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Purpose: This study aimed to compare the short-term outcomes and safety profiles of androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT)+abiraterone/prednisone with those of ADT+docetaxel in patients with de novo metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). Materials and Methods: A web-based database system was established to collect prospective cohort data for patients with mHSPC in Korea. From May 2019 to November 2022, 928 patients with mHSPC from 15 institutions were enrolled. Among these patients, data from 122 patients who received ADT+abiraterone/prednisone or ADT+docetaxel as the primary systemic treatment for mHSPC were collected. The patients were divided into two groups: ADT+abiraterone/prednisone group (n=102) and ADT+docetaxel group (n=20). We compared the demographic characteristics, medical histories, baseline cancer status, initial laboratory tests, metastatic burden, oncological outcomes for mHSPC, progression after mHSPC treatment, adverse effects, follow-up, and survival data between the two groups. Results: No significant differences in the demographic characteristics, medical histories, metastatic burden, and baseline cancer status were observed between the two groups. The ADT+abiraterone/prednisone group had a lower prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression rate (7.8% vs. 30.0%; p=0.011) and lower systemic treatment discontinuation rate (22.5% vs. 45.0%; p=0.037). No significant differences in adverse effects, oncological outcomes, and total follow-up period were observed between the two groups. Conclusions: ADT+abiraterone/prednisone had lower PSA progression and systemic treatment discontinuation rates than ADT+docetaxel. In conclusion, further studies involving larger, double-blinded randomized trials with extended follow-up periods are necessary.

During a mycological field survey in 2021, 45 specimens of the genus Agaricus belonging to different species were collected from four islands in Korea. Based on phylogenetics in conjunction with the morphological examination, five species (Agaricus amoenomyces, Agaricus macropeplus, Agaricus pseudopallens, Agaricus rubripes, and Agaricus tytthocarpus) were reported for the first time from Korea. This study presents morphological descriptions, color photographs, and phylogenetic analyses of these species.

Abstract Background Although pregnancy-associated heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is increasing and contributing to maternal morbidity, little is known about its impact on pregnancy. We examined the risk factors for and adverse pregnancy outcomes of HFpEF in pregnant women. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of pregnancy-related hospitalizations from 2009 to 2020 using the perinatal database of seven multicenters. Cases of HFpEF were identified using the International Classification of Diseases and echocardiography findings. The patients were categorized into the HFpEF and control groups. Risk factors were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis to generate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Furthermore, adjusted associations between HFpEF and adverse pregnancy outcomes were determined. Risk scores for the stratification of women at a high risk of HFpEF were calculated using a statistical scoring model. Results Of the 34,392 women identified, 258 (0.76%) were included in the HFpEF group. In multivariate analysis, HFpEF was significantly associated with old maternal age (OR, 1.04; 95% CI 1.02–1.07), multiple pregnancy (OR, 2.22; 95% CI 1.53–3.23), rheumatic disease (OR, 2.56; 95% CI 1.54–4.26), pregnancy induce hypertension (OR 6.02; 95% CI 3.61–10.05), preeclampsia (OR 24.66; 95% CI 18.61–32.66), eclampsia or superimposed preeclampsia (OR 32.74; 95% CI 21.60–49.64) and transfusion in previous pregnancy (OR 3.89; 95% CI 1.89–8.01). A scoring model to predict HFpEF with those factors achieved an area under the curve of 0.78 at cutoff value of 3. Women with HFpEF also had increased odds ratios of intensive care unit admission during the perinatal period (odds ratio, 5.98; 95% confidence interval, 4.36–8.21) and of postpartum hemorrhage (odds ratio, 5.98; 95% confidence interval, 2.02–3.64). Conclusions Pregnancy-associated HFpEF is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. A scoring model may contribute to screening HFpEF using echocardiography and preparing adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Abstract The World Health Organization/International Society of Urological Pathology (WHO/ISUP) grading of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is classified from grade 1–4, regardless of subtype. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines (2022) state that if there is an adverse pathological feature, such as grade 3 or higher RCC in stage 1 patients, more rigorous follow-up imaging is recommended. However, the RCC guidelines do not provide specific treatment or follow-up policies by tumor grade. Therefore, this study attempted to find out whether tumor grade affects survival rates in patients with metastatic RCC. The Korean Renal Cancer Study Group (KRoCS) database includes 3108 patients diagnosed with metastatic RCC between September 1992 and February 2017, with treatment methods, progression, and survival data collected from 11 tertiary hospitals. To obtain information on survival rates or causes of death, we utilized the Korea National Statistical Office database and institutional medical records. Data were accessed for research purpose on June, 2023. We then reviewed these sources to gather comprehensive and reliable data on the outcomes of our study cohort. This database was retrospectively analyzed, and out of 3108 metastatic RCC patients, 911 had been identified as WHO/ISUP grade. Grades were classified into either a low-grade (WHO/ISUP grade 1–2) or a high-grade group (WHO/ISUP grade 3–4). The patients were then analyzed related to progression and overall survival (OS). In metastatic clear cell RCC patients, the 1-year OS rate was 69.4% and the median OS was 17.0 months (15.5–18.5) followed up to 203.6 months. When comparing the patient groups, 119 low-grade and 873 high-grade cases were identified. No baseline difference was observed between the two groups, except that the high-grade group had a higher ECOG 1 ratio of 50.4% compared with 34.5% for the low-grade group (p = 0.009). There was a significant difference in OS between high-grade and low-grade groups. OS was 16.0 months (14.6–17.4) in the high-grade group and 28.0 months (21.1–34.9) in the low-grade group (p

Purpose: Patients with cancer have a high risk of depression. However, a few studies have assessed differences in the incidence of depression among patients with prostate cancer (PC) based on whether they received radiotherapy (RTx) or surgical treatment. Materials and Methods: We analyzed data from the National Health Insurance Sharing Service database regarding the entire Korean adult population with PC (n=210,924) between 2007 and 2017. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of depression associated with treatment were estimated using propensity score-matched Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan–Meier survival analyses. Results: Our final cohort comprised 9,456 patients with PC; of which, 8,050 men underwent surgery. During a mean followup duration of 7.1 years, 503 (5.3%) patients were newly diagnosed with depression. A significant difference in the incidence of depression was noted between the RTx and surgery groups (RTx vs. surgery: 5.55% vs. 5.28%; p=0.011) in the unmatched cohort. In the matched cohort, older age (≥70 years, HR: 1.596, p

Abstract Early neurological deterioration (END) in lenticulostriate artery (LSA) infarction is associated with perforating artery hypoperfusion. As middle cerebral artery (MCA) tortuosity may alter hemodynamics, we investigated the association between MCA tortuosity and END in LSA infarction. We reviewed patients with acute LSA infarction without significant MCA stenosis. END was defined as an increase of ≥ 2 or ≥ 1 in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) total or motor score, respectively, within first 72 h. The MCA tortuosity index (actual /straight length) was measured. Stroke mechanisms were categorized as branch atheromatous disease (BAD; lesions > 10 mm and 4 axial slices) and lipohyalinotic degeneration (LD; lesion smaller than BAD). Factors associated with END in LD and BAD were investigated. END occurred in 104/390 (26.7%) patients. A high MCA tortuosity index (adjusted odds ratio, aOR 10.63, 95% confidence interval [2.57–44.08], p = 0.001) was independently associated with END. In patients with BAD, high initial NIHSS score (aOR 1.40 [1.03–1.89], p = 0.031) and presence of parental artery disease (stenosis

The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolic changes associated with the anti-obesity effects of fermented blackberry extracts in the liver tissues of high-fat-diet-fed mice using mass spectrometry-based metabolomics analysis. C57BL/6J mice were divided into eight groups: normal-diet-fed mice, high-fat-diet-fed mice, high-fat diet treated with blackberry extract, high-fat-diet mice treated with blackberry fermented by L. plantarum, and high-fat diet with blackberry fermented by L. brevis. After 12 weeks, the high-fat-diet group exhibited a greater increase in liver weight compared to the control group, and among the groups, the group administered with blackberry fermented with L. plantarum showed the most pronounced reduction in liver weight. As the primary organ responsible for amino acid metabolism, the liver is crucial for maintaining amino acid homeostasis. In our study, we observed that the levels of several essential amino acids, including isoleucine and valine, were decreased by the high-fat diet, and were recovered by administration of blackberry extract fermented with L. plantarum. Our results demonstrated the potential of blackberry extract fermented with L. plantarum as a functional material for metabolic disorders by restoring some of the amino acid metabolism disturbances induced by a high-fat diet.

Blackberries (Rubus fruticosus), which are known to include a variety of bioactive substances, have been extensively studied for their antioxidant properties. Blackberries possess multiple health beneficial effects, including anti-inflammation, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activity. However, the potential biological effects and precise molecular mechanisms of the fermented extracts remain largely unexplored. In this research, we demonstrate the effect of blackberries fermented with Lactobacillus for addressing obesity. We investigated the effect of blackberries fermented by Lactobacillus on mice fed a high-fat (60% kcal) diet for 12 weeks. Fermented blackberry administration reduced the body weight and epididymal fat caused by a high-fat diet compared to the obese group. The triglyceride and total cholesterol, which are blood lipid indicators, and the levels of leptin, which is an insulin resistance indicator, were significantly increased in the obese group but were significantly decreased in the fermented blackberries-treated group. Additionally, the expression of adipogenesis marker proteins, such as CEBPα, PPAR-γ and SREBP-1, was significantly increased in the obese group, whereas it was decreased in the fermented blackberries-treated group. These results suggest that fermented blackberries have a protective effect against high-fat-diet-induced obesity by inhibiting adipogenesis and are a potential candidate for the treatment of obesity.

Purpose: To analyze the presentation of mumps and mumps orchitis using the National Health Insurance Service Database (NHISD). Materials and Methods: Using information from the NHISD representing all cases of mumps in Korea, data regarding mumps orchitis were analyzed. The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, and Clinical Modification codes were used for diagnosis. The incidence estimates of the number of mumps cases were analyzed using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software. Results: Based on the NHISD, 199,186 people were diagnosed with mumps, and males accounted for 62.3% cases. Teen males accounted for 69,870 cases, the largest number of patients diagnosed with mumps. The annual incidence of mumps increased every year (poisson regression, hazard ratio [HR] 1.026, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.024–1.027; p

The purpose of this work was to examine the effects of potassium poly-γ-glutamate (PGA-K) on mice fed a high-fat diet consisting of 60% of total calories for 12 weeks. PGA-K administration reduced the increase in body weight, epididymal fat, and liver weight caused by a high-fat diet compared to the obese group. The triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, which are blood lipid indicators, were significantly increased in the obese group but were significantly decreased in the PGA-K-treated group. The administration of PGA-K resulted in a significant inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6. Moreover, the levels of leptin and insulin, which are insulin resistance indicators, significantly increased in the obese group but were significantly decreased in the PGA-K-treated group. These results suggest that PGA-K exhibits a protective effect against obesity induced by a high-fat diet, underscoring its potential as a candidate for obesity treatment.

Abstract Background Early intervention to reduce the impact of adverse events (AEs) may improve patients’ quality of life and enable optimal treatment duration. Methods This nationwide, multicenter, prospective, longitudinal, 1-year observational study investigated patients’ self-management of AEs associated with targeted therapy for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and explored corresponding outcomes, including treatment duration and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Results We enrolled 77 advanced RCC patients (mean age 62 years) treated with a first targeted therapy. 210 cases of seven AEs of interest (fatigue, hand-foot syndrome, oral mucosal inflammation, diarrhea, gastrointestinal symptoms, hypertension, and anorexia) were observed. Most AEs were mild to moderate. Overall, 63.4% of patients were identified as managing their AEs well, reporting numerically longer treatment duration and significantly higher PRO scores than patients identified as poor managers. Conclusions Longer treatment duration and improved PROs were observed when advanced RCC patients managed targeted therapy-associated AEs well. Repeated education for consolidating AE self-management could be considered to enhance overall treatment outcomes.

Abstract Background To evaluate pregnancy outcomes and the risk of adverse obstetrical outcomes of cesarean myomectomy (CM) compared with cesarean section (CS) only, and to investigate the trend of surgeons in choosing CM. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed on all patients who underwent CS complicated by leiomyoma at two university hospitals between January 2010 and May 2020. All patients were categorized into the CM (341 women) or CS-only (438 women) group. We analyzed the demographic factors, obstetric factors, surgical outcomes, and possible risk factors for adverse outcomes between the two groups. Results Women who underwent CS only were significantly more likely to have a previous myomectomy and multiple leiomyoma history than women who underwent CM. The gestational age at delivery and pregnancy complications were significantly higher in the CS-only group. The mean size of the leiomyomas was larger in the CM group than in the CS-only group (5.8 ± 3.2 cm vs. 5.2 ± 3.1 cm, P = 0.005). The operation time and history of previous CS and preterm labor were higher in the CM group. The leiomyoma types differed between the two groups. The subserosal type was the most common in the CM group (48.7%), and the intramural type was the most common in the CS-only group. Patients in the CM group had fewer than three leiomyomas than those in the CS-only group. Preterm labor and abnormal presentation were relatively higher in the CM group than in the CS-only group, concerning leiomyoma presence. There were no significant differences in the preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin levels. The size of the leiomyoma (odds ratio [OR] = 1.162; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–1.25; P 60 min (OR = 2.461; 95% CI: 1.45–4.15) were significant independent predictors of adverse outcomes after CM. Conclusions CM should be considered a reliable and safe approach to prevent the need for another surgery for remnant leiomyoma. Herein, surgeons performed CM when uterine leiomyomas were large, of the subserosal type, or few. Standardized treatment guidelines for myomectomy during CSs in pregnant women with uterine fibroids should be established.

Purpose: We aimed to analyze the characteristics and management of bladder and urethral injuries in Korea by use of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database. Materials and Methods: Data from the NHIS database representative of all cases of Korean bladder injury (n=4,631) and urethral injury (n=17,858) reported between 2012 and 2016 were analyzed. We used the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, clinical modification codes to identify the diagnoses. Results: A total of 491 males (1.97/100,000) and 590 females (2.39/100,000) experienced bladder injury in 2012, and 449 males (1.76/100,000) and 624 females (2.47/100,000) in 2016. The risk of bladder injury was higher in female than in male (hazard ratio [HR], 1.267; p

Daecheongdo and Socheongdo Islands are located in the West Sea of Korea, 210 km away from land, and are military border areas very close to North Korea, making them difficult to access. Although the ecosystem of the islands is relatively well preserved due to the lack of accessibility, research on fungi of the regions is insufficient. Therefore, we aimed to investigate indigenous fungi in these geographically and geopolitically constrained regions. A survey of the indigenous fungal diversity of the islands was conducted in 2018. All specimens were identified at the species level based on morphological and molecular analyses. Among them, six macrofungi—namely, Agaricus menieri, Crepidotus praecipuus, Dichomitus squalens, Hortiboletus amygdalinus, Melanoleuca friesii, and Trametes lactinea—were not previously reported in Korea. Considering that the proportion of unrecorded species is high in the survey area and period as well as the number of samples collected, similar research on adjacent islands may be necessary.

The fungi play important roles in maintaining the balance and homeostasis of natural ecosystems. We investigated fungal specimens indigenous to the Gayasan National Park located in the deep inlands of southeastern Korea from 2017-2020. Six fungal species in the Korean macromycota–Chiua olivaceoreticulata, Entoloma conchatum, Galerina sulciceps, Hebeloma radicosoides, Spongiporus gloeoporus, and Tricholoma sinoacerbum–were identified based on morphological characteristics and rDNA sequences. The six fungal speices were newly revealed on the Korean Peninsula, and it supports that the continuous investigaton is the best way to realize the mycosis.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect that Glycine max hydrolyzed with enzymes from Bacillus velezensis KMU01 has on dextran-sulfate-sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Hydrolysis improves functional health through the bioconversion of raw materials and increase in intestinal absorption rate and antioxidants. Therefore, G. max was hydrolyzed in this study using a food-derived microorganism, and its anti-inflammatory effect was observed. Enzymatically hydrolyzed G. max (EHG) was orally administered once daily for four weeks before DSS treatment. Colitis was induced in mice through the consumption of 5% (w/v) DSS in drinking water for eight days. The results showed that EHG treatment significantly alleviated DSS-induced body weight loss and decreased the disease activity index and colon length. In addition, EHG markedly reduced tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 production, and increased that of IL-10. EHG improved DSS-induced histological changes and intestinal epithelial barrier integrity in mice. Moreover, we found that the abundance of 15 microorganisms changed significantly; that of Proteobacteria and Escherichia coli, which are upregulated in patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, decreased after EHG treatment. These results suggest that EHG has a protective effect against DSS-induced colitis and is a potential candidate for colitis treatment.

Purpose: The clinical impact of the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) on the prognosis of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) remains controversial. We investigated the associations between elevation of the PLR and disease prognosis in patients with synchronous mRCC. Materials and Methods: The data of 1,505 patients with synchronous mRCC were retrospectively analyzed. The entire cohort was stratified into two subgroups according to PLR. Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional analyses were performed to investigate the possible associations between the PLR and disease prognosis. Results: There were 921 patients with a high PLR and 584 patients with a low PLR by use of the cutoff of 146. The patients with a high PLR had worse clinical characteristics in terms of advanced clinical stage (p

Da-Lat is a hilly area located in southern Vietnam. Macrofungal diversity of Da-Lat was investigated from 2018 to 2019. A total of 468 macrofungal specimens was collected and identified using the modern species concept and taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses. Among them, internal transcribed spacer(ITS) region of 401 specimens were successfully sequenced and compared with those of related species retrieved from GenBank. In total, 180 specimens were identified at the species level. The sequenced specimens were classified into 2 phyla, 13 orders, 38 families, 93 genera, and 124 species. The remaining 221 specimens (175 species) did not match the species level. This study is the first well-documented taxonomic list of macrofungi collected from southern Vietnam.

Macrofungi play important roles in forest ecology as wood decayers, symbionts, and pathogens of living trees. For the effective forest management, it is imperative to have a comprehensive overview of macrofungi diversity in specific areas. As a part of the National Institute of Biological Resources projects for discovering indigenous fungi in Korea, we collected macrofungi in Gayasan National Park from 2017 to 2018. These specimens were identified based on morphological characteristics and sequence analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) or the nuclear large subunit rRNA (LSU) region. We discovered 17 macrofungi new to Korea: Butyrea japonica, Ceriporia nanlingensis, Coltricia weii, Coltriciella subglobosa, Crepidotus crocophyllus, Cylindrobasidium laeve, Fulvoderma scaurum, Laetiporus cremeiporus, Lentinellus castoreus, Leucogyrophana mollusca, Marasmius insolitus, Nidularia deformis, Phaeophlebiopsis peniophoroides, Phanerochaete angustocystidiata, Phlebiopsis pilatii, Postia coeruleivirens, and Tengioboletus fujianensis. We described their detailed morphological characteristics.

Purpose: To develop the clinical calculator for mortality of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) using Korean Renal Cancer Study Group (KRoCS) database. Materials and Methods: Data from 1,115 patients with mRCC treated in 4 hospitals joining KRoCS between 1993 and 2016 were pooled. Five-year survival rates were calculated using Kaplan–Meier curve. A clinical calculator for 5-year mortality was developed using multivariable logistic regression analysis and validated externally using dataset including 916 patients from 4 other hospitals. Results: Overall survival rates and cancer specific survival rate at 5 years were 28.5% and 29.4%, respectively. Among baseline factors, increased neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (≥4), synchronous metastasis, low albumin (

ABSTRACT Purpose To evaluate the usefulness of natural killer cell activity (NKA) in diagnosing prostate cancer (PC). Materials and Methods The medical records of patients who underwent transrectal prostate biopsy (TRBx) at Korea University Ansan Hospital between May 2017 and December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. NKA levels were measured using NK Vue® Tubes (ATgen, Sungnam, Korea). All blood samples were obtained at 8 AM on the day of biopsy. Patients with other malignancies, chronic inflammatory conditions, high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level (>20ng/mL), or history of taking 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor or testosterone replacement therapy were excluded. Results A total of 102 patients who underwent TRBx for PC diagnosis were enrolled. Among them, 50 were diagnosed with PC. Significant differences in age and NKA level were observed between the PC and no-PC groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the optimal cut-off of NKA level for the prediction of PC was 500pg/dL, with a sensitivity of 68.0% and a specificity of 73.1%. In addition, NKA level (0.630) had the greatest area under the ROC curve compared to those for the ratio of total PSA to free PSA (0.597) and PSA density (0.578). Conclusions The results of this pilot study revealed that low NKA and high PSA levels were likely to be associated with a positive TRBx outcome. NKA detection was easy and improved the diagnostic accuracy of PC.

Purpose: To evaluate if preoperative sterile pyuria can be a prognostic factor for intravesical recurrence (IVR) and overall survival (OS)in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) undergoing surgery. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who were diagnosed with UTUC from October 2003 to December 2016 at Korea University Medical Center. Sterile pyuria was defined as urine containing five or more white blood cells per high-power field in the absence of bacteria in urine culture. We used a stepwise multivariable Cox proportional hazards model to assess the independent effects of the prognostic factors for IVR and OS. Results: We investigated a total of 176 patients who were diagnosed with UTUC. Among them, 91 (51.7%) patients had preoperative sterile pyuria. There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics between the pyuria and non-pyuria groups concerning tumor grade, T stage, tumor multiplicity, and recurrence history. However, there was a significant difference in the IVR between the two groups. In the multivariable analysis, preoperative sterile pyuria, diabetes mellitus, high-grade tumor, and lymphovascular invasion were revealed as independent risk factors for IVR, and only lymphovascular invasion was identified as an independent risk factor for OS. Conclusions: Preoperative sterile pyuria is significantly associated with IVR in patients with UTUC undergoing surgery, but it is not associated with OS. Furthermore, diabetes mellitus, high-grade tumor, and lymphovascular invasion are also independent prognostic factors for these patients.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease caused by various factors, including intestinal inflammation and barrier dysfunction. Herein, we determined the effects of fermented glutinous rice (FGR) on the expression of tight junction proteins and levels of inflammation and apoptosis in the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced acute colitis model. FGR was orally administered once per day to C57BL/6J mice with colitis induced by 5% DSS in drinking water. FGR administration recovered DSS-induced body weight loss and irregularly short colon lengths. FGR inhibited the DSS-induced decrease in FITC-dextran (FD)-4 permeability and myeloperoxidase activity. Moreover, FGR treatment repaired the reduction of zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1) and occludin expression and the increase in claudin-2 expression in colonic tissue relative to that following DSS administration. FGR treatment significantly recovered expression of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β, in serum or respective mRNA expression in colonic tissue relative to that following DSS administration. FGR regulated levels of oxidative stress-related factors, such as malondialdehyde and glutathione, and the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase in the colon tissue of the DSS-induced acute colitis mice model. Furthermore, FGR treatment inhibited apoptosis by reducing the activity of caspase-3 and the ratio of Bcl-2 associated X (Bax)/B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2). Collectively, FGR treatment protected the intestinal barrier from dysfunction and inhibited inflammation and apoptosis in DSS-induced colitis. Therefore, FGR may decrease the inflammatory response and be a candidate for treating and prevention inflammatory bowel disease by protecting the intestinal integrity.

Purpose To evaluate seasonal variations of overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms in women who visited hospital clinics. Methods Medical records of female patients treated for OAB symptoms from January 2011 to December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with pyuria at the first visit, those who did not complete the questionnaire, and those with

Abstract Purpose Previous studies have suggested that androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is associated with cerebral infarction. However, conflicting results have been reported by other researchers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between ADT and cerebral infarction in patients with prostate cancer (PC) using big data. Materials and Methods Using information from the National Health Insurance Service database representative of the entire Korean adult PC population (n = 206 735), data regarding ADT and cerebral infarction between 2009 and 2016 were analyzed. Adjusted hazard ratios for cerebral infarction associated with ADT were estimated using propensity score‐matched Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan‐Meier survival analyses. Results The final cohort comprised 36 146 individuals with PC, including 24 069 men (66.6%) who underwent ADT. During the mean follow‐up of 4.1 years, 2792 patients were newly diagnosed with cerebral infarction. In the unmatched cohort, there was a significant difference in the annual incidence of cerebral infarction between the ADT and non‐ADT groups (22.8 vs 14.6 per 1000 person‐years, respectively). However, there was no significant difference between the ADT and non‐ADT groups in the matched cohort (14.9 vs 14.6 per 1000 person‐years). The adjusted hazard ratio for cerebral infarction for PC patients who underwent ADT was 1.045 (95% CI 0.943‐1.159; P = 0.401) compared with those who did not undergo ADT. In addition, the cumulative duration of ADT was also not associated with an increased risk for cerebral infarction. However, older age, hypertension, diabetes, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, renal disease, dementia, and atrial fibrillation were revealed to be factors contributing to cerebral infarction. Conclusion This nationwide population‐based study revealed that ADT was not associated with cerebral infarction after adjusting for potential confounders.

Abstract Objectives The optimal treatment strategy for metastatic non‐clear cell renal cell carcinoma (mNCCRCC) is still elusive and mainly extrapolated from evidence available for metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma. The aim of the study was therefore to investigate the survival outcomes and prognostic factors affecting survival in patients with mNCCRCC treated with targeted therapy. Materials and methods We analyzed a total of 156 patients (8.1%) with mNCCRCC among the total cohort of 1922 patients in the Korean metastatic RCC registry. We used Kaplan‐Meier curve analysis to calculate the survival estimates for first‐line progression‐free survival (PFS), total PFS, and cancer‐specific survival (CSS). We also used the log‐rank test to compare the different groups and multivariate Cox‐proportional hazard regression analyses to evaluate the prognostic factors for survival. Results The mNCCRCC group had significantly inferior survival outcomes in terms of first‐line PFS, total PFS, and CSS (all P

Abstract Background Cervical cancer is the third most common gynecological malignancy. Conventional treatment options are known to be ineffective for the majority of patients with advanced or recurrent cervical cancer. Therefore, novel therapeutic agents for cervical cancer are necessary. In this study, the effects of CKD-602 in cervical cancer were investigated. Methods Three established human, immortalized, cervical cancer cell lines (CaSki, HeLa and SiHa) were used in this study. Following treatment with CKD-602, apoptosis was quantified using fluorescein isothiocyanate Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide (PI) detection kit and cell cycle analysis was analyzed using fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Transwell chambers were used for invasion assays. Western blot assay was performed to analyze proteomics. CaSki cells were subcutaneously injected into BALB/c-nude mice and cervical cancer xenograft model was established to elucidate the antitumor effect of CKD-602 in vivo. Results Treatment with CKD-602 induced apoptosis and increased expression of the enzyme PARP, cleaved PARP, and BAX. In addition, expression of phosphorylated p53 increased. Cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and inhibition of invasion were detected after treatment with CKD-602. A significant decrease in cervical cancer tumor volume was observed in this in vivo model, following treatment with CKD-602. Conclusions This is the first report of CKD-602 having an antitumor effect in cervical cancer in both an in vitro and in vivo models. The results of this study indicate that CKD-602 may be a novel potential drug, targeting cervical cancer, providing new opportunities in the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Purpose To describe our initial experience with a novel method of adenoma retrieval using a pneumovesicum (PNV) after Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP). Methods From January 2016 to April 2018, a total of 93 consecutive patients treated with HoLEP were enrolled in this study. For tissue morcellation, we used the PNV morcellation technique for an initial series of 21 patients and the conventional technique (Lumenis VersaCut) for a consecutive series of 72 patients. We compared efficiency and safety between the novel technique and the traditional technique. Subgroup analysis was performed to assess the effectiveness of the current technique in the large prostate (>70 mL). Results There were significant differences in mean age and prostate volume between the 2 groups. However, there were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics and preoperative parameters in the subgroup analysis of large prostates (>70 mL). The mean morcellation efficiency was higher (8.50±1.94 minutes vs. 1.76±0.45 minutes, P

Purpose: In this study, we described our initial experience and analyze the learning curve of segmental renal artery branch clamping with hand-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (PN) using special instruments. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of consecutive cases of hand-assisted laparoscopic PN (LPN) between May 2015 and April 2018. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, perioperative details, postoperative complications, and warm ischemic time for segmental artery branch clamping were included in our analysis. We used the cumulative sum (CUSUM) method to generate learning curves. Results: Segmental renal artery branch clamping was successfully completed in 16 of 20 patients. The median tumor size was 2.9 cm (range, 1.7–7.0 cm), median operation time was 185 minutes (range, 140–245 minutes), median blood loss was 291 mL (range, 100–600 mL), and median hospital stay was 5 days (range, 4–7 days). The median selective ischemic time was 21 minutes (range, 16–35 minutes). No patient had postoperative complications, acute or delayed bleeding. The median pre- and postoperative serum creatinine levels (0.91 and 0.98 mg/dL, respectively), and the pre- and postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (89.7 and 79.6 mL/min per 1.73 m2, respectively) were similar. Upon visual assessment of the CUSUM plots, a downward inflection point for decreasing total operation time was observed in the 9th case and estimated blood loss in the 12th case. Conclusions: Our study shows that segmental renal artery branch clamping hand-assisted LPN for localized renal tumors is feasible, safe, and has a relatively short learning curve.

Patients with brain metastasis (BM) have a better prognosis when it is detected early. However, current guidelines recommend brain imaging only when there are central nervous system symptoms or abnormal experimental values. Therefore, metastases are discovered later in asymptomatic patients. As a result, there is a need for an algorithm that predicts the possibility of BM using clinical data and machine learning (ML). Data from 3153 patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were collected from the 11-institution Korean Renal Cancer Study group (KRoCS) database. To predict BM, clinical information of 1282 patients was extracted from the database and used to compare the performance of six ML algorithms. The final model selection was based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve. After optimizing the hyperparameters for each model, the adaptive boosting (AdaBoost) model outperformed the others, with an AUROC of 0.716. We developed an algorithm to predict the probability of BM in patients with RCC. Using the developed predictive model, it is possible to avoid detection delays by performing computed tomography scans on potentially asymptomatic patients.

Investigative and Clinical Urology is the official journal of the Korean Urological Association (KUA). Taehan Pinyogikwa Hakhoe chi was the first version of the official journal of the KUA and was published in January 1960. The journal was renamed the Korean Journal of Urology in February 2009 and the Korean Journal of Urology changed its title to Investigative and Clinical Urology in January 2016. The official YouTube channel of Investigative and Clinical Urology has been in operation since January 2016. Investigative and Clinical Urology was registered in Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) on October 30, 2018. A total of 8,103 papers were published in Investigative and Clinical Urology from January 1960 to December 2018. The most common subjects in published articles were oncology (4,602), pediatric urology (1,540), endourology & urolithiasis (1,477), and sexual dysfunction & infertility (1,285). A total of 23 articles on randomized controlled trials were published from March 2010 to December 2018. The acceptance rate of original articles in Investigative and Clinical Urology has decreased continuously since 2014. Meanwhile, the submission rate by international authors has shown an increasing trend from 2014 to 2018. As the first urologic journal in South Korea, Investigative and Clinical Urology has faithfully played its academic role in the past and present for 60 years. Since joining the SCIE list in 2018, further progress of Investigative and Clinical Urology is highly expected.

Abstract Over the past few years, two-dimensional materials have gained immense attention for next-generation electric sensing devices because of their unique properties. Here, we report the carrier transport properties of MoS2 Schottky diodes under ambient as well as gas exposure conditions. MoS2 field-effect transistors (FETs) were fabricated using Pt and Al electrodes. The work function of Pt is higher than that of MoS2, while that of Al is lower than that of MoS2. The MoS2 device with Al contacts showed much higher current than that with Pt contacts because of its lower Schottky barrier height (SBH). The electrical characteristics and gas responses of the MoS2 Schottky diodes with Al and Pt contacts were measured electrically and were simulated by density functional theory calculations. The theoretically calculated SBH of the diode (under gas absorption) showed that NO x molecules had strong interaction with the diode and induced a negative charge transfer. However, an opposite trend was observed in the case of NH3 molecules. We also investigated the effect of metal contacts on the gas sensing performance of MoS2 FETs both experimentally and theoretically.

Abstract Background We investigated the effects of lifetime cumulative ginseng intake on cognitive function in a community-dwelling population-based prospective cohort of Korean elders. Methods Community-dwelling elders (N = 6422; mean age = 70.2 ± 6.9 years, education = 8.0 ± 5.3 years, female = 56.8%) from the Korean Longitudinal Study on Cognitive Aging and Dementia were included. Among them, 3918 participants (61.0%) completed the 2-year and 4-year follow-up evaluations. Subjects were categorized according to cumulative ginseng intake at baseline evaluation; no use group, low use (

Lactarius and Lactifluus are milkcaps that are characterized by the secretion of latex. These two genera are part of a globally distributed cosmopolitan group of ectomycorrhizal fungi that is an important food resource in various ecosystems. Recently, the taxonomy of Lactarius and Lactifluus has been revised based on molecular phylogenetics. Despite the importance of these taxa, Korean species of both genera are poorly understood. In an effort to describe milkcap species that are indigenous to Korea, a long-term study has been initiated. During a recent survey, eight species of milkcaps that were previously unrecorded in Korea were detected based on morphological observation and sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region: five Lactarius species (Lactarius atromarginatus, L. austrotorminosus, L. kesiyae, L. tabidus, and L. vietus) and three Lactifluus species (Lactifluus acicularis, Lf. pilosus, and Lf. pinguis). Detailed morphological descriptions and phylogenetic relationships of these species are provided in this article.

Background: Both hypertension and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common conditions in the elderly population. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of silodosin in the treatment of LUTS in elderly men who were taking antihypertensive medications. Methods: This is an observational study which collected the medical records of patients who started silodosin medication for their LUTS between April 2015 and December 2015. Inclusion criteria were age ≥ 65 years, currently taking antihypertensive medication, and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) ≥ 8. Pretreatment evaluation included IPSS, Male Sexual Health Questionnaire, systemic symptoms, blood pressure, and uroflowmetry. Post-treatment evaluation was performed 3 months after the initial administration of silodosin medication. Results: Mean age of the total 48 patients was 70.7 ± 5.2 years. Thirty-two (66.7%) patients who continued silodosin single treatment showed a significant decrease in IPSS Quality of life scores (4.2 ± 1.1 vs. 3.0 ± 1.6, P = 0.001) and an increase in the maximum flow rate (10.7 ± 6.0 mL/s vs. 14.0 ± 4.5 mL/s, P = 0.001). Blood pressures did not change, and none of the patients needed to adjust their antihypertensive medication. New development of orthostatic hypotension was observed in one (2.5%) patient. Among the six patients who had orthostatic hypotension before silodosin treatment, none of the patients showed symptom aggravation. Ejaculatory dysfunction that required discontinuation of silodosin medication developed in only one (2.5%) patient. Conclusion: Silodosin is an effective and safe agent in elderly men who are taking antihypertensive medications. Silodosin has an advantage in the treatment of LUTS in this population, even if the patients have orthostatic hypotension before treatment.

Purpose The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) on total prostate volume and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Methods Between January 2007 and June 2014, 110 patients who received androgen deprivation treatment were enrolled in this retrospective study. Clinical parameters and urodynamic parameters along with changes at follow-up were analyzed. Factors such as reduction in prostate volume, changes in LUTS, and prostate volume tertiles were compared 1 year after ADT. Results After ADT, the total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) score decreased from 17.45 to 12.21 and the IPSS voiding subscore decreased from 9.16 to 6.24. Maximal uroflow rate increased from 8.62 to 11.50 mL/sec and residual urine also reduced significantly by 29.34 mL. Change in prostate size was more prominent (–51.14%) in the patients with less than 1 year of ADT (n=21) than those who had more than 1 year of treatment (n=89, –44.12%). The decrease in the IPSS voiding subscore was greater within 1 year of ADT than after 1 year of treatment (–4.10 vs. –2.65). The differences were more significant in the 30–50 g group (n=59) and >50 g group (n=11) than the

Paroxysmal events during sleep can be classified into parasomnias, sleep-related movements, psychiatric events, neurologic events, or medically related events. Diagnosis can be difficult because of the frequent overlap of clinical descriptors and lack of diurnal findings. We report a case of a 68-year-old man who presented to the hospital complaining of awakening from sleep with numbness, which was followed by an indescribable odd feeling. We discuss overlapping clinical features of nocturnal panic and sleep-related epilepsy.

Purpose The goal of this study was to compare the International Prostate Symptom Storage Subscore (IPSS-s) and the overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS) as tools for assessing the symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted of a sample of 1,341 patients aged 50 years and older with lower urinary tract complaints who had undergone a medical examination at one of several centers. For each patient, we reviewed the International Prostate Symptom Score and the OABSS. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their IPSS-s result (group 1, score ≥6; group 2, score

Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgical procedures are increasingly being used in the management of various urological diseases. In particular, the laparoscopic approach for intravesical surgery using pneumovesicum (LPV) is a minimally invasive alternative with potential advantages including decreased morbidity, shorter hospital stays, and improved cosmesis. We review the applications of LPV in urology, summarize data for different surgical approaches, and provide an overview of patient management, as well as other considerations. This narrative review focused primarily on articles indexed in PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Embase databases. No formal search strategy was used, and no meta-analysis of data was performed.

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of mirodenafil on bladder function in a rat model of chronic bladder ischemia (CBI). Methods: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to three groups: untreated, sham-operated rats (control group); untreated, CBI model rats (CBI group); and CBI rats treated daily with 4 mg/kg mirodenafil (CBI+mirodenafil group). The CBI and CBI+mirodenafil groups underwent endothelial injury to the iliac arteries and were fed a 2% cholesterol diet after injury. Four weeks after surgery, the CBI+mirodenafil group started daily treatment with mirodenafil for four weeks. Eight weeks after surgery, continuous in vivo cystometry and in vivo organ bath studies of detrusor muscle strips were performed. Results: in vivo cystometry revealed that the rats in the CBI group had a significantly higher micturition frequency, lower bladder capacity, and lower compliance than the rats in the control and CBI+mirodenafil groups. The detrusor muscle strip study showed that the magnitude of the carbachol-induced contractile response was significantly lower in the CBI group compared to either the control or CBI+mirodenafil group. Addition of daily mirodenafil after induction of CBI decreased the contractile response, compared to untreated CBI rats. CBI induced submucosal fibrosis and degenerative changes in bladder walls, which was reversed by the addition of mirodenafil. Conclusions: Daily treatment with mirodenafil showed protective effects against bladder dysfunction resulting from CBI in rats.

Purpose: To evaluate disease insight, personal distress, and healthcare-seeking behavior of women with urinary incontinence (UI) to improve women’s health in Korea. Methods: In October 2012, 500 Korean women residing around Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi-do were selected by random sampling for a population-based cross-sectional survey conducted by computer-aided telephone interview. Sixteen questions, which included information on demographic characteristics, information sources, disease insights, and general health-seeking behavior, were used for data collection. Results: Among the responders, 23.8% experienced UI, the prevalence of which increased with increasing age; 83.3% knew about UI through the mass media out of 98.2% apprehended people. Regarding general awareness of UI, 77.2% understood that UI is caused by aging. A total of 48.7% of subjects experienced societal restrictions because of UI. Most women in their 30s (25.6%) acquired UI information from the Internet, while those in their 50s and 60s (50–59 years, 51.1%; 60–64 years, 42.4%) learned about UI through friends. Among subjects who did not have UI, 89.37% intended to see a doctor or consult a professional if they developed UI (83.2%). Among those with UI, however, only 59.0% had talked about UI; 79.7% had talked with friends or associates, whereas only 23.2% had consulted a professional. Conclusions: Most respondents tended to obtain information on UI through the mass media. Subjects who did not have UI expressed their intention to consult a professional if they developed UI, while the percentage of subjects with UI who had consulted a professional was very low. Many women are ashamed of UI in Korea, which may be changed by providing efficient advertising with the right information and establishing a new perception of UI.

Species in the genus Ganoderma include several ecologically important and pathogenic fungal species whose medicinal and economic value is substantial. Due to the highly similar morphological features within the Ganoderma, identification of species has relied heavily on DNA sequencing using BLAST searches, which are only reliable if the GenBank submissions are accurately labeled. In this study, we examined 113 specimens collected from 1969 to 2016 from various regions in Korea using morphological features and multigene analysis (internal transcribed spacer, translation elongation factor 1-α, and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II). These specimens were identified as four Ganoderma species: G. sichuanense, G. cf. adspersum, G. cf. applanatum, and G. cf. gibbosum. With the exception of G. sichuanense, these species were difficult to distinguish based solely on morphological features. However, phylogenetic analysis at three different loci yielded concordant phylogenetic information, and supported the four species distinctions with high bootstrap support. A survey of over 600 Ganoderma sequences available on GenBank revealed that 65% of sequences were either misidentified or ambiguously labeled. Here, we suggest corrected annotations for GenBank sequences based on our phylogenetic validation and provide updated global distribution patterns for these Ganoderma species.

We developed the Korean Prostate Cancer Risk Calculator for High-Grade Prostate Cancer (KPCRC-HG) that predicts the probability of prostate cancer (PC) of Gleason score 7 or higher at the initial prostate biopsy in a Korean cohort (http://acl.snu.ac.kr/PCRC/RISC/). In addition, KPCRC-HG was validated and compared with internet-based Western risk calculators in a validation cohort.Using a logistic regression model, KPCRC-HG was developed based on the data from 602 previously unscreened Korean men who underwent initial prostate biopsies. Using 2,313 cases in a validation cohort, KPCRC-HG was compared with the European Randomized Study of Screening for PC Risk Calculator for high-grade cancer (ERSPCRC-HG) and the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial Risk Calculator 2.0 for high-grade cancer (PCPTRC-HG). The predictive accuracy was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration plots.PC was detected in 172 (28.6%) men, 120 (19.9%) of whom had PC of Gleason score 7 or higher. Independent predictors included prostate-specific antigen levels, digital rectal examination findings, transrectal ultrasound findings, and prostate volume. The AUC of the KPCRC-HG (0.84) was higher than that of the PCPTRC-HG (0.79, p

There is still controversy as to whether initial combination treatment is superior to serial addition of anticholinergics after maintenance or induction of alpha blockers in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)/lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).The objective of this study was to determine the benefits and safety of initial combination treatment of an alpha blocker with anticholinergic medication in BPH/LUTS through a systematic review and meta-analysis.We conducted a meta-analysis of improvement in LUTS using International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax), post-voided residual volume (PVR), and quality of life (QoL).In total, 16 studies were included in our analysis, with a total sample size of 3,548 subjects (2,195 experimental subjects and 1,353 controls). The mean change in total IPSS improvement from baseline in the combination group versus the alpha blocker monotherapy group was -0.03 (95% CI: -0.14-0.08). The pooled overall SMD change of storage IPSS improvement from baseline was -0.28 (95% CI: -0.40 - -0.17). The pooled overall SMD changes of QoL, Qmax, and PVR were -0.29 (95% CI: -0.50 - -0.07), 0.00 (95% CI: -0.08-0.08), and 0.56 (95% CI: 0.23-0.89), respectively. There was no significant difference in the number of acute urinary retention (AUR) events or PVR.Initial combination treatment of an alpha blocker with anticholinergic medication is efficacious for in BPH/ LUTS with improved measures such as storage symptoms and QoL without causing significant deterioration of voiding function.

BackgroundInterleukin-15 (IL-15), a well-known myokine, is highly expressed in skeletal muscle and is involved in muscle-fat crosstalk. Recently, a role of skeletal muscle-derived IL-15 in the improvement of glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity has been proposed. However, little is known regarding the influence of endurance training on IL-15 expression in type 2 diabetic skeletal muscles. We investigated the effect of endurance exercise training on glucose tolerance and IL-15 expression in skeletal muscles using type 2 diabetic animal models.MethodsMale Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) and ZDF lean control (ZLC) rats were randomly divided into three groups: sedentary ZLC, sedentary ZDF (ZDF-Con), and exercised ZDF (ZDF-Ex). The ZDF-Ex rats were forced to run a motor-driven treadmill for 60 minutes once a day 5 times per week for 12 weeks. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) was performed after 12 weeks. Expression of IL-15 was measured using ELISA in extracted soleus (SOL) and gastrocnemius medial muscles.ResultsAfter 12 weeks of treadmill training, reduction of body weight was observed in ZDF-Ex compared to ZDF-Con rats. Glucose tolerance using IPGTT in diabetic rats was significantly improved in ZDF-Ex rats. Furthermore, the expression of IL-15 was significantly increased (P

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of total prostate-specific antigen (tPSA) and free prostate-specific antigen (fPSA) for the estimation of prostate volume (PV) in pathologically-proven benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients. Methods: From January 2010 to March 2013, 165 Korean men with a PSA less than 10 ng/mL who were diagnosed without prostate cancer by prostate biopsy were enrolled. Patients were classified into three age groups: ≤60, 61–70, and >70 years old. The results were organized to estimate and compare the ability of serum tPSA and fPSA to assess the PV. Results: Enrolled patients had a median age of 63.5 years (44 to 80), a median tPSA of 5.72 ng/mL, a median fPSA of 0.98 ng/mL and a median PV of 53.68 mL, respectively. Among the associations between tPSA, fPSA, age, and PV, the highest correlation was verified between fPSA and PV (r=0.377, P

Purpose Antagonists of α1-adrenergic receptors (α1ARs) relax prostate smooth muscle and relieve voiding and storage symptoms. Recently, increased expression of α1ARs with change of its subtype expression has been proved in bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). To search for the evidence of changes in α1ARs subtype expression and activity in the peripheral and spinal routes, the effects of spinal and peripheral administration of tamsulosin (an α1A/D-selective AR), naftopidil (an α1A/D-selective AR), and doxazosin (non-selective AR) on bladder activity were investigated in a rat model with or without BOO. Methods A total of 65 female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the BOO surgery group (n=47) and the sham surgery group (n=18). After 6 weeks, cystometry was assessed before and after intrathecal and intra-arterial administrations of tamsulosin, naftopidil, and doxazosin. Results After intra-arterial administrations of all three drugs, bladder capacity (BC) was increased and maximal intravesical pressure (Pmax) was decreased in both BOO and the sham rat models (P

Purpose The aim of this study was to assess the voiding dysfunction after rectal cancer surgery with total mesorectal excision (TME). Methods This was part of a prospective study done in the rectal cancer patients who underwent surgery with TME between November 2006 and June 2008. Consecutive uroflowmetry, post-voided residual volume, and a voiding questionnaire were performed at preoperatively and postoperatively. Results A total of 50 patients were recruited in this study, including 28 male and 22 female. In the comparison of the preoperative data with the postoperative 3-month data, a significant decrease in mean maximal flow rate, voided volume, and post-voided residual volume were found. In the comparison with the postoperative 6-month data, however only the maximal flow rate was decreased with statistical significance (P=0.02). In the comparison between surgical methods, abdominoperineal resection patients showed delayed recovery of maximal flow rate, voided volume, and post-voided residual volume. There was no significant difference in uroflowmetry parameters with advances in rectal cancer stage. Conclusions Voiding dysfunction is common after rectal cancer surgery but can be recovered in 6 months after surgery or earlier. Abdominoperineal resection was shown to be an unfavorable factor for postoperative voiding. Larger prospective study is needed to determine the long-term effect of rectal cancer surgery in relation to male and female baseline voiding condition.