bed. 4 Thus, we hypothesized that a reduction in SHR intraparenchymal cerebral vessel wall thickness after chronic denervation could lead to a significantly enhanced wall tension (tension = pressure X radius/wall thickness) 6 as blood pressure and vessel radius are increased. During basal conditions, a reduced wall thickness due to chronic sympathetic denervation would be expected to have little effect since cerebral vascular resistance is not altered over a wide range of arterial pressures or during hypocapnia after chronic sympathetic denervation.

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Glibenclamide has been shown to block ATP-dependent K+ channels in the heart and prevent the shortening of cardiac action potentials caused by hypoxia in vitro. The present study examines the ability of glibenclamide to modify the effect of acute ischaemia on monophasic action potential duration in pentobarbital-anaesthetized rabbits, and on monophasic action potential duration and ventricular fibrillation threshold in pentobarbital-anaesthetized dogs. Left ventricular endocardial monophasic action potential duration was measured using a contact electrode catheter, and ventricular fibrillation threshold was measured by the single pulse method. Ischaemia was produced in rabbits by occluding the circumflex coronary for 5 min and in dogs by occluding the left anterior descending coronary artery for 40 min. In rabbits, glibenclamide (0.3-3 mg/kg, i.v.) had no effect on baseline monophasic action potential duration, but attenuated action potential shortening during ischaemia in a dose-related manner. In dogs, monophasic action potential duration did not shorten during ischaemia in the vehicle group, but tended to increase in the glibenclamide group (0.5 mg/kg, i.v.) both before and during ischaemia (7 +/- 5% and 14 +/- 8%, respectively, NS). Likewise, ventricular effective refractory period was significantly increased by glibenclamide prior to ischaemia (5 +/- 1%). Ventricular fibrillation threshold tended to increase during 40 min of ischaemia in vehicle-treated dogs (40 +/- 29%, NS), but was unchanged during ischaemia in the glibenclamide-treated dogs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

SUMMARY The purpose of this study was to determine resting and maximal superior cervical sympathetic nerve activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) at five and ten weeks of age as hypertension Was developing. Basal cervical sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) of five week SHR was 58 ± 3 /xv* which was significantly elevated over age-matched WKY (SNA = 30 ± 4 fi\, *p < 0.001) and ten week SHR (SNA = 30 ± 4 fiy, *p < 0.001) as well as ten week WKY (SNA = 24 ± 4 ju.v, *p < 0.001). Thus, during basal conditions five week SHR nerve traffic was approximately two times that found in age-matched WKY as well as in ten week SHR and WKY. The peak sympathetic nerve activity in response to rapid hemorfhage in five week SHR (215 ± 16 /x,\*) was significantly elevated over the maximal response of WKY (140 ± 23 fi\) (*p < 0.02). Ten week SHR also reached a maximal sympathetic nerve activity (187 ± 28 /*v*) that was significantly elevated over WKY (100 ± 15 /JLV) (*p < 0.02). Thus, both five and ten week SHR had a greater capacity for elevated nerve activity following rapid hemorrhage than age-matched WKY. The elevation in resting cervical sympathetic activity in five week SHR, and the elevated capacity for sympathetic neural response in both five as well as ten week SHR, are consistent with a Central nervous system abnormality in SHR that could relate to the previously described protective influence of sympathetic nerves on SHR cerebral blood vessels as hypertension is developing.Stroke, Vol 14, No 1, 1983 THE PRESENCE OF SYMPATHETIC NERVES has been associated with a long-term influence on blood vessels.12 During growth, sympathetic nerves have been reported to contribute to smooth muscle mass 3 -4 and vascular resistance. 2 In the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), a decrease in cerebrovascular wall/ lumen ratio 4 and enhanced blood-brain barrier permeability 5 have been reported after early superior cervical ganglionectomy prior to the development of hypertension. These data suggest that the absence of the chronic influence of sympathetic nerves on the cerebrovascular bed early during hypertension lead to a decreased wall thickness and greater blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability under certain conditions. A similar protective effect of sympathetic nerves on the brain vasculature has not been observed in older SHR after the development of hypertension (Mueller and Ertel, unpublished data). Thus, the long-term protective influence of sympathetic nerves on SHR cerebrovascular properties appears to be present only in younger animals prior to the marked development of hypertension.Elevated sympathetic nerve activity has been reported in SHR compared to the normotensive WistarKyoto (WKY). 6 Since WKY do not demonstrate the same long-term influence of sympathetic nerves on brain vasculature found in SHR, 4 -5 we reasoned that elevated sympathetic nerve activity in SHR could re- late to the chronic influence observed. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine resting and max...

SummaryAimTo assess attitudes and beliefs towards benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)/ lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and its treatment among patients and physicians in Latin America, Asia Pacific and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).MethodsCross‐sectional, quantitative study conducted between December 2014 and September 2015. Separate questionnaires were administered to BPH/LUTS patients receiving drug treatment for their condition and to practising physicians who treat patients with BPH/LUTS.ResultsIn total, 1094 patients and 202 physicians completed a questionnaire. Most patients (61%) felt very/fairly well informed about BPH/LUTS, and 60% of physicians perceived patients to be very/somewhat informed. Overall, 70% of physicians felt that it would be valuable to raise awareness of BPH/LUTS and encourage men to consult a physician. The first symptoms most commonly noticed by patients were need to urinate more frequently, slower/weaker stream and nocturia. At first consultation, 71% of patients recalled providing a urine sample, 57% having a blood test for prostate‐specific antigen and 56% a digital rectal examination being performed. Over two thirds of patients (69%) were satisfied with their current medication; highest satisfaction rates (among both patients and physicians) were reported for alpha blockers and 5ARIs, either as monotherapies or used in combination. Patients were prepared to wait longer for symptom relief in order to have a reduced risk of surgery. Most physicians (90%) thought that at least some patients believe BPH/LUTS to be a progressive condition. Most physicians thought that patients were very/fairly concerned about BPH surgery (92%) and acute urinary retention (72%); 52% of physicians thought treatment adherence was “extremely” important.ConclusionsThis study provides valuable insights into the attitudes and beliefs of patients and physicians in Asia Pacific, Latin America and CIS about BPH/LUTS and its management. It also highlights areas of discordance between patient/physician perceptions and beliefs about BPH/LUTS, and potential areas of focus to improve the experience of affected patients.