Effect of weight reduction on the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms in obese male patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: We assessed whether weight reduction is an effective intervention for the management of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and investigated the relationship between obesity and LUTS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective randomized controlled trial that enrolled obese men older than 50 years with LUTS. The study period was 52 weeks. All patients received standardized alpha-adrenergic blocker therapy for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) during the run-in period. Patients were randomized to receive either a standardized prerecorded video program on the general principle of weight reduction or a comprehensive weight reduction program. Patients were assessed at different time points with symptom assessment, uroflowmetry, transrectal ultrasound, and metabolic assessment. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients were allocated to each study arm. After the study period, no significant difference in weight reduction was found between the two arms. When the pre- and postintervention parameters were compared, none were statistically different between the 2 arms, namely nocturia, International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life assessment, and uroflowmetry parameters. When the whole study population was taken as a single cohort, these parameters were also not significantly different between the group with a body mass index of 25 to <30 kg/m(2) and the group with a BMI of 30 to 35 kg/m(2). CONCLUSIONS: We found no association between obesity and LUTS. This could have been due to the less marked weight difference in our cohort. Whereas weight reduction may be an effective measure to improve LUTS, the implementation of a successful program remains a challenge.

Photoselective vaporisation prostatectomy using a GreenLight High Performance System for patients with bleeding tendency.

OBJECTIVES: To report the results of a modified vaporisation incision technique using a GreenLight High Performance System in the treatment of benign prostatic disease in men receiving anticoagulants. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Regional hospital, Hong Kong. PATIENTS: From January 2007 to April 2010, 48 patients with a bleeding tendency or on oral anticoagulants who underwent photoselective vaporisation prostatectomy with a GreenLight High Performance System in the North District Hospital were studied. Data collected prospectively were analysed to determine perioperative and postoperative outcomes, including uroflowmetry parameters, serum prostate-specific antigen level, prostate volume, and complications at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-surgery. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 76 (standard deviation, 7; range 62-94) years. The mean follow-up period was 13 (standard deviation, 9) months. Thirty-six (75%) patients had urinary retention prior to surgery. Bleeding tendencies were due to receipt of aspirin (n=36), two antiplatelet agents (n=6), warfarin (n=4) and clopidogrel (n=1), and to thrombocytopaenia (n=1). Preoperative transrectal ultrasonography showed a mean prostate size of 58 (standard deviation, 30; range, 18-154) mL. Of the patients, 81% were discharged without a catheter and their mean hospital stay was 3 days. Five patients were readmitted for secondary haemorrhage, two had a drop of more than 10 g/L in their haemoglobin level, but only one received a blood transfusion. Mean uroflowmetry parameters, namely, peak flow rate and residual volume, were 8.7 mL/s and 199 mL preoperatively and 14.7 mL/s and 50 mL 1 year after the operation. CONCLUSION: With an ageing population in which patients with various co-morbidities receive anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy, photoselective vaporisation prostatectomy using a GreenLight High Performance System is a safe treatment option.

An unusual cause of retention of urine after intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy for superficial bladder cancer.

We report an unusual complication of intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy for superficial bladder cancer, namely, retention of urine secondary to prostatic Bacillus Calmette-Guérin infection and abscess. A summary of the literature together with a review of its management is discussed.

A randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of hybrid bipolar transurethral vaporization and resection of the prostate with bipolar transurethral resection of the prostate.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In comparison with monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), bipolar TURP has been shown to have similar efficacy and complication profiles. Whether the hybrid technique of bipolar resection and vaporization of the prostate further improves catheterization time, dysuria, and complication profiles has not been defined, however. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety profile of bipolar hybrid prostate surgery using both resection and vaporization modes, with bipolar resection undertaken using the transurethral resection in saline bipolar system. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial that compared bipolar hybrid surgery and bipolar resection of the prostate among men aged ≥ 50 years with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) whose course of medical therapy had failed or who had recurrent urinary retention (CUHK_CCT00623). Patients were randomly assigned to receive either bipolar hybrid surgery or bipolar resection of the prostate. Both patients and assessors were blinded to the type of surgery performed. The primary study end point was catheter time. The secondary end points included postoperative hospital stay and dysuria score. We report the interim results for 86 patients. RESULTS: Forty-six patients were in the hybrid group and 40 were in the resection group. There were no differences between the two groups in prostate volumes (61.5 cc, standard deviation [SD]=34.5 vs 61.0 cc, SD=23.8), preoperative prostate-specific antigen levels (8.7 ng/mL, SD=8.5 vs 9.5 ng/mL, SD=8.4), or preoperative retention status (56.5% vs 70%). The mean operative time was 46.2 minutes for the hybrid group (SD=20.2) and 39.2 minutes for the resection group (SD=17.5). The hybrid group had a significantly shorter postoperative catheter time (34.5 h, SD=15.8 vs 44.7 h, SD=24.5, P=0.027). There was a significant difference between the two groups in the postoperative pain score on day 1 postsurgery (3.5 in the hybrid group vs 1.0 in the resection group, P=0.028). There was no difference between the groups in terms of changes in serum hemoglobin and serum sodium levels or the reintervention rate. All patients voided well after operation, with maximal flow improvements of 9.9 mL/s (SD 8.1) and 8.2 mL/s (SD 10.0) for the hybrid and resection groups, respectively, 1 month postsurgery. CONCLUSION: Transurethral bipolar resection and vaporization of the prostate reduces catheterization time and facilitates postoperative care.

Distinct DNA methylation epigenotypes in bladder cancer from different Chinese sub-populations and its implication in cancer detection using voided urine.

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world and the incidence is particularly high in southwestern Taiwan. Previous studies have identified several tumor-related genes that are hypermethylated in bladder cancer; however the DNA methylation profile of bladder cancer in Taiwan is not fully understood. METHODS: In this study, we compared the DNA methylation profile of multiple tumor suppressor genes (APC, DAPK, E-cadherin, hMLH1, IRF8, p14, p15, RASSF1A, SFRP1 and SOCS-1) in bladder cancer patients from different Chinese sub-populations including Taiwan (104 cases), Hong Kong (82 cases) and China (24 cases) by MSP. Two normal human urothelium were also included as control. To investigate the diagnostic potential of using DNA methylation in non-invasive detection of bladder cancer, degree of methylation of DAPK, IRF8, p14, RASSF1A and SFRP1 was also accessed by quantitative MSP in urine samples from thirty bladder cancer patients and nineteen non-cancer controls. RESULTS: There were distinct DNA methylation epigenotypes among the different sub-populations. Further, samples from Taiwan and China demonstrated a bimodal distribution suggesting that CpG island methylator phentotype (CIMP) is presented in bladder cancer. Moreover, the number of methylated genes in samples from Taiwan and Hong Kong were significantly correlated with histological grade (P < 0.01) and pathological stage (P < 0.01). Regarding the samples from Taiwan, methylation of SFRP1, IRF8, APC and RASSF1A were significantly associated with increased tumor grade, stage. Methylation of RASSF1A was associated with tumor recurrence. Patients with methylation of APC or RASSF1A were also significantly associated with shorter recurrence-free survival. For methylation detection in voided urine samples of cancer patients, the sensitivity and specificity of using any of the methylated genes (IRF8, p14 or sFRP1) by qMSP was 86.7% and 94.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that there are distinct methylation epigenotypes among different Chinese sub-populations. These profiles demonstrate gradual increases with cancer progression. Finally, detection of gene methylation in voided urine with these distinct DNA methylation markers is more sensitive than urine cytology.

Zoledronic acid to prevent bone loss in Chinese men receiving androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer.

AIM: To explore the bone mineral density (BMD) preservation effect of zoledronic acid and its renal safety and tolerability in Chinese patients with prostate cancer on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). METHODS: Overall 26 prostate cancer patients with ADT were given zoledronic acid 4 mg by a 15-min i.v. infusion every 3 months for up to 12 months. Assessment was made at baseline and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure the BMD of the lumbar spine and the femoral neck at baseline and 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 23 of 26 recruited patients completed the study. Seven patients had bone metastases. The overall mean increase in BMD (T-score) of the lumbar spine and femoral head from baseline to follow up at 12 months was significant (-2.32 ± 0.98 to -2.03 ± 1.08, P = 0.02 and -1.77 ± 0.72 to -1.63 ± 0.76, P = 0.01, respectively). In subgroup analyses, significant BMD improvement was observed independent of the status of bone metastasis and the means of ADT. Zoledronic acid had no adverse effect on renal function. Adverse events related to zoledronic acid were minimal. CONCLUSION: Zoledronic acid administered every 3 months significantly increased BMD in prostate cancer patients receiving ADT. It had a satisfactory adverse event profile and imposed minimal risk on patients' renal function.

Pneumovesicum approach to en-bloc laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision for upper tract urothelial cancer: midterm oncological results.

INTRODUCTION: We reported the pneumovesicum (PV) approach to lower ureter and bladder cuff excision and closure. We believe that this approach bears the closest resemblance to the laparoscopic skill set of intravesical dissection and suturing. Herein, we report the midterm oncological results of the approach's use in a series of patients with upper tract urothelial cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 2004 to May 2010, 10 patients with upper tract urothelial cancer who underwent PV-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LNU) were reviewed. Laparoscopic ports were inserted into the bladder via a suprapubic route, and carbon dioxide PV was induced. Laparoscopic dissection of the lower ureter and excision of the bladder cuff were then performed. The bladder defect was securely closed using laparoscopic suturing, and standard LNU followed. RESULTS: Nine men and one woman with a mean age of 71.6 years (47-82) underwent the procedure. Six of the patients had renal pelvic tumor, two had upper ureter tumor, one had midureter tumor, and one had synchronous renal pelvis and upper ureter tumor. In terms of final pathology, there were three, two, and five patients with T1, T2, and T3 diseases, respectively. All of the patients had grade 2 (G2) disease, except for two with grade 3 (G3) disease. Over a median follow-up of 46 months (22-67 months), four patients developed superficial bladder tumor recurrence. The bladder and systemic recurrence rates were 40% and 10%, respectively. There was no port site recurrence. CONCLUSION: Based on our midterm follow-up information, it can be concluded that the PV approach to en-bloc bladder cuff excision and LNU for upper tract urothelial cancer provides intermediate oncological results comparable to those of other approaches to en-bloc excision of the bladder cuff.

Using urine microscopy and cytology for early detection of bladder cancer in male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: Irritative urinary symptoms and micro-hematuria are the common findings in bladder cancer patients. In this study, we investigated the use of urine microscopy and cytological examination for early detection of bladder cancer in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). METHODS: Male patients presented with LUTS to urology clinic were enrolled. Voiding symptoms were evaluated with international prostate symptoms score, and urine samples were collected for microscopy and cytological examination. Cystoscopy was performed in patients with microscopic hematuria, suspicious/malignant cells in urine or at the time of transurethral resection of prostate. Subjects, who had no indication and did not receive cystoscopy, were followed up in clinic for progress of symptoms, including gross hematuria and occurrence of bladder cancer. RESULTS: Nine hundred and eighty-eight patients were enrolled during the period of 2005-2007. Fifty-two (5.26%) urine samples were documented as atypical, and 936 (94.7%) were negative. There was no suspicious or malignant cytology result in this series. Micro-hematuria was noticed in six patients (0.61%). The mean follow-up time was 29.1 ± 12.5 months. One (0.10%) patient had bladder cancer 44 months after the first visit in the cohort, who had micro-hematuria, atypical urine cytology, but normal cystoscopy before diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The prevalence rate of bladder cancer in male patients with LUTS is low. This study adds to information that microscopy and cytological examination are not useful to detect bladder cancer. Due to the economic concerns and burden of unnecessary investigations, the routine use of these tests is in doubt.