Patient-perceived effectiveness and impact on quality of life of solifenacin in combination with an α-blocker in men with overactive bladder in Sweden: a non-interventional study

Are We missing out the role of oxytocin in overactive bladder syndrome?

Overactive bladder (OAB) is characterized by the storage symptoms of urgency with or without urgency incontinence. Although there is no clear cause of this idiopathic disease, overall prevalence of OAB symptoms in individuals aged 40 years old is more than 15%. Oxytocin, which is one of the most powerful contracting neuropeptide, was also shown to exhibit high intrinsic contractile activity on detrusor muscle. Oxytocin receptor antagonists that inhibit of bladder activity might offer new insights into the treatment of OAB.

Effects of Tamsulosin Combined With Solifenacin on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: Evidence From a Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Trial Sequential Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

This study is aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy of tamsulosin combined with solifenacin and provide clinical evidence for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and Wanfang data information service platform were searched to select randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of tamsulosin combined with solifenacin in the treatment of BPH with LUTS. After extraction of the data, the statistical information was calculated by means of STATA 12.0. The publication bias was calculated using Egger's test and Begg's funnel plot. A total of 17 articles contained 1,870 patients treated with tamsulosin in combination with solifenacin and 1,897 patients treated with tamsulosin only were included in this study. Results show that tamsulosin combined with solifenacin therapy was more effective in reducing the Total International Prostate Symptom Score (TIPSS), Storage International Prostate Symptom Score (SIPSS), Quality of life (QOL), and Overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS) in comparison with tamsulosin monotherapy treatment. However, it was found that the combination therapy may increase levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and the maximal urinary flow rate (QMAX). Differences between the combination therapy and tamsulosin monotherapy were not statistically significant for urgency episodes per 24 h, micturitions per 24 h, Voiding International Prostate Symptom Score (VIPSS), and postvoid residual volume (PVR). Tamsulosin combined with solifenacin therapy is more effective than tamsulosin monotherapy for the treatment of BPH concurrent with LUTS and won't increase the risk of dysuria.

Epidemiology and risk factors of lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia and erectile dysfunction

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is very common in aging men and causes lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), which decrease health-related quality of life. A number of evidence suggests that other than ageing, modifiable factors, such as increasing prostate volume, obesity, diet, dyslipidemia, hormonal imbalance, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, alcohol, and smoking, also contribute to the development of BPH and/or LUTS. More recently, erectile dysfunction (ED) has been linked to LUTS/BPH as a part of this syndrome, suggesting that patients with BPH or LUTS easily develop ED, and that LUTS/BPH symptoms often coexist with ED. This article focuses on the epidemiology and risk factors of the combined phenotype LUTS/BPH - ED.

Treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia and erectile dysfunction

This article summarizes years of challenging research on erectile dysfunction (ED), a condition that has an important social and cultural relevance. Preclinical and clinical research progress has led to new therapeutic approaches to ED in patients with different comorbidities and particularly in those with low urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)/benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). These goals were possible only by combined work of specialists and researchers of different and intertwined medical disciplines. Currently, tadalafil (5 mg/d) is the best choice; other phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i) are not included among options, despite the growing evidence of therapeutic effects. Different regimens of tadalafil may be prescribed based on patient needs, severity of LUTS/BPH - ED profile, and clinical experience. An integrated approach is necessary to choose for a combined therapy with PDE5i and α-blockers following urological and cardiac counseling in terms of outcomes and adverse effects.