Flow Algorithm Research Articles (Page 3)

Background: The pelvic floor muscles primarily protect the end of pelvic organs and are also involved in breathing during speaking, deep breathing and coughing. The diaphragm and pelvic floor have a symbiotic relationship, and the pelvic floor muscle contraction protects the end pelvic organs against increased abdominal pressure under the body’s certain reactions such as deep breathing and coughing and helps breathing by relieving anal and urethral obstructions. Pregnancy affects the Pelvic floor muscle strength which may affect the respiratory function. Peak Expiratory Flow Rate is defined as the maximal flow achieved during expiration delivered with a maximal force starting from maximal lung inflation. HET’s MMT is a unique transvaginal/transrectal manual muscle testing scale exclusively designed for the evaluation of pelvic floor muscles. Therefore, the study intends to measure the effect of training of pelvic floor muscles on the peak expiratory flow rate and the strength of PFM.Objective: The objective of the study is to measure the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle training on peak expiratory flow rate and strength of pelvic floor muscles in post-partum women and to determine the correlation between pelvic floor muscle strength and pulmonary function.Methodology: 15 subjects fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected for the study. Baseline data pre pelvic floor muscle strength and pelvic expiratory floor rate were measured using HET’s MMT and peak flow meter. Kegel’s exercises were given to all the 15 subjects for a period of 6 weeks again post pelvic floor muscle strength and pelvic expiratory flow rate was measured.Results: The present study was an experimental study. After the data analysis, the result showed significant improvement as the mean pre and post value of PFMS and PEFR from -0.13 to 0.73 and 452L/min to 476L/min respectively. Spearman’s row was used for correlation between PFMS and PEFR, r =0.689 which shows a moderate correlation of PFMS and PEFR.Conclusion: The present study reveals that there is a significant effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle exercise on pelvic floor muscle strength and peak expiratory flow rate and a moderate positive correlation between PFM strength and PEFR.

Estimating reserves and quantifying resources stand as pivotal and intricate endeavours within the realm of coal mining operations. Intricate geological formations compound the challenges in resource estimation, thereby complicating reserve calculations. The uncertainties tied to geological attributes of coal, encompassing parameters like tonnage and coal quality, wield significant sway over resource and reserve computations within coal mines. This research delves into the domain of geological uncertainties, with a specific focus on calorific value, aiming to numerically characterise resources and reserves within an open-pit coal mine situated in Indonesia. To quantify resources, the coal seam geometry underwent simulation via a multipoint geostatistical technique known as single normal equation simulation. A geologically established coal seam served as the training image for generating 20 equiprobable coal models. To simulate CV, 50 realisations were generated for each simulated coal seam, utilising sequential Gaussian simulation. Deviations of the simulated coal seams ranged from -0.07% to 5.48% in comparison to the training image. The CV simulation yielded an average value of 5,920.29 kcal/ kg, accompanied by a standard deviation of 586.54 kcal/kg. However, the average CV spanned from 5,305.26 kcal/kg to 6,526.55 kcal/kg across diverse simulations. For reserve calculation within the context of geological uncertainties, an algorithm rooted in maximum flow graph theory was employed to construct the ultimate pit for the coal mine. Within this final pit, the average stripping ratio was 1.62, coupled with a CV value of 6,019.66 kcal/kg. When juxtaposed with the deterministic model, the findings underscore that the stochastic ultimate pit delineates a more expansive excavation, accompanied by a heightened undiscounted cash flow.

The objective of the study is to present an overview of network analysis with a special focus on the construction and application of complete graphs in organizational networks. Network analysis is approached both statistically and algorithmically to understand the relationships among system components. In this context, complete graphs allow for the effective implementation of various algorithms to solve the critical path, minimum spanning tree (MST), maximal flow and shortest route problems. These problems are addressed using different classical graph theory techniques such as the PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) method to solve the critical path, Prim’s algorithm for finding the MST, the Ford-Fulkerson algorithm for computing the maximum flow in a network, and the traveling salesman algorithm for determining the shortest route of a complete graph with n vertices in a single network design with an appropriate numerical example. The comprehensive connectivity in complete graphs ensures greater flexibility and accuracy in solving complex network-related problems in organizational and operational settings.

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the diagnostic performance of quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), 3D pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (3D-pCASL), and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in differentiating true progression (TP) from pseudoprogression (PsP) in postoperative high-grade glioma (HGG) patients. Forty-nine postoperative HGG patients with newly enhanced lesions were enrolled. All participants underwent conventional MRI, QSM, 3D-pCASL, and DWI. Final diagnoses were confirmed by 6-month longitudinal MRI follow-up or histopathology from reoperation. Quantitative parameters-including the hemorrhagic foci area proportion (proQSM), magnetic susceptibility (SUS), relative maximum cerebral blood flow (rCBFmax), and relative minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (rADCmin)-were compared between TP and PsP groups using independent samples t-tests. Diagnostic efficacy was assessed via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and interparametric correlations were evaluated. TP lesions exhibited significantly lower proQSM (p < 0.001) and higher rCBFmax (p < 0.001) than PsP, with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.891 and 0.881, respectively. While rADCmin was marginally reduced in TP (p < 0.05), SUS showed no intergroup difference (p = 0.164). Combining proQSM with rCBFmax significantly improved diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.948). Furthermore, proQSM, rADCmin showed a negative correlation with rCBFmax, respectively. (p < 0.0001). proQSM and rCBFmax serve as complementary biomarkers for TP and PsP differentiation. The integration of QSM and ASL imaging significantly improves diagnostic accuracy compared to conventional parameters, providing a noninvasive strategy for postoperative HGG surveillance.

This paper presents a practical methodology for optimizing production tubing size in development wells, leveraging Drill Stem Test (DST) results. While tubing size constitutes a minor component of the overall field development plan, its proper design is crucial for ensuring efficient well flow, particularly in later field life stages characterized by reservoir pressure depletion and increased liquid production, which can lead to liquid loading issues and impact hydrocarbon recovery and project economics. The core of this methodology is nodal analysis, employing a well model built and calibrated using DST data with the Petroleum Experts (Prosper) application. The study details the process of well model calibration through Inflow Performance Relationship (IPR) and Vertical Lift Performance (VLP) matching, followed by a sensitivity analysis on various tubing sizes. This analysis incorporates considerations for liquid loading, using both the Turner velocity model and the PE5 stability criteria, to identify the optimal tubing size that delivers maximum flow rate while minimizing the risk of liquid loading. For the gas condensate well studied, an optimum tubing size of 4 ½ inches was suggested, balancing maximum flow rate with minimized liquid loading potential. This approach ensures both initial optimal flow rates and long-term production deliverability. The study addresses a gap in previous research, which often focused on field-scale modeling or used DST data primarily for reservoir evaluation, without fully leveraging its potential in tubing size design for development wells. This paper's novelty lies in its direct integration of DST data into the tubing design workflow, bridging the gap between reservoir testing and completion engineering to enhance decision-making in well development planning.

We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of Thulium fiber laser enucleation of the prostate (ThuFLEP) in men with prostate volumes (PV) ≥ 150 mL and to compare them with those with PV < 150 mL. We retrospectively analyzed the patients who underwent ThuFLEP between December 2020 and June 2024 for benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). Patients were categorized into two groups according to prostate volume, with Group 1 including those with PV < 150 mL (n = 355) and Group 2 including those with PV ≥ 150 mL (n = 147). Perioperative and postoperative functional outcomes, as well as complications, were evaluated and compared. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in functional parameters (International Prostate Symptom Score-IPSS, maximal urinary flow rate-Qmax and postvoid residual urine volume-PVR) compared with baseline values at the 1, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Postoperative IPSS, QoL scores, Qmax, PVR values, and rates of urge urinary incontinence (UUI) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) were comparable between groups at all follow-up intervals (p > 0.05). No patient exhibited postoperative SUI or UUI at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Complication rates were similar between groups, and no Grade ≥ 4 Clavien-Dindo complications occurred. ThuFLEP is a safe and effective LEP technique for very large prostates (≥ 150 mL). It yields significant improvements in postoperative functional outcomes with low perioperative complication rates, supporting its use as a minimally invasive alternative for BPO in routine endourology practice.

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe predictive value of intrarenal Doppler ultrasonography (IRD) analysis using pulsed‐wave Doppler for survival in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) remains unknown.Hypothesis/ObjectivesImpaired IRD indices, such as a high venous impedance index (VII), are associated with a short survival time in dogs with MMVD.AnimalsSeventy‐one client‐owned dogs with MMVD.MethodsProspective cohort study. Dogs diagnosed with various stages of MMVD between July 2019 and February 2024 were enrolled. Echocardiography and an IRD analysis were performed. Resistance index and VII were estimated using the following formula: (maximum flow velocity—minimum flow velocity)/maximum flow velocity from renal interlobar arteries and veins, respectively. Intrarenal venous flow waveforms were categorized into continuous and discontinuous patterns. Discontinuous IRVF pattern is defined as a minimum velocity of 0. The primary endpoint was defined as a composite of cardiac‐ and renal‐related death.ResultsDuring the follow‐up period, 18 dogs met the primary endpoint. A multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis adjusted for the Mitral INsufficiency Echocardiographic score and plasma creatinine concentrations identified VII > 0.37 (hazard ratio, at least 4.62; 95% CI, 1.47–14.56) and discontinuous intrarenal venous pattern (hazard ratio, at least 3.62; 95% CI, 1.22–10.73) as an independent predictors of cardiac‐ and renal‐related death. No association between resistance index and outcomes was observed in the multivariable analysis.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceWorse outcomes in dogs with MMVD could be predicted by an intrarenal venous flow analysis.

The influence of Arrhenius kinetics on magneto-convective flows in regulating temperature variation within the poro-elastic medium in several thermal, industrial, and engineering applications, such as the control of the hot molten, formation of crystals, cooling of nuclear reactors, filtration, and many more, is investigated in the present study. The exothermic nature of the chemical reaction based on Arrhenius, Sensitized, and Bimolecular kinetics suggests nonlinear heat and mass transfer. In this regard, governing equations are formulated for solid displacement in porous materials, fluid flow velocity, energy, and concentration with appropriate boundary conditions. Numerical solutions for nonlinear coupled dimensionless boundary value problems are obtained using the Spectral Chebyshev Collocation Method (SCCM) and Spectral Quasi-Linearization Method (SQLM). The two solutions are shown to be convergent. The results are further validated through the fourth-order Shooting-Runge-Kutta Scheme and presented in graphical and tabular forms. The significant contribution to knowledge in the present study reveals that the reaction parameter is an increasing function of solid displacement, flow velocity, temperature, and concentration. Similarly, increasing fluid activation energy and buoyancy values encourage solid displacement, maximum flow velocity, and temperature distribution within the flow channel while decreasing nanoparticle concentration.

Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) represent increasingly common and high-magnitude geohazards across the cryosphere of the Tibetan Plateau, particularly under ongoing climate warming and glacier retreat. This study combines multi-temporal remote sensing imagery and detailed Flo-2D hydrodynamic modeling to investigate the erosive dynamics of the 2020 Jinwuco GLOF in Southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Key conclusions include: (1) The 2.35 km-long flood routing channel exhibits pronounced non-uniformity in horizontal curvature, channel width, and cross-sectional shape, significantly influencing flood propagation; five representative cross-sections divide the channel into six distinct segments. (2) Prominent lateral erosion occurred proximally to the dam, attributable to extreme erosive forces and high sediment transport capacity during peak discharge, with horizontal channel curvature further amplifying local impact and erosion. (3) Erosion rates were highest near the dam and in downstream narrow segments, while mid-reach sections with greater width experienced lower erosion. (4) Maximum flow depths reached 28.12 m in topographically confined reaches, whereas peak velocities occurred in upstream and downstream curved sections. (5) The apparent critical erosive shear stress of bank material is controlled not only by soil strength but also by flood dynamics and pre-existing channel morphology, indicating strong feedback between flow dynamics, channel morphology, and critical erosive shear stress of bank material. This study provides a generalized and transferable framework for analyzing GLOF-related erosion in data-scarce high-altitude regions, offering critical insights for hazard assessment, regional planning, and risk mitigation strategies.

To improve the uniformity and precision of soybean seeding, this study designed a high-speed airflow-assisted seeding system for the pneumatic drum-type high-speed precision seed-metering device. The system accelerates seed delivery through airflow and ensures precise seed placement using a seed press wheel. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Discrete Element Method (DEM) coupling simulations were employed to analyze the seed motion trajectory, collision process, and velocity changes. Key design parameters of the airflow-assisted delivery system were optimized, including a tube diameter of 16 mm, a curved section radius of 80 mm, a seed delivery angle of 33.65°, and a press wheel diameter of 254 mm. The simulation results indicated that the relative position between the seed delivery tube and the seed drum significantly impacts seed trajectory and uniformity. Lowering the tube to align with the seed velocity direction minimized collisions and enhanced seed spacing consistency during high-speed operation. Increasing inlet air pressure improved seed distribution uniformity by accelerating seeds within the tube, reducing travel time and collisions; a 500 Pa pressure increase raised the maximum flow velocity by approximately 5 m/s. However, seed acceleration exhibited diminishing returns: pressure increase from 2.5 kPa to 3.5 kPa increased seed speed by 2.1 m/s, while a further increase to 4.5 kPa only added 1.1 m/s. The optimal inlet pressure for efficient energy transfer and seed acceleration was approximately 3.5 kPa. The press wheel played a crucial role by dispersing the impact force when seeds contact the soil, which achieved high capture rates above 94.0% across the seed drum rotary speed range of 11 to 19 rpm. This research provides theoretical and experimental support for the optimization of high-speed airflow-assisted seeding systems, offering significant practical value for large-scale agricultural production by enhancing seeding efficiency and quality.

One of the key parameters in the cold gas dynamic spraying process, which affects the formation of the physical and mechanical properties of coatings and the powder utilization rate, is the velocity and temperature of powder particles upon impact with the surface. The acceleration and heating of powder particles occur in a supersonic converging–diverging nozzle for spraying, into which a hot pressurized flow from an ohmic electric heater is supplied. The gas temperature determines the flow velocity in the supersonic nozzle and, consequently, the velocity of the powder particles carried by this flow. The subject of this study is the regularities and characteristics of compressed air heating in the heater of a cold spray system. The aim of the work is to establish the regularities of compressed air flow heating in the developed heater depending on the variation of air mass flow rate through the nozzle and the power of the heating elements. The task is to perform numerical modeling of the heating process of the compressed air flow as it passes through the heater of the spraying system, considering changes in air flow rate and heater power. Research methods. Numerical modeling was carried out using the SolidWorks Flow Simulation software package, which is based on the finite element method. Results. Numerical modeling has shown that the calculated heater power (18,5 kW) is sufficient to heat an air flow at 2.5 MPa pressure to an outlet temperature above 800 K, provided the maximum air flow rate is 0.001 m³/s. Data were obtained on the air flow temperature as a function of changes in flow rate. It was found that reducing the flow rate to 0.0008 m³/s and 0.0006 m³/s (which corresponds to 80% and 60% of the maximum flow rate, respectively) reduces the required heater power to 15 kW and 12 kW, respectively, to maintain the specified outlet temperature. Conclusions. A relationship has been established between the air flow rate through the nozzle and the required heater power to achieve the specified flow temperature at its outlet. The obtained results can be used to set optimal parameters for cold gas dynamic spraying to ensure high coating quality and process efficiency.

To assess the outcomes of robot-assisted simple prostatectomy by analysing postoperative complications and patient-reported outcomes, and to scrutinise the effectiveness and safety of a surgical robotic system. The prospective cohort study was conducted at the Department of Robotics and Minimally Invasive Urology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi, from November 2021 to June 2023, and comprised patients with treatment-resistant lower urinary tract symptoms attributed to significant prostatic enlargement exceeding 80ml on transrectal ultrasound, and who were slated for robot-assisted simple prostatectomy. Perioperative and postoperative data was noted along with outcomes and complications. Data was analysed using SPSS 25. There were 82 male patients with mean age 66.6±8.88 years, mean duration of lower urinary symptoms 4.59±1.59 years, and mean volume of prostate 133.24±27.31ml. The mean procedure time was 160.56±33.04 minutes, and mean blood loss was 678.05±314.85ml. Baseline maximum flow rate on uroflowmetry was 5.86±1.59ml/s compared to 17.00±7.57ml/s postoperatively (p=0.0001). The robot-assisted simple prostatectomy was found to be a safe procedure with acceptable patient outcomes.

Rationale:Cough variant asthma (CVA) is one of the primary causes of chronic cough, significantly impacting quality of life. Although inhaled corticosteroids–long-acting beta agonists are the first-line treatment, their limitations—such as prolonged treatment duration, high relapse rates after discontinuation, and suboptimal efficacy in some patients—highlight the need to explore alternative treatment options. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with its holistic framework, syndrome differentiation-based treatment, and emphasis on preventing relapse, offers a promising strategy for complementary therapy. This case report aims to evaluate the potential efficacy of personalized TCM protocols for CVA patients who have not responded to conventional treatment.Patient concerns:A CVA patient with poor medication compliance developed persistent airway inflammation after an upper respiratory tract infection, resulting in worsening of existing cough symptoms and poor response to standard western medical treatment.Diagnoses:The patient was diagnosed with CVA, and the Chinese medicine diagnosis was cough and wind-heat offending the lung syndrome.Interventions:The patient received a Chinese medicine decoction. The principle of TCM treatment is to clear heat, dispel wind, relieve the pharynx, and relieve cough.Outcomes:After 2 weeks of Chinese medicine treatment, the patient’s visual analogue scale, cough evaluation test, Leicester cough questionnaire, and traditional Chinese medicine criteria scores improved. All key indicators reflecting small airway function (forced expiratory flow at 50% of vital capacity, forced expiratory flow at 75% of vital capacity, and maximal mid-expiratory flow) showed sustained and clinically significant improvements. Additionally, the treatment process was safe, with no adverse reactions or abnormal changes in liver, kidney, or hematological parameters observed. Overall, this TCM treatment was safe and effective for this CVA patient.Lessons:This case demonstrates the potential of TCM as a viable option for managing CVA, particularly in cases suboptimally controlled by conventional therapy. The “one person, one prescription” approach, targeting both pathogenic factors and systemic regulation, may address the multifactorial nature of CVA and contribute to sustained remission. Rigorous larger-scale studies are warranted to validate these findings.

Purpose: Detrusor sphincter dyssynergia (DSD), a common lower urinary tract condition in patients with suprasacral spinal cord injury (SCI), can lead to urological complications and reduced quality of life. Urethral sphincter botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injection has been used to promote spontaneous voiding, albeit with limited success. This study aimed to identify predictive factors for treatment success. Methods: This retrospective analysis included 207 patients (157 males and 50 females) with chronic SCI and varying DSD grades treated with urethral sphincter BoNT-A injection. Each received 100 U of onabotulinumtoxinA via transurethral sphincter injection. The primary outcome was voiding efficiency (VE) and symptom improvement, assessed via global response evaluation 3 months post-treatment. Baseline videourodynamic parameters were used to predict success. Results: Successful outcomes were observed in 33.8% of patients. These patients were older and had higher voiding pressure, maximum flow rate (Qmax), voided volume, bladder contractility index, and VE, as well as lower post-void residual (PVR) volume and bladder outlet obstruction index. Patients with SCI and DSD grade 1 had the highest success rate (65.7%) compared to those with DSD grade 2 (14.3%) or 3 (7.1%). Patients with DSD grade 3 had the highest failure rate (55.8%). Multivariate analysis showed that higher Qmax and lower PVR significantly predicted success, consistent with lower DSD grades. Conclusion: Grade 1 DSD, higher Qmax, and lower PVR were associated with higher success after urethral BoNT-A injection, whereas grade 3 DSD predicted failure. Thus, careful patient selection is essential for effective DSD treatment with urethral BoNT-A injection.

In the present study, the lattice Boltzmann method coupled with the multipseudopotential interaction interparticle force model is employed to investigate the vertical falling film phenomenon. Utilization of this method enables the presentation of various study cases and the adjustment of dimensionless Reynolds and Kapitza numbers within the range of 5.1<Re<35 and 14<Ka<85 simultaneously with reduced computational costs. Waves are induced by sinusoidal excitation at the inlet, and the domain length is chosen to ensure the development of fully developed waves. Numerical results pertaining to wave peak thickness, wave trough thickness, and wave speed are compared with experimental results, which exhibit good agreement. Influential factors affecting velocity profile deviation within waves from the semiparabolic state, including wavy regime and the presence of capillary ripples, are investigated. The current numerical model has the capability to observe vortices resulting from the recirculation phenomenon at the wave peak and can concurrently model flow conditions regarding negative shear stress and proximity to flow reversal in line with experimental findings. Wave peak height and flow rate at Ka=25 are studied as functions of Reynolds number variations, revealing that at the second critical Reynolds number equal to 25, the wave peak height and maximum flow rate reach their highest values, coinciding with the occurrence of the recirculation phenomenon.

Visual SLAM is capable of achieving the localization and mapping functions for intelligent vehicles. However, in practical applications, the presence of complex environments significantly affects localization accuracy and real-time performance. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a dynamic scene visual SLAM method that fuses image segmentation and feature following. This method utilizes an object detection model to quickly identify dynamic regions within image, actively removes unstable dynamic feature points. By employing a clustering algorithm to partition map points and efficiently extract feature-rich regions, this approach avoids interference from dynamic objects. Simultaneously, it utilizes an optical flow algorithm to continuously track static feature-rich regions in subsequent images, mitigating the influence of dynamic pixels and achieving efficient feature point extraction. Experimental results demonstrate that in dynamic environments, the proposed method improves localization accuracy by 70% and reduces feature extraction time per frame by 45% compared to the ORB-SLAM2 system. In most cases, our method also outperforms DS-SLAM, which proves that the proposed method can effectively improve the localization accuracy and the real-time performance of feature extraction in dynamic scenes for visual SLAM.

Background: Bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common urological condition in aging men, often requiring surgical intervention for symptom relief.Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and complication profile of monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in patients with BOO.Methodology: This descriptive observational study was conducted at the Department of Urology, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, and Akhtar Saeed Trust Hospital, Lahore, from August 2022 to July 2024. A total of 518 male patients aged ≥ 50 years with BOO secondary to BPH underwent monopolar TURP. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were collected using a standardized proforma. Functional outcomes, including International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), and post-void residual volume (PVR), were assessed at baseline and one, six, and 12 months postoperatively. Complication rates and predictors were also analyzed.Results: Mean age was 68.42 ± 7.85 years. Significant improvement was observed in IPSS (from 23.74 ± 4.96 to 7.82 ± 2.81), Qmax (from 7.89 ± 2.11 mL/sec to 17.50 ± 4.67 mL/sec), and PVR (from 126.40 ± 34.70 mL to 30.10 ± 16.87 mL) at 12 months (p < 0.001). Early complications included hematuria in 42 patients (8.11%), UTI in 61 (11.78%), and TUR syndrome in six (1.16%). Late complications included urethral stricture (3.67%) and bladder neck contracture (2.12%).Conclusion: Monopolar TURP is an effective and safe surgical option for managing BOO due to BPH in resource-limited settings.

On neural architecture search and hyperparameter optimization: A max-flow based approach.

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a prevalent urological condition affecting men's health. This study aims to investigate the clinical efficacy of Qianlie Shutong (QLST) capsule in the treatment of CP/CPPS. The medical records of patients with CP/CPPS who were admitted to our hospital from January 2023 to January 2024 were retrospectively analysed. They were divided into observation and control groups according to treatment modality received. The control group received levofloxacin (0.5 g, qd) in combination with tamsulosin hydrochloride (0.2 mg, qd). The observation group received an additional supplementation of QLST capsule (0.4 g, tid) alongside the treatment administered to the control group. Both groups underwent treatment for 28 days. Baseline data and clinical outcomes were compared between the groups, including the National Institute of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), maximum urine flow rate (Qmax), urine volume (UV), prostate-specific extracellular vesicle protein (PSEP) and International Index of Erectile Function-15 (IIEF-15). A total of 117 patients were enrolled in this study, comprising 60 in the observation group and 57 in the control group. No significant differences in baseline characteristics were found between the two groups (p > 0.05). Before intervention, no significant differences in NIH-CPSI, Qmax, UV, PSEP and IIEF-15 were found between the two groups (p > 0.05). Following intervention, both groups exhibited significant reductions in NIH-CPSI and PSEP, and the levels in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Qmax, UV and IIEF-15 increased in both groups, and the levels in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates that QLST effectively alleviates the clinical symptoms in patients with CP/CPPS, reduces PSEP levels and improves erectile function, supporting its clinical application.

To evaluate postoperative outcomes after a minimal approach of water vapor thermal therapy (WVTT; Rezum, Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA), defined as 1 treatment per prostate lobe, among men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. We performed a multi-institutional retrospective review of patients who underwent WVTT from 2018 to 2022. Propensity score matching was utilized to generate patient cohorts based on number of treatments per lobe (1 per lobe, including median lobe if present [minimal group], vs ≥2 per lobe [nonminimal group]) matched for age, body mass index, and preoperative prostate volume. Primary outcome was postoperative complications and storage phase symptoms beyond 30days. We then conducted a non-propensity score matching independent t test to analyze differences in International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), uroflowmetry, and surgical retreatment rate postoperatively. 146 patients were included, with 73 in each arm. The nonminimal group had their median lobe treated more frequently (P=.021) and experienced higher postoperative de-novo retention (P=.009) and urinary tract infection (P=.003) rates. On multivariate analysis, increasing number of treatments (hazard ratio 1.3, P=.039) and median lobe treatment (hazard ratio 4.7, P=.008) were significant risk factors for postoperative storage phase symptoms. Mean IPSS and uroflowmetry parameters were similar at 1, 3, 6, and 12months postoperatively. Surgical retreatment rates were comparable at 2years (3% vs 1%; P=.444). Minimal approach to WVTT is associated with decreased postoperative complications with comparable IPSS, maximum flow rate, and surgical retreatment rate. Further studies are needed to investigate longer term outcomes.