Sociodemographic factors that affect the real treatment rate among patients diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia

Background Real treatment rate among patients diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH/LUTS) and also its association with sociodemographic factor (SDF) have not been extensively investigated. Methods Data were obtained from the 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016 waves of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). Among 10,254 individuals at the first baseline survey in 2006, a total of 4383 participants were ultimately included for final analysis. For statistical analysis, chi-square tests and generalized estimating equation regression models were conducted. Results The prevalence rate of BPH/LUTS was 6.1% (266/4383) and real treatment rate was 58.3 percent (155/266). After adjusting for all confounders, odds ratio (OR) for the treatment of prostate disease in patients ages 55-64 and 65 years or more was 1.884 times higher (95% CI 1.096-3.237; p = .022) and 2.989 times higher (95% CI 1.755-5.091; p < .0001) than patients ages under 55, respectively. The OR for treatment of prostate disease in those residing in urban areas was 0.756 times lower (95% CI 0.573-0.998; p = .048) than those residing in metropolitan areas. The OR for treatment of prostate disease in those with bad self-rated health was 1.886 times higher (95% CI 1.461-2.436; p < .0001), compared to those with good self-rated health. Conclusion The real treatment rate among patients diagnosed with BPH/LUTS was 58.3%, a larger treatment rate than earlier reports. However, there are still a large proportion of patients who do not seek treatment; and age, residential area, and self-rated health were all found to be associated with real treatment rate

Effects of a commercial whitening toothpaste containing hydrogen peroxide and citric acid on dentin abrasion and erosion

Background Hydrogen peroxide (HP) and citric acid (CA), key contributors to toothpaste acidity, can lead to dental loss. This study aimed to compare the amount of abrasion or loss of dentin based on pH, buffering, and concentration of HP and CA in commercial and experimental toothpastes after toothbrushing or immersion. Methods Bovine dentin specimens were randomly assigned to nine solutions. The prepared solutions included two commercial toothpastes (whitening toothpaste [WT] with HP and CA; conventional toothpaste [CT] without HP and CA), reference slurry (RS), two CA solutions (1.92%, CAS1; 0.001%, CAS2), basic solution (7.16% sodium phosphate dibasic [SPDS]), CA phosphate buffer solution (3.58% SPDS and 0.96% CA [CAPB]), HP solution (4%, HPS), and distilled water (DW). Dentin specimens were performed in two treatments: one with only abrasion (10,000 brushings) and one with only immersion (1 h). After treatments, the amount of dentin loss and surface images were measured and observed using noncontact profilometry. Data were analyzed using an one-way analysis of variance and the Tukey test as a post hoc analysis (p < 0.05). Results WT with pH 5.0 had lower dentin abrasion than CT and RS after brushing but had higher dentin loss than both after immersion. The dentin surfaces of CAS1, CAPB, and WT were damaged after immersion, whereas HPS, CAS2, CT, SPDS, RS, and DW remained intact after soaking. CAS2 and HPS, which had a pH of 5.0 like WT, did not significantly differ from those of DW after brushing. Conclusions WT containing HP and CA did not cause significant dentin abrasion but may cause additional dentin loss even without brushing. After brushing or immersion, the CA concentration may affect the dentin surface more than the HP concentration included in WT. The amount of abrasion or loss of dentin after brushing or soaking can vary based on the composition, concentration, and buffer in the solution, even if the pH of the solution is similar to pH 5.0.This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Educatio

Association between prostate-specific antigen and serum testosterone:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Serum testosterone assays are an important tool in the clinical evaluation of a number of endocrine disorders including male hypogonadism. However, serum testosterone has a limited role in real clinical use due to its inaccuracy. We aimed to assess the association between prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and testosterone as well as the effects of various types of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for PSA level. Methods Two electronic databases were screened: PubMed (1966 through December 2018) and Cochrane Library (1993 through December 2018). The first strategy compared the overall increase in PSA following testosterone treatment compared with placebo. The second strategy analyzed the overall association between PSA and testosterone among the observational studies. Results In the first strategy, 22 articles were included in the final analysis. In the second strategy, 18 studies were included. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) showed a significant change in PSA level compared to that in the placebo group (mean difference [MD]: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.01-0.25, P = .04). Compared to placebo, only intramuscular (IM) TRT shows a significant change in PSA level group (MD: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.01-0.30, P = .04), as neither the oral nor topical type showed a significant change in PSA. In the second strategy analysis, there was no overall correlation found between PSA and testosterone (z = 0.04, 95% CI: -0.04 to 0.12, P = .04; r = 0.039). However, in the subgroup of non-BPH (benign prostate hyperplasia), a significant correlation between PSA and testosterone (z = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.01-0.13, P = .009; r = 0.089) was found. Conclusions We found that TRT, particularly IM TRT, significantly changed the PSA level compared with the placebo group. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between PSA and testosterone in patients with non-BPH. According to these findings, we suggest the possibility of PSA as a surrogate marker of testosterone

Application of Recycled Zero-Valent Iron Nanoparticle to the Treatment of Wastewater Containing Nitrobenzene

Zero-valent iron (ZVI) was synthesized using iron oxide, a byproduct of pickling line at a steel work. ZVI with a mean particle size of 500 nm was synthesized. The reaction activity of the synthesized ZVI was much higher than commercial ZVI. When applied to the decomposition of nitrobenzene (NB), the ZVI particles underwent corrosion and passivation oxide film formation, resulting in particle size decrease. The NB decomposition rate increased with increasing ZVI dosage level and with decreasing pH. The solution pH increased monotonously with increasing reaction duration, whereas the aniline concentration showed a maximum at 50 min. Based on the GC/MS analysis, NB is presumed to be reduced into aniline via reductive intermediates such as azobenzene and azoxybenzene. When combined with a subsequent biological process, the synthesized ZVI will be able to decompose NB in wastewater effectively

Retrospective validation of the Step-by-Step approach for febrile infants younger than 90 days in the emergency department

Purpose To retrospectively validate the Step-by-Step approach, a sequential algorithm for prediction of serious bacterial infections (SBI) using the appearance, age, and inflammatory markers, in febrile infants younger than 90 days. Methods The presence of SBI was reviewed in febrile infants younger than 90 days undergoing blood and urine cultures (using perineal adhesive bags), assays for procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and absolute neutrophil count, and urinalysis at the emergency department from September 2015 through August 2017. The low-risk infants were classified according to the Step-by-Step approach. SBI was defined as urinary tract infection (UTI), bacteremia or meningitis. We measured the sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) of the approach in predicting SBI, and compared the values to those of the Rochester criteria and the Lab-score. Results Of 488 febrile infants (44.7% underwent lumbar puncture), 71 (14.5%) had SBI, including 67 UTI, 5 bacteremia, and 3 meningitis (mutually inclusive). Of 208 low-risk infants (42.6%), no SBI was found. The Step-by-Step approach showed a 100% sensitivity (95% confidence interval [CI]: 94.9-100.0) and NPV (95% CI: not applicable). The Rochester criteria showed a 98.6% sensitivity (95% CI: 92.4-100.0) and 99.6% NPV (95% CI: 97.1-99.9), and missed 1 meningitis. The Lab-score showed a 59.2% sensitivity (95% CI: 46.8-70.7) and 93.2% NPV (95% CI: 91.2-94.8), and missed 2 meningitis and 27 UTI. Conclusion The Step-by-Step approach showed a 100% sensitivity and NPV in predicting SBI. This approach may help predict SBI without lumbar puncture in febrile infants younger than 90 days

Improvement of photon extraction efficiency of GaN-based LED using micro and nano complex polymer structures

A micro- and nanoscale complex structure made of a high refractive index polymer (n = 2.08) was formed on the ITO electrode layer of an edge-emitting type GaN blue light-emitting diode (LED), in order to improve the photon extraction efficiency by suppressing total internal reflection of photons. The nanoimprint lithography process was used to form the micro- and nanoscale complex structures, using a polymer resin with dispersed TiO2 nano-particles as an imprint resin. Plasma processing, such as reactive ion etching, was used to form the micro- and nano-scale complex structure; thus, plasma-induced damage to the LED device can be avoided. Due to the high refractive index polymeric micro- and nanostructure on the ITO layer, the electroluminescence emission was increased up to 20%, compared to an identical LED that was grown on a patterned sapphire substrate to improve photon extraction efficiency

Association between lower urinary tract symptoms and cigarette smoking or alcohol drinking

Background: Although there have been several studies about the relationship between alcohol or smoking and lower urinary tracts symptoms (LUTS). This study aimed to investigate the association between alcohol or smoking and severity of LUTS in men, as alcohol intake and cigarette smoking is important modifiable lifestyle factors for LUTS. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis has been performed and a total of 86,707 participants in Korean Community Health Survey were included for final analysis. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) or coefficient with 95% confidence interval (CI) estimates were described to show the association between alcohol consumption or cigarette smoking and LUTS. Results: Among the total subjects, 77,398 (89.3%), 7,532 (8.7%), and 1,777 (2.0%) had mild, moderate, and severe symptoms, respectively, according to International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) grade. Those who drank alcohol at least once per month were significantly associated with decreased risk of having the worst IPSS grade (OR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.68 to 0.93). Those who smoked in the past but currently quitted and those who were daily smokers showed significantly increased risk of having the worst IPSS grade (past smoker, OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.39; daily smoker, OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.34). For nocturia, daily smoking showed positive effect (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.75 to 0.84) whereas heavy alcohol drinking showed negative effect (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.32) Conclusions: Alcohol showed positive effect on LUTS except nocturia whereas cigarette smoking had negative effect on LUTS except nocturia. Daily smoking showed positive effect on nocturia whereas heavy alcohol drinking showed negative effect on nocturia