Proposed new bladder volume monitoring device based on impedance measurement

A new implantable bladder volume-monitoring device based on the impedance measurement of the detrusor muscle is described. The system is completely autonomous and forms a mixed-signal (analogue/digital) feedback loop with a neuro-stimulator to rectify bladder dysfunctions (incontinence and retention) through neuromuscular stimulation techniques. A programmable instrumentation amplifier and a signal processing block, to eliminate the artefacts caused by the patient’s movements, have been designed and tested. The layout for the signal processing block has been realised in 0.8 μm BiCMOS technology.     

Effect of distension on adrenergic innervation of the rat urinary bladder

Summary The effect of distension on adrenergic innervation was investigated in the rat urinary bladder. Bladders were distended for 3 h by forced diuresis and ballon obstruction, and specimens were taken from the bladder dome, body and neck for the demonstration of glyoxylic acid-induced fluorescence of catecholamines. Depletion of catecholamines started after 10 h and was almost complete after 2 days. The fluorescence had recovered part way after 5–7 days and was practically normal after 21 days. Small, intensely fluorescent (SIF) cells in the ganglia continued to leak catecholamines throughout the 21-day study period. The primary clinical success of distension therapy for the treatment of unstable bladder may be at least partly due to a reversible disturbance in the function of the adrenergic nerves, which have an excitatory alpha-adrenergic dominance in such cases, but the persistent leakage from SIF cells raises the question of whether distension causes prolonged disturbances in bladder function.     

Ultrasound evaluation of female urinary incontinence

Thirty women, 25 with incontinence and five asymptomatic volunteer control subjects, were evaluated urodynamically by a variety of techniques, including ultrasound cystourethrography. The ultrasound evaluation was found to be a helpful adjunct in diagnosis. In comparison with radiologic techniques it offers more safety, more comfort, more privacy, more viewing time, and less cost. Bladder and urethral morphology during voiding activity and the amount and direction of urethrovesical mobility are easily determined by utilizing ultrasound techniques.     

Renal growth after neonatal urinary tract infection

This study presents the result of 12–21 years' follow-up in a group of children with neonatal urinary tract infection (onset within 1 month after birth) in whom early renal growth retardation was noted without concomitant classical renal scarring. In all cases the neonatal infection was diagnosed and treated within a few days of onset and the patients were closely supervised thereafter. Renal length, parenchymal thickness and area were measured at urography. At first follow-up (22 children, mean age 4.1 years) a significant reduction of renal parenchymal thickness was noted. Long-term follow-up (18 patients, mean age 17 years) demonstrated a normalization of renal size in the entire group, although less complete in the subgroup with reflux. There were two major findings in the present study. Firstly, renal growth retardation was seen after neonatal infection, both with and without reflux. Secondly, normalization of renal size in previously small kidneys was demonstrated, suggesting that growth retardation can be a reversible phenomenon. The tendency for such normalization was slightly more marked in children without reflux. Reduction of parenchymal thickness without calyceal deformity, therefore, does not necessarily mean irreversible damage, and differentiation between permanent scarring and temporary growth retardation can thus only be made at later follow-up, possibly not until after puberty. The demonstration of renal growth retardation in spite of early diagnosis and treatment emphasizes the great vulnerability of the kidney in the newborn.     

全膀胱切除回肠膀胱术15年总结(附196例报告)

目的　评价全膀胱切除治疗膀胱肿瘤的疗效及回肠膀胱术的远期效果。　方法　回顾性分析 1985年 1月至 2 0 0 0年 1月膀胱肿瘤行全膀胱切除回肠膀胱术 196例的临床资料。　结果　膀胱肿瘤累及膀胱颈部或膀胱三角区者 12 6例 (6 4.3 % ) ,浸润性膀胱癌 145例 (74.0 % ) ,移行细胞癌183例 (93.4% )。术后发生近期并发症 19例 (9.7% ) ,远期并发症 10例 (7.4% )。 135例随访 1～ 15年 ,平均 6 .6年 ,5年生存率 6 6 .2 %。　结论　全膀胱切除是浸润性膀胱癌首选治疗方法 ,回肠膀胱术简单易行 ,长期随访显示其并发症少 ,疗效确切 ,仍是一种较为理想的尿流改道方式。     

全去带乙状结肠原位可控膀胱术25例随访报告

目的：探讨全去带乙状结肠原位可控膀胱术的临床效果。方法：对25例施行该术式术后患者的可控性、尿动力、血清电解质、肾功能、生活质量等进行随访观察。结果：25例随访2－15个月，平均11．3个月。白天完全自控排尿25例（100％）；夜间完全自控排尿24例（96．0％），1例偶有遗尿；贮尿囊容量220－370ml，平均320ml；贮尿囊内压力1．86－3．92kPa，平均2.44kPa。IVU及贮尿囊造影示单侧贮尿囊输尿管反流2例（8．0％），无肾积水；膀胱镜检查2例（8．0％）贮尿囊内出现细沙样结石，1例（4．0％）贮尿囊后尿道吻合口狭窄，经尿道直视内切开术治愈。15例（60．0％）男性患者保留性功能，肾功能正常，1例（4．0％）出现一过性高氯血症。结论：全去带乙状结肠原位可控膀胱术手术成功率高，疗效可靠，患者生活质量高，是一种较理想的尿路分流术，值得推广。     

Psychiatric patients and their response to experimental stress

Serum levels of Epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), heart rate (HR), skin conductance reaction (SCR) and skin conductance level (SCL) were measured in schizophrenic, endogenous depressed and anxiety patients as well as in normal controls. Conditions were rest, noise and a mental arithmetic (MA) task. Schizophrenic and depressed patients had an attenuated HR response to MA. Moreover, Schizophrenic patients also had higher NE base level and the highest NE secretion during noise. Anxiety and depressed patients showed significantly lower phasic electrodermal activity (SCR) throughout the whole trial, exclusively anxiety patients had significantly higher tonic electrodermal activity (SCL). These findings indicate that autonomous reactions discriminate between patient groups and controls as well as between each other.     

Chewing gum,stress and health

Hollingworth described chewing gum as ‘a technique of relaxation’. Recent research has examined this issue and there is evidence that chewing gum can prevent the adverse effects of acute stress. There are also plausible biological mechanisms that could explain such effects. It is now important to examine chewing gum and chronic stress and the present study involved a survey of this topic. The survey covered the ‘stress process’, collecting data on exposure to stressful events, levels of perceived stress and health outcomes. Frequency of chewing gum was also recorded. Potential confounding factors (demographics, personality and health-related behaviours) were also recorded. The web-based survey was completed by a community sample of 2,248 full-time workers (68% female. Mean age: 35 years, range 18–74 years). Sixty-one per cent of the sample were gum chewers. The results showed that chewing gum was associated with lower levels of perceived stress (both at work and life in general). Gum chewers were also less likely to be depressed and to have seen their doctor for high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Chewing gum was associated with lower levels of alcohol consumption and with cigarette smoking. Gum chewers were also more likely to be neurotic extraverts. Those who chewed gum were also more likely to be exposed to negative factors at work. Logistic regression analyses showed that the effects of chewing gum on stress and health remained significant when these confounding factors were controlled for. These results suggest that chewing gum may be a simple way of preventing stress and the negative health outcomes that are often associated with it. Intervention studies are now required and the mechanisms underlying the effects reported here need further investigation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

膀胱癌的MRI诊断价值

目的:总结膀胱癌的MRI征象,探讨MRI对膀胱癌分期的作用及鉴别诊断要点。方法:对探讨经手术与病理证实23例膀胱癌的MRI回顾性对比分析。其中男性,19例,女性,4例,年龄50~90岁,平均年龄70岁。18例行MRI增强检查。结果:膀胱三角区及膀胱后侧壁是最常见好发部位,表现为膀胱壁突向腔内肿块和(或)膀胱壁局限性不规则增厚;肿瘤平扫T1WI等或略高信号,T2WI呈高信号,Gd-DTPA动态增强早期肿块显著强化。根椐肿瘤生长方式可分为:①小结节型,②广基肿块型,③浸润型。MRI对膀胱癌定位、定性诊断正确率分别为95.7%(22/23)、91.3%(21/23);术前MRI诊断与TNM分期符合率为82.3%(19/23),MRI较病理分期偏高。结论:膀胱癌的MRI表现具有独特性。T1加权主要用于肿瘤的定性诊断,T2加权主要用于肿瘤的术前分期;MRI检查多方位、多序列成像,是显示膀胱癌最理想的检查方法。