Can Bladder Irrigation Reduce the Morbidity of Bladder Stone in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury?

Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of bladder irrigation for reducing the morbidity of bladder stones in patients with neurological lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD). Methods: From June 2012 to July 2013, patients with NLUTD were prospectively randomized and assigned to either a bladder irrigation group or a no bladder irrigation group. Bladder irrigations were performed twice a week by urologists. Patients were followed up at 6 months respectively. Primary outcomes were Incontinence-Specific Quality-of-Life Instrument (I-QoL), the rate incidences of bladder stone. All adverse events were also noted. Results: A total of 80 eligible patients participated and 78 (97.5%) patients (bladder irrigation, n = 39;no bladder irrigation, n = 39) completed 24 weeks of follow-up. Out of the 78 patients, 19 (24.3%) developed bladder stones. All occurred in no bladder irrigation group. In 8 of the 19 patients (42.1%), stones were only detected by cystoscopy. The bladder stones were mostly thin with an eggshell appearance (78.95% for diameter of stone < 5 mm, 84.21% for volume of bladder stone < 0.2 cm3). Bladder stones were removed by vigorous bladder irrigation guided by ultrasound (73.68%) or endoscopic lithotripsy (26.32%). The I-QOL was significantly better in the bladder irrigation group than in no bladder irrigation group at weeks 6, 12, 18, and 24 of follow-up. Conclusion: Bladder irrigation may be more effective and safer than no bladder irrigation for reducing the morbidity of bladder stone in spinal cord injury patients.

Expression and characterization of insulin-like growth factor II mRNA binding protein in the razor clam Sinonovacula constricta

Insulin-like growth factor-II mRNA binding protein(igf2bp)is an mRNA binding protein that regulates the post-transcriptional fate of multiple transcripts.In this study,a novel igf2bp gene was identified in the razor clam Sinonovacula constricta.The complete 2254 bp Sc-igf2bp cDNA consists of an open reading frame(ORF)encoding 610 amino acid(aa)residues.The deduced protein includes a single RNA recognition motif(RRM)and four K homology(KH)domains.Sc-igf2bp transcripts were expressed widely during different developmental stages and in adult tissues,and a 95 kDa recombinant pEGX-4T-1-Scigf2bp protein was expressed in Escherichia coli Rosetta(DE3)pLysS cells and purified using Glutathione Sepharose 4B resin.Activity was evaluated by GST pull-down assays,and mass spectrometry results indicated that Sc-igf2bp may participate in RNA-related processes.The findings provide a basis for further research on the role of igf2bp in regulating the growth and development of the razor clam.

Polymorphisms in the FOXO gene are associated with growth traits in the Sanmen breeding population of the razor clam Sinonovacula constricta

We identified the FOXO gene and five single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)in its coding region in the Sanmen breeding population of the razor clam Sinonovacula constricta.The ScFOXO gene encodes a protein of 625 amino acids in length that contains a conserved DNA-binding domain.Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that ScFOXO mRNA is widely expressed in adult tissues,with higher expression in the siphons and gills.Of the SNPs,c.879G>C(Val293Val)and c.1725A>G(Ser575Ser)are synonymous mutations,and c.543C>T(Phe181Leu),c.848A>G(Tyr283Cys),and c.1625G>C(Gly542Phe)are non-synonymous mutations.The SNPs all show significant associations with total body weight,shell length,shell width,and shell height(SH)in this population.Polymorphic parameter analysis showed that all SNPs except c.848A>G(Tyr283Cys)exhibit complete linkage.The SNP c.1625G>C(Gly542Phe)was used for genetic linkage mapping and demonstrates the strongest linkage(logarithm of the odds[LOD]value:41.46)with the marker 96616(37.02 cM)in the linkage group 9.The LOD value of this marker in relation to growth traits ranges from 1.04 to 1.53;only markers with a LOD value
3 were considered to be linked with growth traits in the razor clam linkage map.In summary,ScFOXO may be a growth trait-related gene and may represent a marker for Sanmen breeding group selection.

Characterization of two splice variants of EGFR and their effects on the growth of the razor clam

The epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)plays a vital role in cell growth,proliferation,and body growth.In this study,two EGFR isoforms(Sc-EGFR-1a and Sc-EGFR-1b)were obtained from Sinonovacula constricta.Sequence analysis of the coding region of Sc-EGFRs,revealed the 2 isoforms were generated from a common gene by alternative splicing and that one form possessed an extra 81 bp that corresponded to an insertion of 27 amino acids in the C-terminus.Expression of the Sc-EGFR isoforms were detectable in the early embryo stages and increased in the middle-late stages.Both isoforms were widely expressed in tissues,but the highest levels were detected in the siphon.Although both isoforms had a typical extracellular region,transmembrane region,and intracellular region,the insertion/deletion of 27 aa in the C-terminus changed the phosphorylation sites and may have influenced downstream kinase activities.In vitro,the proliferating cell nuclear antigen indicator and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay showed that HEK293T cells transfected with Sc-EGFR-1a and Sc-EGFR-1b exhibited different proliferation patterns.Sc-EGFR-1a caused more rapid proliferation than Sc-EGFR-1b and the EGFP-N1 control.In vivo,Sc-EGFRs were successfully knocked-down for at least 15 days by injecting the clams with the dsRNA and was associated with a significant reduction in shell length.Our results reveal for the first time in mollusks the existence of alternative splicing of EGFR and provide the basis for further studies to establish the role of EGFR in growth and development of S.constricta.