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Face hallucination is a super‐resolution technique specially designed to reconstruct high‐resolution faces from low‐resolution faces. Most state‐of‐the‐art algorithms leverage position‐patch prior knowledge of human faces to better super‐resolve face images. However, most of them assume the training face dataset is sufficiently large, well cropped or aligned. This paper, proposes a novel example‐based face hallucination method, based on cluster consistent dictionary learning with the assumption that human faces have similar facial structures. In this method, the paired face image patches are firstly labelled as face areas including eyes, nose, mouth and other parts, as well as non‐face areas without requiring the training face images cropped and aligned. Then, the training patches are clustered according their labels and textures. The cluster consistent dictionary is learned to represent the low‐resolution patches and the high‐resolution patches. Finally, the high‐resolution patches of the input low‐resolution face image can be efficiently generated by using the adjusted anchored neighbourhood regression. As utilizing the labelled facial parts prior knowledge, the proposed method represents more details in the reconstruction. Experimental results demonstrate that the authors' algorithm outperforms many state‐of‐the‐art techniques for face hallucination under different datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying representation learning and generative modelling has been at the core of the 3D learning domain. By leveraging the generative adversarial networks and convolutional neural networks for point‐cloud representations, we propose a novel framework, which can directly generate 3D objects represented by point clouds. The novelties of the proposed method are threefold. First, the generative adversarial networks are applied to 3D object generation in the point‐cloud space, where the model learns object representation from point clouds independently. In this work, we propose a 3D spatial transformer network, and integrate it into a generation model, whose ability for extracting and reconstructing features for 3D objects can be improved. Second, a point‐wise approach is developed to reduce the computational complexity of the proposed network. Third, an evaluation system is proposed to measure the performance of our model by employing various categories and methods, and the error, considered as the difference between synthesized objects and raw objects are quantitatively compared, is less than 2.8%. Extensive experiments on benchmark dataset show that this method has a strong ability to generate 3D objects in the point‐cloud space, and the synthesized objects have slight differences with man‐made 3D objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the present study was to determine the practice patterns in the management of anterior urethral strictures among urologists in Hong Kong. Patients and Methods: A 14‐item questionnaire was delivered either directly or by mail to all 126 registered urologists in Hong Kong. Information including demographic data, number of anterior urethral strictures treated, diagnostic methods, treatment options and follow‐up strategy were collected. The questionnaire also asked for the personal opinion about the treatment plan of two stricture case scenarios. Results: The response rate was 48 per cent. The majority (87 per cent) of urologists treated <10 anterior urethral strictures per year. Minimal invasive procedures, including urethral dilatation using metal sounds (77 per cent) or cystoscopy‐guided (74 per cent) and direct visual internal urethrotomy (57 per cent), were more commonly performed by urologists to treat urethral strictures. The majority of urologists (82.6 per cent) performed less than five urethroplasties per year. In the two case scenarios of long bulbous urethral stricture and recurrent short urethral stricture, approximately 10 per cent of respondents would refer the cases to other urologists and approximately 75 per cent would choose to perform reconstructive surgeries. The remaining 15 per cent of respondents would choose minimally‐invasive procedures for these strictures. Nearly two‐thirds (62.3 per cent) of urologists believed that urethroplasty should be proposed only after failed endoscopic treatment. Workups for urethral stricture disease were consistent, while the modalities to access the outcome were highly heterogeneous. Conclusion: In Hong Kong, the majority of urologists choose to perform urethroplasty for long bulbous urethral strictures and recurrent short bulbous urethral strictures in a case scenario situation. However, in actual practice, most perform less than five urethroplasties per year. A small caseload, lack of experience and understanding of urethral reconstructive surgery means that most urologists in Hong Kong would hesitate to carry out primary urethroplasty in correctly‐selected patients for whom primary reconstruction would have been the treatment of choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The aim of the present study was to evaluate the perioperative, oncological and functional outcomes of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) performed at our centres. Patients and Methods All LRP and RARP performed from January 2011 to June 2016 were reviewed through electronic patient records. The preoperative cancer characteristics, perioperative parameters, pathology, oncological and functional outcomes were studied. Results A total of 136 men were included in the analysis. RARP had a significantly less estimated blood loss (933 mL vs 361 mL, P < 0.01) than LRP. Positive surgical margins were noted in 42.6 and 35.2 per cent for LRP and RARP. Four-year biochemical recurrence-free survival was 79.4 per cent. There were no difference across the two groups. The 3-, 12-, 24- and 36-month continence rates were 51.6, 86.8, 86.6 and 84.6 per cent, respectively. Early continence was better in RARP. The Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 was significantly lower for RARP at 6 weeks and 3 and 12 months, while the Incontinence Impact Questionnaires-7 was lower for RARP at 6 weeks and at 3 months. The 3-, 12-, 24- and 36-month erection sufficient for intercourse (ESI) rates were 11.6; 25.5; 28.4 and 21.4 per cent, respectively. More men achieved ESI after 12 months in RARP. The International Index of Erectile Function 5-item version score was higher in RARP from 12 months onwards. Conclusion RARP appears to be a promising approach for greater minimally-invasive benefit and functional outcome, without jeopardizing oncological control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The aim of the present study was to reduce the complication rate and postoperative morbidity after transurethral prostatectomy by routine urine culture before surgery. Patients and Methods Urine culture was saved 2 weeks prior to surgery for all patients undergoing transurethral prostatectomy at the United Christian Hospital from May 2013 to October 2013. The urine culture result was screened before surgery. Antibiotic treatment was given according to the bacteria-sensitivity profile if the culture was positive. Urine culture was repeated 1 h before surgery to review the efficacy of antibiotic treatment. Postoperative outcome measures included urinary tract infection (UTI) rate, postoperative fever rate, hospital stay and 30-day readmission rate. A retrospective comparison was made with patients undergoing surgery from November 2012 to April 2013. Results A total of 247 cases were included in the study, with 97 cases (39.3 per cent) in the study group and 150 (60.7 per cent) in the control group. Overall, 8.5 per cent of patients had postoperative UTI. Episodes of postoperative fever (11.3 per cent vs 22 per cent, P = 0.032) were lower and postoperative hospital stay was shorter for the study group. The 30-day unplanned readmission rate (8 per cent vs 19.3 per cent, P = 0.017) was also significantly lower in the study group. Multivariate analysis showed that the treatment of preoperative bacteriuria was the only significant variable determining the length of hospital stay ( P = 0.001). Total resection time ( P = 0.017), days of postoperative bladder irrigation ( P = 0.007) and the presence of postoperative fever ( P = 0.035) were significant variables with a positive correlation for 30-day readmission. Conclusion Routine reviews of urine culture and treatment of bacteriuria before transurethral prostatectomy can reduce episodes of postoperative fever, hospital stay and the 30-day unplanned readmission rate after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents report on the Surgical Outcomes Monitoring and Improvement Program (SOMIP) related to radical cystectomy for the treatment of bladder cancer. It suggests formulating the necessary healthcare plans to look over the patients by surgeons and healthcare administrator of Hospital Authority, Hong Kong. It also mentions that the report will benefit both doctors and patients in cancer treatment.