Nocturia and complementary indices: determination and quantification of the cause of nocturia by frequency-volume charts in women with lower urinary tract symptoms

We evaluated differences between women with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) with and without nocturia in terms of voiding habits, urine production and voided volumes in order to determine and quantify the cause of nocturia by using frequency-volume (FV) charts. At the initial visit, all patients underwent a detailed clinical evaluation including an International Prostate Symptom Score assessment, received a thorough explanation from the study coordinators, and were requested to complete a 3-day FV chart. Of the 123 women enrolled, 106 (86.2%) 20–83 years old (median age 55.0) completed the study. Nocturnal urine volume was higher in nocturics than in non-nocturics, but this was not statistically significant. Total daytime voided volume was lower in nocturics than in non-nocturics (P=0.030) but with no detectable difference in total voided volume. To identify possible risk factors, we examined age and night time parameters including the nocturnal bladder capacity index (NBCI), nocturnal polyuria index (NPI) and nocturia index (NI) by univariate logistic analysis. When nocturia was defined as voiding at least twice per night, age and NI were found to be associated with it by univariate analysis. These two variables were further analyzed using a multivariate logistic model to determine their association with nocturia. In the multivariate analysis, a positive association was observed between age and nocturia. Patients 50 years or older had a 3.9-fold higher risk [odds ratio (OR) 3.86; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.60–9.31; P=0.003] of voiding at least twice per night than those younger than 50 years. In the same model, patients with NI greater than 1.5 had a 4.5-fold higher risk of voiding at least twice per night (OR 4.59; 95% CI 1.80–11.17; P=0.001). FV charts are valuable for determining the cause of nocturia in women with LUTS. Our findings suggest that age and the NI may be important variables in the evaluation of nocturia in women with LUTS.     

Protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury by the cavitary two-layer method in canine small intestinal transplantation with reduction of reactive oxygen species

BACKGROUND: Ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury is a major determinant of early graft dysfunction and long-term graft survival in small intestinal transplantation. The cavitary two-layer method (TLM) has been reported to be superior to the University of Wisconsin cold storage method (UWM) in long-term preservation of canine small intestine. This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of the cavitary TLM against I/R injury in canine small intestinal transplantation. METHODS: Intestinal grafts harvested from beagles were allotransplanted after 24-hour preservation by UWM (group 1) or the cavitary TLM (group 2). The graft in the controls (group 3) was immediately allotransplanted without preservation. I/R injury was assessed by functional success rates, biochemical assay, graft adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) concentrations, and histopathologic examination including TUNEL staining for apoptosis. RESULTS: In group 1, ATP recovery was delayed after reperfusion, and most recipients died with hemorrhage of the grafts and lungs. In group 2, graft ATP concentrations recovered rapidly, and I/R injury was prevented with reduced LPO production, resulting in good outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The cavitary TLM protected intestinal grafts against I/R injury evidenced by maintenance of graft ATP levels and reduction of LPO production compared with UWM in canine small intestinal transplantation.     

Comparison of four methods for sperm preparation for IUI

We compared the pregnancy rates and sperm characteristics of semen prepared by the albumin, Percoll, Puresperm, and swim-up methods. Semen analysis was performed by a computer-assisted system (CASA). The overall pregnancy rate was 14% per patient and 11% per cycle. The albumin and Percoll methods had the highest pregnancy rates, up to 12% per cycle. We then compared each method with the albumin method. The swim-up technique yielded the highest percentage of motile sperm. The Percoll method yielded statistically significant changes in average path velocity and straight-line velocity, while the Puresperm method revealed the same statistical changes in total concentration and hyperactive motile sperm percentage. After adjusting for age, methods, and CASA estimates, only straight-line velocity was significantly correlated with pregnancy. Although the Percoll method was associated with the best pregnancy rate, this product has been withdrawn from the market because of toxic contamination. Puresperm had replaced it in our laboratory but showed an unsatisfactory pregnancy rate. The swim-up method is the best choice for IUI.     

针灸治疗腰椎间盘疼痛58例报告

腰椎间盘突出症多为腰椎间盘退行性变化或由扭伤、劳累、或受凉引起，纤维环破裂引起间盘管向后方突出，压迫神经根导致腰痛等一系列神经痛症。好发于4—5腰椎或骶1椎间隙，肢体异常，多见于小腿及足部麻木感，脊椎一般倾斜显患处，患侧髋与膝也稍微屈。     

Is a Generic Quality of Life Instrument Helpful for Evaluating Women with Urinary Incontinence?

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether a generic health outcome instrument would be helpful for evaluating women with stress urinary incontinence (UI) combined with or without urge UI. Methods: A total of 109 women with UI and 80 controls participated in the study. Health-related quality of life (QOL) was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form General Health Survey (SF-36) and the Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QoL) questionnaire. Results: Among eight domains of the SF-36 questionnaire, only four domains, namely, ‘role-physical functioning’ (p<0.05), ‘vitality’ (p<0.05), ‘mental health’ (p<0.05) and ‘bodily pain’ (p<0.05) were significantly different between the groups. Comparing the I-QoL sores in the two groups, patients with UI had significantly poorer subscale scores of I-QoL than the controls (p<0.05 for all domains). When women with UI were subdivided into groups of stress and mixed UI, only 2 domains of the SF-36 questionnaire, ‘role-physical functioning’ (p<0.05) and ‘bodily pain’ (p<0.05), were significantly different. The mixed UI group had higher scores only on these two domains compared to the stress UI group. In the ‘role-physical functioning’ domain, there was no significant difference between the mixed UI group and the controls. In ‘bodily pain’ domain, there was no significant difference between the stress UI group and the controls. The mixed group had the highest scores observed. Patients with mixed UI had significantly lower total scores compared to those with stress UI, including the subscale score of ‘avoidance behavior’ of the I-QoL. Among eight domains of the SF-36, only ‘physical functioning’ (r = 0.281, p<0.01) and ‘social functioning’ (r = 0.239, p<0.05) were weakly correlated with ‘psychological impact’ of the I-QoL. Conclusion: Our findings show that the generic QOL instrument is not sensitive measure of QOL in women with UI.     

Reversible thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy--report of three cases

Three patients with thyrotoxicosis, atrial tachyarrhythmia and congestive heart failure despite successful treatment of hyperthyroidism revealed atrial fibrillation/flagellation and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Congestive heart failure resolved and left ventricular systolic function normalized only after successful cardioversion to sinus rhythm. In some patients treated for hyperthyroidism, achievement of euthyroid state is not by itself sufficient to reverse left ventricular failure. Improvement after successful reversion of atrial tachyarrhythmia suggest its essential role in pathogenesis of thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy.     

Distribution of HLA-C alleles determined by PCR-SSP in the population of Lower Silesia

We typed 100 unrelated, healthy Poles from the region of Lower Silesia for HLA-C using low-resolution polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) and compared the observed allele frequencies with data published for other human populations. Poles appeared to be most similar to the Germans and English more distant from the French, Catalans and Basques and most dissimilar to non-Caucasians from Equatorial Guinea and Japan. It would be interesting to HLA-C-type other Slavic and non-Slavic peoples from Middle and Eastern Europe for comparison.     

Establishment of a predictive model of serum glucose changes under different exercise intensities and durations among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Regular exercise is regarded as one of necessary elements in treating diabetes mellitus (DM). The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of different exercise intensities and durations on serum glucose changes after exercise in type 2 DM patients and to establish a predictive model of changes in serum glucose under different exercise intensities and durations. Thirty-seven type 2 DM patients were recruited from four teaching hospitals. A total of 12 exercise sessions were scheduled according to the results of a graded treadmill exercise test. The 12 exercise sessions were designed on the basis of different exercise intensities (40%, 60%, and 80% maximal workload) and exercise durations (10, 20, 30, and 40 min). Serum glucose level was measured before and after exercise. The findings indicate that the main effect of exercise intensity and duration was significant, but there was no interaction effect. All four variables, including exercise intensity, exercise duration, pre-exercise serum glucose levels, and gender, explained 37% of the variance in serum glucose changes after exercise. In conclusion, a dose-response relationship between exercise amount and serum glucose changes was demonstrated. This is helpful for health professionals to teach type 2 DM patients how to predict serum glucose response in different exercise situations.