Fluctuation of night time frequency in patients with symptomatic nocturia

BACKGROUND: We examined the fluctuation and causes of voiding frequency during the night in patients with symptomatic nocturia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Actual night time frequency was recorded by 72 patients for a total of 769 nights (mean 10.7 nights per patient) and was compared with the 'nocturia score' of the International Prostate Symptom Scores (I-PSS). If a patient experienced nocturnal frequency higher or lower than usual, he or she checked the items on a questionnaire considered reasons for the changes. RESULTS: For 471 nights of 769 (61%), actual voiding frequency did not correspond with nocturia score. Patient-by-patient fluctuation in actual voiding frequency during the night was marked. The most prevalent patient-reported reason for fluctuation was amount of fluid intake, followed by duration of time in bed, feeling colder or warmer during time in bed and increased difficulty going to sleep. Fatigue, difficulty going to sleep and salt intake could affect night time frequency positively or negatively. When nocturia score and total score of the I-PSS were high, the differences between actual nocturnal frequency and nocturia score were significantly larger (3 or less, 0.71; 3-4 or more, 1.05, P<0.0001 and 13 or less, 0.78; 14 or more, 0.97; P=0.0030, respectively). Female patients tended to have nocturia scores differing from actual frequency of urination (1.03 versus male patients 0.84, P=0.0673). CONCLUSIONS: There is considerable discrepancy between the nocturia score of the I-PSS and actual voiding frequency, in addition to marked fluctuation of actual voiding frequency in symptomatic patients. Patient perception of fluctuation of night time frequency can provide clues to useful clinical education of patients regarding nocturia.     

Clinical outcome of tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy by the Toyoda method

AIM: Cutaneous ureterostomy is the least invasive method of urinary diversion, but it carries a risk of stomal stenosis. We retrospectively examined the long-term outcome of tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy by the Toyoda method. METHODS: Since 1983, the Toyoda cutaneous ureterostomy has been performed in 97 patients (169 renal units) with a minimum follow up of 3 months. The ureteral patency rate was reviewed according to whether the stomal type was single (one ureter, one stoma) or double-barrel (two ureters, one stoma). RESULTS: After a median follow up of 23 months (range 3 to 169), a tubeless condition was achieved in 102 (82%) of 124 renal units associated with double-barrel stoma and in 35 (78%) of 45 renal units associated with single stoma. Although mild to moderate hydronephrosis was observed in 19% of patients, serum creatinine levels did not change after a minimum of 12 months after surgery (median 35). CONCLUSIONS: A high ureteral patency rate was achieved with cutaneous ureterostomy using the Toyoda method. This procedure, especially double-barrel stomal creation, is a reasonable alternative to other forms of urinary diversion in patients at high risk.     

Current Perioperative Management of Anticoagulant and Antiplatelet Use in Neuroendovascular Therapy: Analysis of JR-NET1 and 2

To evaluate current perioperative antithrombotic management in neuroendovascular therapy in Japan, we analyzed perioperative anticoagulant and antiplatelet use in various procedures and examined their relationships with periprocedural adverse events. Patient''s data from nationwide surveys administered by the Japanese Registry of Neuroendovascular Therapy (JR-NET) between January 2005 and December 2007 (JR-NET1) and January 2008 and December 2009 (JR-NET2) were retrospectively analyzed. Compared to JR-NET1, the frequency of perioperative antiplatelet therapy and dual or triple therapy were increased for either aneurysm coiling and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or stenting in JR-NET2. Although ischemic complications were significantly decreased (4.2% vs. 2.1%, p < 0.001), hemorrhagic complications (2.1% vs. 5.3%, p < 0.001), severe adverse events (1.5% vs. 2.1%, p < 0.001), and total perioperative complications (8.3% vs. 10.3%, p < 0.001) were significantly increased in JR-NET2. The rate of hemorrhagic complications was significantly higher in patients with triple or more perioperative antiplatelet therapy (preoperative: 5.3% vs. 9.2%, p < 0.0001, postoperative: 5.7% vs. 12.7%, p < 0.0001). Perioperative antithrombotic therapy was performed more frequently and intensively in neuroendovascular therapy in Japan. While ischemic complications were decreased, hemorrhagic complications and severe adverse events were increased. These results suggest that intensive antithrombotic therapy has a potential risk of hemorrhagic complications for Japanese patients.     

A Case of Cross Stimulation

Cross stimulation in a dual chamber pacing system, in which the atrial stimulus intermittently captured the right ventricle, occurred immediately after pacemaker implantation in a 71-year-old man. It was prevented temporarily by reducing the pacing rate so that P wave synchronous ventricular (VDD) pacing resulted and by reducing the output of the atrial circuit from 5 to 4 volts. Cross stimulation disappeared spontaneously 14 days after surgery.     

Comparison of the Effects by Obybutynin and Tolterodine on Spina Bifida Patients: A Pilot Crossover Study

Objectives: To compare the effects of obybutynin and tolterodine in neurogenic bladder patients with spina bifida in a crossover study. Methods: Seven myelomeningocele and one spinal lipoma cases, maintained with obybutynin and clean intermittent catheterization for more than 60 months, were enrolled. Age ranged from 8 to 23 years (mean 12.0, male/ female = 2/6). After 2 weeks of washout period, obybutynin (0.3 mg/kg, maximum 12 mg) or tolterodine (0.12 mg/kg, maximum 4 mg) was administered for 4 weeks, and then switched to the other drug for 4 weeks. At the end of the three periods, the patients and/or parents documented urinary storage status and adverse effects, and urodynamic study was performed. Results: In seven cases undergoing sequential urodynamic study, the baseline compliance of the patients (6.81 ± 1.83) increased to 9.98 ± 4.97 by obybutynin and 10.16 ± 2.53 by tolterodine (P < 0.05 for each). Better compliance was noted in two cases with tolterodine and in two cases with obybutynin. Stronger adverse effects were reported in three out of eight patients (37.5%) by obybutynin and three out of eight patients (37.5%) by tolterodine. Although storage effect and side effects were equivalent for total patients, markedly diverse response was noted for each patient, with five choosing tolterodine and three choosing obybutynin. Conclusions: Individualized evaluation is required for optimal choice of anticholinergics.     

Stool decay-accelerating factor as a marker for monitoring the disease activity during leukocyte apheresis therapy in patients with refractory ulcerative colitis

Background and Aims:  We have shown previously that concentrations of stool decay-accelerating factor (DAF; CD55), a complement regulatory protein, in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) are increased in relation to the severity of the colonic mucosal inflammation. In the present study, we evaluated the usefulness of stool DAF as a marker for monitoring disease activity in patients with steroid-resistant active UC being treated with leukocyte apheresis performed with a centrifugal cell separator.
Methods:  Twenty-one patients with active and steroid-resistant UC were treated with leukocyte apheresis once a week for 4 weeks, and stool DAF concentrations were determined weekly by immunoassay.
Results:  After treatment, 11 (52%) of the 21 UC patients went into remission. Stool DAF concentrations decreased promptly and steadily in the responsive group. The difference reached statistical significance as soon as after the second apheresis session ( P <  0.003), compared with values before the therapy and corresponding values in the non-responsive group ( P =  0.024). The reduction in stool DAF concentrations after the second apheresis session was significantly greater in the responsive group (median 90%, range 22–90%) than in the non-responsive group (median −13%, range −307–94%) ( P =  0.008). Hematological tests, that is, white blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein, declined significantly during the apheresis therapy, but not in relation to therapeutic response.
Conclusion:  Stool DAF concentration is a useful marker in the clinical response of UC patients to treatment with leukocyte apheresis.     

Retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy using radiofrequency ablation

Two patients with renal tumors underwent retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy. The renal tumors were initially treated with radiofrequency ablation. This method allowed tumor excision to be achieved without clamping the renal pedicle. Residual renal function was well maintained as determined by enhanced computed tomography scanning and measurement of the serum creatinine level. There were no complications such as vascular damage or collecting system injury. The pathological diagnosis was clear cell carcinoma (pT1) in Patient 1 and was not determined in Patient 2 because of entire ablation. No recurrence has been observed after 3 years and 2 years of follow up, respectively. Radiofrequency ablation was useful for control of local bleeding during retroperitonaoscopic partial nephrectomy.     

Management of concomitant ureteral carcinoma in situ at radical cystectomy

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate and define the management of concomitant ureteral carcinoma in situ (CIS) at radical cystectomy. METHODS: For 158 consecutive patients, who underwent radical cystectomy for invasive bladder cancer, ureteral CIS missed by preoperative examinations were evaluated by intraoperative analysis of frozen sections or postoperative histological analysis. The median follow-up period was 3.4 years. RESULTS: In total, 15 concomitant ureteral CIS were diagnosed by intraoperative (n=9) or postoperative analysis (n=6). Additional ureteral resection achieved no malignancies in the final ureteral margins of eight patients. During the follow-up period, five patients (3.6%) suffered from tumor recurrence in the upper urinary tract in total, as did three (20%) among the 15 patients with ureteral CIS missed by preoperative examinations. No recurrence was identified in the eight patients with no malignancy in the final ureteral margins after additional resection. Furthermore, multivariate analysis indicated that the presence of bladder CIS was a risk factor for the presence of concomitant ureteral CIS. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of concomitant ureteral CIS by intraoperative studies, in combination with complete resection of ureteral CIS, might be beneficial for patients with risk factors such as bladder CIS.     

Impact of hormonal therapy prior to radical prostatectomy on the recovery of quality of life

BACKGROUND: We investigated the changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients who underwent prostatectomy (RP) with or without neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (NHT). METHODS: A total of 72 patients undergoing direct RP (DRP group) and 26 patients receiving neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (NHT group) were enrolled in the present study. The baseline interview was conducted before RP (not initiation of therapy). Follow-up interviews were conducted in person at scheduled study visits of 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. We measured general and disease specific HRQOL with the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form and University of California, Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index, respectively. RESULTS: At baseline, the NHT group scored statistically lower for not only sexual function (P < 0.001), but also the general HRQOL, such as role limitations due to physical problems (P = 0.007), social function (P = 0.045) and mental health (P = 0.034), than the DRP group. The NHT group reported lower scores in social function and mental health at 3 months (P = 0.040 and 0.006, respectively). Patients who received NHT for more than 3 months continued to show significantly lower scores for some HRQOL domains 12 months later. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy may decrease not only sexual function, but also general HRQOL before surgery. The recovery of HRQOL appeared to be further prolonged in patients who received long-term NHT.     

Neoadjuvant flutamide monotherapy for locally confined prostate cancer

BACKGROUND: We compared the clinical effects and impact on quality of life (QOL) of patients who received a 3-month course of flutamide monotherapy before radical prostatectomy with those who received a 3-month course of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist monotherapy. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with non-metastatic prostate cancer were enrolled in this study (19, flutamide; 18, LHRH agonist). The rates of change of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and testosterone levels, downsizing of prostate volume, the rate of organ confined disease, adverse effects and perioperative scores measured using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Prostate Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-P) and the Sapporo Medical University Sexual Function Questionnaire (SMUF) were analyzed. RESULTS: At radical prostatectomy, pathological variables were not significantly different in the two groups. Serum testosterone level was significantly higher (mean 359.2 compared to 10.5, P < 0.001), complete response rate of PSA (13% compared to 57%, P = 0.028) and rate of downsizing of prostate volume (mean, -17.7% compared to -35.4%, P = 0.038) were significantly lower in the flutamide group than in the LHRH group. After neoadjuvant hormone therapy, the scores on the sexual problem domain of EORTC-P (P = 0.033) and sexual desire score of SMUF (P = 0.021) were significantly higher in the flutamide group than in the LHRH group. At a median follow-up of 34 months after prostatectomy, biochemical failure-free survival rate in the flutamide group did not differ from that in the LHRH group. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that flutamide monotherapy can be an acceptable modality as an option for neoadjuvant hormone therapy.