Tack Lee

Sonographic findings in tuberculous epididymitis and epididymo-orchitis

This paper presents the sonographic findings in scrotums of patients affected with tuberculous epididymitis or epididymo‐orchitis.

Tolterodine: As effective but better tolerated than oxybutynin in Asian patients with symptoms of overactive bladder

Background: This double‐blind, multicenter study compared the efficacy and tolerability of tolterodine (Pharmacia, Los Angeles, USA) with that of oxybutynin (Alza, Palo Alto, USA) in Asian patients with overactive bladder.

PATHOLOGICAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RETRACTILE AND CRYPTORCHID TESTES

PURPOSE We compared testicular biopsies from retractile and cryptorchid testes to determine the histological effect of testicular retraction and the necessity of treatment for retractile testes. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 61 testicular biopsies were performed during orchiopexy in 36 boys 1.3 to 9.8 years old (mean age 5.4) with retractile testes (unilateral in 11, bilateral in 50) and 115 testicular biopsies were done in 83 patients with cryptorchidism (unilateral in 51, bilateral in 64) 0.5 to 14.9 years old (mean age 3.7). Parameters for germ and Sertoli cells were determined in each group. RESULTS Mean average spermatogonial number (S/T value) and Sertoli cell index were statistically different between retractile and cryptorchid testes with values of 2.96+/-1.33 versus 0.61+/-0.87 and 26.81+/-6.75 versus 23.04+/-5.85, respectively. Average tubular degeneration phase V to VII ratio was 0.23+/-0.18 for retractile testes and 0.22+/-0.17 for cryptorchid testes which was not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS Similar tubular degeneration phase V to VII values between retractile and cryptorchid testes indicate histological change in retractile testes and suggest the need for hormonal or surgical therapy for those patients with retractile testes lacking spontaneous descent.

Chlamydia pneumoniae infection enhances cellular proliferation and reduces steroid responsiveness of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells via a tumor necrosis factor-α-dependent pathway

Background Although epidemiological studies have found an association between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and severe asthma, the causality and underlying mechanism are largely unknown. We hypothesized that C. pneumoniae infection increases the proliferation and enhances the survival of immune and inflammatory cells, resulting in reduced responsiveness to corticosteroids and suggesting that the underlying mechanism is related to a TNF‐α‐dependent pathway.

Substantial detrusor overactivity in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats with hyperactive behaviour.

Objective. The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) is a useful model for studying the mechanisms of detrusor overactivity (DO). However, owing to their confounding phenotypic characteristics of hyperactive behaviour, there could be some problems with the interpretation of cystometric data, which is significantly confused by abdominal straining (AS), causing changes in intravesical pressure (IVP). Material and methods. IVP and intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) were recorded simultaneously to evaluate true DO in conscious healthy male SHRs and Wistar/ST (Wistar) rats. Intravesical pressure rises (IVPRs), defined as increments that exceeded 2 cmH2O from baseline, were counted, and those that were caused by AS or DO were determined according to the presence of simultaneous changes in IAP. Results. Compared with Wistar rats, SHRs had a shorter filling phase (p<0.01) and greater frequency of IVPRs (p<0.01). SHRs, but not Wistar rats, showed DO. The substantial DO represented up to 76% of total IVPRs, with the remainder caused by AS. The amplitude (p<0.05) but not the frequency of AS (p>0.05), was higher in SHR than Wistar rats. Conclusion. In conscious SHRs, variations in IAP due to hyperactive behaviour may cause misinterpretation of pressure parameters and result in false reports of DO. Thus, simultaneous registration of IAP and IVP is needed for accurate recording of substantial DO in these animals.

Selection of a control rat for conscious spontaneous hypertensive rats in studies of detrusor overactivity on the basis of measurement of intra-abdominal pressures.

We investigated which animal model is appropriate as a control for the spontaneous hypertensive rat (SHR) in studies of detrusor overactivity (DO).

4‐1BB stimulation inhibits allergen‐specific immunoglobulin E production and airway hyper‐reactivity but partially suppresses bronchial eosinophilic inflammation in a mouse asthma model

Background 4‐1BB, a member of the tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily, functions as a co‐stimulatory molecule. Recently, stimulation of the 4‐1BB pathway was shown to suppress antigen‐specific CD4+ T cell and subsequent T cell‐dependent humoral immune responses.

Urinary Metabolite Profiling Combined with Computational Analysis Predicts Interstitial Cystitis-Associated Candidate Biomarkers

Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC) is a chronic syndrome of unknown etiology that presents with bladder pain, urinary frequency, and urgency. The lack of specific biomarkers and a poor understanding of underlying molecular mechanisms present challenges for disease diagnosis and therapy. The goals of this study were to identify noninvasive biomarker candidates for IC from urine specimens and to potentially gain new insight into disease mechanisms using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based global metabolomics analysis of urine from female IC patients and controls. Principal component analysis (PCA) suggested that the urinary metabolome of IC and controls was clearly different, with 140 NMR peaks significantly altered in IC patients (FDR < 0.05) compared to that in controls. On the basis of strong correlation scores, fifteen metabolite peaks were nominated as the strongest signature of IC. Among those signals that were higher in the IC group, three peaks were annotated as tyramine, the pain-related neuromodulator. Two peaks were annotated as 2-oxoglutarate. Levels of tyramine and 2-oxoglutarate were significantly elevated in urine specimens of IC subjects. An independent analysis using mass spectrometry also showed significantly increased levels of tyramine and 2-oxoglutarate in IC patients compared to controls. Functional studies showed that 2-oxoglutarate, but not tyramine, retarded growth of normal bladder epithelial cells. These preliminary findings suggest that analysis of urine metabolites has promise in biomarker development in the context of IC.

Vardenafil-induced relaxation and cyclic nucleotide levels in normal and obstructed rat urinary bladder.

To study the effects of the phosphodiesterase‐5 inhibitor, vardenafil, on contraction and cyclic nucleotide levels in isolated detrusor preparations with and without mucosa, from control rats and rats with partial urethral obstruction (PUO) and intact mucosa.

Erectile Dysfunction Precedes Other Systemic Vascular Diseases Due to Incompetent Cavernous Endothelial Cell-Cell Junctions

PURPOSE Erectile dysfunction is often a harbinger of cardiovascular disease. We sought to gain mechanistic insight at the cellular and molecular levels into why erectile dysfunction precedes the clinical consequences of cardiovascular disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal streptozotocin injection in 8-week-old C57BL/6J mice. At 8 weeks after diabetes induction, we determined the expression of endothelial cell-cell junction proteins and vascular endothelial permeability in the penis, heart and hind limb by systemic injection of various vascular space markers (350 Da to 2,000 kDa) or by immunohistochemical staining with antibody to oxidized low density lipoprotein. We also investigated the effect of recombinant Ang1 protein on cavernous endothelial permeability. RESULTS Alterations in the integrity of the endothelial cell-cell junction, including a decrease in endothelial cell-cell junction proteins and an increase in vascular permeability to fluorescent tracers or oxidized low density lipoprotein, were prominent in the cavernous tissue of diabetic mice. In contrast, no significant changes in endothelial cell-cell junction proteins or vascular permeability were noted in heart or hind limb tissue according to the diabetic condition. Intracavernous injection of Ang1 protein, an anti-permeability factor, significantly decreased cavernous endothelial permeability to oxidized low density lipoprotein by restoring endothelial cell-cell junction proteins in diabetic mice. CONCLUSIONS The incompetent cavernous endothelial cell-cell junction in the diabetic condition provides an important clue to why erectile dysfunction is highly prevalent and often precedes other systemic vascular diseases.