Unilateral Hydroureteronephrosis After a Mesh Procedure

Synthetic mesh has become a popular treatment of pelvic floor relaxation and pelvic organ prolapse, with low complication rates. We describe the case of a woman with unilateral hydroureteronephrosis after a mesh procedure (Gynecare Prolift; Ethicon Women's Health & Urology, Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, New Jersey) successfully treated by neoureterocystostomy. A 39-year-old woman with pelvic organ prolapse underwent the mesh procedure. Two months later, she had left flank pain, and hydroureteronephrosis was diagnosed on the same side despite cystoscopic confirmation of ureteral passage at the first operation. The arm of the mesh was removed surgically, and neoureterocystostomy was performed successfully. Mesh surgery is not without serious complications, and surgeons should bear in mind the possible complications associated with this surgical procedure.     

Normative Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Data in Healthy Turkish Children

Purpose: To determine the normative database of macular and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness parameters in healthy Turkish children by OCT. Methods: 318 eyes of 318 children (138 boys, 183 girls) aged between 3 and 17 years were evaluated. The children were scanned by Cirrus HD-OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec) to measure the macula, RNFL, and optic nerve head parameters. Results: Axial length (AL) (p?2?=?0.08), spherical equivalent (SE) (p?2?=?0.12), and rim area (p?2?=?0.15) were the strongest predictors of RNFL thickness. All of the macular measurements were significantly related to age (p?2?>?5%). Average macular thickness (p?p?=?0.002) showed significant relationship with the AL and SE. Conclusion: This study ensures an age-adjusted pediatric normative database using OCT to diagnose and monitor macular diseases, optic nerve diseases, and glaucoma in children.     

Destructive and Non-Destructive Testing of the Performance of Copper Slag Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

Concrete technology is adopted worldwide in construction due to its effectiveness, performance, and price benefits. Subsequently, it needs to be an eco-friendly, sustainable, and energy-efficient material. This is achieved by replacing or adding energy-efficient concrete materials from industries, such as ground granulated blast furnace slag, steel slag, fly ash, bottom ash, rice husk ash, etc. Likewise, copper slag is a waste material produced as molten slag from the copper industry, which can be used in concrete production. Copper slag can perform roles similar to pozzolans in the hydration process. This paper extends the comparative study of copper slag concrete with polypropylene fiber (PPF) subjected to destructive and non-destructive testing. Under destructive testing, compressive strength of concrete cubes, compressive strength of mortar cubes, splitting tensile tests on cylindrical specimens, and flexural tests on plain cement concrete were conducted and analysed. Ultrasonic pulse velocity and rebound hammer tests were performed on the samples as per IS13311-Part 1-1992 for non-destructive testing. The 100% replacement of copper slag exhibited a very high workability of 105 mm, while the addition of 0.8% PPF decreased the flowability of the concrete. Hence, the workability of concrete decreases as the fiber content increases. The density of the concrete was found to be increased in the range of 5% to 10%. Furthermore, it was found that, for all volume fractions of fiber, there was no reduction in compressive strength of up to 80% of copper slag concrete compared to control concrete. The 40% copper slag concrete was the best mix proportion for increasing compressive strength. However, for cement mortar applications, 80% copper slag is recommended. The findings of non-destructive testing show that, except for 100% copper slag, all mixes were of good quality compared to other mixes. Linear relationships were developed to predict compressive strength from UPV and rebound hammer test values. This relationship shows better prediction among dependent and independent values. It is concluded that copper slag has a pozzolanic composition, and is compatible with PPF, resulting in good mechanical characteristics.     

A Systematic Review of the Research Development on the Application of Machine Learning for Concrete

Research on the applications of new techniques such as machine learning is advancing rapidly. Machine learning methods are being employed to predict the characteristics of various kinds of concrete such as conventional concrete, recycled aggregate concrete, geopolymer concrete, fiber-reinforced concrete, etc. In this study, a scientometric-based review on machine learning applications for concrete was performed in order to evaluate the crucial characteristics of the literature. Typical review studies are limited in their capacity to link divergent portions of the literature systematically and precisely. Knowledge mapping, co-citation, and co-occurrence are among the most challenging aspects of innovative studies. The Scopus database was chosen for searching for and retrieving the data required to achieve the study’s aims. During the data analysis, the relevant sources of publications, relevant keywords, productive writers based on publications and citations, top articles based on citations received, and regions actively engaged in research into machine learning applications for concrete were identified. The citation, bibliographic, abstract, keyword, funding, and other data from 1367 relevant documents were retrieved and analyzed using the VOSviewer software tool. The application of machine learning in the construction sector will be advantageous in terms of economy, time-saving, and reduced requirement for effort. This study can aid researchers in building joint endeavors and exchanging innovative ideas and methods, due to the statistical and graphical portrayal of participating authors and countries.     

Simvastatin pretreatment reduces the severity of limb ischemia in an experimental diabetes model

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of simvastatin pretreatment in the setting of acute limb ischemia-reperfusion injury in an experimental diabetes model that is associated with a high risk for limb loss. METHODS: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into two groups. Diabetes was induced in the first group by intravenous streptozotocin injection. The second group served as the nondiabetic group. Eight weeks after the streptozotocin injection, half of the rats in the diabetic and the nondiabetic groups were further randomized to receive either intraperitoneal simvastatin (1 mg/kg per day) or saline treatment for 6 weeks. Bilateral hind-limb ischemia was induced for 4 hours by the tourniquet method. After 24 hours of reperfusion, tissue samples were collected from the gastrocnemius and anterior tibial muscles bilaterally for measurement of muscle edema, percentage of necrosis, and malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels. RESULTS: Ischemic injury was more prominent in diabetic animals. The diabetic animals with limb ischemia exhibited a 7% increase in tissue edema, a 47% increase in muscle necrosis and MPO level, and a 15% reduction in glutathione levels compared with the nondiabetic animals (P < .05). Simvastatin treatment with 1 mg/kg for 6 weeks reduced the ischemic injury. Simvastatin pretreatment led to a 71% reduction in muscle necrosis in diabetic animals (P < .001). The protective effects of simvastatin pretreatment also correlated with a 23% improvement in tissue edema, a 75% reduction in tissue myeloperoxidase content, and a 71% increase in glutathione levels in diabetic animals (P < .01). Furthermore, skeletal muscle injury, characterized by tissue edema and leucosequestration, was significantly less severe with simvastatin pretreatment compared with the nondiabetic animals (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Simvastatin pretreatment reduced limb ischemia-reperfusion injury in diabetic and nondiabetic animals. We conclude that simvastatin pretreatment may be a potential therapeutic intervention for skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury in the clinical setting.     

Stage I small cell carcinoma of the endometrium: survival and management options

Small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the endometrium is a rare but aggressive disease with early systemic involvement. Patient survival is short. To date, no effective treatment protocol has been established. Surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy have been used either alone or in combination. The case of a patient with stage IB endometrial SCC is presented with an overview based on all reported cases of SCC of the endometrium and its treatment with particular reference to stage I cases.     

Aggressive mixed type endometrial carcinoma in a young woman with rapid progression and fatal outcome

Introduction Endometrial carcinoma in young ages is uncommon and tends to be a well differentiated endometrioid type and has an excellent prognosis. Nevertheless, in this report mixed type endometrial cancer including serous, clear cell and endometrioid components in a young patient with rapid progression and fatal outcome is presented. Case A 26-year-old virgin female was admitted with menometrohagia lasting for 9 months, leading to severe anemia. Transabdominal ultrasonography demonstrated 30 × 27 mm intramural mass consistent with leiomyoma in uterine corpus posterior. The patient did not permit any vaginal intervention including endometrial sampling, therefore laparotomy was decided. Mixed type endometrial carcinoma was diagnosed and she was treated with comprehensive surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy. After 7 months of surgery she deceased. Conclusion We suggest that persistent uterine bleeding associated with severe anemia should be evaluated for malignancy even in young women to avoid delay in diagnosis. Imaging studies especially magnetic resonance imaging may be helpful when endometrial sampling cannot be done.