• Hydrodistention of the bladder in patients with interstitial cystitis-clinical efficacy and its association with immunohistochemical findings for bladder tissues. [Article in Japanese]
  Inoue R, Takahashi S, Sunaoshi K, et al. Hinyokika Kiyo. 2006 Oct;52(10):765-8.
  • the authors conclude that hydrodistention of the bladder may be recommended as the first treatment choice for patients with IC because it provides relatively high efficacy
  • the short duration of the efficacy (mean 4.7 months) requires a second-line treatment option for better management of patients with IC

• New frontiers in intravesical therapies and drug delivery.
  Giannatoni A, Di Stasi SM, Chancellor MB, et al. Eur Urol 2006:50:1183-93
  • Electromotive drug administration (EMDA), new in situ delivery systems and bioadhesive liposomes may make it possible to extend intravesical therapy and drug administration to many bladder diseases. Further research is needed to make this a reality (review)

• The need for randomised controlled trials in urogynaecology.
  Maher C, Schuessler B. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 2006;17:312-4
  • pro and contra positions on randomised controlled trials in evidence-based medicine

• Disappointing news for urologists managing interstitial cystitis patients.
  Nickel JC. Rev Urol 2006 Summer;8(3):169-70

• Efficacy of tricyclic antidepressant is associated with beta2-adrenoceptor genotype in patients with interstitial cystitis.
  Nishijima S, Sugaya K, Yamada T, et al. Biomed Res 2006;27:163-7
  • the Arg16Gly polymorphism of ß2-adrenoceptor ADRB2 was found to be related to down-regulation of ADRB2 expression in the detrusor muscle, so that the response of IC to tricyclic antidepressant therapy depends on the Arg16Gly polymorphism

• Safety and efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of interstitial cystitis: a randomized, sham controlled, double-blind trial.
  van Ophoven A, Rossbach G, Pajonk F, Hertle L. J Urol 2006;176:1442-6
  • the authors conclude that 3 out of 14 patients improved on hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and 0 out of 7 on "placebo"; the treatment with hyperbaric oxygenation appeared to be a safe

• Oral presentations at the 31st Annual IUGA Meeting, Athens, Greece, 6-9 September 2006
• abstract 048
  Reducing interstitial cystitis pain via pelvic floor electrostimulation.
  de Jong P, Radziszewski P, Dobronski P, et al. Int Urogynecol J 2006;17(Suppl 2):S86
  • the authors conclude that a significant effect of pelvic floor stimulation (Miniaturo™-1) in pain associated with IC/PBS was demonstrated
  • improving this distressing parameter considerably changed the quality of life of the patients

• Differential effects of the antimuscarinic agents darifenacin and oxybutynin ER on memory in older subjects.
  Kay G, Crook T, Rekeda L, et al. Eur Urol 2006;50:317-26
  • oxybutynin is used not only by OAB patients but also by many PBS/IC patients. This study concludes that oxybutynin ER caused significant memory deterioration (magnitude of effect comparable to brain aging of 10 years). The results also demonstrate that subjects may not recognise/report memory deterioration and memory decline may be attributed wrongly to aging. The findings highlight a need for further studies to fully establish the effects of all OAB antimuscarinics on memory/cognition.
  Editorial
  Antimuscarinics and cognitive function.
  De Ridder D.  Eur Urol 2006;50:211-2
  • in this editorial, the author adds that in many countries, for financial reasons, the older and cheaper oxybutynin will still be the treatment of choice

• Recent developments of intravesical therapy of painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis: a review.
  Toft BR, Nordling J. Curr Opin Urol 2006;16:268-72

• Chondroitin sulfate for interstitial cystitis.
  Palylyk-Colwell E. Issues Emerg Health Technol 2006 May;(84):1-4
  • this review concludes that two non-randomized, uncontrolled pilot studies reported improvements in patient-reported symptoms after the use of chondroitin sulfate for one year
  • the author also concludes that prospective, randomized, head-to-head trials are needed to assess the effectiveness of this technology compared with other IC therapies

• Effect of Intravesical Resiniferatoxin (RTX) on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, Urodynamic Parameters, and Quality of Life of Patients with Urodynamic Increased Bladder Sensation.
  Apostolidis A, Gonzales GE, Fowler CJ. Eur Urol 2006 May 4; [Epub ahead of print]
  • a single administration of intravesical RTX in patients with frequency and urgency due to increased bladder sensation significantly improved lower urinary tract symptoms, urodynamic parameters, and quality of life for up to 6 months
  note:
  • this open-label study was not blinded nor placebo-controlled and included small numbers of patients; therefore, efficacy of treatment needs confirmation in randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies

• Botulinum a toxin intravesical injections in the treatment of painful bladder syndrome: a pilot study..
  Giannantoni A, Costantini E, Di Stasi SM, et al. Eur Urol 2006;49:704-9. Epub 2006 Jan 4.
  • the results of this pilot study indicate that BTX-A intravesical injections are effective in the short-term management of painful bladder syndrome
  • by modulating afferent C-fiber activity within the bladder walls, BTX-A significantly improves urodynamic parameters and reduces bladder pain and urinary frequency
  note:
  • this pilot study was not blinded nor placebo-controlled and included small numbers of patients; therefore, efficacy of treatment needs confirmation in randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies

• Efficacy of interstitial cystitis treatments: a review.
  Karsenty G, AlTaweel W, Hajebrahimi S, Corcos J. EAU-EBU Update Series 2006;4:47-61
  • in this article, the degree of evidence regarding the clinical efficacy of available interstitial cystitis treatment options is reviewed
  • only three therapies are supported by a high level of evidence: oral cimetidine and amitriptyline and the intravesical dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)

• Botulinum A toxin intravesical injections in the treatment of painful bladder syndrome: a pilot study. Giannantoni A, Costantini E, Di Stasi SM, et al. Eur Urol. 2006 Jan 4; [Epub ahead of print]
  • the results of this small pilot study suggest that botulinum A toxin intravesical injections are effective in the short-term management of
  painful bladder syndrome

• Interstitial cystitis: cost, treatment and co-morbidities in an employed population.
  Wu EQ, Birnbaum H, Mareva M, et al. Pharmacoeconomics. 2006;24:55-65
  • the authors conclude that:
  - IC is a costly disease associated with co-morbidities
  - following diagnosis, patients with IC are commonly untreated or treated with non-approved drug therapies
  - it is possible that more accurate diagnosis and earlier and more appropriate treatment of IC would lead to better management (or even prevention) of co-morbidities and reduce healthcare costs, and this should be investigated in future studies.

• A novel highly effective treatment of interstitial cystitis causing chronic pelvic pain of bladder origin: case reports.
  Check JH, Katsoff B, Citerone T, Bonnes E. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol 2005;32:247-9
  • two women with interstitial cystitis that had been refractory to various therapies were treated with dextroamphetamine sulfate
  • both patients quickly improved their bladder symptoms, all pain and urgency was gone within a week and the IC remission as long as the women stayed on their medication

• The management of interstitial cystitis: an update.
  Phatak S, Foster HE. Nat Clin Pract Urol 2006, 3:45-53
  • this review aims to cover standard and novel treatment options, while concentrating on the management of pain

• Enhanced binding of modified pentosan polysulfate and heparin to bladder--a strategy for improved treatment of interstitial cystitis.
  Muthusamy A, Erickson DR, Sheykhnazari M, Bhavanandan VP. Urology 2006; 67:209-13
  • PPS and heparin modified by attachment of lactose, as well as the asialo mucin glycoproteins, bind more avidly to the bladder epithelium than the unmodified molecules; they may be more effective for interstitial cystitis than the parent drugs

• Pregnancy and interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.
  Erickson DR, Propert KJ. Urol Clin North Am 2007;34:61-9

• There is low incidence of recurrent bacteriuria in painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis patients followed longitudinally.
  Standford E, McMurphy C. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 2006 Oct 12
  • the study suggests that the symptom flares of IC are not usually associated with recurrent urinary tract infections and, therefore, are likely due to a triggering of the other painful mechanisms

• Dysuria at onset of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome in women.
  Warren JW, Diggs C, Brown V, et al. Urology 2006 Sep 15; [Epub ahead of print]
  • a slight majority of women with IC/PBS reported dysuria at onset of their IC/PBS symptoms
  • the available laboratory data have suggested that dysuria may be a sensitive indicator of urinary tract infection at the onset of IC/PBS; however, its specificity is as yet undetermined.

• Dyspareunia and urinary sensory symptoms in India: population-based study.
  Padmadas SS, Stones RW, Matthews Z. J Sex Med 2006;3:114-20

• Predictors of symptom severity in patients with chronic prostatitis and interstitial cystitis.
  Clemens JQ, Brown SO, Kozloff L, Calhoun EA. J Urol 2006;175:963-7
  • few common medical conditions were predictive of symptoms severity in this analysis; self-reported pelvic pain symptoms, education and depression severity were the factors most strongly predictive of symptom severity in patients with CP/CPPS and IC

• Symptoms and cystoscopic findings in patients with untreated interstitial cystitis.
  Lamale LM, Lutgendorf SK, Hoffman AN, Kreder KJ. Urology 2006 Jan 24; [Epub ahead of print]
  • in patients with untreated interstitial cystitis, a strong correlation between pain and cystoscopic findings was observed
  • the authors explain the differences between their results and those of previous studies (that found no relationship between symptom reports and cystoscopic findings) by possible effects of treatment on pain perception and therapeutic influence on cystoscopic findings

• Responsiveness of symptom scales for interstitial cystitis.
  Propert KJ, Mayer RD, Wang Y, et al. Urology 2006;67:55-9
  • the three symptom scales (O'Leary-Sant Symptom and Problem Indexes, University of Wisconsin Interstitial Cystitis Inventory and scales that measure individual symptom domains of pain/discomfort, urgency, and voiding frequency) are responsive to change over time in patients with IC
  • the authors conclude that these indexes provide important insight into symptom changes and recommend them as secondary endpoints in future clinivcal trials of IC

• What is the pain of interstitial cystitis like?
  FitzGerald MP, Brensinger C, Brubaker L, Propert K, ICDB Study Group. Int Urogynecol J 2005;17:69-72

• The molecular basis of urgency: Regional difference of vanilloid receptor expression in the human urinary bladder.
  Liu L, Mansfield KJ, Kristiana I, et al. Neurourol Urodyn 2006 Oct 2; [Epub ahead of print]
  • the authors conclude that symptoms of sensory urgency were associated with the increased expression of targeting vanilloid receptor TRPV1 mRNA in the trigonal mucosa; no upregulation or regional differences of TRPV1 mRNA were seen in idiopathic detrusor overactivity patients
  • TRPV1 may play a role in SU and premature first bladder sensation on filling

• Oral presentations at the 31st Annual IUGA Meeting, Athens, Greece, 6-9 September 2006
  abstract 046
  There is a low incidence of recurrent bacteriuria in painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis (PBS/IC) patients followed longitudinally.
  Stanford EJ, McMurphy C. Int Urogynecol J 2006;17(Suppl 2):S85
  • the authors conclude that only a small number of PBS/IC patients with UTI symptoms have a positive urine culture (9.4%); the incidence of recurrent UTI is 6.6%

• Primary splenic marginal zone lymphoma with bladder metastases mimicking interstitial cystitis.
  Tsiriopoulos I, Lee G, O' Reilly A, et al. Int Urol Nephrol 2006 Oct 10; [Epub ahead of print]
  • a 76-year-old patient is described with low-grade chronic lymphocytic leukaemia who presented with severe chronic bladder symptoms attributed to interstitial cystitis
  • bladder histopathology revealed primary splenic marginal zone lymphoma

• A new classification is needed for pelvic pain syndromes--are existing terminologies of spurious diagnostic authority bad for patients?
  Abrams P, Baranowski A, Berger RE, Fall M, Hanno P, Wesselmann U. J Urol 2006;175:1989-90

• Efficiency of Questionnaires Used to Screen for Interstitial Cystitis. (abstract not yet available)
  Kushner L, Moldwin RM. J Urol 2006;176:587-92
  • the Pain, Urgency, Frequency Symptom Scale and the O’Leary-Sant Symptom Index and Problem Index were administered to the same 220 patients at a urology clinic before diagnosis
  • IC was distinguishable from the other diagnoses using both questionnaires (p<0.001)
  • separate analyses of bother and symptom scores yielded similar results
  • ROC curves demonstrated the Pain, Urgency, Frequency Symptom Scale to be more efficient than the O’Leary-Sant Symptom Index and Problem Index in detecting interstitial cystitis in this population with an optimal cutoff value of 13 or greater
  • the authors conclude that while the Pain, Urgency, Frequency Symptom Scale and the O’Leary-Sant Symptom Index and Problem Index questionnaires distinguish interstitial cystitis from other urinary tract pathologies, neither questionnaire demonstrates sufficient specificity to serve as the sole diagnostic indicator; and further that these questionnaires should not be used to define IC, but can be used to screen patients with urinary tract symptoms to identify those who should be further examined for IC or to follow those who have already been diagnosed

• Using the International Continence Society's definition of painful bladder syndrome.
  Warren JW, Meyer WA, Greenberg P, et al. Urology 2006;67:1138-42; discussion 1142-3
  • the authors conclude that the ICS definition identified only 91 (66%) of the 138 patients whom study investigators and caregivers diagnosed as having IC/PBS
  • furthermore, those who met the ICS definition did not differ in important ways from those who did not
  • these observations suggest that the ICS definition may not be sufficiently sensitive; minor modifications of the definition appeared to increase its sensitivity

• A retrospective claims database analysis to assess patterns of interstitial cystitis diagnosis.
  Wu EQ, Birnbaum H, Kang YJ, et al. Curr Med Res Opin 2006;22:495-500
  • the authors conclude that diagnoses of commonly misdiagnosed conditions (overactive bladder, urinary tract infection, chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis, prostatitis) are significant predictors of future IC diagnosis

• Interstitielle Zystitis Eine wichtige Differentialdiagnose [Interstitial cystitis An important differential diagnosis.] [Article in German]
  van Ophoven A, Oberpenning F. Urologe A 2006 Mar 14; [Epub ahead of print]

• Interstitial cystitis: definitions and confusable diseases. ESSIC Meeting 2005 Baden
  van de Merwe JP, Nordling J. Eur Urol Today 2006; March pages 6,7,16 and 17
  • a report on the consensus on definitions and confusable diseases for PBS/IC at the ESSIC Meeting in Baden, June 2005

• Interstitial cystitis versus detrusor overactivity: a comparative, randomized, controlled study of cystometry using saline and 0.3 m potassium chloride.
  Philip J, Willmott S, Irwin P. J Urol 2006;175:566-71
  • the authors compared cystometric findings in interstitial cystitis (IC) and detrusor overactivity (DO) using 0.3 M KCl and 0.9% normal saline
  • they conclude that (1) the 0.3 M KCl reduces Cmax in IC and DO, (2) the effect being more pronounced in DO, (3) urothelial hyperpermeability is not specific to IC and that (4) comparative cystometry using NS and 0.3 M KCl does not help to differentiate IC from DO

• Evaluation of patients with painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis.
• Wyndaele JJ. Scientific World Journal 2005;1:942-9
  • an up-to-date review on the evaluation of IC patients

• Chronic pelvic pain: the occurrence of interstitial cystitis in a gynecological population.
  Paulson JD, Delgado M. JSLS 2005;9:426-30
  • 35 women with chronic pelvic pain underwent laparoscopy and cystoscopy with hydrodistention; 28 patients (80%) were diagnosed with interstitial cystitis, 28 with endometriosis (80%), 24 had both diseases (69%), and 32 (91%) had endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, or both. Three patients (9%) had neither and were diagnosed with other pathologies

• Risk factors for painful bladder syndrome in women seeking gynecologic care.
  Kennedy CM, Bradley CS, Galask RP, Nygaard IE. Int Urogynecol J 2005;17:73-8
  • in this survey among 645 women seeking gynaecologic care, bladder pain was associated with current smoking, irritable bowel syndrome and a generalized pain disorder

• Prevalence and trends of selected urologic conditions for VA healthcare users.
  Sohn MW, Zhang H, Taylor BC, et al. BMC Urol 2006;6:30 [Epub ahead of print]
  • prostate cancer was listed as a primary diagnosis for 5.4% of VHA users in 2002, followed in decreasing prevalence by erectile dysfunction (2.9%), renal mass (1.5%), interstitial cystitis (1.4%), and prostatitis (1.1%)
  • age-adjusted rates showed significant increases for renal mass (31%), interstitial cystitis (14%), and erectile dysfunction (8%) between 1999 and 2002
  • increased prevalence rates were not entirely attributable to the aging of veterans

• Prevalence and Correlates for Interstitial Cystitis Symptoms in Women Participating in a Health Screening Project.
  Temml C, Wehrberger C, Riedl C, et al. Eur Urol 2006 Aug 30; [Epub ahead of print]
  • the prevalence of IC in an urban female population was 306/100,000 women
  • bowel disorders and psychological stress were correlated to the probability of IC
  • the authors conclude that the prevalence of IC symptoms is higher than previously estimated and substantially affects quality of life and sexuality.

• Interleukin-6, histamine, and methylhistamine as diagnostic markers for interstitial cystitis.
  Lamale LM, Lutgendorf SK, Zimmerman MB, Kreder KJ. Urology 2006;68:702-6
  • the authors conclude that a combination of methylhistamine and IL-6 could be used as a sensitive and specific marker for interstitial cystitis; however, the sensitivity of 70.0% and specificity of 72.4% do not seem good enough for their use in clinical practice

• Urinary and serologic markers for interstitial cystitis: an update.
  Wilkinson DR, Erickson AD. Curr Urol Rep 2006;7:414-22
  • this update reviews the literature from the past 2 years pertaining to urinary and serum markers for interstitial cystitis

pathophysiology

• Cross-organ interactions between reproductive, gastrointestinal and urinary tracts: modulation by estrous stage and involvement of the hypogastric nerve.
  Winnard KP, Dmitrieva N, Berkley KJ. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2006;291:R1592-601
  • inflaming one pelvic organ in rats could produce estrous-modifiable signs of inflammation in other pelvic organs, particularly bladder, suggesting that the cross-organ effects involve the hypogastric nerve and are at least partly centrally mediated
  • the authors suggest that such effects could contribute to cooccurrence and cyclicity of distressing pelvic disorders in women

• Dysfunction of bladder urothelium and bladder urothelial cells in interstitial cystitis.
  Graham E, Chai TC. Curr Urol Rep 2006;7:440-6

• Hyperexcitability of convergent colon and bladder dorsal root ganglion neurons after colonic inflammation: mechanism for pelvic organ cross-talk.
  Malykhina AP, Qin C, Greenwood-van Meerveld B, et al. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2006;18:936-48
  • in this study, a subpopulation of colon-bladder convergent dorsal root ganglion neurons was found and their persistent hyperexcitability after colonic inflammation provides a basis for pelvic organ cross-sensitization

• Development of glomerulations in younger women with interstitial cystitis.
  Shear S, Mayer R. Urology 2006;68:253-6
  • the authors conlude that
  - interstitial cystitis symptoms can develop before an age where adult urologists or primary care physicians familiar with the diagnosis and treatment are usually involved with care
  - the cystoscopic appearance of the bladder wall after hydrodistension may not be constant over time, and that the absence of initial findings of glomerulations or terminal hematuria does not preclude further development of these hallmarks of the disease on subsequent evaluation

• Current opinion on the working mechanisms of neuromodulation in the treatment of lower urinary tract dysfunction.
  van der Pal F, Heesakkers JP, Bemelmans BL. Curr Opin Urol 2006;16:261-7
  • a review in which the authors conclude that:
  - neuromodulation in the treatment of stress incontinence probably induces physiological changes in the sphincter muscles and pelvic floor
  - in the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome, nonobstructive voiding dysfunction and chronic pelvic pain, the mechanism of action is most likely a combination of different modes of action, involving the neuroaxis at different levels

• Transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor subtype 1 in painful bladder syndrome and its correlation with pain.
  Mukerji G, Yiangou Y, Agarwal SK, Anand P. J Urol 2006;176:797-801
  • study from the United Kingdom showing increased transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor subtype 1 in nerve fibers of the bladder in painful bladder syndrome and a correlation of the pain score with the relative density of transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor subtype 1 nerve fibers
  • the authors conclude that transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor subtype 1 may have a role in the pathophysiology of painful bladder syndrome and it is a potential target for novel therapeutic agents

• Is interstitial cystitis an allergic disorder?: A case of interstitial cystitis treated successfully with anti-IgE.
  Lee J, Doggweiler-Wiygul R, Kim S, et al. Int J Urol 2006;13:631-4

• Localization of M2 and M3 Muscarinic Receptors in Human Bladder Disorders and Their Clinical Correlations.
  Mukerji G, Yiangou Y, Grogono J, et al. J Urol 2006;176:367-73
  • in this study the cellular localization is shown of muscarinic receptor subtypes 2 and 3 in the human bladder; the increase in muscarinic receptor subtypes 2 and 3 immunostaining in myofibroblast-like cells in clinical bladder syndromes and its correlation with clinical scores suggests a potential role in pathophysiological mechanisms and the therapeutic effect of anti-muscarinic agents

• Cysteinyl leukotriene d(4) increases human detrusor muscle responsiveness to histamine.
  Bouchelouche K, Bouchelouche P. J Urol 2006;176:361-6
  • this study shows that in the human detrusor leukotriene D(4) potentiates the effect of histamine; as leukotriene D(4) and histamine are often released concomitantly from mast cells, leukotriene D(4) may potentiate the spasmogenic effect of histamine
  • the results suggest that the combination of leukotriene D(4) and histamine H1 receptor antagonists may be more effective for the treatment of interstitial cystitis than when given alone

• Urothelial lesion formation is mediated by TNFR1 during neurogenic cystitis.
  Chen MC, Mudge CS, Klumpp D. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2006 Apr 18; [Epub ahead of print]
  • the authors conclude that mast cell activation and release of TNF drives urothelial apoptosis and lesion formation in a murine neurogenic cystitis model, and they hypothesize that anti-TNF therapy may stabilize bladder barrier function in IC patients

• Histamine receptors in human detrusor smooth muscle cells: physiological properties and immunohistochemical representation of subtypes.
  Neuhaus J, Weimann A, Stolzenburg JU, et al. World J Urol 2006 Apr 12; [Epub ahead of print]
  • the authors suggest that pre-therapeutic evaluation of histamine receptor expression in IC patients may help to optimize therapy by using a patient-specific cocktail of subtype-specific histamine receptor antagonists

• FGF-10 and its receptor exhibit bi-directional paracrine targeting to urothelial and smooth muscle cells in the lower urinary tract.
  Zhang D, Kosman J, Carmean N, Grady R, Bassuk JA. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2006 Apr 4; [Epub ahead of print]

• Mechanisms of disease: role of purinergic signaling in the pathophysiology of bladder dysfunction.
  Ruggieri MR. Nat Clin Pract Urol 2006;3:206-215

• Cool and menthol receptor TRPM8 in human urinary bladder disorders and clinical correlations.
  Mukerji G, Yiangou Y, Corcoran SL, et al. BMC Urol 2006 Mar 6;6(1):6 [Epub ahead of print]
  • according to the authors, this study demonstrates increased cold-menthol sensory receptors (TRPM8) in nerve fibres of overactive and painful bladders, and its relationship with clinical symptoms; they suggest that TRPM8 may play a role in the symptomatology and pathophysiology of these disorders, and may provide an additional target for future overactive and painful bladder pharmacotherapy

• Keratin expression profiling of transitional epithelium in the painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis.Laguna P, Smedts F, Nordling J, Horn T, Bouchelouche K, Hopman A, de la Rosette J. Am J Clin Pathol 2006;125:105-10
  • bladder urothelium in PBS/IC showed distinct differences in the profiles of keratins 7, 8, 14, 17, 18, and 20 compared with literature reports for normal bladder urothelium; whether these changes are primary or secondary to another underlying condition remains to be determined according to the authors
  note:
  • PBS/IC patients fulfilled the NIDDK criteria
  • keratins, of which 20 types are known, are the most important parts of the skeleton of the cell

• Interleukin-4 and 13 induce the expression and release of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, interleukin-6 and stem cell factor from human detrusor smooth muscle cells: synergy with interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.
  Bouchelouche K, Andresen L, Alvarez S, Nordling J, Nielsen OH, Bouchelouche P. J Urol 2006;175:760-5
  • the findings demonstrate that detrusor smooth muscle cells express and release MCP-1 and IL-6, and show relatively high expression of soluble SCF; this supports the authors' hypothesis that smooth muscle cells may have an active role by orchestrating the local inflammatory response in the bladder wall with possible implications for the pathophysiology of detrusor mastocytosis
  note:: SCF (stem cell factor) is the main regulator of mast cell growth, differentiation, and survival

• Human detrusor smooth muscle cells release interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and RANTES in response to proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.
  Bouchelouche K, Alvarez S, Horn T, Nordling J, Bouchelouche P. Urology 2006;67:214-9
  • the findings demonstrate that human detrusor smooth muscle cells release IL-8, IL-6, and RANTES in response to IL-1beta and TNF-alpha; the constitutive and cytokine-stimulated production of chemokines and cytokines suggest that the human detrusor may contribute to mast cell infiltration into the bladder interstitium

• Interstitial cystitis and infectious agents.
  Fioriti D, Penta M, Mischitelli M, et al. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2005,18:799-804
  • in this case report a 42-year old women with IC is described in whom bladder biopsies revealed a viral co-infection; the authors suggest that this finding could support the hypothesis of a multi-factorial origin of IC. pathology

• Interstitial cystitis.
  Kelada E, Jones A. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2006 Sep 22; [Epub ahead of print]
  • a review

• Efficacy of interstitial cystitis treatments: a review.
  Karsenty G, AlTaweel W, Hajebrahimi S, Corcos J. EAU-EBU Update Series 2006;4:47-61
  • in this article, the degree of evidence regarding the clinical efficacy of available interstitial cystitis treatment options is reviewed
  • only three therapies are supported by a high level of evidence: oral cimetidine and amitriptyline and the intravesical dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)

• The emergence of non-albicans candida species as causes of invasive candidiasis and candidemia.
  Sobel JD. Curr Infect Dis Rep 2006;8:427-33

• Management of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis: unresolved issues.
  Sobel JD. Curr Infect Dis Rep 2006;8:481-6

• Interstitial cystitis in a woman with systemic mastocytosis.
  Roth TM. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 2006 Nov 24; [Epub ahead of print]
  • the author describes a patient with systemic mastocytosis who was confirmed to have detrusor mastocytosis and interstitial cystitis

• Biology and therapy of fibromyalgia. New therapies in fibromyalgia.
  Arnold LM. Arthritis Res Ther 2006;8:212 [Epub ahead of print]
  • a review of new therapies in fibromyalgia

• EAU Guidelines for the Management of Urogenital Schistosomiasis.
  Bichler KH et al. Eur Urol 2006;49:998-1003. Epub 2006 Feb 28.

• Clinical aspects and surgical treatment of urinary tract endometriosis: our experience with 31 cases.
  Antonelli A, Simeone C, Zani D, et al. Eur Urol 2006;49:1093-8. Epub 2006 Apr 4
  • the authors conclude that cystoscopy is advisable in women with pelvic endometriosis with lower urinary tract symptoms
  • in their hands, partial cystectomy gave the best results when used to treat bladder endometriosis

• Lower urinary tract symptoms in female patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
  Lee KL, Chen MY, Yeh JH, et al. Scand J Rheumatol 2006;35:96-101
  • patients with RA were found to have similar urinary complaints when compared to controls; however, those with secondary SS had a greater severity of lower urinary tract symptoms, a finding similar to that observed in patients with primary SS

• Pathophysiology of overactive bladder.
  Chu FM, Dmochowski R. Am J Med 2006;119 (Suppl 1):3-8
  • a review

• Antidepressants and cognitive-behavioral therapy for symptom syndromes.
  Jackson JL, O'malley PG, Kroenke K. CNS Spectr 2006;11:212-22
  • this article reviews the randomized controlled trial data for the use of antidepressant and cognitive-behavior therapy for 11 somatic syndromes: irritable bowel syndrome, chronic back pain, headache, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, tinnitus, menopausal symptoms, chronic facial pain, noncardiac chest pain, interstitial cystitis, and chronic pelvic pain

• Association of schizophrenia and autoimmune diseases: linkage of danish national registers.
  Eaton WW, Byrne M, Ewald H, et al. Am J Psychiatry 2006;163:521-8

• Chronic Pelvic Pain / Chronic Prostatitis Scientific Workshop
  • abstract book of the scientific workshop sponsored by the NIDDK 2005

• A simple method for teaching about voiding disorders. 
  Steers WD, Gray M. BJU Int 2006;97:237-42
  • the authors describe the binomial-type system that they developed to provide a simple conceptualization of pathophysiology and treatment strategies for disorders of the lower urinary tract

• The puzzle of overactive bladder: controversies, inconsistencies, and insights.
  Dmochowski RR. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 2005 Dec 14;:1-9 [Epub ahead of print]

• Impact of overactive bladder symptoms on employment, social interactions and emotional well-being in six European countries.
  Irwin DE, Milsom I, KoppZ, Abrams P, Cardozo L. BJU Int 2006;97:96-100