The relationship between cognition and sensation in determining when and where to void: the concept of cognitive voiding

Study Type – Aetiology (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? The factors taken into consideration when determining when and where to void are poorly understood. Studies on bladder sensations, obtained during cystometry of from voiding diaries, are proving difficult to transfer to everyday experiences. There is therefore a need to explore what does influence when and where to void. This study, using focus groups, highlights the fact that many voids are driven by behavioural factors not by sensations of desire or need to void. It is further noted that a key factor in the final decision to void is an awareness of bladder volume. The concepts of ‘cognitive voiding’ informed by ‘bladder awareness’ are introduced and, if correct, will influence the way studies are devised and interpreted to explore lower urinary tract dysfunction and pharmacotherapy. OBJECTIVE

• ? To investigate the inter‐relationship between conscious decision‐making processes and bladder sensation in determining the need, time and place to void

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

• ? The approach used interview focus groups and qualitative thematic analysis. In this preliminary study, 25 women were included (aged 21–90 years) meeting in groups of one to five on four occasions.

RESULTS

• ? The thematic analysis yielded six themes: temporal and cognitive maps, risk issues, habituation and opportunistic behaviour and awareness of the bladder.
• ? For most voids, the decision to void was not based on sensation but determined by multiple factors: personal knowledge of time of last void, anticipated time to next void, proximity of toilets, a risk assessment or habituated behaviour.
• ? As the bladder filled the subjects described an increasing awareness of their bladder. Such sensations were not immediately associated with desire to void. Rather, these sensations were described as influencing the cognitive processes of considering when and where to void.
• ? A sub‐group of subjects reported little awareness as their bladder filled, experiencing only sudden strong sensations that needed immediate action for fear of leakage.

CONCLUSIONS

• ? The decision to void is primarily a cognitive process influenced by multiple elements of which bladder awareness is only one.
• ? Mechanisms generating awareness may be intensified or lost reflecting possible different pathological states. The importance of these observations in relation to current views of normal and abnormal voiding is discussed.

     

Randomised,Multicentre, Placebo-controlled,Double-blind Crossover Study Investigating the Effect of Solifenacin and Oxybutynin in Elderly People with Mild Cognitive Impairment: The SENIOR Study

Background

Compared with younger people, the elderly are more likely to suffer from overactive bladder (OAB) and to have other chronic conditions that affect physical or cognitive function. Despite this, there are few data on the cognitive safety of antimuscarinic agents in older patients and none that examine the effect of these agents on those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Objective

To evaluate cognitive effects during chronic stable dosing with solifenacin and oxybutynin versus placebo in older (≥75 yr) subjects with MCI.

Design, setting, and participants

A randomised, double-blind, triple-crossover trial in 26 elderly volunteers with MCI. Cognitive function was assessed using Cognitive Drug Research (CDR) computerised testing.

Intervention

Three treatment periods of 21 d each with solifenacin 5 mg once daily, oxybutynin 5 mg twice daily, or placebo, separated by 21-d washout periods.

Outcome measurements and statistical analysis

The primary end point was change from baseline in cognitive function with solifenacin at 6 h postdose and oxybutynin at 2 h postdose (time points close to their predicted time to peak concentration). Secondary end points included change in cognitive function at additional time points, and safety and tolerability assessments.

Results and limitations

Neither agent was associated with significant changes from baseline in any of the five standard, composite outcomes of cognitive function (power of attention, continuity of attention, quality of working memory, quality of episodic memory, and speed of memory). In a secondary analysis, oxybutynin was associated with significant decreases in power and continuity of attention versus placebo at 1–2 h postdose. Both agents were well tolerated, with the most frequently reported adverse event being mild or moderate dry mouth.

Conclusions

Solifenacin had no detectable effect on cognition in this group of elderly people with MCI.     

Pharmacodynamic effects of darifenacin, a muscarinic M selective receptor antagonist for the treatment of overactive bladder, in healthy volunteers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharmacodynamic effects of darifenacin (a muscarinic M(3) selective receptor antagonist) and dicyclomine (an M(1) selective receptor antagonist) in healthy male volunteers. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this double-blind, four-way crossover study, 27 healthy men (aged 19-44 years) were randomized to receive darifenacin 7.5 mg or 15 mg once daily, dicyclomine 20 mg four times daily or matching placebo. Each 7-day treatment period was separated by a 7-day washout. Multiple assessments of cognitive function, quantitative electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings, salivation, visual nearpoint, heart rate and heart rate variability were made on day 7 in each treatment period. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, neither dose of darifenacin affected cognitive function, whereas dicyclomine impaired performance on five of the 12 variables 2 h after dosing; simple reaction time (P = 0.009), speed of numeric (P = 0.012) and spatial (P = 0.048) working memory, and speed (P = 0.04) and sensitivity (P = 0.03) of picture recognition. These cognitive changes were accompanied by slowing of the EEG for dicyclomine. Darifenacin showed no clinically relevant effect on EEG. Darifenacin 7.5 and 15 mg once daily did not differ from placebo in effects on visual nearpoint, heart rate or heart rate variability. By contrast, dicyclomine significantly increased the maximum visual nearpoint, decreased heart rate and increased heart rate variability, relative to placebo. Both agents decreased salivary flow rate vs placebo. Treatment-related adverse events were comparable in all groups, the most common being dry mouth; none led to treatment discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS: Darifenacin did not affect cognitive, cardiac or visual function in healthy volunteers, a profile that may reflect its relative M(3) receptor selectivity and M(1)/M(2) sparing properties.     

Automatic evaluation of ultrasonography-estimated bladder weight and bladder wall thickness in community-dwelling men with presumably normal bladder function

Study Type – Diagnostic (exploratory cohort) Level of Evidence 2b What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? The diagnostic potential of ultrasound derived measurements of bladder wall thickness and bladder weight in men with LUTS and varying degrees of BOO have been explored. However, there is a paucity of such measurements in the asymptomatic population with which to compare such patients. This study investigates these measurements in community‐dwelling men with presumably normal bladder function.

OBJECTIVE

• ? To identify measurements of ultrasonography (US)‐derived bladder wall thickness (BWT) and bladder weight in community‐dwelling men with presumably normal bladder function.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

• ? A total of 100 male volunteers underwent transabdominal US measurements of BWT and bladder weight, using the BVM 9500 bladder scanner (Verathon Medical, Bothell, WA, USA), at a variety of bladder filling volumes.
• ? The data were explored for any correlation between measurements of BWT and US‐estimated bladder weight (UEBW) with subject age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire – Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (ICIQ M‐LUTS) score, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and IPSS Quality of Life index (IPSS QoL).

RESULTS

• ? Several statistically significant but weak correlations were observed: BWT and weight (r= 0.216, P= 0.032); BWT and BMI (r= 0.246, P= 0.014); UEBW and weight (r= 0.304, P= 0.002); and UEBW and BMI (r= 0.260, P= 0.009).
• ? Bladder filling volume appeared to have a greater effect on BWT than on UEBW, although this could not be determined accurately.
• ? There was a substantial difference in measurements of BWT and UEBW in the assessment of inter‐ and intra‐observer reliability testing.

CONCLUSION

• ? Further studies are required to validate automated measurements of BWT and UEBW and to investigate such measurements in the symptomatic and asymptomatic male population.

     

Evaluation of urinary continence and voiding function: early results in men with neo-urethral modification of the Hautmann orthotopic neobladder

PURPOSE: At our institution we use the Hautmann orthotopic bladder replacement with a chimney and neo-urethral modification. A neo-urethral tube allows tension-free intestino-urethral anastomosis, thus providing application of this procedure for patients who may otherwise not qualify due to the inability of the small bowel to reach the urethra. However, this neo-urethral tube may also enhance continence by providing significant intra-abdominal urethral length. Conversely, such a modification may be associated with a higher degree of urinary retention. Early evaluation and reporting on the results of this procedure appear warranted. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 1996 to March 2000, 14 consecutive male patients underwent cystoprostatectomy and urinary reconstruction with Hautmann repair using chimney and neo-urethral modifications. We performed a retrospective analysis of urinary function and continence with data obtained from patient questionnaires completed preoperatively and at each postoperative office visit. The examining physician chart notes were reviewed for information about urinary retention. The American Urological Association symptom score and voiding bother index were used to assess urinary function and bother, respectively. Urinary continence was defined as the complete absence of any form of urinary leakage protection. RESULTS: Of the 14 patients 12 were completely continent day and night, with a median followup of 17 months. There were 2 patients who wore pads less than 7 months after surgery. Improvement of urinary continence appeared to continue up to 12 months postoperatively. Despite this encouraging effect, when our data were compared to the published literature, we noted a somewhat increased incidence of patients requiring clean intermittent catheterization to manage significant post-void urinary residuals. We had no patients with urethro-intestinal strictures who required clean intermittent catheterization. CONCLUSIONS: The neo-urethral tube modification appears to have a significant and favorable impact on urinary continence while seeming to be associated with a trend towards an increased rate of chronic urinary retention. Longer followup will be required to determine whether this higher rate of chronic urinary retention will remain stable or change with time.     

Urine based markers of urological malignancy

PURPOSE: A number of urine based markers have been and are being investigated for the diagnosis and prognostication of urological conditions. A majority of these markers have been evaluated in urological neoplasms, particularly bladder cancer. The diagnosis of bladder cancer currently relies on identifying malignant cells in the urine and subsequently visualizing the tumor on cystoscopy. This diagnosis is further confirmed by transurethral resection or biopsy. While urine cytology is specific, it is not sensitive, especially for detecting low grade disease. This characteristic has prompted the search for more accurate markers of bladder cancer. In this review we critically examine the results of studies evaluating various markers for bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The published literature on urine based markers for all urological diseases, particularly bladder cancer, was identified using a MEDLINE search and critically analyzed. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the various markers were compared. The benefit of using combined markers rather than a single marker was also analyzed from published reports. RESULTS: Most published literature on urine based markers for urological malignancies involve such markers for diagnosing and prognosticating bladder cancer. Hence, we focused mainly on urine based markers in bladder cancer. Most markers appear to have an advantage over urine cytology in terms of sensitivity, especially for detecting low grade, superficial tumors. However, most markers tend to be less specific than cytology, yielding more false-positive results. This scenario is more common in patients with concurrent bladder inflammation or other benign bladder conditions. However, there is reason to be optimistic about several new markers that appear to provide better specificity. Few urine based markers have been identified and investigated in other urological tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Detecting bladder cancer using diagnostic markers still presents a challenge. A number of new markers are currently available that appear to be significantly more accurate than cytology. However, further studies involving a larger number of patients are required to determine their accuracy and widespread applicability for diagnosing bladder cancer. Urine based markers do not appear to have a significant role in the diagnosis or prognosis of other urological malignancies, such as prostate, kidney or testicular cancer.     

两种膀胱扩大术治疗神经源性膀胱比较分析

目的:比较膀胱自扩大术和回肠膀胱扩大术治疗神经源性膀胱的临床效果。方法:回顾分析膀胱自扩大术10例,回肠膀胱扩大术13例患者临床资料,对两种术式的手术方法,手术前后患者膀胱容量,肾功能以及临床症状进行比较。结果:膀胱自扩大术和回肠膀胱扩大术的患者术后平均安全膀胱容量显著增多,分别为(178.2±31.8)vs(420.7±54.9)ml,(115.9±19.5)vs(517.4±48.3)ml(P<0.05),顺应性明显改善。前者尿失禁消失8例,明显改善1例;术后血清肌酐水平恢复正常6例,明显下降2例,肾积水明显缓解或消失,未发现膀胱输尿管反流现象;后者尿失禁消失9例,明显改善2例,血清肌酐水平6例恢复正常,1例明显下降,肾积水情况均较术前明显缓解或消失,膀胱输尿管反流消失;术后3例出现尿路感染;1例轻微漏尿;1例出现腹泻;3例出现肠梗阻;2例出现膀胱结石,均对症处理后好转。结论:膀胱自扩大术较为简单、安全,但其适应证把握应慎重。回肠膀胱扩大术是治疗神经源性膀胱有效的手术方式,其适应证相对广,但并发症较多。     

经尿道膀胱肿瘤电切术后膀胱灌注吡柔比星治疗浅表性膀胱肿瘤42例报告

目的探讨吡柔比星膀胱灌注对治疗浅表性膀胱癌术后复发的预防效果。方法42例患者,在行经尿道膀胱肿瘤电切术（TURBt）术后定期经导尿管给予膀胱内灌注吡柔比星30mg／40ml,每周1次,每次膀胱内保留60min,共8次,术后3个月行1次膀胱镜检查。结果共有4例复发。42例患者有不同程度的膀胱区不适,3例症状较重。结论吡柔比星膀胱内灌注预防肿瘤术后复发疗效显著、安全、可靠。     

Toward a new classification of overactive bladders

Based on a large retrospective series, this study compares the International Continence Society's (ICS) classification of overactive bladders and a functional subtyping of our own, founded on clinical and urodynamic parameters. Functionally identical symptoms and urodynamic patterns were found within the Detrusor Hyperreflexia as well as the Unstable Detrusor categories. There are strong arguments for a revision of the current ICS classification system. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Simplified bladder training augments the effectiveness of tolterodine in patients with an overactive bladder

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of tolterodine plus simplified bladder training (BT) with tolterodine alone in patients with an overactive bladder. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a multicentre, single-blind study at 51 Scandinavian centres, 505 patients aged >or= 18 years with symptoms of urinary frequency (>or= 8 micturitions/24 h) and urgency, with or without urge incontinence, were randomized to oral treatment with either tolterodine 2 mg twice daily plus simplified BT or tolterodine alone. Changes in voiding diary variables were evaluated after 2, 12 and 24 weeks of treatment. The patients' perceptions of their bladder symptoms and tolerability (adverse events) were also determined. RESULTS: In all, 501 patients (75% women) were evaluable on an intention-to-treat basis (244 on tolterodine + BT and 257 on tolterodine alone). Tolterodine significantly reduced the voiding frequency and increased the volume voided per void at all sample times; these effects were significantly increased by adding BT. At the end of the study the median percentage reduction in voiding frequency was greater with tolterodine + BT than with tolterodine alone (33% vs 25%, P < 0.001), while the median percentage increase in volume voided per void was 31% with tolterodine + BT and 20% with tolterodine alone (P < 0.001). There was a median of 81% fewer incontinence episodes than at baseline with tolterodine alone, which was not significantly different from that with tolterodine + BT (- 87%). The two groups had comparable median percentage reductions in urgency episodes. Some 76% of patients on tolterodine + BT reported an improvement in their bladder symptoms relative to baseline, compared with 71% on tolterodine alone. Tolterodine was well tolerated; the most common adverse event was mild dry mouth. CONCLUSION: Tolterodine 2 mg twice daily is an effective and well tolerated treatment for an overactive bladder, the effectiveness of which can be augmented by a simplified BT regimen.     

非肌层浸润性膀胱尿路上皮癌320例的复发及进展

目的探讨不同部位非肌层浸润性膀胱尿路上皮癌复发及进展的因素。方法回顾性分析我院及大连医科大学附属二院自2014年3月-2019年8月收治的320例非肌层浸润性膀胱癌行经尿道膀胱肿瘤电切术(TURBT)患者的临床资料。肿瘤按解剖位置分为前壁﹑侧壁﹑后壁﹑顶壁﹑三角区﹑颈部,按病理分期为Ta﹑T1。分析不同部位肿瘤的复发及累积进展率。明确肿瘤位置与预后之间的相关性。结果患者平均随访28.5(17.1~48.5)月,总复发率35.00%﹑累积进展率7.81%(25/320)。与其他部位相比,膀胱三角区﹑颈部肿瘤复发率分别为45.00%﹑41.30%,累积进展率分别为15.00%及13.04%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论膀胱三角区及颈部非肌层浸润性膀胱尿路上皮癌容易出现复发及进展,需要积极的临床干预。     

Prosthetic urinary bladder implantation to facilitate bladder regeneration

A temporary artificial bladder was implanted in 15 female dogs undergoing total or subtotal cystectomy. One or two months after implantation, the prosthesis was removed. In three dogs sacrificed 6 months after prosthesis implantation, a new urinary reservoir was identified. Two dogs failed to develop a urinary reservoir, and both ureters anastomosed directly to the top of a dilated urethra. Seven dogs died from complications (infection, urine leakage, etc). Three additional dogs are alive and well 2.5 months after implantation, and in these animals a new urinary reservoir has been demonstrated by cystography. Histologic examination of the new urinary reservoir revealed a thin lining of transitional cell-like epithelium and an underlying attenuated muscle layer. The ability of the canine species to generate a functioning urinary reservoir after total or subtotal cystectomy may hold promise for eventual clinical application in humans.     

Results of umbilicoplasty for bladder exstrophy

PURPOSE: The umbilicus is an important aesthetic landmark and its absence or deformity may be associated with poor self-image. In patients born with bladder exstrophy the umbilicus is attached to the upper margin of the bladder and reconstructive surgery often removes the navel. The umbilicus marks the waistline and serves to complete the harmony of the curved lines above and below the waist. We present our experience with children born with exstrophic anomalies during the last 2 decades. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our database included 61 children born with classic bladder and 8 born with cloacal exstrophy treated between 1980 and 1998. We performed primary reconstruction in 35 children, while 34 children and young adults were referred for secondary surgical repair, including bladder augmentation, continent diversion, genitoplasty and so forth. Neoumbilicoplasty was done in all of the former and in 30 of the 34 latter cases. Early in the series a V-shaped flap was raised and buried subcutaneously. The flap eventually became a tube around the cystotomy tube and the cicatrix formed the umbilical dimple. This method necessitated packing with iodoform gauze for 4 weeks with weekly dressing. The technique evolved into a tubularized U-shaped flap. A rubber tube was placed indwelling as a stent to maintain inward projection of the neoumbilicus. RESULTS: In 66 of the 69 cases the early results of umbilicoplasty were described by the surgeon as excellent or satisfactory. In 3 cases the neoumbilicus appeared flat, lost depth and was described as unsatisfactory. Long-term followup of more than 1 year was available in 48 patients, of whom 2 underwent umbilical repositioning for an off center or low umbilicus and 3 underwent repeat umbilicoplasty for a flat umbilicus that had lost depth. The best cosmetic results were achieved in patients with a relatively thick layer of subcutaneous fat, whereas cosmesis was suboptimal in thin children. Nevertheless, the patients and parents were generally pleased with the umbilical appearance even when the surgeon was not. CONCLUSIONS: Although the navel is a functionless depressed scar, it represents an important and pleasing landmark. Umbilical construction should be attempted early during functional closure or urinary diversion.