Clobetasol 17-Propionate Cream as an Effective Preventive Treatment for Drug Induced Superficial Thrombophlebitis

Commonly used therapies for thrombophlebitis have a high failure rate. There are scant data on the application  of topical corticosteroids to treat thrombophlebitis. The present study investigated if the potent topical  corticosteroid clobetasol 17-propionate cream (Dermovate, Glaxo Wellcome) can be an effective treatment  for drug-induced thrombophlebitis. DP-b99, a neuroprotective agent currently undergoing development for acute stroke, can cause injectionsite  phlebitis. DP-b99 was administered at doses of 1 and 2 mg/kg by a 1 hour intravenous infusion into the  lateral ear vein of groups of 6 and 5 rabbits, respectively. Each rabbit served as its own control by injecting  both ears with DP-b99, while treating only one ear with clobetasol cream immediately after treatment, with  subsequent applications twice daily for 3 days. Phlebitis was evaluated 1, 3, 5, 24, 32, 48, 56 and 72 hours  after DP-b99 treatment using a clinical score ranging from 0 (no reaction) to 4. After 3 days the rabbits were  sacrificed for histological analysis of the ears. The phlebitis score was highest at 24 hours. Clobetasol treatment reduced the clinical scores at all time points and shortened the course of phlebitis. Maximal effect was observed 24-48 hours after the first application  of clobetasol cream. Histologically, there were fewer cases of thrombophlebitis in the clobetasoltreated  ears, and those seen were milder and more focal. To the best of the authors’ knowledge this appears  to be the only study to report a phlebitis-ameliorating effect of a topical corticosteroid.

A novel PTFE-based proton-conductive membrane

Abstract The demand for a solid polymer electrolyte membrane (SPEM) for fuel-cell systems, capable of withstanding temperatures above 130 • C, decreasing the electrode-catalyst loadings and reducing poisoning by carbon monoxide, has prompted this study. A novel, low-cost, highly conductive, nanoporous proton-conducting membrane (NP-PCM) based on a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) backbone has been developed. It comprises non-conductive nano-size ceramic powder, PTFE binder and an aqueous acid. The preparation procedures were studied and the membrane was characterized with the use of: SEM, EDS, pore-size-distribution measurements (PSD), TGA-DTA and electrochemical methods. The ionic conductivity of a membrane doped with 3 M sulfuric acid increases with the ceramic powder content and reaches 0.22 S cm −1 at 50% (v/v) silica. A non-optimized direct-methanol fuel cell (DMFC) with a 250 m thick membrane has been assembled. It demonstrated 50 and 130 mW cm −2 at 80 and 130 • C, respectively. Future study will be directed to improving the membrane-preparation process, getting thinner membranes and using this membrane in a hydrogen-fed fuel cell

Single lower calyceal percutaneous tract combined with flexible nephroscopy: A valuable treatment paradigm for staghorn stones

Introduction: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of single lower calyceal tract combined with flexible nephroscopy for the management of staghorn renal stones by percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Methods: The medical records of patients who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy for the management of staghorn stones were analyzed. We included patients aged >18 years, while patients with incomplete data and renal anatomical anomalies were excluded from the study. Stone-free rate, postoperative complications, procedure duration, fluoroscopy time, and length of hospitalization were recorded. Postoperative outcomes were evaluated by non-contrast computed tomography scan 4-6 weeks after the operation. Stonefree status was defined as the absence of residual stones >4 mm. Results: The study cohort consisted of 103 consecutive patients. Stonefree rate was 65.0%. No complications were observed in 69.9% of the cases; most postoperative complications were Grade 1 (13.6%) and 2 (10.7%). Five patients (4.9%) suffered a Grade 3a complication and another patient (1.0%) suffered a Grade 3b complication. Conclusions: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy through a single lower calyceal tract combined with flexible nephroscopy can be a valuable treatment option for the treatment of staghorn calculi, providing efficacy and safety. Nevertheless, the present study is limited by both its retrospective nature and being conducted at a single centre and, thus, proper prospective studies with head-on comparisons are needed to prove or disprove the advantages and disadvantages of either approach. © 2018 Canadian Urological Association

A similarity-based method for the generalization of face recognition over pose and expression

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:3292.8855(480) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Comparing the efficacy and safety of 365- and 550-μm laser fibers in semirigid ureteroscopic Ho:YAG lithotripsy

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of 365- and 550-μm Ho:YAG laser fiber in semirigid ureteroscopic lithotripsy and to identify parameters that may affect laser energy and time during the procedure. Methods: A database of 111 patients who undergone a semirigid ureteroscopy (SRURS) for ureteral stone lithotripsy was analyzed. A 365-μm core fiber was used in 56 cases, and a multiple-uses 550-μm laser fiber was used in 55 cases. A standard 6.4 W protocol (8 Hz, 0.8 J/pulse) was used in all cases. The association between laser fiber diameter and several preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative parameters was evaluated. Results: Mean stone burden was 54.1 ± 39.1 mm2, and postoperative stone-free and complication rate was 100.0 and 16.2 %, respectively. The 550-μm laser fiber diameter was significantly associated with lower laser energy (p = 0.01), energy/mm3 (p = 0.031), number of pulses (p = 0.012), laser time (p = 0.012) and laser time/mm3 (p = 0.043), while it did not affect postoperative outcomes. The multivariate analysis showed that shorter procedure duration, smaller stone burden and the 550-μm laser fiber were all significant independent predictors for decreased laser energy consumption. Conclusion: The 550-μm laser fiber may decrease laser energy and time during SRURS lithotripsy with Ho:YAG laser compared to the 365 μm. Given its lower cost, it may represent the optimal choice for semirigid procedures. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

External validation of Resorlu–Unsal stone score as predictor of outcomes after retrograde intrarenal surgery

Purpose: To externally validate Resorlu–Unsal stone score (RUSS) and to evaluate its predictive accuracy. Methods: Data of patients who underwent retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) between October 2013 and June 2015 were collected. RUSS was applied to all patients, and the nomogram was externally validated. Area under the curve (AUC) was used for clinical validity assessment. Results: A total of 85 patients were included in the study. Mean patient age was 54.3 ± 16.5, and mean stone size was 12.0 ± 6.21 mm. After applying RUSS, 56.5, 28.2, 9.41, and 5.88 % had score 0, 1, 2, and 3, respectively. RUSS was significantly associated with stone location and size. Postoperative stone-free rate was 74.1 %. Postoperative outcomes were significantly associated with RUSS and stone size. RUSS was found to be the only significant independent predictor in multivariate analysis, while it provided high predictive accuracy with an estimated AUC of 0.707. Conclusions: RUSS is a simple scoring system that may predict postoperative stone-free rate after RIRS with great efficacy and accuracy. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht