Yoji Inoue

Transrectal high-intensity focused ultrasound for treatment of localized prostate cancer.

Objectives:  To assess the long‐term outcomes of transrectal high‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for patients with localized prostate cancer.

Primary amelanotic malignant melanoma of the female urethra.

Abstract:  The case is reported of amelanotic malignant melanoma of the female urethra mimicking urethral caruncle. A 75‐year‐old woman complained of a mass of the external meatus. Urethral carunclectomy was performed, but histological diagnosis was amelanotic malignant melanoma. Finally, she underwent en block resection of urethra including bladder neck, uterus, adnexa, vagina, and vulva. As urinary diversion, she underwent a continent cathererizable stoma with an appendicovesicostomy, according to the method described by Mitrofanoff, and Y‐V graft for reconstruction of the vulva.

Prevalence of painful bladder syndrome (PBS) symptoms in adult women in the general population in Japan

The aim of this study was to clarify the prevalence of painful bladder syndrome (PBS) symptoms in adult women in the general population in Japan.

The impact of change in serum C-reactive protein level on the prediction of effects of molecular targeted therapy in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma

To investigate the impact of pretreatment serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) level and its change after targeted therapy on the anti‐tumour effect of targeted agents in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

Lack of Information Underlies Women's Perceptions of Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Drugs in Japan

INTRODUCTION Some Japanese women are known to have negative attitudes toward erectile dysfunction (ED) drugs, but the environment underlying these perceptions is unclear. AIM To reveal the underlying environment that shapes womens perceptions of ED drugs in Japan. METHODS A web-based questionnaire was conducted through an Internet-based market research company. A total of 2,593 women in five age groups (20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s or older) were randomly invited to participate in this study, with an almost equal number in each age group. The questionnaire contained 30 items related to individual background and sexual information, concerns about the image of ED drugs, ED drug-related perceptions, and attitude toward sexual information media. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The womens attitude and the independent predictors that affect their partners use of ED drugs were clarified. RESULTS Answers were obtained from 1,077 women, of whom 35.4% (n=381) had a negative image of ED drugs. Although 69.5% (n=749) agreed that a sexual relationship with a male partner was important, only 26.7% (n=288) agreed that this remained important if ED drugs were used. However, 56.7% (n=611) and 57.7% (n=621) of respondents, respectively, answered that they would allow their partners use of ED drugs if they imagined that they understood the safety and effectiveness of ED drugs and that their quality of life was improved by their partners use of the drugs. Lack of information about ED drugs was a significant predictor for acceptance of a partners use of ED drugs among women with a negative image of ED drugs, since they were more likely to accept the use of these drugs if they were convinced about their safety and effectiveness or positive effect on quality of life. CONCLUSION Lack of information about ED drugs may influence the perception of women in Japan regarding these drugs.

Body mass index as a classifier to predict biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy in patients with lower prostate-specific antigen levels

Prostate cancer, one of the most common malignant tumors among men, is closely associated with obesity and, thus far, several studies have suggested the association between obesity and aggressive pathological characteristics in the United States. However, the effect of obesity on prostate cancer mortality is controversial, and it remains unclear whether obesity contributes to the aggressiveness of prostate cancer in Asian patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and the clinicopathological characteristics of prostate cancer in 2,003 Japanese patients who underwent radical prostatectomy. There was a significant association between higher BMI and higher Gleason score (GS). The multivariate analysis also revealed that BMI was an independent indicator for GS ≥8 at surgery. Moreover, among patients with lower prostate-specific antigen levels, biochemical recurrence-free survival was significantly worse in those with higher BMI. These results suggest that BMI may be a classifier for predicting adverse pathological findings and biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy in Japanese patients.