The Predictive Value of the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index for the Progression of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Men.

INTRODUCTION: This retrospective cross-sectional observational study aimed to investigate the predictive value of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) for the progression of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total of 280 patients diagnosed with LUTS were analyzed, and their demographic characteristics, laboratory results, urological parameters, and SII levels were recorded retrospectively. RESULTS: Clinical progression of LUTS was observed in 43.2% of the patients, with 23.9% undergoing surgery and 21.4% progressing to acute urinary retention. The study found that elevated SII levels were significantly correlated with disease progression and worse outcomes. Multivariate analysis revealed that peak urinary flow rate, erectile function scores, and platelet levels were risk factors for predicting clinical progression in LUTS/BPH patients. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that systemic inflammation and immune dysregulation play a role in BPH pathogenesis and the development of LUTS. Incorporating SII assessment into routine clinical practice could aid in risk stratification, treatment decision-making, and monitoring of disease progression in LUTS/BPH patients.

Novel predictive risk factor of erectile dysfunction: Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D.

The present study aimed to investigate the association between the severity of erectile dysfunction (ED) and serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D. It also sought to determine the cut-off level of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D for ED. This study included 130 men who had ED between 2018 and 2019. Patients were divided into three groups according to their scores on the international index of erectile function-5 (IIEF-5) Turkish validated short form questionnaire. The serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D results were compared between the groups. The mean age of the patients was 49.28 ± 13.62 years. Groups 1, 2 and 3 included 44 (33.8%) patients with severe ED, 56 (43.1%) patients with moderate ED and 30 (23.1%) patients with mild ED, respectively. Statistical significance was observed between the groups and serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels. A positive correlation was detected between the IIEF-5 scores, serum testosterone and serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels. A cut-off level for serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D was calculated as 27.32 ng/ml. During multivariate analysis, we found that serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were independent prognostic risk factors for decreased IIEF-5 scores. Decreased serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were associated with decreased IIEF-5 scores. Therefore, vitamin D replacement therapy may improve symptoms.

Effect of anxiety and pain on success of shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) for treatment of proximal ureteral and renal pelvic stones.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of anxiety and pain on success of shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) for treatment of proximal ureteral and renal pelvic stones smaller than 15 mm. One hundred thirty-two patients with proximal ureteral or renal pelvic stones <15 mm who were treated by a SWL and forty controls were enrolled in the study. State-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) was used to assess anxiety of the controls and patients (before every SWL session). Pains of the patients were measured by a visual analog scale (VAS) at three times (T) of the sessions (T11 at 11 kV, T15 at 15 kV and T end of treatment). The mean STAI scores of the patients at the first SWL session and controls were 40.61 ± 8.71 and 36.11 ± 8.18, respectively (p < 0.05). There was statistically positive moderate relationship between STAI and VAS scores at the first SWL session. The mean size of stone in men and women were 11.16 ± 2.88 and 11.00 ± 3.41, respectively (p = 0.88). In the first session, the mean STAI and VAS scores of the men were significantly lower than the women. The stone-free rate (SFR) of SWL was 72.7 % in this study. The SFR of SWL in the men and women were 78 and 64 %, respectively (p < 0.05). Our data showed that the severity of anxiety and pain in the women were higher than the men. SFR of SWL in the men was higher than the women. The severity of anxiety and pain in the patients may affect SFR of SWL.

Effect of lisinopril on renal tissue damage in unilateral ureteral obstruction in rats.

In this study, it was aimed to investigate apoptosis in renal injury and the effect of lisinopril in rat model, which constitute unilateral ureteral obstruction. The retroperitoneal ureter was ligated with a 4.0 silk for the experimental model of ureteral obstruction in Wistar albino rats. Untreated group (n = 20) received no treatment. For the lisinopril-treated group (n = 20), 20 mg/kg/day of drug was given orally. Ultrastructural differences were analyzed using electron microscopic technique; apoptotic distribution was analyzed using the TUNEL method. After electron microscopic evaluation, on the 4th and 14th day in the untreated group, edema in the glomeruli, loss of microvillus and apoptotic cells in proximal tubule cells and sclerosis in the glomeruli were detected. On the 4th day in the lisinopril-treated group, the kidney was ultrastructurally normal and a less number of apoptotic cells were only observed on the 14th day. On light microscopic examination on the 4th and 14th day in the untreated group, while the glomeruli were normal in structure, the boundary of the proximal tubule was disrupted and some picnotic cells in both the proximal and collecting tubules were observed. In both 4th and 14th day of the lisinopril-treated group, kidney showed normal structure, although in some places picnotic cells in the collecting tubules were observed. In conclusion, lisinopril was effective and it may prevent early renal damage in the direct obstruction model.

Comparative study of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy outcomes for proximal and distal ureteric stones.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) monotherapy for isolated proximal ureteral calculi and compare it to that for isolated distal calculi. PATIENT AND METHODS: We treated 68 patients with isolated ureteral stones using MPL 9000. Stones were located in the proximal and distal ureters in 44 and 24 patients, respectively. Patients were stratified according to stone burden and degree of obstruction. Data of all patients were prospectively collected for stone burden, stone localization, number of sessions, number of shock waves, stone-free rates (SFRs), complications, re-treatment rates and auxiliary procedures. Outcomes regarding ureteral localization were compared. RESULTS: The overall SFR was 85.3% with a 41.2% re-treatment and 17.6% auxiliary procedure rate. The mean number of shock waves applied for each stone was not different among the two ureteral locations. The SFRs were 86.3% and 79.1% for proximal and distal ureteral stones, respectively (P=0.17). For the group with stones <100 mm(2), the SFR was 85.4% and 89.5% for the proximal and distal ureter, respectively. Although the degree of obstruction did not affect SFR of the entire group (P=0.12) and the proximal ureter group (P=0.96), it adversely affected SFR in the distal ureter (P=0.017). CONCLUSIONS: ESWL outcomes for the ureteral calculi support the use of lithotripsy particularly for stones <100 mm(2). Treatment efficacy was not significantly different among stones localized in proximal and distal ureters. Degree of obstruction did not affect the ESWL outcomes in the proximal ureter, but it adversely affected SFR in the distal ureter.

Comparative results of shockwave lithotripsy for renal calculi in upper, middle, and lower calices.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To assess the results of shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) for renal calculi in upper, middle, and lower calices according to the stone burden. PATIENT AND METHODS: A series of 52 female and 66 male patients with a mean age of 47.8 years and isolated single caliceal stones who underwent SWL monotherapy were enrolled. Stone burden, stone location, number of sessions/shockwaves, and auxiliary procedures were noted for each patient. Stones were located in the upper, middle, and lower calices of 35, 43, and 40, patients respectively, with mean stone burdens of 81.4 mm2, 75.2 mm2, and 96.3 mm2, respectively. Patients were evaluated with intravenous urography, plain film, or ultrasonography. Success was determined 3 months after the last session. Re-treatment rates were calculated. The effect of anatomic factors on the success of treatment for lower-caliceal stones also was determined. RESULTS: The mean stone burden, median number of treatment sessions, and mean number of shockwaves were 84.2 mm2, 2, and 4344, respectively. The auxiliary procedure rate was 16.1%, and the re-treatment rate was 71.2%. Failure was noted in 26 patients (22%). The stone-free rates for stones in the upper, middle, and lower calices were 82.8%, 83.4%, and 67.5%, respectively (P = 0.14). The stone-free rates for stones <100 mm2 and 100 to 200 mm2 were 91.2% and 65.5%, respectively (P = 0.001). The efficiency quotient was 49.8, 44.8, and 32.5 for upper-, middle-, and lower-caliceal stones, respectively. Infundibular length (P = 0.006) and infundibular width (P + 0.036) were significant in determining the stone-free rate after treatment of lower-caliceal stones. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend SWL as the first choice for treatment of stones <200 mm2 in the upper and middle calices. Extracorporeal lithotripsy is one of the options for lower-caliceal stones <200 mm2 but has high re-treatment and auxiliary-procedure rates in these cases.