Lutein inhibits tumor progression through the ATR/Chk1/p53 signaling pathway in non-small cell lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death. In particular, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases. Due to tumor resistance and the toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents, it is increasingly critical to discover novel, potent antitumorigenic drugs for treating NSCLC. Lutein, a carotenoid, has been reported to exert toxic effects on cells in several tumor types. However, the detailed functions and underlying mechanisms of lutein in NSCLC remain elusive. The present study showed that lutein significantly and dose-dependently inhibited cell proliferation, arrested the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase, and induced apoptosis in NSCLC cells. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that the p53 signaling pathway was the most significantly upregulated in lutein-treated A549 cells. Mechanistically, lutein exerted antitumorigenic effects by inducing DNA damage and subsequently activating the ATR/Chk1/p53 signaling pathway in A549 cells. In vivo, lutein impeded tumor growth in mice and prolonged their survival. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate the antitumorigenic potential of lutein and reveal its molecular mechanism of action, suggesting that lutein is a promising candidate for clinical NSCLC treatment.

Importance of PNO1 for growth and survival of urinary bladder carcinoma: Role in core-regulatory circuitry.

PNO1 (partner of Nob1) was known as a RNA-binding protein in humans, and its ortholog PNO1 was reported to participate ribosome and proteasome biogenesis in yeasts. Yet there have been few studies about its functions in mammalian cells, and so far its role in human cells has never been reported, especially in urinary bladder cancer (UBC).We interrogated the cellular functions and clinical significance of PNO1 in, and its molecular mechanism through microarrays and bioinformatics analysis. Our findings support that PNO1 participates in promoting proliferation and colonogenesis, while reducing apoptosis of UBC cells, and is also predicted to be associated with the migration and metastasis of UBC PNO1 knockdown (KD) attenuated the tumorigenesis ability of UBC in mouse. PNO1 KD led to the altered expression of 1543 genes that are involved in a number of signalling pathways, biological functions and regulation networks. CD44, PTGS2, cyclin D1, CDK1, IL-8, FRA1, as well as mTOR, p70 S6 kinase, p38 and Caspase-3 proteins were all down-regulated in PNO1 KD cells, suggesting the involvement of PNO1 in inflammatory responses, cell cycle regulation, chemotaxis, cell growth and proliferation, apoptosis, cell migration and invasiveness. This study will enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanism of UBC and may eventually provide novel targets for individualized cancer therapy.

Meta-analysis of efficacy and safety of continuous saline bladder irrigation compared with intravesical chemotherapy after transurethral resection of bladder tumors.

PURPOSE: We performed a meta-analysis to confirm the efficacy and safety of continuous saline bladder irrigation compared with intravesical chemotherapy after transurethral resection for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials of continuous saline bladder irrigation compared with intravesical chemotherapy were searched using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. The data were evaluated and statistically analyzed using RevMan version 5.3.0. RESULTS: Four studies including 861 participants which compared continuous saline bladder irrigation with intravesical chemotherapy were considered. One-year recurrence-free survival [odds ratio (OR) = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.55-1.05, p = 0.09]; 2-year recurrence-free survival (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.71-1.25, p = 0.68); the median period to first recurrence (OR = - 1.01, 95% CI = - 2.96 to 0.94, p = 0.31); the number of tumor progression (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.54-1.17, p = 0.25); and the number of recurrence during follow-up (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.84-1.50, p = 0.43) suggested that two methods of postoperative perfusion had no significant differences. In terms of safety, including macrohematuria, frequency of urination and bladder irritation symptoms, continuous saline bladder irrigation showed better tolerance than intravesical chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Continuous saline bladder irrigation seems to provide a better balance between prevention of recurrence and local toxicities than intravesical chemotherapy after transurethral resection of bladder tumors.

The role of three-dimensional reconstruction in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for complex renal tumors.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the role of three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction technique in renal function protection and ipsilateral parenchymal mass preserved after laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) in patients with complex renal tumor (R.E.N.A.L.score ≥ 8). METHODS: A retrospective study enrolling 49 patients who suffered from RCC and underwent LPN at our center, from October 1, 2017, to October 31, 2018. Twenty-one patients (group A) underwent LPN with the 3D reconstruction technique before surgery, and the other 28 patients (group B) not. Preoperative and postoperative ipsilateral parenchymal mass volume and ipsilateral glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were analyzed 3-5 days prior and 3 months after PN. In order to compare the two groups, Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square tests were performed. The main limitation of this technique is that the volume calculations are partly performed manually. RESULTS: All patients' median renal score was 10 with no difference between the two groups (P = 0.89), and the median tumor size of the two groups was 3.2 cm (group A) and 3.3 cm (group B) respectively (P = 0.14). In addition, the median warm ischemia time of the two groups was 21 min (group A) and 26 min (group B) (P = 0.003). In group A and group B, the rate of preserved global GFR was 88% and 86% (P = 0.06), preserved ipsilateral GFR was 80% and 77% (P = 0.01), and preserved ipsilateral parenchymal was 84% and 80% (P = 0.03) separately. CONCLUSION: 3D reconstruction technique was a beneficial method for more renal function and more preserved renal parenchymal mass volume after LPN. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, YHD[2017]212. Registered 1 January 2017 (prospectively registered), http://www.ytyhdyy.com/nav/103.htm .

Perioperative outcomes and safety of valveless insufflation system in minimally invasive urological surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: With the rapid development of laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgery, many technological innovations and improvements have emerged to optimize minimally invasive surgery and ensure minimal patient risk. Although AirSeal has been widely reported in the field of urology, its perioperative outcomes and safety in minimally invasive urological surgery remain unclear because of inconsistent levels of evidence. OBJECTIVES: The authors performed this meta-analysis to evaluate the perioperative outcomes and safety of the valveless insufflation system (VIS) in minimally invasive urological surgery compared with the conventional insufflation system (CIS). METHODS: The authors comprehensively searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases to identify eligible studies published up to January 2024. Review Manager software (version 5.3.0) was used for the statistical analysis. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or non-RCTs of minimally invasive urological surgery with VIS vs CIS. The study outcomes included perioperative outcomes and safety. The authors excluded publication types, including letters, reviews, case reports, and animal and pediatric studies. RESULTS: The authors finally identified five RCTs and eight non-RCTs in this meta-analysis. The meta- analysis indicated that the operative time was comparable between the groups ( P =0.57, I2 =91%). However, a VIS may increase blood loss ( P =0.0004, I2 =45%) and shorten hospital stays ( P <0.00001, I2 =90%). Due to the high heterogeneity of the results, the authors carefully evaluated all included studies and discovered that the studies by Bucur and Ferroni may be the sources of heterogeneity. When these two studies were excluded, heterogeneity was significantly reduced, and the operative time for VIS was significantly shorter than that for CIS ( P =0.0002). Adjusted blood loss showed no difference between the VIS and CIS groups ( P =0.10). In terms of safety, the pooled results revealed that the incidence of Clavien-Dindo III-IV complications in the VIS group was significantly lower than that in the CIS group ( P =0.02, I2 =0%). Moreover, VIS significantly reduced general pain ( P =0.02, I2 =15%) and shoulder pain ( P =0.001, I2 =0%) 12-24 h postoperatively. No significant differences were observed in total complications ( P =0.06, I2 =0%), blood transfusion ( P =0.14, I2 =0%), and subcutaneous emphysema ( P =0.96, I2 =63%) between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis revealed additional perioperative advantages of the VIS in minimally invasive urological surgery. Moreover, VIS is superior to CIS owing to less severe complication rates, general pain, and shoulder pain.

Comparative analysis of holmium: YAG laser internal urethrotomy versus Cold-Knife optical internal urethrotomy in the management of urethral stricture - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Urethral stricture management has posed enduring challenges in urology, demanding innovative and effective treatment modalities. This study addresses the persistent issues associated with urethral strictures, focusing on the comparative evaluation of two contemporary treatment modalities: Ho: YAG Laser Internal Urethrotomy (HIU) and Cold Knife Optical Internal Urethrotomy (CIU). METHODS: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and ResearchGate was conducted to identify relevant studies up to November 2023. Inclusion criteria encompassed comparative studies evaluating HIU and CIU in patients with urethral stricture. Data extraction, quality assessment, and subgroup analyses were performed using standardized methods. Outcome measures included preoperative and postoperative mean the maximum urine flow rate (Qmax), mean surgical time, recurrence rates, and perioperative complications. RESULTS: Nine articles met the inclusion criteria, and their data were analyzed using RevMan 5.4.1. Forest plots were generated for preoperative and postoperative mean Qmax, mean surgical time, recurrence rates, and perioperative complications. While postoperative mean Qmax (MD -0.06; 95% CI: -0.28-0.16; P =0.60, I2 =75%) and mean surgical time (MD 2.16; 95% CI: -1.66-5.99; P =0.27, I2 =98%) showed no significant differences between HIU and CIU, a trend towards lower recurrence rates (RR 0.71; 95% CI: 0.48-1.06; P =0.09, I2 =46%) was observed with HIU but without statistical significance. Perioperative complications, particularly bleeding (RR 0.21; 95% CI: 0.08-0.53; P =0.001, I2 =0%), favored HIU over CIU. The subanalysis indicates that for the treatment of complex urethral strictures, the two surgical methods differ in terms of mean Qmax at 6 months postoperatively (MD -2.51; 95% CI: -4.10--0.91; P =0.002, I2 =59%) and 12 months postoperatively (MD 2.62; 95% CI: 0.93-4.30; P =0.002, I2 =0%). The HIU group shows a significant decrease in recurrence rate at 12 months postoperatively (RR 0.44; 95% CI: 0.21-0.92; P =0.03, I2 =0%). For short-segment urethral strictures with a length ≤1.5 cm, CIU had a shorter operative time compared to the HIU (MD 4.49; 95% CI: 3.87-5.10; P <0.00001, I2 =44%). CONCLUSION: Overall, both interventions demonstrated similar efficacy in improving postoperative mean Qmax, mean surgical time, and recurrence rates. However, subanalysis indicates that in the short-term, CIU is more effective than HIU in improving Qmax after complex urethral stricture surgery. In long-term Qmax follow-up after surgery, HIU is significantly higher than CIU, and HIU has a low recurrence rate. In addition, for short-segment urethral stricture (≤1.5 cm), CIU requires less time. In terms of complications, HIU has a lower risk of bleeding.

Mirabegron and antimuscarinics for treating ureteral stent-related symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs.

Objective: We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of mirabegron (50 mg/day) and antimuscarinics in treating ureteral stent-related symptoms (SRSs). Methods: All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified by searching PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. The RevMan version 5.3.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: This meta-analysis included five RCTs involving 317 patients. A fixed effects model revealed that mirabegron was superior to antimuscarinics in treating urinary symptoms (MD -1.39, 95% CI -2.63 to -0.15, p = 0.03) and general health (MD -1.65, 95% CI -2.60 to -0.69, p = 0.0007) 1 week after treatment initiation. We observed no significant differences in body pain (MD 0.05, 95% CI -1.06 to 1.15, p = 0.94), work performance (MD -0.86, 95% CI -1.77 to 0.06, p = 0.07), and sexual matters (MD 0.03, 95% CI -0.77 to 0.83, p = 0.94). Two weeks after treatment initiation, the ureteral stent symptom questionnaire (USSQ) revealed no significant differences between the two groups. The mirabegron group demonstrated a significant improvement in the quality of life (QoL) (MD -0.18, 95% CI -0.34 to -0.01, p = 0.03), while the International Prostate Symptom Score did not reveal a significant difference between the two groups (MD -0.74, 95% CI -1.79 to 0.32, p = 0.17). Regarding safety, a pooled data analysis presented that the incidence of constipation was lower in the mirabegron group (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.77, p = 0.03). The mirabegron and antimuscarinics groups did not differ significantly concerning the risk of dry mouth (OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.02 to 1.27, p = 0.08). Conclusion: Mirabegron is superior to antimuscarinics in alleviating ureteral SRSs and improving QoL. Additionally, mirabegron 50 mg/day presented safety with a lower incidence of constipation.

Benefits of lymphadenectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma only located in the lower ureter: a bicentre retrospective cohort study.

Background: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a rare and highly malignant urothelial tumor originating from the renal pelvis and ureter associated with poor prognosis. It has been established that 70% of ureteral tumors occur in the lower ureter. Radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) with ipsilateral bladder cuff excision is regarded as the standard treatment for UTUC. Current evidence supports the role of lymph node dissection (LND) in determining tumor staging, but no consensus has been reached on the potential survival benefits. The present study retrospectively analyzed cases of UTUC limited to the lower ureter to evaluate the survival benefits of LND during RNU. Methods: The present study retrospectively analyzed data from patients with UTUC limited to the lower ureter from two medical centers from 2000 to 2016 and assessed the survival outcomes, including recurrence-free survival (RFS) and cancer specific survival (CSS). During subgroup analysis, we stratified by pathological tumor (pT) stages and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy (AC). Results: The study cohort included 297 patients separated into LND (n=111) and non-LND (n=186) groups. The two groups were comparable except for the pathological N stage. The LND group was associated with superior survival in terms of RFS (27.0% vs. 18.3%, p=0.044) and CSS (53.2 vs. 39.8%, p=0.031) compared to the non-LND group (n=186). In pT2-4 patients, the LND group was associated with better 3-year RFS (50.5% vs. 32.3%, p<0.05), 5-year RFS (29.7% vs. 12.0%, p<0.05), and overall RFS (18.7% vs. 6.0%, p<0.05) than the non-LND group. Besides, the LND group was associated with a significantly better 3-year CSS (68.1% vs. 49.6%, p=0.003), 5-year CSS (51.6% vs. 30.8%, p<0.05) and overall CSS (45.1% vs. 24.1%, p<0.05). In patients that underwent AC, the LND group had better survival benefits in terms of RFS (29.4 vs. 16.7%, p=0.023) and CSS (52.9% vs. 40.5%, p=0.038) compared to the non-LND group. Conclusion: LND has survival benefits in patients with UTUC localized to the lower ureter, especially for≥pT2 stage UTUC and AC cohorts. Overall, the therapeutic effect of LND in UTUC cannot be replaced by AC.

The characteristics of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells and their effect on glioma.

BACKGROUND: EPCs were isolated primarily in 1997 by Asahara et al. and recent studies indicated that bone-marrow-derived EPCs contributed little to the endothelium of tumor vessels. Tumors of the CNS system demonstrate various features of angiogenesis. METHODS: EPCs derived from rat bone marrow were isolated and cultured in M199 medium without any induced factors. EPCs were studied using immunohistochemical staining, Flow cytometry and culture under three-dimensional condition to determine EPCs' characteristics in vitro. We also established an animal model by injecting EPCs marked with Hoechst 33342 into the back of BALB/c nude mice and performed hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and immunofluorescent staining to study EPCs' features in vivo. To research effect of EPCs on glioma, animals bearing tumors model with C6 glioma were established. About 27 day after injection, we performed immunohistochemical staining and Immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Our results showed that EPCs derived from rat bone marrow appeared typical morphological characteristics and were positive of CD34, CD133, KDR and CD31 antigens at different time in vitro under the special M199 medium without any induced factors. The percentage of cells that expressed CD133 decreased gradually. In brief, the present study showed that EPCs derived from rat bone marrow differentiated into ECs in medium the without any induced factors and formed tubular structures in three-dimensional circumstances. Animal experiments suggested that EPCs differentiated into ECs and other else non-endothelial cells, and that EPCs contributed M199 of glioma. DISCUSSION: These findings provides some novel results about biological characteristics of EPCs in vivo and ex vivo, and an update on the effect of EPCs on glioma and which would be helpful for the overall understanding of EPCs and make EPCs to be implied on the clinical therapy.

A case report of adenofibroma arising from the seminal vesicle: A rare giant pelvic mass.

Primary seminal vesicle tumors are extremely rare. Several rare pathological types of primary seminal vesicle tumors have been reported, such as adenocarcinoma, but there is no report on adenofibroma. We report the first case of adenofibroma arising from the seminal vesicle. A 50-year-old man, with no history or clinical evidence of any other tumors, accidentally found a pelvic mass during an ultrasound examination. As the mass grew, the patient developed mild constipation, without genitourinary or other symptoms. All laboratory examinations were normal. MRI of the pelvis revealed a mixed density, measuring 11.7×9.9×8.2cm, well circumscribed mass. The rectum, bladder, prostate and lymph nodes were normal. We successfully performed the open surgery and removed the mass. Histopathological results confirmed that the mass was a primary seminal vesicle adenofibroma. In literature, we found that for biphasic differentiated tumors, it is easy to reduce the accuracy of pathological diagnosis because of insufficient puncture. Therefore, preoperative puncture biopsy for seminal vesicle tumors should be investigated further.

Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy and Safety of Ketamine on Postoperative Catheter-Related Bladder Discomfort.

Objectives: We conducted meta-analysis to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of ketamine on postoperative catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD). Methods: A systematic search was performed through PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library to identify all randomized controlled trials that used ketamine in postoperative CRBD. This study was carried out by using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. We used RevMan version 5.3.0. to analyze the data. Results: Five RCTs involving 414 patients were included in the analysis. The incidence and severity of postoperative CRBD were assessed at 0, 1, 2, and 6 h. According to our results of meta-analysis, ketamine reduced the incidence of postoperative CRBD at 2 h (RR 0.39; 95% CI, 0.21-0.71; p = 0.002, I2 = 40%) and 6 h (RR 0.29; 95% CI, 0.16-0.50; p < 0.0001, I2 = 0%) significantly; however, there were no statistical differences at 0 h (RR 0.81; 95% CI, 0.35-1.88; p = 0.62, I2 = 96%) and 1 h (RR 0.57; 95% CI, 0.13-2.54; p = 0.46, I2 = 97%). In two studies, we compared the incidence of moderate-to-severe CRBD between groups according to the scaling system (none, mild, moderate, and severe), and data are presented as numbers. Patients in the ketamine group showed a significantly lower severity of CRBD than those in the placebo group at 1 h (RR 0.09; 95% CI, 0.03-0.31; p = 0.0001) and 2 h (RR 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01-0.44; p = 0.005). In contrast, there were no meaningful differences between the two groups in the severity of CRBD at 0 h (RR 0.18; p = 0.84) or 6 h (RR 0.20; 95% CI, 0.03-1.59; p = 0.13). There were no meaningful differences on the rate of adverse events between the ketamine group and control group, mainly including postoperative nausea and vomiting (RR 1.24; 95% CI, 0.89-1.72; p = 0.21), diplopia (RR 3.00; 95% CI, 0.48-18.67; p = 0.24), and hallucination (RR 3.00; 95% CI, 0.32-28.24; p = 0.34). Conclusion: Our meta-analysis demonstrated that a sub-hypnotic dose of ketamine administration can reduce the incidence and severity of postoperative CRBD without causing evident side effects.

The efficacy and safety of antimuscarinics for the prevention or treatment of catheter-related bladder discomfort: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of antimuscarinics for the prevention or treatment of catheter related bladder discomfort (CRBD). METHODS: The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (from 1987 to July 2021) were used to search randomized controlled trials. The PRISMA checklists were followed. RevMan5.4.0 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Eleven studies involving 1165 patients were involved in the analysis. The study reported that the incidence of CRBD observed in the antimuscarinics group was significantly lower than that of the control group at 0-, 1-, 2-, and 6-h after drug therapy (P = 0.001, P < 0.0001, P = 0.0005, and P = 0.001, respectively). For side effects, there were not statistical differences between the antimuscarinics group and the control group, mainly including dry mouth (risk ratio (RR) = 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.95 to 1.80, P = 0.09), postoperative nausea and vomiting (RR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.55 to 1.90, P = 0.87), facial flushing (RR = 1.06, 95% CI = 0.43 to 2.61, P = 0.90), and blurred vision (RR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.35 to 2.58, P = 0.91). Besides, rescue analgesics were required less in the antimuscarinics group than in the control group (RR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.32 to 0.80, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the control group, the antimuscarinics group had a significant improvement on CRBD, the patients were well tolerated and the use rate of rescue analgesics was low.

The Influence of Tramadol on Intravaginal Ejaculatory Latency Time and Sexual Satisfaction Score in Treating Patients With Premature Ejaculation: A Network Meta-Analysis.

This network meta-analysis aimed at assessing the influence of tramadol on the intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) and sexual satisfaction score (SSS) in treating patients with premature ejaculation (PE). The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library databases (until July 2021), and original references of the included articles was systematically retrieved. The PRISMA checklist was followed. Finally, 14 articles including 1971 patients were included in this analysis. The results indicated that patients who were treated with tramadol (50 mg, 62 mg, 89 mg, and 100 mg) were superior to those treated with placebo in terms of IELT (p = .003, p < .00001, p < .00001, and p < .00001, respectively), but 25 mg tramadol did not show a significant advantage (p = .06). Patients who were treated with tramadol (50 mg and 100 mg) had a better efficacy than who were treated with 25 mg tramadol in the IELT (p < .00001 and p < .00001), but the effect of 50 mg tramadol and 100 mg tramadol were not significantly different (p = .17). The tramadol group had the better effect than the placebo group in the SSS (p < .0001). And 50 mg tramadol showed a significant improvement compared with 20 mg paroxetine, as assessed by the IELT (p = .03) and SSS (p = .03). Safety assessments including adverse events suggested that tramadol was well tolerated. Tramadol showed a better improvement of IELT and SSS than placebo or paroxetine, and 50 mg tramadol may be a more reasonable therapeutic dose for patients with PE.

Trigonal-Sparing vs. Trigonal-Involved OnabotulinumtoxinA Injection for the Treatment of Overactive Bladder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Overactive bladder (OAB) is a disease characterized by the presence of urinary urgency. We carried out a meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness and safety of trigonal-involved injection of onabotulinumtoxinA (BoNT-A) in comparison with the trigonal-sparing technique in cases with OAB [neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) and idiopathic detrusor overactivity (IDO)]. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of BoNT-A injection for OAB were searched systematically by using EMBASE, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. The datum was calculated by RevMan version 5.3.0. The original references of relating articles were also reviewed. Results: In total, six RCTs involving 437 patients were included in our analysis. For OAB, the trigone-including group showed a different patient symptom score (p = 0.03), complete dryness rate (p = 0.002), frequency of incontinence episodes (p = 0.01), detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate (p = 0.01), and volume at the first desire to void (p = 0.0004) compared with the trigone-sparing group. Also, a trigone-including intradetrusor injection demonstrated a significant improvement in the patient symptom score (p = 0.0004), complete dryness rate (p = 0.0002), frequency of incontinence episodes (p = 0.0003), detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate (p = 0.01), and volume at the first desire to void (p = 0.00006) compared with the trigone-sparing group for treatment of NDO. The adverse events rates were similar in both groups. Conclusions: The meta-analysis has demonstrated that trigone-including BoNT-A injection was more effective compared with the trigone-sparing injection for the treatment of OAB, especially for NDO.

Pooled analysis of the efficacy and safety of intraoperative dexmedetomidine on postoperative catheter-related bladder discomfort.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of the pooled analysis was to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of intraoperative dexmedetomidine in postoperative catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD). METHODS: MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Excerpta Medica Database (Embase) were used to pick out randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that used intraoperative dexmedetomidine in postoperative CRBD. This study was carried out using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and pooled analysis. We used RevMan version 5.3.0. to analyze the data. RESULTS: Seven RCTs involving 607 patients were brought into in the analysis. The incidence of CRBD and the incidence of moderate to severe CRBD were assessed at 0 hours, 0.5 or 1 hour, 2 or 3 hours, 6 hours, and 12 or 24 hours postoperatively. The analysis proved that both the incidence of CRBD (P < .00001) and the incidence of moderate to severe CRBD had a statistically significant reduction at 0 hours, 0.5 or 1 hours, 2 or 3 hours, and 6 hours postoperatively (P < .00001, P <.00001, P <.00001, P = .003, respectively). The postoperative pain score was lower in the dexmedetomidine group at 0 hours (P < .00001) and 1 hour (P = .002). Safety assessments indicated that there were no statistical differences between dexmedetomidine and control for side effects, mainly including dry mouth (P = .99) and postoperative vomiting and nausea (P = .77). CONCLUSIONS: The pooled analysis demonstrates that intraoperative dexmedetomidine administration decreases the rate and severity of early postoperative CRBD without causing significant side effects.

Spectral and temporal changes to speech produced in the presence of energetic and informational maskers.

Talkers change the way they speak in noisy conditions. For energetic maskers, speech production changes are relatively well-understood, but less is known about how informational maskers such as competing speech affect speech production. The current study examines the effect of energetic and informational maskers on speech production by talkers speaking alone or in pairs. Talkers produced speech in quiet and in backgrounds of speech-shaped noise, speech-modulated noise, and competing speech. Relative to quiet, speech output level and fundamental frequency increased and spectral tilt flattened in proportion to the energetic masking capacity of the background. In response to modulated backgrounds, talkers were able to reduce substantially the degree of temporal overlap with the noise, with greater reduction for the competing speech background. Reduction in foreground-background overlap can be expected to lead to a release from both energetic and informational masking for listeners. Passive changes in speech rate, mean pause length or pause distribution cannot explain the overlap reduction, which appears instead to result from a purposeful process of listening while speaking. Talkers appear to monitor the background and exploit upcoming pauses, a strategy which is particularly effective for backgrounds containing intelligible speech.

The efficacy and safety of diuretics on extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy treatment of urolithiasis: A systematic review and meta analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of diuretics on extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) treatment of urolithiasis. METHODS: The databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Controlled Trial Register of Controlled Trials from January 1980 until November 2019 were searched to identify randomized controlled trials that referred to the use of diuretics on extracorporeal SWL treatment of urolithiasis. RESULTS: Six randomized controlled trials containing 1344 patients were included in this meta-analysis, which compared diuretics with placebo on extracorporeal SWL treatment of urolithiasis. In the analysis, we found that diuretics on extracorporeal SWL treatment were more effective for the management of urinary stones. Compared with placebo, patients who received diuretics during extracorporeal SWL treatment had significantly higher successful stone clearance rate (Odds ratio; 1.73, 95% confidence interval (CI); 1.35 to 2.21, P < .0001), higher stone fragmentation rate (odds ratio; 2.83, 95% CI; 1.30 to 6.16, P = .009), less average number of sessions per stone (mean difference; -0.13; 95% CI, -0.25 to -0.01, P = .03) and similar average number of shocks per stone (mean difference; -126.89; 95% CI, -394.53 to 140.76, P = .35). CONCLUSION: This systematic review and meta-analysis indicates that diuretics during extracorporeal SWL was effective in the management of urolithiasis with lower risk of complications.

Health Effects of Alternate-Day Fasting in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Alternate-day fasting (ADF) method is becoming more and more popular among adults. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effects of ADF on adults. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of ADF were searched using PubMed (1988 to March 2020), EMBASE (1995 to March 2020), and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. A systematic review was carried out using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses. The datum was calculated by RevMan version 5.3.0. The original references for relating articles were also reviewed. Results: Seven randomized controlled trials involving 269 participants (152 in the ADF group and 117 in the control group) were studied. In this meta-analysis, compared with the control group, the ADF group showed statistically significant reductions in weight (p < 0.00001) and body mass index (p < 0.00001). Besides, the ADF group showed significant differences in terms of total cholesterol (p = 0.001), low-density lipoprotein (p = 0.01), triglycerides (p = 0.02), fat mass (p = 0.002), lean mass (p = 0.002), systolic blood pressure (p = 0.003), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.007), and total calorie intake (p = 0.007). At the same time, the analysis demonstrated that the ADF group had a same effect compared with control group in aspects of high-density lipoprotein (p = 0.27), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (p = 0.55), and fasting blood sugar (p = 0.09). Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests that ADF is a viable diet strategy for weight loss, and it has a substantial improvement in risk indicators for diseases in obese or normal people.

Speech production modifications produced in the presence of low-pass and high-pass filtered noise.

In the presence of noise, do speakers actively shift their spectral energy distribution to regions least affected by the noise? The current study measured speech level, fundamental frequency, first formant frequency, and spectral center of gravity for read speech produced in the presence of low- and high-pass filtered noise. In both filtering conditions, these acoustic parameters increased relative to speech produced in quiet, a response which creates a release from masking for listeners in the low-pass condition but which actually increases masking in the high-pass noise condition. These results suggest that, at least for read speech, speakers do not adopt production strategies in noise which optimize listeners' information reception but that instead the observed shifts could be a passive response which creates a fortuitous masking release in the low-pass noise. Independent variation in parameters such as F0, F1 and spectral center of gravity may be severely constrained by the increase in vocal effort which accompanies Lombard speech.

[Effects of K237 on the proliferation of PC-3M cells and mRNA expressions of bax and bcl-2].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inhibitory effect of polypeptide K237 on the proliferation of human hormone refractory prostate cancer cell line PC-3M and its possible mechanism. METHODS: PC-3M cells were divided into three experimental groups and a control, treated with polypeptide K237 at the concentration of 50, 100, 200 and 0 micromol/L, respectively, for 48 hours. The effects of K237 on the proliferation of different groups of the PC-3M cells were analyzed by MTF, and the mRNA expression levels of bax and bcl-2 were detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: After polypeptide K237 treatment, the PC-3M cells became round, small and less transparent in cytoplasm, and some shed and suspended in the culture medium. The growth inhibition rates of the PC-3M cells were (12.6 +/- 0.95)%, (17.8 +/- 0.99)% and (27.2 +/- 1.12)% in the 50, 100 and 200 micromol/L concentration groups. RT-PCR analysis showed that the bax/beta-actin values of the 50, 100, 200 and 0 micromol/L groups were 0.919 +/- 0.071, 0.971 +/- 0.083, 0.992 +/- 0.102 and 0.889 +/- 0.067, and the bcl-2/beta-actin values of the four groups were 0.896 +/- 0.085, 0.791 +/- 0.084, 0.764 +/- 0.702 and 0.922 +/- 0.097, respectively, both with significant differences between the experimental and the control groups (P < 0.01). The mRNA expression of bax was upregulated and that of bcl-2 downregulated in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Polypeptide K237 may induce apoptosis of PC-3M cells by affecting the expressions of bax and bcl-2, and thus suppress the proliferation of prostate cancer cells.