Urinary Research Articles

Recurrent Outbreak of Carbapenem-Resistant IMP-1-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Kidney Transplant Recipients: The Impact of Prolonged Patient Colonization.

Infections by carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) have been associated with high morbidity and mortality among solid organ recipients. To delineate the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of a recurrent outbreak of imipenem (IMP)-producing P. aeruginosa (CRPA) among kidney transplant (KT) recipient METHODS: We described a recurring CRPA outbreak in a KT ward, divided into two periods: before unit closure (Feb 2019-2020) and after reopening (Aug 2020-Dec 2023). Routine surveillance cultures (SCs) were performed using axillary-perineum-rectal swabs with immunochromatographic tests. A case-control study identified risk factors for CRPA acquisition. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and whole genome sequencing characterized the strains. After reopening, new cases arose from patients previously colonized, peaking 18 months later. A total of 67 KT recipients with CRPA-IMP-producing strains were identified. All except one sequenced strain belonged to the ST446 clone, differing by a maximum of 110 single nucleotide polymorphisms. Forty-five (67.2%) cases were identified through SC, with 45.7% showing intermittent SC positivity. Patients remained colonized for up to 623 days. Twenty-four (35.8%) patients had infections, with the most common site being the urinary tract. Identified risk factors included older age, deceased donor, re-transplantation, reoperation, carbapenem or quinolone use, lymphopenia, hospital stay >10 days, and the first 60 days post-KT. KT recipients can harbor CRPA for extended periods, and detecting CRPA-colonized patients is challenging. These characteristics highlight the patient as the major source and a critical point in outbreak control.

Expression of concern: Selective isolation and eradication of E. coli associated with urinary tract infections using anti-fimbrial modified magnetic reduced graphene oxide nanoheaters.

Expression of concern for 'Selective isolation and eradication of E. coli associated with urinary tract infections using anti-fimbrial modified magnetic reduced graphene oxide nanoheaters' by Fatima Halouane et al., J. Mater. Chem. B, 2017, 5, 8133-8142, https://doi.org/10.1039/C7TB01890H.

Renal Pelvis Urine Sampling in Patients with Obstructed, Infected Ureterolithiasis: A Retrospective Quality Improvement Initiative.

Purpose: Patients who present with urinary tract infections secondary to obstructing stones occasionally fail to improve on treatment based on midstream urine culture (MUSCx). Varying microbiomes between the bladder and the renal pelvis may account for this. In this study, we sought to investigate the utility of obtaining a renal pelvis urine culture (RPUCx) at the time of stenting to guide antibiotic treatment prior to definitive stone operation. Materials and Methods: RPUCx was obtained in 257 patients presenting with obstructive ureteral stones undergoing emergent stenting. Concordance rates of RPUCx to MUSCx and blood cultures were examined. Operative time and infectious complication rates after definitive stone management between the two groups were studied. A comparison of those who received an intraoperative RPUCx with those who did not was carried out. Results and Conclusions: RPUCx was obtained in patients undergoing emergent stenting from 2018 to -2021; 31% (52/168) of patients had pathogens in the renal pelvis that were absent in the MUSCx. RPUCx had a greater concordance rate with blood culture results compared with MUSCx (95% vs 50%). Drawing RPUCx intraoperatively did not significantly change operative time (15.9 vs 13.6 minutes, p = 0.15). Treatment tailored to RPUCx resulted in lower rates of post-stone management complications (odds ratio 0.26, 95% confidence interval = 0.08-0.83; p = 0.01). RPUCx at the time of stenting can guide treatment and decrease post-treatment complications without additional operative time, confirming utility in the treatment of patients with infection secondary to obstructing stones.

Management of Incidentally Detected Urinary Tract Calculus in Patients Awaiting Living Donor Liver Transplantation: A Protocol-Based Approach

BackgroundUrinary tract calculi (UTC) in patients awaiting living donor liver transplant (LDLT) requires proper management due to increased risk of infections in the post-liver transplant (LT) period. Materials and MethodsA retrospective analysis of records of LDLT recipients with UTC was conducted between July 2019 and July 2023. No prisoners or paid participants were included. ResultsThirty patients (25 women and 5 men) with a mean age of 44.45 ± 9.67 years, model of end stage liver disease with sodium (MELD-Na) of 20.5 ± 12.2 were diagnosed to have a UTC during pre-LT evaluation. Twenty-five patients had renal stones, whereas five patients had ureteric calculus (22 were unilateral and 8 were bilateral calculi). Fifteen patients underwent double J (DJ)-stenting prior to LT. The mean stone size in patients who underwent DJ stenting was 13.6 (±9.83) mm vs 4.78 (±5.3) mm in whom stenting was not done. Patients with preoperative DJ stenting had a significantly reduced hospital stay (18.5 ± 2.1 days), lower mortality rates (0%), and lower rates of hematuria (6.66%) vs (23.4 ± 12.8 days, 13.33% and 13.3%, respectively). Patients with preoperative DJ stenting underwent post-transplant definitive procedure for UTC without any complications.Our Protocol for Incidentally Detected Ureteric Stones in LT Recipients:a. Proximal-ureteric calculi: Preoperative DJ stenting (2-3 days prior/ on day of LT) → LT → ESWL/URS 2-3 weeks later → DJ stent removal after 2-3 weeks.b. Distal-ureteric calculi: Preoperative DJ stenting ± URS (2-3 days prior/ day of LT) → LT → DJ stent removal after 2-3 weeks.Our protocol for incidentally detected renal stones in LT recipients:a. Stone size (< 5 mm) and nonobstructive calculi with no active UTI:No surgical intervention → Liver transplant under antibiotics cover → medical management of stone.b. Multiple calculi sized < 5 mm or single stone 5-10 mm:DJ stent placement → LT → ESWL/RIRS after 4-6 weeks → DJ stent removal after 3 weeks.c. Single stone size > 10 mm or multiple calculi > 5 mm:DJ stent placement → LT → RIRS/PCNL after 4-6 weeks→DJ stent removal after 3-4 weeks. ConclusionA systemic minimally invasive approach is needed for pre-LT management of UTC for better patient outcomes.

Longer Preoperative Antibiotic Duration Prior to High-Risk Ureteroscopy Does Not Decrease Infectious Complications.

Introduction: Postoperative infections after ureteroscopy are common and potentially devastating complications. National and international guidelines recommend treatment of symptomatic positive urine cultures prior to operation, but how to manage patients with asymptomatic colonization remains unclear. In clinical practice, there is wide variation in the choice and duration of antibiotics for these patients. To examine how preoperative antibiotic duration impacts postoperative infection rate, we evaluated our institutional practices and outcomes. Materials and Methods: Our prospectively collected database was queried for patients undergoing ureteroscopy between 2015 and 2023. Preoperative urine culture results and antibiotic duration/choice were abstracted. Patients included for study were those with a high risk of urinary colonization defined as those with history of neurological insult, bowel diversion, indwelling suprapubic catheter or foley, or a stent/nephrostomy. Our primary outcome was postoperative infection, defined by urinary tract infection (UTI), pyelonephritis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), or fever within 30 days of operation. Results: A total of 405 patients met our inclusion criteria. Preoperative prophylactic antibiotics were not utilized in 68% of the study cohort, while 11% received less than 3 days or 3-10 days of prophylaxis and the remaining 10% received more than 10 days. The overall rate of UTI or pyelonephritis was 9%, and the SIRS or sepsis rate was 5%. Although receipt of preoperative prophylactic antibiotics of any duration was not predictive of postoperative infectious complications on multivariable analysis, women were associated with a 4.135 (OR: 1.768-9.669, p = 0.001) increased odds of UTI/pyelonephritis compared with men. Conclusions: In high-risk patients, the duration of preoperative antibiotics prior to ureteroscopy did not reduce postoperative infectious complication rates. Women were the only clinical feature associated with increased risk of UTI/pyelonephritis. Further research is needed to identify alternative interventions to prevent postoperative infectious complications.

Predictive analysis of economic and clinical outcomes in total knee arthroplasty: Identifying high-risk patients for increased costs and length of stay.

The purpose of this study was to predict high-risk patients who experience significant increases in hospital charges and length of stay (LOS) following specific postoperative complications. This study analyzed over two million patients from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database undergoing elective total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for primary osteoarthritis. Baseline demographics, clinical characteristics and incidence of postoperative complications were examined. A neural network model was utilized to predict high-risk patients who fall into the top 25% for both LOS and total hospital charges after complications such as sepsis or surgical site infection (SSI). The most common complications were blood loss anaemia (14.6%), acute kidney injury (1.6%) and urinary tract infection (0.9%). Patients with complications incurred significantly higher total charges (mean $66,804) and longer LOS (mean 2.9 days) compared to those without complications (mean $58,545 and 2.1 days, respectively). The neural network model demonstrated strong predictive performance, with an area under the curve of 0.83 for the training set and 0.78 for the testing set. Key complications like sepsis and SSIs significantly impacted hospital charges and LOS. For example, a 57-year-old patient with diabetes and sepsis had a 100% probability of being in the top 25% for both total charges and LOS. Postoperative complications in TKA patients significantly increase hospital charges and LOS. The neural network model effectively predicted high-risk patients after specific complications occurred, offering a potential tool for improving patient management and resource allocation. Level III.

Urinary incontinence in elite female powerlifters aged 20-30: correlating musculoskeletal exam data with incontinence severity index and survey data.

Urinary incontinence (UI) in the powerlifting community has been a hot topic due to its noticeability during competition and the burden it places on female athletes who experience it. UI is even experienced in those we least expect: young, high-performing, females with no history of pregnancy. Current studies have utilized primarily survey methodology, thus there is a lack of clinical information on this topic. Furthermore, the top athletes are underrepresentedbecause previous surveys were open to anyone reporting themselves as a powerlifter, regardless of competition level. The objectives of this study were to determine whether UI in elite female powerlifters is correlated with any musculoskeletal diagnoses and to further evaluate potentially contributing factors for UI within this group. Subjects underwent an osteopathic structural examination and then completed two surveys: the Incontinence Severity Index (ISI/Sandvik Test for Urinary Incontinence) and the Study Questionnaire. In total, there were 31 female participants, all of whom were in the top 2 % of powerlifters in the world between the ages of 20 and 30 years old (as of May 21, 2023) and reside in the United States. The survey results displayed a moderately positive relationship between age (rho=0.449, where rho refers to Spearman's rho), history of pelvic floor examination (rho=0.413), and self-care practice with ISI (rho=0.340). Other survey information such as weight class, height, best total in competition, number of years training, average duration of training day, confidence in ability to contract pelvic floor muscles, history of abdominal or pelvic surgery, history of urinary tract infection (UTI), and sexual activity status all had rho values less than 0.300. With atlantoaxial (AA) rotation to the right, there was an increase in ISI score (p=0.009). Similarly, with AA rotation to the left, there was a decrease in ISI score (p=0.030). All patients with severe ISI had nonphysiologic sacral dysfunctions (p=0.051). Severe ISI-scored participants were more likely to yield a dysfunctional clavicle upon screening (p=0.027). There was a strong correlation between increasing severity of UI and findings of a restricted right clavicle and/or AA rotation to the right (p=0.010). In addition, there were only two individuals with both a restricted right clavicle and AA rotation to the right, and these two individuals both scored severe on the ISI (p=0.012). A pelvic diaphragm dysfunction was present in 74.2 % of the participants. Extension diagnoses of the lumbar spine were found in those with mild UI over those with severe UI (p=0.012). Most other diagnoses were largely unremarkable due to a wide distribution across all ISI scores. Our study revealed a relationship between UI and somatic dysfunctions in this population. These findings may help providers, especially in the fields of primary care, sports medicine, and urogynecology, to expand treatment options for UI in this group in the future. Survey results yielded a positive relationship of moderate strength between age, history of pelvic floor exination, and engaging in leakage prevention practices with ISI. No survey category was found to have a relationship of high strength with ISI. These findings contribute to our knowledge on factors that do (or do not) contribute to incontinence severity.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on antimicrobial resistance of Proteus mirabilis in a Brazilian hospital.

This study analyzes the resistance and virulence profiles of Proteus mirabilis isolates obtained from patients admitted to the University Hospital of Londrina, Paraná, between 2019 and 2022. We evaluated the antimicrobial resistance phenotypes, genes associated with resistance, biofilm formation through a phenotypic assay, and the presence of specific virulence genes. When comparing the "pre-pandemic" (2019) and "pandemic" (2020-2022) periods, we observed an increase in resistance rates to all tested antimicrobials. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens producing extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) phenotypes were isolated in both periods, but their occurrence was significantly higher during the pandemic. We also observed an increase in the frequency of nearly all studied resistance genes. The virulence profiles remained largely unchanged. Analysis of patients' clinical and demographic data revealed that those hospitalized during the pandemic were older, required longer hospital stays, and had a higher usage of invasive devices. These findings suggest that the recent COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the antimicrobial resistance of P. mirabilis, a bacterium of significant clinical interest associated with urinary tract infections (UTIs) and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

Antibiotic Overprescription for "Urinary Tract Infections" Is Associated With Poor Diagnostic Stewardship and Low Adherence to Guidelines.

While urinary tract infections (UTIs) are thought to be common among women, as many as 65% of UTI diagnoses may be inaccurate. To identify strategies to improve antibiotic stewardship, we sought to determine the clinical and laboratory factors associated with overdiagnosis and overtreatment of UTIs. Electronic health records identified patients bearing an isolated diagnostic code for UTI within a single healthcare system during July 2019. Demographic, clinical, and microbial data were collected by manual chart review. Regression analyses were utilized to determine factors associated with guideline non-concordant UTI diagnosis and treatment utilizing R statistical software (version 4.3.1). In patients diagnosed with UTI, 64% were treated with antibiotics despite only 28% having symptoms consistent with UTI diagnostic criteria. Of patients diagnosed with a UTI who were treated in an emergency room (ER) setting, 95% were given antibiotics compared with only 55% of patients in an outpatient setting. Even without any urinary symptoms, 95% of patients in the ER and 27% of patients in outpatient settings were treated with antibiotics. Patients who presented to the ER for non-localizing symptoms, such as mental status changes (MSC), were more likely to be diagnosed with UTI compared with those in an outpatient setting. The results of this study demonstrate that patients were frequently diagnosed with and treated for a UTI despite not meeting diagnostic criteria. This pattern of overdiagnosis leads to overtreatment, particularly in acute care settings, contributing to worsening antibiotic resistance in conjunction with incomplete evaluation of patients' primary complaints.

Neurocognitive disruption in pediatric kidney transplant candidates: Medical and sociodemographic factors

We evaluated the effects of kidney failure etiology, dialysis, and area deprivation index on the subdomains of neurocognitive functioning in pediatric kidney transplant candidates. The study included 78 pediatric kidney transplant candidates (47.4% male, 70.5% White, M.age = 11.77 years, and 51.3% patients have public insurance) who completed a pre-transplant neuropsychological evaluation between 1/1/2010 and 10/31/2022. Linear regression models were employed to complete data analyses. The mean scores of various neurocognitive functioning domains in pediatric kidney transplant candidates were significantly lower than in the general population (ps < .001). After adjusting for covariates, patients with congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (M = 87; 95% CI: 80–94) and other etiologies (M = 82; 95% CI: 76–89) had significantly lower processing speed compared to patients with nephrotic syndrome (M = 98; 95% CI: 89–107) (p = .02). Patients living in high-level deprivation neighborhoods showed significantly lower verbal skills (p = .01), working memory performance (p = .02), and full-scale IQ (p = .03) than patients living in median-level and low-level deprivation neighborhoods. Additionally, dialysis did not show significant association with neurocognitive domains ((ps ranged from .07 to .52).

A new perspective on macrophage-targeted drug research: the potential of KDELR2 in bladder cancer immunotherapy

IntroductionBladder cancer was recognized as one of the most common malignant tumors in the urinary system, and treatment options remained largely limited to conventional surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, which limited patient benefits.MethodsResearchers constructed an RNA transcriptome map of bladder cancer by integrating single-cell RNA sequencing and clinical data, identifying potential molecular targets for diagnosis and treatment. We also verified the antitumor activity of the target through in vitro experiment.ResultsA distinct tumor cell subpopulation characterized by elevated S100A8 expression exhibited high copy number variation, high stemness, and low differentiation. It interacted with myeloid cells via the MIF-(CD74+CD44) and MIF-(CD74+CXCR4) signaling pathways. This study underscored KDELR2’s role in promoting cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, providing new therapeutic insights. Prognostic analysis revealed that KDELR2 correlated with poor survival, higher immune scores, and increased macrophage infiltration.DiscussionThe findings suggested that patients with high KDELR2 expression might benefit from immune checkpoint therapy. KDELR2 was also shown to enhance bladder cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, highlighting it as a promising target for macrophage-focused drug development.

Perioperative Complications and In-Hospital Mortality in Radical Nephroureterectomy Patients with Heart Valve Replacement.

Perioperative complication rates and in-hospital mortality after radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) in patients with a history of heart valve replacement are unknown. Within the National Inpatient Sample (2000-2019), we identified non-metastatic upper urinary tract carcinoma patients treated with RNU according to the presence or absence of a history of heart valve replacement. Propensity score matching (1:10 ratio) and multivariable logistic regression as well as Poisson regression models were used. Of 15,423 RNU patients, 151 (1.0%) harbored heart valve replacement. This proportion increased over the study span from 0.5% to 1.4% (p=0.02). Heart valve replacement patients were older (median 78 vs. 72 years; p<0.001), more frequently male (73 vs. 60%; p=0.002), and more frequently harbored a Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) ≥3 (36 vs. 27%; p=0.002). After 1:10 propensity score matching for age, sex, and CCI, the patients exhibited higher rates of perioperative bleeding (7.4 vs. 2.4%; odds ratio [OR] 3.2; p<0.001), blood transfusions (24.0 vs. 17.0%; OR 1.6; p=0.02), and cardiac complications (24.0 vs. 14.0%; OR 2.1; p<0.001). Conversely, heart valve replacement patients did not exhibit higher rates of critical care therapy (OR 1.06; p=0.8), higher rates of in-hospital mortality (OR 0.8; p=0.8), and longer length of stay (OR 1.4; p=0.052) than their RNU counterparts without a history of heart valve replacement. RNU patients with a history of heart valve replacement are at significantly increased risk of perioperative bleeding, blood transfusions, and cardiac complications; however, despite these increased risks, they neither exhibited higher critical care therapy rates or higher in-hospital mortality rates, nor did they require significantly longer hospital stay.

A study of the difference in biochemical metabolism between patients with unilateral and bilateral upper urinary tract stones

Bilateral upper urinary tract stones are more likely to lead to impairment of renal function, but few biochemical metabolic studies of bilateral upper urinary tract stones have been reported. We collected clinical data from 555 patients with upper urinary tract stones admitted to Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital from June 2020 to June 2024, and divided them into unilateral and bilateral stone groups by CT scans, analysed the metabolic differences between unilateral and bilateral stone groups by statistical methods, and used multifactorial logistic regression analysis to explore the risk factors that might affect the formation of bilateral stones. A total of 281 cases of unilateral and 274 cases of bilateral stones were identified. The proportion of male patients in the bilateral group was higher than that in the unilateral group (P < 0.05). The most prevalent major stone component was calcium oxalate monohydrate (48.1%), with a significantly higher prevalence of cystine stones observed in the bilateral stone group (1.8%) compared to the unilateral stone group (0.4%) (P < 0.05). Blood uric acid, blood BUN, blood creatinine, urine pH, and 24-hour urine output were higher in the bilateral stone group than in the unilateral group (P < 0.05). The most prevalent metabolic abnormality was low urine volume (45.7%). Bilateral stone group had higher proportion of patients with hyperuricemia (P < 0.05). The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that male gender (OR 1.489, 95% CI 1.028–2.157) and hyperuricemia (OR 1.662, 95% CI 1.113–2.482) were associated with an increased risk of bilateral stone formation (P < 0.05). There are significant differences in biochemical metabolism between unilateral and bilateral upper urinary tract stones. The most common metabolic abnormality in patients with urolithiasis is low urine output, and aggressive water intake is effective in preventing stone formation. For patients with hyperuricemia, a strict dietary regimen is imperative to mitigate the likelihood of bilateral stone formation.

Safety and efficacy of resmetirom in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH): a systemic review and meta-analysis

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) affects nearly 38% of the population, potentially progressing to cirrhosis and cancer. Lifestyle changes remain the cornerstone of management, but adherence is challenging, prompting the exploration of therapeutic options. Resmetirom, targeting thyroid hormone receptors, regulates liver enzymes and fat metabolism, showing potential as a treatment for MASH. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the safety of resmetirom in MASH patients. Three randomized controlled trials with adult participants were analyzed, sourced from PubMed and the Cochrane Library until April 2024. Participants received either resmetirom or placebo, and data on adverse effects and efficacy outcomes were extracted. Statistical analyses, including risk ratios (RRs) and confidence intervals (CI), were performed using Review Manager (version 5.4.1) with a random-effects model. The pooled RR for serious adverse events was 0.85 (95% CI: 0.63–1.14; P = 0.28), indicating no significant difference. However, diarrhea (RR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.41–2.35; P &lt; 0.001) and nausea (RR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.31–2.28; P &lt; 0.001) showed higher incidence. No significant differences were found for fatigue (RR = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.77–1.84; P = 0.43) or urinary tract infections (RR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.76–1.52; P = 0.69). Liver fat content, lipid profiles, and liver enzymes also showed significant improvement in the resmetirom group. Low heterogeneity across most outcomes indicated consistent findings among the studies. While resmetirom demonstrates efficacy in improving lipid and liver profiles, its increased risk of diarrhea and nausea should be considered in therapeutic decisions.

Physical factors in medical rehabilitation of children with obstructive megaureter

BACKGROUND: Obstructive megaureter in children, most commonly classified as a congenital defect of the urinary tract, is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease. Obstructive megaureter is mainly diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound of the defect. Treatment options for children with obstructive uropathy include medical and surgical interventions, but in most cases surgical treatment does not restore renal function, renal blood flow, or urodynamics. However, there is no medical rehabilitation system for these patients. AIM: The aim of the study is to provide a scientific basis for the combined use of dry carbon dioxide baths and calcium/iodine ion electrophoresis as part of the medical rehabilitation for children with obstructive megaureter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical observations and special studies were dynamically performed in 80 children with obstructive megaureter aged 3 to 10 years. All children received medical rehabilitation during treatment with uroseptic agents. Among them, 40 patients in the experimental group received dry carbon dioxide baths and calcium/iodine ion electrophoresis, and 40 patients in the control group received rehabilitation without physical treatment. RESULTS: The addition of dry carbon dioxide baths and calcium/iodine ion electrophoresis in the medical rehabilitation of children with obstructive uropathy improved symptoms of intoxication and impaired urination. Positive effects of physical factors on renal function and renal blood flow are reflected in the increased glomerular filtration rate and urine osmolarity, decreased blood levels of creatinine and urea, improved renal blood flow, and growth of renal parenchyma. CONCLUSION: Dry carbon dioxide bath activates renal circulation and metabolic processes in the renal parenchyma. Calcium/iodine ion electrophoresis has an antisclerotic and tonic effect on the smooth muscles of the renal pelvis and ureters. The combined use of these treatment options is a pathogenetically based and promising method of rehabilitation of children with obstructive uropathy.

Clinical profile of pediatric hospital patients diagnosed with urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections, especially in young women. It is known that, in children, the clinical manifestations of UTI are heterogeneous and imprecise. Therefore, given this scenario, it is essential to develop studies that aim to assist in the early diagnosis and adequate management of urinary tract infections in pediatric patients, optimizing therapy and minimizing complications. This research was carried out through a cross-sectional study of a retrospective and descriptive nature drawn from the medical records available in the system of a university hospital. The sample consisted of 196 medical records of patients admitted for UTI in the pediatrics sector of a university hospital. The majority of patients were female, older than 2 months (96.4%). The main symptoms identified were fever (78.17%) and abdominal pain (24.36%). From the data collected, it is possible to determine that this knowledge helps the general practitioner to understand cases in which there is a need for hospital admission and a risk of complications.

Eradication of Biofilms on Catheters: Potentials of Tamarix ericoides Rottl. Bark Coating in Preventing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs)

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) cause serious complications among hospitalized patients due to biofilm-forming microorganisms which make treatment ineffective by forming antibiotic-resistant strains. As most CAUTI-causing bacterial pathogens have already developed multidrug resistance, there is an urgent need for alternative antibacterial agents to prevent biofilms on catheter surfaces. As a trial to find out such a potential agent of natural origin, the bark of Tamarix ericoides Rottl., a little-known plant from the Tamaricaceae family, was examined for its antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against one of the major, virulent, CAUTI-causing bacterial pathogens: Enterococcus faecalis. The methanolic T. ericoides bark extract was analyzed for its antibacterial activity using the well diffusion method and microdilution method. Killing kinetics were calculated using time–kill assay, and the ability of biofilm formation and its eradication upon treatment with the T. ericoides bark extract was studied by crystal violet assay. GC-MS analysis was performed to understand the phytochemical presence in the extract. A in vitro bladder model study was performed using extract-coated catheters against E. faecalis, and the effect was visualized using CLSM. The changes in the cell morphology of the bacterium after treatment with the T. ericoides bark extract were observed using SEM. The biocompatibility of the extract towards L929 cells was studied by MTT assay. The anti-E. faecalis activity of the extract-coated catheter tube was quantified by viable cell count method, which exposed 20% of growth after five days of contact with E. faecalis. The anti-adhesive property of the T. ericoides bark extract was studied using CLSM. The extract showed potential antibacterial activity, and the lowest inhibitory concentration needed to inhibit the growth of E. faecalis was found to be 2 mg/mL. The GC-MS analysis of the methanolic fractions of the T. ericoides bark extract revealed the presence of major phytochemicals, such as diethyl phthalate, pentadecanoic acid, methyl 6,11-octadecadienoate, cyclopropaneoctanoic acid, 2-[(2-pentylcyclopropyl) methyl]-, methyl ester, erythro-7,8-bromochlorodisparlure, etc., that could be responsible for the antibacterial activity against E. faecalis. The killing kinetics of the extract against E. faecalis was calculated and the extract showed promising antibiofilm activity on polystyrene surfaces. The T. ericoides bark extract effectively reduced the E. faecalis mature biofilms by 75%, 82%, and 83% after treatment with 1X MIC (2 mg/mL), 2X MIC (4 mg/mL), and 3X MIC (6 mg/mL) concentrations, respectively, which was further confirmed by SEM analysis. The anti-adhesive property of the T. ericoides bark extract studied using CLSM revealed a reduction in the biofilm thickness, and the FDA and PI combination revealed the death of 80% of the cells on the extract-coated catheter tube. In addition, SEM analysis showed extensive damage to the E. faecalis cells after the T. ericoides bark extract treatment, and it was not cytotoxic. Hence, after further studies, T. ericoides bark extract with potential antibacterial, antibiofilm, and anti-adhesive activities can be developed as an alternative agent for treating CAUTIs.

Assessment of lower urinary tract symptoms 6 weeks after delivery and the relationship of pelvic floor muscle function

BackgroundStudies on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in women, especially in relation to different modes of delivery, are limited. The relationship between the emergence of LUTS and the decline of pelvic muscle function after childbirth remains uncertain.Study designThis observational study was carried out at the Peking University First Hospital over a time span of 2019–2022. A total of 2,462 women were recruited and surveyed 6 weeks after delivery, utilizing questionnaires for data collection. Additionally, gynecological physical examinations and pelvic floor muscle screenings were conducted as part of the study. To assess individual LUTS and the level of discomfort caused by these symptoms, a modified Chinese version of the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms questionnaire was employed. Data analysis methods such as descriptive statistics, χ2 tests, one-way ANOVAs, and multivariate logistic regressions were used to thoroughly examine the collected data.ResultsA high prevalence of LUTS was observed in the study participants, with 70.6% experiencing any symptoms. Storage symptoms were reported by 65.4%, while voiding symptoms were reported by 23.0%. Nocturia was the most commonly reported symptom (35.4%), followed by frequency (25.6%) and urgency (25.3%). Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) was reported by 20.8% of women. Interestingly, nocturia and frequency were generally perceived as less troublesome, with only a minority rating them as problematic. In contrast, urinary incontinence (UI) was frequently reported as highly bothersome, with SUI and urge urinary incontinence (UUI) accounting for significant proportions. Vaginal delivery (VD) and forceps delivery (FD) were identified as significant predictors of LUTS, with statistical significance observed (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Specifically, women who underwent VD, particularly FD, exhibited lower surface electromyography (sEMG) activity compared to those who had cesarean section (CS), both in terms of resting baseline and contraction amplitude (P &amp;lt; 0.001).ConclusionsOver half of the examined women exhibited LUTS 6 weeks postpartum, with the most common symptoms being nocturia, frequency, urgency, and SUI. Straining and urinary incontinence were commonly reported as significantly uncomfortable, particularly severe in cases of UI. Additionally, vaginal delivery methods, especially those involving the use of forceps (FD), seemed to be more likely to cause pelvic floor muscle or nerve damage, making it the key predictor of storage-related LUTS.

Does Frequent Use of Advanced Energy Devices Improve Hysterectomy Outcomes?

Background and Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the efficient use of advanced energy devices by examining the impact of their usage frequency on surgical outcomes of total laparoscopic hysterectomies. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted between 2020 and 2023 by a single surgeon. The patients’ medical records and surgical videos were reviewed. Cases were categorized into three groups based on the frequency of usage of advanced energy devices: Group 1 (≤10 uses), Group 2 (11–20 uses), and Group 3 (≥21 uses). The differences in blood loss, surgery time, and surgical outcomes among these groups were analyzed. This study was conducted as a single-center retrospective analysis. It included 126 patients who underwent total laparoscopic hysterectomy and provided informed consent for video recording. To evaluate the usage of advanced energy devices, anonymized surgical videos were reviewed, and outcomes were analyzed based on the frequency of usage of advanced energy devices. Results: The time required for surgery differed significantly among the three groups (p = 0.006). However, no significant differences were observed in the changes in hemoglobin levels or estimated blood loss (p = 0.255 and 0.053, respectively). Additionally, the application of hemostatic agents, the need for intraoperative or postoperative transfusions, and the use of intravenous hemostatic agents postoperatively showed no notable variation. Complication rates, including rates of hematoma, urinary tract injury, gastrointestinal injury, and infections necessitating reoperation, were also comparable. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the prudent and strategic use of advanced energy devices, rather than their frequent application, may improve surgical efficiency without increasing the risk of complications.

A Universal Method for Fingerprinting Multiplexed Bacteria: Evolving Pruned Sensor Arrays via Machine Learning-Driven Combinatorial Group-Specificity Strategy.

Array-based sensing technology holds immense potential for discerning the intricacies of biological systems. Nevertheless, developing a universal strategy for simultaneous identification of diverse types of multianalytes and meeting the diagnostic needs of a range of multiclassified clinical diseases poses substantial challenges. Herein, we introduce a combination method for constructing sensor arrays by assembling two types of group-specific elements. Such a method enables the rapid generation of a library of 100 sensing units, each with dual bacterial targeting capabilities. By employing a three-step screening strategy optimized by machine learning algorithms, various optimal five-element arrays were rapidly obtained for diverse clinical infectious models. Moreover, the pruned arrays successfully identified disparate mixing ratios and quantitative detection of clinically prevalent bacterial strains. Optimized through nine multiclassification algorithms, the top-performing multilayer perceptron (MLP) model demonstrated impressive recognition capabilities, achieving 100% accuracy for diagnosing clinical urinary tract infection (UTI) and 99.4% accuracy for clinical sepsis detection in the test models we collected. Such a combinatorial library construction and screening process should be standard and provides insights into successfully generating powerful high-recognition sensor elements and configuring them into highly discriminative mini-sensor arrays.