Analytical Study of Cavitation Surge in a Hydraulic System.

In order to clarify effects of an accumulator, pipe lengths and gradients of pressure and suction performances on cavitation surge, one-dimensional stability analyses of cavitation surge were performed in hydraulic systems consisting of an upstream tank, an inlet pipe, a cavitating pump, a downstream pipe, and a downstream tank. An accumulator located upstream or downstream of the cavitating pump was included in the analysis. Increasing the distance between the upstream accumulator and the cavitating pump enlarged the stable region. On the other hand, decreasing the distance between the downstream accumulator and the cavitating pump enlarged the stable region. Furthermore, the negative gradient of a suction performance curve and the positive gradient of a pressure performance curve cause cavitation surge.

Prognostic value of chronicity grading on renal outcomes in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Many studies have shown that chronic changes are strong predictors of renal outcomes in various kidney diseases, including IgA nephropathy. The Mayo Clinic/Renal Pathology Society suggested a glomerulonephritis reporting system with a proposal for standardized grading of chronic changes. The purpose of this study was to predict renal outcomes in patients with IgA nephropathy using chronicity grading in comparison to the Oxford classification which did not include global sclerosis. A total of 4,151 patients with IgA nephropathy were enrolled from the Korean GlomeruloNephritis Study Group registry. Chronicity grading was categorized into minimal, mild, moderate, and severe according to the extent of chronic changes. The Oxford T and S scores were considered as chronic lesions. Three prediction models were constructed: the Oxford classification model (Oxford S plus T), chronicity grading model A (chronicity grading), and chronicity grading model B (chronicity grading plus Oxford S). Using these three prediction models, the primary renal outcome (end-stage renal disease) was evaluated using Cox regression analysis and prediction performance. During the median follow-up of 6.1 (2.7-9.9) years, 304 (7.3%) patients progressed to end-stage renal disease with a cumulative incidence rate of 1.02 events per 100 person-years. In a fully adjusted multivariable model, chronicity grading was independently associated with the primary renal outcome in both models A and B. Compared to the Oxford model, both models A and B showed improvements in model fit, but not in discrimination (ΔC 0.001; 95% CI, -0.010 to 0.013 and ΔC 0.002; 95% CI, -0.005 to 0.008, respectively). Model B demonstrated improvements in integrated discrimination improvement (0.01; 95% CI, 0-0.03) and continuous net reclassification improvement (0.49; 95% CI, 0.02-0.72). The severity of chronicity grading is closely related to adverse renal outcomes in patients with IgA nephropathy, and chronicity grading could provide additional information in clinical practice alongside the Oxford classification.

An anteriorly positioned midline prostatic cyst resulting in lower urinary tract symptoms.

Most prostatic cysts are not symptomatic and are found incidentally. There have been some reports of prostatic cysts presenting as an infravesical obstruction. Our case is the second published report of an anteriorly positioned midline prostatic cyst of the bladder neck. The prostatic cyst in a 41-year-old man presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms was located in the anterior and midline area of the prostate and was protruding into the bladder neck at the precise twelve o'clock position. The cyst obstructed the bladder neck by acting like a checking valve. Transurethral resection of the cyst was performed, and the obstructive symptoms successfully improved.