Recent Developments in the Field of Explosive Trace Detection

Explosive trace detection (ETD) technologies play a vital role in maintaining national security. ETD remains an active research area with many analytical techniques in operational use. This review details the latest advances in animal olfactory, ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), and Raman and colorimetric detection methods. Developments in optical, biological, electrochemical, mass, and thermal sensors are also covered in addition to the use of nanomaterials technology. Commercially available systems are presented as examples of current detection capabilities and as benchmarks for improvement. Attention is also drawn to recent collaborative projects involving government, academia, and industry to highlight the emergence of multimodal screening approaches and applications. The objective of the review is to provide a comprehensive overview of ETD by highlighting challenges in ETD and providing an understanding of the principles, advantages, and limitations of each technology and relating this to current systems

The Chinese version of the pelvic pain and urgency / frequency symptom scale: a useful assessment tool for street-ketamine abusers with lower urinary tract symptoms

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the use of a translated Chinese version of the pelvic pain and urgency/frequency symptom scale as an assessment and prognostic tool to evaluate the severity of street-ketamine-associated lower urinary tract symptoms and their reversibility after abstinence. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: A special designated out-patient clinic in a regional hospital in Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS: There were 50 patients with street-ketamine-associated lower urinary tract symptoms and 20 healthy individuals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Reliability and validity of the questionnaire; frequency of individual lower urinary tract symptoms, cystoscopic, urodynamic and radiological abnormalities, and their correlation with pelvic pain and the urgency/frequency score. RESULTS: The test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.755 (P<0.001). Cronbach's alpha was 0.974. Mann-Whitney U test proved the discriminatory ability of the questionnaire (P<0.001). Patients with specific lower urinary tract symptoms had a higher mean pelvic pain and urgency/frequency total score compared to those without them: frequency (23.8 vs 17.3), nocturia (22.4 vs 14.0), urgency (22.5 vs 15.1), dysuria (22.7 vs 13.3), and haematuria (24.8 vs 16.2). The number of daytime voids and nocturia episodes correlated well with pelvic pain and urgency/frequency scores. With an increasing score, the likelihood of having cystitis changes, urodynamic abnormalities and hydronephrosis increased, while the cystometrically determined bladder capacity decreased. None of the patients with a score of 16 or below had urodynamic abnormality or hydronephrosis. The mean score change in the abstinence group was -4.33, versus +3.33 in their counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: The Chinese version of the pelvic pain and urgency/frequency questionnaire is reliable and valid for assessment in patients with street-ketamine-associated lower urinary tract symptoms. The pelvic pain and urgency/frequency score correlates well with symptom severity as well as endoscopic, urodynamic and radiological abnormalities in patients with street-ketamine-associated lower urinary tract symptoms. A cut-off total pelvic pain and urgency/frequency score of 17 may suggest more serious urological sequelae from ketamine abuse. Abstinence from ketamine reduced lower urinary tract symptoms, but the extent of reversibility of urinary tract damage is yet to be evaluated.published_or_final_versio

Results of Lateral Condylar Blade Plate Fixation of Supracondylar Fractures of the Femur in an African Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria

Background: The concerns about operative stabilization of supracondylar femoral fractures are complications, especially hardware infection and disturbance of normal knee function. We reviewed the results of operative fixation of supracondylar femoral fractures using the lateral condylar blade plate device in our centre.Methods: All patients operatively treated using a lateral condylar blade plate device within a 13-year period were reviewed.Results: There were thirty two fractures. Mean age was 47.3±21.5 years. There were 22 AO type 33-A, 4 type 33-B and 6 type 33-C fractures.Traffic crashes accounted for 15 cases (46.9%). Six were open (Gustilo type IIIa). Surgery was delayed for an average of 21.3 days. Length of hospitalization was 69.7±43.5 days. Follow up averaged 23.6 weeks and average time to fracture union was 17.8±1.0 weeks. All fractures unitedduring follow up with an excellent outcome in 22 (68.8%), good in 5 cases (15.6%), moderate in 4 (12.5%) and a poor outcome in one patient using the Schatzker and Lambert criteria. Complications included knee stiffness (15.6%), bone infection (9.4%) and loosening of an implant. The infections subsided after removal of the hardware.Conclusions: Treatment of supracondylar femoral fractures with the lateral condylar plate usually promises good results. However, high energy injuries are often prone to complications.Keywords: Supracondylar femur, fracture, operative treatment, injuries, Nigeria

Surgical management of a drooling child

Drooling is a physiological process in infants. When it persists beyond the age of 4 years, it becomes a clinical symptom. Drooling is a common problem among children of all ages with a neurological deficit. It causes significant decrease in the quality of life of the children and their families. Parents often accept the disability because they are not aware that treatment is available. Doctors should recognise the problem during a consultation and discuss the available management options. Patients should be reffered to a drooling clinic that adopts a multi-disciplinary approach. Management of drooling has been evolving over the last thirty years. Surgery has become a safe and effective management option.published_or_final_versio

Aetiology and pattern of bone and joint infection presenting at a regional orthopaedic hospital

BACKGROUND: Bone and joint infection is one condition that can either be rewarding,or a night mare to the surgeon.This work reports the causes and pattern of presentation of bone and joint infections in our sub region.METHOD: A retrospective review of 73 cases of non granulomatous bone infection seen over two years from January 2012 to December 2013 was done. Patients' biodata,complaint,time to presentation in the hospital and if any intervention by the traditional bone setters, limbs involved, primary cause, diagnosis, organism cultured and retroviral status were obtained from the folders.Results:Commonest age group involved was in the second decade with 21.9%. Male to female ratio is 2.2:1. Chronic osteomyelitis was the commonest infection with 46.6% (34 patients) followed by septic arthritis with 26%.The lower limb was more involved than the upper limb with a ratio of 5.6: 1.A significant number of patients 59 (80.8%) presented more than two weeks after onset of symptoms while 27 patients (36.9%) visited the traditional bone setters for treatment before presenting to the hospital. Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest organism isolated.CONCLUSION: Chronic osteomyelitis is the commonest bone and joint infections in our environment mainly from trauma and closely followed by improperly treated haematogenous acute osteomyelitis.Acute osteomyelitis is a rare occurrence as late presentation and patronage of traditional bone setters is rife.KEY WORDS: Bone infection,joint infection,aetiolog

Prevalence of antibiotic-resistant intestinal flora in patients undergoing transrectal ultrasonography-guided prostate biopsy (TRUS-Bx) and its implication for clinical practice: preliminary results

Oral (Free Paper) Session I - Prostate Cancer: Diagnosis to Treatment: OP.1-2香港泌尿外科學會OBJECTIVE: An important factor determining the choice of antibiotic for TRUS-Bx prophylaxis and treatment of post-biopsy infection is the prevalence of quinolone-resistant and ESBL-producing organisms in the rectum of patients undergoing this procedure. We aim to determine these prevalence values in patients undergoing TRUS-Bx and to study their correlation with the microbiological data of patients ...published_or_final_versionThe 17th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Hong Kong Urological Association, Hong Kong, 6 November 2011. In Program Book, 2011, p. 3

Subcapsular hematoma after ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy

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Metabolomics Analysis Reveals Specific Novel Tetrapeptide and Potential Anti-Inflammatory Metabolites in Pathogenic Aspergillus species

Infections related to Aspergillus species have emerged to become an important focus in infectious diseases, as a result of the increasing use of immunosuppressive agents and high fatality associated with invasive aspergillosis. However, laboratory diagnosis of Aspergillus infections remains difficult. In this study, by comparing the metabolomic profiles of the culture supernatants of 30 strains of six pathogenic Aspergillus species (A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. niger, A. terreus, A. nomius and A. tamarii) and 31 strains of 10 non-Aspergillus fungi, eight compounds present in all strains of the six Aspergillus species but not in any strain of the non-Aspergillus fungi were observed. One of the eight compounds, Leu–Glu–Leu–Glu, is a novel tetrapeptide and represents the first linear tetrapeptide observed in Aspergillus species, which we propose to be named aspergitide. Two other closely related Aspergillus-specific compounds, hydroxy-(sulfooxy)benzoic acid and (sulfooxy)benzoic acid, may possess anti-inflammatory properties, as 2-(sulfooxy)benzoic acid possesses a structure similar to those of aspirin [2-(acetoxy)benzoic acid] and salicylic acid (2-hydroxybenzoic acid). Further studies to examine the potentials of these Aspergillus-specific compounds for laboratory diagnosis of aspergillosis are warranted and further experiments will reveal whether Leu–Glu–Leu–Glu, hydroxy-(sulfooxy)benzoic acid and (sulfooxy)benzoic acid are virulent factors of the pathogenic Aspergillus species. © 2015, MDPI AG. All rights Reserved.published_or_final_versio

Two Years versus One Year of Tianjiu Therapy in Sanfu Days for Chronic Asthma: A Clinical Efficacy Observation Trial

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Arteriovenous grafts for hemodialysis: a retrospective study from a local urologcial centre

Oral (Free Paper) Session III - BPH and Dialysis Surgery: OP.3-5香港泌尿外科學會OBJECTIVE:Arteriovenous grafts (AVGs) are indicated in hemodialysis patients who have failed arteriovenous fistulae, unsuitable vessels or exhausted superficial veins. The aim of this clinical audit is to evaluate the outcomes of AVG creation in a local urological centre and to compare the results with international ...published_or_final_versionThe 17th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Hong Kong Urological Association, Hong Kong, 6 November 2011. In Program Book, 2011, p. 4