IJU this issue

Abstract

This issue deals with a wide range of clinical topics of urology, and contains two Review Articles, eleven Original Articles and one Urological Notes. Microribonucleic acids, a class of small non-coding ribonucleic acids, regulate protein-coding gene expression by repressing translation or cleaving ribonucleic acid transcripts in a sequence-specific manner. Using eight genome-wide microribonucleic acid expression signatures, the Review Article by Goto et al. (Chiba, Japan) reported microribonucleic acids contributing to prostate cancer development, progression and metastasis, such as miR-221/222, miR-143/145, miR-23b/27b/24-1 and miR-1/133a. They also discussed the functional significance of the differentially expressed microribonucleic acids and the molecular pathways/targets regulated by these microribonucleic acids. The other Review Article by Minagawa and Ishizuka (Matsumoto, Japan) deals with urological Kampo medicine. Currently, more than 10 Kampo formulations can be used for urological problems. Among them, they listed representative urological Kampo formulations used for lower urinary tract symptoms, and discuss their roles in the urological field, including their position in Japanese clinical guidelines. They also introduced the essence of general Kampo medicine, including its history and current status in Japan. Finally, they proposed the multi-organ targeting strategy using Kampo formulations as a future vision. C-reactive protein is a non-specific, acute phase, hepatic protein secreted in response to various cytokines, but primarily interleukin-6. Using the cohort of 516 patients undergoing surgery for renal cell carcinoma, Hsiao et al. (Atlanta, USA) have generated four nomograms with stage, grade, C-reactive protein levels and presence of metastatic disease, using overall mortality and renal cell carcinoma-specific mortality as end-points, two each for pre- and postoperative counseling. The factor with the largest effect on all nomograms was preoperative C-reactive protein. Although their findings require external validation, their nomograms seem to be applicable for all common histological subtypes of RCC. Matsuyama et al. (Ube, Japan) performed a randomized study comparing running suture with interrupted suture for vesicourethral anastomosis in retropubic radical prostatectomy. They demonstrated that running suture for vesicourethral anastomosis was feasible during retropubic radical prostatectomy. Furthermore, it offered better outcomes than the conventional standard interrupted suture technique, with a higher likelihood of improvement in patients' health-related quality of life. On the other hand, Yumioka et al. (Yonago, Japan) evaluated the influence of prior abdominal surgery on surgical outcomes of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in an early single center experience in Japan. From their results, robot-assisted radical prostatectomy appears to be a safe approach for patients with prior abdominal surgery without increasing total operative time, robotic console time, positive surgical margin or the incidence of perioperative complications. In the field of neurogenic detrusor overactivity secondary to spinal cord injury, Sengoku et al. (Kobe, Japan) reported multi-institutional experience of botulinum toxin A injection in Japanese patients. They examined the efficacy and safety of onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) injection into the bladder wall after a 2-week washout of anticholinergics. The mean number of urinary incontinence episodes decreased from 4.3 to 1.5 times/day (P = 0.004), and the maximum cystometric capacity increased from 100 mL to 296 mL (P = 0.0004). Clinically significant adverse events were not observed. The approval of this drug is desired in Japan. Tanaka et al (Osaka, Japan) examined the difference in improvement of lower urinary tract symptoms between morning and evening dosing of α1-blocker naftopidil, using 177 male patients with nocturia. From their randomized study, evening dosing of naftopidil seems to be more effective in treating nocturia in male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms. This information is useful for daily outpatient clinic. None declared.