Habitual tea consumption is associated with a lower prevalence of kidney stone disease in postmenopausal women.

Background: Menopause is associated with an increased risk of kidney stone disease (KSD). However, for postmenopausal women, how to avoid KSD has rarely been studied. The aim of this study was to explore whether drinking tea is associated with a reduction in the prevalence of KSD in postmenopausal women.

Association of the VEGF 2578C>A Polymorphism With Metabolic Syndrome and Erectile Dysfunction.

Accumulating evidence suggests a link between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), erectile dysfunction (ED), and metabolic syndrome (Mets), possibly because VEGF can alter the physiological pathways involved in the regulation of endothelial cell proliferation. This study aimed to investigate the genetic susceptibility of VEGF 2578C>A polymorphism to the development of ED and Mets. Collected data included five-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), components of Mets, and VEGF 2578C>A polymorphism.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease is an early predictor for testosterone deficiency in aging men without metabolic syndrome.

Background And Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has emerged as a valuable marker for identifying individuals at increased risk of metabolic dysfunction, liver-related complications, and cardiovascular disease. However, the association between MAFLD and testosterone deficiency (TD) in aging men remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the association between MAFLD and the risk of TD in aging Taiwanese men, with a specific focus on those without metabolic syndrome (MetS).

The impact of secondhand smoke on the development of kidney stone disease is not inferior to that of smoking: a longitudinal cohort study.

Background: Tobacco use and secondhand smoke (SHS) are risk factors of kidney stone disease (KSD). The hypothesis is that tobacco produces chemicals that increase oxidative stress and vasopressin, which leads to decreased urine output, and contributes to stone formation. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of smoking and SHS on the development of KSD.

Treating Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Patients-When Intravesical Botox Injection or Urethral Botox Injection Are Indicated.

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), such as urgency, urinary incontinence, and/or difficulty voiding, hamper the quality of life (QoL) of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). If not managed adequately, urological complications, such as urinary tract infection or renal function deterioration, may further deteriorate the patient's QoL. Botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injection within the detrusor muscle or urethral sphincter yields satisfactory therapeutic effects for treating urinary incontinence or facilitating efficient voiding; however, adverse effects inevitably follow its therapeutic efficacy.

The association between menopause, postmenopausal hormone therapy, and kidney stone disease in Taiwanese women.

Purpose: The association between menopause, postmenopausal hormone therapy, and kidney stone disease has long been a topic of discussion and is still unclear. Moreover, most previous research has focused on Caucasians. Therefore, we aimed to explore this issue in an Asian population.

The Safety and Efficacy of Vela Laser En-Bloc Endoscopic Resection versus Conventional Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor-A Single Center Experience.

(1) Background: The current gold standard treatment of bladder cancer is conventional transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (CTURBT) using monopolar or bipolar resectoscopes. Laser en-bloc resection of the bladder tumor (LERBT) could achieve a higher quality of the specimen, reduce perioperative complications, and decrease the recurrence rate. Here, we compare the efficacy and safety of en-bloc Vela laser resection versus the conventional monopolar/bipolar resection; (2) Methods: A total of 100 clinically cT1-2 patients with bladder cancer were retrospectively reviewed in this study.

Betel Nut Chewing Is Associated with the Risk of Kidney Stone Disease.

(1) Background: Betel nut chewing injures bodily health. Although, the relationship between betel nut chewing and kidney stone disease (KSD) is unknown. (2) Methods: We analyzed 43,636 men from Taiwan Biobank.

Metabolic Syndrome Increases the Risk of Kidney Stone Disease: A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Cohort Study.

We aimed to examine the association between metabolic syndrome and the risk of kidney stone development in a large-scale community-based cohort. A total of 121,579 participants enrolled in the Taiwan Biobank were analyzed. They were divided into two groups on the basis of presence of metabolic syndrome.

Low Intensity Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy as a Novel Treatment for Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Randomized-Controlled Clinical Study.

: To evaluate the effects of low intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (LiESWT) on stress urinary incontinence (SUI). : This investigation was a multicenter, single-blind, randomized-controlled trial study. Sixty female SUI patients were randomly assigned to receive LiESWT with 0.

Low-Intensity Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Promotes Bladder Regeneration and Improves Overactive Bladder Induced by Ovarian Hormone Deficiency from Rat Animal Model to Human Clinical Trial.

Postmenopausal women with ovary hormone deficiency (OHD) are subject to overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms. The present study attempted to elucidate whether low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (LiESWT) alters bladder angiogenesis, decreases inflammatory response, and ameliorates bladder hyperactivity to influence bladder function in OHD-induced OAB in human clinical trial and rat model. The ovariectomized (OVX) for 12 months Sprague-Dawley rat model mimicking the physiological condition of menopause was utilized to induce OAB and assess the potential therapeutic mechanism of LiESWT (0.

Secondhand smoke increases the risk of developing kidney stone disease.

Research indicates smoking increases the risk of various kidney diseases, although the risk of developing kidney stone disease in non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke is unknown. This study analyzed a total of 19,430 never-smokers with no history of kidney stone disease who participated in the Taiwan Biobank from 2008 to 2019. They were divided into two groups by secondhand smoke exposure; no exposure and exposure groups; the mean age of participants was 51 years, and 81% were women.

Low Intensity Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy as a Potential Treatment for Overactive Bladder Syndrome.

Background: The present study attempted to investigate the therapeutic effect and duration of low intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (LiESWT) on overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms, including social activity and the quality of life (QoL).

Methods: In this prospective, randomized, single-blinded clinical trial, 65 participants with OAB symptom were randomly divided into receive LiESWT (0.25 mJ/mm, 3000 pulses, 3 pulses/second) once a week for 8 weeks, or an identical sham LiESWT treatment without the energy transmission.

A rare noncancerous but life-threatening tumor in urinary bladder.

IMT is a rare but sometimes life-threatening tumor. Although presenting with muscle invasion, local surgical resection with TURBT and close follow-up are adequate with bladder function and life quality preservation compared to partial cystectomy.

Therapeutic effect of Low intensity Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (Li-ESWT) on diabetic bladder dysfunction in a rat model.

Low intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (Li-ESWT) has proven to be effective and safe for the treatment of various urological disorders including erectile dysfunction and chronic pelvic pain syndrome. In this study, we elucidated the therapeutic effect and possible mechanisms of Li-ESWT on diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD) in a rat model. In all, thirty-two female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: normal control (NC), diabetes mellitus (DM) control, and DM Li-ESWT.

Fatty liver index is associated with the risk of testosterone deficiency in aging men without metabolic syndrome.

Objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is suggested to be a precursor of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and could influence the risk of testosterone deficiency (TD). Fatty liver index (FLI) is a simple and useful screening tool for NAFLD. We determined the association between the risk of NAFLD assessed by FLI and TD in aging Taiwanese men, especially those without MetS.

The effects of simulated childbirth trauma on the gene expression of neurotransmitter receptors in the bladder of female rats.

Background/purpose: To investigate the effects of simulated childbirth on the gene expression of parasympathetic muscarinic, purinergic (P2X), and neurokinin receptors of lower urinary tract in rats.

Methods: In all, twenty-four primiparous pregnant Sprague-Dawley female rats were equally divided into three groups: (1). Control group; 8 rats, (2) intra-vaginal balloon dilation for 2 h group; 8 rats, (3) and for 4 h group; 8 rats.

A pilot study: effectiveness of local injection of autologous platelet-rich plasma in treating women with stress urinary incontinence.

The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of local injection of autologous platelet rich plasma (A-PRP) as a treatment for women suffering from stress urinary incontinence (SUI). In a prospective intervention study, twenty consecutive women suffering from SUI were treated with A-PRP injection at anterior vaginal wall where mid-urethra locates. Self-reported questionnaires were used to measure pre-treatment, 1 month and 6 months post-treatment symptom severity.

IgG4-related disease mimicking renal pelvis tumor with peritoneal carcinomatosis.

IgG4-RD may rarely present as a retroperitoneal fibrosis, mimicking carcinomatosis. Clinicians should consider this disease when encountering an idiopathic peritoneal and retroperitoneal fibrosis with renal involvement and hydronephrosis.

Herpes zoster and the subsequent risk of prostate cancer in an Asian population: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

It has been suggested that herpes zoster may increase the risk of subsequent prostate cancer (PCa). We aimed to assess the risk of PCa following herpes zoster by the population-based follow-up study.This is a retrospective study and data are from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD).

Risk of developing hypertension after hormone therapy for prostate cancer: a nationwide propensity score-matched longitudinal cohort study.

BackgroundAndrogen deprivation therapy (ADT) is essential in the treatment of advanced and metastatic prostate cancer. As the correlation between hormone therapy and hypertension remains unclear and prostate cancer is less prevalent in the Asian population, the clinician should focus on not only anticancer therapy but also the side effects of the intervention and quality of life of these patients.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the risk of subsequent hypertension in patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer.

Low-Intensity Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Ameliorates the Overactive Bladder: A Prospective Pilot Study.

Objective: In the present clinical trial, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (LiESWT) on overactive bladder (OAB).

Methods: Female subjects with ages of 20-75 years and who have been clinically diagnosed with OAB were included in the study. The LiESWT (DUOLITH SD1 T-TOP, AG) applicator was placed on the suprapubic skin area and applied with an intensity of 0.