Randomized,Single‐Blind,Parallel Study of the Effectiveness and Safety of Solifenacin versus Propiverine in the Treatment of Overactive Bladder

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness and safety of solifenacin versus propiverine in the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB), in a single‐blind, randomized parallel study. Methods: Sixty‐six patients with OAB (14 men and 52 women) were randomly assigned to groups: solifenacin (5 mg/day) or propiverine (20 mg/day) and treated for 8 weeks. The primary outcome variable was mean change from baseline to end of treatment in urgency of the OAB symptom score (OABSS). Secondary outcomes were bladder diary variables: change over 24 h in the mean number of voids (daytime and nighttime), episodes of micturition urgency and incontinence, and mean volume voided. Patients also completed total OABSS and the King's Health questionnaires. Results: Group backgrounds were comparable except for the male to female proportion; 11:22 for solifenacin (n = 33) versus 3:30 for propiverine (n = 33). Adverse events were 6 of 29 (21%) for solifenacin versus 14 of 26 (54%) for propiverine (P = 0.017). Three patients were withdrawn for voiding difficulty (one in solifenacin and two in propiverine) and one patient for dry mouth (propiverine group). Change in OABSS urgency score was ?2.3 ± 1.4 for solifenacin (n = 28) versus ?1.3 ± 1.7 for propiverine (n = 23), (P = 0.0169). Total OABSS and other individual scores, and voiding diary parameters for both drugs showed improvements; however, between‐group difference was not established. Conclusion: Although both solifenacin 5 mg and propiverine 20 mg were effective in the treatment of OAB, solifenacin appeared to be more effective and tolerable.     

Gender differences in the sleep of middle-aged individuals

Abstract The study was designed to investigate gender differences in the sleep-wake patterns of healthy middle-aged individuals in their home environment. Polysomnography showed that daytime napping was more common in men than in women. Men had lower sleep efficiency index and experienced more stage 1 sleep. Males had significantly less stages 3 + 4 sleep, less stage REM sleep, and more transitions to wake from REM sleep. Men could not maintain stage REM as well as women. This study indicates that the gender differences in the sleep-wake patterns have appeared in a group of middle-aged individuals.     

Trial of docosahexaenoic acid supplementation on a Japanese patient with a peroxisome biogenesis defect

A female Japanese patient diagnosed with peroxisome biogenesis defect (PBD), who had hypotonia and craniofacial dysmorphism, was given supplementation of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Accumulation of very long chain fatty acids was revealed, and a diagnosis of PBD was made at 2 months of age because of the absence of peroxisomes, a defect in peroxisomal β-oxidation enzymes and a decreased level of DHA in the erythrocytes. Supplementation of DHA was introduced at 3 months of age. For the first several months, psychomotor development was fairly good. The patient could laugh, brush off a blanket and play with toys at 6 months of age. However, neurological regression and convulsions occurred after 7 months of age. After recurrent respiratory infections and disturbance of the circadian rhythm, the patient died of liver failure and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy at 20 months of age. DHA may have a favorable effect on the early development of patients with PBD, but neurological deterioration cannot be prevented. Patients with a milder phenotype would be better candidates for DHA supplementation.     

Fluorescent Substances and High Molecular Weight Protein Aggregates Formed in Rat Heart Mitochondria upon Doxorubicin-induced Lipid Peroxidation

A rat heart mitochondrial suspension was incubated with doxorubicin, FeCl₃ and NADH. Fluorescent substances and high molecular weight protein aggregates were observed in the mitochondrial membranes upon the formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances. Since both fluorescent substances and high molecular weight protein aggregates are retained in mitochondrial membranes, they can be of use in the clarification of the site of doxorubicin-induced lipid peroxidation.     

Colonic Lipoma Removed by Endoscopic Polypectomy:—A Report of Three Cases—

We report on three cases of colonic lipoma removed by endoscopic polypectomy. Patient 1 was a 46-year-old female, Patient 2 a 63-year-old male and Patient 3 a 76-year-old female, with their afflicted regions being the; ascending colon, ascending colon and transverse colon, respectively. All the three lipomas were pedunculated and smooth on the surface, with the subrnucosal figure presenting yellowish or reddish in color. In Patient 1 and Patient 2, both tumors were totally removed, and in Patient 3, a “half resection” of the polyp was performed by endoscopic polypectomy. The resected specimens were 1.5 cm, 2.6 cm and 1.0 cm, respectively, in size at their maximum diameter and soft tumors with uniformly yellow cut-surfaces. All were histopathologically diagnosed as being “lipoma”. Because the colonic lipoma is benign, an endoscopic polypectomy should be tried as the treatment of choice in selected patients.     

Methylmethacrylate bone cement does not release histamine in patients undergoing prosthetic replacement of the femoral head

This study was designed to see if methyl methacrylate monomerbone cement released his tamine in 13 patients undergoing totalhip replacement surgery with a cemented prosthesis, comparedwith seven control patients receiving a cementless porous-coatedprosthesis. Blood samples for plasma concentrations of histaminewere obtained before the start of anaesthesia, immediately beforeinsertion of methylmethacrylate bone cement into the shaft ofthe femur in the cemented fixation group or before insertionof the femoral component of the prosthesis in the cementlessfixation group, and 15, 30 and 60 min after the start of implantationof the prosthesis. In both groups, changes in plasma histaminedid not differ significantly from baseline before implantationof cement. There were no significant differences between groups.We conclude that methyl-methacrylate bone cement does not releasehis tamine during total hip replacement surgery.     

Development of an Imaging System Using Fluorescent Labeling Substances Excited by Infrared Rays

Abstract: An indocyanine green (ICG) derivative (ICG N-hydroxy sulfosuc-cinimide ester; ICG-sulfo-OSu) has been developed as an antibody labeling substance suitable for vital immunohistochemical staining. However, an appropriate fluorescence imaging system for ICG-sulfo-OSu using infrared rays has not as yet been reported. Therefore, we developed such a system. The absorption maxima of ICG and ICG-sulfo-OSu in buffer solution are both at 795 nm, the excitation maxima of their fluorescence spectra in buffer solution at 768 nm, and their emission maxima at 807 nm. An imaging system using an excitation filter with transmission at 710-790 nm and a barrier filter with transmission at 810-920 nm was constructed, and fluorescent images of ICG-sulfo-OSu labeled anti-epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) antibody were obtained with this system. Thus, vital immunohistochemical staining of microcancers under infrared ray excitation should now be possible, by exciting an ICG-sulfo-OSu labeled antibody specific to the tumor cells with infrared rays, using this imaging system.