Sigma-1 Receptor Changes Observed in Chronic Pelvic Pain Patients: A Pilot PET/MRI Study.

Chronic pelvic pain is a highly prevalent pain condition among women, but identifying the exact cause of pelvic pain remains a significant diagnostic challenge. In this study, we explored a new diagnostic approach with PET/MRI of the sigma-1 receptor, a chaperone protein modulating ion channels for activating nociceptive processes. Our approach is implemented by a simultaneous PET/MRI scan with a novel radioligand [18F]FTC-146, which is highly specific to the sigma-1 receptor.

Are fibroid and bony pelvis characteristics associated with urinary and pelvic symptom severity?

Background: Urinary and pelvic floor symptoms often are attributed to size and location of uterine fibroid tumors. However, direct supporting evidence that links increased size to worsening symptoms is scant and limited to ultrasound evaluation of fibroid tumors. Because management of fibroid tumors is targeted towards symptomatic relief, the identification of fibroid and pelvic characteristics that are associated with worse symptoms is vital to the optimization of therapies and prevention needless interventions.

Evaluation of the routine use of pelvic MRI in women presenting with symptomatic uterine fibroids: When is pelvic MRI useful?

Background: Pelvic ultrasound (US) diagnosis of uterine fibroids may overlook coexisting gynecological conditions that contribute to women's symptoms.

Purpose: To determine the added value of pelvic MRI for women diagnosed with symptomatic fibroids by US, and to identify clinical factors associated with additional MRI findings.

Study Type: Retrospective observational study.

Extreme Sports Injuries to the Pelvis and Lower Extremity.

Extreme sports are growing in popularity, and physicians are becoming increasingly aware of injuries related to these activities. Imaging plays a key role in diagnosing and determining clinical management of many of these injuries. This article describes general imaging techniques and findings in various injuries specific to multiple extreme sports.

Overactive bladder (OAB): A symptom in search of a disease - Its relationship to specific lower urinary tract symptoms and conditions.

Background: The ICCS defines OAB by the subjective symptom of urgency; detrusor overactivity (DO) is only implied. While no other symptom is required, OAB can also be associated with urinary frequency, decreased functional bladder capacity, and incontinence.

Objective: We sought to determine how often these associated findings occur in OAB and what if any uroflow/EMG-defined conditions are found to be associated with it.

The bladder of willful infrequent voiders: underactive or underutilized?

Objective: We previously described a lower urinary tract (LUT) condition (detrusor underutilization disorder, DUD) characterized by chronic or episodic willful deferment of voiding resulting in an expanded capacity in patients with LUT symptoms. We now further characterize these DUD patients.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed our database identifying neurologically/anatomically normal children diagnosed with DUD.

Outcomes of vesicoureteral reflux in children with non-neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction treated with dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer (Deflux).

Objective: There has been hesitancy to use dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer (DHXA, Deflux for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in the setting of lower urinary tract (LUT) dysfunction because of the limited number of published studies, the possibility of less success, and the manufacturer's recommendations contraindicating its use in patients with active LUT dysfunction. We report on our experience using DXHA in this subset of patients whose VUR persisted despite targeted therapy for their LUT condition.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed patients diagnosed with both a LUT condition and VUR who underwent subureteric DXHA while still undergoing treatment for their LUT dysfunction.

Outcomes of targeted treatment for vesicoureteral reflux in children with nonneurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction.

Purpose: There is a known association between nonneurogenic lower urinary tract conditions and vesicoureteral reflux. Whether reflux is secondary to the lower urinary tract condition or coincidental is controversial. We determined the rate of reflux resolution in patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction using targeted treatment for the underlying condition.

Incidence, significance and natural history of persistent retrograde venous flow after varicocelectomy in children and adolescents: correlation with catch-up growth.

Purpose: Varying incidences and levels of persistent retrograde venous flow have been reported following adult and adolescent varicocelectomy but the significance remains unclear. We sought to determine the incidence and natural history of persistent flow and whether it had any effect on postoperative testicular catch-up growth.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed pre-varicocelectomy and post-varicocelectomy Doppler duplex ultrasound findings.

Prevalence of urinary tract infection and vesicoureteral reflux in children with lower urinary tract dysfunction.

Purpose: Lower urinary tract dysfunction is a common pediatric urological problem that is often associated with urinary tract infection. We determined the prevalence of a urinary tract infection history in children with lower urinary tract dysfunction and its association, if any, with gender, bowel dysfunction, vesicoureteral reflux and specific lower urinary tract conditions.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of children diagnosed with and treated for lower urinary tract dysfunction, noting a history of urinary tract infection with or without fever, gender, bowel dysfunction and vesicoureteral reflux in association with specific lower urinary tract conditions.

Intratesticular varicoceles: are they significant?

Objective: Varicoceles occur in 15% of adult and adolescent males and are generally considered to be an extratesticular phenomenon. However, an intratesticular component has been reported in up to 2% of adult and 2% of adolescent varicoceles. We sought to determine the incidence of intratesticular varicoceles (ITV) in adolescents in our practice, its significance, associated findings and response to treatment.

Partial nephrectomy online: a preliminary evaluation of the quality of health information on the Internet.

Unlabelled: What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Patients are highly likely to access the Internet for health information, and studies have reported that inaccurate or low-quality information may alter patients' expectations and negatively impact informed decision-making. In a unique collaboration with the Health On the Internet (HON) Foundation, we evaluated the top 20 search results for the urology search term 'partial nephrectomy,' and identified the highest and lowest scoring criteria to increase awareness of areas of concern and improvement.

Objective: To further evaluate the quality of information available on the Internet with regard to the management of localized renal cancer, we evaluated websites providing information on 'partial nephrectomy' in conjunction with the Health On the Internet (HON) Foundation.

Exercise training in dilated cardiomyopathy improves rest and stress cardiac function without changes in cardiac high energy phosphate metabolism.

Objective: To determine the effects of short-term exercise training on cardiac function and metabolism during rest and physical exercise in patients with heart failure from dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Design: Patients with DCM (n=15, age 58±2 years, NYHA class I-III) were studied before and after 8 weeks of cycle exercise for 20 min, five times per week.

Main Outcome Measures: Cardiac volumes, function and high energy phosphate metabolism were measured using cardiac magnetic resonance during rest and 7 min of acute physical exercise (leg-raising).

Evaluating the quality of Internet health resources in pediatric urology.

Purpose: Many patients and their parents utilize the Internet for health-related information, but quality is largely uncontrolled and unregulated. The Health on the Net Foundation Code (HONcode) and DISCERN Plus were used to evaluate the pediatric urological search terms 'circumcision,' 'vesicoureteral reflux' and 'posterior urethral valves'.

Materials And Methods: A google.

Intestine-specific expression of acyl CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 reverses resistance to diet-induced hepatic steatosis and obesity in Dgat1-/- mice.

Mice deficient in acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1), a key enzyme in triacylglycerol (TG) biosynthesis, are resistant to high-fat (HF) diet-induced hepatic steatosis and obesity. DGAT1-deficient (Dgat1-/-) mice have no defect in quantitative absorption of dietary fat; however, they have abnormally high levels of TG stored in the cytoplasm of enterocytes, and they have a reduced postprandial triglyceridemic response. We generated mice expressing DGAT1 only in the intestine (Dgat1IntONLY) to determine whether this phenotype contributes to resistance to HF diet-induced hepatic steatosis and obesity in Dgat1-/- mice.