PURPOSE: This study aimed to verify the efficacy and safety of intravesical treatment with sodium chondroitin sulfate (CS) in patients with overactive bladder (OAB) who are refractory to previous antimuscarinic treatment. METHODS: This study was performed between June 2012 and January 2015 and included 31 consecutive women (mean age, 42.10+/-7.34 years) with OAB who had been previously treated with two types of antimuscarinic drugs. The results of gynecologic and cystoscopic examinations were normal, and OAB comorbidity was absent. Treatment with intravesical instillations containing 40 mL CS (0.2%; 2 mg/mL) was administered for 6 weeks; after weekly treatments, monthly treatments were administered. The OAB-validated 8 (OAB-V8) symptom scores, nocturia, frequency, urgency, urge incontinence, and urinary volumes measured by uroflowmetry were evaluated for all the patients. The values obtained before the treatment were statistically compared with those obtained six months after the treatment. RESULTS: The duration of the symptoms was 18.36+/-6.19 months. A statistically significant improvement of the patients' conditions was observed in terms of the OAB-V8 symptom scores, nocturia, frequency, urgency, urge incontinence, and urinary volumes measured by uroflowmetry after the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limitations of this study, the outcomes confirmed that CS therapy is safe and effective for the treatment of OAB.
Administration, Intravesical ; Chondroitin Sulfates ; Chondroitin* ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Humans ; Nocturia ; Sodium* ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive* ; Urinary Incontinence, Urge

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of nano-Se-chondroitin sulfate on the growth and apoptosis of chondrocytes from patients with Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) exposed to T-2 toxin in vitro.

METHODSSamples of the articular cartilage were obtained from 6 patients with grade II/III KBD diagnosed in line with the National Clinical Diagnostic Criteria of KBD (WS/T 207-2010) for chondrocyte separation and culture in vitro. The separated chondrocytes were treated with synthesized nano-Se-chondroitin sulfate particles and T-2 toxin, alone or in combination, and the cell growth and apoptosis were observed using MTT assay, HE staining and flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe synthesized nano-Se-chondroitin sulfate, with a selenium entrapment ratio of 10.1%, spontaneously formed nanoparticles in distilled water with sizes ranging from 30 to 200 nm. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy suggested a possible covalent bond that bound Nano-Se and chondroitin sulfate. Within the concentration range of 50-200 ng/ml, nano-Se-chondroitin sulfate significantly inhibited T-2 toxin-induced apoptosis of the cultured chondrocytes and reduced the early apoptosis rate to (8.64∓1.57)% (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONNano-Se-chondroitin sulfate can inhibit T-2 toxin-induced apoptosis of cultured chondrocytes from KBD patients in vitro, and serves as a promising candidate therapeutic agent for KBD.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; drug effects ; pathology ; Chondroitin Sulfates ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Kashin-Beck Disease ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Nanostructures ; T-2 Toxin ; toxicity

PURPOSE: To compare the short term effects of topical 0.05% cyclosporine (CsA) and a mixture of 0.08% chondroitin sulfate and 0.06% sodium hyaluronate (CS-HA) on dry eye ocular surfaces. METHODS: 36 patients with moderate to severe dry eye (5 mm/5 min or less with Schirmer's test or tear break up time (BUT) less than 6 seconds), were treated with topical application of CS-HA on one eye and CsA on the other 4 times a day for 6-8 weeks. BUT, Schirmer's test without anesthesia, and conjunctival impression cytology (CIC; goblet cell density, nucleus to cytoplasmic ratio, and epithelial cell morphology) were evaluated and compared between eyes before and after treatment (repeated measurement of ANOVA). RESULTS: After treatment, BUT and tear wettings were significantly prolonged in each group. Topical CsA treated eyes had greater increase in BUT (p=0.026); there was no significant difference in tear wetting (p=0.132). While the 3 parameters of CIC improved in both groups, goblet cell density was significantly higher in eyes treated with CsA (p=0.033). CONCLUSIONS: While both CS-HA and 0.05% CsA eyedrops improve ocular surfaces, topical CsA may have a better effect on enhancing tear film stability and goblet cell density.
Adjuvants, Immunologic/administration & dosage ; Administration, Topical ; Cell Count ; Chondroitin Sulfates/*administration & dosage ; Conjunctiva/drug effects/pathology ; Cyclosporine/*administration & dosage ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Dry Eye Syndromes/*drug therapy/metabolism/pathology ; Epithelium/drug effects/pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Goblet Cells/drug effects/pathology ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid/*administration & dosage ; Immunosuppressive Agents/*administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ophthalmic Solutions/administration & dosage ; Tears/drug effects/metabolism ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

Thirty-one dogs with patellar luxation (grades 2 and 3) were categorized into three groups. Group 1 (G.1; n = 12) had sodium hyaluronate (SHA) intra-articularly injected into the stifle joint that received surgery. Group 2 (G.2; n = 10) received SHA twice: first after surgery and then 1 week later. Group 3 (G.3; n = 9) served as a control, without injection. Blood was collected before injection and then once a week for 4 weeks after injection for evaluation of chondroitin sulfate (CS-WF6) and hyaluronan (HA). The results revealed significantly (p < 0.05) improved clinical scores by the end of week 4 in G.1 and G.2 relative to G.3; however, there was no significant difference between G.1 and G.2. There was a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in serum CS-WF6 levels beginning at week 2 in G.1 and G.2. At weeks 3 and 4, serum HA in G.1 and G.2 differed from that in G.3 (p < 0.05). No significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in serum biomarkers between G.1 and G.2. In conclusion, intra-articular injection with SHA after joint surgery may improve homeostasis of the joint, retarding the process of OA.
Animals ; Blood Chemical Analysis/veterinary ; Chondroitin Sulfates/metabolism ; *Dogs ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/veterinary ; Female ; Hyaluronic Acid/*administration & dosage/metabolism ; Injections, Intra-Articular/veterinary ; Male ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/drug therapy/prevention & control/*veterinary ; Stifle/*surgery ; Viscosupplements/*administration & dosage