Epidemiology of urinary tract diseases in general practice

During a one-year morbidity survey of urinary tract diseases in general practice 741 cases were diagnosed. Only about half of all the patients with symptoms of urinary tract infection had significant bacteriuria. In young women urinary tract infections and symptoms from the urinary tract without bacteriuria—in particular urethritis—were found to predominate. In middle-aged women, the urinary tract symptoms were ascribed increasingly to genital prolapse, while incidence of urolithiasis was the highest in any group, and urinary tract infections became less frequent. The prevalence of urinary tract infection showed another increase in elderly women, and recurrent/chronic pyelonephritis, which occurs with a steadily increasing prevalence throughout all age groups, became common.In younger male urological patients diseases with symptoms of urinary tract infection without bacteriuria were predominant, whereas prostatitis and urinary tract infections were less frequent. In middle-aged men, urolithiasis was especially frequent, while an increasing proportion of elderly men had prostatic hypertrophy, urinary tract infections, and recurrent/chronic pyelonephritis.     

Neurophysiology of stress urinary incontinence

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) involves involuntary leakage of urine in response to abdominal pressure caused by activities such as sneezing and coughing. The condition affects millions of women worldwide, causing physical discomfort as well as social distress and even social isolation. Until recently, SUI was approached by clinicians as a purely anatomic problem requiring behavioral or surgical therapy. Over the past several years, extensive basic and clinical research in the field of neurourology has enhanced our understanding of the complex neural circuitry regulating normal function of the lower urinary tract. As a result, novel concepts have emerged regarding possible neurologic dysfunctions that might underlie the development of SUI, as well as potential novel strategies for pharmacologic therapy. This article reviews the normal neurophysiologic control of lower urinary tract function and considers potential pharmacologic approaches to correcting SUI.     

Ciprofloxacin and therapy of urinary tract infections, including those due to Staphylococcus saprophyticus]

Staphylococcus saprophyticus is one of the main pathogens of cystitis in young women. The human biotopes are contaminated by the staphylococcus on direct contacts with domestic animals or after using not properly cooked food of animal origin. Young women are more susceptible to colonization of the urinary tract by S. saprophyticus vs. the other contingents. Sexual intercourse is conducive to the colonization and infection. Shifts in the urinary tract microflora due to the use of spermicide, as well as candidiasis promote colonization of the urinary tract by S. saprophyticus. At present fluoroquinolones are considered as a significant independent group of chemotherapeutics within the class of quinolones, inhibitors of DNA gyrase, characterized by high clinical efficacy in the treatment of urinary tract infections. Especially significant clinical experience with ciprofloxacin in the therapy of urinary tract infections is available.     

The antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin protects the urinary tract against invasive bacterial infection

The urinary tract functions in close proximity to the outside environment, yet must remain free of microbial colonization to avoid disease. The mechanisms for establishing an antimicrobial barrier in this area are not completely understood. Here, we describe the production and function of the cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides LL-37, its precursor hCAP-18 and its ortholog CRAMP in epithelial cells of human and mouse urinary tract, respectively. Bacterial contact with epithelial cells resulted in rapid production and secretion of the respective peptides, and in humans LL-37/hCAP-18 was released into urine. Epithelium-derived cathelicidin substantially contributed to the protection of the urinary tract against infection, as shown using CRAMP-deficient and neutrophil-depleted mice. In addition, clinical E. coli strains that were more resistant to LL-37 caused more severe urinary tract infections than did susceptible strains. Thus, cathelicidin seems to be a key factor in mucosal immunity of the urinary tract.     

泌尿系感染病原菌分布及耐药性分析

目的了解深圳市人民医院泌尿系感染病原菌的分布及耐药性,为临床医师合理使用抗菌药物提供科学依据。方法对655株泌尿系统感染病原菌进行常规鉴定,用k-B法或ATB-FUNGUS 3对其进行药敏试验。结果病原菌构成比前5位分别为大肠埃希菌（37.9%）、假丝酵母（18.0%）、肠球菌（13.1%）、肺炎克雷伯菌（6.6%）、铜绿假单胞菌（6.3%）。病原菌对各种抗菌药物产生了不同程度的耐药,肺炎克雷伯菌、铜绿假单胞菌对亚胺培南和美罗培南的耐药率为14.3%～26.8%。结论深圳市人民医院泌尿系感染病原菌主要以大肠埃希菌、假丝酵母和肠球菌等为主,病原菌对抗菌药物已产生了一定的耐药性,应加强监测与控制。     

Interstitial cystitis and lower urinary tract symptoms in males and females-the combined role of potassium and epithelial dysfunction

Evidence of a lower urinary tract dysfunctional epithelium has been detected in women and men with interstitial cystitis and other complexes of lower urinary tract symptoms. Lower urinary tract dysfunctional epithelium can affect the bladder, the urethra, the labia or vaginal introitus in women, and the prostatic ducts and urethra in men. Because an individual with lower urinary tract dysfunctional epithelium may experience pain in one or more locations throughout the pelvis in any combination, the clinician cannot reliably establish a diagnosis based on "where it hurts." A useful diagnostic tool is the intravesical potassium sensitivity test, which detects the abnormal epithelial permeability of lower urinary tract dysfunctional epithelium. In most cases, lower urinary tract dysfunctional epithelium can be treated successfully.     

Serum and urinary immunoglobulin in the rat model of acute urinary tract infection

Total levels of urine and serum immunoglobulin IgM, IgG and IgA, and the E. coli-specific bacterial immunoglobulin response were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a rat model of acute urinary tract infection. High levels of urinary IgM were detected as early as day 3 post infection and then decreased to statistically insignificant levels. Peak levels of IgG occurred in the serum and urine on day 14. Urine and serum IgA levels remained low throughout the study period. The results demonstrate that in the rat model of acute urinary tract infection, IgM appears first in the urine and serum, and rapidly decreases. IgG then appears in the serum and urine followed by a late E. coli-specific immunoglobulin serum and urine response. Also, a non-specific component of the immunoglobulin response was noted in both the serum and urine. In the rat, IgA appears to play little or no role in the urine or in the serum response to the infection.     

泌尿系细菌L型感染致病性临床研究

目的探讨泌尿系反复感染致病菌的发病特点及细菌L型感染的致病性,为临床诊治提供科学依据。方法将127例清洁中段尿培养确诊的反复发作肾盂肾炎患者,根据致病菌分为细菌型组、细菌伴L型组和细菌L型组,健康体检者为对照组,分析4组患者尿N-乙酰-β-D-氨基葡萄糖苷酶(NAG)、尿视黄醇结合蛋白(RBP)水平变化。结果泌尿系感染各组尿NAG和尿RBP较正常对照组均有不同程度升高,差异有非常显著性(P0.01),单纯细菌L型感染患者较细菌型及细菌伴L型患者稍低,但细菌型、细菌伴L型及细菌L型3组之间差异无显著性(P0.05)。结论细菌L型在泌尿道感染反复发作中占重要地位,泌尿系细菌L型感染具有致病性。     

Sex differences in lower urinary tract biology and physiology

Females and males differ significantly in gross anatomy and physiology of the lower urinary tract, and these differences are commonly discussed in the medical and scientific literature. However, less attention is dedicated to investigating the varied development, function, and biology between females and males on a cellular level. Recognizing that cell biology is not uniform, especially in the lower urinary tract of females and males, is crucial for providing context and relevance for diverse fields of biomedical investigation. This review serves to characterize the current understanding of biological sex differences between female and male lower urinary tracts, while identifying areas for future research. First, the differences in overall cell populations are discussed in the detrusor smooth muscle, urothelium, and trigone. Second, the urethra is discussed, including anatomic discussions of the female and male urethra followed by discussions of cellular differences in the urothelial and muscular layers. The pelvic floor is then reviewed, followed by an examination of the sex differences in hormonal regulation, the urinary tract microbiome, and the reticuloendothelial system. Understanding the complex and dynamic development, anatomy, and physiology of the lower urinary tract should be contextualized by the sex differences described in this review.     

Human alpha defensin 5 expression in the human kidney and urinary tract

Background

The mechanisms that maintain sterility in the urinary tract are incompletely understood. Recent studies have implicated the importance of antimicrobial peptides (AMP) in protecting the urinary tract from infection. Here, we characterize the expression and relevance of the AMP human alpha-defensin 5 (HD5) in the human kidney and urinary tract in normal and infected subjects.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Using RNA isolated from human kidney, ureter, and bladder tissue, we performed quantitative real-time PCR to show that DEFA5, the gene encoding HD5, is constitutively expressed throughout the urinary tract. With pyelonephritis, DEFA5 expression significantly increased in the kidney. Using immunoblot analysis, HD5 production also increased with pyelonephritis. Immunostaining localized HD5 to the urothelium of the bladder and ureter. In the kidney, HD5 was primarily produced in the distal nephron and collecting tubules. Using immunoblot and ELISA assays, HD5 was not routinely detected in non-infected human urine samples while mean urinary HD5 production increased with E.coli urinary tract infection.

Conclusions/Significance

DEFA5 is expressed throughout the urinary tract in non-infected subjects. Specifically, HD5 is expressed throughout the urothelium of the lower urinary tract and in the collecting tubules of the kidney. With infection, HD5 expression increases in the kidney and levels become detectable in the urine. To our knowledge, our findings represent the first to quantitate HD5 expression and production in the human kidney. Moreover, this is the first report to detect the presence of HD5 in infected urine samples. Our results suggest that HD5 may have an important role in maintaining urinary tract sterility.     

Virulence factors in Proteus bacteria from biofilm communities of catheter-associated urinary tract infections

More than 40% of nosocomial infections are those of the urinary tract, most of these occurring in catheterized patients. Bacterial colonization of the urinary tract and catheters results not only in infection, but also various complications, such as blockage of catheters with crystalline deposits of bacterial origin, generation of gravels and pyelonephritis. The diversity of the biofilm microbial community increases with duration of catheter emplacement. One of the most important pathogens in this regard is Proteus mirabilis. The aims of this study were to identify and assess particular virulence factors present in catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) isolates, their correlation and linkages: three types of motility (swarming, swimming and twitching), the ability to swarm over urinary catheters, biofilm production in two types of media, urease production and adherence of bacterial cells to various types of urinary tract catheters. We examined 102 CAUTI isolates and 50 isolates taken from stool samples of healthy people. Among the microorganisms isolated from urinary catheters, significant differences were found in biofilm-forming ability and the swarming motility. In comparison with the control group, the microorganisms isolated from urinary catheters showed a wider spectrum of virulence factors. The virulence factors (twitching motility, swimming motility, swarming over various types of catheters and biofilm formation) were also more intensively expressed.     

A case-control study to evaluate urinary tract complications in radical hysterectomy

BACKGROUND: This study has evaluated urinary tract injuries and dysfunction after Radical Hysterectomy (RH) performed in patients with cervical cancer and has compared the cystometric parameters and urinary complications occurring in these patients with those occurring in patients who had undergone Simple Hysterectomy (SH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective case-control study was conducted to evaluate urinary tract injuries (intra-operative and post-operative) and dysfunction in 50 patients undergoing RH for cervical cancer and to compare them with the same parameters in 50 patients who underwent SH for benign disease. RESULTS: Mean age in the RH group was 46.3 years and in the SH group was 50.1 (p = 0.63). There were no bladder and urethral injuries in either group of patients. There was one intra-operative ureteral injury in the RH patients but none in those who underwent SH. (p < 0.05). In the two weeks after surgery, 15% of RH patients and 11% of SH patients had experienced a urinary tract infection urinary tract infection (p = 0.61). Two week after surgery 62% of RH patients had no urinary symptoms, compared to 84% in the SH group who did (p < 0.02). Urinary residual volume, first urinary sensation and maximal bladder capacity were higher in the RH group, but this was not statistically significant. The only case of a urinary fistula appeared in a patient who received 5000 cGy radiation therapy pre-operatively, but this spontaneously healed after 3 weeks of catheterization. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-operative and post-operative urinary tract complications are comparable in patients undergoing RH and SH and an expert gynaecological oncologist might be able to further decrease complications. However, radiation therapy before surgery may increase the risk of complications.     

Epidemiology of symptomatic infections of the urinary tract in children.

The epidemiology of symptomatic infections of the urinary tract in children and the factors that may alter the risk of infection are not well known. Numbers of children aged under 15 discharged from hospitals because of symptomatic infections of the urinary tract during 1978-84 were obtained from the database kept by the Finnish National Board of Health. Information on continuous treatment for recurrent urinary tract infections was obtained from records kept by the Social Insurance Institution on patients receiving free medicines. The yearly rate of attacks of symptomatic infections/1000 girls decreased significantly from 2.67 (95% confidence interval 2.52 to 2.82) in 1978 to 1.88 (1.76 to 2.01) in 1984. In boys the rate also decreased significantly, from 0.85 (0.77 to 0.93) in 1978 to 0.59 (0.52 to 0.66) in 1984. The period prevalence of free treatment/1000 girls decreased significantly from 7.80 (7.55 to 8.05) in 1978 to 5.30 (5.10 to 5.51) in 1984 but did not change significantly in boys. Although the findings may partly have been caused by changes in policies of admission to hospital, they suggest a decreasing trend in symptomatic urinary tract infections in childhood, which may be associated with changes in the care of infants.     

The role of E. coli adhesiveness in the pathogenesis and clinical course of urinary tract infections]

An infection with E. coli is the most frequent cause of the urinary infections in childhood. Virulence depends on several factors out of which a principal role is played by the adhesion of bacteria to the urinary tract epithelium. Such a property have E. coli strains with adherence mannose-positive fimbriae of type P with antigens recognizing and binding glycolipid receptors on epithelial cells in the urinary tract. Children with such infections owe their "sensitivity+" (10% of the population) to genetically determined large number o receptors binding E. coli strains. Incidence and clinical course of the urinary tract infections have been analysed in the group of 184 children. Moreover, sequelae of the urinary tract infections with E. coli have been analysed in dependence on E. coli strain characteristics, i.e. presence or absence of adherent fimbriae from cases of cystitis and significant asymptomatic bacteriuria. Considering pathogenesis of the urinary tract infections as the result of interactions between bacteria and host, antigenic properties of adherent fimbriae might be used for preparation of a vaccine preventing such infections.     

P-fimbriae trigger mucosal responses to Escherichia coli in the human urinary tract

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli elicit a host response that determines the severity of urinary tract infection (UTI). Specific adherence mechanisms allow the bacteria to initiate this process by targeting epithelial cells in the urinary tract mucosa. Epidemiological studies show a strong association of P-fimbriae with disease severity, suggesting that adherence mediated by these organelles has a direct effect on mucosal inflammation in vivo . The present study examined the ability of P-fimbriae to induce inflammation in the human urinary tract. Patients were subjected to intravesical inoculation with a non-fimbriated E. coli strain or transformants of this strain expressing P-fimbriae. The inflammatory response was analysed as a function of P-fimbrial expression. The P-fimbriated transformants invariably caused higher interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6 and neutrophil responses in the urinary tract than the ABU strain. Furthermore, loss of P-fimbrial expression in vivo was accompanied by a return to background levels of neutrophils, IL-6 and IL-8 in individual patients. The results demonstrate that the pap sequences confer on a non-fimbriated, avirulent strain the ability to induce a host response in the human urinary tract. P-fimbriae thus fulfil the 'molecular Koch–Henle postulates' linking a single virulence factor to host response induction.     

Virulence of a Proteus mirabilis ATF isogenic mutant is not impaired in a mouse model of ascending urinary tract infection

Proteus mirabilis, a common cause of urinary tract infection, produces a number of different fimbriae, including ambient temperature fimbriae (ATF). These fimbriae are optimally expressed at 23 degrees C and their contribution to urinary tract infection has so far remained unknown. In the present study, a clinical isolate of P. mirabilis and an isogenic allelic replacement mutant unable to express ATF were tested for their ability to cause infection in the ascending urinary tract infection model in mice. The atf mutant colonised the urinary tract as well as the wild-type strain and was also able to outcompete the wild-type strain in a co-challenge experiment. Different non-clinical P. mirabilis isolates showed a reactive AtfA band after Western blot analysis using a polyclonal rabbit AtfA antiserum. These data together suggest that ATF does not play a role in P. mirabilis urinary tract infection.     

Neonatal outcome of fetuses with urinary tract abnormalities diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography.

Between 1979 and 1986 an abnormality of the urinary tract was diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound examination in 93 fetuses. Postnatal investigation at a large teaching hospital showed a definite abnormality in 85 infants, 66 of whom were boys. An obstructed urinary tract, usually requiring surgery, was present in 46 infants. Other abnormalities included a multicystic kidney (in 15 infants), vesicoureteric reflux (in 9), prune-belly syndrome (in 5) and polycystic kidneys (in 5). Early recognition and treatment of urinary tract disorders in infants should be accompanied by informed prenatal counselling to minimize parents'' anxiety.     

Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors for the treatment of male lower urinary tract symptoms

Both lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and erectile dysfunction have a very high prevalence among aging men, and there is some clinical evidence that they may share a common pathophysiology. Consequently, several preliminary studies of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors-sildenafil and tadalafil-have recently been conducted in men with concomitant erectile dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms to determine whether these agents are effective for the treatment of symptomatic BPH. These studies have demonstrated efficacy, both alone and in combination with an alpha-blocker, in treating lower urinary tract symptoms along with sexual dysfunction. However, larger-scale randomized studies are necessary to determine long-term safety, efficacy, and cost effectiveness.     

Intravaginal instillation of lactobacilli for prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infections remain a common problem, particularly in the female population. New methods are required to manage recurrent cystitis, and extensive research to date has suggested that restoration of the lactobacilli flora of the urogenital tract may prevent these infections. In this study, five females suffering from recurrent urinary tract infections were treated twice weekly with intravaginal and perineal implantation of Lactobacillus casei GR-1. These organisms colonized the epithelium and prevented the emergence of coliform bacteria in most instances, but did not appear to affect enterococcal colonization. In vitro studies showed that L. casei GR-1 inhibited the growth of the coliforms but did not inhibit enterococci. Each of the five patients had infection-free periods ranging from 4 weeks to 6 months. The treatment was well tolerated, had no side effects, led to an improved well-being, and was preferred to antibiotic treatment by all of the patients. These human studies, albeit of a limited nature, are the first to examine the potential for lactobacillus therapy in the prevention of urinary tract infections. The results show that lactobacilli therapy, using carefully selected organisms to treat patients who are closely followed, may be effective in the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections.     

Resistant urinary tract infections; combined autogenous vaccine and drug therapy

The "miracle" antibiotics and sulfa drugs have been found unsatisfactory in treating certain severe resistant urinary tract infections apparently due to lack of immunity factor in the patient. Of a series of 56 patients with resistant urinary tract infection who were treated with autogenous vaccine and then with sulfa drugs, 26 were completely cured.