Antibiotikaprophylaxe bei transurethraler Resektion der Prostata (TUR-P)

Background

For patients undergoing urologic interventions, relevant aspects of antibiotic prophylaxis such as drug of choice and duration of prophylaxis are still discussed controversially. According to the current European and German guidelines, single-shot prophylaxis is recommended only in patients with risk factors.

Methods

Discussion of two published meta-analyses with regard to of recently published randomized controlled trials.

Results

Two comprehensive meta-analyses concordantly revealed a significant reduction in bacteriuria and fever incidence without stratification according to preexisting risk factors. A single antibiotic dose (“single shot”) of, for example, a cephalosporin or chinolone reduced the bacteriuria rate significantly. However, for the cephalosporines, the most frequently studied drug class, repeated dosing seems to be more effective.

Conclusion

Antibiotic prophylaxis reduces the rates of bacteriuria and fever in patients without existing risk factors undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate. The optimal duration of antibiotic prophylaxis and the drug of choice must be evaluated in further studies investigating clinically relevant endpoints.     

Tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β and nitric oxide induce calcium transients in distinct populations of cells cultured from the rat area postrema

The area postrema (AP) represents the medullary sensory circumventricular organ lacking endothelial blood–brain barrier function at the base of the 4th cerebral ventricle. Administration of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) or the nitric oxide (NO) donor diethylamino-diazenolate-2-oxide (DEA) caused fast transient rises in intracellular calcium concentrations ([Ca²⁺]i) in distinct populations of cells investigated in a primary microculture of the rat AP. TNF-α caused rapid elevations of [Ca²⁺]i in 8% of all neurons and astrocytes investigated, with limited responses of microglial cells and no responses of oligodendrocytes. 15% of all neurons investigated responded to IL-1β, while only 5–7% of the other cell types showed rises in [Ca²⁺]i. The most pronounced effects were caused by treatment with DEA with some 20% responsive astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, 15% neurons and 10% microglial cells. Evidently, the AP can act as a sensor for circulating TNF-α and IL-1β, or for locally produced cytokines and NO during infection and inflammation.     

Handedness does not predict side of onset of motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease

This study focused on the relationship between the asymmetry of initial motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) and premorbid handedness of patients. Structural equation modeling has been used for this purpose. The survey consisting of validated items measuring handedness and questions related to side of occurrence of initial symptoms was administered to 472 patients with PD [277 men, 195 women, mean age 66.5 (9.3), mean duration of the disease 10 (6.1) years]. The unidimensional model of handedness fits the data well (χ² = 37.86, df = 20, P = 0.009, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.044, Comparative Fit Index = 1.00, Standardized Root Mean Square Residual = 0.042) and side of initial motor symptoms is not significantly related to the factor of handedness (r =0.11, SE = 0.07, P = 0.14). In contrast to several other studies, the results indicate that the side of first occurrence of PD signs cannot be predicted from premorbid handedness of patients. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society     

Directing the Self‐Assembly of Mesostructured Hybrid Materials: Effect of Polymer Concentration and Solvent Type

Herein we explore the possibility to control the fabrication of non‐equilibrium nano‐patterns of spin‐coated organic‐inorganic hybrid materials based on diblock copolymers and metal nanoparticles in thin films. It is demonstrated that the type of solvent and the initial solution concentration, among other factors, can serve as tools to direct the morphology of spin‐coated thin films. The driving forces leading to the pattern formation are reviewed with respect to these parameters—type of solvents and polymer concentration. As a result well‐defined surface patterns of functional hybrid materials are obtained. Moreover, the same tools used to direct the pattern formation can be applied to gain control over the particle size and size distribution.