Sung Tae Cho

Correlation of metabolic syndrome with urinary stone composition

To determine the correlation between metabolic syndrome and the distribution of stone components in patients with urolithiasis.

Stent Position Is More Important than α-Blockers or Anticholinergics for Stent-Related Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms after Ureteroscopic Ureterolithotomy: A Prospective Randomized Study

Purpose To evaluate the clinical factors that impact ureteral stent-related lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) after ureteroscopic ureterolithotomy, including the stent position and medication. Materials and Methods Fifty-three patients who underwent ureteroscopic ureterolithotomy with indwelling a stent were distributed into three groups. On demand analgesics were given to the group 1 (n=18). Daily tamsulosin 0.2 mg was added for group 2 (n=15) and daily tamsulosin 0.2 mg and tolterodine 4 mg was added for group 3 (n=20). The patients were also subclassified into appropriate or inappropriate group according to stent position. All the patients completed a visual analogue scale (VAS) and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) on the 1st and 7th postoperative days. The VAS and IPSS were analyzed according to the medication groups and the stent position. Results In the appropriate stent potion group, only the storage symptom scores of groups 2 and 3 on the 1st postoperative day were significantly lower than those of the group 1 (p=0.001). This medication effect on LUTS was not observed in the inappropriate stent position group. In this group, total IPSS (p=0.015) and storage symptom scores (p=0.002) were higher than in the appropriate stent position group on the 7th postoperative day. Conclusions Correct placement of the stent was more important than medication for lessening stent-related storage symptoms.

Comparison Between On‐Demand Dosing of Dapoxetine Alone and Dapoxetine Plus Mirodenafil in Patients with Lifelong Premature Ejaculation: Prospective, Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled, Multicenter Study

INTRODUCTION There is partial evidence to support the use of phophodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE5-I) for the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE). AIM We compared on-demand dosing of dapoxetine alone and combined with mirodenafil in subjects with lifelong PE and without erectile dysfunction (ED). METHODS Our prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial enrolled 118 subjects with lifelong PE without ED. PE was diagnosed using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, text revision. Patients were divided into two groups: dapoxetine 30 mg plus placebo (group A, n=56) and dapoxetine 30 mg plus mirodenafil 50 mg (group B, n=62). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES During 12 weeks, intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) and the time from foreplay to beginning intercourse (FTIT) with a stopwatch, and Premature Ejaculation Profile (PEP) were measured. Overall sexual act time (OSAT; sum of FTIT and IELT) was calculated. Any treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were also recorded. RESULTS Over 12 weeks, IELT, OSAT, and PEP index score significantly improved in group B compared with group A (increased geometric mean IELT in group A and B=3.6 and 6.1 minutes, P=0.026; increased geometric mean OSAT in group A and B=5.5 and 9.9 minutes, P=0.012; increased median PEP index score in group A and B=1.0 and 1.3, P=0.046). However, there was no significant difference between two groups with respect to improvement of FTIT (P=0.147). TEAEs did not differ between groups (all P>0.05), and there was no serious adverse event in any subjects. CONCLUSIONS Low dose of dapoxetine combined with mirodenafil showed better results in terms of IELT, OSAT, and PEP index score, and similar TEAEs, compared with that of dapoxetine only. Our results support the suggestion that the PDE5-Is have a potential role in the treatment of PE without ED.

Heart Rate Variability in Men with Erectile dysfunction

Purpose The objective of this study is to investigate alteration of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity in patients suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED) by comparing parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) between men with ED and healthy subjects. Methods A retrospective review was performed on 40 ED patients (mean age, 46.0±8.49 years) without any disease and 180 healthy control people (mean age, 44.4±7.83 years) without ED in our institution from June 2008 to July 2010. And electrocardiographic signals were obtained to measure HRV parameters for both patients and controls in a resting state. Results For the time domain analysis, square root of the mean differences between successive RR intervals (RMSSD) representing parasympathetic activity was lower in patients than controls although P-value was not statistically significant (P=0.060). For the frequency domain analysis, high frequency (HF) representing parasympathetic activity was lower in patients than controls (P=0.232) and low frequency (LF) representing mainly sympathetic activity was higher in patients than controls (P=0.416). Lastly, LF/HF ratio reflecting sympathetic/parasympathetic activity ratio was statistically higher in patients than controls (P=0.027). Conclusions Patients with ED exhibited different HRV parameters compared with normal controls. This suggests that the patients with ED may have some kind of imbalance in the ANS and it may be possible that general imbalance of the ANS is one of the causes of ED. Thus, HRV analysis may give valuable diagnostic information and serve as a rapid screening tool to evaluate altered ANS activity in patients with ED.

A current perspective on geriatric lower urinary tract dysfunction

Lower urinary tract dysfunction-such as urinary incontinence (UI), detrusor overactivity, and benign prostatic hyperplasia-is prevalent in elderly persons. These conditions can interfere with daily life and normal functioning and lead to negative effects on health-related quality of life. UI is one of the most common urologic conditions but is poorly understood elderly persons. The overall prevalence of UI increases with age in both men and women. Elderly persons often neglect UI or dismiss it as part of the normal aging process. However, UI can have significant negative effects on self-esteem and has been associated with increased rates of depression. UI also affects quality of life and activities of daily living. Although UI is more common in elderly than in younger persons, it should not be considered a normal part of aging. UI is abnormal at any age. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of the cause, classification, evaluation, and management of geriatric lower urinary tract dysfunction.

Urinary incontinence in patients with Alzheimer's disease: Relationship between symptom status and urodynamic diagnoses

To assess factors associated with detrusor overactivity in urinary incontinence patients with Alzheimers disease, and to determine the correlation between the degree of Alzheimers disease and the presence of detrusor overactivity.

Application of Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality to Urology

Recent developments in virtual, augmented, and mixed reality have introduced a considerable number of new devices into the consumer market. This momentum is also affecting the medical and health care sector. Although many of the theoretical and practical foundations of virtual reality (VR) were already researched and experienced in the 1980s, the vastly improved features of displays, sensors, interactivity, and computing power currently available in devices offer a new field of applications to the medical sector and also to urology in particular. The purpose of this review article is to review the extent to which VR technology has already influenced certain aspects of medicine, the applications that are currently in use in urology, and the future development trends that could be expected.

Effect of Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonist Telmisartan on Detrusor Overactivity in Rats With Bladder Outlet Obstruction

OBJECTIVE To investigate the changes of expression in both the nerve growth factor (NGF) and the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptors in the urothelium and the detrusor muscle in a rat model of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). To determine whether the AT1 receptor antagonist telmisartan alleviated the detrusor overactivity in rats with BOO. METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups. The control group (n = 10) was sham-operated. The animals in the BOO (n = 20) and the telmisartan groups (n = 20) underwent a partial BOO operation. The telmisartan group received telmisartan (3 mg/kg/d) for 14 days. Cystometry was performed in all 3 groups for 2 weeks after surgery. The expression levels and the cellular distribution of NGF and AT1 receptors were quantified by Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS On cystometry, the intercontraction interval was shorter and the mean number of nonvoiding contractions was increased in the BOO group, compared with those in the control group. The intercontraction interval was longer and the number of nonvoiding contractions was reduced in the telmisartan group, compared with those in the BOO group. In Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining, we found that the expression and the immunoreactivity of NGF and the AT1 receptors were increased in the BOO group, compared with those in the control group. However, with oral administration of telmisartan, those of NGF and AT1 were decreased. CONCLUSION The AT1 receptors may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of the detrusor overactivity in a rat model of BOO.

Functional Assessment Staging (FAST) in Korean Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

Functional Assessment Staging (FAST) was devised to meet the need for a more brief patient-derived rating scale for evaluating changes in functional performance and activities of daily living skills in all the stages of Alzheimers disease (AD). FAST was administered to 464 patients with probable AD according to the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Diseases and Stroke/Alzheimers Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA) criteria. The patients were also evaluated using the Korean version of the Mini-Mental Status Examination (K-MMSE), the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), the Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB), the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS), the Barthel Activities of Daily Living (B-ADL), and the Seoul-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (S-IADL). For patients with moderate to severe dementia, the Korean versions of the Severe Impairment Battery (SIB-Ko) and Baylor profound mental status examination (BPMSE-Ko) were also administered. There were significant correlations between the FAST and the K-MMSE scores (r= - 0.71, p< 0.001), between the FAST and the SIB-Ko scores (r= - 0.54, p< 0.001) and between the FAST and the BPMSE-Ko scores (r=- 0.46, p< 0.001). The FAST was also correlated with the CDR, the CDR-SB, the B-ADL, and the S-IADL (p< 0.001). Ultimately, FAST is a reliable and valid assessment technique for evaluating functional deterioration in AD patients throughout the disease course. Moreover, the findings of the present study suggest that the FAST elucidates a characteristic pattern of progressive, ordinal, and functional decline in AD in Korean AD patients with dementia.

Primary Malignant Melanoma of the Female Urethra

We report here on a rare case of primary malignant melanoma of the female urethra. A 69-year-old female presented at our hospital with a several month history of dysuria, poor stream, gross hematuria, intermittent blood spots, and a painful mass at the external urethral meatus. The physical examination revealed a soft, small, chestnut-sized lesion through the urethral orifice. The mass was tan colored, ulcerated, covered with necrotic tissue, and protruded from the external urethral meatus. The mass was removed by wide local excision under spinal anesthesia. The pathological diagnosis was malignant melanoma of the urethra. Computed tomography of the abdomen as well as a whole-body bone scan showed no evidence of metastasis. The patient has been free of disease for 6 months postoperatively. We discuss the clinicopathologic features and treatment of this tumor.