The role of the Ventral Nucleus of the Trapezoid Body in the auditory prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex.

Cholinergic signaling is essential to mediate the auditory prepulse inhibition (PPI), an operational measure of sensorimotor gating, that refers to the reduction of the acoustic startle reflex (ASR) when a low-intensity, non-startling acoustic stimulus (the prepulse) is presented just before the onset of the acoustic startle stimulus. The cochlear root neurons (CRNs) are the first cells of the ASR circuit to receive cholinergic inputs from non-olivocochlear neurons of the ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body (VNTB) and subsequently decrease their neuronal activity in response to auditory prepulses. Yet, the contribution of the VNTB-CRNs pathway to the mediation of PPI has not been fully elucidated.

Surface modification to improve in vitro attachment and proliferation of human urinary tract cells.

Objective: To evaluate the attachment and proliferation of cultured human urinary tract cells to culture plates surface-modified by photochemical immobilization of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins.

Materials And Methods: Human uroepithelial (UEC) and smooth muscle (SMC) cells were harvested from ureter and expanded in culture; 24-well culture plates surface-modified by photochemical covalent immobilization of ECM proteins were then seeded with UEC or SMC. To characterize cellular attachment, cells were incubated on surface-modified plates for 30 and 90 min.

Antifibrinolytic additives to fibrin glue for laparoscopic wound closure in urinary tract.

Background And Objectives: Fibrinolytic activity of urine may rapidly degrade fibrin glue used in the urinary tract, thereby limiting tissue adhesion. The goals of this study were to verify the ability of antifibrinolytic agents to delay the degradation of fibrin glue in the urinary tract and to assess the results of this delay on subsequent wound healing.

Materials And Methods: In 25 domestic pigs, a 3.

Pneumoperitoneum does not potentiate the nephrotoxicity of aminoglycosides in rats.

Objectives: Pneumoperitoneum is associated with transient renal dysfunction. To our knowledge, the safety of administering nephrotoxins such as aminoglycosides during pneumoperitoneum has not been studied. Our hypothesis was that pneumoperitoneum potentiates the nephrotoxicity of aminoglycosides.

Alpha-blockade therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia: from a nonselective to a more selective alpha1A-adrenergic antagonist.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is very common in older men, causing symptoms that can markedly impair quality of life. Surgical treatment, typically transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), is highly effective but can be costly and is associated with the risk for significant morbidity. Medical treatments for BPH are targeted toward reducing bladder outlet obstruction either by androgen blockade to reduce prostatic volume or alpha-adrenergic blockade to relax the smooth muscle tone of the prostate.