapies.

Genital self-mutilation is a rare condition. Psychiatric disease and accidents are the most common causes. We a case of genital amputation connected to religious delusions known as Klingsor Syndrome. Due to the scarcity of cases, each author describes the amputation injuries ununiformly, making the comparison of the cases difficult. We propose an anatomical pre-operatory score: The P.E.N.I.S.* score, it is an innovative pre-operative 5-grade score that aims to standardize the injury classification. Penile self-amputations are rare; medical literature lacks standardized classification that permits comparison between cases described. The P.E.N.I.S. score can be a helpful tool to fill this current gap.