Risk of CKD Following Detection of Microscopic Hematuria: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: Microscopic hematuria is an uncertain risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). We investigated the association between persistent or single episodes of microscopic hematuria and the development of incident CKD, overall and separately among men and women. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: A total of 232,220 Korean adults without CKD at baseline who underwent repeated regular health examinations at Kangbuk Samsung Health Study formed the study cohort. EXPOSURE: Microscopic hematuria was defined by≥5 red blood cells per high-power field. Participants were categorized into 1 of 4 groups according to the presence of hematuria at 2 consecutive examinations: (1) no hematuria at both examinations (reference group); (2) hematuria followed by no hematuria (regressed hematuria group); (3) no hematuria followed by hematuria (developed hematuria group); and (4) hematuria at both examinations (persistent hematuria group). OUTCOME: CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate<60mL/min/1.73m2 or proteinuria (1+or more on dipstick examination). ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Semiparametric proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios. RESULTS: During a 4.8-year median follow-up period, 2,392 participants developed CKD. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for incident CKD, comparing the regressed, developed, and persistent hematuria groups to the no-hematuria group were 1.85 (95% CI, 1.35-2.53), 3.18 (95% CI, 2.54-3.98), and 5.23 (95% CI, 4.15-6.59), respectively. The association between persistent hematuria and incident CKD was stronger in men than women (P for interaction<0.001), although a statistically significant association was observed in both sexes. LIMITATIONS: Lack of albuminuria and inability to consider specific glomerular diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Men and women with microscopic hematuria, especially persistent hematuria, may be at increased risk of CKD.

Prostate-Specific Antigen Within the Reference Range, Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis, and Cardiovascular Mortality.

RATIONALE: Although PSA (prostate-specific antigen)-a tumor marker for prostate cancer-has been reported to be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, studies on the association of PSA with subclinical and clinical CVD remain limited. OBJECTIVE: We examined the association of total serum PSA within the reference range with coronary artery calcium (CAC) score and CVD mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS: A cross-sectional study was performed in 88 203 Korean men who underwent a health checkup exam including cardiac tomography estimation of CAC score. Logistic regression model was used to calculate odds ratios with 95% CIs for prevalent CAC. PSA levels were inversely associated with the presence of CAC. After adjusting for potential confounders, multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (95% CIs) for prevalent CAC comparing PSA quartiles 2, 3, and 4 to the first quartile were 0.96 (0.90-1.01), 0.88 (0.83-0.93), and 0.85 (0.80-0.90), respectively ( P for trend, <0.001). A cohort study was performed in 243 435 Korean men with a mean age of 39.3 years, PSA values of <4.0 ng/mL, and without known CVD or prostate disease who were followed up with for ≤14 years for CVD mortality (median, 7.3 years). CVD deaths were ascertained through linkage to national death records. Hazard ratios and 95% CIs for CVD mortality were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. During 1 829 070.1 person-years of follow-up, 336 CVD deaths were identified. After adjustment for potential confounders, multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% CIs) for CVD mortality comparing PSA quartiles 2, 3, and 4 to the lowest quartile were 0.90 (0.66-1.22), 0.79 (0.58-1.08), and 0.69 (0.51-0.93), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Serum total PSA levels within the reference range showed an inverse association with subclinical atherosclerosis and CVD mortality in young and middle-aged Korean men, indicating a possible role of PSA as a predictive marker for subclinical and clinical CVD.

Superselective vesical artery embolization for intractable bladder hemorrhage related to pelvic malignancy.

BACKGROUND: Intractable bladder hemorrhage from pelvic malignancy can be potentially life-threatening and its management can be a challenging clinical problem. PURPOSE: To evaluate safety, efficacy, and clinical outcome of superselective vesical artery embolization for the control of intractable bladder hemorrhage from pelvic malignancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between January 2010 and September 2018, 20 patients underwent superselective vesical artery embolization for intractable hematuria secondary to pelvic malignancy arising from or invading the bladder. Treatment details and clinical outcomes were obtained. RESULTS: There were 12 men and 8 women (mean age = 77 years). Bilateral embolization was performed in 10 patients and unilateral approach in 10 patients. Two patients died within four days after embolization due to underlying heart failure and systemic metastasis, respectively. The remaining 18 patients had a follow-up of >30 days. Bleeding was controlled after the first embolization in 17/18 patients and after a repeat embolization in the remaining one patient. The mean follow-up period of 18 patients was 10.6 months (range = 1-77 months). Late recurrent hemorrhage (≥ 30 days after embolization) was reported in 6 (33.3%) patients. Five of these six patients underwent repeat embolization. There were no major complications related to embolization. CONCLUSION: Palliative superselective vesical artery embolization is a feasible, effective, and safe procedure to control intractable hematuria in patients with pelvic malignancy.

Glycemic Status, Insulin Resistance, and the Risk of Nephrolithiasis: A Cohort Study.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: The effect of glycemic status on nephrolithiasis risk remains controversial. This study sought to examine the association of glycemic status and insulin resistance with incident nephrolithiasis. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 278,628 Korean adults without nephrolithiasis who underwent a comprehensive health examination between 2011 and 2017. EXPOSURES: Glucose level, glycated hemoglobin level, and Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). OUTCOME: Nephrolithiasis ascertained using abdominal ultrasound. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: A parametric proportional hazard model was used to estimate adjusted HRs and 95% CIs. We explored prespecified potential sex differences in the association of glycemic status and incident nephrolithiasis. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 4.2 years, 6,904 participants developed nephrolithiasis. Associations between levels of glycemic status and incident nephrolithiasis were examined separately in men and women (P for interaction = 0.003). Among men, multivariable-adjusted HRs for incident nephrolithiasis comparing glucose levels of 90-99, 100-125, and ≥ 126 mg/dL were 1.10 (95% CI, 1.01-1.19), 1.11 (95% CI, 1.02-1.21), and 1.27 (95% CI, 1.10-1.46), respectively, while HRs for incident nephrolithiasis comparing glycated hemoglobin levels of 5.7%-5.9%, 6.0%-6.4%, and 6.5%-<5.7% were 1.03 (95% CI, 0.96-1.10), 1.18 (95% CI, 1.07-1.31), and 1.20 (95% CI, 1.06-1.37), respectively. The HR for incident nephrolithiasis comparing the highest HOMA-IR quintile to the lowest quintile was 1.18 (95% CI, 1.06-1.31). Among women, no apparent association was found between glycemic status and nephrolithiasis risk. LIMITATIONS: Glucose tolerance testing and computed tomography assessment for nephrolithiasis were not available. CONCLUSIONS: Higher glycemic values, even within the normoglycemic range, and HOMA-IR were positively associated with increased risk for nephrolithiasis, associations that were only observed among men. Insulin resistance and hyperglycemia may contribute to the development of nephrolithiasis, particularly among men.

Metabolically healthy and unhealthy obesity phenotypes and risk of renal stone: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Although obesity is considered an independent risk factor of nephrolithiasis, little is known about the effect of obesity on nephrolithiasis according to metabolic health status. We investigated the association between body mass index (BMI) category and the incidence of nephrolithiasis in metabolically healthy and unhealthy individuals. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The cohort consisted of 270,190 Korean adults free of nephrolithiasis at baseline, who were followed-up annually or biennially for a median of 4.1 years. Nephrolithiasis were determined based on ultrasonographic findings. Being metabolically healthy was defined as not having any metabolic syndrome component. A parametric Cox model was used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: During 1,415,523.0 person-years of follow-up, 13,450 participants developed nephrolithiasis (incidence rate, 9.5 per 1000 person-years). Obesity was positively associated with an increased risk of incident nephrolithiasis in dose-response manner, but the association was stronger in metabolically healthy individuals. Among metabolically healthy individuals, the multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) for incident nephrolithiasis comparing BMIs 23-24.9, 25-29.9, and ≥30 with a BMI of 18.5-22.9 kg/m2 as the reference were 1.02 (0.95-1.10), 1.12 (1.03-1.22), and 1.72 (1.21-2.44), respectively, whereas corresponding HRs (95% CIs) in metabolically unhealthy individuals were 1.10 (1.04-1.17), 1.27 (1.20-1.34), and 1.36 (1.22-1.51), respectively. The association between obesity and incident nephrolithiasis was stronger in men and current smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity was associated with a higher incidence of nephrolithiasis in both metabolically healthy and unhealthy individuals, indicating obesity per se as an independent risk factor for nephrolithiasis.

Mirabegron as a treatment for overactive bladder symptoms in men (MIRACLE study): Efficacy and safety results from a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel comparison phase IV study.

AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of mirabegron in males with overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms. METHODS: In total, 464 males with OAB symptoms were enrolled from 14 institutes and were sorted into either the mirabegron 50 mg (n = 310) or placebo (n = 154) groups. The change in (i) the mean number of 24-h micturition episodes; (ii) OAB Symptom Scale (OABSS); and (iii) International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) from baseline to 12 weeks of treatment were compared between the two groups. Safety assessments included treatment-emergent adverse events, blood pressure, pulse rate, postvoid residual volume, and maximum urinary flow rate. After 12 weeks, the study was extended for 14 additional weeks by administering mirabegron 50 mg to both groups. RESULTS: The reduction in the mean number of 24-h micturition episodes from baseline to 12 weeks of treatment was similar between the two groups. However, significantly greater changes from baseline to 12 weeks were observed in total OABSS, OABSS urgency incontinence score (Q4), IPSS storage subscore (Q2 + Q4 + Q7), and IPSS urgency score (Q4) in the mirabegron group (P = 0.01 for all). According to the extended study, the changes of all efficacy variables from baseline to 26 weeks were similar between both groups. The safety assessment results were also similar between the two groups at 12 and 26 weeks. CONCLUSION: A daily 50 mg dose of mirabegron for 12 weeks reduced OAB symptoms in men, and no significant adverse events compared to the placebo group were noted.

Solitary kidney and risk of chronic kidney disease.

The renal outcome of solitary kidney remains controversial. We examined the longitudinal association of congenital or acquired solitary kidney with the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). A cohort study was performed involving 271,171 Korean men and women free of CKD at baseline who underwent a health screening program and who were followed annually or biennially for an average of 5.4 years. Solitary kidney was determined based on ultrasonographic findings. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate of < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and/or the presence of proteinuria in two or more consecutive visits. During 1,472,519.6 person-years of follow-up, 2989 participants developed CKD (incidence rate: 2.0 per 1000 person-years). After adjustment for potential confounders, the aHR (95% CIs) for incident CKD comparing solitary kidney to the control was 3.26 (1.63-6.54). In analyses of cause-specific solitary kidney, aHR (95% CIs) for CKD comparing unilateral nephrectomy and congenital solitary kidney to the control were 6.18 (2.31-16.49) and 2.22 (0.83-5.92), respectively. The association between solitary kidney and CKD was stronger in men. Having a solitary kidney was independently associated with an increased risk of CKD development. Therefore, preventive strategies for reducing the risk of CKD are required in individuals with a solitary kidney.

Recent surgical treatments for urinary stone disease in a Korean population: National population-based study.

OBJECTIVES: To provide surgical treatment trends for urinary stone disease in Korea. METHODS: We analyzed medical service claim data of surgical treatments to urinary stone disease submitted by medical service providers from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service from 2009 to 2016. RESULTS: There was a significantly increasing trend among outpatients and inpatients for urinary stone disease from 2009 to 2016 (R2  = 0.643, P = 0.017; R2  = 0.575, P = 0.029). The number of shock wave lithotripsy for treating urinary stone disease increased by 16% from 89 553 in 2009 to 104 013 in 2016 (R2  = 0.684). The number of ureteroscopic lithotripsy increased by 97% from 6106 in 2009 to 12 057 in 2016 (R2  = 0.99). The number of flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy increased by 16-fold from 219 in 2009 to 3712 in 2016 (R2  = 0.756). The number of percutaneous nephrolithotomy increased by 99.7% from 919 in 2009 to 1835 in 2016 (R2  = 0.987). The use of non-contrast and contrast-enhanced computed tomography in the diagnostic codes for urinary stone disease increased by 394.8% and 263.3% from 2009 to 2016, respectively (R2  = 0.83; R2  = 0.967). Conversely, the use of intravenous pyelography decreased 26.2% over the same period (R2  = 0.945). CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient and inpatient procedures for urinary stone disease have increased over the past 8 years in Korea. Shock wave lithotripsy is the most widely used treatment modality for urinary stone disease, and endoscopic surgical procedures are rapidly being implemented. There has been a steep increase in the use of computed tomography, whereas conventional intravenous pyelography is declining.

Association Between Sonographically Diagnosed Nephrolithiasis and Subclinical Coronary Artery Calcification in Adults.

BACKGROUND: Although recent studies suggest an association between nephrolithiasis and clinical cardiovascular events, this association has been underexplored. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 62,091 asymptomatic adults without known coronary heart disease who underwent a screening health examination that included cardiac tomography. PREDICTOR: Nephrolithiasis. OUTCOME: Coronary artery calcification (CAC). MEASUREMENTS: Nephrolithiasis assessed using ultrasonography of the abdomen. CAC scoring assessed using cardiac computed tomography. RESULTS: The prevalence of CAC scores > 0 was 13.1% overall. Participants with nephrolithiasis had a higher prevalence of coronary calcification than those without (19.1% vs 12.8%). In Tobit models adjusted for age and sex, the CAC score ratio comparing participants with nephrolithiasis with those without nephrolithiasis was 1.56 (95% CI, 1.19-2.05). After further adjustment for screening center, year of screening examination, physical activity, alcohol intake, smoking status, education level, body mass index, family history of cardiovascular disease, total energy intake, glucose concentration, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride concentration, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, uric acid concentration, and estimated glomerular filtration rate, the CAC score ratio was attenuated, but remained significant (CAC score ratio, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.00-1.71). LIMITATIONS: Computed tomographic diagnosis of nephrolithiasis was unavailable. CONCLUSIONS: Nephrolithiasis was associated with the presence of CAC in adults without known coronary heart disease, supporting the hypothesis that these 2 health conditions share a common pathophysiology.

Association of 5α-Reductase Inhibitor Prescription With Bladder Cancer Progression in Males in South Korea.

Importance: The antiandrogenic effect of the 5α-reductase inhibitor (5-ARI) has been investigated for its role in preventing male-predominant cancers. Although 5-ARI has been widely associated with prostate cancer, its association with urothelial bladder cancer (BC), another cancer experienced predominantly by males, has been less explored. Objective: To assess the association between 5-ARI prescription prior to BC diagnosis and reduced risk of BC progression. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study analyzed patient claims data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. The nationwide cohort included all male patients with BC diagnosis in this database from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2019. Propensity score matching was conducted to balance the covariates between 2 treatment groups: α-blocker only group and 5-ARI plus α-blocker group. Data were analyzed from April 2021 to March 2023. Exposure: Newly dispensed prescriptions of 5-ARIs at least 12 months prior to cohort entry (BC diagnosis), with a minimum of 2 prescriptions filled. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcomes were the risks of bladder instillation and radical cystectomy, and the secondary outcome was all-cause mortality. To compare the risk of outcomes, the hazard ratio (HR) was estimated using a Cox proportional hazards regression model and difference in restricted mean survival time analysis. Results: The study cohort initially included 22 845 males with BC. After propensity score matching, 5300 patients each were assigned to the α-blocker only group (mean [SD] age, 68.3 [8.8] years) and 5-ARI plus α-blocker group (mean [SD] age, 67.8 [8.6] years). Compared with the α-blocker only group, the 5-ARI plus α-blocker group had a lower risk of mortality (adjusted HR [AHR], 0.83; 95% CI, 0.75-0.91), bladder instillation (crude HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.77-0.92), and radical cystectomy (AHR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.62-0.88). The differences in restricted mean survival time were 92.6 (95% CI, 25.7-159.4) days for all-cause mortality, 88.1 (95% CI, 25.2-150.9) days for bladder instillation, and 68.0 (95% CI, 31.6-104.3) days for radical cystectomy. The incidence rates per 1000 person-years were 85.59 (95% CI, 80.53-90.88) for bladder instillation and 19.57 (95% CI, 17.41-21.91) for radical cystectomy in the α-blocker only group and 66.43 (95% CI, 62.22-70.84) for bladder instillation and 13.56 (95% CI, 11.86-15.45) for radical cystectomy in the 5-ARI plus α-blocker group. Conclusions and relevance: Results of this study suggest an association between prediagnostic prescription of 5-ARI and reduced risk of BC progression.

TNM-Based Head-to-Head Comparison of Urachal Carcinoma and Urothelial Bladder Cancer: Stage-Matched Analysis of a Large Multicenter National Cohort.

PURPOSE: Outcome analysis of urachal cancer (UraC) is limited due to the scarcity of cases and different staging methods compared to urothelial bladder cancer (UroBC). We attempted to assess survival outcomes of UraC and compare to UroBC after stage-matched analyses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 203 UraC patients from a multicenter database and 373 UroBC patients in single institution from 2000 to 2018 were enrolled (median follow-up, 32 months). Sheldon stage conversion to corresponding TNM staging for UraC was conducted for head-to-head comparison to UroBC. Perioperative clinical variables and pathological results were recorded. Stage-matched analyses for survival by stage were conducted. RESULTS: UraC patients were younger (mean age, 54 vs. 67 years; p < 0.001), with 163 patients (80.3%) receiving partial cystectomy and 23 patients (11.3%) radical cystectomy. UraC was more likely to harbor ≥ pT3a tumors (78.8% vs. 41.8%). While 5-year recurrence-free survival, cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival were comparable between two groups (63.4%, 67%, and 62.1% in UraC and 61.5%, 75.9%, and 67.8% in UroBC, respectively), generally favorable prognosis for UraC in lower stages (pT1-2) but unfavorable outcomes in higher stages (pT4) compared to UroBC was observed, although only 5-year CSS in ≥ pT4 showed statistical significance (p=0.028). Body mass index (hazard ratio [HR], 0.929), diabetes mellitus (HR, 1.921), pathologic T category (HR, 3.846), and lymphovascular invasion (HR, 1.993) were predictors of CSS for all patients. CONCLUSION: Despite differing histology, UraC has comparable prognosis to UroBC with relatively favorable outcome in low stages but worse prognosis in higher stages. The presented system may be useful for future grading and risk stratification of UraC.

Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy for gynecologic malignancies: evaluation of the surgical approach and outcomes over a seven-year experience.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic lymphadenectomy in patients with gynecologic malignancies and improve upon the existing published data regarding laparoscopic lymphadenectomy. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 225 patients with various gynecologic malignancies who had undergone laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy (LPL) and/or laparoscopic para-aortic lymphadenectomy (LPAL) at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital between November 2003 and October 2010. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-two patients underwent both LPL and LPAL, 47 patients underwent LPL alone, and six patients underwent a repeat laparoscopic lymphadenectomy. The median age and body mass index of the patients were 49.4 years (range 23-79 years) and 24.2 kg/m(2) (range 17.5-37.2 kg/m(2)). The median numbers of harvested pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes were 25.9 (range 3-63) and 10.6 (range 1-34), respectively. The median operating times for the LPL and LPAL were 72.3 min (range 40-120 min) and 40 min (range 20-70 min), respectively. There were seven cases of major vessel injuries, two lymphocytes, two lymphedemas, and two chylous ascites. There was no unplanned conversion to laparotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy can be considered a technically feasible and safe procedure and has become the alternative modality in the field of gynecologic oncology surgery. And our results could reinforce the existing published data regarding laparoscopic lymphadenectomy.

Association between prostatic 18F-FDG uptake and lower urinary tract symptoms assessed by International Prostate Symptom Score.

PURPOSE Inflammation is known to induce prostatic growth and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) progression in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), but clinical indicators for intraprostatic inflammation other than biopsy have not yet been established. While 2-deoxy- 2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is a useful tool for investigating inflammatory conditions, prostatic FDG uptake in patients with BPH has not been elucidated. Therefore, we evaluated the association between prostatic FDG uptake and LUTS. METHODS A total of 391 men in their 50s who underwent FDG PET/CT during health examinations were included. Mean and maximal prostatic standard uptake values (SUVs) on FDG PET/CT were measured. Prostatic volume, focal FDG uptake, and calcification were also evaluated. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) for LUTS was collected at baseline and follow- ups. The correlation between IPSS and other variables was analyzed. RESULTS The mean age of the study participants was 51.7 years, and the mean follow-up interval was 39.7 months. The average of the mean and maximal SUV for prostatic FDG uptake was 1.8 and 2.6, respectively. The prostate volume was 18.5 cm3. The mean IPSS was 4.82 at baseline and 5.46 at follow-ups. Neither the mean SUV nor the maximal SUV of prostatic FDG uptake was correlated with IPSS at baseline or follow-ups. Conversely, prostate volume was associated with baseline IPSS and follow-up IPSS. CONCLUSION Prostatic FDG uptake did not show a significant association with IPSS on FDG PET/CT as well as at follow-ups. FDG uptake may not reflect prostatic growth in nonmalignant cases.

Performance of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) renal arteriography for renal tumor embolization.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate tumor feeders, image quality, and performance of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) renal arteriography for renal tumor embolization. METHODS: Fifty-four patients with renal tumors were included in this study. The performance of CBCT renal arteriography was classified into three groups: group A, all tumor feeders could be confirmed solely based on the CBCT maximum intensity projection (MIP); group B, all feeders were detected in CBCT MIP, but there were some possible feeders which needed to be confirmed with selective digital subtraction angiography (DSA); and group C, tumor feeders were not detected in CBCT MIP, hence, the feeder was detected based on selective DSA. Tumor size, location, and enhancement on pre-procedure CT and tumor identification, overall image quality, breathing motion and opacification of the renal collecting system on CBCT MIP were also evaluated. RESULTS: There were 32 (59.2%) patients in group A, 15 (27.8%) patients in group B, and 7 (13.0%) patients in group C. Significant determining factors for performance of CBCT renal arteriography were age, tumor identification, overall image quality, and breathing motion (all p < 0.05). In six out of seven cases in group C, overall image quality deteriorated due to breathing motion (significant blurring of renal artery branches with difficulty in identifying the interlobar artery level). CONCLUSION: In most cases, CBCT renal arteriography was sufficient to detect tumor feeders for renal tumor embolization. However, additional selective DSA is required when the overall image quality deteriorates owing to the patient's motion.

Gut microbiota and the prevalence and incidence of renal stones.

The role of the gut microbiome in the development of renal stone diseases has not been well characterized. This study focused on the taxonomic and functional profiles of gut microbiomes according to the prevalence and incidence of nephrolithiasis. Stool samples from 915 Korean adults were collected at baseline. Participants were followed for a median of 4.0 years. We evaluated the biodiversity of the gut microbiota and taxonomic profiles associated with nephrolithiasis status, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Nephrolithiasis status was categorized into three groups: control (no-stone at both baseline and follow-up visits), incidental nephrolithiasis, and prevalent nephrolithiasis. Compared to the control and incidental nephrolithiasis, the prevalent nephrolithiasis showed a reduced evenness in alpha diversity. Nephrolithiasis was associated with a reduced abundance of some key taxa involved in short-chain fatty acid production. Moreover, the abundance of Bifidobacterium, which possess oxalate-degrading ability, was higher in the control. Conversely, there was no significant difference in the bacterial composition between the incidental and prevalent nephrolithiasis. In our study with repeated nephrolithiasis measurements, prevalent renal stones were associated with an altered gut microbiota composition compared to the control. Besides the known oxalate degradation pathway, other functional pathways inferred in this study require further investigation.

Does conventional or single port laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy affect female sexual function?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of conventional and single port laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) on sexual function in premenopausal women. DESIGN: A prospective case-control study. SETTING: University teaching hospital. Population. A total of 95 premenopausal women having LAVH from January 2009 to December 2009. METHODS: Comparison of 47 premenopausal women who had single port LAVH using trans-umbilical GelPort access (SP-LAVH group) and 48 premenopausal women who had conventional multiport LAVH (conventional LAVH group). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Evaluation of sexual function was done prior to and six months after surgery using a validated tool, the female sexual function index (FSFI). RESULTS: In terms of women's demographic characteristics and operative results, there was no significant difference between the two study groups, or between pre- and postoperative individual domain scores or total female sexual function index in women who underwent either conventional or single port LAVH. CONCLUSIONS: Neither conventional nor single port LAVH affects sexual function in premenopausal women. Women can be counseled that this type of surgery is unlikely to alter sexual function.

The Prognosis and Oncological Predictor of Urachal Carcinoma of the Bladder: A Large Scale Multicenter Cohort Study Analyzed 203 Patients With Long Term Follow-Up.

AIM: This study evaluated the prognosis and survival predictors for bladder urachal carcinoma (UC), based on large scale multicenter cohort with long term follow-up database. METHODS: A total 203 patients with bladder UC treated at 19 hospitals were enrolled. Clinical parameters on carcinoma presentation, diagnosis, and therapeutic methods were reviewed for the primary cancer and for all subsequent recurrences. The stage of UC was stratified by Mayo and Sheldon pathological staging system. Oncological outcomes and the possible clinicopathological parameters associated with survival outcomes were investigated. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 54.2 years. Among the total of 203 patients, stages I, II, III, and IV (Mayo stage) were 48 (23.8%), 108 (53.5%), 23 (11.4%), and 23 (11.4%), respectively. Gross hematuria and bladder irritation symptoms were the two most common initial symptoms. The mean follow-up period was 65 months, and 5-year overall survival rates (OS), cancer-specific survival rates (CSS), and recurrence-free survival rates (RFS) were 88.3, 83.1, and 63.9%, respectively. For the patients with Mayo stage ≥III, OS, CSS, and RFS were significantly decreased to 38.0, 35.2, and 28.4%, respectively. The higher pathological stage (Mayo stage ≥III, Sheldon stage ≥IIIc), positive surgical margin (PSM), and positive lymphovascular invasion (PLM) were independent predictors of shorter OS, CSS, and RFS. CONCLUSION: The pathological stage, PSM, and PLM were significantly associated with the survival of UC patients, emphasizing an importance of the complete surgical resection of tumor lesion.

Efficacy and safety of dose escalation in male patients with overactive bladder showing poor efficacy after low-dose antimuscarinic treatment: A retrospective multicenter study.

PURPOSE: To analyze the efficacy and safety of standard-dose antimuscarinic treatment on male patients with overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms showing poor efficacy after low-dose antimuscarinics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 566 male patients aged ≥40 with OAB symptoms between January 2017 and June 2018. They were treated with low-dose antimuscarinics for at least 4 weeks and showed poor efficacy; therefore, they were switched to standard dose antimuscarinic treatment (5 mg of solifenacin) for ≥12 weeks. The international prostate symptom score (IPSS) and overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS) at baseline (V0), 4 weeks (V1), and 12 weeks (V2) were analyzed. Post void residual urine volume (PVR) was also recorded. RESULTS: The median age, body mass index, and prostate-specific antigen levels were 69.0 years, 24.2 kg/m², and 1.24 ng/dL, respectively. The mean value of the total IPSS and OABSS significantly decreased between V0 and V2 (from 16.73 to 13.69 and 7.33 to 5.34, respectively, all p<0.001). All component scores from each questionnaire demonstrated a significant decrease except for numbers three and six on the IPSS questionnaire. PVR was increased from V0 to V2 (36.40 to 68.90 mL, p=0.015). Four and nine patients experienced constipation and thirst, respectively, and all adverse effects were graded as ≤2. CONCLUSIONS: Standard dose antimuscarinic treatment using solifenacin (5 mg) may be a safe and effective treatment for patients with OAB symptoms refractory to low-dose antimuscarinic treatment.

The current status of hormone treatment for prostate cancer patients in Korean real-world practice: a multi-institutional observational study.

We aimed to evaluate the current nationwide trend, efficacy, safety, and quality of life (QoL) profiles of hormone treatment in real-world practice settings for prostate cancer (PCa) patients in Korea. A total of 292 men with any biopsy-proven PCa (TanyNanyMany) from 12 institutions in Korea were included in this multi-institutional, observational study of prospectively collected data. All luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists were allowed to be investigational drugs. Efficacy was defined as (1) the rate of castration (serum testosterone ≤50 ng dl-1) at 4-week visit and (2) breakthrough (serum testosterone >50 ng dl-1 after castration). Safety assessments included routine examinations for potential adverse events, laboratory tests, blood pressure, body weight, and bone mineral density (BMD, at baseline and at the last follow-up visit). QoL was assessed using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite-26 (EPIC-26). The most common initial therapeutic regimen was LHRH agonist with anti-androgen (78.0%), and the most commonly used LHRH agonist for combination and monotherapy was leuprolide (64.0% for combination and 58.0% for monotherapy). The castration and breakthrough rates were 78.4% and 6.6%, respectively. The laboratory results related to dyslipidemia worsened after 4 weeks of hormone treatment. In addition, the mean BMD T-score was significantly lower at the last follow-up (mean: -1.950) compared to baseline (mean: -0.195). The mean total EPIC-26 score decreased from 84.8 (standard deviation [s.d.]: 12.2) to 78.3 (s.d.: 8.1), with significant deterioration only in the urinary domain (mean: 23.5 at baseline and 21.9 at the 4-week visit). These findings demonstrate the nationwide trend of current practice settings in hormone treatment for PCa in Korea.