Journal Reviews
Comparing NSAIDs with antibiotics in the treatment of uncomplicated UTIs in women
Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common presentation in primary care, however there is increasing concern regarding antibiotic use and resistant organisms. In this double-blind randomised German study, the authors seek to establish if ibuprofen 400mg three times a...
Reviewing the evidence for TNS in neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction
Tibial nerve stimulation (TNS) is a recognised minimally invasive treatment option for bladder overactivity and non-neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. In this systematic review, the role TNS can play in the management of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction is evaluated...
Smoking and urological health
European Urology Focus is a new sister journal to European Urology. It is peer-reviewed and will be published six times per year in electronic format. The first issue deals with smoking and urological diseases. It makes for very interesting reading...
Retention after Botox therapy in OAB
Treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) has a wide spectrum. The first step is lifestyle modifications, the second step is pharmacotherapy and the third line is intradetrusor injections with Botox®. This retrospective study is from Tennessee, USA in non-neurogenic and refractory...
Intermittent self-catheterisation
Intermittent self-catheterisation (ISC) is used in everyday practice for bladder dysfunction. This study from Southampton, UK presents a Cochrane review of different catheter designs, user satisfaction and incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI), etc. The following factors were looked at:...
MDT meetings in urogynaecology
This study aimed to assess the outcome of case discussion at a single unit’s urogynaecology multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings. This was a retrospective study of the MDT proformas of 106 patients who were discussed over a 14-month period. Various outcomes...
Nocturia: the debate goes on
This study is from Ghent, Belgium. Nocturia is one of the most bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms affecting both men and women. Key factors to consider in evaluating are nocturnal polyuria (NP) and reduced bladder capacity. NP with low osmolality...
Solifenacin and mirabegron are safe and effective in combination
Antimuscarinic agents remain the mainstay of medical management of bladder overactivity. Limited somewhat by their tolerability, the new agent mirabegron, a β3-adrenoreceptor agonist, has been approved as an alternative. There is little known however about the possible synergistic effects of...
What is the significance of prostatic calcification?
This prospective study on men undergoing transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) biopsies was performed to evaluate the prevalence and to classify prostatic calcification (PCalc) on TRUS and correlate the findings with histology. Images of the prostate were saved at three defined regions:...
BPH therapy: how to find one’s way through the maze?
This communication is from the Young Academic Urologists (YAU) group of the European Association of Urologists (EAU). A purpose-built questionnaire of current practice was sent to 2000 members, of which 637 responded (68% were aged 50 or younger). Alpha blockers...
Screening tool for incontinence: Michigan index
The Michigan incontinence symptom index (MISI) is a validated measure. This study further evaluated its relevance. MISI is a 10-item measure; MISI domain 1-8 and bother domain 9-10. Two hundred and fourteen women were included in the study, with a...
BPS – a diagnostic enigma
This article from a London teaching hospital presents the results of a Medline search about challenges in bladder pain syndrome. All the known definitions from the American Urological Association (AUA), European Association of Urology (EAU), etc. are given while the...
