Acquiring basic laboratory techniques is contributory to further elucidate the pathogenesis of various conditions. Development of new diagnostic methods and therapeutic modalities will provide new possibilities in medical treatments. Urological complications should not only be accessed in the perspective of urology, instead, urology related disorders should also be considered in relation with prominent cerebral functions. International Neurourology Journal (INJ) has tried to encompass broader topics of the research articles in view of the roles of brain to the urological disorders. In order to accentuate the role of INJ, we have recruited valuable articles in this issue.
Present issue includes following supportive contents to apprehend the urological disorders. Neuroinflammation was suggested as the pathogenic factor inducing various psychiatric disorders by degenerating normal neurons through activation of microglia and up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Peripheral immune cells were proposed as the alternative therapeutic strategy for neuro-urological diseases. Variations of apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1/redox factor-1 (APE1/Ref-1) D148E have been proposed as the genetic contribution of bladder cancers, and then the authors suggested that increased secretory activity of APE1/Ref-1 D148E might contribute to the increased APE1/Ref-1 in urine or blood. Main advantages and limitations of 3-dimensional visualization for macromolecules were discussed in this issue to enhance clinical diagnosis. As the new diagnostic technique, Lab-on-a-Chip device was introduced for the rapid molecular diagnoses of pathogens, particularly focusing on the detection of foodborne pathogens. Present issue demonstrated that postnatal treadmill exercise of off-spring ameliorated prenatal stress-induced anxiety symptoms. Treadmill exercise also potentiated the therapeutic effect of transplantation of bone marrow stromal cells on traumatic brain injury. Lastly, the possibility of extracellular matrix was proposed as a new therapeutic modality for tissue damage via spontaneous network formation, as an ideal scaffold.
As briefly described above, diverse articles comprising from new experimental skills to novel therapeutic approaches are included in this issue. We would like to acknowledge gratitude to the authors for the valuable articles submitted to the special issue of INJ. The efforts of INJ to identify the urinary disorders in relation with cerebral functions will be continued. These attempts will precipitate to expedite the comprehension and treatment of the urological disorders.