Minimally Invasive Treatments for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

PurposeTo review and to compare indirectly the outcomes of minimally invasive therapies for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia.Materials and MethodsA literature search via Medline and Cochrane Central databases was completed for randomized control studies published between January 2000 to April 2020 for the following therapies: Rezum, Urolift, Aquablation, and prostatic artery embolization (PAE). Data on the following variables were included: International prostate symptom score (IPSS), maximum urinary flow rate, quality of life, and postvoid residual (PVR). Standard mean differences between treatments were compared through a meta-analysis using transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) to assess differences in treatment effect.ResultsThere was no significant difference in outcomes between therapies for IPSS at the 3, 6, and 12-month follow ups. Although outcomes for Rezum were only available out to 3 months, there were no consistently significant differences in outcomes when comparing Aquablation versus PAE versus Rezum. TURP PVR was significantly better than Urolift at 3, 6, and 12 months. No significant differences in minor or major adverse events were noted.ConclusionAlthough significant differences in outcomes were limited, Aquablation and PAE were the most durable at 12 months. PAE has been well studied on multiple randomized control trials with minimal adverse events while Aquablation has limited high quality data and has been associated with bleeding-related complications.     

"管氏培元九宫"针法治疗功能性阳痿疗效观察

目的观察"管氏培元九宫"针法治疗功能性阳痿的临床疗效。方法将60例功能性阳痿患者按随机数字表法随机分为治疗组和对照组,每组30例。治疗组采用"管氏培元九宫"穴,按"洛书九宫数"施行针刺治疗;对照组口服复方玄驹胶囊。观察两组治疗前后国际勃起功能指数-5(IIEF-5)评分,并比较临床疗效。结果治疗组总有效率为80.0%,对照组为70.0%,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗组治疗后IIEF-5评分高于治疗前和对照组(P<0.05)。结论"管氏培元九宫"针法对功能性阳痿具有较好临床疗效。     

The 2018 International Consensus Meeting Minor Criteria for Chronic Hip and Knee Periprosthetic Joint Infection: Validation From a Single Center

BackgroundRecently, a revised definition of the minor criteria scoring system for diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) was developed by the second International Consensus Meeting on musculoskeletal infection. The new system combines preoperative and intraoperative findings, reportedly achieving high sensitivity and specificity. We aimed to validate the modified scoring system at a high-volume center.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent a revision total hip or knee arthroplasty at our institution from May 2015 to August 2018. Serum C-reactive protein, synovial white blood cell count and polymorphonuclear percentage, leukocyte esterase test, alpha-defensin, microbiological and histologic results, and documented existence of sinus tract and intraoperative purulence were available for all patients. Cases with at least 1 major criterion were considered as infected. Using the new minor criteria, a score of ≥6 reflects PJI, while a score <3 can be considered as noninfected. Sensitivity, specificity, mean accuracy (ACC), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were analyzed.ResultsA total of 345 cases were included. A cutoff score of ≥6 points had the following diagnostic performance: area under the curve (AUC) = 0.90; ACC = 0.88; sensitivity = 0.96; specificity = 0.84; PPV = 0.70; NPV = 0.98. Diagnostic performance was better for the hip (AUC = 0.92; ACC = 0.90; sensitivity = 0.96; specificity = 0.86; PPV = 0.81; NPV = 0.98) than the knee (AUC = 0.89; ACC = 0.85; sensitivity = 0.95; specificity = 0.83; PPV = 0.59; NPV = 0.98).ConclusionThe modified scoring system proposed by the 2018 International Consensus Meeting in diagnosing PJI showed high sensitivity and a good performance, especially as rule-out diagnostic criteria. The cutoff level seems to be different between the hip and knee. Further validation studies considering the acknowledged limitations are recommended.     

PBL与CBL教学法在留学生实验诊断教学的应用探讨

目的探讨PBL与CBL教学法在留学生实验诊断教学的应用效果。方法将PBL联合案例教学法(CBL)应用于临床医学本科留学生实验诊断教学,与大班传统讲授教学方法(对照组)相比较,通过问卷调查和成绩分析学习效果。结果试验组在激发学习兴趣和培养临床思维能力方面均高于对照组,理论知识的成绩和实习的成绩也是试验组优于对照组,P<0.05。结论PBL与CBL教学联合应用于实验诊断教学中能够有效提高教学质量,并受到学生的认可和喜爱。     

New scoring matrix for amino acid residue exchanges based on residue characteristic physical parameters

Based on residue characteristic physical parameters, a new scoring matrix, called EMPAR, for amino acid exchanges in proteins was obtained. When comparing protein sequences for detecting homologies, the use of this matrix in place of the Dayhoff log-odds matrix yields results that reflect the topological similarities in the proteins. The use of EMPAR is equivalent to the parametric correlation coefficient approach of Ooi and his colleagues. This matrix correlates at 0.63 with the Dayhoff matrix.     

Status of Women and Infants in Complex Humanitarian Emergencies

Women and children bear the greatest burden in the midst of war and long‐term disasters. Complex humanitarian emergencies are characterized by social disruption, armed conflict, population displacement, collapse of public health infrastructure, and food shortages. Humanitarian assistance for refugees and internally displaced populations requires particular attention to the common issues affecting morbidity and mortality in women and infants. Gender‐based violence and reproductive health concerns are discussed within the context of populations affected by conflict and forced migration. Recommendations for midwives and women's health care providers engaging in care for women and children in complex humanitarian emergencies are discussed.     

Antimutagenic activities of naturally occurring polyamines in Chinese hamster ovary cells in vitro

Spermine and spermidine, ubiquitous polyamines present in bacteria and animal cells, are also involved in cell growth. Since they interact with the double helix, they can stabilize the DNA molecule. Recent evidence of the antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic capacity of spermine has focused attention on the mechanism(s) by which such agents can protect cells from induced damages. In the present paper we show the ability of spermine and spermidine to decrease the level of sister chromatid exchanges induced in Chinese hamster ovary cells cultivated in vitro, by treating them with Psoralen + UVA irradiation (able to induce mainly monoadducts and DNA cross-links). Two different mechanisms of polyamine action can be invoked to explain the preservative activity of this class of agents.