This article reviewed the current knowledge on time-course manifestation of diabetic urethral dysfunction (DUD), and explored an early intervention target to prevent the contribution of DUD to the progression of diabetes-induced impairment of the lower urinary tract (LUT). In the literature search through PubMed, key words used included “diabetes mellitus,” “diabetic urethral dysfunction,” and “diabetic urethropathy.” Polyuria and hyperglycemia induced by diabetes mellitus (DM) can cause the time-dependent changes in functional and morphological manifestations of DUD. In the early stage, it promotes urethral dysfunction characterized by increased urethral pressure during micturition. However, the detrusor muscle of the bladder tries to compensate for inducing complete voiding by increasing the duration and amplitude of bladder contractions. As the disease progresses, it can induce an impairment of coordinated micturition due to dyssynergic activity of external urethra sphincter, leading to detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia. The impairment of relaxation mechanisms of urethral smooth muscles (USMs) may additionally be attributable to decreased responsiveness to nitric oxide, as well as increased USM responsiveness to α1-adrenergic receptor stimulation. In the late stage, diabetic neuropathy may play an important role in inducing LUT dysfunction, showing that the decompensation of the bladder and urethra, which can cause the decrease of voiding efficiency and the reduced thickness of the urothelium and the atrophy of striated muscle bundles, possibly leading to the vicious cycle of the LUT dysfunction. Further studies to increase our understandings of the functional and molecular mechanisms of DUD are warranted to explore potential targets for therapeutic intervention of DM-induced LUT dysfunction.
Ataxia ; Atrophy ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Early Intervention (Education) ; Hyperglycemia ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Muscle, Smooth ; Muscle, Striated ; Nitric Oxide ; Polyuria ; Relaxation ; Urethra ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Tract ; Urination ; Urothelium

Objective:To explore the treatment experience of holmium laser enucleation of prostate (HoLEP) with preservation of longitudinal urethral mucosa at 12 o’clock for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with small-medium gland.Method:From October 2018 to April 2021, 256 patients diagnosed BPH with small-medium gland(prostate volume 30-60 ml)were retrospectively analyzed, including general information, way of operation, intraoperative parameters and follow-up data. From October 2018 to June 2020, 186 BPH patients underwent conventional HoLEP, which did not retain longitudinal urethral mucosa at 12 o’clock as a conventional operation group. From July 2020 to April 2021, 70 BPH patients underwent modified HoLEP, which retained longitudinal urethral mucosa at 12 o’clock as a modified operation group. There was no significant difference between the two groups( P>0.05) in term of the age[(70.5±4.4)years old vs.(68.5±3.2)years old], Q max[(7.5±2.8)ml/s vs.(7.5±2.1)ml/s], IPSS[(20.3±4.6)vs.(21.4±3.7)], QOL[(4.5±1.0)vs.(4.2±1.4)], postvoid residual volume[(126.9±29.36)ml vs.(132.2±32.3)ml], PSA[(1.5±1.3)ng/ml vs.(1.8±1.1)ng/ml] and prostate volume[(48.1±11.1)ml vs.(48.0±12.7)ml]. Both groups were treated with "trefoil" enucleation of prostate. The modified group was improved compared with the conventional group by retaining a 12 o’clock longitudinal urethra mucosa from the bladder neck to the apex of the prostate. The technical improvements were as follows: ①the left lobe of prostate was removed from at 5 o’clock at the verumontanum to 1 o’clock at the prostate apex along the gap between the hyperplasia gland and the surgical envelope; ②the right lobe was removed from 7 o’clock at the verumontanum to 11 o’clock at the apex; ③the urethra mucous membrane was cut vertically from 1 and 11 o’clock at the bladder neck to 1 and 11 o’clock at the apex respectively, and retaining the longitudinal mucous membrane between 11 and 1 o’clock (including 12 o’clock). Efficacy and postoperative complications of the two groups were compared. Results:The difference between the conventional group and the modified group in operation time[(36.5±10.4)min vs.(40.7±9.7)min], enucleated glandular weight[(35.5±12.2)g vs.(31.6±10.4)g], hemoglobin decline[(6.1±2.2)g/L vs.(5.6±2.5) g/L], postoperative hospitalization time [(1.2±0.2)d vs.(1.5±0.4)d]and catheter indwelling duration[(2.3±1.3)d vs.(2.0±1.0)d] were not statistically significant ( P>0.05). There were 252 patients for follow-up, including 183 cases in the conventional group and 69 cases in the modified group, and 4 cases were lost to follow-up. Mean time of follow-up was 8.4 months. In both groups, postoperative IPSS were 5.4±2.3 and 5.9±1.2 respectively, QOL1.5±0.3 and 2.0±1.0 respectively, Q max(24.3±9.2)ml/s and (22.5±11.3)ml/s respectively and postvoid residual volume (8.3±4.5)ml and (7.7±2.9)ml respectively, which were significantly different from that before the operation ( P<0.05). However, there was not significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). The postoperative immediate urinary continence rate of the conventional group and modified group were 85.2% (156/183), 98.6% (68/69), respectively, and two groups had statistical differences ( P<0.05). Incidence of postoperative bladder neck contraction were 4.4% (8/183) and 0 respectively in the conventional and modified group, whose difference was significant( P<0.05). Conclusions:HoLEP with preservation of longitudinal urethral mucosa at 12 o'clock is the same effective as conventional operation in the treatment of BPH with small-medium gland, likewise it could significantly improve immediate urinary continence rate and reduce the incidence of bladder neck contraction.

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 21 patients diagnosed with BPH combined with mild urethra stenosis from January 2018 to December 2020. 12 patients underwent holmium laser enucleation of prostate (HoLEP). There were 3 cases of serious urethra stenosis requiring repeat surgical treatment after surgery, 9 cases of unobstructed voiding, 4 cases of reverse ejaculation and 2 cases of temporary urinary incontinence. 9 patients underwent laparoscopic simple prostatectomy (LSP) and all patients had unobstructed voiding. There were no cases of severe urethral stricture, temporary urinary incontinence and retrograde ejaculation in LSP group. LSP has reduced the risk of a repeat urethral surgery because of transurethral operation increasing the degree of urethra stenosis.

【Objective】 To explore the application value of vesicourethral anastomosis with maximal urethral length preservation (MULP) and bladder neck preservation (BNP) in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) or robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) for high-risk prostate cancer (HRPC) in terms of early urinary continence and oncology. 【Methods】 Clinical data of 23 HRPC patients who underwent LRP (including RALP) with MULP and BNP in our hospital during May 2022 and Jan.2024 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients’ basic information, surgical parameters, postoperative complications, oncological outcomes and urinary incontinence were collected and analyzed. 【Results】 All operations were completed successfully without conversion to open surgery.The operation time was (108±31) min, average blood loss (112±45) mL, hospital stay (5.5±1.5) days, urethral catheterization time (12.6±1.8) days, and no patient received blood transfusion during operation.The urinary continence rates at the time of catheter removal, and at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery were 39.1%, 65.2%, 73.9%, and 91.3%, respectively.Two patients had positive margins, both of which were at the neurovascular bundle.No patient developed surgery-related complications, urinary obstruction or fistula after surgery. 【Conclusion】 Vesicourethral anastomosis with MULP and BNP in LRP for HRPC can effectively improve patients’ early urinary continence rate and postoperative quality of life without increasing the oncological risk.