Maximum Flow Rate Research Articles

Female ventral-onlay buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty supported with martius labial fat pad flap: early results.

There is a growing interest in reconstructive urology and female urethroplasty. We aimed to report our experience in ventral-onlay buccal mucosa graft (BMG) urethroplasty supported with Martius flap (MF) in treating female urethral stricture disease. We retrospectively evaluated data of 18 female patients (ages 35-78) who were diagnosed with urethral stricture disease and underwent ventral-onlay BMG urethroplasty supported with MF by single surgeon in a tertiary referral centre between February 2019 and October 2022. Detailed history, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), pelvic examination, urine flow rate (rate and pattern), post void residual (PVR), storage and voiding phase urodynamic study, and voiding cystourethrography were recorded. At the last visit; the number of urethral dilatations before urethroplasty, time from urethral dilation to urethroplasty, hospital stay, urethral catheterization time, postoperative IPSS, PVR and uroflowmetry values were recorded. The presenting symptoms were obstructive voiding symptoms in 16 patients. While the mean number of urethral dilatation was 2.11 ± 1.93 (1-7), the mean time from dilatation to urethroplasty was 5.83 ± 5.00 (1-19months) months. Maximum flow rate increased from 8.36 ± 3.26ml/sec in preoperative uroflowmetry to 21.45 ± 5.27ml/sec at the last follow-up (p < 0.001). Post-void residual urine (PVR) decreased from preoperative mean 116.66 ± 105.88cc to 26.94 ± 22.69cc postoperatively (p < 0.004). None of the patients developed stricture recurrence, incontinence or vaginal fistula until the last follow-up. The mean follow-up period was 17.28 ± 11.65 (1-35) months. A ventral-onlay BMG urethroplasty supported with MF represents an effective and reproducible treatment option for FUS in the present study.

Back-Calculation of Manning’s Roughness Coefficient by 2D Flow Simulation and Influence of In-Channel Physical Parameters in a Mountain River, Japan

This study attempts to back-calculate Manning’s roughness coefficients by repeating a two-dimensional flow simulation to fit the spatially and temporally dense river water-level data observed in Japan’s Yamatsuki River, a typical mountainous river with an average riverbed gradient of 1/50 and an average river width of 17.9 m. Furthermore, we aim to clarify the influence of the in-channel physical parameters on the coefficient of roughness obtained through the above method. In the Yamatsuki River, 16 water-level gauges were installed at intervals of about 40~80 m in the longitudinal direction in the study reach. Manning’s roughness coefficients were back-calculated by repeating two-dimensional flow simulations to match the observed water levels of a flood in 2021 (the estimated maximum flow rate is 11.5 m3/s). The back-calculated roughness coefficients approached a constant value in the range of 0.05 to 0.1 s/m1/3 as the relative water depth increased, indicating that the roughness coefficient can be considered a constant value when performing plane two-dimensional flow calculations for flooding. The roughness coefficient during flooding was found to be correlated with the slope and step height (H)-step length (L)- channel slope (S) ratios (H/L/S). An equation for predicting the roughness coefficient during flooding based on the physical parameters of the channel is also proposed.

Patient reported outcomes of intermittent self-dilatation after direct vision internal urethrotomy.

Long-term results on quality of life (QoL) as well as clinical outcomes of intermittent self-dilatation (ISD) of the urethra after direct visual internal urethrotomy (DVIU) are scarce. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate patient reported outcomes (PROs) on voiding symptoms and QoL in a large cohort of urethral stricture patients performing ISD. We identified a total of 121 patients who performed ISD following DVIU between 2008 and 2013. Baseline assessment was conducted for each patient before ISD was started. Follow-up visits were scheduled in 6-month intervals. Each assessment included the following questionnaires: International prostate symptom score (IPSS), IPSS quality of life index (IPSS-QoL), patient global impression of severity (PGI-S), and patient global impression of improvement (PGI-I). Additional parameters were maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax ), postvoid residual urine, rate of complications, and stricture recurrence. Linear mixed models were used to examine the change over the course of the follow-up visits to the baseline. The median age of the patients was 58 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 43-70). The median follow-up was 17 months (IQR: 7-30). Mean change from baseline IPSS was -6.1, -5.9, -4.2, and -4.8 points at 6, 24, 36, and 48 months. Mean change from baseline IPSS-QoL was -1.3, -1.4, -1.6, and -1.8 points, respectively. Mean PGI-I was 1.7 points at 6, 1.9 points at 24, 1.9 points at 36, and 2.2 points at 48 months after ISD initiation. Mean change of Qmax ranged from 1.7 at 6 to 2.2 mL/sat 48 months. The median complication rate was 3.3% per 6-month ISD interval. Overall, 11 patients developed stricture recurrence (9%). ISD after DVIU had no negative impact on patients' QoL (IPSS-QoL, PGI-I, PGI-S). Urodynamic parameters remained stable for up to 48 months with low complications and an acceptable stricture recurrence rate.

Evaluation of Tamsulosin 0.4 mg versus 0.8 mg in management of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic enlargement

PurposeTo compare the efficacy and the safety of Tamsulosin 0.4 mg/day and 0.8 mg/day in patients suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic obstruction.Patients and MethodsA prospective interventional, double-blinded, controlled study was carried out on 93 patients who met the criteria and divided randomly into two groups: group A for Tamsulosin 0.4 mg/day and group B for Tamsulosin 0.8 mg/day. International prostate symptom score, post void residual urine volume, and maximum flow rate of urine were assessed before and after 4 weeks of treatment.ResultsBoth study groups showed a significant reduction in storage sub-score but only frequency was significantly reduced in group B (P < 0.001). On the other hand, Tamsulosin 0.8 mg was superior to Tamsulosin 0.4 mg regarding voiding sub-score except for straining (P = 0.325). Accordingly, the total international prostate symptom score was significantly improved in group B versus group A (P < 0.001). Furthermore, maximum flow rate and post-void residual urine volume were notably improved in Group B as compared to Group A (P < 0.001). Of all adverse events only dizziness was noted to be statistically significant in Group B versus Group A (P < 0.001).ConclusionTamsulosin 0.8 mg has shown better outcomes in treating patients who suffer from lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic enlargement than Tamsulosin 0.4 mg, and besides that, it is well tolerated.Trial registration numberM S 292/2020, SID: 373, date: 22/4/2020.

Identification of a different design of a photovoltaic thermal collector based on fuzzy logic control and the ARMAX model

This study investigates the effects of absorber design on the performance of a water-based photovoltaic thermal collector (PVT). In this regard, three different absorber designs with the same pipe diameter and length were tested and compared experimentally in Cairo, Egypt, during summer 2021. Furthermore, artificial intelligence techniques were used to create a model to identify the PVT system and define the input–output relationship in state space representation. This is to get a more thorough understanding and deeper evaluation of the PVT performance with various absorber designs to achieve the best possible system performance under varied operating situations and weather. The fuzzy logic control is examined by Autoregression Moving Average using an external input model (ARMAX), which relies on the autoregression moving average to achieve system performance. According to the study's findings, at a maximum water flow rate of 3 L/min, the proposed PVT system can convert solar energy with an overall efficiency of 69.6 %, 64.6 %, and 63.5 %, respectively, with a pressure loss of about 29.5 kPa, 29.33 kPa, and 24.79 kPa for absorbers A, B, and C. Furthermore, the challenging suggested fuzzy control system for the PVT system provides knowledge to comprehend the system complexity since the connection is formed by connecting 5 inputs with 3 outputs through its representation in the state space representation.

Особенности формования и трансформации максимального стока реки Миус

Purpose: to study the features of the formation and transformation of the maximum river runoff based on empirical data. Materials and methods. The series of observations of water levels and flows in two existing gauging stations Kuibyshevo (hydrological station 1) and Matveev Kurgan (hydrological station 2) with a duration of 51 years, were used as source materials. Statistical and theoretical methods were used as information processing methods, including system analysis and hydrological and geographical generalizations. Results and discussions. A study consisting of four stages: analysis of hydrographic characteristics, construction of dependency graphs of maximum flow rates Q = f(H), analysis of hydrological series and calculated data, was carried out. As a result of the analysis of hydrographic characteristics, a significant difference in the average heights of the watershed area and the bed slope was revealed. When comparing the maximum parameters by year, it was revealed that the maximum level recorded at the gauging station does not correspond to the maximum flow rate: at the hydrological station 1, the maximum water level was observed in 1979 and corresponded to 2 % availability, while the same year discharge of 151 cubic m/s corresponded to 6 % availability, the highest discharge was recorded in 1970 and was higher by 30 cubic m/s, the water level corresponded to 4 % availability and was lower by 0.49 m; at hydrological station 2, the maximum water level was recorded in 1985 with a flow rate of 202 cubic m/s, corresponding to 6 % probability, the maximum flow rate was observed in 1964 at a water level 0.38 m below the maximum, which corresponds to 12 % availability. Conclusions. The materials presented in the article confirm that the use of the coefficients of variation and asymmetry of one gauging station for the long-term average values of another gauging station is not entirely correct, despite the fact that they are located on the same river at a fairly close distance.

Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate for Advanced Prostate Cancer-Related Bladder Outlet Obstruction: Assessing Effectiveness and Unraveling Factors Impacting Postoperative Urinary Incontinence.

This study investigated the factors associated with transient urinary incontinence (TUI) after holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) as a palliative treatment in patients with severe bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) and advanced prostate cancer (PCA). Data of 28 patients with advanced PCA (≥cT3) who underwent palliative HoLEP between October 2018 and March 2021 were included in this retrospective study. After collection of the pre-, intra-, and postoperative (1, 3, and 12 months) data of patients from their medical records, variables of patients with and without TUI at 1 and 3-12 months postoperatively were statistically compared. Multivariate analysis was performed to investigate the factors associated with postoperative TUI. Compared to baseline, the mean total international prostate symptom score, quality of life score, maximum flow rate (Qmax), and postvoid residual (PVR) were significantly improved 1 month postoperatively, and this was maintained until 12 months postoperatively (p<0.001). Of the 28 patients, 14 (50.00%) and 6 (21.43%) presented with TUI at 1 and 3-12 months postoperatively, respectively. Patients with TUI at 1 month follow-up showed a significantly lower preoperative Qmax (p=0.027), larger preoperative PVR (p=0.004), and higher likelihood of bladder neck tumor invasion (p=0.046). Conversely, patients with TUI at 3-12 months postoperatively were significantly older (p=0.033) and had a longer enucleation time (p=0.033). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the factors affecting TUI were preoperative Qmax (odds ratio [OR]=0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.39-0.93; p=0.016) and bladder invasion of the tumor (OR=26.72; 95% CI=1.83-390.42; p=0.022) after 1 month; however, none of the variables correlated significantly with TUI at 3-12 months. Palliative HoLEP is an effective management option in patients with advanced PCA-related BOO. Lower preoperative Qmax and bladder neck tumor invasion are the factors affecting TUI at 1 month postoperatively.

Impact of deep brain stimulation on urogenital function in Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) effectively treats Parkinson's motor symptoms, but its effects on the urogenital system are debated. A research was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus until February 27, 2024. We primarily focused on DBS's impact on Parkinson's patients' Urine storage function, voiding function, sexual function, and quality of life. Our meta-analysis included 14 studies. The main results showed that DBS resulted in fewer instances of urinary urgency (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.26 to 2.70, p = 0.002) and increased maximum bladder capacity (MD = -66.10, 95% CI: -119.37 to -12.82, p = 0.02) in terms of urinary storage function. However, there were no significant differences in first desire to void and strong desire to void. In terms of voiding function, DBS showed significant improvements in maximum flow rate (MD = -0.64, 95% CI: -1.23 to -0.05, p = 0.03), post-void residual (MD = -6.79, 95% CI: 4.54 to 9.05, P < 0.00001) and detrusor pressure during maximum flow (MD = -1.37, 95% CI: -2.73 to -0.02, p = 0.05). Additionally, there was no significant difference in sexual function between the two groups (MD = -1.41, 95% CI: -12.40 to 9.57, p = 0.80). DBS has demonstrated a certain degree of efficacy in ameliorating urinary storage and voiding function in patients with Parkinson's disease. However, certain urodynamic parameters or scores do not demonstrate any statistically significant disparities. Furthermore, DBS has no significant impact on erectile function in male Parkinson's patients. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023476661, identifier CRD42023476661.

Dorsal onlay buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty for female urethral stricture: Techniques and outcomes

ObjectiveFemale urethral stricture (FUS) accounts for about 4%–13% of cases of female bladder outlet obstruction. FUS was and is still managed by repeated dilatations and/or direct visual internal urethrotomy. There are many alternative options for reconstruction like buccal or vaginal mucosal graft urethroplasty. Our aim was to describe the technique of dorsal onlay buccal mucosal graft (BMG) urethroplasty for FUS and present the outcomes. MethodsBetween January 2014 and December 2021, 37 patients who underwent dorsal onlay BMG urethroplasty were included in the study. Their pre-operative diagnosis was confirmed with uroflowmetry, micturating cystourethrogram, urethral calibration, and on table cystoscopy. Bladder catheter was removed after 2 weeks. Patients were followed up at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and then annually with urine analysis, uroflowmetry, and post-void residual assessment. We defined success as a maximum flow rate (Qmax) above 15 mL/s without the need for an additional instrumentation. ResultsThe mean age of patients was 47.8 (standard deviation [SD] 11.3) years. Twenty patients had previously undergone urethral dilatations. The mean pre-operative Qmax was 7.79 (SD 3.73) mL/s. However, the mean Qmax improved to 23.20 (SD 8.25) mL/s after surgery. The mean post-void residual urine after surgery was 30.50 (SD 10.70) mL. This reduced from a mean value of 139.00 (SD 147.24) mL before surgery. The mean follow-up was 30.2 (SD 18.3, range 18–44) months. There was no post-operative incontinence. There were Clavien–Dindo Grade 1 complications in 6 out of 37 (16.2 %) patients during hospital stay. The only long-term complication was recurrence of stricture in 4 (10.8%) patients. ConclusionDorsal onlay BMG urethroplasty in females is a safe, effective technique which can avoid repeated painful dilatations and multiple urethrotomies. One should always consider reconstruction in FUS without any fear of incontinence.

Urethral Sparing versus Trans-Vesical Robot-Assisted Simple Prostatectomy: A Comparative Analysis of Perioperative, Postoperative Outcomes, and Ejaculation Preservation.

To compare the perioperative and postoperative outcomes between traditional trans-vesical robot-assisted simple prostatectomy (TV-RASP) and the newly introduced urethral-sparing (US) RASP. We retrospectively reviewed 42 patients who underwent TV-RASP (n=22) or US-RASP (n=20) performed by two experienced surgeons at two tertiary centers. Perioperative outcomes including operation time, estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, and catheterization time were assessed. Postoperative outcomes were evaluated using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), uroflowmetry parameters, Male Sexual Health Questionnaire-Ejaculation Dysfunction-Short Form (MSHQ-EjD-SF) scores, and maintenance of anterograde ejaculation. This study analyzed 22 and 20 patients who underwent TV-RASP and US-RASP, respectively. Except for the TV-RASP group being older (70.0 years) than the US-RASP group (64.5 years) (p=0.028), no differences among other baseline characteristics existed. Perioperative outcomes indicated that hospital stay and catheterization time were significantly shorter in the US-RASP group than in the TV-RASP group (p<0.001). At postoperative month 1, the median IPSS and QoL scores were significantly better in the US-RASP group than in the TV-RASP group (p=0.001 and p=0.002, respectively). However, at months 6 and 12, no significant differences were noted in IPSS, QoL, maximum flow rate, and postvoid residual urine between the two groups. Sexually active patients in the US-RASP group maintained postoperative MSHQ-EjD functional and bother scores, whereas the TV-RASP group experienced a decline. Notably, 75.0% of patients in the US-RASP group preserved antegrade ejaculation, compared to only 20.0% in the TV-RASP group (p<0.001). US-RASP is not inferior to TV-RASP in terms of functional outcomes. In addition, US-RASP yielded more rapid symptom improvements and preserved antegrade ejaculation than TV-RASP. However, larger prospective studies are required to confirm these findings and to further investigate the long-term efficacy and safety of US-RASP.

Clinical outcomes of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate: A large prospective registry-based patient cohort study under regular follow-up protocol.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) in a large prospective cohort of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) through systematic follow-up at a single institution. Clinical outcomes were analyzed between August 2008 and June 2022. Patients were followed-up at 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months postoperatively. A total of 3,000 patients (mean age, 69.6±7.7 years) underwent HoLEP. Baseline total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) was 19.3±7.7 and maximum flow rate (Qmax) was 9.4±4.8 mL/s. Mean total prostate volume was 67.7±3.4 mL. Total operation time was 60.7±31.5 minutes, and catheterization time was 1.0 days (range, 1.0-1.0 days). At 6 months postoperatively, the total IPSS decreased to 6.6±5.8 and Qmax increased to 22.2±11.3 mL/s. Complications at 6 months postoperatively included stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in 36 patients (1.9%), urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) in 25 (1.3%), bladder neck contracture (BNC) requiring transurethral incision (TUI) in 16 (0.5%), and urethral stricture in 29 (1.0%). Eleven patients (0.4%) with prostatic fossa stones required stone removal. Sixty-one patients (2.0%) required secondary surgery (transurethral coagulation, 16 [0.5%]; TUI for BNC, 16 [0.5%]; stone removal for prostatic fossa stones, 11 [0.4%]; and endoscopic internal urethrotomy for urethral stricture, 18 [0.6%]). Mid-term follow-up results after HoLEP in BPH patients showed excellent efficacy and low complication rates. Unlike previous reports, the incidence of SUI and UUI after HoLEP was low, but the occurrence of de novo stone formation in prostatic fossa was notable.

Clinical outcome and safety of holmium laser prostate enucleation after transrectal prostate biopsies for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

This study aimed to assess the clinical outcome and safety of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) following transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TR biopsy) in the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia. We retrospectively analyzed data from 556 patients who underwent HoLEP between 2014 and 2021. The patients were categorized into six groups: Group 1-A (n=45) underwent HoLEP within four months post TR biopsy. Group 1-B (n=94) underwent HoLEP more than four months post TR biopsy. Group 1-C (n=120) underwent HoLEP after a single TR biopsy. Group 1-D (n=19) underwent HoLEP after two or more TR biopsies. Group 1-total (n=139, group 1-A+group 1-B or group 1-C+group 1-D) underwent HoLEP post TR biopsy. Group 2 (control group, n=417) underwent HoLEP without prior TR biopsy. We examined perioperative parameters, safety, and functional outcomes. The age, body mass index, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), uroflowmetry, and comorbid diseases between group 1-total and group 2 were comparable. However, group 1-total exhibited significantly elevated prostate-specific antigen levels and larger prostate volumes (p<0.01). Perioperative factors like enucleation time, enucleation weight, and catheterization duration were notably higher in group 1-total (p<0.01). All groups showed significant improvements in IPSS, postvoid residual urine, and maximum flow rate during the 1-year postoperative period (p<0.05). The rates of postoperative complications were similar between group 1-total and group 2. Enucleation time and catheterization duration were significantly longer in the TR biopsy group. However, postoperative complications were not significantly different between TR biopsy and non-TR biopsy groups.

Parametric study and optimization of an acid gas enrichment plant with outlet streams and energy usage consideration

Acid gas enrichment (AGE) is a new method to increase the H2S conversion in conventional Clause process. In this paper effect of methyl diethanolamine (MDEA) flow rate, MDEA temperature, acid gas flow rate, and AGE tower pressure on the outlet H2S and CO2 concentration and energy consumption have been studied. A novel procedure based on enthalpy of combustion in the reaction furnace and incinerator is conducted for energy consumption calculations. By changing MDEA and inlet acid gas flow rates, a maximum H2S concentration in the enriched stream could be attainable. Increasing MDEA temperature will decrease maximum H2S concentration and enriched acid flow rate; also, CO2 concentration in off-gas will be decreased. By increasing AGE pressure, maximum H2S concentration in the enriched stream will be diminished. At higher MDEA flow rates, lower AGE pressures will bring higher H2S concentration in enriched acid gas stream. According to flame temperature simulation in the reaction furnace, energy consumption is directly related to H2S concentration in the sulfur recovery unit (SRU) feed stream. Results show that maximum H2S concentration in the enriched acid gas stream has the best conditions from energy point of view. At optimum conditions, H2S concentration in enriched acid gas is 62.45 mol%, which has been increased by 24.8%, compared with existing plant conditions, and energy consumption has been decreased by 25.05 GJ/h, and CO2 concentration in off-gas is 94.94 mol%.

Propensity score-matched analysis comparing perioperative, functional, and safety outcomes between thulium fiber laser and bipolar enucleation of the prostate performed by a single surgeon with two years of follow-up.

To compare perioperative, functional, and safety outcomes between thulium fiber laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuFLEP) and bipolar enucleation of the prostate performed by a single surgeon with use of propensity score (PS)-matched analysis. Data were from 675 patients, 422 of whom underwent ThuFLEP and bipolar enucleation by a single highly experienced surgeon. ThuFLEP was performed with Fiberlase U1 (IRE Polus Ltd.). Perioperative parameters, safety, and functional outcomes, such as International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), postvoid residual volume (PVR), and maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) were assessed. To control for selection bias, a 1:1 PS-matched analysis was carried out using the following variables as covariates: total prostate volume, preoperative IPSS and early sphincter release. Of 422 patients, 370 (87.7%) underwent ThuFLEP and 52 (12.3%) underwent bipolar enucleation. Operation, enucleation, and morcellation time were comparable between groups before and after PS-matched analysis (p=0.954, p=0.474, p=0.362, respectively). Functional parameters (IPSS, QoL, PVR, Qmax) were also comparable between groups at every time point before and after PS matching. Significant improvements in IPSS, QoL score, Qmax, and PVR were observed during the 24-month follow-up period for both ThuFLEP and bipolar enucleation without any significant differences between groups. Early and late postoperative complications before and after PS-matched analysis were similar. ThuFLEP was comparable to bipolar enucleation in perioperative characteristics, improvement in voiding parameters, and complication rates. Both procedures were shown to be effective and safe in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Comparison of Clinical Therapeutic Efficacy between TUPKP and HoLEP for Patients Aged 70 Years and Older with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Retrospective Study.

The occurrence of prostate hyperplasia has increased remarkedly, especially in elderly patients; However, research on which surgical treatment is effective and safe for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in elderly people over 70 years old is limited. This study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of transurethral plasma kinetic prostatectomy (TUPKP) and holmium laser enucleation of prostate (HoLEP) as a therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in the elderly. A total of 148 patients with BPH admitted from December 2022 to December 2023 were chosen and divided into HoLEP (n = 74) and TUPKP (n = 74) groups according to the surgical operation. Perioperative related indexes, preoperative and postoperative international prostate symptom scores and life quality scores were compared between the two groups. The postoperative complications were also counted for the two groups. The HoLEP group had lower intraoperative bleeding, mean operative time, catheter indwelling time and hospital stays than the TUPKP group (p < 0.001). Before treatment, no significant difference in prostate symptom scores was found between the two groups (p > 0.05). After treatment, the prostate symptom scores in the HoLEP group were significantly lower than those in the TUPKP group (p < 0.001). However, the maximum urinary flow rate was significantly higher (p < 0.001) and the residual urine volume was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in the HoLEP group than in the TUPKP group after operation. The complication rate in the TUPKP group was 25.66%, which was significantly higher than the 9.46% in the HoLEP group (p < 0.05). The life quality scores of the HoLEP group were higher than those of the TUPKP group (p < 0.001). HoLEP for BPH therapy is effective and safe with low incidence of postoperative complications.

Meta-analysis of the effectiveness and safety of magnetic stimulation for chronic pelvic pain.

To systematically assess the effectiveness and safety of magnetic stimulation (MS) for treating chronic prostatitis (CP) and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) through a meta-analysis. A comprehensive search of databases including PubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase, VIP, Web of Science, WanFang, China Biology Medicine disc (CBMdisc), and China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI) databases was conducted to retrieve randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on MS interventions for CPPS from inception to the present. The search employed keywords such as "MS", "CPPS", and "prostatitis". Data analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software, focusing on NIH-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax), and international index of erectile function-5 (IIEF-5) score. Eight RCTs involving 636 patients were included. Our meta-analysis revealed that extracorporeal MS significantly reduced NIH-CPSI scores [MD = -6.65; 95% CI (-8.15, -5.15), P < 0.00001] and improved Qmax [MD = 2.98; 95% CI (1.36, 4.59), P = 0.0003] compared to the control group. Although a trend toward improved IIEF-5 scores was observed [MD = 0.81; 95% CI (-0.34, 1.95), P = 0.17], the results were not significant. MS is effective in alleviating clinical symptoms and enhancing Qmax in patients with CP/CPPS.

Microfluidic Delivery of High Viscosity Liquids Using Piezoelectric Micropumps for Subcutaneous Drug Infusion Applications.

Goal: Auto-injectors for self-administration of drugs are usually refrigerated. If not warmed up prior to the injection, ejection of the total drug volume is not guaranteed, as their spring and plunger mechanism cannot adjust for a change in viscosity of the drug. Here, we develop piezoelectric micro diaphragm pump that allows these modifications possible while investigating the effectiveness of this alternative dosing method. Methods: The dosing of highly viscous liquid of 25 mPa·s is made possible using application-specific micropump design. By comparing the analytical with experimental results, the practicality of the concept is verified. Results: Using a powerful piezoelectric stack actuator, the micropump achieves high fluid pressures of up to (368 ± 17) kPa. In order to assess the influence of viscosity, we characterize the fluidic performance of the designed micropump through 27G gauge needle for various water-glycerin mixtures. We find maximum flow rates of 2 mL/min for viscosities of up to 25 mPa·s. Conclusions: The developed micro diaphragm pump enables the development of smart auto-injectors with flow rate regulation to achieve drug delivery for high viscosity drugs through 27G needles.

Development of a large flow electro-hydrostatic actuator equipped with four magnetostrictive-actuated pumps.

With the advantages of high energy density, high accuracy, and fast response, smart material-driven electro-hydrostatic actuators (SMEHAs) have attracted significant attention in recent years. However, the low flow rate of SMEHAs constrains their application. One potential solution to enhance the flow rate is to increase the number of smart material-actuated pumps. In view of this, this paper proposes a new configuration of an electro-hydrostatic actuator equipped with four magnetostrictive-actuated pumps (FMEHA) to achieve a large flow rate. The mathematical model of the FMEHA is established to investigate the driving phase matching between pumps and the active flow distribution valve. The physical prototype of FMEHA is fabricated. Simulations and experiments are conducted to assess its performance under various driving parameters, including the number of pumps, driving phase, frequency, and amplitude. The optimal driving parameters for the FMEHA are determined based on the results obtained. Experimental findings demonstrate that with a driving phase of 340°, a frequency of 250Hz, and an amplitude of 20A, the FMEHA achieves a maximum flow rate of 6.2 l/min.

Motion law of cavitation bubbles in ultrasonic field and mechanism of their interaction with dendrites

Ultrasound treatment (UST) has been demonstrated to be an effective approach to refining the microstructures of metallic alloys during solidification. The cavitation-induced fragmentation is considered as the major mechanism for grain refinement in the recent study, but the interaction between dynamic bubble motion and dendrite behaviour has been rarely investigated previously. In this work, the dynamic behaviour of cavitation bubbles and their interactions with succinonitrile (SCN)-2% (mole fraction) water organic transparent alloy are systematically investigated by high-speed digital image technique and numerical simulation. It is found that increasing the driving pressure transforms the bubble oscillation mode from volume oscillation to splitting oscillation, which significantly enhances the transient pressure and flow strength in the liquid. When a dendrite exists below the bubble, the fracture mode of the secondary branch undergoes a transition from high peripheral fatigue fracture to low peripheral fatigue fracture and to overload fracture with the increase of the driving acoustic pressure, and the fracture period is shortened in the form of a power function trend. The closer the bubble is to the dendrite, the longeritudinal radius of the bubble is gradually larger than the transverse radius during compression, and with the bubble shrink time increasing, the minimum bubble volume decreases. In addition, the decrease in distance between bubbles and dendrites leads to a significant reduction in the maximum pressure generated by bubble collapse, while the maximum flow rate shows a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. When the root radius of the secondary branch decreases or its length increases, the number of fatigue fracture cycles of the secondary branch decreases significantly. The calculated bubble expansion and contraction and secondary dendrite rupture processes are basically consistent with the experimental results, which indicates that the model constructed in this work can accurately predict the bubble motion and its interaction with dendrite in ultrasonic field.

Numerical simulation of a novel small water turbine generator for installation in a deep-flow hydroponics system

Hydroponics systems are crucial for providing sustainable and cost-effective choices when soils are unavailable for conventional farming. The application of water flow rates within hydroponics systems to generate electricity is another idea that can be used in the field of power generation. This paper presents the determination of the mechanical power efficiency of a novel small water turbine generator for use in a deep-flow hydroponics system (DFT). The system was designed, analysed, and calculated for the most suitable geometries of the water pipeline inlet, DFT system, main structure of the PVC Tee Pipe Fitting, and a water turbine wheel using computational fluid dynamics software. The diameter of the water turbine wheel in this research was 48 mm. A DFT hydroponic system was modelled for the purposes of this research. We conducted a numerical simulation with water flow rates of 6, 8, and 10 l/min to evaluate the turbulent kinetic energy distribution in the DFT hydroponic system. The numerical simulation employed the control volume methodology, and the k-epsilon turbulence model was applied to obtain the computational conclusions. The highest torque and power that a novel small water turbine for installation in a DFT system could generate at a maximum flow rate of 0.000167 m3/s were 0.082 N.m. and 1.9568 watts, respectively. The forces generated by the fluid's speed and pressure can then be transferred to the building process of a novel small water turbine wheel. The FEA numerical result shows that the maximum value of the total deformation at a wheel speed of 228 rpm is 7.0 x 10-5 mm. The numerical simulations used in this study could potentially be used to further develop prototypes for innovative miniature water turbines that generate commercial electricity.