Bladder Disease Research Articles

Pattern of Cholelithiasis and Cholecystitis among Obese Patients

Introduction: Obesity is a major health problem in western society with rapidly increasing prevalence in most countries. The healthcare burden of obesity is far reaching but many of the consequences are yet to be fully understood. While there is a perception that obesity negatively impacts on health and stone formation in gall bladder there is conflicting evidence for this. Aims & Objectives: To assess whether obesity impacts on the blood cholesterol level which leads to dislipidaemia and gall stone formation. To identify whether dislipidaemia causes cholelithiasis and cholecystitis among obese patient. Methods: Between 1st December, 2018 and 31thMay, 2019, patients admitted in dept of surgery at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura, Bangladesh were enrolled. Following informed consent, BMI was assessed. High risk patients and complications were identified according to established criteria. Patients were grouped according to BMI categories as Normal, overweight, Obese grade-I and Obese grade-II. Various disease of gall bladder including stone formation and its complications were analysed on all obese patients treated at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital using a SQL database. Results: Total 59 people were available and consented for this study. 09 patients were excluded; 4 patient were obese but no cholelithiasis or cholecystitis, 3 patients were not agree to investigations and 2 patients declined study). The remaining 50 patients, 29 females and 21 males, included for analysis. The median age was 48 with a range from 18-55. A literature review found evidence of increased risk of dyslipidemia which induce stone formation in GB and inflammation of gall bladder associated with obesity. Conclusion: It is an important issue that obesity is increasing in our new generations. This study should take into account for the future health care researcher. This study has summarized the current body of literature and added to it by demonstrating in our cohort that obese patients were at increased risk of formation of gallstones. I have also provided the evidence that patients with increased BMI with cholelithiasis or cholecystitis or other comorbidities are associated with significantly greater cost to the healthcare system.

Nonclinical and clinical characterization of MAU868, a novel human-derived monoclonal neutralizing antibody targeting BK polyomavirus VP1

Reactivation of BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) can cause significant kidney and bladder disease in immunocompromised patients. There are currently no effective, BKPyV-specific therapies. MAU868 is a novel, human immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 monoclonal antibody that binds the major capsid protein, VP1, of BKPyV with picomolar affinity, neutralizes infection by the 4 major BKPyV genotypes (EC50 ranging from 0.009-0.093 μg/mL; EC90 ranging from 0.102-4.160 μg/mL), and has comparable activity against variants with highly prevalent VP1 polymorphisms. No resistance-associated variants were identified in long-term selection studies, indicating a high in vitro barrier-to-resistance. The high-resolution crystal structure of MAU868 in complex with VP1 pentamer identified 3 key contact residues in VP1 (Y169, R170, and K172). A first-in-human study was conducted to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of MAU868 following intravenous and subcutaneous administration to healthy adults in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, single ascending dose design. MAU868 was safe and well-tolerated. All adverse events were grade 1 and resolved. The pharmacokinetics of MAU868 was typical of a human IgG, with dose-proportional systemic exposure and an elimination half-life ranging between 23 and 30 days. These results demonstrate the potential of MAU868 as a first-in-class therapeutic agent for the treatment or prevention of BKPyV disease.

Assessment of fasting gastric volume using ultrasound in patients undergoing cholecystectomy and other elective surgeries: A prospective observational study

ABSTRACT Background: Prevention of pulmonary aspiration is an important aspect of anaesthesia practice. Strictly following the pre-operative fasting guidelines can pre-empt pulmonary aspiration in most patients undergoing elective surgeries. Ultrasonographic assessment of patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy with symptomatic gall bladder disease has shown a higher incidence of a full stomach. Aim: The primary objectives of this study were to assess and compare gastric volume and contents in fasted patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy and other elective surgeries and to evaluate the relationship of fasting gastric volume and contents with other comorbidities and body mass index (BMI). Materials and Methods: On the day of surgery, hours of fasting were noted. Patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were in Group L, and patients scheduled for other surgeries were in Group O. Ultrasonography was performed before induction of anaesthesia in the pre-operative room by an experienced anaesthesiologist. The patients were classified based on the Perlas grading scale. To assess the risk of aspiration, the classification previously established by Ven de Putte and Perlas was used. Sixty patients were included in Group L and 60 patients in Group O. Results: The incidence of a full stomach was 3.33% in Group O and 20% in Group L. There was no significant association between BMI and gastric residual volume (GRV) in this study. There was no significant difference between GRV between diabetic and non-diabetic patients in Group L and Group O. Conclusion: Patients with gall bladder pathologies scheduled for cholecystectomy could have delayed gastric emptying; therefore, anaesthesiologists should be cautious, and bedside assessment tools such as ultrasound, which is easy and non-invasive, should be utilised to stratify the risk of aspiration in such patients.

Acute Toxicity of 70% Ethanol Extract of Kenitu (Chrysophyllum cainito L.) Leaves of Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

The postmenopausal phase, which results in a lack of estrogen levels and is one of the triggers of menopausal symptoms, contributes to the elderly's cognitive function decline. This condition can also cause joint and bone pain, bladder and urinary tract disorders, and sexual problems. Based on several studies, it is known that kenitu (Chrysophyllum cainito L.) contains phytoestrogen compounds with a structure similar to the hormone estrogen, so kenitu has the potential as an alternative treatment for disease conditions with risk factors for estrogen deficiency. The study was conducted to determine the estimated lethal dose 50 (LD50) value based on the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) classification as well as macroscopic (physical, behavioral, and average weight gain per day) and microscopic (liver and kidney histology) values in Wistar rats against the administration of 70% ethanol extract of kenitu leaves at a dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight (BW). The Up-and-Down Procedure (UDP) acute toxicity test method was used for this study. The maximum dose was 2000 mg/kg BW of ethanol extract from 70% kenitu leaves. The study found that the 70% ethanol extract of kenitu leaves had more than 2000 mg/kg BW LD50 value against Wistar rats. Based on the classification of the GHS, it can be concluded that 70% ethanol extract of kenitu leaves against Wistar rats is classified as low toxicity.

Gallbladder diseases detected by ultrasound and correlated risk factors

Background. Gallbladder diseases are relatively common, most of which are asymptomatic, others may be presented with right hypochondriac pain. Obesity, metabolic syndrome, long-term fasting, rapid weight reduction, bariatric surgery and drugs are associated with bile stasis and hence participate in gallstone formation. The study aimed to determine the variety of gall bladder disease detected by ultrasound in Iraqi patients. Methods. This study involved a randomly selected sample of 100 men and 100 women who attended the ultrasound clinic at Emamein Kadhimein Medical City for abdominal ultrasonography for various reasons in a period of 8 months (Oct 2022-Jul 2023). Data about age, sex, risk factors and symptoms were collected from those who had ultrasound features of gall bladder diseases. Results. It was found that gall bladder diseases are more common in women (23% of all examined women) than men (11% of all examined men). The most affected age groups are between 40-49, the percentage of women affected in this age group is 30.47% and men 12%. Most of the cases were without symptoms. The most common ultrasound finding is gallstones, where the percentage of affected women reached 82.6% and the affected men 81.8%. Conclusion. Ultrasound has a valuable role in screening, detection and follows up of gall bladder diseases. It is safe, available and cost-effective examination. Gall bladder diseases particularly gall stones are relatively common in Iraqi population, being more common in middle age women with clear association with obesity and multiparty among other risk factors. Most of patients were asymptomatic others presented with symptoms like abdominal pain.

Hepatic myelopathy neurological complication of chronic liver disease: two case reports

BackgroundHepatic myelopathy is a very rare neurological complication of chronic liver disease. Patients habitually present with progressive pure motor spastic paraparesis. This neurological dysfunction is almost always due to cirrhosis and portocaval shunt, either surgical or spontaneous.Cases reportWe report two cases of a 57-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman with progressive spastic paraparesis linked to cirrhosis and portal hypertension. The two patients are of Tunisian origin (north Africa). Magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord of two patients was normal, while brain magnetic resonance imaging showed a T2 hypersignals of the pallidums. These signs, in favor of hepatic encephalopathy in the two patients with cirrhosis with isolated progressive spastic paraparesis without bladder or sensory disorders, help to retain the diagnosis of hepatic myelopathy.ConclusionHepatic myelopathy is a severe and debilitating neurological complication of chronic liver disease. The pathogenesis is misunderstood and seems to be multifactorial, including the selective neurotoxic role both of ammonia and other pathogenic neurotoxins. Usually a pathological brain magnetic resonance imaging showing a hepatic encephalopathy was documented, contrasting with a normal spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging that contributed to diagnosis of hepatic myelopathy. Conservative therapies such as ammonia-lowering measures, diet supplementation, antispastic drugs, and endovascular shunt occlusion show little benefit in improving disease symptoms. Liver transplantation performed at early stage can prevent disease progression and could probably allow for recovery.

Factors correlating with circulating T-zone-like cells of undetermined significance (TZUS) in dogs resident in Italy

T-zone-like cells of undetermined significance (TZUS) share the same phenotypic pattern (CD45-CD5+) with T-zone lymphoma cells and were first described a few years ago in the peripheral blood (PB) of healthy aged American Golden retrievers (GR). History of bladder and eye disease increased the odd of circulating TZUS in the American GR population. Since differences among dogs may exist according to the geographical region of origin, herein we screened 489 PB samples to assess potential factors predisposing to the presence of circulating TZUS in dogs living in Italy. Overall, TZUS were found in 174 (35.6%) samples. Among 83 clinical variables, significant associations emerged with sex, age, diagnosis of neoplasia, history of neoplasia, history of infectious or parasitic disease, history of osteoarticular disease, presence of traumatic lesions or foreign bodies, and lymphocytes count. Only age and history of neoplasia retained significance at multivariate analysis (p=0.019 and p=0.036, respectively). Thus, older age and history of neoplasia are the main factors associated with circulating TZUS in Italian dogs. Future studies should focus on elucidating the biological role of TZUS and determining reproducible criteria for their identification, distinguishing them from infiltrating TZL.

Cytokines in Bladder Pain Syndrome: A Review of the Literature.

Bladder pain syndrome (BPS) is poorly understood with both the aetiology and pathophysiology being unknown. Symptoms overlap with other disorders, such as overactive bladder (OAB) and chronic pelvic pain disorders such as endometriosis, making a consensus on how to diagnosis and manage patients challenging. The development of biomarkers for BPS may be the key to understanding more about its pathophysiology, as well as aiding diagnosis, subclassification, and discovering new drug targets for its management. As inflammation is widely understood to hold a central role in BPS, the evaluation of cytokines has gained interest. This article summarises the current literature and understanding of urinary, serum, and bladder tissue cytokines found elevated in patients with bladder pain syndrome. literature search using Pub Med with the keywords "bladder pain syndrome", "painful bladder syndrome", "bladder pain", "Interstitial cystitis" AND "cytokines" or "inflammation". This study was except from institutional approval. Thirty-six cytokines have been identified as being statistically significantly elevated in either the serum, urine, or bladder tissue of patients with bladder pain syndrome in the 22 studies identified in this review of the literature. These cytokines include those from the interleukin group (n = 14), the CXC chemokine group (n = 5), and the C-C chemokine group (n = 7). CXCL-1, CXCL-8, CXCL-9, CXCL-10, CXCL-11 from the CXC chemokine group, and CCL2, CCL4, CCL5, CCL7, and CCL11 from the C-C chemokine group have been found to be significantly elevated in patients with bladder pain in the literature. Many of these analytes also have supporting evidence for their roles in bladder pain from animal models and studies in other chronic inflammatory conditions. It is likely that a single cytokine will not serve as an adequate biomarker of disease in bladder pain syndrome for either diagnosis or disease severity. Instead, panels of inflammatory mediators may reveal more about the different pathways of inflammation leading to similar presentations of bladder pain in patients.

Position statement of the Brazilian society of Rheumatology on mesna use as a preventive therapy for bladder disease in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases and systemic vasculitis under cyclophosphamide treatment

ObjectiveTo review current literature to support the use of mesna as a preventive therapy for hemorrhagic cystitis and bladder cancer in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases and systemic vasculitis treated with cyclophosphamide.Materials and methodsThe search for articles was conducted systematically through MEDLINE, LILACS, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases. Only articles in English were selected. For available records, titles and abstracts were selected independently by two investigators.ResultsEighteen studies were selected for analysis. The known adverse effects of cyclophosphamide were hematological toxicity, infections, gonadal toxicity, teratogenicity, increased risk for malignancy and hemorrhagic cystitis. Long-term toxicity was highly dependent on cyclophosphamide cumulative dose. The risk of bladder cancer is especially higher in long-term exposure and with cumulative doses above 36 g. The risk remains high for years after drug discontinuation. Hemorrhagic cystitis is highly correlated with cumulative dose and its incidence ranges between 12 and 41%, but it seems to be lower with new regimens with reduced cyclophosphamide dose. No randomized controlled trials were found to analyze the use of mesna in systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases and systemic vasculitis. Retrospective studies yielded conflicting results. Uncontrolled prospective studies with positive results were considered at high risk of bias. No evidence was found to support the use of mesna during the treatment with cyclophosphamide for autoimmune diseases or systemic vasculitis to prevent hemorrhagic cystitis and bladder cancer. In the scenarios of high cumulative cyclophosphamide dose (i.e., > 30 g), patients with restricted fluid intake, neurogenic bladder, therapy with oral anticoagulants, and chronic kidney disease, mesna could be considered.ConclusionThe current evidence was found to be insufficient to support the routine use of mesna for the prophylaxis of hemorrhagic cystitis and bladder cancer in patients being treated for systemic autoimmune diseases and systemic vasculitis with cyclophosphamide. The use may be considered for selected cases.

Changes in Correlates of Health-Related Quality of Life Between Children with Spina Bifida and Their Parents as Influenced by Their Level of Independence in Toileting Self-Management: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Spina bifida (SB) leads to various complications, such as bladder and bowel disorders, which can significantly impact quality of life (QOL). Parents of children with SB are often heavily involved in bladder and bowel management, which can affect their own QOL. Therefore, transitioning to independent bladder and bowel management is pivotal because it influences the QOL of both children with SB and their parents. In this study, we investigated changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among children with SB and their parents in the process of attaining independence in bladder and bowel self-management. Methods Children with SB aged 8-17 years and their parents completed the Japanese version of the QOL assessment in SB for children/teenagers (QUALAS-C/T-J) and the Short Form-8 (SF-8). Independence in bladder and bowel management was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). We calculated the correlation between children's or parents' HRQOL and the children's level of independence in bladder and bowel management. Additionally, we conducted a Mann-Whitney U test on the scores of the higher and lower independence groups. The correlation between parent and child HRQOL was analyzed by dividing children's independence into two groups. Results This study consisted of 83 parent-child pairs. Parents' and children's HRQOL and levels of self-management independence were not significantly correlated, either overall or by level of independence. The parent-child group with less independence, especially in bowel management, showed moderate to strong HRQOL correlations, whereas the group with more independence showed weaker correlations. Conclusions The strength of the correlation for parent-child HRQOL was found to change based on the level of independence in bladder and bowel self-management. These results suggest that the strength of parent-child cohesion tends to be pronounced in regard to the children's degree of independence in bowel management.

Botulinum toxin in wound treatment – literature review

Introduction and purpose Botulinum toxin has been used in medicine since the 1970s, although many years earlier it was known only as a biological weapon. Originally, it was used in medicine to treat strabismus in children. Over time, it has been used in the treatment of neurological disorders, excessive sweating of the armpits, wrinkles, and bladder disorders. In recent years, botulinum toxin has also begun to be used in wound healing. The paralyzing effect of botulinum toxin on the muscles within the wound eliminates micro-injuries caused by tension in these muscles. The aim of the article is to summarize information on the effects of botulinum toxin on the wound, its impact on inflammation, and the type of scar formation. Materials and methods The literature included in the PubMed databases is searched through the words such as botulinum toxin, wounds, and scars. Description of the state of knowledge: The literature review shows the breadth of the issue. Scientific studies showing the effect of using botulinum toxin on wounds emphasize its beneficial effects. However, it should be remembered that wound healing has a complex, dynamic course supported by numerous cellular processes that must be closely coordinated to effectively repair damaged tissues. Determinants influencing the course of wound healing include both local and systemic factors. Important factors influencing the process of proper wound healing are specialized wound preparation, pharmacotherapy, and other aspects of therapeutic intervention. Conclusions The range of applications of botulinum toxin is constantly expanding. In addition to reducing muscle tension within the wound, it also inhibits the production of inflammatory transmitters, limiting its development, and also reduces the development of microcirculation by preventing the development of vessels in hypertrophic scars.

A novel clinical classification for male urinary incontinence: MI-CRONS

Introduction:The aim of this study is to develop a new simple and practical classification of male urinary incontinence (UI) based on the clinical features and type of urinary incontinence. Materials & methods:MI-CRONS classification is a system based on severity of incontinence and patients’ characteristics. Clinical evaluation of incontinence severity is based on preservation of voiding, proportion of void/lost urine, absorbable device usage, level of physical efforts that causes urine loss and nocturnal incontinence. Following patients’ characteristics of patients were included in classification system: history of radical prostatectomy, history of pelvic radiation, surgery for prostatic obstruction, neurogenic or non-neurogenic bladder disorders, and urethral strictures and disorders. This MI-CRONS classification system uses five uppercase Latin letters as follows: Male Incontinence — Cancer, Radiation, Obstruction, Neurogenic, Stricture. The classification could be used for stress, urgency, and mixed UI forms. Results:The new MI-CRONS classification system was applied to 85 of 86 patients evaluated in this retrospective study. Patients were classified by MI-CRONS to estimate an inclusiveness and complicity of proposed classification only. One patient was not classified using the new MI-CRONS classification due to history of bladder exstrophy and augmentation cystoplasty. Most of the men studied had a stress form of urinary incontinence and the most common types were 2 (n = 18) and 3 (n = 17) after radical prostatectomy. Conclusion:The MI-CRONS has demonstrated prompt potential for classifying male incontinence of any type. The classification is a simple tool to describe these patients and could be useful for daily practice and clinical trials. Although further multicenter studies are needed to evaluate the predictive value of this tool. A Delphi consensus would be proposed with international experts for the further development of MI-CRONS.

In vitro effects of β3-adrenoceptor agonist mirabegron on the human ureter.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of mirabegron, a β3-adrenoceptor agonist with widespread clinical use for treating overactive bladder disease, on isolated healthy human ureter strips. This was a prospective study employing a series of in vitro organ bath experiments using ureteral tissues of kidney grafts from 10 healthy donors. The ureteral strips were subjected to cumulative mirabegron concentrations (10-9-10-4.5 M). Effects on frequency or amplitude of spontaneous, 10 mM KCl- or EFS-induced contractions were evaluated. Mirabegron decreased the frequency of spontaneous ureteric contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. Statistically significant decrease in the frequency of spontaneous contraction was observed at 10-8-10-4.5 M. In 10 mM KCl medium, statistically significant change in frequency was observed at 10-9-10-4.5 M. Statistically significant decrease in the amplitudes of spontaneous contraction was observed at 10-7-10-4.5 M. In a 10 mM KCl medium, statistically significant change in amplitudes was observed at 10-8-10-4.5 M. Mirabegron reduced the amplitude and frequency of human ureter activity in in vitro organ bath studies. This effect was achieved in a dose-dependent manner on isolated tissue strips. Although monotherapy with mirabegron remains uncertain, this study has the potential to elucidate the mechanism underlying the effectiveness of mirabegron, particularly in combination therapy for ureteral stones.

Second Neoplasms in Italian Patients with Hairy Cell Leukemia after Treatment with Cladribine: A Multicenter Investigation and Literature Review.

Concern has emerged about the prevalence of second cancers among patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) treated with purine analogs. We investigated 513 patients with HCL treated with cladribine over the last 30 years at 18 Italian centers and calculated their standardized incidence ratios (SIRs). We identified 24 patients with a second cancer diagnosed at a median time from treatment with cladribine of 59.9 months (range: 9.2-169.7 months). All patients with solid neoplasms presented with a limited-stage disease, except four cases of locally advanced cancer; multiple myeloma patients had a smoldering disease, while lymphoma patients had stage Ie and stage IV diseases. Response to therapy was complete in 19 cases; 1 patient is still receiving treatment for a relapsing bladder disease, while 2 patients progressed during treatment and died. These two patients died from unrelated causes: one from infection and one due to surgery complications. The median OS from HCL was 98.5 months (range: 38.4-409.2 months), while the median OS from second cancer was 27.6 months (range: 1-117.8 months). The SIR was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.54-1.30) for males and 1.13 (95% CI: 0.36-2.73) for females: no statistically significant differences were highlighted. We were not able to demonstrate an excess of second cancer or a significant association with the specific studied neoplasm.

Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning on Urological Practice

Abstract Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized urology while reshaping clinical practice and research. It excels in predicting treatment outcomes and enhancing disease diagnosis accuracy, particularly in bladder disorders such as interstitial cystitis, bladder cancer, and reproductive urology. AI’s data analysis capabilities enable early detection and prognosis by identifying patterns in vast datasets. It paves the way for more personalized treatments and reshapes disease classification. In the age of “big data,” AI simplifies complex healthcare information while improving decision-making and patient care. In addition, physical AI applications in robot-assisted surgery and nanotechnology enhance drug administration precision, surgical effectiveness, and patient outcomes. This review highlights AI’s pivotal role in identifying and treating urological disorders, aiding surgical guidance, and advancing tissue engineering, showcasing its significant impact and ongoing progress in the field of urology.

Plasma metadherin mRNA expression in bladder cancer

Urinary bladder cancer (BC) is the ninth most common cancer worldwide. At present, the clinical diagnosis of BC depends on self-reported symptoms, tissue biopsy specimens by cystoscopy and from voided urine cytology. However, cystoscopy is an invasive examination and voided urine cytology has low sensitivity, which might provoke misdiagnosis. The search for cancer biomarkers in blood is worthy of intense attention due to patients' comfort and ease of sampling. This work aimed to study expression of mRNA metadherin (MTDH) in plasma, serum BC specific antigen 1 (BLCA-1) and cystatin C as biomarkers of BC and their relation to different disease stages. This study included 59 BC patients, 11 patients with benign bladder lesion and 18 subjects as normal controls. MTDH expression was assessed by real time polymerase chain reaction, BLCA-1, and cystatin C by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The three biomarkers were elevated in BC patients than patients with benign bladder diseases and controls. Patients with BC grade 3 and 4 had higher cystatin C, BLCA-1 and MTDH in comparison to patients with grade 1 and grade 2 (p=0.000). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that BLCA-1 at a cutoff point of 32.5 ng/ml and area under the curve of 1.00, had 100% accuracy, 100% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive values and 100% negative predictive value. In conclusion, BLCA-1 was a better biomarker than cystatin C and MTDH. Cystatin C, BLCA-1 and MTDH levels, can differentiate between benign bladder lesion and BC and correlated with tumor grades.

Botulinum toxin: a new differential diagnosis for a lytic bone lesion

BackgroundBotulinum toxin, produced by the Gram-positive anaerobe Clostridium botulinum, is composed of seven antigenic subtypes (A, B, C, D, E, F, and G). Currently, only Botulinum toxin type A, commonly referred to as “Botox,” is approved for clinical use, given its relatively safe clinical profile. Botulinum toxin type A has a wide range of therapeutic indications, including treatment for dystonia, migraine headache, neurogenic bladder, and large muscle spastic disorders. However, the toxin is most widely known for its cosmetic effects in treating wrinkles and facial lines.Case presentationThis article describes a 62-year-old Caucasian female who presented for investigation and workup of an isolated lytic lesion of her frontal bone a few weeks after administration of botulinum toxin injection into the corresponding site in the frontalis muscle. This presented as a large, palpable, painless forehead lump causing significant psychological distress. After no neoplastic cause for the lesion was found and histopathology was performed, our researchers concluded that the most likely explanation was that the bony lytic lesion resulted from inadvertent injection of the “Botox” neurotoxin through the intended target muscle and into the cortex of the underlying bone.ConclusionsOur search of the literature failed to identify any previous cases of this occurring. However, as the popularity of this cosmetic procedure only increases, we believe that this represents an important possible differential for isolated lytic lesion after administration of “Botox” injection.

Unlocking Therapeutic Symphonies: Innovations in Clinical Decision Support for Drug-Disease Interactions in Kidney Transplantation

Introduction: Drug-disease interactions (DDSIs) are associated with increasing morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. These interactions are preventable if recognized and managed properly. Medication safety is critical in kidney transplant patients due to polypharmacy, co-morbidities, and susceptibility to adverse events. Clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) can play a key role therein. Therefore, this study aims to report on the process of developing an innovative, patient-centered, context-aware CDSS for managing DDSIs in kidney recipients.Material and Methods: Clinically important DDSIs were identified in the medications of patients at a kidney transplant outpatient clinic. Subsequently, rules for their detection and management were extracted based on pharmacology references and clinical expertise. A CDSS was developed and piloted following recommendations on medication CDSS design principles.Results: The knowledge base for this CDSS was developed with clinical context sensitivity. We defined priority levels for alerts, established associated display rules, and determined necessary actions based on the transplantation clinical workflow. The DDSI-CDSS correctly detected 37 DDSIs and displayed nine warnings and 28 cautionary alerts for the medications of 113 study patients (32.7% DDSI rate). The system fired three warnings for diltiazem in bradyarrhythmia, and two for each of the following medications and underlying diseases: aspirin in asthma, erythropoietin alfa in hypertension, and gemfibrozil in gall bladder disease. The potential consequences of the identified DDSIs were GI complications (17%), deterioration of the existing disease/condition (6.1%), and an increased risk of arrhythmias (2.6%), thrombosis (2.6%), and hypertension (1.7%). Complying with system alerts and recommendations would potentially prevent all these DDSIs.Conclusion: This study delineates the process of developing an evidence-based DDSI-CDSS for kidney transplantation, laying the groundwork for future advancements. Our results underscore the clinical significance of these interactions and emphasize the imperative for their accurate and timely detection, particularly in these vulnerable patients.

Mast cell distribution and prevalence in the murine urinary bladder

BackgroundMast cells have been implicated in the pathology of various urinary bladder disorders. However, the distribution of mast cells throughout urinary bladder tissue remains uncertain despite mast cell prevalence being relatively well-defined. Using a mouse tissue model, this study aims to characterise the prevalence and distribution of mast cells throughout the urinary bladder.MethodsBladder tissues were collected from six C57BL/6J female mice. Mast cell prevalence was quantified by flow cytometry, based on the expression of the following characteristic markers: CD45, CD117 and FcɛRIα. The toluidine blue stain assessed mast cell distribution, size, and proximity to vasculature. A repeated measures one-way ANOVA was used to evaluate the density of mast cells between the discrete layers of the urinary bladder, and an ordinary one-way ANOVA was used to assess potential differences between mast cell size across the urinary bladder wall.ResultsIt was determined that mast cells compose less than 4% of all live leukocytes in the urinary bladder. They were also found to be more prominent in the lamina propria and detrusor muscle layers, compared to the urothelium and adventitia. In addition, 20.89% of mast cells were located near vasculature, which may be an important factor in consideration of their function and potential to contribute to various bladder pathologies, such as cystitis or overactive bladder.ConclusionThese findings provide a baseline understanding of mast cell prevalence and distribution throughout the urinary bladder.

Risk factors and outcomes of bloodstream infection from a urinary source in kidney transplant recipients.

Bacteriuria is common among kidney transplant recipients (KTR). Risk factors and outcomes associated with bloodstream infection due to a urinary source (BSIU) in KTR are poorly understood. This single center case-control study from 2010 to 2022 compared KTR with BSIU to those with bacteria without bloodstream infection (BU). Multivariable logistic regression identified BSIU risk factors, and Cox models assessed its impact on graft failure. Among 3435 patients, who underwent kidney transplantation at Emory Hospital, 757 (22%) developed bacteriuria, among whom 142 (18.8%) were BSIU. Male sex, presence of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, or Pseudomonas species in urine culture, urethral stricture, neuromuscular bladder disorder, and history of diabetes-induced renal failure were independently associated with increased odds of BSIU (Male sex: aOR 2.29, 95% CI 1.52, 3.47, E. coli: aOR 5.14, 95% CI 3.02, 9.13; K. pneumoniae aOR 3.19, 95% CI 1.65, 6.27, Pseudomonas spp aOR 3.06, 95% CI 1.25, 7.18; urethral stricture: 4.10, 95% CI 1.63, 10.3, neuromuscular bladder disorder aOR 1.98, 95% CI 1.09, 3.53, diabetes: aOR 1.64, 95% CI 1.08, 2.49). BSIU was associated with increased hazard of graft failure (HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.05, 2.20). Close monitoring is warranted for male KTR with bacteriuria, those with urine cultures positive for Pseudomonas spp, K. pneumoniae, or E. coli, as well as KTR with a history of diabetes-induced renal failure, urethral stricture, or neuromuscular bladder disorder due to their risk for developing BSIU. Future research should explore strategies to mitigate BSIU risk in these high-risk KTR and reduce the associated risk of long-term graft failure.