No description available.

The pathophysiology of stress urinary incontinence is poorly understood but bladder neck funneling (BNF) and posterior urethrovesical angle (PUVA) enlargement have been implicated. Methods to measure these phenomena are poorly established. The aim of this thesis was to develop and evaluate a semi-automated method to analyze BNF and PUVA from ultrasound images acquired transperineally and test its repeatability and concurrent validity compared to manual segmentation. Agreement between the semi-automated and manual methods was assessed by kappa statistics and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). The repeatability of detection of BNF using the semi-automated approach was almost perfect (ĸC = 1.00 (p<0.001)), while the reliability of semi-automated detection of PUVA was good (ICC(3,1) = 0.860 (0.784 – 0.910)). Concurrent validity of BNF classification was almost perfect (ĸL = 1.00 (p<0.001)), while PUVA estimation was moderate (ICC(2,1) = 0.610 (0.514 – 0.705)). The method presented here is an acceptable proof of concept; further development is recommended.

The urinary bladder is a unique organ in that its normal function is storage and release of urine, and vasculature in its wall exhibits specialized features designed to accommodate changes in pressure with emptying and filling. Although we have previously described the fine details of the microvasculature of the urinary bladder of the rabbit and dog, information on the fine details of the microvasculature of the mouse bladder were deemed to be of value because of the increasing use of this species in developing genetic models for studying human disorders. The present study shows that many of the special features of the microvasculature of the mouse urinary bladder are similar to those described in the rabbit and dog, including vessel coiling, abundant collateral circulation, arterial sphincters, and a dense mucosal capillary plexus.

The urinary bladder is a unique organ in that its normal function is storage and release of urine, and vasculature in its wall exhibits specialized features designed to accommodate changes in pressure with emptying and filling. Although we have previously described the fine details of the microvasculature of the urinary bladder of the rabbit and dog, information on the fine details of the microvasculature of the mouse bladder were deemed to be of value because of the increasing use of this species in developing genetic models for studying human disorders. The present study shows that many of the special features of the microvasculature of the mouse urinary bladder are similar to those described in the rabbit and dog, including vessel coiling, abundant collateral circulation, arterial sphincters, and a dense mucosal capillary plexus.

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), for more than a hundred years, has been a recognized poisonous principle in spoiled food. As its chemical structure became unraveled, and as more knowledge was gained over its mechanism of toxicity, it became clear that BoNT had the potential to act therapeutically as a targeted toxin that could inactivate specific nerve populations, and thus achieve a therapeutic goal. BoNT has evolved over the past 25 years into a viable therapeutic, now being a first line treatment for dystonia, overtly altering the course of progression of this disorder. BoNT is used for hyperhidrosis and gustatory sweating syndrome, alleviation of pain, as a treatment for overactive bladder, achalasia and anal fissure; and it has gained popularity as a cosmetic aid. Many other possible uses are being explored. The greatest potential for BoNT may lie in its being a molecular Trojan Horse - able to carry a specific enzyme or specific drug to the inside of a cancer or other type of cell while bypassing other cells and thereby having little or no ill effect. BoNTs pharmaceutical potential is boundless.

The urinary bladder is an unusual organ in that its normal function includes filling and emptying with alternating changes in internal pressure. Although fluctuations in blood flow to the bladder wall are known to accompany these changes, detailed descriptions of the bladder microvasculature are sparse. The present study uses vascular corrosion casting and scanning electron microscopy to describe the three-dimensional anatomy of the microvasculature of the urinary bladder of the dog. Specialized features of that microvasculature, including collateral circulation, vessel folding, vessel orientation, the presence of valves and sphincters, and mucosal capillary density, that may enhance and control blood flow during normal bladder function, are described and discussed.

No description available.

The two studies follow free nucleic acids in urine in search for biomarkers to distinguish urinary bladder cancer patients from controls. Bladder cancer forms 4 % of newly diagnosed oncological diseases in the Czech Republic. Nowadays, there is no accredited non-invasive method for its diagnosis, which is sufficiently accurate. Urine supernatant, which is washing the bladder mucosa and which does not contain cell debris, seems to be an appropriate source of biomarkers for non-invasive diagnosis. miRNAs, as a non-invasive biomarker of urinary bladder cancer, were studied in one of the studies. miRNAs are short noncoding RNA, which block the process of translation. miRNAs occur in all body fluids and are relatively stable. A study with three phases was assessed to find a suitable miRNA marker. 109 individuals were examined in total (36 controls and 73 bladder cancer patients). The analysis of miRNAs was based on RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction). In the first phase, the urine of 59 individuals was analyzed on TaqMan array card with 381 miRNAs. In the second phase, the results of the first phase were confirmed on the same cohort by a single miRNA assay. In the third phase, a new cohort was used (23 controls and 27 bladder cancer patients), analyzed by a single miRNA assay again....

No description available.

Background: Prostate cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer affecting men.In case of biochemical recurrence, positron emission tomography (PET) targeting prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) on prostate tumor cells is primarily used, in combination with computed tomography (CT), for detection and localization of recurrence. Research for optimizing a PSMA-ligand with high affinity for tumor cells and minimal excretion to the urinary bladder is constantly ongoing, in order to allow better evaluation of the prostate and nearby regions. One such ligand is 18F-PSMA-1007, which was expected to be excreted in the urinary bladder at a rate of 5-10%. However, after switching from diagnostic to low-dose CT, the elimination of 18F-PSMA-1007 in the bladder was higher than expected. Purpose: To evaluate whether hydration during the accumulation period could affect the activity concentration in the bladder. Materials and Methods: The study involved analyzing PET-CT scans obtained from two prostate cancer patient groups who underwent 18F-PSMA-1007-PET with low-dose CT. The groups consisted of 20 participants each, with one group hydrating during the tracer’s accumulation time, while scans from the comparison group were obtained from a time point where patients did not receive instructions about water intake. The amount of radioactivity was measured by placing a standardized 3.00 cm Volume of Interest (VOI) on the bladder, which was then adjusted based on the individual size and shape of the patients' bladder. From the VOI, a standardized uptake value (SUV) was determined, which can be represented as either SUVmean or SUVmax. These values represent the average tracer concentration within a VOI and the highest concentration of the tracer in the urinary bladder, respectively. Results: SUV in the urinary bladder was lower for the hydrated group, where the SUVmean was 1,55 vs 4,5 (p=0,011) for the non-hydrated group. Similar values were obtained for SUVmax, 2,3 vs 6,65 (p&lt; 0,003). Conclusion: This retrospective study suggests that water intake during the accumulation period leads to significantly lower activity concentration in the bladder among these patients, which benefits the detection of recurrences in adjacent areas.