Impacts of Bariatric Surgery on Improvement of Incontinence Among Obese Asian Women: A Prospective Study and Literature Review

INTRODUCTION

Limited studies investigate bariatric surgery's role in improving UI status among Asians, specifically Middle Eastern Asian women. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of bariatric surgery on the three most prevalent urine incontinence (UI).We also reviewed the current literature exploring the studies performed in Asian countries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 77 women out of 200 who had UI and indications for bariatric surgery completed demographic information and the questionnaire (QUID) prior to surgery and 6 months after the surgery. For statistical analysis, the Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon test, and Friedman test were utilized. We also performed a literature review with the aim of investigating studies performed in Asian countries.

RESULTS

Among the initial analysis of 200 participants, 50.5% reported UI symptoms before surgery. The average weight loss was 29 kg, with a standard deviation of 7 kg. The mean BMI dropped 11.2 kg/m2, and the standard deviation was 2.5 after weight loss. Post-surgery, significant reductions in UI scores were observed across all severity levels, with a notable 44% achieving complete symptom resolution, indicating a substantial decrease in urinary incontinence. Stress, urine incontinence, and mixed urine incontinence symptoms had improved in 75%, 71%, and 30% of women, respectively. Notably, age and gynecological history were identified as critical factors influencing the extent of UI improvement.

CONCLUSION

This study reveals significant improvements in urinary incontinence scores, with age and gynecological history playing pivotal roles in UI improvement.

Semen parameter enhancement after varicocelectomy: Insights into varicose vein diameter and BMI influence: A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Varicocele is a condition in which the veins in the spermatic cord become enlarged and twisted. Varicocele is widely recognized as the leading cause of male infertility due to its significant impact on reproductive health in men. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the diameter of the varicose vein and the recovery rate of the spermogram after varicocelectomy. Also, the effect of body mass index (BMI) on sperm parameters after varicocelectomy.

METHODS

This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Valiasr Hospital's urology clinic in Qaemshahr, Iran from August 2018 to August 2019 and involved 27 men with unilateral left varicocele who met the inclusion criteria for surgical repair. Before the operation, we recorded demographic information, the maximum diameter of varicose veins in the pampiniform plexus, and spermogram results. We repeated semen analysis 3 months after the operation and analyzed the data using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21 software.

RESULTS

Our findings showed that the diameter of the varicose vein before varicocelectomy was not significantly associated with the improvement of main semen parameters after the operation. Furthermore, our study suggested that a lower body mass index might contribute to a greater improvement in sperm motility, as individuals with lower BMI showed more significant improvement.

DISCUSSION

There is a significant inverse relationship between BMI and sperm motility improvement after surgery. Patients with a lower BMI showed greater improvement in sperm motility.

Model-free adaptive task-space sliding mode control of a Delta robot using a novel reaching law

This paper presents a model-free adaptive sliding mode control for the Delta robot with a novel reaching law for achieving a less conservative sign-function gain and protecting the Delta robot against overloads. A desired closed-loop system with asymptotic stability based on the Lyapunov theorem is proposed to derive the control law. The proposed control system can overcome uncertainties without prior knowledge of the bounding functions. The reaching time is adjusted adaptively to achieve a smooth convergence to the sliding surface, resulting in chattering attenuation. The gradient descent algorithm is utilized for the first time with a novel adaptation rule to estimate the Delta robot inverse Jacobian matrix. Instead of employing a numerical dynamic model, an analytical model is used for the proposed control law, stability analysis, and simulations. A simple, straightforward inverse-kinematics solution based on a geometrical approach is presented. Simulation results demonstrate a superior performance of the proposed reaching law through comparisons.

Sudden cardiovascular collapse during the TUL procedure: A case series

Although ureteroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure, there have been reports of some minor and major complications, from self-limited to complicated events such as ureteral avulsion, urosepsis, and even death due to cerebrovascular accidents and deep vein thrombosis. Herein, we aim to report seven patients who presented with cardiovascular collapse during ureteroscopy in a 19-year period from January 2002 to January 2021.

Percutaneous re-surgical approach for delayed bleeding caused by pseudoaneurysm following percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Post percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) vascular complications included arteriovenous fistula and pseudoaneurysm can cause early or late bleeding and result in unstable condition. Selective trans-arterial embolization is the gold standard technique to manage arterial pseudoaneurysm. Herein, we present a case of pseudoaneurysm following PCNL and describe an alternative technique for its removal using a grasper under C-arm vision. Percutaneous re-surgical approach to post-PCNL hemorrhage due to pseudoaneurysm by using a nephro-grasper to pick up the renal artery pseudoaneurysm would be safe, effective and can provide a direct view of pyelocaliceal system for surgeons; And can be a proper alternative for angioembolization.

Genetic diversity in a core collection of Iranian sour cherry

The exploitation of plant genetic resources is an important and rapid strategy to release commercial cultivars. In this study, 234 sour cherry genotypes were collected from various locations of Iran and phenotypically assessed according to IPGRI and UPOV descriptors. The genotypes were grafted onto Mahaleb rootstock and were planted in Horticultural Science Research Institute (HSRI) core collection in Karaj, Iran. In this study, 22 different characteristics were measured in the sour cherry genotypes. The results showed that fruit and stone weights varied from 1.65 (G410) to 5.47 g (G125) and 0.13 (G428) to 0.59 g (G149), respectively. The fruit size index comprised average fruit length, width, and diameter, which varied from 10.57 to 19.13. The stalk length was less than 50 mm in 90.6% of the studied genotypes. Twelve of the 234 studied genotypes did not exhibit any symptoms of bacterial canker disease. Principle component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis classified the studied genotypes into four main groups. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed that fruit size, stone shape, stone size, stalk thickness and weight, and fruit appearance correlated positively with stone and fruit weights. In contrast, fruit juice, fruit skin, and flesh color correlated negatively with the stone and fruit weights. The range of TSS varied between 12.66 (G251) and 26 (G427). Variations in pH value were between 3.66 (G236) and 5.63 (G352). In conclusion, a high level of genetic diversity was observed among the Iranian sour cherry genotypes. This diversity can be considered valuable and applicable for future breeding programs.

The Effects of Pentoxifylline on Memory in Male Rats Treated with Zinc Oxide NPs

Background: Zinc oxide Nanoparticles (NPs) present irreversible effects on the nervous system, memory, and learning. Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the effects of pentoxifylline on memory impairments, CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells, and blood serum antioxidant enzymes in male rats treated with zinc oxide NPs. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into the control, zinc oxide NPs (1.25 mg/kg), pentoxifylline (50 mg/kg), and pentoxifylline with zinc oxide NPs groups. In all study groups, saline, zinc oxide NPs, and pentoxifylline were intraperitoneally injected 30 minutes before training. In the co-treatment group, pentoxifylline was injected one hour before injecting Zno NPs. After performing the behavioral test, the tested animals’ brains were fixed and the number of healthy neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus was counted. In all research groups, malondialdehyde levels, total antioxidant power, superoxide dismutase levels, and glutathione peroxidase in blood serum were measured. Results: Zinc oxide nanoparticles decreased memory and the number of healthy neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and increased oxidative stress in blood serum, compared to the controls. In the co-treatment group, using pentoxifylline improved the above-mentioned factors and reached the level of the control group. Pentoxifylline alone presented no significant effect on the aforementioned characteristics, compared to the control group. Conclusion: ZnO NPs may decrease memory retrieval and cause cell death in the pyramidal neurons of the CA1 region of the hippocampus by increasing oxidative stress. Pentoxifylline, as a potent antioxidant, can prevent the harmful effects of ZnO NPs.

Induction of Apoptosis in the Rat Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Following Sodium Arsenite Treatment with the Dose Lesser than that Used for Treatment of Malignant Patient

OBJECTIVE(S)

Arsenic compounds are potent human carcinogen and produce a variety of stress responses in mammalian cells. Recently sodium arsenite has been recommended to be used as anti malignancy drug by American food and drug administration (FDA). In this study, we aimed to determine the apoptosis inducing effect of sodium arsenite on rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells exposed in vitro.

METHODOLOGY

Cell morphology was studied with the help of Hoechst and propidium iodide as well as with single cell gel electrophoresis(comet assay), TUNEL assay and caspase activity base on immunocytochemistry using commercial kit were considered to study the mechanism of cell death.

RESULTS

Our result showed that the sodium arsenite with concentration of 0.1 µM in 36 hr induces caspase dependent apoptosis in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. This concentration is the lowest level of sodium arsenite to be reported with apoptosis induction ability in stem cells.

CONCLUSION

Since sodium arsenite is used in therapy, more research should be carried out on the effect of this chemical on stem cells, especially MSCs.