Tolterodine ER and alfuzosin improve stent-related urinary symptoms and body pain.

PurposeCurcumin (Cur) has been reported to induce apoptosis in human renal carcinoma Caki cells. Dimethoxycurcumin (DMC), one of several synthetic Cur analogues, has been reported to have increased metabolic stability over Cur. We determined whether DMC, like Cur, induces apoptosis in Caki cells and also compared the apoptosis-inducing activity of DMC with that of Cur.Materials and MethodsCaki cells were treated with DMC possessing four methoxy groups, Cur possessing two methoxy groups, or bis-demethoxycurcumin (BMC), which lacks a methoxy group. Cell viability was measured by using a methyltetrazolium assay. Flow cytometry and the caspase-3 activity assay were used to detect apoptosis. The release of cytochrome-c (Cyt c) was detected by Western blot analysis. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured by flow cytometry.ResultsDMC, Cur, and BMC reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis, but the potency varied; DMC was the most potent compound, followed by Cur and BMC. ROS production, Cyt c release, and caspase-3 activity were increased, again in the order DMC>Cur>BMC. N-Acetylcysteine, a potent antioxidant, inhibited ROS production, Cyt c release, caspase-3 activation, and apoptosis induction in DMC-treated cells.ConclusionsThese results indicate that DMC, like the original form of Cur, may induce apoptosis in human renal carcinoma Caki cells through the production of ROS, the release of mitochondrial Cyt c, and the subsequent activation of caspase-3. In addition, DMC is more potent than Cur in the ability to induce apoptosis.

PurposeBladder pain syndrome is a chronic disease that manifests as bladder pain, frequency, nocturia, and urgency. Gabapentin, amitriptyline, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are efficacious treatments for bladder pain syndrome. Here, we assessed the effect of triple therapy with these drugs in women with bladder pain syndrome.MethodsBetween May 2007 and May 2010, we conducted a prospective nonrandomized study on 74 patients with bladder pain syndrome. Of these patients, 38 (11 men and 27 women; mean age, 55.9 years; range, 25 to 77 years; mean follow-up, 12.6 months) were administered the interstitial cystitis (IC) symptom scales (O'Leary-Sant Symptom Index) and visual analog scale (VAS) 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment to assess the efficacy of triple therapy.ResultsThe pretreatment O'Leary-Sant IC symptom score was 11.7, and the post-treatment scores were 4.4, 3.8, and 4.0 at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively; the pretreatment problem index score was 10.5, and the post-treatment scores were 3.7, 2.7, and 2.9 at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively. The pretreatment VAS score was 6.7, and the post-treatment scores were 1.8, 1.5, and 1.7 at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively. The O'Leary-Sant IC symptom index and problem index and VAS scores improved considerably 1 month after treatment (P<0.05). However, the results at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment were not significantly different (P>0.05).ConclusionsTriple therapy was sufficiently effective in patients with bladder pain syndrome and caused no significant adverse effects. However, large-scale studies should be performed to verify our findings.

Prostatic abscess is uncommon and difficult to diagnose, because its clinical presentation mimics lower urinary tract symptoms. Prostatic abscess is often caused by gram-negative organisms and occasionally by Staphylococcus aureus. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) often causes skin and soft-tissue infections, and rarely causes genitourinary infections. We report what we believe is the second case of a prostatic abscess as a result of MRSA in a healthy diabetic patient who was treated with transurethral resection of the prostate and intravenous administration of vancomycin.

PurposeThe glutathione-S-transferase (GST)P1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genotypes have been associated with an increased risk of prostate, bladder, and lung cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the GSTP1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genotypes and the risk of prostate cancer in Korean men.Materials and MethodsThe study group consisted of 166 patients with histologically confirmed prostate cancer. The control group consisted of 327 healthy, cancer-free individuals. The diagnosis of prostate cancer was made by transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy. Patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma were divided into organ-confined (≤pT2) and non-organ-confined (≥pT3) subgroups. The histological grades were subdivided according to the Gleason score. The GSTP1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genotypes were determined by using polymerase chain reaction-based methods. The relationship among GSTP1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 polymorphisms and prostate cancer in a case-control study was investigated.ResultsThe frequency of the GSTM1 null genotype in the prostate cancer group (54.2%) was higher than in the control group (odds ratio=1.53, 95% confidence interval=1.20-1.96). The comparison of the GSTP1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genotypes and cancer prognostic factors, such as staging and grading, showed no statistical significance.ConclusionsAn increased risk for prostate cancer may be associated with the GSTM1 null genotype in Korean men, but no association was found with the GSTT1 or GSTP1 genotypes.

PurposePatients with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) can have pain as a main symptom and overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms that are directly or indirectly related to a major mechanism that causes pain. The primary purpose of this study is firstly to identify the prevalence rate of OAB symptoms in patients with BPS/IC, secondly to identify changes in OAB symptoms after low-dose triple therapy, and thirdly to build a theoretical foundation to improve quality of life for patients.MethodsPatients who met the inclusion criteria of BPS/IC through basic tests including the O'Leary-Sant symptom index, overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS), and visual analog scale (VAS) were identified. Treatment-based changes in OAB symptoms were identified using the IC Symptom Index and IC Problem Index (ICSI/ICPI), OABSS, and VAS before, and 4 and 12 weeks after low-dose triple therapy.ResultsThe patients consisted of 3 men and 20 women, and their mean age was 61.9 years (41.0-83.2 years). Comparing values before treatment, and 4 and 12 weeks after treatment (baseline vs. 4 weeks to baseline vs. 12 weeks), the rates of improvement were as follows: ICSI, 44.2% to 63.7%; ICPI, 46.9% to 59.4%; OABSS, 34.3% to 58.2%; and VAS, 53.6% to 75.0%, which showed statistically significant differences (P<0.05). However, comparing values at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment (4 weeks vs. 12 weeks), the ICSI and VAS showed a statistically significant decrease (P<0.05). The ICPI and OABSS showed slight improvement, but no statistically significant differences (P>0.05).ConclusionsLow-dose triple therapy in BPS/IC results in a clear decrease in OAB symptoms in the first 4 weeks after treatment, and additional treatment for 8 weeks had a partial effect with varied statistical significances depending on the questionnaires.

PurposeTo determine the feasibility and safety of robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN), we compared the operative outcomes of patients who had undergone RPN with those of patients who had undergone laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN).Materials and MethodsBetween February 2009 and June 2010, 13 patients underwent transperitoneal RPN (group 1) and 14 patients underwent transperitoneal LPN (group 2) by a single surgeon. The operative outcomes of the 2 groups were compared by using Mann-Whitney U and Fisher's exact tests.ResultsAll cases were completed successfully without conversion to open surgery. The mean operative time was 153.2±22.3 and 117.5±32.0 minutes in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p=0.003). The mean robotic console time of group 1 was 101.2±21.5 minutes, and the mean laparoscopic time of group 2 was 86.8±32.3 minutes (p=0.139). The mean warm ischemic time was 35.3±8.5 minutes and 36.4±6.8 minutes in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p=0.823). The mean estimated blood loss was 283.6±113.5 ml and 264.1±163.7 ml (p=0.382), respectively. The mean length of hospital stay was 6.1 and 5.3 days (p=0.290), respectively. The mean tumor size was 2.7±1.2 cm and 2.0±1.2 cm (p=0.035), respectively. The surgical margins were negative in all cases.ConclusionsAlthough the operative time of RPN was longer than that of LPN, there were no significant differences in operative outcomes including robotic console time and laparoscopic time between the procedures.

LESS radical nephrectomy is technically feasible and comparable to conventional laparoscopy. Long-term follow-up and technical development, however, are needed for assessing the cancer-control effect and facilitating the minimal invasiveness of the surgery.