DFT-Based Study of the Structure, Stability, and Spectral and Optical Properties of Gas-Phase NbMgn (n = 2-12) Clusters.

Gas-phase NbMgn (n = 2-12) clusters were fully searched by CALYPSO software, and then the low-energy isomers were further optimized and calculated under DFT. It is shown that the three lowest energy isomers of NbMgn (n = 3-12) at each size are grown from two seed structures, i.e., tetrahedral and pentahedral structures, and the transition size occurs at the NbMg8 cluster. Interestingly, the relative stability calculations of the NbMg8 cluster ground-state isomer stand out under the examination of several parameters' calculations. The charge-transfer properties of the clusters of the ground-state isomers of various sizes had been comprehensively investigated. In order to be able to provide data guidance for future experimental probing of these ground-state clusters, this work also predicted infrared and Raman spectra at the same level of theoretical calculations. The results show that the multipeak nature of the IR and Raman spectra predicts that it is difficult to distinguish them directly. Finally, the optical properties of these clusters were investigated by calculating the static linear, second-order nonlinear, and third-order nonlinear coefficients. Importantly and interestingly, the NbMg8 cluster was shown to have superior nonlinear optical characteristics to all other clusters; thus, it is a powerful candidate for a potentially ultrasensitive nonlinear optical response device for some special purpose.

[Regulation of ischemic stroke by circadian rhythm and intervention by traditional Chinese medicine].

Circadian rhythm is an internal regulatory mechanism formed in organisms in response to the circadian periodicity in the environment, which modulates the pathophysiological events, occurrence and development of diseases, and the response to treatment in mammals. It significantly influences the susceptibility, injury, and recovery of ischemic stroke, and the response to therapy. Accumulating evidence indicates that circadian rhythms not only regulate the important physiological factors of ischemic stroke events, such as blood pressure and coagulation-fibrinolysis system, but also participate in the immuno-inflammatory reaction mediated by glial cells and peripheral immune cells after ischemic injury and the regulation of neurovascular unit(NVU). This article aims to link molecular, cellular, and physiological pathways in circadian biology to the clinical consequences of ischemic stroke and to illustrate the impact of circadian rhythms on ischemic stroke pathogenesis, the regulation of NVU, and the immuno-inflammatory responses. The regulation of circadian rhythm by traditional Chinese medicine is reviewed, and the research progress of traditional Chinese medicine intervention in circadian rhythm is summarized to provide a reasonable and valuable reference for the follow-up traditional Chinese medicine research and molecular mechanism research of circadian rhythm.

[Effects of Long-term Fertilization on Soil Nutrient Characteristics and Microbial Resource Restrictions in a Terrace on the Loess Plateau].

Long-term fertilization has an important effect on soil fertility and soil microbial activity. In order to explore the effects of long-term fertilization on soil extracellular enzyme activities and nutrient characteristics in a terrace on the Loess Plateau, we based our investigation on the long-term nutrient localization plot of Ansai Soil and Water Conservation Experimental Station, Chinese Academy of Sciences. We measured the soil physicochemical properties, microbial biomass, and extracellular enzyme activities of six fertilization treatments, which included no fertilization (CK); manure and nitrogen fertilization (MN); manure and phosphate fertilization (MP); manure, nitrogen, and phosphate fertilization (MNP); manure (M); and nitrogen and phosphate fertilization (NP). The results showed that all fertilization treatments significantly increased soil nutrient content and soil extracellular enzyme activities compared with that in CK. Correlation analysis showed that extracellular enzyme activity and soil physicochemical properties had an extremely significant correlation. The redundancy analysis indicated that soil nutrient and soil microbial biomass could explain 79.66% and 74.87% of the variation in soil extracellular enzyme activity and its stoichiometric ratio, respectively. Thus, the effects of fertilization on soil fertility were primarily through influencing soil extracellular enzyme activities indirectly. M, MN, MP, and MNP significantly improved soil organic carbon (SOC); soil total nitrogen (STN); and carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) source enzyme content; however, MNP changed the soil pH, which had an inhibitory effect on microbial activities. Vector analysis showed that the microbial communities of all treatments were in the condition of P limitation. Although MNP could alleviate the extent of P limitation, there was no significant difference between M and MP. Our study indicated that long-term application of manure[7500 kg·(hm2·a)-1]could meet the nutrient requirements of dryland crop growth, and long-term application of manure combined with phosphorus fertilization could alleviate the resource constraints faced by microorganisms. Consequently, our results provide a new insight into improving regional nitrogen excess.

Efficacy on rabbits with arrhythmia: needling acupoint of Neiguan (PC6) at shallow or deep depth, and retaining needles for 10, 20, or 30 min.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of Neiguan (PC6) acupuncture at different depths and retention time on arrhythmia duration, myocardial tissue morphology, mRNA expression level of L-type calcium channel α1C subunit and Ca2 + -Mg2 + -AtPase activity in tachirrhythmia model of rabbits. METHODS: The tachyarrhythmia model was made by intravenous injection of barium chloride into the ears of rabbits. A total of 56 healthy adult male New Zealand big-eared white rabbits, apply the random number table method, divided into normal control group (group A), model group (group B), shallow needling Neiguan (PC6) 10 min group (group C), shallow needling Neiguan (PC6) 20 min group (group D), shallow needling Neiguan (PC6) 30 min group (group E), deep needling Neiguan (PC6) 10 min group (group F), deep needling Neiguan (PC6) 20 min group (group G), deep needling Neiguan (PC6) 30 min group (group H), 7 animals in each group. Electrocardiograms were used to collect the duration of arrhythmia; hematoxylin-eosin staining method was performed on myocardial tissue, RT-PCR tested the expression of α1C subunit mRNA, and the activity of Ca2 + -Mg2 + -ATPase were quantified by phosphorus determination method. RESULTS: The duration of arrhythmia in each acupuncture treatment group was shortened to varying degrees. Compare to the model group, the tissue damage from barium chloride inducing was improved in the acupuncture group. Compared to the model group, except for group E, most treatment groups had varying degrees of improvement with significantly down-regulated L-type calcium channel α1C subunit mRNA expressions level and increased Ca2+ -Mg2+ -ATPase activity. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) with different depths and retention time can reduce the duration of arrhythmia induced by barium chloride relatively, improve the induced pathological changes, down regulate L-type calcium channel α1C subunit mRNA expressions level and increase Ca2 + -Mg2 + -ATPase activity. Both the shallow and deep tissues of Neiguan (PC6) may be involved in transmitting acupuncture information. There is an optimal induction period for shallow needling at Neiguan (PC6) to reach the best therapeutic effect.

Research on Interlayer Bonding Quality Control Method of Dam Concrete Based on Equivalent Age.

Interlayer bonding quality is the key to the stability and durability of dam concrete. In this study, interlayer splitting tensile strength, relative permeability coefficient, and electric flux of dam concrete at different temperatures were tested. The relationships between equivalent age and strength coefficient, relative permeability coefficient ratio, and electric flux ratio were established. Meanwhile, a comprehensive early-warning and control system of dam interlayer bonding quality based on the above relationships was proposed. The results showed that the interlayer mechanical properties, impermeability, and anti-chloride ion permeability of dam concrete decreased with the increase of temperature. Moreover, the equivalent age was linearly correlated with strength coefficient, relative permeability coefficient ratio, and electric flux ratio of concrete. The correlation coefficients were 0.986, 0.973, and 0.924, respectively. In addition, the interlayer bonding quality of dam concrete can be effectively controlled by the early-warning system established according to the relationship between equivalent age and interlayer properties parameters.

Development of eugenol-loaded submicron emulsion and its antiepileptic effect through regulating the oxidative stress.

The purpose of this study was to develop an injectable submicron emulsion of eugenol (Eug-SE) and to investigate its antagonism on epilepsy. The formulation was optimized using a complete randomized design, comprising 5% (w/v) eugenol, 5% (w/v) soybean oil, 1.2% (w/v) egg phosphatidylcholine, 0.3% (w/v) poloxamer 188, and 0.03% (w/v) sodium oleate. The prepared Eug-SE was comprehensively evaluated in terms of its pharmaceutical characteristics, physicochemical stability, injection safety, antioxidant activity in vitro, and anti-epileptic effect in vivo. The mean particle size of Eug-SE was 176.1 ± 10.3 nm, the ζ-potential was -40.2 ± 1.8 mV, and the drug content was (95.3 ± 0.4) %. Moreover, the Eug-SE displayed excellent stability and improved safety compared to the eugenol solution. The Eug-SE (20 µg/mL) produced a significant neuroprotective effect against H2O2-induced oxidative damage in PC12 cells, which was attributed to the decrease of cellular reactive oxygen species level and mitochondrial damage. Besides, the in vivo test indicated that Eug-SE exerted an anti-epileptic effect in the PTZ treated mice. These results suggested that Eug-SE was a suitable dosage form of eugenol for injection, and displayed great therapeutic potential for neurological disease in the future.

Enhancing cytotoxicity of daunorubicin on drug-resistant leukaemia cells with microparticle-mediated drug delivery system.

Multidrug resistance is considered as a major obstacle for effective tumour chemotherapy. With the ability to deliver drugs into tumour cells, microparticles may act as a drug delivery vehicle to overcome drug resistance. In the present study, we developed an approach employing daunorubicin-loaded microparticles to surmount the drug resistance in leukaemia. The microparticles, derived from the drug-sensitive cells K562 and the drug-resistant cells K562/ADR, composed of cellular material, can effectively package drugs using intracellular and extracellular drug-loading method, respectively. The results demonstrated that the microparticles significantly improved the drug anti-tumour effect, which was influenced by the preparation methods and the source of donor cells. We further confirmed that the uptake of microparticles is mediated by an energy-driven endocytic process and mainly associated with clathrin-independent endocytosis and macropinocytosis. These results indicated that the microparticle could serve as a promising drug vehicle for the treatment of drug-resistant leukaemia.

[Distribution Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment of Metals in Drinking Water Sources from the Luhun Reservoir].

In order to investigate the distribution characteristics and the human health risks of 12 metals in drinking water sources from the Luhun Reservoir, Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentrations in 46 water samples collected from the reservoir in 2016 were measured and analyzed. The health risks caused by metals were assessed by using a human health risk assessment model. The results showed that the maximum concentration of Al (200.27 µg·L-1) and all concentrations of Mo (151.42-170.69 µg·L-1) in drinking water from the Luhun Reservoir exceeded the Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water (GB 3838-2002) and Standards for Drinking Water Quality (GB 5749-2006) by 4.35% and 100%, respectively. A distinct spatial heterogeneity was found in the metal distribution, and the region with the highest metals concentrations was located southwest (upstream) and northeast (downstream) of the reservoir. The results of a health risk assessment indicated that children had greater health risks than adults. The health risks for metals through drinking were all higher than the values caused by dermal contact. Carcinogenic risks caused by Cr and As exceeded the maximum allowance levels (5×10-5 a-1) by 100% and 3.80%, respectively, and Cr accounted for 85% of the total carcinogenic risks. The non-carcinogenic risks of the metals (10-12-10-7 a-1) decreased in the order of Al > Mo > Cu > Pb > Ni > Hg > Fe > Zn > Mn, which had levels two to seven orders of magnitude lower than the maximum allowance levels.

Enantioseparation and enantioselective behavior of trichlorfon enantiomers in sediments.

Trichlorfon (TF), an organophosphorus insecticide, has been widely used in seawater aquaculture; it is easily degraded to the highly toxic insecticide, dichlorvos (DDVP). In this study, the enantioseparation of TF enantiomers, as well as their degradation behavior and product (DDVP) formation in mariculture pond sediments, was investigated. The results show that both TF enantiomers degrade into DDVP, which is the main degradation product. Furthermore, S-(+)-TF is preferentially degraded under natural conditions, suggesting that TF enantiomers degrade enantioselectively. Nevertheless, the degradation behavior of TF enantiomers is not enantiospecific under sterile conditions. The formation of DDVP and the enantiospecific degradation of TF enantiomers are attributed to the activities of microbes present in the sediments.

[Distribution Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Water Around Electroplating Factories].

To investigate the distribution characteristics and the human health risks of heavy metals in surface water samples, 30 samples were collected around electroplating factories of Machong, Shatian, Humen, Changan and Dalingshan towns in Dongguan city, 8 heavy metals(As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) contents were measured and analyzed by using multivariate statistical analysis method and human health risk assessment model. The results showed that the maximum concentrations of Cr, Pb and the average concentration of Hg exceeded Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water(GB 3838-2002, Grade Ⅲ), the concentrations of Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Zn and Pb during rainy season were all higher than that those during dry season. Multivariate statistical analysis indicated that Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn mainly originated from the contaminated electroplating factories, Pb and Hg were mainly affected by the traffic sources, and As was significantly correlated with natural sources. Health risk assessment result of surface water indicated that heavy metal pollution would lead to high health risks especially for children, and the health risks of heavy metals through drinking pathway were 2-3 orders of magnitude higher than the values caused by dermal contact pathway. Moreover, carcinogenic risks caused by Cr and As were higher than the maximum allowance levels (5×10-5 a-1), and non-carcinogenic risks of the heavy metals (10-10-10-7 a-1) decreased in the order of Pb > Ni > Cu > Hg > Zn, which were 4-5 orders of magnitude lower than the maximum allowance levels.

Validation of a Chiral Liquid Chromatographic Method for the Degradation Behavior of Flumequine Enantiomers in Mariculture Pond Water.

In this work, flumequine (FLU) enantiomers were separated using a Chiralpak OD-H column, with n-hexane-ethanol (20:80, v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. Solid phase extraction (SPE) was used for cleanup and enrichment. The limit of detection, limit of quantitation, linearity, precision, and intra/interday variation of the chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method were determined. The developed method was then applied to investigate the degradation behavior of FLU enantiomers in mariculture pond water samples. The results showed that the degradation of FLU enantiomers under natural, sterile, or dark conditions was not enantioselective. Chirality 28:649-655, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Pharmacokinetic study of ofloxacin enantiomers in Pagrosomus major by chiral HPLC.

(S)-(-)-Ofloxacin and (R)-(+)-ofloxacin concentrations in the plasma of Pagrosomus major after drug treatment were detected by chiral high-performance liquid chromatography, and various pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated from these data. The elimination half-life of (S)-(-)-ofloxacin was significantly shorter than that of the (R)-(+) enantiomer. (S)-(-)-Ofloxacin also had a significantly lower maximum plasma concentration, area under the concentration-time curve from zero to infinity, and mean residence time than (R)-(+)-ofloxacin. However, the apparent volume of distribution and total body clearance of (S)-(-)-ofloxacin were greater than those of (R)-(+)-ofloxacin. The ratio of the (S)-(-)- to (R)-(+)-ofloxacin plasma concentration was always <1.0. Together, these data suggest that (S)-(-)-ofloxacin was preferentially excreted and (R)-(+)-ofloxacin was preferentially absorbed. Although the difference in pharmacokinetic parameters was small, the metabolic behavior of the ofloxacin enantiomers in P. major was enantioselective.

Calyceal diverticulum mimicking simple parapelvic cyst: a case report.

Calyceal diverticulum is a cystic intrarenal cavity lined by nonsecretory transitional epithelium that communicates with the collecting system via a narrow isthmus or infundibulum. It is a rare anatomic anomaly with an incidence of 0.2% to 0.6% in the patients undergoing renal imaging.1 Single imaging modality usually cannot differentiate calyceal diverticulum from other cystic renal diseases.2 Here, we report a 60-year-old male who was reliably diagnosed with calyceal diverticulum by retrograde urography combined with non-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance urography (MRU).

Abdominal regional fat distribution on MRI correlates with cholecystolithiasis.

AIMS: To determine whether abdominal regional fat distribution pattern on MRI is correlated with cholecystolithiasis. METHODS: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of 163 patients with cholecystolithiasis and 163 non-cholecystolithiasis control subjects admitted to our institution between March 2011 and September 2013 were included in this cross-sectional evaluation. There were 98 women and 65 men in cholecystolithiasis group with an average age of 57±16 years (range 25-86 years). There were 87 women and 76 men in the control group with an average age of 41±16 years (range 14-77 years). Visceral adipose tissue (VAT), abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and total abdominal adipose tissue (TAT) of all the subjects at navel level were measured on abdominal MRI. According to the visceral adipose area (cut-off point VAT = 100 cm2), study subjects were divided into 1) increased accumulation of intra-abdominal fat and 2) normal distribution of intra-abdominal fat. Logistic regression was used to assess the association of fat with the presence of cholecystolithiasis, adjusted for age and sex. RESULTS: The incidence of increased intra-abdominal fat accumulation in the cholecystolithiasis group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P = 0.000). After adjusting for age and sex, cholecystolithiasis was associated with a one standard deviation increment in the waist circumference (WC) (OR = 1.44; 95%CI: 1.01,1.93; p = 0.00), VAT (OR = 4.26; 95%CI: 1.85,5.29; p = 0.00), VAT/SAT (OR = 8.66; 95%CI: 1.60,12.63; p = 0.00), and VAT/TAT (OR = 6.73; 95%CI: 4.24,12.18; p = 0.00), but not with fat content in the abdominal subcutaneous fat (p = 0.19). CONCLUSIONS: The visceral adipose tissue and distribution proportion of abdominal adipose tissue are correlates of cholecystolithiasis.

Radioiodine therapy for castration-resistant prostate cancer following prostate-specific membrane antigen promoter-mediated transfer of the human sodium iodide symporter.

Radioiodine therapy, the most effective form of systemic radiotherapy available, is currently useful only for thyroid cancer because of the thyroid-specific expression of the human sodium iodide symporter (hNIS). Here, we explore the efficacy of a novel form of gene therapy using prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) promoter-mediated hNIS gene transfer followed by radioiodine administration for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The androgen-dependent C33 LNCaP cell line and the androgen-independent C81 LNCaP cell line were transfected by adenovirus. PSMA promoter-hNIS (Ad.PSMApro-hNIS) or adenovirus.cytomegalovirus-hNIS containing the cytomegalovirus promoter (Ad.CMV-hNIS) or a control virus. The iodide uptake was measured in vitro. The in vivo iodide uptake by C81 cell xenografts in nude mice injected with an adenovirus carrying the hNIS gene linked to PSMA and the corresponding tumor volume fluctuation were assessed. Iodide accumulation was shown in different LNCaP cell lines after Ad.PSMApro-hNIS and Ad.CMV-hNIS infection, but not in different LNCaP cell lines after adenovirus.cytomegalovirus (Ad.CMV) infection. At each time point, higher iodide uptake was shown in the C81 cells infected with Ad.PSMApro-hNIS than in the C33 cells (P < 0.05). An in vivo animal model showed a significant difference in 131 I radioiodine uptake in the tumors infected with Ad.PSMApro-hNIS, Ad.CMV-hNIS and control virus (P < 0.05) and a maximum reduction of tumor volume in mice infected with Ad.PSMApro-hNIS. These results show prostate-specific expression of the hNIS gene delivered by the PSMA promoter and effective radioiodine therapy of CRPC by the PSMA promoter-driven hNIS transfection.

Characteristics of urinary tract infection pathogens and their in vitro susceptibility to antimicrobial agents in China: data from a multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the characteristics of pathogens identified in clinical isolates from patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) and their in vitro sensitivity to commonly used antibiotics in the clinical setting in China. DESIGN AND SETTING: Multicenter study was conducted between January and December 2011 in 12 hospitals in China. PARTICIPANTS: Urine samples were collected from 356 symptomatic patients treated in the study hospitals for acute uncomplicated cystitis, recurrent UTI or complicated UTI. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were measured using broth microdilution according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute 2011 guidelines. Thirteen antimicrobial agents were tested: fosfomycin tromethamine, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, cefdinir, cefixime, cefaclor, cefprozil, cefuroxime, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cefotaxime, azithromycin, nitrofurantoin and oxacillin. Escherichia coli isolates were screened and extended spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBL) production was confirmed by a double-disk synergy test. RESULTS: 198 urine samples were culture-positive and 175 isolates were included in the final analysis. E coli was detected in 50% of cultures, followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis (9%), Enterococcus faecalis (9%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (5%). The detection rate of ESBL-producing E coli was 53%. Resistance to levofloxacin was the most common among all the isolates. Nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin tromethamine had the greatest activity against E coli; overall, 92% and 91% of isolates were susceptible to these antimicrobials. E faecalis had the highest susceptibility rates to fosfomycin tromethamine (100%). CONCLUSIONS: The most frequently identified pathogens in our patients were ESBL-producing E coli and E faecalis. Fosfomycin tromethamine and nitrofurantoin showed a good antimicrobial activity against UTI pathogens. They may represent good options for the empiric treatment of patients with UTI.

Evaluation of three-dose fosfomycin tromethamine in the treatment of patients with urinary tract infections: an uncontrolled, open-label, multicentre study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and microbiological efficacy and safety of three doses of 3 g fosfomycin tromethamine administered orally to treat lower urinary tract infections. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: This prospective, uncontrolled, open-label study was conducted in 12 medical centres in China, between January and December 2011. According to the diagnosis criteria of Chinese Guidelines on Urological Infections, patients (18-70 years) with acute uncomplicated cystitis, recurrent lower urinary tract infection or complicated lower urinary tract infection received three doses of 3 g fosfomycin tromethamine orally, at days 1, 3 and 5. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Efficacy endpoints (clinical efficacy, microbiological efficacy and overall efficacy) were evaluated on day 15. Clinical symptoms, physical signs, urinalysis, liver and kidney function, patient records and evaluation of adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs up to day 15 were evaluated for analysis of safety. RESULTS: 361 patients were included in the full analysis set, 356 in the safety analysis set and 335 in the per-protocol set (PPS). In the PPS, the clinical efficacy rates at day 15 for acute uncomplicated cystitis, recurrent lower urinary tract infection and complicated lower urinary tract infection were 94.71% (179/189), 77.22% (61/79) and 62.69% (42/67), respectively. The microbiological efficacy rates (day 15) were 97.65% (83/85), 94.44% (34/36) and 83.87% (26/31), respectively. The overall efficacy rates (day 15) were 95.29% (81/85), 77.78% (28/36) and 64.52% (20/31), respectively. 20/356 (5.6%) patients reported drug-related AEs, the most common being diarrhoea. No serious drug-related AEs were reported. CONCLUSIONS: This fosfomycin tromethamine dosing regimen showed clinical and microbiological efficacy with some AEs and good tolerability in patients with acute uncomplicated cystitis, recurrent lower urinary tract infection and complicated lower urinary tract infection.

Transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of persistent or recurrent hemospermia: a single-institution experience.

The diagnosis and treatment of hemospermia presents significant difficulty, especially if it persists or recurs. In this retrospective study, we assessed whether transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy is feasible and effective in the diagnosis and treatment of hemospermia. To address this complex condition, we report our experience in a population of patients treated with transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy. From February 2006 to July 2008, 72 hemospermic patients underwent transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy examination and treatment at our urology center. Transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy was performed by a 7-F or 8-F rigid ureteroscope. The endoscopic procedure was conducted through the normal anatomic route of the seminal tracts. In this series, the mean follow-up period was 21.7 months. Definite diagnosis was made for 93.1% patients, and 94.4% patients were cured or showed a decrease in their symptoms. Postoperative complications were not observed in the study. Our study proves that transurethral seminal vesiculoscopy is effective in the diagnosis and treatment of hemospermia with minimal complication.

Irrigation eliminates smoke formation in laser laparoscopic surgery: ex vivo results.

BACKGROUNDS AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the desmoke effects of irrigation on surgical smoke generated during laser laparoscopic surgery using ex vivo model. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hand-piece was devised as both an irrigation tube and a laser fiber holder. The laser system used was a diode pumped continuous wave Thulium YAG laser (Lisa laser products OHG, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany) emitting at 2.01-mum through a quartz fiber with a core diameter of 365 mum. Using a transparent container as experimental model (approximately 3 L in volume), 6 irrigation rates (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mL/min) were tested combining with 4 laser power settings (20, 30, 40, and 50 W). To evaluate the desmoke efficiency of irrigation, lasing time with effective visibility under different combination of irrigation rates and laser powers were documented, and corresponding smoke generation rate were calculated (=3 L/lasing time). Analysis of variance was used to compare difference and significance was indicated at P<0.05. RESULTS: Calculated smoke generation rate was increased with laser power whereas decreased with irrigation rate. At 4 tested laser powers, calculated smoke generation rates were high (mean: 91.4 to 306.6 mL/s) when no water presented, but were significantly decreased (mean: 12.6 to 55.0 mL/s, P<0.001) with the lowest water flow rate (20 mL/min) and further decreased with higher rates. The proper range of irrigation rate for future clinical practice would be around 40 mL/min. CONCLUSIONS: Irrigation eliminates smoke formation accompanying laser tissue irradiation. It shows promise for future application in laser laparoscopic surgery.