Background: Corpus cavernosum (CC) fibrosis significantly contributes to post–radical prostatectomy erectile dysfunction (pRP-ED). Caveolin-1 scaffolding domain (CSD)–derived peptide has gained significant concern as a potent antagonist of tissue fibrosis. However, applying CSD peptide on bilateral cavernous nerve injury (BCNI)–induced rats remains uninvestigated. Aim: The aim was to explore the therapeutic outcome and underlying mechanism of CSD peptide for preventing ED in BCNI rats according to the hypothesis that CSD peptide may exert beneficial effects on erectile tissue and function following BCNI through limiting collagen synthesis in CC smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs) and CC fibrosis. Methods: After completing a random assignment of male Sprague Dawley rats (10 weeks of age), BCNI rats received either saline or CSD peptide treatment, as opposed to sham-operated rats. The evaluations of erectile function (EF) and succedent collection and histological and molecular biological examinations of penile tissue were accomplished 3 weeks postoperatively. In addition, the fibrotic model of CCSMCs was used to further explore the mechanism of CSD peptide action in vitro. Outcomes: The assessments of EF, SMC/collagen ratio, α-smooth muscle actin, caveolin-1 (CAV1), and profibrotic indicators expressions were conducted. Results: BCNI rats exhibited significant decreases in EF, SMC/collagen ratio, α-SMA, and CAV1 levels, and increases in collagen content together with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1/Smad2 activity. However, impaired EF, activated CC fibrosis, and Smad2 signaling were attenuated after 3 weeks of CSD peptide treatment in BCNI rats. In vitro, TGF-β1–induced CCSMCs underwent fibrogenetic transformation characterized by lower expression of CAV1, higher collagen composition, and phosphorylation of Smad2; then, the delivery of CSD peptide could significantly block CCSMC fibrosis by inactivating Smad2 signaling. Clinical Implications: Based on available evidence of CSD peptide in the prevention of ED in BCNI rats, this study can aid in the development and clinical application of CSD peptide targeting pRP-ED. Strengths and Limitations: This study provides data to suggest that CSD peptide protects against BCNI-induced deleterious alterations in EF and CC tissues. However, the available evidence still does not fully clarify the detailed mechanism of action of CSD peptide. Conclusion: Administration of CSD peptide significantly retarded collagen synthesis in CCSMCs, limited CC fibrosis, and prevented ED via confrontation of TGF-β1/Smad signaling in BCNI rats.

Background: Kidney stones are a significant health concern in the United States, and their increasing prevalence is linked to increasing obesity rates. This study aimed to assess the trends in kidney stone prevalence among U.S. adults with obesity from 2007 to 2020 using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional analysis used anonymized NHANES data from six cycles (2007–2020). Prevalences were estimated using NHANES sample weights; age-standardized prevalences were determined using 2020 census data. Survey-weighted multivariate logistic regression and linear regression models were used to assess risk factors and trends, respectively. Subgroup analyses were performed according to sex, race/ethnicity, and poverty-income ratio (PIR). Results: The overall age-standardized prevalence of kidney stones increased from 9.4% (2007–2008) to 10.2% (2017–2020). The prevalence among individuals with obesity significantly increased from 11.0% to 12.5% ( P for trend = 0.035). The prevalence of kidney stones in females with obesity significantly increased from 8.8% to 11.5% ( P for trend = 0.042), whereas males with obesity showed a slight increase (13.4% to 14.0%). Racial/ethnic disparities were evident among those with obesity: non-Hispanic Whites showed a modest increase (12.4% to 14.2%), Hispanics exhibited a notable increase (7.5% to 10.9%; P for trend = 0.017), and non-Hispanic Blacks had a stable prevalence that increased slightly (5.9% to 6.8%; P for trend = 0.304). The prevalence increased (10.2% to 12.9%; P for trend = 0.051) among individuals with obesity and high PIRs and decreased (12.8% to 11.4%) among those with low PIRs. Conclusions: This study highlights an upward trend in the prevalence of kidney stones among U.S. adults with obesity, from 2007 to 2020. Our findings emphasize the need for targeted public health strategies to address this issue, especially among populations at higher risk due to obesity and socioeconomic factors.

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) seriously affects patients’ daily lives. Early identification of risk factors for SUI has positive social and clinical significance. This study aimed to develop and externally validate predictive models for female SUI using clinical data and pelvic floor ultrasound (PFU) parameters through multivariate logistic regression (MLR) and the C5.0 decision tree (DTC5.0). The training cohort comprised basic data and PFU parameters from 291 patients across two hospitals. Risk factors for SUI were identified through differential analysis and incorporated into MLR and DTC5.0 models to predict SUI risk. An external validation cohort of 115 patients was obtained via telephone follow-up. Model performance was evaluated and compared in terms of the AUC, accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, Youden index, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV). Both models identified five key predictors: vaginal delivery, hysterectomy, bladder neck mobility, urethral funnel formation, and perineal body hypermobility. In the training cohort, the MLR model achieved an AUC of 0.873 (95% CI: 0.832–0.915), with an accuracy of 80.4% (75.8%–85.0%), a sensitivity of 90.6% (85.9%–95.5%), a specificity of 71.1% (63.9%–78.3%), a Youden index of 61.7% (53.2%–70.4%), a PPV of 74.1% (67.5%–80.7%), and an NPV of 89.3% (83.8%–94.8%) at the optimal cut-off. The DTC5.0 model yielded an AUC of 0.873 (0.832–0.913), with an accuracy of 80.4% (75.8%–85.0%), a sensitivity of 84.9% (79.0%–90.8%), a specificity of 76.3% (69.6%–83.0%), a Youden index of 61.2% (52.2%–70.2%), a PPV of 76.6% (69.9%–83.3%), and an NPV of 84.7% (78.7%–90.7%). In the validation cohort, the AUC was 0.775 (0.686–0.864) for MLR and 0.719 (0.624–0.813) for DTC5.0. Both MLR and the DTC5.0 show similar efficacy in predicting SUI risk. The MLR model, which incorporates PFU and clinical characteristics, may be more suitable for the clinical screening of high-risk SUI women because of its greater generalizability.

Overactive bladder (OAB) impairs quality of life and may increase mortality risk. Physical activity (PA) is a modifiable behavior that could protect agains