Comparative study of low-power versus high-power holmium laser enucleation of the prostate for large volume benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent condition among the elderly male population, characterised by prostate enlargement and bothersome urinary symptoms. Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) is a minimally invasive surgical option that is preferred for larger prostates due to its precision and minimal complications. Although high-power HoLEP is an efficacious procedure, recent studies indicate that low-power settings may offer comparable benefits with diminished postoperative discomfort.

Technological innovation of HoLEP: a multicenter, randomized, controlled study for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of Transurethral Holmium Laser of the Prostate (HoLEP) with Double-n Technology in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), with a focus on preserving sexual function postoperatively.

Methods: Conducted as a multicenter, prospective, single-blind randomized controlled trial, this study enrolled sexually active male patients with BPH. Participants were randomized into three groups: standard HoLEP (Group A), single-n technology (Group B), and innovative double-n technology (Group C), which emphasizes the preservation of the urethral mucosa and nearby structures.

Comparative analysis of low-power versus high-power holmium laser enucleation of the prostate for symptomatic small-volume benign prostatic hyperplasia: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the safety and efficacy of low-power (LP) and high-power (HP) holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) in patients with symptomatic small-volume benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Methods: In this prospective, multicenter, single-blind, randomized controlled trial, men with symptomatic BPH (prostate volume <40 mL, peak urinary flow rate [Qmax] <10 mL/s, International Prostate Symptom Score [IPSS] ≥18) underwent either LP (24 W) or HP HoLEP (80 W). The primary outcome was IPSS at 6 months postoperatively.

[Aging and Small-sized Particles Release Characteristics of Tire Microplastics in Various Environmental Media].

In recent years, research on microplastics has mostly focused on thermoplastic materials, and there is a lack of research on the pollution status and environmental behavior of tire microplastics, a type of rubber elastomers. In order to investigate the aging and small-sized particles release characteristics of tire microplastics in various environmental media, the aging process of two different tire microplastics, one for cars and the other for electric bicycles, was simulated in dry and aquatic environments under laboratory conditions. The results showed that the tire microplastics would be aged after 30 d of UV illumination, which was manifested by the roughness of the surface and the appearance of cracks and flaking.

[Effect of modified holmium laser enucleation of the prostate on postoperative urinary control and sexual function in elderly patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia].

Objective: To investigate the impact of retaining part of the urethral mucosa on postoperative urinary control, erectile function, and ejaculatory function in patients undergoing holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) surgery.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 176 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients who underwent surgical treatment at our hospital from January 2019 to January 2022, including 80 cases of modified HoLEP surgery and 96 cases of standard HoLEP surgery. Preoperative and postoperative clinical data were collected and analyzed.

Downregulation of GDF15 suppresses ferroptosis and predicts unfavorable prognosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Background: Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), a member of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) superfamily, is involved in various pathophysiological processes such as anorexia, obesity, inflammation, and tumorigenesis. However, the role of GDF15 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains poorly understood.

Methods: Clinical significance of GDF15 in ccRCC as well as other types of human cancers was analyzed using the TCGA PANCAN dataset.

Release of millions of micro(nano)plastic fragments from photooxidation of disposable plastic boxes.

The widespread use of disposable plastic boxes is exacerbating the dangers of microplastics (MPs); however, little is known about the fragmentation behavior of MPs during aging. In this study, the dynamic evolution on the release of micro(nano)plastics and photoaging properties of two disposable plastic boxes (polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS)) were investigated under light irradiation and mechanical abrasion. Results showed that the weight of PP and PS was decreased by 53 % and 100 %, respectively after 60 d of ultraviolet irradiation (UV60).

Increasing Access to Care for the Underserved: Voices of Riders, Drivers, & Staff of a Rural Transportation Program.

The qualitative data presented in this paper was part of a larger concurrent mixed methods study evaluating the effectiveness of a transportation program (Project TRIP) for low-income residents in rural eastern North Carolina. Twenty stakeholders involved in TRIP were interviewed, including riders (n = 12) of which 83% were over 50 years old, program staff including the program coordinator and 5 case managers (n = 6), and transportation providers (n = 2). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, interviews were completed by phone with each participant.

Financial Burdens of Out-of-Pocket Spending Among Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries: Role of the "Big Four" Chronic Health Conditions.

While Medicare is the universal source of health care coverage for Americans aged 65 years or older, the program requires significant cost sharing in terms of out-of-pocket (OOP) spending. We conducted a retrospective study using data from 2016 to 2018 Medicare Current Beneficiary Surveys of elderly community-dwelling beneficiaries ( = 10,431) linked with administrative data to estimate OOP spending associated with the "big four" chronic diseases (cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease). We estimated a generalized linear model adjusting for predisposing, enabling, and need factors to estimate annual OOP spending.

Desorption of pharmaceuticals from pristine and aged polystyrene microplastics under simulated gastrointestinal conditions.

Microplastics (MPs) in the environment usually undergo extensive weathering and can transport pollutants to organisms once being ingested. However, the transportation mechanism and effect of aging process are poorly understood. This study systematically investigated the desorption mechanisms of pharmaceuticals from pristine and aged polystyrene (PS) MPs under simulated gastric and intestinal conditions of marine organisms.

Transurethral holmium laser resection and transurethral electrocision combined with intravesical epirubicin within 24 hours postoperatively for treatment of bladder cancer.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of transurethral holmium laser resection (THOLR) and transurethral electrocision (TUR) combined with intravesical epirubicin within 24 hours postoperatively for treatment of non-muscular invasive bladder cancer.

Methods: A total of 218 consecutive patients who were newly diagnosed with bladder cancer were enrolled in this prospective study from July 2014 to December 2017. The patients were randomly divided into THOLR and TUR groups.

[Clinical effects of the circumcision stapler, foreskin cerclage, and traditional circumcision: A comparative study].

Objective: To compare the clinical effects of the circumcision stapler, circumcision cerclage, and traditional circumcision in the treatment of phimosis and redundant prepuce.

Methods: Using the circumcision stapler (group A), foreskin cerclage (group B), and traditional circumcision (group C), we treated 276 patients with phimosis or redundant prepuce. We made comparisons among the three groups in the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative and 24-hour postoperative pain scores, and incidence of postoperative complications.

[Relationship between serum β2-microglobulin and lower extremity atherosclerotic occlusive disease].

Objective: To explore the relationship between fasting serum level of β2-microglobulin (β2-M) and the development of lower extremity atherosclerotic occlusive disease (LEAOD).

Methods: A total of 59 LEAOD patients at our hospital from March 2011 to August 2012 were recruited into the LEAOD group while another 32 non-LEAOD patients into the control group. Their clinical profiles and the parameters of ankle brachial index (ABI),β2-M and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were recorded and analyzed.

Association between travel times and food procurement practices among female supplemental nutrition assistance program participants in eastern North Carolina.

Objective: To examine associations between self-reported vehicular travel behaviors, perceived stress, food procurement practices, and body mass index among female Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants.

Analysis: The authors used correlation and regression analyses to examine cross-sectional associations between travel time and distance, perceived stress, food procurement practices (grocery shopping frequency, fast-food consumption, home meal consumption), and body mass index among female SNAP participants aged 20-65 years (n = 215) in eastern North Carolina.

Results: There were positive associations (P < .

Food stamp participation is associated with fewer meals away from home, yet higher body mass index and waist circumference in a nationally representative sample.

Objective: To examine associations between Food Stamp (FS) participation, meals away from home (MAFH), body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Nationally representative.

Commute times, food retail gaps, and body mass index in North Carolina counties.

Introduction: The prevalence of obesity is higher in rural than in urban areas of the United States, for reasons that are not well understood. We examined correlations between percentage of rural residents, commute times, food retail gap per capita, and body mass index (BMI) among North Carolina residents.

Methods: We used 2000 census data to determine each county's percentage of rural residents and 1990 and 2000 census data to obtain mean county-level commute times.

Maternal Employment, Migration, and Child Development.

We analyze the roles of and interrelationships among school inputs and parental inputs in affecting child development through the specification and estimation of a behavioral model of household migration and maternal employment decisions. We integrate information on these decisions with observations on child outcomes over a 13-year period from the NLSY. We find that the impact of our school quality measures diminish by factors of 2 to 4 after accounting for the fact that families may choose where to live in part based on school characteristics and labor market opportunities.

Parental Compensatory Behaviors and Early Child Health Outcomes in Cebu, Philippines().

A dynamic optimization model of parents choosing investments in their children's health motivates an empirical model of parents' choices of health inputs for their children and the impacts of these decisions on their children's subsequent health. Estimates of the child health input demand functions and the child health production functions from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey accord with the prediction that optimizing behavior results in higher levels of aggregate child health. Observable parental behaviors respond to the physical developmental status of their children.