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Purpose We compared the effects on lower urinary tract symptoms and bladder outlet obstruction of combination therapy with α1-blocker and 5α-reductase inhibitor or a switch to 5α-reductase inhibitor monotherapy. We determined the factors influencing changes in lower urinary tract symptoms after α1-blocker withdrawal. Materials and Methods A total of 140 outpatients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia received combination therapy with silodosin 8 mg per day and dutasteride 0.5 mg per day for 12 months. Of the patients 132 were randomized to continue combination therapy or switched to dutasteride monotherapy through silodosin withdrawal as the monotherapy group. Parameter changes from before randomization to 12 months after randomization were assessed based on subjective symptoms and urodynamic findings of voiding and storage function. Results Efficacy analysis included 57 patients on combination therapy and 60 on monotherapy. The change in I-PSS (International Prostate Symptom Score) after randomization was −0.7 and −0.6 in the combination therapy and monotherapy groups, respectively. The bladder outlet obstruction index changed from 46.1 to 41.8 in the combination therapy group and from 42.9 to 39.9 in the monotherapy group. No significant differences in subjective symptoms and bladder outlet obstruction were observed between the 2 groups. However, storage function decreased in the monotherapy group and lower urinary tract symptoms deteriorated significantly after the switch to dutasteride monotherapy in patients with a higher body mass index. Conclusions We found that α1-blocker withdrawal from combination therapy was reasonable and tolerable with regard to the effect on lower urinary tract symptoms and bladder outlet obstruction. However, withdrawal must be performed carefully in patients with a high body mass index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose We investigated the efficacy of 2 α1-blockers with different affinities for the α1-adrenoceptor subtypes silodosin and naftopidil in the treatment of benign prostatic enlargement complicated by overactive bladder. Materials and Methods This was a prospective, open label, randomized, multicenter study of 350 outpatients with untreated benign prostatic enlargement associated with urinary urgency at least once per week and an OABSS (Overactive Bladder Symptom Score) of 3 or greater. Patients were randomly assigned to receive silodosin 8 mg per day or naftopidil 75 mg per day. Changes in parameters from baseline to 4 and 12 weeks were assessed based on I-PSS (International Prostate Symptom Score), I-PSS quality of life, OABSS and voiding functions measured by uroflowmetry. Results On efficacy analysis a total of 314 patients were included in the 2 groups. No significant difference in adverse effects was observed between the groups. Mean I-PSS and I-PSS quality of life scores, and OABSS significantly improved in both groups. Statistically significantly greater improvement in the silodosin group than in the naftopidil group was observed in total OABSS (p = 0.03), I-PSS quality of life score (p = 0.005) and OABSS urgency score (p <0.001) at 12 weeks. In regard to voiding function the maximum urinary flow rate showed significant improvements in both groups but the change in the maximum flow rate in the silodosin group at 12 weeks was significantly greater than in the naftopidil group (3.6 vs 2.1 ml per second). Conclusions Silodosin, a pure α1A-adrenoceptor blocker, showed greater improvement in overactive bladder symptoms along with the urinary flow rate in patients with benign prostatic enlargement complicated by overactive bladder compared to naftopidil, an α1D>A-adrenoceptor blocker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Rebamipide is used as a topical therapeutic agent for various organs. We examined the healing effects of intravesical rebamipide on damaged urothelium in a rat model of chemically induced cystitis. Materials and Methods Hydrochloride was injected in the bladder of female Sprague Dawley® rats to induce cystitis. On days 1 and 4 rebamipide (1 or 10 mM) or vehicle was administered in the bladder and maintained for 1 hour. Histopathology, urothelial permeability, cystometrogram and nociceptive behaviors were evaluated on day 7. Also, tissue rebamipide concentrations after the 1-hour bladder instillation were quantified using high performance liquid chromatography. Results Intravesically administered rebamipide permeated the bladder, particularly in hydrochloride treated rats, and the pharmacologically effective tissue dose remained for greater than 6 hours. Bladder histological evaluation revealed polymorphological inflammatory cell infiltration and decreased positive staining for uroplakin 3A in hydrochloride treated rats. Scanning electron microscopy showed damaged tight junctions in the hydrochloride group. Evans blue absorption in the bladder wall was increased in hydrochloride treated rats. These findings, which were associated with urothelial injury and increased permeability, were dependently suppressed by the rebamipide treatment dose. Cystometrogram demonstrated that the intercontraction interval was shorter in hydrochloride treated rats but prolonged by rebamipide. The increased nociceptive behaviors observed after intravesical resiniferatoxin administration were also suppressed by rebamipide. Conclusions Intravesical rebamipide accelerated the repair of damaged urothelium, protected urothelial barrier function and suppressed bladder overactivity and nociception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We examined the effects of intravesical application of rebamipide (Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Tokyo, Japan) on bladder inflammation and overactivity in a chemically induced cystitis model. Materials and Methods: Female Sprague Dawley® rats under isoflurane anesthesia were injected with 150 mg/kg cyclophosphamide in the peritoneum, and 1 mM or 10 mM rebamipide or vehicle was administered in the bladder and remained for 1 hour. Control rats were injected with saline in the peritoneum and vehicle was administered in the bladder. The bladder was harvested at 48 hours. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed and the inflammation grade was assessed. The amount of myeloperoxidase was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Proinflammatory cytokines were quantified using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Cystometrogram was done in awake rats 48 hours after cyclophosphamide treatment to measure voiding reflex parameters. Results: Histological evaluation revealed that bladder inflammation in cyclophosphamide treated rats was suppressed by rebamipide in a dose dependent manner. Up-regulated myeloperoxidase, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α expression in cyclophosphamide treated rats was also suppressed in rebamipide treated rats. Cystometrogram demonstrated that the intercontraction interval decreased in cyclophosphamide treated rats but was prolonged by rebamipide. Conclusions: Intravesical application of rebamipide suppressed bladder inflammation and overactivity in a dose dependent manner. This may provide a new treatment strategy for chemotherapy associated cystitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares performance and creativity of design projects before (pre) and after (post) students apply creativity methods taught to them in an experimental course. Design projects are evaluated by numeric performance scores and qualitative Creative Product Semantic Scale (CPSS) scores. A preliminary pre-post analysis of design projects indicates that the creativity of the projects improves after applying creativity methods; however, a more creative project does not necessarily improve performances after applying creativity methods. CPSS 'resolution' scores and 'elaboration and synthesis' scores are good measures of project performance; however, CPSS 'novelty' scores do not have significant associations with performance scores. Projects with simpler designs perform better, which is suggested by a significant negative association between part counts and performance scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]