Mohammed A. Al-Ghazo

A prospective randomized trial comparing transurethral prostatic resection and clean intermittent self‐catheterization in men with chronic urinary retention

To determine whether a preliminary period of clean intermittent self‐catheterization (CISC) before transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) improves bladder contractility and surgical outcome in men with chronic urinary retention (CUR), and whether pressure‐flow studies (PFS) before TURP predict the outcome.

Intradetrusor injection of botulinum-A toxin in patients with idiopathic and neurogenic detrusor overactivity: Urodynamic outcome and patient satisfaction†

PURPOSE To assess and compare the efficacy of botulinum-A toxin (BTX-A) injections into the detrusor in idiopathic and neurogenic detrusor overactivity (IDO and NDO) resistant to anticholinergic treatment with respect to patient satisfaction. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a prospective study, 16 patients with IDO and 14 with NDO resistant to anticholinergic treatment were injected with 500 U of Dysport into the detrusor. Clinical, urodynamic, and satisfaction assessments were performed at baseline and after BTX-A injections. RESULTS In IDO as well as in NDO, there was a significant increase in median maximum cystometric capacity (MCC) from 177.5 to 262.5 ml (P<0.0005) and 160 to 270 ml (P=0.001), median bladder compliance from 24.5 to 40.0 ml/cmH2O (P<0.0005) and 25.5 to 44.0 ml/cmH2O (P=0.001) and median PVR from 15 to 80 ml (P=0.001) and 15.0 to 62.5 ml (P=0.001), respectively. Median Pdet max decreased significantly from 49 to 37 cmH2O (P<0.0005) and 48.5 to 37.0 cmH2O (P=0.001), and median Pdet Qmax from 32.0 to 20.0 ml/sec (P<0.0005) and 36.0 to 21.5 ml/sec (P=0.001), respectively. The effect of BTX-A injections lasted for a median time of 5 months in both groups. Median daytime frequency, nocturia, and number of used pads decreased significantly in both groups. More than 80% of the patients were satisfied with the effect of BTX-A. CONCLUSIONS Patients with intractable IDO respond to intradetrusor BTX-A with a significant and comparable but temporally limited effect in urodynamic and LUTS parameters as those with NDO. The majority of patients were satisfied with treatment.

Clinical comparison of conventional testicular sperm extraction and microdissection techniques for non-obstructive azoospermia.

Background We compared the efficacy of microdissection testicular sperm extraction (microdissection TESE) and conventional TESE in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and related the positive sperm recovery to certain variables: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, testicular volume and histology. Methods Sperm retrieval rates (SRR) in patients with NOA who underwent microdissection TESE (n = 65) or conventional TESE (n = 68) were compared and related to the different variables. Results SRR by microdissection TESE (56.9%) was significantly higher than conventional TESE (38.2%). There was a positive relation between the SRR and increased testicular volume or decreased FSH levels. No effect of Testosterone or Prolactin levels on SRR by using either technique was observed. Sperm were recovered from those with hypospermatogenesis in 84% and 92.9% by conventional and microdissection TESE, respectively (P = 0.3). In cases of maturation arrest the SRR was 27.3% and 36.4%, respectively (P = 0.6). In cases of Sertoli-cell-only syndrome (SCOS) the SRR was 6.2% and 26.9%, respectively (P = 0.03). No major operative complications occurred in any patient in either group, and no patient required post-operative hormone replacement to treat hypogonadism. Conclusions Microdissection TESE significantly had twice better probability of success of SRR when compared to conventional TESE. No secure pre-operative prognostic elements of sperm recovery exist for NOA patients. Microdissection TESE appears to be recommendable in cases of atrophied testicles, high FSH concentration, or when SCOS with high FSH concentration can be predicted. Keywords Microdissection TESE; Sperm retrieval; Non-obstructive azoospermia; Histopathology; FSH concentration; Orchidometry

Urodynamic Detrusor Overactivity in Patients with Overactive Bladder Symptoms

Purpose To evaluate the relationship between urodynamic detrusor overactivity (DO) and overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms in men and women. Methods We reviewed the records of adult males and females who attended a tertiary referral center for urodynamic evaluation of OAB syndrome symptoms with the presence or absence of DO. DO was calculated for symptoms alone or in combination. Results The overall incidence of DO was 76.1% and 58.7% in male and female OAB patients, respectively. Of men 63% and 61% of women with urgency (OAB dry) had DO, while 93% of men and 69.8% of women with urgency and urgency urinary incontinence (OAB wet) had DO. Of women, 58% who were OAB wet had stress urinary incontinence symptoms with 26.4% having urodynamic stress incontinence. 6% of men and 6.5% of women with OAB symptoms had urodynamic diagnosis of voiding difficulties with postvoid residual greater than 100 mL. Combination of symptoms is more accurate in predicting DO in OAB patients. The multivariate disease model for males included urge urinary incontinence (UUI) and urgency while for females it included UUI and nocturia. Conclusions There was a better correlation in results between OAB symptoms and the urodynamic diagnosis of DO in men than in women, more so in OAB wet than in OAB dry. Combination of symptoms of the OAB syndrome seems to have a better correlation with objective parameters from the bladder diary, filling cystometry, and with the occurrence of DO.

Prophylaxis and therapeutic effects of raspberry (Rubus idaeus) on renal stone formation in Balb/c mice

PURPOSE To evaluate the prophylactic potential of herbal decoction from Rubus idaeus, a medicinal plant widely used in the Middle East to treat kidney stones, by assessing the effect of administration in experimentally induced calcium oxalate (CaOx) nephrolithiasis in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was based on administration of glyoxylate and/or herbal treatments simultaneously for 12 days, followed by histological and biochemical tests. Group I was used as a negative control. Group II was only given daily intra-abdominal injection of glyoxylate (80 mg/Kg). Group III and IV were given 100 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day of aqueous extract of R. idaeus by gavage, respectively in addition to glyoxylate injection. To examine the effect of anti-oxidants on hyperoxaluria-induced changes in kidney, the enzymatic and non-enzymatic anti-oxidant levels were assessed. RESULTS Significant reductions were obtained in the urinary oxalate, calcium and phosphorus values in the herbal-treated groups relative to untreated animals while creatinine excretion increased. Serum oxalate, calcium and creatinine were significantly reduced, while phosphorus was not significantly changed. Kidney content of calcium was higher in the untreated group. Mice in treated groups at 12 days had significantly more superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase (GSH) and G6PD activities than the untreated group. Hyperoxaluria-induced generation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyls was significantly prevented in the treated groups. R. idaeus had a significantly high content of vitamin E in the herbal treated groups. The histology showed more CaOx deposition in the kidneys of untreated animals. CONCLUSION Rubus idaeus has an impressive prophylactic effect on CaOx stones in nephrolithic mice. There is a possible role of lipid peroxidation in CaOx stone formation which may has a relationship with the major risk factors in urine including oxalate, calcium, phosphorus and MDA. Further experimental studies are required to elucidate the chemical constituents of the active ingredients of this interesting plant.

Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis: Analysis of 18 Cases

OBJECTIVE To review and evaluate patients with a clinicopathological diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) with emphasis on the diagnostic methods and the effect of socioeconomic status on disease severity. METHODS Data compiled from the previous history of the patients, clinical, laboratory, radioimaging findings, preoperative, operative, histopathological diagnosis and postoperative follow-up period were analysed. On the basis of presentation, XGP was classified as complicated and simple. RESULTS There were 18 cases of XGP. The clinical characteristics included: calculi or obstruction in the urinary tract, and damage to the kidney, complication of urinary tract infection, anaemia, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and liver dysfunction. All patients had diffuse XGP. Associated pathological findings such as psoas abscess, nephrocutaneous fistula, renocolonic fistula and paranephric abscess were found in 33.3% of cases. Eleven of 14 patients (78.6%) who were evaluated by computed tomography (CT) had the correct diagnosis made prior to nephrectomy. Urine culture was positive in 88.9% of patients and Proteus mirabilis was the most common organism. CONCLUSION Our experience with a small number of patients demonstrates that low socioeconomic status could be a risk factor in the development of complicated cases of XGP. CT is considered to be the best radiological test for correct preoperative diagnosis and evaluation of XGP. Nephrectomy and removal of all surrounding affected tissue proved to be curative for XGP.

FGFR3 mutational status and protein expression in patients with bladder cancer in a Jordanian population

Bladder cancer accounts for nearly 5% of all newly diagnosed cancers in Jordan, with a much higher frequency in males. Recent studies have shown that activating mutations in FGFR3 are the most common findings in non-invasive low grade bladder tumors. In this study, we, retrospectively, investigated a cohort of 121 bladder cancer patients with various grades and stages of the tumor for molecular changes in FGFR3. Overexpression of FGFR3 was observed in 49%, 34%, 15%, and 2% of pTa, pT1, pT2, and pT3 cases, respectively. Further, FGFR3 expression was positive in 45%, 26%, and 30% of G1, G2 and G3 cases, respectively. Mutational analysis of exons 7, 10 and 15 of FGFR3 identified four previously reported mutations, namely R248C (n=4; 10%), S249C (n=23; 59%), Y375C (n=7; 18%), G382R (n=4; 10%), and one novel mutation, G382E (n=1; 3%). Our results indicate that both mutations and overexpression of FGFR3 are correlated together, and are more prevalent in early stage (pTa and pT1) and low grade (G1 and G2) bladder tumors. Survival analysis showed no contribution of changes in FGFR3 on the patients survival. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analysis of overall survival for the following variables: age, gender, stage and grade of tumor, and FGFR3 (expression and mutation) revealed that age, stage and grade of tumor are independent predictors of overall survival in patients with bladder cancer. Our work is the first to address the molecular status of FGFR3 in Jordanian patients with bladder cancer, and provides further support for FGFR3 as a key player in the initiation of bladder tumors.

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy versus ureteroscopy for distal ureteric calculi: efficacy and patient satisfaction

OBJECTIVE We compared the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and ureteroscopy (URS) for the treatment of distal ureteral calculi with respect to patient satisfaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a prospective study where a total of 212 patients with solitary, radiopaque distal ureteral calculi were treated with ESWL (n = 92) using Dornier lithotriptor S (MedTech Europe GmbH) or URS (n = 120). Patient and stone characteristics, treatment parameters, clinical outcomes, and patient satisfaction were assessed for each group. RESULTS The 2 groups were comparable in regard to patient age, sex, stone size, and side of treatment. The stone-free status for ESWL and URS at 3 months was 81.5% and 97.5%, respectively (p < 0.0001). In addition, 88% of patients who underwent ESWL versus 20% who underwent URS were discharged home the day of procedure. Minor complications occurred in 3.3% and 8.3% of the ESWL and URS groups, respectively (p = 0.127). No ureteral perforation or stricture occurred in the URS group. Postoperative flank pain and dysuria were more severe in the URS than ESWL group, although the differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.16). Patient satisfaction was high for both groups, including 94% for URS and 80% for ESWL (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS URS is more effective than ESWL for the treatment of distal ureteral calculi. ESWL was more often performed on an outpatient basis, and showed a trend towards less flank pain and dysuria, fewer complications and quicker convalescence. Patient satisfaction was significantly higher for URS according to the questionnaire used in this study.

Evaluation of emergency extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for obstructing ureteral stones

PURPOSE To assess the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) for ureteral calculi during acute renal colic. MATERIALS AND METHODS From January 2002 to March 2007, 108 patients were treated by ESWL for obstructing ureteral stones causing acute renal colic. ESWL was performed within 24 hours of the onset of renal colic. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 39.5 years (11-72 years). Male/female ratio was 85/23. Mean stone size was 8.45 mm (4-20 mm). They were located in the pelvic (n = 53), iliac (n = 28) or lumbar (n = 27) region. Fragmentation after a single session was complete in 56 patients (52%), incomplete in 28 (26%), and absent in 24 (22%). Patients presenting incomplete fragmentation underwent a second (n = 28) or even a third session (n = 11). Of the 24 patients in whom ESWL had no impact on the stone, 21 underwent ureteroscopy, and in one case open ureterolithotomy for a patient with a hard 17 mm stone, while spontaneous passage occurred in two patients with small stones. CONCLUSION Emergency ESWL for obstructing ureteral stones has a satisfactory success rate and very low morbidity. The stone-free rate of retreating ureteral calculi with ESWL decreases significantly after failed initial treatment. Stone size may be the main predictive factor for retreatment. We suggest that no more than 3 treatments should be given for a particular stone due to minimal improvement in the subsequent cumulative treatment success rate.

Circumcision revision in male children

OBJECTIVE To determine indications for circumcision revision and to identify the specialty of the person who performed unsatisfactory primary circumcision. MATERIALS AND METHODS The authors reviewed medical records of 52 cases that underwent circumcision revision over a 6-year period (1998 to 2004). Sleeve surgical technique was used for revision in patients with redundant foreskin or concealed penis, penoplasty for partial or complete degloving of the penis and meatotomy for external meatal stenosis. The mean age of children was 32 months (range 6 months to 9 years). RESULTS Most of unsatisfactory primary circumcisions (86.7%) were performed by laymen. All patients who underwent circumcision revision had good to excellent cosmetic results. CONCLUSION Primary circumcision performed by laymen carry a high complication rate and serious complications may occur. A period of training and direct supervision by physicians is required before allowing laymen to perform circumcision independently.