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INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) remains the procedure of choice for large kidney stones. One crucial step for the success of the operation is choosing the best access...

Intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) data offer a unique combination of high spatial and temporal resolution measures of the living human brain. However, data collection is limited to highly specialized clinical environments. To improve internal (re)use and external sharing of these unique data, we present a structure for storing and sharing iEEG data: BIDS-iEEG, an extension of the Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS) specification, along with freely available examples and a bids-starter-kit. BIDS is a framework for organizing and documenting data and metadata with the aim to make datasets more transparent and reusable and to improve reproducibility of research. It is a community-driven specification with an inclusive decision-making process. As an extension of the BIDS specification, BIDS-iEEG facilitates integration with other modalities such as fMRI, MEG, and EEG. As the BIDS-iEEG extension has received input from many iEEG researchers, it provides a common ground for data transfer within labs, between labs, and in open-data repositories. It will facilitate reproducible analyses across datasets, experiments, and recording sites, allowing scientists to answer more complex questions about the human brain. Finally, the cross-modal nature of BIDS will enable efficient consolidation of data from multiple sites for addressing questions about generalized brain function.

Ronney Abaza Mehran Abolbashari Ahmad Abolyosr Ashraf Abou-Elela Omar Aboumarzouk Jose Benito Abraham Peter Acher Alex Acosta-Miranda Samiran Adhikary Ramez Adrawis Anshuman Agarwal Mayank Agarwal Madhu Agrawal Sachin Agrawal Rajesh Ahlawat Tom Ahlering Hanjong Ahn Sascha Ahyai Murat Akand Naeem Akhter Joseph Akornor Yilmaz Aksoy Abdulla Al Naimi Azan Al Saadi Husain Alenezi Bachmann Alexander Samih Al-Hayek Gerasimos Alivizatos Erdal Alkan Ahmed Al-Kandari Peter Alken Khaled Al-Kohlany Mohamad Allaf Seth Alpert Hernan Altamar Bulent Altay Serkan Altinova Fatih Altunrende Mario Alvarez-Maestro Theodore Anagnostou Anastasios Anastasiadis James Anderson Kevin Anderson Sero Andonian Cassio Andreoni Yoichi Arai Marco Arap Athanasios Argyropoulos Angela Arlen Abdullah Armagan Noel Armenakas Don Arnold II Monish Aron William Aronson Nicola Arrighi Amir Arsanjani Murat Arslan Montserrat Arzoz John Asplin Mohamed Atalla Mutlu Ates Hammad Ather Ali Fuat Atmaca Fatih Atug Brian Auge Riccardo Autorino Timothy Averch Emin Aydur Ali Ayyildiz Abdel-Rahmene Azzouzi Richard Babayan Christian Bach Thorsten Bach Gopal Badlani Herman Bagga Demetrius Bagley Badrulhisham Bahadzor Mevlana Balbay D. Baldwin Gaurav Bandi Yige Bao Shivadev Bapat Caner Baran Eric Barret John Barry Jay Basillote Mehmet Baykara Selahattin Bedir Dina Bedretdinova Frank Begun Darren Beiko Jakob Ben-Chaim Karim Bensalah Brian Benway Aaron Berger Sara Best Akshay Bhandari Mahendra Bhandari Shiv Bhanot Sam Bhayani Naeem Bhojani Giampaolo Bianchi Hemant Bid Pierre Bigot JOURNAL OF ENDOUROLOGY Volume 29, Number 4, April 2015 a Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Pp. 490–494 DOI: 10.1089/end.2015.1512

In this communication, the broadband artificial dielectric plasma behavior of Camphor Sulphonic acid doped Polyaniline (PANI-CSA) film at microwave frequencies is experimentally verified. The fabricated PANI-CSA films have been experimentally characterized by rectangular wave guide measurements for a broad range of frequencies within the X band and the effective material parameters, skin depth and conductivity have been extracted from the scattering parameters. Since most of the artificial materials available today are set up by consolidating two structured materials which independently demonstrates negative permittivity and negative permeability, this open another strategy for creation of compact single negative materials for microwave applications. The proposed doping can shift the double positive material parameter of the sample to single negative in nature.

We present the first randomized clinical study using BackStop, a novel reverse thermosensitive water-soluble polymer that is dispensed above the stone(s) and temporarily occludes the ureter to prevent retropulsion of stone fragments during ureteroscopic lithotripsy. After fragmentation is completed and concretions are extracted, conventional irrigation with saline dissolves the polymer, which is then flushed out.A total of 68 subjects with a single stone in the proximal ureter and an indication for ureteroscopic lithotripsy were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, single-blind, controlled, multisite clinical study. Each subject was randomly assigned to the BackStop group (34) or the control group (34 with no antiretropulsion device). For subjects in the experimental group BackStop was dispensed into the ureter above the stone using a 3Fr or 5Fr catheter. Ureteroscopic lithotripsy was performed in all subjects using pneumatic or laser energy. Measured end points included the retropulsion rate, the need for subsequent procedures, the stone-free rate at followup, the occurrence of adverse events and ureteral occlusion, if any, and post-stone fragmentation and extraction.Subjects randomized to the BackStop group experienced a statistically significant (p = 0.0002) lower rate of retropulsion (8.8%, 3 of 34) vs the control group (52.9%, 18/34). There were no adverse events in the BackStop group and BackStop was successfully dissolved in every subject, resulting in a patent ureter.BackStop appears to be a novel, safe and effective means of preventing stone fragment retropulsion during ureteroscopic lithotripsy for the management of ureteral stones.

Purpose: Herbal remedies high in phytoestrogens have been shown to reduce serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) and have been proposed as a treatment for prostate cancer. Soy proteins used to lower serum cholesterol are rich sources of phytoestrogens. Therefore, we assessed the effect of soy consumption on serum PSA in men who had participated in cholesterol lowering studies.Materials and Methods: For 3 to 4 weeks 46 healthy middle-aged men with a range of starting PSA values took soy (mean 44 gm. soy protein daily, 116 mg. isoflavones daily) or control foods, and a subgroup of men took a lower level of soy supplements for 3 months. PSA was measured at the start and end of each treatment.Results: Soy had no significant effect on serum total or free PSA, independent of PSA starting value or isoflavone intake. The lack of effect on PSA was seen, although soy intake was sufficient to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (5.8 ± 2.2%, p = 0.012), the estimated coronary heart disease risk (6.1 ± 2.8% for ...

A controversial author considers the reception that his recent book ‘Language is power’ has been receiving from some fellow scholars of language

A fresh perspective on the prescription-versus-description debate, including a new approach to such pronominal (ab)use as ‘between you and I’

This report describes an illustrative case of malignant pheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder in a 28-year old man. A combined-modality treatment plan with partial cystectomy and post-operative radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy with single agent cisplatin weekly was performed. Three weeks after completing concurrent chemoradiation the first of four planned cycles of cisplatin 25 mg/m2 and etoposide 100 mg/m2 was administered daily over 3 days. Although there are no controlled series offering proof of benefit, postoperative concurrent chemoradiation followed by chemotherapy alone are reasonable options for patients with residual disease or at high risk for locoregional relapse.

The optimal method of acquiring laparoscopic skills has not been determined. We sought to examine the current status of urologic laparoscopy and how practicing urologists acquired the skills needed to perform laparoscopic procedures.A mail questionnaire regarding laparoscopic practices and training was sent to 480 members of the Canadian Urological Association (CUA) using standard Dillman survey methodology.Three hundred (62.5%) urologists responded to the questionnaire; 56.5% practiced in the community and 41.1% in an academic setting. There were 59.9% who had completed some form of fellowship training. Recent graduates (who finished residency after 1995) were more likely to perform all types of laparoscopic procedures compared to older graduates (65% versus 29.7%, p0.001). Advanced procedures were also performed more frequently by recent graduates (52.5% versus 23.4%, p0.001). Of those who do not currently perform laparoscopy, 38.2% plan to learn in the future. The most common method of acquiring laparoscopic skills was with animal laboratory experience (39.4%), but only 20.9% relied solely on this method. A trip to a centre of excellence (28.5%) and training from an urologist at the same institution (25.7 %) was also commonly reported as methods of acquiring skills. There were 48.8% who reported beginning laparoscopic procedures without a mentor.A substantial portion of the Canadian urological community employs laparoscopy, although recent graduates are more likely to do so. Training methods in laparoscopy are variable, but a substantial portion of urologists begin practicing laparoscopic procedures without formal mentoring.

The optimal management of lower pole renal calculi is controversial. We compared shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) and ureteroscopy (URS) for the treatment of patients with small lower pole stones in a prospective, randomized, multicenter trial.A total of 78 patients with 1 cm or less isolated lower pole stones were randomized to SWL or URS. The primary outcome measure was stone-free rate on noncontrast computerized tomography at 3 months. Secondary outcome parameters were length of stay, complication rates, need for secondary procedures and patient derived quality of life measures.A total of 67 patients randomized to SWL (32) or URS (35) completed treatment. The 2 groups were comparable with respect to age, sex, body mass index, side treated and stone surface area. Operative time was significantly shorter for SWL than URS (66 vs 90 minutes). At 3 months of followup 26 and 32 patients who underwent SWL and URS had radiographic followup that demonstrated a stone-free rate of 35% and 50%, respectively (p not significant). Intraoperative complications occurred in 1 SWL case (unable to target stone) and in 7 URS cases (failed access in 5 and perforation in 2), while postoperative complications occurred in 7 SWL and 7 URS cases. Patient derived quality of life measures favored SWL.This study failed to demonstrate a statistically significant difference in stone-free rates between SWL and URS for the treatment of small lower pole renal calculi. However, SWL was associated with greater patient acceptance and shorter convalescence.

Herbal remedies high in phytoestrogens have been shown to reduce serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) and have been proposed as a treatment for prostate cancer. Soy proteins used to lower serum cholesterol are rich sources of phytoestrogens. Therefore, we assessed the effect of soy consumption on serum PSA in men who had participated in cholesterol lowering studies.For 3 to 4 weeks 46 healthy middle-aged men with a range of starting PSA values took soy (mean 44 gm. soy protein daily, 116 mg. isoflavones daily) or control foods, and a subgroup of men took a lower level of soy supplements for 3 months. PSA was measured at the start and end of each treatment.Soy had no significant effect on serum total or free PSA, independent of PSA starting value or isoflavone intake. The lack of effect on PSA was seen, although soy intake was sufficient to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (5.8 +/- 2.2%, p = 0.012), the estimated coronary heart disease risk (6.1 +/- 2.8% for 10 years, p = 0.032) and the serum concentration of oxidized low-density lipoprotein measured as conjugated dienes (9.5 +/- 3.4%, p = 0.008) in the 3 to 4-week study. In addition, the lack of effect of soy on PSA persisted for the 3 months of the extended study.At levels of soy intake which reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol any potential benefits of soy consumption on prostate cancer are likely to occur for reasons other than alterations in hormone activity.