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BACKGROUND/AIM The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and β (ERβ), androgen receptor (AR), SIRT1, SIRT2 and SIRT3 in prostate cancer (PCa). MATERIALS AND METHODS From October 2010 to January 2015, 70 patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy following a PCa diagnosis were enrolled in our study. Normal prostate tissue (NPT) and prostate cancer tissues (PCAT) were separated, and the expression of each receptor in each tissue was analyzed with immunochemical staining. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors affecting the development of PCa. RESULTS ERβ and AR were highly expressed in PCAT compared with NPT (p

Purpose This study was designed to assess the diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic efficacy of probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE), which provides real-time, in vivo histological information during transurethral resection of bladder tumors. Methods We performed a prospective study between August 2013 and August 2014. pCLE was performed on a total of 119 lesions in 75 patients. We analyzed the diagnostic accuracy of pCLE by comparing the confocal image reports with the pathology reports of surgical specimen. Confocal images were interpreted by a single urologist blinded to the pathology reports. The therapeutic efficacy was analyzed by comparing the outcomes in pCLE and non-pCLE groups. Results In a total of 119 lesions, 23 were benign and 96 were malignant. The detection accuracy for malignant lesions with pCLE was determined with a sensitivity and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 91.7% and 93.6%, respectively. For high-grade versus low-grade bladder cancer, sensitivity and PPV of pCLE were 94.5% and 89.7%, respectively. Distinguishing carcinoma in situ from inflammatory lesions also was accurate with sensitivity, specificity, and PPV of 71.4%, 81.3%, and 83.3%, respectively. The Kaplan–Meier curves revealed that the recurrence-free survival rate was significantly higher in the pCLE group than in the non-pCLE group (p = 0.031). Conclusions Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy is a promising method to provide the surgeon during the transurethral resection of a bladder tumor with real-time tumor histology, regardless of the tumor’s gross appearance. Furthermore, it also may improve the therapeutic efficacy with longer recurrence-free periods.

Summary: Background: Little is known about the preoperative predictive factors that could identify subsets of favorable patients who can be possibly cured with robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) alone in locally advanced prostate cancer (LAPCa). Our study was designed to identify clinical predictors of pathologic organ-confined disease (pOCD) in RARP setting. Methods: Between 2007 and 2013, clinicopathological and oncological data from 273 consecutive men undergoing robot-assisted RP with extended PLND for clinically LAPCa were reviewed in a single-institution, retrospectively. After exclusion of patients who received neoadjuvant hormone treatment before surgery, 186 subjects satisfied the final inclusion criteria. Results: Fourty-three patients (23.1% of total cohort) with preoperative clinically LAPCa patients were down-staged to pOCD following RARP. Preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, preoperative PSAD, positive core percent, maximal tumor volume in any core, and biopsy Gleason score were significantly associated with down-staging into pOCD following RARP. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that lower preoperative PSA (≤10 ng/mL) and maximal tumor volume in any core (≤70%) were independent predictors of pOCD following RARP. Conclusions: Approximately 23% of preoperative clinically LAPCa patients were down-staged to pOCD following RARP. Preoperative PSA and maximal tumor volume in any biopsy core might be useful clinical predictors of pOCD in clinically LAPCa patients in RARP setting. Keywords: Robotics, Prostatic neoplasms, Prostatectomy, Treatment outcome

We investigated the correlation between the presence of leucocytes in expressed prostatic secretion and the lower urinary tract symptom severity by retrospectively reviewing 699 men with lower urinary tract symptoms. The patients were evaluated by the International Prostate Symptoms Score and the Overactive Bladder Symptoms Score and underwent expressed prostatic secretion testing. Patients were classified into groups 1 and 2 based on the expressed prostatic secretion leucocyte count. The mean total and storage score of the International Prostate Symptoms Score, and mean total Overactive Bladder Symptoms Score were higher in group 1. Urine flow metrics showed that voided volume and maximum flow rate were lower in group 1. The scores for International Prostate Symptoms Score questions 4, 6 and 7 and Overactive Bladder Symptoms Score question 2 were higher in group 1 and showed a weak positive correlation with expressed prostatic secretion. Voided volume and maximum flow rate showed the strongest correlation, although International Prostate Symptoms Score question 7 and Overactive Bladder Symptoms Score question 2 were the only independent predictors of expressed prostatic secretion. Therefore, leucocytes in expressed prostatic secretion are associated with the lower urinary tract symptom severity, particularly nocturnal urination symptoms.

Background and objective Although several studies have reported that sexual dysfunction is associated with chronic prostatitis (CP), specific differences in self-reported questionnaires and correlation with CP are not well-known. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and correlation of sexual dysfunction in men with CP. Material and methods This cross-sectional study included 892 men who visited our health care center, who were then divided into two groups. In Group 1, subjects are characterized with National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) pain score ≥4, and Group 2 subjects are characterized with NIH-CPSI

Purpose: To investigate the association of erectile dysfunction (ED), premature ejaculation (PE), and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) in men with late-onset hypogonadism (LOH). Materials and Methods: We reviewed the data of 408 enrolled men between January 2014 and January 2019. All participants completed the Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male (ADAM), international index of erectile function-5 (IIEF-5), National Institutes of Health chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI), and premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT) questionnaires. Participants were divided by ADAM positive (ADAM+: Group 1) and ADAM negative (ADAM–: Group 2). Results: Total of 289 subjects were in Group 1 and 119 were in Group 2. The mean age was 53.8±7.8 years. The mean total testosterone was 4.8±1.2 ng/dL and showed no differences between the groups (p=0.839). In Groups 1 and 2, ED (IIEF≤21) was identified in 233 (80.6%) versus 37 (31.1%), respectively (p

Background and objectiveTo evaluate the relationship between erectile dysfunction (ED) and premature ejaculation (PE) among men aged 40–79 years and to compare age-related differences between men aged 40–59 years and 60–79 years.Materials and methodsFrom January 2014 to January 2019, records of 892 men aged 40–79 years were analyzed. We performed correlation analysis using the self-reported intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT), premature ejaculatory diagnostic tool (PEDT), Male Sexual Health Questionnaire-ejaculation (MSHQ-EjD), and International Index of Erectile Function5 (IIEF5) questionnaires.ResultsThe mean age of the 892 males was 52.8 ± 7.3 years (40–76). All subjects were divided into group 1 (40–59 years old) and group 2 (60–79 years old). The IIEF5 score of group 1 was significantly higher than that of group 2 (18.7 ± 5.5 vs. 17.7 ± 5.7, p = 0.049). Of the total subjects, 71 (8%) had IELT value of less than 1 min. A total of 51 (6.9%) and 20 (13.5%) were in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.02). The PEDT total score was higher and more subjects were identified as suffering from PE (PEDT ≥ 9) from amongst the ED subjects (IIEF-5 ≤ 21). In both groups 1 and 2, more PE subjects were identified in ED subjects (IIEF-5 ≤ 21) than normal subjects (IIEF-5 > 21) (all p < 0.01). In the total subjects, group 1 and 2, the IIEF-5 and PEDT score showed a weak negative correlation (r = −0.302, r = −0.361, r = −0.248, all p < 0.01). In group 2,the IELT and MSHQ-EjD score also showed a weak positive correlation between the IIEF-5 score (r = 0.166, p = 0.044 and r = 0.164, p = 0.047, respectively).ConclusionMore subjects defined PE value as less than 1 min on the self-reported IELT in the elderly group ≥60 years than those among the 40–59 years age group; moreover, the lower the IIEF5 total score among subjects ≥ 60 years, the higher the PEDT score and the lower the IELT and MSHQ-EjD scores.

Purpose: To determine the role of metabolic syndrome (MetS) as a risk factor for acquired premature ejaculation (PE) after considering the various risk factors, such as lower urinary tract symptoms, erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism, and prostatitis. Materials and Methods: From January 2012 to January 2017, records of 1,029 men were analyzed. We performed multivari-ate analysis to identify risk factors for PE, including the covariate of age, marital status, International Prostate Symptom Score, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score, National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) score, serum testosterone levels, and all components of MetS. Acquired PE was defined as self-reported intravaginal ejacula-tion latency time ≤3 minutes, and MetS was diagnosed using the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Results: Of 1,029 men, 74 subjects (7.2%) had acquired PE and 111 (10.8%) had MetS. Multivariate analysis showed that the IIEF overall satisfaction score (odds ratio [OR]=0.67, p

Introduction: It has been reported that many methods prevent recurrence after transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), but it has rarely been reported that overnight continuous saline irrigation is effective in preventing recurrence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of overnight continuous saline irrigation in preventing recurrence after TURBT.Methods: We retrospectively studied patients with NMIBC who underwent TURBT from January 2010 to May 2015 at our institution. Patients who underwent cystoscopy every 12 weeks during the first year after surgery were included. Patients with cancer stage ≥pT2, lymph node metastasis, or distant metastasis were excluded. The overnight continuous saline irrigation (OCSI) group and the no irrigation group were compared and analyzed.Results: A total of 332 patients were included in the study. There were no differences in the basic characteristics of the patients between the two groups. In the OCSI group, the recurrence-free survival rate was higher than that in the no irrigation group, indicating that there was a significant difference between the two groups (p=0.032).Conclusions: After TURBT surgery, OCSI may help prevent early recurrence of NMIBC.

Background Significant clinical heterogeneity within contemporary risk group is well known, particularly for those with intermediate-risk prostate cancer (IRPCa). Our study aimed to analyze the ability of the Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment (CAPRA) score to discern between favorable and non-favorable risk in patients with IRPCa. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the data of 203 IRPCa patients who underwent extraperitoneal robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) performed by a single surgeon. Pathologic favorable IRPCa was defined as a Gleason score ≤ 6 and organ-confined stage at surgical pathology. The CAPRA score was compared with two established criteria for the within-group discrimination ability. Results Overall, 38 patients (18.7% of the IRPCa cohort) had favorable pathologic features after RARP. The CAPRA score significantly correlated with established criteria I and II and was inversely associated with favorable pathology (all P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the discriminative ability between favorable and non-favorable pathology was 0.679 for the CAPRA score and 0.610 and 0.661 for established criteria I and II, respectively. During a median 37.8 (interquartile range, 24.6–60.2) months of follow-up, 66 patients (32.5%) experienced biochemical recurrence (BCR). Cox regression analysis revealed that the CAPRA score, as a continuous sum score model or 3-group risk model, was an independent predictor of BCR after RARP. Conclusion The within-group discrimination ability of preoperative CAPRA score might help in patient counseling and selecting optimal treatments for those with IRPCa., Graphical Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether contemporary active surveillance (AS) protocols could sufficiently discriminate significant from indolent tumors in men with low-risk prostate cancer. We retrospectively analyzed 312 patients with low-risk prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy. After exclusion of patients with fewer than 10 cores taken at biopsy and those who received neo-adjuvant treatment, 205 subjects satisfied the final inclusion criteria. Five widely accepted AS protocols were employed in this study. A total of 82.0% of the patients met the inclusion criteria of at least one protocol, and 18% did not meet any criteria of published AS protocols. A significant proportion of patients had non-organ-confined disease (8.6% to 10.6%) or a Gleason score of 7 or greater (18.6% to 23.9%) between the different AS criteria. Among patients who did not meet any AS criteria, 32.4% of patients had a pathologically insignificant cancer. Our results indicated a significant adverse pathology in patients who met the contemporary AS protocols. On the other hand, some patients in whom expectant management would be appropriate did not meet any criteria of published AS protocols. None of the clinical or histological criteria reported to date is able to sufficiently discriminate aggressive tumors from indolent ones. Graphical Abstract

RATIONALE The incidence of primary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is extremely rare in the urinary tract. In the present study, we investigated a case of primary LCNEC associated with the upper ureter. PATIENT CONCERN A 58-year-old Korean female patient with right ureter mass, which was accidentally detected. An enhancing mass measuring 3.3 cm in size was found in the computed tomography (CT) scan. No definitive evidence of lymph node and distant metastasis was observed. DIAGNOSIS Histopathological analysis revealed large atypical epithelial cells in upper ureter mass, based on neuroendocrine morphology. Immunohistochemistry was positive for synaptophysin, CD 56, and cytokeratin. Accordingly, the upper ureter mass was finally diagnosed as LCNEC stage III, pT3 cN0 cM0. INTERVENTION Right nephroureterectomy was conducted. OUTCOMES Multiple metastatic lesions were detected in the right adrenal, paracaval, and right pararenal space of the patient in a CT scan 3 months post-surgery. The patient chemotherapy and radiation therapy were proceeded for metastatic and recurred mass. But patient died by multiorgan failure LESSONS:: In summary, this case study demonstrated that LCNEC can develop even in the upper ureter for the first time, despite the absence of neuroendocrine cells in the normal urothelium. The occurrence of LCNEC in the ureter is still very rare but is possible. Therefore, further studies are needed to establish appropriate treatment strategies.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between body mass index (BMI) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), and prostate volume (PV). Materials and Methods: Height, weight, PSA levels, PV, and IPSS were analyzed in 15,435 patients who underwent a prostate examination between 2001 and 2014. Patients aged ＜50 years or with a PSA level ≥10 ng/mL were excluded. The relationships between BMI and PSA, IPSS, QoL, and PV were analyzed by a scatter plot, one-way analysis of variance, and the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The mean age was 71.95±7.63 years, the mean BMI was 23.59±3.08 kg/m2, the mean PSA level was 1.45±1.45 ng/mL, the mean IPSS was 15.53±8.31, the mean QoL score was 3.48±1.25, and the mean PV was 29.72±14.02 mL. PSA, IPSS, and QoL showed a tendency to decrease with increasing BMI, and there were statistically significant differences for each parameter (p≤0.001). PV showed a significant tendency to increase with BMI (p＜0.001). In the correlation analysis, BMI showed a statistically significant correlation (p＜0.001) with PSA, IPSS, and QoL, although the correlations were very weak. In contrast, BMI showed a significant correlation with PV (p＜0.001), with a meaningful Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.124. Conclusions: Higher BMI was associated with lower PSA levels and higher IPSS and QoL scores. Meanwhile, PV increased with BMI. Although obese individuals had a greater PV, obesity did not aggravate lower urinary tract symptoms.

Purpose: This study discusses the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE) using various approaches with the goal of evaluating the methods of diagnosis and treatment of PE in clinical practice in 2014 in South Korea. Materials and Methods: We surveyed 200 urologists and andrologists who treated patients with PE from July 1, 2014 to July 29, 2014 using an online questionnaire. The questionnaire was composed of 4 parts: disease, comorbidities, diagnosis, and treatment. Using the answers to this survey, current trends in the diagnosis and treatment of PE were investigated using weighted averages. Results: The median number per month of patients who were diagnosed with PE was 14 patients (interquartile range, 7∼24). The time to ejaculation necessary for a diagnosis of PE was considered to be ＜1 minute by 12% of respondents, ＜2 minutes by 27%, ＜3 minutes by 28%, ＜5 minutes by 13%, and 20% stated that diagnosis was based on a patient’s subjective complaint. The treatment methods preferred by PE patients were reported to be pharmacological treatment (87%), surgical treatment (9.5%), and behavioral management (3.5%). The treatment methods used by respondents were pharmacological treatment (77%), surgical treatment (15%), and behavioral management (14%). The most commonly used pharmacological treatment was the oral administration of dapoxetine (97%). Conclusions: In 2014 in South Korea, various methods were used to diagnose and treat PE. The most commonly used treatment for PE was the oral administration of dapoxetine. It was also found that surgical treatment was applied in some cases.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Probe based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) is a novel optical technology designed for real-time, in vivo histological assessment without taking biopsy. We evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of pCLE in prospective examination of bladder neoplastic lesions. METHODS: Patients were prospectively recruited to undergo transurethral resection of bladder (TURBT) based on abnormal cystoscopy. After white-light cystoscopy (WLC), CLE was performed to obtain diagnostic images. Confocal images were compared to histologic result using sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV). RESULTS: In total 51 patients with 104 lesions were evaluated comprising 19 benign lesions (2 papilloma, 16 inflammation, 1 low malignant potential) and 85 malignant lesions (12 low grade, 55 high grade, 18 carcinoma in situ). The pCLE was found to have a cancer detection rate of 96.47%, and a false positive rate of 8.9%. The overall sensitivity for diagnosis of high grade papillary tumor versus low grade papillary tumor was 89.09% (95% confidence interval [CI], 80.85-97.33), specificity was 75.00% (95% CI, 50.5-99.5), PPV was 94.23% (95% CI, 87.89-100.57), and the NPV was 60.00% (95% CI, 35.21-84.79). The overall sensitivity for diagnosis of CIS versus inflammation was 83.33% (95% CI, 66.12-100.55), specificity was 62.50% (95% CI, 38.78-86.22), PPV was 71.43% (95% CI, 52.11-90.75), and the NPV was 76.92% (95% CI, 54.02-99.83). CONCLUSIONS: The pCLE is promissing method for detection of malignant lesion, high grade papillary tumor and carcinoma in situ (CIS). Therefore, use of pCLE may minimize the recurrence and positive resection margins associated with conventional white-light cystoscopic biopsy, ensure complete TURBT. Source of Funding: none

Purpose: We studied the effects of alcohol administration on the corpus cavernosum (CC) using an animal model. Materials and Methods: CC sections and the aortic ring of rabbits were used in an organ bath study. After acute alcohol administration, changes in blood alcohol concentration and electrical stimulation induced intracavernosal pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICP/MAP) percentage were compared in rats. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels in the CC were measured using immunoassays. After chronic alcohol administration, ICP/MAP percentage, cAMP and cGMP were compared in rats. Histological changes were examined using the Masson trichrome stain and the Sircol collagen assay. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression was examined using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Results: Alcohol relaxed the CC in a dose-dependent manner, and the relaxation response was suppressed when pretreated with propranolol, indomethacin, glibenclamide, and 4-aminopyridine. In rats with acute alcohol exposure, the cAMP level in the CC was significantly greater than was observed in the control group (p＜0.05). In rats with chronic alcohol exposure, however, changes in cAMP and cGMP levels were insignificant, and the CC showed markedly smaller areas of smooth muscle, greater amounts of dense collagen (p＜0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis of eNOS showed a less intense response, and western blotting showed that eNOS expression was significantly lower in this group (p＜0.05). Conclusions: Acute alcohol administration activated the cAMP pathway with positive effects on erectile function. In contrast, chronic alcohol administration changed the ultrastructures of the CC and suppressed eNOS expression, thereby leading to erectile dysfunction.

There is no consensus on the optimal treatment for localized high-risk prostate cancer (PC), and much debate exists regarding the ideal treatment approach. For these reasons, we evaluated the competing risks of PC-specific mortality after initial therapy with radical prostatectomy (RP) versus radiotherapy (RT) in men with clinically localized high-risk PC. We reviewed patients treated with RP and RT combined with androgen-deprivation therapy between 1990 and 2009. High-risk PC is defined as clinical stage ≥T3a, serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) >20 ng/mL, or a biopsy Gleason sum of 8–10 according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Competing risk analysis was conducted to assess the association of RP (n = 251) or RT (n = 125) with cancer-specific mortality (CSM). Thereafter, secondary analysis with propensity score matching was conducted to further elucidate patient characteristics, with optimal matching of 0.25 times the standard deviation of propensity scores. With an overall median follow-up of 76 months, 35 (9.3 %) men with high-risk PC died due to PC (23 in the RT group and 12 in the RP group). The 5-year estimates of cancer-specific survival rate for men treated with RP and RT were 96.5 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 94.2–98.9) and 88.3 % (95 % CI 82.8–94.3), respectively. Cumulative incidence estimates for CSM were statistically increased amongst men treated with RT (p = 0.002). Propensity score matching extracted 168 men with high-risk PC from the total patient cohort. Cumulative incidence estimates for CSM were statistically different amongst men treated with RT (p

This study was designed to identify clinical predictors of favorable pathology and biochemical recurrence (BCR) in patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer (IRPCa). Between 2006 and 2012, clinicopathological and oncological data from 203 consecutive men undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for IRPCa were reviewed in a single-institutional retrospective study. Favorable pathology was defined as Gleason score ≤6 and organ-confined cancer as detected by surgical pathology. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine predictive variables of favorable pathology, and the Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression model were used to estimate BCR-free survival after RARP. Overall, 38 patients (18.7%) had favorable pathology after RARP. Lower quartile prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) was associated with favorable pathology compared to the highest quartile PSAD after adjusting for preoperative PSA, clinical stage and biopsy Gleason score (odds ratio, 5.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-28.97; P = 0.048). During a median 37.8 (interquartile range, 24.6-60.2) months of follow-up, 66 patients experienced BCR. There were significant differences with regard to BCR free survival by PSAD quartiles (log rank, P = 0.003). Using a multivariable Cox proportion hazard model, PSAD was found to be an independent predictor of BCR in patients with IRPCa after RARP (hazard ratio, 4.641; 95% confidence interval, 1.109-19.417; P = 0.036). The incorporation of the PSAD into risk assessments might provide additional prognostic information and identify some patients in whom active surveillance would be appropriate in patients with IRPCa.

Background To evaluate the efficacy of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) for predicting the degree of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients following partial nephrectomy (PN). Methods This prospective study included 176 patients who underwent open or laparoscopic PN for solid renal tumors between June 2013 and May 2014. Urine samples were collected preoperatively and at 3, 24, and 48 h after renal pedicle clamp removal. Changes in uNGAL levels were analyzed for all patients and between subgroups that were dichotomized based on preoperative eGFR values of

Despite the wide application of prostate-specific antigen-based screening leading to a profound stage migration in prostate cancer (PC), a significant percentage of men are still being diagnosed with clinically high-risk disease that requires aggressive treatment. Optimal management in these patients remains challenging, and strong advocates for radical prostatectomy (RP), radiotherapy, androgen deprivation therapy, and, increasingly, a multimodal approach abound. Currently, surgery for high-risk PC is frequently applied. RP offers an attractive opportunity for tumor excision either as a definitive management or as a first step in multimodal therapy. Nevertheless, this approach is still controversial. In this review, we discuss the current evidence for the role of RP in this clinical setting, including surgical considerations and outcomes. The role of robot-assisted RP, which is increasingly utilized in Korea in this clinical scenario, is discussed.

Purpose: To identify sexual function improvement associated with alfuzosin (10 mg daily for 2 years). Materials and Methods: We enrolled 30 men with lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS) who visited Gyeongsang National University Hospital between 2010 and 2012. At first visit, urinalysis, prostate specific antigen, transrectal ultrasound, and uroflowmetry were performed. The nternational Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), and Male Sexual Health Questionnaire Ejaculation Function Domain (MSHQ-EjFD) questionnaires were administered, and the subjects answered the same questionnaires at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years of follow-up. Results: Twelve men completed of the entire study. After administration of alfuzosin, the median IPSS at first visit, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years was 18.00 (interquatile range [IQR]: 14.00∼29.75), 20.00 (IQR: 11.50∼30.00), 15.50 (IQR: 8.50∼25.25), 14.50 (IQR: 9.25∼19.50), and 11.50 (IQR: 5.00∼17.75), respectively, which showed an improvement. The median QoL at the same times was 4.50 (IQR: 4.00∼5.00), 4.50 (IQR: 4.00∼5.00), 3.00 (IQR: 2.00∼4.00), 3.50 (IQR: 2.25∼4.00), and 3.00 (IQR: 1.00∼3.00), respectively, and also showed improvement. Likewise, the median IIEF was 36.50 (IQR: 24.50∼46.75), 37.50 (IQR: 26.75∼47.25), 45.50 (IQR: 35.00∼59.75), 48.50 (IQR: 34.75∼62.75), and 47.50 (IQR: 43.25∼61.00), while the median MSHQ-EjFD was 19.00 (IQR: 12.0∼24.75), 19.50 (IQR: 13.50∼27.75), 23.00 (IQR: 19.25∼32.25), 26.50 (IQR: 18.25∼34.50), 27.00 (IQR: 21.50∼32.50), respectively, with both showing improvement. Conclusions: After administration of alfuzosin (10 mg daily for 2 years), the IPSS, QoL, IIEF, and MSHQ-EjFD all improved significantly. This means long-term administration of 10 mg of alfuzosin daily would be effective not only for LUTS but also erectile function and ejaculation.

Purpose: Previous studies have revealed that tamsulosin is effective in improving lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and erectile functioning but has some inhibitory effects on ejaculation, including decreased ejaculatory volume. However, these inhibitory effects on ejaculation can be beneficial to patients with premature ejaculation (PE). Therefore, this study was conducted to understand the effect of tamsulosin on PE in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Materials and Methods: Twenty-nine patients who visited with LUTS were categorized into 2 groups of LUTS-only patients (n=12) and LUTS combined with PE (LUTS+PE) patients (n=17), and 0.4 mg of tamsulosin was administered to the patients of both groups for 12 weeks. Comparative analyses of before and after the treatment were conducted for calculating the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT), premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT), and premature ejaculation profile (PEP). The patients with an IPSS score of 8 or higher were determined as LUTS patients, and the patients with IELT of less than 2 minutess and a PEDT score of 9 or higher were determined as PE patients. Results: After treatment, the IPSS score significantly decreased in both groups. There was no statistically significant change in the PEDT for the LUTS group, but there was a significant decrease in PEDT (p=0.012; from 12.1±3.31 to 8.4±4.49) in the LUTS+PE group. Conclusions: Tamsulosin not only has a treatment effect for LUTS but also improves the PE of LUTS+PE patients. Therefore, further studies are needed to confirm the effects of tamsulosin on PE.