Bacterial quality of urinary tract in patients with alkaptonuria.

Background: The aim of the current study was to determine whether there is an association between alkaptonuria (AKU) and urinary tract infection (UTI) by exploring the bacterial quality of the urinary tract, as most of the patients with AKU present with frequent occurrence of urinary tract symptoms such as incomplete emptying of urinary bladder, dysuria and nocturia.

Methods: Study samples were collected from 22 participants; 9 from patients with AKU, 9 from individuals who were AKU carriers, and 4 people served as control. Confirmation of AKU diagnosis was established by the ferric chloride test and quantitative determination of urinary homogentisic acid (HGA) levels.

Plasma Concentrations of Pro-inflammatory Cytokine IL-6 and Antiinflammatory Cytokine IL-10 in Short- and Long-term Opioid Users with Noncancer Pain.

Introduction: Little is known whether the duration of opioid use influences the concentrations of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Objectives: This study examined the plasma concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin 10 (IL-10), in short-, and long-term opioid users with noncancer pain.

Materials And Methods: Adult patients with opioid therapy for noncancer pain were recruited from pain clinics at two tertiary hospital settings in Malaysia between February 2016 and March 2017.