Intravesical electromotive drug administration of mitomycin-C for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer

This article reviews intravesical application of electromotive drug administration (EMDA) for the treatment of bladder cancer and the evidence in support of intravesical passive diffusion chemotherapy in the management of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Two recently published randomised trials adopting protocols that use EMDA to enhance urothelial transport of intravesical mitomycin-C showed it provided a therapeutical advantage and suggested that intravesical passive diffusion administration of chemothera-peutic drugs may be suboptimal. Further studies are required to demonstrate feasibility and advantage of intravesical EMDA of mitomycin-C in the wider uro-oncological community

Analysis on existent thermal insulating plasters towards innovative applications: evaluation methodology for a real cost-performance comparison

Thermal insulating plasters are an important means to face the energy efficiency issues in building field, above all in renovation processes. New solutions, such as nanotechnology or aerogel based plasters, could make a significant contribution to this field, reaching higher level of thermal performance and reducing needed thickness. But, in order to be really suitable for the market, new plaster solutions have to answer to specific economical and technical needs. This research provides an overall analysis of thermal insulating plasters in European market, comparing existing products according to technical specifications and economical features The main goal of this survey is to drive researches in thermal plasters fields towards innovative application, creating new plasters able to meets real market and end-users demands. Technical cross assessment considers three main factors, defined according to European standards: volume mass powder, dry bulk density of hardened mortar and thermal conductivity. Benchmarking analysis compares prices per unit, in order to relate material quantity to the achieving of common Rx value. Cross assessments results allow to define thermal, technical and economical requirements that new thermal insulating plasters have to meet to be suitable for European volume market

Medusae (Scyphozoa and cubozoa) from southwestern atlantic and subantarctic region (32-60°s, 34-70°W): Species composition, spatial distribution and life history traits

In this study, we reported the species composition and spatial distribution of Scyphomedusae and Cubomedusae from the southwestern Atlantic and Subantarctic region and reviewed the available knowledge of life history traits of these species. We gathered the literature records and presented new information collected from oceanographic and fishery surveys carried out between 1981 and 2017, encompassing an area of approximately 6,7 million km2 (32-60°S, 34-70°W). We confirmed the occurrence of 15 scyphozoans and 1 cubozoan species previously reported in the region. Lychnorhiza lucerna and Chrysaora lactea were the most numerous species, reaching the highest abundances/biomasses during summer/autumn period. Desmonema gaudichaudi, Chrysaora plocamia, and Periphylla periphylla were frequently observed in low abundances, reaching high numbers only occasionally. Phacellophora camtschatica, Aurelia sp., Drymonema gorgo, Atolla chuni, Stygiomedusa gigantea and Pelagia cf. noctiluca were observed always in low numbers. Atolla wyvillei, Stomolophus meleagris, Desmonema comatum and Tamoya haplonema were reported just a few times and mostly individually. Although new species/reports can be found as surveys are undertaken, these results are considered to be the reliable baseline for further ecological studies seeking to understand the ecological role that these jellyfish play in marine ecosystems.Fil: Schiariti, Agustin. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones y Desarrollo Pesquero; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Dutto, María Sofía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía; ArgentinaFil: Pereyra, Daiana Yanel. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones y Desarrollo Pesquero; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Siquier, Gabriela Failla. Universidad de la República; Uruguay. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Ciencias. Departamento de Biología Animal. Laboratorio de Zoología de Invertebrados ; UruguayFil: Morandini, André C.. Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto de Biociências. Departamento de Zoología; Brasi

Gamete quality and management for in vitro fertilisation in meagre (Argyrosomus regius)

The aquaculture of meagre (Argyrosomus regius) requires methods for the control of reproduction that enable the production of families from specific individuals for selective breeding programs. We experimentally determined the parameters required for an in vitro fertilisation protocol. A total of 14 females and 5 males (mean ± S.D. weights of 20.45 ± 6.22 and 15.94 ± 2.75 kg, respectively) were used. Selected females had vitellogenic oocytes >550 μm in diameter and males had fluid sperm upon application of abdominal pressure. Both sexes were treated with an injection of 15 μg kg−1 of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) to induce oocyte maturation/ovulation and enhance sperm production. To determine the timing of ovulation and window of high egg viability, females were stripped serially every 2.5 h beginning 35 h after GnRHa treatment. Sperm was obtained 24 h after GnRHa treatment and was diluted 1/4 in modified Leibovitz for storage at 4 °C until use. Sperm quality parameters such as percentage initial spermatozoa motility, duration of motility, velocity and density were determined using computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA). In vitro inseminations were made in duplicate or triplicate batches of eggs from each spawn by mixing 0.5–1 mL of eggs, 20–40 μL diluted sperm (pooled from two males) and 100 mL of seawater. Fertilisation success was examined at spermatozoa (spz): egg ratios between ~2000 and 400,000 spz egg−1. The optimal time for stripping ovulated females was ≤3 h after ovulation, which was the window of optimal egg viability. Ovulation under the conditions of this study was close to 38 h after GnRHa treatment, with a range from 35 to 41 h. Beginning from 3 h after ovulation, egg viability declined probably due to overripening. Sperm diluted in Leibovitz maintained motility and velocity for as long as 7 h after collection. Spermatozoa motility (%) and average path velocity (VAP, μm/s) of sperm samples obtained from males before GnRHa injection declined rapidly after activation compared to the samples obtained 24 h post-injection, with significant decreases respectively after 75 and 45 s. A minimum ratio of 150,000 spermatozoa egg−1 was necessary to ensure high fertilisation success. The acquired knowledge of the present study will aid the aquaculture industry and future research on selective breeding programs for meagre.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Gait Analysis through a visual method to calculate temporal parameters: comparison of performance between the gait laboratory and the clinical setting

Analysis of human movement providessystematic and quantitative information of movement. The detection of eventsthat occur during walking allows for the calculation of spatiotemporalparameters, commonly used for the characterization of gait. A method for visualdetection of gait events was previously evaluated, showing promising results.The method should now be used in the clinical setting for estimation of gaitparameters and symmetry. The aims of this study were then to compare theperformance of the visual method in a clinical setting against its performancein a gait laboratory and to evaluate its behavior for calculation of gaitsymmetry in eight healthy subjects. Two gait events were detected and sixtemporal parameters (TP) were calculated. Also, a symmetry index (SI) wascalculated for three TP. Results for the calculation of TP in the clinicalsetting were comparable to those obtained in the gait laboratory. Also, thevalues of TP and symmetry were within the range of those reported by otherauthors. These results suggest that the visual events detection method can beconsidered as an option for basic Analysis of Human Movement in the clinicalenvironment.Fil: de Grucci, Carla. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Bonell, C. E.. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos; ArgentinaFil: Dutto, César Ignacio. Hospital Integral del Discapacitado Dr. Vera Candioti; ArgentinaFil: Barrera, Verónica. Hospital Integral del Discapacitado Dr. Vera Candioti; ArgentinaFil: Bernal, Cecilia. Hospital Integral del Discapacitado Dr. Vera Candioti; ArgentinaFil: Catalfamo Formento, Paola Andrea Lucia. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Bioingeniería y Bioinformática - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Bioingeniería y Bioinformática; Argentin

Risk factors for peri-operative high-grade complications in patients with prostate cancer treated with robotic radical prostatectomy

Aim of our study was to evaluate the risk factors for high-grade complications (Clavien Classification System ≥3a) in patients treated with with robotic assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Between 2012 and 2017, a consecutive series of patients with prostate cancer were treated with robotic radical prostatectomy (RRP). Demographic, clinical and histological characteristics of the patients were recorded. Histological specimens were graded according to the new PGG classification. Complications were classified according to the modified Clavien classification system (CCS). Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the risk of high grade complications (CCS>3a)