The Efficacy and Safety of Tamsulosin 0.2mg/day on Sexual Function in BPH: A Multicenter Open-label, Non-comparative, 3 Months Observational, Phase IV Prospective Study / 대한남성과학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of tamsulosin, 0.2mg/day on sexual function in Korean BPH patients. Patients and Methods: 116 patients (mean age: 60 yrs) with BPH were enrolled in this study and 0.2mg of tamsulosin was administrated every night for 3 months. Primary efficacy was evaluated with changes of IIEF and GEQ. Secondary efficacy parameters were changes of IPSS and QoL, uroflowmetry, changes of total IIEF and IIEF domain score according to the severity of IPSS, and retrograde ejaculation. RESULTS: Before treatment, patients of moderate IPSS (8-19) and severe IPSS (20-35) were 56% and 44% and QoL3 were 33.6% and 66.4%. In primary efficacy evaluation, total IIEF score was significantly increased from 37.0+/- 18.2 to 40.5+/- 18.9 (p<0.01). All domains of IIEF except orgasmic function were significantly improved. GEQ showed improvement of erection in 34.4% and intercourse ability in 30.1%. In secondary efficacy evaluation, IPSS was significantly decreased from 18.4+/- 6.9 to 12.9+/- 6.7 (p<0.01) and QoL was significantly improved from 3.8+/- 1.1 to 2.7+/- 1.4 (p<0.01). Qmax significantly increased from 14.2+/- 8.3 to 16.5+/- 11.3 ml/sec (p<0.01). Total IIEF score and EF domain score were significantly improved from 36.8+/- 18.5 to 41.8+/- 19.1 (p<0.01) and from 13.0+/- 7.1 to 14.7+/- 7.9 (p<0.01) in patients of moderate IPSS but no improvement in severe patients. Retrograde ejaculation occurred in 2 patients (2%). No serious adverse reactions were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Tamsulosin, 0.2mg/day was effective and safe dose for the improvement of LUTS and sexual function for Korean BPH/LUTS patients.

Usefulness of Percutaneous Oxygen Saturation Monitoring as a Predictor of Deterioration of Lung Function in Korean Children with Asthma / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE:Our study was designed to verify the correlation between the level of percutaneous arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and to classify the severity according to SpO2 level when asthma exacerbation is developed. METHODS:We performed the methacholine bronchial provocation tests with monitoring SpO2 on 350 children who visited the pediatric allergy clinic with chronic cough or recurrent wheezing from August 2006 to August 2008. RESULTS:There was a significant correlation between FEV1%fall and SpO2 (r=-0.814, P< 0.01). The mean value of SpO2 was 95.80%+/-1.2% when decrement of FEV1 was 20%. It was 92.3%+/-0.81% when FEV1 decreased by 40%. CONCLUSION:Monitoring SpO2 is a convenient and reliable objective method to determine an appropriate therapeutic option when the pulmonary function test or arteial blood gas analysis is not available in children with asthma. We suggest less than 96% of SpO2 for the moderate attack, less than 92% for the severe attack, as the criteria for the severity of asthma exacerbations in Korea, which is higher than those suggested by GINA guideline or Japanese guidelines.

Additive Expulsion Effect of Tamsulosin after Shock Wave Lithotripsy for Upper Ureteral Stones / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: We evaluates if the administration of tamsulosin increases the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in the patients with upper ureteral stones and if this decreased the use of analgesic drugs after the procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 45 patients with stones 6-12mm in size that were located in the upper ureter were enrolled in the study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 (n=23) received 3 times a day oral treatment of 20mg caroverine (a spasmolytic drug). Group 2 (n=22) received one time a day oral therapy of 0.2mg tamsulosin. All the patients received oral treatment for 14 days. Both groups of patients were allowed to use 30mg ketorolac trimethamine intramuscular injections on demand. The endpoint of the study was the stone expulsion rate, the use of analgesics and the drug adverse effects during treatment. RESULTS: The average stone size was 7.9+/-2.79mm for group 1 and 8.2+/-3.14mm for group 2. No statistical difference between the two groups was found for the stone size, age and gender distribution. The expulsion rate was significantly higher in group 2 (90.9%) compared with group 1 (65.2%) (p=0.038). The average number of pain control injections was 0.78 for group 1 and 0.23 for group 2, and there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.042). CONCLUSIONS: The use of tamsulosin proved to be effective and safe, as demonstrated by the increased stone expulsion rate and the lesser need for pain control than that when using just a spasmolytic drug for ESWL of upper ureter stones.