PurposeA ureter obstruction caused by a ureteral stone results in inflammatory changes in the proximal submucosal layer and prevents the spontaneous passage of the ureteral stone. Accordingly, we analyzed the relationship between the spontaneous passage rates of ureteral stones less than 8 mm in size and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and neutrophil percentages.Materials and MethodsA total of 187 patients who were diagnosed with ureteral stones less than 8 mm in size and were managed consecutively at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center from January 2001 to January 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. Ureteral stone removal was defined as no ureteral stone shown in an imaging test without any treatment for 8 weeks after diagnosis. The patients were divided into three groups according to the levels of serum CRP and into two groups according to neutrophil percentage. The associations between these factors and ureteral stone passage rates were then examined.ResultsThe ureteral stone passage rates of the low serum CRP level group, the medium serum CRP level group, and the high serum CRP level group were 94.1% (159/169), 70% (7/10), and 50.0% (4/8), respectively. The passage rates of ureteral stones in the group with a normal neutrophil percentage and in the group with a higher neutrophil percentage were 94.5% (121/128) and 83.1% (49/59), respectively (p=0.011).ConclusionsMeasuring serum CRP levels and neutrophil percentages in patients with small ureteral stones of less than 8 mm is useful in predicting whether the stone will be spontaneously passed. When the serum CRP level and neutrophil percentage of a patient are high, aggressive treatment such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy should be considered.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of nocturia in Korea, to examine the relationship between nocturia and demographic variables, and to determine the impact of nocturia on daily living. Methods: A national telephone survey using quota sampling methods was conducted in Korea. The clinically validated computer-assisted telephone interview approach was used for the survey. Results: Of 2005 subjects (1,005 women and 1,000 men) interviewed, 33.5% reported voiding once per night and 48.2% twice or more per night. Nocturia increased with age among both genders and was more common among young women than young men. In all subjects, multivariate analysis indicated that female gender, older age and an overweight condition were independent risk factors. Body mass index was associated with an increased likelihood of nocturia in male but not in female subjects. In female subjects, the likelihood of at least one night-time void was related to delivery number (odds ratio 1.17, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.32). An impact of nocturia on daily life was reported by 14.6% of subjects and only 3.8% (4.0% of men and 3.7% of women) sought medical care. Commonly reported reasons for not seeking medical care were the belief that nocturia is a normal consequence of aging or is not a disease (92.8% of subjects reporting an impact of nocturia on daily life). Conclusions: Although nocturia is highly prevalent in the Korean population, it has only a minor impact on daily living, and few individuals seek medical care. Our study provides a valuable insight into the need for tailored nocturia education addressed to the population who view the condition as trivial.

One-year treatment with tamsulosin 0.2 mg/day in Korean patients with suspected BPH was well tolerated and effective in improving LUTS and urinary flow. The effect on symptoms was apparent after 12 weeks of treatment, and symptom improvement was observed for up to 1 year.

To investigate the efficacy and safety of desmopressin in patients with mixed nocturia, Patients aged ≥18 yr with mixed nocturia (≥2 voids/night and a nocturnal polyuria index [NPi] >33% and a nocturnal bladder capacity index [NBCi] >1) were recruited. The optimum dose of oral desmopressin was determined during a 3-week dose-titration period and the determined dose was maintained for 4 weeks. The efficacy was assessed by the frequency-volume charts and the sleep questionnaire. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with a 50% or greater reduction in the number of nocturnal voids (NV) compared with baseline. Among 103 patients enrolled, 94 (79 men and 15 women) were included in the analysis. The proportion of patients with a 50% or greater reduction in NV was 68 (72%). The mean number of NV decreased significantly (3.20 to 1.34) and the mean nocturnal urine volume, nocturia index, NPi, and NBCi decreased significantly. The mean duration of sleep until the first NV was prolonged from 118.4±44.1 to 220.3±90.7 min (P<0.001). The overall impression of patients about their quality of sleep improved. Adverse events occurred in 6 patients, including one asymptomatic hyponatremia. Desmopressin is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for mixed nocturia.

PurposeThe European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) scoring system and risk table were introduced in the 2008 European Association of Urology guidelines on TaT1 bladder cancer. We compared the recurrence and progression rate between EORTC risk tables and author's patients who underwent transurethral resection of bladder cancer (TURB) following intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) instillation.Materials and MethodsThe medical records of 251 patients who underwent TURB and were diagnosed with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer from l993 to 2007 were analyzed. The patients were divided into 2 groups: the recurrence group and the progression group. According to the EORTC scoring system, the patients in each group were categorized in terms of number of tumors, tumor size, prior recurrence rate, T category, carcinoma in situ, and pathologic grade and the scores were summed. According to the summed scores, the recurrence group and the progression group were divided into 3 subgroups: low, intermediate, and high risk, respectively. The recurrence rate and progression rate of each group were compared with the EORTC risk tables.ResultsThe recurrence rate and progression rate were almost similar to the EORTC risk tables. However, the recurrence rate was low in the intermediate-risk group.ConclusionsClinical utilization of the EORTC scoring system and risk tables is very effective in predicting the recurrence and progression of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and in selecting treatment.