http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. Severe chronic pain associated with conditions such as bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis often require the use of opioid medication, with the risk of dependency and serious adverse reactions. An alternative treatment strategy increases the levels of a naturally occurring painkiller in and around the nerves that deliver pain signals to the bladder. This new therapeutic approach is described in an article in Human Gene Therapy, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-treatment-approach-bladder-pain-herpes.html Genetics Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:03:51 EST news282485022 If you have an overactive bladder or incontinence, help could be on the way. A new research report published online in the FASEB Journal, shows that the epithelium, a thin layer of cells which line the surface of the bladder, is able to sense how full the bladder is through the action of a family of proteins called integrins. As the bladder becomes full, the cells in the epithelium stretch and become thinner, which activates the integrins to send that information to nerves and other cells in the bladder. As a result of this new knowledge, researchers may one day be able to design drugs that target this mechanism to treat conditions like incontinence and overactive bladder, both of which are common, serious, problems affecting millions of people. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-02-harvard-scientists-figure.html Medical research Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:21:22 EST news279566477 (HealthDay)—The symptoms of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) are widespread among men in the United States, according to research published in the January issue of The Journal of Urology. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-prevalence-interstitial-cystitischronic-prostatitis-idd.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 07 Jan 2013 18:30:02 EST news276802917 Millions of women suffer from unexplained vulvar pain so severe it can make intercourse, exercise and even sitting unbearable. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-chronic-vulvar-pain-bowel-syndrome.html Obstetrics & gynaecology Thu, 02 Aug 2012 11:23:03 EST news263125348 (HealthDay) -- Intravesical sodium chondroitin sulfate is not recommended for the treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) in women as it produces only minor improvements in symptoms and pain, according to research published in the June issue of Urology. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-intravesical-chondroitin-sulfate-benefit-cystitis.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:00:05 EST news258207935 A pilot study led by University of Kentucky researchers shows that the gene expression analysis of urine sediment could provide a noninvasive way to analyze interstitial cystitis in some patients. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-bladder-pain-syndrome.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:50:01 EST news249215500