Daniel A. Wollin¹, Fang-Ming Deng², William C. Huang¹, James S. Babb³, Andrew B. Rosenkrantz³

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.21, No.5, pp. 7454-7459, 2014

Abstract Introduction: To compare qualitative and quantitative imaging features from conventional and diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detection of metastatic pelvic lymph nodes in bladder cancer patients undergoing cystectomy.
Materials and methods: Thirty-six patients who had undergone cystectomy for bladder cancer with preoperative MRI with DWI sequence prior to surgery were included. Imaging features on conventional and DW-MRI were compared with histopathology at cystectomy.
Results: Nodal features associated with metastatic lymphadenopathy were short axis (AUC = 0.85, p < 0.001; when SA > 5 mm: sensitivity = 88%, specificity = 75%), long axis (AUC =… More >

R. Jegadeeshwaran¹, V. Sugumaran², K.P. Soman³

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.10, No.1, pp. 81-97, 2014, DOI:10.3970/sdhm.2014.010.081

Abstract In automobile, brake system is an essential part responsible for control of the vehicle. Vibration signals of a rotating machine contain the dynamic information about its health condition. Many research papers have reported the suitability of vibration signals for fault diagnosis applications. Many of them are based on (Fast Fourier Transform) FFT, which have their own drawback with nonstationary signals. Hence, there is a need for development of new methodologies to infer diagnostic information from such non stationary signals. This paper uses vibration signals acquired from a hydraulic brake system under good and simulated faulty… More >

Akhil Muralidharan^1,2, V. Sugumaran¹, K.P Soman³, M. Amarnath⁴

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.10, No.1, pp. 55-80, 2014, DOI:10.3970/sdhm.2014.010.055

Abstract Gears are machine elements that transmit motion by means of successively engaging teeth. In purely scientific terms, gears are used to transmit motion. A faulty gear is a matter of serious concern as it affects the functionality of a machine to a great extent. Thus it is essential to diagnose the faults at an initial stage so as to reduce the losses that might be incurred. This necessitates the need for continuous monitoring of the gears. The vibrations produced by gears from good and simulated faulty conditions can be effectively used to detect the faults… More >

Christopher Whelan¹, Laura Crocitto¹, Mark Kawachi¹, Kevin Chan¹, David Smith², Timothy Wilson¹, Steven Smith^1,3

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.20, No.1, pp. 6597-6602, 2013

Abstract Introduction: In patients with prostate cancer, luminal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) enters the circulation because the basement membrane and glandular epithelium are damaged. Given that excess mobilization of prostate cells during prostatic massage can influence normalization in diagnostic testing, we studied PSA mRNA levels in expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) from patients undergoing biopsy for prostate cancer to determine if prostate cells are preferentially mobilized from patients with prostate cancer during prostatic massage.
Materials and methods: Quantitative Reverse-Transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to measure the RNA levels of GAPDH, PSA, TMPRSS2:ERG and PCA3 in EPS specimens obtained from patients… More >

Ryan P. Kopp^1,2, Lejla Aganovic^3,4, Kerrin L. Palazzi¹, Fiona H. Cassidy^3,4, Kyoko Sakamoto^1,2, Ithaar H. Derweesh^1,2

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.20, No.3, pp. 6790-6797, 2013

Abstract Introduction: To further elucidate potential patterns of contrast enhancement for renal neoplasm subtypes, we investigated the utility of a contrast washout formula to differentiate renal tumor histology after multiphase computerized tomography (CT).
Materials and methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study of 163 patients with multiphase CT for renal masses obtained from October 2007 to July 2012. Pathology confirmed clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CC-RCC; n = 92), papillary (Pa-RCC; n = 43), chromophobe (Ch-RCC; n = 6), oncocytoma (OC; n = 11), or angiomyolipoma (AML; n = 11) histology. Two radiologists in consensus, blinded to histology, recorded… More >

Priya N. Werahera^1,2, E. David Crawford³, Francisco G. La Rosa¹, Kathleen C. Torkko¹, Beth Schulte⁴, Holly T. Sullivan¹, Adrie van Bokhoven¹, M. Scott Lucia¹, Fernando J. Kim⁴

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.20, No.5, pp. 6897-6906, 2013

Abstract Introduction: Prostate biopsies are usually taken from the peripheral rather than anterior region of the prostate. Consequently, tumors originating from the anterior apical region and transition zones may be under-sampled. We examined whether addition of transrectal anterior biopsy (TAB) would improve efficacy of prostate biopsies.
Materials and methods: Simulations of TAB and sextant biopsy (SB) were performed using computer models of 86 autopsy prostates (AP) and 40 radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens. TAB was obtained bilaterally from apex, mid, and base regions by advancing the biopsy needle 5 mm-35 mm beyond the prostatic capsule. A phase I clinical… More >

Dongyue Gao¹, Yishou Wang¹, Zhanjun Wu¹, Rahim Gorgin¹

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.9, No.3, pp. 233-252, 2013, DOI:10.32604/sdhm.2013.009.233

Abstract In this study, a Lamb wave-based damage extension diagnosis method to monitor the damage on typical structures of composite aircraft is proposed. First, an overview of the damage extension diagnosis method is given. In the method, probability-based damage diagnostic imaging was combined with empirical threshold value to distinguish damage location and estimate damage size in damage extension process. To validate the effectiveness of method, extension diagnosis of simulate delamination damage in typical structure on aircraft were processed. To illustrate the capability of the damage extension diagnostic method, a delamination growth monitoring experiment was performed in More >

Tony Mazzulli^1,2

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.19, Suppl.5, pp. 42-48, 2012

Abstract Urinary tract infections (UTIs) remain a common clinical problem in both the community and healthcare-associated settings. Each patient should be carefully assessed to ensure that a correct diagnosis is made and that antimicrobial therapy is appropriately prescribed—defined as using a clinically indicated agent in the correct dose and route of administration, for the correct duration—for symptomatic patients, and avoided for most asymptomatic patients. This should help stem the growing tide of antimicrobial resistance and allow for the continued use of simpler, less expensive agents. Continued surveillance and monitoring of antimicrobial resistance rates will be critical More >

Alvaro Morales, Christine P. Collier, Albert F. Clark

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.19, No.3, pp. 6314-6318, 2012

Abstract The biochemical diagnosis of male hypogonadism remains a controversial issue. The problem is compounded by the variety of laboratory assays available to measure serum testosterone (T) and the limited understanding, among clinicians, of their relative diagnostic validity. It is widely accepted that only the testosterone not bound to sex hormone-binding globulin is metabolically active. Therefore, for diagnostic purposes, it is common practice to order the measurement of free T (FT) or bioavailable T (BAT).
Our objective is to describe the methods available for measuring FT and to review the literature to determine the relevance of… More >

Stavros Gravas, Kostas Efstathiou, Ioannis Zachos, Michael D. Melekos, Vassilios Tzortzis

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.19, No.3, pp. 6269-6273, 2012

Abstract Introduction: To assess the learning curve for fluorescence cystoscopy using hexaminolevulinate hydrochloride (HAL) in patients with bladder cancer.
Material and methods: Fifty patients underwent bladder instillation with HAL. Two senior residents separately inspected the bladder using white light cystoscopy, followed by fluorescence cystoscopy, and mapped the lesions. An experienced photodynamic diagnosis (PDD)-trained urologist also performed both cystoscopies, mapped and resected or cold biopsied suspect lesions under the supervision of another experienced urologist. To evaluate the learning curve, patients were divided into five subgroups: group 1 (patients 1–10), group 2 (11–20), group 3 (21–30), group 4 (31–40), and… More >