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Vahlensieck W, Heim S, Patz B, Sahin K. Beneficial effects of pumpkin seed soft extract on lower urinary tract symptoms and quality of life in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a meta-analysis of two randomized, placebo-controlled trials over 12 months. CLINICAL PHYTOSCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s40816-022-00345-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
In clinical practice, plant extracts are an option to treat mild-to-moderate lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostate hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). However, only a few herbal extracts have been investigated in long-term placebo-controlled studies. The safety and efficacy of a well-tolerated proprietary pumpkin seed soft extract (PSE) were investigated in two randomized placebo-controlled 12-month studies (Bach and GRANU study). Both trials studied LUTS/BPH patients with an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) ≥13 points at baseline. The Bach study demonstrated positive effects of PSE compared to placebo, but no difference between treatments was observed in the GRANU study. We aimed to assess the efficacy of PSE in a meta-analysis using the patient-level data of these two studies.
Methods
Pooled analysis was performed in the intention-to-treat set using last-observation-carried-forward (ITT-LOCF). An IPSS improvement of ≥5 points after 12 months of therapy was the predefined response criterion. Logistic regression and ANCOVA models included the covariables treatment group, study, center size, and baseline IPSS. Each analysis was repeated for the per-protocol (PP) set.
Results
The ITT/PP analysis sets consisted of 687/485 and 702/488 patients in the PSE and placebo groups, respectively. At the 12-month follow-up, the response rates in the PSE group were 3% (ITT) and 5% (PP) higher than those in the placebo group. The odds ratio of response obtained by logistic regression analysis for comparing PSE versus placebo was 1.2 (95% CI 0.9, 1.5), favoring PSE (ITT- LOCF). For the IPSS change from baseline to 12 months, the ANCOVA estimated difference between the treatment groups was 0.7 points (95% CI 0.1, 1.2) in favor of PSE. The variables study, baseline IPSS, and center size had a relevant influence on treatment response.
Conclusion
Although the Bach and the GRANU study showed contradictory results, the analysis in a pooled form still pointed towards an advantage of PSE; namely, more patients in the PSE group showed an IPSS improvement of at least 5 points after 12 months. Therefore, the results of this meta-analysis suggest that patients with moderate LUTS/BPH may benefit from PSE treatment in terms of symptomatic relief.
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Abstract
A placebo is an inert substance normally used in clinical trials for comparison with an active substance. However, a placebo has been shown to have an effect on its own; commonly known as the placebo effect. A placebo is an essential component in the design of conclusive clinical trials but has itself become the focus of intense research. The placebo effect is partly the result of positive expectations of the recipient on the state of health. Conversely, a nocebo effect is when negative expectations from a substance lead to poor treatment outcomes and/or adverse events. Randomized controlled trials in functional urology have demonstrated the importance of the placebo and nocebo effects across different diseases such as overactive bladder, urinary incontinence, lower urinary tract symptoms and interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, as well as male and female sexual dysfunction. Understanding the true nature of the placebo-nocebo complex and the scope of its effect in functional urology could help urologists to maximize the positive effects of this phenomenon while minimizing its potentially negative effects.
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Ballou S, Kaptchuk TJ, Hirsch W, Nee J, Iturrino J, Hall KT, Kelley JM, Cheng V, Kirsch I, Jacobson E, Conboy L, Lembo A, Davis RB. Open-label versus double-blind placebo treatment in irritable bowel syndrome: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2017; 18:234. [PMID: 28545508 PMCID: PMC5445390 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-017-1964-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Placebo medications, by definition, are composed of inactive ingredients that have no physiological effect on symptoms. Nonetheless, administration of placebo in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and in clinical settings has been demonstrated to have significant impact on many physical and psychological complaints. Until recently, conventional wisdom has suggested that patients must believe that placebo pills actually contain (or, at least, might possibly contain) active medication in order to elicit a response to placebo. However, several recent RCTs, including patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic low back pain, and episodic migraine, have demonstrated that individuals receiving open-label placebo (OLP) can still experience symptomatic improvement and benefit from honestly described placebo treatment. METHODS AND DESIGN This paper describes an innovative multidisciplinary trial design (n = 280) that attempts to replicate and expand upon an earlier IBS OLP study. The current study will compare OLP to double-blind placebo (DBP) administration which is made possible by including a nested, double-blind RCT comparing DBP and peppermint oil. The study also examines possible genetic and psychological predictors of OLP and seeks to better understand participants' experiences with OLP and DBP through a series of extensive interviews with a randomly selected subgroup. DISCUSSION OLP treatment is a novel strategy for ethically harnessing placebo effects. It has potential to re-frame theories of placebo and to influence how physicians can optimize watch-and-wait strategies for common, subjective symptoms. The current study aims to dramatically expand what we know about OLP by comparing, for the first time, OLP and DBP administration. Adopting a unique, multidisciplinary approach, the study also explores genetic, psychological and experiential dimensions of OLP. The paper ends with an extensive discussion of the "culture" of the trial as well as potential mechanisms of OLP and ethical implications. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT02802241 . Registered on 14 June 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Ballou
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 USA
| | - Ted J. Kaptchuk
- Program in Placebo Studies, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 USA
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine Harvard Medical School, 641 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - William Hirsch
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 USA
| | - Judy Nee
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 USA
| | - Johanna Iturrino
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 USA
| | - Kathryn T. Hall
- Program in Placebo Studies, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 USA
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 900 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 USA
| | - John M. Kelley
- Program in Placebo Studies, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 USA
- Department of Psychology, Endicott College, 376 Hale Street, Beverly, MA 01915 USA
| | - Vivian Cheng
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 USA
| | - Irving Kirsch
- Program in Placebo Studies, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 USA
| | - Eric Jacobson
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine Harvard Medical School, 641 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Lisa Conboy
- Program in Placebo Studies, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 USA
| | - Anthony Lembo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 USA
- Program in Placebo Studies, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 USA
| | - Roger B. Davis
- Program in Placebo Studies, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 USA
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The Conception and Evaluation of Sexual Health Literature. Sex Med Rev 2017; 5:135-145. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2016.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2016] [Revised: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Sorokin I, Schatz A, Welliver C. Placebo Medication and Sham Surgery Responses in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Treatments: Implications for Clinical Trials. Curr Urol Rep 2016; 16:73. [PMID: 26303775 DOI: 10.1007/s11934-015-0544-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Placebo medications and sham surgeries have long been thought to be inert treatments. These groups served as a threshold to which an active treatment should be compared in a randomized trial to determine the true efficacy of the active treatment. However, surprising changes in subjective symptom scores and objective measures of voiding have been demonstrated in numerous placebo medication or sham surgery arms of trials. The exact mechanisms by which these inactive treatments augment patient outcomes are not clearly defined and multiple theories have been proposed to explain the often pronounced response. It appears that urologic outcomes are particularly prone to these effects and the astute physician should keep these responses in mind when interpreting any trial on a new therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Sorokin
- Division of Urology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA
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Roehrborn CG, Egan KB, Miner MM, Ni X, Wong DG, Rosen RC. Erectile dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH) combined responders to tadalafil after 12 weeks of treatment. BJU Int 2016; 118:153-60. [DOI: 10.1111/bju.13406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Claus G. Roehrborn
- Department of Urology; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas TX USA
| | | | | | - Xiao Ni
- Global Statistical Sciences and Advanced Analytics; USA
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Dutasteride Improves Outcomes of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia When Evaluated for Prostate Cancer Risk Reduction: Secondary Analysis of the REduction by Dutasteride of Prostate Cancer Events (REDUCE) Trial. Urology 2011; 78:641-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2011.03.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2011] [Revised: 03/08/2011] [Accepted: 03/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Abstract
Bladder pain syndrome is a deceptively intricate symptom complex that is diagnosed on the basis of chronic pelvic pain, pressure, or discomfort perceived to be related to the urinary bladder, accompanied by at least one other urinary symptom. It is a diagnosis of exclusion in a patient who has experienced the symptoms for at least 6 weeks in the absence of any confusable diseases that may give rise to the symptoms. Symptoms compatible with the diagnosis are now thought to affect up to 3% of the female population in the United States with a 5:1 female-to-male preponderance. Diagnosis and treatment can be challenging, and misdiagnosis as a psychological problem, overactive bladder, or chronic urinary infection has plagued patients with the problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Hanno
- Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, West Pavilion 3rd Floor, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Poon KS, McVary KT. Dietary patterns, supplement use, and the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Curr Urol Rep 2009; 10:279-86. [PMID: 19570489 DOI: 10.1007/s11934-009-0046-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
It has long been appreciated that a healthy lifestyle plays a critical role in cardiovascular health. It is now apparent that the same is true in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Prospective cohort data originating from recently published randomized trials on the medical treatment of BPH and prevention of prostate cancer have been invaluable. A growing body of evidence suggests that exercise and the intake of specific macronutrients and micronutrients through regular diet play a beneficial role. Most strikingly, the magnitude of these effects is similar to medical therapies using alpha-blockers and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors. The use of supplements for prostate disease is a multibillion dollar business in the United States, and supplements are more commonly prescribed than medical therapy in many countries. In contrast to consumption of micronutrients through regular diet, supplemental intake of micronutrients and phytotherapies currently lack evidence to support their efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth S Poon
- Department of Urological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.
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Perrin P. Editorial comment on: The immediate and 6-mo reproducibility of pressure-flow studies in men with benign prostatic enlargement. Eur Urol 2007; 52:1194. [PMID: 17293027 DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2007.01.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Brown CT, Yap T, Cromwell DA, Rixon L, Steed L, Mulligan K, Mundy A, Newman SP, van der Meulen J, Emberton M. Self management for men with lower urinary tract symptoms: randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2007; 334:25. [PMID: 17118949 PMCID: PMC1764065 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.39010.551319.ae] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of self management as a first line intervention for men with lower urinary tract symptoms. DESIGN Randomised controlled trial. SETTING A teaching hospital and a district general hospital in London. PARTICIPANTS 140 men (mean age 63 (SD 10.7) years), recruited between January 2003 and April 2004, referred by general practitioners to urological outpatient departments with uncomplicated lower urinary tract symptoms. INTERVENTIONS Self management and standard care (n=73) or standard care alone (n=67). The self management group took part in three small group sessions comprising education, lifestyle advice, and training in problem solving and goal setting skills. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome measure was treatment failure measured at 3, 6, and 12 months. Symptom severity (international prostate symptom score; higher scores represent a poorer outcome) was used as a secondary outcome. RESULTS At three months, treatment failure had occurred in 7 (10%) of the self management group and in 27 (42%) of the standard care group (difference=32%, 95% confidence interval 18% to 46%). Corresponding differences in the frequency of treatment failure were 42% (27% to 57%) at six months and 48% (32% to 64%) at 12 months. At three months, the mean international prostate symptom score was 10.7 in the self management group and 16.4 in the standard care group (difference=5.7, 3.7 to 7.7). Corresponding differences in score were 6.5 (4.3 to 8.7) at six months and 5.1 (2.7 to 7.6) at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS Self management significantly reduced the frequency of treatment failure and reduced urinary symptoms. Because of the large observed benefit of self management, the results of this study support the case for a large multicentre trial to confirm whether self management could be considered as first line treatment for men with lower urinary tract symptoms. TRIAL REGISTRATION National Research Register N0263115137; Clinical trials NCT00270309 [ClinicalTrials.gov].
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian T Brown
- Clinical Effectiveness Unit, Royal College of Surgeons of England, London WC2A 3PE.
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12
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13
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McVary KT. Editorial comment. J Urol 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/s0022-5347(05)00917-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin T. McVary
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
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Mochtar CA, Kiemeney LALM, Laguna MP, van Riemsdijk MM, Barnett GS, Debruyne FMJ, de la Rosette JJMCH. Prognostic role of prostate-specific antigen and prostate volume for the risk of invasive therapy in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia initially managed with alpha1-blockers and watchful waiting. Urology 2005; 65:300-5. [PMID: 15708042 DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2004.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2004] [Accepted: 09/16/2004] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the prognostic role of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level and prostate volume (PV) for the need for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)-related invasive therapy among patients initially treated with an alpha1-blocker or watchful waiting (WW) in real-life clinical practice. METHODS Data were collected from 2264 consecutive patients with clinical BPH. Patients initially treated with an alpha1-blocker or WW were included in this study. They were stratified by baseline PSA level (less than 1.5, 1.5 to less than 3.0, 3.0 to 10.0 ng/mL) and PV (less than 30 and 30 to 200 cm3), and analyzed for the time to BPH-related invasive therapy. RESULTS Of the 2264 patients, 389 treated with alpha1-blockers and 553 who chose WW were included. Across the PSA and PV strata, the alpha1-blocker group had worse symptoms, peak flow, postvoid residual urine volumes, and obstruction than did the WW group. Increasing PSA levels produced an increase in the 5-year cumulative risk of invasive treatment: 20%, 34%, and 44% in the alpha1-blocker and 8%, 9%, and 15% in the WW group for a PSA level of less than 1.5, 1.5 to less than 3.0, and 3.0 to 10.0 ng/mL, respectively. The hazard ratio for the highest compared with the lowest PSA strata was 2.8 for alpha1-blocker and 2.7 for WW patients. An increasing PV increased the 5-year cumulative risk from 21% to 35% in the alpha1-blocker group and 8% to 11% in the WW group. The hazard ratio for the large versus small prostates in the alpha1-blocker group was 1.8 and in the WW group was 1.0. CONCLUSIONS A higher PSA level and larger PV resulted in a greater risk of BPH-related invasive therapy that was more pronounced in the alpha1-blocker than in the WW patients. However, symptom severity, flow parameters, and obstruction grade may have contributed to the difference in risk between the two treatment groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Mochtar
- Department of Urology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Wielepp P, Baller D, Gleichmann U, Pulawski E, Horstkotte D, Burchert W. Beneficial effects of atorvastatin on myocardial regions with initially low vasodilatory capacity at various stages of coronary artery disease. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2005; 32:1371-7. [PMID: 16133398 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-005-1828-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2005] [Accepted: 04/04/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to analyse non-invasively the regional effect of therapy with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor on myocardial blood flow in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) with special reference to segments with initially substantially impaired vasodilation. METHODS The study included 26 patients with untreated hypercholesterolaemia. Coronary angiography revealed CAD in nine patients with stenosis >50% and wall irregularities or minimal stenosis <30% in 17 patients. Before and 4.6+/-1.8 months after atorvastatin therapy, ( 13)N-ammonia positron emission tomography (PET) studies were performed at rest and under pharmacological stress. Minimum coronary vascular resistance (MCR) and coronary flow reserve (CFR) were determined. Segments were divided into those with normal or near-normal (MBF during adenosine > or =2.0 ml/min/g) and those with abnormal (MBF<2.0 ml/min/g) vasodilator flow response. In CAD patients, 156 segments were analysed, 85 of which had abnormal MBF; in the non-obstructive group, 59 of 297 segments had abnormal MBF. RESULTS LDL cholesterol decreased after atorvastatin therapy from 186+/-43 mg/dl to 101+/-26 mg/dl (p<0.001). In normal segments no significant changes in MBF, CFR and MCR were found. However, initially abnormal segments showed significant improvements in MCR (15%, p<0.0001) and MBF during adenosine (30%, p<0.0001) after therapy. CONCLUSION The improvement in regional coronary vasodilator function after atorvastatin in patients with coronary atherosclerosis may be caused, at least in part, by increased flow-mediated (endothelium-dependent) dilation of the total arteriolar and arterial vascular system. These data further support the concept of non-invasive management of stable CAD by statin therapy and life-style modification guided by PET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Wielepp
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Radiopharmacy and Nuclear Medicinea, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany.
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Spigt MG, Knipschild PG, van Schayck CP, Knottnerus JA. The validity and ethics of giving placebo in a randomized nonpharmacologic trial was evaluated. J Clin Epidemiol 2005; 58:350-6. [PMID: 15862720 DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2004.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2004] [Revised: 08/16/2004] [Accepted: 08/23/2004] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE When studying the effects of a non-pharmacologic intervention, the choice of a control group is often difficult. In a study on the effectiveness of increased water intake on voiding dysfunction in elderly men we used an unusual design. This article addresses the internal validty and ethics of this design. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING The randomized trial we evaluated had a 6-month follow-up period and was carried out among 141 elderly men with moderate lower urinary tract symptoms. The experimental group was given the instruction to drink more water, the control group received placebo medication. The participants were not informed that there was a 50% chance of receiving placebo. We measured whether the prior expectations and preferences were comparable for the two study groups, whether blinding was preserved throughout the study period, and whether the participants considered this design ethical. RESULTS Prior to randomization, patients had higher expectations for the experimental intervention, but there was not statistically significant difference in their preference. During the study period, two out of 71 patients in the control group unmasked the placebo. In general, both groups fully agreed with the informed consent procedure. CONCLUSION This design can be considered when the effects of a non-pharmacologic interventions are studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- M G Spigt
- Department of General Practice, University of Maastricht, Research institute Caphri, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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Roberts RO, Lieber MM, Jacobson DJ, Girman CJ, Jacobsen SJ. Limitations of using outcomes in the placebo arm of a clinical trial of benign prostatic hyperplasia to quantify those in the community. Mayo Clin Proc 2005; 80:759-64. [PMID: 15948299 DOI: 10.1016/s0025-6196(11)61530-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To quantify potential biases that may occur when placebo arms of clinical trials are used to characterize the natural history of disease and to compare incidence rates of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) outcomes in community-dwelling men with outcomes in the placebo arm of a clinical trial of BPH. SUBJECTS AND METHODS White men aged 50 years or older at baseline were selected randomly from the Olmsted County, Minnesota, community in 1990 and were monitored biennially through 1996 for urologic outcomes. Symptom progression, acute urinary retention, and minimally Invasive or surgical treatment of BPH were assessed from a validated questionnaire and a review of community medical records. Findings from the Olmsted County Study (N=1193) and a selected subcohort (n=238) were compared with those from the placebo arm of the Medical Therapy of Prostatic Symptoms trial (N=737). RESULTS During more than 5088 person-years of follow-up (mean, 4.9 years) In the Olmsted County Study, Incidence rates per 1000 person-years were 8.5 (95% confidence Interval [CI], 6.4-11.2) for acute urinary retention, 97.1 (95% CI, 88.7-106.0) for symptom progression, 6.6 (95% CI, 4.8-9.0) for surgery or minimally invasive treatment, and 105.1 (95% CI, 96.4-114.4) for any outcomes for all men. For those meeting trial Inclusion criteria (selected subcohort, n=238), Incidence rates were 18.3, 86.5, 16.8, and 109.4, respectively. By comparison, Incidence rates per 1000 person-years for the placebo arm of the Medical Therapy of Prostatic Symptoms clinical trial for BPH (mean follow-up, 4.5 years) were 6 for acute urinary retention, 36 for symptom progression, and 45 for any outcome, but the estimate of 13 for surgery or minimally invasive treatment was higher than for men in the Olmsted County Study. CONCLUSIONS Compared with community-dwelling men, men in the placebo arm of this clinical trial of BPH treatments had a substantially lower risk of BPH-related outcomes. Extrapolation of findings from the placebo arm of clinical trials to describe the natural history of disease in community-dwelling men should be done with caution and appropriate recognition of limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosebud O Roberts
- Department of Health Sciences Research and Division of Epidemiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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Nordling J. Efficacy and safety of two doses (10 and 15 mg) of alfuzosin or tamsulosin (0.4 mg) once daily for treating symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. BJU Int 2005; 95:1006-12. [PMID: 15839922 DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-410x.2005.05456.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of two doses (10 and 15 mg) of alfuzosin once daily and tamsulosin (0.4 mg) once daily, compared with placebo, in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). PATIENTS AND METHODS In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study, 625 patients were randomized to receive alfuzosin 10 or 15 mg once daily, tamsulosin 0.4 mg once daily (active reference), or matching placebo for 12 weeks, with no initial dose titration. The study was designed to compare each of the three active treatments with the placebo group. Primary outcome measures were mean changes from baseline in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and peak urinary flow rate (Qmax) at 12 weeks, compared with placebo, using one-way analysis of variance. Because Qmax data were not normally distributed, median changes from baseline were also compared for Qmax. Pair-wise comparisons were conducted using the Dunnett correction for quantitative variables and Bonferroni-Holm correction for categorical variables, allowing for multiple treatment group comparisons. RESULTS Alfuzosin 10 mg significantly improved urinary tract symptoms compared with placebo, with a mean (sd) change from baseline in the IPSS of -6.5 (5.2) vs -4.6 (5.8) for placebo (adjusted P = 0.007); there was a trend toward a difference between alfuzosin 15 mg, with a mean (sd) change from baseline in IPSS of -6.0 (5.6), and placebo (adjusted P = 0.050). The mean change from baseline in IPSS with tamsulosin 0.4 mg, at -6.5 (5.6), vs placebo was also significant (adjusted P = 0.014). The median change from baseline in Qmax was significantly increased with both alfuzosin doses and with tamsulosin (all adjusted P = 0.02 vs placebo). Both doses of alfuzosin were well tolerated, with dizziness the most frequent adverse event (placebo, 4%; alfuzosin 10 mg, 6%; 15 mg, 7%; tamsulosin, 2%); the respective incidence rates of sexual function adverse events were 0%, 3%, 1% and 8%. CONCLUSION Treatment with alfuzosin 10 mg significantly improved urinary symptoms and Qmax compared with placebo and was well tolerated. There were also significant improvements over placebo with the active reference, tamsulosin 0.4 mg. The incidence of sexual function adverse events was higher with tamsulosin than with placebo. The benefit-to-risk profile of alfuzosin 10 mg once daily appeared to be reduced with a higher dose (15 mg).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jørgen Nordling
- Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Roehrborn CG, Marks LS, Fenter T, Freedman S, Tuttle J, Gittleman M, Morrill B, Wolford ET. Efficacy and safety of dutasteride in the four-year treatment of men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Urology 2004; 63:709-15. [PMID: 15072886 DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2004.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2003] [Accepted: 01/13/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the long-term safety and efficacy of dutasteride, a dual type 1 and type 2 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, in the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia and associated lower urinary tract symptoms. METHODS Data from two Phase IIIa multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trials of 2-year duration plus a 2-year open-label extension were pooled and analyzed. The entry criteria included age 50 years old or older, clinical diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate volume of 30 cm3 or greater, American Urological Association symptom score of 12 or greater, peak urinary flow rate of 15 mL/s or less, and prostate-specific antigen level of 1.5 ng/mL or greater but less than 10 ng/mL. RESULTS A total of 2802 men were randomized into the double-blind phase of the two studies with 1908 patients (68%) completing the study. Of these, 1570 subjects were enrolled in the open-label phase, and 569 subjects received dutasteride for 48 months. Changes at the 48-month visit for dutasteride/dutasteride-treated subjects included improvement in prostate volume (-26.2%), American Urological Association Symptom Index (-6.1 points), and peak urinary flow rate (+2.8 mL/s). Changes for the placebo/dutasteride group included prostate volume (-20.7%), American Urological Association Symptom Index (-5.3 points), and peak urinary flow rate (+1.8 mL/s). Acute urinary retention and surgery occurred in a small percentage of subjects (less than 2% and less than 1%) in the open-label extension phase. Dutasteride was well tolerated with no statistically significant increase in drug-related adverse events during the open-label extension and no adverse laboratory trends. CONCLUSIONS Dual inhibition of 5-alpha-reductase with dutasteride provided sustained efficacy in subjects with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia treated for 48 months. Near-complete, long-term suppression of dihydrotestosterone (93% at 48 months) with dutasteride did not lead to an increase in adverse events compared with that reported in the 2-year period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claus G Roehrborn
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75390-9110, USA
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Roehrborn CG. The potential of serum prostate-specific antigen as a predictor of clinical response in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms and benign prostatic hyperplasia. BJU Int 2004; 93 Suppl 1:21-6. [PMID: 15009082 DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-410x.2003.04636.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C G Roehrborn
- Department of Urology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
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Marks LS, Roehrborn CG, Gittelman M, Kim D, Forrest J, Jacobs S. First dose efficacy of alfuzosin once daily in men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. Urology 2003; 62:888-93. [PMID: 14624914 DOI: 10.1016/s0090-4295(03)00657-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the onset of action of alfuzosin once daily (OD) as determined by uroflowmetry early after initial dosing. Alfuzosin OD is an extended-release formulation of a uroselective, alpha1-adrenoreceptor-blocking agent (alpha-blocker) used in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia. METHODS This was a randomized, placebo-controlled, two-way Latin square crossover study. Forty-nine patients were selected for this study on the basis of their symptomatic improvement during previous treatment with alpha-blockers and significant decreases in urinary flow rate when that treatment was withdrawn. RESULTS Our analysis showed that significant increases in the maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax) in 34 assessable patients occurred as soon as 8 hours after the initial dose of medication and persisted for at least 4 days. The DeltaQmax for alfuzosin 10 mg OD was 3.2 mL/s and for placebo it was 1.1 mL/s. The difference of means for the assessable population was 2.1 (95% confidence interval 0.8 to 3.4, P = 0.002). The overall incidence of adverse events was low. Only dizziness, experienced by 3 patients treated with alfuzosin compared with 1 patient treated with placebo, appeared to be related to the study drug. CONCLUSIONS Together, our findings suggest that alfuzosin OD exhibits a urodynamically measurable effect on bladder outlet obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia in men with lower urinary tract symptoms within hours of the first administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard S Marks
- Urological Sciences Research Foundation and Department of Urology, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90232, USA
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Effect of nifedipine and cerivastatin on coronary endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease: the ENCORE I Study (Evaluation of Nifedipine and Cerivastatin On Recovery of coronary Endothelial function). Circulation 2003; 107:422-8. [PMID: 12551866 DOI: 10.1161/01.cir.0000046488.52939.bf] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endothelial dysfunction is an important feature of atherosclerosis. Inhibition of the HMG-CoA pathway and of calcium channels improves endothelial function experimentally and in the forearm circulation. Thus, we investigated the effects of a statin and/or a calcium antagonist on coronary endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS AND RESULTS In 343 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in 29 centers, acetylcholine (10(-6) to 10(-4) mol/L) was infused in a coronary segment without angiographically significant CAD. Changes in coronary diameter were measured by quantitative angiography. Endothelium-independent responses were assessed by intracoronary adenosine (1.2 mg/mL) and nitroglycerin (250 microg). Thereafter, patients were randomized in a double-blind manner to placebo, cerivastatin 0.4 mg/d, nifedipine 30 to 60 mg/d, or their combination. Studies were repeated at 6 months. In the most constricted segment, nifedipine but not cerivastatin reduced vasoconstriction to acetylcholine (18.8% versus placebo 10.0%; P<0.05). Patients not taking ACE inhibitors showed a smaller improvement in the placebo group (6.0%), but nifedipine still had an effect (17.0%; P<0.05 versus placebo). Analysis of all evaluable coronary segments revealed an 11% reduction of acetylcholine-induced vasoconstriction in patients receiving nifedipine and cerivastatin (P<0.05 versus placebo). Cerivastatin lowered LDL cholesterol by 35% (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The ENCORE I trial demonstrates that multicenter studies on coronary endothelial function are feasible. After 6 months' treatment, nifedipine improved coronary endothelial function in the most constricted segment. The combination of nifedipine and cerivastatin tended to improve endothelial function; however, this only reached significance in an analysis of all coronary segments.
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Propert KJ, Payne C, Kusek JW, Nyberg LM. Pitfalls in the design of clinical trials for interstitial cystitis. Urology 2002; 60:742-8. [PMID: 12429288 DOI: 10.1016/s0090-4295(02)01775-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Joy Propert
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6021, USA
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Roehrborn CG, Boyle P, Nickel JC, Hoefner K, Andriole G. Efficacy and safety of a dual inhibitor of 5-alpha-reductase types 1 and 2 (dutasteride) in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Urology 2002; 60:434-41. [PMID: 12350480 DOI: 10.1016/s0090-4295(02)01905-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 559] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To study the efficacy and safety of dutasteride, a dual inhibitor of the 5-alpha-reductase isoenzymes types I and II. METHODS A total of 4325 men (2951 completed) with clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia, moderate to severe symptoms (American Urological Association-Symptom Index score of 12 points or greater), a peak flow rate of 15 mL/s or less, a prostate volume of 30 cm3 or greater (as measured by transrectal ultrasonography), and a serum prostate-specific antigen level of 1.5 to 10.0 ng/mL (inclusive) were enrolled into three identical clinical trials and randomized to 0.5 mg dutasteride daily or placebo. After a 1-month, single-blind, placebo lead-in, patients were followed up for 24 months in a double-blind trial with multiple interval assessments. RESULTS At 24 months, serum dihydrotestosterone was reduced from baseline by a mean of 90.2% (median -93.7%; P <0.001), and the total prostate and transition zone volumes were reduced by a mean of 25.7% and 20.4%, respectively (P <0.001). The symptom score was improved by as early as 3 months, with pooled significance from 6 months onward (P <0.001) and a reduction of 4.5 points (21.4%) at 24 months (P <0.001). The maximal flow rate improved significantly from 1 month (P <0.01), with an increase of 2.2 mL/s reported at 24 months (P <0.001). Hence, the risk reduction of acute urinary retention was 57% and the risk reduction of benign prostatic hyperplasia-related surgical intervention was 48% compared with placebo. The drug was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS Dutasteride is a potent inhibitor of dihydrotestosterone production that is safe and effective in terms of the reduction of prostate volume and symptoms, flow rate improvement, and the reduction of the risk of acute urinary retention and surgery during a 24-month study period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claus G Roehrborn
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas 75390-9110, USA
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Editorial comment. Urology 2001. [DOI: 10.1016/s0090-4295(01)01443-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Roehrborn CG. Efficacy and safety of once-daily alfuzosin in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms and clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Urology 2001; 58:953-9. [PMID: 11744466 DOI: 10.1016/s0090-4295(01)01448-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy and safety, and determine the optimal dosage, of a once-daily (OD) formulation of the clinically uroselective alpha(1)-blocker, alfuzosin, in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms and symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. METHODS Five hundred thirty-six patients were randomized to receive alfuzosin (10 mg OD or 15 mg OD), without initial dose titration, or placebo in a 3-month double-blind trial conducted in North America. The primary efficacy criteria were improvement in symptoms (International Prostate Symptom Score) and peak urinary flow rate. RESULTS Alfuzosin was significantly more effective than placebo in improving the symptoms and peak urinary flow rate from the first follow-up visit (day 28). The mean change in the International Prostate Symptom Score from baseline at endpoint was -3.6 and -3.4 with alfuzosin 10 mg and 15 mg, respectively, compared with -1.6 with placebo (alfuzosin 10 mg versus placebo, P = 0.001; alfuzosin 15 mg versus placebo, P = 0.004). The median increase in the peak urinary flow rate was +1.1 mL/s and +1.0 mL/s with alfuzosin 10 mg and 15 mg, respectively, compared with 0.0 mL/s with placebo (P = 0.0006 versus placebo for both dose groups). The patients' quality of life also significantly improved with both alfuzosin doses. Overall, alfuzosin at both doses was well tolerated. The incidence of orthostatic hypotension as determined by systematic blood pressure measurements with both doses of alfuzosin was similar to placebo. No clinically relevant ejaculation disorders were observed with alfuzosin. CONCLUSIONS Alfuzosin 10 mg OD, administered without dose titration, provides effective relief from the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia with no additional benefit from a 15-mg dose. It is well tolerated from a cardiovascular viewpoint and is not associated with abnormal ejaculation.
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Affiliation(s)
- C G Roehrborn
- Department of Urology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA
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Malkowicz SB, McKenna WG, Vaughn DJ, Wan XS, Propert KJ, Rockwell K, Marks SH, Wein AJ, Kennedy AR. Effects of Bowman-Birk inhibitor concentrate (BBIC) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Prostate 2001; 48:16-28. [PMID: 11391683 DOI: 10.1002/pros.1077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Bowman-Birk inhibitor is a soybean-derived protease inhibitor that has anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic activities. METHODS A Phase I trial of Bowman-Birk inhibitor concentrate (BBIC) in 19 male subjects with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) has been performed. RESULTS The results of the trial indicated that there was no dose-limiting toxicity of BBIC. There was a statistically significant decrease in serum PSA levels in all BBIC-treated patients. Some BBIC-treated patients exhibited a relatively large reduction in serum PSA levels, ranging up to a 43% reduction. There was also a statistically significant decrease in serum triglyceride levels and a decrease in prostate volume in the treated patients. The scores recorded in response to a urinary symptom questionnaire indicated improved urinary activities in the BBIC-treated patients; however, the control subjects exhibited similar improvements in urinary activities during the course of the trial. CONCLUSIONS The data obtained in this trial, particularly the data suggesting that BBIC treatment may lead to reduced serum PSA levels and reduced prostate volumes, suggest that a Phase II clinical trial of BBIC for the therapy of BPH is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- S B Malkowicz
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Berthelot JM, Maugars Y, Abgrall M, Prost A. Interindividual variations in beliefs about the placebo effect: a study in 300 rheumatology inpatients and 100 nurses. Joint Bone Spine 2001; 68:65-70. [PMID: 11235784 DOI: 10.1016/s1297-319x(00)00225-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PATIENTS AND METHODS Three hundred patients admitted to a rheumatology department (mean age, 49.2+/-15.5 years) and 100 nurses working in the same teaching hospital (mean age, 36+/-8.6 years) completed a questionnaire on the placebo effect in the treatment of pain. RESULTS The patients believed that the percentages of subjects who responded occasionally or consistently to a placebo were 32% (+/- 22%) and 21% (+/- 17%), respectively. The figures given by the nurses were only slightly higher: 42% (+/- 23%) and 23% (+/- 17%), respectively. Only 27% of the patients and 58% of the nurses knew that pain could resolve completely under placebo therapy. The mean percentage improvement induced by placebo therapy as compared to the study analgesic was estimated at 21% (+/- 17%) by the patients and 30% (+/- 18%) by the nurses. Only 23% of patients and 24% of nurses knew about nocebo effects. CONCLUSION These data suggest that during double-blind placebo-controlled trials three-quarters of the placebo arm patients who experience a marked improvement or a nocebo effect may believe they received the active drug. This is likely to reduce the difference between the placebo and active drug groups. Furthermore, most patients and nurses have a negative perception of placebo therapy. It may be useful to include a brief description of placebo and nocebo effects into the patient's information and informed consent documents used in double-blind placebo-controlled trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Berthelot
- Rheumatology department, CHU Nantes, H teI-Dieu, Nantes, France
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Stoevelaar HJ, McDonnell J. Changing therapeutic regimens in benign prostatic hyperplasia. Clinical and economic considerations. PHARMACOECONOMICS 2001; 19:131-153. [PMID: 11284380 DOI: 10.2165/00019053-200119020-00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
About one-quarter of men aged 50 years and older experience voiding problems due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Until about 10 years ago, surgery (particularly transurethral resection of the prostate) was the only effective treatment for symptomatic BPH. Over the last decade, several new treatments have been introduced. These include different types of medication (alpha-blockers and finasteride), thermotherapy, laser prostatectomy, needle ablation and vaporisation methods. The diffusion of these less invasive treatment modalities has resulted not only in a decrease in the age-adjusted surgery rates, but also in an increase of the total number of men treated for BPH. A large number of studies on clinical benefits and risks reveal that the conventional types of surgery remain the most effective treatments, whereas new interventional therapies require a shorter hospital stay and result in fewer short term complications. The efficacy of medication is lower than that of interventional treatments. Adverse effects include dizziness and orthostatic hypotension (alpha-blockers) and decreased sexual function (finasteride), but are generally mild. There is some evidence that medication and minimally invasive treatments may preclude eventual surgical treatment, but the precise effect is difficult to estimate because of differences in the study populations and the relatively short study periods. As a result of the dynamic nature of BPH treatment and the lack of long term data, the cost effects of the introduction of the various new treatments are also difficult to assess. Given the aging of the population and the growing percentage of patients with BPH for whom any type of treatment can be considered, a considerable increase of total costs can be expected. Long term prospective studies are necessary to gain insight into the most cost-effective treatment for different patient groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- H J Stoevelaar
- Institute for Health Care Policy and Management, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Kaplan S, Garvin D, Gilhooly P, Koppel M, Labasky R, Milsten R, Reddy P, Rosenberg S, Sussman D, White C, Lee M, Pappas F, Waldstreicher J. Impact of baseline symptom severity on future risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia-related outcomes and long-term response to finasteride. The Pless Study Group. Urology 2000; 56:610-6. [PMID: 11018616 DOI: 10.1016/s0090-4295(00)00724-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the long-term effects of finasteride on symptoms, acute urinary retention (AUR), and the need for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)-related surgery in relationship to baseline symptom severity. METHODS A total of 3040 men with BPH were treated for 4 years with finasteride or placebo. The changes from baseline in symptoms and the incidence of BPH-related surgery and AUR were determined in men with mild (less than 8), low-moderate (8 to 12), high-moderate (13 to 19), and severe (greater than 19) baseline quasi-American Urological Association symptoms for all patients and for the subgroup with a baseline prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 1.4 ng/mL or greater. RESULTS In patients who completed the 4-year study, the change in symptom score, stratified by baseline symptom severity, was +1.4 +/- 0.5 (mild), -0.8 +/- 0.3 (low-moderate), -3.6 +/- 0.3 (high-moderate), and -7.7 +/- 0.5 (severe) in finasteride-treated patients and, respectively, +3.4 +/- 0.5, +0.7 +/- 0.3, -1.4 +/- 0.3, and -5.3 +/- 0.6 in placebo-treated patients (between-group P <0.01). The between-group differences were greater in the subgroup of patients with a baseline PSA of 1.4 ng/mL or greater. The risk of BPH-related surgery increased among placebo patients with increasing baseline symptom severity to a greater extent than the risk of AUR. Finasteride reduced the risk of AUR or the need for BPH-related surgery in all subgroups (P <0.001), especially in men with a baseline PSA of 1.4 ng/mL or greater. CONCLUSIONS Compared with placebo, finasteride had a beneficial effect on symptoms, AUR, and BPH-related surgery in all symptom categories. BPH-related surgery, but not AUR, occurred more commonly in placebo-treated men with more severe baseline symptoms. The greatest absolute benefit of finasteride on symptoms and the reduction in risk of AUR and surgery was in men with higher baseline symptom scores and a baseline PSA level of 1.4 ng/mL or greater.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Kaplan
- Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
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PILOT STUDY OF SEQUENTIAL ORAL ANTIBIOTICS FOR THE TREATMENT OF INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS. J Urol 2000. [DOI: 10.1097/00005392-200006000-00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Propert KJ, Schaeffer AJ, Brensinger CM, Kusek JW, Nyberg LM, Landis JR. A prospective study of interstitial cystitis: results of longitudinal followup of the interstitial cystitis data base cohort. The Interstitial Cystitis Data Base Study Group. J Urol 2000; 163:1434-9. [PMID: 10751852 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-5347(05)67637-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We present baseline characteristics and longitudinal profiles of symptoms in the Interstitial Cystitis Data Base study, a prospective cohort study of patients with interstitial cystitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 637 eligible patients were entered into the study and followed for symptoms of pain, urgency and urinary frequency. Median followup was 31 months. RESULTS More than 90% of patients were white women with a median age of 43 years. Using the overall pain-urgency-frequency score 7% of participants presented with mild, 44% with moderate and 49% with severe symptoms. Severe urgency in 41% of cases and severe 24-hour frequency in 41% were more common than severe pain in 29%. Of the patients 51% reported nighttime frequency of 2 or more voids. Median duration of interstitial cystitis symptoms was 8 years and 68% of participants were previously diagnosed with the condition. The 36% of patients who withdrew from study or were lost to followup were more likely to have had more severe symptoms at baseline. Patterns of change with time suggest initial symptom improvement due to regression to the mean, and an intervention effect associated with the increased followup and care of cohort participants. Although all symptoms fluctuated, there was no evidence of significant long-term change in overall disease severity. CONCLUSIONS Our observations support the clinical observation that interstitial cystitis is a chronic disease and no current treatments have a significant impact on symptoms with time. These results provide a foundation for the design and performance of future clinical trials in interstitial cystitis using these end points in a similar patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- K J Propert
- University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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ROBERTS ROSEBUDO, JACOBSEN STEVENJ, JACOBSON DEBRAJ, RHODES THOMAS, GIRMAN CYNTHIAJ, LIEBER MICHAELM. LONGITUDINAL CHANGES IN PEAK URINARY FLOW RATES IN A COMMUNITY BASED COHORT. J Urol 2000. [DOI: 10.1016/s0022-5347(05)67984-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- ROSEBUD O. ROBERTS
- From the Department of Health Sciences Research, Sections of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and the Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, and the Epidemiology Department, Merck Research Laboratories, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
| | - STEVEN J. JACOBSEN
- From the Department of Health Sciences Research, Sections of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and the Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, and the Epidemiology Department, Merck Research Laboratories, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
| | - DEBRA J. JACOBSON
- From the Department of Health Sciences Research, Sections of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and the Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, and the Epidemiology Department, Merck Research Laboratories, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
| | - THOMAS RHODES
- From the Department of Health Sciences Research, Sections of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and the Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, and the Epidemiology Department, Merck Research Laboratories, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
| | - CYNTHIA J. GIRMAN
- From the Department of Health Sciences Research, Sections of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and the Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, and the Epidemiology Department, Merck Research Laboratories, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
| | - MICHAEL M. LIEBER
- From the Department of Health Sciences Research, Sections of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and the Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, and the Epidemiology Department, Merck Research Laboratories, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
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Roehrborn CG, Boyle P, Bergner D, Gray T, Gittelman M, Shown T, Melman A, Bracken RB, deVere White R, Taylor A, Wang D, Waldstreicher J. Serum prostate-specific antigen and prostate volume predict long-term changes in symptoms and flow rate: results of a four-year, randomized trial comparing finasteride versus placebo. PLESS Study Group. Urology 1999; 54:662-9. [PMID: 10510925 DOI: 10.1016/s0090-4295(99)00232-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine whether baseline prostate-specific antigen (PSA), in addition to prostate volume, is associated with long-term changes in symptoms and urinary flow rate. METHODS Three thousand forty men with benign prostatic hyperplasia enrolled in the PLESS trial were randomly assigned to finasteride 5 mg or placebo for 4 years. Symptoms and flow rate were assessed every 4 months, and data were analyzed by dividing the patients into three groups by baseline PSA tertiles (0 to 1.3, 1.4 to 3.2, and 3.3 ng/mL or greater) and baseline prostate volume tertiles (14 to 41, 42 to 57, and 58 to 1 50 mL). RESULTS After the initial placebo effect, a slow deterioration in symptoms over time was observed in the placebo-treated men with a baseline PSA 1.4 ng/mL or greater. However, placebo-treated men in the lowest PSA tertile (less than 1.4 ng/mL) had sustained symptomatic improvement that was not seen in placebo-treated men in the higher tertiles (P<0.001). In all finasteride-treated groups, there was initial improvement followed by maintenance or continued symptom improvement over time (approximately 3 to 3.5 points by the end of 4 years). The differences in symptom score improvement between placebo and finasteride were marginal for men with baseline PSA levels less than 1.4 ng/mL (P = 0.128) but were highly significant for men with PSA levels 1.4 ng/mL or greater (P<0.001). Urinary flow rate results were similar to those observed for symptoms. Analysis of symptom and flow rate data by prostate volume tertiles in a 10% subset of men yielded similar results, namely a deterioration of symptoms and flow rate in the two higher tertiles treated with placebo (greater than 41 mL) and a sustained improvement in all three groups of finasteride-treated patients. CONCLUSIONS Baseline PSA and prostate volume are good predictors of long-term symptomatic and flow rate changes. Baseline PSA levels of 1.4 ng/mL or greater and enlarged prostate glands predict the best long-term response to finasteride compared with placebo.
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Affiliation(s)
- C G Roehrborn
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235-9110, USA
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Girman CJ. Population-based studies of the epidemiology of benign prostatic hyperplasia. BRITISH JOURNAL OF UROLOGY 1998; 82 Suppl 1:34-43. [PMID: 9883260 DOI: 10.1046/j.1464-410x.1998.0820s1034.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C J Girman
- Department of Epidemiology, Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, PA, USA.
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