Determination of true absorption and fecal endogenous loss of zinc in goats.

We determined the true absorption and endogenous fecal loss of zinc (Zn) in goats using its stable isotope. Three goats were fed with the diet containing 50 mg/kg Zn twice a day for 17 days. In the morning of day 11, the goats were given a meal labeled by (67) Zn as the tracer with dysprosium as the unabsorbed marker. Then the goats were given unlabeled diet as the rest of the morning feed. We measured dietary and fecal Zn concentration, (67) Zn abundance and dysprosium concentration in feces. The excretion pattern of the tracer Zn into feces differed from that of dysprosium. Therefore, we directly calculated the true absorption of Zn from Zn concentration and (67) Zn abundance in fecal samples collected after the labeled diet was given. The apparent absorption of Zn was -0.009 ± 0.016 mg/kg bodyweight (fractional absorption, -1.07 ± 1.85%). The true absorption of Zn was 0.162 ± 0.018 mg/kg bodyweight (fractional absorption, 18.25 ± 2.01%). The endogenous fecal loss of Zn was 0.172 ± 0.004 mg/kg bodyweight and the intestinal secretion of Zn was 0.210 ± 0.009 mg/kg bodyweight. The present experiment indicates that stable isotopic Zn is a powerful tool for examining Zn metabolism in ruminants.

[A comparative study assessing clinical effects of naftopidil and tamsulosin hydrochloride on benign prostatic hyperplasia with overactive bladder].

PURPOSE: We compared the efficacy of naftopidil with that of tamsulosin hydrochloride for 154 symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients who also suffered from overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Naftopidil and tamsulosin hydrochloride were administered for eight weeks. The international prostate symptom score (IPSS), QOL index, maximum flow rate (Q(max)), residual urine volume (RUV) and side effect profile were determined before the administration and after eight weeks of treatment. RESULTS: In the naftopidil group, seven parameters of IPSS and QOL index were improved significantly at the endpoint compared to the baseline. In the tamsulosin group, all parameters except frequency and straining were also improved. Both drugs improved the Q(max) at the endpoint, too. The RUV did not change in both groups. Naftopidil was also superior to tamsulosin hydrochloride regarding general treatment outcome by the Japanese clinical guideline of urinary disturbance. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that naftopidil was clinically efficacious in the treatment of BPH patients with OAB.

[Roles of BPH impact index in the evaluation of impaired urination in patients with BPH].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the significance and current status of the benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) impact index (BII) in the evaluation of subjective symptoms of impaired urination in so-called QOL disease, BPH. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Over the past 2 year-period, in 159 patients with the diagnosis of BPH were asked to reply to each of the international prostate symptom score (I-PSS), QOL index and BII questionnaires. The subjective symptom scores (a total of 246 points) were evaluated from the viewpoint of clinical statistics in the search for any these and to find which questions cover the BII, most. RESULTS: 1) Statistically significant but moderate correlations were observed among I-PSS total score, QOL index and BII. The correlations among Qmax, BII and QOL were very weak. 2) Out of the 11 domains in both IPSS and BII, 2 questions of BII ("bothersomeness caused by urinary problems" and "degree of worry about well-being") and 4 questions of IPSS ("residual sense," " pollakisuria," "weak urinary stream" and "nocturia") were shared as QOL indices. Patient satisfaction was affected also by the questions in the BII. 3) Of the 7 BPH symptoms assessed in IPSS, 4 symptoms ("residual sense," "pollakisuria," "weak urinary stream" and "nocturia") affected the QOL index, and 4 symptoms ("urgency on micturition," "residual sense," "nocturia" and "strain at urination") affected BII. 4) Of the 7 symptoms assessed by IPSS, different symptoms affected each of the 4 BII questions. CONCLUSION: It is needed to assess BPH symptoms not only by the IPSS and QOL index but also based on BII to provide the detailed therapeutic instructions and thorough patients consultation.