The Treatment of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review

This is a systematic review on the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The heterogeneity of the outcome criteria did not allow a meta-analysis of the published evidence. In the last few decades, the therapeutic options for neurogenic bladder dysfunction have broadened. Despite this, no consensus has been reached as to the management of LUTD and LUTS in patients with MS, and the subject remains controversial. Bladder dysfunction is common in MS, affecting 80?%-100?% of patients during the course of the disease. Several studies have shown that urinary incontinence has a severe effect on patients' quality of life, with 70?% of patients classifying the impact bladder symptoms had on their life as "high" or "moderate." Moreover, the progressive feature of MS makes its treatment complex, since any achieved therapeutic result may be short-lived, with the possibility that symptoms will recur or develop de novo.     

Serum glucose concentration and ACP1 genotype in healthy adult subjects

Acid phosphatase locus 1 (ACP 1 ) or cytosolic low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase is a polymorphic enzyme that can hydrolyze phosphotyrosine-containing peptides of the human insulin receptor and of band 3 protein. High-activity ACP 1 may favor an increase in serum glucose concentration through a depression of insulin action and through inactivation of aldolase, phosphofructokinase, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase induced by dephosphorylation of band 3 protein. In diabetic subjects, we have previously reported lower serum glucose concentration in subjects with low-activity ACP 1 A and AB phenotypes. We have now studied the relationship between serum glucose concentration and ACP 1 genotype in a sample of 137 healthy adult workers of our university. In males, serum glucose concentration is significantly higher in medium-high- than in low-activity ACP 1 genotypes. With advancing age in males, there is a progressive increase in glycemic differential between medium-high- and low-activity ACP 1 genotypes. The data suggest that normal variability of ACP 1 genotype influences serum glucose concentration in normal individuals. Such influence depends on sex and in males becomes more marked with advancing age.     

The impact of body weight on dysplasia of colonic adenomas: a case-control study

Abstract

Objective: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is common across countries in males and females. Most cases originate from adenomas harboring high grade dysplasia. Among risk factors, weight excess has been suggested to positively influence dysplasia progression. In this study, the relationship between dysplasia grade of adenomas and body mass index (BMI) categories was analyzed.

Methods: This was a retrospective case-control study. A total of 4745 charts (59.8% females) from patients undergoing colonoscopy were collected. Data regarding age, sex, smoking habits, occupation, residence, personal history of CRC, personal history of polyps and BMI were retrieved. Adenomas with high-grade dysplasia were labeled as advanced.

Results: They were 970 (20.4%) subjects with adenomas (cases: mean age 64.67?±?11.35?years) and 3775 without (controls: mean age 56.43?±?16.56?years). As expected, adenomas were significantly associated with overweight or obesity. After adjusting for all covariates the presence of advanced adenoma was significantly associated with age, male sex, smoking habits, personal history of CRC, overweight (OR = 1.298, IC 95% 1.092–1.697) and obesity (OR = 1.780, IC 95% 1.260–2.515).

Conclusions: Our findings support the protective effect a normal weight against advanced adenomas. Reduction of BMI value should be pursued in healthy programs.     

Acid and base functionalization of ethylene-propylene rubbers, 1. Grafting of tertiary amino groups and “interpolymer” network formation

Base functionalization of saturated ethylene-propylene rubbers (EPR) was performed either by means of the radical grafting of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate onto EPR or by the reaction of a succinic anhydride grafted EPR with N,N-dimethylethylenediamine. Differences in the structure of the grafted molecules and in their thermal stability are also reported. An investigation is made on the reactivity of EPR having tertiary amino pendant groups toward acid functionalized EPR leading to gelation.     

Attenuation of pilocarpine-induced hypothermia in response to chronic administration of choline

Chronic treatment of rats with choline caused a decrease in the hypothermic response to pilocarpine. The action of choline on the muscarinic receptors is consistent with electrophysiological and binding studies, supporting a direct muscarinic action for choline. Administration of direct muscarinic agonists has been shown to cause a decrease in the number of muscarinic receptors. Thus, the long-term use of cholinergic precursors could have some adverse effects on central cholinergic functioning.