Efficacy of Naftopidil as a Medical Expulsive Therapy in Japanese Men With Ureteral Stones: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND: Naftopidil combined with an antispasmodic agent and a supplement that facilitates stone expulsion has reportedly produced an increased rate of ureteral stone expulsion. A randomized controlled study was conducted to determine the efficacy of naftopidil as a medical expulsive therapy for male patients with ureteral stones. METHODS: Male patients (n = 500) with stones from the upper to the lower ureter were randomized to one of four groups and followed for 1 month to assess spontaneous passage of stones. The control group received only analgesics. The other three groups received daily doses of 240 mg flopropione, an antispasmodic agent and 1,350 mg extract of Quercus salicina Blume/Quercus stenophylla Makino (QS), a supplement that facilitates stone expulsion; 50 mg naftopidil; or 50 mg naftopidil in combination with 240 mg flopropione and 1,350 mg QS. Stone expulsion and characteristics were evaluated by urinalysis; kidney, ureter and bladder X-ray; ultrasound; and computed tomography. RESULTS: The probability of expulsion of ureteral stones < 6 mm increased 1.570-fold (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.039 - 2.374, P < 0.05) with naftopidil compared to control; the probability of expulsion of a lower ureteral stone < 6 mm increased 1.778-fold (95% CI: 1.066 - 2.965, P < 0.05) with naftopidil compared to control. None of the stones > 6 mm spontaneously passed. CONCLUSIONS: For relatively small ureteral stones < 6 mm, analgesic treatment combined with naftopidil would be the first choice. However, for relatively large ureteral stones > 6 mm, it appears that analgesia is sufficient for initial treatment of ureteral stone.

Association between metabolic syndrome and male overactive bladder in a Japanese population based on three different sets of criteria for metabolic syndrome and the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for overactive bladder (OAB) defined by the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS). METHODS: A digital rectal examination of the prostate and an OABSS questionnaire were conducted in 1031 men who visited our hospital for metabolic screening from April 2009 to March 2010. The OABSS includes scores for daytime frequency, nighttime frequency, urgency, and urgency incontinence. Relationships of OAB (defined as OABSS ≥3 with an urgency score ≥2) with metabolic syndrome diagnosed by Japan Society for the Study of Obesity (JASSO), National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III), and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria were examined. The severity of OAB symptoms was compared among younger, middle-aged, and elderly men (<50, 50-64, and ≥65 years old, respectively) with and without metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: Diagnoses of metabolic syndrome were made in 16.4%, 16.9%, and 12.0% of the men using JASSO, NCEP-ATP III, and IDF criteria, respectively. Regardless of the presence of metabolic syndrome, aging was significantly associated with increased rates of moderate or severe OABSS findings and OAB defined by the OABSS. In middle-aged men, metabolic syndrome had a significant negative association with OAB rate. In elderly men, metabolic syndrome had a significant negative association with the total OABSS. CONCLUSION: A relationship between age and OAB was observed, but metabolic syndrome did not show a clear association with OAB. Our results suggest that OAB is associated with aging regardless of the presence of metabolic syndrome.

Association between metabolic syndrome and male lower urinary tract symptoms in Japanese subjects using three sets of criteria for metabolic syndrome and International Prostate Symptom Score.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether the metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), as defined by the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). METHODS: A total of 900 men underwent digital rectal examination of the prostate and completed an IPSS questionnaire. These men had visited our hospital for metabolic screening from April 2008 to March 2009. The IPSS includes scores for 3 questions on voiding symptoms, 3 on storage symptoms, and 1 on postmicturition symptoms. The relationships of the LUTS (determined from the IPSS subscores) with the metabolic syndrome diagnosed using the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity, 2005 National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III, and 2005 International Diabetes Federation criteria were examined. The severity of LUTS was compared among the younger, middle-age, and older men (<50, 50-64, and ≥65 years old, respectively) with and without the metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: A diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome was made in 16.7%, 16.6%, and 11.7% of the men using the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity, 2005 National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III, and 2005 International Diabetes Federation criteria, respectively. Regardless of the presence of the metabolic syndrome, aging was significantly associated with an increased rate of moderate or severe LUTS, except for postmicturition symptoms. In the middle-age men, the metabolic syndrome had a significant negative correlation with storage symptoms (odds ratio 0.258-0.426). In the younger and older men, LUTS was observed equally in those with and without the metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: A relationship between age and LUTS was observed; however, the metabolic syndrome did not show a clear association with LUTS. Our results suggest that LUTS is associated with aging, regardless of the presence of the metabolic syndrome.

Facilitation of expulsion of ureteral stones by addition of α1-blockers to conservative therapy.

OBJECTIVE: An antispasmodic agent and a medicine that facilitates stone expulsion are given commonly as conservative therapy for ureteral stones in Japan. The goal of this study was to compare the efficacy of the addition of various α(1)-blockers to the conservative therapy for spontaneous passage of ureteral stones. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The subjects were 132 patients with stones from the upper to the lower ureter who were randomly placed into one of four groups and followed for 1 month to assess spontaneous passage of stones. The control group received daily doses of 240 mg flopropione as an antispasmodic agent and 1350 mg extract of Quercus salicina Blume/Quercus stenophylla Makino as a medicine that facilitates stone expulsion. The other three groups received this therapy and daily doses of 30 mg urapidil, 0.2 mg tamsulosin or 50 mg naftopidil, respectively. The characteristics of the stones and stone expulsion were evaluated by urinalysis, a kidney, ureter and bladder (KUB) X-ray, ultrasound and computed tomography. RESULTS: All patients completed the study and there were no major side-effects. There was no difference in age, stone position or stone size among the groups. Multivariate analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model indicated that the probability of stone expulsion for 1 month was increased 2.38 times (95% confidence interval 1.23-4.61) by naftopidil compared with control therapy alone (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Naftopidil in combination with an antispasmodic agent and a medicine that facilitates stone expulsion produces a significantly increased rate of ureteral stone expulsion.

Primary Ewing's sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the kidney that responded to low-dose chemotherapy with ifosfamide, etoposide, and doxorubicin.

A primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) is a small round cell tumor that arises from the nerve crest. This tumor usually occurs in the central nervous system or soft tissue, but it can occur in the kidney in rare cases. Herein we report a case with severe multiple liver metastases after surgery for right renal PNET. The patient was a 21-year-old man with a chief complaint of right abdominal pain. Hemorrhage in a right renal malignant tumor was diagnosed, and radical nephrectomy was performed. Histopathology showed bare nuclear round atypical cells with a scarce cytoplasm proliferating like a seat and nest. Some of the cells formed a rosette structure and the tumor cells were positive for CD99, leading to diagnosis of PNET. Severe multiple liver metastases occurred 6 months after surgery, and six courses of chemotherapy with ifosfamide, etoposide and doxorubicin were performed. After this treatment, residual tumor was removed, but the tumor cells were absent histologically.

Vaginal metastasis of urothelial carcinoma found incidentally during transurethral resection of a bladder tumor.

A 71-year-old woman visited our hospital for routine follow-up cystoscopy and urine cytologic examination. During the preceding 3 years she had undergone left nephroureterectomy for a tumor of the left renal pelvis and had undergone transurethral resection three times for tumors of the urinary bladder and urethra. A small flare region on the posterior wall of the bladder was found with regular cystoscopy, and urine cytologic examination was positive for malignant cells. Computed tomography showed no distant metastasis and no right upper urinary tract mass. Transurethral resection was performed for the small flare region in May 2006. A papillary tumor of the vaginal wall was found incidentally during transurethral resection, and, therefore, transvaginal resection of the tumor was performed at the same time. Histologic examination of the excised genital lesion showed a G3 pT2 urothelial carcinoma, and the patient has been under observation since completion of external radiotherapy for the vaginal metastatic nodule.

A case of seminal vesicle cyst associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis diagnosed during an investigation of perineal pain.

A 38-year-old man was referred to our hospital with perineal and micturition pain. Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) revealed a cystic mass in the outer prostate. Pelvic cyst and left renal agenesis were confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT), and we diagnosed seminal vesicle cyst. The symptoms have since subsided, the possibility of sterility has been ruled out, and the patient is showing good improvement.

A case of asymptomatic cystitis glandularis found incidentally with ultrasonography at a private clinic.

A 46-year-old man was transferred to our hospital because of a bladder mass. The mass could not be distinguished from a primary bladder tumor or a tumor invading from another organ with computed tomography, magnetic resonance, or cystoscopic examination. Transurethral resection of the mass was performed, and the pathological diagnosis was typical cystitis glandularis. The patient has been followed up with cytologic examination and ultrasonography, and after 10 months there has been no new growth of the mass or malignant change.

Nucleotide variations in genes encoding plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 and serine proteinase inhibitor B10 associated with prostate cancer.

Genes encoding the serine proteinase inhibitor B family (SERPINBs) are mainly clustered on human chromosome 18 (18q21). Several serpins are known to affect malignant phenotypes of tumor cells, so aberrant genetic variants in this molecular family are candidates for conferring susceptibility for risk of cancer. We investigated whether eight selected non-synonymous variations within SERPINB loci at 18q21 might be associated with risk of prostate cancer in Japanese men. A case-control study involving 292 prostate-cancer patients and 384 controls revealed significant differences in regard to distribution of four missense variations in genes encoding plasminogen activator inhibitor 2 (PAI2) and SERPINB10. The most significant association was detected for the N120D polymorphism in the PAI2 gene (P = 5.0 x 10(-5)); men carrying the 120-N allele (120-N/N and 120-N/D genotypes) carried a 2.4-fold increased risk of prostate cancer (95% confidence interval 1.45-4.07). Associations were also detected for three other missense polymorphisms in those two genes. Strong linkage disequilibrium in the region encompassing PAI2 and SERPINB10 extended to about 50 kbp. The results suggested that missense variations in one or both of these genes confer important risks for prostate cancer, and may be themselves tumorigenic. Although confirmative replication studies on larger cohorts are awaited, clinical examination of these variations may become useful for identifying individuals at high risk for prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer in patients with Hansen's disease.

Hansen's disease causes testicular failure secondarily, and because of this, it has been considered that prostate cancer would not be found in association. Three of 14 patients with chronic leprosy in Suruga National Sanatorium Hansen's Disease Hospital were found to have prostate cancer. A 72-year-old with lepromatous leprosy was diagnosed with stage T3a prostate cancer and treated with radical prostatectomy after hormonal therapy, plus irradiation. An 80-year-old with lepromatous leprosy was diagnosed with stage T2 prostate cancer and treated with irradiation and follow up only without hormone therapy and surgery because of his low testosterone level and old age. An 82-year-old with borderline leprosy was diagnosed with stage T1c prostate cancer and because of the pathological finding of low Gleason score and his old age, he was treated with hormonal therapy only. Two of the three cases had elevated concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, which suggests that their prostatic cancers might have been equivalent to be under the influence of hormone therapy. Therefore, in aged male patients with Hansen's disease, the follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone concentrations should be measured, as well as that of prostate-specific antigen, and a prostate biopsy should be also considered if the prostate-specific antigen concentration is increased, even with hypogonadism.

Prostate cancer in patients with Hansens disease

Hansen's disease causes testicular failure secondarily, and because of this, it has been considered that prostate cancer would not be found in association. Three of 14 patients with chronic leprosy in Suruga National Sanatorium Hansen's Disease Hospital were found to have prostate cancer. A 72-year-old with lepromatous leprosy was diagnosed with stage T3a prostate cancer and treated with radical prostatectomy after hormonal therapy, plus irradiation. An 80-year-old with lepromatous leprosy was diagnosed with stage T2 prostate cancer and treated with irradiation and follow up only without hormone therapy and surgery because of his low testosterone level and old age. An 82-year-old with borderline leprosy was diagnosed with stage T1c prostate cancer and because of the pathological finding of low Gleason score and his old age, he was treated with hormonal therapy only. Two of the three cases had elevated concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, which suggests that their prostatic cancers might have been equivalent to be under the influence of hormone therapy. Therefore, in aged male patients with Hansen's disease, the follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and testosterone concentrations should be measured, as well as that of prostate-specific antigen, and a prostate biopsy should be also considered if the prostate-specific antigen concentration is increased, even with hypogonadism.