The mast cell stimulator compound 48/80 causes urothelium-dependent increases in murine urinary bladder contractility.

Mast cells and degranulation of preformed inflammatory mediators contribute to lower urinary tract symptoms. This study investigated pathways by which the mast cell stimulator compound 48/80 alters urinary bladder smooth muscle contractility via mast cell activation. We hypothesized that ) mast cell degranulation causes spontaneous urinary bladder smooth muscle contractions and ) these contractions are caused by urothelium-derived PGE.

Compound 48/80 increases murine bladder wall compliance independent of mast cells.

A balance between stiffness and compliance is essential to normal bladder function, and changes in the mechanical properties of the bladder wall occur in many bladder pathologies. These changes are often associated with the release of basic secretagogues that in turn drive the release of inflammatory mediators from mast cells. Mast cell degranulation by basic secretagogues is thought to occur by activating an orphan receptor, Mas-related G protein-coupled receptor B2 (Mrgprb2).

Histamine receptors rapidly desensitize without altering nerve-evoked contractions in murine urinary bladder smooth muscle.

Histamine has been implicated in urinary bladder dysfunction as an inflammatory mediator driving sensory nerve hypersensitivity. However, the direct influence of histamine on smooth muscle has not been thoroughly investigated. We hypothesized that histamine directly contracts urinary bladder smooth muscle (UBSM) independent of effects on nerves.

An evaluation of the readability, quality, and accuracy of online health information regarding the treatment of hypospadias.

Background: Hypospadias is one of the most common genital anomalies. Treatment of hypospadias requires surgical repair, usually in childhood. Patients are increasingly using the internet to learn more about their health or that of their children, which can often empower patients to make well-informed healthcare decisions.

Development of stress-induced bladder insufficiency requires functional TRPV1 channels.

Social stress causes profound urinary bladder dysfunction in children that often continues into adulthood. We previously discovered that the intensity and duration of social stress influences whether bladder dysfunction presents as overactivity or underactivity. The transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) channel is integral in causing stress-induced bladder overactivity by increasing bladder sensory outflow, but little is known about the development of stress-induced bladder underactivity.

Prolonged urinary retention can and does occur after any type of ureteral reimplantantion.

Objective: Transient urinary retention has been recognized as a complication of bilateral ureteroneocystostomy (UNC), when performed extravesically. The objective of this study was to review a collective surgeons' experiences of unilateral extra- and unilateral and/or bilateral intra-vesical ureteral reimplanation, where urinary retention greater than 6 weeks, or what we have termed, "prolonged urinary retention" (PUR), occurred.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed charts to identify PUR after any open or robotic reimplant, other than bilateral extravesical, between 1998 and 2015 as reported by five surgeons.

Social stress in mice induces urinary bladder overactivity and increases TRPV1 channel-dependent afferent nerve activity.

Social stress has been implicated as a cause of urinary bladder hypertrophy and dysfunction in humans. Using a murine model of social stress, we and others have shown that social stress leads to bladder overactivity. Here, we show that social stress leads to bladder overactivity, increased bladder compliance, and increased afferent nerve activity.

Metabolic bone loss after urinary diversion in children.

Purpose Of Review: It has been widely known for some time that bone loss can be seen in certain subpopulations of children undergoing urinary diversion and/or enterocystoplasty. This review will hopefully look at the recent evidence in the field and help understand the multifactorial cause of bone loss in this group of individuals, as well as look at evidence for this phenomenon in growth retardation in certain groups of these individuals.

Recent Findings: Most of the recent publications indicate that in normal individuals, decreased bone mineralization does not appear to affect final growth or adult height.

Social stress induces changes in urinary bladder function, bladder NGF content, and generalized bladder inflammation in mice.

Social stress may play a role in urinary bladder dysfunction in humans, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In the present study, we explored changes in bladder function caused by social stress using mouse models of stress and increasing stress. In the stress paradigm, individual submissive FVB mice were exposed to C57BL/6 aggressor mice directly/indirectly for 1 h/day for 2 or 4 wk.

Pediatric resident exposure to urology: identifying a need.

Purpose: We evaluated current trends of pediatric urology exposure during the 3-year pediatric residency period nationwide. We also evaluated the opinions of urology and pediatric residency program directors regarding the need for additional exposure to pediatric urology.

Materials And Methods: From February to October 2011 we administered 2 concurrent electronic surveys.

Practice variation and clinical confusion regarding undescended testes and retractile testes among primary care respondents: a multi-regional survey study in the United States.

Purpose: Although previous studies have looked at referral patterns and indications for orchiopexy, this is the first attempt at quantifying the primary care provider knowledge base of cryptorchidism and its implications in a large multi-state setting in the United States.

Methods: Primary care providers (PCPs) (n = 3,000) were invited to complete a web-based survey regarding cryptorchidism. We evaluated: practice setting; training; knowledge of cryptorchidism; relationship to pediatric urologists and surgeons; understanding of the relationship between cryptorchidism, infertility and testis cancer.

Six1 and Eya1 are critical regulators of peri-cloacal mesenchymal progenitors during genitourinary tract development.

The evolutionarily conserved Six1-Eya1 transcription complex is central to mammalian organogenesis, and deletion of these genes in mice results in developmental anomalies of multiple organs that recapitulate human branchio-oto-renal (BOR) and DiGeorge syndromes. Here, we report that both Six1 and Eya1 are strongly expressed in the peri-cloacal mesenchyme (PCM) surrounding the cloaca, the terminal end of hindgut dilation. Six1 and Eya1 are absent from the intra-cloacal mesenchyme (ICM), a cell mass that divides the cloaca into dorsal hindgut and ventral urogenital sinus.

Salvage of bilateral asynchronous perinatal testicular torsion.

Purpose: Current management strategies for prenatal torsion include observation alone, delayed contralateral orchiopexy and emergent contralateral orchiopexy. Bilateral torsion is now being reported with more frequency and approximately a third of these patients have asynchronous torsion. We highlight the role of scrotal exploration in neonates diagnosed with bilateral asynchronous testicular torsion.

Acute management of neonatal respiratory failure due to crossed ectopic obstructed megaureter in a duplicated pelvic kidney.

Respiratory distress due to urinary tract obstruction can be a urologic emergency. We describe the diagnostic and surgical management of severe respiratory distress in a neonate due to a crossed ectopic obstructed megaureter in a duplicated pelvic kidney.

Endoscopic ablation of longitudinal vaginal septa in prepubertal girls: a minimally invasive alternative to open resection.

Introduction: Vaginal septation is a congenital defect seen in patients with persistent cloaca, urogenital sinus and disorders of Müllerian duct aplasia. Rarely, these patients present with symptoms in infancy and childhood with the exception of hydrocolpos. Treatment traditionally consists of surgical excision of the vaginal septum.

The minimally invasive open pyeloplasty.

Background: The dismembered pyeloplasty is the operation of choice for ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). Recently, with the advent of improved minimally invasive techniques and equipment, laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty has gained popularity. We present our experience with a minimally invasive open pyeloplasty.

Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT): a current review of cell signaling processes in ureteral development.

Objective: The objective of this review is to present a concise summary of the genetic signaling processes involved in abnormal mouse Wolffian development and their correlation to those abnormalities affecting ureteral development in children.

Materials And Methods: We performed an extensive review of the current literature pertaining to mouse Wolffian duct development and combined these findings with our own data.

Conclusion: This article reviews embryological findings in mice with ureteral abnormalities and draws connections between the mouse anomaly and what is seen in children.