Drainage-related ultrasonography (DRUS): a novel technique for discriminating obstructive and nonobstructive hydroureters in children

Background

Despite advances in urologic imaging, the paucity of an optimal technique that accurately clarifies obstructive and nonobstructive hydroureter exists.

Objective

This study was conducted to introduce a novel and modified ultrasonographic technique, known as drainage-related ultrasonography (DRUS), discriminating obstructive and nonobstructive, nonrefluxing hydroureter.

Materials and methods

A total of 358 children (mean age, 3.7 years) with 418 nonrefluxing hydroureter were included. These children were composed of two groups of obstructive nonrefluxing (141 children with 157 dilated ureters) and nonobstructive, nonrefluxing (217 children with 261 hydroureter). The definite diagnosis regarding the subtype of hydroureter was derived from appropriate investigation. The maximum diameter of the dilated ureter, which was observed on ultrasonography, was recorded before and after 3 h of catheterization, as D1 and D2, respectively. To assess the D ratio, a formula was developed, that is, [(|D1 − D2|)/D1] × 100. Values were recorded and cutoff points were set to discriminate between subtypes.

Results

Obstructive versus nonobstructive subtypes of nonrefluxing hydroureter were clarified with 78.5 % sensitivity and 83.4 % specificity, by setting a cutoff point of 22 % for the D ratio. Regardless of the cutoff point assigned to the reduction in D (D2 compared with D1), DRUS revealed 93.9 % sensitivity, 80.6 % specificity, 63.2 % positive predictive value, and 97.4 % negative predictive value in discriminating upper from lower obstruction.

Conclusion

DRUS affords favorable results in terms of differentiating between obstructive and nonobstructive, nonrefluxing hydroureter, as well as between upper and lower obstruction in obstructive cases. It has the potential to become an efficient imaging modality in the diagnostic algorithm of hydroureter.     

A new class of organoplatinum-based DFNS for the production of cyclic carbonates from olefins and CO2

We studied the potential application of an efficient, reusable, and easily recoverable catalyst of dendritic fibrous nanosilica (DFNS)-supported platinum(ii) complexes (DFNS/Pt(ii) NPs) to form cyclic carbonates in the presence of epoxides by converting carbon dioxide. Cyclic carbonates from epoxides and carbon dioxide is proposed as the most appropriate way to synthesis this C1 building block. We performed FE-SEM, TEM, TGA, BET, VSM, and ICP-MS to thoroughly characterize DFNS/Pt(ii) NPs.

We studied the potential application of an efficient, reusable, and easily recoverable catalyst of dendritic fibrous nanosilica (DFNS)-supported platinum(ii) complexes (DFNS/Pt(ii) NPs) to form cyclic carbonates in the presence of epoxides by converting carbon dioxide.     

Correlation of serum ferritin levels with hepatic MRI T2 and liver iron concentration in nontransfusion beta-thalassemia intermediate patients: A contemporary issue

Background: Beta-thalassemia intermediate is a genetic disease that is milder than beta-thalassemia major. The T2^* magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique is currently the gold standard for iron load detection. However, it is expensive and needs an expert radiologist to report findings. Therefore, we conducted this study to determine an optimal cut-off value of ferritin in proportion to T2 MRI of liver and measurement of liver iron concentration for early detection of hepatic iron overload in Beta-thalassemia intermediate patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 108 patients with Beta-thalassemia intermediate who referred to tertiary hospital, Shiraz, Iran. Serum ferritin, hepatic T2 MRI, and liver iron concentration were assessed. Receiver operator characteristic was used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of cut-off value. Results: Serum ferritin levels showed a statistically significant negative correlation with T2 hepatic MRI (r = ?0.290, p value =.003) and positive correlation with liver iron concentration (r = 0.426, p value <.001) in the patients with Beta-thalassemia intermediate. According to the receiver operator characteristic, the best cut-off value for ferritin to show early diagnosis of liver iron overload was 412 ng/mL. Calculated sensitivities and specificities were 0.78 and 0.82 for T2 MRI and 0.76 and 0.86 for liver iron concentration, respectively. Conclusion: Serum ferritin levels of around 450 ng/mL might be considered as a cut-off point to evaluate hepatic iron overload before using expensive, not readily available T2 MRI. This level of serum ferritin could be considered for starting iron chelation therapy in patients with Beta-thalassemia intermediate in areas where T2 MRI is not available.     

The effect of hydroalcoholic extract of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mangifera indica</Emphasis> on induced osteoarthritis of knee in male guinea pigs

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the top six diseases for which complementary and alternative medicine is used. Among the herbal products, mango could be regarded as a potential natural remedy for OA due to its anti-inflammatory characteristics. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the healing effect of mango on OA of the knee. Eighteen male guinea pigs were chosen, and anterior cruciate ligament transection was performed for them to induce OA for the animal models. Then, they were recruited in four treatment groups (n = 5): (a) oral treatment, (b) intra-articular injection treatment, (c) prevention, and (d) control. After 18 weeks, the outcomes were evaluated by radiologic and histopathologic assessments. Histopathological assessment of the articular cartilages showed smooth and continuous articular surface with columnar cell distribution in the injection group which were improved better than the others while the surface in the control group has an irregularity. The radiological assessment of the knee joints shows that they were improved during the second 4 weeks after treatment. Radiological findings were similar to histopathologic assessment in which the improvement of the articular cartilage was better in the injection group compared with the oral and prevention group. The control group did not change remarkably. It seems that Mangifera fruit can be regarded as an effective complementary and alternative treatment for OA of the knee.     

Estimating transition probability of different states of type 2 diabetes and its associated factors using Markov model

Aims

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder and one of the most common non-contagious diseases which is on the rise all over the world. The present study aims to assess the trend of change in fasting blood sugar (FBS) and factors associated with the progression and regression of type 2 diabetes. Moreover, this study estimates transition intensities and transition probabilities among various states using the multi-state Markov model.

Prevalence of Behcet's disease in Iran: a WHO‐ILAR COPCORD stage I study

Aim: To elucidate the prevalence of Behcet's disease (BD) during the World Health Organization‐International League of Associations for Rheumatology Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Disease study in Iran. The old estimate was 16 per 100,000 inhabitants, but this was just an estimation and a more precise figure was required. Materials and methods: Tehran, the capital of Iran with 1/10th of Iran's population, was selected as the field for the COPCORD study. The population of Iran is of mixed ethnicity (Caucasians 75.4%, Turks 22%, and Semites 2.6%). The same distribution was found in Tehran's general population. Tehran has 22 districts; 50 clusters were randomly selected from them. Interviewers passed an exam by interviewing 20 subjects. The observed agreement was 0.96. The chance expected agreement was 0.531325. The kappa coefficient was 0.919 (standard error: 0.112). The z‐score was 8.19. The one tailed P‐value was < 0.0001. Rheumatologists were selected from the ‘Rheumatology Subspecialty’, that is, those who were scheduled to become a rheumatology professor in one of Iran's medical schools. Results: The response rate was 75%. From 10,291 subjects interviewed all subjects with positive questionnaires were examined; seven had definitive BD and five probable BD. The prevalence was calculated on the seven definitive cases. It was 68 for 100,000 inhabitants. The confidence interval was 33.5–137. Four patients were female and three were male. All had oral and genital aphthosis, four had ocular lesions, three had pseudo‐folliculitis, and one had joint manifestations. Conclusions: The prevalence of BD in Iran is 68 per 100,000 inhabitants, which is the second highest prevalence after Turkey (80–370) in the world, and far behind comes Saudi Arabia with 20, China 14, and Japan 13.4 per 100,000 inhabitants.     

The potential of PIVKA-II as a treatment response biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma: a prospective United Kingdom cohort study

Prothrombin induced by vitamin K absence II (PIVKA-II) has recently been validated internationally as a diagnostic biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as part of the GALAD model. However, its role as a treatment response biomarker has been less well explored. We, therefore, undertook a prospective study at a tertiary centre in the UK to evaluate the role of PIVKA-II as a treatment response biomarker in patients with early, intermediate and advanced stage HCC. In a cohort of 141 patients, we found that PIVKA-II levels tracked concordantly with treatment response in the majority of patients, across a range of different treatment modalities. We also found that rises in PIVKA-II levels almost always predated radiological progression. Among AFP non-secretors, PIVKA-II was found to be informative in 60% of cases. In a small cohort of patients undergoing liver transplantation, pre-transplant PIVKA-II levels predicted for microvascular invasion and poorer differentiation. Our results demonstrate the potential utility of PIVKA-II as a treatment response biomarker and in predicting microvascular invasion, in a Western population. PIVKA-II demonstrated improved performance over AFP but, as a single biomarker, its performance was still limited. Further larger prospective studies are recommended to evaluate PIVKA-II as a treatment response biomarker, within the GALAD model.     

Correction: Application of [PVI-SO3H]NO3 as a novel polymeric nitrating agent with ionic tags in preparation of high-energetic materials

Correction for ‘Application of [PVI-SO₃H]NO₃ as a novel polymeric nitrating agent with ionic tags in preparation of high-energetic materials’ by Hassan Sepehrmansourie et al., RSC Adv., 2021, 11, 8367–8374, DOI: 10.1039/D1RA00651G.

The authors regret that incorrect details were given for ref. 16 in the original article. The correct version of ref. 16 is given below as ref. 1.The Royal Society of Chemistry apologises for these errors and any consequent inconvenience to authors and readers.