Won Ki Lee

Application of the Epstein criteria for prediction of clinically insignificant prostate cancer in Korean men

Study Type – Prognosis (case series)
Level of Evidence 4

Use of Nafamostat Mesilate as an Anticoagulant during Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Although the incidence of bleeding complications during extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) support has decreased in various trials, bleeding is still the most fatal complication. We investigated the ideal dosage and efficacy of nafamostat mesilate for use with ECMO in patients with acute cardiac or respiratory failure. We assessed 73 consecutive patients who received ECMO due to acute cardiac or respiratory failure between January 2006 and December 2009. To evaluate the efficacy of nafamostat mesilate, we divided the patients into 2 groups according to the anticoagulants used during ECMO support. All patients of nafamostat mesilate group were male with a mean age of 49.2 yr. Six, 3, 5, and 3 patients were diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, septic shock, and acute respiratory distress syndrome, respectively. The mean dosage of nafamostat mesilate was 0.64 mg/kg/hr, and the mean duration of ECMO was 270.7 hr. The daily volume of transfused packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitate and the number of complications related to hemorrhage and thrombosis was lower in the nafamostat mesilate group than in the heparin group. Nafamostat mesilate should be considered as an alternative anticoagulant to heparin to reduce bleeding complications during ECMO.

Prognostic significance of undetectable ultrasensitive prostate-specific antigen nadir after radical prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the prognostic significance of undetectable ultrasensitive prostate-specific antigen (PSA) nadir in patients who received radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer. METHODS We reviewed records of 384 patients who received RP for prostate cancer and were followed for at least 2 years with ultrasensitive PSA testing. Undetectable ultrasensitive PSA level was defined as <0.001 ng/mL. Subjects were categorized according to PSA nadirs: <0.001 ng/mL (group 1), 0.001 ng/mL ≤ and < 0.02 ng/mL (group 2), 0.02 ng/mL ≤ and < 0.05 ng/mL (group 3), or ≥0.05 ng/mL (group 4). Multivariate analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of biochemical recurrence-free survival. A receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curve was used to assess performances of multivariate model in predicting biochemical recurrence. RESULTS Overall, 206 (53.6%) patients showed undetectable ultrasensitive PSA nadir. Subjects of groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 demonstrated significant differences in biochemical recurrence-free survivals (log rank P <.001). In multivariate analysis, undetectable ultrasensitive PSA nadir (P <.001) was observed to be an independent predictor of biochemical recurrence-free survival along with preoperative PSA level (P = .030), pathologic stage (P = .014), and pathologic Gleason score (P = .042). Area under the ROC curve demonstrating predictive performances of the multivariate model, which included ultrasensitive PSA nadir, was significantly larger than that of the model without it (P <.001). CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrated that undetectable ultrasensitive PSA nadir is a useful predictor of biochemical recurrence-free survival among contemporary patients who received RP for prostate cancer.

Characteristics and prognosis of chromophobe non‐metastatic renal cell carcinoma: A multicenter study

Objectives:  To analyze the characteristics and the prognostic significance of chromophobe renal cell carcinomas (chRCC).

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.

Is body mass index associated with pathological outcomes after radical prostatectomy in Korean men

Study Type – Therapy (case series)
Level of Evidence 4

A novel mathematical model to predict the severity of postoperative functional reduction before partial nephrectomy: The importance of calculating resected and ischemic volume

PURPOSE Preoperatively predicting postoperative kidney function is an essential step to achieve improved renal function and prevent chronic kidney disease. We introduce a novel formula especially to calculate resected and ischemic volume before partial nephrectomy. We examined whether resected and ischemic volume would have value for predicting postoperative renal function. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study in 210 patients who underwent robotic partial nephrectomy between September 2006 and October 2013 at a tertiary cancer care center. Based on abdominopelvic computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging we calculated resected and ischemic volume by the novel mathematical formula using integral calculus. We comparatively analyzed resected and ischemic volume, and current nephrometry systems to determine the degree of association and predictability regarding the severity of the postoperative functional reduction. RESULTS On multivariable analysis resected and ischemic volume showed a superior association with the absolute change in estimated glomerular filtration rate/percent change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (B = 6.5, p = 0.005/B = 6.35, p = 0.009). The ROC AUC revealed accurate predictability of resected and ischemic volume on the stratified event of an absolute change in estimated glomerular filtration rate/event of percent change in estimated glomerular filtration rate compared to 3 representative nephrometry systems. The calibration plot of this model was excellent (close to the 45-degree line) within the whole range of predicted probabilities. CONCLUSIONS We report a method of preoperatively calculating resected and ischemic volume with a novel formula. This method has superior correlation with the absolute and percent change in estimated glomerular filtration rate compared to current nephrometry systems. The predictive model achieved a strong correlation for the absolute and percent change in estimated glomerular filtration rate.

Early recovery of urinary continence after radical prostatectomy: Correlation with vesico-urethral anastomosis location in the pelvic cavity measured by postoperative cystography

Objectives:  To determine the association of vesico‐urethral anastomosis location (VUAL) with early recovery of urinary continence (UC) after radical prostatectomy (RP).

Association between Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Vascular Risk Factors in Aging Men: The Hallym Aging Study

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and risk factors for vascular diseases in a population-based cohort study, the Hallym Aging Study (HAS). Materials and Methods Among the 1,520 participants in HAS, 280 men aged more than 50 years, who underwent detailed health evaluations, including health-related questionnaires, evaluations of their medical history, and various life style factors, as well as clinical measurements, were included in the study. Vascular risk factors used in the present study including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and smoking and were assessed by medical history and clinical measurements. LUTS were assessed by validated questionnaires, the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and the relationship between LUTS and vascular risk factors was investigated. Results Of the 280 men, 175 (62.5%) had moderate/severe LUTS (IPSS>7) and 260 (93%) had one or more vascular risk factors. The IPSS was similar in those with no (11.6±9.7) and one or two (11.5±8.5) vascular risk factors, but increased to 15.1±9.3 in those with 3 or more vascular risk factors (p<0.05). The multiple logistic regression analysis, controlling for age and body mass index (BMI) showed that men with 3 or more vascular risk factors were 3 times more likely to have moderate/severe LUTS than men without vascular risk factors (p<0.05). Conclusions Men with risk factors for vascular diseases are more likely to have LUTS and these findings suggest that vascular risk factors play a role in the development of LUTS.

Prognostic Value of Body Mass Index According to Histologic Subtype in Nonmetastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Large Cohort Analysis

OBJECTIVE The objective of our study was to assess the prognostic value of body mass index (BMI) according to histologic subtype in nonmetastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), based on a large multicenter experience. METHODS A total of 2769 patients with nonmetastatic RCC at the time of surgery were enrolled from 5 Korean institutions between 1999 and 2011. BMI was used as a continuous variable and was categorized according to the World Health Organization recommendation for Asians into normal weight (≥ 18.5 and < 23 kg/m(2)) and overweight and obese (≥ 23 kg/m(2)). RESULTS In patients with clear cell variant, increased BMI was associated with higher recurrence-free survival (RFS) or cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates by multivariate analyses (hazard ratio [HR] of RFS, 0.940; P = .007; HR of CSS, 0.875; P < .001). On the other hand, increased BMI in patients with chromophobe variant was associated with lower RFS or CSS rates, unlike in patients with clear cell variant (HR of RFS, 1.317, P = .011; HR of CSS, 1.320; P = .031). In patients with papillary variant, BMI was not associated with RFS or CSS (P > .05 for each). CONCLUSIONS Our results showed that increased BMI was a favorable prognostic factor in patients with clear cell variant. However, increased BMI was a poor prognostic factor in patients with chromophobe variant and was not associated with prognosis in those with papillary variant. Our study suggests that the association between BMI and RCC prognosis may differ by histologic subtype.