Nobuo Peter Okui, MD, PhD
Academic Profile
Nobuo Peter Okui is a urologist and clinician–scientist working at the intersection of clinical medicine, data science, and discrete mathematics. He is Professor of Data Science at Kanagawa Dental University (since 2018) and will serve as Professor of Innovation and Longevity Medicine at Juntendo University from 2026.
After receiving clinical training in urology and gynecology at the University of Tokyo, Harvard University, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, he established a urogynecology and urology clinic in Yokosuka. In this setting, he performed over 1,000 pelvic organ prolapse surgeries annually and developed extensive experience in managing frailty, chronic pain, and complex pelvic conditions. At the age of 55, he transitioned into data science through self-directed study, aiming to reinterpret clinical medicine through a structural and systems-based perspective.
Research
His research focuses on redefining clinical symptoms as structured relational systems rather than isolated variables. By integrating network science, graph theory, and natural language processing, he investigates how symptoms are organized across clinical datasets and patient-generated narratives.
A central contribution of his work is the introduction of triadic structures (three-symptom motifs) as minimal units linking clinical vocabularies and real-world patient expression. His studies demonstrate that patient language forms organized semantic systems and that these structures can be quantitatively analyzed to bridge gaps between standardized clinical assessment and lived patient experience. Ongoing research explores how these symptom structures may be dynamically reorganized under specific clinical and psychological conditions.
Education and Training
University of Tokyo — Clinical training in urology and gynecology
Harvard University — Clinical and research training
Brigham and Women’s Hospital — Advanced clinical training
Academic Positions
Professor, Kanagawa Dental University (Data Science), 2018–present
Professor, Juntendo University (Innovation and Longevity Medicine), from 2026
Clinical Career
Founder, Yokosuka Urogynecology and Urology Clinic
Specialization in frailty, chronic pelvic pain, and complex urogynecologic conditions
Research Interests
Symptom structure and network medicine
Integration of clinical data and patient narratives
Natural language processing in healthcare
Triadic and higher-order structures in medical data
Frailty, aging, and hormone-related conditions
Data-driven phenotyping and unsupervised learning
Conceptual Focus
Symptoms as relational structures, not independent variables
Disease as structural transformation rather than additive burden
Patient language as a critical source of clinical insight
Vision
To establish a unified framework that connects patient experience, clinical measurement, and mathematical structure, enabling more precise and patient-centered medicine.
Publications
Selected Publications
Okui N, Horie S. Natural language processing reveals network structure of pain communication in social media using discrete mathematical analysis. Scientific Reports. 2025.
Okui N, Ichino K, Sakuma Y, Ikehata Y, Okui M, Horie S. Discrete mathematical network analysis bridging clinical vocabulary and patient discourse in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome online communications. Scientific Reports. 2025.
Okui N. System-level clustering of testosterone-related biomarkers identifies high-risk aging profiles linked to inflammation and renal function. Communications Medicine. In press. doi:10.1038/s43856-026-01556-z
Okui N. Integrating vaginal laser therapy into multidisciplinary management of bladder pain syndrome and vulvodynia. BMC Urology. In press. doi:10.1186/s12894-026-02114-4
Full Publication List
2025–2026
Okui N, Ichino K, Sakuma Y, Ikehata Y, Okui M, Horie S. Discrete mathematical network analysis bridging clinical vocabulary and patient discourse in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome online communications. Sci Rep. 2025 Nov 29;16(1):1251.
Erel CT, Erkan IBO, Gokmen N, Gambacciani M, Gaspar A, Lazzaletta L, Okui N, et al. Combined intraurethral and intravaginal Er:YAG laser (UEL + VEL) therapy vs. intraurethral (UEL) alone treatment for stress urinary incontinence? a multicenter retrospective cohort study. Lasers Med Sci. 2025 Oct 8;40(1):412.
Okui N, Horie S. Natural language processing reveals network structure of pain communication in social media using discrete mathematical analysis. Sci Rep. 2025 Aug 9;15(1):29219.
Okui N, Hachiya T, Horie S. Pilot study using a discrete mathematical approach for topological analysis and ssGSEA of gene expression in autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease. Sci Rep. 2025 May 3;15(1):15559.
Okui N. Laser treatment for urinary incontinence in elite female athletes analyzed using a discrete mathematics approach. Sci Rep. 2025 May 2;15(1):15450.
Okui N. Frailty and Stress Urinary Incontinence: Bayesian Network and Discrete Mathematical Approach Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2005-2018 Data. Cureus. 2025 Mar 16;17(3):e80650.
Okui N, Okui M. Novel Management of Post-laparoscopic Sacrocolpopexy-Associated Overactive Bladder: A Combined Approach of Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (vNOTES) Mesh Removal and Fotona Laser Therapy. Cureus. 2025 Feb 19;17(2):e79277.
Okui N. Comorbid bladder pain syndrome and vulvodynia – a cross-sectional analysis of the UNICORN-4 study. BMC Womens Health. 2025 Feb 19;25(1):72.
Okui N, Okui M. Unsupervised clustering analysis of treatment strategies for elite female athletes with severe stress urinary incontinence: focusing on competition return and SUI improvement. Int Urol Nephrol. 2025 May;57(5):1493-1501.
2024
Okui N, Ikegami T, Okui M. Topological Data Analysis of Ninjin’yoeito Effects Unraveling Complex Interconnections in Patients With Frailty: A Pilot Study. Cureus. 2024 Nov 30;16(11):e74855.
Okui N. Dr. Kiyoshi Shiga (1871-1957): Outstanding Bacteriologist Who Discovered Dysentery Bacillus and Contributed Immensely to Public Health in Japan. Cureus. 2024 Oct 19;16(10):e71881. (Review)
Okui N. Ninjin’yoeito in the Management of Frailty and Overactive Bladder in Elderly Women: A Report of Two Cases. Cureus. 2024 Sep 13;16(9):e69304.
Okui N, Okui M. Discrete Mathematics in Dynamic Network Analysis: Long-Term Efficacy Evaluation of Fotona Laser Therapy for Overactive Bladder Syndrome Using Clustering-Based Patient Subgroup Identification. Cureus. 2024 Sep 4;16(9):e68671.
Okui N. Establishing Reference Values for Vaginal Vestibule Elastography in Healthy Postmenopausal Women. Cureus. 2024 Aug 31;16(8):e68294.
Okui N. Shibasaburo Kitasato (1853-1931): Pioneer of Japanese Medicine and Global Immunology Innovator. Cureus. 2024 Aug 31;16(8):e68276. (Review)
Okui N, Okui MA. Mathematical Approach to Synergistic Management of Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis and Vulvodynia: A Case Series Utilizing Principal Component Analysis, Cluster Analysis, and Combination Laser Therapy. Cureus. 2024 Jul 31;16(7):e65829.
Okui N, Okui M. Frailty and the Correlation Between Total Testosterone Levels and Urinary Incontinence Among Elderly Women. Int Urogynecol J. 2024 Sep;35(9):1909-1919.
Okui N, Okui MA. The Importance of Psychological Assessment in the Management of Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis and Vulvodynia: A Case Report. Cureus. 2024 Jul 1;16(7):e63617.
Okui N. Treatment of Refractory Vesicourethral Anastomosis Pain Following Radical Prostatectomy Using a Combination of Non-ablative Erbium:YAG and Neodymium:YAG Laser Therapy: A Case Report. Cureus. 2024 Jun 24;16(6):e63036.
Okui N. Unsupervised Machine Learning Reveals a Vulvodynia-Predominant Subtype in Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis. Cureus. 2024 Jun 18;16(6):e62585.
Okui N, Okui MA. Efficacy and Safety of Combination Therapy With Vaginal and Urethral Erbium-Doped Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet (Er:YAG) Laser for Overactive Bladder With Urinary Incontinence. Cureus. 2024 Jun 14;16(6):e62363.
Okui N. Navigating Treatment Choices for Stress and Urgency Urinary Incontinence Using Graph Theory in Discrete Mathematics. Cureus. 2024 May 29;16(5):e61315.
Okui N. The Treatment Selection for a 36-Year-Old Woman With Stress Urinary Incontinence Using a Discrete Mathematical Approach: A Case Report. Cureus. 2024 May 29;16(5):e61314.
Okui N. Innovative decision making tools using discrete mathematics for stress urinary incontinence treatment. Sci Rep. 2024 Apr 30;14(1):9900.
Okui N. The Potential of Non-ablative Erbium (YAG) Laser Treatment for Complications After Midurethral Sling Surgery: A Narrative Review. Cureus. 2024 Apr 17;16(4):e58486. (Review)
Okui N, Okui M. Minimally Invasive Vaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery Technique for Successful Polypropylene Mesh Removal in Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Case Report. Cureus. 2024 Mar 5;16(3):e55610.
Okui N, Okui MA. Pathological Insights on Polypropylene Mesh Complications From Laparoscopic Sacrocolpopexy: A Case Series. Cureus. 2024 Mar 17;16(3):e56354.
Okui N. Evaluating the Practicality of Causal Inference From Non-randomized Observational Data in Small-Scale Clinical Settings: A Study on the Effects of Ninjin’yoeito. Cureus. 2024 Mar 8;16(3):e55825.
Okui N, Ikegami T, Erel CT. Non-ablative Erbium (YAG) and Neodymium (YAG) Laser Treatment for Anal Incontinence and Vaginal Atrophy: A Case Study. Cureus. 2024 Mar 5;16(3):e55542.
Okui N. A Discrete Mathematics Approach for Understanding Risk Factors in Overactive Bladder Treatment. Cureus. 2024 Jan 30;16(1):e53245.
Okui N, Kouno Y, Nakano K, Okui MA. Evaluating Non-ablative Erbium Yttrium Aluminium Garnet (YAG) Laser Treatment for Polypropylene Mesh-Induced Vaginal Erosion: A Case Series. Cureus. 2024 Feb 28;16(2):e55128.
Okui N, Ikegami T, Erel CT. Neodymium Laser Treatment for Overactive Bladder and Vulvodynia in Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser Syndrome Patient: A Case Report. Cureus. 2024 Jan 27;16(1):e53068.
Okui N, Okui MA. Mesh Extraction Surgery and Laser Treatment for Pain After Mid-Urethral Sling Surgery: A Case Series. Cureus. 2024 Jan 1;16(1):e51431.
2023
Okui N. Vaginal Laser Treatment for the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Narrative Review. Cureus. 2023 Sep 18;15(9):e45495. (Review)
Okui N, Erel T, Okui MA. Analysis of Predictive Factors for Return to Sports in Female Athletes With Stress Urinary Incontinence. Cureus. 2023 Aug 30;15(8):e44364.
Okui N, Ikegami T, Hashimoto T, Kouno Y, Nakano K, Okui MA. Predictive Factors for High Post-void Residual Volume in Older Females After OnabotulinumA Treatment for Severe Overactive Bladder Using a Machine Learning Model. Cureus. 2023 Jul 29;15(7):e42668.
Okui N, Okui MA, Kouno Y, Nakano K. Laser Treatment for Patients With Vulvodynia and Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome: A Case Series (The UNICORN-3 Study). Cureus. 2023 Jul 12;15(7):e41786.
Okui N, Okui MA. Ninjin’yoeito Improves Genitourinary Symptoms in Patients With Frailty. Cureus. 2023 Jun 21;15(6):e40767.
Okui N, Okui M, Kouno Y, Nakano K, Gambacciani M. Efficacy of Two Laser Treatment Strategies for Breast Cancer Survivors With Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause. Cureus. 2023 May 5;15(5):e38604.
Okui N, Ikegami T, Mikic AN, Okui M, Gaspar A. Long-Term Improvement in Urinary Incontinence in an Elite Female Athlete Through the Laser Treatment: A Case Report. Cureus. 2023 Mar 27;15(3):e36730.
2008–2022
Okui N, Okui M, Gambacciani M. Is Erbium/Neodymium Laser Combination Therapy an Effective Treatment Option for Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome With Vulvodynia? Cureus. 2022 Nov 8;14(11):e31228.
Okui N, Okui M, Gambacciani M. Examining vaginal and vulvar health and sexual dysfunction in patients with interstitial cystitis (UNICORN-1 study). Int Urogynecol J. 2022 Sep;33(9):2493-2499.(Officially Recognized by the ICS Consensus Panel, 2025)
Okui N, Miyazaki H, Takahashi W, Miyauchi T, Ito C, Okui M, Shigemori K, Miyazaki Y, Vizintin Z, Lukac M. Comparison of urethral sling surgery and non-ablative vaginal Erbium:YAG laser treatment in 327 patients with stress urinary incontinence: a case-matching analysis. Lasers Med Sci. 2022 Feb;37(1):655-663.
Okui N. Efficacy and safety of non-ablative vaginal erbium:YAG laser treatment as a novel surgical treatment for overactive bladder syndrome: comparison with anticholinergics and β3-adrenoceptor agonists. World J Urol. 2019 Nov;37(11):2459-2466.
Okui N. Comparison between erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser therapy and sling procedures in the treatment of stress and mixed urinary incontinence. World J Urol. 2019 May;37(5):885-889.
Okui N, Okui M, Horie S. Improvements in overactive bladder syndrome after polypropylene mesh surgery for cystocele. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2009 Apr;49(2):226-31.
