Periprostatic fat thickness measured on MRI correlates with lower urinary tract symptoms, erectile function, and benign prostatic hyperplasia progression

Specificities of mammary and periprostatic adipose tissues: A perspective from cancer research

In addition to the major subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues (AT), other adipose depots are dispersed throughout the body and are found in close interaction with proximal organs such as mammary and periprostatic AT (MAT and PPAT respectively). These ATs have an effect on proximal organ function during physiological processes and diseases such as cancer. We highlighted here some of their most distinctive features in terms of tissular organization and responses to external stimuli and discussed how obesity affects them based on our current knowledge.

Periprostatic Adipose Tissue: A New Perspective for Diagnosing and Treating Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common tumor of the male genitourinary system. It will eventually progress to fatal metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, for which treatment options are limited. Adipose tissues are distributed in various parts of the body. They have different morphological structures and functional characteristics and are associated with the development of various tumors. Periprostatic adipose tissue (PPAT) is the closest white visceral adipose tissue to the prostate and is part of the PCa tumor microenvironment. Studies have shown that PPAT is involved in PCa development, progression, invasion, and metastasis through the secretion of multiple active molecules. Factors such as obesity, diet, exercise, and organochlorine pesticides can affect the development of PCa indirectly or directly through PPAT. Based on the mechanism of PPAT's involvement in regulating PCa, this review summarized various diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for PCa with potential applications to assess the progression of patients' disease and improve clinical outcomes.

Combination therapy with curcumin plus tamsulosin and finasteride in the treatment of men with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a single center, randomized control study

Background

To perform a prospective, randomized, single center study to investigate the efficacy of combined use of curcumin, an anti-inflammatory agent, with the best standard management (BSM, tamsulosin and finasteride) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients.

Methods

One hundred and twenty-two consecutive patients were randomized to receive tamsulosin 0.2 mg, finasteride 5 mg, and curcumin 2,250 mg once a day (curcumin + BSM group, n=61) versus tamsulosin 0.2 mg, finasteride 5 mg, and placebo (BSM group, n=61) for 6 months. The safety of treatments and their efficacy on improving waist circumference (WC), periprostatic fat thickness (PPFT), lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and sexual function were assessed at baseline and month 6.

Results

One hundred and sixteen patients completed the whole procedure (116/122, 95.1%). There were significant improvements in prostate volume (PV), maximum flow rate (Qmax), the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), IPSS-voiding subscore (IPSS-V), IPSS-storage subscore (IPSS-S), and quality of life (QoL) from baseline after treatment in both groups. Additionally, both WC and PPFT decreased significantly after treatments than those at baseline in the curcumin + BSM group. Also, WC and PPFT in the curcumin + BSM group were significantly lower than those in the BSM group. In addition, IPSS-S, QoL score, and the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) in the curcumin + BSM group improved significantly compared with those in the BSM group.

Conclusions

We conclude that curcumin combined with tamsulosin and finasteride has more beneficial effects in reducing PPFT, protecting erectile function, improving urinary retention symptoms, and QoL scores in BPH patients compared to tamsulosin and finasteride alone.

Trial Registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100043800.

How obesity affects the benefits of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate for the treatment of male lower urinary tract symptoms

Objectives:

Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) can be used regardless of prostate size and offers durable long-term results for patients suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)/benign prostatic obstruction (BPO), with reduced perioperative morbidity. In most western societies almost half of the population are overweight, and obesity itself is often a risk factor for surgical treatment of patients. We therefore analysed the impact of body mass index (BMI) on outcomes and perioperative morbidity in patients undergoing HoLEP for LUTS at our tertiary referral centre.

Methods:

We retrospectively collected data for 877 patients who underwent HoLEP for LUTS/BPO between 2014 and 2018 and divided patients into group 1 (BMI<25), 2 (BMI 25<30), and 3 (BMI⩾30). We analysed perioperative parameters, safety, and short-term functional outcomes.

Results:

In preoperative patient characteristics we observed a similar LUTS profile throughout our patient cohorts. The highest proportion of ASA score ⩾III was observed in the obese patient cohort. Enucleation time was significantly prolonged in morbidly obese patients and operative speed was significantly slower, without difference in perioperative complications. Functional outcomes were assessed 30 days post-surgery with significant improvement in IPSS, quality of life (QoL) and Qmax for all groups.

Conclusion:

Although operating on overweight and obese patients takes significantly longer, HoLEP is efficient and offers acceptable perioperative complication rates even in morbidly obese patients (BMI⩾30).

Level of evidence:

Not applicable.