Long-term effect of transurethral partial cystectomy with a 2-micrometer continuous-wave laser for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Purpose: We have reported the efficacy and safety of 2-micrometer continuous-wave laser cystectomy of non-muscle invasive bladder tumor (NMIBC) (J Urol. 2009;182:66-9). In this study, we evaluated the long-term outcomes of patients with NMIBC who underwent transurethral partial cystectomy with a 2-micrometer continuous-wave laser, and explored the risk factors for tumor recurrence. Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients with NMIBC planned to undergo transurethral partial cystectomy with a 2-micrometer continuous-wave laser at the Fourth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital between January 2012 and December 2014. The primary outcome was bladder cancer recurrence. Results: A total of 75 patients were enrolled. Sixty-two (82.7%) were male. The patients were 59.8 ± 12.9 years of age. The mean operation time was 38.7 ± 20.4 min. No Clavien grade >2 complications occurred. The duration of catheter indwelling was 3.6 ± 1.8 days. The hospital stay was 6.0 ± 2.3 days. The median follow-up was 80 months. A total of 17 patients had a recurrence during follow-up, and the recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate was 77.3%. In the multivariable analysis, the tumor risk group were independently associated with the recurrence of NMIBC (p = 0.026). Conclusions: After TURBT with a 2-micrometer continuous-wave laser, RFS was 77.3% at the median follow-up of 80 months. All complications were mild. Only tumor risk group was independently associated with the recurrence of NMIBC.

Co-composting of kitchen waste with agriculture and forestry residues and characteristics of compost with different particle size: An industrial scale case study.

Since the implementation of domestic waste classification in China, the kitchen waste production has increased rapidly. The unique physical and chemical properties of kitchen waste make it impossible for direct composting for composting alone. This study investigated the co-composting of kitchen waste with agriculture and forest residues at an industrial scale at the Nangong Composting Plant (Located in Beijing). Cornstalks, garden waste, and watermelon seedlings were composted with kitchen waste, with the added agriculture and forestry residues comprising 5%, 10% and 20% of the weight. Industrial composting was performed 30 days at a scale of 165-180 tone. The mixed compost products were screened to different particle sizes, and the maturity, humification, and calorific value were analyzed. The kitchen waste mixed with 20% agricultural complementary materials reached hyperthermophilic temperature (82 °C), had reduced moisture content (45%), and resulted in better composting performance at an industrial scale. By adding 20% complementary materials to kitchen waste produced mature compost with a higher germination index (GI) (91%) by adjusting the pH, electrical conductivity (EC), carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N), and moisture content. The compost in the 5% and 10% complementary materials treatments did not fully mature and had a GI of<10%, influenced by the higher EC and NH4+-N content. The property of final compost with different particle size vary greatly. The small particle size compost (≤45 mm) had higher uniformity, maturity, and humification degree, and it was suitable to use as a fertilizer; the larger particle size (>45 mm) had more material with lower calorific value (8000-10,000 kJ·kg-1), and could be used as refuse-derived fuel. To make better use of kitchen waste compost, 45-mm particle size screening is suggested at an industrial-scale composting plant. These results support industrial-scale kitchen waste composting in China.

Vacancy Engineering in Transition Metal Sulfide and Oxide Catalysts for Hydrodeoxygenation of Lignin-Derived Oxygenates.

The catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of lignin has long been a hot research topic and vacancy engineering is a new means to develop more efficient catalysts for this process. Oxygen vacancies and sulfur vacancies are both widely used in HDO. Based on the current research status of vacancies in the field of lignin-derived oxygenates, this Minireview discusses in detail design methods for vacancy engineering, including surface activation, synergistic modification, and morphology control. Moreover, it is clarified that in the HDO reaction, vacancies can act as acidic sites, promote substrate adsorption, and regulate product distribution, whereas for the catalysts, vacancies can enhance stability and reducibility, improve metal dispersion, and improve redox capacity. Finally, the characterization of vacancies is summarized and strategies are proposed to address the current deficiencies in this field.

Kidney ventrally rotation technique in retroperitoneal robot-assisted partial nephrectomy for posterior hilar tumor: technical feasibility and preliminary results.

PURPOSE: The retroperitoneal robotic assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) is suitable for tumors locating on the posterior side of the kidney. However, the posterior hilar tumor poses an additional surgical challenge due to the special location and poor tumor exposure. We developed a novel kidney ventrally rotation technique to overcome this difficulty during retroperitoneal RAPN and evaluated its efficacy in a retrospective case-control comparative study. METHODS: From March 2016 to April 2019, a total of 39 patients with posterior renal hilar tumor underwent retroperitoneal RAPN. The kidney ventrally rotation technique, which improved the tumor exposure by opening the peritoneum and rotating the kidney ventrally, was applied in 24 cases, and the conventional RAPN was performed in the other 15 cases (control group). Perioperative data was analyzed to evaluate the efficacy of the kidney ventrally rotation technique. RESULTS: In kidney rotation group, the 24 patients underwent RAPN successfully without converting to open surgery or radical nephrectomy. The warm ischemia time was 17.4 ± 6.6 min, which was significantly shorter than 24.5 ± 8.3 min in control group. The mean operation time (80 ± 24 min) and estimated blood loss (104 ± 65 ml) were not different from the control group. No sever complications occurred, and no positive surgical margin was found in all the malignant cases. After 14 months follow-up, no recurrence or metastasis occurred in all cases. CONCLUSION: Kidney ventrally rotation technique is safe and feasible for improving the exposure of posterior renal hilar tumor during retroperitoneal RAPN. It could be regarded as an efficient option for the management of posterior hilar tumor.

Downregulation of TRPC6 expression is a critical molecular event during FK506 treatment for overactive bladder.

PURPOSE: It has been suggested that FK506 could improve some symptoms of OAB in both clinical settings and animal models; however, its mechanism of action is not well-understood. Here, we investigated the effect of FK506 on TRPC6 in bladder smooth muscle, and explored the possible involvement of TRPC6 in OAB. METHODS: FK506 was injected intraperitoneally into rats in which OAB was induced via BOO, and urodynamic indices were recorded. Rats and human bladder smooth muscle tissues with or without OAB were examined for TRPC6 expression by western blot, RT-PCR and IF staining. Cultured BSMCs were treated with PDGF, TRPC6 siRNAs and FK506. Then the TRPC6 expression and cellular proliferation were examined, and the Ca2+ influx and contractility of BSMCs were examined by time-lapse Ca2+ imaging and collagen gel contraction. Finally, IF and Co-IP were performed to test the effects of FK506 on NFAT translocation to the nucleus and the interaction of TRPC6 with FKBP12, respectively. RESULTS: FK506 improved urodynamic indices of OAB rats, and TRPC6 was expressed in rats and human bladder tissues. TRPC6 elevation in OAB rats was inhibited by FK506, and this inhibition coincided with improvements in urodynamic indices. PDGF enhanced TRPC6 expression, cellular proliferation, Ca2+ influx and contractility of BSMCs, and these effects were inhibited by TRPC6 siRNAs and FK506. FK506 inhibited NFAT translocation to the nucleus and disrupted the interaction of TRPC6 with FKBP12. CONCLUSIONS: Our results collectively indicate that FK506 may be used to treat OAB, and that TRPC6 may serve as an attractive target for therapeutic intervention in OAB.