An international delphi survey and consensus meeting to define the risk factors for ureteral stricture after endoscopic treatment for urolithiasis.

Purpose: Iatrogenic ureteral strictures (US) after endoscopic treatment for urolithiasis represent a significant healthcare concern. However, high-quality evidence on the risk factors associated with US is currently lacking. We aimed to develop a consensus statement addressing the definition, risk factors, and follow-up management of iatrogenic US after endoscopic treatment for urolithiasis.

Ureteral stricture rate after endoscopic treatments for urolithiasis and related risk factors: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: We aimed to accurately determine ureteral stricture (US) rates following urolithiasis treatments and their related risk factors.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following the PRISMA guidelines using databases from inception to November 2023. Studies were deemed eligible for analysis if they included ≥ 18 years old patients with urinary lithiasis (Patients) who were subjected to endoscopic treatment (Intervention) with ureteroscopy (URS), percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), or shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) (Comparator) to assess the incidence of US (Outcome) in prospective and retrospective studies (Study design).

Disruptive consequences of monosodium glutamate on male reproductive function: A review.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is one of the most extensively used flavour enhancers worldwide. Although it is widely regarded as a safe food additive with no recommended daily dosage, its over-consumption has been associated with notably pathophysiological events in various tissues and organs of the body. Previous studies have reported of the neuro- cardio- and hepato- toxic effects of its excessive exposure.

Sickle cell disease in Ontario, Canada: an epidemiologic profile based on health administrative data.

Background: The number of patients with sickle cell disease in Ontario, Canada, is unknown. In the absence of a formal registry, we performed a study to determine an approximate census via analysis of health administrative databases.

Methods: We identified Ontario patients with a diagnosis of sickle cell disease through queries of the Discharge Abstract Database, National Ambulatory Care Reporting System and Newborn Screening Ontario database.

Impact of hypoxia on male reproductive functions.

Male reproductive functions, which include testicular steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis, and sexual/erectile functions are key in male fertility, but may be adversely altered by several factors, including hypoxia. This review demonstrates the impact of hypoxia on male reproductive functions. Acute exposure to hypoxia promotes testosterone production via stimulation of autophagy and upregulation of steroidogenic enzymes and voltage-gated L-type calcium channel, nonetheless, chronic exposure to hypoxia impairs steroidogenesis via suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis.

Codeine alters female reproductive function by targeting ovarian steroidogenesis and folliculogenesis via the induction of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

The rise in the abuse of codeine raises concerns about its impact on the health of users, and little has appeared on its effect on the female reproductive function. Therefore, this study evaluated the impact of codeine on female reproductive function. We administered codeine at low (2 mg/kg) and high (5 mg/kg) doses to female animals prior to mating for 8 weeks.

Usefulness and expectations on skills development and entrepreneurship among women of low socioeconomic status in Ogun State, Nigeria.

The acquisition of vocational training skills and entrepreneurial know-how is acknowledged as an added advantage and a safety net to navigate poverty, especially in dwindling economic recession time and massive unemployment. This study examined the factors influencing the usefulness and perceived realization of skills development/empowerment to encourage more women's involvement in small scale businesses and promote its effect on poverty alleviation in households across Nigeria. Data collection involved a structured questionnaire and in-depth interviews conducted post-the vocational skill/empowerment training.

Ameliorative Potential of Hydroethanolic Leaf Extract of on d-Galactose-Induced Testicular Injury.

Background: There is an increasing need for botanicals to be used as an alternative and complementary medicine in the management of male infertility. Male infertility has been a major health/social challenge to people all over the world. This study, therefore, investigated the ameliorative potential of hydroethanolic leaf extract of (HELEPN) against d-galactose-induced testicular injury.

Codeine-induced hepatic injury is via oxido-inflammatory damage and caspase-3-mediated apoptosis.

Codeine (3-methylmorphine) is a known analgesic, antitussive, and antidiarrheal drug that is often abused for recreational purposes. It is metabolized in the liver via the cytochrome P450 system and thus hypothesized to induce hepatic injury especially when misused. Thus, the present study aimed at investigating changes in liver function, hepatic enzyme biomarker, proton pumps, antioxidant status, free radicals and TNF-α levels, as well as caspase 3 activities and hepatic DNA fragmentation after 6 weeks of oral codeine administration.

Codeine exerts cardiorenal injury via upregulation of adenine deaminase/xanthine oxidase and caspase 3 signaling.

Aims: Codeine treatment has been shown to be associated with glucolipid deregulation, though data reporting this are inconsistent and the mechanisms are not well understood. Perturbation of glutathione-dependent antioxidant defense and adenosine deaminase (ADA)/xanthine oxidase (XO) signaling has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiometabolic disorders. We thus, hypothesized that depletion of glutathione contents and upregulation of ADA/XO are involved in codeine-induced glucolipid deregulation.

Exploration of surface glycoprotein to design multi-epitope vaccine for the prevention of Covid-19.

Stimulation and generation of T and B cell-mediated long-term immune response are essential for the curbing of a deadly virus such as SAR-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Corona Virus 2). Immunoinformatics approach in vaccine design takes advantage of antigenic and non-allergenic epitopes present on the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 to elicit immune responses. T cells and B cells epitopes were predicted, and the selected residues were subjected to allergenicity, antigenicity and toxicity screening which were linked by appropriate linkers to form a multi-epitope subunit vaccine.

Moderating Role of Demographic Characteristics in Breast Cancer Awareness and the Behavioural Disposition of Women in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Background: Breast cancer incidence is fast increasing, posing a significant threat to the health of women of all races globally. In Nigeria, breast cancer causes the most cancer-related deaths among women each year as a result of inadequate awareness.

Aim: This study is aimed at examining the moderating role of demographic characteristics in facilitating breast cancer awareness among women, and how it relates to their behavioural disposition to the disease.

Microbial functional change is linked with clinical outcomes after capsular fecal transplant in cirrhosis.

BACKGROUNDHepatic encephalopathy (HE) is associated with poor outcomes. A prior randomized, pilot trial demonstrated safety after oral capsular fecal microbial transplant (FMT) in HE, with favorable changes in microbial composition and cognition. However, microbial functional changes are unclear.

Metabolomics and microbial composition increase insight into the impact of dietary differences in cirrhosis.

Background & Aims: Dietary changes can modulate gut microbiota and interact with cirrhosis. Our prior study demonstrated that microbial diversity was higher in cirrhotics from Turkish vs the USA, which was associated with lower risk of 90-day hospitalizations. We aimed to define gut microbial functional and metabolomic changes to increase insight into benefits of the Mediterranean compared to Western diets.

Supine Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in the Galdako-Modified Valdivia Position: A High-Volume Single Center Experience.

Objective: To describe the technique and outcomes of supine percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in the Galdako-modified Valdivia position.

Materials And Methods: Prospective data were collected from 303 patients undergoing PCNL in the Galdako-modified Valdivia position at our institution between 2007 and 2015. We report our technique with outcomes of operative times, stone-free rate (SFR), and complications.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian Axis in Thyroid Dysfunction.

Background: It has been established that thyroid dysfunction causes impairment of reproductive function. However, laboratory and human studies that associated this with female reproductive hormones are conflicting and data reporting the effects of thyroid dysfunction on reproductive organs are insufficient.

Aim: This study investigated the effect of experimental hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism on hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and reproductive organs morphometry and histology in female rats.

Resonant grating polarizers made with silicon nitride, titanium dioxide, and silicon: design, fabrication, and characterization.

We present the design, fabrication, and characterization of guided-mode resonance (GMR) linear polarizers that operate in the optical communications C-band near a wavelength of 1550 nm. We provide theoretical and experimental spectra using resonant elements fashioned in three material systems. In particular, we investigate silicon nitride resonant gratings and titanium dioxide gratings on glass substrates as well as silicon-on-quartz gratings.

The expression profile for the tumour suppressor gene PTEN and associated polymorphic markers.

PTEN, a putative tumour suppressor gene associated with prostate and other cancers, is known to be located within the chromosomal region 10q23.3. Transcription of the PTEN gives rise to multiple mRNA species.

Determinants of single limb stance balance performance.

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of gender, physical activity level, age and anthopometric indices on the single limb stance balance performance of asymptomatic subjects. Eighty physically active and 120 sedentary subjects (100 males and 100 females, age ranged, 12-40 years) from Ile-Ife community were recruited for the study. The maximum duration that each subject was able to maintain balance whiled standing on their dominant leg with eyes open and eyes closed were monitored.