Efficacy of the Bridge Dry Swallowing Exercise for Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Background Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition characterized by reflux of gastric contents, leading to damage to the esophageal mucosa and/or unpleasant symptoms, with a global prevalence of 13%. Although acid-suppressive medications are currently the most effective treatments for GERD, they may be ineffective against its symptoms. We therefore investigated the efficacy of a physical exercise program for the treatment of intractable GERD symptoms.

[A new method for measuring spinal kyphosis using CT images and a study of its relationship with reflux esophagitis].

[Purpose] This study aimed to examine the validity and reproducibility of a new quantitative method for measuring spinal kyphosis using computed tomography (CT), and to investigate its relationship with reflux esophagitis. [Method] Using a new method to measure the index of kyphosis in CT images (IKCT), 10 examiners evaluated 10 cases of spinal kyphosis. One examiner measured 47 cases twice and 20 cases were examined to assess the validity with the kyphosis index.

Drainage pattern of the splenic flexure vein and its accompanying arteries using three-dimensional computed tomography angiography: a single-centre study of 600 patients.

Aim: The splenic flexure has variable vascular anatomy, and the details of the venous forms are not known. In this study, we report the flow pattern of the splenic flexure vein (SFV) and the positional relationship between the SFV and arteries such as the accessory middle colic artery (AMCA).

Methods: This was a single-centre study using preoperative enhanced CT colonography images of 600 colorectal surgery patients.

Association of Tumor Pathological Response with the Use of Metformin During Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Rectal and Esophageal/Gastroesophageal Cancer Patients: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Purpose: Metformin has been reported to be associated with improved cancer prognosis when used in combination with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. In this study, we present a systematic review and meta-analyses of studies evaluating the association of tumor pathological response with the use of metformin during neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) in rectal and esophageal/gastroesophageal cancer patients.

Methods: We systematically searched databases for articles that compared concurrent metformin use with no metformin use in cancer patients treated with NACRT following the PRISMA 2020.

The Bladder Microbiome Is Associated with Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Muscle Invasive Urothelial Bladder Carcinoma.

The intra-tumor microbiome has recently been linked to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in a number of cancers. However, the relationship between EMT and microbes in bladder cancer has not been explored. In this study, we profiled the abundance of individual microbe species in the tumor samples of over 400 muscle invasive bladder carcinoma (MIBC) patients.

Evaluation of Age- and Radical-Prostatectomy Related Changes in Male Pelvic Floor Anatomy Based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging and 3-Dimensional Reconstruction.

Purpose: Puborectalis muscles (PRM) and ischiocavernosus muscles (ICM) play important roles in urinary continence and male erectile functions. Understanding of anatomy and surgical-injury related changes to these muscles is critical to monitor changes in continence or erectile function. Anatomical description of these muscles has undergone revisions because these conclusions were derived from cadavers.

Exploration of male urethral sphincter complex using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-based fiber-tracking.

Background: Urinary incontinence is a major clinical problem arising primarily from age-related degenerative changes to the sphincter muscles. However, the precise anatomy of the normal male sphincter muscles has yet to be established. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) may offer a unique insight into muscle microstructure and fiber architecture.

Rapid Identification of Rectal Multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli Before Transrectal Prostate Biopsy.

Objective: To develop and evaluate a rapid multiplex-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to identify fecal carriers of multidrug-resistant extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (MDR-ExPEC) clonal groups.

Methods: Men presenting for transrectal prostate biopsy (TPB) at the San Diego Veterans Affairs Medical Center underwent rectal culture immediately before TPB. Rectal swabs were streaked onto ciprofloxacin-supplemented (4 mg/L) MacConkey agar plates, identified, and susceptibility tested.

Does Listening to Music During Office-Based Flexible Cystoscopy Decrease Anxiety in Patients: A Prospective Randomized Trial.

Purpose: To validate the effect of listening to music on perceived anxiety and pain during office-based flexible cystoscopy using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), in a well-matched North American veteran patient population in a prospective, randomized fashion.

Patients And Methods: A total of 137 veteran patients receiving routine urologic care in a North American Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system were recruited over a 2-year period (June 2011 to June 2013). All patients were prospectively randomized to undergo office-based flexible cystoscopy with or without music.

Clinical and microbiological determinants of infection after transrectal prostate biopsy.

Background: Increasing numbers of infections following transrectal prostate biopsy (TPB) at our hospital led us to investigate clinical and bacterial risk factors to determine if the colonizing rectal Escherichia coli population is the source.

Methods: We performed an observational cohort study of men undergoing TPB (1 January 2010-6 February 2014) at the San Diego Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The primary outcome was clinically significant post-TPB infection.

Fluoroquinolone resistant rectal colonization predicts risk of infectious complications after transrectal prostate biopsy.

Purpose: Infection after transrectal prostate biopsy has become an increasing concern due to fluoroquinolone resistant bacteria. We determined whether colonization identified by rectal culture can identify men at high risk for post-transrectal prostate biopsy infection.

Materials And Methods: Six institutions provided retrospective data through a standardized, web based data entry form on patients undergoing transrectal prostate biopsy who had rectal culture performed.

Incorporating robot-assisted prostatectomy at a Veterans Affairs hospital: outcomes.

Purpose: To evaluate a unique method of extended mentorship in robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) at VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS). As novel robotic technologies diffuse into surgical practice, developing safe apprenticeships remains a challenge.

Patients And Methods: Between October 2008 and November 2010, 90 RALPs were prospectively divided into three phases: Proctored, Independent, and Instructor.

Reduced methylation of PFKFB3 in cancer cells shunts glucose towards the pentose phosphate pathway.

Haem oxygenase (HO)-1/carbon monoxide (CO) protects cancer cells from oxidative stress, but the gas-responsive signalling mechanisms remain unknown. Here we show using metabolomics that CO-sensitive methylation of PFKFB3, an enzyme producing fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (F-2,6-BP), serves as a switch to activate phosphofructokinase-1, a rate-limiting glycolytic enzyme. In human leukaemia U937 cells, PFKFB3 is asymmetrically di-methylated at R131 and R134 through modification by protein arginine methyltransferase 1.

Mitral stenosis reversed by medical treatment for heart failure.

It is reported that functional mitral stenosis frequently develops after ring annuloplasty for ischemic mitral regurgitation. The mechanism is a combination of annular size reduction by surgery and diastolic mitral valve tethering, restricting the anterior leaflet opening due to posteriorly displaced papillary muscles with left ventricular dilatation. We report the case of a 57-year-old man who had a history of successful mitral valve plasty for degenerative mitral regurgitation.

Magnetic resonance imaging for intratesticular and extratesticular scrotal lesions.

Introduction: To evaluate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) utility in intratesticular and extratesticular scrotal diseases.

Materials And Methods: Two radiologists retrospectively reviewed images of patients who underwent ultrasound followed by MRI, categorizing them as intratesticular or extratesticular and malignant, benign, indeterminate, or inadequate study. For patients who underwent surgical excision, pathologic results were also correlated to the presurgical ultrasound and MRI diagnoses.

Differentiation of clear from non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma using CT washout formula.

Introduction: To further elucidate potential patterns of contrast enhancement for renal neoplasm subtypes, we investigated utility of contrast washout formula to differentiate renal tumor histology after multiphase computerized tomography (CT).

Materials And Methods: Single center retrospective cohort study of 163 patients with multiphase CT for renal masses obtained October 2007 to July 2012. Pathology confirmed clear cell (CC-RCC; n = 92), papillary (Pa-RCC; n = 43), chromophobe (Ch-RCC; n = 6), oncocytoma (OC; n = 11), or angiomyolipoma (AML; n = 11) histology.

Bilateral urinary calculi with discordant stone composition.

Objectives: To describe a cohort of bilateral stone formers with significantly different compositions between renal units.

Methods: Patients treated for bilateral nephrolithiasis over a 4-year period (2007-2010) were identified. Stones were categorized by dominant (≥50%) mineralogical component.

Comparison of laparoendoscopic single-site and multiport laparoscopic radical and partial nephrectomy: a prospective, nonrandomized study.

Objective: To prospectively compare outcomes of laparoendoscopic single-site and multiport laparoscopic radical nephrectomy and partial nephrectomy, focusing on postoperative pain and analgesic requirement.

Methods: Nonrandomized, prospective comparison of laparoendoscopic single-site and multiport laparoscopic radical nephrectomy and partial nephrectomy. Thirty-four patients underwent laparoendoscopic single-site (17 radical nephrectomy/17 partial nephrectomy); 42 underwent multiport laparoscopy (28 radical nephrectomy/14 partial nephrectomy) from February 2009 to February 2010.

[Influence of smoking and abdominal obesity on lung age].

Smoking is the riskiest factor for impairment of pulmonary function. Recent researches have indicated that abdominal obesity is also associated with the impairment. 'Lung age' is a novel index to evaluate respiratory function, and it is calculated from the data of the height, sex, and forced expiratory volume in 1-second.

Urine TMPRSS2:ERG fusion transcript stratifies prostate cancer risk in men with elevated serum PSA.

More than 1,000,000 men undergo prostate biopsy each year in the United States, most for "elevated" serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Given the lack of specificity and unclear mortality benefit of PSA testing, methods to individualize management of elevated PSA are needed. Greater than 50% of PSA-screened prostate cancers harbor fusions between the transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2) and v-ets erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene homolog (avian) (ERG) genes.

MR imaging of scrotal tumors and pseudotumors.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is an important imaging technique in the evaluation of scrotal masses, providing a useful adjunct to ultrasonography (US). Although US is the modality of choice for initial evaluation of scrotal pathologic conditions because of its wide availability, low cost, and high sensitivity for detection of testicular and paratesticular disease processes, US findings may occasionally be inconclusive. MR imaging may provide additional information in these cases, often affecting patient management.

Long-term subjective continence status and use of alternative treatments by women with stress urinary incontinence after collagen injection therapy.

This study examined subjective continence status and use of subsequent alternative therapeutic procedures at long-term follow-up after collagen injection for stress incontinence (SI) in women. Seventy women who underwent collagen injection for SI were identified by retrospective chart review and surveyed by mail questionnaire for subjective continence status, daily pad usage pre- and post-treatment, and use of anticholinergics and alternative procedures. Questionnaire responders' versus non-responders' mean age, follow-up, and pad usage were compared.

Efficacy of alpha-blockers for the treatment of ureteral stones.

Purpose: We determined if alpha-blocker therapy promotes expulsion of ureteral stones.

Materials And Methods: Meta-analysis was performed of randomized clinical trials of alpha-blockers for the treatment of ureteral stones. The primary outcome was overall stone expulsion rate.

Characterization of muscarinic receptor subtypes in human ureter.

Background And Purpose: To date, the subtypes of muscarinic receptors in the human ureter have not been characterized. Recently, several clinical studies have suggested enhanced passage of ureteral stones after relaxation of the ureter using adrenergic antagonists. However, there is a paucity of information on ureteral receptors and their role in ureteral motility.