Sex differences in soluble prorenin receptor in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: The soluble prorenin receptor (sPRR), a member of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), is elevated in plasma of patients with preeclampsia, hypertension, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and type 2 diabetes. Our goal was to examine the relationship between sPRR and RAS activation to define whether sexual dimorphisms in sPRR might explain sex disparities in renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Two hundred sixty-nine participants were included in the study (mean age, 48 ± 16 years; 42% men, 58% women), including 173 controls and 96 subjects with type 2 diabetes.

Reprint - Medical and surgical interventions for the treatment of urinary stones in children: A Cochrane Review.

Introduction: We performed systematic review to assess the effects of different medical and surgical management of urinary stones in children.

Methods: We performed a comprehensive search using multiple databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials), trials registries (World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform Search Portal and ClinicalTrials.gov), and abstract proceedings of major urological and pediatric urology meetings, with no restrictions on the language of publication or publication status, up until December 2017.

Risk assessment for migration of styrene oligomers into food from polystyrene food containers.

Regulation EU 10/2011 requires a risk assessment of Non Intentionally Added Substances (NIAS) migrating into food for food contact plastics within the EU. Styrene oligomers are important potential components of NIAS in polystyrene used for food packaging and so far only dimers and trimers have been identified. They are not genotoxic in vitro, and there is good evidence that they are not endocrine disruptors.

Medical and surgical interventions for the treatment of urinary stones in children.

Background: Urolithiasis is a condition where crystalline mineral deposits (stones) form within the urinary tract. Urinary stones can be located in any part of the urinary tract. Affected children may present with abdominal pain, blood in the urine or signs of infection.

Oligomers of styrene are not endocrine disruptors.

Oligomers of styrene have been identified in polystyrene (PS) polymer samples intended for food packaging. Such oligomers contribute to nonintentionally added substances (NIAS) that may migrate into food or food simulants and therefore have to be assessed for the potential risk to health. No oligomers larger than dimers and trimers of styrene have been found to be present in PS.

Local Navon letter processing affects skilled behavior: a golf-putting experiment.

Expert or skilled behaviors (for example, face recognition or sporting performance) are typically performed automatically and with little conscious awareness. Previous studies, in various domains of performance, have shown that activities immediately prior to a task demanding a learned skill can affect performance. In sport, describing the to-be-performed action is detrimental, whereas in face recognition, describing a face or reading local Navon letters is detrimental.

A validated prognostic index predicting response to dexamethasone and diethylstilbestrol in castrate-resistant prostate cancer.

Background: The objective of this study was to identify subgroups of patients with castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) who had a prolonged response to combined dexamethasone and diethylstilbestrol (DS) therapy by constructing a prognostic index.

Methods: Multivariate and cutoff point analyses with bootstrapping were performed 1 month after commencing DS therapy, and data were validated using an independent external dataset.

Results: The median overall survival for 145 patients was 18.

Incidences of problematic organisms on petrifilm aerobic count plates used to enumerate selected meat and dairy products.

Petrifilm aerobic count plates are similar to or better than conventional pour plates. Petrifilm has its problems, however; some microorganisms can liquefy the Petrifilm gel and others do not produce the necessary color change with the indicator dye used. Petrifilm aerobic count plates were compared with the pour plates for determining the incidence and identification of problematic organisms in 329 meat and dairy products.

Antibacterial effects of Carica papaya fruit on common wound organisms.

The purpose of the study was to investigate antibacterial activity of ripe and unripe Carica papaya on selected micro-organisms. Cultures of micro-organisms were routinely maintained in nutrient agar slants at 4 degrees C. Extracts of immature, mature and ripe Carica papaya fruit were obtained by separately grinding factions of the epicarp, endocarp and seeds and filtering them through gauze.

Sorbitol-mannitol solution for urological electrosurgical resection-- a safer fluid than glycine 1.5%.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and suitability of sorbitol-mannitol solution (Purisole((R)), Fresenius, Germany) as a fluid for irrigation during electrosurgical resection of prostate (TURP).

Patients And Methods: 120 sequential patients undergoing TURP were studied. Serum electrolytes were measured before and the day after surgery.

Radiofrequency heat-treatment to the prostate for bladder outlet obstruction associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a 4-year outcome study.

Objectives: To evaluate the long-term effect on symptom relief and voiding performance of prostatic radiofrequency thermal treatment for bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) associated with benign prostatic enlargement (BPE).

Patients And Methods: During 1991-1994, 151 patients (mean age 76 years, range 49-91) with symptomatic BOO associated with BPE (i.e.

Interstitial radiofrequency therapy of the prostate: results of a pilot study.

Purpose: We assessed the feasibility of using interstitial radiofrequency therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in 50 patients.

Materials And Methods: Therapy was given using a standard diathermy unit as the radiofrequency generator and a disposable needle electrode. The main outcome measure was improvement in symptoms assessed by symptom scores.

Urethral anaesthesia with topical bupivacaine. A role for a longer-acting agent.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and toxicity of bupivacaine as a topical urethral anaesthetic.

Patients And Methods: This prospective two-part study comprised a pilot study of 10 men (mean age 73 years, range 39-86), to determine the toxicology, pharmocokinetics and suitable preparation of bupivacaine gel, and a study of 40 men (mean age 76 years, range 59-92) to compare the efficacy of bupivacaine with lignocaine gel. All patients were undergoing treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia by transurethral radiofrequency heating using the Direx Thermex II system.

Functional anatomy of the anterior cruciate ligament. Fibre bundle actions related to ligament replacements and injuries.

This work studied the fibre bundle anatomy of the anterior cruciate ligament. Three functional bundles--anteromedial, intermediate, and posterolateral--were identified in cadaver knees. Their contributions to resisting anterior subluxation in flexion and extension were found by repeated tests after sequential bundle transection.

The integrated cystoscope: an alternative to conventional and fibreoptic cystoscopy.

This report describes a new integrated rigid cystoscope which has been designed for diagnostic and therapeutic cystoscopy under local anaesthesia. The small external diameter (17.5 F) and large instrument channel permit maximum irrigant flow and operating potential whilst causing minimum discomfort to the patient.