Sensitivity of Mucor piriformis to Natamycin and Efficacy of Natamycin Alone and with Salt and Heat Treatments Against Mucor Rot of Stored Mandarin Fruit.

Mucor rot caused by Mucor piriformis is an emerging postharvest disease of mandarin fruit in California. Natamycin is a newly registered biofungicide for postharvest use on citrus and some other fruits. In the study, baseline sensitivity to natamycin in 50 isolates of M. piriformis was determined in vitro. The mean EC50 (effective concentration to inhibit sporangiospore germination by 50%) and MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration to inhibit mycelial growth by 100%) values were 0.59 µg/ml and less than 1.0 µg/ml, respectively. Natamycin at the label rate of 920 µg/ml alone or in combination with 3% potassium sorbate (PS) or 3% sodium carbonate (SC) applied at 20 or 50°C was evaluated for control of Mucor rot on inoculated 'Tango' mandarin fruit. Natamycin alone reduced Mucor rot incidence on stored mandarin fruit from 100% among nontreated control fruit to approximately 30%, a reduction of more than 70% compared to the nontreated control, while 3% PS and 3% SC had no to little control. When applied at 50°C, natamycin and 3% PS reduced Mucor rot incidence by 65.0 and 31.2%, respectively; while natamycin in combination with 3% PS reduced disease incidence by 92.5% compared to the nontreated control after 2 weeks of storage at 5°C. This combined treatment remained effective even when the application of the treatment was delayed for 6 and 12 h after inoculation. However, the effectiveness of the treatments declined when storage was extended to 3 or 4 weeks. Natamycin can be an effective tool to control Mucor rot on mandarin fruit, and minimizing the period of extended storage could help maintain the control efficacy of natamycin.

Fungicide Resistance Profiles of Botrytis cinerea Isolates From Michigan Vineyards and Development of a TaqMan Assay for Detection of Fenhexamid Resistance.

Botrytis cinerea on grapes causes bunch rot at both pre- and postharvest stages, in which losses can reach up to 100%. Chemical control primarily relies on the prophylactic use of site-specific fungicides. Repeated applications of these products raise the risk of fungicide resistance development in B. cinerea populations, which can result in disease control failures. To determine the extent of resistance, B. cinerea isolates were collected from grape clusters in the northwest and southwest grape growing regions of Michigan in 2014 and 2018 (n = 115 and 125, respectively). These isolates were phenotyped using discriminatory doses of eight fungicides to determine the levels of resistance. Fungicide resistance increased from 2014 to 2018, mostly affecting the active ingredients fenhexamid, fluopyram, and iprodione. B. cinerea isolates resistant to multiple fungicides were detected in 2014 and 2018, with a higher frequency of resistance in 2018. TaqMan real-time PCR has been developed to detect B. cinerea fungicide resistance to fenhexamid and to differentiate the erg27 F412S/I/V alleles. The TaqMan assay was tested for sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility on purified DNA and infected grape tissue samples. Our data provide essential information to growers about the efficacy for B. cinerea control using the available botryticides. Furthermore, the developed fenhexamid markers will be transferred to diagnostic clinics to assist growers in the management of bunch rot before resistance-related control failures occur.

[Surgical strategy selection and experience summary of prostate cancer with positive single needle biopsy].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of prostate cancer patients undertaking radical prostatectomy with single positive core biopsy, and to optimize the rational choice of therapeutic strategy. METHODS: In the study, 53 patients with single positive core prostate biopsy and treated by radical prostatectomy from January 2010 to December 2018, were analyzed retrospectively. The mean age was (69.7±6.9) years (54-81 years), the mean prostate specific antigen (PSA) level was (9.70±5.24) µg/L (1.69-25.69 µg/L), and the mean prostate volume was (50.70±28.39) mL (12.41-171.92 mL). Thirty-nine out of 54 (73.6%) patients presented Gleason score with 6, 11 patients (20.8%) had Gleason score of 7 and 3 patients (5.7%) showed Gleason score ≥8. For clinical stages, 6 out of the 53 patients (11.3%) had prostate cancer in cT1, 44 cases (83.0%) had prostate cancer in cT2, and 3 cases (5.7%) in cT3.The patients were divided into subgroups according to age, preoperative PSA level, Gleason score, percentage of tumor in single needle tissue and clinical stage, and the differences of their clinicopathological characteristics were compared. RESULTS: Postoperative Gleason score of 6, 7 and ≥8 were found in 20 cases (37.7%), 21 cases (39.6%) and 10 cases (18.9%) respectively, another 2 cases (3.8%) were pT0 prostate cancer; pathological stages of T0, T2a, T2b, T2c and T3 were found in 2 cases (3.8%), 9 cases (17.0%), 2 cases (3.8%), 29 cases (54.7%) and 11 cases (20.8%) respectively; 11 cases (20.8%) had positive surgical margin, 10 cases (18.9%) had extracapsular invasion of prostate, and 1 case (1.9%) showed seminal vesicle invasion. Forty-two cases (79.2%) had multifocal lesions and 37 cases (69.8%) presented bilateral lesion. Compared with the biopsy Gleason score, the postoperative Gleason score was downgrated in 3 cases (5.7%), unchanged in 28 cases (52.8%), and upgraded in 20 cases (37.7%), of which 2 cases (3.8%) were pT0. Compared with the clinical stage, the postoperative pathological stage decreased in 2 cases (3.8%), unchanged in 10 cases (18.9%), and upgraded in 41 cases (77.4%). According to the postoperative pathology, the patients were divided into two groups: microfocus cancer group (n=8) and non-microfocus cancer group (n=45). The difference between the two groups in the percentage of tumor in the single-needle tissue ≤5% was statistically significant (P=0.014). Other parameter diffe-rences including age, prostate volume, and preoperative prostate special antigen density (PSAD) and Gleason scores were not statistically significant (P>0.05). The method to determine the location of cancer at the apex of prostate according to biopsy results showed 41.4% (12/29) false negative rate and 50.0% (12/24) false positive rate. There was statistically significant difference between the actual cases of lymph node dissection and reserved nerve and the cases of scheme selection in theory according to the postoperative pathology (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The proportion of single needle cancer tissue less than or equal to 5% is a predictor of prostate microfocal cancer. 37.7% cases had pathological upgrading and 77.4% cases had pathological staging upgrading. When choosing the operation scheme, such as sexual nerve reserved, lymph node dissection and apex operation skill, it is necessary to comprehensively analyze multiple factors, such as tumor risk classification, prediction factors of nomogram, multi-parameter MRI and intraoperative situation and so on.

[Analysis of self-control trial results of narrow band imaging and white light in transurethral resection of bladder tumor].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of NBI assisted white light transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) in the treatment of bladder urothelial carcinoma and to summarize the experience of narrow band imaging (NBI) operation. METHODS: Patients with bladder urothelial carcinoma were selected, and TURBT was performed after anesthesia. First of all, the bladder tumor was found and resected under white light. Then we replaced with NBI, looked for suspicious lesions and resected them, The specimens excised under white light and NBI were collected separately. The number, location and pathological results of the lesions under white light were recorded, and the residual lesions under NBI were also recorded. To evaluate the effect of NBI, the ratio of residual bladder tumor was calculated. The cases were divided into three groups according to the time sequence. The clinical data of each group were collected and the learning curve of TURBT under NBI assisted white light was observed. RESULTS: A prospective study of 45 patients with bladder tumor from April 2018 to January 2020, including 32 males and 13 females, aged from 23 to 89 years, with an average age of 65.2 years. All the operations were successfully completed, without obvious complications after operation. Nine cases were single and 36 cases were multiple. The maximum diameter of the tumors was 0.5 to 4.0 cm, with an average of 2.2 cm. The histopathology of the resected tissue under white light was urothelial carcinoma, and 19 cases (42.2%) were pathologically positive by NBI resection. The 45 cases were divided into three groups according to the time sequence, 15 cases in each group. The true positive rate of NBI was 33.3%, 46.7% and 46.7%, respectively, and the false positive rate was 60.0%, 46.7% and 26.7%, respectively in the three groups. CONCLUSION: TURBT is an effective way to treat bladder urothelial cancer, NBI is an effective supplement of white light, which can increase the detection rate of bladder cancer and reduce post-operative recurrence. The NBI light source has a certain learning curve. With the increase of cases, the false-positive rate of NBI is gradually reduced. After the NBI operator has rich experience, the recognition degree of flat tumor is gradually improved under white light, and the residual rate of NBI is reduced after the removal under white light.

[Effect of rational emotive therapy on negative emotion in advanced schistosomiasis patients with repeated hospitalization].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of rational emotive therapy on negative emotions among advanced schistosomiasis patients with repeated hospitalizations. METHODS: A total of 97 advanced schistosomiasis patients with anxiety and depressive emotions that were hospitalized in Xiangyue Hospital of Hunan Institute of Schistosomiasis Control for three times or more were enrolled, and given rational emotive therapy for 4 weeks in addition to routine nursing care. The scores for anxiety, depression and quality of life were estimated in patients before and after the rational emotive therapy using the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SRS), the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and WHOQOL-BREF Form. RESULTS: The SAS and SDS scores were significantly lower 4 weeks following rational emotive therapy than before the intervention (SAS score, 45.40 ± 7.77 vs. 59.25 ± 9.29, t = 14.021, P < 0.01; 51.48 ± 8.01 vs. 63.93 ± 9.59, t = 12.991, P < 0.01). The percentages of patients with moderate and severe anxiety and depression were significantly lower 4 weeks following rational emotive therapy than before the intervention (P < 0.01), and the scores for each item in the quality of life were all significantly greater 4 weeks following rational emotive therapy than before the intervention (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Rational emotive therapy may improve the negative emotions and the quality of life of advanced schistosomiasis patients with repeated hospitalizations.

Efficacy of Natamycin Against Gray Mold of Stored Mandarin Fruit Caused by Isolates of Botrytis cinerea With Multiple Fungicide Resistance.

Gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea is an emerging postharvest disease of mandarin fruit in California. Management of postharvest diseases of mandarins relies on postharvest fungicides; however, multiple resistance to fungicides of different modes of action is common in B. cinerea populations from mandarin, leading to their failure to control decay. Natamycin is commonly used in the food industry as an additive, and it has been registered as a biofungicide for postharvest use on citrus and some other fruits. Sensitivity to natamycin of 64 isolates of B. cinerea from decayed mandarin fruit with known resistance phenotypes to other citrus postharvest fungicides (azoxystrobin, fludioxonil, pyrimethanil, and thiabendazole) was tested. Effective concentrations of natamycin to cause a 50% reduction relative to the control for conidial germination were from 0.324 to 0.567 µg/ml (mean of 0.444 µg/ml), and those for mycelial growth were 1.021 to 2.007 µg/ml (mean of 1.578 µg/ml). Minimum inhibitory concentrations where no fungal growth was present were 0.7 to 1.0 µg/ml for conidial germination and 5.0 to 10.0 µg/ml for mycelial growth. No cross-resistance between natamycin and other citrus postharvest fungicides was detected. Decay control efficacy tests with natamycin were conducted on mandarin fruit inoculated with B. cinerea isolates exhibiting five different fungicide resistance phenotypes, and natamycin significantly reduced incidence and lesion size of gray mold on fruit, regardless of fungicide resistance phenotypes. Natamycin has the potential to be an effective tool for integration into postharvest fungicide programs to control gray mold and manage B. cinerea isolates resistant to fungicides with other modes of action.

[Low power seven-step two-lobe holmium laser enucleation of the prostate technique for surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the seven-step two-lobe holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) technique with low power laser device, and to introduce the detailed operating procedures, key points, short-term outcomes of this modified HoLEP technique. METHODS: From March 2016 to November 2017, 90 patients underwent HoLEP in Peking University Third Hospital. The patients were divided into two groups: high-power group (32 patients) were performed with traditional Gilling's three-lobe enucleation using high power (90 W) laser; Low-power group (58 patients) were performed with seven-step two-lobe enucleation using low power (40 W) laser. The main steps of the low power seven-step two-lobe HoLEP phase included: (1) The identification of the correct plane between adenoma and capsule at 5 and 7 o'clock laterally to the veru montanum; (2) The connection of the bilateral plane by making a adenoma incision at the proximal point of veru montanum; (3) The extension of the dorsal plane under the whole three lobes between adenoma and capsule towards the bladder neck; (4) The separation of the middle lobe from two lateral lobes by making two retrograde incisions separately from apex 5 and 7 o'clock towards the bladder neck; (5) The enucleation of the middle lobe adenoma by extending the dorsal plane through into the bladder; (6) The prevention of the apex mucosa by making a circle incision at the apex of the prostate; (7) The en-bloc enucleation of the two lateral lobe adenomas by extending the lateral and ventral plane between adenoma and capsule from 5 and 7 o'clock to 12 o'clock conjunction and through into the bladder. RESULTS: The mean patient age was (66.25±5.37) years vs. (68.00±5.18) years; The mean body mass indexes were (24.13±4.06) kg/m2 vs. (24.57±3.50) kg/m2; The mean prostate specific antigen values were (3.23±2.47) µg/L vs. (6.00±6.09) µg/L; The average prostatic volumes evaluated by ultrasound was (49.03±20.63) mL vs. (67.55±36.97) mL. There was no significant difference between the two groups. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in terms of perioperative and follow up data, including operative time; enucleation efficiencies; hemoglobin decrease; blood sodium and potassiumthe change postoperatively; catheterization duration and hospital stay; the international prostate symptom scores and quality of life scores pre- and post-operatively. There was 1 transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) conversion in high-power group and 1 transfusion in low-power group during the operations. The follow-up one month after operation showed no severe stress incontinence in both the groups, whereas 3 cases ejaculatory dysfunctions in high-power group versus 1 case in low-power group were observed; Other surgeryrelated complications included: 2 cases postoperative hemorrhage (Clavien II and Clavien IIIb) in high-power group, 2 cases postoperative temperature more than 38 °C (Clavien I) and 1 case dysuria following catheter removal (Clavien I) in low-power group. CONCLUSION: Low power laser device can be applied safe and effectively for HoLEP procedure using the seven-step two-lobe HoLEP technique. The outcomes comparable with high power laser HoLEP can be achieved.

[Application of machine learning models in predicting early stone-free rate after flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy for renal stones].

OBJECTIVE: To establish predictive models based on random forest and XGBoost machine learning algorithm and to investigate their value in predicting early stone-free rate (SFR) after flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy (fURL) in patients with renal stones. METHODS: The clinical data of 201 patients with renal stones who underwent fURL were retrospectively investigated. According to the stone-free standard, the patients were divided into stone-free group (SF group) and stone-residual group (SR group). We compared a number of factors including patient age, body mass index (BMI), stone number, stone volume, stone density and hydronephrosis between the two groups. For low calyceal calculi, renal anatomic parameters including infundibular angle (IPA), infundibular width (IW), infundibular length (IL) and pelvic calyceal height (PCH), would be measured. We brought above potential predictive factors into random forest and XGBoost machine learning algorithm respectively to develop two predictive models. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was established in order to test the predictive ability of the model. Clinical data of 71 patients were collected prospectively to validate the predictive models externally. RESULTS: In this study, 201 fURL operations were successfully completed. The one-phase early SFR was 61.2%. We built two predictive models based on random forest and XGBoost machine learning algorithm. The predictive variables' importance scores were obtained. The area under the ROC curve (AUROC) of the two predictive models for early stone clearance status prediction was 0.77. In the study, 71 test samples were used for external validation. The results showed that the total predictive accuracy, predictive specificity and predictive sensitivity of the random forest and XGBoost models were 75.7%, 82.6%, 60.0%, and 81.4%, 87.0%, 68.0%, respectively. The first four predictive variables in importance were stone volume, mean stone density, maximal stone density and BMI in both random forest and XGBoost predictive models. CONCLUSION: The predictive models based on random forest and XGBoost machine learning algorithm can predict postoperative early stone status after fURL for renal stones accurately, which will facilitate preoperative evaluation and clinical decision-making. Stone volume, mean stone density, maximal stone density and BMI may be the important predictive factors affecting early SFR after fURL for renal stones.

[Application of U-shaped convolutional neural network in auto segmentation and reconstruction of 3D prostate model in laparoscopic prostatectomy navigation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of intraoperative cognitive navigation on laparoscopic radical prostatectomy using 3D prostatic models created by U-shaped convolutional neural network (U-net) and reconstructed through Medical Image Interaction Tool Kit (MITK) platform. METHODS: A total of 5 000 pieces of prostate cancer magnetic resonance (MR) imaging discovery sets with manual annotations were used to train a modified U-net, and a set of clinically demand-oriented, stable and efficient full convolutional neural network algorithm was constructed. The MR images were cropped and segmented automatically by using modified U-net, and the segmentation data were automatically reconstructed using MITK platform according to our own protocols. The modeling data were output as STL format, and the prostate models were simultaneously displayed on an android tablet during the operation to help achieving cognitive navigation. RESULTS: Based on original U-net architecture, we established a modified U-net from a 201-case MR imaging training set. The network performance was tested and compared with human segmentations and other segmentation networks by using one certain testing data set. Auto segmentation of multi-structures (such as prostate, prostate tumors, seminal vesicles, rectus, neurovascular bundles and dorsal venous complex) were successfully achieved. Secondary automatic 3D reconstruction had been carried out through MITK platform. During the surgery, 3D models of prostatic area were simultaneously displayed on an android tablet, and the cognitive navigation was successfully achieved. Intra-operation organ visualization demonstrated the structural relationships among the key structures in great detail and the degree of tumor invasion was visualized directly. CONCLUSION: The modified U-net was able to achieve automatic segmentations of important structures of prostate area. Secondary 3D model reconstruction and demonstration could provide intraoperative visualization of vital structures of prostate area, which could help achieve cognitive fusion navigation for surgeons. The application of these techniques could finally reduce positive surgical margin rates, and may improve the efficacy and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic prostatectomy.

[Clinical study of "point-line-surface-volume" four dimensional holmium laser enucleation of prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia].

Objective: To investigate application value of "point-line-surface-volume" four dimensional holmium laser enucleation of prostate (HoLEP) in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods: From December 2016 to November 2017, the clinical data of 60 cases of BPH with the treatment of "Point-line-surface-volume" four dimensional HoLEP at Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. The age was (73.8±8.0) years (range: 60 to 96 years), body mass index was (23.2±3.6) kg/m(2) (range: 14.9 to 31.1 kg/m(2)), volume of prostate was (64.5±36.9) ml (range: 15.5 to 197.9 ml). All the cases were operated by the same chief surgeon expert in endoscopic surgery. First of all, taking verumontanum as the anchor point, crossing point between the outer 45° line of verumontanum and middle line of the lateral lobe and verumontanum was made as the breakthrough point. The "blasting and paddling" method was used to find prostatic surgery capsule, and the two sides of the capsule plane were connected in front of the verumontanum. Secondly, the plane was maintained by the "fan tunnel" method, and the middle lobe and the lateral lobes were divided at the 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock positions. The glands of the middle lobe were first removed and pushed into the bladder. Then, on the anteroinferior inclined coronal plane through 12 o'clock point right above of verumontanum, the urethral mucosa was cut apart in a semi-curved shape in advance. Bilateral semi-curved incision confluenced above the verumontanum, and extend to the bladder neck to form an inverted Y-shaped groove which completely divided the bilateral lobes. Finally, the bilateral lobes were enucleated respectively, and glands in the bladder were removed by tissue morcellator. Clinical data included operative time, hemoglobin decrease, catheterization duration, postoperative hospital stay, preoperative and postoperative international prostate symptom score and quality of life (QOL) score. The efficiency of enucleation was calculated as prostatic volume divided by enucleation time (not including morcellation time). The efficiency of morcellation was calculated as prostatic volume divided by morcellation time. Paired t-test was used to compare the indexes before and after surgery. Results: All the operations of 60 cases were sumlessful, one of which prostate tissue was removed by conversion to transurethral resection prostate due to malfunction of tissue morcellator. The operative time was (115.2±52.9) minutes (range: 25 to 276 minutes). The enucleation efficiency was (0.81±0.35) ml/minutes (range: 0.17 to 1.58 ml/minutes). The morcellation efficiency was (6.60±4.28) ml/minutes (range: 0.89 to 17.42 ml/minutes). The hemoglobin was decreased by (15.9±12.3) g/L (range:-10 to 57 g/L). Meanwhile, catheterization duration was (5.2±2.9) days (range: 0.8 to 19.8 days), and postoperative hospital stays were (5.0±1.5) days (range: 1.9 to 11.9 days). Preoperative and postoperative IPSS scores (10.92±6.98 vs. 23.37±7.49, t=10.357, P=0.000) and QOL scores (1.75±1.62 vs. 4.53±1.47, t=9.373, P=0.000) were significantly different. Postoperative complications included: 4 cases of fever (greater than 38.5 ℃), 1 case of acute epididymitis, 1 case of bladder mucosal injury, and 1 case of active bleeding need blood transfusion therapy. Conclusion: "Point-line-surface-volume" four dimensional HoLEP is an effective and safe minimally invasive method in the treatment of BPH.

Effect of propofol and sevoflurane anesthesia on postoperative cognitive function and levels of Aß-42 and Tau in patients undergoing hepatectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of propofol and sevoflurane anesthesia on postoperative cognitive function. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical records of 280 patients who underwent hepatectomy in Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital from April 2012 to July 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Among those patients, 135 patients underwent propofol anesthesia (propofol group), and 145 patients under sevoflurane combined anesthesia (sevoflurane group). Hemodynamics was recorded 5 min before the induction of anesthesia (T0), after the induction of anesthesia (T1), at the beginning of the incision (T2), immediately after the incision (T3) and after the end of the surgery (T4). According to the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), patients' cognitive function was evaluated before surgery. The levels of Aß-42 and Tau proteins in the patient's serum were measured. RESULTS: The stability of the mean arterial pressure after induction of anesthesia in the propofol group was higher than that of the sevoflurane group (p<0.05). MMSE scores in the propofol group were higher than those in the sevoflurane group (p<0.05). MMSE scores of patients in both groups 7 days after surgery were higher than those at 3 days after surgery (p<0.05). At 3 and 7 days after surgery, the levels of Aß-42 in the propofol group were lower than those in the sevoflurane group (p<0.05) and the levels of Tau protein in the propofol group were higher than those in the sevoflurane group. The levels of Aß-42 and Tau protein on the 3rd day after surgery in both groups were significantly higher than those before surgery (p<0.05). The Aß-42 levels decreased at 7 days after surgery in both groups (p<0.05). The level of Tau protein on the 7th day after surgery was higher than that before surgery and 3 days after operation (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with sevoflurane anesthesia, propofol may improve postoperative Aß-42 and Tau protein levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, and ameliorate postoperative cognitive function.

Genetic and Pathogenic Characterization of Phacidiopycnis washingtonensis from Apple and Pacific Madrone from the Western United States.

Phacidiopycnis washingtonensis is the cause of speck rot of apple and leaf blight of Pacific madrone in Washington State. In total, 314 isolates were collected from apple production areas in eastern Washington and Pacific madrone in western Washington. Using eight microsatellite markers designed in this study, 58 unique multilocus haplotypes were identified. Only one of the haplotypes was shared between the apple and Pacific madrone populations. Analysis of molecular variance showed no genetic differentiation between the apple and Pacific madrone populations. Genetic variation was present within each subpopulation of apple from different geographic locations. The apple population possessed higher genotypic diversity than the Pacific madrone population, suggesting that isolates from apple may represent an older population and could have been introduced into the native habitat of Pacific madrone. P. washingtonensis likely reproduces asexually because populations examined in this study were not in linkage equilibrium. In pathogenicity tests, representative isolates from apple and Pacific madrone all incited leaf blight on Pacific madrone and speck rot on apple fruit regardless of their host of origin. Overall, our findings indicate that the P. washingtonensis population in Washington State is largely asexual, with high genotypic flow and that apple, crabapple, and Pacific madrone could serve as sources of P. washingtonensis inoculum for these hosts.

Fungicide Resistance in Botrytis cinerea Populations in California and its Influence on Control of Gray Mold on Stored Mandarin Fruit.

Gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea is an emerging postharvest disease affecting stored mandarin fruit in California. To develop effective control programs, fungicide sensitivities to four citrus postharvest fungicides were determined. One hundred B. cinerea isolates each in 2015 and 2016 were obtained from decayed fruit collected within packinghouses and tested for resistance to the fungicides. Sensitivity to azoxystrobin was examined based on the point mutation in the cyt b gene using PCR, while resistance to fludioxonil, pyrimethanil, and thiabendazole was examined on fungicide-amended media. For azoxystrobin, 83 and 98% of the isolates were resistant in 2015 and 2016, respectively. For pyrimethanil, 71 and 93% were resistant in 2015 and 2016, respectively. For thiabendazole, 63 and 68% were resistant in 2015 and 2016, respectively. No fludioxonil resistance was detected in both years. Five fungicide-resistant phenotypes were detected, and the most common phenotype was triple resistance to azoxystrobin, pyrimethanil, and thiabendazole, accounting for 59 and 65% in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Of the 200 B. cinerea isolates, 5, 23.5, and 62% were resistant to one, two, or three classes of fungicides, respectively. Inoculation tests were conducted to evaluate if the fungicides at label rates controlled various resistant phenotypes on fruit. Most fungicides failed to control gray mold on mandarin fruit inoculated with the respective fungicide resistant phenotypes. Our results suggest that alternative control methods need to be integrated into existing decay control programs to target this emerging disease on mandarin fruit.

[Transurethral flexible ureteroscopic holmium laser resection for tumors of renal pelvis: 6 cases report and literature review].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the experience of flexible ureteroscopic holmium laser resection in treatment of renal pelvic carcinoma and to evaluate its value in treatment of renal pelvic carcinoma. METHODS: The clinical data of 6 patients with renal pelvic carcinoma treated in Peking University Third Hospital from January 2015 to January 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The 6 patients were treated by the same experienced urologist and by flexible ureteroscopic holmium laser resection of renal pelvic tumors under general anesthesia. Regarding the intensity of the holmium laser, 10-30 W was generally used with settings of 0.5-1.5 J and 10-20 Hz. In general, a 200 µm end-firing holmium laser fiber was used. Narrow-band imaging (NBI) technique was applicated to search for tumors and check whether the excision was satisfactory. Routine "second flexible ureteroscopy" was performed after 4-6 weeks, and suspected lesions were referred for a biopy, then vaporized and cauterized. The ureteroscopy was examined every 6 months after operation, and color Doppler ultrasound, computed tomography urography (CTU) or magnetic resonance urography (MRU) were performed at the same time. The urine tumor cells were examined for 3 days before the operation, and the urine tumor markers, such as urinary nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP22) were tested. For cases with highisk urothelial carcinoma and normal renal function, and 6 cycles of systemic adjuvant chemotherapy were performed after operation. RESULTS: All of the cases were successfully treated. The data were as follows: the operation time 77.5 min (45-115 min), the blood loss 10 mL (5-20 mL), and hospital stay after surgery 3 days (2-5 days). After 13-34 months' followp, two patients had recurrent tumor recurrence and underwent resection operation. Two patients received systemic adjuvant chemotherapy after operation. Case 5 was histopathologically high grade urothelial carcinoma, and 6 cycles of systemic chemotherapy were given after operation. Local recurrence occurred during chemotherapy, and then endoscopic operation was performed, and no recurrence occurred in the follow-up for 12 months after reoperation. In case 6, the pathology was low grade urothelial carcinoma, but the case was multiple tumors in the right renal calyx and the lower calyx. Then 6 cycles of systemic chemotherapy were given, and no recurrence was found in the followp for 13 months. CONCLUSION: Transurethral flexible ureteroscopic holmium laser resection is relatively safe for the treatment of renal pelvic carcinoma. It is suitable for special cases of solitary kidney and renal dysfunction, as well as for patients with low risk urinary tract epithelial tumors, but the recurrence rate is high, and the indications need to be strictly controlled. Patients with high-risk urothelial carcinoma who underwent endoscopic resection are advised to receive systemic adjuvant gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) regimen after surgery, in order to increase the overall survival rate. Systemic chemotherapy combined with endoscopic operation may become a new treatment for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).

[Perioperative parameters and prognosis analysis of patients aged 80 years or older treated with radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the perioperative outcome, continence recovery and oncologic outcome of Chinese patients aged 80 years or older treated with radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the octogenarian patients who recieved biopsy for prostatic carcinoma and underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy from 2007 to 2016. We collected the data of clinical variables, perioperative parameters and postoperative pathological results for the octogenarian patients. We recorded and analyzed the recovery of urinary continence of the patients 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after surgery. Biochemical progression was defined as postoperative prostate specific antigen (PSA) greater than 2 µg/L for 2 times. We evaluated the non-biochemical recurrence survival rate and overall survival rate by Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis for the patients aged 80 years or older. Multivariable COX regression analyses were used for evaluating the influence factors of biochemical recurrence after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. RESULTS: For all the 51 patients, the average age was (81.6±1.6) years,and prebiopsy PSA was (15.19±13.68) µg/L. There were 14 cases (27.5%), 19 cases (37.3%) and 18 cases (35.3%) for biopsy Gleason score 6, 7 and ≥8. There were 6 patients (11.8%) with clinical stage T1, 31 patients (60.8%) with clinical stage T2 and 14 patients (27.5%) with clinical stage T3. According to American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, grade I was in 6 patients and grade II in 45 patients. All the octogenarian patients received extra-peritoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. The average operation time was (189.6±69.1) min, the estimated blood volume was (169.9±163.5) mL, and 11 patients (21.6%) had perioperative complications. There were 29 cases (56.9%) and 22 cases (43.1%) staged for pT2 and pT3 based on postoperative pathological test. Of the pT3 patients, 18 (35.3%) and 4 (7.8%) were pT3a and pT3b. Eight cases (15.7%) presented Gleason score 6,21 cases (41.1%) 7 and 22 cases(43.1%) ≥8. Fourteen cases were positive surgical margin patients after surgery. Overall, the median follow up was 42 months. The continence rate of the octogenarian patients was 64.7%, 82.4% and 92.2% for 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after the surgery. Twelve cases (23.5%) had biochemical recurrence and 4 cases (7.8%) died in the follow up. There was 1 patient who died of prostate cancer progression and 3 died for other reasons. PSA (P=0.019), pT≥T3 (P=0.017) and positive surgical margin (P=0.020) were independent risk factors for biochemical recurrence of the octogenarian prostate cancer patients according to multivariable COX regression analysis. CONCLUSION: For well selected octogenarian prostate cancer patients, laparoscopic radical prostatectomy was a feasible treatment option. Octogenarian patients who received laparoscopic radical prostatectomy showed good oncologic outcome. PSA, pT≥T3 and positive surgical margin were independent risk factors for biochemical recurrence of octogenarian prostate cancer patients.

[Relationship between recovery of urinary continence after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and prostatic volume and intravesical prostatic protursion length].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between recovery of urinary continence after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) and prostatic volume (PV) and intravesical prostatic protrusion length (IPPL) on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: 88 patients with pathologic confirmed prostate carcinoma who were underwent LRP were included in this study. MRI examination was performed in 1 week before the biopsy. The patients were divided into two groups according to PV (<50 mL, ≥50 mL) on preoperative MRI. The patients were divided into two groups according to IPPL (<5 mm, ≥5 mm), IPPL was measured on MRI as the vertical distance from the tip of the protruding prostate to the base of the urinary bladder. After surgery we recorded and analyzed recovery of urinary continence of the patients for one year. RESULTS: All the 88 patients received extra-peritoneal LRP successfully. The average operation time was (155±67) min, and the estimated blood volume was (145±159) mL. There was a significant difference between group PV<50 mL and ≥50 mL in the operation time (P=0.045). All the patients who underwent MRI preoperatively showed that their mean PV was (44.54±26.58) mL and mean IPPL was (5.2±5.7) mm. The continence rate for all the patients after LRP was 53.4%, 84.1% and 94.3% in their follow-up of 3, 6 and 12 months. Three months after LRP, the continence rate for group PV<50 mL and ≥50 mL were 61.5% and 30.4%, which were completely continent (P=0.010). Six or twelve months after surgery, the continence rate was 87.7% and 73.9% (P=0.120), 96.9% and 87.0% (P=0.076) for group PV<50 mL and ≥50 mL separately. Three months after LRP, the continence rate for group IPPL<5 mm and ≥5 mm were 66.1% and 31.3%, which were completely continent (P=0.002). Six months after surgery, the continence rate was 92.6% and 68.8% (P=0.003), and one year after surgery, the continence rate was 98.2% and 87.5% for group IPPL<5 mm and ≥5 mm separately (P=0.037). There was a significant difference between group PV<50 mL and ≥50 mL in the urinary continence curve (P=0.017), and the same significant difference between group IPPL<5 mm and ≥5 mm (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: The PV and IPPL on preoperative MRI were associated with significantly slower return of urinary continence, especially for early recovery (3 months) of continence after LRP.

[Laparoscopic ureterovesical reimplantation for ureteral stricture after renal transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic ureterovesical reimplantation in the treatment of transplanted ureteral stenosis. METHODS: One case of laparoscopic ureterovesicalre implantation in the treatment of ureteral stenosis after renal transplantation was reported, and related literatures was reviewed. A 54-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with main complaint of hydronephrosis of transplanted kidney for five years after renal transplantation. Her physical examination showed slightly bulging in the transplanted kidney area without tenderness. The magnetic resonance urography (MRU) showed that the transplanted kidney and ureter were dilated obviously, with significant dilatation of renal pelvis and calyx, about 5 cm at the widest point of renal pelvis expansion, and the end of ureter was narrow, without abnormal filling defect in the ureter. The primary diagnosis was distal transplanted ureteral stenosis. After twice endoscopic ureteral dilatation by multi-endoscopic technique, there was no improvement in the hydronephrosis after the removal of the stent. After thorough preoperative preparation, laparoscopic ureterovesical reimplantation was performed under general anesthesia. Firstly, the median umbilical ligament, the lateral umbilical ligament and the peritoneal fold were cut off, and the anterior bladder space was dissociated distally. The space of left side wall of the bladder and the pubic bone was gradually dissociated, and the space of anterior bladder wall and the pubic bone was dissociated. Secondly, the right side wall of the bladder was dissociated from the head to the tail, and the surrounding structure was carefully identified to avoid injury of the ureter of the transplanted kidney. The transplanted ureter was sought between the right side of the bladder and the lower pole of the transplanted kidney. The distal end of the ureter was cut open, and the narrow section was cut off, confirming that no stenosis in the proximal ureter. The ureterocystic anastomosis was performed by Lich-Gregoir method (extra-bladder). Finally, the bladder tissue around the anastomosis site was fixed to the right pelvic wall to reduce tension. RESULTS: The operation was completed successfully, the operation time was 210 min, the amount of bleeding was about 30 mL, and there was no surgical complication. The creatinine was stable after operation, with serum creatinine declining to 68 µmol/L, and serum creatinine 94 µmol/L before operation. The patient was discharged 5 days after operation. After follow-up of 3 months, KUB indicated that the position of ureteral stent was good and the function of renal transplantation was stable. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic ureterovesical reimplantation is a safe and effective treatment for ureteral ureteral stricture after renal transplantation. Compared with open surgery, laparoscopic surgery has less impact on renal renal allograft, with faster recovery, less bleeding, fewer complications, less postoperative pain and minimally invasive wound. This surgical procedure is difficult and requires an experienced urologist with high laparoscopic skills to perform.

[Predicting model based on risk factors for urosepsis after percutaneous nephrolithotomy].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the potential perioperative risk factors that affect the development of urosepsis following percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for upper urinary tract calculi with a regression model, and to develop a nomogram for predicting the probability of postoperative urosepsis after PCNL according to the identified independent risk factors. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data from consecutive 405 cases of upper urinary tract calculi treated by one-phase PCNL between January 2013 and December 2016 in our clinical department. According to whether the patients developed urosepsis or not after the surgery, the patients were divided into two groups. Perioperative risk factors that could potentially contribute to urosepsis were compared between the two groups. By a Logistic regression model, univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were carried out for the occurrence of postoperative urosepsis, to identify the independent risk factors affecting the development of postoperative urosepsis. From this model, a nomogram was built based on regression coefficients. RESULTS: The PCNL procedures of the 405 cases were performed successfully, and there were 32 cases that developed urosepsis after the PCNL, and the incidence of urosepsis was 7.9% (32/405). A multivariate Logistic regression model was built, excluding the factors with values of P>0.05 in the univariate analysis. Multivariable Logistic regression analysis identified the following factors as independent risk factors for urosepsis after PCNL: diabetes mellitus history (OR=4.511, P=0.001), larger stone burden (OR=2.588, P=0.043), longer operation time (OR=2.353, P=0.036), increased irrigation rate (OR=5.862, P<0.001), and infectious stone composition (OR=2.677, P=0.036). The nomogram based on these results was well fitted to predict a probability, and the concordance index (C-index) was 0.834 in the nomogram model sample and 0.802 in the validation sample. CONCLUSION: Diabetes mellitus history, higher stone burden, longer operation time, increased intraoperative irrigation rate, and infectious stone composition are identified as independent risk factors to affect the development of urosepsis after one-phase percutaneous nephrolithotomy for upper urinary tract calculi. A nomogram based on these perioperative clinical independent risk factors for urosepsis could be used to predict the risk of urosepsis following PCNL.

[Application of narrow-band imaging flexible ureteroscopy in the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of upper tract urothelial carcinomas].

Objective: To investigate application value of narrow-band imaging (NBI) flexible ureteroscopy in the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of upper urinary tract transitional carcinomas (UTUC). Methods: From June 2015 to June 2017, 16 patients of UTUC were treated by flexible ureteroscopy with white light (WLI) and NBI at Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital , including 10 females and 6 males. The age of patients ranged from 43 to 84 years (average 68.9 years). There were 54 cases, including 16 cases with first-suspicion of cancer, and 38 cases with known of UTUC as follow-up. Full renal collecting system examination was performed first under WLI and then under NBI by a single urologist, using the URF-V digital flexible ureteroscope. Then number of tumors visualized by WLI and NBI flexible ureteroscopy were imaged, recorded, and then biopsied or subsequently treated by holmium laser resection with pathological examination. The diagnosis results of NBI flexible ureteroscopy were compared with WLI flexible ureteroscopy results. All the patients underwent 2(nd)-look ureteroscopy after 4 to 6 weeks since the first ureteroscopy, and after that follow-up flexible ureteroscopy was every 6 months. Results: All the operations of 54 cases were successful. One case was treated with flexible ureteroscopy and percutaneous nephroscopy to treat the renal pelvis tumors, duo to the multiple and much larger tumors. Subjectively, NBI significantly provided a much clearer view of the tumors, especially their limits and vascular architecture. Objectively, 4 additional tumors (11.5%), as well the extended limits of 3 tumors (8.5%) were detected by NBI when findings by WLI were considered normal. The rate of diagnosis of tumors raised 20.0%. Conclusions: Compared with WLI, NBI flexible ureteroscopy provided even more image of UTUC especially their border between tumor tissue and normal tissue. NBI improved the detection of UTUC over standard WLI with higher rate of diagnosis or lower rate of missed diagnosis.

Control of Bull's-Eye Rot of Apple Caused by Neofabraea perennans and Neofabraea kienholzii Using Pre- and Postharvest Fungicides.

Bull's-eye rot is a major postharvest disease of apple caused by several fungi belonging to the Neofabraea and Phlyctema genera. Chemical control of these fungi is a crucial component of disease management for apples that are conventionally grown. The efficacy of several preharvest and postharvest applied fungicides were evaluated to identify effective chemistries that can control bull's-eye rot incited by Neofabraea perennans and N. kienholzii on apples. In general, the preharvest fungicide thiophanate-methyl was found to be effective at reducing disease caused by N. perennans and N. kienholzii. Two postharvest fungicides, thiabendazole and pyrimethanil, also provided disease control that was far superior to other chemical compounds evaluated in this study. The efficacy of thiabendazole and pyrimethanil was unaffected by application method (fungicide dip compared with thermofog). Despite providing satisfactory control of bull's-eye rot, integration of these three chemicals into disease management programs should proceed judiciously with consideration of their impact on the development of fungicide resistance and influence on diversity in populations of apple postharvest pathogens.