Management of complicated chronic anal fissures with high-dose circumferential chemodenervation (HDCC) of the internal anal sphincter.

Background: Botulinum toxin injection into the internal anal sphincter (IAS) is gaining popularity as a second line therapy for chronic anal fissures after patients fail medical therapy. The dosage of Botulinum toxin reported in the literature ranged from 20 to 50 IU. Complicated chronic anal fissure is defined as persistent fissure concurrent with other perianal pathology.

High-dose circumferential chemodenervation of the internal anal sphincter: A new treatment modality for uncomplicated chronic anal fissure: A retrospective cohort study (with video).

Background: Botulinum toxin injection into the internal anal sphincter is gaining popularity as a second line therapy for chronic anal fissures if medical therapy fails. The dosage of botulinum toxin reported ranged from 20 to 50 IU with no more than 3 injection sites and results in a healing rate of 41%-88% at 3 months. We propose a new injection method of high-dose circumferential chemodenervation of 100 IU in treating chronic anal fissure.

Placental ischemia impairs middle cerebral artery myogenic responses in the pregnant rat.

One potential mechanism contributing to the increased risk for encephalopathies in women with preeclampsia is altered cerebral vascular autoregulation resulting from impaired myogenic tone. Whether placental ischemia, a commonly proposed initiator of preeclampsia, alters cerebral vascular function is unknown. This study tested the hypothesis that placental ischemia in pregnant rats (caused by reduced uterine perfusion pressure [RUPP]) leads to impaired myogenic responses in middle cerebral arteries.

Blood pressure and renal hemodynamic responses to acute angiotensin II infusion are enhanced in a female mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Inflammation and immune system dysfunction contributes to the development of cardiovascular and renal disease. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder that carries a high risk for both renal and cardiovascular disease. While hemodynamic changes that may contribute to increased cardiovascular risk have been reported in humans and animal models of SLE, renal hemodynamics have not been widely studied.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha antagonist etanercept decreases blood pressure and protects the kidney in a mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Chronic inflammation has been implicated in the pathology of hypertension; however, the role for specific cytokines remains unclear. We tested whether tumor necrosis factor-α blockade with etanercept (Etan) reduces mean arterial pressure in a female mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE is a chronic inflammatory disorder with prevalent hypertension.

Sexual dimorphism in the blood pressure response to angiotensin II in mice after angiotensin-converting enzyme blockade.

Background: The incidence of hypertension and progression of renal disease are greater in men than in women. Data suggest that there is a dimorphic response to angiotensin II (Ang II) in rats, with male rats exhibiting a greater increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) than females. However, during endogenous renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition, female rats have a greater MAP response to Ang II.

Rosiglitazone decreases blood pressure and renal injury in a female mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) exhibit a high prevalence of hypertension and renal injury. Rosiglitazone (Rosi), a peroxisome proliferator activator receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonist, has renal protective and antihypertensive effects. We tested whether Rosi ameliorates hypertension and renal injury in a female mouse model of SLE (NZBWF1).