Heterogeneity in reporting on urinary outcome and cure after surgical interventions for stress urinary incontinence in adult neuro-urological patients: A systematic review

Aims: To describe all outcome parameters and definitions of cure used to report on outcome of surgical interventions for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in neuro-urological (NU) patients. Methods: This systematic review was performed and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The study protocol was registered and published (CRD42016033303; http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO). Medline, Embase, Cochrane controlled trials databases, and clinicaltrial.gov were systematically searched for relevant publications until February 2017. Result

Printable Colorimetric Sensors for the Detection of Formaldehyde in Ambient Air

Introduction With an annual production of 21 million tons [1], formaldehyde (CH2O) is probably one of the most produced chemicals worldwide. It serves as starting material for many other industrially produced chemicals, but also the demand of its pure form is steadily rising. In nature, CH2O originates i.a. endogenously as intermediate of metabolism in most living systems [2], however chronic exposure poses a high risk to humans' health. In June 2014, the European Union reclassified the toxicological properties of CH2O in its regulation 605/2014, as carcinogen (category 1B) and mutagen (category 2) [3]. Despite its high toxicity, but due to its disinfecting, germicidal and preserving properties, the usage of CH2O is common in the production of many everyday objects like for example adhesives, furniture, coatings, cosmetics and textile finishing. Thus, CH2O is not only a risk to workers of processing industries, but it is also becoming important for the assessment of indoor air quality, increasingly. Within the scope of our research, we present a simple method to monitor CH2O in ambient air based on a visible color change of a disposable sensor, which can be evaluated using the camera of a smartphone or even naked eye. Figure 1a illustrates the sensor principle. The sensor consists of a paper/plastic substrate on which the gas sensitive material is deposited by printing process. The integration of the gas sensitive layer into a defined QR code pattern realizes quantitative as well as an illumination and camera independent evaluation of the color change due to the contact with the target gas. To protect the gas sensitive material and the color reference against environmental influences, the sensor is packed gas-tight. Focus of this work is on the development of printable pastes based on the reaction of a primary amine with CH2O through nucleophilic addition, which takes place under change of basicity. One method, to track this chemical reaction with conventional pH indicators, and the adaption to the later scope by the choice of pH indicator is discussed. Figure 1b shows the reaction scheme by the example of the pH indicator bromocresol green. Method Starting with a white poly(p-phenylene oxide) (PPE) coated matte paper, pastes were developed for the deposition of the gas sensitive material by screen-printing. The color reference was printed by UV offset in advance. For the preparation of printable pastes, the pH indicators and the primary amine were dissolved in ethanol and embedded into an ethyl cellulose matrix (ethoxyl content 48%, ALDRICH Chemistry, USA) using tributyl phosphate (≥99.0%, SIGMA-ALDRICH, USA) as plasticizer. Furthermore, aids to support the printing process, the layer and the color formation were investigated. Two primary amines in combination with eight pH indicators (bromophenol blue, bromocresol green, methyl red, bromophenol red, bromocresol purple, bromothymol blue, phenol red and phenolphthalein) with transition ranges pH 3.0-12.0 were examined. The color change was characterized by UV/Vis spectroscopy (Lambda900, Perkin-Elmer, USA) with a setup for diffuse reflection (Praying Mantis, Harrick Scientific Products Inc., USA) as well as the by the evaluation of RGB values taken with an in-situ readout station using the camera of an iPhone 6s. General description of the used gas measurement station is given in [4]. The printed sensors were characterized to CH2O concentrations between 100 ppb to 10 ppm. Furthermore, cross-sensitivities to humidity and other interfering gases with focus on ammonia were examined. Results and Conclusions Our research evaluates and compares eight pH indicators, to monitor CH2O by the reaction with a primary amine, regarding sensitivity and selectivity. Figure 1c shows the reflection spectra of a printed gas sensitive layer to 4 ppm CH2O by the example of the pH indicator bromocresol purple. The measurement consists of 15 spectra recorded in intervals of two minutes. CH2O was exposed for 20 minutes, before and afterwards the gas measurement chamber was flushed with synthetic air for five minutes, respectively. After exposure to the target gas, a complete color change from blue to yellow occurred (see Figure 1d). Based on this evaluation and adaption of the printing parameters, the integration time of the sensors can be adjusted to the later target range e.g. to a working day of eight hours or a short-term measurement of 15 minutes and the gas concentration range

Sacral neuromodulation for neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction: systematic review and meta-analysis

Context Treatment of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) is a challenge, because conventional therapies often fail. Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) has become a well-established therapy for refractory non-neurogenic LUTD, but its value in patients with a neurologic cause is unclear. Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of SNM for neurogenic LUTD. Evidence acquisition Studies were identified by electronic search of PubMed, EMBASE, and ScienceDirect (on 15 April 2010) and hand search of reference lists and review articles. SNM articles were included if they reported on efficacy and/or safety of tested and/or permanently implanted patients suffering from neurogenic LUTD. Two reviewers independently selected studies and extracted data. Study estimates were pooled using Bayesian random-effects meta-analysis. Evidence synthesis Of the 26 independent studies (357 patients) included, the evidence level ranged from 2b to 4 according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. Half (n = 13) of the included studies reported data on both test phase and permanent SNM; the remaining studies were confined to test phase (n = 4) or permanent SNM (n = 9). The pooled success rate was 68% for the test phase (95% credibility interval [CrI], 50–87) and 92% (95% CrI, 81–98%) for permanent SNM, with a mean follow-up of 26 mo. The pooled adverse event rate was 0% (95% CrI, 0–2%) for the test phase and 24% (95% CrI, 6–48%) for permanent SNM. Conclusions There is evidence indicating that SNM may be effective and safe for the treatment of patients with neurogenic LUTD. However, the number of investigated patients is low with high between-study heterogeneity, and there is a lack of randomised, controlled trials. Thus, well-designed, adequately powered studies are urgently needed before more widespread use of SNM for neurogenic LUTD can be recommended