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Michael E Albo

Publications and source records attributed to Michael E Albo.

3 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Determinants of vaginal length.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe quantitatively the associations between total vaginal length and demographic, historic, and physical characteristics. STUDY DESIGN: At 2 clinical sites, patients completed a standardized questionnaire and physical examination. Bivariate correlations explored relationships between total vaginal length and demographic, historic, and examination variables. Significant variables were evaluated with a multivariate linear regression model. RESULTS: The study included 3247 women. Hysterectomy and pelvic reconstructive surgery contribute 0.63 cm and 0.22 cm, respectively, to total vaginal length shortening; 10 years of age decreases total vaginal length by 0.08 cm. One meter of height and 10 kg of weight increases total vaginal length by 0.09 cm and 0.02 cm, respectively. Menopause is associated with a shortening of total vaginal length by 0.17 cm. CONCLUSION: Although there appears to be statistically significant associations between total vaginal length and the aforementioned factors, the impact is unlikely to be clinically significant.

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PubMed2005

Rho-kinase inhibition suppresses bladder hyperactivity in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

AIMS: Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) exhibit overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms and have an up-regulated calcium sensitizing RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway in their vascular smooth muscle tissues. This study examined the role of RhoA/Rho-kinase pathway in bladder hyperactivity by evaluating the effect of a specific Rho-kinase inhibitor (Y-27632) on SHR bladder function. METHODS: Adult male SHR (n = 9) and their normotensive controls (Wistar-Kyoto; WKY) (n = 8) were anesthetized and the carotid artery cannulated for blood pressure monitoring. A catheter was fixed into the bladder dome and connected to a pressure transducer and an infusion pump. After equilibration, systemic and bladder pressure were recorded. Continuous filling cystometrograms (CMGs) were performed and threshold pressure (TP), peak pressure (PP), and number of voids and non-voiding contractions (NVCs) per unit time recorded. Each SHR then received Y-27632, 10 mumol intra-arterially. After 10 min, CMG was repeated and the same measurements recorded. Bladder tissues were evaluated immunohistochemically (IHC) for RhoA protein expression. RESULTS: SHR exhibited significantly higher number of voids and NVCs than normotensive WKY rats (P < 0.05). In SHR, Y-27362 administration significantly decreased the number of voids (29%, from 0.83 +/- 0.3 to 0.63 +/- 0.17 voids/min) and NVCs (61%, from 1.8 +/- 0.54 to 0.64 +/- 0.167 NVC/min). IHC showed significantly higher RhoA protein expression in SHR bladder tissues. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of RhoA may play a role in hypertension-related OAB. Inhibition of Rho-kinase activity with Y-27632 produced a significant suppression of bladder overactivity. Identification of Rho-kinase isoforms that are bladder-tissue specific and their selective inhibitors may help to disassociate the unwanted hypotensive effects of this approach.

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