Current Projects: Hormones and Pharmaceuticals
Concentration in this area is focused on the influence of hormones and pharmaceutical agents in regulating prostate growth and their effect on tissue biomechanical characteristics. Completed studies, referenced below, were done to build biosensor systems for the in vitro measurement of stiffness properties. We consider that it is important to carry out corresponding in vivo studies to correlate the direct hormonal responses to functional parameters using urodynamics. Methods outlined in the papers below indicate the development of approaches for the urodynamic evaluation of the history experimental regulation of prostate growth using hormones and the creation of models simulating BPH symptoms.
Current plans are to extend the biosensor technology to the domain of characterizing various structures generated using tissue engineered or stem cell based processes. The technology for the in vivo and in vitro mapping of the stiffness properties is currently under intense development in our laboratories in continued co-operation with our Nihon University collaborators.
Edgar AD, Levin R, Constantinou CE and Louis Denis. A Critical Review of the Pharmacology of the Plant Extract of Pygeum Africanum (Tadenan®) in the Treatment of LUTS Neurourology and Urodynamics 2006
Yokota T, Honda K, Tsuruya Y, M. Nomiya M, Yamaguchi O, Gotanda K & Constantinou CE: Functional and Anatomical Effects of Steroid Induced Experimental Prostate Growth in the Beagle. A Urodynamic Model of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia The Prostate, 58:156-163, 2004
Yoshimura Y, O Yamaguchi, F. Bellamy, Constantinou CE. Effect of Pygeum Africanum (Tadenan) (TAD) on micturition and prostate growth of the rat secondary to co-administration and post-treatment with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) Urology, 61:475-478, 2003
Schmidt F, Yoshimura Y, Ni RX, Kneesel S, Constantinou CE: Influence of gender on the diurnal variation of urine production and micturition characteristics of the rat. Neurourology and Urodynamics 20:287-295, 2001
Choo MS, Bellamy F, Constantinou CE: Functional evaluation of TADENAN® on micturition and experimental prostate growth induced with exogenous dihydrotestosterone. Urology 55:292-298, 2000
Yoshimura Y, Schmidt, F. Constantinou, CE.: Gender specificity of Tolterodine on micturition and the diurnal variation of urine production of the conscious rat. BJU International 86:879-885 2000
Diep N & Constantinou CE.: Age dependent response to exogenous estrogen on micturition, contractility and cholinergic receptors of the rats bladder. Life Sciences 64#23 PL279-PL289, 1999
Lee JZ, Omata S, Tillig B, Perkash I, Constantinou CE.: Chronology and urodynamic characterization of micturition in neurohormonally induced experimental prostate growth in the rat. Neurourology and Urodynamics. 17:55-69, 1998.
Lee JZ, Tillig B, Perkash I, Constantinou CE: Effect of 1 adrenoceptor antagonist on the urodynamics of the upper and lower urinary tract of the male rat. Neurourology and Urodynamics.17:213-29 1998
Watanabe T, & Constantinou CE: Analysis of pressure flow characteristics in the female rat and its pharmacologic modulation. Neurourology and Urodynamics 15:513-527, 1996.
Constantinou CE. & Omata S: Analysis of the relative biomechanical effects of alpha-1 and alpha-2 antagonists in modifying the compliance of the prostate and micturition parameters of the hormonally manipulated rat. Neurourology and Urodynamics. 15:85-101, 1996
Constantinou CE: Influence of hormone treatment on prostate growth and micturition characteristics of the rat. The Prostate. 29:30-35, 1996
Omata S, Constantinou CE. Modeling of micturition characteristics based on prostatic stiffness modulation using hormones and adrenergic antagonists. Transactions of IEEE on Biomedical Engineering 42:843-848, 1995
Sorensen S, Waechter PB, Constantinou CE, Kirby HJ, Jonler M, Djurhuus, JC.: Urethral pressure and pressure variations in healthy fertile and postmenopausal women with reference to sex hormones. J. Urology. 146:1434-1440, 1991.
