Seong Uk Jeh

Effects of tamsulosin on premature ejaculation in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Purpose Previous studies have revealed that tamsulosin is effective in improving lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and erectile functioning but has some inhibitory effects on ejaculation, including decreased ejaculatory volume. However, these inhibitory effects on ejaculation can be beneficial to patients with premature ejaculation (PE). Therefore, this study was conducted to understand the effect of tamsulosin on PE in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Materials and Methods Twenty-nine patients who visited with LUTS were categorized into 2 groups of LUTS-only patients (n=12) and LUTS combined with PE (LUTS+PE) patients (n=17), and 0.4 mg of tamsulosin was administered to the patients of both groups for 12 weeks. Comparative analyses of before and after the treatment were conducted for calculating the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT), premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT), and premature ejaculation profile (PEP). The patients with an IPSS score of 8 or higher were determined as LUTS patients, and the patients with IELT of less than 2 minutess and a PEDT score of 9 or higher were determined as PE patients. Results After treatment, the IPSS score significantly decreased in both groups. There was no statistically significant change in the PEDT for the LUTS group, but there was a significant decrease in PEDT (p=0.012; from 12.1±3.31 to 8.4±4.49) in the LUTS+PE group. Conclusions Tamsulosin not only has a treatment effect for LUTS but also improves the PE of LUTS+PE patients. Therefore, further studies are needed to confirm the effects of tamsulosin on PE.

Current Status of Radical Prostatectomy for High-Risk Prostate Cancer

Despite the wide application of prostate-specific antigen-based screening leading to a profound stage migration in prostate cancer (PC), a significant percentage of men are still being diagnosed with clinically high-risk disease that requires aggressive treatment. Optimal management in these patients remains challenging, and strong advocates for radical prostatectomy (RP), radiotherapy, androgen deprivation therapy, and, increasingly, a multimodal approach abound. Currently, surgery for high-risk PC is frequently applied. RP offers an attractive opportunity for tumor excision either as a definitive management or as a first step in multimodal therapy. Nevertheless, this approach is still controversial. In this review, we discuss the current evidence for the role of RP in this clinical setting, including surgical considerations and outcomes. The role of robot-assisted RP, which is increasingly utilized in Korea in this clinical scenario, is discussed.

Prostate-specific antigen density predicts favorable pathology and biochemical recurrence in patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer.

This study was designed to identify clinical predictors of favorable pathology and biochemical recurrence (BCR) in patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer (IRPCa). Between 2006 and 2012, clinicopathological and oncological data from 203 consecutive men undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for IRPCa were reviewed in a single-institutional retrospective study. Favorable pathology was defined as Gleason score ≤6 and organ-confined cancer as detected by surgical pathology. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine predictive variables of favorable pathology, and the Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression model were used to estimate BCR-free survival after RARP. Overall, 38 patients (18.7%) had favorable pathology after RARP. Lower quartile prostate-specific antigen density (PSAD) was associated with favorable pathology compared to the highest quartile PSAD after adjusting for preoperative PSA, clinical stage and biopsy Gleason score (odds ratio, 5.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-28.97; P = 0.048). During a median 37.8 (interquartile range, 24.6-60.2) months of follow-up, 66 patients experienced BCR. There were significant differences with regard to BCR free survival by PSAD quartiles (log rank, P = 0.003). Using a multivariable Cox proportion hazard model, PSAD was found to be an independent predictor of BCR in patients with IRPCa after RARP (hazard ratio, 4.641; 95% confidence interval, 1.109-19.417; P = 0.036). The incorporation of the PSAD into risk assessments might provide additional prognostic information and identify some patients in whom active surveillance would be appropriate in patients with IRPCa.

Accuracy of Urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin in Quantifying Acute Kidney Injury after Partial Nephrectomy in Patients with Normal Contralateral Kidney

Background To evaluate the efficacy of urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) for predicting the degree of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients following partial nephrectomy (PN). Methods This prospective study included 176 patients who underwent open or laparoscopic PN for solid renal tumors between June 2013 and May 2014. Urine samples were collected preoperatively and at 3, 24, and 48 h after renal pedicle clamp removal. Changes in uNGAL levels were analyzed for all patients and between subgroups that were dichotomized based on preoperative eGFR values of <60 and ≥60 mL/min/1.73m2, open and laparoscopic surgery, and according to the onset of AKI. Linear mixed models were used to investigate preoperative and perioperative features associated with postoperative uNGAL and eGFR changes at 6 months postoperatively. Results Among 146 patients included in the final analysis, 10 (6.8%) patients had preoperative eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73m2. In the overall group, uNGAL levels increased following PN. However, all subgroups demonstrated comparable changes in uNGAL levels over time. Multivariate analyses failed to reveal any correctable clinical features associated with postoperative uNGAL changes, whereas preoperative serum creatinine levels and the onset of AKI correlated with eGFR at 6 months postoperatively. Conclusions uNGAL levels may increase following PN. However, it does not appear to be a useful marker for quantifying the degree of AKI or predicting postoperative renal function in patients with normal contralateral kidney and relatively good preoperative renal function. Further analysis is necessary to assess the usefulness of uNGAL in patients with poor preoperative renal function.

Impact of the ASA Physical Status Score on Adjuvant Chemotherapy Eligibility and Survival of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Patients: a Multicenter Study

The aim of the present multi-institutional study was to assess the influence of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA-PS) classification on adjuvant chemotherapy eligibility and survival in a multi-institutional cohort of patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). We retrospectively reviewed data from 416 patients who underwent RNU for UTUC at four Korean institutions between 2001 and 2013. The ASA-PS classification was obtained from the anesthesia chart. Locally advanced UTUC was defined as ≥ pT3 and/or pN1 disease. The influence of ASA-PS score on survival was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analyses and a multivariate Cox regression model. Patients with a higher ASA-PS class were less likely to be eligible for adjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced UTUC (P = 0.016). Kaplan-Meier estimates showed that the high-risk ASA-PS group has a poorer overallsurvival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) compared to low risk ASA-PS groups in both the total and locally advanced UTUC cohorts. Based on multivariate Cox regression analysis, the high-risk ASA-PS category was an independent predictor for overall mortality (OM) (hazard ratio [HR], 1.919; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.017–3.619; P = 0.044) and cancer-specific mortality (CSM) (HR, 2.120; 95% CI, 1.023–4.394; P = 0.043). In conclusion, high-risk ASA-PS score was independently associated with a lower survival rate in patients with UTUC after RNU. However, the influence of ASA-PS classification on survival was limited to locally advanced UTUC. The lower eligibility of patients in the high-risk ASA category for adjuvant chemotherapy may contribute to the lower survival rate in this group.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Premature Ejaculation by Urologists in South Korea.

Purpose This study discusses the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE) using various approaches with the goal of evaluating the methods of diagnosis and treatment of PE in clinical practice in 2014 in South Korea. Materials and Methods We surveyed 200 urologists and andrologists who treated patients with PE from July 1, 2014 to July 29, 2014 using an online questionnaire. The questionnaire was composed of 4 parts: disease, comorbidities, diagnosis, and treatment. Using the answers to this survey, current trends in the diagnosis and treatment of PE were investigated using weighted averages. Results The median number per month of patients who were diagnosed with PE was 14 patients (interquartile range, 7~24). The time to ejaculation necessary for a diagnosis of PE was considered to be <1 minute by 12% of respondents, <2 minutes by 27%, <3 minutes by 28%, <5 minutes by 13%, and 20% stated that diagnosis was based on a patients subjective complaint. The treatment methods preferred by PE patients were reported to be pharmacological treatment (87%), surgical treatment (9.5%), and behavioral management (3.5%). The treatment methods used by respondents were pharmacological treatment (77%), surgical treatment (15%), and behavioral management (14%). The most commonly used pharmacological treatment was the oral administration of dapoxetine (97%). Conclusions In 2014 in South Korea, various methods were used to diagnose and treat PE. The most commonly used treatment for PE was the oral administration of dapoxetine. It was also found that surgical treatment was applied in some cases.

Efficacy of Long-Term Daily Dosage of Alfuzosin 10 mg upon Sexual Function of Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy Patients: Two-Year Prospective Observational Study.

Purpose To identify sexual function improvement associated with alfuzosin (10 mg daily for 2 years). Materials and Methods We enrolled 30 men with lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS) who visited Gyeongsang National University Hospital between 2010 and 2012. At first visit, urinalysis, prostate specific antigen, transrectal ultrasound, and uroflowmetry were performed. The nternational Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), and Male Sexual Health Questionnaire Ejaculation Function Domain (MSHQ-EjFD) questionnaires were administered, and the subjects answered the same questionnaires at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years of follow-up. Results Twelve men completed of the entire study. After administration of alfuzosin, the median IPSS at first visit, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years was 18.00 (interquatile range [IQR]: 14.00~29.75), 20.00 (IQR: 11.50~30.00), 15.50 (IQR: 8.50~25.25), 14.50 (IQR: 9.25~19.50), and 11.50 (IQR: 5.00~17.75), respectively, which showed an improvement. The median QoL at the same times was 4.50 (IQR: 4.00~5.00), 4.50 (IQR: 4.00~5.00), 3.00 (IQR: 2.00~4.00), 3.50 (IQR: 2.25~4.00), and 3.00 (IQR: 1.00~3.00), respectively, and also showed improvement. Likewise, the median IIEF was 36.50 (IQR: 24.50~46.75), 37.50 (IQR: 26.75~47.25), 45.50 (IQR: 35.00~59.75), 48.50 (IQR: 34.75~62.75), and 47.50 (IQR: 43.25~61.00), while the median MSHQ-EjFD was 19.00 (IQR: 12.0~24.75), 19.50 (IQR: 13.50~27.75), 23.00 (IQR: 19.25~32.25), 26.50 (IQR: 18.25~34.50), 27.00 (IQR: 21.50~32.50), respectively, with both showing improvement. Conclusions After administration of alfuzosin (10 mg daily for 2 years), the IPSS, QoL, IIEF, and MSHQ-EjFD all improved significantly. This means long-term administration of 10 mg of alfuzosin daily would be effective not only for LUTS but also erectile function and ejaculation.

Intraoperative and postoperative feasibility and safety of total tubeless, tubeless, small-bore tube, and standard percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of 16 randomized controlled trials

BackgroundPercutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is performed to treat relatively large renal stones. Recent publications indicate that tubeless and total tubeless (stentless) PCNL is safe in selected patients. We performed a systematic review and network meta-analysis to evaluate the feasibility and safety of different PCNL procedures, including total tubeless, tubeless with stent, small-bore tube, and large-bore tube PCNLs.MethodsPubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and EMBASE™ databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials published before December 30, 2013. One researcher examined all titles and abstracts found by the searches. Two investigators independently evaluated the full-text articles to determine whether those met the inclusion criteria. Qualities of included studies were rated with Cochrane’s risk-of-bias assessment tool.ResultsSixteen studies were included in the final syntheses including pairwise and network meta-analyses. Operation time, pain scores, and transfusion rates were not significantly different between PCNL procedures. Network meta-analyses demonstrated that for hemoglobin changes, total tubeless PCNL may be superior to standard PCNL (mean difference [MD] 0.65, 95% CI 0.14–1.13) and tubeless PCNLs with stent (MD -1.14, 95% CI -1.65–-0.62), and small-bore PCNL may be superior to tubeless PCNL with stent (MD 1.30, 95% CI 0.27–2.26). Network meta-analyses also showed that for length of hospital stay, total tubeless (MD 1.33, 95% CI 0.23–2.43) and tubeless PCNLs with stent (MD 0.99, 95% CI 0.19–1.79) may be superior to standard PCNL. In rank probability tests, small-bore tube and total tubeless PCNLs were superior for operation time, pain scores, and hemoglobin changes.ConclusionsFor hemoglobin changes, total tubeless and small-bore PCNLs may be superior to other methods. For hospital stay, total tubeless and tubeless PCNLs with stent may be superior to other procedures.

Pathologic Outcomes in Men with Low-risk Prostate Cancer Who Are Potential Candidates for Contemporary, Active Surveillance Protocols

The purpose of this study was to determine whether contemporary active surveillance (AS) protocols could sufficiently discriminate significant from indolent tumors in men with low-risk prostate cancer. We retrospectively analyzed 312 patients with low-risk prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy. After exclusion of patients with fewer than 10 cores taken at biopsy and those who received neo-adjuvant treatment, 205 subjects satisfied the final inclusion criteria. Five widely accepted AS protocols were employed in this study. A total of 82.0% of the patients met the inclusion criteria of at least one protocol, and 18% did not meet any criteria of published AS protocols. A significant proportion of patients had non-organ-confined disease (8.6% to 10.6%) or a Gleason score of 7 or greater (18.6% to 23.9%) between the different AS criteria. Among patients who did not meet any AS criteria, 32.4% of patients had a pathologically insignificant cancer. Our results indicated a significant adverse pathology in patients who met the contemporary AS protocols. On the other hand, some patients in whom expectant management would be appropriate did not meet any criteria of published AS protocols. None of the clinical or histological criteria reported to date is able to sufficiently discriminate aggressive tumors from indolent ones. Graphical Abstract

The Within-Group Discrimination Ability of the Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment Score for Men with Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer

Background Significant clinical heterogeneity within contemporary risk group is well known, particularly for those with intermediate-risk prostate cancer (IRPCa). Our study aimed to analyze the ability of the Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment (CAPRA) score to discern between favorable and non-favorable risk in patients with IRPCa. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the data of 203 IRPCa patients who underwent extraperitoneal robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) performed by a single surgeon. Pathologic favorable IRPCa was defined as a Gleason score ≤ 6 and organ-confined stage at surgical pathology. The CAPRA score was compared with two established criteria for the within-group discrimination ability. Results Overall, 38 patients (18.7% of the IRPCa cohort) had favorable pathologic features after RARP. The CAPRA score significantly correlated with established criteria I and II and was inversely associated with favorable pathology (all P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the discriminative ability between favorable and non-favorable pathology was 0.679 for the CAPRA score and 0.610 and 0.661 for established criteria I and II, respectively. During a median 37.8 (interquartile range, 24.6–60.2) months of follow-up, 66 patients (32.5%) experienced biochemical recurrence (BCR). Cox regression analysis revealed that the CAPRA score, as a continuous sum score model or 3-group risk model, was an independent predictor of BCR after RARP. Conclusion The within-group discrimination ability of preoperative CAPRA score might help in patient counseling and selecting optimal treatments for those with IRPCa.