[A Case of Neuropathic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Due to Spina Bifida Occulta Discovered at the Age of 19 Years and Successfully Treated with Multidisciplinary Therapy].

A 19-year-old man had been aware of dysuria and urinary incontinence since childhood but did not seek medical attention. He was diagnosed with acute pyelonephritis due to lower urinary tract dysfunction associated with spina bifida occulta and tethered cord syndrome (TCS) due to spinal cord lipoma. After placement of a urethral catheter and antibacterial chemotherapy, the patient was cured of acute pyelonephritis. He was treated with solifenacin and started clean self-intermittent catheterization (CIC). Shortly after the start of CIC, the acute pyelonephritis flared up again, and he was managed with a reinserted urethral catheter until an untethering operation. Preoperative video urodynamics showed that the bladder morphology was Ogawa classification grade III with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) at 92 ml infusion. With the combination of an untethering operation and additional mirabegron, the functional bladder capacity was increased to 353 ml and VUR improved, allowing for safe urinary management of the CIC. TCS can be diagnosed at any age and requires appropriate urinary management and therapeutic intervention as early as possible after diagnosis.

Development and preliminary evaluation of a novel procedure for creation of an ileal conduit stoma aimed at preventing parastomal hernia.

OBJECTIVES: Our previous study suggested that the operative procedure is critical for the development of parastomal hernia. We developed a novel procedure for the creation of an ileal conduit stoma to prevent parastomal hernia. Herein we evaluate the efficacy and safety of the procedure. METHODS: A total of 113 Japanese patients underwent radical cystectomy and ileal conduit diversion for bladder cancer from January 2017 through December 2021 at our institution. After excluding those with incomplete data, 103 patients consisting of 46 (44.7%) with the conventional procedure and 57 (55.3%) with the novel procedure were consecutively enrolled. The main points of the novel procedure are as follows: (1) the passage of the ileal conduit is ≤2.4 cm in diameter in principle; (2) the posterior rectus sheath and peritoneum are vertically incised 2 cm laterally from the middle of the stoma site to make an oblique passage for the ileal conduit; and (3) the anterior rectus sheath and posterior rectus sheath with peritoneum are fixed to the ileal conduit separately. RESULTS: Radiography-based parastomal hernia was observed in 11 patients (10.7%) with a median follow-up of 22.0 months. The incidences of parastomal hernia were 3.5% and 19.6% in the novel and the conventional procedure groups, respectively (p = 0.011). The former had a significantly lower cumulative incidence of parastomal hernia (p = 0.008, log-rank test). No specific complications associated with the procedure were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the preliminary cohort study suggest that the novel procedure is safe and effective for the prevention of parastomal hernia.

Prevention of local symptoms in muscle invasive bladder cancer patients: clinical significance of local radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the significance of local radiation therapy (LRT) for prevention of local symptoms (LSs) caused by muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 133 patients from 13 hospitals. MIBC patients with or without metastases who were treated with LRT alone from January 2015 through December 2020 were enrolled. Exclusion criteria were urinary diversion (UD) prior to LRT, non-MIBC, or lack of clinical information. LSs were defined as hematuria requiring invasive treatment or transfusion, UD after LRT, bladder tamponade, and opioid use for bladder pain. RESULTS: One hundred fourteen patients were finally enrolled in the study. During the median follow-up period of 13.5 months, 30 patients (26.3%) had LSs. Risk factors of LSs in multivariate analysis were a prior history of non-MIBC (NMIBC) (hazard ratio [HR] 2.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36 to 6.56; P < 0.01), radiation dose of less than 50 Gray (Gy) (HR 3.99; 95% CI, 1.80 to 8.82; P < 0.01), and tumor stage 3 or more (HR 2.43; 95% CI, 1.14 to 5.21; P = 0.02). Risk factors of overall survival (OS) in multivariate analysis were being female (HR 3.32; 95% CI, 1.68 to 6.58; P < 0.01), an age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity index of 6 or more (HR 2.19; 95% CI, 1.18 to 4.10; P = 0.01), distant metastases (HR 3.20; 95% CI, 1.39 to 6.58; P < 0.01), and tumor size of 40 mm or more (HR 2.38; 95% CI, 1.34 to 4.52; P < 0.01). Toxicity (all grades) occurred in 40.4% of the patients, 4.8% with grade 3 or more and 95.2% with lower grades. CONCLUSIONS: We determined the risk factors for LSs in MIBC patients treated with LRT alone. An escalated-dose of 50 Gy or more may contribute to prevention of LSs caused by MIBC. Thus, dose-escalated LRT for MIBC patients who can expect favorable survival may be a good option to avoid future annoying LSs.

Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy using self-check sheet for patients with nocturia in real-world clinical practice.

OBJECTIVES: We previously demonstrated the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) using a self-check sheet for patients with nocturia in a randomized controlled study. Additionally, we investigated the efficacy of the intervention in real-world clinical practice. METHODS: Two hundred forty-three outpatients with complaint of nocturia who practiced CBT for 4 weeks using a self-check sheet were included in this trial, which took place from April 2021 to March 2022 in 20 institutions. RESULTS: Of the 243 patients, 215 who achieved 50% or more of the behavioral therapy tasks were included in the analysis. Their mean age ± SD was 77.1 ± 7.7. A significant decrease was observed in nighttime frequency at 4 weeks after CBT using self-check sheets (pre 3.3 and post 2.8, p < .001). Nighttime frequency was decreased one or more times and was defined as treatment success in 102 patients (47.4%). Pretreatment nighttime frequency in the treatment-success group was significantly higher than that of the failure group (3.5 ± 1.0 vs. 3.2 ± 1.0, p = .013). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, predictive factors of treatment success were pretreatment nocturnal frequency of four or more (odds ratio [OR] 1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-3.30; p = .046) and the absence of diabetes mellitus (OR 3.08, 95% CI 1.34-7.06; p = .008). CONCLUSIONS: CBT using a self-check sheet requiring less time, less labor, less cost, and less medication is very beneficial for both patients and medical staff in real-world clinical practice.

Efficacy and safety of desmopressin orally disintegrating tablets 25 and 50 µg in male patients with nocturia: A Japanese real-world multicenter clinical study.

OBJECTIVES: To clarify Japanese real-world clinical data on the use of desmopressin 25 and 50 µg orally disintegrating tablets (ODT) for male patients with nocturia and evaluate the predictive factors to improve nighttime frequency. METHODS: We retrospectively accumulated real-world clinical data from 27 institutions in Japan. Male patients with two or more episodes of nocturia who received desmopressin ODT for nocturnal polyuria (NP) from 2019 through 2021 were included. The primary endpoint was the change of nighttime frequency until 3 months after desmopressin administration. The secondary endpoints were to clarify the persistence rate, adverse events, and predictive factors of decreasing nighttime frequency. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients were eligible to participate in this study. The persistence rate of desmopressin on the Kaplan-Meier curve at week 12 was 51.3. The reason for discontinuation was mainly the occurrence of adverse events in 67 patients (56.8%), particularly hyponatremia in 7 patients (5.9%). Nighttime frequencies at baseline, - 1 month and 1 - 3 months after desmopressin administration were 4.1 ± 1.3, 2.9 ± 1.4 (P < .01), and 2.6 ± 1.3 (P < .01), respectively. The mean nighttime urine volume voided at baseline was significantly larger in patients whose nighttime frequency decreased by two or more times than in those with a decrease of less than two times. CONCLUSIONS: Desmopressin 25 and 50 µg ODT treatments are feasible for male patients with NP in Japanese real-world clinical practice. Patients with higher voided volumes, particularly in the nighttime, may have great benefit from desmopressin.

[A Case of Detrusor Hyperactivity with Impaired Contractility (DHIC) after Transverse Myelitis].

A 44-year-old man was carried to the hospital in an ambulance because of dyspnea, paralysis and dysuria after signs of the flu. Acute encephalomyelitis was diagnosed by examination of magnetic resonance imaging. Antimicrobial treatment and respirator management was carried out with indwelling of urethral catheter for urinary retention. After improvement of encephalitis, the urethral catheter was removed. However, he still needed medical care because of persistent lower urinary tract symptoms. He complained of urge incontinence and urination frequency. Decrease of functional bladder capacity was noticed in a frequency volume chart. After consulting with our neurologist, acute transverse myelitis was diagnosed from imaging and neurological findings. Pressure flow study (PFS)demonstrated detrusor overactive during the filling phase and insufficient contractility during the voiding phase. We reached the diagnosis of detrusor hyperactivity with impaired contractility (DHIC). We did not introduce clean intermittent catheterization but used the mirabegron instead. Although storage symptoms did not improve on the mirabegron monotherapy, the symptoms improved by solifenacin added. There is a possibility that combination therapy with mirabegron and solifenacin is effective for DHIC.

[Clinical Outcome of Patients with Bacteremia Caused by Urinary Tract Infection].

Although bacteremia is often concomitant with severe urinary tract infection (UTI), the treatment outcome has not been well studied. The aim of this study was to verify treatment outcome in patients with bacteremia caused by UTI. We also assessed the efficacy of sequential oral antibiotics. According to a retrospective chart review of patients treated in the Sapporo Medical University Hospital from 2013 to 2016, bacteremia caused by UTI was observed in 59 patients. Intravenous antibiotics were sequentially converted to oral agents in 48 patients. Of them, 14 patients had recurrence after initial treatment. There was no significant difference in recurrence rate between events with and without conversion to oral antibiotics. Use of a steroid or immunosuppressant was significantly associated with recurrence of bacteremia caused by UTI. In patients with recurrence of UTI, treatment period was significantly long. In patients with bacteremia caused by UTI, antibiotic agents can be converted to a culture-directed oral antibiotic safely. However, we should notice the high risk of recurrence in patients treated with a steroid or immunosuppressant.

[A Case of paraganglioma of Urinary Bladder].

A 66-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because a bladder tumor was detected by abdominal ultrasonography. Although she was asymptomatic, cystoscopy showed the nodular sessile tumor in the bladder. We performed transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) and histological examination revealed paraganglioma of the urinary bladder. Computed tomography (CT) and metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy did not reveal any other lesions of paraganglioma. One month later, we performed a second TURBT, but the histological examination revealed no residual tumor. She has been followed up for 3 years after operation without any evidence of recurrence. Paraganglioma of the urinary bladder originates from chromaffin tissue of the sympathetic nervous system associated with the urinary bladder wall. For bladder submucosal tumor, we should consider bladder paraganglioma. And second TURBT is a useful option for the evaluation of the residual tumor.

[A Case of Retroperitoneal Atypical Spindle Cell Lipomatous Tumor].

A 74-year-old man visited our clinic for treatment of a retroperitoneal tumor that had enlarged gradually. We performed surgical resection of the tumor because we suspected retroperitoneal liposarcoma radiographically. The histopathological diagnosis was an atypical spindle cell lipomatous tumor. No signs of recurrence or metastasis have been observed for one year after the operation.

[Necrotizing Fasciitis and Frostbite of the Male External Genitalia : A Case Repor].

We report a case diagnosed as both necrotizing fasciitis and frostbite of the male external genetalia. The patient was a 58-year-old man with diabetes mellitus. He was referred to our hospital with swelling of his penis and icing there for 3 weeks. We diagnosed his condition as necrotizing fasciitis of the external genitalia and decided to perform an emergency operation. Although we consulted plastic surgeons about debridement of a large area, they considered that there was no necessity for it because the scrotum, perineum and abdominal wall were frostbitten. The final clinical diagnosis was necrotizing fasciitis of the penile region and frostbite around the perineal region. We performed partial penectomy without debridement. Through collaboration with another medical department it was thus possible to avoid unnecessary invasive treatment.

[A case of IgG4-related kidney disease mimicking a renal cell carcinoma].

A 56-year-old man who had a 28mm renal mass on computed tomography (CT) pointed out at another hospital visited our department. The tumor was buried and located in the renal hilus, which was slightly enhanced in the early phase and washed out in the delayed phase. We diagnosed it as papillary renal cell carcinoma and conducted partial nephrectomy. The tumor was ocher and a solid nodule without capsule formation. Although there was no malignancy in histopathological examination, plasma cell infiltration was found and the IgG4/IgG-positive cell ratio was over 40%. Additionally, the serum IgG4 level was elevated postoperatively and the patient was diagnosed as having IgG4-related kidney disease. IgG4-related kidney disease is often found as multiple low-density lesions in CT. Because of the solitary nodule-like formation, it was difficult to distinguish from hypovascular renal cell carcinoma such as the papillary type. When a buried and solitary hypovascular tumor is detected, we must consider IgG4-related kidney disease as a differential diagnosis. Measuring the serum immunoglobulin and complement levels may be helpful for avoiding unnecessary surgery.