Association Between Serum Copper Levels and Urinary Incontinence in Adult Men.

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a major health burden to aging patients. The function of the trace element copper in male UI is unclear. To elaborate on the impact of serum copper levels on UI, we investigated the association between serum copper levels and UI using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a cross-sectional survey of male participants aged 20 years old and older in the United States from 2011 to 2016. We performed weighted multivariable logistic and linear regression models to evaluate the association between serum copper levels and UI. Compared with serum copper levels in quartile 1 (Q1), serum copper levels in Q2 and Q3 were associated with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after adjusting for all potential confounders (Q2, odds ratio [OR] = 0.292, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.093-0.920, P = 0.047; Q3, OR = 0.326, 95% CI = 0.113-0.937, P = 0.049). No significance was found between serum copper levels and other types of UI. Our findings revealed that the serum copper levels were inversely related to SUI in adult males. Race and education level might modulate this relationship. Further studies are warranted for validation.

HwMR is a novel magnesium-associated protein.

Microbial rhodopsins (MRho) are vital proteins in Haloarchaea for solar light sensing in extreme living environments. Among them, Haloquadratum walsbyi (Hw) is a species known to survive high MgCl2 concentrations, with a total of three MRhos identified, including a high-acid-tolerance light-driven proton outward pump, HwBR, a chloride-insensitive chloride pump, HwHR, and a functionally unknown HwMR. Here, we showed that HwMR is the sole magnesium-sensitive MRho among all tested MRho proteins from Haloarchaea. We identified at least D84 as one of the key residues mediating such magnesium ion association in HwMR. Sequence analysis and molecular modeling suggested HwMR to have an extra H8 helix in the cytosolic region like those in signal-transduction-type MRho of deltarhodopsin-3 (dR-3) and Anabaena sensory rhodopsin (ASR). Further, HwMR showed a distinctly prolonged M-state formation under a high concentration of Mg2+. On the other hand, an H8 helix truncated mutant preserved photocycle kinetics like the wild type, but it led to missing M-state structure. Our findings clearly suggested not only that HwMR is a novel Mg2+-associated protein but that the association with both Mg2+ and the H8 domain stabilizes M-state formation in HwMR. We conclude that Mg2+ association and H8 are crucial in stabilizing HwMR M state, which is a well-known photoreceptor signaling state.

Structural and Functional Studies of a Newly Grouped Haloquadratum walsbyi Bacteriorhodopsin Reveal the Acid-resistant Light-driven Proton Pumping Activity.

Retinal bound light-driven proton pumps are widespread in eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. Among these pumps, bacteriorhodopsin (BR) proteins cooperate with ATP synthase to convert captured solar energy into a biologically consumable form, ATP. In an acidic environment or when pumped-out protons accumulate in the extracellular region, the maximum absorbance of BR proteins shifts markedly to the longer wavelengths. These conditions affect the light-driven proton pumping functional exertion as well. In this study, wild-type crystal structure of a BR with optical stability under wide pH range from a square halophilic archaeon, Haloquadratum walsbyi (HwBR), was solved in two crystal forms. One crystal form, refined to 1.85 Å resolution, contains a trimer in the asymmetric unit, whereas another contains an antiparallel dimer was refined at 2.58 Å. HwBR could not be classified into any existing subgroup of archaeal BR proteins based on the protein sequence phylogenetic tree, and it showed unique absorption spectral stability when exposed to low pH values. All structures showed a unique hydrogen-bonding network between Arg(82) and Thr(201), linking the BC and FG loops to shield the retinal-binding pocket in the interior from the extracellular environment. This result was supported by R82E mutation that attenuated the optical stability. The negatively charged cytoplasmic side and the Arg(82)-Thr(201) hydrogen bond may play an important role in the proton translocation trend in HwBR under acidic conditions. Our findings have unveiled a strategy adopted by BR proteins to solidify their defenses against unfavorable environments and maintain their optical properties associated with proton pumping.

Subcapsular renal hematoma after ureteroscopy with holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser lithotripsy.

Subcapsular renal hematoma (SRH) after ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URSL) using holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser to treat ureteric stones is a rare complication. We aimed to review our unit's experience of post-URSL subcapsular renal hematoma. From 2006 to 2012, 2059 URSLs using F9.5 rigid ureteroscope were performed in our unit. Patients with post-URSL symptomatic renal hematoma were reviewed. Perioperative information on patients' renal function, stone characteristics, and degree of renal hydronephrosis were reviewed. Operative data, postoperative information such as clinical manifestation, changes in blood parameters, CT findings, and subsequent treatment were documented. Of the 2059 patients treated with URSL and Ho:YAG laser, three patients were diagnosed as subcapsular renal hematoma after surgery; the age is 57, 61, and 63 years old, respectively. Preoperative imaging examination showed that two patients and one patient had obstructing middle and proximal ureteral stones ranging in size from 0.8 to 1.6 cm, and three patients had thin renal cortices. The double-J ureteral stents were inserted in all cases regularly. All three subcapsular renal hematoma patients had the loin pain of the operation side and fever, and one patient had significant hemoglobin drop (from 111 to 61 g/L) who need to transfusion. Two patients presented within 24 h of URSL, and one patient presented on day 10. One patient was treated conservatively for 3 weeks and recovered with bed rest, antibiotics, hemostasis, and analgesia with no intervention or drain. The other two patients underwent ultrasonography-guided drainage of the hematoma. Two-month follow-up CT scans or ultrasonography confirmed the resolution of the hematoma in all three cases. Renal subcapsular hematoma after URSL is a rare and one of serious complications. Subcapsular renal hematoma should be considered when patients have the symptoms of significant loin pain after URSL for obstructing ureteral stones with thin renal cortices. The treatment of post-URSL renal subcapsular hematomas needs to be customized for each patient.