[Efficacy of combination therapy of tamsulosin and solifenacin for mild and moderate benign prostatic hyperplasia with overactive bladder].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination therapy of tamsulosin and solifenacin for mild and moderate benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with overactive bladder (OAB). METHODS: We randomly divided 166 patients with BPH and concomitant OAB into a mild obstruction symptom group (n = 88) and a moderate obstruction symptom group (n =78), 48 of the former group treated with 0. 2 mg tamsulosin + 5 mg solifenacin and the other 40 with 0. 2 mg tamsulosin; 36 of the latter group treated with 0. 2 mg tamsulosin + 5 mg solifenacin and the other 42 with 0. 2 mg tamsulosin, all administered once daily for 12 weeks. We obtained the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), urine storage period symptom score (USPSS), voiding symptom score (VSS), Qmax, residual urine volume, OAB symptom score (OABSS) and adverse reactions, and compared them among different RESULTS: Among the patients with mild obstruction symptoms, the combination of tamsulosin and solifenacin achieved remark-groups. able improvement in IPSS, USPSS, Qmax and OABSS as compared with the baseline (P < 0.05), but made no significant difference in the residual urine volume (P > 0. 05) , while tamsulosin improved IPSS only (P < 0.05). The combination therapy exhibited an obvious superiority over tamsulosin alone in improving IPSS (9.7 micro 3.0 vs 15.8 micro 3.3), USPSS (8. 1 micro 1.7 vs 12.3 micro 3.1), Qmax ([18.6 micro 2.3] ml/s vs [14.2 micro 2.3] ml/s ), and OABSS (5.3micro 1.3 vs 9.7 micro 2.7) (P < 0.05), but there were no obvious differences in residual urine, urine routine test results and adverse events between the two therapies ( P > 0. 05). In those with moderate obstruction symptoms, the combination therapy significantly improved IPSS, VSS, Qmax and OABSS (P < 0.05) but not the residual urine (P > 0. 05) in comparison with the baseline. The tamsulosin therapy achieved obvious improvement in IPSS, VSS, Qmax, OABSS and residual urine. The combination therapy showed a better effect than tamsulosin only in OABSS (4. 8 +/-1.5 vs 6.5 +/-2.5, P < 0.05), but no significant differences from the latter in IPSS, Qmax, VSS, routine urine test results, and adverse CONCLUSION: Combination therapy of tamsulosin and solifenacin is obviously safe and efficacious in the treatment (P > 0.05). events of both mild and moderate BPH with concomitant OAB, and it is superior to tamsulosin alone.

Braided thin-walled biodegradable ureteral stent: preliminary evaluation in a canine model.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a novel designed degradable ureteral stent. METHODS: A total of 24 male Beagles, each with bilateral stents implanted (a biodegradable ureteral 4.5-Fr stent and a standard 4-Fr biostable stent) were divided into four groups. Intravenous pyelography, B-mode ultrasonography, and blood and urine tests were carried out before the procedure (0 weeks), and at 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-week intervals. Meanwhile, the mechanical characteristics of stents were tested, and scanning electron microscopy images of the biodegradable braided stents were obtained at different time-points postoperatively. In addition, histopathological changes were compared between the two different stents. RESULTS: All biodegradable braided stents began degrading at 1 week, and had completely degraded by 4 weeks. Hydronephrosis was equivalent during the first 2 weeks, but less with the biodegradable stents than with the control biostable stents at 3 and 4 weeks. Preoperative and postoperative blood and urine results were similar. The mechanical properties of the biodegradable stents were better than conventional biostable stents. Scanning electron microscopy images obtained at different weekly intervals showed that stents degraded in a predictable fashion. Histological testing of the urinary tract showed that the stent-related tissue reactivity of the two different stents were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Our novel braided thin-walled biodegradable stents provide temporary renal drainage as good as commercially available biostable stents. They also have good biocompatibility and physical characteristics. Therefore, they might have clinical application.

[Cardio-myogenic differentiation of human amniotic fluid colony derived stem cells in the form of embryonic body-like structure].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate cardio-myogenic differentiation potential of human amniotic fluid colony derived stem cells (HAFCDSC) in the form of embryonic body (EB)-like structure in vitro. METHODS: HAFCDSC were isolated from second trimester amniotic fluid which was backup of amniocentesis specimens. The forth passage of HAFCDSC were cultured by hanging-drop preparation in complete medium for 5 days to form EB-like structures followed by inducing medium in regular tissue culture dishes for 2 weeks (experiment group). The EB-like structures cultured in complete medium were served as control group. Cardiomyocyte phenotypes were detected by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: HAFCDSC could form EB-like structures 24 h after hanging drop culture, and the diameter of EB-like structures gradually increased with culture duration and the mean diameter of EB-like structures reached 237.3 ± 26.7 µm on 5(th) day. The formation rate of EB-like structures was 93.5%. RT-PCR analysis showed EB-like structures expressed stem cell related mRNA. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that some cardiomyocyte phenotypes such as Desmin, α-Actinin and Tn I were expressed by HAFCDSCs in EB-like structures after cardio-myogenic induction. Cardiomyocytes specific mRNA including Desmin, α-Actin, Tn I, Tn T, T-box and NK2.5 were also transcripted as detected by RT-PCR. No positive results was found in control group. CONCLUSION: HAFCDSC can form uniform EB-like structures after hanging drop culture for 5 days. HAFCDSC differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells through the form of EB-like structures after induction by 5-Aza.