Correction of anterior hypospadias without urethroplasty: glanular rotation procedure (the Hay technique)

Objectives: The aim was to present a simple technique for the correction of anterior hypospadiases without meatal advancement or urethroplasty.Background: Most of the techniques described for the correction of anterior hypospadias had the risk of complications: recession, flaying of the glans, fistula, and meatal stenosis that is not accepted when dealing with a trivial anomaly that is done only for cosmetic correction. A simple technique for correcting granular and some forms of coronal hypospadias without meatal advancement or urethroplasty is presented.Patients and methods: From June 2013 to June 2016, 183 patients presented for surgical repair of glanular or coronal hypospadias. The technique of glanular rotation procedure (GRP) was applied only for those cases that matched the criteria settled after degloving of the penis with an incision made 2mm proximal to the meatus touching the glans on both sides for 3–4 mm. Once the uppermost part of the meatus is at the same line with the upper end of the glans on both sides, the technique is applicable. The patients were followed in the OPD for 1 year after the repair for the evaluation of the results of the technique: the urinary stream, meatal size and position, presence of fistula, and the final cosmetic appearance.Results: Ninety-eight out of 183 (53.6%) boys had matched the criteria for application of the GRP technique. Their age ranged from 6 months to 3 years. All but three had an apical, slit-like meatus with good stream without stenosis and 2–3mm glans tissue encircling the ventral side of the meatus. Four cases had complications in the form of meatal stenosis in two cases, disruption of the glans in one case, and coronal fistula in one case. The overall complication rate was 4.1%.Conclusion: In properly selected cases, GRP is a simple efficient technique that has the advantage of reconstructing the glans over the urethra without the need of meatal advancement or urethroplasty.Keywords: coronal hypospadias, glanular hypospadias, without urethroplast

Using the renal pelvis flap to replace the whole hypoplastic ureter: a preliminary report

Background Hypoplastic ureter is a rare condition usually associated with hypoplastic kidney, and it ends with nephrectomy in most of the cases. Many techniques have been described as ureteric substitutes in the literature. Here, we describe a new technique using the renal pelvis flap to replace the whole hypoplastic ureter in two cases. Objective The aim of this study was to describe a new surgical technique in the management of ureteric hypoplasia.Patients and methods Of the two boys diagnosed antenatally, unilateral hydronephrosis was detected in one boy and a huge renal cyst was present in the other, with evidence of postnatal progressive obstruction necessitating surgical intervention. On exploration, hypoplastic ureter throughout its entire length was an accidental intraoperative finding. The renal pelvis flap was taken and tubularized to replace the entire ureter, and reimplanted into the urinary bladder. This technique was the primary procedure in one case, whereas it was the secondary procedure in the other case after failure of initial trial of pyeloplasty.Results The postoperative period was uneventful with adequate drainage of the renal pelvis in the short-term follow-up (6 and 3 months consecutively).Conclusion The renal pelvis flap is a new feasible alternative procedure for ureteric replacement in a hypoplastic ureter when there is preserved renal parenchyma.Keywords: renal pelvis flap, ureteral hypoplasia, ureteric replacemen

Haematological and biochemical blood profile of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) cultured in ponds of different water depth and fed sinking versus floating diet

This study contributes data on haematological and biochemical parameters of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. It employed a 3 × 2 factorial design with three ponds of different water depth (0.5, 1 and 1.5 m) and two types of feed (floating and sinking). Twelve earthen ponds (1 m x 2 m) were stocked with 16 fingerlings catfish each (mean weight ~100g) and their blood parameters were monitored over 12 weeks. Differences in hematological parameters related to water depth were mostly significant, and better results were recorded in fish reared in shallower water ponds. Feed type showed improved hematological parameters with using of sinking diet. Most biochemical parameters showed significant differences in pond waters depth and feed type with better results coincided with rearing fish in shallower water depth and with sinking feed. Conclusively, culturing Catfish in shallow ponds (0.5 m) and use of sinking feed improve physiological response and health condition

HPLC-DAD stability indicating determination of nizatidine in bulk and capsules dosage form

AbstractThis work describes the stability-indicating determination of the H2-receptor antagonist nizatidine in its bulk and capsules dosage form using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). The developed method involved the use of Thermo Hypersil BDS-C8 (4.6×250mm, 5μm particle size) column and a mobile phase composed of 0.05M phosphoric acid and acetonitrile (50:50, v/v). The mobile phase was pumped at a flow rate of 1mL/min. Quantification of nizatidine was based on measuring its peak area at 320nm. The retention time for nizatidine was about 3.61min. The reliability and analytical performance of the proposed HPLC procedure were statistically validated with respect to linearity, range, precision, accuracy, specificity, robustness, detection and quantification limits. Calibration curve of nizatidine was linear in the range of 5–50μg/mL with correlation coefficient >0.9999. The drug was subjected to forced-degradation conditions of acidic and basic hydrolysis, oxidation, dry heat and UV photolysis where it showed considerable degradation in basic and oxidative conditions. The proposed method proved to be specific and stability-indicating by resolution of the drug from its forced-degradation products. The validated HPLC method was applied to the analysis of nizatidine in capsules dosage form where it was quantified with recoveries not less than 98.2%. Assay results were statistically compared to USP 2011 pharmacopeial method where no significant difference was observed between the proposed and reference methods

The effects of rearing water depths and feed types on the growth performance of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) has been growing in popularity as a culture species globally. Although considerable research has been carried out on this species’ feeding preferences, no research has been carried out on optimum water level for growth. This is particularly surprising given this species' benthic nature. This study assessed the effect of different combinations of water levels and types of feed on the growth performance of African catfish. The study employed a 3 × 2 factorial design with three ponds of different water levels (0.5, 1 and 1.5 m) and two types of feeds (floating and sinking). Twelve earthen ponds (1 × 2 m) were each stocked with 16 catfish fingerlings (mean weight ~100 g), and their growth was monitored for 12 weeks. The fish cultured in the shallowest water grew significantly faster than those cultured in the deepest ponds. At the same time, fish cultured in the shallowest ponds had the lowest feed intake rates and consequently the lowest feed conversion ratios. Catfish fed sinking pellets grew faster than those fed floating pellets although the difference was not significant. There was no significant interaction between pond water depth and feed type. The results of this study suggest that the growth and feeding efficiency of C. gariepinus can be optimized by culturing in fairly shallow ponds (0.5 m)

Predicted distribution and burden of podoconiosis in Cameroon

Introduction: Understanding the number of cases of podoconiosis, its geographical distribution and the population at risk are crucial to estimating the burden of this disease in endemic countries. We assessed each of these using nationwide data on podoconiosis prevalence in Cameroon. Methods: We analysed data arising from two cross-sectional surveys in Cameroon. The dataset was combined with a suite of environmental and climate data and analysed within a robust statistical framework, which included machine learning-based approaches and geostatistical modelling. The environmental limits, spatial variation of predicted prevalence, population at risk and number of cases of podoconiosis were each estimated. Results: A total of 214,729 records of individuals screened for podoconiosis were gathered from 748 communities in all 10 regions of Cameroon. Of these screened individuals, 882 (0.41%; 95%CI 0.38-0.44) were living with podoconiosis. High environmental suitability for podoconiosis was predicted in three regions of Cameroon (Adamawa, North West and North). The national population living in areas environmentally suitable for podoconiosis was estimated at 5.2 (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 4.7-5.8) million, which corresponds to 22.3% of Cameroon’s population in 2015. Countrywide, in 2015, the number of adults estimated to be suffering from podoconiosis was 41,556 (95% CI, 1,170- 240,993). Four regions (Central, Littoral, North and North West) contributed 61.2% of the cases. Conclusion: In Cameroon, podoconiosis is more widely distributed geographically than was initially expected. The number of cases and the population at risk are considerable. Expanding morbidity management and follow up of cases is of utmost necessity. Promotion of footwear use and regular foot hygiene should be at the forefront of any intervention plan

Ethical, legal and social aspects of the approach in Sudan

The global malaria situation, especially in Africa, and the problems frequently encountered in chemical control of vectors such as insecticide resistance, emphasize the urgency of research, development and implementation of new vector control technologies that are applicable at regional and local levels. The successful application of the sterile insect technique (SIT) for the control of the New World screwworm Cochliomyia hominivorax and several species of fruit flies has given impetus to the use of this method for suppression or elimination of malaria vectors in some areas of Africa including Northern State of Sudan. The research and development phase of the Northern State feasibility study has been started. Sudanese stakeholders are working side-by-side with the International Atomic Energy Agency in the activities of this important phase. Several ethical, legal and social issues associated with this approach arose during this phase of the project. They need to be seriously considered and handled with care. In this paper, these issues are described, and the current and proposed activities to overcome potential hurdles to ensure success of the project are listed

Geophysical and geochemical survey of a large marine pockmark on the Malin Shelf, Ireland

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2012. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 13 (2012): Q01011, doi:10.1029/2011GC003787.Marine pockmarks are a specific type of seabed geological setting resembling craters or pits and are considered seabed surface expressions of fluid flow in the subsurface. A large composite pockmark on the Malin Shelf, off the northern coast of Ireland was surveyed and ground truthed to assess its activity and investigate fluid related processes in the subsurface. Geophysical (including acoustic and electromagnetic) data confirmed the subsurface presence of signatures typical of fluids within the sediment. Shallow seismic profiling revealed a large shallow gas pocket and typical gas related indicators such as acoustic blanking and enhanced reflectors present underneath and around the large pockmark. Sulphate profiles indicate that gas from the shallow reservoir has been migrating upwards, at least recently. However, there are no chimney structures observed in the sub-bottom data and the migration pathways are not apparent. Electromagnetic data show slightly elevated electrical conductivity on the edges of the pockmarks and a drop below regional levels within the confines of the pockmark, suggesting changes in physical properties of the sediment. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) experiments were employed to characterize the organic component of sediments from selected depths. Very strong microbial signatures were evident in all NMR spectra but microbes outside the pockmark appear to be much more active than inside. These observations coincide with spikes in conductivity and the lateral gas bearing body suggesting that there is an increase in microbial activity and biomass when gas is present.We wish to thank the Geological Survey of Ireland, the INtegrated Mapping FOr the Sustainable Development of Ireland’s MArine Resource (INFOMAR) program, the Irish Environmental Protection Agency, Science Foundation of Ireland, QUESTOR (Queens University Belfast) and the Irish Council for Science, engineering and technology for funding this research. AJS thanks NSERC, (Strategic and Discovery Programs), the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), and the Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI) for providing Canadian funding. The survey data utilized in the research has been co‐funded by the Geological Survey of Ireland and the Offshore Irish Petroleum Infrastructure Programme (PIP; Ref. No: IS05/16 Malin Basin EM).2012-07-1