OBJECTIVE: Urolithiasis, a common problem in medicine, poses a significant burden with prevalenceof 1-15%. Potassium citrate therapy has become one of the cornerstones of medical stone managementwith hypocitraturia being the most common metabolic problem in stone formers. The authorsdetermined the effects of potassium citrate on urinary metabolic profiles and its impact on stoneburden among Filipino stone formers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a prospective, cohort study in patients seen at the UST Hospital between2016 and 2018. Twenty-four hour urine citrate levels, stone sizes and urine pH pre-therapy and post-therapy were analyzed. RESULTS: Significant changes in urinary citrate, pH and stone sizes were noted as soon as 3 months afterthe onset of therapy. These changes included increase in urinary pH (6.1 to 6.7; p=0.001), increase inurinary citrate (109.1 to 253.4mg/day; p<0.001) and decrease in stone size (0.56 to 0.37cm; p=0.037).The changes in the urine citrate and the changes in the stone size were not correlated using the Pearsoncorrelation scatter plot. CONCLUSION Potassium citrate therapy provides a significant alkali and citraturic treatment among Filipino stone formers. However, there is no significant correlation between changes in stone size and changes in urine citrate level.

OBJECTIVE: MRI-Ultrasound fusion guided targeted biopsy has revolutionized the diagnosis of prostatecancer through accurate identification, localization and characterization of prostatic lesions utilizingthe prostate imaging reporting and data system (PI-RADS) scoring system by multiparametric MRI(MPMRI). The fusion prostate biopsy system on the other hand, enables accurate targeting and easyaccess of the tumor. The study objective is to determine the detection rate of clinically-significantprostate cancer using fusion biopsy, and to establish the correlation between PI-RADS score andGleason's score. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to determine the correlation betweenPI-RADS score and the presence of prostate cancer using MRI-Ultrasound fusion guided transperinealprostate biopsy. This was carried out from June 2017 to July 2018 in a single institution. One hundredthirty five (135) men were included in this study. They presented with an elevated PSA, abnormalDRE or a previous negative prostate biopsy, but with a persistent rise in PSA. A total of 220 prostatelesions were identified. The following characteristics were measured: patient age; the size, location,the PI-RADS score of each lesion, the maximum PI-RADS score for select patients; and the Gleasonscore of discovered tumors. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty PI-RADS 3, 4 and 5 lesions were detected in 135 patients by MPMRI.131 of the 220 lesions were scored as PI-RADS 3, 61 as PI-RADS 4 and 28 as PI-RADS 5. Theselesions were biopsied using the MRI-Ultrasound fusion guided transperineal prostate biopsy system.Thirty-three out of the 131 PI-RADS 3 lesions (25.2%), 44 out of the 61 PI-RADS 4 lesions (72.1%)and 24 out of the 28 PI-RADS 5 lesions (85.7%) respectively were positive for malignancy. Overall,there were 101 (45.9%) lesions classified as PI-RADS 3 to 5 that were positive for prostate carcinoma.Seventy four (74) of the 135 patients (54.8%) were diagnosed with prostate adenocarcinoma. Nineteenout of 65 patients with a maximum score of PI-RADS 3 (29.2%), 33 of 44 with a maximum of PI-RADS 4 (75%) and 22 of 26 with a maximum of PI-RADS 5 (84.6%) harbored malignancy. In termsof location, 45 of the 101 (44.6%) malignancies were in the peripheral sector, 31 (30.7%) in theanterior sector, and 25 (24.8%) in the central sector of the prostate. The mean Gleason grade of PI-RADS 3, 4 and 5 lesions were 6.61, 7.73, and 7.38, respectively. Using Spearman correlation, the rhocoefficient was 0.3153 (p-value =.00013) which denotes a significant positive relationship betweenGleason and PI-RADS score. CONCLUSION This is the first comprehensive Philippine study on Multiparametric MRI-Ultrasoundfusion-guided transperineal prostate biopsy. Present data validate the superiority of MPMRI in theidentification, localization and characterization of prostate cancers. The authors also verified thepositive correlation between PI-RADS score and Gleason score. Finally, they demonstrated theaccuracy of the MRI- ultrasound fusion-guided transperineal prostate biopsy system in targetingprostate lesions.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to compare the voiding pattern of toilet-trained patientswith and without recurrent UTI, to describe the voiding pattern of toilet-trained patients withoutUTI aged 2 to 15 years old and to describe the voiding pattern of toilet trained patients with recurrentUTI aged 2 to 15 years old. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 80 toilet-trained Filipino children divided into two groups with 40each were included. R-UTI group consisted of patients aged 2 to 15 years old who presented withrecurrent UTI. The control (No-UTI) group consisted of children aged 2 to 15 years old without anyurinary symptoms and without history of urinary tract infection. Parents completed a 72-hour bladderchart at home. All participants answered Farhat's DVSS. Patients underwent uroflowmetry,uroflowmetry with EMG and post void residual assessment (PVR). Qmax, uroflowmetry pattern,bladder wall thickness and PVR were recorded and analyzed using independent t-test. RESULTS: The mean age of subjects with UTI was 6.32 ± 2.77 years and those in the control group havea mean age 6.67 ± 2.77 years old. Of patients of R-UTI group the following were statisticallysignificant compared to No-UTI : Constipation (48% vs 15%), mean frequency of voiding volumesgreater than 125% of the estimated bladder capacity (EBC) at daytime (0.8 ± 0.22 vs 0.05 ± 1.20p=0.0002), frequency (45% vs 5%), mean average voided volume (126.54 ± 56.05 mL vs 84.34 ±34.26 mL p=0.0001), mean daytime average voided volume (121.33 ± 59.59 mL vs 87.90 ± 36.41mL p =0.0033), mean maximum voided volume (232.25 ± 113.99 mL vs 130.85 ± 49.99 mLp<0.0001), mean bladder thickness (3.83 ± 0.68 mm vs 3.38 ± 0.62 mm p = 0.0030), mean PVR(12.96 ± 10.54 mL vs 5.21 ± 5.68 mL p=0.0001). PVR was significant in 45% of cases compared to3% significant PVR (when 4-6 years old defined as >10ml or >10%of EBC, and if >7 years old >20mlor >15% of EBC). When mean PVR was computed as percentage of EBC, R-UTI group had astatistically higher percentage compared to the no-UTI group (6.27 ± 2.52 % vs 2.52 ± 2.75 %p=0.0001). Mean observed bladder capacity (OBC) was found to be more than the EBC in 35% ofcases in the R-UTI group compared to 12% of No-UTI group (p=0.018). Uroflow-EMG in the R-UTI group were, 85% synergic, 12% dyssynergic and 3% interrupted pattern. EMG in the No-UTIgroup were, 38% synergic, 55% dyssynergic, 2% delayed relaxation, 5% interrupted. The EMGpatterns were statistically significant between the groups (p<0.0001). Uroflow patterns werecomparable between the two groups (p=1.000). CONCLUSION Constipation was more frequent in the R-UTI group. R-UTI group had a higher meanfrequency of EBC > 125% during daytime, frequency, mean average voided volume, mean averagevoided volume during daytime, mean maximum voided volume, mean bladder thickness, mean PVRcompared to the without UTI group. Mean observed bladder capacity was observed to be greater thanthe EBC in the R-UTI group compared to the No-UTI group. R-UTI group was synergic compared toNo-UTI group which were dyssynergic.

: Transurethral incision of ureterocele (TUI-U) is a simple, quick, less invasive, and less expensive,and an effective procedure for the management of ureteroceles. Several studies have already shownits utility for primary management of ureteroceles but it has also been associated with the need foradditional surgery. The authors reviewed charts of patients from their database to describe the outcomesof TUI-U done in ureteroceles associated with the upper pole moiety of a duplex system. They alsolooked into preoperative patient characteristics and post TUI-U outcomes that could influence theneed for subsequent surgeries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors identified patients from their duplex system database who presentedwith a ureterocele and underwent TUI-U. They reviewed the patient records of 25 patients who wereincluded in the study to determine the outcomes of TUI-U in duplex system ureteroceles. Chi squareand Mann Whitney U tests were used to determine whether preoperative patient features and postTUI-U outcomes were associated with secondary surgery. RESULTS: Out of 65 patients who had duplex system ureteroceles, 25 patients (38.4%) underwent TUI-U at a mean age of 1.51 years old. TUI-U alone was successful in improving the prevalent signs andsymptoms of 15 patients (60%) in this group, while 10 patients (40%) had to undergo subsequentsurgical procedures. Breakthrough urinary tract infection (UTI) post TUI-U was the only patientfactor noted to be significantly associated with a secondary surgery for duplex system ureterocele(p=0.027). CONCLUSION TUI-U as primary treatment for duplex system ureteroceles is not yet widely accepteddue to reported rates of morbidities and need for secondary surgery. Present data however show thatTUI-U can be used as a primary procedure and even as a definitive procedure for this subset ofpatients with remarkable results in terms of symptoms resolution and improvement of upper tract profiles.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of surgical intervention for ureteral duplication is to decrease the risk ofinfections, preserve renal function and avoid bladder dysfunction. The objective of this study was todetermine if there is a difference in outcome between total reconstruction of the urinary tract, anupper tract approach, or a lower tract approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The outcomes of partial nephrectomy, common sheath re- implantation, totalreconstruction and transurethral incision of ureterocele were pooled and compared against eachother. Primary outcome criteria included breakthrough infection, voiding dysfunction and need for asecond surgery. Procedural dependence of the primary outcomes for each surgery was analyzed usingChi square test. Odds ratio was then computed for each procedure with total reconstruction as thestandard. Logistic regression analysis of the odds ratio was done to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: A total of 128 patients were included in the study. Breakthrough infection was seen in 18.8%of those who underwent partial nephrectomy, 23.8% of those who underwent re- implantation, 19.4%of those who underwent total reconstruction, and 46.4% of those patients who underwent TUI-U.Only 1 patient from the partial nephrectomy group and 1 patient from the total reconstruction groupexperienced voiding dysfunction. Of the 23 patients who underwent TUI-U, 5 (17.9%) needed asecondary procedure, while 3 from the partial nephrectomy, and none from the re-implantation andtotal reconstruction groups required re-operations. Analysis showed that breakthrough urinary tractinfection is dependent on the type of procedure. Using total reconstruction as the standard, the oddsratio for partial nephrectomy is 0.962, 1.302 for common sheath re-implantation and 3.611 for TUI-U. Logistic regression analysis showed statistical difference in the odds ratio of TUI-U and totalreconstruction. CONCLUSION Breakthrough infection is shown to be dependent on the procedure. TUI-U has a 3.6-foldhigher chance of breakthrough infection compared to total reconstruction, hence up to 18% of patientswho opt for TUI-U should be counseled regarding the need for a secondary operation. The odds ofbreakthrough infection in common sheath re-implantation and partial nephrectomy is not significantlydifferent from total reconstruction. No evidence was established regarding the dependence of re-operations and voiding dysfunction to the primary procedure.

OBJECTIVES: Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is a common abnormality of the urinary tract in children andremains a dilemma that is commonly seen by physicians. Unrecognized VUR associated with UTImay lead to long term effects on renal function and overall patient health. To date, there is no currentstudy on voiding patterns of children presenting as recurrent UTI with and without VUR. In thisstudy, the authors aim to determine if there is a difference in the voiding pattern of toilet trainedFilipino children with UTI between those with and without VUR and to see if there is associationbetween these parameters with the degree of VUR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study employed a prospective research design. Population consisted ofpediatric patients seen in the clinic diagnosed as a case of UTI documented with positive urineculture. Voiding cystourethrogram was done to determine presence or absence of VUR. The procedurewas done by a single Urologist at a single institution. The patients were then subdivided into 2 groups,the first group consisted of patients with UTI with VUR and another group had those with UTI butwithout VUR. A subanalysis was done to determine association depending on the degree of reflux.Logistic regression analysis, chi-square test and ANOVA were used to determine if there was anystatistically significant difference between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 223 pediatric patients with ages ranging from 2 years to 17 years with mean age of9.5 years with documented urinary tract infection were noted. Among these, only 140 patientsunderwent VCUG hence included in the study. It consists of 57 male patients (40%) and 83 femalepatients (59%). Among these patients, 65 patients (46%) had vesicoureteral reflux and 75 patients(53%) had no vesicoureteral reflux. Each patient's voiding parameters such as bladder wall thickness,bladder capacity, postvoid residual, Qmax and voiding pattern were noted and compared betweengroups. A subanalysis was also done to determine any association of these parameters to the degree ofreflux. CONCLUSION In the present series, bladder capacity was the only parameter found to be statisticallydifferent between those with and those without VUR. Furthermore, this difference was only seenamong those with grades 3, 4 and 5 refluxes. Future study must be carried out to determine its clinicalsignificance. Physicians must be vigilant and must have a high index of suspicion in dealing withpatients with episodes of febrile UTI. To date, voiding cystourethrogram is still the gold standard todiagnose this disease entity.

INTRODUCTION: One of the common risk factors in urinary tract infection is vesico-ureteral reflux. According to some studies, it is seen in 30%-50% of children and 40%-50% present with febrile urinary tract infection. The presence of moderate to severe reflux is an important risk factor in terms of acute pyelonephritis and reflux nepropathy. Investigation of children with urinary tract infection has undergone change so as to detect those who will benefit from diagnosis and treatment at the same time avoid over investigation.
OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to determine the role of ureteral jet angle (UJA) in detecting vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) as compared to the gold standard of voiding cystourethrography (VCUG).
METHODS: A total number of 152 kidneys from 76 patients (37 female and 39 males) ages from 2 months up to 11 years old were included in this study. These patients presented with recurrent urinary tract infection as confirmed via routine urinalysis and/or urine culture and sensitivity and assessed to have vesico-ureteral reflux disease as confirmed by voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG). They were included regardless of the grade of reflux (grade I-V). Patients with urinary tract infection but negative VCUG were also included. Excluded from the study were parents with no consent, patients with neurogenic bladder disorder as cause of recurrent urinary tract infection, patients who had postoperative correction of vesico-ureteral reflux prior to ureteral jet angle sonography, patients currently taking medication for urinary tract infection and patients currently symptomatic for recurrent urinary tract infection i.e. fever,chills,dysuria. All of the participants underwent kidney, urinary bladder ultrasound with ureteral jet angle sonography and all data were collected.
RESULTS: Out of 152 kidneys, vesicoureteral reflux was seen in 91 of them (60%). Low grade reflux defined as grade I or grade II reflux was present in 32 kidneys (21%) and high grade reflux defined as grade III-V reflux was seen in 59 kidneys (39%). In both right and left kidneys, no significant difference was observed in bladder volume and expected bladder capacity (EBC) by VUR status. On the other hand, there was a significant difference observed in volume to reach reflux by VUR status of both right and left kidneys. No significant difference was observed in UJA volume, EBC, EBC% and UJA degrees by VUR status in the right kidneys. On the other hand, UJA volume, EBC and EBC% was significantly different by VUR status in the left kidneys. All AUCs were less than 0.7 even if EBC was considered. Therefore, UJA may have poor ability to classify patients correctly according to their VUR status.
CONCLUSION: Doppler flow ultrasound measurement of ureteral jet angle may be a simple and real non invasive test in children of any age but it only showed poor correlation compared to voiding cystourethrography in detecting vesicoureteral reflux. The ureteral jet angle sonography may not be a good initial diagnostic test in assessing vesicoureteral reflux due to its low sensitivity and specificity in detecting the said disease.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Child ; Child Preschool ; Infant ; Dysuria ; Kidney ; Urinalysis ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Vesico-ureteral Reflux

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the surgical predictive value of both SFU and UTD classifications in a specific subset of patients presenting with high-grade (SFU 3 and 4; UTD P2 and P3) UPJO-like hydronephrosis on prenatal ultrasound. Furthermore, this study also aimed to determine the likelihood of spontaneous resolution of high grade UPJO-like hydronphrosis based on both grading systems. Methods: Patients who presented with high-grade hydronephrosis on prenatal ultrasound based on the SFU grading system (Grades 3 and 4) were included in this study. The prenatal renal ultrasounds of these patients were reclassified by a single interpreter according to the UTD classification. Logistic regression was used to test the predictive value of SFU and UTD; ROC curves were plotted accordingly. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to model time to operation and mean time to operation was computed with a 95% confidence interval. Breslow Test was used to determine significant differences in survival curves across the different SFU grades and UTD classifications. Results: Of the 163 patients in the database who presented with prenatal hydronephrosis, 25 patients presented with high-grade UPJO-like hydronephrosis (50 renal units). Logistic regression revealed that the SFU grading system was able to explain only 18.7% of the variance of the occurrence of pyeloplasty, thus, was a poor predictor of the occurrence of surgery. In contrast, logistic regression of the UTD classification was able to explain 47.3% of the occurrence of pyeloplasy with an accuracy of 86% making it a good predictor of surgical intervention. Both SFU and UTD classifications were poor predictors of spontaneous resolution. Mean time to pyeloplasty from the time of diagnosis was 2.98 years (95% CI: 2.45-3.53) Kaplan-Meier curve analysis for the time of pyeloplasty for the SFU grading system revealed no significant difference in the time to operation among the different SFU grades (p=0.110) while for the UTD classification, there was a significant difference in time to pyeloplasty across the different UTD classes with the higher classes correlating to a shorter time to pyeloplasty. (p<0.05) Conclusion The UTD classification system is a good predictor of surgery in patients presenting with high-grade UPJO-like hydronephrosis on prenatal ultrasound with a predictive accuracy of 86%. High-grade hydronephrosis based on the UTD classification equates to a shorter time to surgical intervention from the time of diagnosis necessitating closer follow-up of these patients.
Ureteral Obstruction ; Hydronephrosis

OBJECTIVE: Bladder autoaugmentation with detrusorectomy is done to improve bladder capacity and compliance in neurogenic bladders, to achieve constant low bladder pressure, preventing sequelae such as renal failure. Some reports discourage its application however citing that effects are short term and failure rates are high. We compared the pre and post-operative urodynamic profile of high risk patients undergoing autoaugmentation or enterocystoplasty to determine if it can still be used as a treatment option for neurogenic bladders.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study using the database of our spina bifida foundation was performed. Out of 382 patients, 45 underwent augmentation cystoplasty. Twenty seven (27) had followed evaluation protocol and were included in the study. The median age was 8.6 years at the time of surgery and the median years of follow up was 3.5 years. Urodynamic parameters, as well as symptom and bladder/sphincter profiles, pre- and post-operatively were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS: In the autoaugmentation group there was a 42.45% mean increase in capacity, and mean increase in compliance of 181.1% versus a 190.3% increase in capacity, and 479% increase in compliance in the enterocystoplasty group. The difference is statistically significant. There was no difference in the end filling pressure, leak point pressures, reflux, number of postoperative UTIs and incontinence. One patient in the autoaugmentation needed redo with an enterocystoplasty. Complication rates were comparable in both groups.

CONCLUSION: Autoaugmentation cystoplasty is still a viable option for surgical management of neurogenic bladders. Our data showed that in patients who underwent detrusorectomy, there was improvement of urodynamic parameters, bladder and upper tract profiles, UTIs and incontinence, which were comparable to the gold standard.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child Preschool ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic

OBJECTIVE: Neurogenic bladder dysfunction (NBD) in myelomeningocele (MMC) remains a major cause of renal decline. We evaluate the initial presentation, ultrasonographic, urodynamic and VCUG findings in search of indicators that can guide in early decisions in treatment to avoid poor long-term outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1989 to 2013, 178 patients with neurogenic bladder due to MMC had records accessible for review. The median follow up was 10.4 years (0.9 - 25.0). Parameters reviewed were: patients' initial presentation; Ultrasonography: hydronephrosis grade and bilaterality, bladder wall thickness, and kidney size; Urodynamics: compliance, Detrusor Leak Point Pressure (DLPP), bladder activity and sphincter synergy; VCUG: grade of reflux, bladder pattern, and bladder neck appearance. Endpoints to which all parameters were compared were: 1. need for surgery, 2. continence 3. renal status, and 4. follow-up urodynamics

RESULTS: Recurrent UTI at presentation was associated with 3.1 times [OR = 3.1 (95% CI: 1.3 - 8.5)] need for surgery and incontinence at presentation was 11 times [OR=11.0 (95% CI: 3.8 - 33.4)] more likely to be incontinent in the long term. Hydronephrosis was associated with 4.4 times [OR= 4.4 (95% CI: 1.3 - 19.0)] risk for renal deterioration and 6 times [OR = 6.3, (95% CI: 3.8- 14.7)] need for surgery. Those with thickened bladder were 6 times [0R=6.0 (95% CI: 2.9 - 12.5)] more likely to have needed surgery. Patients with urodynamic findings of low compliance are 2.7 times [OR 2.7(95% CI: 1.2 - 6.3)] more likely to have needed surgery and high DLLP on initial consultation are 5.6 times [OR=5.6 (95% CI: 1.2 - 51.6)] more likely to have renal deterioration and 2.1 times [OR 2.1(95% CI: 1.1 - 4.4)] more likely needing surgery. On VCUG, those with "Christmas tree" pattern of bladder have 90% [0R=0.9 (95% CI: 0.01 - 0.70)] more risk for renal deterioration, 5 [0R=5 (95% CI: 2.5 - 10.2)] times more likely to need surgery and 70% [0R=0.7 (95% CI: 0.1 - 0.9)] more likely to have urodynamic deterioration. Finally, reflux, specifically bilateral, was associated with 4 times [OR = 4.0 (95% CI: 1.2 - 14.3)] risk renal deterioration as compared to those with no reflux findings and 9.6 times [OR=9.6 (95% CI: 4.1 - 23.8)] more likely to need surgery, while high-grade reflux had 90% more risk [OR = 0.9 (95% CI: 0.1 - 0.8)] to have urodynamic deterioration.

CONCLUSIONS: Prognostication early in the course of NBD in MMC is possible. It is recommended that patients with risk factors for deterioration be provided a more intensive regimen of treatment and follow-up to prevent further morbidity.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child Preschool ; Infant ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic ; Meningomyelocele