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Aim: To examine the symptoms and noninvasive test parameters that clinically differentiate detrusor underactivity (DU) from bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) without using a pressure-flow study (PFS) in male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms. Methods: We examined 909 men who underwent PFS and also had the following data: International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), free uroflowmetry, postvoid residual (PVR), and prostate volume (PV). Using these data, significant symptoms and noninvasive test parameters that clinically differentiate DU from BOO were examined. Results: Significant parameters between DU patients and BOO patients were older age, smaller PV, and lower urgency symptom score (IPSS Q4). Optimal cutoff values were determined using receiver operating characteristic curves (≥74 years old, PV ≤ 34.8, and IPSS Q4 ≤ 1) and patients were categorized on the basis of the number of significant factors. The probability of DU or BOO in patients with three significant factors were 77% and 34%, respectively. Conclusion: Three factors (older age, smaller PV, and fewer urgency symptom) were the predictive factors to differentiate DU from BOO, which might be useful for estimating the probability of DU in clinical practice without a PFS.

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In ectopic ACTH-secreting pheochromocytoma, combined ACTH-driven hypercortisolemia and hypercatecholaminemia are serious conditions, which can be fatal if not diagnosed and managed appropriately, especially when glucocorticoid-driven positive feedback is suggested with a high ACTH/cortisol ratio. A 46-year-old man presented with headache, rapid weight loss, hyperhidrosis, severe hypertension and hyperglycemia without typical Cushingoid appearance. Endocrinological examinations demonstrated elevated plasma and urine catecholamines, serum cortisol and plasma ACTH. Moreover, his ACTH/cortisol ratio and catecholamine levels were extremely high, suggesting catecholamine-dominant ACTH-secreting pheochromocytoma. Computed tomography revealed a large right adrenal tumor. F-FDG positron emission tomography showed uptake in the area of the adrenal tumor, whileI-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy showed no accumulation. His plasma ACTH level paradoxically became elevated after a dexamethasone suppression test. After metyrapone administration, not only serum cortisol but also plasma ACTH levels were exponentially decreased almost in parallel, suggesting a glucocorticoid-driven positive-feedback regulation in this rapidly exacerbated ectopic ACTH-producing pheochromocytoma. Interestingly enough, plasma catecholamine levels were also decreased by metyrapone, although they remained extremely high. He became severely dehydrated due to hypoadrenalism requiring hydrocortisone supplementation. His clinical signs and symptoms were improved, and right adrenalectomy was performed uneventfully, resulting in complete remission of pheochromocytoma and Cushing's syndrome. A glucocorticoid-driven positive-feedback regulation in this ectopic ACTH-secreting pheochromocytoma created a vicious cycle with rapid exacerbation of both hypercortisolemia and hypercatecholaminemia with extremely elevated plasma ACTH level. Metyrapone was clinically effective to stop this vicious cycle; nonetheless, great care must be taken to avoid hypoadrenalism especially when hypercatecholaminemia remained.

The present study investigated clinical factors affecting perioperative outcomes in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). The study included 625 Japanese cases treated with RARP between 2009 and 2017. The association between clinical factors (age, overweight status, prostate volume, clinical T-stage, nerve sparing, lympho-node dissection, and the number of experienced cases) and perioperative outcomes (operation time, estimated blood loss, catheterization duration, and perioperative complication) were analyzed. Results revealed that overweight status, prostate volume, lymph-node dissection, and the number of experienced cases were associated with operation time. For estimated blood loss, the identified risk factors were overweight status, prostate volume, nerve sparing, lymph-node dissection, and the number of experienced cases. Lymph-node dissection and the number of experienced cases were also associated with catheterization duration. Additionally, only lymph-node dissection was associated with increased perioperative complication. Taken together, the present study identified several clinical factors affecting perioperative outcomes in RARP. This information may help surgeons to estimate perioperative outcomes as well as to inform patients.

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Background/Aim: To date, several serum prognostic factors have been reported in metastatic prostate cancer. In this study, we examined the prognostic value of these serum markers in Japanese men. Patients and Methods: This study included 104 patients with metastatic prostate cancer who were treated with primary androgen-deprivation therapy from 2001 to 2013. Clinicopathological factors including several serum markers were investigated for association with progression-free (PFS) and overall (OS) survival. Results: During a median follow-up of 48.1 months, median PFS and OS were 24.0 months and 67.4 months, respectively. When adjusted by age, prostate-specific antigen at diagnosis, Gleason score, and clinical stage, serum lactate dehydrogenase value was significantly associated with PFS [hazard ratio (HR)=1.42, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.15-1.74; p=0.0004] and OS (HR=1.46, p=0.0014), in addition to alkaline phosphatase value for OS (HR=1.04; 95% CI=1. 00-1.07; p=0.015). Conclusion: This study demonstrates the prognostic significance of alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase values in Japanese men with de novo metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.

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