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Biomedical subjects

Koji Yoshimura

Publications and source records attributed to Koji Yoshimura.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Effect of urinary incontinence on lower urinary tract symptoms in Japanese women.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether urinary incontinence and its severity are associated with the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) in Japanese women using linguistically validated questionnaires. METHODS: Using a self-administered questionnaire of the IPSS and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), lower urinary tract symptoms were evaluated in a consecutive series of 1634 women (mean age 48.1 years) who underwent multiphasic health screening at our institution. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was applied, with age, ICIQ-SF, and continence status as the explanatory variable and IPSS severity as the response variable. RESULTS: All scores, including the IPSS (with its voiding and storage symptom scores) and the ICIQ-SF, were significantly greater for the incontinent than the continent women and for those with urge and mixed incontinence than those with stress incontinence. Including all women, IPSS severity was significantly associated with age (odds ratio [OR] 1.03), ICIQ-SF (OR 1.22), and urge (OR 2.79) and mixed (OR 3.54) incontinence, but not with stress incontinence. Among women with stress incontinence, however, the IPSS severity was significantly associated with the ICIQ-SF (OR 1.21), but not with age. CONCLUSIONS: Not only continence status, but also its severity (ICIQ-SF score), has a significant impact on IPSS. We, therefore, must be cautious about interpreting the epidemiologic data on female lower urinary tract symptoms without simultaneous quantitative assessment of urinary incontinence with a validated instrument.

Adult↗

The use of artificial neural network analysis to improve the predictive accuracy of prostate biopsy in the Japanese population.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the efficacy of an artificial neural network analysis (ANNA) based on parameters available from previously existing examinations for improving the predictive accuracy of prostate cancer screening in the Japanese population. METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-eight patients with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) of 2-10 ng/ml were enrolled in this study. Two artificial neural network analysis (ANNA) models were constructed: ANNA1 with patient age, total PSA, free to total PSA ratio, prostate volume, transition zone volume (TZ), PSA density (PSAD) and PSA-TZ density (PSATZ) as input variables, and ANNA2 with presumed circle area ratio (PCAR), digital rectal examination (DRE) findings and chief complaint added as variables. The predictive accuracies of the ANNA models were compared with conventional PSA and volume-related parameters and a logistic regression (LR) model by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: Of 228 patients, 58 (25.5%) were diagnosed with prostate cancer. While ANNA2 had a slightly larger area under the curve (AUC) than ANNA1 (0.782 versus 0.793, P = 0.8477), the AUC of ANNA2 was significantly greater than those of ln(PSA), PSAD, PSATZ and free to total PSA ratio (P = 0.0004, 0.0230, 0.0304, and 0.0037, respectively). The accuracy of ANNA2 was significantly better than that of LR analysis at 90 and 95% sensitivity levels (P = 0.0051 and P < 0.0001, respectively). At 95% sensitivity level, ANNA2 reduced unnecessary biopsies by 40.0% with a negative predictive value of 95.7%. CONCLUSIONS: To determine the indication of prostate biopsy for PSA value in the range of 2-10 ng/ml, the ANNA model has the possibility to reduce unnecessary biopsies without missing many cases of cancers.

Aged↗

Impact of volume weighted mean nuclear volume on outcomes following salvage radiation therapy after radical prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: Although salvage radiation therapy (RT) is a potentially curative treatment option for men with biochemical failure after radical prostatectomy (RP), to our knowledge there are no definitive pretreatment factors predicting patients likely to benefit from this treatment. We examined the impact of volume weighted mean nuclear volume (MNV) of biopsy specimens on disease outcomes and describe its usefulness as a new independent predictor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 33 patients who received salvage RT for biochemical failure after RP, including 11 who had received neoadjuvant hormone therapy before RP. Salvage RT was delivered to the prostatic bed at a total dose of 60 Gy with a 4-field contoured technique. Unbiased estimates of MNV were calculated from more than 100 cancer nuclei per patient captured from biopsy specimens based on a stereological method and compared with other clinical and pathological findings, including patient age, pretreatment prostate specific antigen (PSA), PSA density, biopsy Gleason score, neoadjuvant therapy, surgical Gleason score, pathological stage, tumor volume, surgical margin status, biochemical disease-free duration before RT, nadir PSA and PSA doubling time before RT, and pre-RT PSA with regard to predicting the disease outcome after salvage RT. RESULTS: The median followup after salvage RT was 43.4 months. A total of 17 patients (52%) experienced biochemical failure a median of 6.7 months (range 0 to 48.1) after RT. On univariate analysis MNV and log(pre-RT PSA) were significant predictors of disease outcome in all patients and in the 22 nonneoadjuvant patient subset (p = 0.0124 and 0.0159, respectively). Log(nadir PSA) and PSA doubling time were also significant in the latter subset (p = 0.0287 and 0.0475, respectively). However, dual multivariate analysis revealed that MNV was the only independent predictor in the 2 groups (logistic regression analysis p = 0.00931 and 0.03511, and Cox proportional hazards analysis p = 0.00483 and 0.02277, respectively). There was a statistically significant biochemical disease-free survival advantage for small vs large MNV in each data set (p = 0.0072 and 0.0036, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that an estimate of MNV contributes significantly to the prediction of biochemical control after salvage RT. However, further investigation in a larger nonneoadjuvant population is needed to confirm its significance in combination with other clinical and pathological findings.

Aged↗

Diagnostic potential in bladder cancer of a panel of tumor markers (calreticulin, gamma -synuclein, and catechol-o-methyltransferase) identified by proteomic analysis.

Using proteomic analysis, we previously identified calreticulin (CRT) as a potentially useful urinary marker for bladder cancer. Now, we have also identified gamma -synuclein (SNCG) and a soluble isoform of catechol-o-methyltransferase (s-COMT) as novel candidates for tumor markers in bladder cancer, by means of proteomic analysis. In the process of establishing a superior tumor marker system, we investigated the diagnostic value of a combination assay of these three proteins. Voided urine samples were obtained from 112 bladder cancer and 230 control patients. Urinary CRT, SNCG, and s-COMT were measured as a combined marker by quantitative western blot analysis. Relative concentration of each protein was calculated and the diagnostic value of a concomitant examination of these markers was evaluated by receiver operator characteristic analysis. With the best diagnostic cutoff, the overall sensitivity of the combined markers was 76.8% (95% confidence interval, 69-81%) with a specificity of 77.4% (72-80%), while those of a single use of CRT were 71.4% and 77.8%, respectively. When evaluated in relation to tumor characteristics, such as grade, stage, size, and outcome of urinary cytology, the diagnostic capacity of the combined markers was equal to or better than that of CRT in all categories. Concomitant use of CRT, SNCG, and s-COMT had higher sensitivity for detection of bladder cancer than did single use of CRT. Our study suggests that use of this panel of markers will improve the diagnosis of bladder cancer and may allow the development of a protein microarray assay or multi-channel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Aged↗

Role of sildenafil citrate in treatment of erectile dysfunction after radical retropubic prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Sildenafil citrate was introduced as a treatment for erectile dysfunction in April 1998 in the United States and has been available since March 1999 in Japan. In this article, we assess the efficacy of sildenafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction in Japanese men after radical retropubic prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer. METHODS: Of 106 men who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy between January 1994 and March 2000, 43 were prescribed sildenafil at their request after radical retropubic prostatectomy. Medication was initiated at 25 mg, and if this was ineffective, the dose was increased to 50 mg. Of the patients, 18 underwent bilateral and 21 unilateral nerve sparing (NS) procedures, while in 4 patients, a non-NS procedure was performed. These patients were interviewed using a questionnaire about their response to sildenafil and using the 5-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire. RESULTS: Thirty-three of the 43 patients were eligible for evaluation of the efficacy of sildenafil and 27 completed the IIEF-5 questionnaires. Sildenafil at 50 mg had a better effect on sexual function than 25 mg in most Japanese patients. Of the 16 patients who underwent bilateral NS procedures, 10 (62.5%) had improved ability for intercourse and 3 (18.8%) had improved erections. Of the 13 patients who underwent unilateral NS procedures, 7 (53.8%) had improved ability for intercourse and 4 (30.8%) had improved erections. None of the 4 patients who underwent non-NS procedures had a positive response. Of 24 patients with positive response to sildenafil, 3 (12.5%) did not have to take sildenafil after receiving it because they did not require it for intercourse. Mean IIEF-5 score increased from 4.3 to 11.4 (P < 0.0001). Patient age, time since surgery, PSA and pathological stage did not have statistically significant effects on outcome. The most commonly cited adverse effect was headache (21%). CONCLUSION: Sildenafil is equally effective for erectile dysfunction in Japanese patients who have undergone bilateral and unilateral NS procedures, and aids recovery of natural erectile function after radical retropubic prostatectomy. However, non-NS procedure patients had no response to sildenafil. This study suggested that sildenafil is well tolerated and should be initially used for treatment of Japanese men with erectile dysfunction after radical retropubic prostatectomy.

Aged↗

Laparoscopic nephropexy: treatment outcome and quality of life.

BACKGROUND: The recent introduction of laparoscopic procedures has markedly altered urological surgery. Laparoscopic nephropexy has attracted the attention of urologists as a treatment for nephroptosis. Herein, we describe our experiences and quality-of-life outcome of laparoscopic nephropexy and discuss its indications and surgical techniques. METHODS: From May 1998 to February 2002, six female patients, ranging in age from 20 to 64 years (median age 39.8 years), with symptomatic nephroptosis underwent laparoscopic nephropexy. Mean preoperative downward kidney displacement was 2.25 vertebral bodies (range 2-2.5) and all affected kidneys were tilted at orthostasis. One patient underwent nephropexy through the transperitoneal approach and the remaining patients underwent nephropexy through the retroperitoneal approach. To evaluate surgical results, postoperative follow-up interview (pain visual analog scale and the short-form 36 (SF-36) health survey questionnaire) and objective examinations were performed. RESULTS: All procedures were accomplished without complication. Postoperative intravenous pyelography correctly confirmed fixed kidney in both supine and erect positions. All patients reported an improvement of symptoms approximately 1 month after nephropexy and no symptoms have recurred during the follow-up period (range 6.3-50.7 months). On the SF-36, two domains, including role limitations due to emotional problems (RE) and mental health (MH), exhibited significant improvement postoperatively (P = 0.0405 and P = 0.0351, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic, in particular retroperitoneoscopic, nephropexy yields excellent outcomes and greatly improves general health-related quality of life, particularly mental status, as a minimally invasive treatment for symptomatic nephroptosis.

Adult↗

Prevalence of and risk factors for nocturia: Analysis of a health screening program.

BACKGROUND: We examined the prevalence of and risk factors for nocturia in Kurashiki city and the surrounding area, a rural area in Japan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected data on 6517 individuals (4568 men and 1949 women) who participated in a multiphasic health screening. We analyzed the relationships between nocturia assessed by a questionnaire (voiding twice or more during night) and other variables including age, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic renal failure, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), smoking habit and alcohol intake. RESULTS: Overall, 1856 individuals (28.5%) answered that they arose to urinate at least twice during the night. This rate increased with age from 16.5% in individuals younger than 50 to 60.0% in those older than 69. Logistic regression analysis revealed that cohorts of subjects 50-59, 60-69, and 70 years old or over had, respectively, 1.75, 3.35, and 6.21 times the prevalence of nocturia of the 49 years or younger cohort. Hypertension (odds ratio [OR] 1.64) and DM (OR 1.70) were other independent positive risk factors for nocturia. On the other hand, current smokers who smoked 20 or more cigarettes per day were less likely to have nocturia than non-smokers (OR 0.72). In male individuals, BPH was another independent positive risk factor (OR 1.35). Gender was not associated with nocturia. CONCLUSIONS: Although population bias is an important limitation to this study, nocturia is associated with various factors suggesting that multiple approaches are needed to the treatment of patients with nocturia.

Age Distribution↗

Recovery of health related quality of life after radical prostatectomy in japanese men: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: We performed a longitudinal survey of health related quality of life (HRQOL) after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RP) in Japanese men with localized prostate cancer. METHODS: The present study started with self-reported HRQOL assessments provided by 72 patients who received only RP. The RAND 36-Item Health Survey and the University of California, Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index were administered before and 3, 6 and 12 months after RP. RESULTS: Patients who underwent RP showed problems in some domains of general HRQOL, but these problems diminished over time. Urinary function declined substantially at 3 months and continued to recover at 6 and 12 months, but scored lower than the baseline. Urinary bother at 3 months had a significant decrease, but at six months it turned out to be the same as the baseline. The data of sexual function and bother showed a substantially lower score after RP. The sexual bother score of the younger men was significantly worse than that of the older men. Those who underwent nerve sparing procedures experienced significantly better recovery of urinary and sexual functions than the non-nerve sparing group. CONCLUSION: Despite reports of problems with sexuality and urinary continence, general HRQOL was mostly unaffected by RP after 6 months. Although there was a substantial decrease in urinary function, recovery from urinary bother was rapid. Deterioration of the sexual domain was remarkable throughout the postoperative period. Therefore, careful attention should be given to preoperative counseling, especially for younger patients.

Aged↗

Prostate-specific antigen doubling time among Japanese men in an annual health screening program.

BACKGROUND: Prostate-specific antigen doubling time (PSA-DT) has been studied as a parameter reflecting the biological doubling rate of clinically localized prostate cancer treated expectantly. With the use of PSA-DT, we studied the natural history of PSA changes among Japanese men in a health screening program. METHODS: Between July 1994 and December 2002, a cohort of 1995 men aged 40-79 years underwent a total of 5700 PSA measurements in an annual multiphasic health screening program. Prostate-specific antigen doubling time was calculated using a log-linear regression model for 994 (49.8%) men who had three or more serial PSA measurements with a mean follow-up of 46.2 months. RESULTS: Of the 994 men, 192 (19.3%) had a PSA-DT of less than 10 years and 12 (1.2%) had a PSA-DT of less than 2 years. Median PSA-DT in 14 men with a subsequent diagnosis of prostate cancer was 41.6 months (range, 12.2 to stable). A log-linear model statistically fitted 65 of 180 non-cancer patients with a PSA-DT of less than 10 years. The percentages of statistically fit cases increased with higher baseline PSA (5.3%, 7.7% and 8.7% among men with <1.0, 1.0-1.99 and 2.0-3.99 ng/mL, respectively) and older baseline age (3.7%, 8.5% and 6.9% among ages 40-49, 50-59 and 60 or older, respectively). CONCLUSION: In a small but significant portion of men, PSA increases exponentially when it is still less than 4.0 ng/mL, with a PSA-DT of less than 10 years. The clinical significance of this finding should be evaluated by a prospective screening including biopsy.

Adult↗

Long-term treatment outcome of tamsulosin for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

BACKGROUND: The present study assessed the long-term efficacy (>12 months) of tamsulosin in 123 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: The patients received a starting dose of tamsulosin of 0.2 mg/day, with a further titration up to 0.4 mg/day until symptom relief. Subjective and objective clinical variables were assessed using the international prostate symptom score (IPSS), IPSS quality of life (QoL) score, BPH impact index score, peak urinary flow rate (Q(max)) and postvoid residual urine volume. RESULTS: Except for Q(max), all clinical variables showed significant sustained improvements from baseline throughout the study period (median follow up, 43 months). Thirty patients (24.4%) withdrew because of surgical interventions. The Cox proportional hazards model showed that a baseline IPSS total score >or=15 (HR [hazard ratio] 2.13; 95% CI 1.04-4.34) was predictive of failure for tamsulosin therapy. Furthermore, during the first 12 months, a lowest IPSS total score >or=13 (HR 2.34; 95% CI 1.12-4.89), a lowest IPSS QoL score >or=3 (HR 4.16; 95% CI 1.26-13.68), and a lowest BPH impact index score >or=4 (HR 3.54; 95% CI 1.62-7.75) were also predictive of failure for tamsulosin therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Tamsulosin treatment of BPH patients for more than 12 months showed a sustained, stable efficacy. Patients without short-term effects were prone to withdraw from tamsulosin therapy, but so did patients with a high baseline IPSS total score, even if therapy was effective for at least 12 months.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Interstitial laser coagulation for management of benign prostatic hyperplasia: long-term follow-up.

AIM: We evaluated the long-term results of transurethral interstitial laser coagulation in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with up to 9 years of follow up at the Kurashiki Central Hospital and determined the patient characteristics that predict a favorable outcome. METHODS: From December 1993 to May 1997, a total of 82 patients were enrolled in the present study. Subjective and objective voiding parameters were collected from medical records and a self-administered questionnaire was sent to the patients. Kaplan-Meier plots were constructed to assess the risk of retreatment. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 48.4 months (range, 3-108 months). A total of 59 patients (72%) did not need any additional treatment at 12 months and 30 patients (37%) did not require additional treatment during the entire follow-up period. A total of 29 patients (35%) were retreated during follow-up. Transurethral prostate resection (TURP) was performed in 18 patients (22%). The remaining 11 patients (13%) were offered additional pharmacotherapy. The minimum and median retreatment-free durations were 3 and 14 months, respectively. Seven patients died and 17 were lost to follow-up. Men aged 71 years or older had greater likelihood of requiring retreatment than those younger than 71 years (P = 0.0397). No significant differences were noted in the other baseline characteristics. Among postoperative parameters, a rate of decrease of the International Prostate Symptom Score of the patient of lower than 60% and a rate of decrease in patient quality of life of lower than 50% at 3 months were associated with greater likelihood of retreatment (P = 0.0083 and P = 0.0006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Interstitial laser coagulation is effective for the treatment of BPH. Good long-term results and an acceptably low retreatment rate render this modality an effective alternative to TURP, especially for younger patients. Short-term improvement of subjective symptoms was predictive of favorable long-term outcome.

Age Factors↗

Retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy: experience of 23 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy has recently been performed in several institutions for renal cancer. We report our experience with this type of operation and discuss the anatomy of perirenal fascial structures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From July 2000 to May 2002, we performed retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy in 23 patients. We began this operation with longitudinal cutting of two layers of the posterior renal fasciae, and removed specimens without any fascial structure. RESULTS: Mean operative time was 203 min (range 129-314 min) with an average estimated blood loss of 113 ml (range 0-837 ml). There was 1 patient who required open conversion due to uncontrollable hemorrhage, but no complication was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is a safe and reliable method when the anatomy of the perirenal fasciae is clearly understood. Long-term follow-up of patients undergoing this procedure is warranted to its effect on the prognosis of renal cancer.

Adult↗

[Periprostatic local anesthesia before transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy].

PURPOSE: We prospectively assessed the safety and efficacy of periprostatic local anesthesia before transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 178 consecutive men undergoing transrectal prostate biopsy at our institution were enrolled in this study. From January to June 2001, 84 men underwent prostate biopsy without anesthesia (control group). From July to December 2001, 94 men received local anesthesia before prostate biopsies (anesthesia group). A 5-ml dose of 1% lidocaine was injected into the periprostatic nerve plexus on each side via a 22 gauge needle at 3 minutes before the procedure. Pain during and after biopsy was assessed using a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS). Complications were evaluated with a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The average pain score during biopsy was 3.18 in the anesthesia group versus 4.16 in the control group (p = 0.0067), while average pain score on the next day was 2.12 and 2.25, respectively (p = 0.7451). In the anesthesia group 13% of patients had a pain score > 5 versus 34% in the control group (p = 0.0043). The complication rate showed no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Periprostatic lidocaine injection is a safe and effective method of anesthesia for transrectal prostate biopsy.

Anesthesia, Local↗

[Two cases of encrusted cystitis].

Encrusted cystitis is a type of severe cystitis, which progresses chronically and is characterized by excessively alkaline urine and calcifications within the bladder wall. We report two cases of encrusted cystitis. Both cases were high aged and had severe anemia with chronic cystitis. They complained of gross hematuria, voiding frequency and pain upon urination. Urine pH was 8-9, and urine cytology was negative. Urine culture contained Corynebacterium Group D2. Abdominal computed tomography and transurethral resection revealed wall bladder wall calcification and inflammatory change. We diagnosed it as encrusted cystitis. The patients underwent excision of plaques of calcified encrustation, adapted antibiotic therapy and acidification of urine. It is essential to diagnose encrusted cystitis early and to provide adequate treatment promptly.

Aged↗

Benign cystic lesion of the tunica albuginea: a case report.

We describe a patient whose testicular parenchyma was displaced by a cyst. Histologic findings suggested that the cyst was a dilated efferent ductule passing through the tunica albuginea. Such a cyst is an important and benign consideration in the differential diagnosis of testicular masses. Although orchiectomy was performed in this case, early consideration and confirmation of benign lesions may permit testicular preservation.

Aged↗

[Metastatic adrenal carcinoma suspected as a primary tumor: a case report].

A 62-year-old man was admitted with chief complaints of fever and general fatigue. Enhanced computed tomography revealed a tumor (5 cm in diameter) in the right suprarenal space, and the right renoportal lymph nodes were swollen. An abdominal TI-weighted MR image showed a low-intensity tumor measuring 4.5 x 5.5 x 6.0 cm. Chest computed tomography revealed two tumors. One was 1.5 cm, on the hilum of left lung, the other was 1 cm in the S6 lung field near the pleura. These findings strongly indicated primary adrenal carcinoma and lung metastasis. Right adrenalectomy was performed. Histological examination of this tumor revealed diffuse tumor cells with irregular nuclei, and it was diagnosed as poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. There was no possibility of primary adrenal carcinoma. The primary site of the tumor was suspected to be the left lung.

Adenocarcinoma↗