Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39996014›Full record

ArticleTherapeutic advances in urology

Rising public interest in stem cell therapy for erectile dysfunction: an analysis of public perception and a review of the literature.

Muhammed A M Hammad, Jake Miller, Mark I Sultan, Elia Abou Chawareb, Hana S Nakamura, Juan R Martinez, Supanut Lumbiganon, Lawrence Jenkins, David W Barham, Dhiresh Bandaru and 2 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Therapeutic advances in urology. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Muhammed A M HammadDepartment of Urology, University of California, 20 palatine, Apt 216 in Villa Sienna, Irvine, CA 92612, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5396-1364
Jake MillerDepartment of Urology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
Mark I SultanDepartment of Urology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3187-9320
Elia Abou ChawarebDepartment of Urology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
Hana S NakamuraDepartment of Urology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
Juan R MartinezDepartment of Urology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
Supanut LumbiganonDepartment of Urology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
Lawrence JenkinsDepartment of Urology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0125-673X
David W BarhamDepartment of Urology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
Dhiresh BandaruSchool of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA.
Jessica M YihDepartment of Urology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
Faysal A YafiDepartment of Urology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: The use of alternative treatment modalities for erectile dysfunction (ED) beyond phosphodiesterase inhibitors continues to grow within the practice of Urology. Utilizing U.S. Google trends as a novel epidemiological tool for geographically associating patient search intent, our study aims to capture trends relating to interest in stem cell therapy (SCT) as a potential treatment for ED. Methods: An online search was conducted to identify centers in the United States offering stem cell therapy (SCT) for erectile dysfunction (ED), using specific keywords such as "ED treatment," "stem cells for ED," and "sexual health stem cell." The geographic distribution of these centers was mapped, and their publicly available information was evaluated based on strict inclusion criteria, including direct claims of SCT efficacy for ED and oversight by a licensed urologist. The public interest in SCT treatment was quantified using Google Trends data from July 2018 to July 2023, utilizing search terms related to SCT and comparing them to terms associated with alternative regenerative therapies like platelet-rich plasma and shockwave treatments, to extract the direction and magnitude of national interest over the preceding 5 years. The PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases were then searched from inception to May 2024 regarding evidence for the use of SCT to treat ED. Results: Despite insufficient evidence, public search interest demonstrates an upward trajectory of this treatment when compared to alternative regenerative therapies for ED. This increased interest in SCT as a potential treatment option for ED may be linked to the marketing efforts of commercial entities. Throughout the qualitative analysis of advertisement sources, only two websites (Stem Cells Transplant Institute, and Ambrose Cell Therapy) summarized the collective results of a directed clinical trial investigating the utility of SCT in ED patients. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the public prevalence of patients seeking SCT as a treatment modality for ED is increasing. In addition, varied sources nationwide promote SCT despite limited scientific evidence and consensus. This disparity calls for additional prospective research on the viability, efficacy, and long-term safety of SCT in the context of ED.

Indexed as

alternative treatmentsepidemiologyerectile dysfunctionevidence-based medicineGoogle search trendsplatelet-rich plasmapublic interestregenerative medicineshockwave therapystem cell therapy

Identifiers

PMID39996014
PMCPMC11848873

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.