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Background: Urolithiasis is a common condition in daily urological practice. Medical Expulsive Therapy (MET) is non-invasive approach for removal of ureteric stone. In MET, alpha-blocker Tamsulosin is commonly used in treating urolithiasis but it does not address the pathology of inflammation presents in such condition. With addition of low dose Deflazacort as antiinflammatory agent, there may have a potential to improve the pathology and outcome of the treatment. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to find the efficacy of low-dose deflazacort combined with tamsulosin in the MET for distal ureterolithiasis. Materials and Methods: This prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted from December 2022 to December 2023 in Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital. A total of 130 patients with ureteric stone ≤10 mm were randomized into two groups. Tamsulosin group received tamsulosin (0.4 mg once daily for 28 days). Deflazacort group received tamsulosin (0.4 mg once daily for 28 days) with deflazacort (12 mg once daily for 10 days). All subjects were reviewed on 14 days and 28 days. Stone expulsion rate, time to stone expulsion, analgesic use, number of colic episodes, and hospitalization were recorded. Adverse effects of drugs were noted. Results: Among 130 patients randomized, 4 patients were lost to follow-up and 8 patients required early intervention. Deflazacort group had similar rate of stone expulsion (88% vs. 80%, P=0.548). There were significantly shorter expulsion time (10.15 days vs. 14.28 days, P<0.001) and less number of colic episodes (33 episodes vs. 21 episodes, P=0.026) and less analgesic requirements (65% vs. 82.5%, P=0.022) in deflazacort group. No significant side effects were noted during the study. Conclusion: Low-dose deflazacort added to tamsulosin provides a significant advantage in ureteric stone expulsion without any extra side effects. With a comparable rate of stone passage, there are more rapid stone expulsion, low analgesic requirement, and less colic episodes when low-dose deflazacort is added to tamsulosin for ureteric stone ≤10 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Urolithiasis is a common condition in daily urological practice. Medical Expulsive Therapy (MET) is non-invasive approach for removal of ureteric stone. In MET, alpha-blocker Tamsulosin is commonly used in treating urolithiasis but it does not address the pathology of inflammation presents in such condition. With addition of low dose Deflazacort as anti-inflammatory agent, there may have a potential to improve the pathology and outcome of the treatment. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to find the efficacy of low-dose deflazacort combined with tamsulosin in the MET for distal ureterolithiasis. Materials and Methods: This prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted from December 2022 to December 2023 in Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital. A total of 130 patients with ureteric stone ≤10 mm were randomized into two groups. Tamsulosin group received tamsulosin (0.4 mg once daily for 28 days). Deflazacort group received tamsulosin (0.4 mg once daily for 28 days) with deflazacort (12 mg once daily for 10 days). All subjects were reviewed on 14 days and 28 days. Stone expulsion rate, time to stone expulsion, analgesic use, number of colic episodes, and hospitalization were recorded. Adverse effects of drugs were noted. Results: Among 130 patients randomized, 4 patients were lost to follow-up and 8 patients required early intervention. Deflazacort group had similar rate of stone expulsion (88% vs. 80%, P=0.548). There were significantly shorter expulsion time (10.15 days vs. 14.28 days, P

Introduction In this study we aimed to compare the efficacy of mirabegron and silodosin as medical expulsive therapy (MET) for distal ureteric calculus ≤10 mm. Material and methods A total of 114 patients who met the inclusion criteria were prospectively randomised into 2 groups, 58 patients in the silodosin group and 56 patients in the mirabegron group. The drugs were given for a maximum of 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was the stone expulsion rate, and secondary endpoints were stone expulsion time and number of pain episodes. Results There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of mean age, gender, mean stone size, side, or hydronephrosis. Both groups exhibited similar rates of stone expulsion and expulsion time. Regarding pain management, the frequency of renal colic episodes was significantly lower with mirabegron compared to silodosin (2.3 ±0.2 vs 1.9 ±0.2, P <0.0001). Six patients were excluded from the study due to adverse drug reactions: 4 (6.15%) in the silodosin group (retrograde ejaculation, hypotension) and 2 (3.27%) in the mirabegron group (hypertension). Conclusions In among patients with distal ureteric stones measuring 5–10 mm, mirabegron did not demonstrate superiority in stone expulsion rate or expulsion time compared to silodosin. However, mirabegron significantly reduced the frequency of renal colic episodes. Therefore, mirabegron may be considered a preferable option for medical expulsive therapy for distal ureter stones over silodosin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Though controversial, alpha blockers are used widely for ureteral stone passage. However, its effects on the patient-reported Quality of life (QOL) is unknown. We compared the QoL of patients on alpha-blocker medical expulsive therapy (MET) to patients not on MET (noMET) utilizing the validated Wisconsin Stone Quality of Life (WISQOL). Methods: This prospective study included patients prescribed either MET or noMET after presentation with symptomatic, obstructing ureteral stones. The treatment arm was decided at the point of care by the initial treating physician and included analgesia and antiemetics. Tamsulosin (0.4 mg daily) was prescribed for the MET group. The WISQOL survey was administered at baseline, 7-, 14-, 21- and 28-days following discharge from the ED or until stone expulsion. Results: 197 patients were enrolled, of which 116 (59.2%) completed questionnaires for analysis, 91 in the MET group and 25 in noMET. Average ureteral stone size was 4.7 mm (SD 1.8) and 3.1 mm (SD 1.0) for MET and noMET, respectively. Of completed surveys, 105 (90%) were completed at day 7, 67 (57.6%) at day 14, 53 (45.7%) at day 21, and 40 (34.5%) at day 28. MET was associated with improved QoL scores across all WISQOL domains compared to noMET. Stone size, age, race, sex, comorbidity score and a prior stone history were not associated with reduced QoL. Conclusions: The use of MET was associated with improved QOL on all WISQOL metrics compared to noMET patients. Improved stone QOL may be an indication of alpha-blocker therapy in patients with ureteral stone colic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The existence of β3 receptors in the bladder and ureter was documented in many studies on animals and humans, it was documented that relaxation of the lower ureteral segment is achieved by the stimulation of these receptors. Our aim was to assess the efficacy and safety of mirabegron as a medical expulsive therapy (MET) for distal ureteral stones in comparison with silodosin and placebo. Methods: One hundred eighty patients with distal ureteral stone of 5–10 mm size were included in our study. They were divided into three groups, and each one consisted of 60 patients. Group I was given silodosin 8 mg, group II mirabegron 50 mg and group III placebo once daily. The treatment was prescribed for all the cases till stone expulsion or a maximum duration of 4 weeks. Primary outcome was the stone expulsion rate (SER). While secondary outcomes were stone expulsion time, side effects of the used drugs, hospital visits number for pain, and amount of analgesic taken. Results: We found that the SER was significantly higher in silodosin than mirabegron and placebo groups (61%, 38.6%, and 36.7%, respectively) (p = 0.013). Also, the stone expulsion interval was significantly shorter in silodosin than mirabegron and control groups (p < 0.001). While hospital visits number for pain, and amount of analgesic taken were comparable. There was no difference between the studied medications in terms of the adverse effects except for retrograde ejaculation (silodosin = 63.3%, mirabegron = 0%, and placebo = 0%; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Mirabegron has no medical expulsive effect. While silodosin improves SER and stone expulsion time. However, retrograde ejaculation was its main side effect and occurred in 63.3% of the male patients. Therefore, more research is needed to discover a more tolerable MET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present paper takes a different and more critical look at the role of alpha-blockers, sometimes nicknamed as “magical pills”, in particular for stone disease and medical expulsive therapy (MET). Methods: A non-systematic narrative review was performed, synthesizing pertinent information from selected articles, and critically evaluating their conclusions. Sometimes different views on alpha-blockers were laid bare, including curiosities or other entertaining nuances suitable to the present topic, but always maintaining sharp objectivity and the foremost scientific rigor. Results and Conclusions: Alpha-blockers seem to be a panacea, being used to treat a wide variety of non-urological diseases and conditions. Urological applications include erectile dysfunction to benign prostatic hyperplasia, from incontinence to urinary retention, or even to facilitate urinary stone passage along the urinary tract. Due to its versatility, alpha-blockers appear to be the Swiss army knife of urological medications. However, the efficacy of alpha-blockers for MET, pain management, or facilitating upper tract access is very disappointing, bringing no, or in some instances, only marginal benefits. Their treatment results are far from being significant or impressive let alone magical. Regular sexual intercourse is an effective alternative to alpha-blockers, providing faster ureteral stone expulsion rates and reducing the need for pain medication. Most of the research supporting alpha-blockers has been based on single-center, underpowered, low-quality studies. These low-quality studies biased several subsequent meta-analyses, contaminating them with their low-quality data, enhancing and prolonging this delusion. These results emphasize the need for large, multi-centric, unbiased, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials to prevent future year-long delusions that may afflict any medical field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ureteral stone passage by using medical expulsive therapy (MET) are affected by numerous radiological and clinical parameters. We aimed to construct a scoring system, which would be based on clinical and computed tomography (CT)-derived data, to predict the success of the MET approach. 186 patients presenting to urology clinic or emergency department with unilateral single 4–10 mm distal ureteral stone and who had MET were included. All patients were divided into two groups as the MET-successful group and the MET-unsuccessful group. The success rate of MET was 67.2%. Stone size ≥ 6.5 mm, stone density > 1078 HU, ureteral wall thickness (UWT) > 2.31 mm, ureteral diameter (UD) > 9.24 mm, presence of periureteral stranding (PUS) and presence of diabetes mellitus (DM) were stated as the independent risk factors. Based on the regression coefficients on multivariate logistic regression analysis, 1 point for stone size > 6.5 mm, 2 points for stone density > 1078 HU, 2 points for UWT > 2.31 mm, 3 points for UD > 9.24 mm, 1 point for presence of PUS and 1 point for presence of DM were assigned to patients for each risk factor. Higher medical expulsive therapy stone score (METSS) indicated lower MET success. All patients were classified into three risk groups according to METSS: low risk (0–3 points; success percentage: 92.8%); intermediate risk (4–5 points; success percentage: 60.4%) and high risk (6–10 points; success percentage: 8.3%). The METSS seems to separate successfully the patients with a favorable or adverse constellation of factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment with alpha-blockers has been used in many studies to facilitate stone clearance after extra-corporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), based on mediating ureteral wall relaxation. Ureteral wall edema is another barrier against the stone passage. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of boron supplement (due to its anti-inflammatory effect) and tamsulosin in the passage of stone fragments after ESWL. Eligible patients after ESWL were randomly assigned to two groups and were treated with boron supplement (10 mg/BD) or tamsulosin (0.4 mg per night) for 2 weeks. The primary outcome was the stone expulsion rate according to the remained fragmented stone burden. The secondary outcomes were the time of stone clearance, pain intensity, drug side effects, and the need for auxiliary procedures. In this randomized control trial, 200 eligible patients were treated with boron supplement or tamsulosin. Finally, 89 and 81 patients in the two groups completed the study, respectively. The expulsion rate was 46.6% in the boron and 38.7% in the tamsulosin group, which there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.003), as well as the time of stone clearance (7.47 ± 22.4 vs 6.52 ± 18.45, days, p = 0.648, respectively), after 2-week follow-up. Moreover, pain intensity was the same in both groups. No Significant side effects were reported in the two groups. Boron supplement could be effective as adjuvant medical expulsive therapy after ESWL with no significant side effects in short-term follow-up. Iranian Clinical Trial Registration number and date of registration: IRCT20191026045244N3, 07/29/2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveTo systematically review and quantitively evaluate the efficacy and safety of mirabegron as a medical expulsive therapy for ureteral stones.MethodsWe performed an extensive search of the EMBASE and PubMed databases for studies examining the use of mirabegron as a medical expulsive therapy for ureteral stones. The primary outcome measure assessed was the stone expulsion rate (SER), while the secondary outcomes evaluated were the stone expulsion interval (SEI) and the occurrence of pain episodes during follow-up. Risk ratios (RRs) and mean differences (MDs) with their respective 95% CIs were calculated.ResultsWe included a total of seven studies involving 728 participants. Our analysis revealed a significant increase in the stone expulsion rate (SER) with mirabegron (RR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.17–1.67; p

Abstract Background Limited information is available regarding the outcome of medical management (MM) of benign ureteral obstruction in cats (BUO). Hypothesis Describe clinical characteristics and outcome of MM of BUO. Animals Seventy‐two client‐owned cats with 103 obstructed kidneys. Methods Medical records of cats diagnosed with BUO between 2010 and 2021 that received >72 hours of MM were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical data, treatment, and outcome were reviewed. Outcome was classified as success, partial success, or failure based on ultrasound findings. Factors associated with outcome were assessed. Results Seventy‐two cats with 103 obstructed kidneys were enrolled. The causes of obstruction were uroliths in 73% (75/103), strictures in 13.5% (14/103), and pyonephrosis in 13.5% (14/103) of affected kidneys. Median serum creatinine concentration at presentation was 4.01 mg/dL (range, 1.30‐21.3 mg/dL). Outcome after MM was considered a success in 30% (31/103), partial success in 13% (13/103), and failure in 57% (59/103) of kidneys. Success was reported in 23% (17/75) of kidneys with uroliths, 50% (7/14) with pyonephrosis, and 50% (7/14) with strictures. Median time to a successful outcome was 16 days (range, 3‐115 days). Distal and smaller uroliths (median length, 1.85 mm) were significantly associated with success (P = .05 and P = .01, respectively). Median survival times were 1188 days (range, 60‐1700 days), 518 days (range, 7‐1812 days), and 234 days (range, 4‐3494 days) for success, partial success, and failure, respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Importance We found a higher success rate for MM of BUO than previously reported. Smaller distal uroliths (

Background: Medical expulsive therapy demonstrates efficacy in managing ureteral stones in patients amenable to conservative interventions. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effectiveness of mirabegron in the treatment of ureteral stones.Methods: From conception to November 2023, we examined PubMed databases, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Ovid, Scopus, and trial registries for this systematic review and meta-analysis. We chose relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of mirabegron as an expulsive treatment for ureteral stones. The Cochrane risk of bias method was used to assess the quality of the evidence. Outcome measures, which included the stone expulsion rate (SER), expulsion time, and pain episodes, were analyzed using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 17.Results: Seven RCTs (N = 701) had enough information and were ultimately included. In patients with ureteral stones, mirabegron-treated patients had a substantially higher SER [odds ratio (OR) = 2.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.41–4.68, p = 0.002] than placebo-treated patients. Subgroup analysis revealed that mirabegron was superior to placebo in patients with small ureteral stones (OR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.05–4.87, p = 0.04), with no heterogeneity between studies (p = 0.54; I2 = 0%). Mirabegron patients had a higher SER than the control group for distal ureteral stones (DUSs) (OR = 2.48, 95% CI = 1.31–4.68, p = 0.005). However, there was no difference in stone ejection time or pain episodes between groups.Conclusion: Mirabegron considerably improves SER in patients with ureteral stones, and the effect appears to be more pronounced for small and DUSs. Nevertheless, mirabegron treatment was not associated with improved stone expulsion time or pain management.

Background: Limited information is available regarding the outcome of medical management (MM) of benign ureteral obstruction in cats (BUO). Hypothesis: Describe clinical characteristics and outcome of MM of BUO. Animals: Seventy‐two client‐owned cats with 103 obstructed kidneys. Methods: Medical records of cats diagnosed with BUO between 2010 and 2021 that received >72 hours of MM were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical data, treatment, and outcome were reviewed. Outcome was classified as success, partial success, or failure based on ultrasound findings. Factors associated with outcome were assessed. Results: Seventy‐two cats with 103 obstructed kidneys were enrolled. The causes of obstruction were uroliths in 73% (75/103), strictures in 13.5% (14/103), and pyonephrosis in 13.5% (14/103) of affected kidneys. Median serum creatinine concentration at presentation was 4.01 mg/dL (range, 1.30‐21.3 mg/dL). Outcome after MM was considered a success in 30% (31/103), partial success in 13% (13/103), and failure in 57% (59/103) of kidneys. Success was reported in 23% (17/75) of kidneys with uroliths, 50% (7/14) with pyonephrosis, and 50% (7/14) with strictures. Median time to a successful outcome was 16 days (range, 3‐115 days). Distal and smaller uroliths (median length, 1.85 mm) were significantly associated with success (P =.05 and P =.01, respectively). Median survival times were 1188 days (range, 60‐1700 days), 518 days (range, 7‐1812 days), and 234 days (range, 4‐3494 days) for success, partial success, and failure, respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: We found a higher success rate for MM of BUO than previously reported. Smaller distal uroliths (<1‐2 mm) were more likely to pass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine stone‐free rate following shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) with/without alpha‐blockers as well as complication rates (individual and classified using the Clavien–Dindo system). Materials and Methods: We performed a systematic review of all randomized controlled trials that included more than 20 patients (age > 18 years) and examined the use of alpha‐blockers after SWL. Meta‐analysis was performed using 'metafor' in R. We report risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). The PROSPERO ID for the trial was: CRD42021248108. Results: We assessed 158 full‐text articles and included a total of 21 studies in our review. There were 1445 patients receiving alpha‐blockers and 1478 control patients. Those receiving alpha‐blockers were significantly more likely to be stone‐free (RR 1.12, 95% CI 1.07–1.16; P < 0.001). This effect was robust to 'trim‐and‐fill' adjustment. In those taking alpha‐blockers there was a significant reduction in Clavien III–V complications and, on trim‐and‐fill adjustment, a significant reduction in Clavien I–II complications. There were also significant reduction in rates of steinstrasse, pain and requirement for auxiliary procedures. There was no significant difference in retreatment rates. These effects were robust to trim‐and‐fill adjustment. Conclusions: There is a modest increase in stone‐free rates in those receiving alpha‐blockers following SWL, with a reciprocal modest risk reduction for steinstrasse, pain and auxiliary procedures. However, alpha‐blockers do not reduce the risk of requiring retreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of medical expulsive therapy (MET) for ureteral stones in pediatric patients, Cochrane, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the reference list of retrieved studies were searched up to September 2022 to identify RCTs on the efficacy of MET. The protocol was prospectively registered at PROSPERO (CRD42022339093). Articles were reviewed, data were extracted by two reviewers, and the differences were resolved by the third reviewer. The risk of bias was assessed using the RoB2. The outcomes, including the stone expulsion rate (SER), stone expulsion time (SET), episode of pain, analgesic consumption, and adverse effects, were evaluated. Six RCTs enrolling 415 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The duration of MET ranged from 19 to 28 days. The investigated medications included tamsulosin, silodosin, and doxazosin. The stone-free rate after 4 weeks in the MET group was 1.42 times that of the control group (RR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.26–1.61, p < 0.001). The stone expulsion time also decreased by an average of 5.18 days (95% CI: −8.46/−1.89, p = 0.002). Adverse effects were more commonly observed in the MET group (RR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.28–3.69, p = 0.004). The subgroup analysis evaluating the influence of the type of medication, the stone size, and the age of patients failed to reveal any impact of the aforementioned factors on the stone expulsion rate or stone expulsion time. Alpha-blockers as medical expulsive therapy among pediatric patients are efficient and safe. They increase the stone expulsion rate and decrease the stone expulsion time; however, this included a higher rate of adverse effects, which include headache, dizziness, or nasal congestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for ureteral stones predominantly assess the pain. Despite the lack of evidence, multiple trials studying the efficacy of medical expulsive therapy (MET) have used PROs to define spontaneous stone passage (SSP). We aim to objectively evaluate the accuracy of PROs to predict successful SSP and the probability of patient’s symptom resolution after stone passage. A single-center, prospective observational study recruiting adults with isolated, uncomplicated, ≤ 10 mm ureteral calculus was conducted. All patients received 4 weeks of MET, and SSP was confirmed by low-dose non-contrast-enhanced computed tomography (NCCT). The accuracy of PROs: “pain cessation,” “decreased pain,” “stone seen,” and “stone capture” to predict successful SSP were evaluated in 1 month. The patient’s symptom resolution rate was assessed at 1 and 4-month follow-ups. A total of 171 patients were included, and the overall SSP rate was 66.4% (n = 99). Patient-reported pain cessation, stone visualization, and stone capture were associated with successful SSP, but their accuracy was 59, 53, and 43%, respectively. Moreover, 25% of patients reporting complete pain cessation still harbored ureteral calculus. Pain resolved in 91% of patients after SSP at a 4-month follow-up. While hematuria and nausea resolved in all patients, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) were not resolved in 17% of patients. We concluded that patient-reported pain cessation, stone visualization, and stone capture predict successful SSP, but confirmatory imaging is required due to the poor accuracy of these measures. The significant rates of non-pain-related symptoms indicate their significant contribution to patient morbidity. Clinical Trial Registration: Registered in Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI), Registration number: CTRI/2020/10/028777 (29th October 2020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: To compare the efficacy of Tamsulosin, Silodosin and Tadalafil as a medical expulsive therapy for treatment of distal ureteral calculi. Patients and methods: Over a period of 6 months (January 2022 to June 2022) this prospective randomized study was conducted on 170 patients with distal ureteric stone = 10 mm. Patients were randomly divided into three groups. Patients in group A received Tamsulosin 0.4mg, in group B received Silodosin, and in group C receive Tadalafil 5 mg. Therapy was given for a maximum of 4 weeks. The rate and time of stone expulsion, the analgesic use, attacks of colic and hospital visits for pain, and adverse effects of drugs were recorded. Results: Among 170 patients who were enrolled in study, 20 were lost to follow-up (7, 8, 5 in group A, B, And C respectively). There was a significant higher stone passage rate in group C than group A and B (90% vs. 70% and 76% respectively; p-value = 0.043) and shorter expulsion time in group C (8.7 ± 3.3 days) vs. group A (12.5 ± 5.2 days) and group B (11.3 ± 4.2 days) with (p-value = 0.001)(highly statistically significant with p-value < 0.001) and increased amount of analgesics required in group A (225 ± 115.7 mg) and group B (163 ± 77.5 mg) when compared with group C (120 ± 55.3 mg). Conclusion: Tadalafil is more effective than Tamsulosin and Silodosin in treatment of patients with distal ureteric stones = 10 mm as regard stone expulsion rate, expulsion time with decreased number of colicky episodes and side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Today, medical expulsive therapy (MET) is more effective and commonly used in distal ureteral stones when compared with conservative treatments. Many treatments, namely, alpha-adrenergic blockers and calcium channel blockers, prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, glyceryl trinitrate, and steroids, have been, therefore, utilized to mitigate such complications and accelerate stone expulsion. Several animal and human studies revealed the presence of β3-receptors in the ureter and bladder, where stimulating these receptors could relax the distal ureteral segment. Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of use of mirabegron as MET for distal ureteral stones (intramural and extramural). Methods: This is a prospective randomized controlled study including 90 patients who had distal ureteral stones less than 10 mm and were evaluated between January and June 2020. The patients were classified into 3 groups: group (A) 30 patients: mirabegron 50 mg d−1 + diclofenac Na 100 mg tab (to be taken only during colic episodes), group (B) 30 patients: tamsulosin HCL 0.4 mg cap + diclofenac Na 100 mg tab (to be taken only during colic episodes), and group (C) 30 patients: diclofenac Na 100 mg tab only (to be taken only during colic episodes). Age, sex, stone size, laterality, and grade of ureterohydronephrosis were recorded. Patients were observed for 30 days, and ureteroscopy was completed for those with nonexpulsed stones. Follow-up parameters included number of renal colic episodes, duration of medical therapy, stone expulsion time, and stone expulsion rate (SER). Results: In the group (A), 2 (6.6%) patients were excluded due to nasal congestion, and 1 (3.3%) patient was excluded due to a 20-mm Hg systolic blood pressure increase. Four (13.3%) patients in group (B) were noncompliant on medical treatment. In addition, 2 (6.6%) patients in group (A), 1 (3.3%) patient in group (B), and 5 (16.6%) patients in group (C) who did not attend follow-up examinations were excluded from the study. The SER increased significantly in group (A) and (B) when compared with group (C). The mean time of stone expulsion was about 15, 25, and 12 days for groups A, B, and C, respectively, and there was a significant statistical difference (p value = 0.006) among the 3 groups. The mean number of renal colic episodes of group (A) of patients was 1.8 times, while that of group (B) was 2.6 times and that of group (C) was 2.16 times with no significant statistical difference after comparing the 3 groups (p value = 0.660). Conclusions: Treatment with mirabegron appears to be a safe and effective medical expulsion therapy for distal ureteric stones and is better than tamsulosin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: European association of urology (EAU) recommended α- blockers for managing distal ureteric stones in the paediatric population. This paper will help to understand the efficacy of Silodosin as a medical expulsive agent for distal ureteric stones in children, along with the required time duration of stone expulsion. Methods: Forty participants were enrolled and evaluated for complaints, pain severity, associated symptoms, and ultrasound was done to confirm the position and size of the distal stone. Follow-ups were scheduled after every 7 days (1 week) for redo ultrasound and assessment of the stone position. Data was entered and analyzed in the SPSS version 23. To evaluate the significance of data chi-square test was performed, p-value <0.005 was considered significant. Results: The minimum and maximum age limits recorded are 3 years and 18 years respectively with a mean age of 9.5±4.5 years and mean stone size was measured as 0.6±0.1 cm. Distribution of stone size indicated the minimum size of 0.4 cm and maximum of 1.0 cm stone in study subjects. Maximum stone expulsion was reported within 14 days or an initial 2 follow-up scans. Conclusion: The efficacy of Silodosin and medical expulsive therapy evaluated the effect on pain management as pain episodes declined with Silodosin treatment and spontaneous passage of stones were increased within the first 14 days of treatment. This study will be a beneficial contribution in rature especially in a developing country population where paediatric urolithiasis is on expansion and ongoing [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of expulsive medical therapy for treating ureteric stones with or without mirabegron as an add-on to Diclofenac. METHODOLOGY: A prospective randomized controlled trial was undertaken between April 2018 to March 2019 at the Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Sindh. A total of two hundred participants who had ureteric stones were enrolled using non-probability convenience sampling. Diclofenac Only 100 mg/day (group A, n=100), and Mirabegron 50 milligrams/day + diclofenac 100 milligrams/day (group B, n=100) were administered to patients, adjunctively. Age, sex, site, size of the stone, and laterality were noted. The stone expulsion time for each patient was evaluated. SPSS version 24 was used for analysis. A p-value of 0.05 or less was set as the cut-off value for significance. RESULTS: Age, sex, site of stone, and laterality were not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.886, p=0.755, p=0.168, p=0.321, & p=0.889, respectively). Spontaneous stone expulsion ratios were observed as 43% and 71% in group A and group B (p4mm (p=0.04). The SER for middle and distally localized stones was higher in group B with a statistically significant p=0.02. CONCLUSION: The present study indicated that combined therapy with both mirabegron and Diclofenac is more effective than monotherapy with Diclofenac only. Mirabegron is a safe drug that improves the stone expulsion ratio in ureteric stones by > 4mm.

Objective: Symptomatic ureteric stones cause surrounding inflammation-promoting obstruction. C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WC), and neutrophil percentage (NP) tend to rise after inflammatory response. Monitoring response during the course of medical expulsive therapy (MET) may help in deciding early intervention, thereby decreasing morbidity. We assessed the role and trends of these markers in predicting the outcome of MET. Materials and Methods: One hundred and ninety-two patients with distal ureteric calculus of size >5 mm were included in this prospective study from April 2017 to March 2018 after ethical committee approval. CRP, NP, and WC were measured on day 1, 7, and 14 of MET, and analysis was done. Results: On univariate analysis, stone size and mean values of CRP, WC, and NP on day 1, 7 and 14 in stone nonpassers were significantly higher compared to stone passers (P < 0.05). Receiver operator curve analysis showed area under the curve value of 0.798 (P = 0.001) for CRP and cut off value determined was 1.35 mg/dL. Multivariate analysis of different variables showed significant association of higher CRP (>1.35 mg/dL) and larger stone size (>7 mm) with MET failure. Decreasing trend of CRP was seen in both groups, but values were higher in stone nonpassers. WC and NP showed decreasing trend in stone passers but persistently high in stone nonpassers. Conclusions: Higher CRP and larger stone size were associated with failure of MET. WC and NP showed decreasing trend in stone passers and persistently higher in nonpassers, which may potentially predict failure of MET, however, their role need to be further studied.

Aim: Urolithiasis is a common disorder of the urinary tract. Medical expulsive therapy is recommended for calculi with diameters <10 mm. This study was conducted to determine the effect of choreito, an herbal medication with discharging effects, on the spontaneous passage of urinary calculi. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 109 adult patients with urinary calculi who were admitted to Hirao Hospital between April 2016 and March 2017. Choreito (7.5 g/day) was administered to 55 participants in the choreito group but not to the 54 participants of the control group. All patients were monitored until the calculi passed naturally. The period of spontaneous passage of the calculi was compared between the choreito and control groups, and the factors associated with this duration were identified using multivariate analysis. Results: Compared to the control group, the period of spontaneous passage of the proximal ureteric stones was significantly shorter in the choreito group (14 days vs 36 days, p = 0.0262). Calculus diameter (<3 mm) and choreito administration were identified as independent factors associated with a shorter period for spontaneous calculi passage. Conclusion: Oral administration of choreito may promote the spontaneous passage of proximal ureteric stones without the need for surgical intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ureteric stone is responsible for around 20% of urinary tract stones and among them 70% of these are located in distal portion of the ureter. Stone causing ureter obstruction produce inflammatory changes in ureteric wall and prevent spontaneous passage of stone. The objective of the study is to compare the predictive role of procalcitonin and Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for spontaneous passage of stone., Materials and Methodology: Total 150 participants having ureteric stone of 4-8 mm, were included in prospective observational study. The patients were followed up for 4 weeks. Spontaneous Stone Passage (SSP) was confirmed with either the patient collecting the stone during urination or by Non-Contrast CT performed at 4 weeks. Blood samples of the patients were analysed and White blood cells, sedimentation, Neutrophile to Lymphocyte (NLR), procalcitonin level compared to analyse predictors of future SSP., Result: The procalcitonin levels of the Spontaneous stone passing SSP (-ve) group (209.05 ± 78.45 pg/ml) were significantly higher than the not passing the SSP (+ve) group (130.76 ± 24.18) ( p  < 0.001). NLR is significantly higher in the SSP -ve (3.84 ± 0.41) than the SSP +ve (2.18 ± 0.38) group ( p  < 0.001). In single and multivariate analysis, significant activity was found for procalcitonin in SP +ve group., Conclusion: The findings of the study suggests that high level of procalcitonin, and high NLR have a negative effect on passage of stone. So early intervention can be planned to these patients to prevent complications., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: To investigate the effect of ureterorenoscopic stone removal timing on kidney function in unilateral ureteral stones. Materials and Methods: Hundred and eighty-seven patients included in the study were divided into two groups: 98 patients who underwent surgery ≤14 days after the stone diagnosis constituted the Early Surgery Group and 39 patients who were operated >14 days after the stone diagnosis comprised the Late Surgery Group. Preoperative serum levels of creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and glomerular filtration rates (GFR) were recorded for the patients in both groups. In the postoperative first month, serum creatinine, BUN, and GFR were again recorded and compared with the preoperative values. Results: The mean preoperative serum creatinine, GFR, and BUN levels in the Early Surgery Group were 1.25 ± 0.65μmol/L, 80.04 ± 33.6ml/min/1.73m2, and 50 ± 16.6mmol/L, respectively. A decrease was observed in serum creatinine (0.82 ± 0.22μmol/L, p< 0.001) and BUN (14.08 ± 7.25mmol/L, p< 0.001) levels one month after surgery, whereas GFR increased (105.33 ± 21.6ml/min/1.73m2, p< 0.001). In the Late Surgery Group, postoperative levels of serum creatinine (0.94 ± 0.33 vs. 0.95 ± 0.30μmol/L, p= 0.102), and BUN (17.38 ± 9 vs. 17.92 ± 8.8mmol/L, p= 0.283), increased minimally, also a minimal decrease was observed in GFR (95.15 ± 27.3 vs. 93.77 ± 24.3ml/min/1.73m2, p= 0.338) without any statistically significant difference. Conclusion: We believe that surgical treatment should be planned within two weeks at the latest, as prolonged obstruction may result in kidney damage.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of mirabegron as a medical expulsive therapy in patients with distal ureteral stones of 5-10 mm size. Material and methods: A prospective, comparative study included 96 patients with radiopaque distal ureteral stones of 5-10 mm who were randomly allocated and treated by medical expulsive therapy in 2 groups from January 2019 to December 2020. Patients in group A received only ketorolac 30 mg/day for 5 days, then on demand. Patients in group B received mirabegron 50 mg/day for 4 weeks plus ketorolac 30 mg/day like in group A. The stone expulsion rate was the primary outcome. Results: There were no significant differences regarding age, gender, body mass index, laterality, degree of hydronephrosis, and stone size. After 4 weeks, stone expulsion rate was 52.1% for group A versus 89.6% for group B (P < .001). The median (range) of time to stone expulsion was 14 (13-23) and 7 (3-16) days for groups A and B, respectively (P = .004). The medians (range; interquartile range) of episodes of renal pain (1 (0-2; 1) vs. (0-2; 2); P < .001) and extra analgesic ampoules (1 (0-7; 4) vs. 0 (0-2; 0) vials; P < .001) were significantly higher in group A than those in group B, respectively. In multivariate analysis, only medical expulsive therapy (P < .001) and stone size (P < .001) were independent predictors of stone expulsion rate. Conclusion: Mirabegron is an effective and safe medical expulsive therapy agent in patients with 5-10 mm distal ureteral stones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of medical expulsive therapy (MET) for ureteral stones in pediatric patients, Cochrane, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the reference list of retrieved studies were searched up to September 2022 to identify RCTs on the efficacy of MET. The protocol was prospectively registered at PROSPERO (CRD42022339093). Articles were reviewed, data were extracted by two reviewers, and the differences were resolved by the third reviewer. The risk of bias was assessed using the RoB2. The outcomes, including the stone expulsion rate (SER), stone expulsion time (SET), episode of pain, analgesic consumption, and adverse effects, were evaluated. Six RCTs enrolling 415 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The duration of MET ranged from 19 to 28 days. The investigated medications included tamsulosin, silodosin, and doxazosin. The stone-free rate after 4 weeks in the MET group was 1.42 times that of the control group (RR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.26–1.61, p < 0.001). The stone expulsion time also decreased by an average of 5.18 days (95% CI: −8.46/−1.89, p = 0.002). Adverse effects were more commonly observed in the MET group (RR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.28–3.69, p = 0.004). The subgroup analysis evaluating the influence of the type of medication, the stone size, and the age of patients failed to reveal any impact of the aforementioned factors on the stone expulsion rate or stone expulsion time. Alpha-blockers as medical expulsive therapy among pediatric patients are efficient and safe. They increase the stone expulsion rate and decrease the stone expulsion time; however, this included a higher rate of adverse effects, which include headache, dizziness, or nasal congestion.

The primary goals of medical expulsive therapy are to increase the rate of stone expulsion along the ureter to avoid ureteral obstruction and reduce ureteral colic and thus avoid the need for surgical and more invasive interventions. This review focussed on the findings from in vivo and in vitro animal and human studies that have investigated the pharmacological mechanisms controlling ureteral motility and their translation to current and potentially new clinically used drugs for increasing the rate of stone expulsion along the ureter. The complicated contractility profile of the ureter, which alters with age, tissue segment region, orientation and species contributes to the difficulty of interpreting studies on ureteral pharmacology, which translates to the complexity of discovering ideal drug targets for medical expulsive therapy. Nevertheless, the current drug classes clinically used for patients with stone lodgement include α1‐adrenoceptor antagonists, calcium channel blockers and NSAIDS, whilst there are promising targets for drug development that require further clinical investigations including the phosphodiesterase type 5 enzyme, β‐adrenoceptors and 5‐HT receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of performing extracorporeal physical vibrational lithecbole (EPVL) through greater sciatic foramen (GSF) for distal ureteral calculi (DUC) treatment. Materials and Methods: All patients with a diagnosis of DUC (6–10 mm in diameter) were enrolled in this study from October 2018 to May 2020. Patients were randomly divided into three groups receiving EPVL through GSF (Group A, n = 58), or abdominal (Group B, n = 60), or combined with oral use of tamsulosin at 0.4 mg daily (Group C, n = 63). Results: There was no significant difference observed in terms of demographic characteristics or size of stones among the three groups (p > 0.05). Compared with the Groups B and C, patients of the Group A displayed a significantly higher score of comfort, with a significantly decreased number of renal colic attacks or analgesics required (p < 0.01). The stone-free rate also significantly increased after 1 and 2 weeks of treatment (p < 0.01), despite such a significant difference among these groups vanishing after 4 weeks of treatment. Conclusion: EPVL in the prone position uses the GSF as the path and is a safe and effective approach to treat the distal ureteral calculi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Symptomatic ureteric stones cause surrounding inflammation-promoting obstruction. C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cell count (WC), and neutrophil percentage (NP) tend to rise after inflammatory response. Monitoring response during the course of medical expulsive therapy (MET) may help in deciding early intervention, thereby decreasing morbidity. We assessed the role and trends of these markers in predicting the outcome of MET. Materials and Methods: One hundred and ninety-two patients with distal ureteric calculus of size >5 mm were included in this prospective study from April 2017 to March 2018 after ethical committee approval. CRP, NP, and WC were measured on day 1, 7, and 14 of MET, and analysis was done. Results: On univariate analysis, stone size and mean values of CRP, WC, and NP on day 1, 7 and 14 in stone nonpassers were significantly higher compared to stone passers (P < 0.05). Receiver operator curve analysis showed area under the curve value of 0.798 (P = 0.001) for CRP and cut off value determined was 1.35 mg/dL. Multivariate analysis of different variables showed significant association of higher CRP (>1.35 mg/dL) and larger stone size (>7 mm) with MET failure. Decreasing trend of CRP was seen in both groups, but values were higher in stone nonpassers. WC and NP showed decreasing trend in stone passers but persistently high in stone nonpassers. Conclusions: Higher CRP and larger stone size were associated with failure of MET. WC and NP showed decreasing trend in stone passers and persistently higher in nonpassers, which may potentially predict failure of MET, however, their role need to be further studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of expulsive medical therapy for treating ureteric stones with or without mirabegron as an add-on to Diclofenac. METHODOLOGY: A prospective randomized controlled trial was undertaken between April 2018 to March 2019 at the Asian Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Sindh. A total of two hundred participants who had ureteric stones were enrolled using non-probability convenience sampling. Diclofenac Only 100 mg/day (group A, n=100), and Mirabegron 50 milligrams/day + diclofenac 100 milligrams/day (group B, n=100) were administered to patients, adjunctively. Age, sex, site, size of the stone, and laterality were noted. The stone expulsion time for each patient was evaluated. SPSS version 24 was used for analysis. A p-value of 0.05 or less was set as the cut-off value for significance. RESULTS: Age, sex, site of stone, and laterality were not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.886, p=0.755, p=0.168, p=0.321, & p=0.889, respectively). Spontaneous stone expulsion ratios were observed as 43% and 71% in group A and group B (p<0.0001), respectively. However, no statistically significant association was found between mirabegron and the stone expulsion time (p=0.667). Group B showed a significantly higher stone expulsion rate in patients with stone size >4mm (p=0.04). The SER for middle and distally localized stones was higher in group B with a statistically significant p=0.02. CONCLUSION: The present study indicated that combined therapy with both mirabegron and Diclofenac is more effective than monotherapy with Diclofenac only. Mirabegron is a safe drug that improves the stone expulsion ratio in ureteric stones by > 4mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To observe the efficacy and safety of Mirabegron in patients with distal, ureteral stones ≤ 10 mm. Patients and methods: A total of 90 patients with distal ureteral stones ≤ 10 mm were prospectively randomized into two groups. Forty-five cases in the study group and 45 cases as control. The stone-free rates (SFRs) and renal colic episodes between two groups were compared at the 1st, 2nd and 4th week end by imaging examinations. Result: All of 90 patients were randomly assigned to two groups. In patients with ≤ 5 mm stones, the SFRs in the 1st week (63.6% vs. 33.3%, P = 0.040), the 2nd week (86.4% vs. 54.2%, P = 0.018), and the 4th week (90.9% vs. 66.7%, P = 0.046) after treatment were all significantly higher than that in the control group by the stratification analysis of stone size. Even though SFRs were all higher for patients with > 5 mm stones in study group, there was no statistically significant difference (All P > 0.05). In terms of renal colic episodes, the frequency of occurrence of the study group was significantly lower than that of the control group and need less antalgic. Conclusions: The MET with Mirabegron has a significant role in improve SFR for the patients with distal ureteral stones ≤ 5 mm and no effect in > 5 mm stones. Furthermore, Mirabegron reduces the need for antalgic in ≤ 10 mm stones with low incidence of adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Urolithiasis is considered one of the most common diseases in urological practice. Its prevalence is about 1% to 15% with 30 years old as the peak age of incidence. Medical expulsive therapy (MET) has been used as a conservative treatment for patients with ureteral stones. Nitrergic fibers have been identified to have a relaxant effect on the distal ureteral smooth musculature. The objective of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination of silodosin and vardenafil as a medical expulsive therapy in comparison with each drug alone. Methods One hundred and two male patients with uncomplicated distal ureteric stone 6–10 mm were enrolled in the study. The patients were randomly divided into 3 equal groups, and each one consists of 34 patients. Group I received silodosin 8 mg once daily, group II vardenafil 5 mg once daily and group III combination of silodosin 8 mg and vardenafil 5 mg once daily. The treatment was given for all the patients until stone expulsion or a maximum of 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was the stone expulsion rate, and the secondary endpoints were time to stone expulsion, number of hospital visits for pain, amount of analgesic required and side effects associated with MET. Results Our study showed that the stone expulsion rate was higher in combination = 90.0% than silodosin = 76.7% and vardenafil groups = 60.0% (P = 0.025), the time to stone expulsion was significantly shorter in combination = 11.23 ± 3.14 than silodosin = 12.50 ± 1.66 and vardenafil groups 14.67 ± 1.24 days (P

Abstract Background Medical expulsive therapy (MET) is recommended for ureteral stones when there is no indication for interventional treatment. Spontaneous passage (SP) may not always be perceived in patients undergoing MET. We aimed to demonstrate the effects of inflammatory factors on spontaneous ureteral stone passage in patients undergoing MET. Methods Our study was conducted between August and November, 2016, in healthy volunteers and patients with a single distal ureteral stone between 5 and 10 mm in diameter and no indications for interventional therapy. Blood and urine samples from all patients and healthy volunteers were tested. The patients were followed up every 2 weeks for 1 month unless emergency situations appeared. Patients with stone-free status at follow-up were concluded to have achieved complete stone passage [SP(+)], and failure [SP(−)] was concluded if the patient had not passed the stone by the end of the study. Blood samples of the patients and the control group were analyzed, recording WBC (white blood cell), CRP (c-reactive protein), SED (sedimentation), MPV (mean platelet volume), NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio), and serum procalcitonin levels. Abnormalities in urine samples were recorded. All patients received diclofenac sodium 75 mg/day, tamsulosin 0.4 mg/day, and at least 3 l/day fluid intake. Patients were followed for a month with kidney, ureter, bladder (KUB) plain films, ultrasonography (USG), and unenhanced abdominal CT scans while undergoing MET. Comparative statistical analyses were performed between the SP(+) and SP(−) groups. Results The procalcitonin levels of the SP(−) group were significantly higher (207 ± 145.1 pg/ml) than in the SP(+) group (132.7 ± 28.1 pg/ml) (p = 0.000). The leucocyturia rate of the SP(−) group was significantly higher than in the SP(+) group (p = 0.004). Based on the ROC curve analysis, 160 pg/ml (86.7% sensitivity, 70.8% specificity, p

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between ureteral wall thickness (UWT) and stone passage (SP) and its cut-off value in distal uncomplicated ureteral stones. Patients and methods: In the prospective study from January 2019 to January 2020 at a tertiary care hospital, we reviewed 212 patients aged above 18 years with single, symptomatic, radiopaque, and distal ureteric stone sized 5–10 mm, who were treated with MET (Silodosin 8 mg once daily) until SP or a maximum of 4 weeks. There were 2 groups: responders and non-responders. Demographic data of the patients and all stone radiological parameters including stone size, laterality, density, UWT, the diameter of the ureter proximal to the stone (PUD), and the degree of hydronephrosis were recorded and compared between the 2 groups. Results: There were 126 (59.4%) in the responder group and 86 (40.6%) in the non-responder group. On univariate analysis, gender, stone density, stone size, PUD, UWT, and the degree of hydronephrosis were significant factors for stone passage. However, using multivariate analysis, only UWT and the degree of hydronephrosis were significant. ROC analysis showed that 3.75 mm is the cut-off value for UWT, with 86% and 87.3% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. Conclusions: UWT and hydronephrosis can be used as potential predictors for SP and can help with decision-making in patients with uncomplicated 5–10 mm lower ureteric stones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Ureteral stones are monitored for spontaneous passage in cases where there is no indication of interventional treatment. In this prospective study, we aimed to investigate the role of biochemical inflammation factors in predicting spontaneous passage. Methods: Our study was conducted in patients who presented with ureteral stones between August and November 2016, following ethics committee approval and patient consent. The inflammatory markers [white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein, sedimentation, mean platelet volume, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, procalcitonin in serum; WBC and bacteria in urine] were recorded in 54 patients with 5-10 mm single ureteral stones and no indication for interventional treatment, and a control group of 33 volunteers with the same socio-demographic conditions. Medical expulsive therapy was applied to the case group and followed for 4 weeks. At the end of the follow-up, the case group was divided into two groups as passage (+) and passage (-). The groups' data were compared statistically. Results: Distal localization (70% vs 37.5%; p<0.05) was significantly higher in the passage (+) group than in the passage (-). Procalcitonin (207±145.1 pg/mL) was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the passage (-) group than in the passage (+) group (132.7±28.1 pg/mL). In the passage (-) group, the rate of leukocyturia (58.3% vs 20%; p<0.05) was higher than in the passage (+) group. A significant activity of procalcitonin value [0.805 (0.687-0.923) under the curve] was observed in the separation of patients with and without passages. A significant activity of procalcitonin 160 pg/mL cut-off value [0.788 (0.658-0.917) under the curve] was observed in the separation of patients with and without passages. Sensitivity was 86.7%, specificity was 70.8%, positive estimate was 78.8%, negative estimate was 81.0%. Conclusion: Spontaneous passage in ureteral stones can be estimated by looking at serum procalcitonin levels. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that for serum procalcitonin, the cut-off value of 160 pg/mL may have significant effectiveness. In addition, leukocyturia is also one of the factors that negatively affect spontaneous passage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of silodosin versus tamsulosin as medical expulsive therapy for stones of lower-third ureter in children. Patients and Methods: This prospective single-blind placebo-controlled randomized study included 167 pediatric patients who presented with distal ureteric stone (DUS) less than 1 cm. Patients were randomized into 3 groups; group I received silodosin 4 mg once daily, and group II received tamsulosin 0.4 mg while those in group III had placebo. The side effects of the used drugs, both rate and time of stone expulsion, and number of pain episodes were compared among the study groups for a maximum of 4 weeks. Results: Follow-up data of our patients after treatment revealed that the stone expulsion rate was significantly higher and the time to stone expulsion was significantly shorter in group I (89.3%, 12.4 ± 2.3 days) and group II (74.5%, 16.2 ± 4.2 days) compared to group III (51.8%, 21.2 ± 5.6). However, a statistically significant difference between silodosin and tamsulosin groups in favor of the former one was reported regarding the 2 studied items. Meanwhile, pain episodes requiring analgesia were statistically fewer in group I and II in contrast to placebo group. Adverse events were comparable among all groups. Conclusion: Silodosin provides significantly better stone expulsion rate and shorter expulsion time than tamsulosin for treatment of DUS. Both medications showed good safety profiles in children. However, further studies are required on a larger scale to confirm our results. Assessment of drug safety on younger age-group is still needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Acute ureteric colic (AUC) is generally one of the most common reasons for emergency department attendance. Expectant management is recommended in non-complicated ureteral calculi. However, data regarding the optimal duration of observation or indications of early intervention (EI) are not well understood. This article describes the clinical and radiological factors that promote EI in AUC. Patients and Methods: This was an observational and retrospective cohort study. Patients with AUC diagnosed based on non-contrast computerized tomography (NCCT) between 2019 and 2020 were enrolled in the study. These patients were classified into two main categories: spontaneous passage of stone (SSP) and EI. In addition, a comparative analysis was performed to identify clinical and radiological variables that promote EI. Results: One-hundred and sixty-one patients were included. High WBCs are associated with a significant increase in EI. Forty-three percent (n=37) of patients with serum WBCs higher than 10 had an EI, while 23% had SSP (n=17;p< 0.001). High CRP level is also significantly associated with EI (n=36; 86%; p< 0.001). Upper and middle ureteral calculi are statistically associated with EI (n=54; 62%) in comparison to the SSP cohort (n=22; 30%;p< 0.001). EI is also linked to the maximal length of ureteric calculi (MCL) of 9 mm (6– 13mm), and HU density of stone of 700 (430– 990) H.U (p< 0.001). Ureteric stone volume of 0.2 (0.06– 0.3) cm3 is significantly associated with EI (p< 0.001). Ureteral wall thickness of 3 (2– 3 mm), the presence of extrarenal pelvis (n=20; 23%), and AP diameter of renal pelvis 18 (13– 28 mm) are all significantly associated with a higher rate of EI (p< 0.001). Multiple binary logistic regression analysis showed that MCL is the strongest predictor of EI. Conclusion: MCL is an independent and robust predictor of EI in AUC. Biochemical variables and radiological characteristics can also act as an adjunct to promote EI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Medical expulsive therapy (MET) is used in lower ureteric calculus to reduce symptoms, to facilitate passage, and to decrease the requirement of endourological surgical interventions. Alpha-blockers, spasmolytics, and calcium channel blockers have been shown to be effective in clinical trials. Beta-3 receptor stimulation in the ureter has been shown to decrease the intraluminal pressure. Thus, Mirabegron, beta 3 receptor agonist, can be thought as alternative MET agent. Materials and Methods: We have done prospective observational study to see the efficacy of mirabegron for MET of lower ureteric calculus ≤10 mm in size. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (n = 50) received diclofenac 50 mg twice daily for 5 days then on demand for 4 weeks and Group B (n = 50) received diclofenac 50 mg twice daily for 5 days than on demand and mirabegron 50 mg daily for 4 weeks. Patients were followed up weekly with clinical examination, ultrasound screening of kidney, ureter, and bladder (KUB) and noncontrast computed tomography scan KUB after the 28th day of therapy. Results: We found that the passage of stone is significantly higher in mirabegron group (Group A: 68% and Group B: 92%; P < 0.05), and this effect is also statistically significant for stones <7 mm size (Group A: 73.91%, Group B: 96.96%, P = 0.01026). Duration of stone expulsion in Group A: 20.29 ± 5.512 days and Group B: 10.65 ± 4.294 days (P = 0.00001) and the relief of storage symptoms are earlier in mirabegron group (Group A: 16.28 ± 5.65 days and Group B: 6.2 ± 2.58 days, P = 0.00001). Conclusion: Our study reveals that Mirabegron is effective for the treatment of lower ureteric stones ≤10 mm size, especially for stone of size <7 mm and it improves the storage symptoms in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to compare the efficacy of silodosin and a terpene combination in the treatment of distal ureteral stones. Methodology: The data of the patients admitted to the urology policlinic with renal colic, diagnosed with distal ureteral stones, and followed up with medical expulsive therapy between December 2017 and June 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 comprised 72 patients that received 8 mg/day silodosin and Group 2 consisted of 51 patients that were given three capsules of a terpene combination daily. The groups were compared in terms of the patients' demographic characteristics, medical history, localisation of the present stone, renal collecting system status, daily fluid intake, number of emergency service visits, number of additional analgesic applications needed, number of pain attacks, number of days off work, stone expulsion rate and time to stone expulsion. Results: Of the total 123 patients, 98 (79.7%) were stone‐free. The stone‐free rate was 75.0% in Group 1 and 86.3% in Group 2, with no statistical difference between the two groups. However, the number of visits to the emergency service because of pain, number of additional analgesic applications required, number of days off work, and time to stone expulsion were statistically significantly lower in Group 2 than in Group 1. Conclusions: The treatment of distal ureteral stones with silodosin is as effective as the terpene combination. However, the terpene combination is more effective than silodosin in managing pain and accelerating stone expulsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A number of clinical and radiological predictors of either stone impaction or ureteral stone passage (SP) have been proposed. We aimed at identifying the key predictors of successful SP by using readily available CT-based tools/measurements. Methods: Patients presenting to the emergency department from February 2017 to February 2018 with an acute unilateral ureteral stone confirmed on non-contrast CT and managed conservatively were followed for SP. Patients with renal impairment, sepsis or requiring emergent intervention were excluded. Patients were followed at 1 month to confirm SP (stone collection/repeat imaging) or failure of passage. The CT variables analyzed included: Stone factors [location, size, volume, HU density (HUD)], impaction factors [ureteral HUD above and below the stone, maximal ureteral wall thickness (UWT) at the stone site, contralateral UWT, and ureteral diameter above and below the stone]. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of SP. Results: Forty-nine patients met study inclusion criteria, of whom 32 (65.3%) passed the stone without further intervention. Patients with successful passage were more likely to have smaller, lower volume and less dense stones located in the distal ureter (p < 0.01). Lower ureteral HUD below the stone, lower maximal UWT, and lower ureteral diameter above the stone were associated with successful passage (p < 0.01). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, only maximal UWT at the stone site was a significant independent predictor of SP outcome (p = 0.01). Youden's criterion identified 2.3 mm as the optimal UWT cut-off point, which will accurately predict SP with 82.4% sensitivity and 87.5% specificity. Conclusions: Maximal UWT at the stone site was the most significant predictor of successful passage in acute unilateral ureteral stones, with an optimal cut-off point of 2.3 mm. Further prospective studies are needed to accurately predict spontaneous SP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis for the evaluation of 22 drug interventions in the management of ureteral stones, MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane central databases were searched to identify RCTs focusing on the evaluation of the efficacy of multiple drug interventions in medical expulsive therapy (MET) for ureteral stones, with no restrictions on year or language. Study quality assessment and data extraction were performed by independent reviewers. Major outcome measures were the stone expulsion rate, stone expulsion time, and pain episodes during treatment. A total of 78 RCTs with 14,922 participants were included in the present study. The final comparative results show that naftopidil plus corticosteroids was associated with higher stone expulsion rates than other drug interventions. Silodosin plus tadalafil had the highest probability of reducing stone expulsion time. Tamsulosin plus tadalafil performed better than all the other drug interventions in reducing pain episodes during treatment. However, in terms of all the outcome measures, the ranking plot results demonstrate that silodosin plus tadalafil, in addition to tamsulosin plus tadalafil and corticosteroids, was the best drug intervention as medical expulsive therapy in the management of ureteral stones. In ureteral stones ≤ 10 mm, all active drug interventions were more efficacious than the control; however, not all active drug interventions had an efficacy superior to the placebo. Silodosin plus tadalafil, tamsulosin plus tadalafil and corticosteroids, tamsulosin plus tadalafil, and naftopidil plus corticosteroids were the most effective drug interventions. Considering the choice of treatment, these results should serve as evidence-based practice and be considered by physicians, patients, and guideline developers. However, with respect to the limitations of the present study, further high-quality studies are needed for more in-depth evaluation of both the efficacy and safety of these drug interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the relative efficacy of tamsulosin and tadalafil as medical expulsive therapy for distal ureteric stones. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective study performed between December 2014 and February 2016. A total of 123 adult patients (>18 years of age) presenting with distal ureteric stones sized 6–10 mm were randomized to treatment with tamsulosin 0.4 mg once daily (Group A) or tadalafil10 mg once daily (Group B). Therapy was given for a maximum of 4 weeks. The stone expulsion rate was the primary endpoint. Time to stone expulsion, number of colic episodes, analgesic use, number of hospital visits for pain, endoscopic treatment, and adverse effects of the drugs were noted. Statistical analyses were done using Fisher's exact test and Chi-square test. Results: A total of 61 patients were included in tamsulosin group and 62 patients in tadalafil group. A statistically insignificant difference was found for stone clearance rate between both groups as a whole (Group A-73.77%, Group B-69.35%, P = 0.690) as well as when we considered both subgroups (A1-78.05%, B1-75.0%, P = 0.802; A2-65.0%, B2-55.6%, P = 0.741). All the primary and secondary outcome measures were more in favour of stones ≤8 mm size than stones >8 mm size. No statistical difference was found for adverse drug effects except for retrograde ejaculation, which was significantly high in tamsulosin group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study showed that although tamsulosin is more effective for stone clearance than tadalafil, but this difference was not significant (P = 0.690).