Cluster analysis of men undergoing surgery for BPH/LUTS reveals prominent roles of both bladder outlet obstruction and diminished bladder contractility

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in aging men are commonly attributed to bladder outlet obstruction from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) but BPH/LUTS often reflects a confluence of many factors. We performed a hierarchical cluster analysis using four objective patient characteristics (age, HTN, DM, and BMI), and five pre-operative urodynamic variables (volume at first uninhibited detrusor contraction, number of uninhibited contractions, Bladder Outlet Obstruction Index (BOOI), Bladder Contractility Index (BCI) and Bladder Power at Qmax) to identify meaningful subgroups within a cohort of 94 men undergoing surgery for BPH/LUTS. Two meaningful subgroups (clusters) were identified. Significant differences between the two clusters included Prostate Volume (95 vs 53 cc; p-value = 0.001), BOOI (mean 70 vs 49; p-value = 0.001), BCI (mean 129 vs 83; p-value <0.001), Power (689 vs 236; p-value <0.001), Qmax (8.3 vs 4.9 cc/sec; p-value <0.001) and post-void residual (106 vs 250 cc; p-value = 0.001). One cluster is distinguished by larger prostate volume, greater outlet resistance and better bladder contractility. The other is distinguished by smaller prostate volume, lower outlet resistance and worse bladder contractility. Remarkably, the second cluster exhibited greater impairment of urine flow and bladder emptying. Surgery improved flow and emptying for patients in both clusters. These findings reveal important roles for both outlet obstruction and diminished detrusor function in development of diminished urine flow and impaired bladder emptying in patients with BPH/LUTS.

Urodynamic evaluation of patients with localized prostate cancer before and 4 months after robotic radical prostatectomy

Radical prostatectomy can alter the anatomy of the urinary bladder. We aimed to evaluate bladder function before and 4 months after radical prostatectomy using the urodynamic test and overactive bladder (OAB) symptom score. Among 70 prospectively enrolled patients, 61 patients completed the study. In the urodynamic test, bladder capacity and compliance did not change, the frequency of involuntary detrusor contraction decreased, the maximum flow rate and bladder outlet obstruction index improved, and the maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) deteriorated. Further evaluation of urodynamic parameters according to changes in symptoms was made. Although change in bladder compliance was correlated with changes in OAB symptoms, not the relative change of bladder compliance but the relative change in the MUCP was reliable factor when OAB symptoms were deteriorated. In general, prostatectomy did not deteriorate the condition of the detrusor; rather, change in the MUCP could be responsible for postprostatectomy OAB.

Beyond gait and balance: urinary and bowel dysfunction in X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy

Objective To characterize the prevalence, onset, and burden of urinary and bowel dysfunction in adult patients with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) and to evaluate any sex differences in symptom presentation. Methods In this retrospective and prospective study, we performed medical record review (n = 103), analyzed the results of clinically indicated urodynamic testing (n = 11), and developed and distributed a symptom and quality of life (QOL) survey (n = 59). Results Urinary and bowel symptoms are highly prevalent in both males (75.0%) and females (78.8%) in this population, most commonly urinary urgency, often leading to incontinence. Time to onset of first urinary or bowel symptom occurs approximately a decade earlier in males. Seventy-two percent of symptomatic patients report a limitation to QOL. Urodynamic evaluation provides evidence of three distinct mechanisms underlying lower urinary tract dysfunction: involuntary detrusor contractions (indicating uncontrolled neuronal stimulation with or without leakage), motor underactivity of the bladder, and asynergy between detrusor contraction and sphincter relaxation. Conclusions Beyond gait and balance difficulties, urinary and bowel symptoms are common in adults with ALD and impair QOL. Males are affected at a younger age but both sexes experience a higher symptom burden with age. As this population also experiences gait and balance impairment, patients with ALD are more vulnerable to urinary urgency leading to incontinence. Urodynamic evaluation may help better elucidate the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction, which can allow more targeted treatment.

Prevalence and assessment of the risk factors of stress urinary incontinence in gynaecology out patients in a tertiary care centre

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the complaint of involuntary leakage of urine during increased abdominal pressure in the absence of detrusor contraction. Although not a life-threatening condition, stress urinary incontinence causes various physical, psychological, and sexual problems for millions of women and their families. Although these conditions are highly prevalent, they are not often reported by patients. This was the reason for the study; to find out the prevalence and the associated risk factors.Methods: A total of 400 patients presenting in the gynaecology outpatient department with various complaints were studied. A detailed history was taken, and examination was done. Urine microscopy and culture studies were done and whenever found positive; the infection was treated. Bonney’s test was done on full bladder.Results: Stress urinary incontinence was diagnosed in 41 (10.30%) of the women. The most common co morbidity was found to be tuberculosis and other lung diseases. Among the study population, 4% of women had culture positive urinary tract infection.Conclusions: Stress urinary incontinence was seen in 10.30% of the study population. It was seen more commonly among the elderly. Urine routine and microscopy was done for all patients complaining of leakage of urine or any other urinary complaints.

Comparison of intravesical instillation of hyaluronic acid with intradetrusor botulinum toxin A injection or cystoscopic hydrodistention for ketamine-associated cystitis

Objective This study aimed to compare the therapeutic effect of intravesical instillation hyaluronic acid with intradetrusor botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injection or cystoscopic hydrodistention for ketamine-associated cystitis. Methods Thirty-six patients were evenly randomly divided into the BTX-A group or the hydrodistention group. Patients received 200 U BTX-A detrusor injections in the BTX-A group and cystoscopic hydrodistention in the hydrodistention group. Intravesical instillation of hyaluronic acid was administrated in both groups for eight times. Patients with involuntary detrusor contraction were divided into the persistent involuntary detrusor contraction group and resolved involuntary detrusor contraction group after treatment in 6 months. The predictors of persistent involuntary detrusor contraction were analyzed. Results Twelve months after treatment, the daytime frequency, Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index, maximal capacity, and maximal cystometric capacity in the BTX-A group were significantly better than those in the hydrodistention group. Patients with resolution of involuntary detrusor contraction had a significantly shorter duration of ketamine, lower amount of fibrosis in pathology, and higher maximal capacity than those with persistent involuntary detrusor contraction 6 months after therapy. Conclusion Intravesical instillation of hyaluronic acid with intradetrusor BTX-A injection appears to be a preferable option for long-term effectiveness compared with cystoscopic hydrodistention.

A Novel Noninvasive Topological Mathematical Nomogram for Diagnosing Male Bladder Outflow Obstruction

Currently the pressure–flow (P/Q) study is considered as the golden standard for diagnosing bladder outflow obstruction (BOO), with clear invasion. In this study we established a novel topological mathematical nomogram with noninvasive free uroflow metry for predicting BOO. Based on the Hill model of topological mathematics, the detrusor contractility (DC) and, the rates of detrusor contraction velocity variation (RDCVV) of the bladder were acquired. An RDCVV less than 0.2 were considered suitable for the DC/maximum uroflow (C/Q) study. A C/Q nomogram was established via 233 cases (22 unobstructed, 49 equivocal, and 162 obstructed according to an invasive pressure/ uroflow study) with an RDCVV less than 0.2. Moreover, the C/Q nomogram was verified with 522 suitable cases with RDCVV less than 0.2 (328 obstructed, 106 equivocal, and 88 unobstructed according to an invasive pressure/uroflow study). A C/Q nomogram was successfully established and verified that have a high precision. A novel topological mathematical C/Q nomogram with noninvasive free uroflowmetry was successfully established for predicting BOO in male, with relatively high accuracy.

NKA enhances bladder-afferent mechanosensitivity via urothelial and detrusor activation

Tachykinins are expressed within bladder-innervating sensory afferents and have been shown to generate detrusor contraction and trigger micturition. The release of tachykinins from these sensory afferents may also activate tachykinin receptors on the urothelium or sensory afferents directly. Here, we investigated the direct and indirect influence of tachykinins on mechanosensation by recording sensory signaling from the bladder during distension, urothelial transmitter release ex vivo, and direct responses to neurokinin A (NKA) on isolated mouse urothelial cells and bladder-innervating DRG neurons. Bath application of NKA induced concentration-dependent increases in bladder-afferent firing and intravesical pressure that were attenuated by nifedipine and by the NK2 receptor antagonist GR159897 (100 nM). Intravesical NKA significantly decreased bladder compliance but had no direct effect on mechanosensitivity to bladder distension (30 µl/min). GR159897 alone enhanced bladder compliance but had no effect on mechanosensation. Intravesical NKA enhanced both the amplitude and frequency of bladder micromotions during distension, which induced significant transient increases in afferent firing, and were abolished by GR159897. NKA increased intracellular calcium levels in primary urothelial cells but not bladder-innervating DRG neurons. Urothelial ATP release during bladder distention was unchanged in the presence of NKA, whereas acetylcholine levels were reduced. NKA-mediated activation of urothelial cells and enhancement of bladder micromotions are novel mechanisms for NK2 receptor-mediated modulation of bladder mechanosensation. These results suggest that NKA influences bladder afferent activity indirectly via changes in detrusor contraction and urothelial mediator release. Direct actions on sensory nerves are unlikely to contribute to the effects of NKA.