[Transurethral 180 W front-firing GreenLight laser vaporization of the prostate for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effect and safety of transurethral 180 W front-firing GreenLight laser vaporization of the prostate (PVP) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: A total of 61 BPH patients underwent 180W front-firing GreenLight laser PVP (n = 30, the PVP group) or transurethral plasmakinetic resection of the prostate (n = 31, the control group) from March to December 2019. We collected the pre-, intra- and post-operative clinical data and compared them between the two groups of patients. RESULTS: Operations were successfully completed in all the cases with no blood transfusion or serious complications. Compared with the controls, the patients of the PVP group showed remarkably less intra-operative blood loss (ï¼»62.3 ± 15.9ï¼½ vs ï¼»48.8 ± 9.6ï¼½ ml, P < 0.05), shorter operation time (ï¼»75.0 ± 9.9ï¼½ vs ï¼»57.5 ± 19.0ï¼½ min, P < 0.05), postoperative bladder lavage time (ï¼»64.4 ± 10.5ï¼½ vs ï¼»25.2 ± 11.5ï¼½ h, P < 0.05), catheter-indwelling time (ï¼»5.1 ± 0.5ï¼½ vs ï¼»2.5 ± 0.5ï¼½ d, P < 0.05) and hospitalization time (ï¼»7.3 ± 1.7ï¼½ vs ï¼»4.1 ± 0.6ï¼½ d, P < 0.05), and a lower incidence of postoperative hematuria (12.9% ï¼»4/31ï¼½ vs 0% ï¼»0/30ï¼½, P < 0.05). No statistically significant differences, however, were found between the two groups in the incidence rates of capsular perforation, transurethral resection syndrome (TURS), urinary incontinence, urethral stricture and post-extubation urinary retention. Significant improvement was observed in IPSS, QOL, Qmax and PVR in both groups post-operatively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with transurethral plasmakinetic resection of the prostate, 180W front-firing GreenLight laser PVP, with the advantages of less bleeding, shorter catheter-indwelling time and faster recovery, is safer and more effective for the treatment of BPH, with no need for drug withdrawal for those taking anticoagulants, and especially applicable to the elderly and high-risk patients.

Perfusion Computer Tomography Assessment of the Effect of Angiotensin II On Blood Flow Distribution in Rabbits with Intrarenal VX2 Tumors.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Unlike other organs, which only have one set of capillary network, the renal microvasculature consists of two sets of capillary network series connected by efferent arterioles. Angiotensin II constricts the efferent glomerular artery. Hence, renal tumor blood flow (BF) distribution may be different from tumors in other organs. This study aims to investigate the effects of angiotensin II on the hemodynamics of intrarenal VX2 tumors using perfusion computed tomography(CT). METHODS: Twenty-four male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: groups A (blank controls), group B (negative controls), and group C (angiotensin II-treated animals). Group B and C were established to the model of intrarenal VX2 tumors. Furthermore, perfusion CT of the kidney was performed in each group. Prior to perfusion CT scan in group C, the mean arterial blood was elevated to 150-160 mmHg by angiotensin II. The BF, blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT), capillary permeability-surface area product (PS), and relative permeability-surface area product (RPS) of tumors and renal tissues were calculated. RESULTS: Compared with normal renal cortex tissues in group A, the BF, BV and PS values of tumors in group B were significantly lower, MTT was prolonged and RPS increased. Compared with group B, only the RPS of these tumors increased from 83.23 ± 29.17% to 120.94 ± 31.84% by angiotensin II infusion. Angiotensin II significantly increased the RPS value of the renal cortex distant from the tumor (CDT) and the right renal cortex (RRC). CONCLUSIONS: Perfusion CT can accurately observe the influence of angiotensin II on normal and tumor BF in kidneys. This clarifies the effect of angiotensin II on intrarenal tumor hemodynamics.

Distribution of tick-borne diseases in China.

As an important contributor to vector-borne diseases in China, in recent years, tick-borne diseases have attracted much attention because of their increasing incidence and consequent significant harm to livestock and human health. The most commonly observed human tick-borne diseases in China include Lyme borreliosis (known as Lyme disease in China), tick-borne encephalitis (known as Forest encephalitis in China), Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (known as Xinjiang hemorrhagic fever in China), Q-fever, tularemia and North-Asia tick-borne spotted fever. In recent years, some emerging tick-borne diseases, such as human monocytic ehrlichiosis, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, and a novel bunyavirus infection, have been reported frequently in China. Other tick-borne diseases that are not as frequently reported in China include Colorado fever, oriental spotted fever and piroplasmosis. Detailed information regarding the history, characteristics, and current epidemic status of these human tick-borne diseases in China will be reviewed in this paper. It is clear that greater efforts in government management and research are required for the prevention, control, diagnosis, and treatment of tick-borne diseases, as well as for the control of ticks, in order to decrease the tick-borne disease burden in China.

Ferroelectric metal-organic framework with a high dielectric constant.

Hydrothermal reaction of (l)-N-(4'-cyanobenzy)-(S)-proline with CdCl2 as a Lewis acid catalyst and NaN3 gives colorless block compound 1, in which 1 displays a complicated 3D framework. Ferroelectric and dielectric property measurements reveal that 1 exhibits physical properties comparable to that of a typical ferroelectric compound with a dipole relaxation process and a dielectric constant of ca. 38.6 that makes it, by definition, a high dielectric material.