First use and evaluation of a novel 6.3 Fr disposable flexible ureteroscope for stone management in duplex kidney: a case report.

Background: Flexible ureteroscopy (FURS) is increasingly used as the first-line treatment for urological procedures. Disposable digital (dd-)FURS has been developed to overcome limitations such as durability, degradation, and repair cost of reusable scopes. The diameter of commercially-available models ranges from 7.

Bidirectional Interaction Directional Variance Attention Model Based on Increased-Transformer for Thyroid Nodule Classification.

Malignant thyroid nodules are closely linked to cancer, making the precise classification of thyroid nodules into benign and malignant categories highly significant. However, the subtle differences in contour between benign and malignant thyroid nodules, combined with the texture features obscured by the inherent noise in ultrasound images, often result in low classification accuracy in most models. To address this, we propose a Bidirectional Interaction Directional Variance Attention Model based on Increased-Transformer, named IFormer-DVNet.

Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Electronic Structure Analysis of F-type Superatomic Molecules.

The investigation of bonding interactions between superatoms continues to be a largely unexplored area of study. In this study, we present the synthesis and characterization of two F-type superatomic molecules [AuAg(CHNOS)(DPPB)] and [AuAg(CHNS)(DPPM)] ( and for short, respectively). The overall structures were confirmed via X-ray crystallography, revealing the horizontal expansion of the biicosahedral AuAg yielding [AuAg(CHNOS)(DPPB)] and vertical expansion of the biicosahedral AuAg yielding [AuAg(CHNS)(DPPM)].

Challenges to and importance of considering early and intermediate ontogenetic stages in mangrove forest recovery and restoration.

Early to intermediate ontogenetic stages of trees are important in forest regeneration. However, these critical life stages are often overlooked due to survey intensity and impracticality and/or disinterest in characterizing early life stage cohorts. This problem is particularly pervasive in mangrove forests where visibility of smaller stature trees may be limited by tidal flooding and younger cohorts are particularly vulnerable to changing hydrologic and biogeochemical conditions driven by climate change.

Osmolytes and expression jointly influence water physiology in the peel and pulp of orange ( (L.) Osbeck) fruit during postharvest water loss.

Water loss is a serious issue affecting the quality of postharvest horticultural products. Aquaporins (AQPs) regulate the transport of water across biological membranes, along the gradient of water potential, and may play a role in water loss. In this study, matured orange fruits () stored at ambinent temperature (RH 85-95%) for 105 d showed that the weight loss persistently increased, and its rate peaked at 45-60 d and 90-105 d.

Histone deacetylase 9 promotes osteogenic trans-differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells via ferroptosis in chronic kidney disease vascular calcification.

Vascular calcification, a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD), remains an unmet therapeutic challenge. The trans-differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) into osteoblast-like cells is crucial in the pathogenesis of vascular calcification in CKD. Despite ferroptosis promotes vascular calcification in CKD, the upstream or downstream regulatory mechanisms involved remains unclear.

IGFALS suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma progression by stabilizing PPAR-γ.

IGFALS forms stable ternary complexes with insulin-like growth factors (IGF1 and IGF2) and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP3 and IGFBP5), which prolong the half-lives of IGFs. Through immunohistochemical analysis of 90 pairs of clinical samples and bioinformatics analysis, we observed downregulation of IGFALS in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues, which was associated with poor patient prognosis. This prompted us to explore the specific molecular mechanism of action of IGFALS in the inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which could be a potential new target for the treatment of HCC.

Dynamic changes in cellular atlases and communication patterns within yak ovaries across diverse reproductive states unveiled by single-cell analysis.

Yaks () exhibit exceptional adaptation to the challenging high-altitude environment of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, making them the sole bovine species capable of thriving in such exreme conditions. Investigating the cellular and molecular characteristics of yak ovaries across different reproductive states is crucial for gaining insight into their ovarian functions. Herein, the cellular atlases of yak ovaries in different reproductive states were depicted by single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq).

Study of volatile flavor derived from lipids degeneration in yak Milk based on Semiquantitative Lipidomics.

Milk lipids greatly affect the volatile flavor of milk, and the relationship between lipids and volatile flavor in yak milk was explored in this study. The volatile flavor compounds (VFCs), lipids profile, fatty acids in yak ordinary milk and colostrum were detected with HP/SPME-GC-MS, the semiquantitative lipidomics based on LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, respectively. The VFCs differences in yak milk were closely related to 1-((1 s,3ar,4r,7 s,7as)-4-hydroxy-7-isopropyl-4-methyloctahloctahydro-1h-inden-1-Yl)-ethanone,2,6,6-trimethyl-2,4-cycloheptadien-1-one, pentanal, 2-phenylethyl propionate, octanoic acid methyl ester, diphosphoric acid diisooctyl ester, (Z)-3,4,4-trimethyl-5-oxo-2-hexenoic acid and acetic acid.

A Comparative Study of Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery versus Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy for the Management of Staghorn Renal Calculi.

Aim: The indications for performing retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) have increased. However, no comparative studies have been conducted on the treatment of staghorn renal calculi using RIRS and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). We aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of RIRS and PCNL as treatments for staghorn renal calculi.

Postoperative Renal Abscess Following Tip-Flexible Suctioning Ureteral Access Sheath and Digital Ureteroscopic Lithotripsy: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND The tip-flexible suctioning ureteral access sheath (TFS-UAS) can be bent under flexible ureteroscopes, which facilitates removal of renal stone segments by irrigation and suctioning effects. Small-scale comparative studies found it safer and more efficacious than traditional UAS. However, complications such as renal abscess were not documented after TFS-UAS combined with digital FURS.

[Cu(SeCH)(Dppe)Se] assembled from tetrahedra and octahedra: synthesis, characterization, structure and catalytic properties.

Herein, we successfully synthesized a copper nanocluster, [Cu(SeCH)(Dppe)Se]. The Cu features a tetrahedral Cu core, surrounded by tetrahedral Se and octahedral Cu subunits, and further stabilized by CuSe, Cu(SeR), and DppeCu staples, which can be interpreted as an assembly of tetrahedral and octahedral units. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to investigate the electronic structure of Cu.

The Combined Analysis of GC-IMS and GC-MS Reveals the Differences in Volatile Flavor Compounds between Yak and Cattle-Yak Meat.

In order to investigate the composition and differences in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in yak and cattle-yak meat and determine the key metabolites and metabolic pathways related to flavor formation. In this study, the VOCs and non-volatile metabolites in Longissimus dorsi muscle of two groups of samples were detected and analyzed by gas chromatography-ion migration spectrometry (GC-IMS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that 31 VOCs were identified by GC-IMS, including 5 alcohols, 5 ketones, 5 esters, 3 aldehydes, 2 furans, 2 hydrocarbons, 1 amine, 1 acid, 1 thiazole, 1 pyrazine, and 5 others.

Ureteral stent encrustation in an HIV patient treated with disposable flexible ureteroscope: a case report.

Human immunodeficiency virus prevalence was increasing worldwide. Medication-associated urinary calculi are very commonly caused by medications used to treat HIV-positive patients. We present a case of an HIV-positive 39-year-old male with ureteral stent encrustation and kidney stone.

The feasibility of using pathobiome strains as live biotherapeutic products for human use.

The evaluation of pathobiome strains should be conducted at the strain level, involving the identification of the functional genes, while considering the impact of ecological niche and drug interactions. The safety, efficacy, and quality management of live biotherapeutic products (LBPs), especially pathobiome strains, have certain peculiarities. Promising development methods include the recombinant LBP and active metabolites.

Preliminary experience with lost mini percutaneous nephrostomy channel retrieval by methylene blue injection.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the primary choice for managing large renal stones and the establishment of mini-/micro-channels has been increasingly gaining practice. The smaller the channel, the easier it is to be lost, which may require a new puncture site and increase the risk of bleeding complications. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed 1,056 PCNL procedures in our single institute, The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, between March 2014 and August 2023.

Comprehensive analysis of differentially expressed mRNAs, circRNAs, and miRNAs and their ceRNA network in the testis of cattle-yak, yak, and cattle.

Cattle-yak is a hybrid offspring resulting from the crossbreeding of yak and cattle, and it exhibits substantial heterosis in production performance. However, male sterility in cattle-yak remains a concern. Reports suggest that noncoding RNAs are involved in the regulation of spermatogenesis.

Structure-Activity Relationships of the Structural Analogs AuCu and AuAg in the Electrocatalytic CO Reduction Reaction.

Owing to the significant attention directed toward alloy metal nanoclusters, it is crucial to explore the relationship between their structures and their performance during the electrocatalytic CO reduction reaction (eCORR) and discover potential synergistic effects for the design of novel functional nanoclusters. However, a lack of suitable analogs makes this investigation challenging. In this study, we synthesized a well-defined pair of structural analogs, [AuCu(SAdm)(Dppm)Cl] and [AuAg(SAdm)(Dppm)Cl] (AuCu and AuAg, respectively), and characterized them.

A Forgotten Double-J Ureteric Stent as the Core of a Bladder Stone: A Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND Double-J (D-J) ureteric stents are widely applied in urological operations as they play a vital role in maintaining postoperative functionality of the patient's urinary system and thereby accelerating recovery. D-J stent encrustation may occur due to prolonged retention and lead to secondary complications. We report the case of a forgotten D-J stent that gradually formed into a bladder stone.

Cage-rearranged and cage-intact syntheses of azido-functionalized larger T and T POSSs.

Herein, we investigate the product type and distribution during the synthesis of azido-functionalized larger polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSSs) using 3-chloropropyl- and chloromethyldimethylsilylethyl-functionalized T, T, and T POSSs as precursors. Our findings indicate that cage rearrangement occurs for the 3-chloropropyl-functionalized POSS cages with a stability order of T > T > T, while the chloromethyldimethylsilylethyl-functionalized POSS cages remain structurally intact after the nucleophilic substitution.