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Genetic alterations of DNA repair genes, particularly BRCA2 in patients with prostate cancer, are associated with aggressive behavior of the disease. It has reached consensus that somatic and germline tests are necessary when treating advanced prostate cancer patients. Yet, it is unclear whether the mutations are associated with any presenting clinical features. We assessed the incidences and characteristics of BRCA2 mutated cancers by targeted sequencing in 126 sets of advanced prostate cancer tissue sequencing data. At the time of diagnosis, cT3/4, N1 and M1 stages were 107 (85%), 54 (43%) and 35 (28%) samples, respectively. BRCA2 alterations of clinical significance by AMP/ASCO/CAP criteria were found in 19 of 126 samples (15.1%). The BRCA2 mutated cancer did not differ in the distributions of TNM stage, Gleason grade group or histological subtype compared to BRCA2 wild-type cancers. Yet, they had higher tumor mutation burden, and higher frequency of ATM and BRCA1 mutations (44% vs. 10%, p = 0.002 and 21% vs. 4%, p = 0.018, respectively). Of the metastatic subgroup (M1, n = 34), mean PSA was significantly lower in BRCA2 mutated cancers than wild-type (p = 0.018). In the non-metastatic subgroup (M0, n = 64), PSA was not significantly different (p = 0.425). A similar trend was noted in multiple metastatic prostate cancer public datasets. We conclude that BRCA2 mutated metastatic prostate cancers may present in an advanced stage with relatively low PSA.

Background and Objectives: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, the European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines Office Rapid Reaction Group (GORRG) recommended that patients with clinical stage I (CSI) seminoma be offered active surveillance (AS). This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of AS versus adjuvant treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy for improving the overall survival (OS) of CSI seminoma patients. Materials and Methods: A systematic review was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched. The primary outcome was 5-year OS, and the secondary outcome was the 5-year relapse-free survival (RFS). The outcomes were analyzed as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of 14 studies were included. Overall, the quality scores were relatively high, and little publication bias was noted. In terms of the 5-year OS, 7 studies were analyzed; there was no significant difference between AS and adjuvant treatment (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.41–2.39; p = 0.97). In terms of 5-year RFS, 12 studies were analyzed. Adjuvant treatment reduced the risk of 5-year recurrence by 85% compared with AS (OR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.08–0.26; p < 0.001). Conclusions: In terms of the OS in CSI seminoma patients, no intergroup difference was noted, so it is reasonable to offer AS, as recommended by the EAU GORRG until the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, since there is a large intergroup difference in the recurrence rate, further research on the long-term (>5 years) outcomes is warranted.

We evaluated the risk of osteoporosis and fractures associated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) use and duration in men with prostate cancer. From the nationwide claims database in South Korea, a total of 218,203 men with prostate cancer were identified between 2008 and 2017. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 144,670 patients were included in the analysis. To adjust for comorbidities between cohorts, 1:1 propensity score matching was used. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of events associated with ADT, after controlling for potential confounding factors. In the matched cohort, there were differences in the incidence of newly developed osteoporosis (8.79% in the ADT group vs. 7.08% in the non-ADT group, p

This study assessed the relationship between newly developed normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with prostate cancer.A retrospective population-based cohort study was performed. During the period between 2008 and 2017, a total of 218203 prostate cancer patients were identified in a nationwide claims database in the Republic of Korea. The final analysis included 170874 patients (42909 in the ADT group, 127965 in the control group) after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The incidences of NTG according to ADT duration were compared with controls. Exact matching was conducted to adjust comorbidities between cohorts. Cox proportional hazard regression models were performed after controlling for latent confounding factors, and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the incidence of NTG according to ADT were obtained.In the matched cohort, the ADT group was associated with a significantly reduced risk of NTG in multivariable analysis compared to the control group. The risk of NTG decreased in patients who underwent ADT for less than 2 years (HR=0.824; 95% CI, 0.682-0.995;Medical castrations for patients with prostate cancer results in a lower incidence of newly diagnosed NTG compared to no ADT. These findings suggest that testosterone may be involved in the pathogenesis of NTG.

Summary: Background: Little is known about the preoperative predictive factors that could identify subsets of favorable patients who can be possibly cured with robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) alone in locally advanced prostate cancer (LAPCa). Our study was designed to identify clinical predictors of pathologic organ-confined disease (pOCD) in RARP setting. Methods: Between 2007 and 2013, clinicopathological and oncological data from 273 consecutive men undergoing robot-assisted RP with extended PLND for clinically LAPCa were reviewed in a single-institution, retrospectively. After exclusion of patients who received neoadjuvant hormone treatment before surgery, 186 subjects satisfied the final inclusion criteria. Results: Fourty-three patients (23.1% of total cohort) with preoperative clinically LAPCa patients were down-staged to pOCD following RARP. Preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, preoperative PSAD, positive core percent, maximal tumor volume in any core, and biopsy Gleason score were significantly associated with down-staging into pOCD following RARP. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that lower preoperative PSA (≤10 ng/mL) and maximal tumor volume in any core (≤70%) were independent predictors of pOCD following RARP. Conclusions: Approximately 23% of preoperative clinically LAPCa patients were down-staged to pOCD following RARP. Preoperative PSA and maximal tumor volume in any biopsy core might be useful clinical predictors of pOCD in clinically LAPCa patients in RARP setting. Keywords: Robotics, Prostatic neoplasms, Prostatectomy, Treatment outcome

Purpose In the context of the COVID-19 outbreak, the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines Rapid Reaction Group provided recommendations to manage muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) based on priority levels: neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) should be avoided for patients with T2-3N0M0 MIBC. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy of NAC compared with radical cystectomy (RC) alone in improving the overall survival (OS) of patients with T2-4aN0M0 MIBC. Materials and methods A systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. The PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched. The primary outcome was OS of patients with T2-4aN0M0 MIBC, and the secondary outcome was OS of patients with only T2N0M0 MIBC. Results Eight studies were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, the quality of all studies was relatively high, and little publication bias was demonstrated. The OS was significantly better in the NAC with RC group than in RC alone (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.68–0.92; p = 0.002). A subgroup analysis was performed on only patients with T2N0M0 MIBC, and five studies were included. There was no difference in the OS between the NAC with RC and the RC alone groups (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.69–1.01 p = 0.06). Conclusions As recommended by the EAU guidelines Rapid Reaction Group, patients with T2N0M0 MIBC should strongly consider omitting NAC until the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether to omit NAC in T3-4aN0M0 MIBC needs further discussion, and studies targeting only T2-3N0M0 MIBC are expected to proceed further.

Introduction A single dose of preventive antibiotics is known to be sufficient to reduce the rate of infection-related complications in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). However, some studies reported that the extended dose showed lower complications for high-risk groups. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing single- and extended-dose antibiotic prophylaxis for PCNL. Materials and methods Relevant studies that compared single- and extended-dose antibiotic prophylactic therapies were identified. Articles were selected from PubMed, EMBASE, KoreaMed, and Google Scholar up to September 2021. Fever and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) were compared by meta-analysis. A subgroup analysis was performed according to the degree of risk to the patient. Results A total of 10 articles were included in this study. There were no significant differences between single dose and extended dose in the rate of fever [p = 0.93, OR = 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.44–2.13, I2 = 64%]. Extended dose showed lower rate of SIRS compared to single dose (p = 0.0005, OR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.30–2.53, I2 = 53%); in the subgroup analysis, extended dose also showed lower rates of SIRS compared to single dose in high-risk patients (p 2 = 36%). Conclusions The results of our meta-analysis showed that single-dose antibiotic prophylaxis can be effective for PCNL, but extended-dose antibiotics can be required in high-risk patients to reduce post-PCNL infection-related complications.

We investigated whether ADT use was associated with the risk of ischemic cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cerebrovascular diseases (CrVD) in a nationwide population-based cohort. Claims data of the Health Insurance and Review Assessment system in South Korea were used. In total, 195,308 men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2017 were identified. After applying the exclusion criteria, 131,189 men were enrolled. The study cohort was divided into ADT and non-ADT groups. Study outcomes were newly developed CVD, cardiovascular intervention (CVI), and CrVD. To control for potential confounders, various cardiovascular risk factors were balanced between groups. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of events. Univariable analysis revealed that ADT was significantly associated with an increased risk of CVD and CrVD. Multivariable analysis did not reveal this association. In the propensity score matched cohort (n = 61,722), multivariable analysis demonstrated that ADT independently reduced the risk of CVD (HR 0.890; 95% CI 0.846–0.936; p

Background Androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer is known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, but there is controversy regarding the cardiovascular risk in patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease. This study assessed the risk of cardiovascular intervention after androgen deprivation therapy in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and cardiovascular intervention. Materials and Methods Between 2008 and 2017, 195,308 men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer were identified from the nationwide claims database in South Korea. Among them, 49,090 men with a history of ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases were analyzed. The patients were divided into the androgen deprivation therapy (n = 14,092) and non-androgen deprivation therapy (n = 34,988) groups. The primary outcome was cardiovascular interventions (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and coronary bypass surgery). Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals of the events. Results After balancing the covariates with 1:1 exact matching, the two groups had 10,514 subjects each. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that androgen deprivation therapy was not significantly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular interventions (hazard ratio, 1.060; 95% confidence interval, 0.923–1.217; P = 0.4104), regardless of the duration of therapy. A history of cardiovascular intervention, diabetes mellitus, antithrombotic medication use, and cardiovascular events significantly increased the risk of cardiovascular intervention. Conclusions Androgen deprivation therapy was not associated with cardiovascular intervention in patients with a previous history of cardiovascular disease, regardless of the duration of therapy. Therefore, the cardiovascular risk of androgen deprivation therapy should be reassessed in this population.

Excessive bulking force during primary access of the ureteral access sheath may induce ureteral injury. We investigated the efficacy of preoperative α-blockade to reduce ureteral access sheath insertion force and determine the upper limit required to avoid ureteral injury.In this randomized controlled trial 135 patients from a single institution who had ureteropelvic junction or renal pelvis stones and were scheduled to undergo retrograde intrarenal surgery were prospectively enrolled from December 2015 to January 2017. Of the patients 41 and 42 were randomly assigned to the control and experimental groups, respectively. The experimental group received α-blockade preoperatively. The 21 patients who were pre-stented were assessed separately. We developed a homemade device to measure maximal ureteral access sheath insertion force.Our ureteral access sheath insertion force measurement device showed excellent reproducibility. Higher insertion velocity resulted in greater maximal sheath insertion force. Maximal insertion force in the α-blockade group was significantly lower than in the control group at the ureterovesical junction (p = 0.008) and the proximal ureter (p = 0.036). Maximal insertion force in the α-blockade group was comparable to that in pre-stented patients. Female patients and patients 70 years old or older showed a lower maximal ureteral access sheath insertion force than their counterparts. The rate of grade 2 or greater ureteral injury was lower in the α-blockade group than in controls (p = 0.038). No injury occurred in any case in which ureteral access sheath insertion force did not exceed 600 G.Preoperative α-blockade and slow sheath placement may reduce maximal ureteral access sheath insertion force. If the force exceeds 600 G, a smaller diameter sheath may be an alternative. Alternatively the procedure can be terminated and followed later by pre-stented retrograde intrarenal surgery.

The use of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5ARIs) for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and other diseases has been proposed and studied. However, the controversy about its benefits and harms for other diseases has persisted. In this review, we will discuss the newly identified effects of 5ARIs based on recently published studies.These drugs are currently recommended in clinical guidelines for BPH. However, the reporting of adverse effects, including sexual dysfunction as well as neurologic, endocrine, and cardiovascular effects, have been controversial. There are reports of additional effects of 5ARI in prostate cancer and bladder cancer. Although 5ARIs have been prescribed for the treatment of androgenic alopecia (AGA), postfinasteride syndrome can result, with symptoms that range from sexual dysfunction to muscle atrophy.Clinical applications of 5ARIs have been established for the treatment of BPH and AGA from a series of randomized controlled trials. The adverse effects of 5ARIs affect only a small proportion of treated patients and can be resolved with discontinued treatment. It will be necessary to establish the mechanism by which 5ARIs elicit these effects through better designed studies.

Purpose This study aims to assess the predictive factors and treatment outcomes of Steinstrasse formation following shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) for ureter stone. Materials and methods The medical records of 1,418 ureter stone patients who underwent one-session SWL from November 2005 to May 2013 at our medical institute were retrospectively reviewed. Finally, 551 patients met inclusion criteria. Maximal length and location of stone, stone attenuation (Hounsfield units), and skin-to-stone distance (SSD) were determined on pretreatment non-contrast computed tomography. Results Of 551 patients, 12 patients (2.2% of total cohort) developed Steinstrasse after one-session SWL. The Steinstrasse incidence was significantly associated with stone size, stone attenuation value, and SSD. Prophylactic ureter stenting was not a statistically significant predictor of Steinstrasse formation. After propensity-score matching, Steinstrasse group showed a significant shorter SSD compare to non-Steinstrasse group. Multivariate logistic regression and Bayesian analysis revealed that stone size, stone attenuation and SSD were significant predictor of Steinstrasse formation following SWL for ureter stone. The Steinstrasse resolved spontaneously in six patients and remaining six patients were treated by additional SWL. None of patients with Steinstrasse required ureteral stenting, percutaneous drainage, or consequent surgical intervention. Conclusions Steinstrasse formation following SWL for ureter stone was rare event but nonnegligible. Large stone size, high stone attenuation and short SSD were significant predictors of Steinstrasse formation following SWL for ureter stone. Majority of patients with Steinstrasse formation could be treated conservatively in this clinical scenario.

PURPOSE To evaluate predictors of the success rate for one session of shock wave lithotripsy (SWL), focusing on the relationships between pretreatment hydronephrosis grade and one-session SWL success rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS The medical records of 1824 consecutive patients who underwent an initial session of SWL for treatment of urinary stones between 2005 and 2013 were reviewed. After exclusion, 700 patients with a single, 4-20 mm diameter radiopaque calculus were included in the study. RESULTS The mean maximal stone length (MSL) and skin-to-stone distance were 9.2±3.9 and 110.8±18.9 mm, respectively. The average values for mean stone density (MSD) and stone heterogeneity index (SHI) were 707.0±272.1 and 244.9±110.1, respectively. One-session success rates were 68.4, 75.0, 75.1, 54.0, and 10.5% in patients with hydronephrosis grade 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Patients were classified into success or failure groups based on SWL outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that MSL [odds ratio (OR) 0.888, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.841-0.934, p

// Won Sik Jang 1 , Kang Su Cho 1 , Myung Soo Kim 1 , Cheol Yong Yoon 1 , Dong Hyuk Kang 1 , Yong Jin Kang 1 , Won Sik Jeong 1 , Won Sik Ham 1 , Young Deuk Choi 1 1 Department of Urology, Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Correspondence to: Young Deuk Choi, email: youngd74@yuhs.ac Won Sik Jang, email: sindakjang@yuhs.ac Keywords: neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, prostate cancer, radical prostatectomy, biochemical recurrence, survival Received: September 06, 2016 Accepted: December 15, 2016 Published: December 29, 2016 ABSTRACT Background: The pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio has prognostic value after radical prostatectomy for treating localized prostate cancer. However, the use of postoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio has not been evaluated in this population. We investigated the prognostic significance of early postoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical data from 2,302 patients with localized prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy at our institution between years 2000 and 2010. Only patients with pre- and postoperative complete blood counts with differential results were included. Patients who received neoadjuvant or postoperative adjuvant treatment and those without adequate medical records were excluded. Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed to analyze biochemical recurrence-free survival and overall survival rates. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used for each endpoint. Results: Kaplan-Meier curves showed that high postoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (>3.5) was significantly associated with decreased biochemical recurrence-free survival ( p = 0.009) and overall survival ( p = 0.010). In the univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, high postoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was a significant predictor of biochemical recurrence (hazard ratio 1.270, p = 0.008) and overall survival (hazard ratio 1.437, p = 0.033). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that postoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is an independent factor for biochemical recurrence and overall survival in patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. These findings suggest that neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio can be a potentially valuable tool for stratifying high-risk patients and facilitating choices of postoperative therapy in patients with prostate cancer.

We aimed to compare the effectiveness of various local anesthetic methods for controlling prostate biopsy (PBx) related pain using network meta-analysis. Literature searches were performed on PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library up to March 2018. Forty-seven randomized controlled trials, in which the effectiveness of PBx-related pain was investigated using a visual analogue scale after various local anesthetic methods, were included. The local anesthetic methods included intraprostatic local anesthesia (IPLA), intrarectal local anesthesia (IRLA), intravenous sedation (IVS), periprostatic nerve block (PNB), pelvic plexus block (PPB), and spinal anesthesia (SPA). Eight pairwise meta-analyses and network meta-analyses with 21 comparisons were performed. All modalities, except single use of IPLA and IRLA, were more effective than placebo. Our results demonstrate that PNB + IVS (rank 1) and SPA (rank 2) were the most effective methods for pain control. The followings are in order of PPB + IRLA, PNB + IPLA, PPB, PNB + IRLA, IVS, and PNB. In conclusion, the most effective way to alleviate PBx-related pain appears to be PNB + IVS and SPA. However, a potential increase in medical cost and additional risk of morbidities should be considered. In the current outpatient setting, PPB + IRLA, PNB + IPLA, PPB, PNB + IRLA, and PNB methods are potentially more acceptable options.

Purpose To evaluate ureteral stenting as a negative predictive factor influencing ureteral stone clearance and to estimate the probability of one-session success in shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) patients with a ureteral stone. Materials and methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 1,651 patients who underwent their first SWL. Among these patients, 680 had a ureteral stone measuring 4-20 mm and were thus eligible for our study. The 57 patients who underwent ureteral stenting during SWL were identified. Maximal stone length (MSL), mean stone density (MSD), skin-to-stone distance (SSD), and stone heterogeneity index (SHI) were determined by pre-SWL noncontrast computed tomography. Results After propensity score matching, 399 patients were extracted from the total patient cohort. There were no significant differences between stenting and stentless groups after matching, except for a higher one-session success rate in the stentless group (78.6% vs. 49.1%, p=0.026). In multivariate analysis, shorter MSL, lower MSD, higher SHI, and absence of a stent were positive predictors for one-session success in patients who underwent SWL. Using cutoff values of MSL and MSD obtained from receiver operator curve analysis, in patients with a lower MSD (≤784 HU), the success rate was lower in those with a stent (61.1%) than in those without (83.5%) (p=0.001). However, in patients with a higher MSL (>10 mm), the success rate was lower in those with a stent (23.6%) than in those without (52.2%) (p=0.002). Conclusions Ureteral stenting during SWL was a negative predictor of one-session success in patients with a ureteral stone.

In line with the era of targeted therapy (TT), an increasing number of prognosticators are becoming available for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Here, potential prognosticators of cancer-specific survival (CSS) were identified based on the contemporary literature and were comprehensively validated in an independent cohort of patients treated for mRCC. Data were collected from 478 patients treated with TT for mRCC between January 1999 and July 2013 at a single institution. The analysis included 25 clinicopathological covariates that included both traditional and contemporary prognosticators. Multivariate Cox regression models were used to quantify the effect of covariates on CSS. Median survival from the initial diagnosis of metastasis was 24.5 (IQR, 11.5–55.7) months. There were 303 (63.4 %) cancer-specific deaths, yielding a 2-year CSS rate of 62.5 %. Low Karnofsky performance status (KPS), hypercalcemia, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the number of metastatic sites (≥2), and the presence of brain metastases were independent adverse prognosticators of CSS. The C-index of the model was 0.78. Patients with at least one adverse prognosticator demonstrated lower 2-year CSS rates compared to those with no prognosticators (53.9 vs. 70.6 %; log rank p

Background Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening more frequently detects early stage prostate cancer (PC). However, adverse pathologic features (APFs) after radical prostatectomy (RP) in low-risk PC occur. Previous related studies had utilized outdated staging criteria or small sample cohorts. In this study, we analyzed predictors of APFs after RP in low-risk PC using classification under the current criteria. Materials and methods We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 546 low-risk PC patients who had undergone RP. Low-risk PC was defined as PC with clinical T1–T2a, Gleason score ≤ 6, and PSA levels 4.5 ng/mL and number of positive cores > 2 in low-risk PC were significantly associated with APFs, and suggested as cut-off values for predicting APFs. Conclusions PSA > 4.5 ng/mL and number of positive cores > 2 in low-risk PC were associated with presence of APFs and patients with such records should be considered carefully to provide active surveillance. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-4416-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between stone composition and single-energy noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT) parameters, including stone heterogeneity index (SHI) and mean stone density (MSD), in patients with urinary calculi. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 255 patients who underwent operations or procedures for urinary stones or had spontaneous stone passage between December 2014 and October 2015. Among these, 214 patients with urinary calculi who underwent NCCT and stone composition analyses were included in the study. Maximal stone length (MSL), mean stone density (MSD), and stone heterogeneity index (SHI) were determined on pretreatment NCCT. The mean MSD (454.68±177.80 HU) and SHI (115.82±96.31 HU) of uric acid stones were lower than those of all other types. Based on post hoc tests, MSD was lower for uric acid stones than for the other types (vs. CaOx: P

Background Significant clinical heterogeneity within contemporary risk group is well known, particularly for those with intermediate-risk prostate cancer (IRPCa). Our study aimed to analyze the ability of the Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment (CAPRA) score to discern between favorable and non-favorable risk in patients with IRPCa. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the data of 203 IRPCa patients who underwent extraperitoneal robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) performed by a single surgeon. Pathologic favorable IRPCa was defined as a Gleason score ≤ 6 and organ-confined stage at surgical pathology. The CAPRA score was compared with two established criteria for the within-group discrimination ability. Results Overall, 38 patients (18.7% of the IRPCa cohort) had favorable pathologic features after RARP. The CAPRA score significantly correlated with established criteria I and II and was inversely associated with favorable pathology (all P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the discriminative ability between favorable and non-favorable pathology was 0.679 for the CAPRA score and 0.610 and 0.661 for established criteria I and II, respectively. During a median 37.8 (interquartile range, 24.6–60.2) months of follow-up, 66 patients (32.5%) experienced biochemical recurrence (BCR). Cox regression analysis revealed that the CAPRA score, as a continuous sum score model or 3-group risk model, was an independent predictor of BCR after RARP. Conclusion The within-group discrimination ability of preoperative CAPRA score might help in patient counseling and selecting optimal treatments for those with IRPCa., Graphical Abstract

Objective To evaluate the clinical impact of prostate peripheral zone thickness (PZT), based on presumed circle area ratio (PCAR) theory, on urinary symptoms in men with lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH) as a novel prostate parameter. Patients and methods Medical records were obtained from a prospective database of first-visit men with LUTS/BPH. Age, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), and post-void residual urine volume (PVR) were assessed. Total prostate volume (TPV), transition zone volume (TZV), transition zone index (TZI), and PZT were measured by transrectal ultrasonography. Reliability analysis was also performed. Results In all, 1009 patients were enrolled for the analysis. The mean (sd) PZT was 11.10 (2.50) mm, and patients were classified into three groups PZT thickness groups; PZT

The purpose of this study was to determine whether contemporary active surveillance (AS) protocols could sufficiently discriminate significant from indolent tumors in men with low-risk prostate cancer. We retrospectively analyzed 312 patients with low-risk prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy. After exclusion of patients with fewer than 10 cores taken at biopsy and those who received neo-adjuvant treatment, 205 subjects satisfied the final inclusion criteria. Five widely accepted AS protocols were employed in this study. A total of 82.0% of the patients met the inclusion criteria of at least one protocol, and 18% did not meet any criteria of published AS protocols. A significant proportion of patients had non-organ-confined disease (8.6% to 10.6%) or a Gleason score of 7 or greater (18.6% to 23.9%) between the different AS criteria. Among patients who did not meet any AS criteria, 32.4% of patients had a pathologically insignificant cancer. Our results indicated a significant adverse pathology in patients who met the contemporary AS protocols. On the other hand, some patients in whom expectant management would be appropriate did not meet any criteria of published AS protocols. None of the clinical or histological criteria reported to date is able to sufficiently discriminate aggressive tumors from indolent ones. Graphical Abstract

Objective To review the tertiary referral hospital experiences of men presenting with painless postcoital gross hematuria (PCGH) and suggest a management algorithm. Materials and Methods We reviewed clinical data from 19 male patients who first visited a clinic because of PCGH between 2009 and 2016. The patients were evaluated according to our tentative management algorithm for painless PCGH. First, a general workup for painless gross hematuria (GH) was performed. If the cause of the PCGH was not identified, a vascular workup of the pelvic vasculatures for PCGH was performed, including transrectal and penile ultrasonography with Doppler study. Pelvic angiography and subsequent angioembolization were recommended at the physician's discretion. Results The median age of the patients was 47 (range: 30-67) years. The tentative management algorithm led to no abnormal findings in 7 patients and identified urologic malignancies in 2 patients. Urethrocystoscopy revealed urethral hemangioma in 3 patients. Doppler ultrasonography revealed pelvic varicosities in 3 patients, complicated cyst of Cowper glands in 1 patient, and pelvic arteriovenous malformation in 3 patients. Pelvic angiography was recommended for the 3 patients with pelvic arteriovenous malformation, and 2 of those patients were successfully treated by angioembolization. Conclusion The clinical approach to painless PCGH should be different from that of painless GH. Both the general and the vascular workup for the pelvic vasculatures for painless GH are mandatory for the evaluation of patients with painless PCGH.

Objective To investigate the peri-operative and oncological outcomes of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) in patients with oligometastatic prostate cancer (PCa). Patients and Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of 79 patients with oligometastatic PCa treated with RARP or androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) between 2005 and 2015 at our institution. Of these 79 patients, 38 were treated with RARP and 41 were treated with ADT without local therapy. Oligometastatic disease was defined as the presence of five or fewer hot spots detected by preoperative bone scan. We evaluated peri-operative outcomes, progression-free survival (PFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS). We analysed data using Kaplan–Meier methods, with log-rank tests and multivariate Cox regression models. Results Patients treated with RARP experienced similar postoperative complications to those previously reported in RP-treated patients, and fewer urinary complications than ADT-treated patients. PFS and CSS were longer in RARP-treated compared with ADT-treated patients (median PFS: 75 vs 28 months, P = 0.008; median CSS: not reached vs 40 months, P = 0.002). Multivariate analysis further identified RARP as a significant predictor of PFS and CSS (PFS: hazard ratio [HR] 0.388, P = 0.003; CSS: HR 0.264, P = 0.004). Conclusions We showed that RARP in the setting of oligometastatic PCa is a safe and feasible procedure which improves oncological outcomes in terms of PFS and CSS. In addition, our data suggest that RARP effectively prevents urinary tract complications from PCa. The study highlights results from expert surgeons and highly selected patients that cannot be extrapolated to all patients with oligometastatic PCa; to confirm our findings, large, prospective, multicentre studies are required.

Background The association between lymphovascular invasion and lymphatic or hematogenous metastasis has been suspected, with conflicting evidence. We have investigated the association between the risk of biochemical recurrence and lymphovascular invasion in resection margin negative patients, as well as its association with lymph node metastasis. Methods One thousand six hundred thirty four patients who underwent radical prostatectomy from 2005 to 2014 were selected. Patients with bone or distant organ metastasis at the time of operation were excluded. Survival analysis was performed to assess biochemical recurrence, metastasis and mortality risks by Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression. Odds of lymph node metastasis were evaluated by Logistic regression. Results LVI was detected in 118 (7.4%) patients. The median follow-up duration was 33.1 months. In the Kaplan-Meier analysis, lymphovascular invasion was associated with significantly increased 5-year and 10-year BCR rate (60.2% vs. 39.1%, 60.2% vs. 40.1%, respectively; p

We investigated the effect of daily climatic parameters on spontaneous acute urinary retention (sAUR) and evaluated the risk factors for refractory/recurrent AUR.A total of 4194 patients older than 40 years were diagnosed with AUR in the emergency department at Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul, from January 2007 to May 2016. To evaluate climatic parameters at sAUR onset, we included individuals living in the area around the hospital. We excluded patients with fever, who did not return to the hospital after the AUR episode or with AUR occurring within 2 weeks following admission for surgery or chemotherapy.Among 818 patients living in the two districts around the hospital, winter and October had the highest seasonal and monthly rates of sAUR development, respectively, and sAUR incidence increased with age. Daily temperature range and mean wind speed were significant risk factors for sAUR development. Several daily climatic parameters had seasonal effects on sAUR incidence. Over a mean follow-up of 0.98 years, 122 patients (14.9%) developed refractory/recurrent AUR. Transitional zone index (TZI; HR = 1.03; P = 0.002) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) at the time of sAUR (HR = 1.01; P = 0.030) were significant predictors of refractory/recurrent AUR. Benign prostate hyperplasia medication and transurethral prostatectomy after sAUR were not risk factors for refractory/recurrent AUR.Cold temperature provoked sAUR in patients with higher age and International Prostate Symptom Score. Patients with higher TZI and PSA level at the time of sAUR had a greater risk of developing refractory/recurrent AUR.

A 61-year-old man presented with a right renal mass with a vena caval thrombus on computed tomography that was consistent with renal cell carcinoma. The results of routine laboratory examinations and urinalysis were within normal limits. Preoperative planning was critical owing to the presence of the vena caval thrombus. A radical nephrectomy, vena caval thrombectomy, and regional lymphadenectomy were done. The pathologic report was consistent with a high-grade, invasive urothelial carcinoma, with sarcomatoid differentiation involving the renal vein and inferior vena cava (Stage IV, T4N0M0). Thus, this was a rare case of upper tract urothelial carcinoma. Adjuvant chemotherapy with the methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, cisplatinum regimen is scheduled. To our knowledge, this is the first report in Korea of upper tract urothelial carcinoma of the sarcomatoid type with a vena caval thrombus.

Purpose Local treatment has become a treatment option for patients with de novo metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). Subgroup analyses based on a history of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) were performed to evaluate the impact thereof on overall survival (OS) after local treatment. Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for 879 patients with de novo mHSPC between August 2003 and November 2016. Patients were stratified according to prior CVD history and the type of initial treatment: androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) alone versus local treatment consisting of radical prostatectomy (RP) or radiation therapy (RT) with ADT, with or without metastasis-directed therapy. The primary outcome was OS assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox-regression models. Results Of 879 patients, 660 (75.1%) men underwent ADT alone, and 219 (24.9%) men underwent RP or RT with ADT, with or without metastasis-directed therapy. The median follow-up was 38 months. Multivariable analysis showed CVD history to be associated with a higher risk of overall mortality (p=0.001). In the overall cohort and in patients without a history of CVD, patients who underwent local treatment exhibited higher OS than men who received ADT alone (all p

To compare the outcome of epididymectomy and vasectomy reversal (VR) in patients with postvasectomy pain syndrome (PVPS) who required surgical treatment.A total of 50 patients with PVPS who underwent epididymectomy or VR between January 2000 and January 2010 were included retrospectively. Of these, 36 (72.0%) patients completed the study questionnaire. These 36 patients completed the questionnaire either during attendance at the outpatient clinic or during a telephone interview. Twenty patients (22 cases) underwent epididymectomy, and sixteen patients (17 cases) underwent VR. Analyses were performed for (1) preoperative clinical findings, (2) preoperative and postoperative visual analogue pain scale (VAPS) scores, (3) patency and pregnancy rate in VR group, and (4) patient satisfaction with surgical treatment.The mean age was 48.28 ± 11.27 years, and the mean period of follow-up was 3.58 years (0.15-10.03). The mean VAPS score was 6.78 ± 0.93 preoperatively and 1.13 ± 0.72 postoperatively (p0.001). The difference in the mean preoperative and postoperative VAPS scores was 6.00 ± 1.34 (3-8) in the epididymectomy group and 5.50 ± 1.03 (4-8) in the VR group. However, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.227). No significant difference in satisfaction with surgical outcome was observed between the epididymectomy and the VR groups (p = 0.124).In PVPS patients requiring surgical treatment, no significant difference was observed between the epididymectomy and VR groups in either the reduction in pain or the degree of patient satisfaction with surgical outcome. Selection of the optimal surgical procedure may be dependent on specific patient characteristics.

Several reports have promoted the root-derived Korean red ginseng (KRG; Panax ginseng) as alternative treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), and ginsenosides are known to be the principal active ingredients of ginseng. Recent studies showed that ginseng berries produce more ginsenosides than KRG; thus, we investigated the ability of the Korean ginseng berry extract GB0710 to relax the penile corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (CCSM) in this study. As a comparative control, the results were compared to those obtained using KRG. In addition, possible mechanisms of action for GB0710 were investigated. While KRG and GB0710 both displayed dose-dependent relaxation effects on precontracted rabbit CCSM in vitro, GB0710 was shown to be more potent than KRG. The GB0710-induced relaxation could be partially reduced by removing the endothelium. In addition, pre-treatment with several nitric oxide (NO) inhibitors significantly inhibited the relaxation of muscle strips. Furthermore, administration of GB0710 increased intracavernosal pressure (ICP) in a rat in vivo model in both a dose- and duration-dependent manner. Intracellular NO production in human microvascular endothelial cells could be induced by GB0710 and inhibited by N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine. In conclusion, GB0710 had a greater relaxation effect on rabbit CCSM than did KRG extract, and increased ICP in a rat model in both a dose- and a duration-dependent manner. This relaxing effect might be mediated by NO production.

To evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with maximal urine flow rate (Q max) ≥ 25 ml/s complaining of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), using propensity score-matching analysis to compare with the control group. Medical records from a prospectively maintained database for first visit male patients with LUTS/benign prostatic hyperplasia between 2010 and 2012 were used to select 818 patients. Of these patients, 68 men with Q max ≥ 25 ml/s were defined as the supervoider group, and 68 patients were selected for the control group using propensity scores, which were calculated for each patient using multivariable logistic regression model based on the following covariates: age, prostate volume, voided urine volume, and post-voided residual volume. International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life score, and Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) were also analyzed. Mean Q max was 30.82 ± 5.13 in supervoiders and 15.95 ± 4.88 ml/s in controls (p

To evaluate the effect of bent distortion of the image of the prostate on the accuracy of 3-dimensional measurements during transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS).TRUS images were obtained prospectively from 60 patients with prostate cancer. The degree of rectal compression on the probe was varied in each case to obtain a typical bent distortion image (BDI) and a minimally bent image (MBI). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) served as the reference. Axial and midsagittal BDI, MDI, and MRI were selected. Three-dimensional prostate diameters (height, width, and length) and volume were obtained from all images by 2 independent observers. The data were analyzed by using a paired t test, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), and Bland-Altman plots.The MBI and BDI diameters differed significantly (P .001). All ICCs for the MBI diameters and volume and the ICCs for BDI length and volume exceeded 0.9, which indicates high measurement reliability. However, the ICCs for BDI height and width were below 0.9. When the difference in MBI or BDI relative to MRI was calculated for each variable, the MBI differences were all significantly smaller than the BDI differences (P .001).Bent distortion during TRUS affects the accuracy of measurements. MBI is also morphologically more realistic than BDI. Therefore, to minimize prostatic image distortion, the rectal probe should be placed so that the posterior wall of the prostate is as flat as possible.

We compared postoperative outcomes in patients treated with laparoendoscopic single site varicocele ligation with or without testicular artery and lymphatic preservation.A total of 80 patients with left varicocele were randomly divided into 2 groups and treated with laparoendoscopic single site varicocele ligation with preservation of the testicular artery and lymphatics (40 in group 1) or complete ligation of the testicular vessels and lymphatics (40 in group 2). Operative time, hospital stay, return to normal activity, postoperative visual analog scale pain scores and complications were analyzed. In patients with subfertility preoperative and 3-month postoperative semen analyses were performed. In patients with scrotal pain preoperative and 12-month postoperative visual analog scale pain scores were analyzed.A total of 35 patients per group completed the study. Hospital stay, return to normal activity and postoperative pain scores did not differ between the groups. No major complications were observed. Mean ± SD operative time was 60.7 ± 10.7 and 48.6 ± 6.0 minutes in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p0.001). Patients with subfertility, including 22 in group 1 and 21 in group 2, showed improved semen parameters 3 months postoperatively but postoperative values did not differ between the groups. The 17 patients in each group with scrotal pain showed decreased pain scores 12 months postoperatively with no difference between the groups.Laparoendoscopic single site varicocele ligation is feasible. No differences in postoperative outcomes and complications were observed when preserving or not preserving the testicular artery and lymphatics.

To evaluate the effect of the prostatic urethral angle (PUA) on the peak flow rate (Qmax) and urinary symptoms in the clinical setting.The records were obtained from a prospectively maintained database for first-visit men with lower urinary tract symptoms. Uroflowmetric measurements, postvoid residual urine volume, and International Prostate Symptom Score were assessed. The prostate-related parameters, including prostate volume, PUA, and intravesical prostatic protrusion, were measured using transrectal ultrasonography. Patients with comorbidities that can affect voiding function or in whom the PUA could not be measured were excluded.A total of 316 patients were included. On multivariate linear regression analysis, the PUA (P = .002) was independently associated with the International Prostate Symptom Score. However, the International Prostate Symptom Score was not influenced by patient age, prostate volume, or intravesical prostatic protrusion. The mean PUA was significantly different according to symptom severity. The mean PUA was 42.2° ± 7.0°, 45.5° ± 9.1°, and 47.3° ± 8.6° in patients with mild, moderate, and severe symptoms, respectively (P = .004, analysis of variance). Although the PUA (P.001) and patient age (P.001) were independent predictors of Qmax, the prostate volume and intravesical prostatic protrusion did not affect the Qmax. The mean PUA was 52.2° ± 7.3° in patients with a Qmax10 mL/s, 45.0° ± 7.9° in those with a Qmax ≥10 mL/s but20 mL/s, and 39.8° ± 7.9° in those with a Qmax of ≥20 mL/s (P.001, analysis of variance).The results of our study has shown that the PUA is significantly associated with the Qmax and symptom scores in men with lower urinary tract symptoms. Our findings suggest that the PUA should be considered in the treatment of male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms.

We investigated whether stone heterogeneity index (SHI), which a proxy of such variations, was defined as the standard deviation of a Hounsfield unit (HU) on non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT), can be a novel predictor for shock-wave lithotripsy (SWL) outcomes in patients with ureteral stones. Medical records were obtained from the consecutive database of 1,519 patients who underwent the first session of SWL for urinary stones between 2005 and 2013. Ultimately, 604 patients with radiopaque ureteral stones were eligible for this study. Stone related variables including stone size, mean stone density (MSD), skin-to-stone distance, and SHI were obtained on NCCT. Patients were classified into the low and high SHI groups using mean SHI and compared. One-session success rate in the high SHI group was better than in the low SHI group (74.3% vs. 63.9%, P = 0.008). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that smaller stone size (OR 0.889, 95% CI: 0.841–0.937, P

Seminal vesicle invasion (SVI) is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Despite its anatomical similarity and close proximity to the seminal vesicle, the prognostic significance of vas deferens invasion (VDI) by PCa has not been elucidated. For these reasons, we investigated the impact of VDI on the oncological outcome of pT3b PCa in association with SVI. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 3359 patients who had undergone a radical prostatectomy at our institution between January 2000 and December 2014 for PCa. Patients who received neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment (radiation, androgen deprivation therapy, or both) and those without adequate medical records were excluded. A Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed to analyze biochemical recurrence-free survival (BCRFS), and a Cox regression model was used to test the influence of VDI on biochemical recurrence (BCR). Of 350 patients with pathologically confirmed SVI (pT3b), 87 (24.9%) had VDI, while the remaining 263 patients (75.1%) had isolated SVI. Compared with SVI patients without VDI, SVI patients with VDI were noted to have a significantly worse 5-year BCRFS (25.1 vs. 17.1%, respectively). VDI was a significant predictor of BCR in multivariate Cox regression analysis (hazard ratio 1.39, 95% confidence interval 1.02–1.90; p = 0.039). Our results shows that the prognosis of PCa with SVI might be further stratified by VDI status, thus suggesting the role of VDI either as a surrogate for poor prognosis or as a determinant for adjuvant therapy.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has a prognostic value in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer receiving systemic therapy. However, the prognostic significance of NLR was never previously evaluated in patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer. In the present study, we investigated the influence of NLR on survival after a RP for prostate cancer. We retrospectively reviewed clinical data of 2301 patients with prostate cancer who underwent RP at our institution between 2000 and 2010. Among these patients, we considered only patients who had a preoperative complete blood count with differential result available. Patients who received neoadjuvant or postoperative adjuvant treatment (radiation, androgen deprivation therapy or both) and those without adequate medical record were excluded. A Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed to analyze biochemical recurrence-free survival (BCRFS), overall survival (OS) and prostate cancer-specific survival (CSS). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used for each end point. In total, 2067 patients were evaluated; median follow-up time was 78 months (interquartile range (IQR) 65–96), median age at RP was 66 years (IQR 61–70) and median preoperative NLR was 1.76 (IQR 1.35–2.40). A Kaplan–Meier analysis showed a significant association between high NLR (⩾1.76) and decreased CSS (P=0.005) and OS (P=0.003) but not with BCRFS (P=0.223). In the univariate and multivariate regression analyses, a high NLR was a significant predictor of CSS (hazard ratio (HR) 2.012, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.222–3.310, P=0.006) and OS (HR 1.650, 95% CI 1.127–2.416, P=0.010). This study shows that in patients with prostate cancer preoperative NLR is an independent prognostic factor for OS and CSS after a RP and suggests that a preoperative hematologic workup should be considered in the risk assessment of these patients.

Aims To evaluate the efficacy and safety of solifenacin 5 mg to treat voiding symptoms caused by idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) after a ventriculoperitoneal (V-P) shunt operation. Methods A total of 53 patients diagnosed with iNPH and complaining of voiding symptoms were enrolled. Before treatment with solifenacin (V1), 4 (V2) and 12 (V3) weeks after starting solifenacin overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS), the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Quality of Life (QoL) score, maximal urine flow rate (Qmax), voided volume, and post-voiding residual urine volume (PVR) were measured. An urodynamic study (UDS) was performed at V1 and V3, and the safety of solifenacin was assessed at V1, V2, and V3. Results Of the 53 patients, 38 patients (71.70%) completed the 12-week clinical trial. The mean patient age was 52.24 ± 10.08 years. OABSS and IPSS were significantly improved. The mean voided volume was 147.18 ± 61.84 ml at V1 and 160.03 ± 62.59 ml at V3 (P

Objective To introduce a novel method to successfully remove organized hematoma. Endoscopic evacuation can be troublesome in some patients with a large amount of blood clots or organized hematoma. Methods We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 15 patients who were treated with a so-called “suction and fishing method” for severe clot retention. A large-bore catheter connected with a wall suction unit was inserted into the bladder through the resectoscope sheath, and subsequently a large volume of urine retention and quite a substantial amount of soft clots were removed (suction step). After awhile, negative pressure could not work when the catheter met large and organized fragments of blood clots. In this situation, large blood clots hanging on the catheter tip were removed by gently removing the catheter (fishing step). Results In all patients, clot retention was successfully managed with this method. Clot evacuation was performed without anesthesia in 9 patients when electrocauterization was not planned, and opioid analgesics were sufficient for pain control. In the other 6 patients, clot evacuation and fulguration were performed under anesthesia. Median time for clot evacuation was 20 minutes (range 5–55) and median estimated volume of clot evacuated was 200 mL (range 50–600). There was no procedure-related complication such as bladder rupture. Conclusion The suction and fishing method is a simple, safe, and successful way to evacuate severe organized clot retention. It can resolve intractable clot retention and rapidly relieve related symptoms without anesthesia.

Purpose Prostate cancer (PC) is a devastating and heterogeneous condition with diverse treatment options. When selecting treatments for patients with very high-risk PC, clinicians must consider patient comorbidities. We investigated the efficacy of the age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (ACCI) as a prognostic factor for patient outcomes after radical prostatectomy (RP). Materials and methods We retrospectively investigated the medical records of PC patients at our institution who underwent RP from 1992 to 2010. Very high-risk PC was defined according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Patients with incomplete medical records or who had received neoadjuvant therapy were excluded. Preoperative comorbidity was evaluated by the ACCI, and the prognostic efficacy of the ACCI was analyzed using univariable and multivariable Cox regression, competing risk regression model and Kaplan-Meier curves. Results Our final analysis included 228 men with a median age of 66 years (interquartile range 62–71) and median prostate specific antigen of 10.7 ng/mL. There were 41 (18%) patients with an ACCI score >3 and 88 (38.6%) patients with a biopsy Gleason score >8. Preoperative evaluation revealed that 159 patients (69.7%) had a non-organ confined tumor (≥T3). Following RP, 8-year prostate cancer-specific survival (PCSS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 91.6% and 83.4%, respectively. Competing risk regression analysis revealed that ACCI was significantly associated with other-cause survival and OS (p3.

Little information is available about changes in renal function after cisplatin-based chemotherapy (CBCT) in patients with a solitary kidney. The authors evaluated the renal safety and efficacy of CBCT after nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract-urothelial carcinoma (UUT-UC). The data of patients who underwent nephroureterectomy for UUT-UC and received CBCT for adjuvant and/or palliative treatment were reviewed. Renal function changes and renal function–related adverse events (AEs) were analyzed, and objective tumor responses were assessed. Sixty patients were enrolled, and a median of 6 cycles (1–22) of CBCT were administered. After the 3rd cycle of CBCT, serum creatinine levels were significantly higher than at baseline, whereas mean creatinine clearances and estimated glomerular filtration rates were significantly lower. These renal function indicators also tended to be lower than baseline after the 6th–21st cycles, but these decreases were not significant. Significant AEs (≥grade 2) occurred in 10 patients (16.7%), and serious AEs (≥grade 3) developed in two that required temporary hemodialysis. Univariate analysis revealed that a low estimated glomerular filtration rate at baseline was related to the occurrence of a significant renal AE with borderline significance (Hazard ratio = 3.284, P = 0.100). The overall tumor response rate was 30.2%, and tumor response rates of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd line therapies were 36.4, 25.0, and 12.5%, respectively. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy can be administered in the majority of patients with UUT-UC with a solitary kidney after nephroureterectomy without inducing a serious AE, and provides acceptable efficacy.

Objectives To investigate the prognostic significance of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in patients with localized upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (UUT-TCC) after radical nephroureterectomy. Methods The clinical records of 271 patients with UUT-TCC who underwent radical nephroureterectomy between 1986 and 2006 were reviewed. Patients with pT4 stage, lymph node involvement, or distant metastasis were excluded. A total of 238 patients with pTa-3N0M0 were eligible. The prognostic significance of various clinicopathologic factors was analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis. The mean age was 64.1 years (range, 25-91 years) and the median follow-up duration was 53.4 months (range, 3-240 months). Results LVI was present in 31 patients (13%). LVI was related to higher pT stage, high tumor grade, sessile architecture, and squamous differentiation. On univariate analysis, tumor architecture, squamous differentiation, LVI, tumor grade, and pT stage influenced disease-specific survival. On multivariate analysis, LVI (hazards ratio [HR], 2.33; P = .014) and pT stage (HR, 2.07; P = .021) showed significantly different rates of disease-specific survival. Patients were classified according to pT stage and LVI. The high-risk group (pT3 and LVI+) showed significantly worse disease-specific survival than the low- (pT ≤ 2 and LVI−) or intermediate-risk groups (pT3 and LVI−, pT ≤ 2 and LVI+) ( P P = .032, respectively). Conclusions LVI and pT stage are significant prognostic factors for recurrence-free and cancer-specific survivals in patients with localized UUT-TCC. LVI and pT stage would be helpful for selecting patients who are appropriate for postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

Objective: To evaluate the comparative efficacy of adjuvant gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) chemotherapy between patients with locally advanced transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder and upper urinary tract. Patients and Methods: From 2001 to 2005, we retrospectively selected a total of 64 patients with locally advanced TCC of the bladder and upper urinary tract who received at least 3 cycles of adjuvant GC chemotherapy. We compared disease-free and overall survival between the 2 groups. Results: The recurrence rate was 30.3% in TCC of the bladder and 25.8% of the upper urinary tract (p = 0.633). Statistical analysis revealed that there was no significant difference in the disease-free or overall survival rate between TCC of the bladder and upper urinary tract treated with adjuvant GC chemotherapy. Conclusion: Under the circumstances of limited data about TCC of the upper urinary tract, this study may suggest that adjuvant GC chemotherapy in locally advanced TCC of the upper urinary tract is as effective as those of bladder.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of single-session OK-432 sclerotherapy for the treatment of renal cysts.From October 2005 to November 2006, 48 patients (61 simple renal cysts) were included in the study. Indications were determined as flank discomfort (n = 37) or patient reassurance due to increasing size (n = 11). The simple renal cysts were aspirated under ultrasonography (US), at which point OK-432 was injected into the cyst. Follow-up was performed with US or computed tomography scan every 3 months until 1 year. Complete regression of the renal cyst or more than 70% reduction in size with no symptoms indicated a successful treatment.Among 61 renal cysts of 48 patients, the overall success rate was 98.4%. Complete regression occurred in 46 cysts (75.4%), and more than 90% reduction in size occurred in 6 cysts (9.8%). A size reduction of 80% to 90% and 70% to 80% occurred in five (8.2%) and three cysts (4.9%), respectively. A size reduction less than 70% occurred in only one cyst (1.6%). The success of cyst regression was correlated with cyst volume. Clinical symptoms resolved in 100% of patients with symptomatic cysts, and there was no enlargement of the aspirated cysts at the 1-year follow-up. After the procedure, there were only some minor complications, such as mild fever, flank pain, and leukocytosis, which subsided with the conservative treatment.Percutaneous OK-432 sclerotherapy is simple, safe, and effective, and it can be an alternative first-line therapy for simple renal cysts.

To analyze the clinical value of C-reactive protein (CRP) as a marker of prolonged hospitalization and a predictor of recurrence in patients after uncomplicated acute pyelonephritis (APN).A total of 202 consecutive adult patients with APN were prospectively enrolled from September 2005 to June 2007. APN was defined as the concomitant presence of 4 major and/=2 minor clinical or laboratory signs or symptoms suggestive of APN. All patients were treated with parenteral antibiotics. The patients were discharged after normalization of body temperature, serum white blood cell counts, and urinalysis. Correlations among the recurrence of APN and various factors, including CRP, were investigated.Of the 202 patients, 13 were excluded because of the presence of complicating factors or insufficient data. APN recurrence developed in 4 patients (2.1%). The CRP level at discharge correlated significantly with the recurrence of APN on univariate and multivariate analysis. Irrespective of the normalization of body temperature, serum white blood cell counts, and urinalysis, the recurrence of APN was significantly greater in the patients with CRP4 mg/dL than in those with4 mg/dL at discharge. Patients with a maximal CRP of15 mg/dL during admission had a longer hospitalization and required more intravenous antibiotic therapy than did the patients with a maximal CRP of15 mg/dL.As a marker of prolonged hospitalization and recurrence, CRP can complement the present clinical and laboratory parameters used as guides in the proper treatment of patients with uncomplicated APN.

Purpose: This study was undertaken to investigate the outcomes associated with docetaxel treatment of Korean patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) and to compare its clinical efficacies in 1st and 2nd-line settings. Patients and Methods: This study was retrospectively performed and included 47 patients with HRPC. The 1st-line group consisted of 19 patients who had not undergone prior chemotherapy, and the 2nd-line group consisted of 28 patients who underwent prior chemotherapy. All patients were treated with 75 mg/m 2 IV docetaxel every 3 weeks and 5 mg of prednisone twice daily with a continuous androgen blockade. Results: Of 47 study subjects, 14 patients (29.8%) had 50% PSA decline from baseline. PSA response was more common in the 1st-line group, but this was not statistically different (42.1% vs. 21.4%, p = 0.114). After a median follow up of 11 months (range, 6 - 24 months), the 1st-line group showed a longer time to PSA progression (4 vs. 2 months, p = 0.015) and survival (17 vs. 10 months, p = 0.037) than the 2nd-line group. In terms of toxicities, no difference was apparent between the 2 groups. Conclusion: In a 1st-line setting, docetaxel is an effective and tolerable agent for Korean HRPC patients, and that its efficacy is limited, although 2nd-line docetaxel is tolerable.

In this paper, we report our initial experience of robot-assisted laparoscopic radical cystoprostatectomy (RLRC) with an ileal conduit urinary diversion (ICUD). Our patient was a 59-year-old man presenting with a clinical T4 invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and prostate. A RLRC was performed with the da Vinci() robot system (Intuitive Surgical, Mountain View, CA), which has a total of seven degrees of motion (six degrees of freedom and grip), and EndoWrist (Intuitive Surgical) instrumentation. The specimen was extracted through the 8-cm-sized incision in the umbilical trocar site. The ICUD was achieved through a removal site of a specimen by an extracorporeal technique. The total operative time was 340 minutes and the estimated blood loss was 600 mL. The pathologic examination showed a stage T4a, with negative surgical margins. A RLRC can be an alternative to the open technique. We are the first group to perform RLRC in Korea and to report on our technique and outcome.

Objectives The prostatic urethra is a bent tube, and the clinical significance of the prostatic urethral angle (PUA) is poorly understood. We investigated the effect of the PUA on the urinary flow rate in men without benign prostatic obstruction. Methods In a theoretical model, the urinary flow rate at the end of the prostatic urethra was formulated according to some principles of fluid dynamics, including the Navier-Storkes equation, Bernoulli's equation, and the loss of coefficient at bends. The change in the urinary flow rate according to the PUA was also calculated through mathematical simulations. In addition, the relationship between the PUA and the peak flow rate was evaluated in 65 healthy men without benign prostatic obstruction (age 50 to 59 years, prostate volume less than 30 cm 3 , peak flow rate greater than 15 mL/s). The prostate volume and PUA were determined by transrectal ultrasonography. Results Using the fluid dynamic model, the urinary flow rate increased in proportion to the urethral diameter and was inversely associated with the PUA. The mathematical simulations showed that the urinary flow rate decreased by more than 27% as the PUA increased from 35° to 90°. In the clinical setting, the peak flow rate was significantly associated with the PUA by linear regression analysis ( R = 0.34, β = −0.342, P = 0.005), but it was not associated with the total prostate volume ( R = 0.18, β = −0.181, P = 0.150). Conclusions The PUA was inversely associated with the urinary flow rate in this theoretical model and preliminary clinical study. This relationship could be an important factor in the pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia/lower urinary tract symptoms.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common problems faced by aging men and can be associated with bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms that affect quality of life by interfering with normal daily activities and sleep patterns. Despite the clinical importance of BPH, its pathogenesis is still poorly understood. Previously, our understanding of BPH was centered on bladder outlet obstruction being secondary to benign prostatic enlargement. However, prostate size itself is not correlated with the urine flow rate and symptomatology. The prostatic urethra is a bend tube and the increased prostatic urethral angulation shows a higher bladder neck on cystoscopic examination. Although some urologists suspected that the higher bladder neck might be a causal factor for BPH, the clinical significance of prostatic urethral angulation was previously underestimated. In this study, we propose a new hypothesis that prostatic urethral angulation is a causal factor for BPH. By applying the concept of fluid dynamics to the process of urination in the prostatic urethra, we show that the energy loss in this bending tube (the prostatic urethra) can occur during micturition and it increases proportionally to prostatic urethral angulation; this energy loss results in a decrease of the urine velocity and accordingly, the urine flow rate is inversely associated with prostatic urethral angulation. We also propose that BPH involves prostatic urethral angulation as well as the classical BPH triad of prostatic enlargement, bladder outlet obstruction, and symptomatology. Our hypothesis suggests that prostatic urethral angulation is an overlooked cause of bladder outlet obstruction and is a causal factor of BPH, and provides novel insight into the pathogenesis of BPH. Ultimately, the relationship between prostatic urethral angulation and urine flow rate, and other clinical factors including urodynamic parameters, the symptomatology, the response to treatment, and disease progression, need to be investigated in a clinical setting.

Introduction: We evaluated the prognostic significance of pT0 stage on organ-confined transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder following radical cystectomy. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of consecutive patients who underwent radical cystectomy for organ-confined transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder between 1986 and 2004. Patients who were treated with neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy were excluded. A total of 197 patients were enrolled in this study. We investigated the impact of pathologic T stage on disease-specific survival. Results: Overall disease-specific survival rate was 84.1% after 5 years. Five-year disease-specific survival rates according to pathologic stage were 88.7% in pT0, 92.2% in pTis-1 and 65.4% in pT2 disease. Overall disease-specific survival rate with pTis-1 or pT0 tumors was significantly higher than with pT2 tumors (p = 0.001, pT2 vs. pT0; p < 0.001, pT2 vs. pTis-1), but there was no difference in disease-specific survival between pTis-1 and pT0 tumors (p > 0.05). In the muscle-invasive tumor group, pT0 tumors had a more favorable prognosis than pT2 tumors (p = 0.042), but there was no difference in prognosis between pT0 and pTis-1 tumors. Conclusions: Pathologic stage T0 cystectomy can be considered a curative therapy in most cases, including pT0cT2 tumors, but there is a substantial risk of tumor recurrence.