Could urinary nerve growth factor and bladder wall thickness predict the treatment outcome of children with overactive bladder?

ABSTRACT Objective: Bladder wall thickness (BWTh) measurements and Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) /creatinine (Cr) values, as noninvasive tools, were found to predict daytime voiding problems in children with overactive bladder (OAB). The goal of this research was to examine if bladder wall thickness together with urine NGF/Cr could be a clinical utility in treatment outcome of OAB in children. Patients and Methods: A total of 60 children with OAB, (Group 1; n=40) and healthy normal controls (Group 2; n=20), aged 6-14 years old were involved in this prospective study. Children were evaluated with detailed history and physical examination, including neurologic examination, and were asked to complete a self-reported questionnaire and a 3-day bladder diary with the aid of their parents. Uroflowmetry was performed in all cases. Urinary nerve growth factor levels were measured by the ELISA and BWTh was measured trans-abdominally by one uro-radiologist specialized in pediatric ultrasonography. Urinary NGF levels were normalized by urinary creatinine levels and compared among all subgroups. Children with OAB received urotherapy as first line treatment at least for three months. 18 children refractory to urotherapy received anticholinergic therapy defined as group 3. Results: The median age of the study group was 10 (range 6 to 16). After urotherapy, 22 children had similar BWTh and NGF/Cr values compared to controls. (2.75 ± 1.15; 2.40 ± 1.00 mm; p=0.86 and 1.02 ± 0.10; 0.78 ± 0.15; p=0.12, respectively). After anticholinergic treatment, BWTh levels (2.25 ± 0.90; 2.40 ± 1.00 mm; p=0.94) and NGF/Cr values (0.95 ± 0.10; 0.78 ± 0.15; p=0.42, respectively) had no significantly difference compared to controls (Group 2). In receiver operating characteristic analysis, bladder wall thickness was found to have sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 84.2% (3,20 AUC, 913; 95 %) and NGF/Cr had sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 92.1% (1,595; AUC, 947; 95 %) in predicting treatment outcome in children with OAB. Conclusions: Bladder wall thickness measurements and NGF/Cr values, as noninvasive tools, could guide outcomes in the treatment of children with overactive bladder.

Could urinary nerve growth factor and bladder wall thickness predict the treatment outcome of children with overactive bladder?

OBJECTIVE: Bladder wall thickness (BWTh) measurements and Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) /creatinine (Cr) values, as noninvasive tools, were found to predict daytime voiding problems in children with overactive bladder (OAB). The goal of this research was to examine if bladder wall thickness together with urine NGF/Cr could be a clinical utility in treatment outcome of OAB in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 60 children with OAB, (Group 1; n=40) and healthy normal controls (Group 2; n=20), aged 6-14 years old were involved in this prospective study. Children were evaluated with detailed history and physical examination, including neurologic examination, and were asked to complete a self-reported questionnaire and a 3-day bladder diary with the aid of their parents. Uroflowmetry was performed in all cases. Urinary nerve growth factor levels were measured by the ELISA and BWTh was measured trans-abdominally by one uro-radiologist specialized in pediatric ultrasonography. Urinary NGF levels were normalized by urinary creatinine levels and compared among all subgroups. Children with OAB received urotherapy as first line treatment at least for three months. 18 children refractory to urotherapy received anticholinergic therapy defined as group 3. RESULTS: The median age of the study group was 10 (range 6 to 16). After urotherapy, 22 children had similar BWTh and NGF/Cr values compared to controls. (2.75 ± 1.15; 2.40 ± 1.00 mm; p=0.86 and 1.02 ± 0.10; 0.78 ± 0.15; p=0.12, respectively). After anticholinergic treatment, BWTh levels (2.25 ± 0.90; 2.40 ± 1.00 mm; p=0.94) and NGF/Cr values (0.95 ± 0.10; 0.78 ± 0.15; p=0.42, respectively) had no significantly difference compared to controls (Group 2). In receiver operating characteristic analysis, bladder wall thickness was found to have sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 84.2% (3,20 AUC ,913; 95 %) and NGF/Cr had sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 92.1% (1,595; AUC ,947; 95 %) in predicting treatment outcome in children with OAB. CONCLUSIONS: Bladder wall thickness measurements and NGF/Cr values, as noninvasive tools, could guide outcomes in the treatment of children with overactive bladder.

Clinical practice in vesicoureteral reflux with respect to EAU guidelines: A multicenter study.

PURPOSE: We designed a multicenter, retrospective study to investigate the current trends in initial management of reflux with respect to European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines in Urology clinics of our country. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 1988 renal units (RU) of 1345 patients treated surgically due to vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) (between years 2003 and 2017) in nine different institutions. Patients were divided into two groups according to time of initial treatment and also grouped according to risk factors by "EAU guidelines on VUR." RESULTS: In this series, 1426 RUs were treated initially conservatively and 562 RUs were initially treated with surgery. In initially surgically treated group, success rates of surgery decreased significantly in low and moderate risk groups after 2013 (P = .046, P = .0001, respectively), while success rates were not significantly different in high risk group (P = .46). While 26.6% of patients in low risk group were initially surgically treated before 2013, this rate has increased to 34.6% after 2013, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = .096). However, performing surgery as the initial treatment approach increased significantly in both moderate and high risk groups (P = .000 and P = .0001, respectively) after 2013. Overall success rates of endoscopic treatments and ureteroneocystostomy (UNC) operations were 65% and 92.9% before 2013 and 60% and 78.5% after 2013, respectively. Thus, the overall success rate for surgery was 72.6%. There was significant difference between success rates of UNC operations before and after 2013 (P = .000), while the difference was not significant in the injection group (P = .076). CONCLUSION: Current trends in management of reflux in our country do not yet follow the EAU guidelines on VUR in low and moderate risk groups despite these reliable and accepted guidelines were expected to influence our daily approach.

A rare entity in adults: Bilateral Hutch diverticulum with calculi.

Congenital bladder diverticulum (CBD) is a very uncommon entity in adults. CBD could be unilateral or bilateral and is caused by a congenital weakness in the bladder musculature. CBD is differentiated from the paraureteral or Hutch type of diverticula. A 42-year-old male presented with bilateral Hutch diverticulum and multiple diverticulum calculus on intravenous pyelography. Cystoscopy revealed bladder diverticulum just medial to the left ureteral orifice with multiple calculi; the patient successfully underwent endoscopic laser cystolithotripsy with resolution of his urinary tract infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report presenting stone formation of CBD in an adult.

Does previous stone treatment in children generate a disadvantage or just the opposite?

In this study we aimed to determine the effects of previous open renal surgery, percutaneous nephrolithotomy and extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) on the results and complications of subsequent percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in pediatric patients. We reviewed the files of all 105 patients with 116 renal units (RU) undergoing PCNL at two main institutions between December 2000 and February 2014. The 116 RUs were divided into four groups: primary PCNL patients with 44 RU (37.9%) were categorized as group 1, 29 RU (25%) with a history of failed ESWL on the same side were categorized as group 2, 23 RU (19.8%) with previous PCNL surgery were categorized as group 3 and 20 RU (17.2%) with open renal surgery were categorized as group 4. Patient characteristics, mean operative time, mean fluoroscopy time, time to access the collecting system, hemoglobin change, number of more than 1 access, stone-free rates, postoperative hospitalization time and complications in four groups were compared. There were no differences between the groups in age, sex, mean stone size and stone laterality. Mean operative time, mean fluoroscopy time, time to access the collecting system, hemoglobin change, complication rates, number of more than one access hospitalization times were similar in the each group (p > 0.05 for each parameter). The stone-free rates after PCNL were 81.8% in group 1, 79.3% in group 2, 78.3% in group 3 and 80 % in group 4 (p = 0.67). Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is effective and safe in children who have previously had open nephrolithotomy, history of ESWL or PCNL without no more complications than are seen with primary PCNL of kidneys and with similar success rate.

Transverse testicular ectopia: a rare presentation with persistent Müllerian duct syndrome.

Undescended testes can be found in the inguinal channel or in the abdomen. Rarely, undescended testes can present with transverse testicular ectopia (TTE) and very rarely, with residual Müllerian duct (MD) structures. This latter presentation is called persistent MD syndrome (PMDS). PMDS is mostly discovered during surgery for inguinal hernia or cryptorchidism. TTE is a rare congenital anomaly in which both testes descend through a single inguinal canal. Patients with TTE present with symptoms of unilateral cryptorchidism and contralateral inguinal hernia. Herein, we report two TTE cases: one associated with PMDS and the other having only cross ectopia. For patients with inguinal hernia and cryptorchidism associated with TTE, PMDS should be kept in mind and radiologic evaluation with ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging of the genitourinary system and karyotyping are recommended. Radiologic evaluation can be helpful in the diagnosis of TTE; however, it cannot diagnose the malignancy itself. Laparoscopy is very useful for both diagnosis and treatment of TTE.

How significant is upgrade in Gleason score between prostate biopsy and radical prostatectomy pathology while discussing less invasive treatment options?

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the oncological outcomes of patients experiencing an upgrade from their initial biopsy pathology, and to determine whether these tumours have characteristics resembling their initial biopsy Gleason score (GS) or final radical prostatectomy (RP) GS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data on 632 patients undergoing open retropubic RP between January 1994 and May 2011 at Ankara University were investigated retrospectively. Data included age, preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA), clinical stage, biopsy GS, prostate volume, RP specimen GS, surgical margin positivity, pathological T stage and biochemical recurrence. Biochemical recurrence of GS concordant and upgraded tumours was compared. RESULTS: GS concordance was found in 378 cases (59.8%) and GS upgrading was observed in 183 patients (28.9%). GS upgraded tumours were found to have higher biochemical recurrence rates than their corresponding concomitant GS group. Multivariate analysis revealed that serum PSA level, pathological T stage and GS upgrading were independent prognostic factors for biochemical recurrence. Age and prostate volume were not found to be independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Upgrade in biopsy GS is a predictor for aggressive tumours with a higher risk for biochemical recurrence than concordant tumours. It may be observed in about a quarter of patients. As it was not possible to identify correctly those patients who may experience an upgrade in GS, patients who are candidates for less invasive treatment options must be informed about the risk of upgrading and the possibility of a worse clinical course.