Simple and practical nomograms for predicting the stone-free rate after shock wave lithotripsy in patients with a solitary upper ureteral stone.

PURPOSE: To develop practical nomograms for predicting the stone-free rate after shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) in patients with a solitary stone in the proximal ureter. METHODS: Between July 2006 and June 2015, 319 patients with a proximal ureteral stone who underwent preoperative non-contrast enhanced computed tomography (NCCT) and subsequently received SWL were identified. Patients' age, gender, laterality, stone size, mean and maximum Hounsfield Unit (HU) of the stone, and skin-to-stone distance (SSD) were assessed. The stone-free status was defined as no radiopacity detected on the 3-month follow-up plain radiography or NCCT. RESULTS: Mean stone size was 10 mm (range 3-20 mm). Mean and maximum HU of the stone ranged from 115 to 1447 (mean 701) and from 265 to 1881 (mean 1062), respectively. The overall stone-free rate was 70%. Multivariate analyses identified stone size (p < 0.001), maximum HU (p < 0.001), and SSD at 90° (p = 0.038) as independent predictive factors for the stone-free status after SWL. Nomograms could be constructed for predicting the probability of stone-free status after SWL corresponding to SSD of 8, 10, and 12 cm using maximum HU and stone size. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that stone size, maximum HU of the stone, and SSD at 90° are significant predictors of successful SWL outcome in patients with a proximal ureteral stone. We have developed simple and practical nomograms corresponding to three different SSDs for predicting the stone-free rate after SWL.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Japan from 2000 to 2015.

BACKGROUND: Gonococcal infections are difficult to treat because of their multidrug antimicrobial resistance. The outbreak of antimicrobial-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae has begun in Asia and particularly in Japan. Therefore, it is very important that we understand the trend of antimicrobial resistance of N. gonorrhoeae in Asia including Japan. Our surveillance of the antimicrobial susceptibility of N. gonorrhoeae began in 2000 under the guidance of the Department of Urology, Gifu University. We report our surveillance data from 2000 to 2015. METHODS: We collected N. gonorrhoeae strains isolated from patients with gonococcal infections who visited our cooperating medical institutions in Japan from 2000 to 2015. MICs of penicillin G, cefixime, ceftriaxone, tetracycline, spectinomycin, azithromycin, and levofloxacin were determined by the agar dilution method approved by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. RESULTS: From 2000 to 2015, 2471 isolates of N. gonorrhoeae were collected in Japan. High rates of nonsusceptibility to penicillin, tetracycline, levofloxacin, cefixime, and azithromycin were shown. Around 5% to 10% of the strains isolated had a 0.25-mg/L MIC of ceftriaxone in each year, and 6 strains (0.24%) with a 0.5-mg/L MIC of ceftriaxone were isolated throughout the study period. Approximately 5% to 10% of the strains were resistant to each of ceftriaxone, azithromycin, and levofloxacin according to European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing breakpoints, and the rate has not increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: From this study and previous pharmacodynamic analyses, a single 1-g dose of ceftriaxone is recommended to treat gonorrhea. As strains with high-level ceftriaxone resistance continue to spread, higher doses of ceftriaxone in monotherapy or multiple doses of ceftriaxone should be considered.

A single 2 g oral dose of extended-release azithromycin for treatment of gonococcal urethritis.

OBJECTIVES: We treated gonococcal urethritis in men with a single 2 g dose of azithromycin extended-release formulation (azithromycin-SR) to determine its microbiological outcomes and tolerability. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We enrolled 189 Japanese men with gonococcal urethritis between April 2009 and December 2013. The patients were given a single 2 g dose of azithromycin-SR. Microbiological efficacy was evaluated by the results of the post-treatment molecular testing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. MIC testing was performed only for pretreatment isolates of N. gonorrhoeae collected from the patients. RESULTS: We evaluated 130 patients for microbiological outcomes. Of these patients, 122 (93.8%) were judged to be microbiologically cured on the basis of negative test results. All isolates for which the azithromycin MICs were ≤0.25 mg/L were eradicated, whereas 5 of 12 isolates for which the MICs were 1 mg/L persisted after the treatment. Forty-six adverse events occurred in 41 patients. However, all adverse events were classified as mild. CONCLUSIONS: The eradication rate of N. gonorrhoeae was 93.8% in men with gonococcal urethritis treated with a single 2 g dose of azithromycin-SR. The breakpoint MIC of a 2 g dose of azithromycin-SR for gonococcal urethritis associated with clinical treatment failures appeared to be 1 mg/L. With regard to side effects of higher doses of azithromycin, the 2 g dose of azithromycin-SR appeared to improve tolerability. However, the widespread use of a high-dose regimen of azithromycin might lead to the development of further resistance to azithromycin.

[The efficacy of imidafenacin in patients with over active bladder, nocturia, or sleep disorders (Sayama-Iruma-Hannou study)].

The effect of imidafenacin for the treatment of over active bladder (OAB), in 100 patients with urgency, nocturia or sleep disorders was examined by an open-labeled, non-randomized,non-controlled study. Prior to administration and at 4 weeks after administration (0.1 or 0 2 mg/day, p. o,), symptoms and sleep disorders were assessed using the Over Active Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) and the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), respectively. After administration, OABSS scores and AIS scales were improved significantly when compared to baseline values. The change of nocturia scores was correlated closely with that of AIS scales. Imidafenacin was effective in OAB patients with urgency and nocturia. In addition, imidafenacin secondarily mitigated sleep disorders significantly.