Rethinking ureteral stent design: Do more side holes improve performance?

Ureteral stents, particularly double-J stents, are widely used to maintain urinary flow in the presence of ureteral obstruction. These stents are designed with side holes along their length to promote urine drainage and prevent complications. Despite their effectiveness in restoring urinary flow, ureteral stents are prone to complications such as encrustation (mineral buildup) and biofilm formation, which can lead to infections and blockages.

Comparison of 4D flow MRI and computational fluid dynamics in carotid models with different stenosis levels.

Internal carotid artery (ICA) stenoses are a major source of stroke. In addition to traditional cardiovascular risk factors, hemodynamic parameters such as wall shear stress (WSS) are recognized as critical contributors to the progression and rupture of ICA plaques. This study evaluates the ability of 4D flow MRI to predict the velocity and WSS fields in three models of carotid bifurcations representing stenosis ratios of 0% (healthy), 40% (mildly stenosed), and 80% (severely stenosed) in the ICA.

Effect of Thrombolytics on Delayed Reperfusion After Incomplete Thrombectomy: Target Trial Emulation.

Background And Objectives: More than half of the endovascularly treated ischemic stroke patients with incomplete reperfusion (expanded Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction [eTICI] <3) show delayed reperfusion (DR) on 24-hour perfusion imaging, which is associated with favorable clinical outcome. The effect of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) on the rates of DR remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the treatment effect of IVT on the occurrence of DR.

Fine Particulate Matter () and the Blood-Testis Barrier: An and Mechanistic Study.

Background: Fine particulate matter [particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter of ()] is considered a major component of ambient PM. Exposure to was shown to be associated with male reproductive system injury. Ferroptosis is regarded as an iron-dependent programmed cell death that is associated with the pathological process.

Perfusion Abnormalities on 24-Hour Perfusion Imaging in Patients With Complete Endovascular Reperfusion.

Background: Perfusion abnormalities in the infarct and salvaged penumbra have been proposed as a potential reason for poor clinical outcome (modified Rankin Scale score >2) despite complete angiographic reperfusion (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction [TICI3]). In this study, we aimed to identify different microvascular perfusion patterns and their association with clinical outcomes among TICI3 patients.

Methods: University Hospital Bern's stroke registry of all patients between February 2015 and December 2021.

The interplay between bacterial biofilms, encrustation, and wall shear stress in ureteral stents: a review across scales.

Ureteral stents are hollow tubes that are inserted into the ureter to maintain the flow of urine from the kidney to the bladder. However, the use of these indwelling stents is associated with potential complications. Biofilm, an organized consortium of bacterial species embedded within a self-producing extracellular matrix, can attach to the outer and inner surfaces of ureteral stents.

Impacts and potential mechanisms of fine particulate matter (PM) on male testosterone biosynthesis disruption.

Exposure to PM is the most significant air pollutant for health risk. The testosterone level in male is vulnerable to environmental toxicants. In the past, researchers focused more attention on the impacts of PM on respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and nervous system, and few researchers focused attention on the reproductive system.

Identification of novel potential genes in testicular germ cell tumors: A transcriptome analysis.

Objective: Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs), containing pure seminoma and non-seminoma, occupy the most majority of testicular cancers in adolescents and young men, which has increased dramatically in recent decades. Therefore, it is important to find crucial genes for improving diagnosis and prognosis in TGCTs. However, the diagnostic and prognostic markers of TGCTs are limited.

Fluid mechanical performance of ureteral stents: The role of side hole and lumen size.

Ureteral stents are indispensable devices in urological practice to maintain and reinstate the drainage of urine in the upper urinary tract. Most ureteral stents feature openings in the stent wall, referred to as side holes (SHs), which are designed to facilitate urine flux in and out of the stent lumen. However, systematic discussions on the role of SH and stent lumen size in regulating flux and shear stress levels are still lacking.

The effects of fine particulate matter on the blood-testis barrier and its potential mechanisms.

With the rapid expansion of industrial scale, an increasing number of fine particulate matter (PM) has bringing health concerns. Although exposure to PM has been clearly associated with male reproductive toxicity, the exact mechanisms are still unclear. Recent studies demonstrated that exposure to PM can disturb spermatogenesis through destroying the blood-testis barrier (BTB), consisting of different junction types, containing tight junctions (TJs), gap junctions (GJs), ectoplasmic specialization (ES) and desmosomes.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate induces suppression of testosterone biosynthesis via Sertoli cell-derived exosomal/miR-9-3p downregulating StAR expression in Leydig cells.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is associated with male reproductive disorder, but the related mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we used in vivo and in vitro models to explore the role of Sertoli cell-derived exosomes (SC-Exo)/miR-9-3p/StAR signaling pathway on PFOS-induced suppression of testosterone biosynthesis. Forty male ICR mice were orally administrated PFOS (0.

Characterization of Turbulent Flow Behind a Transcatheter Aortic Valve in Different Implantation Positions.

The development of turbulence after transcatheter aortic valve (TAV) implantation may have detrimental effects on the long-term performance and durability of the valves. The characterization of turbulent flow generated after TAV implantation can provide fundamental insights to enhance implantation techniques. A self-expandable TAV was tested in a pulse replicator and the three-dimensional flow field was extracted by means of tomographic particle image velocimetry.

Effects of opioids and benzodiazepines on bladder function of awake restrained mice.

Objective: We aimed to study the effects of anaesthetics on bladder function using repeated urodynamic investigation (UDI) including external urethral sphincter (EUS) electromyography (EMG) in awake restrained mice.

Materials And Methods: Female C57Bl/6J mice underwent either bladder catheter (n=6) or bladder catheter plus electrodes (n=10) implantation next to the EUS. A control group (n=3) was included for histological analysis.

Fluid mechanical modeling of the upper urinary tract.

The upper urinary tract (UUT) consists of kidneys and ureters, and is an integral part of the human urogenital system. Yet malfunctioning and complications of the UUT can happen at all stages of life, attributed to reasons such as congenital anomalies, urinary tract infections, urolithiasis and urothelial cancers, all of which require urological interventions and significantly compromise patients' quality of life. Therefore, many models have been developed to address the relevant scientific and clinical challenges of the UUT.