Macroscopic electrical propagation in the guinea pig urinary bladder.

There is little knowledge about macroscopic electrical propagation in the wall of the urinary bladder. Recording simultaneously from a large number of extracellular electrodes is one technology that could be used to study the patterns of macroscopic electrical propagations. The urinary bladders from 14 guinea pigs were isolated and placed in an organ bath. A 16 × 4-electrode array was positioned at various sites on the serosal bladder surface, and recordings were performed at different intravesical volumes. In four experiments, carbachol (CCH; 10(-6) M), nifedipine (10 mM), or tetrodotoxin (TTX; 10(-6) M) was added to the superfusing fluid. After the experiments, the extracellular signals were analyzed and propagation maps were constructed. Electrical waves were detected at all sites on the bladder surface and propagated for a limited distance before terminating spontaneously. The majority of waves (>90%) propagated in the axial direction (i.e., from dome to base or vice versa). An increase in vesicle volume significantly decreased the conduction velocity (from 4.9 ± 1.5 to 2.7 ± 0.7 cm/s; P < 0.05). CCH increased, nifedipine decreased, while TTX had little effect on electrical activities. In addition, a new electrical phenomenon, termed a "patch," was discovered whereby a simultaneous electrical deflection was detected across an area of the bladder surface. Two types of electrical activities were detected on the bladder surface: 1) electrical waves propagating preferentially in the axial direction and 2) electrical patches. The propagating electrical waves could form the basis for local spontaneous contractions in the bladder during the filling phase.

Does aliskiren protect the kidney following ischemia reperfusion injury?

The effect of blocking the first and rate-limiting step in renin-angiotensin cascade on the renal function in ischemia reperfusion injury has not been previously investigated. We investigated the effect of aliskiren, the first approved direct oral renin inhibitor, on the alterations in renal functional parameters in this condition. Wistar rats underwent left renal ischemia for 40 min. Group-1 received normal saline whereas Group-2 received aliskiren (30 mg/kg/day) by gavage for 6 days commencing one day before IRI. The hemodynamic and tubular functions and gene expression of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and plasminogen activating inhibitor (PAI-1) in the right and left kidneys were measured five days following the IRI. Comparing Group-1 and Group-2, the left renal blood flow was significantly higher in Group-2 (1.28+/-0.36 vs. 0.39+/-0.05, P=0.007). Left kidney glomerular filtration rate was also higher in Group-2 but did not reach statistical significance (0.18+/-0.05 vs. 0.10+/-0.02, P=0.07). The left renal FE(Na) was significantly lower in Group-2 (29.9+/-6.4 vs. 49.7+/-7.8, P=0.03). Aliskiren also caused a significant decrease in the gene expression of both NGAL and PAI-1 in the left ischemic kidney. In conclusions, the administration of aliskiren before and after IRI appears to have ameliorated the IRI effect on the total renal artery blood flow, fractional excretion of sodium and gene expression of both NGAL and PAI-1 indicating a renoprotective effects in IRI.

Curcumin provides incomplete protection of the kidney in ischemia reperfusion injury.

Curcumin, a component of the spice turmeric, was shown to have a protective effect on acute kidney injury markers following ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). However, its effect on glomerular and tubular renal functions following IRI is not known and this data is probably of more clinical relevance. In this study, curcumin was tested for its effect on renal functional parameters following two different periods of warm IRI in the rat. Groups V-30 (n=10) and C-30 (n=10) underwent ischemia for 30 minutes whereas groups V-45 (n=8) and C-45 (n=8) underwent ischemia for 45 minutes. C-30 and C-45 received oral curcumin (200 mg/kg/day) whereas V-30 and V-45 received a vehicle. The left renal artery blood flow was measured by a flowmeter before and 15 minutes after reperfusion. Serum TNF-alpha was measured before and 2 days after ischemia. The function of both kidneys was measured 2 days following ischemia using clearance technique. IRI caused significant increase in TNF-alpha in all groups. Curcumin significantly ameliorated the ischemia-induced alterations in serum TNF-alpha and associated histological changes but did not affect the alterations in renal artery blood flow, glomerular (glomerular filtration rate, renal blood flow) or tubular (urinary volume, urinary sodium and fractional excretion of sodium) functions following 30 or 45 min of IRI.

Helicobacter pylori: association with gall bladder disorders in Pakistan.

Helicobacter species colonise the biliary tract and therefore this study explores the relationship between of Helicobacter pylori and cholecystitis. Bile and gall bladder tissue samples were obtained from 144 patients who underwent cholecystectomy. Of these, 89 had chronic cholecystitis with cholelithiasis, 44 had gall bladder carcinoma and 11 had gall bladder polyps. Histopathology examination included special staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC), while Helicobacter species (H. pylori, H. bilis and H. hepaticus) were detected by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sequencing and BLAST query of PCR products was undertaken and samples were considered to contain H. pylori if both PCR and IHC were positive. Immunohistochemistry for H. pylori was positive in 22 (25%) cases compared to five (9%) in the control group (P=0.02). Testing (PCR) for 16S rDNA was positive in 23 (26%) cases compared to six (11%) controls (P=0.03). Negative PCR results were obtained for H. bilis and H. hepaticus. Twenty-four (89%) were positive by both 16S rDNA PCR and IHC for H. pylori (P<0.001). Both PCR for 16S rDNA and IHC were positive in 21 (24%) cases compared to five (9%) controls (P=0.03). Sequencing of 16S rRNA and glmM PCR products were consistent with H. pylori. In conclusion, H. pylori DNA was demonstrated in cases of chronic cholecystitis and gall bladder carcinoma associated with cholelithiasis, but this association requires further study.

Does curcumin protect against renal dysfunction following reversible unilateral ureteric obstruction in the rat?

AIMS: To investigate the effect of curcumin on the alterations in renal functional parameters following reversible unilateral ureteric obstruction in the rat. METHODS: Wistar rats underwent reversible left ureteric obstruction for 72 h. The group Cm (n = 7) received oral curcumin (200 mg/kg/day), whereas the Vx group (n = 8) had only a vehicle. RESULTS: Ureteric obstruction caused a significant increase in the serum tumour necrosis factor α in both groups. However, the post-obstruction level in the Cm group was significantly lower than in the Vx group. In the Vx group, the glomerular filtration rate, renal blood flow, urine volume and urinary sodium excretion in the left obstructed kidney were significantly lower than those in the right kidney, but the fractional excretion of sodium was comparable in the 2 groups. The left kidney in the Cm group behaved similar to that in the Vx group. Moreover, there was no difference in any variable when comparing the right and left kidneys among the groups. CONCLUSION: Curcumin appears to have no significant protective effect on the haemodynamic or tubular glomerular functions when measured as early as 3 days following reversible ureteric obstruction despite the amelioration in some of the indicators of renal injury.

The effect of diclofenac sodium on renal function in reversible unilateral ureteric obstruction.

The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of diclofenac sodium, when administered similar to its use in clinical practice, 2 weeks following different periods of complete reversible unilateral ureteric obstruction in the rat using accurate indicators of renal function. Male Wistar rats underwent reversible left ureteric obstruction for 2 days [D2-untreated (n = 8) and D2-DS (n = 8) groups] and 5 days [D5-untreated (n = 7) and D5-DS (n = 7) groups]. D2-DS and D5-DS received intramuscular diclofenac sodium (3 mg/kg per day) during the time of obstruction, whereas D2-untreated and D5-untreated groups did not receive any treatment. The renal functions of both kidneys were studied 2 weeks following the reversal. The basal heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure were similar in D2-untreated and D2-DS and in D5-untreated and D5-DS groups. In the D2-untreated group, the GFR and RBF of the left obstructed kidney were 76 and 72% that of the right non-obstructed kidney [0.99 ± 0.06 vs. 1.30 ± 0.08 (P < 0.05) and 4.25 ± 0.33 vs. 5.92 ± 0.61 (P < 0.05), respectively]. The urine volume and urinary and fractional sodium excretion were not significantly different from the right kidney. Similar response was obtained in the D2-DS group. In the D5-untreated group, the GFR and RBF of the left kidney was 66 and 62% that of the right kidney (0.80 ± 0.12 vs. 1.21 ± 0.6, P < 0.05 and 3.79 ± 0.32 vs. 6.16 ± 0.59, P < 0.05; respectively). The tubular functions of both kidneys were similar. In the D5-DS group, there was no difference in GFR or RBF between both kidneys (1.02 ± 0.08 vs. 1.12 ± 0.3, P = 0.24 and 5.10 ± 1.25 vs. 6.46 ± 1.11, P = 0.44, respectively). Similarly, there was no difference in the tubular functions. Treatment with diclofenac sodium during a relatively long period of reversible unilateral ureteric obstruction, similar to its use in the management of ureteric colic, appears to ameliorate the alterations in the hemodynamic glomerular functions at least 2 weeks following the reversal of obstruction.

Enhanced detection rate of typhoid fever in children in a periurban slum in Karachi, Pakistan using polymerase chain reaction technology.

OBJECTIVE: Yield of blood culture in clinically suspected cases of typhoid fever is low, whereas indirect serological diagnostic tests are unreliable. Hence, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection of Salmonella enterica Serovar typhi was used as an aid for diagnosis of typhoid fever in addition to other diagnostic tests. Two periurban communities in Karachi were selected for an epidemiological study of typhoid fever. The aim of the study was to assess whether PCR increased the detection rate of typhoid fever in children in the community. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Children aged 2 to 14 years presenting with fever lasting for three or more days were selected. PCR using Hashimoto's protocol based on ViaB gene sequence was used in addition to blood culture and other serological tests. RESULTS: Of the 214 children included in the study, blood culture was found positive for S. enterica S. typhi in 26 (12.4%) cases, whereas 24 children (11.7%) were diagnosed as suffering from typhoid fever when the PCR-based method was used. Both tests were positive in only 10 (4.9%) children. The number of children found positive for either test was 40. PCR increased the rate of detection of typhoid fever by 51%. CONCLUSION: The sensitivity, specificity, +ve and -ve predictive values of PCR in this study were 40%, 93%, 45% and 92%, respectively.