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Previous studies have suggested that there is a positive correlation between prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) levels and prostate volume (PV). A better understanding of the possible influence of PV on a ratio of free to total PSA (f/tPSA) may improve the diagnostic value of the prostate disease. The study group consisted of 342 men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). All patients underwent urinary tract ultrasonography and had tests carried out on PSA, serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, LDL and blood pressure. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the associations between prostate volume and f/tPSA value. We found no obvious relationship between prostate volume and f/tPSA value when PSA >10 ng/ml but did observe a positive correlation when 4 ng/ml < PSA ＜ 10 ng/ml (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.0012; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.0009–0.0248). With increasing prostate volume, multivariate analysis showed an obvious increase in f/tPSA value (HR: 0.0011; 95% CI: 0.0007–0.0015) (p ≤.0001). We confirmed that prostate volume could affect the f/tPSA levels in serum. There was an obvious positive correlation between prostate volume and f/tPSA level when PSA levels were between 4 and 10ng/dl. There was no significant correlation between prostate volume and f/tPSA value when PSA >10 ng/ml. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Zhen Chen, Li-na Hao, Ding-yu Xue, Xin-he Xu, Yan-mei Liu Hysteresis and creep hinder the effective use of IPMC in sensors and actuators. In order to cope with these disadvantageous effects, a fundamental approach is inverse compensation. This paper presents a hybrid model of hysteresis and creep in piezoelectric actuator, which is constructed by Preisach operator and creep operator. Then, the corresponding inverse models for both hysteresis and creep are developed. Based on the obtained inverse model, a method for real-time compensation of the hysteresis and creep of piezoelectric actuator is applied to the control of system nonlinearities. The efficiency of this new model and the method of real-time inverse control are demonstrated by simulation and experiment based on an IPMC actuator. Using this control concept, the tracking errors caused by hysteretic and creep effects are reduced by approximately one order of magnitude, the result verified the validity of the model and effectiveness of the controller.

The crystal structure of a novel dimeric zinc(II) complex, [ZnL(H 2 O)] 2 (ClO 4 ) 2 ·4H 2 O (L = N -(bis(2-pyridyl)methyl)-2-pyridinecarboxamide), has been determined by X-ray diffraction. In this complex each planar N py -N amido -N py moiety of the ligand coordinates to one zinc ion and the pendant pyridine of one [ZnL] unit completes the coordination sphere of a [ZnL] neighbor. Units of the complex are connected in a two-dimensional network by intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The thermodynamic properties of the ligand with bivalent metal ions Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) were studied by potentiometric titration and the order of the stability constants is in agreement with the Irving-Williams series. The dimeric complex is stabilized through ligand sharing, as confirmed by the crystal structure and thermodynamic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Methods Results Conclusion In patients with frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), palpitations may not always be directly caused by PVCs, and therefore, it is essential to establish symptom‐rhythm correlations to determine the appropriate treatment. This study aims to analyze the palpitations and related factors in patients with frequent PVCs.The study enrolled patients with frequent PVCs who were not combined with other arrhythmias or structural heart disease. Through face‐to‐face consultation, patients were divided into symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. For symptomatic patients, the correlation between palpitations and PVC was further evaluated based on the temporal consistency of symptom onset and PVC occurrence. The demographic, clinical, and electrocardiogram features of the patients in each group were compared.Of the 214 patients enrolled, 124(57.9%) experienced palpitations. Compared to the asymptomatic group, the symptomatic group had a higher proportion of females (63.7% vs. 47.8%; p = .020) and a higher proportion of subjects with anxiety (44.4% vs.14.4%; p = .000). Within the symptomatic patients, 72 (33.60%) who had palpitations that were clearly correlated with PVCs were classified as the PVC‐relevant group. In this group, the PVC CI ratios were significantly lower (55% [52% −60%] vs. 62% [55% −67%]; p = .001) and the Post‐PVC CI were longer (1170 [1027–1270] vs. 1083 [960–1180] ms; p = .018) than in the PVC‐irrelevant group.A direct relationship between palpitations and PVCs could be established only in a minority of patients with frequent PVCs. PVCs with a relatively short PVC CI and a long post‐PVC CI were more likely to cause palpitations, whereas palpitations lasting only a few seconds were more likely to be directly relevant to PVCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Past studies have shown that elevated estradiol levels could inhibit penile erection, but the relationship between estradiol and erection of the penile tip or base has not been extensively researched., Methods: We therefore investigated estradiol's effects on the erection of the penile tip and base, with a cross-sectional study of 135 patients with erectile dysfunction (ED), based on scores of ≤21 according to the International Index of Erectile Function-5. All patients were tested for nocturnal penile tumescence, blood pressure (BP), serum glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (PRL), progesterone (P), estradiol (E), and testosterone (T). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess associations between estradiol levels and erection at the penile tip and base., Results: We found no obvious relationship between erection time at penile tip and estradiol levels but did observe a negative correlation between base erection time and estradiol level [hazard ratio (HR): ‒0.11; 95% CI: ‒0.80-1.72]. With increasing estradiol concentration, multivariate analysis showed an obvious reduction in base erection time among patients with normal Rigiscan results (HR: ‒0.31; 95% CI: ‒1.63-1.29) (P<0.05) as estradiol concentration increased., Conclusions: Our data indicate that estradiol inhibits penile erection, particularly at the penile base. Also, when the effective erection time of the penile base lasts longer than 10 min, estradiol has a more obvious inhibitory effect on penile base erection., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2019 Translational Andrology and Urology. All rights reserved.)