Aging changes agonist induced contractile responses in permeabilized rat bladder

Aging alters bladder functions where a decrease in filling, storage and emptying is observed. These changes cause urinary incontinence, especially in women. The aim of this study is to examine how aging affects the intracellular calcium movements due to agonist-induced contractions in permeabilized female rat bladder. Urinary bladder isolated from young and old female Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Small detrusor strips were permeabilized with β-escin. The contractile responses induced with agonists were compared between young and old groups. Carbachol-induced contractions were decreased in permeabilized detrusor from old rats compared to young group. Heparin and ryanodine decreased carbachol-induced contractions in young rats where only heparin inhibited these contractions in olds. Caffeine-induced contractions but not inositol triphosphate (IP₃)-induced contractions were decreased in old group compared to youngs. The cumulative calcium response curves (pCa 8–4) were also decreased in old rats. Carbachol-induced calcium sensitization responses did not alter by age where GTP-β-S and GF-109203X but not Y-27632 inhibited these responses. Carbachol-induced contractions decrease with aging in rat bladder detrusor. It can be postulated as IP₃-induced calcium release (IICR) is primarily responsible for the contractions in older rats where the decrease in carbachol contractions in aging may be as a result of a decrease in calcium-induced calcium release (CICR), rather than carbachol-induced calcium sensitization.     

Increased hospital costs are associated with low skeletal muscle mass in patients undergoing elective open aortic surgery

Objective

Low psoas muscle area is shown to be an indicator for worse postoperative outcome in patients undergoing vascular surgical. Additionally, it has been associated with longer durations of hospital stay in patients with cancer who undergo surgery and subsequently greater health care costs in Europe and the United States. We sought to evaluate this effect on hospital expenditure for patients undergoing vascular repair in a health care system with universal access.

Psychosocial mechanisms of a behavioral treatment for urinary incontinence of prostate cancer survivors

Abstract

Purpose: We examined underlying psychosocial processes of a behavioral treatment for urinary incontinence (UI) of prostate cancer survivors.

Design: Secondary analysis of data collected from a clinical trial.

Sample: Two hundred forty-four prostate cancer survivors who participated in a clinical trial of behavioral intervention to UI as intervention or control subjects.

Methods: The participants had a 3-month behavioral intervention or usual care and were followed up for an additional 3?months. They were assessed at baseline, 3, and 6?months. Latent growth curve models were performed to examine trajectories of each study variable and relationships among the variables.

Findings: Increasing self-efficacy and social support were significantly and independently associated with more reduction of urinary leakage frequency over time.

Implications for psychosocial oncology: Providing problem-solving skills and social support, including peer support, are essential for empowering patients to reduce UI.     

Lumbar Spinal Cord Stimulation Can Improve Muscle Strength and Gait Independently of the Analgesic Effect: A Case Report

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is widely used for pain relief in patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), and muscle weakness is a common finding in patients with chronic pain. We present here a single case report of a 47‐year‐old woman, who, after SCS for FBSS, had continuous improvement in lower leg muscle strength and gait, but only transient and minimal pain relief. To the authors’ knowledge, this is only the second published case report of significant improvement in “motor” function, independent of the analgesic effect following SCS in FBSS. If SCS, in fact, does improve muscle strength, new strategies for the management of patients with chronic pain might be opened up. Further studies are needed to verify this hypothesis.     

Hemodynamic analysis of descending versus ascending aortomyoplasty, and comparison with intra-aortic balloon pump

Objective: Descending and ascending aortomyoplasty are two surgical procedures intended to induce hemodynamic benefits similar to those of the intra-aortic-balloon-pump (IABP). To date, there have been no studies comparing the two surgical techniques. The objective of this study was to compare coronary blood flow augmentation and afterload reduction as produced by descending and ascending aortomyoplasty counterpulsation Methods: Twenty-two mongrel dogs (18–35 kg) underwent IABP application (n=7), descending (n=8), or ascending (n=7) aortomyoplasty. Left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery blood flow was measured using a Transonic Doppler flow probe. Left ventricular pressure as well as aortic pressures proximal and distal to either the aortomyoplasty site or the IABP position were monitored continuously. Results: Descending aortomyoplasty induced higher elevation in the LAD blood flow during assisted beats (27% from 10.8±4 to 13.8±6 ml/min, P<0.001) than that induced by either ascending aortomyoplasty (19% from 11.7±5 to 14±5 ml/min, P<0.001) or IABP counterpulsation (18% from 8.6±3 to 10.2±4 ml/min, P<0.001). Conversely, while ascending aortomyoplasty reduced the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure by 16% (from 60±18 to 50±22 mmHg, P<0.001), similar to the 16% after load reduction achieved by the IABP counterpulsation, descending aortomyoplasty failed to induce afterload reduction. Conclusions: Descending aortomyoplasty produces higher coronary blood flow augmentation than either ascending aortomyoplasty or IABP. However, afterload reduction comparable to that achieved by IABP was observed only with ascending aortomyoplasty and not with descending aortomyoplasty.     

The difference in blood pressure between upper arm and finger during physical exercise

Summary. A new apparatus which measures the blood pressure in the finger continuously and yet not invasively was tested for its usefulness during exercise. It was compared with upper arm measurements in 23 volunteers during prolonged bicycle ergometry. Simultaneously, a pulse plethysmogram was recorded from another finger of the same arm, whereas in six additional volunteers Doppler measurements were carried out on the radial artery. The results show that finger systolic pressure ceased to rise at about 40% of maximal exercise; the difference with the continuously rising systolic pressure in the upper arm becoming significant at 140 W. At the same time the amplitude of the finger plethysmogram became significantly higher than its initial value, indicating distinct cutaneous vasodilation, whereas the volunteers also became hot and started to perspire. However, the radial artery ‘flow’, deduced from the Doppler measurements, did not change significantly during exercise. It increased sharply and markedly in the cooling down period. Simultaneously with this increase in flow, HR and both systolic blood pressures fell drastically whereas the plethysmography amplitude remained about stable at its raised level. The results fit in with the idea that a compromise is achieved between the need for muscle activity and the need for temperature regulation. It is concluded that the Finapres functions well during exercise, but that the systolic pressure in the finger is not representative for its more central counterpart during cutaneous vasodilation. It is argued that opening up of AVAs may contribute to this pressure effect.     

卡托普利对自发性高血压大鼠血管平滑肌细胞增殖及癌基因和抑癌基因的影响

目的：观察卡托普利（CaP）对自发性高血压大鼠（SHR）血管平滑肌细胞（VSMC）增殖的作用及对原癌基因及抑癌基因的影响。方法：氚-胸腺嘧啶核苷（3H－TdR）参入，电镜，原位来交及Northernblot杂交。结果：CaP在降低SHR血压同时，能减少VSMC的线粒体，粗面内质网及3H－TdR参入量（P<0.01），并能逆转c－fos，c－myc，c－sis原癌基因mRNA表达增强（P<0.05或0.01），p53抑癌基因mRNA表达减弱（P＜0．01）。结论：Cap能抑制SHR的VSMC增殖，与癌基因调控的分子生物学机制有关。     

Muscle glycogen repletion from endogenous carbon sources during recovery from high intensity exercise in the fasted rat

During recovery from high intensity exercise, substantial and rapid muscle glycogen repletion from endogenous carbon sources is reported in a variety of vertebrate species, the rat being the only reported exception. The major aim of this study was to re-examine the process of glycogen repletion during recovery from high intensity exercise in the rat. In response to 3 min of vigorous swimming, muscle glycogen concentrations decrease markedly from initial levels of 20.2±1.5 and 21.2±0.9 μmol g^-1 to 6.4±1.1 and 7.9±1.4 μmol g^-1 in the tibialis anterior and plantaris muscles respectively. The equivalent of 58% of the glycogen carbons mobilized during exercise by the plantaris and 73% of that mobilized by the tibialis anterior muscle is repleted within 1 h following exercise. Using the hepatectomized rat as experimental model, a secondary aim of the study was to evaluate whether the liver is essential for the repletion of muscle glycogen. Although the absence of significant differences in the magnitude of post-exercise muscle glycogen repletion between sham-operated and hepatectomized rats suggests that the resynthesis of muscle glycogen can take place in the absence of hepatic gluconeogenesis, the present study identifies several limitations in the use of acute hepatectomy. Overall, the present study indicates that, in contrast to published views, the rat resembles other vertebrates in that it can support extensive muscle glycogen repletion from endogenous carbon sources during the recovery phase following high intensity exercise.