Theobromine for treatment of uric acid stones and other diseases.

Theobromine (or 3,7-dimethylxanthine) is a natural alkaloid present in cocoa plant and its derivatives, such as chocolate. About 20% of ingested theobromine is excreted unchanged in the urine. Theobromine also derived from caffeine that is metabolized into theobromine by 12%.

Development and internal validation of El-Shazly-Buchholz's nomogram to predict postoperative complications after PCNL: A multicenter study.

Introduction: A model to predict the risk of surgical complications following percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) could be a useful tool to guide clinical decision-making. The aim of this study was to develop a simple and widely applicable stratification tool to be used for patient counseling, surgical planning, evaluation of outcomes, and academic reporting.

Methods: Data of patients who underwent PCNL were retrieved from the database of the collaborating centers including demographics of patients, characteristics of their stones and urinary tracts, and perioperative data.

The Role of 5-Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors (PDE-5I) in Current Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Treatment: A Narrative Review.

: 5-phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE-5I) have been investigated as a treatment for urinary dysfunction for almost a decade. The general perception is that they play a significant role in managing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), particularly those associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). However, the specific biochemical processes by which PDE-5I repairs urinary function are still poorly understood and there is little instrumental evidence of significant improvement in urinary symptoms.

Psychological and sexological assessment of patients with chronic prostatitis.

Purpose: Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is characterized by a multiform clinical presentation requiring a differentiated treatment based on different phenotypes including the psychosocial and sexual domains. The aim of this study was assessing the complex correlations between somatic, psychological, and sexual symptoms of CP/CPPS patients.

Materials And Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study on patients attending a Prostatitis Clinic.

The role of the general practictioner in the management of urinary calculi.

Background: The prevalence of kidney stones tends to increase worldwide due to dietary and climate changes. Disease management involves a high consumption of healthcare system resources which can be reduced with primary prevention measures and prophylaxis of recurrences. In this field, collaboration between general practitioners (GPs) and hospitals is crucial.

Treatment of urge incontinence in postmenopausal women: A systematic review.

Background: Urinary incontinence and other urinary symptoms tend to be frequent at menopause because of hormonal modifications and aging. Urinary symptoms are associated with the genitourinary syndrome of menopause which is characterized by physical changes of the vulva, vagina and lower urinary tract. The treatment strategies for postmenopausal urinary incontinence are various and may include estrogens, anticholinergics, and pelvic floor muscle training.

Risk of urogenital infections in non-diabetic patients treated with sodium glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Unlabelled: Although SGLT2 inhibitors have been initially employed in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, their clinical use was later extended to the treatment of other conditions such as heart failure, chronic kidney disease and obesity. In patients with type 2 diabetes, the administration of SGLT2 inhibitors has been associated with an increased incidence of urogenital infections, which may be linked to high glucose levels in the urine. The rate of urogenital side effects may be different in non-diabetic patients.

Fifty years of basic and clinical renal stone research: have we achieved major breakthroughs? A debate.

Purpose Of Review: After 50 years of basic and clinical renal stone research, it is appropriate to evaluate whether breakthroughs have been achieved and if so, how they may be harnessed to combat stone disease therapeutically and prophylactically.

Recent Findings: Regarding stone therapeutics and prophylaxis, recent innovative studies are sparse. Researchers have resorted to publishing articles derived from data mining.

Spectrum of Bacterial Pathogens from Urinary Infections Associated with Struvite and Metabolic Stones.

Objective: The purposes of this multi-center study were to evaluate the rate of infection stones and to evaluate the urine cultures of patients with infection stones.

Materials: Charts of adulpatients with urinary stones were reviewed and data on stone analyses and urine cultures were collected.

Results: In total, 1204 renal stone formers (RSFs) from 10 countries were included (776 males, 428 females).

Efficacy of overactive neurogenic bladder treatment: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms of frequency, urgency and urge incontinence are frequently associated with known neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), spinal cord injury (SCI), Parkinson's disease (PD), stroke.

Objective: The aim of our study was to review the efficacy of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for neurogenic overactive bladder.

Materials And Methods: We searched two electronic databases (PubMed and EMBASE) for randomized controlled trials focusing on pharmacological and non-pharmacological medical treatments for overactive bladder symptoms associated with neurological diseases published up to 30 April 2022.

Risk of urinary stone formation associated to proton pump inhibitors: A systematic review and metanalysis.

Objective: Proton pump inhibitors are widely used as treatment of acid-related disorders. They are considered safe although their long-term use has been associated with some adverse effects including an increased propensity for urinary calculi formation. The aim of this study was to systematically review available data from studies evaluating the association of PPIs and nephrolithiasis.

Infectious complications of endourological treatment of kidney stones: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Objective: Endourological treatment is associated with a risk of postoperative febrile urinary tract infections and sepsis. The aim of this study was to review the reported rate of infectious complications in relation to the type and modality of the endourologic procedure.

Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines.

Encrustation of the ureteral double-J Stents made of styrene/ethylene/butylene and polyurethane before and after implantation.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the affinity to crystal, calculi and biofilm deposition on ureteral double-J stents (DJ stents) after ureterorenoscopic-lithotripsy procedure (URS-L). The analysis was performed in two aspects: to determine which material used for fabricating ureteral stents promotes encrustation and which part of the DJ stents is the most vulnerable for blockage.

Methods: One hundred and twenty patients with an indwelling DJ stent duration between 7 and 78 days were included in this study.

Drug-induced gynecomastia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Objective: To review the evidence concerning treatment-related gynecomastia in patients taking spironolactone, antiandrogens, 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors, lipid-lowering and psychotropic drugs.

Material And Methods: A search of Medline and EMBASE was performed up to 30 June 2021. We included randomized controlled trials comparing the effects of a drug belonging to these classes versus placebo or versus a drug of the same class.

Stone composition of renal stone formers from different global regions.

Objective: To study urinary stone composition patterns in different populations around the world.

Materials And Methods: Data were collected by reviewing charts of 1204 adult patients of 10 countries with renal or ureteral stones (> 18 years) in whom a stone analysis was done and available. Any method of stone analysis was accepted, but the methodology had to be registered.

Obesity rates in renal stone formers from various countries.

Objective: To collect evidence on the rate of obesity in renal stone formers (RSFs) living in different climatic areas and consuming different diets.

Materials And Methods: Data of adult renal stone formers were retrospectively collected by members of U-merge from 13 participant centers in Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria (2), China, India, Iraq (2), Italy (2), Nigeria, Pakistan and Poland. The following data were collected: age, gender, weight, height, stone analysis and procedure of stone removal.

Safety considerations with new antibacterial approaches for chronic bacterial prostatitis.

Introduction: Chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) is a difficult-to-eradicate infection. Antibacterial therapy with currently licensed agents is hindered due to the increasing emergence of pathogen resistance worldwide and to frequent infection relapse. With limited treatment options, physicians are investigating new agents, which, however, may raise safety concerns.

Urinary side effects of psychotropic drugs: A systematic review and metanalysis.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of psychotropic drugs on bladder function.

Materials And Methods: A systematic review was carried out by searching PubMed and Embase databases for randomized controlled trials enrolling patients treated with psychotropic drugs with available information on treatment-related urinary disorders.

Results: A total of 52 studies was selected.

How urologists deal with chronic prostatitis? The preliminary results of a Mediterranean survey.

Objectives: We performed a questionnaire survey to investigate various issues in the diagnosis of chronic prostatitis (CP) performed by Greek urologists and to assess some aspects of prostatitis workup in Greece. Replies were compared with those of Italian clinical research partners in an attempt to clarify the CP diagnostic approaches in Southern European Mediterranean countries.

Methods: We translated the original Italian questionnaire presented by Magri and Montanari in the frame of a urological congress held in Milan on October 26th, 2018.

Time changes in the spectrum of urinary stone composition: a role for climate variations?

Background: An increase of the frequency of uric acid urinary stones compared to calcium-containing ones has been recently described. This study was aimed at assessing the frequency of different types of urinary stones in the population of northern Italy in the period 2016-18 compared to 2001-2003.

Methods: Analyses by infrared spectroscopy of 1007 stones endoscopically removed at two institutions in the area of Milan (Northern Italy) were retrospectively considered.