The characteristics and optimal treatment of urolithiasis associated with tuberous sclerosis complex.

PURPOSE: The most common renal symptoms of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) are angiomyolipomas (AMLs) and renal cysts; however, some patients with TSC also develop urolithiasis. We retrospectively investigated the characteristics and treatment of urolithiasis associated with TSC. METHODS: We analyzed 142 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for TSC, of whom 20 (14.1%) had urolithiasis. We compared the patients' characteristics, urinary specific gravity, urine pH, serum calcium and intact parathyroid hormone in the urolithiasis and non-urolithiasis groups. In the urolithiasis group, the stone characteristics and various treatments were analyzed. RESULTS: The antiepileptic drugs topiramate and zonisamide were more frequently administered to the urolithiasis group than the non-urolithiasis group (P = 0.013, P = 0.048, respectively). The urine specific gravity and urine pH levels were higher in the urolithiasis group than in the non-urolithiasis group (P = 0.005, P = 0.042, respectively). A multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that urine-specific gravity (P = 0.018; odds ratio 1.471; 95% confidence interval 1.098-1.872) was a significant predictor of TSC-associated urolithiasis. Four patients could not receive extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy due to the risk of bleeding from the AML. CONCLUSION: Patients with TSC who have an increased urine specific gravity, alkaline urine, and a longer administration of topiramate and zonisamide tend to demonstrate an increased risk of developing urolithiasis and therefore such cases require adequate care. If urolithiasis is comorbid with TSC-associated AML, the treatment options are more limited in cases with multiple AMLs around the stone due to an increased risk of hemorrhage.

Efficacy and safety of low-dose everolimus treatment for renal angiomyolipoma associated with tuberous sclerosis complex.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of low-dose everolimus treatment in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)-associated angiomyolipoma (AML) with renal dysfunction or low body weight. METHODS: We investigated a total of 50 adult patients underwent everolimus treatment for AML associated with TSC. For patients with renal dysfunction (serum creatinine level ≥ 1.5 mg/dl) or low body weight (body weight < 35 kg), 5 mg of everolimus was administered daily (low-dose group). For patients without renal dysfunction or low body weight, 10 mg of everolimus was administered daily (conventional-dose group). The treatment effects and adverse events were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were 20 patients in the low-dose group, and 30 in the conventional-dose group. The average reduction rate of the AML volume in the low-dose group was 52%, whereas it was 60% in the conventional-dose group. No significant differences were found in the average reduction rate between the groups (P = 0.24). The average blood everolimus trough levels were 7.7 ± 3.1 ng/mL in the low-dose group and 12.2 ± 5.7 ng/mL in the conventional-dose group. The level was significantly higher in the conventional-dose group than in the low-dose group (P = 0.004). The incidences of stomatitis and irregular menstruation were significantly lower in the low-dose group than in the conventional-dose group (P = 0.009, P = 0.045, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that low-dose everolimus treatment is safe and effective for TSC-associated AML. This treatment was well tolerated and adverse events were mild in all cases.

Improved health-related quality of life in patients treated with topical sirolimus for facial angiofibroma associated with tuberous sclerosis complex.

BACKGROUND: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder forming hamartomas throughout the body. Facial angiofibromas (FAs) occur in 75% of TSC patients, which are often enlarged, impairing the appearance of the face, and reducing the patient's quality of life (QOL). The aim of this study was to characterize the impact of topical sirolimus treatment on the health-related QOL in patients with FA associated with TSC. METHODS: We investigated a total of 33 patients who received sirolimus gel treatment for FA associated with TSC and assessed the changes in the health-related QOL using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36) Health Survey. SF-36 surveys were performed before and after 3 months of treatment. The conditions of the patients after using the sirolimus gel were categorized into the following three categories: "improved," "unchanged," and "aggravated." Adverse events were investigated using the CTCAE v5.0-JCOG. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 25 (range 14-55) years. After 3 months of sirolimus gel treatment, three scale scores of the SF-36, vitality (VT), social function (SF), and mental health (MH), were significantly improved compared to before the treatment. The VT and SF in patients who had improved FA were significantly better than those in the other patients. There were no significant differences in any scale scores between patients with and without adverse events at 3 months after the initiation of sirolimus gel treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report regarding improved health-related quality of life in patients treated with sirolimus gel for FA associated with TSC by using the SF-36. The three scale scores associated with mental health were significantly improved compared to before the treatment. The health-related QOL in patients receiving sirolimus gel treatment is more strongly affected by the treatment efficacy than adverse events. Sirolimus gel treatment improves the health-related QOL in patients with FA associated with TSC.

Values of alkaline phosphatase at the diagnosis of castration resistance and response to primary androgen deprivation therapy as predictors of subsequent metastasis in non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: Among various therapeutic options available for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), only apalutamide and enzalutamide have shown evidences of improved metastasis-free survival (MFS) for non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC). However, there is a paucity of evidence to indicate who may be targeted for aggressive therapy among patients with nmCRPC. The objectives of this retrospective study were to explore predictors of metastasis in patients with nmCRPC and to identify a subpopulation of patients with nmCRPC who may benefit from aggressive therapy. METHODS: A total of 115 patients with CRPC who had no metastasis detected at the time of diagnosis of CRPC were included in this retrospective study. All patients were treated at Jikei University and its affiliated hospitals. The primary outcome measure was MFS from the time of diagnosis of CRPC. Predictors of MFS were also explored with a multivariate Cox hazard model. RESULTS: The median observation period after diagnosis of CRPC was 30 months (range 2-143 months). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a median MFS of 76. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that low alkaline phosphatase (ALP) values at diagnosis of CRPC and favorable response to primary androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) were significant predictors of longer MFS (P = 0.011, and 0.031, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study suggest that high ALP values at diagnosis of CRPC and poor response to primary ADT may predict the propensity of metastasis in patients with nmCRPC. Further prospective studies will be required enrolling more patients to confirm our findings.

The clinical efficacy of garenoxacin for male non-gonococcal urethritis.

Sitafloxacin (STFX) is an alternative treatment against azithromycin-resistant Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), whereas STFX-resistant MG have appeared recently. Therefore, another antimicrobial regimen for non-chlamydial non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) is required. Garenoxacin (GRNX) is a fluoroquinolone against respiratory infections, not against urethritis in Japan, but its in-vitro antimicrobial activity against MG is known as similar to or higher than that of moxifloxacin. To clarify the efficiency of GRNX against MG, we examined the clinical efficacy of GRNX for NGU. Seventy-nine male patients with NGU were enrolled and treated with GRNX once daily for 7 days. For assessing microbiological and clinical efficacies, the bacteria including Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), MG, Mycoplasma hominis (MH), Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) and Ureaplasma parvum (UP) were detected by means of nucleic acid amplification tests before- and after-treatment. After excluded 3 patients, seventy-six patients were evaluated: the median age; 31 (20-61) years, vaginal infection (66%); the most common infectious route and commercial sex worker (43%); the most common source. There were 50 bacteria-positive NGU cases, including 10 multiple bacterial infections. Clinical cure rate was 85.7% (36/42). Detection frequency of each bacterium was similar to the previous reported. The eradication rates of CT, MG, MH, UU and UP were 96.1%, 71.4%, 100%, 85.7% and 100%, respectively. These results indicate that GRNX has the excellent efficacies for NGU except those of MG. Further study of drug-resistant MG urethritis; for instance, studies on the clinical effectiveness of long-term such as 2-week medication of GRNX or the efficacy of alternative treatment regimens are necessary.

Hyperprogression after pembrolizumab treatment in two patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma.

Hyperprogression has recently been recognized as a new pattern of progression in patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment. Here, we report two cases that showed hyperprogression during the initial phase of pembrolizumab treatment for metastatic urothelial carcinoma. The first patient, who received pembrolizumab as a second-line treatment, developed severe respiratory failure due to the rapid progression of lung metastases on the ninth day after the third pembrolizumab treatment. The second patient developed jaundice and hepatic dysfunction due to the progression of a metastatic lymph node of the liver hilum after the first administration of pembrolizumab. She developed multiple brain metastases with intraventricular bleeding on the 10th day after the second administration of pembrolizumab. It is important to be aware that hyperprogression sometimes occurs quite a while after starting treatment, and that both pseudoprogression and hyperprogression may occur in the early stage of treatment.

Effect of everolimus treatment for regrown renal angiomyolipoma associated with tuberous sclerosis complex after transcatheter arterial embolization.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects and the utility of second-line everolimus treatment for regrown renal angiomyolipoma (AML) with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) after transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE). METHODS: We investigated a total of 14 patients who underwent second-line everolimus treatment for TSC-AML that regrew after TAE, and assessed their effects and adverse events. Everolimus treatment was performed for AML with a maximum diameter of 4 cm. To determine the reduction ratio of AML, the volume of AML was measured using multislice helical computed tomography. Adverse events were evaluated according to CTCAE v4.0-JCOG. We further compared the treatment effect and adverse events with those in patients receiving first-line everolimus treatment. RESULTS: The AML volume decreased in all patients, with a ≥ 50% volume decrease in 57% (8 of 14) of the cases, and the mean reduction rate was 53%. We observed no significant difference in the mean reduction rate of AML between second-line everolimus treatment for regrown TSC-AML after TAE and first-line everolimus treatment for TSC-AML. The adverse events were mild and consistent with those reported in our previous study. CONCLUSION: Although further studies are needed, everolimus appears to be effective as second-line treatment for TSC-AML that regrew after TAE and a beneficial treatment option for TSC-AML.

Effect of everolimus treatment for renal angiomyolipoma associated with tuberous sclerosis complex: an evaluation based on tumor density.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of components of angiomyolipoma (AML) on the efficacy of everolimus. METHODS: We investigated a total of 40 patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) who had AML ≥4 cm in diameter. The components of the AML were determined using abdominal computed tomography (CT) images. The AML density was measured as the mean Hounsfield unit (HU) values of the whole area of the AML on axial CT images. We classified them into two groups, i.e., a lipid group with a predominant lipid component (HU ≤ -50) and a solid group with predominant vascular and muscle components (HU ≥30). For each patient, we measured the AML reduction rate and transition of the mean HU value. RESULTS: The mean reduction rate of AML in the lipid group was 24%, whereas it was 68% in the solid group (P < 0.001). The mean tumor density after 6 months was decreased in both groups. In particular, the density significantly decreased compared to the baseline in the solid group (P < 0.001). The tumor density did not change after 6 months in either group. CONCLUSION: The effect of everolimus on TSC-AML is mainly a reduction of the solid components consisting of angioma and leiomyoma. The tumor density at the start of treatment might be a predictive marker for the response to everolimus in TSC-AML.

Intermittent everolimus administration for renal angiomyolipoma associated with tuberous sclerosis complex.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects and utility of intermittent everolimus treatment for renal angiomyolipoma associated with tuberous sclerosis complex. METHODS: We investigated a total of 26 patients with tuberous sclerosis complex who had angiomyolipoma ≥4 cm in diameter. For each patient, we analyzed the reduction in the size of the angiomyolipoma, the change in size after everolimus withdrawal, the size reduction rate on everolimus readministration and adverse events caused by everolimus. The volume of angiomyolipoma was measured using abdominal computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Adverse events were evaluated according to CTCAE v4.0-JCOG. RESULTS: The average size reduction rate of angiomyolipoma in the initial treatment with everolimus was 67%. Eight patients (31%) did not have enlarged angiomyolipoma after everolimus withdrawal. The other 18 patients (69%) restarted everolimus treatment because of enlargement of the angiomyolipoma. The average size reduction rate of angiomyolipoma in the everolimus retreatment group was 61%, which was equivalent to the rate for the initial treatment. There were fewer adverse events during everolimus retreatment than in the initial treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report regarding intermittent everolimus treatment for renal angiomyolipoma associated with tuberous sclerosis complex. This treatment is effective for tumor control and adverse event management. This beneficial treatment option for patients can minimize the drug dosage and the occurrence of adverse events.

Outcomes of everolimus treatment for renal angiomyolipoma associated with tuberous sclerosis complex: A single institution experience in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity profiles of everolimus in Japanese patients with renal angiomyolipoma associated with tuberous sclerosis complex. METHODS: Patients with a 4-cm or larger angiomyolipoma meeting the diagnostic criteria of tuberous sclerosis complex were selected as participants of our investigation. In each case, we assessed tuberous sclerosis complex-associated symptoms, the treatment effect and adverse events. The treatment effect was evaluated by measuring the tumor volume reduction rate using abdominal computed tomography or magneitc resonance imaging. Adverse events were investigated using CTCAE v4.0-JCOG. The dose of everolimus was set at 10 mg once a day for adults. For childhood angiomyolipoma, everolimus administration was initiated at a dose of 5 mg once a day. Blood everolimus level was measured, and the dose was adjusted to maintain this within a range of 5-15 ng/mL. RESULTS: The angiomyolipoma volume decreased in 46 of 47 cases, and the mean reduction rate for all cases was 60% in 12 months. The angiomyolipoma volume markedly decreased in the first 3 months, and the size leveled off after 6 months. The main adverse events related to everolimus treatment were stomatitis (91%) and irregular menstruation (65%). Grade 3 or severer adverse events were noted in three cases (6%). All patients developed some adverse events in the first 6 months. The incidence markedly decreased to 40-50% after 13 months. CONCLUSION: The tumor volume-reducing effect of everolimus in a Japanese population was equivalent to or higher than that in Western populations. A wide variety of everolimus treatment-related adverse events can be observed, but most cases are very mild. Special attention should be given to stomatitis, irregular menstruation and interstitial lung disease as adverse events.

[A case of papillary renal cell carcinoma type 2 resistant to sunitinib responded to second line therapy with axitinib].

According to previous studies, papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) type 2 is known to have a poor prognosis, especially in cases with metastases. We report a case of pRCC that responded well to axitinib administered as second line therapy. The patient was a 52-year-old woman who presented at our hospital with an incidental tumor on the left kidney. She underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy, and the pathological diagnosis was pRCC type 2, grade 3 pT1b. Multiple lung and bone metastases were observed following the four months, and histological findings of lung metastases was metastatic RCC. Although sunitinib was administered as first line therapy, tumor progression was observed after the first cycle of treatment. Therefore, axitinib (10 mg/day) was administrated as second-line therapy and was gradually increased to 14 mg/day. Five months after the administration of axitinib, the maximum tumor diameter of the lung metastases reduced by 83%. At present, eight months have passed since the start of axtinib administration, but the response was still maintained and the adverse events were generally tolerable.

Shrinkage of prostate volume in sunitinib-treated patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Sunitinib is widely used to treat patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma; however, its influences on the prostate volume and lower urinary tract symptoms remain unclear. To investigate the influence of sunitinib on clinical findings of urinary tract, we recruited a total of 20 male patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma who are treated with sunitinib. We evaluated clinical findings during clinical visits over 24 weeks: International Prostate Symptom Score, urine flow rate, residual urine volume, serum prostate-specific antigen level and prostate volume. Residual urine and prostate volumes were significantly decreased at Week 24. The residual urine volume was especially decreased in patients with a high residual volume at baseline. No differences were observed in the International Prostate Symptom Score total score, International Prostate Symptom Score quality of life score, maximal urinary flow rate or prostate-specific antigen level. We observed a reduction in prostate volume and an improvement in urinary symptoms through relief from urinary tract obstruction during sunitinib treatment. Careful attention to urinary functions and drug dose adjustment seems to be necessary in patients with comorbid benign prostatic hyperplasia or dysuria.

Nationwide surveillance of the antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from male urethritis in Japan.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is one of the most important pathogens causing sexually transmitted infection, and strains that are resistant to several antimicrobials are increasing. To investigate the trends of antimicrobial susceptibility among N. gonorrhoeae strains isolated from male patients with urethritis, a Japanese surveillance committee conducted the first nationwide surveillance. The urethral discharge was collected from male patients with urethritis at 51 medical facilities from April 2009 to October 2010. Of the 156 specimens, 83 N. gonorrhoeae strains were tested for susceptibility to 18 antimicrobial agents. The prevalence of ß-lactamase-producing strains and chromosomally mediated resistant strains were 7.2 % and 16.5 %, respectively. None of the strains was resistant to ceftriaxone, but the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ceftriaxone for 7 strains (8.4 %) was 0.125 µg/ml. One strain was resistant to cefixime (MIC 0.5 µg/ml). The MICs of fluoroquinolones, such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and tosufloxacin, showed a bimodal distribution. The MIC of sitafloxacin was lower than those of the three fluoroquinolones listed here, and it was found that the antimicrobial activity of sitafloxacin was stronger than that of the fluoroquinolones. The MIC of azithromycin in 2 strains was 2 µg/ml, but no high-level resistance to macrolides was detected.

[Evaluation of supplemental administration of Eviprostat in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia with persistent symptoms following treatment with alpha1-adrenoceptor blocker].

We examined the effectiveness of supplemental administration of Eviprostat in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) whose lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) caused by BPH were not adequately relieved by an alpha1-adrenoceptor blocker. Twenty-nine patients with insufficient improvement in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and quality of life (QOL) score after administration of 50 mg naftopidil for 4 weeks or more received 6 tablets of Eviprostat in addition to naftopidil for another 2 weeks or more. With supplemental administration of Eviprostat, significant improvement was observed in the symptoms of incomplete emptying, daytime frequency, intermittency, weak stream, total IPSS, sum of the IPSS subscores for voiding symptoms (intermittency, weak stream and straining), sum of the IPSS subscores for storage symptoms (daytime frequency, urgency and nocturia), and QOL score. Supplemental administration of Eviprostat is therefore effective for the improvement of LUTS and QOL in BPH patients resistant to an alpha1-adrenoceptor blocker.

Analysis of amino acid sequences of penicillin-binding protein 2 in clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with reduced susceptibility to cefixime and ceftriaxone.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains with reduced susceptibility to cefixime and ceftriaxone, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of cefixime of 0.125-0.25 microg/ml and ceftriaxone of 0.031-0.125 microg/ml, were isolated from male urethritis patients in Tokyo, Japan, in 2006. The amino acid sequences of PenA, penicillin-binding protein 2, in these strains were of two types: PenA mosaic and nonmosaic strains. In the PenA mosaic strain, some regions in the transpeptidase-encoding domain in PenA were similar to those of Neisseria perflava/sicca, Neisseria cinerea, Neisseria flavescens, Neisseria polysaccharea, and Neisseria meningitidis. In the PenA nonmosaic strain, there was a mutation of Ala-501 to Val in PenA. In addition, we performed homology modeling of PenA wild-type and mosaic strains and compared them. The results of the modeling studies suggested that reduced susceptibility to cephems such as cefixime and ceftriaxone is due to a conformational alteration of the beta-lactam-binding pocket. These results also indicated that the mosaic structures and the above point mutation in PenA make a major contribution to the reduced susceptibility to cephem antibiotics.

Enhancement of antimicrobial activities of cefteram or clavulanic acid/amoxicillin against cefixime-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the presence of clarithromycin or azithromycin.

We investigated the enhancement of the antimicrobial activities of beta-lactams against cefixime (CFIX)-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the presence of macrolides. Ten strains of CFIX-resistant N. gonorrhoeae, isolated between 2000 and 2003 from male patients with urethritis at Jikei University Affiliated Hospital and its related clinics in the Tokyo metropolitan area, were tested. The fractional inhibitory concentrations of clavulanic acid/amoxicillin (CVA/AMPC), CFIX, or cefteram (CFTM), in the presence of clarithromycin (CAM) or azithromycin (AZM), against these strains were determined. Synergism, partial synergism, or additivity was recognized between CVA/AMPC or CFTM and macrolides against nine strains. Additivity and partial synergism between CFTM and macrolides against nine and ten strains, respectively, were also recognized. On the other hand, antagonism between CFIX and macrolides was recognized. These results indicate that combination antimicrobial chemotherapy, using CFTM or CVA/AMPC with macrolides, is a possible alternative treatment for CFIX-resistant N. gonorrhoeae infections.

Mosaic-like structure of penicillin-binding protein 2 Gene (penA) in clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with reduced susceptibility to cefixime.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains with reduced susceptibility to cefixime (MICs, 0.25 to 0.5 micro g/ml) were isolated from male urethritis patients in Tokyo, Japan, in 2000 and 2001. The resistance to cephems including cefixime and penicillin was transferred to a susceptible recipient, N. gonorrhoeae ATCC 19424, by transformation of the penicillin-binding protein 2 gene (penA) that had been amplified by PCR from a strain with reduced susceptibility to cefixime (MIC, 0.5 micro g/ml). The sequences of penA in the strains with reduced susceptibilities to cefixime were different from those of other susceptible isolates and did not correspond to the reported N. gonorrhoeae penA gene sequences. Some regions in the transpeptidase-encoding domain in this penA gene were similar to those in the penA genes of Neisseria perflava (N. sicca), Neisseria cinerea, Neisseria flavescens, and Neisseria meningitidis. These results showed that a mosaic-like structure in the penA gene conferred reductions in the levels of susceptibility of N. gonorrhoeae to cephems and penicillin in a manner similar to that found for N. meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae.