Staged urethroplasty in the management of complex anterior urethral stricture disease

Staged buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty has emerged as a reliable procedure for difficult anterior urethral strictures not amenable to one-stage graft or flap reconstruction. It has primarily been used for strictures and/or fistulae occurring after previous surgery for hypospadias or those related to lichen sclerosus (LS). Success rates in these patient populations have improved when compared to earlier techniques. However, prior studies have demonstrated a number of patients requiring more than two procedures to complete the reconstruction, as well as some who have been content with their voiding pattern after the first operation and therefore elected to forego second stage tubularization. In this setting, we have reviewed the surgical technique and summarized previously published work. There may be an opportunity to complete more of these repairs in two operations using additional oral mucosa at the time of tubularization.     

Aminotransferases During Treatment Predict Long-Term Survival in Patients With Autoimmune Hepatitis Type 1: A Landmark Analysis

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Relationship between EMG-detected and ultrasound-detected fasciculations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A prospective cohort study

ObjectivesFasciculation potentials (FP) are an important consideration in the electrophysiological diagnosis of ALS. Muscle ultrasonography (MUS) has a higher sensitivity in detecting fasciculations than electromyography (EMG), while in some cases, it is unable to detect EMG-detected fasciculations. We aimed to investigate the differences of FP between the muscles with and without MUS-detected fasciculations (MUS-fas).MethodsThirty-one consecutive patients with sporadic ALS were prospectively recruited and in those, both needle EMG and MUS were performed. Analyses of the amplitude, duration, and number of phases of EMG-detected FPs were performed for seven muscles per patient, and results were compared between the muscles with and without MUS-fas in the total cohort.ResultsThe mean amplitude and phase number of FP were significantly lower in patients with EMG-detected FP alone (0.39 ± 0.25 mV and 3.21 ± 0.88, respectively) than in those with both FP and MUS-fas (1.22 ± 0.92 mV and 3.74 ± 1.39, respectively; p < 0.0001 and p = 0.017, Welch’s t-test).ConclusionSmall FP may be undetectable with MUS. MUS cannot replace EMG in the diagnostic approach for ALS.SignificanceClinicians should use a combination of EMG and MUS for the detection and quantitative analysis of fasciculation in ALS.     

Effects of dynamic lycra orthosis as an adjunct to rehabilitation after botulinum toxin-A injection of the upper-limb in adults following stroke: A single-blinded randomized controlled pilot study

ABSTRACT

Background

Dynamic lycra splints are proposed to modify hypertonicity due to their characteristics – neutral warmth, circumferential pressure, and creating a low-intensity prolonged stretch on hypertonic muscles – to contribute to increased sensory awareness of the involved limb.     

经皮肾镜碎石术与经输尿管镜（联合封堵器）碎石术治疗输尿管上段结石的临床比较

目的比较经皮肾镜碎石术（PCNL）与经输尿管镜（联合封堵器）碎石术（URL）治疗输尿管上段结石的疗效及安全性。方法回顾性分析93例输尿管上段结石患者的临床资料。根据手术方式不同将患者分为两组，A组（53例）采用PCNL治疗，B组（40例）采用URL联合封堵器治疗，比较两组患者在结石清除率、术中出血量、手术并发症发生率、住院时间及住院费用等方面的差别。结果两组患者一般资料比较均无统计学差异（均P＞0.05）。A组患者较B组结石清除率高（98.11%vs85.00%，P＜0.05），而术中出血量、住院时间、住院费用亦均高于B组（均P＜0.05）；两组患者手术并发症发生率比较，差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。结论PCNL及URL联合封堵器治疗输尿管上段结石各有优缺点；可根据医院实际情况（如器械条件）、术者习惯、患者意愿等情况选择术式。     

Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis: A Clinical Analysis

Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is an inflammatory form of chronic renal disease with the characteristics of pyelonephritis. It is associated with staghorn nephrolithiasis, kidney tissue damage, renal function loss, and a nonfunctional kidney. XGP can be confused with neoplastic or inflammatory renal conditions due to its indistinguishable imaging and its vague clinical presentation. The treatment of choice is nephrectomy. Only a few cases of XGP have been treated medically. XGP should be managed by urology and nephrology providers. The nurse practitioner should refer patients with recurrent or persistent urinary tract infections, renal stones, staghorn calculi, or pyelonephritis to nephrology and urology specialists for further evaluation and management.     

Pulp ECM-derived macroporous scaffolds for stimulation of dental-pulp regeneration process

ObjectiveRecent studies suggest xenogeneic extracellular matrices as potential regenerative tools in dental pulp regeneration. This study aimed to fabricate and characterize a novel three-dimensional macroporous pulp-derived scaffold that enables the attachment, penetration, proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.MethodBovine pulp was decellularized and characterized with histological and DNA content methods. This scaffold was prepared using finely milled lyophilized decellularized pulp extracellular matrix (ECM) digested with pepsin. Three different concentrations of ECM (1.50, 2.25 and 3.00 mg/ml) were freeze-dried and were tested with/without chemical crosslinking. The specimens were subjected to physicochemical characterization, cell viability and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction assessments with human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMMSCs). All scaffolds were subcutaneously implanted in rats for two weeks and histological and immunostaining analyses were performed.ResultsHistological and DNA analysis confirmed complete decellularization. All samples demonstrated more than 97% porosity and 1.50 mg/ml scaffold demonstrated highest water absorption. The highest cell viability and proliferation of hBMMSCs was observed on the 3.00 mg/ml crosslinked scaffolds. The gene expression analysis showed a significant increase of dmp-1 and collagen-I on 3.00 mg/ml crosslinked scaffolds compared to the other scaffolds. Histological examination of subcutaneous implanted scaffolds revealed low immunological response, and enhanced angiogenesis in cross-linked samples compared to non-crosslinked samples.SignificanceThe three-dimensional macroporous pulp-derived injectable scaffold developed and characterized in this study displayed potential for regenerative therapy. While the scaffold biodegradability was decreased by crosslinking, the biocompatibility of post-crosslinked scaffold was significantly improved.