Importance of precise imaging for stone identification during shockwave lithotripsy: a critical evaluation of "OptiVision" as a post-processing radiography imaging modality.

To evaluate the efficacy of a unique imaging software "OptiVision" on the confidence of stone identification using X-ray imaging during shockwave lithotripsy. A total of 57 patients with solitary radio-opaque kidney stones sized < 15 mm were included and evaluated with appropriate radiological imaging and laboratory studies before undergoing shockwave lithotripsy (SWL). The size of the stones was measured on KUB and CT images using maximal stone diameters. All patients were evaluated with radiography on the Dornier Delta III immediately before SWL and at the end of the SWL session with fluoroscopy, a snapshot image, and the OptiVision modality (applied over the acquired snapshot image without additional radiation exposure) for precise identification of the stone. All images obtained with these three different imaging modalities (fluoroscopy, snapshot, and OptiVision) were comparatively evaluated for confidence levels in stone identification using a five-point Likert scale (1 = poor diagnostic confidence, 5 = excellent diagnostic confidence). These confidence levels were also used to differentiate between stones and bony structures using these same imaging modalities. Results were evaluated for statistical significance regarding their impact on the precise identification of renal stones. A total of 57 patients with solitary stones were evaluated using flouroscopy, snapshot, and OptiVision images before and after SWL to ascertain the efficacy of these 3 imaging modalities on the precise identification of the calculi. Stone sizes ranged from 4 to 15 mm, with a mean of 8.30 mm in the longest dimension. Evaluation of the findings demonstrated that while the pre- and post-SWL confidence of fluoroscopic stone identification was from 29.51 to 31.15%, the values using snapshot ranged from 31.15 to 39.34%. Pre- and post-SWL confidence of stone identification with OptiVision post-processing imaging was approximately 89%. In the majority of cases (n = 43), the use of OptiVision image processing enabled urologists to identify the stone with a higher level of confidence rating than the use of both fluoroscopy (n = 0) and snapshot (n = 0) image processing tools. While a rating level of 4 or higher was given in 89% of images obtained by OptiVision during the pre- and post-SWL phase, this value was only 37% (4 or more points) using fluoroscopy and Snapshot image processing techniques. For all the radiography image processing tools, the distribution of the Likert score differed significantly among the OptiVision, fluoroscopy, and snapshot imaging modalities (p < 0.001). Precise and reliable identification of stone(s) located in the kidney is essential in delivering shock waves to the desired focal point and achieving higher stone-free rates. Our findings demonstrated that using the specially designed imaging modality OptiVision was significantly helpful in identifying and localizing stones with high-quality images before SWL for effective stone disintegration during this procedure.

Does the power of the laser devices matter for a successful HoLEP procedure? A prospective comparative study.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this prospective study were to evaluate the efficiency, safety and applicability of medium-power (MP) holmium laser devices in the endoscopic enucleation of the enlarged prostate (HoLEP) compared with high-power (HP) laser devices. METHODS: From October 2019 to July 2020, a total of 120 consecutive patients planned for HoLEP were divided randomly into two groups formed in terms of the power of the device used. While patients in group 1 were treated with a MP device (50 W) at 39.6 W (2.2 J/18 Hz), patients in group 2 were treated with HP (100 W) device at 42 W (1.2 J/35 Hz). Preoperative patient characteristics, perioperative measures and 3-month functional outcomes were evaluated in both groups with an emphasis on enucleation efficiency (EE) and haemoglobin decrease in a comparative manner. RESULTS: All patients underwent successful HoLEP surgery with no severe perioperative and postoperative complications. No statistically significant differences were observed in terms of preoperative patient characteristics and perioperative measures in the two groups. The median EE values in groups 1 and 2 were 1.15 (interquartile range [IQR]: 0.33-2.2) and 1.11 (IQR: 0.4-2.8), respectively (P = .775). Haemoglobin decrease values in groups 1 and 2 were 1.3 (IQR: 0.1-4) and 1.4 (IQR: 0.4-3.1), respectively (P = .736). There was no difference in terms of either catheterisation time or hospital stay in the groups. In the model created to predict haemoglobin decrease, only biopsy was detected to be the independent predictive factor among the data from laser device, biopsy and antithrombotic use. Functional outcomes markedly improved in all patients without any statistically significant difference between the groups in the 3-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our comparative study indicated that HoLEP can be performed safely and effectively with MP laser devices without any technical difficulties and with comparable results achieved in HP laser devices.

Comparison of efficacy of sildenafil-only, sildenafil plus topical EMLA cream, and topical EMLA-cream-only in treatment of premature ejaculation.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of sildenafil (Viagra) only, sildenafil plus topical anesthetic cream (EMLA), and topical EMLA-cream-only to that of placebo in treating premature ejaculation. METHODS: A total of 84 patients were enrolled in this study. The duration of premature ejaculation in the patients ranged from 9 to 60 months (mean 32.5 +/- 14.6). Patients were randomized into four groups. Group 1 consisted of 20 patients who took placebo for 2 months. Groups 2 and 3 consisted of 20 and 22 patients, respectively, and they received 50 mg sildenafil 45 minutes before coitus for 2 months. In addition, patients in group 3 applied topical EMLA cream to the glans penis 15 minutes before coitus. The 22 patients in group 4 used topical EMLA-cream-only. After at least eight sexual attempts, the patients' clinical responses were assessed using the patient self-description method. Effectiveness was described as improvement plus cure. RESULTS: The effectiveness was 40% in group 1, 55% in group 2, 86.4% in group 3, and 77.3% in group 4. Of the groups, a significant difference was found in the effectiveness of the treatments (Pearson chi-square= 0.00). No significant difference was found between groups 1 and 2 (P = 0.26). Efficacy was more successful in groups 3 and 4 than in the others (P = 0.00). The difference between groups 3 and 4 was not significant (Pearson chi-square = 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: Sildenafil-only was not superior to placebo or combination treatment. Topical EMLA-cream-only had equal effectiveness to that of sildenafil plus topical EMLA treatment. The use of topical EMLA-cream-only seems to be an effective treatment of premature ejaculation.

Terazosin in the treatment of premature ejaculation: a short-term follow-up.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of terazosine in patients with premature ejaculation and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), after excluding other sexual disorders and chronic prostatitis. METHODS: A total of 90 patients with premature ejaculation and LUTS were enrolled to the study after excluding sexual disorders, prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia. The patients were divided into two groups. Sixty patients in group 1 were treated with terazosine 5 mg daily for a month. Patients were followed monthly and questioned for their ejaculation problem. The results were classified as cure, improvement and ineffective. If patients showed improvement and ineffectiveness, the treatment was continued with 10 mg daily for the following month. Group 2 was included 30 patients, and placebo was applied for a month. At the end of this period, in patients who did not show any improvement, terazosine 10 mg was started. RESULTS: In the treatment group, at the 1st month follow-up, 21 patients (35%) were cured, 20 (33.3%) showed improvement. In 19 (31.7%) patients, the treatment was ineffective. In group 2, 9 (30%) patients showed improvement and the rest had no-changes after one-month follow up. There was statistically significant difference between two groups (Pearson chi2 test = 0.000). Later, terazosine 10 mg was given to the patients in group 2 and to the patients who showed improvement or unsuccessful result with terazosine 5 mg. With terazosine 10 mg, 10 (14.5%) patients were cured, 29 (42.2%) patients were improved. Finally, terazosine treatment in patients with premature ejaculation was found to be effective in 60 patients (66.7%). CONCLUSION: Alpha blockers seem to be physiological medical agents in the treatment of premature ejaculation since ejaculation is under sympathetic control. Moreover, these agents are effective in lower urinary tract and they should be used in patients with premature ejaculation and lower urinary tract symptoms.

The comparison and efficacy of 3 different alpha1-adrenergic blockers for distal ureteral stones.

PURPOSE: alpha1-Adrenergic blockers have recently been shown to increase the rate of spontaneous passage of distal ureteral stones. We compared efficacy of 3 different alpha1-adrenergic blockers for this purpose. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 114 patients between 18 and 65 years old who had lower ureteral stones were included in the study. Patients were randomly divided into 4 groups. Group 1 consisted of 28 patients and acted as the control group. Group 2 comprised 29 patients who received tamsulosin, group 3 was 28 patients receiving terazosin and group 4 was 29 patients receiving doxazosin. These agents were given for up to a month and hydration was also recommended simultaneously. Every week patients were controlled with x-rays of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urinary ultrasonography. Meanwhile the number of pain episodes, analgesic dosage and the number of days for spontaneous passage of the calculi through the ureter were also recorded. RESULTS: There were no differences between the groups with respect to age, weight, height, sex and stone size. The calculi passed through the ureter spontaneously in 15 patients in group 1 (53.57%), in 23 patients in group 2 (79.31%), in 22 patients in group 3 (78.57%), and in 22 patients in group 4 (75.86%). In groups 2 to 4 the number of pain episodes, expulsion time and analgesic dosage were found to be lower compared with those in group 1. CONCLUSIONS: alpha1-Adrenergic blockers increase the frequency of spontaneous passage of the distal ureteral calculi. All 3 agents tested were equally efficacious.

Testicular tissue nitric oxide and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels: evaluation with respect to the pathogenesis of varicocele.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate tissue nitric oxide (NO) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels in testicular tissue, and to determine their relationship with seminal parameters in order to explain possible effects on varicocele pathophysiology. Ten adult male Wistar rats at 8 weeks old underwent partial left renal vein ligation. A sham operation was performed on control rats in a second group of another ten rats. All animals were killed 4 weeks after surgery. The testes were removed and histological changes were observed by light microscopy with haematoxylin and eosin stain on half of each testis. The rest of testis was used for the evaluation of testicular tissue NO and TBARS levels. Epididymal aspirated seminal plasma was used for semen analysis and morphological analysis was carried out according to Kruger's criteria. Statistical analysis was performed by using Mann-Whitney U-tests and Spearman rank correlations between the two groups for NO and TBARS levels and for seminal parameters. Testicular tissue NO and TBARS levels (mean+/-SEM) were 62.8+/-10.1 micromol/g protein and 4.7+/-0.3 nmol/g protein in group 1. These parameters were 16.9+/-2.2 micromol/g protein and 3.1+/-0.2 nmol/g protein in the group 2 controls. There were significant differences between these parameters ( P(NO)=0.000, P(TBARS)=0.001). Although a positive and significant correlation between testicular tissue NO and TBARS levels was found ( r(s)=0.739, P=0.014), there was only a strong negative correlation between NO levels and sperm motility in group 1 ( r(s)=-0.815, P=0.004). We found that this effect of NO on sperm motility was independent from TBARS levels after regression analysis ( r(2)=-0.687, beta=0.825, P=0.034). Although there were statistically significant differences in seminal parameters between the two groups, there was no difference between them in the histopathological examination. We found that sperm motility was significantly related to testicular tissue NO levels only. Thus, we suggest that NO is an important mediator in the pathogenesis of varicocele. TBARS and other substances have been effective via NO pathways.

Music decreases anxiety and provides sedation in extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of music on sedation in extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) treatment to compare its anxiolytic effects with those of midazolam. METHODS: Ninety-eight urolithiasis patients were randomly divided into two groups. Hemodynamic parameters, including mean arterial pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, and oxygen saturation, were recorded in all patients. In 50 patients (group 1), 2 mg of midazolam was administered intravenously 5 minutes before ESWL. In group 2 (n = 48), music chosen by the patients was listened to with a headset and continued during the treatment. The visual analog scale (0 to 100 mm), Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation Scale, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait Anxiety test, and State and Trait Anxiety Inventory-State Anxiety test were administered for the evaluation of pain, sedation level, and patient anxiety. RESULTS: For the hemodynamic parameters, a statistically significant decrease in mean arterial pressure was noted at the end of the ESWL procedure in group 2 and in oxygen saturation from the 10th minute to the end of the treatment in group 1. Although the visual analog scale, Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation Scale, and State and Trait Anxiety Inventory-State Anxiety test did not show statistically significant differences, the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait Anxiety score was found to be lower in the music group (group 2) than in the midazolam group (group 1). CONCLUSIONS: With the anxiolytic effects of music, ESWL can be performed more effectively with the patient in a comfortable state. Listening to music by patients during the ESWL session is a feasible and convenient alternative to sedatives and anxiolytics.