Effect of taurine on intestinal recovery following intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat.

PURPOSE: Taurine (TAU) is a sulfur-containing amino acid that is involved in a diverse array of biological and physiological functions, including bile salt conjugation, osmoregulation, membrane stabilization, calcium modulation, anti-oxidation, and immunomodulation. Several studies have established that treatment with TAU significantly protects cerebral, cardiac and testicular injury from ischemia-reperfusion (IR). The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of TAU on intestinal recovery and enterocyte turnover after intestinal IR injury in rats. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four experimental groups: (1) Sham rats that underwent laparotomy, (2) Sham-TAU rats that underwent laparotomy and were treated with intraperitoneal (IP) TAU (250 mg/kg); (3) IR-rats that underwent occlusion of both superior mesenteric artery and portal vein for 30 min followed by 48 h of reperfusion, and (4) IR-TAU rats that underwent IR and were treated with IP TAU (250 mg/kg) immediately before abdominal closure. Intestinal structural changes, Park's injury score, enterocyte proliferation and enterocyte apoptosis were determined 24 h following IR. The expression of Bax, Bcl-2, p-ERK and caspase-3 in the intestinal mucosa was determined using Western blot and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Treatment with TAU resulted in a significant decrease in Park's injury score compared to IR animals. IR-TAU rats also demonstrated a significant increase in mucosal weight in jejunum and ileum, villus height in jejunum and ileum and crypt depth in ileum compared to IR animals. IR-TAU rats also experienced significantly lower apoptotic indices in jejunum and ileum which was accompanied by a higher Bcl-2/Bax ratio compared to IR animals. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with taurine prevents gut mucosal damage and inhibits intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis following intestinal IR in a rat.

[Three-dimentional echography in diagnosis and staging of urinary bladder cancer].

The role of USI and three-dimentional volumetric reconstruction was studied in diagnosis of urinary bladder cancer diagnosis. 69 UBC patients were examined. Examination included renal USI of the kidneys, urinary bladder, prostate, echoureterography, cystoscopy, CT, MRT. The number of the tumors, volume, area, invasion were studied in 3D mode. US angiography assessed resistance index and tumor vascularization by degrees 0-3. USI findings were compared with those of MRT, cystoscopy, histomorphology of the biopsies. 2D USI technique proved effective in detection of urinary bladder cancer at stage T1 in 66%, 3D in 100. At stage T2a-b informative value of both techniques reached 87%. Overall informative value of 2D in detection of urinary bladder cancer was 81%, three-dimentional echography--96%. USI proved effective in diagnosis and staging of urinary bladder cancer. Use of 3D ultrasonic angiography facilitates the choice of more effective surgical policy in the treatment of urinary bladder cancer patients.

[Tonocardin (doxazosin) in treating lower urinary tract symptoms]. / Tonokardin (doksazozin) v lechenii simptomov nizhnikh mochevykh putei.

Twenty seven patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), acute voiding problem, chronic prostatitis, neurogenic hyperactive urinary bladder, interstitial cystitis were treated with tonocardin (doxasosine) in a dose 1 to 4 mg. Patients after discharge from hospital and outpatients continued taking tonocardin for 6 months. The results obtained show high efficacy of tonocardin in LUTS and adequate life quality maintenance in patients with BPH especially in its complications (7 patients resumes normal voiding). Tonocardin is well tolerated by elderly patients and does not interact with cardiovascular drugs.