Assessment of Brainstem Functional Organization in Healthy Adults and Overactive Bladder Patients Using Ultra-High Field fMRI.

The pathophysiological mechanisms of overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) remain largely unknown, with major involvement of the central nervous system (CNS). The periaqueductal gray (PAG) is a brainstem area which is indicated to play an essential role in bidirectional communication between the bladder and the CNS. We aimed to assess consistency of PAG functional organization across different bladder sensory states in OAB patients.

Between-subject similarity of functional connectivity-based organization of the human periaqueductal gray related to autonomic processing.

The periaqueductal gray (PAG) is a brain stem area designated to play an essential role in lower urinary tract (LUT) control. Post-mortem human and animal studies have indicated that the PAG is symmetrically organized in functionally and anatomically distinct columns which are involved in sympathetic or parasympathetic autonomic control of the LUT. The current study aims to find consistency across subjects and identify homologous clusters between subjects.

Sacral neuromodulation in patients with refractory overactive bladder symptoms after failed Botulinum toxin therapy: Results in a large cohort of patients.

Aims: Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) and Botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injections are well-known third-line treatment options in patients with refractory overactive bladder (OAB). Our aim is to evaluate the success rate of SNM in patients who received prior therapy with BoNT-A injections.

Methods: All patients with OAB symptoms referred for SNM between 2006 and 2019 were included.