Efficacy and safety of skin-adhesive low-level light therapy for overactive bladder: a Phase III study.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common condition that remains challenging to treat. We hypothesized that skin-adhesive low-level light therapy (LLLT) would be an effective treatment for OAB caused by bladder muscle contraction. Accordingly, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an LLLT device for the treatment of OAB. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial included patients with a clinical diagnosis of OAB who were treated at either of two university hospitals. Patients were instructed to apply an LLLT device (Color DNA-WSF) or a sham device at home three times daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in the mean daily number of urge urinary incontinence (UUI) episodes between baseline and 12 weeks. The secondary outcomes were the mean changes in incontinence, voiding, and nocturia episodes from baseline and the likelihood of achieving a > 50% reduction in UUI and incontinence episodes after 12 weeks. All patients completed the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6), and Impact Urinary Incontinence-7 (IIQ-7) questionnaires. Safety parameters included treatment-emergent adverse events. RESULTS: Compared with those in the sham group, the numbers of UUI and urinary incontinence episodes in the LLLT group were significantly decreased at week 12 (UUI, (-1.0 ± 1.7 vs. -0.4 ± 2.5, P = 0.003; urinary incontinence, -1.1 ± 1.9 vs. -0.5 ± 2.9, P=0.002). Furthermore, the OABSS, UDI-6, and IIQ-7 scores at week 12 tended to be better in the LLLT group than in the sham group. The incidence of device-related treatment-emergent adverse events was similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: LLLT may be clinically useful and safe for the treatment of OAB.

Prolonged stabilization of platinum-refractory ovarian cancer in a single patient undergoing long-term Mistletoe extract treatment: Case report.

RATIONALE: Advanced ovarian malignancies are associated with poor overall survival; thus, patients often turn to alternative treatments, despite the controversy surrounding their use. Mistletoe extract has been commonly used as complementary medicine to treat patients with cancer for several decades, and has proven benefits in integrative oncology. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 47-year-old woman with stage IVB ovarian cancer who underwent optimal surgical cytoreduction, but whose disease persisted after adjuvant platinum-based combination chemotherapy and 2nd-line chemotherapy. DIAGNOSIS AND INTERVENTIONS: The patient discontinued chemotherapy due to her septic condition and acute kidney injury accompanied by acute pyelonephritis, and opted for adjuvant treatment with mistletoe extract. OUTCOMES: The patient has achieved good health without progression of cancer or ascites over the 42 months since the 1st diagnosis and 24 months since the last relapse. LESSIONS: Our case suggests that mistletoe extract can produce favorable outcomes in patients with platinum-refractory ovarian cancer.