Reconstruction of bladder function and prevention of renal deterioration by means of end-to-side neurorrhaphy in rats with neurogenic bladder.

AIMS: To investigate the feasibility of restoring bladder function and prevention of renal deterioration by neurorrhaphy in rats with neurogenic bladder (NB). METHODS: Forty-two rats were assigned to the end-to-side nerve coaptation group (ECG, n = 16), no nerve coaptation group (NCG, n = 16), and control group (CG, n = 10). In the ECG, the left ventral root (VR) and dorsal root (DR) of L6 and S1 were transected, and the distal stump of L6VR was sutured to the lateral face of L4VR. In the NCG, the left VR and DR of L6 and S1 were transected, but coaptation was not performed. In the CG, no operation was performed. Nerve regeneration, bladder function, and renal function were evaluated by FluoroGold (FG) retrograde tract tracing, cystometry, electrical stimulation, MRI, histology and biochemical assays. RESULTS: In the ECG, FG-labeled neurons were observed in the left ventral horn of L4 spinal cord. There was a significant increase in intravesical pressure upon stimulation of the left L4VR proximal to the coaptation. Maximum cystometric capacity, post-void residual urine, bladder compliance and weight, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and fibrotic area of bladder and kidney were lower in the ECG than in the NCG, but higher than the CG. Hydronephrosis was noticed in ECG and NCG rats. Maximum detrusor voiding pressure was higher in the ECG and CG than in the NCG. CONCLUSIONS: End-to-side neurorrhaphy is a useful method for restoring bladder function and preventing renal injury in rats with NB.

[Percutaneous nephroscopic 2 µm laser incision and drainage treatment of peripelvic renal cysts].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the surgical approaches, efficacy and safety of percutaneous nephroscopic 2 µm laser incision and drainage in the treatment of peripelvic renal cysts. METHODS: The peripelvic renal cysts were punctured percutaneously. A 1.5 - 4.0 cm incision was made at thin avascular area between cyst and pelvis by the 2 µm laser to connect the cyst with the renal collecting system with the help of injecting methylene blue solution into renal pelvis through ureteral catheter. The double-J tube was placed for drainage. RESULTS: The operations were successful in all cases. There were 16 males and 15 females with a mean age of 49 years old. The operative durations ranged from 25 to 120 minutes. And no severe complications occurred. The patients were followed up for an average of 12 months (range: 3 - 36). Among them, cysts disappeared in 18 cases and diminished over 1/3 in 13 cases. There was no recurrence of peripelvic renal cyst. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous nephroscopic 2 µm laser incision and drainage for peripelvic renal cyst is safe, effective and mini-invasive.

Transurethral 2-microm laser in the treatment of urethral stricture.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the curative efficacy of transurethral 2-mum thulium laser urethrotomy in the treatment of urethral stricture. METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-eight patients suffering from urethral stricture, all male, aged 47.3 (36-58), underwent transurethral 2-mum thulium laser urethrotomy. The maximum flow rate (MFR), the international prostatic symptom score (IPSS) and the quality of life (QoL) were measured before operation, immediately following the removal of the catheter, and 3 and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The surgery was performed for all the patients with no rectum injury, urine leakage or massive blood loss. All the patients got free urination immediately following the catheter removal with the mean MFR improved from (3.2 + or - 0.3) ml/s preoperatively to (16.7 + or - 3.1) ml/s, which kept steady to (18.7 + or - 2.9) and (19.2 + or - 2.8) ml/s, respectively 3 and 6 months after operation. IPSS significantly improved from 28.3 + or - 5.8 preoperatively to 7.1 + or - 1.9, 6.4 + or - 1.5 and 5.3 + or - 1.3, respectively when catheter removal and 3 and 6 months after operation. Also during the corresponding period, mean QoL improved from 5.4 + or - 1.1 to 1.1 + or - 0.3, 0.9 + or - 0.2 and 0.8 + or - 0.2. 195, patients got permanent uninterrupted urination without recurrence in the whole 6 months of follow-up. Forty-three patients got recurrence and seven patients encountered with incontinence 1-3 weeks (mean 13.8 days) after catheter removal, but they all got final cure after periodic urethral dilatation and physical exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Transurethral 2-mum thulium laser is safe and efficient in the treatment of urethral stricture.

Controlled Synthesis of Coral-Like CuO Dendrites with Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance.

In this work, coral-like CuO dendrites were successfully synthesized by a solvothermal method in the mixed solvent of distilled water and ethanol with assistance of dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB). The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis techniques, to investigate their structure and morphology. The coral-like CuO dendrites were about 1 µm in length, with many dendrites pointing to a common center. The influence of experimental conditions on morphology, such as volume ratio of water to ethanol, surfactant DTAB and molar ratio of Na2CO3 and Cu(CH3COO)2, was also discussed. Time-dependent experiment was carried out to explore the formation mechanism while a "particle-sheet-dendrite (PSD)" mechanism was proposed to explain the growth process. The as-prepared CuO dendrites were used to degrade methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation in the presence of H2O2, where over 98% of methylene blue (MB) was degraded in 1 h. Results from the study demonstrated that the as-prepared coral-like CuO dendrites exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performance and excellent stability and reusability.

[Efficacy of transurethral 2 microm laser urethrotomy in the treatment of urethral stricture and atresia].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the curative efficacy of transurethral 2 microm thulium laser urethrotomy in the treatment of urethral stricture and atresia. METHODS: 192 patients suffering from urethral stricture (n = 179) or atresia (n = 13), all male, aged 45.4 (38-56), underwent transurethral 2 microm thulium laser urethrotomy. The maximum flow rate (MFR) was measured before operation, immediately after removing the catheter, and 3 and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: All the patients got fluent urination immediately after the catheter removal with the mean MFR of (16.7 +/- 3.1) ml/s, significantly higher than that before the operation [(3.2 +/- 0.3) ml/s, P < 0.01]. 157 patients got permanent fluent urination without recurrence; 35 patients got recurrence 1 to 3 weeks after the catheter removal and got final cure 3 months later after periodic urethra dilatation. Besides, 6 patients encountered incontinence and all finally got convalescence after physical therapy and exercise. The mean MFR of all the patients 3 months and 6 months postoperatively were (18.7 +/- 3.1) ml/s and (19.2 +/- 2.8) ml/s respectively, both significantly higher than that before operation (both P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Transurethral 2 microm thulium laser urethrotomy is a safe and efficient method in the treatment of urethral stricture and atresia.

Prevalence of Spina Bifida Occulta and Its Relationship With Overactive Bladder in Middle-Aged and Elderly Chinese People.

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of spina bifida occulta (SBO) and its relationship with the presence of overactive bladder (OAB) in middle-aged and elderly people in China. METHODS: A cross-sectional community-based survey was carried out at 7 communities in Zhengzhou City, China from December 15, 2013 to June 10, 2014, where residents aged over 40 years were randomly selected to participate. All of the participants underwent lumbosacral radiographic analysis and relevant laboratory tests. A questionnaire including basic information, past medical history and present illness, and the OAB symptom score was filled out by all participants. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used for data analysis with a P-value of <0.05 denoting statistical significance. RESULTS: A total of 1,061 subjects were qualified for the final statistical analysis (58.8±11.7 years; male, 471 [44.4%]; female, 590 [55.6%]). The overall prevalence of SBO was 15.1% (160 of 1,061): 18.3% (86 of 471) in men and 12.5% (74 of 590) in women. Among these subjects, 13.7% (145 of 1,061) had OAB: 13.2% (62 of 471) in men and 14.1% (83 of 590) in women. The results of logistic regression showed that age, SBO, history of cerebral infarction (HCI), and constipation were risk factors for OAB (P<0.05), while sex, history of childhood enuresis (HCE), body mass index (BMI), and diabetes mellitus (DM) were not (P>0.05). In men, age, SBO, and constipation were risk factors for OAB (P<0.05), while HCE, BMI, DM, HCI, and benign prostate hyperplasia were not (P>0.05). In women, age, SBO, and HCI were risk factors for OAB (P<0.05), while HCE, BMI, DM, vaginal delivery, and constipation were not (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of SBO is high and it is related to OAB in middle-aged and elderly people in China.

Percutaneous intrarenal marsupialization of symptomatic peripelvic renal cysts: a single-centre experience in China.

UNLABELLED: OBJECTIVE.The aim of this study was to report the authors' experience with percutaneous intrarenal marsupialization of symptomatic peripelvic renal cysts. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients (16 male and 15 female, with a mean age of 49 years) with a peripelvic renal cyst associated with chronic flank or lumbar pain or urinary infection were selected for percutaneous intrarenal marsupialization with a 2 µm laser in the authors' centre from January 2005 to December 2010. Cyst size ranged from 4.5 to 10.5 (mean 6.0) cm. The cysts were punctured by a percutaneous technique guided by ultrasonography, a 20.8 F nephroscope was introduced and the whole internal surface of the cyst was inspected. Methylene blue was injected through the ureteral catheter to help identify the collecting system. A 1.5-4 cm incision was made at the avascular area of the cystic wall by the 2 µm laser to achieve intrarenal marsupialization of the cyst into the renal collecting system. One or two 6 F double-J stents were placed with the proximal end in the cyst for 2-3 months. RESULTS: The mean operation time was 50 (25-120) min. No serious complications such as massive bleeding, urine leak or infected haematoma occurred. The patients were followed up for a mean of 12 (range 3-36) months. All patients were relieved of their symptoms. Eighteen cysts disappeared after surgery, while 13 cysts reduced in size by over one-third and communicated with the renal collecting system. No enlargement of cysts was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous intrarenal marsupialization with a 2 µm laser is an effective and safe procedure and may offer a minimally invasive alternative for the management of symptomatic peripelvic renal cysts.