Modulation of the Hydrogen Bonding Structure of Water by Renal Osmolytes.

Osmolytes are an integral part of living organism, e.g., the kidney uses sorbitol, trimethylglycine, taurine and myo-inositol to counter the deleterious effects of urea and salt.

Simultaneous enhancement of upconversion and downshifting luminescence via plasmonic structure.

We describe a metal nanodisk-insulator-metal (MIM) structure that enhances lanthanide-based upconversion (UC) and downshifting (DS) simultaneously. The structure was fabricated using a nanotransfer printing method that facilitates large-area applications of nanostructures for optoelectronic devices. The proposed MIM structure is a promising way to harness the entire solar spectrum by converting both ultraviolet and near-infrared to visible light concurrently through resonant-mode excitation.

Vibrational dynamics of thiocyanate and selenocyanate bound to horse heart myoglobin.

The structure and vibrational dynamics of SCN- and SeCN-bound myoglobin have been investigated using polarization-controlled IR pump-probe measurements and quantum chemistry calculations. The complexes are found to be in low and high spin states, with the dominant contribution from the latter. In addition, the Mb:SCN high spin complex exhibits a doublet feature in the thiocyanate stretch IR absorption spectra, indicating two distinct molecular conformations around the heme pocket.

Role of Urodynamic Study in Nocturnal Enuresis: Urodynamic Findings and Treatment Outcome Correlation in Children with Pharmacotherapy-resistant Monosymptomatic Nocturnal Enuresis or Severe Non-monosymptomatic Nocturnal Enuresis.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether or not a urodynamic study (UDS) is beneficial for management of pediatric nocturnal enuresis (NE), especially in pharmacoresistant monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (PRMNE) or severe non-monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (NMNE) patients.

Methods: Children with PRMNE or severe NMNE who underwent a UDS for the process of NE treatment were retrospectively reviewed. The UDS findings of patients and treatment outcomes of subsequent tailored therapies according to the UDS findings were analyzed.

Computational infrared and two-dimensional infrared photon echo spectroscopy of both wild-type and double mutant myoglobin-CO proteins.

The CO stretching mode of both wild-type and double mutant ( T67R / S92D ) MbCO (carbonmonoxymyoglobin) proteins is an ideal infrared (IR) probe for studying the local electrostatic environment inside the myoglobin heme pocket. Recently, to elucidate the conformational switching dynamics between two distinguishable states, extensive IR absorption, IR pump-probe, and two-dimensional (2D) IR spectroscopic studies for various mutant MbCO's have been performed by the Fayer group. They showed that the 2D IR spectroscopy of the double mutant, which has a peroxidase enzyme activity, reveals a rapid chemical exchange between two distinct states, whereas that of the wild-type does not.

Outcomes of transurethral removal of intravesical or intraurethral mesh following midurethral sling surgery.

Purpose: To present outcomes of transurethral removal (TUR) of intravesical or intraurethral mesh after midurethral slings.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of 23 consecutive women: 20 with intravesical mesh and 3 with intraurethral mesh.

Results: To remove the mesh, transurethral resection with an electrode loop (TUR-E) was used in 16 women and transurethral resection with a holmium laser (TUR-H) was used in 7.

A case of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for a prostatic stromal tumor of uncertain malignant potential.

Prostatic stromal tumor of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) is a rare neoplasm with distinctive clinical and pathological characteristics. Here we report a case of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy performed in a patient with prostatic STUMP.

Efficacy of desmopressin and enuresis alarm as first and second line treatment for primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis: prospective randomized crossover study.

Purpose: We compared the efficacy of desmopressin and enuresis alarm as first and second line treatment options for monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis.

Materials And Methods: A total of 104 children with monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis were randomly assigned to either desmopressin (54) or enuresis alarm (50) as first line treatment. Following 12 weeks of first line treatment children with a full response were evaluated for relapse 12 weeks after withdrawal of treatment.

The efficacy of enuresis alarm treatment in pharmacotherapy-resistant nocturnal enuresis.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of enuresis alarm (EA) treatment in pharmacotherapy-resistant nocturnal enuresis (PRNE).

Material And Methods: A retrospective study was performed in children who received EA treatment as a form of combination treatment for PRNE from June 1999 to December 2007. The children included 54 monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (MNE) children who had partial response or nonresponse to desmopressin (group 1), 25 nonmonosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (NMNE) children who had partial response or nonresponse to extended release oxybutynin plus desmopressin (group 2), and 21 MNE or NMNE children who relapsed after responding fully to first-line pharmacotherapy (group 3).

Relationship between insulin resistance, obesity and serum prostate-specific antigen levels in healthy men.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between insulin resistance, obesity and serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in healthy men with serum PSA level below 4 ng mL(-1). The men included in the study cohort were 11 827 healthy male employees of the Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co., LTD who had undergone medical checkups including fasting glucose, fasting insulin and serum PSA between January 2003 and December 2008.

The utility of fluorescence in situ hybridization for detection of bladder urothelial carcinoma in routine clinical practice.

To evaluate the ability of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in detecting bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC), FISH and cytology were compared for the evaluation of 308 consecutive urine samples from patients suspected of having BUC. All patients underwent cystoscopy for identification of bladder lesions. The FISH results were compared with the cytology assessment.

Association between metabolic syndrome and chronic kidney disease in the Korean population.

Aim: We performed a retrospective study to examine the association between the metabolic syndrome (MS)and risk for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: This cohort study included 60 921 healthy adults recruited from two health promotion centres.Anthropometric measures, blood pressure, fasting glucose, lipid profile and serum creatinine were evaluated.

Clinical inconsistency of lower urinary tract symptoms between questionnaire and bladder diary in children with nocturnal enuresis.

Purpose: Classification of pediatric enuresis into monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis and nonmonosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis is crucial for management because these cases differ in many clinical respects. However, correct classification is frequently confused based on questionnaire and/or bladder diary. We tested the consistency of information obtained on lower urinary tract symptoms between our questionnaire and bladder diary.

Efficacy of lidocaine spray as topical anesthesia for outpatient rigid cystoscopy in women: a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial.

Objectives: To determine the efficacy and feasibility of urethral lidocaine spray for rigid cystoscopy in female outpatients, compared with lidocaine gel for patient tolerance of pain.

Methods: A total of 144 consecutive women scheduled to undergo rigid cystoscopy were randomized to receive either 10 mL of lidocaine gel (group 1, n = 48), five metered doses of 10% lidocaine spray (group 2, n = 48), or 10 mL of plain lubricating gel (group 3, n = 48). Patients recorded their level of pain perception during gel instillation or spray and immediately after the procedure using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and a 5-point verbal descriptor scale.

Imaging features of helical computed tomography suggesting advanced urothelial carcinoma arising from the pelvocalyceal system.

Background: Urothelial carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor arising from the pelvocalyceal system. Helical computed tomography (CT) is probably the best preoperative-stage modality for the determination of treatment plan and prognosis.

Purpose: To obtain helical CT imaging features suggesting advanced pelvocalyceal urothelial carcinoma.