Mast cell-derived histamine mediates cystitis pain. (click on the title for full article)
Rudick CN, Bryce PJ, Guichelaar LA, et al. PLos ONE 2008 May 7;3(5):e2096
• data obtained from this study demonstrate that mast cells promote cystitis pain and bladder pathophysiology through the separable actions of histamine and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF), respectively
• the authors conclude that pain is independent of pathology and inflammation, and histamine receptors represent direct therapeutic targets for pain in IC and other chronic pain conditions

Cyclosporine A in the Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis.
Jukka Sairanen. Academic dissertation, University of Helsinki, Finland, 25 January 2008
• the author concludes that cyclosporin A is a viable treatment option in patients with PBS/IC who fulfil the NIDDK criteria and have serious symptoms and in whom previous attempts to alleviate symptoms have failed; the author also concludes that his results support the need for future clinical studies with drug compounds that modulate inflammation in PBS/IC bladder.

Psychological profile of Taiwanese interstitial cystitis patients.
Fan YH, Lin AT, Wu HM, et al. Int J Urol 2008;15:416-8 PMID: 18452458
• the researchers found that most of their Taiwanese patients had significant depression and anxiety and that the extent of the symptoms appeared to correlate with the severity of the IC symptoms

Short-term results of bilateral S2-S4 sacral neuromodulation for the treatment of refractory interstitial cystitis, painful bladder syndrome, and chronic pelvic pain.
Zabihi N, Mourtzinos A, Maher MG, et al. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 2008;19: 553-7 PMID: 17925994.
• in refractory patients, bilateral caudal neuromodulation is a possible alternative mode of treatment, which appears to improve both pain and voiding symptoms at 6 months follow-up
• larger randomized studies are needed

Longidaze in therapy of patients with interstitial cystitis [Article in Russian]
Zaitcev AV, Pushkar DU. Urologiia 2007 Sept-Oct;(5):35-7
• a pilot study using the injected enzyme agent longidaze (conjugate of hyaluronidase with activated derivate of N-oxide poly-1,4-ethylenpiperazine) in a study group of 30 patients (including 7 Hunner's ulcer/lesion patients): 3000 IU, 10 injections, every 5 days
• the authors believe that the algorithm for Hunner's patients should include Holmium laser coagulation as a first step, followed by longidaze treatment
• in non-ulcerative patients the longidaze is added to multimodal treatment
• the aim of the therapy is to correct inflammatory disorders, prevent progressive fibrosis, and restore detrusor elasticity
• the results of this pilot study were positive and the study will be continued

Lower urinary tract symptomatology: its definition and confusion.
Homma Y. Int J Urol 2008;15:35-43
• this review of ICS standard terminology for LUTS - including terminology for PBS/IC - pinpoints areas of confusion and suggests possible solutions

Re-imagining Interstitial Cystitis.
Hanno PM. Urol Clin North Am 2008;35:91-9
• a review of the history of changes and developments in IC and PBS down to the present day controversies

Pharmacologic management of painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis: a systematic review.
Dimitrakov J, Kroenke K, Steer WD, et al. Arch Intern Med 2007;167:1922-9
• over 180 different therapies have been tried for PBS/IC, yet evidence from trials remains inconclusive
• this study concludes that PPS may be modestly beneficial for PBS/IC
• there is insufficient evidence for other pharmacologic treatment
• a consensus on standardized outcome measures is urgently needed