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OBJECTIVE To examine the urodynamic effects of fesoterodine on neurogenic detrusor overactivity and/or low compliance bladder. METHODS A total of 77 patients (52 men, 25 women; aged 61.6 ± 20.3 years) were given fesoterodine 4-8 mg/day and prospectively followed for 12 weeks. The primary end-point variable was change in the maximum cystometric capacity on urodynamic study. The secondary end-point was to assess the number of patients whose neurogenic detrusor overactivity disappeared, and the changes in the urodynamic parameters, lower urinary tract symptoms questionnaires and the 3-day frequency volume chart parameters after the treatment. RESULTS A total of 13 patients (16.9%) withdrew because of adverse events (dry mouth or blurred vision), and four patients dropped out for unknown reasons. Finally, 60 patients completed the study. Bladder capacity at first desire to void, maximum cystometric capacity and bladder compliance increased by 29.2 mL, 79.9 mL and 22.2 mL/cm H2 O, respectively, showed statistical significance (P = 0.026, P

Objectives To characterize interstitial cystitis pathology based on the expression profile of urothelial tissue-specific master transcription factors. Methods Bladder carcinoma cell lines derived from the urothelial stem cells (epithelial or mesenchymal) were used to identify candidate urothelial master transcription factors. Gene expression was measured with quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. From the initial screening of 170 transcription factors (human homologs of Drosophila segmentation genes and known master transcription factors from a database), 28 transcription factors were selected. Subsequently, messenger ribonucleic acid from bladder biopsies of interstitial cystitis patients was purified, and gene expression levels of known urothelial marker genes and candidate master transcription factors were measured. Multivariate expression data were analyzed with spss software. Results Factor analysis decomposed the expression profile into four axes: principal axis 1 included retinoic acid receptors and 17 candidate master transcription factors. Principal axis 2 included KRT5 and five candidates. Principal axis 3 included transcription factor TP63 and two candidates. Principal axis 4 included SHH and two candidates. Principal component analysis segregated biopsies from Hunner's lesion in the principal component 1 (retinoic acid)/principal component 2 (SOX13)/principal component 3 (TP63) space. Conclusions Urothelial master transcription factors could serve as novel diagnostic markers and potentially explain the molecular pathology of interstitial cystitis.

Most patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) show a significant decrease in kidney function after surgery. Glomerular hyperfiltration peculiar to PA can mask mild renal failure before surgery. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate postoperative renal functional outcomes in PA patients from different viewpoints and to develop novel nomograms that can predict renal functional outcomes in PA patients after surgery. 130 Japanese PA patients treated by unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy were retrospectively surveyed. Pre- and postoperative changes of estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) and the distribution of eGFR classification were compared. Furthermore, predictors of the following renal functional outcomes were investigated: (I) the percentage decrease >25% in eGFR and (II) the presence of new-onset eGFR 25% postoperative decrease in eGFR. Duration of hypertension and initial eGFR were incorporated into a nomogram predicting new-onset eGFR

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has been established as a standard surgical method for unilateral primary aldosteronism. Meanwhile, the background characteristics of the patients undergoing adrenalectomy have changed over the last 20 years. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in hypertension cure rates after laparoscopic adrenalectomy during the last two decades. This retrospective clinical study included 176 patients who underwent unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy for primary aldosteronism from 1995 to 2015. The patients were divided into two groups by decade. The patients’ baseline characteristics and the hypertension cure rates were compared between the two groups. Additionally, the values were re-examined based on predictive model predicting postoperative hypertension cure. The hypertension cure rate decreased significantly from 51.8 to 31.1%. The following variables were significantly different between the two groups: age, sex, body mass index, history of diabetes mellitus, preoperative systolic and diastolic blood pressures, potassium level, and plasma renin activity. This study showed that the number of patients with unfavorable conditions for hypertension cure after adrenalectomy has recently increased. The treatment goal for primary aldosteronism is not only to cure the hypertension but also to prevent organ disorders due to inappropriate aldosterone levels. Therefore, we recommend laparoscopic adrenalectomy for unilateral primary aldosteronism, even if hypertension is not always cured postoperatively. However, clinicians need to fully explain the postoperative hypertension outcomes to primary aldosteronism patients.

A 72-year-old man initially presented with lumbar and right chest pain, but was later found out to also have an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level at 2,000.0 ng/ml. Further evaluation disclosed metastatic prostate cancer involving the bones and lymph nodes. The patient was initially treated with combined androgen blockade (CAB) with leuprolide acetate and bicalutamide. After 6 months of CAB, the patient's PSA level began to rise from the nadir (85.1 ng/ml) to 113.3 ng/ml. Bicalutamide was withdrawn in anticipation of anti-androgen withdrawal syndrome and the PSA level declined temporally. However, it increased up to 517.0 ng/ml thereafter. Consequently, a year after CAB, abiraterone acetate (AA) was initiated at a standard dose of 1,000 mg daily in combination with 10 mg of prednisolone. PSA rapidly decreased to the nadir of 20.1 ng/ml thereafter. The PSA level remained stable until 2 years after AA administration. However, he decided to reduce the dose of AA to half of the standard dose (500 mg daily). Contrary to our expectations, the serum PSA level promptly decreased to a nadir of 8.1 ng/ml. Thereafter, the PSA level remained stable until 3 years and 9 months after AA administration. Subsequently, the patient stopped taking AA and prednisolone. However, to our surprise, the patient's serum PSA level decreased further to

Many patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) show a significant decline in kidney function after adrenalectomy. Thus, PA patients who undergo surgery are at greater risk of both postoperative renal damage and new-onset metabolic events associated with renal insufficiency. The aim of this study was to explore postoperative changes in serum lipid levels and to identify risk factors associated with postoperative new-onset dyslipidemia in PA patients. The records of 57 Japanese patients who underwent unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy for PA were retrospectively surveyed. Clinical and biochemical data were evaluated at baseline and 12 months after surgery. Preoperative and postoperative estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) and serum lipid profile, including triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels, were compared. Furthermore, uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the predictors for postoperative new-onset dyslipidemia. A significant decrease in eGFR and deterioration of serum lipid levels was identified postoperatively in most patients. Of the 39 patients without pre-existing dyslipidemia, 18 developed new-onset dyslipidemia postoperatively. Multivariate analysis identified preoperative lower eGFR and higher body mass index as independent predictors for new-onset dyslipidemia after surgery. On univariate analyses, additional factors associated with new-onset dyslipidemia included older age, male sex, higher LDL-cholesterol, and higher LDL/HDL ratio. PA patients had a higher risk of postoperative new-onset or progressive dyslipidemia. Clinicians should pay attention to not only follow-up of renal impairment but also total management of new-onset metabolic events associated with renal insufficiency in PA patients.

Objective The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of magnetic stimulation on urodynamic stress incontinence refractory to pelvic floor muscle training in a randomized sham-controlled study. Methods Female patients with urodynamic stress incontinence who had not been cured by pelvic floor muscle training were randomly assigned at a ratio of 2 : 1 to either active treatment or sham treatment for 10 weeks. The randomization was made using magnetic cards for individuals indicating active or sham stimulation. The primary endpoint was changes in the number of incontinence episodes/week, with secondary endpoints of the degree of incontinence (in g/day; determined using the pad test), the total score on the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire – Short Form (ICIQ-SF), the ICIQ quality of life (QOL) score, and the abdominal leak point pressure (ALPP) on urodynamic study. Results Although 39 patients were enrolled in the study, 9 dropped out, leaving a total patients for analysis (18 in the active treatment group, 12 in the sham treatment group). The number of incontinence episodes/week, the degree of incontinence, total ICIQ-SF score, ICIQ-QOL score, and ALPP were significantly improved after active treatment compared with baseline (all P

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The number of antihypertensive drug classes used does not accurately reflect total consumption of antihypertensive drugs to control blood pressure (BP), although it can become one of predictors for postoperative hypertension outcome in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). The defined daily dose (DDD) was adopted to analyze consumption of many prescribed drugs. The aim of this study was to use the DDD to assess postoperative changes in antihypertensive drug consumption in PA patients. METHODS: This retrospective study included 110 Japanese PA patients who underwent unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy between 1995 and 2012. Hyperaldosteronism was cured in all patients after surgery. After we defined the ratio of prescribed daily dose (PDD) to DDD (PDD/DDD) to estimate individual consumption of antihypertensive drugs, we calculated the preand postoperative PDD/DDD to assess total consumption change in antihypertensive drugs (Supplement). Uniand multivariate analyses were performed to identify clinical predictors for 75% decrease in total PDD/DDD. RESULTS: Total PDD/DDD decreased in 95.4% of patients postoperatively. The mean decrease in total PDD/DDD was 65.0%. A decrease in total PDD/DDD was significantly correlated with age, body mass index (BMI), duration of hypertension, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and plasma renin activity (PRA). Postoperative decreases in total PDD/DDD 75% were confirmed in 52.7% of patients. Multivariate analysis identified no medical history of cardiovascular disease (odds ratio [OR] 5.4, P 0.02), lesser BMI (OR 1.2, P 0.03), and shorter duration of hypertension (OR 1.1, P 0.01) as independent predictors of postoperative decrease in total PDD/DDD 75%. Based on univariate analyses, additional factors associated with postoperative decrease in total PDD/DDD 75% included female sex, lower preoperative systolic BP, lower preoperative total PDD/DDD, greater eGFR, and lesser PRA (P 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Total PDD/DDD was shown to be a useful tool to assess total consumption change of antihypertensive drugs in PA patients. Clinicians can explain the predicted postoperative change of antihypertensive drug consumption to PA patients in detail using total PDD/DDD.