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Objectives: To assess the association between overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) and the metabolic syndrome (MetS)., Patients and Methods: A population-based study was conducted to compare OAB patients with age-, sex- and ethnicity-matched control subjects regarding the prevalence of the parameters of the MetS, with respect to obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The characteristics of the OAB population were assessed. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) were calculated by logistic regression., Results: 110 024 OAB patients and 220 455 controls. were identified. OAB was associated with a higher prevalence of MetS (35.4% vs. 27.5%, p < 0.001). The fully adjusted OR for MetS in patients with OAB compared to controls was 1.44; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.42-1.46; p < 0.001. Among metabolic parameters, obesity was found to be the strongest factor associated with OAB (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.53-1.58, p < 0.001), and higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterole levels (>50) had a protective effect on the risk of OAB (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.73-0.76, p < 0.001)., Conclusions: Data from this cohort suggest that OAB is positively associated with MetS. Clinicians approaching patients with OAB should be aware of this association. A multimodal treatment focusing on the MetS may be considered in these patients., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) contribute to erectile dysfunction (ED) and premature ejaculation (PE). However, only a few studies have been conducted with representative groups of men that had well-balanced demographic characteristics. Thus, we aimed to confirm the effect of LUTS on ED and PE and to analyze the association between LUTS and men's sexual activity in a large representative cohort. In addition, we evaluated the sex-specific and overall quality of life of men who had LUTS with either ED or PE., Methods: We used the latest census and estimated the sample size to build a group of men representative of the population. LUTS, ED, and PE were evaluated with reliable instruments. Regression models were used to analyze the data., Results: All included men were representative in relation to their age and residential location ( n = 3001). ED and PE were more common in men who reported LUTS compared with men who did not have LUTS ( p < 0.001). Age, comorbidity, and lifestyle did not affect the negative effect of LUTS on ED or PE (regression coefficients of 0.159 and 0.528 for ED and PE, respectively, p < 0.001). However, regression models did not validate the impact of LUTS on sexual activity, defined by intercourse frequency and number of sexual partners (odds ratio of 0.981, CI 0.961-1.001, p = 0.061). Nevertheless, men with LUTS and either ED or PE had worse quality of sexual life and general quality of life compared with the remaining respondents., Conclusion: LUTS worsened ED and PE but had no impact on men's sexual activity. Our findings confirm the recommendations to assess for LUTS in men reporting ED or PE., Clinical Trial Registration: The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05462171).

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is characterized by bladder and/or pelvic pain, increased urinary urgency and frequency and nocturia. The pathophysiology of IC/BPS is poorly understood, and theories include chronic inflammation, autoimmune dysregulation, bacterial cystitis, urothelial dysfunction, deficiency of the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) barrier and urine cytotoxicity. Multiple treatment options exist, including behavioural interventions, oral medications, intravesical instillations and procedures such as hydrodistension; however, many clinical trials fail, and patients experience an unsatisfactory treatment response, likely owing to IC/BPS phenotype heterogeneity and the use of non-targeted interventions. Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of IC/BPS as reactive oxygen species impair bladder function via their involvement in multiple molecular mechanisms. Kinase signalling pathways, nociceptive receptors, mast-cell activation, urothelial dysregulation and circadian rhythm disturbance have all been linked to reactive oxygen species and IC/BPS. However, further research is necessary to fully uncover the role of oxidative stress in the pathways driving IC/BPS pathogenesis. The development of new models in which these pathways can be manipulated will aid this research and enable further investigation of promising therapeutic targets., (© 2024. Springer Nature Limited.)

Objective: To compare procedure burden, oncologic, surgical and renal-function outcomes between patients with low-grade upper urothelial cancer (UTUC) who were referred for either radical management (RM) or kidney-sparing endoscopic management (EM)., Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data of all patients treated for UTUC at our tertiary medical center between 2000 and 2018 and selected patients diagnosed with unilateral low-grade UTUC., Results: Twenty-four patients were treated with EM and 37 with RM. Surgical and oncologic risk factors were similar between the arms except for tumor size. Mean follow-up was 4.9 ± 3.4 years. The 5-year overall-survival rate was 85% with EM and 84% with RM (P = .707). Metastasis-free and cancer-specific survival were also similar (P = .994, P = .960). End-of-follow-up average glomerular filtration rates were 58.7 ± 21.5 and 49.2 ± 22.1 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , respectively (P = .12). Ninety-two percent of patients managed endoscopically had local recurrences, with an average of 3.2 recurrences per patient. Four (17%) patients underwent salvage radical nephroureterectomy. Procedure burden was higher with EM, having 6.5 ± 4.4 operations and 344 ± 272 minutes under anesthesia compared with 1.9 ± 0.4 operations (P <.0001) and 213 ± 84 minutes under anesthesia (P = .031) with RM. Cost-of-care analysis revealed higher costs for EM in both private and publicly funded medical insurance plans., Conclusion: Patients undergoing endoscopic management had an 83% chance of preserving their kidney and an 81% chance of 5-year metastasis-free survival at a cost of 6.5 ± 4.4 operations during a mean follow-up of 4.9 ± 3.4 years. Our findings support EM for low-grade UTUC as a valid option from oncological aspects but highlight the associated costs., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Recent studies demonstrated reduced cardiovascular (CV) risk with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist, yet the underlying mechanism remains undetermined. The objective of this study was to examine longitudinal changes over time in established CV related proteins among men treated with GnRH agonists vs GnRH antagonist., Materials and Methods: We performed a proteomics analysis of serum samples collected during a phase II randomized study among 80 men with advanced prostate cancer and preexisting CV disease who were randomized to receive a GnRH agonist (39) or GnRH antagonist (41) for 1 year. Serum samples were collected at baseline and at 3, 6 and 12 months following treatment, and analyzed levels of 188 proteins using the CV panel II and III of the Olink Multiplex platform (Olink Proteomics AB, Uppsala, Sweden). We fitted a linear mixed effects model to assess evidence of a treatment effect across CV related protein values. This included terms for treatment arm, protein levels and time-by-treatment interaction. Results were corrected for multiple testing using the Benjamini-Hochberg method., Results: The CV proteomics analysis included 283 samples from 78 subjects. We identified 5 proteins with distinct patterns over time depending on study arm: human chitotriosidase, macrophage receptor with collagenous structure, cathepsin D, superoxide dismutase 2 and hydroxyacid oxidase 1. All 5 are associated with plaque stability and demonstrated an increased level among subjects in the GnRH antagonist arm compared to agonist., Conclusions: We compared longitudinal changes in CV proteins among men using androgen deprivation therapy. Our results support a direct protective effect of GnRH antagonist on plaque stability rather than a hazardous consequence of GnRH agonists on plaque rupture. This is a hypothesis generating study, and requires further confirmation.

Introduction: Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic, debilitating syndrome involving bladder pain and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), with a substantial effect on patients' quality of life. IC/BPS poses a diagnostic challenge, and its available treatment options remain only moderately effective. Bladder-wall biopsies from IC/BPS patients commonly uncover mastocytosis. While mast-cells are suspected as pivotal in disease pathogenesis, the clinical significance of their presence remains unclear. Clinical guidelines differ on whether or not bladder biopsies should be a part of routine IC/BPS workup., Aims: To determine whether detrusor mastocytosis can serve as a prognostic marker for treatment response and improvement duration., Methods: We retrospectively collected patient data for IC/BPS patients who underwent bladder hydrodistension under anesthesia. We used statistical modelling to determine the effect of mastocystosis and other possible predictive factors - age, comorbidity, Hunner lesions - on the presence and duration of symptom improvement., Results: A total of 35 patients (89% female, median age 63.5 [IQR 48.8-73.6] years) underwent hydrodistension, of whom 28 (89% female, median age 63.0 [44.8-73.1] years) had bladder biopsies; 11 (39%) of them had mastocystosis. Within a median follow-up of 8.8 [1.7-24.2] months, 11 (100%) of the patients with mastocytosis and 9 (53%) of the patients without it, experienced symptomatic improvement (p=0.007). Improvement duration was 8 months longer (p=0.006) in those with mastocystosis. Univariate logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR). Mastocytosis (p=0.004) and Charlson Comorbidity score were the only variables with a statistically significant OR. Univariate survival models were fitted, and improvement duration was estimated to be longer in patients with mastocystosis (p=0.01). A multivariate Cox regression model found no variable to be statistically significant, though mastocystosis was borderline significant (p=0.055)., Conclusions: Mastocystosis defines a discernible phenotype of IC/BPS, which exhibits higher rates and longer duration of hydrodistention treatment response., Discussion: Notwithstanding limitations of sample size and retrospective study design, we were able to demonstrate that mastocystosis can serve as a prognostic factor for symptom improvement after hydrodistension in IC/BPS patients. Prospective studies are required to validate this finding and to investigate the mechanisms involved.

In the prostate, water diffusion is faster when moving parallel to duct and gland walls than when moving perpendicular to them, but these data are not currently utilized in multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) for prostate cancer (PCa) detection. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can quantify the directional diffusion of water in tissue and is applied in brain and breast imaging. Our aim was to determine whether DTI may improve PCa detection. We scanned patients undergoing mpMRI for suspected PCa with a DTI sequence. We calculated diffusion metrics from DTI and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) for suspected lesions and normal-appearing prostate tissue, using specialized software for DTI analysis, and compared predictive values for PCa in targeted biopsies, performed when clinically indicated. DTI scans were performed on 78 patients, 42 underwent biopsy and 16 were diagnosed with PCa. The median age was 62 (IQR 54.4-68.4), and PSA 4.8 (IQR 1.3-10.7) ng/mL. DTI metrics distinguished PCa lesions from normal tissue. The prime diffusion coefficient (λ 1 ) was lower in both peripheral-zone ( p < 0.0001) and central-gland ( p < 0.0001) cancers, compared to normal tissue. DTI had higher negative and positive predictive values than mpMRI to predict PCa (positive predictive value (PPV) 77.8% (58.6-97.0%), negative predictive value (NPV) 91.7% (80.6-100%) vs. PPV 46.7% (28.8-64.5%), NPV 83.3% (62.3-100%)). We conclude from this pilot study that DTI combined with T2-weighted imaging may have the potential to improve PCa detection without requiring contrast injection.

Aims: To assess the prevalence of catheter-associated meatal pressure injury in acute hospitalized males, to determine risk factors for its formation and to propose a grading system for meatal pressure injury severity., Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we screened all adult males concurrently hospitalized at a tertiary medical center for indwelling urethral catheters and for meatal pressure injury. We proposed a system to grade meatal pressure injury severity and used logistic-regression modeling to calculate odds ratios (ORs) of possible risk factors., Results: A number of 168/751 (22.4%) hospitalized males with indwelling urethral catheters were included. Median age was 70.5 (inter-quartile range [IQR]: 57.0-80.3) years, median time from catheterization 5.5 (IQR: 2-11) days. A total of 61 (36%) had meatal pressure injury, as early as the first day after catheterization. Grade III injuries (<2 cm ulcer) developed in 22 (13%) patients, earliest noted on the second catheter day, and grade IV injuries (≥2 cm) in 7 (4%) patients, as early as 5 days post catheterization. In a multivariable analysis, catheter fixation (OR: 0.26 [95% CI: 0.10-0.70]; P = .008) was associated with reduced risk of meatal pressure injury, while catheter presence over 14 days (OR: 1.46 [95% CI: 1.01-1.08]; P = .005) and other skin ulcers (OR: 2.45 [95% CI: 1.05-5.71]; P = .038) were associated with a higher risk of meatal pressure injury., Conclusions: Meatal pressure injury is a common complication of indwelling catheters in hospitalized males, beginning days after catheterization. Meatal pressure injury was associated with prolonged catheter presence, other pressure injuries, and lack of catheter fixation. Prospective studies are needed to establish evidence-based guidelines., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Purpose: To compare surgical site infections (SSI) rate after radical cystectomy (RC) over time and ascertain whether antibiotic prophylaxis should be enhanced., Methods: All medical records of RC patients in a single tertiary uro-oncology center between 2007 and 2017 were analyzed. SSI was defined using the criteria of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All bacterial culture results and antimicrobial resistance rates were recorded. Lastly, multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to ascertain SSI predictors., Results: RC was performed in 405 patients, of which 96 (23.7%) developed SSI. No differences were demonstrated in the mean age, gender, NIDDM prevalence, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, positive preoperative urine culture, bowel preparation, and surgery time between both groups. However, statistically significant higher median BMI, age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity score, usage of ceftriaxone preoperatively, and intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalization were noted in SSI patients. Overall, 62/96 (63.5%) SSI patients had a positive wound culture, with only 16.7% of the pathogens being sensitive to their perioperative antibiotics. Lastly, on multivariable analysis rising BMI, preoperative ceftriaxone and ICU hospitalization were associated with a higher SSI rate., Conclusions: Preoperative BMI reduction, and maximal preoperative medical optimization in an attempt to lower ICU admittance rates, should be part of the ideal strategy for lowering SSI rates. Additionally, preoperative antibiotics should be enhanced to harbor-wide spectrum coverage, based on local resistance rates.

Objective: To present a reliable technique for fluoroscopic controlled, large-bore, ureteral stent placement and exchange in transplant kidneys with persistent ureterovesical strictures., Materials and Methods: We reviewed the medical charts of all patients who underwent kidney transplant with persistent ureterovesical strictures who underwent ureteral stent placement or exchange at our institution between 2005 and 2015 using the new technique. Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of the study cohort were analyzed., Results: Ureteral stent insertion or stent exchange, using this technique, was performed in 32 renal transplant units. Median operating time was 24 minutes (interquartile range, 21-36.75 minutes). The overall success rate of the technique at first attempt was 96.9%. In 1 patient, drainage of the transplanted kidney with a nephrostomy tube was indicated after procedure failure. No other local or systemic complications were encountered, and no stent encrustation was noted in this cohort of patients. Renal function remained stable in all patients during a median follow-up of 59 months (interquartile range, 28-61 months)., Conclusion: Herein, we present in detail a step-by-step technique for the insertion and exchange of large-bore ureteral stents in transplanted kidneys. The technique was shown to be safe, effective, and highly successful., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)