Erectile Dysfunction/therapy* ; Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy ; High-Energy Shock Waves ; Humans ; Male ; Singapore

PURPOSE: To evaluate predictors of the success rate for one session of shock wave lithotripsy (SWL), focusing on the relationships between pretreatment hydronephrosis grade and one-session SWL success rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 1824 consecutive patients who underwent an initial session of SWL for treatment of urinary stones between 2005 and 2013 were reviewed. After exclusion, 700 patients with a single, 4–20 mm diameter radiopaque calculus were included in the study. RESULTS: The mean maximal stone length (MSL) and skin-to-stone distance were 9.2±3.9 and 110.8±18.9 mm, respectively. The average values for mean stone density (MSD) and stone heterogeneity index (SHI) were 707.0±272.1 and 244.9±110.1, respectively. One-session success rates were 68.4, 75.0, 75.1, 54.0, and 10.5% in patients with hydronephrosis grade 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Patients were classified into success or failure groups based on SWL outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that MSL [odds ratio (OR) 0.888, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.841–0.934, p<0.001], MSD (OR 0.996, 95% CI: 0.995–0.997, p<0.001), SHI (OR 1.007, 95% CI: 1.005–1.010, p<0.001), and pretreatment hydronephrosis grade (OR 0.601, 95% CI: 0.368–0.988, p=0.043) were significantly associated with one-session success. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment grades 3 or 4 hydronephrosis were associated with failure of SWL in patients with a single ureteral stone. In the presence of severe hydronephrosis, especially hydronephrosis grade 4; physicians should proceed cautiously in choosing and offering SWL as the primary treatment for ureteral stone.
Calculi ; High-Energy Shock Waves ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis* ; Lithotripsy* ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Population Characteristics ; Shock* ; Ureter* ; Ureteral Calculi ; Urinary Calculi

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the factors affecting prognosis of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) for chronic refractory Achilles tendinopathy (AT). METHODS: Thirty-six patients (48 consecutive feet) with chronic AT (>6 months) and who underwent ESWT for ‘poor’ or ‘fair’ grade in Roles-Maudsley Score (RMS) after unsuccessful conservative treatment were included in the present study. A maximum of 12 sessions of ESWT were conducted until treatment success: RMS reached ‘good’ or ‘excellent’. Termination of ESWT for no response, or ‘poor’ or ‘fair’ grade was regarded as treatment failure. Immediate outcome, long-term outcome (telephone interview after mean 26 months), and factors affecting treatment success were analyzed. RESULTS: Numeric Rating Scale was significantly decreased at immediate and long-term follow-up. Success rate was 71.1% and 90.3%, respectively. Univariate logistic regression identified that immediate treatment success was associated with retrocalcaneal enthesophyte on X-ray (odds ratio [OR], 0.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01–0.28), pretreatment abnormal ultrasonography echogenicity within Achilles tendon (OR, 18.89; 95% CI, 2.08–171.96), mean duration of ‘post-treatment soreness’ (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.33–0.94), and duration of ‘post-treatment soreness after first ESWT’ (OR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01–0.34). The duration of ‘post-treatment soreness after first ESWT’ was found to be the only factor associated with long-term success (OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.10–0.99). CONCLUSION: ESWT appears to be effective in achieving long-term success in chronic refractory AT. Immediate success was associated with absence of retrocalcaneal enthesophyte on X-ray, presence of pretreatment abnormal ultrasonography echogenicity, shorter mean duration of ‘post-treatment soreness’, and shorter duration of ‘post-treatment soreness after first ESWT’. The shorter duration of ‘post-treatment soreness after first ESWT’ was identified as the only positive prognostic parameter in achieving long-term success.
Achilles Tendon ; Follow-Up Studies ; High-Energy Shock Waves ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Prognosis* ; Tendinopathy* ; Treatment Failure ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of extracorporeal shock-wave therapy (ESWT) applied at the muscle belly and myotendinous junction on spasticity in the upper and lower limbs of chronic stroke patients. METHODS: Of the 151 patients, a total of 80 patients with stroke-induced spasticity on the elbow flexor and 44 patients on the knee flexor were enrolled for a prospective, randomized clinical trial. The patients were divided into control, muscle belly, and myotendinous junction groups, and a total of three ESWT sessions (0.068–0.093 mJ/mm², 1,500 shots) were conducted at one per week. A Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) were collected at the baseline and at 1 week after each session. RESULTS: After interventions, the MAS and MTS of both the belly and the junction groups showed positive effects from the ESWT on spasticity in the elbow and knee flexors, but the control group did not. The results also tended to improve after each session until the entire intervention was completed. However, there was no significant difference between the belly and junction groups. CONCLUSION: ESWT could be effective for treating chronic spasticity after stroke when applied to muscle belly or myotendinous junction.
Elbow ; High-Energy Shock Waves ; Humans ; Knee ; Lower Extremity ; Muscle Spasticity* ; Prospective Studies ; Stroke*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the effects and outcomes of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Of the 78 patients recruited for the study, 61 patients met the inclusion criteria. The enrolled patients were randomly divided into two groups: the ESWT group and the HA group. The ESWT group underwent 3 sessions of 1,000 shockwave pulses performed on the affected knee with the dosage adjusted to 0.05 mJ/mm² energy. The HA group was administered intra-articular HA once a week for 3 weeks with a 1-week interval between each treatment. The results were measured with the visual analogue scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Lequesne index, 40-m fast-paced walk test, and stair-climb test (SCT). A baseline for each test was measured before treatment and then the effects of the treatments were measured by each test at 1 and 3 months after treatment. RESULTS: In both groups, the scores of the VAS, WOMAC, Lequesne index, 40-m fast-paced walk test, and SCT were significantly improved in a time-dependent manner (p<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences measured at 1 and 3 months after treatment between the two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The ESWT can be an alternative treatment to reduce pain and improve physical functions in patients with knee OA.
High-Energy Shock Waves ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid* ; Injections, Intra-Articular* ; Knee* ; Ontario ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteoarthritis, Knee* ; Shock

BACKGROUND: Ultrasonography has been established as one of the important diagnostic tools in detecting and classifying ovarian masses. Several studies have been made in determining the sensitivity and specificity of the different scoring systems as to determining the malignancy of ovarian masses. In a tertiary hospital ultrasound diagnostic unit, three scoring systems are utilized namely Lerner, Sassone and IOTA simple rules.
OBJECTIVE: To determine and compare the sensitivity and specificity on the most utilized ultrasound scoring systems in determining malignancy of ovarian masses.
METHODS: A single center observational, analytical, cross-sectional study utilizing review of the transvaginal or pelvic ultrasound results of women with ovarian masses that were scored using Sassone, Lerner and IOTA Simple Rules in a tertiary hospital ultrasound diagnostics unit from January 2013 to June 2016 was done. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of each scoring system utilized was determined and compared with the histopathologic result.
RESULTS: Out of the 111 ovarian masses that were included in the study, 44 ovarian masses were scored using Lerner Scoring system with a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 100%, 65% 22.2% and 100%. 105 ovarian masses screened using Sassone Scoring System showed a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 100%, 68%, 20.5% and 100%. A total of 33 out of the 111 ovarian masses were scored using the IOTA scoring system with a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 100%, 85.6%, 55.5% and 100%.
CONCLUSION: IOTA simple rules had a high sensitivity and specificity compared to Sassone or Lerner Scoring System. However, we cannot fully conclude that individual specificity will be better than combined tests since there is limited number of ovarian masses analyzed.

Human ; Female ; High-energy Shock Waves ; Neoplasms ; Pelvis ; Sensitivity And Specificity ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Ultrasonics ; Ovary

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) on hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP) syndrome. METHODS: In this monocentric, randomized, patient-assessor blinded, placebo-controlled trial, patients with HSP were randomly divided into the rESWT (n=17) and control (n=17) groups. Treatment was administered four times a week for 2 weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Constant-Murley score (CS) were assessed before and after treatment, and at 2 and 4 weeks. The Modified Ashworth Scale and Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores and range of motion of the shoulder were also assessed. RESULTS: VAS scores improved post-intervention and at the 2-week and 4-week follow-up in the intervention group (p<0.05). Respective differences in VAS scores between baseline and post-intervention in the intervention and control groups were -1.69±1.90 and -0.45±0.79, respectively (p<0.05), between baseline and 2-week follow-up in the intervention and control groups were -1.60±1.74 and -0.34±0.70, respectively (p<0.05), and between baseline and 4-week follow-up in the intervention and control groups were -1.61±1.73 and -0.33±0.71, respectively (p<0.05). Baseline CS improved from 19.12±11.02 to 20.88±10.37 post-intervention and to 20.41±10.82 at the 2-week follow-up only in the intervention group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: rESWT consisting of eight sessions could be one of the effective and safe modalities for pain management in people with HSP. Further studies are needed to generalize and support these results in patients with HSP and a variety conditions, and to understand the mechanism of rESWT for treating HSP.
Follow-Up Studies ; Hemiplegia ; High-Energy Shock Waves ; Humans ; Pain Management ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Shock* ; Shoulder Pain* ; Shoulder* ; Stroke ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) on hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP) syndrome. METHODS: In this monocentric, randomized, patient-assessor blinded, placebo-controlled trial, patients with HSP were randomly divided into the rESWT (n=17) and control (n=17) groups. Treatment was administered four times a week for 2 weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Constant-Murley score (CS) were assessed before and after treatment, and at 2 and 4 weeks. The Modified Ashworth Scale and Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores and range of motion of the shoulder were also assessed. RESULTS: VAS scores improved post-intervention and at the 2-week and 4-week follow-up in the intervention group (p<0.05). Respective differences in VAS scores between baseline and post-intervention in the intervention and control groups were -1.69±1.90 and -0.45±0.79, respectively (p<0.05), between baseline and 2-week follow-up in the intervention and control groups were -1.60±1.74 and -0.34±0.70, respectively (p<0.05), and between baseline and 4-week follow-up in the intervention and control groups were -1.61±1.73 and -0.33±0.71, respectively (p<0.05). Baseline CS improved from 19.12±11.02 to 20.88±10.37 post-intervention and to 20.41±10.82 at the 2-week follow-up only in the intervention group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: rESWT consisting of eight sessions could be one of the effective and safe modalities for pain management in people with HSP. Further studies are needed to generalize and support these results in patients with HSP and a variety conditions, and to understand the mechanism of rESWT for treating HSP.
Follow-Up Studies ; Hemiplegia ; High-Energy Shock Waves ; Humans ; Pain Management ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Shock* ; Shoulder Pain* ; Shoulder* ; Stroke ; Visual Analog Scale

Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (LI-ESWT) is a novel treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED). With the property of angiogenesis, LI-ESWT acts on vasculogenic ED by improving penile hemodynamics and endothelial function. LI-ESWT is proved to be safe and effective in the treatment of vasculogenic ED in various prospective clinical studies, including randomized, double-blind, and sham-controlled trails. With more multi-centered larger-sample randomized controlled trials, LI-ESWT will play a valuable role in the treatment of ED.
Erectile Dysfunction ; therapy ; High-Energy Shock Waves ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; physiopathology ; Prospective Studies ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Ultrasonic Therapy

BACKGROUNDRoughly focused extracorporeal shock waves therapy (ESWT) is characterized by a wide focal area, a large therapy zone, easy positioning, and less pain during treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of roughly focused ESWT on the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) in osteoporotic fractures in rats.

METHODSSeventy-two female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, 3 months old, were divided into sham-operated group (n = 6) and an ovariectomized (OVX) group (n = 66). Sixty OVX SD rats were used as a model of double proximal tibial osteotomy and inner fixation. The osteotomy site in the left tibia was treated with roughly focused ESWT once at an energy density of 0.26 mJ/mm2, 60 doses/min, and 2000 pact quantities. The contralateral right tibia was left untreated and served as a control. Expression of OPG and BMP-2 in the callus of the osteoporotic fracture area was assessed using immunohistochemistry, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and Western blotting analysis.

RESULTSBone mineral density (BMD) at the proximal tibia, femur, and L5 spine was significantly reduced after ovariectomy. BMD of proximal tibia was 12.9% less in the OVX group than that in the sham-operated group. Meanwhile, bilateral oophorectomy resulted in a lower trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV) in the proximal tibia of the sham-OVX animals. Three months after bilateral oophorectomy, BV/TV was 14.29% of baseline BV/TV in OVX legs versus 45.91% in the sham-OVX legs (P < 0.001). These data showed that the SD rats became a suitable model of osteoporosis, 3 months after they were OVX. Immunohistochemical analysis showed higher levels of BMP-2 and OPG expression in the treatment group than those in the control group. Compared with the contralateral controls, decreased expression of OPG and BMP-2 at 3 days after roughly focused ESWT, followed by a later increase at 7 days, was indicated by real-time PCR and Western blotting analysis. The OPG messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels peaked at 6 weeks after the shock wave treatment, paired with a much earlier (at 4 weeks) increase of BMP-2, and declined close to normal at 8 weeks.

CONCLUSIONSRoughly focused ESWT may promote the expression of OPG and BMP-2 in the osteoporotic fracture area in rats. BMP-2 and OPG may act synergistically and may lead to a significant enhancement of bone formation and remodeling.

Animals ; Bone Density ; radiation effects ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; metabolism ; Female ; Femur ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Fracture Healing ; radiation effects ; High-Energy Shock Waves ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; metabolism ; therapy ; Osteoprotegerin ; metabolism ; Ovariectomy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tibia ; metabolism ; radiation effects