Efficacy of isoniazid salvage therapy for latent tuberculosis infection in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory disorders - A retrospective cohort study in Taiwan.

Background: Active tuberculosis (TB) in patients with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) was associated with use of biological agents for immune-mediated inflammatory disorders (IMIDs). For decreasing active TB, isoniazid prophylaxis therapy was administered before biologic therapy among IMID patients with LTBI. However, for patients who had been received biologics for a long time with unknown status of LTBI or exposure history of active TB, the prevalence of LTBI and efficacy of isoniazid therapy were unclear.

Sulforaphane Improves Ischemia-Induced Detrusor Overactivity by Downregulating the Enhancement of Associated Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, Autophagy, and Apoptosis in Rat Bladder.

Atherosclerosis-associated pelvic ischemia has been reported to be a risk factor for bladder dysfunction and subsequent lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in the elderly population. However, the molecular mechanisms of this association remain unclear. We hypothesized that stress-induced cellular responses might play a role in the pathogenesis of ischemia-induced bladder dysfunction.

Associations between lower urinary tract dysfunction and glycemic control in women with type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study.

Aims: Patients with diabetes are predisposed to develop a variety of complications, including lower urinary tract (LUT) dysfunction. We aimed to examine the associations between glycemic control and LUT dysfunction in women with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods: We included 400 women with T2D (age range, 48-75 years) in this cross-sectional analysis.

Immigrants from conflict-zone countries: an observational comparison study of obstetric outcomes in a low-risk maternity ward in Norway.

Background: Immigrants have higher risks for some adverse obstetric outcomes. Furthermore, refugees are reported to be the most vulnerable group. This study compared obstetric outcomes between immigrant women originating from conflict-zone countries and ethnic Norwegians who gave birth in a low-risk setting.

Proteinuria predicts postcardiotomy acute kidney injury in patients with preserved glomerular filtration rate.

Objective: Acute kidney injury is a common and serious problem after cardiac surgery. Postoperative acute kidney injury is independently associated with in-hospital mortality and long-term morbidity, even after adjustment for comorbid diseases. Chronic kidney disease has been recognized as a strong risk factor of acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery.

Hyposensitivity of C-fiber afferents at the distal extremities as an indicator of early stages diabetic bladder dysfunction in type 2 diabetic women.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between distal symmetric peripheral neuropathy and early stages of autonomic bladder dysfunction in type 2 diabetic women.

Materials And Methods: A total of 137 diabetic women with minimal coexisting confounders of voiding dysfunction followed at a diabetes clinic were subject to the following evaluations: current perception threshold (CPT) tests on myelinated and unmyelinated nerves at the big toe for peroneal nerve and middle finger for median nerve, uroflowmetry, post-void residual urine volume, and overactive bladder (OAB) symptom score questionnaire. Patients presenting with voiding difficulty also underwent urodynamic studies and intravesical CPT tests.

The efficacy of additive tolterodine extended release for 1-year in older men with storage symptoms and clinical benign proastatic hyperplasia.

Aim: To determine the efficacy of toterodine extended release (ER) treatment for 1 year in older men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and storage symptoms treated with alpha-blockers and/or 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (5ARI).

Methods: Men aged over 70 years with BPH/bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and clinical storage symptoms were randomly treated with or without tolterodine ER in combination with alpha-blockers and/or 5ARI for 12 months. Among them, 50 patients (group 1) received additive tolterodine extended release (ER) 4 mg q.

Prevention and reversal of atrial fibrillation inducibility and autonomic remodeling by low-level vagosympathetic nerve stimulation.

Objectives: We hypothesized that autonomic atrial remodeling can be reversed by low-level (LL) vagosympathetic nerve stimulation (VNS).

Background: Previously, we showed that VNS can be antiarrhythmogenic.

Methods: Thirty-three dogs were subjected to electrical stimulation (20 Hz) applied to both vagosympathetic trunks at voltages 10% to 50% below the threshold that slowed sinus rate or AV conduction.

Comparison of central and peripheral airway involvement before and during methacholine, mannitol and eucapnic hyperventilation challenges in mild asthmatics.

Introduction: Testing for airway hyperresponsiveness with indirect stimuli as exercise or mannitol has been proposed to better reflect underlying airway inflammation, as compared with methacholine (MCh), believed to act directly on airway smooth muscle cells.

Objective: To investigate whether different direct and indirect stimuli induces different patterns of obstruction, recorded as central and peripheral resistance, and to see whether baseline resistance could predict a positive response to direct or indirect provocation.

Methods: Thirty-four mild asthmatics and 15 controls underwent MCh, mannitol and eucapnic voluntary hyperventilation (EVH) challenge tests.

Autonomic denervation using magnetic nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles with their unique physical and biochemical properties, such as modifiable surface functionalization and versatility for carrying various therapeutic payloads, are excellent vehicles for targeted drug delivery. The diffuse nature of cardiovascular diseases presents a great challenge to nanotechnology-based drug delivery therapy. Cardiac arrhythmias, frequently caused by heterogeneity of conduction, repolarization, and cell-cell communication, are particularly sensitive to any therapy that targets the presumed arrhythmogenic myocardium but inadvertently introduces further heterogeneity into the heart.

Knockout of the tumor necrosis factor a receptor 1 gene can up-regulate erythropoietin receptor during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor a receptor 1 (TNFalphaR1) plays an important role in the signal pathway of apoptosis. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of TNFalphaR1 knockout on the up-regulation of erythropoietin receptor (Epo-R) and the coordinated anti-apoptosis functions during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice.

Methods: The ischemia-reperfusion injury model for cardiomyocytes was performed by ligating the left circumflex branch artery of TNFalphaR1 knockout (P55(-/-)) C17 B6 mice, as well as wild-type (P55(+/+)) C17 B6 mice.

Fear in children with cancer: observations at an outpatient visit.

The aim of the study was to describe interactions within the family and between them and professionals on a routine visit at a paediatric oncology outpatient clinic where the visiting child was likely to be fearful. Observations were performed. Data were analysed by qualitative content analysis.

Allergic rhinitis with hyper-responsiveness differ from asthma in degree of peripheral obstruction during metacholine challenge test.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a risk factor for developing clinical asthma. Moreover, AR is often associated with bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR). The aim of this study was to compare the degree of involvement of the peripheral airways during metacholine (MCh) challenge test in asthmatics and patients with AR with or without BHR by using the impulse oscillometry (IOS) technique.

Clinical relevance using timed walk tests and 'timed up and go' testing in persons with multiple sclerosis.

Background And Purpose: One must understand the potentials and limitations of all tests used to evaluate interventions. The aim of the present study was to clarify the reproducibility, smallest percentage difference needed to be able to detect a genuine change and correlation regarding the 10-m and 30-m timed walks (10TW 30TW) and the 'timed up and go' (TUG) test in people with moderate multiple sclerosis (MS).

Method: A repeated-measures design was used, with randomization into two groups and different time intervals used for testing.

Allergic rhinitis with or without concomitant asthma: difference in perception of dyspnoea and levels of fractional exhaled nitric oxide.

Background/aim: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a risk factor for developing clinical asthma. Moreover, AR is often associated with bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR). The aim of the present study was to investigate whether patients with AR and asthma differed from AR with or without BHR in degree of perception of dyspnoea and airway inflammation, measured as fractionated exhaled nitric oxide (NO).