AIMTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of an extract of Ganoderma lucidum that shows the strongest 5alpha-reductase inhibitory activity among the extracts of 19 edible and medicinal mushrooms by a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized and dose-ranging study in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

METHODSIn this trial, we randomly assigned 88 men over the age of 49 years who had slight-to-moderate LUTS to 12 weeks of treatment with G. lucidum extract (6 mg once a day) or placebo. The primary outcome measures were changes in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and variables of uroflowmetry. Secondary outcome measures included changes in prostate size, residual urinary volume after voiding, laboratory values and the reported adverse effects.

RESULTSG. lucidum was effective and significantly superior to placebo for improving total IPSS with 2.1 points decreasing at the end of treatment (mean difference, -1.18 points; 95% confidence interval, -1.74 to -0.62; P < 0.0001). No changes were observed with respect to quality of life scores, peak urinary flow, mean urinary flow, residual urine, prostate volume, serum prostate-specific antigen or testosterone levels. Overall treatment was well tolerated with no severe adverse effects.

CONCLUSIONThe extract of G. lucidum was well tolerated and improved IPSS scores. These results encouraged a further, large-scale evaluation of phytotherapy for a long duration using the extract of G. lucidum on men with LUTS.

Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Placebos ; Reishi ; Solvents ; Treatment Outcome ; Urination Disorders ; drug therapy ; Urodynamics ; drug effects

AIMTo conduct a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized and dose-ranging study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the extract of Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

METHODSWe enrolled male volunteers (> or = 50 years) with an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS; questions 1-7) > or = 5 and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value < 4 ng/mL. Volunteers were randomized into groups of placebo (n = 12), G. lucidum of 0.6 mg (n = 12), 6 mg (n = 12) or 60 mg (n = 14), administered once daily. Efficacy was measured as a change from baseline in IPSS and the peak urine flow rate (Q(max)). Prostate volume and residual urine were estimated by ultrasonography, and blood tests, including PSA levels, were measured at baseline and at the end of the treatment.

RESULTSThe overall administration was well tolerated, with no major adverse effects. Statistical significances in the magnitude of changes between the experimental groups were observed at weeks 4 and 8. No changes were observed with respect to Q(max), residual urine, prostate volume or PSA levels.

CONCLUSIONThe extract of G. lucidum was well tolerated and an improvement in IPSS was observed. The recommended dose of the extract of G. lucidum is 6 mg in men with LUTS.

Aged ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; Pilot Projects ; Prostate ; pathology ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; Reishi ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive ; drug therapy ; Urinary Incontinence ; drug therapy

Background/Aims: The factors affecting the detection rate of lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis (LPSP) using endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) in patients with type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) have not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective study to identify the predictive factors for histologically detecting level 1 or 2 LPSP using EUS-TA. Methods: Fifty patients with AIP were included in this study, and the primary outcome measures were the predictive factors for histologically detecting level 1 or 2 LPSP using EUS-TA. Results: Multivariate analysis identified the use of fine needle biopsy (FNB) needles as a significant predictive factor for LPSP detection (odds ratio, 15.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.62–141; ¬¬p=0.017). The rate of good-quality specimens (specimen adequacy score ≥4) was significantly higher for the FNB needle group than for the fine needle aspiration (FNA) needle group (97% vs. 56%; p<0.01), and the FNB needle group required significantly fewer needle passes than the FNA needle group (median, 2 vs. 3; p<0.01). Conclusions The use of FNB needles was the most important factor for the histological confirmation of LPSP using EUS-TA in patients with type 1 AIP.

Background/Aims: The factors affecting the detection rate of lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis (LPSP) using endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) in patients with type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) have not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective study to identify the predictive factors for histologically detecting level 1 or 2 LPSP using EUS-TA. Methods: Fifty patients with AIP were included in this study, and the primary outcome measures were the predictive factors for histologically detecting level 1 or 2 LPSP using EUS-TA. Results: Multivariate analysis identified the use of fine needle biopsy (FNB) needles as a significant predictive factor for LPSP detection (odds ratio, 15.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.62–141; ¬¬p=0.017). The rate of good-quality specimens (specimen adequacy score ≥4) was significantly higher for the FNB needle group than for the fine needle aspiration (FNA) needle group (97% vs. 56%; p<0.01), and the FNB needle group required significantly fewer needle passes than the FNA needle group (median, 2 vs. 3; p<0.01). Conclusions The use of FNB needles was the most important factor for the histological confirmation of LPSP using EUS-TA in patients with type 1 AIP.

Background/Aims: The factors affecting the detection rate of lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis (LPSP) using endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) in patients with type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) have not been thoroughly studied. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective study to identify the predictive factors for histologically detecting level 1 or 2 LPSP using EUS-TA. Methods: Fifty patients with AIP were included in this study, and the primary outcome measures were the predictive factors for histologically detecting level 1 or 2 LPSP using EUS-TA. Results: Multivariate analysis identified the use of fine needle biopsy (FNB) needles as a significant predictive factor for LPSP detection (odds ratio, 15.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.62–141; ¬¬p=0.017). The rate of good-quality specimens (specimen adequacy score ≥4) was significantly higher for the FNB needle group than for the fine needle aspiration (FNA) needle group (97% vs. 56%; p<0.01), and the FNB needle group required significantly fewer needle passes than the FNA needle group (median, 2 vs. 3; p<0.01). Conclusions The use of FNB needles was the most important factor for the histological confirmation of LPSP using EUS-TA in patients with type 1 AIP.

Background/Aims: Endoscopic biliary drainage using self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) for malignant biliary strictures occasionally induces acute cholecystitis (AC). This study evaluated the efficacy of prophylactic gallbladder stents (GBS) during SEMS placement. Methods: Among 158 patients who underwent SEMS placement for malignant biliary strictures between January 2018 and March 2023, 30 patients who attempted to undergo prophylactic GBS placement before SEMS placement were included. Results: Technical success was achieved in 21 cases (70.0%). The mean diameter of the cystic duct was more significant in the successful cases (6.5 mm vs. 3.7 mm, p<0.05). Adverse events occurred for 7 patients (23.3%: acute pancreatitis in 7; non-obstructive cholangitis in 1; perforation of the cystic duct in 1 with an overlap), all of which improved with conservative treatment. No patients developed AC when the GBS placement was successful, whereas 25 of the 128 patients (19.5%) without a prophylactic GBS developed AC during the median follow-up period of 357 days (p=0.043). In the multivariable analysis, GBS placement was a significant factor in preventing AC (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.37–0.99; p=0.045). Conclusions GBS may contribute to the prevention of AC after SEMS placement for malignant biliary strictures.

Iron deficiency in athletes induces negative effects on their athletic performances. The present study aimed to examine a possibility of non-invasive screening with urine ferritin value for iron deficiency by examining its association with serum ferritin value. A group of 30 male college soccer players,13 male endurance runners, 22 female volleyball players, and 9 female long distance runners voluntarily participated in this study. Blood samples were collected before breakfast. The urinary samples were collected to the special tube in the morning and analyzed by ELISA in accordance with the manufacture’s specification. The urinary ferritin value was significantly correlated with serum ferritin value (r=0.32, p<0.05). In addition, the corresponding association was improved in athletes whose urinary ferritin values were less than 2314 ng/gCre (n=52) (r=0.49, p<0.05). In each of male and female athletes, the results on the event-related differences in urinary ferritin had a similar trend as those on serum ferritin. In future studies, further testing should be accomplished using larger numbers of athletes for use the urine ferritin as non-invasive screening iron deficiency in athletes.

We present the case of a 76-year-old man who underwent preoperative endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) for obstructive jaundice caused by pancreatic head cancer. The patient had obstructive jaundice and cholangitis during neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Transpapillary biliary drainage using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was attempted; however, it was unsuccessful because of duodenal tumor invasion. Therefore, EUS-HGS was performed. Jaundice and cholangitis improved promptly after EUS-HGS, and stent obstruction and migration were not observed before surgery. The stent was safely removed during surgery, and no postoperative complications occurred. Most studies of EUS-HGS for preoperative biliary drainage have been small and retrospective, and few have examined the safety of intraoperative stent removal. The fistula in our patient was promptly identified and the stent was safely removed despite the relatively limited field of view during robot-assisted laparoscopy.The promising findings of our case report can be used to inform EUS-based surgical strategies for biliary drainage with obstructive jaundice.

We present the case of a 76-year-old man who underwent preoperative endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) for obstructive jaundice caused by pancreatic head cancer. The patient had obstructive jaundice and cholangitis during neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Transpapillary biliary drainage using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was attempted; however, it was unsuccessful because of duodenal tumor invasion. Therefore, EUS-HGS was performed. Jaundice and cholangitis improved promptly after EUS-HGS, and stent obstruction and migration were not observed before surgery. The stent was safely removed during surgery, and no postoperative complications occurred. Most studies of EUS-HGS for preoperative biliary drainage have been small and retrospective, and few have examined the safety of intraoperative stent removal. The fistula in our patient was promptly identified and the stent was safely removed despite the relatively limited field of view during robot-assisted laparoscopy.The promising findings of our case report can be used to inform EUS-based surgical strategies for biliary drainage with obstructive jaundice.

We present the case of a 76-year-old man who underwent preoperative endoscopic ultrasound-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) for obstructive jaundice caused by pancreatic head cancer. The patient had obstructive jaundice and cholangitis during neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Transpapillary biliary drainage using endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was attempted; however, it was unsuccessful because of duodenal tumor invasion. Therefore, EUS-HGS was performed. Jaundice and cholangitis improved promptly after EUS-HGS, and stent obstruction and migration were not observed before surgery. The stent was safely removed during surgery, and no postoperative complications occurred. Most studies of EUS-HGS for preoperative biliary drainage have been small and retrospective, and few have examined the safety of intraoperative stent removal. The fistula in our patient was promptly identified and the stent was safely removed despite the relatively limited field of view during robot-assisted laparoscopy.The promising findings of our case report can be used to inform EUS-based surgical strategies for biliary drainage with obstructive jaundice.