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Introduction: Unmet expectations are a major cause of perceived treatment failure and discontinuation of treatment. To enable evidence-based counselling of patients on realistic expectations, we determined the chance of patients with overactive bladder becoming free of a given symptom upon treatment with a muscarinic antagonist in a non-interventional setting. Methods: Two non-interventional studies included 1335 and 745 patients, respectively, who received 30 or 45 mg q.d. propiverine ER for 12 weeks. They were monitored for becoming free of urgency, urinary incontinence, frequency, or nocturia. Analyses were also performed in subgroups defined by basal symptom severity, age, and gender. Categorical data are shown as a percentage of the respective population. Continuous data are expressed as means or as median depending on whether the variability was considered to exhibit a normal distribution. Results: The probability of becoming symptom-free was largest for incontinence and frequency (about 50%), but lesser for urgency (about 20%) and nocturia (about 10%). Greater basal severity of a symptom reduced the chance to become free of that symptom upon treatment, but the chance to become free of incontinence and frequency was still considerable. Age and gender had only minor if any effects on the chance of becoming symptom-free. These findings are in line with those of a limited number of randomized controlled trials. Conclusion: These data provide an evidence base for the counselling of patients with overactive bladder on realistic expectations of treatment outcomes. We propose that realistic expectations can lead to greater long-term adherence. Plain Language Summary: Unmet expectations are a major reason why patients with overactive bladder syndrome discontinue treatment. To enable evidence-based counselling of patients on realistic expectations, we have determined the chance that patients with overactive bladder become free of urgency, incontinence, voiding frequency, and nocturia. Two non-interventional studies included 1335 and 745 patients, respectively, who received 30 or 45 mg q.d. propiverine ER for 12 weeks. Analyses were also performed in subgroups defined by basal symptom severity, age, and gender. The probability of becoming symptom-free was largest for incontinence and voiding frequency (about 50%), but lesser for urgency and nocturia (about 20%). Greater basal severity of a symptom reduced the chance to become free of that symptom upon treatment, but the chance to become free of incontinence and frequency was still considerable. Age and gender had only minor if any effects on the chance of becoming symptom-free. These data provide an evidence base for the counselling of patients with overactive bladder on realistic expectations of treatment outcomes. We propose that realistic expectations can lead to greater long-term adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this prospective observational study was to assess the clinical significance of neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and lymphocyte–monocyte ratio (LMR) as potential biomarkers to identify post-PNL SIRS or sepsis. Demographic data and laboratory data including hemoglobin (Hb), total leucocyte count (TLC), serum creatinine, urine microscopy and culture were collected. The NLR, LMR and PLR were calculated by the mathematical division of their absolute values derived from routine complete blood counts from peripheral blood samples. Stone factors were assessed by non-contrast computerized tomography of kidneys, ureter and bladder (NCCT KUB) and included stone burden (Volume = L × W × D × π × 0.167), location and Hounsfield value and laterality. Intraoperative factors assessed were puncture site, tract size, tract number, operative time, the need for blood transfusion and stone clearance. Of 517 patients evaluated, 56 (10.8%) developed SIRS and 8 (1.5%) developed sepsis. Patients developing SIRS had significantly higher TLC (10.4 ± 3.5 vs 8.6 ± 2.6, OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.09–1.3, p = 0.000002), higher NLR (3.6 ± 2.4 vs 2.5 ± 1.04, OR 1.3, 95% CI = 1.09–1.5, p = 0.0000001), higher PLR (129.3 ± 53.8 vs 115.4 ± 68.9, OR 1.005, 95% CI 1.001–1.008, p = 0.005) and lower LMR (2.5 ± 1.7 vs 3.2 ± 1.8, OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.04–1.34, p = 0.006). Staghorn stones (12.8 vs 3.24%, OR 4.361, 95% CI 1.605–11.846, p = 0.008) and long operative times (59.6 ± 14.01 vs 55.2 ± 16.02, OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00–1.03, p = 0.05) had significant association with postoperative SIRS. In conclusion, NLR, PLR and LMR can be useful independent, easily accessible and cost-effective predictors for early identification of post-PNL SIRS/sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of different treatment options for the management of proximal impacted ureteral stones (PIUS). Methods: A systematic literature search using Pubmed, Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library was conducted to obtain studies concerning different managements for PIUS up to Jan 2018. Summary odds ratios (ORs), standard mean differences (SMDs) or weighted mean differences with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to compare the efficacy and safety of all included treatment methods, registered in PROSPERO under number CRD42018092745. Results: A total of 15 comparative studies with 1780 patients were included. Meta-analyses of final stone-free rate (SFR) favored percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) over ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URL) (OR 10.35; 95% CI 5.26–20.35; P < 0.00001), laparoscopic ureterolithotomy over URL (OR 0.11; 95% CI 0.05–0.25; P < 0.00001) and URL over extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.28–0.77; P = 0.003). As to complications, PCNL had a significantly higher blood transfusion rate (OR 7.47; 95% CI 1.3–42.85; P = 0.02) and a lower ureteral injury rate (OR 0.15; 95% CI 0.04–0.52; P = 0.003) compared with URL. It also shared a significantly lower stone-retropulsion rate (OR 0.03; 95% CI 0.01–0.15; P < 0.0001) and higher treatment costs (SMD = 2.71; 95% CI 0.71–4.70; P = 0.008) than URL. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggested that PCNL might be the best option for PIUS owing to its higher successful rate. Complications such as hemorrhage could be decreased by the application on mini-PCNL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the opinion of urologists and their audience regarding patient safety and educational value of live surgical demonstrations (LSD) and semi-live surgical demonstrations (semi-LSD).Methods: Following the ‘2017 Challenges in Endourology’ meeting, a survey addressing patient safety and the educational value of LSD and semi-LSD was disseminated online to all participants. Survey outcomes of LSD and semi-LSD were compared. Results: All 279 respondents attended both LSD and semi-LSD. Overall, 53% of said respondents stated that patient safety was always the highest priority for LSD, while 74% noted the same for semi-LSD. The complication risk in LSD was perceived equal by 57% of the respondents when compared to cases of similar difficulty in routine practice, while 38% perceived it as a greater risk. For semi-LSD, the complication risk was perceived equal by 84%, while 5% perceived it to be a greater risk in comparison to general practice. On a scale from 0 (no value) to 10 (highly valuable), the average educational value of LSD and semi-LSD was rated 8.4 and 8.3, respectively. A substantial percentage of the surgeons who perform LSD express concerns that live surgery is not the optimal setting to ensure patient safety.Conclusions: LSD remains a popular tool for surgical education among urologists and their audience. However, patient safety remains a concern and is perceived less of a concern for semi-LSD. The educational value of LSD and semi-LSD was scored equally high. Therefore, we should consider to advocate the use of semi-LSD more often. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The design, conduct and completion of randomized trials for curative prostate cancer (PCa) treatments are challenging. To evaluate the effect of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) versus focal irreversible electroporation (IRE) on patient-reported quality of life (QoL) and early oncological control using propensity-scored matching.Methods: Patients with T1c-cT2b significant PCa (high-volume ISUP 1 or any 2/3) who received unifocal IRE were pair-matched to patients who received nerve-sparing RARP. Patient-reported outcomes were prospectively assessed using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC), AUA symptom score and Short Form of Health Survey (SF-12) physical and mental components. Oncological failure was defined as biochemical recurrence (RARP) or positive follow-up biopsies (IRE). Generalized mixed-effect models were used to compare IRE and RARP.Results: 50 IRE patients were matched to 50 RARP patients by propensity score. IRE was significantly superior to RARP in preserving pad-free continence (UC) and erections sufficient for intercourse (ESI). The absolute differences were 44, 21, 13, 14% for UC and 32, 46, 27, 22% for ESI at 1.5, 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. The EPIC summary scores showed no statistically significant differences. Urinary symptoms were reduced for IRE and RARP patients at 12 months, although IRE patient initially had more complaints. IRE patients experienced more early oncological failure than RARP patients.Conclusions: These data demonstrated the superior preservation of UC and ESI with IRE compared to RARP up to 12 months after treatment. Long-term oncological data are warranted to provide ultimate proof for or against focal therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant number of patients with intermediate- or high-risk bladder cancer treated with intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy are non-responders to this treatment. Since we cannot predict in which patients BCG therapy will fail, markers for responders are needed. UroVysion® is a multitarget fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) test for bladder cancer detection. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether FISH can be used to early identify recurrence during treatment with BCG. In a multicenter, prospective study, three bladder washouts at different time points during treatment (t 0 = week 0, pre-BCG, t 1 = 6 weeks following TURB, t 2 = 3 months following TURB) were collected for FISH from patients with bladder cancer treated with BCG between 2008 and 2013. Data on bladder cancer recurrence and duration of BCG maintenance therapy were recorded. Thirty-six (31.6%) out of 114 patients developed a recurrence after a median of 6 months (range 2-32). No significant association was found between a positive FISH test at t 0 or t 1 and risk of recurrence (p = 0.79 and p = 0.29). A positive t 2 FISH test was associated with a higher risk of recurrence (p = 0.001). Patients with a positive FISH test 3 months following TURB had a 4.0-4.6 times greater risk of developing a recurrence compared to patients with a negative FISH. Patients with a positive FISH test 3 months following TURB and induction BCG therapy have a higher risk of developing tumor recurrence. FISH can therefore be a useful additional tool for physicians when determining a treatment strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of focal therapy as a valid therapy for the treatment of localized prostate cancer still faces many challenges. The rationale behind targeted ablative therapy sounds reasonably simple, directing therapy towards the predefined cancerous part of the organ while sparing uninvolved tissue; however, the execution in prostate cancer is somewhat more complicated [[5]]. We have learned that Active Surveillance is safe in patients with low-risk prostate cancer while patients with high-risk prostate cancer are best served by a multimodality approach including surgery, radiotherapy, and medical management [[1]]. [Extracted from the article]

Tamsulosin is an α1-adrenoceptor antagonist used for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms that are suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia. It is mostly used in a modified-release (MR) formulation, but an oral controlled absorption system (OCAS) and a `without-water' tablet formulation are also available in some countries. The oral bioavailability of the MR formulation in the fasted state is close to 100%. Whereas absorption from the MR formulation is affected by concomitant food intake, that of the OCAS formulation is food independent. Tamsulosin exhibits high plasma-protein binding, largely to α1-acid glycoprotein. It is metabolized, mainly by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 and CYP2D6 to compounds with low abundance, and 8.7-15% of an oral dose is excreted renally as the parent compound. The pharmacokinetics of tamsulosin are not affected to a major extent by age, and pharmacokinetic alterations in renally impaired patients relate largely to an increased concentration of α1-acid glycoprotein. Pharmacokinetic alterations with hepatic impairment are also only moderate, thus neither renal nor mild to moderate hepatic impairment necessitates dose adjustment. Concomitant exposure to potent CYP3A4 inhibitors can more than double the exposure of tamsulosin. Clinical studies have indicated that despite its lower bioavailability, the OCAS formulation has the same treatment efficacy as the MR formulation but causes somewhat fewer cardiovascular adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies on associations between voiding dysfunction and quality of life (QoL) have largely been limited to baseline data. Therefore, we have explored associations between Qmax and voiding and storage sub-scores of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) before and after treatment with QoL. Analysis of a single-center database of 2,316 men with voiding dysfunction attributed to benign prostatic hyperplasia undergoing various medical and surgical treatment forms. Qmax exhibited little correlation with QoL before or after treatment. IPSS inversely correlated with QoL at baseline and after treatment, and IPSS improvements correlated with those of QoL. The associations applied to both the voiding and storage sub-score of the IPSS, with the latter consistently exhibiting somewhat tighter associations. Our post-treatment data support the idea of a cause–effect relationship between voiding symptoms and QoL irrespective of treatment form. While both voiding and storage symptoms contribute to this relationship, storage symptoms play a somewhat greater role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare repeatability and agreement of conventional ultrasound bladder wall thickness (BWT) measurements with automatically obtained BWT measurements by the BVM 6500 device. Adult patients with lower urinary tract symptoms, urinary incontinence, or postvoid residual urine were urodynamically assessed. During two subsequent cystometry sessions the infusion pump was temporarily stopped at 150 and 250 ml bladder filling to measure BWT with conventional ultrasound and the BVM 6500 device. For each method and each bladder filling, repeatability and variation was assessed by the method of Bland and Altman. Fifty unselected patients (30 men, 20 women) aged 21–86 years (median 62.5 years) were prospectively evaluated. Invalid BWT measurements were encountered in 2.1–14% of patients when using the BVM 6500 versus 0% with conventional ultrasound (significant only during the second measurement at 150 ml bladder filling). Mean difference in BWT values between the measurements of one technique was −0.1 to +0.01 mm. Measurement variation between replicate measurements was smaller for conventional ultrasound and the smallest for 250 ml bladder filling. Mean difference between the two techniques was 0.11–0.23 mm and did not differ significantly. The BVM 6500 device was not able to correctly measure BWTs above 4 mm. Both BWT measurements are repeatable and agree with each other. However, conventional ultrasound measurements have a smaller measurement variance, can measure BWT in all patients, and BWTs above 4 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Muscarinic receptor antagonists are the standard of care for patients with overactive bladder (OAB). However, they can increase heart rate, and this can be disadvantageous in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) or congestive heart failure (CHF). Comedications frequently used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease can further increase the risk for elevation of heart rate.Objective: As such high-risk patients have not been well represented in most randomized trials of muscarinic receptor antagonists, we investigated whether the muscarinic receptor antagonist solifenacin alters heart rate or has other cardiovascular adverse effects during routine use in OAB patients. The study evaluated these effects both in the overall group and in pre-defined risk groups. The overall tolerability and safety of solifenacin were also explored.Methods: This open-label, post-marketing surveillance study was specifically designed to evaluate the cardiovascular safety of solifenacin 5-10 mg once daily during a 12-week treatment course without specific inclusion or exclusion criteria but with systematic documentation of heart rate-relevant co-morbidities and comedications. The study was conducted in 4450 patients with OAB under the care of office-based urologists. The primary outcome measurement was heart rate. Secondary outcome measures were blood pressure and overall adverse events, which were systematically recorded before, during (after 1 week) and at study end; in many cases, an ECG was also conducted.Results: CHD, previous myocardial infarction or CHF were reported by 11.9%, 1.6% and 7.0% of patients, respectively, and >60% were receiving at least one comedication. An ECG was conducted prior to solifenacin treatment in 915 patients and revealed abnormalities in 17.3%. At study end, 72.4% and 19.1% of patients were taking solifenacin 5 mg and 10 mg, respectively. No clinically relevant alterations in mean heart rate (75.2 +/- 8.2 beats/min pre-treatment vs 74.5 +/- 7.6 beats/min at study end) or mean blood pressure (137/82 mmHg pre-treatment vs 134/81 mmHg at study end) were observed. In the subgroup of patients who underwent ECG both before and during treatment, no increase in the prevalence of pathological findings was noted. Adverse effects were rare (affecting 4.8% of patients), and treatment discontinuations due to adverse effects occurred in only 1.4% of patients. Among various possible cofactors, only age >80 years and the presence of comedications significantly affected adverse event incidence.Conclusion: In real-life conditions, i.e. with inclusion of large numbers of patients with cardiovascular co-morbidities and taking comedications, therapeutically effective doses of solifenacin did not increase heart rate or blood pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α1-Adrenoceptor antagonists such as alfuzosin, doxazosin, tamsulosin and terazosin are first-line agents for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), but are only second-line agents (doxazosin and terazosin only) for the treatment of arterial hypertension. Sexual function is complex and includes multiple domains such as sexual desire (libido), erectile function and ejaculatory function. Erectile and ejaculatory functions are frequently reduced in patients with BPH and can impact on their quality of life. Therefore, the treatment of BPH should aim to maintain or even restore sexual function.α1-Adrenoceptor antagonists lack major effects on sexual desire in placebo-controlled studies. Reports on erectile function are inconsistent, with both beneficial and adverse effects being reported, but impotence can occur in some patients without clear differences between drugs. Ejaculatory dysfunction during treatment may represent (relative) anejaculation. It occurs more frequently with tamsulosin than with other drugs of this class, but the differences are not big enough to be consistently detectable in directly comparative studies. We propose that such differences between drugs should be weighed against differences in cardiovascular tolerability when choosing the optimal treatment for each patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common cancer in elderly men and is one of the most important causes of death from cancer in men. The diagnosis of PCa is based on a combination of digital rectal examination, PSA and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS). However, this combination does not reach the accuracy of detection and localization necessary for proper decisions on treatment methods. Therefore, biopsies are performed in all cases for which the suspicion of PCa is raised. Even with biopsies, staging and grading of PCa is far from optimal. More accurate imaging is necessary to improve the biopsy sampling, the goals being to replace systematic biopsies by a targeted approach and to improve staging and grading of PCa. Ultrasound imaging of the prostate remains the first choice of imaging to visualize the prostate, however, gray-scale ultrasound imaging has an accuracy of about 50-60% for the detection of PCa and TRUS used for local staging has an even lower accuracy. The development of PCa is associated with changes in the metabolism of tumor cells, and therefore with changes in the blood perfusion of the involved tissue. This paper focuses on contrast specific imaging techniques to visualize these changes in blood perfusion. Techniques such as color and power Doppler imaging, and contrast enhanced imaging techniques using color and power Doppler, harmonic imaging and intermittent imaging are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tenascin (tenascin-C), a mesenchymal glycoprotein, is expressed in many tissue remodeling processes. We evaluated tenascin expression during androgen-deprivation-related involution of the rat prostate. At set intervals following castration and subsequent testosterone repletion, prostates were removed in 30 adult rats. Each prostate was immunostained with a polyclonal antiserum against rat tenascin and keratin antibodies specifically directed against exocrine basal cells and luminal cells in the prostate glandular structure. Morphologic impressions were semiquantatively evaluated using a computer-assisted image analysis system. Rat prostates showed a transient increase in the periglandular tenascin expression directly following castration that reached a maximum at day 3. At day 6, tenascin expression was similar to control prostates. This was accompanied by a decrease of cells in the luminal cell layer. The weakest tenascin immunoreactivity was noted on day 14 after androgen withdrawal. This process was reversed by androgen repletion. This study shows that in the rat prostate tenascin expression may be androgen dependent and that during androgen deprivation-related involution tenascin expression is probably associated with tissue remodeling by stromal-epithelial interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the available data on low- and high-energy transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT) in the treatment of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Furthermore, it provides a perspective for this minimally invasive treatment modality in the selection of patients and in future developments. In evaluations of the two software modalities, several clinical studies have proved them to be effective. Whereas the lower-energy software seems to be the better choice for treatment of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms who have a lower grade of outlet obstruction and a smaller prostate, the higher-energy mode should be used to deobstruct and can be used in patients with larger prostates and moderate to severe outlet obstruction. Although baseline parameters can be used to predict the response to treatment in the higher-energy software mode, the total amount of energy remains very important for the final outcome, and future efforts should be encouraged to quantify prostate vascularization and histology in relation to transurethral microwave heating. Furthermore, future developments should focus on shorter treatment times and minimization of morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]