Comparison between Two Different Two-Stage Transperineal Approaches to Treat Urethral Strictures or Bladder Neck Contracture Associated with Severe Urinary Incontinence that Occurred after Pelvic Surgery: Report of Our Experience

Introduction. The recurrence of urethral/bladder neck stricture after multiple endoscopic procedures is a rare complication that can follow prostatic surgery and its treatment is still controversial. Material and Methods. We retrospectively analyzed our data on 17 patients, operated between September 2001 and January 2010, who presented severe urinary incontinence and urethral/bladder neck stricture after prostatic surgery and failure of at least four conservative endoscopic treatments. Six patients underwent a transperineal urethrovesical anastomosis and 11 patients a combined transperineal suprapubical (endoscopic) urethrovesical anastomosis. After six months the patients that presented complete incontinence and no urethral stricture underwent the implantation of an artificial urethral sphincter (AUS). Results. After six months 16 patients were completely incontinent and presented a patent, stable lumen, so that they underwent an AUS implantation. With a mean followup of 50.5 months, 14 patients are perfectly continent with no postvoid residual urine. Conclusions. Two-stage procedures are safe techniques to treat these challenging cases. In our opinion, these cases could be managed with a transperineal approach in patients who present a perfect operative field; on the contrary, in more difficult cases, it would be preferable to use the other technique, with a combined transperineal suprapubical access, to perform a pull-through procedure

Prototecosis canina: primer reporte en Argentina

La prototecosis es una enfermedad infecciosa causada por algas del género Prototheca, que afecta a animales y seres humanos. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue reportar un caso de prototecosis en una perra bulldog francés de 3 años oriunda de la ciudad de Mar del Plata, Argentina, con antecedentes de diarrea hemorrágica crónica sin respuesta al tratamiento convencional. La citología de mucosa rectal y las biopsias endoscópicas mostraron abundantes organismos levaduriformes compatibles con Prototheca zopfii. Se detallan los hallazgos clínicos, endoscópicos, citológicos e histopatológicos. De acuerdo a la investigación efectuada por los autores, este es el primer caso de prototecosis canina reportado en la Argentina

Potential of the marine diatom Halamphora coffeaeformis to simultaneously produce omega-3 fatty acids, chrysolaminarin and fucoxanthin in a raceway pond

Omega-3 eicosapentaenoic fatty acid (C20:5; EPA), β-glucan and fucoxanthin have received widespread attention owing to their potential industrial applications; however, their availability is currently limited to unsustainable sources such as fish oils and macroalgae. Though some species of diatoms are also a natural source of these metabolites, progress needs to be made in reducing the cost barriers involved in their large-scale production. The aim of the present study was therefore to assess the potential of the marine diatom Halamphora coffeaeformis to simultaneously accumulate EPA, chrysolaminarin and fucoxanthin in a raceway pond sustained by fertilizer (Bayfolan®)-enriched seawater. The biomass production increased significantly along the experiment, the specific growth rate, biomass productivity and areal yield being 2.03 day−1, 0.128 g.L−1.d−1 and 25.73 g.m−2.d−1, respectively. Proteins dominated in the first culture phase, while lipids, carbohydrates and pigments increased toward the end of the stationary phase. The harvested biomass presented 310 mg.g−1 DW (dry weight) of total lipids containing high amounts of EPA (24% of total fatty acids), 114 mg.g−1 DW of chrysolaminarin and 38 mg.g−1 DW of fucoxanthin. These values compare favorably with those obtained from commercially used sources. The culture medium proposed represents a non-conventional, cost-effective resource allowing for sustained high biomass levels throughout 22 days, guaranteeing the accumulation of valuable metabolites. Furthermore, the robustness and auto-flocculation capacity of the species increase the chances of viable scalability. These findings indicate the potential of H.coffeaeformis as a high-value metabolite feedstock, focusing on sustainable bioprocesses

The Magnitude of Global Marine Species Diversity

Background: The question of how many marine species exist is important because it provides a metric for how much we do and do not know about life in the oceans. We have compiled the first register of the marine species of the world and used this baseline to estimate how many more species, partitioned among all major eukaryotic groups, may be discovered. Results: There are ∼226,000 eukaryotic marine species described. More species were described in the past decade (∼20,000) than in any previous one. The number of authors describing new species has been increasing at a faster rate than the number of new species described in the past six decades. We report that there are ∼170,000 synonyms, that 58,000–72,000 species are collected but not yet described, and that 482,000–741,000 more species have yet to be sampled. Molecular methods may add tens of thousands of cryptic species. Thus, there may be 0.7–1.0 million marine species. Past rates of description of new species indicate there may be 0.5 ± 0.2 million marine species. On average 37% (median 31%) of species in over 100 recent field studies around the world might be new to science. Conclusions: Currently, between one-third and two-thirds of marine species may be undescribed, and previous estimates of there being well over one million marine species appear highly unlikely. More species than ever before are being described annually by an increasing number of authors. If the current trend continues, most species will be discovered this century

Towards a new strategic dimension for Technological design _ Per una nuova dimensione strategica della progettazione tecnologica

This paper focuses on some points for reflection, raising possible areas of potential and of criticality in the technological approach to design – areas that impact research, teaching, and professional practice all at the same time. The paper’s first objective is to reconstruct the key features of the discussion in a historical perspective, and then to examine the contemporary world, the signs of a rapidly changing landscape, and the dynamics currently underway. This examination will cast light on what possible contributions and influences these aspects may offer for a revision of the models and approaches to design as an activity to transform the environment, and for interpretation and intermediation between supply and demand in a setting where resources are scant

Almacenamiento de muestras de suelo: incidencia sobre la cuantificación de biomasa microbiana

La forma en que se conserva la muestra influye sobre la determinación de biomasa microbiana. Se evaluó el efecto de distintas formas de almacenamiento sobre el C y N de la biomasa microbiana (C-BM, N-BM) y sobre el cociente metabólico (qCO2). Los tratamientos fueron: refrigeración a 4 °C, congelamiento a -12°C (con posterior preincubación y sin ésta) y muestra fresca recién extraída. Los sitios muestreados fueron: rastrojo de soja (R), monte de eucaliptos (E), invernáculo hortícola (I), pastura (P) y monte nativo (M). Las repeticiones de cada sitio fueron tres. En R, I, P y M los tratamientos no ocasionaron variaciones en C-BM. La refrigeración a 4 °C no alteró los valores de N-BM ni el qCO2 en R, I, P y M. Los coeficientes de correlación entre el C-BM y el N- BM de muestras frescas y muestras refrigeradas a 4 °C fueron de 0,65 y 0,94 respectivamente. La estimación del N inmovilizado a partir de N-BM de muestras refrigeradas a 4 °C tuvouna variación de ± 7% respecto de las muestras frescas. Se concluyó que el almacenamiento de muestras a 4 °C es el más adecuado para medir C-BM y N-BM porque reflejan de mejor manera la condición del suelo sin almacenar