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

A school-based intervention to reduce overweight and inactivity in children aged 6–12 years: study design of a randomized controlled trial

Background Effective interventions to prevent overweight and obesity in children are urgently needed especially in inner-city neighbourhoods where prevalence of overweight and inactivity among primary school children is high. A school based intervention was developed aiming at the reduction of overweight and inactivity in these children by addressing both behavioural and environmental determinants. Methods/design The main components of the intervention (Lekker Fit!) are the re-establishment of a professional physical education teacher; three (instead of two) PE classes per week; additional sport and play activities outside school hours; fitness testing; classroom education on healthy nutrition, active living and healthy lifestyle choices; and the involvement of parents. The effectiveness of the intervention is evaluated through a cluster randomized controlled trial in 20 primary schools among grades 3 through 8 (6–12 year olds). Primary outcome measures are BMI, waist circumference and fitness. Secondary outcome measures are assessed in a subgroup of grade 6–8 pupils (9–12 year olds) through classroom questionnaires and constitute of nutrition and physical activity behaviours and behavioural determinants. Multilevel regression analyses are used to study differences in outcomes between children in the intervention schools and in control schools, taking clustering of children within schools into account. Discussion Hypotheses are that the intervention results in a lower prevalence of children being overweight and an improved mean fitness score, in comparison with a control group where the intervention is not implemented. The results of our study will contribute to the discussion on the role of physical education and physical activity in the school curriculum. Trial registration [ISRCTN84383524

Preparation of asymmetric gas separation membranes with high selectivity by a dual-bath coagulation method

A new method for the preparation of gas separation membranes in a one-step procedure is presented, where common, non-volatile solvents can be used in the polymer solution. It concerns contacting of a polymer solution with two successive nonsolvent baths, whereby the first bath initiates the formation of a dense top layer and the second bath gives the actual polymer precipitation. Membranes made by this method will have high gas selectivity and do not need any additional coating. The new technique was used to make polyethersulfone (PES) hollow fibres from solutions consisting of 35% (w/w) polymer and 10% glycerol in N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP). High selectivities were obtained when using glycerol or 1-pentanol as the first nonsolvent and water as the second one. For a feed gas of 25 vol.% of CO2 in methane the intrinsic selectivity of PES [alpha (CO2/CH4) = 50] was easily obtained, without the necessity of an additinal coating step. By a step-wise, liquid exchange removal of residual fluids in the fibres, an improvement in flux could be obtained. This was accompanied by a somewhat lower selectivity compared to that of directly air-dried fibres

In vivo experiments with powder charcoal haemoperfusion (filmadsorber) in a pig model of hepatic failure

The filmadsorber, an experimental haemoperfusion column containing activated powder charcoal embedded in a colloidal film, has been tested in pigs with ischaemicnecrosis of the Iiver. Haemoperfusion with aflow of 200 mI/min was perfermed for a duration of 4 to 6 hours. Bile acid clearances varied between ± 52 mi/min (1 st hour) and ± 23 mI/min (6th hour). Clearances for aromatic amine acids were initially even higher (phenylalanine 115, tyrosine 112 and methionfne 46 mI/min). No ammonia was removed. Side-effects were minimal, althoug platelets feil 24 ± 15%. We conclude that haemoperfusion with the filmadsorber is weil tolerated and associated with high clearances for bile acids and some amine acids, particularly in the first hours of treatment