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Function Recovery (function + recovery)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	92%

Kinds of Function Recovery

erectile function recovery

Selected Abstracts

The Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Erectile Function Recovery in a Rat Cavernous Nerve Injury Model

THE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 3 2008
Alexander Müller MD
ABSTRACT Introduction., Cavernosal oxygenation appears to be important for preservation of erectile tissue health. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been shown to improve tissue oxygenation and has neuromodulatory effects. Aim., This study was designed to define the effects of HBOT on erectile function (EF) and cavernosal tissue in the rat cavernous nerve (CN) injury model. Methods., Four groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were studied: rats with bilateral CN crush, HBOT treated (Crush+/HBOT+); bilateral CN-crush/no HBOT (C+/H,); no crush/no HBOT (C,/H,); and no crush/HBOT (C,/H+). HBOT was delivered daily for 90 minutes at three atmospheres for 10 days commencing the day of CN crush. Main Outcome Measures., Ten days after CN injury, the animals underwent CN stimulation measuring the maximal intracavernosal pressure/mean arterial pressure (ICP/MAP) ratios. Corporal tissue was harvested pre-sacrifice, and immunohistochemically stained for nerve growth factor (NGF), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and cluster of differentiation molecule (CD31). Histologic analysis was performed for Masson's trichrome to assess the smooth muscle,collagen ratio. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase Biotin-dUTP Nick End Labeling assay was used to define apoptotic indices (AIs). Results., The C+/H, group had significantly lower ICP/MAP ratios compared with C,/H, rats, (31% vs. 70%, P < 0.001). C+/H+ rats had significantly higher ICP/MAP ratio recovery compared with the C+/H, group (55% vs. 31%, P = 0.005). NGF and eNOS staining densities were higher in C+/H+ rats compared with C+/H, rats (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). No difference was seen in CD31 expression. Staining density for MT displayed a trend toward higher smooth muscle preservation after HBOT. AIs were significantly increased by HBOT (P < 0.05). Conclusion., HBOT following a CN injury improved EF preservation in this model, supporting the cavernosal oxygenation concept as protective mechanism for EF. The effects appear to be mediated via preservation of neurotrophic and endothelial factor expression. Müller A, Tal R, Donohue JF, Akin-Olugbade Y, Kobylarz K, Paduch D, Cutter SC, Mehrara BJ, Scardino PT, and Mulhall JP. The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on erectile function recovery in a rat cavernous nerve injury model. J Sex Med 2008;5:562,570. [source]

FK506 and Sildenafil Promote Erectile Function Recovery after Cavernous Nerve Injury Through Antioxidative Mechanisms

THE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 4i 2007
Gwen Lagoda MS
ABSTRACT Introduction., Immunophilin ligands and phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are touted to promote erectile function recovery after cavernous nerve (CN) injury. However, the mechanisms for their effects remain unclear. Aim., To compare the erection recovery effects of the immunophilin ligand FK506 and the PDE5 inhibitor sildenafil after CN injury and determine whether they involve antioxidative and/or antiapoptotic mechanisms. Methods., Initial experiments established conditions of our CN injury model in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Subsequently, we evaluated treatment effects 14 days after: (i) unilateral CN injury (UNI) + saline (vehicle control); (ii) UNI + FK506 (5 mg/kg once daily, subcutaneous ×5 days); (iii) UNI + sildenafil (20 mg/kg every 8 hours, subcutaneous ×7 days); (iv) UNI + FK506/sildenafil; and (v) sham surgery. Main Outcome Measures., Intracavernous pressure (ICP) measurement after CN electrical stimulation to assess erectile function and Western blot analysis of expressions of glutathione peroxidase (GPX; antioxidant enzyme), nitrotyrosine (NT; oxidative stress marker), and phosphorylated and total Akt (antiapoptotic factor) in penes. Results., In the UNI model, GPX expression was increased at Days 1 and 7, while p-Akt expression decreased at Day 1 and returned to baseline at Day 7. GPX expression was significantly higher in the UNI + FK506 group compared with the saline-treated group (P < 0.05). ICP increased in all treatment groups compared with that of the saline-treated group (P < 0.05). NT levels were increased after saline treatment (P < 0.05) but not after FK506 and sildenafil treatment, alone or in combination. GPX was localized to nerves coursing through the penis and to smooth muscle and endothelium of the dorsal vein and arteries. Conclusions., Both FK506 and sildenafil protect erectile function after CN injury by decreasing oxidative stress-associated tissue damage. FK506 may act through increased GPX activity. Further research is required to elucidate mechanisms associated with the beneficial effect of sildenafil. Lagoda G, Jin L, Lehrfeld TJ, Liu T, and Burnett AL. FK506 and sildenafil promote erectile function recovery after cavernous nerve injury through antioxidative mechanisms. J Sex Med 2007;4:908,916. [source]

Assessment of Residual Viability by Enoximone Echocardiography in Patients with Previous Myocardial Infarction Correlation with Positron Emission Tomographic Studies and Functional Follow-Up

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 5 2010
Fei Lu M.D.
Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate enoximone echocardiography (EE) for the identification of residual myocardial viability in postinfarction patients. Findings obtained during EE were compared with those acquired by myocardial uptake of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and functional follow-up results. Methods: Twenty-five patients underwent EE and PET 18F-FDG studies. An asynergic segment was considered as having contractile enhancement when the wall motion score decreased by ,1 grade during EE and was defined as viable if 18F-FDG uptake score was ,2 grade on PET. Results: Of 293 dysfunctional segments at baseline, 139 (47%) were viable by PET criteria; 117 (40%) had contractile enhancement induced by enoximone (P = 0.07). Agreement between EE and PET was found in 75% of involved segments (K = 0.46, P < 0.001). The majority of discrepancies (65%, P < 0.01) were mainly due to discordant segments in which PET revealed evidence of 18F-FDG uptake but EE showed no change in wall motion. In 179 revascularized segments, negative predictive value for functional recovery of both tests reached the same value (89% for both), whereas positive predictive value was 82% for EE and 68% for PET, respectively (P < 0.05). Sensitivity was 85% for EE and 88% for PET (P = ns); specificity was 87% and 70%, respectively (P < 0.01). Conclusions: EE yields a fair concordance with PET study. Compared with PET, despite a similar negative accuracy, EE shows a greater specificity for prediction of function recovery after revascularization. (Echocardiography 2010;27:544-551) [source]

Local isoform-specific NOS inhibition: A promising approach to promote motor function recovery after nerve injury

JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, Issue 9 2010
Bernardo Moreno-López
Abstract Physical injury to a nerve is the most frequent cause of acquired peripheral neuropathy, which is responsible for loss of motor, sensory and/or autonomic functions. Injured axons in the peripheral nervous system maintain the capacity to regenerate in adult mammals. However, after nerve transection, stumps of damaged nerves must be surgically joined to guide regenerating axons into the distal nerve stump. Even so, severe functional limitations persist after restorative surgery. Therefore, the identification of molecules that regulate degenerative and regenerative processes is indispensable in developing therapeutic tools to accelerate and improve functional recovery. Here, I consider the role of nitric oxide (NO) synthesized by the three major isoforms of NO synthases (NOS) in motor neuropathy. Neuronal NOS (nNOS) seems to be the primary source of NO that is detrimental to the survival of injured motoneurons. Endothelial NOS (eNOS) appears to be the major source of NO that interferes with axonal regrowth, at least soon after injury. Finally, NO derived from inducible NOS (iNOS) or nNOS is critical to the process of lipid breakdown for Wallerian degeneration and thereby benefits axonal regrowth. Specific inhibitors of these isoforms can be used to protect injured neurons from degeneration and promote axonal regeneration. A cautious proposal for the treatment of acquired motor neuropathy using therapeutic tools that locally interfere with eNOS/nNOS activities seems to merit consideration. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Skin barrier function recovery after diamond microdermabrasion

THE JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 10 2009
Hei Sung KIM
Abstract Microdermabrasion is a popular method for facial rejuvenation and is performed worldwide. Despite its extensive usage, there are few publications on skin barrier change after microdermabrasion and none concerning diamond microdermabrasion. Our object was to see changes in transepidermal water loss (TEWL), hydration and erythema of the face following diamond microdermabrasion. Twenty-eight patients were included in this spilt face study. TEWL, stratum corneum hydration and the degree of erythema were measured from the right and left sides of the face (forehead and cheek) at baseline. One side of the face was treated with diamond microdermabrasion and the other side was left untreated. Measurements were taken right after the procedure and repeated at set time intervals. Diamond microdermabrasion was associated with a statistically significant increase in TEWL immediately after the procedure and at 24 h. However, on day 2, levels of TEWL were back to baseline. An increase in hydration and erythema was observed right after microdermabrasion, but both returned to baseline on day 1. The results show that skin barrier function of the forehead and cheek recovers within 2 days of diamond microdermabrasion. Diamond microdermabrasion performed on a weekly basis, as presently done, is expected to allow sufficient time for the damaged skin to recover its barrier function in most parts of the face. [source]

Erectile Function Recovery Rate after Radical Prostatectomy: A Meta-Analysis

THE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 9 2009
Raanan Tal MD
ABSTRACT Introduction., Erectile function recovery (EFR) rates after radical prostatectomy (RP) vary greatly based on a number of factors, such as erectile dysfunction (ED) definition, data acquisition means, time-point postsurgery, and population studied. Aim., To conduct a meta-analysis of carefully selected reports from the available literature to define the EFR rate post-RP. Main Outcome Measures., EFR rate after RP. Methods., An EMBASE and MEDLINE search was conducted for the time range 1985,2007. Articles were assessed blindly by strict inclusion criteria: report of EFR data post-RP, study population ,50 patients, ,1 year follow-up, nerve-sparing status declared, no presurgery ED, and no other prostate cancer therapy. Meta-analysis was conducted to determine the EFR rate and relative risks (RR) for dichotomous subgroups. Results., A total of 212 relevant studies were identified; only 22 (10%) met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed (9,965 RPs, EFR data: 4,983 subjects). Mean study population size: 226.5, standard deviation = 384.1 (range: 17,1,834). Overall EFR rate was 58%. Single center series publications (k = 19) reported a higher EFR rate compared with multicenter series publications (k = 3): 60% vs. 33%, RR = 1.82, P = 0.001. Studies reporting ,18-month follow-up (k = 10) reported higher EFR rate vs. studies with <18-month follow-up (k = 12), 60% vs. 56%, RR = 1.07, P = 0.02. Open RP (k = 16) and laparoscopic RP (k = 4) had similar EFR (57% vs. 58%), while robot-assisted RP resulted in a higher EFR rate (k = 2), 73% compared with these other approaches, P = 0.001. Patients <60 years old had a higher EFR rate vs. patients ,60 years, 77% vs. 61%, RR = 1.26, P = 0.001. Conclusions., These data indicate that most of the published literature does not meet strict criteria for reporting post-RP EFR. Single and multiple surgeon series have comparable EFR rates, but single center studies have a higher EFR. Younger men have higher EFR and no significant difference in EFR between ORP and LRP is evident. Tal R, Alphs HH, Krebs P, Nelson CJ, and Mulhall JP. Erectile function recovery rate after radical prostatectomy: A meta-analysis. J Sex Med 2009;6:2538,2546. [source]

Intraoperative Assessment of an Implantable Electrode Array for Cavernous Nerve Stimulation

THE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 8 2008
Arthur L. Burnett
ABSTRACT Introduction., Erectile dysfunction remains a major functional complication of radical prostatectomy in the modern era despite surgical techniques to preserve the penile autonomic nerve supply. Aim., To develop and evaluate a neurostimulation system for cavernous nerve electrical stimulation for future use as a chronic implantation device that neurotrophically promotes erectile function recovery following radical prostatectomy. Method., After radical retropubic prostatectomy, the neurovascular bundle was stimulated using a temporarily placed electrode array of an implantable neurostimulation system (20 Hz frequency, 260 µ seconds pulse width, 5 mA,60 mA amplitude up to 10 minutes), and penile circumference increases were measured. Main Outcome Measure., Increase in penile circumference. Results., Among 12 men (mean age 60.3 years) enrolled in this study, 6 (50%) demonstrated measurable increases in penile circumference in response to cavernous nerve stimulation. Among these six men, the mean increase was 5.0 mm (range 1.6 mm to 7.0 mm). Temporary surgical placement of the device was done with relative ease, and there was no evidence of injury to the neurovascular bundle. Conclusions., A chronic implantable nerve stimulation system for cavernous nerve stimulation having possible neuromodulatory effects on the recovery of penile erections after radical prostatectomy is feasible. Burnett AL, Teloken PE, Briganti A, Whitehurst T, and Montorsi F. Intraoperative assessment of an implantable electrode array for cavernous nerve stimulation. J Sex Med 2008;5:1949,1954. [source]

The Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Erectile Function Recovery in a Rat Cavernous Nerve Injury Model

FK506 and Sildenafil Promote Erectile Function Recovery after Cavernous Nerve Injury Through Antioxidative Mechanisms

Mycophenolate Mofetil Monotherapy for Severe Side Effects of Calcineurin Inhibitors Following Liver Transplantation

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 3 2009
S. Dharancy
Withdrawal of calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) followed by mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) monotherapy after liver transplantation (LT) remains controversial due to the increased risk of acute rejection and graft loss. The aim of the present study, performed in a large cohort of liver-transplanted patients with severe CNI-induced side effects, was to assess renal function recovery, and safety in terms of liver function, of complete CNI withdrawal and replacement by MMF monotherapy. Fifty-two patients treated with MMF monotherapy for CNI-induced toxicity were analyzed. Mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) increased significantly during the period of MMF monotherapy, from 37 ± 10 to 44.7 ± 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 at 6 months (p = 0.001) corresponding to a benefit of +17.4% in renal function. eGFR stabilized or improved in 86.5%, 81% and 79% of cases, and chronic renal dysfunction worsened in 13.5%, 19% and 21% of cases, at 6, 12 and 24 months after CNI withdrawal, respectively. Only two patients experienced acute rejection. MMF monotherapy may be efficient at reversing/stabilizing CRD, and appears relatively safe in terms of liver graft function in long-term liver-transplanted patients. However, clinicians must bear in mind the potential risk of rejection and graft loss, and should be very cautious in the management of such ,difficult-to-treat patients'. [source]

A prospective, non-randomized trial comparing robot-assisted laparoscopic and retropubic radical prostatectomy in one European institution

BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2009
Vincenzo Ficarra
OBJECTIVE To compare the functional results of two contemporary series of patients with clinically localized prostate cancer treated by robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) or retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP). PATIENTS AND METHODS This was a non-randomized prospective comparative study of all patients undergoing RALP or RRP for clinically localized prostate cancer at our institution from February 2006 to April 2007. RESULTS We enrolled 105 patients in the RRP and 103 in the RALP group; the two groups were comparable for all clinical and pathological variables, except median age. For RRP and RALP the respective median operative duration was 135 and 185 min (P < 0.001), the intraoperative blood loss 500 and 300 mL (P < 0.001) and postoperative transfusion rates 14% and 1.9% (P < 0.01). There were complications in 9.7% and 10.4% of the patients (P = 0.854) after RRP and RALP, respectively; the positive surgical margin rates in pT2 cancers were 12.2% and 11.7% (P = 0.70). For urinary continence, 41% of patients having RRP and 68.9% of those having RALP were continent at catheter removal (P < 0.001). The 12-month continence rates were 88% after RRP and 97% after RALP (P = 0.01), with the mean time to continence being 75 and 25 days (P < 0.001), respectively. At the 12-month follow-up, 20 of 41 patients having bilateral nerve-sparing RRP (49%) and 52 of 64 having bilateral nerve-sparing RALP (81%) (P < 0.001) had recovery of erectile function. CONCLUSIONS RALP offers better results than RRP in terms of urinary continence and erectile function recovery, with similar positive surgical margin rates. [source]

Long-term effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on motor function recovery after acute ischemic stroke

ACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 1 2010
E. M. Khedr
Objective,,, Although there is evidence for short term benefits of rTMS in stroke, longer term effects have not been reported. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of two different frequencies of rTMS on motor recovery and on cortical excitability up to 1 year post-treatment. Methods,,, Forty-eight patients with acute ischemic stroke were randomly classified into three groups. The first two groups received real rTMS over motor cortex (3 and 10 Hz respectively) of the affected hemisphere and the third group received sham stimulation of the same site, daily for five consecutive days. Disability was assessed before, after fifth sessions, and then after 1, 2, 3 and 12 months. Cortical excitability was assessed for both hemispheres before and after the second and fifth sessions. Results,,, A significant ,rTMS × time' interaction was obtained indicating that real and sham rTMS had different effects on rating scales. This was because real rTMS produced greater improvement than sham that was evident even at one year follow-up. These improvements were associated with changes in cortical excitability over the period of treatment. Conclusion,,, These results confirm that real rTMS over motor cortex can enhance and maintain recovery and may be a useful add on therapy in treatment of acute stroke patients. [source]

Changes in the Episodic Memory and Executive Functions of Abstinent and Relapsed Alcoholics Over a 6-Month Period

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 3 2009
Anne Lise Pitel
Background:, It is still unclear whether episodic memory and executive functions capacities can return to normal in abstinent patients over a 6-month period. Furthermore, the role of interim drinking in cognitive recovery is still not well known. Finally, further research is required to specify the predictive value of cognitive abilities at initial testing in the treatment outcome (abstinence or relapse). The aims of the present study were therefore to measure changes in episodic memory and executive functions over a 6-month period in abstinent and relapsed alcoholics and to ascertain whether neuropsychological results at treatment entry can predict treatment outcome at follow-up. Methods:, Fifty-four alcoholic patients and 54 matched control subjects performed baseline neuropsychological tasks assessing episodic memory, executive functions, the slave systems of working memory and attentional abilities. At the follow-up session (i.e., 6 months later), episodic memory and 3 executive functions (inhibition, flexibility, and updating) were re-examined in the alcoholic patients. Results:, Results showed that over the 6-month interval, the abstainers' episodic memory and executive performances had returned to normal, whereas the relapsers performed lower than before in the flexibility task. Episodic memory and executive functions recovery was correlated, in abstainers, with drinking history and age respectively. Finally, there was no significant difference regarding neuropsychological scores at baseline between abstainers and relapsers. Discussion:, Over the 6-month interval, abstainers normalized episodic memory and executive performances whereas relapsers obtained executive results which were more severely impaired, emphasizing the influence of interim drinking on cognitive changes. Episodic memory, executive functions, the slave systems of working memory and attentional abilities did not appear to be reliable predictors of treatment outcome over a 6-month interval. [source]