Interstitial Cystitis (Bladder Pain Syndrome)

Researchers are conducting an international, multicenter observational study to understand how patients admitted to hospitals with emergency haematuria are managed. The study aims to identify variations in care, measure outcomes like length of hospital stay, mortality, readmission rates, and resource use, and support the development of future guidelines and trials to improve haematuria management. The study collects detailed data on patient demographics, underlying health conditions, diagnostic procedures, treatments, and outcomes using a standardized form. It includes patients admitted as emergencies with haematuria under urology care. The study observes current hospital management pathways and gathers information through questionnaires to participating sites. Participants will be followed during their hospital stay and for 90 days afterward. Researchers will evaluate length of stay, time to diagnosis, mortality at 30 and 90 days, readmissions, days alive and out of hospital, and healthcare costs. The study uses data analysis to assess factors linked to outcomes and variations in care. Participation involves no changes to treatment as it is observational, and data will be collected consecutively over a 12-month period from multiple centers.

Researchers are evaluating the use of D-mannose supplementation to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTI) in post-menopausal women. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study aims to improve understanding of rUTI prevention in this population, which is disproportionately affected and understudied. The study tests whether daily D-mannose intake over 6 months and up to one year effectively reduces the occurrence of uncomplicated rUTIs compared to placebo. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive either D-mannose (2 grams daily, taken as four 500 mg capsules) or a placebo for 12 months. The study follows CONSORT guidelines and includes two groups: one receiving the active supplement and the other receiving a placebo. The study aims to enroll 90 women who are currently free of UTI but have a history of recurrent infections. During the study, participants will attend follow-up appointments to monitor urinary tract health through urine cultures and symptom assessments. Researchers will collect data on failure rates, number of antibiotic treatments for UTI, symptom severity, and any serious adverse events related to D-mannose over an average follow-up of five years. This allows long-term observation of the supplement's impact on rUTI prevention and safety.

Researchers are evaluating a new way to provide preoperative information to patients who are candidates for spinal or urological surgery. This study is an interventional, randomized controlled trial conducted at multiple centers. It aims to compare a new multimedia-based method that objectively checks patient understanding against the standard informed consent process to see which better supports patient decision-making about surgery. Participants in the experimental group will receive detailed information through videos with surgical options, graphics, and animations. They will also have interviews with the surgeon and caregivers using 3D-printed models to guide shared decision-making. After deciding on surgery, patients will join educational programs to reinforce understanding before a final surgeon interview and signing of informed consent. The control group will receive the usual care, including a standard explanatory interview and consent signing. Throughout the study, participants will complete questionnaires assessing satisfaction, comprehension, mental health, pain, disability, urinary and sexual function, and legal outcomes at multiple time points: before surgery, at discharge, and at two and six months after surgery. The research team will monitor these measures to evaluate the impact of the new method on patient understanding and decision satisfaction over time.

Researchers are evaluating if acupuncture combined with behavioral changes can better treat women with bladder pain syndrome, also called interstitial cystitis, who have not received other treatments. The main focus is to see if acupuncture improves pain symptoms measured by the Interstitial Cystitis Index. The study compares six weeks of behavioral management alone to behavioral management combined with acupuncture. Participants will either receive verbal and written instructions on diet and urinary habit changes along with six weekly one-hour acupuncture sessions followed by pelvic floor physical therapy or they will first have six weeks of behavioral management before starting pelvic floor physical therapy. The acupuncture used includes traditional and electroacupuncture, and the physical therapy involves pelvic floor therapy with biofeedback. During the study, participants will complete surveys about their bladder pain symptoms and make behavioral changes that may help reduce symptoms. They will be monitored using the O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Index at baseline and regularly during and after treatment for up to a year. Additional assessments include patient global impressions, quality of life surveys, and pain indexes. Researchers will also track any additional treatments and unscheduled interactions. The study lasts about one year after treatment to observe long-term outcomes.

Researchers are evaluating amniotic membrane therapy for women with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS), a condition marked by bladder or pelvic pain along with urinary frequency and urgency. This study aims to determine if this therapy can improve symptoms significantly, using validated questionnaires. IC/PBS symptoms vary in severity and affect quality of life, and current treatments include behavior changes, medications, injections, and sometimes surgery. Amniotic membranes have been used in wound healing and show promise for bladder treatment, but no randomized controlled trials have been done yet. The study involves two groups randomized to receive either amniotic membrane therapy or a placebo. Both groups undergo cystoscopy under general anesthesia, where injections are made into the bladder muscle at multiple sites. The amniotic membrane group receives 100 mg of micronized Clarix FLO diluted in saline, while the placebo group receives saline alone. The injections are carefully placed to avoid certain bladder areas. This trial is double-blind, meaning neither the participants nor the researchers know who receives which treatment during the study. Participants will be followed for 12 weeks after treatment with clinical evaluations and symptom questionnaires at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Additional urine cultures and bladder residual volume tests will be done at 2 and 4 weeks. Researchers will measure changes in symptom scores, including the Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index and other related scales, to assess the therapy's effects. They will also monitor for side effects like urinary tract infections or urinary retention. The total participation duration is about three months post-treatment.

Researchers are studying a new surgical method called the off-clamp sutureless technique for removing small kidney tumors less than 7 cm. This approach aims to preserve kidney function by avoiding clamping of the renal artery and using special techniques to control bleeding instead of traditional stitching. Current evidence mainly comes from smaller, retrospective studies focused on tumors smaller than 4 cm, so this study seeks to provide stronger data for larger or more complex tumors. The study involves patients undergoing robot-assisted partial nephrectomy using the off-clamp sutureless technique. During surgery, the renal artery is not clamped, and the tumor is removed with a small margin. Bleeding is controlled with electrocautery and hemostatic agents instead of sutures. This approach is designed to minimize damage to healthy kidney tissue and simplify the surgical process. Participants will be monitored for kidney function three months after surgery, measuring glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in both kidneys. Researchers will also track complications within one week after surgery and measure blood loss during the operation. The study includes detailed imaging and assessments before and after surgery to evaluate safety and effectiveness. The total participation period includes surgery and follow-up visits to assess recovery and kidney health.

Researchers are evaluating Aquablation therapy, a robotically executed, surgeon-guided high-pressure water jet procedure, for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in a Canadian patient group. The goal is to document the clinical outcomes of this treatment for BPH, a condition involving prostate enlargement that affects urinary function. Patients will be followed as part of standard care for up to three years to gather data on the therapy's effects. The study focuses on Aquablation as the primary intervention, which involves endoscopic resection of prostate tissue using high-pressure water jets guided by robotic technology and a surgeon. There are no comparison groups mentioned, as this is an observational study documenting outcomes after Aquablation therapy. The treatment is delivered once, and patients are monitored over time to assess changes. Participants will be evaluated at multiple points including baseline, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months, and 36 months after surgery. Assessments include maximum urine flow rate (Q-max), post-void residual (PVR) urine volume, prostate volume, patient questionnaires, and monitoring for adverse events. Follow-up visits align with routine care to track the therapy's impact and safety over three years.

Researchers are studying how daily changes in mood, pain, and activity relate to acute and chronic pain using a smartphone app called SOMA. The study includes people with acute pain, chronic pain, and healthy controls. A smaller sub-study focuses on patients with chronic low back pain, failed back surgery syndrome, or fibromyalgia, using EEG testing to explore brain and behavior patterns that might predict treatment responses. Participants will use the SOMA app daily for four months to track their symptoms and activities. Those in the sub-study will also attend an in-person EEG session to perform specific tasks before starting app use. Data collected will help identify patterns linked to pain transition, recovery, or flare-ups. The study also monitors app engagement and symptom dynamics over up to 12 months. During the study, participants will report pain, mood, and activity daily through the app. Researchers will analyze these reports alongside baseline and follow-up EEG and behavioral tests. Outcomes include measuring the likelihood of acute pain becoming chronic and understanding mood and pain interactions. Participants' progress and app usage will be observed over time to assess feasibility and treatment effects.

Researchers are collecting fresh biological materials from patients and healthy donors to support studies on urological and uro-oncological diseases. This includes samples from surgical removals related to conditions of the prostate, bladder, kidney, testicle, and other genitourinary organs. The study aims to understand disease origins, progression, and links to diagnostic markers by analyzing these samples alongside patients' medical histories. Biological samples such as peripheral blood, urine, seminal fluid, buccal mucosa, feces, and saliva are collected when available, especially during patients' first visits, biopsies, or surgeries. This collection creates a valuable biobank that supports ongoing and future research into urological diseases and cancers. The project is observational and involves gathering and storing these samples for detailed analysis. Participants provide samples at hospital visits, and researchers track baseline biological data to study disease mechanisms and progression. The main focus is on collecting and preserving these samples for research rather than testing treatments. The study accommodates adult male and female participants, including healthy volunteers, and follows participants over time to build a comprehensive resource for understanding urological health conditions.

Overactive bladder (OAB) and bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) are common conditions that impact quality of life, affecting about 17% of people. This research evaluates different antibiotic plans to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs) after intradetrusor onabotulinumtoxinA injections, a treatment for OAB and IC/BPS. The study aims to find the best timing, duration, and type of antibiotic to reduce UTIs and limit unnecessary antibiotic use that can cause side effects and resistance. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will take a 3-day course of nitrofurantoin twice daily starting at the procedure time, and the other will take a single nitrofurantoin dose at the procedure time. Before the procedure, patients will have urine tests to ensure no current infection. On the day of treatment, patients will receive lidocaine and possibly diazepam for comfort, along with phenazopyridine and nitrofurantoin before the injection. The procedure follows standard medical guidelines. During the study, urine tests will be done if symptoms of UTI appear, and patients will be followed up 30 to 45 days after the procedure via phone, email, or messaging to check for UTIs and other outcomes. The main measure is the rate of UTIs within 30 days after the injection. Additional safety and symptom data will also be collected to evaluate the treatments. Participation will last through this follow-up period to monitor results.