Uro, Volume 5, Issue 3 (September 2025) – 4 articles

Background/Objectives: Buccal mucosa graft (BMG) is increasingly utilized in reconstructive urological surgeries due to its versatility, robust integration, histological characteristics and low morbidity at the donor site. Initially employed in urethral surgery, BMG use has expanded to complex ureteral and penile reconstructive procedures. This narrative review examines BMG applications in various urological surgeries, comparing its outcomes to other graft types, with a focus on surgical techniques and patient outcomes. Methods: A narrative review was conducted using PubMed and Scopus to identify relevant studies published over the last three decades on the use of BMG in urological reconstructive surgery. Articles in English addressing BMG harvesting, applications and functional outcomes were analyzed. Results: BMG has demonstrated high success rates in every field of its application, especially in urethral reconstruction with an 83–91% efficacy rate in intermediate follow-up. Studies have also reported positive outcomes in complex ureteral and penile curvature surgeries, with patient satisfaction rates reaching up to 85%. Conclusions: BMG is an adaptable tissue graft for urological reconstructive surgeries, offering favorable outcomes with minimal morbidity. Although the current results are encouraging, larger prospective studies with standardized protocols are necessary to fully validate its long-term efficacy and optimize treatment approaches for complex urological reconstructions. Full article

Introduction: Although lipomas are common benign tumors found in adults, lipomas of the bladder are extremely rare. Bladder lipomas are infrequently reported in the urologic literature, with only 19 cases published worldwide. These can present as a mass on cystoscopy and cause irritative voiding symptoms, depending on their location. Upon transurethral resection, seeing fat can be concerning for a perforation, as lipoma can be mistaken for extravesical fat. Hence, familiarity with this rare entity is of paramount importance for urologists to prevent unnecessary investigations and interventions that are needed in case of a true bladder perforation. Case presentation: This study presents a case of bladder lipoma in a 73-year-old male with end-stage renal disease who presented for pretransplant urologic evaluation due to microscopic hematuria and irritative lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). During cystoscopy, a bladder mass was seen, and a transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) revealed bright yellow adipose tissue immediately underneath the bladder mucosa. Concerns about perforation were obviated when seeing intact detrusor muscle underneath, visually confirming the integrity of the bladder wall. The resection was completed, and the CT scan was re-read with the radiologist, which confirmed the presence of a lipoma that was missed pre-operatively due to patient’s oliguria and collapsed bladder. No catheter drainage or cystogram was performed based on these findings. Outcome: The patient healed without any complications. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of a mature lipoma. The patient was cleared for transplant from a urologic standpoint and had a successful renal transplantation without delay. Discussion: This case documents the anomalous occurrence of a lipoma within the bladder and supports maintaining a broad differential, including liposarcoma, angiomyolipoma, and other non-malignant fatty tumors during the evaluation of a bladder mass. Full article

Background: Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i), particularly tadalafil and sildenafil, are the first-line therapies for erectile dysfunction (ED). After the patent expiration of branded tadalafil in 2017, generic formulations became available. Despite equivalent efficacy, skepticism persists regarding the effectiveness and safety of generics. The SHIFT study aimed to evaluate the non-inferiority of a generic tadalafil (Dalerpen) compared with branded and other generic tadalafil in terms of clinical efficacy and patient satisfaction. Methods: A prospective, multicenter study was conducted involving 247 patients treated with tadalafil (either 5 mg or 20 mg) for ED. Patients switched from branded or other generic tadalafil to Dalerpen. Baseline and follow-up assessments included the International Index of Erectile Function—Erectile Function Domain (IIEF-EF) (primary endpoint), Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP-2 and SEP-3), and International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS). A one-month follow-up was performed. Results: A total of 247 patients were included in the final analysis. After switching to Dalerpen, significant improvements were observed in both IIEF-EF (18.8 ± 5.6 vs. 16.7 ± 5.4, p < 0.001) and IPSS scores (10.4 ± 6.7 vs. 11.2 ± 6.3, p < 0.001), though the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) was not reached. SEP-3 scores also significantly increased (3 ± 1.2 vs. 2 ± 1.1, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified baseline IIEF, IPSS scores, and post-treatment IPSS as predictors of IIEF-EF improvement (p < 0.001). Switching to Dalerpen was an independent predictor of both IIEF-EF and IPSS improvement. No new adverse events were reported. Conclusions: The SHIFT study demonstrates that Dalerpen is non-inferior to branded tadalafil in terms of clinical efficacy, offering a reliable and cost-effective therapeutic option. Educating patients on bioequivalence and addressing concerns regarding generic drugs are essential to facilitate therapeutic switches. Full article

Background/Objectives: Although biallelic pathogenic variants in different DNAH gene family members have been associated with infertility, the role of DNAH12 in this disorder is still incompletely understood. To date, few patients have been shown to have infertility due to biallelic variants in this gene. Here, we report two more unrelated patients with infertility who carry homozygous variants in DNAH12. Methods: This study included two male patients with primary infertility and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT). Patient 1 was a 32-year-old with 1.5 years of infertility and no chronic illnesses or prior assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). Patient 2 was a 49-year-old with 24 years of infertility, a history of varicocelectomy, and the occasional use of PRN analgesics for bone pain. Using genome sequencing, we identified two homozygous variants: c.3757C>A, p. Pro1253Thr, and c.11086-1G>A, p.?, in patients 1 and 2, respectively. Results: Our findings add supportive evidence that DNAH12 is a gene implicated in rare cases of male infertility. The identification of these homozygous variants in two additional patients supports the association between DNAH12 variants and reproductive dysfunction. Conclusions: This study highlights the need for further research on the role of DNAH12, including functional studies to clarify the mechanisms contributing to infertility. Full article