Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) is a minimally invasive procedure and a size-independent treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia with excellent long-term surgical outcome. HoLEP has become an alternative to conventional transurethral resection of the prostate or open prostatectomy owing to its efficacy and safety. Although HoLEP is known to have a steep learning curve, very few articles have addressed the technical aspects of HoLEP. Herein, we described detailed techniques and tips for HoLEP as performed at Seoul National University Hospital in a step-by-step manner with extensive review of the literature.

We performed a nationwide epidemiological study to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of nocturnal enuresis (NE) in Korean adolescents and adults. A questionnaire was sent via e-mail to 51,073 people aged 16-40 yr by stratified sampling according to age, sex, and region among a 200,000 internet survey panel pool. The questionnaire included following information; presence or absence of NE, frequency of NE, possible risk factors for NE, self-esteem scale score and depression score results, and measures for the treatment of NE. Among the 2,117 responders, 54 (2.6%) had NE (≥1 enuretic episode within 6 months). Of 54 bedwetters, 9.3% wet ≥1 night per week and 20.5% wet ≥1 per month. The prevalence rates remained relatively stable with no apparent trend of reduction with age. The presence of sleep disturbance, family history, urgency, or urge incontinence increased the probability of NE episode significantly. The self-esteem score was lower (P=0.053) and the depression scale score was higher (P=0.003) in bedwetters compared with non-bedwetters. Overall 2.6% of Korean aged 16-40 yr have NE. The higher rate of urgency and urge incontinence in adolescent and adult enuretics suggests that bladder function has an important role in adolescent and adult NE.

Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR‐CM) is caused by the cardiac deposition of insoluble amyloid fibrils formed by misfolded transthyretin proteins and is associated with various cardiac symptoms, such as progressive heart failure, conduction disturbance, and arrhythmia. The implementation of 99mtechnetium (99mTc)‐labelled bone radiotracer scintigraphy for diagnosing ATTR‐CM has enabled accurate diagnosis of the disease with high sensitivity and specificity and positioned this diagnostic modality as an integral part of disease diagnostic algorithms. In 2020, 99mTc‐pyrophosphate scintigraphy received exceptional approval for Japanese national health insurance reimbursement as a diagnostic method of ATTR‐CM. Nevertheless, the utility of 99mTc‐labelled bone radiotracer scintigraphy and the importance of an early diagnosis of suspected ATTR‐CM using this technique have yet to be internalized as common practice by general cardiologists, and guidance on daily clinical scenarios to consider this technique for a diagnosis of suspected ATTR‐CM is warranted. In this review, we discuss the utility of 99mTc‐labelled bone radiotracer scintigraphy for the early diagnosis of ATTR‐CM based on published literature and the outcomes of an advisory board meeting. This review also discusses clinical scenarios that could support early diagnosis of suspected ATTR‐CM as well as common pitfalls, correct implementation, and future perspectives of 99mTc‐labelled bone radiotracer scintigraphy in daily clinical practice. The clinical scenarios to consider 99mTc‐labelled bone radiotracer scintigraphy in daily practice may include, but are not limited to, patients with a family history of the hereditary type of disease; elderly patients (aged ≥60 years) with unexplained cardiac findings (e.g. cardiac hypertrophy associated with abnormalities on an electrocardiogram, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction associated with unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy, and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction associated with atrial fibrillation and left ventricular hypertrophy); and patients with cardiac hypertrophy associated with diastolic dysfunction, right ventricular/interatrial septum/valve thickness, left ventricular sparkling, or apical sparing. Cardiac hypertrophy and persistent elevation in cardiac troponin in elderly patients are also suggestive of ATTR‐CM. 99mTc‐labelled bone radiotracer scintigraphy is also recommended in patients with characteristic cardiac magnetic resonance findings (e.g. diffuse subendocardial late gadolinium enhancement patterns, native T1 increase, and increase in extracellular volume) or patients with cardiac hypertrophy and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

PurposeThis study was to investigate whether a systematized bladder training (BT) program is effective for patients with idiopathic overactive bladder (OAB).MethodsA prospective study was conducted on 105 patients with OAB from March 2009 to November 2011. We developed a 30 minutes BT program, which consisted of first, refraining from going to the bathroom after feeling an urge to void, second, in order to stop thinking about voiding, ceasing action and thought temporarily, and third, performing pelvic floor exercises 5 to 6 times. Before and after BT, the patients filled out voiding diaries as well as the following questionnaires; International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire for overactive bladder (ICIQ-OAB), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), overactive bladder questionnaire (OAB-q), the short form 36-item health survey (SF-36) questionnaire, the work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire, and a patients' perception of treatment benefit (PPTB).ResultsA final analysis was performed from on 85 patients (38 male, 47 female) with idiopathic OAB. After the first BT, the results of the ICIQ-OAB showed improvement in frequency, nocturia, and urgency (P<0.05), and all domains of IPSS questionnaires showed significant improvement (P<0.05). Among the SF-36 domains, the role-physical domain showed significant improvement after the first BT, and the general health domain showed significant improvement after the second. The voiding diaries showed statistically significant changes in maximal voided volume after the first BT, and nocturia index and nocturnal polyuria index after the second BT. According to the PPTB questionnaire, the perceived usefulness of BT increased after each session, and almost all of the patients replied that BT improved their symptoms.ConclusionsOur results demonstrated that BT was effective in improving many OAB related symptoms and quality of life in patients with idiopathic OAB. More clinical application of BT could be implemented in the future.

Various perceived barriers were identified in those who need IC and differences were demonstrated over time. Both dedicated space and time are issues. In addition, patients may benefit from emotional support and enhanced communication with community agencies and government to resolve the problems related with privacy.