Which is easier for beginners: supine or prone position percutaneous nephrolithotomy? Assessment of the learning curve in novice urologists through a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) could be performed in both prone and supine positions. Each position has its own advantages and disadvantages. "Learning curve" is a graph that represents progress of a skill against the time needed to master the technique.

Leg Ulcer and Venous Symptoms Related to Lower Extremity Arteriovenous Access for Hemodialysis: A Retrospective Review with Emphasis on Wound Complications.

Lower extremity arteriovenous (AV) access serves as a crucial alternative for hemodialysis when upper extremity options are no longer viable. While there are numerous reports on functional patency, limited information exists regarding complications related to venous insufficiency and postoperative quality of life. This study aims to assess the actual incidence of such complications and provide evidence-based insights for clinical decision-making.

Pre-HIV α4β7hi CD4+ T cells and HIV risk among heterosexual individuals in Africa.

Background: CD4+ T cells expressing α4β7 are optimal targets for HIV infections, with higher pre-HIV α4β7hi expression linked to increased HIV acquisition and progression in South African women. However, similar associations were not observed in men who have sex with men (MSM) or people who inject drugs (PWID) in the Americas, indicating need for further research.

Methods: This retrospective case-control study enrolled heterosexual men and women from South Africa (HIV Vaccine Trials Network; HVTN 503) and East Africa (Partners Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis/Couples' Observational Study; PP/COS), quantifying α4β7 expression on CD4+ T cells as a predictor of subsequent HIV risk using flow cytometry analyses.

Functional Analysis of KPvRxLR27, a Novel Plasmopara viticola Effector from a Korean Isolate, and Its Role in Hypersensitive Response.

Plasmopara viticola causes grape downy mildew, one of the most notorious diseases of cultivated grapes that damage vineyards worldwide. The pathogen secretes various effector molecules to infect and modulate the host biological processes. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the roles of KPvRxLR27, an arginine-any amino acid-leucine-arginine (RxLR) effector isolated from P.

Polymerization Improvement of Graphitic Carbon Nitride Films Derived from Melamine and Thiourea.

Deposition of low-cost, efficient, and environmentally friendly graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) films as photoanodes is a crucial step for constructing photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells and exploring their PEC performance. Currently, the improvement of the photocurrent density of g-CN films is badly needed for their practical applications in PEC water splitting. Enhancing the g-CN crystallinity by optimizing their synthesis conditions only through screening appropriate reactant precursors is insufficient for this purpose.

HIV risk assessment tools for identifying individuals who could benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis: a systematic review protocol.

Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective, safe and acceptable intervention for preventing HIV infection. However, identifying individuals who could best benefit from PrEP remains a significant challenge. Existing HIV risk assessment tools vary in performance depending on context.

Flexible Ureteroscopic Lithotripsy with the Pulsed Thulium:Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Laser Thulio: Preliminary Results from a Prospective Study.

Background And Objective: Recently, the new pulsed thulium:yttrium aluminum garnet (p-Tm:YAG) laser technology has been introduced in endourology for lithotripsy. The aim of this study was to assess and validate the clinical laser performance and safety profile of p-Tm:YAG laser in a series of patients with renal and ureteral stones who underwent flexible ureteroscopy (fURS).

Methods: Prospective data were collected for patients who underwent fURS with the p-Tm:YAG laser Thulio (Dornier MedTech Systems GmbH, Wessling, Germany) at our institution by using two different laser fiber core diameters (270 and 200 μm).

Comprehensive evaluation of malaria reactive surveillance and response strategies in Lao People's Democratic Republic: a mixed-methods study.

Objectives: To achieve malaria elimination by 2030, the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) adopted a reactive surveillance and response (RASR) strategy of malaria case notification within 1 day, case investigation and classification within 3 days and foci investigation and response within 7 days. It is important to evaluate the performance and feasibility of RASR implementation in Lao PDR so that the strategy may be optimised and better contribute towards the goal of malaria elimination.

Design: A mixed-methods study comprising of secondary data analysis of routinely collected malaria surveillance data, quantitative surveys and qualitative consultations was conducted in 2022.

Splenic marginal zone B cells restrict Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection by shaping the cytokine pattern and cell-mediated immunity.

Understanding the role of B cells in tuberculosis (TB) is crucial for developing new TB vaccines. However, the changes in B cell immune landscapes during TB and their functional implications remain incompletely explored. Using high-dimensional flow cytometry to map the immune landscape in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, our results show an accumulation of marginal zone B (MZB) cells and other unconventional B cell subsets in the lungs and spleen, shaping an unconventional B cell landscape.

Exploring the determinants of risk behavior for transfusion transmissible infections among first-time blood donors in Mandalay General Hospital, Myanmar.

Introduction: Blood donation is vital to healthcare, but it must be kept safe by mitigating the risk of transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs). The objective of this study was to investigate the factors that influence risk behavior for transfusion transmissible infections among first-time blood donors at Mandalay General Hospital, Myanmar.

Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional study design using secondary data.

Artificial intelligence-assisted automated heart failure detection and classification from electronic health records.

Aims: Electronic health records (EHR) linked to Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM), biological specimens, and deep learning (DL) algorithms could potentially improve patient care through automated case detection and surveillance. We hypothesized that by applying keyword searches to routinely stored EHR, in conjunction with AI-powered automated reading of DICOM echocardiography images and analysing biomarkers from routinely stored plasma samples, we were able to identify heart failure (HF) patients.

Methods And Results: We used EHR data between 1993 and 2021 from Tayside and Fife (~20% of the Scottish population).

Misconception between palliative care and euthanasia among Thai general practitioners: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Palliative care lower medical expenses and enhances quality of life, but misconception with euthanasia delays timely care and makes inappropriate patient management.

Objective: To examine the magnitude of misconceptions between palliative care and euthanasia among Thai general practitioners, explore the association with knowledge, attitudes, and practical experience, and assess the association between misconception and confidence in practicing and referring patients to palliative care centers.

Methods: All 144 general practitioners who were going to start residency training at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital in 2021 participated in this observational cross-sectional study.

Case report: Isolated axillary lymph node metastasis in high-risk endometrial cancer.

Introduction: There are risks of developing distant metastases over time for both early- and advanced-stage endometrial cancer. Axillary lymph node metastasis as the first site of recurrence, whether isolated or non-isolated, is uncommon, and there are currently no established treatment guidelines for such cases. This study highlights four cases of recurrent endometrial cancer that manifested axillary lymph node metastasis, providing a comprehensive review of their distinctive clinical behavior and the treatment strategies employed.

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Hesitancy among the Elderly in Malaysian Residential Care Homes: A Cross-Sectional Study in Klang Valley.

The elderly are considered a high-risk group for severe outcomes and death from COVID-19 infection. Given the emergence of new COVID variants and the immunity provided by vaccines waning over time, booster doses of the vaccine have been advocated for those at risk to stay protected. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with hesitancy toward the second booster of the COVID-19 vaccine among the elderly residing in residential care homes.

Clot stones in transplant kidneys.

We describe two cases of stones with unusual radiological characteristics in transplanted kidneys that originated from a blood clot as the nidus for lithogenesis. Both patients presented years after renal transplant, with gross haematuria. CT of the urinary tract showed a stone with a peripheral hyperdense shell (Hounsfield unit, HU >500) and a radiolucent centre (HU <100).

Wild mouse gut microbiota limits initial tuberculosis infection in BALB/c mice.

Mouse models are critical tools in tuberculosis (TB) research. Recent studies have demonstrated that the wild mouse gut microbiota promotes host fitness and improves disease resistance. Here we examine whether the wild mouse gut microbiota alters the immunopathology of TB in BALB/c mice.

Anopheles diversity, biting behaviour and transmission potential in forest and farm environments of Gia Lai province, Vietnam.

Background: Despite recent reductions in Vietnam, malaria transmission persists in some areas in forests and farmlands where a high density of Anopheles mosquitoes relative to other environments occurs. To inform effective malaria control measures, it is important to understand vector bionomics and the malaria transmission role of Anopheles spp. in the highland regions of Vietnam.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Patients With Cancer and Immigration Background.

Purpose: Studies have shown that patients with cancer are more likely to use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) than noncancer patients for symptom relief and hope. We aimed to evaluate factors of race, ethnic groups, and immigration status in attitude of patients with cancer in seeking out CAM.

Patients And Methods: This is a prospective questionnaire study where information on demographics, cancer information, race/ethnicity, immigration duration, and psychosocial factors was correlated with the CAM use in a community cancer center located in the borough of Brooklyn, at New York City.

Boosting the photoelectrochemical performance of bismuth vanadate photoanode through homojunction construction.

The photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of bismuth vanadate (BiVO) suffers from sluggish charge mobility and substantial charge recombination losses due to its intrinsic defect. To rectify the problem, we developed a novel approach to prepare an n-n type II BVO-BVO homojunction with staggered band alignment. This architecture involves a built-in electric field that facilitating the electron-hole separation at the BVO/BVO interface.