Comparison of Pelvic Floor Muscle Training With Connective Tissue Massage to Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Alone in Women With Overactive Bladder: A Randomized Controlled Study

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a 6-week program of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) plus connective tissue massage (CTM) to PFMT alone in women with overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms on those symptoms, pelvic floor muscle strength, and quality of life.MethodsThirty-four participants were randomly divided into PFMT+CTM (n = 17) and PFMT (n = 17) groups. PFMT was applied every day and CTM was applied 3 days a week for 6 weeks. Before treatment, at week 3, and after treatment (week 6), we assessed pelvic floor muscle strength (with a perineometer), bladder symptoms (with a urine diary), OAB symptom severity (with the 8-item Overactive Bladder Questionnaire [OAB-V8]), urgency (with the Patient Perception of Intensity of Urgency Scale [PPIUS]), and quality of life (with King's Health Questionnaire [KHQ]). The Mann–Whitney U test, χ² test, Friedman test, and Dunn multiple comparison test were used for analysis.ResultsIn both groups, pelvic floor muscle strength increased, whereas OAB symptoms and PPIUS and KHQ scores decreased after treatment (P < .05). Although the OAB-V8, PPIUS, and KHQ scores decreased at week 3, frequency, OAB-V8, and PPIUS scores, in addition to some parameters of the KHQ, decreased after treatment in the PFMT+CTM group compared to the PFMT group (P < .05).ConclusionCompared to PFMT alone, PFMT+CTM achieved superior outcomes in reducing OAB symptoms in the early and late periods.     

The Shear Stress Determination in Tubular Specimens under Torsion in the Elastic–Plastic Strain Range from the Perspective of Fatigue Analysis

The comparison of shear stress determination methods in tubular specimens under torsion is presented in this paper. Four methods were analyzed: purely elastic solutions, purely plastic solutions, the midsection approach, and the Chaboche nonlinear kinematic hardening model. Using experimental data from self-designed and conducted fatigue experiments, an interesting insight on this problem was obtained that is not often tackled in the literature. It was shown that there are differences in determined shear stress values, and their level depends on a few factors. The midsection approach and purely plastic solution gave values of surface shear stress very close to the values obtained using the Chaboche nonlinear kinematic hardening model for high strain levels. The purely elastic solution gave proper results for the low strain ranges, close to the cyclic yield limit. Since none of the methods can be trusted in the full range of loading, an important conclusion from these analyses regards the formulated ranges of their applicability. It was also shown that the calculated values of shear stress and plastic and elastic strain energy density determined on this basis have a strong impact on fatigue life predictions. Finally, the influence of predicted values of shear stresses on the interpretation of cyclic hardening phenomena was also presented.     

Serum indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase and tryptophan and kynurenine ratio using the UPLC-MS/MS method,in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis,hemodialysis, and kidney transplantation

Background: The level and activity of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and the concentrations of L-tryptophan and its metabolite L-kynurenine were determined in association with various renal diseases. However, there have been no data regarding these parameters in patients on peritoneal dialysis compared to those undergoing hemodialysis or kidney transplantation.

Methods: This study investigated the level and activity of IDO and determined oxidative balance by calculating the total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), and oxidative stress index (OSI). We enrolled 60 kidney disease patients, including 20 on peritoneal dialysis (PD group), 19 on hemodialysis (HD group), and 21 with kidney transplantation (KT group), as well as 21 control group.

Results: IDO levels were increased in the PD, HD, and KT groups compared to the control group. The concentration of kynurenine was significantly increased in the PD group compared to the other groups (p?p?p?Conclusion: The results showed that IDO levels were increased in peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis patients and in renal transplant recipients, while oxidative stress was found to be related to IDO activity and was most increased in the patients on peritoneal dialysis.     

Use of chemotherapy at the end of life in Turkey

Background

An increasing number of patients receive palliative chemotherapy near the end of life. The aim of this study is to evaluate the aggressiveness of chemotherapy in Turkish individuals near the end of life.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with solid tumors and died from 2010 to 2011 in the medical oncology department of Akdeniz University were included in the study. Data about the diagnosis, treatment details and imaging procedures were collected.

Results

Three hundred and seventy-three people with stage IV solid tumors died from 2010 to 2011 in our clinic. Eighty-nine patients (23.9%) patients underwent chemotherapy in the last month of life while 39 patients (10.5%) received chemotherapy in the last 14 days. The probability of undergoing chemotherapy in the last month of life was influenced by: age, ‘newly diagnosed’ patients, and performance status. There was no significant association of chemotherapy in the last month of life with gender and tumor type. Having a PET-CT scan did not alter the chemotherapy decision.

Conclusion

In conclusion, chemotherapy used in the last month of life in a tertiary care center of Turkey is high. Increasing quality of life should be a priority near the end of life and physicians should consider ceasing chemotherapy and direct the patient to early palliative care.

     

Effects of selective Cox-2 inhibitor, rofecoxib, alone or combination with furosemide on renal functions and renal Cox-2 expression in rats

Background  

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs act by inhibiting the rate-limiting enzymes cyclooxygenase-1 (Cox-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2), which are important in prostanoid formation. The aim of this experimental study was to examine the effects of selective Cox-2 inhibitor, rofecoxib, with or without furosemide, on urine and serum electrolytes, creatinine clearance, plasma renin activity (PRA), and Cox-2 expression in the renal cortex.     

Different glomerulopathies accompanying non-small-cell lung cancer

The coexistence of lung cancer and glomerular lesion is not commonly reported. Malignancy-related glomerulopathy is commonly membranous glomerulonephritis. Other glomerulopathies are seldom reported. We report two cases presenting with non-small-cell lung cancer, acute renal failure and nephrotic syndrome secondary to membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and amyloidosis.     

Antithrombin III attenuates pulmonary tissue injury caused by mesenteric ischemia-reperfusion

BACKGROUND: Mesenteric ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) is a well-known event causing both local and remote organ injuries, including the lungs. Recently, several studies indicated that activated leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions play an important role in the mechanisms of these injuries. As a natural inhibitor of serine proteases, antithrombin was shown previously to attenuate the tissue damage after local I/R in several organ systems. Here, we examined the effects of antithrombin on pulmonary injury after mesenteric I/R. METHODS: Wistar albino rats underwent median laparotomy and were randomized into 3 groups: (1) sham-operated control (n = 12), (2) 60 minutes of mesenteric ischemia and 3 hours of reperfusion (n = 12), and (3) antithrombin-pretreated (250 U/kg) group before the I/R (n = 12). At the end of reperfusion, animals were killed and neutrophil sequestration, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and Evans blue dye extravasation in the lung parenchyma were assessed and compared. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant increase in the quantity of Evans blue dye concentration, leukocyte sequestration, and MPO activity in the I/R group when compared with the control group. The pretreatment of animals with antithrombin significantly decreased the pulmonary injury characterized by increased Evans blue dye extravasation, leukocyte sequestration, and MPO activity. CONCLUSION: The data of the present study suggest that mesenteric ischemia and reperfusion induces pulmonary injury characterized by activated neutrophil sequestration and increased microvascular leakage in the lungs. A significant attenuation of intestinal I/R-related lung injury with the use of antithrombin concentrate warrants further studies to elucidate the potential role of this natural serine protease inhibitor in clinical settings.     

Primary Peritracheal Schwannoma: Report of a Case

Posterior mediastinal tumors of neurogenic origin commonly arise from the sympathetic or intercostal nerves. However, anterior mediastinal tumors rarely originate from the vagus nerve, and primary neurogenic tumors of the trachea are extremely uncommon. A 19-year-old man was admitted to an emergency department in sudden acute respiratory distress. A tracheostomy was performed and he was transferred to our Ear Nose and Throat Department for further investigation. A bronchoscopic biopsy was taken of a mass occupying the tracheal lumen and intraoperative frozen section examination suggested a schwannoma, so tracheal resection was performed. Although rare, primary tracheal schwannoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of sudden respiratory distress of unknown origin.     

Studies on di- and triterpenoids from Salvia staminea with cytotoxic activity

A new ursane-type triterpenoid, 3 beta,11 alpha,21 alpha-trihydroxyurs-12-ene, named salvistamineol (1), has been isolated from the methanol extract of Salvia staminea. In addition to 1, the methanol extract yielded four known compounds and the acetone extract yielded twelve known compounds consisting of two sesquiterpenes, six diterpenoids, a triterpenoid, two steroids and one flavone. DNA damaging properties of the extracts and some isolated diterpenes were investigated against three yeasts and only taxodione gave a positive response and also showed the highest cytotoxic activity against a panel of cell lines among the investigated compounds in this study.