Povidone-iodine sclerotherapy of primary symptomatic lymphocele after kidney transplantation

International Urology and Nephrology - To report the efficacy and safety of povidone-iodine sclerotherapy of primary symptomatic lymphocele after kidney transplantation in a large contemporary...     

MRI-targeted biopsy for detecting prostate cancer: have the guidelines changed our practices and our prostate cancer detection rate?

International Urology and Nephrology - In our center, until 2018, MRI-targeted biopsy was underused. Since January 2018, we systematically performed MRI-targeted biopsy for suspicious...     

Stress Intensity Factor Assessment for the Reinforcement of Cracked Steel Plates Using Prestressed or Non-Prestressed Adhesively Bonded CFRP

The use of adhesively bonded carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) materials to reinforce cracked steel elements has gained widespread acceptance in order to extend the lifespan of metallic structures. This allows an important reduction of the stress intensity factor (SIF) at the crack tip and thus a significant increase of the fatigue life. This paper deals with the assessment of the SIF for repaired cracked steel plates, using semi-empirical analysis and finite element analysis. Metallic plates with only one crack originating from a center hole were investigated. Virtual crack closure technique (VCCT) was used to define and evaluate the stress intensity factor at crack tip. The obtained modeling results are compared with experimental investigations led by the authors for different reinforcement configurations including symmetrical and non-symmetrical reinforcement, normal modulus and ultra-high-modulus CFRP plates, and pre-stressed CFRP plates. Results show that finite element model (FEM) analysis can obviously simulate the fatigue performance of the CFRP bonded steel plates with different reinforcement configurations. Moreover, a parametric analysis of the influence of the pre-stressing level was also conducted. The results show that an increase of the pre-stressing level results in an increase of the fatigue life of the element.     

Flexible ureteroscopy with laser for upper urinary tract stone

The treatment of upper urinary tract stone with flexible ureteroscopy is safe and efficient. According to the size and the localization of stone, it is the first-line treatment. The patient must be informed about modalities and risks of this treatment. Urines must be sterile. The fragmentation of stone is made with the energy of Laser Holmium. The knowledge of material and technique allows to obtain a complete treatment in about 80% of cases.     

Outbreak of Oropouche Virus in French Guiana

Oropouche fever is a zoonotic dengue-like syndrome caused by Oropouche virus. In August–September 2020, dengue-like syndrome developed in 41 patients in a remote rainforest village in French Guiana. By PCR or microneutralization, 23 (82.1%) of 28 tested patients were positive for Oropouche virus, documenting its emergence in French Guiana.     

Sixteen Weeks of Supplementation with a Nutritional Quantity of a Diversity of Polyphenols from Foodstuff Extracts Improves the Health-Related Quality of Life of Overweight and Obese Volunteers: A Randomized,Double-Blind,Parallel Clinical Trial

Overweight and obesity adversely affect health-related quality of life (HRQOL) through day-to-day impairments of both mental and physical functioning. It is assumed that polyphenols within the Mediterranean diet may contribute to improving HRQOL. This investigation aimed at studying the effects of a polyphenol-rich ingredient on HRQOL in overweight and obese but otherwise healthy individuals. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study including 72 volunteers was conducted. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive for a 16-week period either 900 mg/day of the supplement or a placebo. Dietary recommendations were individually determined and intakes were recorded. Daily physical mobility was also monitored. Improvement of HRQOL was set as the primary outcome and assessed at baseline and at the end of the investigation using the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) health survey. Body composition was analyzed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Physical activity was calculated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). After 16 weeks, despite there being no adherence to the Mediterranean Diet Serving Score (MDSS), supplemented individuals experienced significant HRQOL improvement (+5.3%; p = 0.001), including enhanced perceived physical (+11.2%; p = 0.002) and mental health (+4.1%; p = 0.021) components, with bodily pain, vitality, and general health being the greatest contributors. Body fat mass significantly decreased (−1.2 kg; p = 0.033), mainly within the trunk area (−1.0 kg; p = 0.002). Engagement in physical activity significantly increased (+1308 Met-min (Metabolic Equivalent Task minutes)/week; p = 0.050). Hence, chronic supplementation with nutritional diversity and dosing of a Mediterranean diet-inspired, polyphenol-rich ingredient resulted in significant amelioration in both perceived physical and mental health, concomitant with the improvement of body composition, in healthy subjects with excessive adiposity.     

Porous Poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene) Neutral Monolith: From Design and Characterization to Reversed‐Phase Capillary Electrochromatography Applications

Macroporous cross‐linked organic polymers, based on styrene and divinylbenzene (PS‐DVB), are prepared as monolithic stationary phases for capillary electrochromatographic applications. The synthetic strategy, which relies on the semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (semi‐IPN) approach, is performed through UV‐initiated free radical copolymerization of the comonomers in the presence of poly(?‐caprolactone) (PCL) within the confines of fused silica capillaries. The characterization of PS‐DVB monoliths is carried out at the different stages of the synthesis using a combination of experimental techniques, thus providing information on the chemical and porous structures. All experimental results evidence the sole role of the PCL oligomer as a porogen.