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Introduction PD is diagnosed in the presence of penile deformity combined with a tunical plaque. Clinical experience shows us that some men who believe they have PD actually have congenital penile curvature (CPC), whilst others, especially those with a history of penile trauma, have anxiety about having PD but, in fact, do not. Objective This analysis aimed to define the mis-diagnosis rate of men referred for PD evaluation. Methods Study population consisted of men who (i) presented to a sexual medicine clinic for the evaluation of penile deformity (ii) and/or the presence of a tunical nodule (iii) underwent comprehensive penile examination by a sexual medicine physician with extensive experience in PD and (iv) underwent penile deformity assessment at the time of penile duplex Doppler ultrasound (PDDU). Demographic and comorbidity data were recorded. Multivariable analysis (MVA) was conducted to define predictors of the absence of PD. Results 1942 patients met the inclusion criteria. 79% were MD referred (MDR), the remainder were self-referred (SR). Mean age of the entire cohort was 58±28 years (MDR 64±22y, SR 41±11y, p Conclusions Men referred to a tertiary referral center for the evaluation of PD commonly have no PD. Predictors of no PD include: diagnosis of CPPS, history of penile trauma, young age and absence of RPS. Disclosure No

Introduction Expert opinion is that when an implant malfunctions after 2 years it should be replaced in its entirety, despite the fact that reservoir removal is associated with serious potential complications. Furthermore, modern reservoir construction is such that material fracture and leak is rare. Objective In this time we reviewed our experience with replacing only the reservoir in patients with malfunctioning 3-piece inflatable implants resulting from pump breakdown. Methods The study population consisted of (i) men who had had 3-piece inflatable penile implant surgery (ii) with device malfunction (iii) resulting from pump malfunction (iv) who had all other components functional (v) who underwent pump replacement alone and (vi) had ≥5 years follow-up after device repair (clinic visit, telephone call, letter). Only patients who had undergone a single prior implant operation were included. At the time of the repair, the pump was removed and replaced with a new pump, making sure that both cylinders and reservoir were filled fully intraoperatively and retained all fluid that was instilled. At the postoperative appointment, all patients were retrained in the correct means of device inflation, specially focused on avoidance of pump torqueing. Results 88 patients had pump tubing blow-out upon delivery of the pump at a mean duration post-primary implant of 9 ± 11 (2-16) years. Mean age 62 ±14 years. All patients had either a Mentor Alpha-1 or a Coloplast Titan devices placed. Tubing disruption was present ≤1cm from pump itself in 66 (75%) or >1cm from the pump in 22 (20%) patients. 25% had a blow out of the pump-reservoir tubing, while 66 (75%) had a tear in the pump-cylinder tubing (46 frayed tubing, 20 compete transection), evenly distributed between right and left-sided tubing. With a mean follow-up of 7±2.5 years, none of the devices had failed again. Conclusions In patients with a malfunctioning penile implant with proven pump-only failure, replacing the pump is a viable repair option, thus, circumventing the need for reservoir placement. Disclosure No

We have investigated the local atomic structures of several compositions of the amorphous phase of the system Cu x Ge 50 − x Te50 ( 0 ⩽ x ⩽ 33.3 ), based on extended x-ray absorption fine-structure as well as anomalous x-ray scattering experiments, and discuss the unusual trend regarding their thermal stability as a function of the Cu content. At low concentrations ( x ⩽ 15 ), Cu atoms tend to agglomerate in flat nanoclusters reminiscent of the crystalline phase of metallic Cu, leading to a more and more Ge-deficient Ge–Te host network structure with growing Cu content and an increasing thermal stability. At higher Cu concentrations ( x ⩾ 25 ), Cu is incorporated into the network, leading to an overall weaker bonding situation which is associated with a decreasing thermal stability.

The hole-doped organic superconductor κ-(ET)4Hg3-δBr8, (κ-HgBr), where δ=11% and ET=bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene, has been the key to bridge the knowledge gap between half-filled organics and doped cuprate systems. Nonetheless, the isotropic triangular lattice of ET dimers of κ-HgBr is responsible for the magnetic susceptibility and its superconductivity. We have measured zero-field (ZF) muon spin relaxation-rotation (µ+SR) in κ-HgBr showing the ZF-µ+SR relaxation rate from temperature around 10 K down to 0.3 K is temperature-independent. This is consistent with a superconducting state that preserved time-reversal symmetry. There was almost no change in the maximally 100 Oe of transverse-field-µ+SR time spectra, at 0.3 K and above superconducting temperature, T c~4.6(3) K. This suggests that the in-plane London penetration depth, λbc, is longer than a μm order, while we estimate the lower limit of the lower critical field, H c1, to be 30 Oe, although, however, the measurement using another geometric setup is necessary to determine the absolute value of λbc. These could be an indication of a strong-coupling superconductor. A possible mechanism of preserved time-reversal Cooper pairing formation from strong-coupling non-FL metal with geometrical frustration is discussed.

Introduction The previous reports according to sexual activity of aged woman is limited. Sexual activity of aged women would be related to QOL of them. Recently, sexual dysfunction of aged women recognized as Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD). Objective To clarify the sexual activity of aged Japanese women, sexual activity of the female patients who visited a female urological outpatient clinic was investigated. Methods Between June 2010 and August 2018, 404 aged female patients who visit our female urological outpatient clinic and answered the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) were enrolled in this study. The main chief complaint of these patients was pelvic organ prolapse. Self-reported data of KHQ, question number 5a and 5b which ask the patients about the relationship between urine voiding and sexual activity were reviewed retrospectively. Associations between sexual activity (as reported in the questionnaire) and patients’ background, partners status, and change of sexual activity after treatment for pelvic organ prolapse were analyzed. Results The mean age of the patients was 71.0 years, with 80.9% in their 60s and 70s. Sexual intercourse was practiced by 19.7% (n = 77) of all patients with 40.0% in their under 50s, 27.9% in their under 60s, 15.2% in their 70s, and 0% in their 80s. 31.2% (n = 119/381) of patients had their partners. Among the patients with a partner, the percentage who practiced sexual intercourse was 58.0% of all patients with 65.4% and 55.6% of women in their 60s and 70s, respectively. Among the patients who had sexual intercourse, 64.9% had chief complains of pelvic organ prolapse. 71% of patients who had sexual intercourse received surgery and 91% of them was tension-free vaginal mesh (TVM). After the surgery 63.8% of patients continued sexual activity. Conclusion A patient survey revealed the sexual activity of a Japanese older female population who visited a urological outpatient clinic with the chief complaint of pelvic organ prolapse. Disclosure Work supported by industry: no.

Introduction 5α-reduced inhibitors (5ARIs) are usually administered to patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, however, whether 5ARIs affect sexual function remains a controversial issue for both patients and urologists. Objective In this study, we evaluated the impact of dutasteride treatment for erectile function in patients with once-negative prostate biopsy and benign prostate hyperplasia. Methods 81 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia were enrolled in a one-arm prospective study. They were administrated 0.5 mg/day of dutasteride for 12 months. Patient characteristics, change of IPSS and IIEF-15 scores at baseline and 12 months after dutasteride administration were examined. Results The mean ± SD age of the patients was 69.4 ± 4.9 years and the prostate volume was 56.6 ± 21.3 mL, respectively. The mean ± SD prostate volume and PSA levels were decreased 25.0% and 50.9%, respectively, after 12 months of dutasteride administration. IPSS total, voiding subscore, storage subscore, and QOL score significantly improved after 12 months of dutasteride administration. No significant change was observed in any of the IIEF scores after 12 months. There was no decrease in EF severity. Conclusion Twelve months administration of dutasteride for patients with BPH improved urinary function and did not increase the risk of sexual dysfunction. Disclosure Work supported by industry: no.

Introduction For couples who wish for a baby, sexual activity (though intercourse) is the only way to conceive naturally. However, the sexual activity of men undergoing testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and factors that influence it among affected couples are not clearly understood. Objective To examine sexual activity among infertile men undergoing TESE and identify factors that influenced Methods Married Japanese male patients undergoing TESE were included. Sexual activity during the previous month was surveyed using a questionnaire, and potential predictive factors influencing sexual activity were examined. Results 226 married men who answered a questionnaire regarding sexual frequency were reviewed retrospectively. Patients’ mean age was 35.8 ± 7.5 years (range 23–67) and that of their partners was 32.9 ± 4.5 years (range 23–44). Most couples (n = 193) were in their first marriage, and 33 were re-married. The mean marriage duration was 52.6 ± 42.2 months (range 1–192). Micro-dissection TESE and conventional TESE were performed for 152 and 74 patients, respectively. Overall, the mean sexual activity during the last month was 3.6 ± 2.6 times (range 0–15). Marriage duration was negatively correlated with the frequency of sexual activity (r = −0.23; P < .01). There were no correlations between sexual activity and patients’ age, partners’ age, marriage type (first marriage/re-married), testicular volume, or serum total testosterone concentration. Regression analysis showed marriage duration (odds ratio [OR] 1.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.003–1.019, P = .009) and testicular volume (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.88–0.99, P = .033) were significant predictors of low sexual activity (0–1 times/month). There were no significant differences in sexual activity per month between patients treated with micro-TESE and c-TESE; between those in a first marriage and those re-married; and between patients with Klinefelter syndrome and patients who underwent c-TESE. Conclusions The sexual activity of patients undergoing TESE was almost the same as reported previously. Patients’ age, partners’ age, testicular volume, and serum total testosterone concentration had no correlations with the reported frequency of sexual activity. Disclosure Work supported by industry: no.

In an Oscillating Water Column (OWC) based wave energy plant, the sea wave motion is used to drive an air column in an air chamber and that results in a bi-directional airflow. An air turbine for bi-directional airflow is used to convert the pneumatic energy into mechanical energy. The sail wing turbine can be used as an air turbine for wave energy conversion because it has a special structure in which the shape of the sail changes in reciprocating airflow and always can rotate in the same direction. In addition, the sail wing turbine does not experience the stalling effect and can acquire energy at a wide range of rotational speed and flow rate. In our previous studies, the performance of the sail wing turbine for bi-directional airflow has been investigated by using a wind tunnel test. In the present study, in order to further improve the performance of the sail wing turbine, guide vanes were installed, and the effect of the guide vane on the performance was investigated by a wind tunnel test and a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis under a steady flow condition.

Summary Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the standard medical approach to the management of prostate cancer. Patients switched from a GnRH antagonist to a GnRH agonist, did not experience a testosterone surge in spite of the occurrence of luteinizing hormone (LH) surge in our protocol of clinical study. To clarify this observation, male mice pre-treated with two different doses of the GnRH antagonist degarelix for 28 days were further administered the GnRH agonist leuprolide or chorionic gonadotropin, and testosterone production of the mice was studied. Serum LH and testosterone levels, the size of Leydig cells, and expression level of steroidogenesis-related genes in the testis were analyzed. Treatment of mice with a high dose of degarelix (0.1 μg/mouse; HDG), but not a low dose (0.05 μg/mouse; LDG), for 28 days reproduced declined steroidogenesis observed in prostate cancer patients during ADT switched from a GnRH antagonist to a GnRH agonist. The size of the Leydig cells in the HDG mice was not significantly different from that in naive mice. Although expression levels of StAR, P450scc, and 17β HSD increased significantly in the LDH testis, those in the HDG testis did not change. Treatment of mice with a high dose of degarelix for 28 days reproduced the decline in steroidogenesis observed in prostate cancer patients during ADT. In this animal model, we demonstrated that initial ADT may inhibit the ability of Leydig cells to produce testosterone by suppressing the expression of genes involved in steroidogenesis, such as StAR, P450scc, and 17βHSD.

Unexpected torrential rains have occurred recently due to global warming. There is “limits of public help” in such a disaster. Therefore, “self-help” and “mutual help” become more important to protect lives. Improving these helps enhances disaster resilience. The purpose of this research is to propose initiatives utilizing geospatial information in recovery and rehabilitation phases and to indicate the effects of using geospatial information in the initiatives. The initiatives have conducted for rehabilitation in Toho village, which was damaged by the Northern Kyushu Heavy Rainfall Disaster in July 2017. One initiative is formulating a rehabilitation plan. Meetings are held to reflect residents’ opinions to the plan; using the map is useful to collect and share the opinions. Residents could discuss concrete future visions by using a map, and the rehabilitation plan reflected the opinions of residents could be published. The other initiative is Risk Communication. Many kinds of geospatial information are collected in it, and the Risk Map is published. The map shows the dangerous places and evacuation sites, and residents could understand their location, then the map enhanced disaster resilience.

Road infrastructure plays an essential role in supporting the economy of a region. The importance of road performance has implications for the government in arranging good road infrastructure. One aspect of the government’s efforts to realize good road infrastructure is through the provision process implementation. Recently, the provision or procurement of maintenance projects uses conventional methods. Although the supply of road infrastructure projects is based on contractors who work effectively, procurement alternatives are using integrated ways that can support an efficient and efficient procurement process. This study aims to compare the procurement process between conventional and mixed methods and identify the factors that drive the success of the procurement of effective and efficient road projects. The Delphi questionnaire survey was conducted to obtain data on factors that support an effective and efficient procurement process. Data analysis shows that the constraints in implementing integrated methods, which are practical and useful methods, are regulation, the competence of stakeholders, and adaptation to new approaches. These obstacles can then be overcome by establishing clear rules, training to improve human resources, and socialization from the government.

Background GATA4 is a transcription factor essential for male sex determination, testicular differentiation during fetal development, and male fertility in the adult. GATA4 exerts part of its function by regulating multiple genes in the steroidogenic enzyme pathway. In spite of these crucial roles, how the activity of this factor is regulated remains unclear. Objectives Studies in gonadal cell lines have shown that GATA4 is phosphorylated on at least two serine residues-serine 105 (S105) and serine 261 (S261)-and that this phosphorylation is important for GATA4 activity. The objective of the present study is to characterize the endogenous role of GATA4 S105 and S261 phosphorylation in the mouse testis. Materials and methods We examined both previously described GATA4 S105A mice and a novel GATA4 S261A knock-in mouse that we generated by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. The male phenotype of the mutants was characterized by assessing androgen-dependent organ weights, hormonal profiles, and expression of multiple testicular target genes using standard biochemical and molecular biology techniques. Results The fecundity of crosses between GATA4 S105A mice was reduced but without a change in sex ratio. The weight of androgen-dependent organs was smaller when compared to wild-type controls. Plasma testosterone levels showed a 70% decrease in adult GATA4 S105A males. This decrease was associated with a reduction in Cyp11a1, Cyp17a1, and Hsd17b3 expression. GATA4 S261A mice were viable and testis morphology appeared normal. Testosterone production and steroidogenic enzyme expression were not altered in GATA4 S261A males. Discussion and conclusion Our analysis showed that blocking GATA4 S105 phosphorylation is associated with decreased androgen production in males. In contrast, S261 phosphorylation by itself is dispensable for GATA4 function. These results confirm that endogenous GATA4 action is essential for normal steroid production in males and that this activity requires phosphorylation on at least one serine residue.

Recent explosive advances in next-generation sequencing technology and computational approaches to massive data enable us to analyze a number of cancer genome profiles by whole-genome sequencing (WGS). To explore cancer genomic alterations and their diversity comprehensively, global and local cancer genome-sequencing projects, including ICGC and TCGA, have been analyzing many types of cancer genomes mainly by exome sequencing. However, there is limited information on somatic mutations in non-coding regions including untranslated regions, introns, regulatory elements and non-coding RNAs, and rearrangements, sometimes producing fusion genes, and pathogen detection in cancer genomes remain widely unexplored. WGS approaches can detect these unexplored mutations, as well as coding mutations and somatic copy number alterations, and help us to better understand the whole landscape of cancer genomes and elucidate functions of these unexplored genomic regions. Analysis of cancer genomes using the present WGS platforms is still primitive and there are substantial improvements to be made in sequencing technologies, informatics and computer resources. Taking account of the extreme diversity of cancer genomes and phenotype, it is also required to analyze much more WGS data and integrate these with multi-omics data, functional data and clinical-pathological data in a large number of sample sets to interpret them more fully and efficiently.

Asymmetric-dual-grating-gate high-electron-mobility-transistors (ADGG-HEMTs) are expected for high responsivity, room-temperature operating, and high-speed THz detectors. However, their low light coupling efficiency is one of the serious concerns because of the large focused spot size of free-space THz waves. To improve this, we examine shrinking the THz wave spot size by integrating a detector with a hyper-hemispherical silicon lens. We report the 6-fold enhancement of the coupling efficiency by the silicon lens integration. Also, we show that the dependence of the detector module responsivity on incident THz wave frequency is given by the product of the internal responsivity of ADGG-HEMTs and the light coupling efficiency owing to the silicon lens.

The crystal Sr${}_{2}$RuO${}_{4}$ is a rare superconductor where electrons pair together in a symmetry that is thought to be a $p$ wave, which indicates how the electrons orbit one another and orient their spins. A new investigation of heat conduction in Sr${}_{2}$RuO${}_{4}$ reveals behavior more typical of a $d$ wave, raising questions about how the electrons are actually paired.

Telah disintesis bahan organik yaitu TTF-TCNQ dan θ-(BEDT-TTF)2RbZn(SCN)4dengan metode difusi untuk kristal TTF-TCNQ dan metode elektrokimia untuk kristal θ-(BEDT-TTF)2RbZn(SCN)4. TTF-TCNQ merupakan kristal yang di dalamnya terjadi charge transfer yang dapat mengalami penurunan resistivitas ketika suhunya diturunkan. Sedangkan kristal θ-(BEDT-TTF)2RbZn(SCN)4adalah kristal yang mengalami perubahan sudut θ yang mengakibatkan terjadinya kenaikan nilai resistivitas secara signifikan pada suhu tertentu.

Chromosomal abnormalities are good guideposts when hunting for cancer-related genes. We analyzed copy number alterations of 163 primary gastric cancers using array-based comparative genomic hybridization and simultaneously performed a genome-wide integrated analysis of copy number and gene expression using microarray data for 58 tumors. We showed that chromosome 6p21 amplification frequently occurred secondary to ERBB2 amplification, was associated with poorer prognosis and caused overexpression of half of the genes mapped. A comprehensive small interfering RNA knockdown of 58 genes overexpressed in tumors identified 32 genes that reduced gastric cancer cell growth. Enforced expression of 16 of these genes promoted cell growth in vitro, and six genes showing more than two-fold activity conferred tumor-forming ability in vivo. Among these six candidates, GLO1, encoding a detoxifying enzyme glyoxalase I (GLO1), exhibited the strongest tumor-forming activity. Coexpression of other genes with GLO1 enhanced growth-stimulating activity. A GLO1 inhibitor, S-p-bromobenzyl glutathione cyclopentyl diester, inhibited the growth of two-thirds of 24 gastric cancer cell lines examined. The efficacy was found to be associated with the mRNA expression ratio of GLO1 to GLO2, encoding glyoxalase II (GLO2), another constituent of the glyoxalase system. GLO1 downregulation affected cell growth through inactivating central carbon metabolism and reduced the transcriptional activities of nuclear factor kappa B and activator protein-1. Our study demonstrates that GLO1 is a novel metabolic oncogene of the 6p21 amplicon, which promotes tumor growth and aberrant transcriptional signals via regulating cellular metabolic activities for energy production and could be a potential therapeutic target in gastric cancer.