title: Fine structural characterization of chondroitin sulfate in urine of bladder pain syndrome subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Urothelial glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are decreased in bladder pain syndrome (BPS), and urinary GAGs are thought to reflect this deficiency. In previous researches, urine GAG levels were found increased, decreased, or similar between BPS and controls. Additionally, no study is available on the structure characterization of urinary chondroitin sulfate (CS) in BPS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  CS in the urine of BPS-affected patients and controls has been determined by specific electrophoresis, along with total GAGs and heparan sulfate (HS) percentage, and CS disaccharides have been quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were obtained for total amount of GAGs, absolute content of CS and HS, and their relative percentages. Moreover, no differences were observed for CS structure confirming similar urine CS composition in BPS subjects and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found no significant differences of BPS and control urine GAG levels and CS structure to allow use of these parameters as diagnostic markers for BPS diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/D, 41100 Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maccari
authors.forename: Dania
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buzzega
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galeotti
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Volpi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000648:ultrastructure* / Q000652:urine*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000652:urine; D006497:Heparan Sulfate / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D006497:Heparan Sulfate