Hypothermia prevents nitric oxide system changes in retina induced by severe perinatal asphyxia

Abstract

BACKGROUND. Health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) has not been adequately measured in bladder cancer. A recently developed reliable and disease‐specific quality of life instrument (Bladder Cancer Index, BCI) was used to measure urinary, sexual, and bowel function and bother domains in patients with bladder cancer managed with several different interventions, including cystectomy and endoscopic‐based procedures. METHODS. Patients with bladder cancer were identified from a prospective bladder cancer outcomes database and contacted as part of an Institutional Review Board‐approved study to assess treatment impact on HRQOL. HRQOL was measured using the BCI across stratified treatment groups. Bivariate and multivariable analyses adjusted for age, gender, income, education, relationship status, and follow‐up time were performed to compare urinary, bowel, and sexual domains between treatment groups. RESULTS. In all, 315 bladder cancer patients treated at the University of Michigan completed the BCI in 2004. Significant differences were seen in mean BCI function and bother scores between cystectomy and native bladder treatment groups. In addition, urinary function scores were significantly lower among cystectomy patients treated with continent neobladder compared with those treated with ileal conduit (all pairwise P < .05). CONCLUSIONS. The BCI is responsive to functional and bother differences in patients with bladder cancer treated with different surgical approaches. Significant differences between therapy groups in each of the urinary, bowel, and sexual domains exist. Among patients treated with orthotopic continent urinary diversion, functional impairments related to urinary incontinence and lack of urinary control account for the low observed urinary function scores. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.

Methylene blue prevents retinal damage in an experimental model of ischemic proliferative retinopathy

“…Therefore MB could be useful in reducing IPR development. Previously, we showed that NO increases in the retina 21 days after injury (45). Here we determined that application of MB inhibited NOS enzymatic activity, thus blocking the NO-dependent neurotoxic cascade.…”

“…In this region, we identified enhanced expression of nNOS in amacrine and ganglion cells following experimental asphyxia (45). Excessive production of NO could be highly toxic, combining with other reactive oxygen species to form peroxynitrite and destroying vital cell components (47).…”

“…PA results in high levels of NO, accompanied by alterations in NOS expression and activity (11,28,45). NOS immunolocalization in the retina has been confirmed in amacrine, horizontal cells, ganglion cells, Müller cells, photoreceptors, and nerve fibers in the inner and outer plexiform layers of the retina (45,59). NO reacts with the free radical superoxide exacerbating neurodegenerative processes through the forma-tion of peroxynitrites, which promote protein nitration (47).…”

“…nNOS and iNOS expression and activity have been described in the retina, spinal cord, and brain of mammals (11,45,46,63). PA results in high levels of NO, accompanied by alterations in NOS expression and activity (11,28,45). NOS immunolocalization in the retina has been confirmed in amacrine, horizontal cells, ganglion cells, Müller cells, photoreceptors, and nerve fibers in the inner and outer plexiform layers of the retina (45, 59).…”

“…There are two constitutive Ca 2ϩ -dependent isoforms of NOS, endothelial (eNOS) and neuronal (nNOS), and one inducible isoform (iNOS) that is Ca 2ϩ independent. nNOS and iNOS expression and activity have been described in the retina, spinal cord, and brain of mammals (11,45,46,63). PA results in high levels of NO, accompanied by alterations in NOS expression and activity (11,28,45).…”