Retraction: Neurogenic Stunned Myocardium: A Literature Review.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.3129.].

Retraction: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: An Overview of the Disease Pathology and Its Management.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.3288.].

Retraction: An Overview of the Pathology and Emerging Treatment Approaches for Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.3321.].

An Overview of the Pathology and Emerging Treatment Approaches for Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome.

Our article will discuss bladder pain syndrome (BPS), which is the presence of chronic suprapubic pain to bladder filling accompanied by other urinary symptoms, such as frequency, urgency, discomfort with filling, and relief with emptying of the bladder in the absence of infections or other pathology. It is mostly seen in females and occurs in 0.06%-30% of the population. Some of the proposed mechanisms causing BPS include damage to the bladder lining, a problem manifesting in the pelvic musculature, endocrine, neurological, allergic, autoimmune system, and inflammatory system; however, a definite cause has not been yet identified. Two types of this syndrome have been identified, ulcerative and non-ulcerative. In the ulcerative disease, areas of reddened mucosa associated with small vessels radiating towards a central scar (at times, covered by a small clot or fibrin) can be seen. In the non-ulcerative type, a normal bladder mucosa can be observed initially, and the subsequent development of glomerulations after hydrodistension is considered a definite sign of its diagnosis. The diagnosis of BPS is primarily clinical; however, cystoscopy and biopsy can also be performed, if needed. Finally, we will discuss in detail the treatment of BPS, which constitutes three different guidelines (The European Association of Urology (EAU) Guidelines 2017, the American Urology Association (AUA) Guidelines 2014, and The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG) in conjunction with the British Society of Urogynaecologists (BSUG) Guidelines 2016). All are proposing different types of therapy, including conservative, medical, and surgical treatment.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: An Overview of the Disease Pathology and Its Management.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with varied natural history and multisystemic involvement. The pathogenesis is multifactorial and complex precipitating the formation of autoantibodies. One of the main factors in SLE is the interaction between environmental triggers and genetic factors. Genome-wide association study technology has led to the identification of more than 80 loci which produce key proteins that lead to small pathophysiological changes and are associated with SLE. There has been an improvement in the management of the disease with newly standardized scores that have been validated in assessing disease activity and quality of life, and have helped in clinical care as well as research. The last five decades have seen a marked improvement in the prognosis of SLE, thanks to better general care and the development of newer immunosuppressive drugs, more specifically biological agents.

Managing Chronic Pain in the Elderly: An Overview of the Recent Therapeutic Advancements.

A majority of the elderly suffer from chronic pain that significantly alters their daily activities and imposes an enormous burden on health care. Multiple comorbidities and the risk of polypharmacy in the elderly make it a challenge to determine the appropriate drug, dosage, and maintenance of therapy. Opioids are the most commonly used agents for this purpose in the elderly. The aim of this article is to discuss both the current well-established therapies used for managing chronic pain in the elderly and also the emerging newer therapies.

Neurogenic Stunned Myocardium: A Literature Review.

Neurogenic stunned myocardium (NSM) is defined as the occurrence of cardiac abnormalities due to neurological events such as stroke, seizures, etc. These events lead to dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and ultimately cause injury to the myocardium. The clinical features seen in NSM include elevated troponin level, left ventricular dysfunction, and changes on the electrocardiogram (ECG). However, these features are also seen in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy as well as in an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Hence, diagnosing the condition by clinical presentation alone is difficult. Thus, a patient of NSM who is at increased risk of developing coronary heart disease may require invasive procedures such as cardiac catheterization to rule out ACS. This review aims at raising awareness about NSM among physicians so that management of patients can be individualized.