A Comparative Study of Efficacy and Tolerability of Solifenacin and Mirabegron, for the Treatment of Overactive Bladder - A Randomized Prospective Control Study

BACKGROUND Overactive bladder (OAB) is a chronic, age-related disorder seen in 11 % of patients. Symptoms consist of urinary urgency, with or without urinary incontinence, usually with frequency or nocturia. The objective of the present study was to compare the efficacy and side effects of mirabegron and solifenacin as primary therapies in patients with overactive bladder. METHODS This was a prospective interventional study. 100 patients aged between 18 years and 50 years with overactive bladder were included and were assigned into two treatment groups of solifenacin 5 mg or mirabegron 50 mg. They were asked to record the number of micturitions in a day, urgency episodes, incontinence episodes and volume of each micturition. All patients went through a basic workup with blood sugar to rule out diabetes, USG KUB to rule out bladder stones, and urine culture and sensitivity to rule out urinary tract infection (UTI). RESULTS 100 patients with OAB were selected for the study and divided into equal groups, 50 receiving 5 mg solifenacin and 50 receiving 50 mg mirabegron. Both groups increased the mean micturition volume but mirabegron was more effective in increasing the mean micturition in patients with OAB. Both drugs were well tolerated. There was a significant increase in mean micturition volume in mirabegron 50 mg group (by 20.7 + / - 2.2 mL), P < 0.001 whereas in solifenacin group micturition volume was increased to 22.2 + / -0.97 ml). The most common side-effect in the mirabegron group was hypertension and the most common side effect in the solifenacin group was dry mouth. CONCLUSIONS Both mirabegron and solifenacin were effective in controlling the frequency of micturition, decreasing urgency and incontinence episodes and increasing the mean volume of micturition. Mirabegron was more effective than solifenacin in controlling urgency and incontinence episodes and increasing the mean volume of micturition. KEY WORDS Overactive Bladder (OAB), Micturition, Mirabegron, Solifenacin.

Diagnosis of Peripheral Pulmonary Lesions with Transbronchial Lung Cryobiopsy by Guide Sheath and Radial Endobronchial Ultrasonography: A Prospective Control Study

Objective. We design a prospective control study on the utilization of transbronchial cryobiopsy guided by EBUS-GS (EBUS-GS-TBCB) to diagnose PPLs. Methods. PPLs were defined as pulmonary nodules or masses with a diameter from 10 mm to 50 mm. PPLs were randomly divided into group EBUS-GS-TBCB and transbronchial biopsy by forceps guided under EBUS-GS (EBUS-GS-TBB). Results. 28 cases were involved in group EBUS-GS-TBCB and 31 cases were in group EBUS-GS-TBB. The mean sizes of PPLs were 30.23 ± 11.10 mm in group EBUS-GS-TBCB and 28.69 ± 8.62 mm in group EBUS-GS-TBB (t = 0.600, p = 0.551 ). The diagnostic yields of EBUS-GS-TBCB and EBUS-GS-TBB were 75% and 64.52% respectively, and the difference between the two groups was not significant (χ2 value = 0.137, p = 0.711 ). If only the first specimen was taken into account, the diagnostic yields from EBUS-GS-TBCB and EBUS-GS-TBB were 64.29% (18/28 cases) and 35.48% (11/31 cases), respectively. The difference was statistically significant by Fisher’s Exact Test (χ2 value = 4.883, p = 0.038 ). The total incidence rates of bleeding were 21.43% and 6.45%, respectively, in groups EBUS-GS-TBCB and EBUS-GS-TBB. The total incidence rates of pneumothorax were 7.14% and 0, respectively, in groups EBUS-GS-TBCB and EBUS-GS-TBB. Conclusion. The diagnostic yield of EBUS-GS-TBCB was slightly higher than that of EBUS-GS-TBB for the diagnosis of PPLs. EBUS-GS-TBCB might be useful if only the first sample was taken into account.

Do exercises improve back pain in pregnancy?

ObjectiveTo assess the efficacy of an exercise program towards reducing back pain in pregnant women.MethodsIn this prospective control study, 145 low risk pregnant women who scored more than 20 for functional limitation assessment were recruited. The severity of back pain was assessed using the visual analoque scale (VAS) and the functional limitation was assessed using the Oswestry disability questionnaire (ODQ). All participants were informed of back care measures and provided with Paracetamol as an adjunct analgesia. The intervention group will have a session with a trained physiotherapist. Subsequently, all participants will be required to fill in a similar questionnaire regarding pain intensity and functional limitation assessment after 6 weeks post-intervention.ResultsThere was a significant reduction in the VAS score and improvement in functional ODQ score in the intervention group. The median usage of Paracetamol as an analgesia to control back pain in the control group was 500 mg higher than the intervention group. There was a weak association of age, parity, duration of back pain, and body mass index with functional ODQ score at 6 week following intervention.ConclusionThe back pain exercise reducing program was effective in reducing back pain intensity and analgesia usage with a significant improvement in functional ability.