Sirt6 protects retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve from degeneration during aging and glaucoma.

Glaucoma is characterized by the progressive degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons, and its risk increases with aging. Yet comprehensive insights into the complex mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we found that anti-aging molecule Sirt6 was highly expressed in RGCs.

Hemopatch to Prevent Lymphatic Leak after Robotic Prostatectomy and Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study investigates whether the application of Hemopatch, a novel hemostatic patch, could prevent lymphatic leak after robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection (BPLND). This is a prospective, single-center, phase III randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of Hemopatch in preventing lymphatic leak after RARP and BPLND. Participants were randomized to receive RARP and BPLND, with or without the use of Hemopatch, with an allocation ratio of 1:1.

Oral antibiotics perturbation on gut microbiota after prostate biopsy.

Introduction: The use of antibiotics may induce the changes in gut microbiota. Previous studies have shown conflicting results on whether the changed gut microbiota by antibiotics can be recovered. Our study aims to investigate whether the gut microbiota could be recovered after a single dose of oral co-amoxiclav before transrectal ultrasound-guided transperineal prostate biopsy (TPPBx) in 5 weeks' time.

Patients' perspectives on the benefits of feedback on patient-reported outcome measures in a web-based personalized decision report for hip and knee osteoarthritis.

Background: Applications of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for individual patient management are expanding with the support of digital tools. Providing PROM-based information to patients can potentially improve care experiences and outcomes through informing and activating patients. This study explored patients' perspectives on the benefits of receiving feedback on PROMs in the context of a web-based personalized decision report to guide care for their hip or knee osteoarthritis.

Service contracting as a policy response for public transport recovery during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A preliminary evaluation.

We examine and assess the service contracting (SC) program implemented for the first time in Metro Manila, Philippines as a response to the impact of the pandemic on road-based public transport sector. We develop an evaluation framework, consisting of three indicators: social amelioration, increase in transport supply and performance improvement. These indicators are the purported objectives of SC.

A cross-sectional study on gut microbiota in prostate cancer patients with prostatectomy or androgen deprivation therapy.

Background: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), either by medical or surgical castration, is the backbone for standard treatment of locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer, yet it is also associated with various metabolic and cardiovascular complications. Recent evidence have shown that obesity, insulin resistance, or metabolic disturbances can be associated with changes in the gut microbiome, while animal studies also show that castration is associated with changes in the gut microbiome. This study aims to investigate whether the fecal microbiota in prostate cancer patients who had undergone prostatectomy or ADT are different, and explore changes in phylogeny and pathways that may lead to side effects from ADT.

Treatment with a neutrophil elastase inhibitor and ofloxacin reduces P. aeruginosa burden in a mouse model of chronic suppurative otitis media.

Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a widespread, debilitating problem with poorly understood immunology. Here, we assess the host response to middle ear infection over the course of a month post-infection in a mouse model of CSOM and in human subjects with the disease. Using multiparameter flow cytometry and a binomial generalized linear machine learning model, we identified Ly6G, a surface marker of mature neutrophils, as the most informative factor of host response driving disease in the CSOM mouse model.

Simultaneous transurethral bipolar enucleation of the prostate, supine ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy and open cystolithotomy: A feasible and safe approach.

Management of the coexisting hard renal pelvic stone, large urinary bladder stone and benign prostatic hyperplasia is not common which can be difficult. Here we reported a case of a 70-year-old Asian male who presented with 1.5cm renal pelvic stone, 5cm large bladder stone and 96 cc benign enlarged prostate, which were managed by simultaneous transurethral bipolar enucleation of the prostate (BipoLEP), supine ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and open cystolithotomy.

The impact of microbiome in urological diseases: a systematic review.

Objective: The term microbiome is used to signify the ecological community of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms that share our body space, in which there were increasing evidences to suggest that they might have potential roles in various medical conditions. While the study of microbiome in the urinary system is not as robust as the systems included in the Human Microbiome Project, there are still evidences in the literature showing that microbiome may have a role in urological diseases. Therefore, we would like to perform a systematic review on the topic and summarize the available evidence on the impact of microbiome on urological diseases.

Updates in endourological management of urolithiasis.

Urinary stone disease, or urolithiasis, is a very common disease with increasing prevalence and incidence. With the advancement of endoscopic techniques, the treatment outcomes of ureteroscopy (or transureteral lithotripsy) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy are continuously improving. In recent years, there have been many new developments in the field, including new endoscopy design, more effective auxiliary tools, improvement in treatment protocols, introduction of robotic technology, combining both ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery or transureteral lithotripsy-assisted percutaneous nephrolithotomy), improvement in laser technology, and so on.

Women's Health Policy in the United States: An American College of Physicians Position Paper.

In this position paper, the American College of Physicians (ACP) examines the challenges women face in the U.S. health care system across their lifespans, including access to care; sex- and gender-specific health issues; variation in health outcomes compared with men; underrepresentation in research studies; and public policies that affect women, their families, and society.

Achieving Gender Equity in Physician Compensation and Career Advancement: A Position Paper of the American College of Physicians.

Women comprise more than one third of the active physician workforce, an estimated 46% of all physicians-in-training, and more than half of all medical students in the United States. Although progress has been made toward gender diversity in the physician workforce, disparities in compensation exist and inequities have contributed to a disproportionately low number of female physicians achieving academic advancement and serving in leadership positions. Women in medicine face other challenges, including a lack of mentors, discrimination, gender bias, cultural environment of the workplace, imposter syndrome, and the need for better work-life integration.

Addressing Social Determinants to Improve Patient Care and Promote Health Equity: An American College of Physicians Position Paper.

Social determinants of health are nonmedical factors that can affect a person's overall health and health outcomes. Where a person is born and the social conditions they are born into can affect their risk factors for premature death and their life expectancy. In this position paper, the American College of Physicians acknowledges the role of social determinants in health, examines the complexities associated with them, and offers recommendations on better integration of social determinants into the health care system while highlighting the need to address systemic issues hindering health equity.

Hepatitis B Vaccination, Screening, and Linkage to Care: Best Practice Advice From the American College of Physicians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Background: Vaccination, screening, and linkage to care can reduce the burden of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, recommendations vary among organizations, and their implementation has been suboptimal. The American College of Physicians' High Value Care Task Force and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed this article to present best practice statements for hepatitis B vaccination, screening, and linkage to care.

Health and Public Policy to Facilitate Effective Prevention and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders Involving Illicit and Prescription Drugs: An American College of Physicians Position Paper.

Substance use disorders involving illicit and prescription drugs are a serious public health issue. In the United States, millions of individuals need treatment for substance use disorders but few receive it. The rising number of drug overdose deaths and the changing legal status of marijuana pose new challenges.

The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms in a Chinese population, and the correlation with uroflowmetry and disease perception.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a population of Chinese men, and its correlation with uroflowmetry and disease perception.

Materials And Methods: Male volunteers above 40-year old were recruited in the community. Assessment with International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS), uroflowmetry, and a quiz on prostatic disease knowledge with 12 true-false-type questions were performed.

OpenNotes: hospitalists' challenge and opportunity.

At a time of societal fascination both with transparency and the explosion of health information technologies, a growing number of hospitals are offering, or will soon offer patients and their family instantaneous access to their doctors' and nurses' notes. What will this new opportunity for patient engagement mean for the hospitalist? Today, state and federal government regulations either encourage or require healthcare providers to grant patients access to their clinical information. But despite the rules embedded in the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), patients often face time-consuming obstacles in their quest for access, and many providers view compliance as a burden.

Deletion of the D domain of the human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3) PD protein results in decreased viral RNA synthesis and beta interferon (IFN-β) expression.

The human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3) phosphoprotein (P) gene is unusual as it contains an editing site where nontemplated ribonucleotide residues can be inserted. This RNA editing can lead to the expression of the viral P, PD, putative W, and theoretical V protein from a single gene. Although the HPIV3 PD protein has been detected, its function and those of the W and V proteins are poorly understood.

Type Ib BMP receptors mediate the rate of commissural axon extension through inhibition of cofilin activity.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have unexpectedly diverse activities establishing different aspects of dorsal neural circuitry in the developing spinal cord. Our recent studies have shown that, in addition to spatially orienting dorsal commissural (dI1) axons, BMPs supply 'temporal' information to commissural axons to specify their rate of growth. This information ensures that commissural axons reach subsequent signals at particular times during development.

Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase E960 and phospholemman F28 are critical for their functional interaction.

Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase (NKA) establishes the transmembrane [Na(+)] gradient in cells. In heart, phospholemman (PLM) inhibits NKA activity by reducing its apparent Na(+) affinity, an effect that is relieved by PLM phosphorylation. The NKA crystal structure suggests regions of PLM-NKA interaction, but the sites important for functional effects in live cells are not known.

Separation and isolation of BTV dsRNA segments and viral proteins.

Bluetongue virus (BTV) genome contains ten double-stranded RNA segments. The sequence of the plus strand of each of the BTV genomic double-stranded RNAs is the same as that of its mRNA, which encodes for a single viral protein, except the smallest S4 segment which can encode for two nonstructural proteins, primarily for the release assistance of the viral progeny. The separation and isolation of each BTV dsRNA segment and viral protein have provided extensive data related to its viral infection, pathology, suppression of host cellular functions, and eventual apoptosis of the infected host cells.