Anti-fibrotic and antiinflammatory effects of silymarin were associated with activation of hepatic stellate cells through the expression of TGF-beta1 and stabilization of mast cells. These results suggest that silymarin prevent hepatic fibrosis through suppression of inflammation and hypoxia in the hepatic fibrogenesis.
ObjectiveTo analyze association between urodynamic study (UDS) parameters and renal function in spinal cord injured (SCI) patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity.MethodsPatients with a suprasacral SCI, who underwent UDS and radioisotope renogram at least twice between January 1, 2006 and January 31, 2013, were included. UDS (cystometric capacity, reflex volume, compliance, and maximal detrusor pressure) and radioisotope renogram (total effective renal plasma flow [ERPF] of both kidneys) data were collected. The following were conducted to reanalyze any association between reflex volume and ERPF: initial and follow-up results of consecutive evaluations were compared; a mixed-model regression analysis to account for clustered data was conducted to evaluate the association between UDS parameters and ERPF; and finally, a mixed-model analysis type 3 test with data pairs, of which the first evaluation showed involuntary detrusor contraction.ResultsA total of 150 patients underwent 390 evaluations which were arranged into 240 pairs of consecutive evaluations, of which 171 had first evaluations with observed involuntary detrusor contraction. The following results were obtained: cystometric capacity was significantly larger and maximal detrusor pressure was significantly lower on follow-up; on univariate analysis, reflex volume and maximal detrusor pressure were significant, and multivariate analysis using these two parameters showed that maximal detrusor pressure is significantly associated with total ERPF; and no significant differences were observed.ConclusionMaximal detrusor pressure should be closely monitored in the urologic management of neurogenic detrusor overactivity in SCI patients. The results also may serve as a reference for regular UDS follow-up.
We synthesized five novel uridine-based cationic nucleolipids, introducing basic amino acid residues at the 5' position of uridine, through 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, and hydrophobic alkyl moieties at the 2' and 3' positions, through carbamate linkages. Their lipoplexes delivered siRNAs efficiently to cells, in vitro, without any severe toxicity.
Trichomonas vaginalis, a causative agent of trichomoniasis, may trigger symptomatic or asymptomatic nongonococcal urethritis and chronic prostatitis in men. Despite the availability of highly sensitive diagnostic tests, such as nucleic acid amplification tests, including PCR, few prospective studies present data on male T. vaginalis infection in South Korea. In the present study, the prevalence of T. vaginalis and associated clinical conditions were evaluated in 201 male patients from a primary care urology clinic in South Korea. The prevalence of T. vaginalis infection in our cohort was 4% (8/201) by PCR. T. vaginalis infection was common in men older than 40 years (median age, 52 years). Among the 8 Trichomonas-positive patients, 87.5% (7/8) had prostatic diseases, such as prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia, and 25.0% (2/8) and 12.5% (1/8) were coinfected with Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium, respectively. Our results suggest that T. vaginalis infection is not rare in men attending primary care urology clinics in South Korea, especially in those older than 40 years, in whom it may explain the presence of prostatic disease. The possibility of T. vaginalis infection should be routinely considered in older male patients with prostatic diseases in South Korea.
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