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The article presents research which examined the development of a hybrid evaporation/sputtering process for thin film solar cells of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 deposition. The researchers assessed the relationship between the growth parameters of the method with the chemical-physical properties of the solar cells. They also completed the CdS buffer layer of the cells through chemical bath deposition technique.

The aim of this prospective multicenter study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) for the surgical treatment of female stress incontinence. Four hundred and four women underwent the TVT procedure. Their mean age was 57 years (range 31–83). The median follow-up time was 21 months (range 12–35). The subjective and objective cure rates were 92% and 90%, respectively. Another 4% of the women were significantly improved by the procedure. Intra- and postoperative complications were few and included uneventful bladder perforations (6%), retropubic bleeding requiring surgery (0.5%), voiding difficulties (4%) in the postoperative course, and one obturator nerve injury. We conclude that the TVT procedure is associated with a high cure rate and a low morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One hundred and three women with a preoperative diagnosis of a pelvic support defect underwent right sacrospinous fixation of the vaginal apex. The procedure was performed either therapeutically (in 63 subjects with vaginal vault eversion) or prophylactically (40 patients with severe uterovaginal prolapse), and was associated with other reconstructive procedures to repair the coexisting cystocele, enterocele or rectocele. Preoperative and postoperative assessments of each vaginal site were compared and the results in the cure of stress urinary incontinence, if present, were evaluated with regard to the type of surgery performed. The overall rate of satisfactory results in the repair of the superior vaginal defect was 94%, and good anatomic results were achieved in the repair of either enterocele or rectocele. Conversely, the repair of the anterior vaginal wall was not as good as in the posterior and superior vaginal sites. Stress urinary incontinence was successfully managed in 72% of the women using different anti-incontinence procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was carried out to determine the effect of a combination regimen of a small dose of calcitonin added to conjugated estrogens with medroxyprogesterone acetate on vertebral bone mass in early postmenopausal women. Comparisons were made with groups of women on calcitonin alone, on conjugated estrogens with medroxyprogesterone acetate alone, or on no treatment. The study was carried out over a 2-year period. The results of the study suggest that the combined regimen of calcitonin and estrogens increased vertebral bone mass in early postmenopausal women to a greater extent than calcitonin alone or estrogen alone. Increases in vertebral bone mass of 11.2% after 1 year and 9.2% after 2 years were demonstrated using the combined regimen. Both estrogens alone and calcitonin alone were, however, very effective in preventing rapid bone loss in the postmenopausal women studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 56-year-old non-obese woman with a previous history of pelvic surgery underwent an uneventful TVT procedure for the treatment of genuine stress incontinence. Postoperatively she began to report an acute low abdominal pain and a secondary laparoscopy was performed. The view of the right iliac region showed the tape passing through a loop of the small intestine. The tape was cut in its intraperitoneal portion and the ileum freed and repaired. After the operation the patient recovered well and was discharged on the fifth day after laparoscopy. Despite the section of the tape, 1 year later the patient is objectively cured by the procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seventy-five patients who underwent a Burch colposuspension were evaluated urodynamically before and after the surgical procedure. The women were divided into two groups, one with a urethral closure pressure of 30 cm HO or lower and one with a pressure over 30 cm HO. The two groups were comparable for age, parity, and weight. Significant differences were found between the two groups for both functional lengths and urethral closure pressure (P<0.005). The difference in the failure rate between the low urethral closure pressure group (21.2%) and the normal urethral pressure group (9.5%) was not statistically significant. On the other hand, the menopause is a condition which increases the surgical failure rate (26.6% versus 6.6%) (P<0.025). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to analyse the changes in follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin concentrations in the 3 months following oophorectomy in pre-menopausal women operated on for benign gynaecological conditions. Included in this analysis were 21 women (mean age 47 years, range 46-52) who underwent bilateral oophorectomy plus hysterectomy for fibroids or ovarian cysts. Plasma concentrations of FSH, LH and prolactin were measured before and on days 2, 4, 6, 14 and 30 after surgery; in 10 cases measurements were made on day 60, and in five cases on day 90 after surgery. Hormone concentrations were measured in duplicate daily samples, and immunoenzymatic assay kits were used for all the immunoassays. The FSH and LH concentrations increased constantly after surgery. Mean prolactin concentrations also increased from 12.1 ng/ml before surgery to 31.5 ng/ml on day 14 after bilateral oophorectomy, but decreased thereafter to 18.2 ng/ml on day 30, 10.9 ng/ml on day 60 and 6 ng/ml on day 90. In conclusion, transient (2-3 weeks) increased prolactin concentrations are observed after surgical castration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to analyse the changes in follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin concentrations in the 3 months following oophorectomy in pre-menopausal women operated on for benign gynaecological conditions. Included in this analysis were 21 women (mean age 47 years, range 46–52) who underwent bilateral oophorectomy plus hysterectomy for fibroids or ovarian cysts. Plasma concentrations of FSH, LH and prolactin were measured before and on days 2, 4, 6, 14 and 30 after surgery; in 10 cases measurements were made on day 60, and in five cases on day 90 after surgery. Hormone concentrations were measured in duplicate daily samples, and immunoenzymatic assay kits were used for all the immunoassays. The FSH and LH concentrations increased constantly after surgery. Mean prolactin concentrations also increased from 12.1 ng/ml before surgery to 31.5 ng/ml on day 14 after bilateral oophorectomy, but decreased thereafter to 18.2 ng/ml on day 30, 10.9 ng/ml on day 60 and 6 ng/ml on day 90. In conclusion, transient (2–3 weeks) increased prolactin concentrations are observed after surgical castration. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]