Three-Piece Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Placement Following Pelvic Radiation: Technical Considerations and Contemporary Outcomes

Background

Pelvic radiation is a known risk factor for the development and progression of erectile dysfunction. When medical therapy fails, the 3-piece inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) can offer patients a definitive treatment option. Because of radiation-induced vascular changes and tissue fibrosis, a careful surgical approach is necessary to avoid intraoperative complications and attain successful outcomes. Despite its widespread use in prostate cancer treatment, there are no contemporary studies examining the effects that pelvic radiation can have on 3-piece IPP placement and device survival.

Result variation and efficiency kinetics in real-time PCR

Fluorescent monitoring of DNA amplification is the basis of real-time PCR. Absolute quantification can be achieved using a standard curve method. The standard curve is constructed by amplifying known amounts of standards under identical conditions to that of the samples.The objective of the current study is to propose a mathematical model to assess the acceptability of PCR results. Four commercial standards for HCV-RNA (hepatitis C virus RNA) along with 6 patient samples were measured by real-time PCR, using two different RT-PCR reagents. The standard deviation of regression (Sy,x) was calculated for each group of standard and compared by F-Test. The efficiency kinetics was computed by logistic regression, c2 goodness of fit test was preformed to assess the appropriateness of the efficiency curves.Calculated efficiencies were not significantly different from the value predicted by logistic regression model. Reactions with more variation showed less stable efficiency curves, with wider range of amplification efficiencies.Amplification efficiency kinetics can be computed by fitting a logistic regression curve to the gathered fluorescent data of each reaction. This model can be employed to assess the acceptability of PCR results calculated by standard curve method.     

Combined phacoemulsification and Ahmed valve glaucoma drainage implant: a retrospective case series

PURPOSE: To report on the efficacy and safety of combined phacoemulsification and an Ahmed valve glaucoma drainage implant with respect to visual acuity improvement, intraocular pressure (IOP) control, and requirement for antiglaucoma medication. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of 41 eyes (31 patients) with coexisting visually significant cataracts and uncontrolled glaucoma who had combined phacoemulsification and Ahmed valve implantation. The outcome measures were: visual acuity, IOP, antiglaucoma medication requirements, and intra- and post-operative complications. Success was categorized as absolute (IOP<21 mmHg without the need for antiglaucoma medication) and relative (IOP<21 mmHg with one or more antiglaucoma medications). Failure was considered to be an IOP<6 mmHg or IOP>21 mmHg on maximally tolerated medications or any devastating complication. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 67.3+/-5.9 years old. The mean visual acuity improved from 0.73+/-0.5 to 0.16+/-0.16 (p=0.000). The mean IOP decreased from 28.2+/-3.1 to 16.8+/-2.1 (p=0.000, 40.4%), while the number of antiglaucoma medication decreased from 2.6+/-0.66 to 1.2+/-1.4 (p=0.000). The absolute and relative success rates were 56.1% and 31.7%, respectively; 5 eyes (12.2%) were considered failures. There were no intraoperative complications; postoperative complications occurred in 8 eyes (19.5%). A hypertensive phase was detected in 12 (29.3%) eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Combined phacoemulsification and Ahmed valve glaucoma drainage implantation is a safe and effective alternative to phacotrabeculectomy in patients with coexisting cataract and refractory glaucoma.     

Review of the pharmacological effects of Vitis vinifera (Grape) and its bioactive compounds

Vitis vinifera, known as the grapevine, is native to southern Europe and Western Asia. Grape seed and skin contain several active components including flavonoids, polyphenols, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, procyanidines, and the stilbene derivative resveratrol. Grape seed extract in particular has been reported to possess a broad spectrum of pharmacological and therapeutic effects such as antioxidative, anti‐inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities, as well as having cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective effects. Thus, the present review attempts to give a short overview on the pharmacological, toxicological, and clinical studies of grape and its active components. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Expression of Metallothionein in Node-Negative Breast Cancer Correlates with Poor Prognosis

Abstract: Metallothionein (MT) is a cysteine-rich protein that binds metals and is present in a number of normal cells, mainly during fetal life. It has been suggested that the developmental profile of metallothionein is similar to oncofetal gene products, and therefore, it could be potentially used as a prognostic tumor marker. We explored this concept by performing immuno-histochemical stain for metallothionein in 155 axillary lymph node-negative breast carcinomas. Traditional tumor prognosticators of breast cancer including histologic type, nuclear grade, and estrogen receptor content were also analyzed to determine whether or not metallothionein is an independent marker of behavior. Moderate to strong metallothionein immunoreactivity of tumor cells correlated with decreased disease free (p < 0.02), and overall survivals (p < 0.03). No correlation was found between MT and histologic type and nuclear grade of tumors. Similarly, there was no statistically significant relationship between MT and estrogen receptor contents. It is concluded that overexpression of metallothionein is an independent indicator of poor prognosis in node-negative breast carcinomas.     

The necessity of iron supplementation for normal development of commercially reared suckling calves

Iron has been identified as a necessary element for the normal development of newborn calves, but on the contrary, milk is considered to be a poor source of iron. This study was designed to investigate the iron requirements of Holstein calves at different time points postpartum. Serum iron (Fe), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), ceruloplasmin, and ferritin were measured in 46 newborn calves. Blood samples were collected before suckling colostrum (T0), after suckling at 1-day-old (T24), 2-day-old (T48), and 2-month-old (T2mon). Blood iron levels in newborn calves, before suckling colostrum, was the same as the mother, but decreased in 1 and 2-day-old calves and continued to decrease until 2 months of age. There were significant differences between serum iron levels at T0, T48, and T2mon (P<0.001). Blood TIBC levels were significantly higher in newborn calves at T0 (P<0.001) than in their mothers and continued to show significant increases at T24, T48, and T2mon (P<0.001). Ceruloplasmin at T2mon was within normal ranges for normal adult cows, suggesting that transport of iron in 2-month-old calves, at least in that part which is related to blood ceruloplasmin, is normal. Blood ferritin levels in newborn calves before suckling colostrum, which was the same as their mothers’, decreased at T24 and T48 but insignificantly increased at T2mon. This data show that commercially reared suckling calves require iron supplements, which are essential for them at birth and may play an important role in their growth, hematopoiesis, and resistance to infections.