Can Dopamine Depletion at DAT Scan in a Non Parkinson Patient be the Cause a Refractory Overactive Bladder?

We report here the first case of treatment of idiopathic refractory overactive bladder with dopamine. A female patient consulted for urge incontinence. Management included all recommended treatments without success. DAT scan was finally performed showing clear reduction in dopamine secretion without diagnosis of any neurological condition. Patient started dopamine treatment. At 1 month, patient described persistence of mild urgency and frequency but complete resolution of urge incontinence. At 3 months patient was completely dry with only persistence of mild frequency. Functional imaging and central nervous system target might represent new ways of managing idiopathic overactive bladder.

A novel approach combining the Calgary Biofilm Device and Phenotype MicroArray for the characterization of the chemical sensitivity of bacterial biofilms.

A rapid method for screening the metabolic susceptibility of biofilms to toxic compounds was developed by combining the Calgary Biofilm Device (MBEC device) and Phenotype MicroArray (PM) technology. The method was developed using Pseudomonas alcaliphila 34, a Cr(VI)-hyper-resistant bacterium, as the test organism. P. alcaliphila produced a robust biofilm after incubation for 16 h, reaching the maximum value after incubation for 24 h (9.4 × 10(6) ± 3.3 × 10(6) CFU peg(-1)). In order to detect the metabolic activity of cells in the biofilm, dye E (5×) and menadione sodium bisulphate (100 µM) were selected for redox detection chemistry, because they produced a high colorimetric yield in response to bacterial metabolism (340.4 ± 6.9 Omnilog Arbitrary Units). This combined approach, which avoids the limitations of traditional plate counts, was validated by testing the susceptibility of P. alcaliphila biofilm to 22 toxic compounds. For each compound the concentration level that significantly lowered the metabolic activity of the biofilm was identified. Chemical sensitivity analysis of the planktonic culture was also performed, allowing comparison of the metabolic susceptibility patterns of biofilm and planktonic cultures.

Cardiopulmonary exercise test in young women affected by anorexia nervosa.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate exercise performance in patients affected by anorexia nervosa. METHODS: We studied 19 patients (all females, mean age 23.1 +/- 5.2 years) affected by anorexia nervosa (mean weight 37.3 kg, body mass index 14.04 +/- 1.4 kg/m2) and 20 constitutionally thin women, matched for age, height and physical activity, with a body mass index < 19 kg/m2. All these women underwent clinical examination, standard ECG and a cardiopulmonary stress test. RESULTS: Patients affected by anorexia nervosa showed a lower heart rate and systolic blood pressure at peak exercise (148.8 +/- 13.8 vs 171 +/- 9.2 b/min, p < 0.001, and 130 +/- 9.5 vs 152 +/- 11.2 mmHg, p < 0.001), work load (85.5 +/- 15.1 vs 117.2 +/- 20.3 W, p < 0.001), rate-pressure product (19 371 +/- 2391 vs 25,986 +/- 2218 b/min/mmHg, p < 0.001), oxygen uptake (VO2) at rest and maximum VO2 (5.4 +/- 1.7 vs 7.1 +/- 1.1 ml/kg/min, p < 0.001, and 28.08 +/- 6.3 vs 40.2 +/- 7.1 ml/kg/min, p < 0.001), anaerobic threshold (15.7 +/- 1.9 vs 20.4 +/- 2.1 ml/kg/min, p < 0.001), VO2 during exercise (9.5 +/- 1.2 vs 12.8 +/- 1.3 ml/min/W, p < 0.001), maximum minute ventilation (34.5 +/- 9.9 vs 48.4 +/- 10.3 /min, p < 0.001), and oxygen pulse (7.2 +/- 2 vs 10.9 +/- 2.4 ml/b, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These data show an abnormal working capacity and cardiovascular responses to exercise in patients affected by anorexia nervosa. The low VO2, both at rest and during exercise, allows them to maintain a relatively high level of physical activity, which contributes to increase the energy expenditure needed for weight loss.

Result of liver resection as treatment for metastases from noncolorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: While liver resection for metastatic disease from colorectal cancer extends survival in selected patients, the efficacy of hepatectomy for metastases from other malignancies has not been defined. METHODS: Between 1988 and 1998, 20 hepatic resections were performed in 18 patients (2 underwent a double resection due to recurrence) as treatment of noncolorectal metastases. One-, 2-, and 5-year overall and disease-related actuarial survival rates were calculated. RESULTS: No intraoperative or early postoperative deaths were reported. Seven minor (30%) and 1 major (5%) postoperative complications occurred; mean blood loss was 401 +/- 324 ml. In 25% of patients, intra- or postoperative blood transfusion was needed. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 13. 2 days (range 9-23). The overall actuarial survival rate was 54% at 1 year, 42% at 2 years, and 21% at 5 years (mean 38 +/- 11 months). Survival is related to the primary tumor nature. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic resection for metastases from noncolorectal carcinoma is safe and feasible, with a relatively low incidence of intra- or postoperative complications and a short hospital stay. Although it achieves good results in terms of survival in patients suffering from neuroendocrine metastases, it could also have a cytoreductive effect for other tumors.