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A method for direct electrochemical metal duplication of pores in ion-track polymer membranes is described. It allows fabrication of metallic membranes using any metal, which is readily deposited by electroplating from aqueous solutions. The metal is deposited on one side of the template membrane, facing the anode, which is made conductive by a thin metal cladding layer. During electroplating, the lateral tapping of the pores is prevented by applying a counter-solution from the opposite non-metallized side of the plastic membrane, which increases dramatically the deposition overvoltage in the vicinity of the pore orifices. Such metallic membranes can be generated with pore diameters in the nano- and micrometer range and with densities from single pores up to 10[SUP6]-10[SUP7] pores/cm[SUP2]. They can replace plastic filters in cases when an application of polymer material is not desirable. They could be advantageous particularly in catalysis as well as in biological science and technology. Further, they may be useful as apertures and collimators for different kinds of radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. Pulse reverse electrolysis in an ultrasonic field is used to grow iron single crystals of micron size in templates formed by etching the tracks of swift ions in polymer foils. High-grade crystals are produced from high-temperature ferrous chloride baths. The crystals are oriented along their <110>, <100>, and <111> crystallographic axes. Their orientation turns out to depend on supersaturation during the growing process. At low overvoltages of deposition, <110> and <100> orientations are observed. The crystals of <111> orientation appear more frequently at higher cathode pulse current density. The crystals possess prominent resistance to corrosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Follow-up care after radical cystectomy is poorly defined, with extensive variation in practice patterns. We sought to determine sources of these variations in care as well as examine the economic effect of standardization of care to guideline-recommended care., Methods: Using linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare data from 1992 to 2007, we determined follow-up care expenditures (time and geography standardized) for 24 months after surgery. Accounted expenditures included office visits, imaging studies, urine tests, and blood work. A multilevel model was implemented to determine the effect of region, surgeon, and patient factors on care delivery. We then compared the actual expenditures on care in the Medicare system (interquartile range) with the expenditures if patients received care recommended by current clinical guidelines., Results: Expenditures over 24 months of follow-up were calculated per month and per patient. The mean and median total expenditures per patient were $1108 and $805 respectively (minimum $0, maximum $9,805; 25th-75th percentile $344-$1503). Variations in expenditures were most explained at the patient level. After accounting for surgeon and patient levels, we found no regional-level variations in care. Adherence to guidelines would lead to an increase in expenditures by 0.80 to 10.6 times the expenditures exist in current practice., Conclusion: Although some regional-level and surgeon-level variations in care were found, the most variation in expenditure on follow-up care was at the patient level, largely based on node positivity, chemotherapy status, and final cancer stage. Standardization of care to current established guidelines would create higher expenditures on follow-up care than current practice patterns., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The relationship between psychological stress and interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) has been well described. Even though there is some overlapping of symptoms between overactive bladder (OAB) and IC/BPS, there have been very few studies that specifically investigated the relationship between psychological stress and urinary symptoms in OAB patients who do not have pelvic pain. Here we examined the relationship between psychological stress levels and the severity of overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms., Methods: Patients diagnosed with OAB (n=51), IC/BPS (n=27), and age-matched healthy controls (n=30) participated in a case control study that inquired about their psychological stress levels using the perceived stress scale (PSS). PSS reported by the three patient groups were compared. Among OAB patients, their responses on the PSS was correlated to OAB symptoms using the following questionnaires: 1) international consultation on incontinence - urinary incontinence (ICIQ-UI), 2) international consultation on incontinence - overactive bladder (ICIQ-OAB), 3) OAB-q short form, 4) urogenital distress inventory (UDI-6), 5) incontinence impact questionnaire (IIQ-7), 6) urgency severity scale (USS), 7) numeric rating scales of urgency symptom, and 8) frequency symptom. Spearman's correlation tests were performed to examine the relationship between psychological stress levels and the severity of OAB symptoms., Results: OAB patients reported psychological stress levels that were as high as IC/BPS patients (median 17.0 versus 18.0, p=0.818, Wilcoxon sum rank test), and significantly higher than healthy controls (17.0, versus 7.5, p=0.001). Among OAB patients, there was a positive correlation between perceived stress levels and urinary incontinence symptoms (ICIQ-UI, Spearman's correlation coefficient=0.39, p=0.007), and impacts on quality of life (UDI-6, IIQ-7, OAB-q quality of life subscale; Spearman's correlation coefficient=0.32, 0.31, 0.39, and p=0.028, 0.005, 0.029, respectively). No significant correlation was observed between perceived stress levels and urgency or frequency symptoms (ICIQ-OAB, USS, numeric ratings of urgency and frequency)., Conclusions: OAB patients reported psychological stress levels that were as high as IC/BPS patients, and significantly higher than healthy controls. There was a positive correlation between perceived stress levels and urinary incontinence symptoms, and its impacts on quality of life among OAB patients.

Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of urine aquaporin 1 (AQP1) and perilipin 2 (PLIN2) concentrations to diagnose clear cell or papillary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) by comparing urine concentrations of these unique biomarkers in patients with RCC, noncancer renal masses, bladder cancer, and prostate cancer., Methods: From February 1, 2012, through October 31, 2012, preoperative urine samples were obtained from patients with a presumptive diagnosis of RCC based on an imaged renal mass, prostate cancer, or transitional cell bladder cancer. Imaged renal masses were diagnosed postnephrectomy—as malignant or benign—by histology. Urine AQP1 and PLIN2 concentrations were measured by using a sensitive and specific Western blot and normalized to urine creatinine concentration., Results: Median concentrations of urine AQP1 and PLIN2 in patients with clear cell and papillary RCC (n=47) were 29 and 36 relative absorbance units/mg urine creatinine, respectively. In contrast, median concentrations in patients with bladder cancer (n=22) and prostate cancer (n=27), patients with chromophobe tumors (n=7), and patients with benign renal oncocytomas (n=9) and angiomyolipomas (n=7) were all less than 10 relative absorbance units/mg urine creatinine (Kruskal-Wallis test, P<.001 vs RCC for both biomarkers) and comparable with those in healthy controls. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve ranged from 0.99 to 1.00 for both biomarkers., Conclusion: These results support the specificity and sensitivity of urine AQP1 and PLIN2 concentrations for RCC. These novel tumor-specific proteins have high clinical validity and high potential as specific screening biomarkers for clear cell and papillary RCC as well as in the differential diagnosis of imaged renal masses., Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00851994., (Copyright © 2015 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: We compared symptoms between interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and overactive bladder based on patient self-reported symptoms on validated questionnaires., Materials and Methods: We prospectively recruited 26 patients diagnosed with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, 53 diagnosed with overactive bladder and 30 healthy controls to participate in a questionnaire based study that inquired about lower urinary tract symptoms. The questionnaires used were GUPI, ICSI, ICPI, ICIQ-OAB, ICIQ-UI, IUSS, numerical rating scales of the severity of bladder pain, pressure or discomfort, and numerical rating scale of the severity of urgency and frequency symptoms., Results: On univariate analysis patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome reported significantly more severe pain symptoms than those with overactive bladder. Patients with overactive bladder reported significantly more severe urinary incontinence symptoms than those with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. There was no difference in frequency and urgency severity between the groups. Surprisingly, 33% of patients with overactive bladder reported pain or discomfort when the bladder filled and 46% with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome reported urgency incontinence. On multivariate analysis ICIQ-UI total scores (p = 0.01) and bladder pain severity on the numerical rating scale (p <0.01) distinguished the 2 conditions with 90.6% sensitivity and 96.1% specificity. Overactive bladder had higher ICIQ-UI and lower numerical rating scale pain scores., Conclusions: There is considerable overlap of self-reported symptoms between interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and overactive bladder. This overlap raises the possibility that the 2 conditions represent a continuum of a bladder hypersensitivity syndrome., (Copyright © 2014 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To describe the full range of symptom exacerbations defined by people with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome as 'flares', and to investigate their associated healthcare utilization and bother at two sites of the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Epidemiology and Phenotyping study., Subjects and Methods: Participants completed a flare survey that asked them: 1) whether they had ever had flares ('symptoms that are much worse than usual') that lasted <1 h, >1 h and <1 day, and >1 day; and 2) for each duration of flare, to report: their average length and frequency; their typical levels of urological and pelvic pain symptoms; and their levels of healthcare utilization and bother. We compared participants' responses to their non-flare MAPP values and by duration of flare using generalized linear mixed models., Results: Of 85 participants, 76 (89.4%) completed the flare survey, 72 (94.7%) of whom reported experiencing flares. Flares varied widely in terms of their duration (seconds to months), frequency (several times per day to once per year or less), and intensity and type of symptoms (e.g. pelvic pain vs urological symptoms). Flares of all durations were associated with greater pelvic pain, urological symptoms, disruption to participants' activities and bother, with increasing severity of each of these factors as the duration of flares increased. Days-long flares were also associated with greater healthcare utilization. In addition to duration, symptoms (pelvic pain, in particular) were also significant determinants of flare-related bother., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that flares are common and associated with greater symptoms, healthcare utilization, disruption and bother. Our findings also show the characteristics of flares most bothersome to patients (i.e. increased pelvic pain and duration), and thus of greatest importance to consider in future research on flare prevention and treatment., (© 2014 The Authors. BJU International © 2014 BJU International.)

Abstract. Copper single-crystals are grown by a galvanic method, using etched ion tracks in a polymer foil as templates. The copper deposition is carried out by reversible pulse electrolysis in an ultrasonic field. The method applied for this purpose permits fabrication of stable standing cylindrical single crystals with diameters in the nanometer and micrometer range with high aspect ratio and density of 10[sup 5]10[sup7] per cm[sup 2] on a large area. The experimental results obtained in this way are compared with the results obtained by direct current plating under ultrasonic treatment and sole reversible electrolysis. The effects of all these deposition processes on the structure of copper claddings are shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Port site metastasis is a rare occurrence after minimally invasive treatment for renal cell carcinoma. However, its prognostic implications are unclear because reports in the literature are heterogeneous in detail and followup. We clarify the significance of port site metastasis in cancer specific survival and broaden our understanding of this phenomenon., Materials and Methods: A MEDLINE® search for published studies of renal cell carcinoma port site metastasis was performed. Contributing factors to port site metastasis, stage, Fuhrman grade, pathology, port site metastasis treatment method, followup protocol and long-term outcomes were collected. The corresponding authors of each publication were contacted to fill in details and provide long-term outcomes. We added 1 case from our recent experience., Results: A total of 16 cases from 12 authors (including ourselves) were found. Of the 12 authors 8 were available for correspondence and 9 cases were updated. Eventual outcomes were available for 11 of the 16 cases and survival curves showed poor prognosis with a 31.8% overall 1-year survival rate. Of the 16 cases 12 were radical nephrectomy and 4 were partial nephrectomy, and 13 involved multiple metastases in addition to the port site metastasis. Nine of the cases had no identifiable technical reason for port site metastasis formation such as specimen morcellation, absence of entrapment or tumor rupture. These tumors were uniformly aggressive, Fuhrman grade 3 or higher., Conclusions: Port site metastasis after minimally invasive surgery for renal cell carcinoma is a rare occurrence with a poor prognosis. In most cases port site metastasis is not an isolated metastasis but instead is a harbinger of progressive disease. While technical factors can have a role in port site metastasis formation, it appears that biological factors like high tumor grade also contribute., (Copyright © 2014 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To perform a population-based comparison of inflatable vs semirigid penile prostheses and to determine contemporary rates of reoperation and identify factors impacting the type of prosthetic implanted., Methods: Patient-level discharge data and revisit files from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for semirigid and inflatable prosthesis procedures performed for erectile dysfunction from 2006 to 2009 in the state of California were examined. Regression analysis was performed to determine differences between the procedures in terms of infectious and noninfectious failure. Regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with revision and to identify associations between potential risk factors and the type of implant performed., Results: A total of 2263 cases were included in the study (1824 inflatable and 439 semirigid). The overall reoperation rate was 7.42%. There was no difference in the overall revision rate between the 2 groups (7.52% semirigid and 7.40% inflatable; P=.94). The reoperation rate secondary to infectious complications was 3.6% (4.5% semirigid vs 3.23% inflatable; P=.18). The revision rate secondary to noninfectious failure was 2.96% in the semirigid vs 4.17% in the inflatable group (P=.25). Medicaid insurance (odds ratio [OR], 2.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41-3.61), African American race (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.20-2.49), age>80 (P=.046), and diabetes (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.07-2.59) were associated with receiving a semirigid implant., Conclusion: Reoperation rates for infectious and noninfectious failure are equivalent between the semirigid and inflatable penile prostheses. Sociodemographic factors appear to significantly influence the type of prosthesis a patient receives., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Despite known survival benefits, overall use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before cystectomy is low, raising concerns about quality of care. However, not all patients undergoing cystectomy are eligible for this therapy. We establish the maximum proportion of patients expected to receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy if all those eligible had a consultation with medical oncology., Materials and Methods: From institutional data (January 2010 through December 2012) we identified 215 patients treated with radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. After excluding patients not eligible for neoadjuvant chemotherapy, we fit models assessing patient disease and health factors affecting referral to medical oncology and receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Expected use of chemotherapy was then determined for increasingly broad groups of patients treated with cystectomy after controlling for factors precluding the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy., Results: Of the 215 patients identified 127 (59%) were eligible for neoadjuvant chemotherapy. After additional consideration of patient factors (patient refusal, health status and poor renal function), maximum receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy increased from 42% to 71% as more restrictive definitions for the eligible patient cohort were used., Conclusions: Substantial variability exists in the proportion of patients eligible for neoadjuvant chemotherapy based on the population identified. While there is substantial underuse of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the development of quality metrics for this essential therapy depends on correct identification of the cystectomy population being assessed. Even with referral of all appropriate patients for medical oncology evaluation, use of chemotherapy would likely not exceed 50% of patients in nationally representative cystectomy data., (Copyright © 2014 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the trends in urine aquaporin-1 (AQP1) and perilipin 2 (PLIN2) concentrations in patients with clear cell and papillary renal cell carcinoma (RCC), we determined the relationship between the urine concentration of these biomarkers and tumor size, grade, and stage., Materials and Methods: The biomarker concentrations were determined by sensitive and specific Western blot procedures normalized to the urine creatinine excretion. The analysis included 61 patients undergoing partial or radical nephrectomy for clear cell or papillary RCC and 43 age- and sex-matched control patients. Relationships between urine biomarker concentrations and tumor size, stage, and grade were assessed., Results: Patients with RCC had 35-fold and 9-fold higher median urinary AQP1 and PLIN2 concentrations, respectively, compared with controls. Both tumor markers decreased after tumor resection to concentrations equivalent to those of controls. The sensitivity and specificity were both 100% for AQP1 and 92% and 100%, respectively, for PLIN2. A significant linear correlation was found between the tumor size and the prenephrectomy AQP1 (Spearman coefficient 0.78, P <.001) and PLIN2 (Spearman coefficient 0.69, P <.001) concentrations. A correlation was found for both markers with tumor stage (overall P = .030), when the stage was dependent primarily on the tumor size (stages T1 and T2), but not with stage T3, which reflected extrarenal spread. Neither marker showed a significant correlation with tumor grade., Conclusion: AQP1 and PLIN2 were significantly increased in patients with clear cell and papillary RCC compared with controls. The preoperative urinary concentrations of these markers reflected the tumor size and stage., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A relationship between the occurrence of Mooren's ulcer and hookworm infections was suggested by Kuriakose in 1963. Sixteen patients with clinical diagnosis of Mooren's ulcer and 15 local controls from Sierra Leone were tested with respect to serum immunoglobulin levels, circulating antibody to hookworm, circulating antibodies to corneal epithelium, stool smears, and eosinophil and lymphocyte levels. Both patients and healthy controls had circulating antibodies to corneal epithelium and to hookworm. In the controls the titres of hookworm antibodies were significantly lower than in the patients, though in both groups most people had intestinal parasite infestations as detected by the stool smear. Further investigation failed to demonstrate any other significant immune alteration in the patients as compared with local controls. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Perfusion lung scans were performed immediately prior to Fontan procedure in 45 patients with a functional single ventricle who underwent the hemi-Fontan procedure as an intermediate stage between the initial palliative shunt procedure and the final complete Fontan anastomosis. Symmetric pulmonary blood flow (PBF) distribution was found in 27% of patients, whereas moderately to severely abnormal PBF distribution was found in 35% of patients. The achieved systemic aortic saturation following the hemi-Fontan procedure was not affected by these abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infective hookworm larvae of Ancylostoma caninum showed chemotaxis on agar plates in a dog serum gradient. This chemotactic behaviour remain unaltered using an ultrafiltrated serum fraction with a molecular weight less than 500. Gelfiltration of this ultrafiltrated fraction revealed a factor with a molecular weight of 480 causing chemotaxis. The chemotactic activity of the factor was destroyed after a pronase treatment. We conclude that the factor could be a polypeptide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infective hookworm larvae of Ancylostoma caninum showed chemotaxis when applied on agar plates in a dog serum gradient. The factor(s) that caused this chemotaxis was thermostable and dialysable against PBS. Using ultrafiltration to separate dog serum in several fractions each with a different molecular weight, it was shown that the factor(s) causing chemotaxis had a molecular weight less than 500 Dalton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applying the indirect fluorescent antibody technique to the infective stages of the hookworm Ancylostoma caninum, it appeared that they do not show IgG antibody binding when serum from dogs infected with A. caninum was used in the test (antiserum). However, inhibiting these stages metabolically with azide or with low temperatures, IgG antibody binding to the outer surface was observed. When the inhibitory factors were removed, shedding of fluorescent substances was seen, which were obviously coming from the outer surface of the larvae. This suggests that shedding of the antigen might occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Technique (IFAT) and the Indirect Immuno Peroxidase Technique (IIPT) have been applied to cryostat sections and intact stages of the hookworm species Ancylostoma caninum with sera from infected dogs. Especially the role of the body surface (=cuticle (cortex, matrix, basal layer) and hypodermis) in immunity was studied. Using cryostat sections and dead intact stages as the antigen, specific antibody binding was demonstrated round the ovum membrane and the cuticle of all stages of this hookworm species. Cryostat sections of adult worms showed, that it probably is not the cuticle itself that is antigenic, but that the specific reaction that is observed consisted of a layer, covering the cortex of the cuticle. Infective and parasitic living stages, however, showed no antibody binding in contrast to the free-living stages in which specific antibody binding was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lateral skin areas of nine hookworm-free puppies were exposed to infective larvae of Ancylostoma braziliense, Ancylostoma ceylanicum and Ancylostoma caninum. Serial sections, stained with Harris' haematoxylin and eosin, showed that many similarities exist in the migration patterns of the hookworm species used. However, striking differences were observed between Ancylostoma braziliense on the one hand and Ancylostoma ceylanicum and Ancylostoma caninum on the other hand with regard to the speed with which the penetration occurred. Larvae of Ancylostoma braziliense may travel directly from the epidermis into the dermis - apart from migration via hair follicle systems - a path of migration we did not observe in infections with the other species used. Larvae of Ancylostoma braziliense seem to pass the skin more rapidly than those of Ancylostoma ceylanicum and Ancylostoma caninum. Many larvae of Ancylostoma ceylanicum managed to penetrate the skin 2-6 h after the onset of the exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Encephalitozoon species are important pathogens in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. However, in immunocompetent persons, little is known about Encephalitozoon infections, mainly because of the lack of reliable diagnostic tests. To improve diagnosis, three serologic techniques that use Encephalitozoon intestinalis as antigen were developed: an ELISA, an immunofluorescence technique (IFAT), and a counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) method. The serologic response against E. intestinalis was studied in sera from 300 Dutch blood donors and 276 pregnant French women. For confirmation of specificity, sera from 150 subjects with various infectious and noninfectious diseases were examined. ELISA, IFAT, and CIE were specific for microsporidia infections, and IFAT and CIE were specific for Encephalitozoon infections. High antibody titers against Encephalitozoon organisms were found in 24 (8%) of 300 Dutch blood donors and in 13 (5%) of 276 pregnant French women. The high seroprevalence against Encephalitozoon species in Dutch blood donors and French women suggests that Encephalitozoon infection is common in immunocompetent subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Bone mineral density (BMD) was determined in 32 excised vertebrae using three methods: (1) dual-energy quantitative computed tomography (QCT), (2) dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA) with 153-Gd in an anteriorposterior projection and (3) scanning slit X-ray absorptiometry (SSXA) in both AP and lateral projections. The QCT region-of-interest in the anterior vertebral body had a lower density than that of the total trabecular portion of the body, but was highly correlated to this larger region (r = 0.96; SEE = 8 mg/cm3). The anterior QCT region also correlated moderately with BMD from DPA (r = 0.77; SEE = 18 mg/cm3). Measurements of the vertebral body in lateral projection were less well correlated (r = 0.5-0.7) to QCT densities. Both the anterior QCT region (r = 0.81; SEE = 18 mg/cm3) and the BMD from DPA (r = 0.86; SEE = 16 mg/cm3) and the BMD from DPA (r = 0.86; SEE = 16 mg/cm3) were similarly predictive of density of the integral vertebral body. Differences among densitometric methods on the spine depend on the projection used and the region examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ThermalBe ( I=3/2) ions are polarized by direct optical pumping in He buffer gas. Observation of ⩼gDF=± 1 transitions yields for the hyperfine splitting frequency v(Be, 1 s 2 s S)=1250018(5) kHz. The result is discussed with regard to predictions of recent theoretical calculations and of the Fermi-Segré formula for the ground state hfs of the Li isoelectronic sequence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractional hyperfine density shifts (fds) forBa ( I=3/2) ions are measured by means of direct optical pumping in noble gas buffers. The results for the fds (Ba, 6 s S) in units of 10/Torr (0 ‡C) (measured at temperatures between 375 and 395 K) are: + 7(7) (He), −74(8) (Ne), −825(80) (Ar), −1 500(200) (Kr), and < −1600 (Xe). These shifts for theBa ion are considerably more negative than those for the isoelectronicCs atom. It is shown that this difference can be explained by taking into account the additional charge induced interaction. The hyperfine splitting frequency of the unperturbedBa 6 s S state is extrapolated to v=8037741.6(6)kHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]