Protocol for a prospective observational study of cortical lower urinary tract control changes following intradetrusor injection of botulinum toxin-A in patients with multiple sclerosis

Evaluating noninvasive brain stimulation to treat overactive bladder in individuals with multiple sclerosis: a randomized controlled trial protocol

BACKGROUND

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an often debilitating disease affecting the myelin sheath that encompasses neurons. It can be accompanied by a myriad of pathologies and adverse effects such as neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD). Current treatment modalities for resolving NLUTD focus mainly on alleviating symptoms while the source of the discomfort emanates from a disruption in brain to bladder neural circuitry. Here, we leverage functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) protocols and the brains innate neural plasticity to aid in resolving overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms associated with NLUTD.

METHODS

By employing an advanced neuro-navigation technique along with processed fMRI and diffusion tensor imaging data to help locate specific targets in each participant brain, we are able to deliver tailored neuromodulation protocols and affect either an excitatory (20 min @ 10 Hz, applied to the lateral and medial pre-frontal cortex) or inhibitory (20 min @ 1 Hz, applied to the pelvic supplemental motor area) signal on neural circuitry fundamental to the micturition cycle in humans to restore or reroute autonomic and sensorimotor activity between the brain and bladder. Through a regimen of questionnaires, bladder diaries, stimulation sessions and analysis, we aim to gauge rTMS effectiveness in women with clinically stable MS.

DISCUSSION

Some limitations do exist with this study. In targeting the MS population, the stochastic nature of MS in general highlights difficulties in recruiting enough participants with similar symptomology to make meaningful comparisons. As well, for this neuromodulatory approach to achieve some rate of success, there must be enough intact white matter in specific brain regions to receive effective stimulation. While we understand that our results will represent only a subset of the MS community, we are confident that we will accomplish our goal of increasing the quality of life for those burdened with MS and NLUTD.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06072703), posted on Oct 10, 2023.

Classification of multiple sclerosis women with voiding dysfunction using machine learning: Is functional connectivity or structural connectivity a better predictor?

Introduction

Machine learning (ML) is an established technique that uses sets of training data to develop algorithms and perform data classification without using human intervention/supervision. This study aims to determine how functional and anatomical brain connectivity (FC and SC) data can be used to classify voiding dysfunction (VD) in female MS patients using ML.

Methods

Twenty-seven ambulatory MS individuals with lower urinary tract dysfunction were recruited and divided into two groups (Group 1: voiders [V, n = 14]; Group 2: VD [n = 13]). All patients underwent concurrent functional MRI/urodynamics testing.

Results

Best-performing ML algorithms, with highest area under the curve (AUC), were partial least squares (PLS, AUC = 0.86) using FC alone and random forest (RF) when using SC alone (AUC = 0.93) and combined (AUC = 0.96) as inputs. Our results show 10 predictors with the highest AUC values were associated with FC, indicating that although white matter was affected, new connections may have formed to preserve voiding initiation.

Conclusions

MS patients with and without VD exhibit distinct brain connectivity patterns when performing a voiding task. Our results demonstrate FC (grey matter) is of higher importance than SC (white matter) for this classification. Knowledge of these centres may help us further phenotype patients to appropriate centrally focused treatments in the future.

Higher neural contribution underlying persistent lower urinary tract symptoms in men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia undergoing bladder outlet procedures

Introduction and Background

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) affects the micturition cycle. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) refers to storage symptoms such as urinary frequency, urgency, urge urinary incontinence and nocturia. Surgical options for bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) are currently offered for symptomatic improvement. However, 30% of patients report persistent LUTS after BOO procedures. Neuroplasticity induced by BPH and BOO can be contributory in these men, having different brain activation patterns during the micturition cycle. Our multimodal functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) study will identify for the first time, structural and functional brain contributions to LUTS in men with BPH and BOO at baseline and following BOO procedures. We hypothesize that men with symptomatic BPH with persistent LUTS following BOO procedures have a distinct brain activation pattern in regions of interest (ROIs) of the micturition cycle.

Methods

Male patients older than 45 years of age undergoing BOO procedures will be enrolled and categorized in two groups. Group 1: patients with BPH with significant improvement in storage symptoms after BOO procedures. Group 2: patients with BPH with persistent storage symptoms after BOO procedures. Our control group are male patients without LUTS undergoing radical prostatectomy. Patients will complete subjective questionnaires and post void residual at clinic visits. BOLD signals at full urge will be measured at baseline and following BOO procedures. All patients will undergo fMRI studies at baseline and at 6 months. Clinical data will be correlated to BOLD signal changes as well as to structural changes in white matter tracts.

Ethics and dissemination

After IRB approval, patients will be recruited and properly consented before enrolling to this study. Results of neural contribution to lower urinary tract symptoms will be presented at national and international meetings and will be published in scholarly journals.

Higher Neural Correlates in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Neurogenic Overactive Bladder Following Treatment with Intradetrusor Injection of OnabotulinumtoxinA

PURPOSE

OnabotulinumtoxinA is a well described treatment of neurogenic overactive bladder. While motor effects on the detrusor muscle have been extensively studied, the sensory effects have not. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of intradetrusor onabotulinumtoxinA injection on brain activity in female patients with multiple sclerosis and neurogenic overactive bladder.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We prospectively studied 12 women with stable multiple sclerosis and neurogenic overactive bladder using concurrent functional magnetic resonance imaging and urodynamic studies prior to and 6 to 10 weeks following onabotulinumtoxinA injection. Individual functional magnetic resonance imaging activation maps at the time of strong urgency were averaged before and after onabotulinumtoxinA injection where areas of significant activation were identified.

RESULTS

After onabotulinumtoxinA injection functional magnetic resonance imaging activation increased in the right cingulate body (p = 0.0012), the left posterior cingulate (p = 0.02), the left anterior cingulate (p = 0.0015), the right prefrontal cortex (p = 0.0015), the insula (p = 0.0138) and the pons micturition center (p = 0.05). Sparse areas showed decreased activity, including the left cerebellum (p = 0.001), the left fusiform gyrus (p = 0.065) and the bilateral lentiform nucleus (p = 0.026).

CONCLUSIONS

Intradetrusor injection of onabotulinumtoxinA appeared to increase the activity of most brain regions known to be involved in the sensation and process of urinary urgency in female patients with multiple sclerosis and neurogenic overactive bladder. To our knowledge this is the first study of its kind to evaluate the possible effects of onabotulinumtoxinA at the human brain level where sensory awareness is located. This activation pattern may be used to further phenotype patients to optimize therapy or determine the sensory effects of onabotulinumtoxinA beyond the bladder.