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Medical treatment of urinary stones.
Skolarikos, A
Current opinion in urology. 2018;(5):403-407
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To identify the latest progression on medical treatment of urinary stones. RECENT FINDINGS Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be the preferred analgesic option for patients presenting to the emergency department with renal colic. A-blockers could be of patient benefit when used for distal ureteral stones more than 5 mm in size. However, the quality of the randomized controlled studies on medical expulsive therapy (MET) is still low based on the Consolidated Standards for Reporting Trials (CONSORT) criteria. MET should be used with caution in children and pregnant women. In patients with renal stones, the evaluation of the comorbidities of developing chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) or End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is mandatory. It is highly recommended to follow the European Association of Urology Urolithiasis Guidelines Panel Diagnostic and Therapeutic algorithms to prevent stone recurrence. SUMMARY Medical treatment of urinary stone disease should be supported by well designed higher level of evidence clinical research.
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Treatment options for hyperemesis gravidarum.
Abramowitz, A, Miller, ES, Wisner, KL
Archives of women's mental health. 2017;(3):363-372
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Abstract
Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a severe and prolonged form of nausea and/or vomiting during pregnancy. HG affects 0.3-2% of pregnancies and is defined by dehydration, ketonuria, and more than 5% body weight loss. Initial pharmacologic treatment for HG includes a combination of doxylamine and pyridoxine. Additional interventions include ondansetron or dopamine antagonists such as metoclopramide or promethazine. The options are limited for women who are not adequately treated with these medications. We suggest that mirtazapine is a useful drug in this context and its efficacy has been described in case studies. Mirtazapine acts on noradrenergic, serotonergic, histaminergic, and muscarinic receptors to produce antidepressant, anxiolytic, antiemetic, sedative, and appetite-stimulating effects. Mirtazapine is not associated with an independent increased risk of birth defects. Further investigation of mirtazapine as a treatment for HG holds promise to expand treatment options for women suffering from HG.
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The effect of mirtazapine on gastric accommodation, gastric sensitivity to distention, and nutrient tolerance in healthy subjects.
Carbone, F, Vanuytsel, T, Tack, J
Neurogastroenterology and motility. 2017;(12)
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disturbances of gastric motor function of functional dyspepsia (FD) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the symptoms, and hence, motility modifying agents are considered for its treatment. Mirtazapine was recently shown to improve symptoms and increase nutrient tolerance in FD patients with weight loss. We aim to evaluate the effect of mirtazapine on gastric sensorimotor function in healthy volunteers (HV). METHODS Thirty-one HV underwent an intragastric pressure (IGP) and barostat measurements on separate days before and after 3 weeks of placebo or mirtazapine (15 mg). Gastric compliance, sensitivity and accommodation (GA) measured by the barostat. GA was quantitated as the difference (delta) in intra-balloon volume before and after ingestion of 200 mL of a nutrient drink (ND). GA measured by IGP was quantitated as the drop of IGP from baseline during the intragastric infusion of ND until maximal satiation. KEY RESULTS Mirtazapine significantly increased the bodyweight of subjects (67.8±3.7 to 69.1±3.7 kg; P=.01). Barostat results showed no effect on gastric compliance, sensitivity, and GA. Nutrient tolerance was not affected after treatment (1170±129.4 vs 1104±133.6 kcal; P=.4), and mirtazapine was associated with lower symptom ratings. The IGP drop during meal ingestion was significantly suppressed (area under the curve: -43.3±4.5 mm Hg vs -28.9±3.1 mm Hg; P=.005). CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES In HVs, the occurrence of weight gain and decreased meal-induced symptoms in spite of a suppressed meal-induced IGP drop, point towards a central mode of action. Mirtazapine does not display changes in gastric sensorimotor function that could explain its beneficial effects on symptoms and nutrient tolerance in FD.
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Effect of weight reduction on severity of lower urinary tract symptoms in obese men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Ng, CF, Yee, CH, So, WY, Yip, SK, Wu, E, Yau, P
Hong Kong medical journal = Xianggang yi xue za zhi. 2017;(3):35-37
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Medical expulsive therapy in urolithiasis: a mixed treatment comparison network meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials.
Sridharan, K, Sivaramakrishnan, G
Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy. 2017;(14):1421-1431
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medical expulsive therapy (MET) using alpha blockers, calcium channel blockers (CCB), phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDEI) and spasmolytics have been shown to be effective in clinical trials on urolithiasis. The present study is a network meta-analysis comparing the above mentioned drug classes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials comparing the above mentioned drug classes in patients with urolithiasis using appropriate search strategy. Inverse variance heterogeneity model was used for the mixed treatment comparisons. Stone expulsion rate (SER) was the primary and stone expulsion time (SET) was the main secondary outcome measure. RESULTS We included a total of 114 studies for systematic review and 108 studies for the network meta-analysis. Alpha blockers, PDEI, and combined alpha blockers and corticosteroids had significantly increased SER and shorter SET than placebo or standard of care. Alpha blockers have the highest probability of being the 'best' in the pool with regard to SER. This effect persisted in patients with stones ≥ 5 mm, children, after shockwave lithotripsy, proximal ureteric stones and distal ureteric stones. CONCLUSION To conclude, we observed a statistically significant increase in the expulsion rate and shorter expulsion time with alpha blockers, PDEI and combined alpha blockers with corticosteroids. Of these interventions, alpha blockers have the high probability of being the 'best'.
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Common Questions About Chronic Prostatitis.
Holt, JD, Garrett, WA, McCurry, TK, Teichman, JM
American family physician. 2016;(4):290-6
Abstract
Chronic prostatitis is relatively common, with a lifetime prevalence of 1.8% to 8.2%. Risk factors include conditions that facilitate introduction of bacteria into the urethra and prostate (which also predispose the patient to urinary tract infections) and conditions that can lead to chronic neuropathic pain. Chronic prostatitis must be differentiated from other causes of chronic pelvic pain, such as interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and pelvic floor dysfunction; prostate and bladder cancers; benign prostatic hyperplasia; urolithiasis; and other causes of dysuria, urinary frequency, and nocturia. The National Institutes of Health divides prostatitis into four syndromes: acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP), chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP)/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), and asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis. CBP and CNP/CPPS both lead to pelvic pain and lower urinary tract symptoms. CBP presents as recurrent urinary tract infections with the same organism identified on repeated cultures; it responds to a prolonged course of an antibiotic that adequately penetrates the prostate, if the urine culture suggests sensitivity. If four to six weeks of antibiotic therapy is effective but symptoms recur, another course may be prescribed, perhaps in combination with alpha blockers or nonopioid analgesics. CNP/CPPS, accounting for more than 90% of chronic prostatitis cases, presents as prostatic pain lasting at least three months without consistent culture results. Weak evidence supports the use of alpha blockers, pain medications, and a four- to six-week course of antibiotics for the treatment of CNP/CPPS. Patients may also be referred to a psychologist experienced in managing chronic pain. Experts on this condition recommend a combination of treatments tailored to the patient's phenotypic presentation. Urology referral should be considered when appropriate treatment is ineffective. Additional treatments include pelvic floor physical therapy, phytotherapy, and pain management techniques. The UPOINT (urinary, psychosocial, organ-specific, infection, neurologic/systemic, tenderness) approach summarizes the various factors that may contribute to presentation and can guide treatment.
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Efficacy of Mirtazapine in Patients With Functional Dyspepsia and Weight Loss.
Tack, J, Ly, HG, Carbone, F, Vanheel, H, Vanuytsel, T, Holvoet, L, Boeckxstaens, G, Caenepeel, P, Arts, J, Van Oudenhove, L
Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association. 2016;(3):385-392.e4
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Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS A subset of patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) present with early satiation and weight loss, for which there are no established therapeutic options. We investigated the efficacy of mirtazapine (an antidepressant and antagonist of the histamine receptor H1, the α2 adrenergic receptor, and the serotonin receptors 5-HT2C and 5-HT-3) in patients with FD and weight loss. METHODS We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial that studied 34 patients with FD (29 women; mean age, 35.9 ± 2.3 years) with weight loss >10% of original body weight (mean loss, 12.4 ± 2.3 kg) without depression or anxiety. After a run-in period, patients were randomly assigned to groups given placebo (n = 17) or mirtazapine 15 mg each day for 8 weeks (n = 17) in a double-blind manner. Subjects were evaluated during a 2-week baseline and 8-week treatment for dyspepsia symptom severity, quality of life (on the basis of the Nepean Dyspepsia Index), and gastrointestinal-specific anxiety; they were given a nutrient challenge test and weighed. Data were analyzed by using linear mixed models, followed by planned contrasts with adaptive step-down Bonferroni multiple testing correction. RESULTS Two patients in each group dropped out. At weeks 4 and 8, mirtazapine significantly reduced mean dyspepsia symptom severity scores compared with week 0 (P = .003 and P = .017, respectively); there was no significant reduction in the placebo group (P > .37 for weeks 4 and 8). The difference in change from week 0 between mirtazapine and placebo showed a trend with a large effect size at week 4 (P = .059) that was not significant at week 8 (P = .55). However, improvements from week 0 to weeks 4 and 8 were significantly larger in the mirtazapine group than placebo group for early satiation, quality of life, gastrointestinal-specific anxiety, weight, and nutrient tolerance (mostly with large effect sizes). CONCLUSIONS In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, mirtazapine significantly improved early satiation, quality of life, gastrointestinal-specific anxiety, nutrient tolerance, and weight loss in patients with FD. ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT01240096.
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The Efficacy of Medical Expulsive Therapy (MET) in Improving Stone-free Rate and Stone Expulsion Time, After Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (SWL) for Upper Urinary Stones: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Skolarikos, A, Grivas, N, Kallidonis, P, Mourmouris, P, Rountos, T, Fiamegos, A, Stavrou, S, Venetis, C, ,
Urology. 2015;(6):1057-64
Abstract
In this meta-analysis, we included randomized studies on medical expulsive therapy implemented following shock wave lithotripsy for renal and ureteral stones. Pooled results demonstrated the efficacy of α-blockers, nifedipine, Rowatinex, and Uriston in increasing stone clearance. In addition, the time to stone elimination, the intensity of pain, the formation of steinstrasse, and the need for auxiliary procedures were reduced mainly with α-blockers. Expulsion rate was not correlated with the type of α-blocker, the diameter, and the location of stone. Our results show that medical expulsive therapy for residual fragments after shock wave lithotripsy should be implemented in clinical practice.
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[Alpha blocker x beta-blocker].
Ishikawa, J, Kario, K
Nihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine. 2014;(8):1485-9
Abstract
To control blood pressure for throughout a day, one of antihypertensive drugs will be administered at bedtime. Calcium channel blocker or angiotensin II receptor blocker will be the first line drug for bedtime administration. Alpha-blocker or beta-blocker will be the last choice.
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Anti-hypertensive treatment in pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma: current management and therapeutic features.
Mazza, A, Armigliato, M, Marzola, MC, Schiavon, L, Montemurro, D, Vescovo, G, Zuin, M, Chondrogiannis, S, Ravenni, R, Opocher, G, et al
Endocrine. 2014;(3):469-78
Abstract
Pheochromocytoma (PH) and paraganglioma (PG) are neuroendocrine neoplasms arising from chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla and the sympathetic ganglia, respectively. Although are unusual cause of hypertension (HT) accounting for at most 0.1-0.2 % of cases, they may lead to severe and potentially lethal hypertensive crisis due to the effects of the released catecholamines. However, both PH and PG may be asymptomatic as ~30 % of subjects are normotensive or have orthostatic hypotension and in these cases the 24 h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring is an important toll to diagnose and treat HT. HT treatment may be difficult when PH or PG occurs in pregnancy or in the elderly subjects and in these cases a multidisciplinary team is required. When surgical excision is mandatory the perioperative management requires the administration of selective α1-adrenergic blocking agents (i.e., doxazosin, prazosin or terazosin) followed by a β-adrenergic blockade (i.e., propranolol, atenolol). This latter should never be started first because blockade of vasodilatory peripheral β-adrenergic receptors with unopposed α-adrenergic receptor stimulation can lead to a further elevation of BP. Although labetalol is traditionally considered the ideal agent due to its α- and β-adrenergic antagonism, experimental studies do not support its use in this clinical setting. As second regimen, the administration of vasodilators as calcium channel blockers (i.e., nicardipine, nifedipine) may be required to control BP. Oral and sublingual short-acting nifedipine are potentially dangerous in patients with hypertensive emergencies and are not recommend. The latest evidences into the diagnosis and treatment of hypertensive crisis due to PH and PG are reviewed here.