A new nomogram of urinary flow rate and volume based on multiple measurements per healthy adult Japanese men using a portable uroflowmeter (P-Flowdiary®).

BACKGROUND: To develop a nomogram of urinary volume and flow based on the data of Japanese men without lower urinary tract symptoms and multiple flows per participant whose characteristics were clear. METHODS: Overall, 101 Japanese male volunteers without lower urinary tract symptoms aged between 20 and 59 years were enrolled. A portable uroflowmeter (P-Flowdiary®) was used to record urinary information (flow rate and volume) for 2 successive days. The model (quadratic, linear, or logarithmic regression) most fit for the relationship between maximum flow rate and voided volume was determined. The maximum flow rate at > 150 mL was compared among the 20-29-, 30-39-, 40-49-, and 50-59-year age groups. Nomograms appropriate for the age groups were created. RESULTS: The mean age, International Prostate Symptom Score, and Overactive Bladder Symptom Score were 38.5 years, 0.42, and 0.24, respectively. The quadratic regression model was the most fit because its mean coefficient determination was 0.93 ± 0.06. The mean maximum flow rate was significantly lower in the 50-59-year age group (21.8 ± 5.05 mL/s, P < 0.01) than in the younger groups (24.14 ± 4.94, 24.05 ± 6.99, and 24.64 ± 5.72 mL/s). The 2 nomograms are Y = 28.99 {1 - exp(- 0.01 × X)} and Y = 25.67 {1 - exp(- 0.01 × X)} for the 20-49- and 50-59-year age groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The nomogram can predict maximum flow rate based on voided volume in Japanese men aged 20-59 years without lower urinary tract symptoms.

Linkage of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms to Sleep Quality in Elderly Men with Nocturia: A Community Based Study Using Home Measured Electroencephalogram Data.

PURPOSE: We objectively investigated the relationship between sleep quality/efficiency and factors associated with micturition using at-home electroencephalogram assessment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were recruited from among those enrolled in the Fujiwara-kyo Study, a community based longitudinal evaluation that began in Nara Prefecture, Japan, in 2007. Included participants were men at least 65 years old who woke up in the middle of the night/early morning at least 3 times per week with the urge to void. We evaluated lower urinary tract symptoms using the I-PSS and subjective sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Uroflowmetry and 3-day frequency volume charting measurements were also obtained. Electroencephalogram recordings were obtained during sleep to evaluate objective sleep quality. RESULTS: Final analysis included data from 47 participants. I-PSS-quality of life score and slow wave sleep time were independent predictors of good subjective sleep quality as determined by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores. Nocturnal urinary volume was an independent predictor of greater sleep efficiency. Maximum flow rate was an independent predictor of longer slow wave sleep time. CONCLUSIONS: In elderly men with nocturia, sleep quality is associated with lower urinary tract function. Higher subjective sleep quality is associated with longer slow wave sleep time and less severe lower urinary tract symptoms. Higher objective sleep quality is further associated with a higher urinary flow rate and lower nocturnal urinary volume.

[A Case of Difficult-to-Diagnose Carcinomatous Meningitis Caused by Prostate Cancer Metastasis].

A 66-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of right leg pain. Computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple osteolytic changes. His serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was increased to 77.83 ng/ml at the time of hospitalization. A prostate biopsy was performed, and histological examination results indicated poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Under the diagnosis of multiple bone metastasis of prostate cancer, androgen deprivation therapy was started. However, 1 month later, the patient was confused and lost appetite. Brain CT image demonstrated brain metastasis, and magnetic resonance image showed hydrocephalus. Although the patient underwent ventricular drainage because of a depressed level of consciousness, he died of primary disease complicated by pneumonia 3 months after the first visit. Perioperative cerebrospinal fluid cytological examination revealed adenocarcinoma cells. Therefore, a diagnosis of carcinomatous meningitis caused by prostate cancer metastasis was made.

[The efficacy of the use of acetic acid test in a case of local recurrence of penile carcinoma].

A 62-old-year male presented to our hospital with induration of the prepuce and bleeding from the glans penis that occurred during sexual intercourse. Scrape cytology was performed, which showed class V, suspected squamous cell carcinoma. Computed tomography showed no metastases, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed no invasion of the corpus spongiosum. Circumcision and resection of the glanstumor were performed. Histopathological examination revealed squamous cell carcinoma in situ. We diagnosed the case as penile carcinoma in situ (pTisN0M0, UICC stage 0, and Jackson stage I). At 6 months postoperatively, local recurrence of penile carcinoma was detected by visual inspection after 5% acetic acid staining, and tumor resection was performed. At 9 months postoperatively (after the 2nd resection), the patient has remained disease-free, with no evidence of recurrence.

[Case of inflammatory pseudotumor occurring in the renal pelvis].

Inflammatory pseudotumor most commonly involves the lung. However, inflammatory pseudotumor has been reported in various sites in the abdomen, including the kidneys, retroperitoneum and urinary tract. We present a rare case of pathologically proven inflammatory pseudotumor in the renal pelvis. A 45-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with gross hematuria. Computed tomography demonstrated a mass around the right renal pelvocalyceal system suggestive of cystic renal cell carcinoma. Retrogradepyelography was done. Pelvic urine cytology was class III. The possibility of urothelial carcinoma could not be denied. Retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy with open bladder cuff excision was performed. The histological examination revealed an inflammatory pseudotumor. She showed no evidence of disease 44 months after the operation.

[Renal pelvic tumor with difficult radiological diagnosis : a report of two cases].

Case 1 : A 60-year-old man presented with right flank pain. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a large right renal tumor, multiple lung metastases, multiple liver metastases, and tumor thrombus of the right renal vein. These findings were strongly suggestive of renal cell carcinoma. The patient suddenly complained of dyspnea at night due to bilateral pulmonary embolism, and the patient died 11 days after onset. Needle necropsy showed that the tumors were squamous cell carcinomas of the renal pelvis. Case 2 : A 66-year-old man presented with macrohematuria. An abdominal CT scan revealed a right renal mass and liver metastasis. The differential diagnosis was between renal cell carcinoma and urothelial carcinoma. A renal biopsy revealed urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis. The patient died of the disease 3 months after initiation of chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin. We report these 2 cases to emphasize the importance of renal biopsy and thorough histological analysis for the determination of treatment strategies against unresectable renal tumors.

[A case of tethered cord syndrome in an elderly man].

A 71-year-old man had been under treatment for nocturia with an anti-cholinergic agent at a urologic clinic for the last 2 years. Because the symptoms did not improve, he was referred to our hospital for treatment of urinary retention. Based on the findings of a neurological examination, we suspected the presence of a neurogenic bladder due to sacral lesions. Moreover, magnetic resonance imaging indicated tethered cord syndrome (TCS) due to spinal cord lipoma. He underwent surgical treatment for TCS, which improved storage function, but not voiding function. Generally speaking, we believe that early diagnosis of TCS facilitates early surgery that can prevent the development of neurogenic disorders. In the present case, if the neurological findings had been appropriately assessed and cystometry/urodynamic studies had been performed at an earlier stage, a prompt diagnosis could have been made and surgery could have been performed earlier as well. Although adult cases with TCS are rarely observed, TCS should be considered as one of the causes of intractable lower urinary tract symptoms.

[The observation of bilateral pheochromocytoma after unilateral adrenalectomy : a case report].

We report a case of bilateral pheochromocytoma which was incidentally discovered by ultrasonography at a health check-up. A 46-year-old female was admitted to our hospital for further examination of a right adrenal tumor. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a right adrenal tumor, 5 cm in size, and a left adrenal tumor, 1.5 cm in size. High serum noradrenaline and urine noradrenaline levels were noted. 131I-MIBG scintigraphy revealed an abnormal accumulation of 131 I in the tumors. Thus, our clinical diagnosis was bilateral pheochromocytoma. Laparoscopic right adrenalectomy was performed. The histopathological examination revealed pheochromocytoma, no capsule injury and no malignancy. We decided to continue watchful waiting of the left adrenal tumor, because the serum and urine levels of catecholamine were within the normal range after the operation. She has been well with no clinical symptoms, no increase in tumor size, and no elevation of catecholamine for 20 months.

[Fibrosarcoma of the spermatic cord detected with an inguinal tumor : a case report].

We report a case of fibrosarcoma of the spermatic cord detected with an inguinal tumor. A 45-year old man was admitted to our hospital for further examination of a right inguinal tumor. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a right spermatic cord tumor,45 mm in size, and a retroperitoneal tumor in proximity to the right external iliac artery,55 mm in size. He was clinically suspected as having malignant lymphoma. As the differential diagnosis, liposarcoma and leiomyosarcoma were considered. High orchidectomy was performed for the purpose of diagnosis. The histopathological examination suggested fibrosarcoma, with a positive surgical margin. Six days after high orchidectomy, retroperitoneal tumor extirpation was performed. Total resection was difficult because the adhesion with the external iliac vein was strong. The tumor was extirpated as much as possible. The result of the histopathological examination showed fibrosarcoma. Adjuvant radiotherapy (54 Gy) was performed. After radiotherapy, local recurrence was detected by CT. He underwent systemic chemotherapy with adriamycin (60 mg/m2). After 3 courses, there was a slight reduction in tumor size. However, his general condition rapidly deteriorated with marked cachexy and he died six months from the first medical examination.

[Clinical utility of measurement of procalcitonin for diagnosis of urosepsis].

We assessed the diagnostic value of procalcitonin (PCT) in urosepsis on 54 patients with urinary tract infections (UTI), suspected of having urosepsis. The results of urine culture, blood culture, and serum concentrations of PCT were analyzed. Overall, the sensitivity and specificity of PCT for bacteremia were as follows : 100 and 31.6% at concentrations of >0.5 ng/ml and 75.0 and 78.9% at concentrations of >10 ng/ml. we concluded that the PCT level could be a reliable early marker suggestive of urosepsis, and may be helpful when deciding whether to perform immediate urological intervention or not.

Significant Improvement of Prognosis After the Advent of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients with Advanced, Unresectable, or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma: A Propensity Score Matching and Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting Analysis on Real-World Data.

PURPOSE: The treatment landscape for advanced, unresectable, or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (aUC) has shifted substantially since the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). We investigated the extent to which pembrolizumab therapy is superior to conventional chemotherapy as a second-line treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multicenter-derived database registered 454 patients diagnosed with aUC between 2008 and 2020. Of these, 94 patients (21%) who received second-line pembrolizumab and 75 (17%) who received second-line chemotherapy but never received third-line or later ICI therapy were included. We compared overall survival (OS) from the initial date of first-line chemotherapy between two groups by adjusting for prognostic factors through propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). The IPTW-adjusted hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval were estimated using a multivariate Cox regression analysis. To identify patients who were more likely to benefit from second-line pembrolizumab than from chemotherapy, we performed a subgroup analysis for OS with an IPTW-adjusted model. RESULTS: The PSM-adjusted comparison showed a significant improvement in the prognosis with second-line pembrolizumab use (P = 0.01). The OS benefit with the advent of pembrolizumab was 8 months (18 months vs 26 months). Multivariable analyses using IPTW adjustment demonstrated that lymph node metastasis (P = 0.001), lung metastasis (P = 0.013), and bone metastasis (P = 0.003) were poor independent prognostic factors, and pembrolizumab use (P = 0.021) was a favorable independent prognostic factor. Subgroup analyses revealed that pembrolizumab was associated with survival benefits over chemotherapy in all subgroups, including young patients (age <70 years), those who received radical surgery, and those without visceral metastasis. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated a significant improvement in prognosis after the advent of pembrolizumab for patients with aUC. ICIs should not be restricted based on patient characteristics.

[Schwannoma arising from the urinary bladder wall: a case report].

A 50-year-old woman visited our department for further examination of incidental bladder tumor detected by ultrasound at her health check. Cystoscopy demonstrated a submucosal tumor in the anterior wall of the urinary bladder. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the tumor had high intensity in T2- weighted images. The slightly-elevated serum level of dopamine and uptake image in the meta iodobenzyl granidine-scintigraphy test suggested that she might have ectopic pheochromocytoma in the urinary bladder. Partial cystectomy with extirpation of the tumor was performed. The histological diagnosis was schwannoma, which is rarely found in the urinary bladder.

Renal cell neoplasm of oncocytosis: a type of unclassified renal cell carcinoma.

A 69-year-old woman was referred to us because a cyst in the lower pole of the left kidney had been pointed out on screening ultrasound. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a mural nodule of the wall of the cyst with an enhancement effect, suggesting cystic renal cell carcinoma (cT1aN0M0). The patient underwent retroperitoneoscopic non-ischemic partial nephrectomy using a microwave tissue coagulator. A hematoxylin-eosin-stained specimen showed that the wall of the cystic tumor consisted of the proliferation of large cells with rich eosinophilic granules in the cytoplasm and round-shaped nuclei, which were the characteristics of oncocytoma. This was followed by immunohistochemical studies, because of findings of local cell invasion, mitosis, and necrosis, suggesting malignancy. The results were: CK7, strongly positive; PAX2, negative; colloidal iron stain, negative; c-kit, weakly positive; vimentin, positive; and RCC marker, negative. Thus, although the tumor showed characteristics of oncocytoma and/or chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (pT1a), it could not be classified according to the known categories: it should be designated as renal cell carcinoma (neoplasm) of oncocytosis, a novel category of unclassified renal cell carcinomas. The present case indicated the fact that renal cell carcinomas resembling oncocytoma certainly exist.