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Objective.Pulmonary involvement is common in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), and this condition causes substantial morbidity and mortality. Disrupted immunity from the disease or associated medication may render such patients subject to tuberculosis (TB) infection. However, the relationship between SSc and TB has not yet been investigated.Methods.Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, 838 patients with SSc diagnosed in Taiwan during 2000–2006 were identified and followed for emergence of TB infection. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) of TB compared to 8380 randomly selected age-, sex-, and comorbidity-matched controls without SSc were calculated. The Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate adjustment to identify independent risk factors for TB infection.Results.The risk of TB infection was higher in the SSc cohort than in controls (IRR 2.81, 95% CI 1.36–5.37; p = 0.004), particularly for pulmonary TB (IRR 2.53, 95% CI 1.08–5.30; p = 0.022). Other independent risk factors for TB infection in patients with SSc were age ≥ 60 years [hazard ratio (HR) 3.52, 95% CI 1.10–11.33; p = 0.035] and pulmonary hypertension (PH; HR 6.06, 95% CI 1.59–23.17; p = 0.008). Mortality did not differ for SSc patients with or without TB.Conclusion.In this nationwide study, the incidence of TB infection was significantly higher among patients with SSc than in controls without SSc. Special care should be taken in managing patients with SSc who are at high risk for TB, especially those aged ≥ 60 years or who also have PH.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are more prone to infectious disease because of their immunocompromised status. However, the association between pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) and ESRD remains not clear. The aim of our study is to evaluate the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of PLA in ESRD patients. We recruited all incident ESRD patients from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database from 1998 to 2006. The incidence rate of PLA in ESRD patients was compared with that of a randomly selected non-ESRD control group matched for age, sex gender, Charlson comorbidity score, diabetes mellitus, and cirrhosis. Among the 57,761 incident dialysis patients, there were 538 cases of PLA. The incidence rate of PLA was 18.20 per 10,000 person-years in the ESRD cohort and 6.34 per 10,000 person-years in matched control cohort. The rate of PLA was significantly higher in the ESRD cohort (hazard ratio 3.63, 95% confidence interval 2.83-4.65, P 0.001). The mortality rates of PLA were higher in the ESRD cohort than those in matched control cohort. Diabetes mellitus was an independent risk factor for mortality of PLA. Compared with non-ESRD patients, ESRD patients have a higher risk of PLA and poorer outcomes.

Background The persistence of triptan use among newly prescribed users is low in the United States and European countries. However, triptan refill patterns in Asian primary care practices have not been well described. Methods Data from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan were used to conduct a retrospective cohort analysis from 2005 to 2008. All participants were followed for 2 years after receiving a new triptan prescription. Refill and 2-year retention rates of newly prescribed triptans were calculated, and predictors of the first triptan refill and 2-year retention were analyzed. Results Of the 13,951 participants with a new triptan prescription (99.9% sumatriptan), 67.4% were prescribed by a neurologist, 67.4% were prescribed at least one prophylactic agent for migraine. Of them, 34.3% adhered to the newly prescribed triptan at the first refill, 0.01% switched to another triptan, and 40.9% switched to a non-triptan acute migraine medication. The 2-year retention rate was 4.0%. The frequency of headache-related neurologic visits for 1 year before the index date, first prescription of triptan or other acute medications, first triptan prescription by a neurologist, and prophylactic use were associated with higher first refill rates. The frequency of headache-related neurologic visits 1 year before the index date and first triptan prescription by a neurologist were related to higher 2-year retention rates. Diabetes mellitus and first triptan prescription at a local medical clinic were associated with reduced probability of continued triptan use at the first refill and 2 years. Conclusions Similar to Western societies, the refill and 2-year retention rates were low in new users of triptans. Frequency of neurologic visits and triptan prescription by a neurologist were significant predictors of adherence.

Although statins have been shown to have cholesterol-lowering effects, their pleiotropic benefits on sepsis remain a matter of debate. In addition, the influence of statin potency on sepsis-related mortality has never been explored. The aim of our study was to determine the sepsis outcomes of low- and high-potency statin users and non-users.This nationwide, population-based, propensity score-matched analysis used data from the linked administrative databases of Taiwan's National Health Insurance program. Patients were hospitalized for sepsis between 2000 and 2010. All-cause mortality and major adverse consequences of sepsis, such as in-hospital death, intensive care unit admission, shock events, and the use of mechanical ventilation, were assessed. Patients were divided into high-potency statin users (at least 10 mg rosuvastatin, at least 20 mg atorvastatin, or at least 40 mg simvastatin), low-potency statin users (all other statin treatments), and non-users.A propensity score-matched cohort of 27,792 statin users and 27,792 non-users was included. Of 27,792 statin users, 9,785 (35.2 %) were treated with high-potency statins and 18,007 (64.8 %) were treated with low-potency statins. The 1-year mortality risk was significantly lower among both low-potency [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.89, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.85-0.93] and high-potency (aHR 0.80, 95 % CI 0.75-0.86) statin users compared with non-users. The risks of mortality and adverse consequences of sepsis were lower among high-potency than among low-potency statin users.High-potency statin use is associated with a lower risk of sepsis-related mortality compared with low-potency statin use.

BackgroundCancer patients are at risk of thromboembolism. However, studies investigating the relationship between ovarian cancer and ischemic stroke are lacking. The objectives of this study were to assess the association between ovarian cancer and ischemic stroke, and to determine the predictive risk factors. MethodsOvarian cancer patients aged 20 years and older without antecedent cerebrovascular events and who were followed up for more than 1 year between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2011 were recruited from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database. Hazard ratios (HRs) of stroke risk for ovarian cancer patients compared with an age- and comorbidity-matched cohort were calculated by Cox proportional regression analysis. The difference in cumulative ischemic stroke incidence between ovarian cancer patients and the matched cohort was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method and tested with the log-rank test. ResultsEach cohort (ovarian cancer and matched cohort) consisted of 8,810 individuals, with a median age of 49 years. After a median follow-up of 2.68 and 3.85 years, respectively, the ischemic stroke incidence was 1.38-fold higher in the ovarian cancer cohort than in the comparison cohort (9.4 versus 6.8 per 1,000 person-years), with an age- and comorbidity-adjusted HR of 1.49 (P ConclusionsOvarian cancer patients were at an increased risk of developing ischemic stroke. Age, hypertension, diabetes, and chemotherapy treatment were independent risk factors.

The aim of our study was to determine whether pre-emptive statin therapy was associated with improved outcome of infective endocarditis (IE). We conducted a nationwide, population-based, propensity score-matched cohort study with the Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. All patients with IE between January 2000 and December 2010 were enrolled. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. The secondary outcome included all-cause mortality within the first 3 months, 6 months, and one year after the diagnosis of IE. Among 13,584 patients with IE, we applied propensity score-matching on a 1:4 ratio, in which 370 statin users were matched to 1,480 statin non-users. Compared with statin non-users, statin users had a significantly lower risk of in-hospital mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.65, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49–0.86). The reduction in mortality from IE remained significant for follow-up 3 months (aHR 0.68, 95% CI, 0.53–0.88), 6 months (aHR 0.73, 95% CI, 0.58–0.91), and 12 months (aHR 0.68, 95% CI, 0.55–0.84). Statin therapy was associated with a reduced risk of ICU admission rates, shock events, the need for mechanical ventilation, but not significantly with the need for heart valvular replacement surgery. In conclusion, our study found that statin therapy is associated with a reduced risk of in-hospital and subsequent mortality of IE.

Purpose: We examine the results of a reoperative Snodgrass procedure for complex hypospadias.Materials and Methods: A total of 25 patients with hypospadias in whom repair had failed underwent a reoperative Snodgrass procedure. Mean patient age and number of prior repairs were 11.4 years and 2.5, respectively. Before this treatment the meatus was at the distal shaft in 10 cases, mid shaft in 9, proximal shaft in 4 and penoscrotal junction in 2. Preoperatively the associated complications were fistulas in 13 patients, residual chordee in 12 and diverticulum in 1. In 8 cases the fistula was incorporated into the hypospadiac opening and treated as a longer defect. The urethral plates were, subjectively, surgically altered or unaltered in 7 and 18 patients, respectively. In 8 patients (group A) the previous repair(s) did not involve dissection of the urethral plate (unaltered) nor was there a fistula. The remaining 17 patients were classified as group B. The neourethra was then reconstructed as the Snodgrass t...

Background To control tuberculosis (TB), it is critical to identify at risk populations. Schizophrenia is recognized as an important risk factor for TB. However, previous studies have been confounded by comorbidities, and reports of TB infection outcomes are rare. Therefore, the current nation-wide study aimed to compare the adjusted incidence and outcome of TB diseases in schizophrenics and the general population. Method Using the National Health Insurance Research Database from 1998 to 2009, this retrospective longitudinal study included 60,409 schizophrenics and general population matched for age, Charlson’s score, and comorbidities. Diagnosis of TB was based on the international classification of disease, ninth revision and use of anti-TB drugs. Unfavorable outcome for TB was defined as death, loss to follow-up, or use of anti-TB treatment for more than 9 months. Results The adjusted incidence of TB in schizophrenics was significantly higher than in the general population [hazard ratio, 1.52; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.29-1.79; p < 0.001; Kaplan-Meier log-rank test, p < 0.001]. Cox regression revealed age and male gender as risk factors for newly-diagnosed TB. The outcome of TB was comparable in schizophrenics and the general population [odds ratio (OR), 0.78; 95% CI, 0.55-1.09; p =0.144]. Logistic regression revealed a statistical trend for diabetes mellitus to predict poor outcome in schizophrenics with TB (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 0.96-5.74; p = 0.062). Conclusions Schizophrenics are at increased risk for TB, and screening may be warranted for those living in areas with high prevalence of TB.

Background Sleep is essential for the maintenance of an intact immune function. Patients with sleep apnoeaexperience frequent sleep interruption due to apnoea-related arousals, possibly adversely impacting theirimmunity and affecting their outcomes when confronting sepsis. This case–control study aimed to compare theoutcomes of sepsis patients with and without sleep apnoea.Methods From 2000 to 2009, 168 sleep apnoea patients who were first admitted for sepsis were identifiedfrom the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Also, 672 sepsis patients without sleep apnoea,who were matched by age, gender and Charlson’s comorbidity index scores, served as controls. Hospitaloutcomes of the two groups were compared. Binary logistic regression was employed for multivariate analysis.Results The mortality rates of sepsis patients with and without sleep apnoea were 60 1% and 47 9%,respectively (P = 0 005). After multivariate adjustment, sleep apnoea (OR: 1 805, 95% CI: 1 227–2 656,P = 0 003), presence of shock (OR: 3 600, 95% CI: 2 144–6 046, P < 0 001) and number of organs with dys-function (OR: 1 591, 95% CI: 1 087–2 329, P = 0 017) were found to be independently associated with mor-tality. Sleep apnoea patients who needed continuous positive airway pressure treatment had an even higher riskof mortality.Conclusions Sepsis patients with sleep apnoea may have poorer hospital outcomes than those without sleepapnoea.Keywords Hospital outcome, immunity, sepsis, sleep apnoea, sleep-disordered breathing.Eur J Clin Invest 2014; 44 (1): 38–45

Previous studies have shown that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use might be associated with a lower risk of developing cancer in the general population. Patients on dialysis have increased risk for cancer, but there are no studies to determine the relationship between NSAID use and cancer risk in these patients. To identify any association between NSAID use and cancer risk in patients with end-stage renal disease on dialysis, we used Taiwan's National Health Insurance database to conduct a nationwide population-based, propensity score–matched cohort study. All cancers between groups were compared by Cox proportional hazards models. Compared to nonuse of NSAIDs, the use of non-COX-2-selective inhibitors (hazard ratio 0.81, 95% confidence interval 0.67–0.97) or COX-2-selective inhibitors (0.78, 0.62–0.98) was associated with a lower risk of developing cancer. NSAID use reduced the risk of respiratory (0.39, 0.19–0.79), breast (0.41, 0.19–0.89), kidney (0.58, 0.38–0.88), digestive tract (0.64, 0.49–0.85), and bladder cancers (0.73, 0.55–0.96). NSAID use, however, significantly increased risk for upper gastrointestinal bleeding (odds ratio, 1.15, 1.07–1.23) but not adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events. Thus, NSAID use was associated with a lower risk of developing cancer in chronic dialysis patients; however, they should still be used with caution due to the side effects of gastrointestinal bleeding.

To investigate the association between the use of nonselective or cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-selective nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) in a general Asian population. We conducted an observational, nationwide, nested case-control cohort study using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database between 2010 and 2012. AKI cases were defined as hospitalization with a principle diagnosis of AKI. Each case was matched to 4 randomly selected controls based on age, sex, and the month and year of cohort entry. Odds ratios (ORs) were used to demonstrate the association between hospitalization for AKI and current, recent, or past use of an oral NSAID. During the study period, we identified 6199 patients with AKI and 24,796 matched controls. Overall, current users (adjusted OR 2.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.28-3.28) and recent users (adjusted OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.01-1.35) were associated with increased risk of hospitalization for AKI. The risk was also similar for nonselective NSAIDs. However, neither current nor recent use of COX-2 inhibitors was significantly associated with AKI events. Our study supported that the initiation of nonselective NSAIDs rather than COX-2 inhibitors is associated with an increased risk of AKI requiring hospitalization. Future randomized trials are needed to elucidate these findings.

Background and Aims: Mesenteric ischemia is an uncommon disorder associated with an extremely high mortality rate. Only limited studies have evaluated this lethal disease among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The objective of this study was to evaluate the risks of mesenteric ischemia among ESRD patients and compare the incidence between two dialysis modalities. Methods: Records of all ESRD patients older than 20 years of age from 1998 to 2007 and a control group consisting of 1 million records were retrieved from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Hospitalizations for mesenteric ischemic events were retrieved using ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes and ICD-9-CM operation codes from inpatient claims. Results: Among 55,807 incident ESRD patients who received hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, there were 458 mesenteric ischemic events, corresponding to an incidence rate of 2.7 per 1,000 patient-years. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that the independent risk factors were old age (HR 1.42 per 10 years), diabetes (HR 2.85), peripheral vascular disease (HR 2.66), atrial fibrillation (HR 2.15), heart failure (HR 1.65), chronic pulmonary disease (HR 1.41), neoplasm (HR 1.54), peptic ulcer disease (HR 1.86), and peritoneal dialysis (HR 1.51, all p < 0.05). There was no effect of dialysis modality on the mesenteric ischemia mortality rate. Conclusion: The risk of mesenteric ischemia for ESRD patients was 44.1 (95% confidence interval 13.4–106.2, p < 0.001) times higher than that of the general population. Compared to hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis was associated with a higher risk of mesenteric ischemia.

Renin and aldosterone activity levels are low in elderly patients, raising concerns about the benefits and risks of angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) use. However, data from direct comparisons of the effects of ACEIs on ARBs in the elderly population remain inconclusive. In this nationwide study, all patients aged ≥ 70 years were retrieved from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database for the period 2000 to 2009 and were followed up until the end of 2010. The ARB cohort (12,347 patients who continuously used ARBs for ≥ 90 days) was matched to ACEI cohort using high-dimensional propensity score (hdPS). Intention-to-treat (ITT) and as-treated (AT) analyses were conducted. In the ITT analysis, after considering death as a competing risk, the ACEI cohort had similar risks of myocardial infarction (hazard ratio [HR] 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79–1.06), ischemic stroke (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.90–1.07), and heart failure (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.83–1.04) compared with the ARB cohort. No difference in adverse effects, such as acute kidney injury (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.89–1.09) and hyperkalemia (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.87–1.20), was observed between cohorts. AT analysis produced similar results to those of ITT analysis. We were unable to demonstrate a survival difference between cohorts (HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.88–1.21) after considering drug discontinuation as a competing risk in AT analysis. Our study supports the notion that ACEI and ARB users have similar risks of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), even in elderly populations.

Purpose: We report our experience with preserving the thin distal urethra lacking corpus spongiosum for the treatment of hypospadias.Materials and Methods: From January 1997 to October 1999 we treated primary hypospadias in 77 boys with a mean age of 4 years 10 months. After degloving the penile skin a segment of thin distal urethra lacking corpus spongiosum was noted in 18 patients (23.4%) with a mean age of 3 years 5 months. The thin distal urethra was preserved and incorporated as part of urethroplasty (group 1). The procedure was primarily completed by tubularized incised plate urethroplasty. We also performed tubularized incised plate urethroplasty in 31 boys (40.3%) with a mean age of 5 years 2 months who had normal coverage of the corpus spongiosum of a hypospadiac urethra (group 2). We compared the results of treatment in these 2 groups. The remaining 28 patients (36.4%) treated with other methods were excluded from study.Results: In group 1 the distance from the original meatus to the urethra cov...

Previous studies have shown that urinary calculi are associated with increased risks of urinary tract cancers. However, the association between urinary calculi and overall cancers is a largely undefined body of knowledge. We conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database from 2000 and 2009. Patients were excluded if they had antecedent cancers or urinary calculi before the enrollment. All study subjects were followed until the occurrence of cancer, dropout from the NHI program, death, or the end of 2010. Patterns of cancer incidence in patients with urinary calculi were compared with those of the general population using standardized incidence ratio (SIR). A total of 43,516 patients with urinary calculi were included. After a median follow-up of 5.3 years, 1891 patients developed cancer. The risk of overall cancers was significantly increased (SIR, 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.68–1.83). We observed that urinary calculi was associated with higher risk of cancers of kidney (4.24; 95% CI, 3.47–5.13), bladder (3.30; 95% CI, 2.69–4.00), thyroid (2.50; 95% CI, 1.78–3.40), hematologic origin (2.41; 95% CI, 1.92–2.99), breast (1.84; 95% CI, 1.54–2.20), lung (1.82; 95% CI, 1.59–2.07), digestive tract (1.69; 95% CI, 1.57–1.82), and head and neck (1.54; 95% CI, 1.32–1.79), respectively. Our study shows that urinary calculi are associated with higher risk of systemic cancers in addition to urinary tract cancers. Further study is required to validate this association.

Although alpha blockers have been shown to be effective in treating various types of neuropathic voiding dysfunction in children, the effectiveness of alpha(1) blockers in treating neurologically intact children with voiding dysfunction remains unclear. We investigated the effectiveness of treatment with alpha(1)-adrenergic blockade in boys with low uroflow rate and urinary incontinence.The alpha(1) blocker doxazosin (0.5 to 1.0 mg daily) was administered to 16 boys (mean age, 8.9 +/- 3.4 years) with maximum uroflow rate (Qmax)15 mL/s and urinary incontinence. Uroflowmetry and postvoid residual volumes were checked before and 4 weeks after doxazosin treatment. After discontinuation of doxazosin for 2 weeks, videourodynamics and cystoscopy were done in 12 of the 16 boys. Improvement of uroflow was arbitrarily defined as an increase of Qmax/= 2.5 mL/s. Complete improvement of incontinence was defined as90% and partial improvement as 50 to 90% reduction of incontinence episodes. Successful treatment was defined as improvement in uroflow and partial or complete improvement of urinary incontinence. Blood pressure, first-dose phenomenon, and adverse effects were monitored at each visit.Mean medication and follow-up periods were 24.5 weeks and 33.1 weeks, respectively. Improvement of uroflow was noted in 10 patients (63%). Qmax increased from 12.3 +/- 1.3 mL/s to 16.3 +/- 4.1 mL/s (p = 0.001). Complete and partial improvement of incontinence was noted in 7 and 3 patients, respectively. The mean number of wet nights per week decreased from 4.9 +/- 2.3 to 2.2 +/- 2.5 (p0.001). Successful treatment was noted in 8 boys (50%), including 3 of 5 boys with primary bladder neck obstruction, 3 of 4 boys with dysfunctional voiding, and 2 of 4 boys with neuropathic voiding dysfunction of unclassified etiology. There were no significant adverse effects. Decreases of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were negligible.alpha(1) Blockade is effective in the treatment of boys with low uroflow rate and incontinence.

Objectives: Using videourodynamics (VUDS) we prospectively investigated the etiologies of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and low uroflow in young men and correlated the results with clinical symptoms and noninvasive exams. Methods: From 1999 to 2001, 90 men 18–50 years old with LUTS and low uroflow were enrolled. Patients with active urinary tract infection, congenital urogenital diseases, neurological diseases, diabetes mellitus or urinary tract malignancy were excluded. Evaluation included International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS), renosonography, transrectal ultrasonography of prostate and VUDS. The clinical parameters were compared in the different diagnostic groups of patients classified by VUDS. Results: Mean patient age was 37.5±7.8 years and mean symptom duration was 28.3±21.3 months. Mean total I-PSS was 19.8, voiding 11.1 and storage 8.7. VUDS showed dysfunctional voiding in 39 (43%), primary bladder neck obstruction in 37 (41%), impaired detrusor contractility in 9 (10%) and benign prostatic obstruction in 5 (6%). Patients with impaired detrusor contractility had higher symptoms scores and poorer quality of life than those in the other diagnostic groups. Mean age and size of prostate in patients with benign prostatic obstruction were greater than those in the remaining groups. The remaining clinical symptoms or noninvasive tests could not predict a specific urodynamic diagnosis. Conclusions: VUDS is recommended to make an accurate diagnosis in young men with LUTS and low uroflow because few clinical symptoms or noninvasive tests were helpful in this regard.

We recorded uroflowmetry at home in boys with urinary incontinence and correlated the results with videourodynamics.Thirty-nine boys (mean age 8.4 +/- 2.0 years) with urinary incontinence underwent home uroflowmetry for 1 weekend. Artifactual spikes in 1 or more uroflow curves were present in 16 home uroflowmetry recordings. One patient, in whom none of the uroflow curves was interpretable, was excluded from the study. Of the remaining 38 boys 18 had monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis, and 20 had nocturnal enuresis and diurnal voiding symptoms. Percentage expected bladder capacity is defined as functional/expected bladder capacity x 100%. Normal and obstructive home uroflowmetry levels are defined as functional bladder capacity at least 50% expected bladder capacity associated with multiple bell-shaped and obstructive uroflow curves, respectively. Small functional bladder capacity is defined as capacity less than 50% expected bladder capacity, regardless of uroflow patterns. Videourodynamics and cystoscopy were performed in 17 patients.Normal home uroflowmetry was noted in 5 patients (13%), obstructive uropathy in 8 (21%) and small functional bladder capacity in 25 (66%). Urodynamically 3 boys with normal home uroflowmetry had normal voiding, and 6 with obstructive home uroflowmetry had bladder outlet obstruction (of whom 1 also had detrusor overactivity). In addition, of 8 boys with small functional bladder capacity 4 had detrusor overactivity, 3 had bladder outlet obstruction and 1 had both findings.Normal home uroflowmetry predicted normal voiding, and abnormal recordings implied abnormal voiding function in boys with incontinence. Bladder outlet obstruction and detrusor overactivity were frequently disclosed by obstructive home uroflowmetry and small functional bladder capacity.

We assessed the efficacy and safety of the mid term use of alpha1-adrenergic blockers for treating primary bladder neck obstruction in young and middle-aged men.Between May 1998 and February 2001 primary bladder neck obstruction was diagnosed by videourodynamic study in 28 men younger than 55 years. The degree of obstruction was graded by the Schafer nomogram. Mean patient age and mean symptom duration were 39.3 years and 18.1 months, respectively. The presenting symptom was frequency in 22 cases (78.6%), urgency in 10 (35.7%), weak stream in 9 (32.1%), nocturia greater than 2 times in 7 (25%) and hesitancy in 7 (25%). A dose of 1 to 2 mg. doxazosin was administered at bedtime for at least 3 months. International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS), quality of life, uroflowmetry and post-void residual urine were assessed before and 3 months after medication. Improved urine flow was defined as at least a 2.5 ml. per second increase in the maximum flow rate. Improved symptoms was defined as more than a 50% decrease in I-PSS. Successful treatment was defined as improved urine flow and symptoms.Followup data were available in 24 patients. The medication period and followup were 7 and 12 months, respectively. Mean I-PSS plus or minus standard deviation decreased from 18.3 +/- 4.6 to 11.6 +/- 5.2 (p0.01) and mean quality of life decreased from 4.1 +/- 1.1 to 2.6 +/- 1.0 (p0.01). Mean maximum flow increased from 11.8 +/- 3.2 to 15.9 +/- 3.9 ml. per second (p0.01). Mean post-void residual urine decreased from 80.2 +/- 17.1 to 48.5 +/- 10.3 ml. (p0.01). Treatment was successful in 13 patients (54.2%) and 3 (12.5%) were free of medication for at least 6 months. More successful outcomes were noted in patients with high grades III to IV obstruction than in those with low grades 0 to II obstruction (80% versus 35.7%, p = 0.03). Before treatment higher detrusor pressure at maximum flow (70.1 versus 47.8 cm. water, p = 0.01) and lower maximum flow (10.6 versus 13.3 ml. per second, p = 0.02) were observed in patients with successful versus unsuccessful treatment, respectively. Differences in patient age, I-PSS, quality of life, prostate size and post-void residual urine were not statistically significant. No significant adverse effects were noted.alpha1-Blockers were effective and safe for treating young men with primary bladder neck obstruction.

We conducted a prospective, randomized controlled study to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of ureteral stenting after ureteroscopic lithotripsy.A total of 60 patients who underwent ureteroscopic lithotripsy were equally randomized into a stented or a nonstented group. The inclusion criteria were stone 6 to 10 mm., absence of polyp or stricture in the ureter and no mucosal injury during ureteroscopy. The operation was performed with a 6Fr rigid ureteroscope without ureteral dilation and stones were fragmented with a 1.9Fr electrohydraulic lithotriptor without extraction. A 7Fr double pigtail stent was placed in the stented group for 3 days after ureteroscopy. Urinalysis, plain x-ray and renosonography were performed before and after lithotripsy in each patient. Subjective symptoms and pain score were recorded on admission to the hospital and 3 days postoperatively.The stone-free rate was 100% in each group and preoperative hydronephrosis equally resolved in both groups. Mean pain score plus or minus standard deviation improved significantly in the nonstented (6.33 +/- 1.81 preoperatively to 2.30 +/- 1.93 postoperatively, paired Student's t test p0.0001) and stented (7.10 +/- 1.03 to 2.30 +/- 2.22, p0.0001) group. There was no statistical difference in pain reduction between the 2 groups (p = 0.18). The amount of extra parenteral analgesic used was similar in both groups. One patient in the nonstented group visited the emergency room for postoperative renal colic, 25 (83.3%) patients in the stented group complained of at least 1 irritative bladder symptom and only 4 (13.3%) in the nonstented group experienced bladder discomfort.After uncomplicated ureteroscopic electrohydraulic lithotripsy patients without ureteral stenting tend to have similar renal function recovery and satisfactory pain reduction with less irritative symptoms compared to those treated with a ureteral stent. We suggest that it is not necessary to place a ureteral stent routinely after uncomplicated ureteroscopic electrohydraulic lithotripsy for stones smaller than 1 cm.

Total correction of proximal hypospadias and penoscrotal transposition (PST) is a challenge to surgeons. Staged operation is usually recommended because the blood supply to the neourethra or the skin covering the penile shaft may be severed during scrotoplasty. This paper describes results obtained using a new technique for total correction, which preserves the blood supply to the neourethra in a one-stage operation.Between July 1998 and March 2000, five boys (mean age 4 yr) with proximal hypospadias and PST underwent total correction in a one-stage operation. The urethral meatus of these patients was located at mid shaft in one, at the penoscrotal junction in two, and at the scrotum in two. Hypospadias was repaired using the Snodgrass procedure and PST was corrected using the Ehrlich and Scardino technique. Radical bulbar urethra dissection and tunica albugineal plication were used to correct penile curvature in all five cases. The urethral stent was removed on the seventh or eighth postoperative day. The meatus was then dilated using the cone tip of an ophthalmic ointment tube two or three times per day for 2 to 4 weeks. Postoperative urinary flow was observed in the outpatient clinic.The mean follow-up period was 11.2 months. There was no postoperative fistula. One patient had postoperative meatal stenosis that was successfully treated by dilation. Postoperatively, the penile base was well above the scrotal rhugae and the meatus was at the tip of the glans in each patient. The postoperative urinary flow was straight in all patients.Combining Snodgrass hypospadias repair and Ehrlich and Scardino PST repair in a one-stage operation preserved the blood supply to the neourethra and achieved excellent functional and cosmetic results.

BACKGROUND: Seasonal variations in the acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been reported. However, the influence of air temperature and other meteorological factors on COPD exacerbation remains unclear. METHODS: National Health Insurance registry data from January 1, 1999 to December 1, 2009 and meteorological variables from the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau for the same period were analyzed. A case-crossover study design was used to investigate the association between COPD exacerbation and meteorological variables. RESULTS: A total of 16,254 cases who suffered from COPD exacerbation were enrolled. We found that a 1°C decrease in air temperature was associated with a 0.8% increase in the exacerbation rate on event-days (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.015-1.138, p = 0.015). With a 5°C decrease in mean temperature, the cold temperature (28-day average temperature) had a long-term effect on the exacerbation of COPD (odds ratio (OR), 1.106, 95% CI 1.063-1.152, p

Background The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays an important role in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although dual RAAS inhibition results in worse renal outcomes than monotherapy in high risk type 2 diabetes patients, the effect of dual RAAS inhibition in patients with non-DM CKD is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential renoprotective effect of add-on direct renin inhibitor in non-DM CKD patients. Methods We retrospectively enrolled 189 non-DM CKD patients who had been taking angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) for more than six months. Patients were divided into an add-on aliskiren group and an ARB monotherapy group. The primary outcomes were a decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and a reduction in urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio at six months. Results The baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar. Aliskiren 150 mg daily reduced the urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio by 26% (95% confidence interval, 15 to 37%; p Conclusion Add-on direct renin inhibitor aliskiren (150 mg daily) safely reduced proteinuria and attenuated the decline in GFR in the non-DM CKD patients who were receiving ARBs.