Korean Society of Endourology and Robotics (KSER) recommendation on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of urolithiasis.

This article provides evidence-based recommendations and expert opinions to aid urologists in making optimal decisions regarding managing urolithiasis in various clinical scenarios. The most frequently asked questions by urologists in their clinical practice have been collected and answered in the form of FAQs; based on the latest evidence and expert opinions. The natural history of urolithiasis is divided into active treatment and silent phases, with the active treatment stage divided into typical and special situations and peri-treatment management.

Ultra-Mini Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (UMP) with Strict Lower Irrigation Pressure Control: Correlation with Post Operative Febrile Urinary Tract Infection Rate.

Background: Ultra-mini PCNL (UMP) is a device that removes stones by using 7.5 Fr. nephroscope and 11/12 Fr.

Tunable spin injection and detection across a van der Waals interface.

Van der Waals heterostructures with two-dimensional magnets offer a magnetic junction with an atomically sharp and clean interface. This attribute ensures that the magnetic layers maintain their intrinsic spin-polarized electronic states and spin-flipping scattering processes at a minimum level, a trait that can expand spintronic device functionalities. Here, using a van der Waals assembly of ferromagnetic FeGeTe with non-magnetic hexagonal boron nitride and WSe layers, we demonstrate electrically tunable, highly transparent spin injection and detection across the van der Waals interfaces.

Orbital Order Melting at Reduced Dimensions.

The orbital degree of freedom, strongly coupled with the lattice and spin, is an important factor when designing correlated functions. Whether the long-range orbital order is stable at reduced dimensions and, if not, what the critical thickness is remains a tantalizing question. Here, we report the melting of orbital ordering, observed by controlling the dimensionality of the canonical e orbital system LaMnO.

Direct Observation of Orbital Driven Strong Interlayer Coupling in Puckered Two-Dimensional PdSe.

Interlayer coupling between individual unit layers is known to be critical in manipulating the layer-dependent properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials. While recent studies have revealed that several 2D materials with significant degrees of interlayer interaction (such as black phosphorus) show strongly layer-dependent properties, the origin based on the electronic structure is drawing intensive attention along with 2D materials exploration. Here, the direct observation of a highly dispersive single electronic band along the interlayer direction in puckered 2D PdSe as an experimental hallmark of strong interlayer couplings is reported.

Critical Role of Ti in Stabilizing High-Voltage Redox Reactions in Li-Rich Layered Material.

Li-rich layered oxide materials are considered promising candidates for high-capacity cathodes for battery applications and improving the reversibility of the anionic redox reaction is the key to exploiting the full capacity of these materials. However, permanent structural change of the electrode occurring upon electrochemical cycling results in capacity and voltage decay. In view of these factors, Ti -substituted Li IrO (Li Ir Ti O ) is synthesized, which undergoes an oxygen redox reaction with suppressed voltage decay, yielding improved electrochemical performance and good capacity retention.

Enhanced Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysis in Strained A-Site Cation Deficient LaNiO Perovskite Thin Films.

As the BO octahedral structure in perovskite oxide is strongly linked with electronic behavior, it is actively studied for various fields such as metal-insulator transition, superconductivity, and so on. However, the research about the relationship between water-splitting activity and BO structure is largely lacking. Here, we report the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) of LaNiO (LNO) by changing the NiO structure using compositional change and strain.

Functional Evaluation of Upper Urinary Tract with Diuretic Mercaptoacetyltriglycine Renal Scans in Patients with Benign Prostatic Obstruction before and after Surgical Intervention: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: We investigated which benign prostatic hyperplasia-related lower urinary parameters are related to upper urinary tract obstruction and whether transurethral prostatectomy could improve upper urinary tract obstruction.

Materials And Methods: Patients with prostate size over 30 g and urodynamically proven bladder outlet obstruction were enrolled in this prospective observational study. Bladder wall thickness and prostate size were measured by ultrasonography.

Comparison of Clinical Outcomes between Hyaluronic and Polylactic Acid Filler Injections for Penile Augmentation in Men Reporting a Small Penis: A Multicenter, Patient-Blinded/Evaluator-Blinded, Non-Inferiority, Randomized Comparative Trial with 18 Months of Follow-up.

Although several types of penile augmentation (PA) fillers have been recently introduced, no long-term follow-up studies have compared them. This study aimed to compare the long-term clinical outcomes of hyaluronic acid (HA) and polylactic acid (PLA) filler injections for PA. Our multicenter, patient-blinded/evaluator-blinded, randomized comparative trial was performed for 18 months after the single injection of fillers.

Temporary Renal Artery Clamping With Hemostatic Materials in Diffuse Type of Spontaneous Renal Allograft Rupture: A Case Report.

Background: Several surgical strategies have been introduced for spontaneous kidney rupture. Herein, we report on a case in which temporary artery clamping with hemostatic materials was performed.

Case Presentation: A 52-year-old man underwent renal transplant from a living donor (his 20-year-old son).

Effect of tadalafil 5 mg on post-micturition dribble in men with lower urinary tract symptoms: a multicentre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Objectives: To compare the effects of taking tadalafil 5 mg and placebo once daily on post-micturition dribble (PMD) in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Patients And Methods: Our prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial enrolled 102 men with PMD and other LUTS. PMD was assessed using the Hallym Post-Micturition Dribble Questionnaire (HPMDQ) and according to PMD volume.

Giant Magnetic Anisotropy Induced by Ligand LS Coupling in Layered Cr Compounds.

We propose a novel origin of magnetic anisotropy to explain the unusual magnetic behaviors of layered ferromagnetic Cr compounds (3d^{3}) wherein the anisotropy field varies from ≲0.01 to ∼3  T on changing the ligand atom in a common hexagonal structure. The effect of the ligand p orbital spin-orbit (LS) coupling on the magnetic anisotropy is explored by using four-site full multiplet cluster model calculations for energies involving the superexchange interaction at different spin axes.

First Observation of Ferroelectricity in ∼1 nm Ultrathin Semiconducting BaTiO Films.

The requirements of multifunctionality in thin-film systems have led to the discovery of unique physical properties and degrees of freedom, which exist only in film forms. With progress in growth techniques, one can decrease the film thickness to the scale of a few nanometers (∼nm), where its unique physical properties are still pronounced. Among advanced ultrathin film systems, ferroelectrics have generated tremendous interest.

A Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety Between Hyaluronic Acid and Polylactic Acid Filler Injection in Penile Augmentation: A Multicenter, Patient/Evaluator-Blinded, Randomized Trial.

Background: Studies about the clinical utility of fillers on penile augmentation (PA) are lacking. Furthermore, no randomized study has compared the utilities of fillers.

Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety between hyaluronic acid (HA) and polylactic acid (PLA) filler injection for PA.

Observation of Restored Topological Surface States in Magnetically Doped Topological Insulator.

The introduction of ferromagnetic order in topological insulators in general breaks the time-reversal symmetry and a gap is opened in topological surface bands. Various studies have focused on gap-opened magnetic topological insulators, because such modified band structures provide a promising platform for observing exotic quantum physics. However, the role of antiferromagnetic order in topological insulators is still controversial.

Effect of udenafil administration on postmicturition dribbling in men: a prospective, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical study.

Purpose: Postmicturition dribbling (PMD) is a stressful symptom in middle-aged men characterized by urinary leakage after the completion of normal voiding. Appropriate treatments have not yet been introduced. This study assessed the efficacy of treatment of PMD with 75 mg udenafil daily.

Is A Combination of Antibiotics and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs More Beneficial Than Antibiotic Monotherapy For The Treatment of Female Acute Uncomplicated Cystitis? A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) combination therapy to single-agent antibiotic therapy for the resolution of symptoms during two restricted activity days in patients with acute uncomplicated cystitis (AUC)Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective, randomized control pilot study. A total of 55 patients were enrolled. Group I (n=28) was treated with cepodoxime (100 mg twice per day), and Group II (n=27) was treated with cepodoxime (100 mg) and aceclofenac (100 mg) twice per day; both groups were treated for three days.

Postmicturition Dribble Is Associated with Erectile Dysfunction in Middle-Aged and Older Men with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms.

Purpose: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are correlated with erectile dysfunction (ED), but research on whether postmicturition dribble (PMD) is related to ED is limited. We assessed the correlation between PMD and ED in middle-aged and older Korean men with LUTS.

Materials And Methods: In our prospective, cross-sectional, observational, multicenter study, we enrolled 205 men (age >40 years) with LUTS.

Significance of Ki-67 in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: This meta-analysis evaluated the prognostic significance of Ki-67 in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Materials And Methods: We selected 39 articles including 5,229 patients from Embase, Scopus, and PubMed searches. The primary outcomes, recurrence-free survival (RFS), progression-free survival (PFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS) were determined using time-to event hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Efficacy and safety of newly developed cross-linked dextran gel injection for glans penis augmentation with a novel technique.

There is no safe and effective standard method for glans penis augmentation. Furthermore, there has been scant research on glans penis augmentation due to a poor understanding of glans anatomy, technical difficulty, and a lack of suitable substances for augmentation. Cross-linked dextran gel is a newly developed filler for soft-tissue augmentation.

Prognostic Significance of Blood Type A in Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: In this study, we evaluated the prognostic significance of the ABO blood type in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who had undergone partial or radical nephrectomy.

Materials And Methods: Information on the ABO blood type was obtained from 1750 patients with RCC. A total of 1243 men and 507 women (mean age, 55.

Long-Term Safety and Longevity of a Mixture of Polymethyl Methacrylate and Cross-Linked Dextran (Lipen-10®) after Penile Augmentation: Extension Study from Six to 18 Months of Follow-Up.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to investigate the long-term efficacy and safety of a mixture of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and cross-linked dextran Lipen-10® used for penile augmentation under the physical impact generated during sexual intercourse.

Materials And Methods: From March 2010 to October 2011, a total of 20 patients with a mean age of 44 years (interquartile range, 20~70 years) who requested penile augmentation participated in this study. Lipen-10® filler is a mixture of 75% cross-linked dextran, 15% PMMA, and 10% hypromellose solution.

Alcohol, Smoking, Physical Activity, Protein, and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: Prospective Longitudinal Cohort.

Purpose: To evaluate risk factors for deterioration of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in elderly men in a community-based, prospective longitudinal cohort study.

Methods: In a suburban area in Korea, 1,514 subjects aged ≥45 years were randomly selected by systematic sampling. A total of 918 elderly subjects were enrolled in this in-depth clinical study in 2004.