BACKGROUND Previous studies have demonstrated that glial cells play an important role in the generation and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Activated glial cells produce numerous mediators such as proinflammatory cytokines that facilitate neuronal activity and synaptic plasticity. Similarly, bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis shares many characteristics of neuropathic pain. However, r...

PURPOSE Several chronic pain conditions may be distinguished by condition specific brain anatomical and functional abnormalities on imaging, which are suggestive of underlying disease processes. We present what is to our knowledge the first characterization of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome associated white matter (axonal) abnormalities based on multicenter neuroimaging from the MA...

Nitric oxide (NO) has pivotal roles in cyclophosphamide- (CYP-) induced cystitis during which mucosal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and muscarinic M5 receptor expressions are upregulated. In cystitis, urothelial muscarinic NO-linked effects hamper contractility. Therefore we wondered if a blockade of this axis also affects the induction of cystitis in the rat. Rats were pretreated with saline, th...

BACKGROUND Despite stable overall antibiotic use between 2007 and 2011 in The Netherlands, use of nitrofurantoin and trimethoprim increased by 32%. The background of this increased antibiotic use against uropathogens is unknown. OBJECTIVES To determine whether increased use of urinary tract infection antibiotics is caused by changes in patients' consultation or physicians' prescribing behavio...

PURPOSE Bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis is a poorly understood condition that can cause serious disability. We provide the first population based symptom prevalence estimate to our knowledge among United States adult females. MATERIALS AND METHODS We developed and validated 2 case definitions to identify bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis symptoms. Beginning in August 200...

OBJECTIVES Hyaluronic acid is a protective barrier of the urothelium. A damaged glycosaminoglycan layer may increase the possibility of bacterial adherence and infection. This damage is proposed to be a causative factor in the development of interstitial cystitis, common urinary tract infections, and hemorrhagic cystitis due to posthematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The aim of this articl...

PURPOSE The purposes of this study were to investigate the effect of cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced inflammatory cystitis on caveolin 1 in rat urinary bladder and to determine the role of these molecules in the bladder dysfunction that occurs in inflammatory change in rat urinary bladder. METHODS Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control (n=30) and experimental (n=30) groups. Cysti...

OBJECTIVE To review current knowledge about the epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of interstitial cystitis, with special emphasis on management of this condition by family physicians. QUALITY OF EVIDENCE Articles were identified through MEDLINE and review of abstracts presented at Urology and Interstitial Cystitis meetings during the last decade. Recent reviews were further searc...

Background: Interstitial cystitis is a chronic clinical condition affecting women predominantly. Characterized by irritative voiding symptoms and suprapubic pain. Most of Interstitial cystitis cases run a benign course and the bothersome symptoms are the main concern of the treating doctors; however obstructive uropathy as a complication could occur and mostly noticed in Interstitial cystitis c...

Objectives: Pentosan Polysulfate (PPS) is the only oral treatment for interstitial cystitis (IC)-bladder pain syndrome (BPS) approved by World Health Organization. Self-evaluation scales can provide more objective results on pre- and post-treatment satisfaction. The aim of this study was to investigate effect pentosan polysulfate symptoms in IC-BPS patients.Methods: This included 37 adult male ...