Effects of Orthosiphon grandiflorus, Hibiscus sabdariffa and Phyllanthus amarus extracts on risk factors for urinary calcium oxalate stones in rats.

Purpose: We evaluated the antilithic effect of Orthosiphon grandiflorus, Hibiscus sabdariffa and Phyllanthus amarus extracts on known risk factors for calcium oxalate stones in rats.

Materials And Methods: We divided 30 male Wistar rats into 5 equal groups. Controls were fed a standard diet and the remaining groups received a 3% glycolate diet for 4 weeks to induce hyperoxaluria.

Effect of potassium depletion on urinary stone risk factors in Wistar rats.

Various studies have suggested that potassium depletion leads to acidosis and hypocitraturia. In Northeastern Thailand, for example, mild hypokalemia and mild hyperoxaluria are observed in most stone formers. However, there are limited reports about the direct link between potassium depletion and the formation of urinary stones, most of which are calcium oxalate stones.

Endogenous oxalogenesis after acute intravenous loading with ethylene glycol or glycine in rats receiving standard and vitamin B6-deficient diets.

Objectives: The effect on endogenous oxalate synthesis of acute intravenous loading with ethylene glycol or glycine was investigated in rats on a standard or a vitamin B6-deficient diet.

Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats weighing approximately 180 g were randomly divided into ethylene glycol and glycine groups of 12 animals each. These groups were further divided into two subgroups of six animals each that were fed either a standard or a vitamin B6-deficient diet for 3 weeks.

Mechanisms by which a phytotherapeutic drug influences bladder activity in rats.

Purpose: We investigated the mechanisms by which Eviprostat, a phytotherapeutic drug for benign prostatic hyperplasia, influences bladder activity in rats.

Materials And Methods: A total of 42 female rats were divided into a control group and an Eviprostat group. Rats in the control group were fed a standard diet, while animals in the Eviprostat group were fed a diet containing 0.

Restoration of bladder contraction by bone marrow transplantation in rats with underactive bladder.

We attempted to increase bladder contraction by bone marrow cell transplantation in rats with underactive bladder due to bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). Twelve female rats were anesthetized with halothane to create BOO. After 1 month, the urethral obstruction was removed and they were divided into a transplant group and a sham-operated group (n = 6 each).

Effects of propiverine and naftopidil on the urinary ATP level and bladder activity after bladder stimulation in rats.

We examined the effects of propiverine hydrochloride and naftopidil on the urinary ATP level and bladder activity after bladder stimulation in rats. Thirty-nine female rats were divided into a control group, a propiverine group, and a naftopidil group. Rats in the propiverine and naftopidil groups were administered 1 ml/day of propiverine or naftopidil dissolved in water at 5mg/ml, while animals in the control group were administered 1 ml of water only.

False-positive 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scan in a patient with angiomyolipoma; positive MIBG scan does not necessarily indicate the presence of pheochromocytoma.

123I-Metaiodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG)-accumulation in angiomyolipoma (AML) is demonstrated. A 24-year-old Japanese woman presented with tumors in the right retroperitoneal space. The tumors, which accumulated 123I-MIBG, had been thought to be adrenal pheochromocytoma before surgery.

Urethral polyp in a young girl: a case report.

Urethral polyps are rarely found in young girls. A total of 12 urethral polyps have been described in young girls in the English literature to date. Here we present a case of urethral polyp that was detected in the distal urethra of a 12-year-girl.

Investigation of biochemical factors related to non-bothersome nocturnal urination.

We investigated the factors related to nocturnal urination that was not considered bothersome by comparing various parameters between subjects who felt nocturnal urination as bothersome and those who did not. A total of 94 persons (50 males and 44 females) were enrolled. They urinated >or= once per night.

Biochemical and body composition analysis of nocturia in the elderly.

Aims: Nocturia is a common symptom in the elderly, and various contributing factors have been suggested. Therefore, in order to investigate which factors are strongly related to occurrence of nocturia, we performed a suite of examinations.

Methods: One hundred eighty volunteers were divided into three groups: a young adult control group (60 healthy persons without nocturia), an elderly control group (60 healthy persons with a low mean frequency of nocturnal urination, i.

Prognosis of bedridden patients with end-stage renal failure after starting hemodialysis.

Background: The mean age of starting hemodialysis (HD) in patients with end-stage renal failure is gradually increasing in Japan. It is not uncommon for HD to be commenced in bedridden elderly patients who cannot give informed consent, because of brain damage. However, we have not been able to provide useful advice to their families because there was no relevant information available about the prognosis of bedridden patients on HD.

Oxalate synthesis from hydroxypyruvate in vitamin-B6-deficient rats.

We studied the effects of an intravenous hydroxypyruvate load on endogenous oxalogenesis in rats receiving a standard diet or a vitamin-B6-deficient diet. Twelve male Wistar rats were randomized to two groups and were fed either a standard diet or a vitamin-B6-deficient diet for 3 weeks. Then the animals received an intravenous infusion of 100 mg/ml (960.

Change of blood viscosity and urinary frequency by high water intake.

Physicians recommend a high water intake to prevent cerebral infarction by decreasing blood viscosity. However, there is no evidence that high water intake decreases viscosity, although it increases urinary frequency. Therefore, we investigated the change of blood viscosity and urinary frequency by high water intake.

Effects of walking exercise on nocturia in the elderly.

We investigated whether nocturia in the elderly was improved by walking exercise, which involved walking rapidly for 30 min or more in the evening or night for 8 weeks. A questionnaire related to micturition and exercise, blood pressure, body composition analysis, blood biochemistry tests, and urinalysis were performed before and after 8 weeks of exercise to investigate the effects of walking. Thirty men (71 years old on average) continued the walking exercise for long enough to undergo evaluation.

The bisphosphonate YM529 inhibits osteoblastic bone tumor proliferation of prostate cancer.

Background: In men, prostate cancer frequently metastasizes to the bones, where it forms osteoblastic lesions with an osteolytic element that cause pain. However, the role of osteoclastogenesis in bone metastasis of human prostate cancer is unknown. Bisphosphonates are already known to be beneficical for treating osteolytic bone metastases, so we employed a model of osteoblastic bone tumor of human prostate cancer to investigate whether a new bisphosphonate (YM529: minodronate) could inhibit both the formation of bone tumors and the progression of established osteoblastic tumors.

Intravesical instillation of bacille Calmette-Guérin for superficial bladder cancer: cost-effectiveness analysis.

Objectives: Frequent recurrence of superficial bladder cancer is a major problem that impairs patients' quality of life. We studied the current treatment of superficial bladder cancer, including the economic aspects of intravesical instillation.

Methods: A total of 138 superficial bladder cancers were assessed.

Effect of Gosha-jinki-gan, a blended herbal medicine, on bladder activity in rats.

Purpose: We investigated the effect of the blended herbal medicine Gosha-jinki-gan on bladder activity and the autonomic nervous system in rats.

Materials And Methods: A total of 42 female rats were divided into a control diet group of 21 and a Gosha-jinki-gan diet group of 21. Rats in the control diet group were fed a standard diet, while animals in the Gosha-jinki-gan were fed a special diet containing 1.

Location of spina bifida occulta and ultrasonographic bladder abnormalities predict the outcome of treatment for primary nocturnal enuresis in children.

Objective: We examined whether the existence of spina bifida occulta or ultrasonographic bladder abnormalities was related to the outcome of treatment for primary nocturnal enuresis in children.

Methods: Between April 1996 and September 2005, a total of 77 subjects (53 boys and 24 girls, aged 5-18 years; mean age, 9.9 years) with primary nocturnal enuresis were studied.

Intrathecal glutamate promotes glycinergic neuronal activity and inhibits the micturition reflex in urethane-anesthetized rats.

Objectives: In order to clarify the role of glutamate in the micturition reflex and in glutamatergic and glycinergic neuronal activity, we examined the effects of intrathecal (IT) injection of glutamate or MK-801 (an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist) on bladder activity and on the glutamate and glycine levels in the lumbosacral cord of female rats with or without acute lower thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: Under urethane anesthesia, isovolumetric cystometry was performed in rats with or without SCI before and after IT injection of glutamate or MK-801 at the lumbosacral cord level. The glutamate and glycine levels of the whole lumbosacral cord were measured after IT injection of glutamate or MK-801 in both groups.

Serum amino acids as indicators of cerebrospinal neuronal activity in patients with micturition disorders.

Objective: Our previous study showed that the spinal glycine level in rats was changed by spinal injury or bladder outlet obstruction, and this change was reflected by serum glycine levels. Therefore, we measured the serum glutamate and glycine levels in healthy volunteers and patients with cerebrospinal damage or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) to confirm whether the change of serum amino acid levels was obtained from these patients as well as the animal experiment.

Methods: We measured the serum glutamate and glycine levels in 170 healthy controls, 57 patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD), 68 patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), and 70 patients with BPH.

Inhibitory effect of the nucleus reticularis pontis oralis on the pontine micturition center and pontine urine storage center in decerebrate cats.

The influence of the nucleus reticularis pontis oralis (PoO) on the pontine micturition center (PMC) and pontine urine storage center (PUSC) was examined in decerebrate cats by electrical and chemical stimulations of the PMC, PUSC or PoO. Microinjection of carbachol into the rostral and dorsolateral part of the PoO rapidly inhibited reflex micturition and external urethral sphincter (EUS) activity. After confirming the inhibition of reflex micturition and EUS activity by microinjection of carbachol into the PoO, intravenous injection of atropine sulfate or its microinjection into the PoO recovered both reflex micturition and EUS activity.

A gap junction blocker inhibits isolated whole bladder activity in normal rats and rats with partial bladder outlet obstruction.

We examined the effect of 18alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid (18alpha-GA), a gap junction blocker, or propiverine hydrochloride on the activity of isolated whole bladders obtained from intact rats and rats with partial bladder outlet obstruction (BOO). Thirty-two female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into an intact group and a BOO group. The whole bladder was harvested from each rat and isovolumetric cystometry was performed in Krebs solution.

Efficacy of tricyclic antidepressant is associated with beta2-adrenoceptor genotype in patients with interstitial cystitis.

We examined the relationship between the Arg16Gly polymorphism of beta2-adrenoceptor (ADRB2) and the efficacy of tricyclic antidepressant therapy in patients with interstitial cystitis (IC). We studied 55 IC patients and 113 controls. The IC patients were treated with imipramine hydrochloride, and the efficacy of treatment was categorized by patients' satisfaction (no change, fair, or good).