Okui Nobuo, Okui Machiko
Dentistry, Kanagawa Dental University, Yokosuka, JPN.
Urogynecology, Yokosuka Urogynecology and Urology Clinic, Yokosuka, JPN.
Cureus. 2024 Sep 4;16(9):e68671. doi: 10.7759/cureus.68671. eCollection 2024 Sep.
Dynamic network analysis, a state-of-the-art application of discrete mathematics, offers unprecedented insight into complex, time-evolving clinical data. This technical report demonstrates the value of evaluating the long-term efficacy of Fotona laser therapy (Fotona d.o.o., Ljubljana, Slovenia) in overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome. We analyzed data from 101 female patients aged ≥60 years who underwent Fotona laser treatment, including Vaginal Erbium Laser (VEL) and Urethral Erbium Laser (UEL), between 2020 and 2022. OAB symptom scores (OABSS) were collected at baseline (T0) and at six, 12, 18, and 24 months post treatment. Network graphs were constructed, representing patients as nodes, and symptom similarities as edges. Clustering techniques identify patient subgroups, whereas principal component analysis reduces dimensionality. The dynamic evolution of patient clusters was visualized through changes in average degree centrality over time. This approach revealed three distinct patient clusters with unique treatment response patterns. The results showed a progressive reduction in OABSS, with the total score decreasing by 2.82 ± 3.03 at 24 months. Our method provides novel visualization and analysis of complex longitudinal clinical data, offering insights into personalized treatment strategies for OAB. This report presents one of the first applications of discrete mathematics and dynamic network analysis to evaluate the long-term outcomes of Fotona laser therapy for OAB and introduces an innovative perspective for clinical decision-making in urogynecology.
动态网络分析是离散数学的一项前沿应用,它为复杂的、随时间演变的临床数据提供了前所未有的见解。本技术报告展示了评估 Fotona 激光疗法(斯洛文尼亚卢布尔雅那的 Fotona d.o.o.公司)治疗膀胱过度活动症(OAB)综合征长期疗效的价值。我们分析了 2020 年至 2022 年期间 101 名年龄≥60 岁接受 Fotona 激光治疗(包括阴道铒激光(VEL)和尿道铒激光(UEL))的女性患者的数据。在基线(T0)以及治疗后 6 个月、12 个月、18 个月和 24 个月收集 OAB 症状评分(OABSS)。构建网络图,将患者表示为节点,症状相似性表示为边。聚类技术识别患者亚组,而主成分分析降低维度。通过平均度中心性随时间的变化可视化患者聚类的动态演变。这种方法揭示了三个具有独特治疗反应模式的不同患者聚类。结果显示 OABSS 逐渐降低,24 个月时总分降低了 2.82±3.03。我们的方法为复杂的纵向临床数据提供了新颖的可视化和分析,为 OAB 的个性化治疗策略提供了见解。本报告展示了离散数学和动态网络分析在评估 Fotona 激光疗法治疗 OAB 长期结果方面的首批应用之一,并为泌尿妇科临床决策引入了创新视角。