Toggling Technique Allows Retrograde Early Release to Facilitate Neurovascular Bundle Sparing During Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: A Propensity Score-Matching Study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to present the surgical facilitation of neurovascular bundle (NVB) sparing using the toggling technique (30° lens down/up switching) and to evaluate erectile dysfunction (ED) recovery after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). METHODS: We assessed 144 patients (group with toggling, n = 72; group without toggling, n = 72) who underwent RARP with bilateral NVB sparing using propensity score matching. Inclusion criteria were ≥ 1 year follow-up and preoperative potency as per the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) questionnaire (≥ 17 points). Recovery of ED after RARP was defined as return to baseline sexual function or self-assessment regarding successful intercourse. The subjective surgeon's nerve sparing (SNS) score and tunneling success rates were used to evaluate surgical facilitation. The recovery rate of ED between the groups was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: A better ED recovery trend was confirmed according to the SNS score (R² = 0.142, P = 0.004). In the analysis of NVB sparing ease, the toggling group showed higher SNS scores (on right/left side: P = 0.011 and < 0.001, respectively) and overall tunneling success rates (87% vs. 74%, P = 0.001) than the group without toggling. Overall, ED recovery rates were 82% (59/72) and 75% (54/72) in the groups with and without toggling, respectively, at the 1-year follow-up (P = 0.047), and the toggling group showed a faster ED recovery rate at 3 months (47% vs. 35%, P = 0.013). In a specific analysis of the potent cohort (< 60 years, bilateral full NVB spared, SHIM score ≥ 22), the ED recovery rate reached 87% (14/16) in the toggling group. CONCLUSION: The retrograde early release with the toggling technique improves the facilitation of NVB sparing, leading to improved ED recovery.

Effects of ß3-adrenoceptor agonist on acute urinary retention in a rat model.

PURPOSE: To investigate the protective effect of mirabegron on bladder dysfunction in an acute urinary retention rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six 16-week Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to the mirabegron and normal saline (N/S) groups. Each group of eighteen was divided into sub-groups of 6 for 30 min, 2 h, and 24 h. They were administered mirabegron (10 mg/kg) and N/S daily for 4 weeks, respectively. Mirabegron and N/S groups were divided into sub-groups of 6 rats for 30 min, 2 h, and 24 h. The changes in bladder blood flow were measured using laser Doppler (moorVMS-LDF2). Histopathological examination of the bladder and nitric oxide (NO) measurement were performed. RESULT: During the urinary retention phase in the mirabegron group, it showed higher and rapider recovery of blood flow; the lowest at 19.5% ± 3.68% at 3 min, a significant recovery from the lowest value as 23.7 ± 3.4% at 10 min, than that in the N/S group; 15.1 ± 1.84% at 5 min, 23.7 ± 3.4% at 20 min, respectively (P < 0.05). At 30 min, 120 min, and 24 h after reperfusion, the recovery of blood flow in the mirabegron group was significantly higher than that in the N/S group (mirabegron: 41.1 ± 1.7%, 59.9 ± 7.2%, and 89.7 ± 4.4%, N/S: 31.3 ± 2.1%, 47.3 ± 4.5%, 83.9 ± 3.6%, respectively (P < 0.05)). NO levels tended to be higher in the mirabegron group; however, the difference was not statistically significant. Histological examination revealed that the mirabegron group showed recovery close to normal tissue after 24 h. CONCLUSIONS: In an acute urinary retention rat model, mirabegron maintained and restored higher bladder blood flow, resulting in protective and recovery effect after acute urinary retention.

Transcriptome Analysis of the Fruit of Two Strawberry Cultivars "Sunnyberry" and "Kingsberry" That Show Different Susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea after Harvest.

Gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) is a fungal plant pathogen causing postharvest decay in strawberry fruit. Here, we conducted a comparative transcriptome analysis to identify differences in gene expression between the immature-green (IG) and mature-red (MR) stages of the "Sunnyberry" (gray mold-resistant) and "Kingsberry" (gray mold susceptible) strawberry cultivars. Most of the genes involved in lignin and alkane-type wax biosynthesis were relatively upregulated in "Sunnyberry". However, pathogenesis-related proteins encoding R- and antioxidant-related genes were comparatively upregulated in "Kingsberry". Analysis of gene expression and physiological traits in the presence and absence of B. cinerea inoculation revealed that the defense response patterns significantly differed between IG and MR rather than the cultivars. "Kingsberry" showed higher antioxidant induction at IG and upregulated hemicellulose-strengthening and R genes at MR. Hence, "Sunnyberry" and "Kingsberry" differed mainly in terms of the expression levels of the genes forming cuticle, wax, and lignin and controlling the defense responses. These discrepancies might explain the relative difference between these strawberry cultivars in terms of their postharvest responses to B. cinerea.

Revealing biomass heterosis in the allodiploid xBrassicoraphanus, a hybrid between Brassica rapa and Raphanus sativus, through integrated transcriptome and metabolites analysis.

BACKGROUND: Heterosis is biologically important but the molecular basis of the phenomenon is poorly understood. We characterized intergeneric hybrids between B. rapa cv. Chiifu and R. sativus cv. WK10039 as an extreme example of heterosis. Taking advantage of clear heterosis phenotypes and the genetic distance between parents, we performed transcriptome and metabolite analysis to decipher the molecular basis of heterosis. RESULTS: The heterosis was expressed as fresh weight in the field and as inflorescence stem length in the glass house. Flowering time, distributed as a normal segregating population, ranged from the early flowering of one parent to the late flowering of the other, in contrast to the homogeneous flowering time in a typical F1 population, indicating unstable allelic interactions. The transcriptome and metabolome both indicated that sugar metabolism was altered, suggesting that the change in metabolism was linked to the heterosis. Because alleles were not shared between the hybridized genomes, classic models only partly explain this heterosis, indicating that other mechanisms are involved. CONCLUSION: The differential expression of genes for primary and secondary metabolism, along with the altered metabolite profiles, suggests that heterosis could involve a change in balance between primary and secondary metabolism.

The use of a heating pad to reduce anxiety, pain, and distress during cystoscopy in female patients.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: This study evaluated the effects of using a heating pad during cystoscopy on anxiety, pain, and distress in female patients. METHODS: Seventy-four female patients who underwent rigid cystoscopy between January 2017 and August 2017 were randomized to either the experimental group using a heating pad (n = 37) or the control group using a pad without heat (n = 37). In the experimental group, a heating pad was applied to the patient's sacrum during cystoscopy. All patients completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-S (STAI-S, 20-80) before and after the procedure and assessed their degree of pain and distress after the procedure using a visual analog scale (0-10). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate were also measured before and after the procedure. RESULTS: Demographic characteristics, mean age, procedure duration, and pre- and post-procedural systolic and diastolic blood pressures and pulse rate were statistically similar between the experimental and control groups. The mean STAI-S score of the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group (33.1 ± 10.1 vs 48.2 ± 11.1, p < 0.001). The experimental group had significantly lower pain and distress scores (visual analog scale, 3.8 ± 1.6 and 3.8 ± 1.8 respectively,) than the control group (6.4 ± 1.9 and 6.3 ± 2.1 respectively, both p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Using a heating pad during cystoscopy significantly reduced female patients' anxiety, pain, and distress. We found this to be a safe, simple, and effective tool to use during cystoscopy.

The effects of a heating pad on anxiety, pain, and distress during urodynamic study in the female patients with stress urinary incontinence.

AIMS: Although generally well tolerated, a urodynamic study is an unpleasant and stressful procedure for some patients. This study evaluated the effects of a heating pad on anxiety, pain, and distress during urodynamic studies in female patients with stress urinary incontinence. METHODS: A total of 74 female patients with stress urinary incontinence who underwent a urodynamic study between May 2015 and October 2015 were randomized to either the experimental group using a heating pad (n = 37) or control group (n = 37). In the experimental group, a heating pad was applied on the patient's sacrum during the urodynamic study. All patients completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (20-80) before and after the procedure and assessed their degree of pain and distress after the procedure by the visual analog scale (0-10). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate were also checked before and after the procedure. RESULTS: Demographic characteristics, mean age, procedure duration, pre and post-procedural systolic, and diastolic blood pressures, and pulse rate were statistically similar between the experimental and control groups. The mean State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group (30.9 ± 7.5 vs 42.5 ± 10.1, P < 0.001). The experimental group showed significantly lower pain and distress scores (Visual Analog Scale, 2.7 ± 1.5, 3.0 ± 1.5) compared with the control group (4.0 ± 1.6, 4.7 ± 2.0, both P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Using a heating pad for female patients with stress urinary incontinence during a urodynamic study is a simple, economical, and effective therapy that enhances patient comfort and decreases anxiety, pain, and distress.

Efficacy and Safety of Desmopressin Add-On Therapy for Men with Persistent Nocturia on α-Blocker Monotherapy for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Study.

PURPOSE: We investigated the efficacy and safety of desmopressin add-on therapy for men with persistent nocturia on α-blocker for lower urinary tract symptoms in this placebo controlled study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included men 40 to 65 years old with lower urinary tract symptoms and persistent nocturia despite α-blocker therapy for at least 8 weeks. Patients were randomized to once daily placebo or desmopressin 0.2 mg for 8 weeks. The primary end point was to assess changes in the mean number of nocturia episodes from baseline to the final assessment. Other secondary end points and adverse events were evaluated. RESULTS AND LIMITATION: A total of 86 patients were randomized to treatment, including placebo in 39 and desmopressin 0.2 mg in 47. Baseline characteristics were similar in the 2 groups. The desmopressin add-on group was significantly superior to placebo in terms of the change from baseline in the mean number of nocturia episodes (-1.13 ± 0.92 vs -0.68 ± 0.79, p = 0.034), the changes in nocturnal urine volume (p <0.001), total I-PSS (International Prostate Symptom Score) (p = 0.041), the nocturnal polyuria index (p = 0.001) and ICIQ-N (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Nocturia) (p = 0.001), and the willingness to continue (p = 0.025). The incidence of adverse events in the desmopressin add-on group was similar to that in the placebo group. Most adverse events were mild. CONCLUSION: Desmopressin add-on therapy in men 40 to 65 years old with persistent nocturia on α-blocker monotherapy for lower urinary tract symptoms is effective and well tolerated.

The usefulness of flexible cystoscopy for preventing double-J stent malposition after laparoscopic ureterolithotomy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of flexible cystoscopy in preventing malpositioning of the ureteral stent after laparoscopic ureterolithotomy in male patients. METHODS: From April 2009 to June 2015, 97 male patients with stones >1.8 cm in the upper ureter underwent intracorporeal double-J stenting of the ureter after laparoscopic ureterolithotomy performed by four different surgeons. In the last 50 patients who underwent laparoscopic ureterolithotomy flexible cystoscopy was performed through the urethral route to confirm the position of the double-J stent, while in the first 47 correct positioning of the stent was confirmed through postoperative KUB. The demographic data and perioperative outcomes were reviewed retrospectively. Penalized logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the effects of flexible cystoscopy. RESULTS: Upward malpositioning of the ureteral stent was found in 9 of the 47 (19.1%) patients who underwent surgery without flexible cystoscopy. Among the 50 most recent patients who underwent surgery with flexible cystoscopy through the urethral route, upward malpositioning was observed in 10 (20%) patients. The factors preventing upward malpositioning of the double-J catheter in multivariate analysis were surgeon (p = 0.039) and use of flexible cystoscopy (p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Flexible cystoscopy is a simple, safe, quick, and effective method to identify and correct malpositioning of double-J stents, especially in male patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Registry on May 11, 2017 (retrospective registration) with a trial registration number of NCT03150446 .

Terminal dribbling in male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms: relationship with International Prostate Symptom Score and with intravesical prostatic protrusion.

BACKGROUND: Terminal dribbling is one of the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that has not been widely studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between terminal dribbling (TD) and other parameters such as International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP). METHODS: Medical records of male patients with LUTS aged 40 years and older were prospectively collected. Data regarding TD defined by the International Continence Society standardization subcommittee, IPSS, prostate-specific antigen, total prostate volume, and IPP on transrectal ultrasonography were obtained. TD was confirmed by the subsequent uroflowmetry (uroflowmetry-confirmed TD). Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the parameters affecting TD and uroflowmetry-confirmed TD. RESULTS: Among the 578 men, 226 patients (39.1%) complained of TD and 157 patients (27.2%) had objective findings of TD on uroflowmetry. In the logistic regression analysis, IPSS voiding subscore were correlated with TD (Odds ratio 1.06). In addition, IPP was the only significant risk factor for uroflowmetry-confirmed TD (Odds ratio 2.83). Each question of IPSS is not correlated with TD or uroflowmetry-confirmed TD. CONCLUSIONS: While the symptom of TD is well correlated with IPSS voiding subscore, objective evidence of TD on uroflowmetry had strong correlation with IPP. TD should be investigated further to reveal its clinical impact and guide a proper management.

Prognostic factors for recurrence-free and overall survival after adrenalectomy for metastatic carcinoma: a retrospective cohort pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The survival benefits of adrenalectomy (ADx) in the setting of metastatic cancer and prognostic factors for recurrence-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS) after adrenalectomy for metastatic carcinoma are still under debate. We evaluated the impact of clinicopathological variables on RFS and OS after ADx for metastatic carcinoma in patients with primary cancer. METHODS: A total of 32 patients undergoing ADx for metastatic cancer between 2004 and 2012 at two tertiary medical centers. Metastases were regarded as synchronous (<6 months) or metachronous (≥6 months) depending on the interval after primary surgery. Associations of perioperative clinicopathologic variables with RFS and OS were analyzed using Cox regression models. RESULTS: In total, 32 patients received ADx for metastatic primary tumors located in the lung (n = 11), colon (n = 4), liver (n = 5), stomach (n = 3), kidney (n = 4), pancreas (n = 2), glottis, esophagus, cervix, and ovary (n = 1 each). The overall recurrence rate after adrenalectomy was 62.5% (n = 20). By univariate analysis, C-reactive protein, inflammation-based prognosis score, and adrenalectomy for curative intent were associated with RFS and OS. Independent prognostic factors for shorter RFS were operative method (laparoscopy HR 4.68, 95% CI 1.61-13.61, p = 0.005) and inflammation-based prognostic score (HR 11.8, 95% CI 2.50-55.7, p = 0.002). For shorter OS, synchronous metastasis (HR 3.05, 95% CI 1.07-11.94, p = 0.048) and inflammation-based prognostic score (HR 6.65, 95% CI 1.25-35.23, p = 0.026) were identified as independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our pilot study suggests that synchronous disease and inflammation-based prognostic score are significant prognostic factors for survival and should be considered when performing ADx for metastatic diseases.

Prediction of persistent storage symptoms after transurethral resection of the prostate in patients with benign prostatic enlargement.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the prognostic factors causing persistent storage symptoms following transurethral resection of the prostate in patients with benign prostatic enlargement (BPE). METHODS: A total of 116 men with symptomatic BPE requiring surgery were enrolled in the study between January 2011 and December 2012. The patients underwent basic clinical evaluations including transrectal ultrasound, International Prostate Symptom Score and urodynamic study. After 6 months, International Prostate Symptom Score and uroflowmetry were rechecked. The definition of persistent storage symptoms was patients with storage scores >7 points. Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic analysis were conducted. RESULTS: The 116 patients were divided into a persistent storage symptom-positive group (n = 33) and a storage symptom-negative group (n = 83). Multivariate analysis showed that the degrees of worse initial storage symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 8.32), small bladder capacity (OR = 4.31), impaired detrusor contractility (OR = 2.96) and age (OR = 1.05) were consistently associated with persistent storage symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This short-term study confirms the positive and consistent correlations between the baseline degree of worse initial storage symptoms, bladder capacity, detrusor contractility and age and the improvement in storage symptoms.

Transurethral resection of fibrotic scar tissue combined with temporary urethral stent placement for patients with in anterior urethral stricture.

INTRODUCTION: Fibrotic scar formation is a main cause of recurrent urethral stricture after initial management with direct vision internal urethrotomy (DVIU). In the present study, we devised a new technique of combined the transurethral resection of fibrotic scar tissue and temporary urethral stenting, using a thermo-expandable urethral stent (Memokath(TM) 044TW) in patients with anterior urethral stricture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: As a first step, multiple incisions were made around stricture site with cold-utting knife and Collins knife electrode to release a stricture band. Fibrotic tissue was then resected with a 13Fr pediatric resectoscope before deployment of a MemokathTM 044TW stent (40 - 60mm) on a pre-mounted sheath using 0° cystoscopy. Stents were removed within12 months after initial placement. RESULTS: We performed this technique on 11 consecutive patients with initial (n = 4) and recurrent (n = 7) anterior urethral stricture (April 2009 ­ February 2013). At 18.9 months of mean follow-up (12-34 months), mean Qmax (7.8±3.9ml/sec vs 16.8 ± 4.8ml/sec, p < 0.001), IPSS (20.7 vs 12.5, p = 0.001 ), and QoL score (4.7 vs 2.2, p < 0.001) were significantly improved. There were no significant procedure-related complications except two cases of tissue ingrowth at the edge of stent, which were amenable by transurethral resection. In 7 patients, an average 1.4 times (1-5 times) of palliative urethral dilatation was carried out and no patients underwent open surgical urethroplasty during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Combined transurethral resection and temporary urethral stenting is a effective therapeutic option for anterior urethral stricture. Further investigations to determine the long-term effects, and safety profile of this new technique are warranted.

Primary renal hydatid cyst: mis-interpretation as a renal malignancy.

Primary renal echinococcosis, a rare disease involving the kidney, accounts for 2-3% of human echinococcosis. A 64-year-old female patient from Uzbekistan presented with complaints of left flank pain. A CT scan revealed a cystic mass in the upper to midpole of the left kidney. We regarded this lesion as a renal malignancy and hand-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy was performed to remove the renal mass. The mass consisted of a large unilocular cyst and multiple smaller cysts without any grossly visible renal tissue. The final pathologic diagnosis was a renal hydatid cyst. For patients from endemic areas, hydatid cyst should be included in the differential diagnosis. Here, we present a case of renal hydatid cyst in a female patient who relocated from Uzbekistan to Korea.

Relationship between skin greasiness and cuticular wax in harvested "Hongro" apples.

We investigated the ripening and skin greasiness of "Hongro" apples during storage at 20 °C. Postharvest treatment using 100 µLL-1 ethylene accelerated ripening and increased greasiness, whereas treatment using 1 µLL-1 1-methylcyclopropene delayed ripening and reduced greasiness. Scanning electron microscopy showed changes in cuticular wax structure linked to greasiness. Metabolic analysis identified specific metabolites related to greasiness, which varied upon postharvest treatment. Greasiness was positively associated with ethylene production and butyl-9,12-octadecadienoate content. Random forest modeling predicted greasiness levels with high accuracy, with root mean square error values of 0.322 and 0.362 for training and validation datasets, respectively. These findings illuminate the complex interplay between postharvest treatment, apple ripening, wax composition, and skin greasiness. The application of predictive models exemplifies the potential for technology-driven approaches in agriculture and aids in the development of postharvest strategies to control greasiness and maintain fruit quality.

Linking the humification of organic amendments with size aggregate distribution: Insights into molecular composition using FT-ICR-MS.

Soil organic matter (SOM) plays a pivotal role in enhancing physical and biological characteristics of soil. Humic substances constitute a substantial proportion of SOM and their increase can improve crop yields and promote agricultural sustainability. While previous research has primarily assessed the influence that humic acids (HAs) derived from natural water have on soil structure, our study focuses on the impact of HAs on soil aggregation under different fertilizer regimes. During the summer cropping season, maize was cultivated under organic and synthetic fertilizer treatments. The organic fertilizer treatment utilized barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa R.) as an organic amendment five days prior to maize planting. The synthetic treatment included a synthetic fertilizer (NPK) applied at South Korea's recommended rates. The organic treatment resulted in significant improvements in the soil aggregates and stability (mean weight diameter, MWD; p < 0.05) compared to the synthetic fertilizer application. These improvements could be primarily attributed to the increased quantity and quality of HAs in the soil derived from the organic amendment. The amount of extracted HAs in the organic treatment was nearly twice that of the synthetic treatment. Additionally, the organic treatment had a 140 % larger MWD and a 40 % increase in total phenolic content compared to the synthetic treatment. The organic treatment also had an increased macronutrient uptake (p < 0.001), an 11 % increase in aboveground maize biomass, and a 21 % increase in grain yield relative to the synthetic treatment. Thus, the enhancement of HA properties through the incorporation of fresh organic manure can both directly and indirectly increase crop productivity.

Methane emissions and the microbial community in flooded paddies affected by the application of Fe-stabilized natural organic matter.

Redox chemistry involving the quinone/phenol cycling of natural organic matter (NOM) is known to modulate microbial respiration. Complexation with metals or minerals can also affect NOM solubilization and stability. Inspired by these natural phenomena, a new soil amendment approach was suggested to effectively decrease methane emissions in flooded rice paddies. Structurally stable forms of NOM such as lignin and humic acids (HAs) were shown to decrease methane gas emissions in a vial experiment using different soil types and rice straw as a methanogenic substrate, and this inhibitory behavior was likely enhanced by ferric ion-NOM complexation. A mechanistic study using HAs revealed that complexation facilitated the slow release of the humic components. Interestingly, borohydride-based reduction, which transformed quinone moieties into phenols, caused the HAs to lose their inhibitory capacity, suggesting that the electron-accepting ability of HAs is vital for their inhibitory effect. In rice field tests, the humic-metal complexes were shown to successfully mitigate methane generation, while carbon dioxide emissions were relatively unchanged. Microbial community analysis of the rice fields by season revealed a decrease in specific cellulose-metabolizing and methanogenic genera associated with methane emissions. In contrast, the relative abundance of Thaumarchaeota and Actinomycetota, which are associated with NOM and recalcitrant organics, was higher in the presence of Fe-stabilized HAs. These microbial dynamics suggest that the slow release of humic components is effective in modulating the anoxic soil microbiome, possibly due to their electron-accepting ability. Given the simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and soil-friendly nature of complexation processes, Fe-stabilized NOM represents a promising approach for the mitigation of methane emissions from flooded rice paddies.

Effects of coenzyme Q10 on bladder dysfunction induced by chronic bladder ischemia in a rat model.

PURPOSE: We investigated the protective effects of coenzyme Q10 on bladder dysfunction in a rat model of atherosclerosis induced chronic bladder ischemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 24 male Sprague-Dawley® rats at age 16 weeks were divided into 4 groups of 6 each, including group 1--untreated, sham operated rats, group 2--coenzyme Q10 treated, sham operated rats, group 3--untreated rats with chronic bladder ischemia and group 4--coenzyme Q10 treated rats with chronic bladder ischemia. Groups 3 and 4 received an endothelial injury to the iliac arteries and were fed a 2% cholesterol diet for 8 weeks. Groups 2 and 4 were treated with coenzyme Q10 and the others were treated with vehicle for 4 weeks. Eight weeks postoperatively we performed continuous in vivo cystometry, an in vitro detrusor muscle strip study and a malondialdehyde assay. Histological examination of the bladder walls and iliac arteries was also done. RESULTS: In vivo cystometry revealed that coenzyme Q10 administration after the induction of chronic bladder ischemia prolonged micturition frequency and the intercontraction interval, and increased bladder capacity compared to those in untreated rats with chronic bladder ischemia. In the detrusor muscle strip study coenzyme Q10 administration after the induction of chronic bladder ischemia increased contractile responses compared to those in untreated rats with chronic bladder ischemia. Rats with chronic bladder ischemia also showed higher malondialdehyde in bladder tissue and serum than the other groups. Chronic bladder ischemia induced submucosal fibrosis of the bladder walls and a degenerative change in the blood vessel tunical media, as shown on histological examination. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that coenzyme Q10 acts as an antioxidant to protect bladder function in this chronic bladder ischemia model.

Can the prostate risk calculator based on Western population be applied to Asian population?

BACKGROUND: We developed a korean prostate cancer risk calculator (KPCRC) for predicting the probability of a positive initial prostate biopsy using clinical and laboratory data from a Korean male population (http://pcrc.korea.ac.kr). We compared its performance to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and the Prostate Risk Calculator 3 (PRC 3) based on data from the Dutch part of European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC), which predicts biopsy results for previously unscreened men. METHODS: Data were collected from 602 Korean men who were previously unscreened and underwent initial ten-core prostate biopsies. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the significant predictors. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration plots of both calculators were evaluated. RESULTS: Prostate cancer (PCa) was detected in 172 (28.6%) men. Independent predictors of a positive biopsy included advanced age, elevated PSA levels, reduced volume of the transition zone, and abnormal digital rectal examination findings. The AUC of the KPCRC was higher than the PRC 3 and PSA alone on internal and external validation. Calibration plots of the KPCRC showed better performance than the other models on internal and external validation. Applying a cut-off of 10% of KPCRC implied that 251 of the 602 men (42%) would not have been biopsied and that 12 of the 172 PCa cases (7%) would not have been diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: The KPCRC improves the performance of the PRC 3 and PSA testing in predicting Korean population's risk of PCa. It implies that Asian populations need their own risk calculators for PCa.

The efficacy of in-and-out catheterization as a way of trial without catheterization strategy for treatment of acute urinary retention induced by benign prostate hyperplasia: variables predicting success outcome.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and proper use of in-and-out catheterization as a strategy for trial without catheterization (TWOC) for treatment of acute urinary retention (AUR). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 515 patients who visited the emergency room with AUR from January 2004 to December 2008 was conducted. Patients were segregated to one of two groups, depending on management of AUR (in-and-out catheterization at one time: Group 1 or indwelling catheter: Group 2). To characterize the optimal patient characteristics particularly fitting for Group 1 among each success subgroup, Fisher's linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was then conducted. Using an equation from LDA, the hit ratio was evaluated in a prospective trial from July to December 2009. RESULTS: TWOC success rate was 25.1% for Group 1 and 30.3% for Group 2. In successful cases, age, retention volume, and prostate sizes were significantly lower than those of failure counterparts in both Groups 1 and 2. Among these, age and retention volume were finally selected for LDA. When comparing successful cases, these two were significantly lower in Group 1 than Group 2. LDA showed an 81.6% hit ratio for cases with successful TWOC. In a prospective trial of 28 patients, using an equation from LDA, five of seven patients in Group 1 (71.4%) and 16 of 21 patients (76.2%) in Group 2 succeeded in their initial TWOC. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the efficacy of in-and-out catheterization as a way of attempting TWOC, particularly for the patient with relatively low retention volume and younger age.

Jasmonate resistant 1 and ethylene responsive factor 11 are involved in chilling sensitivity in pepper fruit (Capsicum annuum L.).

Pepper fruit (Capsicum annuum L.) is sensitive to chilling stress with chilling injuries occurring below 7 °C; however, chilling injuries occur at different temperatures depending on the genotype. The present study aimed to identify the factors that affect chilling sensitivity in pepper fruits. A total of 112 F2 pepper fruits crossed between chilling-insensitive 'UZB-GJG-1999-51' and chilling-sensitive 'C00562' pepper were grouped according to the seed browning rate, which is a typical chilling symptom of pepper fruit under chilling conditions. Physiological traits, amino acids, fatty acids, as well as ethylene responsive factor (ERF) and jasmonate resistant 1 (JAR1) expression levels were analyzed, and their correlations with the seed browning rate were confirmed. The expression level of JAR1 showed a strong negative correlation with the seed browning rate (r = - 0.7996). The expression level of ERF11 and content of hydrogen peroxide showed strong positive correlation with the seed browning rate (r = 0.7622 and 0.6607, respectively). From these results, we inferred that JAR1 and ERF11 are important factors influencing the chilling sensitivity of pepper fruit.