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To maintain economic profitability and stabilize fuel prices, refineries actively explore alternatives for efficiently processing (extra) heavy crude oils. These oils are challenging to process due to their complex composition, which includes significant quantities of asphaltenes, resins, and sulfur and nitrogen heteroatoms. A critical initial step in upgrading these oils is the hydrogenation of polyaromatic compounds, requiring substantial hydrogen sources. Methane from natural gas streams is known to act as an effective hydrogen donor. This study investigates the use of a heteropolyacid (HPA) catalyst modified with nickel and methane to enhance the quality of heavy crude oil with an initial 8.0°API (at 15.5 °C) and 2200 cSt viscosity (at 37.5 °C). After treatment in a batch reactor at 380 °C and 4.4 MPa for 2 h, the oil properties markedly improved: API gravity increased from 8.0 to 16.0 (at 15.5 °C), and kinematic viscosity reduced from 2200 to 125 cSt (at 37.5 °C). Additionally, there was a significant decrease in asphaltenes (from 38.7 to 16.4% by weight), sulfur (from 5.9 to 4.0% by weight), and nitrogen (from 971 to 695 ppm). This was accompanied by an increase in the volume of light distillates from 1.3 to 4.9%, and middle distillates from 8.8 to 21.0%. These results suggest that nickel-modified HPA catalysts, combined with methane as a hydrogen donor, are a promising option for upgrading heavy crude oils., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Objective: To determine the validity of a Fournier's gangrene severity index (FGSI), developed to assign a numerical score describing the severity of FG, and evaluate factors in the survival of patients with FG., Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 51 patients diagnosed with FG between 1994 and 2006. Data were collected on their medical history, which included vital signs (temperature, heart and respiratory rates) and metabolic variables (sodium, potassium, creatinine, bicarbonate levels, haematocrit, and white blood cell count). We computed a score relating to the severity of the disease at the time, and compared it to other features according to whether the patient survived or died. The different prognostic factors were assessed by univariate analysis with the Mann-Whitney U and Kendall A-B tests., Results: Of the evaluated 51 inpatients, eight died (16%) and 43 survived (84%). The median (range) age was 63 (17-85) years and the median time from the onset of the symptoms until the admission to the emergency room was 7.8 (1-60) days. The mean hospital stay was 33 (2-90) days and 17 patients were admitted to the intensive-care unit for a mean of 4.5 days. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups. Body surfaces involved were the scrotum in five patients (10%), the penis and scrotum in 11 (22%), the scrotum and perineum in 30 (59%) and the abdominal wall in five (10%). There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution in those who survived or died (P = 0.131). The median age of 60 (17-81) years in the survivors was significantly lower than that of 73.5 (50-85) years in those who died (P = 0.02). There was no significant difference (P = 0.06) between the number of repeated debridements in the survivors (3.23) and those who died (5.25). The mean (range) FGSI score for survivors was 6.7 (0-14), vs 8.7 (6-13) for those who died (P = 0.12). The only laboratory variables associated with death were serum bicarbonate (P = 0.04) and serum sodium (P = 0.02) levels., Conclusions: FG is an unpredictable disease process with wide variability in its presentation. In our experience, the FGSI gives no indication of the likelihood of survival, but the risk factors for predicting the severity of FG seem to be greater in older patients and those with high sodium and low bicarbonate levels.

Complete removal of metastatic lesions can contribute to improve clinical prognosis of renal cancer. Nowadays, it is accepted that surgical extirpation of solitary metastases for patients with renal cancer is the only potential for long-term survival. Provided that the metastases could be technical and functionally resected. This review addresses the current evidence about resecable renal cancer metastases at lung, liver, bone, kidney and other organs. The criteria to consider a patient as candidate for resection of metastases are: control of primary tumor, surgical extirpation feasibility and lack of systemic disease. In patients with synchronous metastases, the surgical extirpation should be performed at the same time than nephrectomy. The clinical prognosis is worse when metastases are asynchronous. After the introduction of novel anti-angiogenic agents, surgery is also justified in patients with good responses. Although, this approach remains in the field of investigation.

Purpose: To review the evidence about frozen sections during radical prostatectomy (RP) and its ability to decrease the incidence of positive margins, the impact on PSA postoperatively and the significance of residual benign prostatic cells after prostatectomy., Methods: The information for this review was compiled by searching the Pubmed database. We used Mesh Terms "Prostatectomy" and "Prostatic Neoplasms" and we added "frozen sections" and/or "hyperplasic cells" and/or "benign cells" and/or "positive margins". Furthermore, we review the articles referenced in those studies and editorials letters., Results: Several groups have studied the performance of frozen section during RP to try and assess the risk of positive margins intraoperatively. The controversial sites where they should be performed are the apex, the dorsolateral zones and the bladder neck. They have been performed routinely or when the surgeon decides it, depending on the preoperative or intraoperative findings., Conclusions: At the present time there is no standardisation in the number, the site and the type of patient where this procedure should be done. The improvement in functional outcomes and biochemical control is not proven.

We report a 60-years-old patient with a not repaired exstrophic bladder, who develops an adenocarcinoma on his bladder and review of the literature.

Introduction: Radical prostatectomy represents a standard surgical treatment for clinically localized prostate cancer. Classically pathologist and urologist worried about positive surgical margin, but not to the presence of surgery residual hyperplastic cells able to generate prostate specific antigen (PSA) and difficult the follow up of the patients that underwent surgery. We reviewed the literature looking for the incidence, the potential etiology and the influence of these hyperplastic cells in the biochemical evolution of the disease., Material and Method: The information for this review was compiled by searching the Pubmed database. We used "Mesh", Prostatectomy" and "Prostatic Neoplasms" and "Prostate-Specific Antigen" terms, and we added "biochemical failure" and/or "hyperplasic cells" and/or "benign cells". Furthermore, we select the work in English, Spanish and German, review articles that referenced this work and include the series with more than 50 patients, letters to the editor, editorials and overall reviews., Conclusions: Benign hyperplasic cells left behind after radical prostatectomy are frequent and probably under-rated. The influence of those cells in the biochemical outcome is a controversial issue. Positive margins for benign cells can come from apex or neck of the bladder, where the prostatic capsule is not well defined, but no from dorso-lateral area, this would imply a technical mistake. We recommend the inspection of the specimen by the surgeon, after prostatectomy in order to detect apex integrity, cranial and dorso-lateral capsule.

Vasculitis as paraneoplastic syndrome of renal cell carcinoma has been rarely report. We report a patient who initially was studied for temporal arteritis, and was later diagnosed of a renal cell carcinoma. The vasculitis resolves after surgery treatment of the tumour.

Objective: to evaluate the clinical and pathological renal cancer (CR) characteristics in our series of tumours, analyzing its impact in the group of age less than 40 years., Material and Methods: We studied 294 patients with CR. The pathologic characteristics were analyzed and DNA ploidy pattern of the surgical pieces were done in 252 patients. The patients were divided in two groups based on age, greater or less to 40 years, well then clinical and pathologic characteristics were compared between., Results: Of all patients, 26 of 294 patients (8,94%) were included in the young age group (less to 40 years). We did not found differences between both groups comparing stage, tumoral volume, treatment realized or DNA ploidy pattern, but in nuclear grade with more aggressive tumours in young people (p=0,0018), without differences in recurrence-free survival or actuarial disease specific survival rate., Conclusions: The findings in our study indicate that the natural history and outcome of the RC is similar in both older and younger patients. Therefore, in our opinion, the management of CR in young people should be established with independence of the age.

Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy has been established and adopted by specialized urologic centers around the world as the primary approach to the surgical management of localized prostate cancer. Urologists are on a continuous search for development of technical modifications and refinements, to reduce morbidity and ameliorate clinical and quality of life outcome. In 2002 we have initially reported our technique and experience with the totally extraperitoneal endoscopic radical prostatectomy (EERPE). In the present review paper we present the evolution of the technique and the latest results.

A mass spectrometric study of a set of six novel 2-(arylazo)-4-phenylphenols 1-6 was performed. The electron impact spectra were acquired and analyzed for five of the compounds in order to establish a fragmentation pattern. The suggested pathways were investigated and confirmed by means of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) experiments together with high-resolution accurate mass data. However, the sixth molecule, a sodium sulfonate salt, was studied using fast atom bombardment (FAB) ionization in positive and negative modes. In addition, some electronic substituent effects were investigated by analyzing Hammett-McLafferty linear free energy correlations for some peaks derived from the corresponding molecular ions. Also, the role of the O-H...N hydrogen bond present in the target compounds was analyzed. The roles of these H-bonds were consistent with the corresponding acidity constant values obtained experimentally as well as by theoretical quantum chemistry calculations using HF/6-31 + G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-31G(d,p). Some spectrometric data were correlated with topological properties derived from the atoms-in-molecules (AIM) theory., (Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Introduction: Sacral nerve neuromodulation is a new treatment modality for patients with chronic voiding dysfunction (CVD). The aim of this treatment is to restore the disbalanced micturition reflexes by electrical stimulation ot the sacral roots. Peripheral Nerve Evaluation (PNE) is the first step needed to determine wether sacral nerve stimulation for the control of lower urinary tract dysfunction is appropriate for a given patient, yielding accurate information about the location, integrity and function of sacral nerves, and motor and sensorial responses to electrical stimulation., Patients and Method: 43 PNE in 28 patients (13 man and 15 women) were performed between january 2000 and november 2001 (mean age 56.3 years old, 22-76). Every patient have been diagnosed of CVD: 13 Urinary Urge Incontinence (UUI). 5 Urgency-Frequency Syndrome (UFS), 7 Dysfunctional Voiding (DV) and 3 Mixed Syndromes (1 patient UFS + DV and two patients with UUI + DV)., Results: Every acute stimulation showed positive sensory and motor responses. There was premature lead migration in 8 PNE (18.6%), preventing an appropriate evaluation of the temporal stimulation. 35 PNE were evaluated after a 6.5 days period (3-15) of electrical stimulation. There were no significative complications, and PNE was well tolerated. Good clinical results (> 50% reduction in symptoms) were observed in 7/13 patients with UUI (53.8%), 2/5 patients with UFS (40%), 1/7 patients with DV (14.2%) and 1/3 patients with mixed syndromes (UUI + DV) (33.3%). 11 of 28 patients with CVD (39.2%) have been selected as candidates for permanent implantation., Conclusion: Actually, PNE is the first step needed to determine wether sacral nerve stimulation for the control of lower urinary tract dysfunction is appropriate for a given patient. With PNE we can select properly adequate candidates for permanent implantation. It is an easy and well tolerated technique, and can be performed in any medical center in an outpatient basis.

Objectives: To asses the impact of augmentation enterocystoplasty on the success of cadaveric renal transplantation in patients with dysfunctional bladders., Patients and Methods: Between 1980 and 2001, 3 men and a woman with severe dysfunctional lower urinary tract underwent a total of 4 cadaveric renal transplantations. The etiologies of the bladder dysfunction were bladder contraction secondary to urinary tuberculosis in all cases. In 3 patients were performed an enterocystoplasty with ileocecal segment and one with ileon., Results: The overall allograft survival was 58.7 months. Two patients have functioning grafts 27 and 74 months after transplant, 1 has died due to an intestinal disease and other had chronic rejection after follow-up of 98 months. Technical complications occurred in 3 patients. All patients remain continent without catheterization after the transplantation., Conclusions: Enterocystoplasty is a safe and effective method of restoring lower urinary tract function in the patient with end stage renal disease and a small non compliant bladder.

Objective: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common conditions associated with ageing in men. BPH often presents as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to difficulties in voiding and irritability of the bladder. We conducted a retrospective cohort study within the Integrated Primary Care Information (IPCI) database, a general practitioners database in The Netherlands, to assess the incidence of LUTS suggestive of BPH (LUTS/BPH) in the general population., Materials: Our study population comprised all males, 45 years or older who were registered for at least 6 months prior to start of follow-up. The study period lasted from 1 January 1995 to 31 December 2000. Cases of LUTS/BPH were defined as persons with a diagnosis of BPH, treatment or surgery for BPH, or urinary symptoms suggestive of BPH that could not be explained by other co-morbidity., Results: The study cohort comprised 80,774 males who contributed 141,035 person-years of follow-up. We identified 2181 incident and 5605 prevalent LUTS/BPH cases. The overall incidence rate of LUTS/BPH was 15 per 1000 man-years (95% CI: 14.8-16.1). The incidence increased linearly (r(2) = 0.99) with age from three cases per 1000 man-years at the age of 45-49 years (95% CI: 2.4-3.6) to a maximum of 38 cases per 1000 man-years at the age of 75-79 years (95% CI: 34.1-42.9). After the age of 80 years, the incidence rate remained constant. For a symptom-free man of 46 years, the risk to develop LUTS/BPH over the coming 30 years, if he survives, is 45%. The overall prevalence of LUTS/BPH was 10.3% (95% CI: 10.2-10.5). The prevalence rate was lowest among males 45-49 years of age (2.7%) and increased with age until a maximum at the age of 80 years (24%)., Conclusions: The incidence rate of LUTS/BPH increases linearly with age and reaches its maximum at the age of 79 years., (Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science B.V.)

Objectives: To assess the prognostic value of flow cytometry and nuclear morphometry in prostate cancer after androgen deprivation treatment., Methods: A total of 127 patients with a prostate cancer diagnosis who had undergone androgen suppression were retrospectively studied. The DNA content by flow cytometry and nuclear morphometry was studied from biopsy specimens. In the patients with Stage M0, two multivariate analyses by the Cox proportional regression model were performed to determine whether the experimental variables (DNA content and nuclear area) added independent information to the classic prognostic factors (Gleason score and stage). Using the statistical analysis results, risk groups were created., Results: T and M categories, Gleason score, DNA ploidy, and mean nuclear area proved to have prognostic value in the univariate analysis. For the group of patients free of metastasis (M0), it was possible to create low, intermediate, and high-risk groups using stage and Gleason score with statistically significant differences in survival. Multivariate analysis, combining the classic and experimental variables, selected Gleason score and DNA content as prognostic independent factors. Also, risk groups with statistically significant differences in survival were created. However, the net result of combining both kinds of factors was at least as valuable as the combination of stage and Gleason score in predicting survival., Conclusions: The determination of DNA ploidy and mean nuclear area do not add enough independent information to improve the predictive value to justify their use in this group of patients treated with hormonal therapy.

The title compound, 2,9-bis(3-nitrophenyl)-1-azatricyclo[3.3.1.1(3,7)]decan-4-one, C21H19N3O5, has a tricyclic structure. The torsion angles may be used to describe the relationship of the carbonyl group to the adjacent faces, whereby it is seen that the angles on the face of the arylpiperidinone side [122.0 (3) and -122.0 (3) degrees ] are greater than those on the cyclohexanone side [-119.8 (4) and 119.9 (4) degrees ]. Although these differences may explain a facial selectivity during nucleophilic addition to the carbonyl group, the presence of the aryl rings is probably also important.

The title compound, ethyl 2-hydroxy-4-oxo-2-phenylcyclohexanecarboxylate, C(15)H(18)O(4), was obtained by a Michael-Aldol condensation and has the cyclohexanone in a chair conformation. The attached hydroxy, ethoxycarbonyl and phenyl groups are disposed in beta-axial, beta-equatorial and alpha-equatorial configurations, respectively. An intermolecular hydrogen bond, with an O.O distance of 2.874 (2) A, links the OH group and the ring carbonyl. Weak intermolecular C-H.O=C (ester and ketone), O-H.O=C (ketone) and C-H.OH hydrogen bonds exist.

A survey-based comparative study was conducted to evaluate the changes on the prostate pathology in two male populations separated by a time interval of two years (1st and 3rd Week of Prostate Health). A total of 2056 respondents in the 1st Week, and 2126 in the 3rd Week were evaluated. The questionnaire included questions relative to prostate awareness, impact of urinary complaints on daily like activities, Spanish validated IPSS and selective questions for prostate patients. The comparison between both surveys disclosed visits to the urologist at earlier age and longer-standing symptoms. The most prevalent symptoms continue to be decreased calibre of the urinary stream, pollakiuria and urgency. IPSS/L and IPSS/age ratios remained unchanged. There was increased number of visits by mildly symptomatic patients (IPSS < 8), increased periodical revisions, and in the number of patients seen and treated by the urologist. A significant approximation to the diagnostic testing criteria established by the WHO for BPH was demonstrated. The number of patients who received treatment raised and there was also a significant improvement in the outcome. Comparative populational studies could allow to assess changes in the awareness status of the prostate, changes in symptomatic levels and quality of life of the population requesting health care, as well as changes in the diagnostic and therapeutical schemes in patients suspected of having BPH.

Renal and perirenal abscesses are rare infections of the urinary tract traditionally caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Today however there is a predominance of abscesses secondary to coliform bacteria such as E. coli. This paper presents a revision of our series over the last ten years (1987-1996). A total of 11 abscesses (3 renal and 8 perinephritic) were recorded. The most frequent symptom for visiting the clinic was back pain. All patients had predisposing associated conditions. The microbiological analysis revealed E. coli in most abscesses. An HIV+ patient had bilateral renal abscess secondary to Aspergillus fumigatus. CAT appears to be the most specific method for imaging diagnosis, and ultranosography is useful not only to guide percutaneous puncture but also in the follow-up of abscesses after antibiotic treatment. Two renal abscesses resolved with parenteral antibiotic therapy and subsequent observation. Three cases required ultrasound guided percutaneous puncture and intravenous antibiotic therapy. Surgical drainage was required in four. A revision of our experience and the recent literature verified the changes that have taken place in the last few years both in the etiopathogenesis as well as the diagnostic and therapeutical methodology of renal and perinephritic abscesses.

Extragonadal germ cells tumors can arise primarily in the retroperitoneum. It has been suggested that these neoplasms might be metastasis from an occult testicular lesion which would have regressed later. We report our experience with seven retroperitoneal germ cell tumors without testicular involvement. The most frequent symptoms were lumbar or abdominal pain and paraneoplastic syndrome. Abdominal palpable mass was noticeable in 85% of patients. We point out the computerized tomography and echography as the most sensitive exploration for diagnosis. The confirmation of retroperitoneal tumor was achieved preoperatively in all cases. Surgical and chemotherapy treatment was performed. Radiotherapy was employed in two cases. The mean survival was 9.5 months (6-24 m.). Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy after chemotherapy has not improved the survival. Relapses of the diseases were noticed after and apparently partial or complete response to chemotherapy.