Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40302398›Full record

ArticleNeurourology and urodynamics2025

Spinal Cord Lower Urinary Tract Control in Humans.

Betsy H Salazar, Charles M Mazeaud, Kristopher A Hoffman, Argyrios Stampas, Rose Khavari

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Neurourology and urodynamics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Betsy H SalazarDepartment of Urology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3626-9349
Charles M MazeaudDepartment of Urology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas.
Kristopher A HoffmanDepartment of Urology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2669-1108
Argyrios StampasDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, Houston, Texas.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4600-6208
Rose KhavariDepartment of Urology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6713-1679

Funding

Urology Centers Program Interactions Core (U24)U24DK127726 · NIDDK · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · PI Kristina L Penniston · 2020 to 2026
$6.3M
A randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial evaluating individualized neuromodulation of cortical regions involved in neurogenic overactive bladder in Multiple SclerosisR01DK134340 · NIDDK · METHODIST HOSPITAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE · PI Rose Khavari · 2023 to 2026
$1.4M
NIDDK NIH HHS R01 DK134340NIDDK NIH HHS U24 DK127726This study was supported by a CAIRIBU Collaboration Award under U24DK127726, NIH grant 1R01DK134340, and the Department of Urology at Houston Methodist Hospital.
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectiveAlthough there have been significant advancements in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies that have enhanced our understanding of brain control over bladder function in humans, a notable gap still exists in exploring spinal cord involvement in real-time. The objective of this study was to develop and validate an fMRI protocol to assess innate spinal cord activity in humans within regions associated with bladder function.

methodsTwenty healthy adult participants 9 men, 11 women underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the spinal cord during implementation of a natural bladder filling protocol and simulated bulbocavernosus reflex (sBCR). Anatomical images were obtained, followed by resting-state and task-based fMRI assessments during both full and empty bladder states. Functional spinal neuroimaging data were analyzed using a custom pipeline comprised of Spinal Cord Toolbox, FSL, and MATLAB scripts for preprocessing and analysis. KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: Our preliminary findings revealed activation in 15 participants (7 men, 8 women), exhibiting diverse patterns of activity across the T10-S5 neuronal segments during task-fMRI sessions conducted with both empty and full bladder conditions during sBCR. The identified activated regions included sympathetic (T10-L2), parasympathetic (S2-S4), and somatic nuclei (S2-S4), previously implicated in facilitating lower urinary tract (LUT) control. Notably, our preliminary findings suggest that sex differences may influence these activation patterns, though further investigation and second-level analysis are warranted to confirm this observation.

conclusionsAlthough preliminary, our findings demonstrate, for the first time, the efficacy of our fMRI protocol in detecting task-induced activity in the lumbosacral spinal cord, underscoring our capability to precisely target specific regions responsible for regulating LUT function.

Indexed as

Magnetic Resonance ImagingSpinal CordUrinary BladderAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedReflexYoung Adultbladderfunctional MRIneurourologyspinal cord

Identifiers

PMID40302398
PMCPMC12321197

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.