OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact factors and the clinical significance of the urination intermittences in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in BPH patients who underwent urodynamic studies in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital form January 2016 to June 2021. The patients were aged 45 to 84 years with a median age of 63 years, and all the patients had no previous history of neurological disease and had no positive findings in neurological examinations. All the patients had free uroflometry followed by urethral catheterization and urodynamic tests. The voiding work of bladder was calculated using the detrusor power curve method, and the voiding power of bladder and the voiding energy consumption were also calculated. The frequency of urination intermittences generated in uroflometry was also recorded and the patients were divided into different groups according to it. The detrusor pressure at maximal flow rate (P_detQ_max), the maximal flow rate (Q_max), the bladder contractile index (BCI), the bladder outlet obstruction index (BOOI), the voiding work, the voiding power, and the voiding energy consumption were compared among the different groups. Multiva-riate analyses associated with presence of urination intermittences were performed using step-wise Logistic regressions. RESULTS: There were 272 patients included in this study, of whom, 179 had no urination intermittence (group A), 46 had urination intermittence for only one time (group B), 22 had urination intermittence for two times (group C), and 25 had urination intermittence for three times and more (group D). The BCI were 113.4±28.2, 101.0±30.2, 83.3±30.2, 81.0±30.5 in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively; The voiding power were (29.2±14.8) mW, (16.4±9.6) mW, (14.5±7.1) mW, (8.5±5.0) mW in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively, and the differences were significant (P < 0.05). The BOOI were 41.6±29.3, 46.4±31.0, 41.4±29.0, 42.7±22.8 in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively; The voiding energy consumption were (5.41±2.21) J/L, (4.83±2.31) J/L, (5.02±2.54) J/L, (4.39±2.03) J/L in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively, and the differences were insignificant (P>0.05). Among the patients, 179 cases were negative in presence of urination intermittences and 93 cases were positive. Step-wise Logistic regression analysis showed that bladder power (OR=0.814, 95%CI: 0.765-0.866, P < 0.001), BCI (OR=1.023, 95%CI: 1.008-1.038, P=0.003), and bladder work (OR=2.232, 95%CI: 1.191-4.184, P=0.012) were independent risk factors for urination intermittences in the BPH patients. CONCLUSION The presence of urination intermittences in the BPH patients was mainly influenced by bladder contractile functions, and was irrelevant to the degree of bladder outlet obstruction. The increase of frequency of urination intermittences seemed to be a sign of the decrease of the bladder contractile functions in the BPH patients.
Prostatic Hyperplasia/physiopathology* ; Humans ; Male ; Urodynamics ; Urination ; Retrospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Urinary Bladder/physiopathology* ; Urination Disorders/etiology*

Objective:To explore the effect of exercise on the memory of rats modeling vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) and also its effects on the hippocampal Sema3G/neuropilin-2 (Nrp2)/PlexinA4 signaling pathway.Methods:Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham-operated group, a model group, and an exercise group, each of 6. The model and exercise groups underwent VCI modeling via bilateral common carotid artery occlusion, while the sham-operated group received the same surgical procedure without vessel ligation or transection. Beginning forty-eight hours after the surgery, the exercise group carried out daily 30-minute treadmill training sessions, 5 days a week, for a total of 4 weeks, while the other two groups were placed on the same treadmill with it not in operation. After the intervention, cognitive functioning was assessed using the novel object recognition (NOR) test and a Y-maze test. Western blotting was employed to evaluate the expression of Sema3G, Nrp2, PlexinA4, and Rac1 in the hippocampus. Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the distribution of Nrp2 and PlexinA4 in the hippocampus.Results:Compared with the model group, the exercise group exhibited significantly higher NOR indices during both the short-term and long-term memory testing phases after the intervention. Those rats also tended to have significantly longer total exploration times in the novel arm of the Y-maze test. The western blotting revealed that the expression levels of Sema3G, PlexinA4, and Rac1 in the hippocampus were significantly higher in the exercise group compared to the model group, on average. Immunofluorescence showed significantly increased PlexinA4 fluorescence intensity in the CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG) regions of the hippocampus, and significantly elevated Nrp2 fluorescence intensity in the CA3 region in the exercise group compared to the model group. The Pearson correlation coefficients for Nrp2/PlexinA4 co-localization in the CA1, CA3 and DG regions were significantly higher in the exercise group than in the model group.Conclusions:Exercise training significantly improves memory function in rats with VCI, and this effect may be associated with activation of the hippocampal Sema3G/Nrp2/PlexinA4 signaling pathway.

Objectives:To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH)concomitant with obstructive sleep apnea(OSA).Methods:We analyzed the data of 208 patients diagnosed with PAH in the Pulmonary Vascular Diseases Ward of our hospital from September 2019 to August 2024,who underwent sleep breathing monitoring and echocardiography during hospitalization.Three clusters were identified:Cluster 1(n=121)had no OSA and mildly elevated N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP),Cluster 2(n=71)exhibited mild OSA and mildly elevated NT-proBNP,and Cluster 3(n=16)presented with moderate to severe OSA along with significantly elevated NT-proBNP.Results:The mean age of this patient cohort was(39±12)years,mean body mass index was(21.74±3.67)kg/m2,and 27.9%patients were male.Sixty-five patients(31.3%)had OSA.The echocardiographic indicators reflecting the structural function of the heart chambers and hemodynamic parameters in patients with PAH showed a significant correlation with nocturnal hypoxia.Compared to Cluster 1,patients in Cluster 2 and Cluster 3 had wider pulmonary arteries and inferior vena cava diameters,larger right ventricular diameters,higher pulmonary artery pressure,higher pulmonary vascular resistance,and lower cardiac index(all P<0.05).Cluster 3 patients had a significantly higher risk of death(log-rank P=0.022).Conclusions:Thirty-one percent of PAH patients in this study had concomitant OSA.PAH patients with significantly elevated NT-proBNP and comorbid moderate-to-severe OSA had a significantly higher risk of death compared to those with only mild or without OSA without significantly elevated NT-proBNP.Management strategies that address both PAH and OSA might be effective in improving the outcomes of these patients.

Objectives:To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH)concomitant with obstructive sleep apnea(OSA).Methods:We analyzed the data of 208 patients diagnosed with PAH in the Pulmonary Vascular Diseases Ward of our hospital from September 2019 to August 2024,who underwent sleep breathing monitoring and echocardiography during hospitalization.Three clusters were identified:Cluster 1(n=121)had no OSA and mildly elevated N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP),Cluster 2(n=71)exhibited mild OSA and mildly elevated NT-proBNP,and Cluster 3(n=16)presented with moderate to severe OSA along with significantly elevated NT-proBNP.Results:The mean age of this patient cohort was(39±12)years,mean body mass index was(21.74±3.67)kg/m2,and 27.9%patients were male.Sixty-five patients(31.3%)had OSA.The echocardiographic indicators reflecting the structural function of the heart chambers and hemodynamic parameters in patients with PAH showed a significant correlation with nocturnal hypoxia.Compared to Cluster 1,patients in Cluster 2 and Cluster 3 had wider pulmonary arteries and inferior vena cava diameters,larger right ventricular diameters,higher pulmonary artery pressure,higher pulmonary vascular resistance,and lower cardiac index(all P<0.05).Cluster 3 patients had a significantly higher risk of death(log-rank P=0.022).Conclusions:Thirty-one percent of PAH patients in this study had concomitant OSA.PAH patients with significantly elevated NT-proBNP and comorbid moderate-to-severe OSA had a significantly higher risk of death compared to those with only mild or without OSA without significantly elevated NT-proBNP.Management strategies that address both PAH and OSA might be effective in improving the outcomes of these patients.

Objective:To explore the effect of exercise on the memory of rats modeling vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) and also its effects on the hippocampal Sema3G/neuropilin-2 (Nrp2)/PlexinA4 signaling pathway.Methods:Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham-operated group, a model group, and an exercise group, each of 6. The model and exercise groups underwent VCI modeling via bilateral common carotid artery occlusion, while the sham-operated group received the same surgical procedure without vessel ligation or transection. Beginning forty-eight hours after the surgery, the exercise group carried out daily 30-minute treadmill training sessions, 5 days a week, for a total of 4 weeks, while the other two groups were placed on the same treadmill with it not in operation. After the intervention, cognitive functioning was assessed using the novel object recognition (NOR) test and a Y-maze test. Western blotting was employed to evaluate the expression of Sema3G, Nrp2, PlexinA4, and Rac1 in the hippocampus. Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the distribution of Nrp2 and PlexinA4 in the hippocampus.Results:Compared with the model group, the exercise group exhibited significantly higher NOR indices during both the short-term and long-term memory testing phases after the intervention. Those rats also tended to have significantly longer total exploration times in the novel arm of the Y-maze test. The western blotting revealed that the expression levels of Sema3G, PlexinA4, and Rac1 in the hippocampus were significantly higher in the exercise group compared to the model group, on average. Immunofluorescence showed significantly increased PlexinA4 fluorescence intensity in the CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG) regions of the hippocampus, and significantly elevated Nrp2 fluorescence intensity in the CA3 region in the exercise group compared to the model group. The Pearson correlation coefficients for Nrp2/PlexinA4 co-localization in the CA1, CA3 and DG regions were significantly higher in the exercise group than in the model group.Conclusions:Exercise training significantly improves memory function in rats with VCI, and this effect may be associated with activation of the hippocampal Sema3G/Nrp2/PlexinA4 signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the changing trends in etiology and treatment of male urethral stricture in recent 10 years.Methods A total of 940 male patients with urethral stricture admitted to the Department of Urology of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital during Jan.2013 and Dec.2022 were continually collected.The clinical data were divided into two groups according to the time of admission,namely the group from 2013 to 2017 and the group from 2018 to 2022,for a comparative analysis of the previous and subsequent 5 years.The etiology,location,length and the type of treatment of urethral stricture were retrospectively analyzed.Results The causes of the 940 cases of male urethral stricture were trauma in 447(47.55％),iatrogenic injury in 220(23.40％),idiopathic causes in 128(13.62％),lichen sclerosus(LS)in 78(8.30％),infection in 46(4.89％),and other causes in 21(2.23％).The treatment methods were urethroplasty in 691(73.51％),direct vision internal urethrotomy(DVIU)in 122(12.98％),urethral dilatation in 86(9.15％),and suprapubic cystostomy in 41(4.36％).Compared with the previous 5 years,in the past 5 years,the proportion of urethral stricture caused by trauma decreased significantly(60.34％vs.41.71％,P＜0.001),while the proportion of iatrogenic injury increased significantly(17.63％vs.26.05％,P=0.005).In the past 5 years,the proportion of urethroplasty increased from 68.81％to 75.66％(P=0.027),while the proportion of DVIU decreased from 19.66％to 9.92％(P＜0.001).Inthe past 5 years,the proportion of membranous urethral stenosis decreased significantly(26.98％vs.50.85％,x2=51.06,P＜0.001),the proportion of penile urethral stricture(21.40％vs.7.80％,=26.37,P＜0.001)and meatal stenosis(9.30％vs.4.75％,x2=5.80,P＜0.001)increased significantly.Conclusion In the past decade,trauma was the main cause of male urethral strictures,but its proportion showed a decreasing trend.Iatrogenic injury led to a gradual increase in urethral strictures,which was the second leading cause of male urethral stricture.The application of urethroplasty increased significantly,making it the main treatment method for male urethral stricture.

Objective:To evaluate the surgical methods for treating distal urethral stricture.Methods:The clinical data of 80 patients with distal urethral stricture in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital,Captial Medical University between January 2018 and December 2022 were retrospectively collected.Including male geni-tal lichen sclerosus(MGLS)33 cases,iatrogenic injury 25 cases,postoperative hypospadias 12 cases,and other causes such as trauma 10 cases.Among these cases,strictures involved the urethral meatus in 54 instances,of which 38 were treated with meatotomy(MO),7 with penile skin flap urethroplasty(PSFU),and 9 with oral mucosa graft urethroplasty(OMGU).There were also 26 instances where stric-tures involved both the navicular fossa and meatus;one case underwent PSFU while 25 underwent OMGU.Based on different surgical methods used for treatment purposes we divided the patients into MO group,PSFU group and OMGU group.The age of the three groups was(48.8±20.0)years,(53.3±21.8)years and(44.5±16.4)years.The mean±SD body mass index(BMI)was(28.6±3.9)kg/m2,(29.6±3.2)kg/m2 and(29.2±4.8)kg/m2.The preoperative maximum flow rate was(5.8±2.3)mL/s,(6.8±2.4)mL/s and(5.7±3.1)mL/s.Results:All the operations were suc-cessfully completed without Clavien Ⅲ or Ⅳ complications.The median length of strictures(measured intraoperatively)in the three groups were 1.1(1.0,1.6),1.5(1.1,2.0)and 4.0(2.5,5.0)cm.The median operation time was 60.0(60.0,75.0),85.0(75.0,112.5)and 180.0(75.0,330.0)min.The median estimated blood loss was 5.0(2.0,10.0),15.0(5.0,42.5)and 180.0(135.0,216.3)mL.The median postoperative hospital stay was 3.5(2.0,5.0),6.5(3.5,7.0)and 7.5(7.0,11.3)days.The median follow-up duration was 40.0(26.3,57.3),55.0(18.8,62.8)and 52.5(30.5,64.0)months.The median postoperative maximum flow rate was 18.3(15.5,19.8),19.2(16.1,20.1)and 17.2(14.2,19.6)mL/s.Among the 38 patients with MO,33 cases had nor-mal urination without reintervention,and 5 cases experienced recurrent strictures and required regular urethral dilation.Among the 8 patients with PSFU,7 cases had normal urination without reintervention,and one case developed a urinary fistula,for which intervention was recommended but the patient opted to maintain the status quo.Among the 34 patients with OMGU,28 cases had normal urination without re-intervention.There were 6 instances of stenosis recurrence,with 5 cases requiring regular urethral dila-tions and one case requiring reconstructive surgery.The overall success rate of operation was 85.0％,and the reintervention rate was 15.0％.Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in etiologies among the three groups(P=0.002),as well as in stricture locations(P＜0.001),length of strictures(P＜0.001),operation time(P＜0.001),estimated blood loss(P＜0.001)and postoperative hospital stays(P＜0.001).However,no significant differences were observed in terms of age,BMI,history of previous urethral stricture surgeries,preoperative maximum flow rate,follow-up duration,postoperative maximum flow rate and reintervention rate.Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses indi-cated that a history of previous urethral stricture surgeries was a risk factor for postoperative reintervention(P=0.026).Conclusion:MO and PSFU are primarily suitable for treating short-segment(≤1.5 cm)distal penile urethral strictures,whereas OMGU is more appropriate for longer segment strictures.MO and OMGU can both be utilized in managing MGLS cases.PSFU and OMGU are more conducive to im-proving the appearance of the urethral meatus.The success rate of surgical management of distal penile urethral stricture is 85.0％,15.0％of the patients still require surgical intervention after surgery,and having history of previous urethral stricture surgeries is a risk factor for postoperative reintervention.

BACKGROUND: The formation of an inhibitory inflammatory microenvironment after spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a great challenge for nerve regeneration. The poor local microenvironment exacerbates nerve cell death; therefore, the reconstruction of a favorable microenvironment through small-molecule drugs is a promising strategy for promoting nerve regeneration. METHODS: In the present study, we synthesized curcumin-loaded micelle nanoparticles (Cur-NPs) to increase curcumin bioavailability and analyzed the physical and chemical properties of Cur-NPs by characterization experiments. We established an in vivo SCI model in rats and examined the ability of hind limb motor recovery using Basso–Beattie– Bresnahan scoring and hind limb trajectory assays. We also analyzed neural regeneration after SCI using immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: The nanoparticles achieved the intelligent responsive release of curcumin while improving curcumin bioavailability. Most importantly, the released curcumin attenuated local inflammation by modulating the polarization of macrophages from an M1 pro-inflammatory phenotype to an M2 anti-inflammatory phenotype. M2-type macrophages can promote cell differentiation, proliferation, matrix secretion, and reorganization by secreting or expressing pro-repair cytokines to reduce the inflammatory response. The enhanced inflammatory microenvironment supported neuronal regeneration, nerve remyelination, and reduced scar formation. These effects facilitated functional repair in rats, mainly in the form of improved hindlimb movements. CONCLUSION Here, we synthesized pH/temperature dual-sensitive Cur-NPs. While improving the bioavailability of the drug, they were also able to achieve a smart responsive release in the inflammatory microenvironment that develops after SCI. The Cur-NPs promoted the regeneration and functional recovery of nerves after SCI through anti-inflammatory effects, providing a promising strategy for the repair of SCIs.

【Objective】 To analyze the characteristics and mobility of the overlapping population of voluntary blood donation and plasmapheresis donation, so as to provide a scientific basis for the formulation of recruitment and retention strategies for blood donation and plasmapheresis donation, and to further propose a scientific reference for the decision-making of blood banks and plasmapheresis station management in China. 【Methods】 The basic information of blood donors and plasmapheresis donors in two counties in Guangyuan, Sichuan Province, which carried out whole blood collection and plasmapheresis collection from the establishment of the station to July 31, 2021 was statistically compared and analzed using the chi-square test and Post hoc testing test. 【Results】 As of July 31, 2021, a total of 50 658 people participated in blood donation and 63 375 people participated in plasmapheresis donation in Jiange County and Cangxi County, with a total overlap of 6 189 people. In the two regions, 16 458 (35.2%) people aged 40 to 50, and 35 558 people (56.1%) were over 50 years old. Among the overlapping population, 2 496 (40.3%) were 40 to 50 years old, accounted for the largest proportion, and 3 146 (50.8%) were males. Significant differences were noticed in age (P<0.001) and gender (P<0.001). There was a shift in dontion in 5 183, including 2 072 people from plasma to blood and 3 111 people from blood to plasma, among which 2 671 (51.5%) were men and 3 632 (70.1%) were over 50 years old, with significant differences in gender (P<0.05) and age (P<0.001). 【Conclusion】 There were a small number of donors donating both blood and plasma in Jiange and Cangxi, and men aged 40 to 50 were the majority, and people over 50 years old were more likely to shift the donation goals. The vast majority of donors have a single and fixed donation goal (blood or plasma), and are not easy to change.

【Objective】 To analyze the dynamic relationship between the setting up of plasmapheresis station and the volume of voluntary blood donation collected using panel vector autoregressive model, so as to provide scientific reference for the management policies of blood stations and plasmapheresis stations in China. 【Methods】 The data collected from blood stations in seven administrative regions of Guangyuan, Sichuan Province from 2011 to 2021, as well as plasma collection data from two plasmapheresis stations in the region within two years since their operation, were collected. A panel vector autoregressive model was constructed. Impulse response analysis and variance decomposition analysis were used to analyze the impact and time lag effects of simulated plasmapheresis station settings on the collection volume of voluntary blood donation. Covariance analysis was used to explore whether the establishment of plasmapheresis station had an impact on the volume of voluntary blood donation collected after excluding the impact of initial value differences. 【Results】 The pulse response results showed that after the plasmapheresis station was set up, there was a negative impact effect on the voluntary blood donation collection volume at the first stage, and its impact began to rise after the second stage, reached the highest value in the third stage, and then began to decline. After the seventh stage, it tended to be stable. However, within the 10 stage range, the confidence interval for the response strength of voluntary blood donation collection volume always included 0, indicating that the response of blood collection volume to the plasmapheresis station setting in the region was not statistically significant. The results of variance decomposition showed that the contribution of collection volume of voluntary blood donation to their own impact reached 94.3%. In terms of the contribution of plasmapheresis station factors, the number of plasma donors has a relatively greater impact on the volume of voluntary blood donation collected(2.2%). Covariance analysis showed that after removing the initial confounding factors, whether to establish a plasmapheresis station had no significant impact on blood donation volume in the two groups of regions (P>0.05). 【Conclusion】 The establishment of a new plasmapheresis station will have a certain impact on blood collection volume of blood stations in the region in a short term, but in the long term, it may not directly affect the voluntary blood donation collection in the region.