Search

Abstract: Spinels samples Fe2.85Y0.15O4 (S1) and Fe2.55In0.45O4 (S2), such as Fe3O4+γ-Fe2O3 (S3) were obtained by ball milling. TEM micrograph as well as XRPD line broadening analyses show nanosize nature of the ferrite powders. Cation distribution, found by Rietveld refinement of the site occupancies, indicate Y3+ ions presence at 16d sites in Fe2.85Y0.15O4, and a random In3+ ions distribution on both 8a and 16d sites in Fe2.55In0.45O4 (space group Fd). From the XRPD line broadening analysis crystallite size and strain values were determined. The crystallite size and strain anisotropy is significant, especially for Fe2.85Y0.15O4 and Fe2.55In0.45O4. This result is discussed regarding the influence of the cation substitutions. The Raman signature confirms the spinel structure and the homogeneity of the particles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Combining chemical reactivities of allenes and oximes created a methodology for the preparation of heterocyclic triquinane‐type skeletons via a cascade process constructing four bonds in a single step. The initial reaction of allene moiety promoted by Pd‐catalysis, affording π‐allyl Pd‐species, was followed by two additional transformations ‐ nucleophilic displacement and dipolar cycloaddition ‐ to furnish the product highly stereoselectively in moderate to good yields. For the process to be efficient, it was necessary to use a dipolarophilic component as a solvent. Intriguingly, while the reaction with cyclopentanone derived oxime progressed through the whole cascade, with cyclohexanone analogue it stopped at the nitrone stage, requiring an additional step to yield similar type of products. Some aspects of the studied cascade were examined by DFT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes an unusual complication of the use of laparoscopic trocars under computed tomographic guidance for percutaneous extraction of a foreign body from an infected liver cyst. Retention of the tip of the drain in the cyst after removal; Probability of the recurrence of the cyst; Extraction of the foreign body from the liver cyst under local anesthesia.

Enallenylamides have been utilized for the synthesis of heterobicycle[4.2.0]octane derivatives via Ir/hν promoted [2+2] cycloaddition reaction. The reaction specifically targets the distal double bond of the allene moiety, and results in the exclusive formation of the trans product. The process is conducted at room temperature and under an inert atmosphere. An extensive study on the substituent propensities during the cycloaddition step revealed variable effects. Electron‐withdrawing groups conjugated with the double bond participating in the cycloaddition either hindered the process or reduced its yield. Conversely, electron‐donating substituents enhanced the efficiency, resulting in product yields ranging from 60% to 88%. Our study also demonstrated the influence of protecting groups on the reaction pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the study was to introduce a new surgical treatment for anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome, a frequently unrecognised disorder in the general population responsible for chronic abdominal wall pain with limited treatment options to date. We hypothesised that intraperitoneal onlay mesh reinforcement could dissipate excessive increases in intra-abdominal pressure and prevent entrapment of the neurovascular bundle.Methods: Retrospective cohort analysis was performed between September 2002 and March 2014. All consecutive patients diagnosed with anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome refractory to conservative treatment (n = 30) underwent laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh reinforcement of the painful area in the abdominal wall. Planned follow-up took place at 2, 6 and 12 weeks after surgery and at time of analysis (March 2015). Primary outcome was patients' satisfaction after treatment at short and long term (last follow-up) using a verbal rating score as measurement (1 = I am very satisfied; I never experience pain, 2 = I am satisfied; I occasionally experience some pain, 3 = I have improved but experience pain on a regular basis, 4 = I have had no result on this treatment, 5 = my pain is worse after treatment). Scores 1 and 2 were classified as success, and scores 4 and 5 as failure of the treatment.Results: Thirty patients underwent laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh reinforcement. None were lost to follow-up (mean 54 ± 44 months, range 12-122, median 38). Short- and long-term success rates were 90 and 71 %, respectfully.Conclusions: Intraperitoneal onlay mesh reinforcement of the abdominal wall seems to be a promising option for the treatment of intractable anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article in Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis discusses the synthesis of angular heterotriquinane derivatives through a three-component cascade process involving palladium-catalyzed transformations and dipolar cycloadditions. The front cover picture symbolizes the cascade transformation with a waterfall, representing the in-situ transformations of the starting oxime to produce the final product. The process creates four new bonds in a single operation and is detailed in the work by P. Jovanovic, V. Savic, and their co-workers. [Extracted from the article]

The use of endoprostheses in cases of obstruction of the biliary tract is common practice. We describe a case in which repetitive displacement of endoprostheses caused severe complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: An inclusion complex of biochanin A (BCA) with (2‐hydroxypropyl)‐β‐cyclodextrin (HP‐β‐CD) was prepared in the ethanol solution to improve its water solubility. Methods: Using the FTIR, 1H‐NMR, XRD, DSC and SEM methods, the structural characterization of the prepared complex was analysed. Key findings: The phase‐solubility study has shown that the solubility of BCA was increased twofold in 42% (v/v) ethanol solution after complexation with HP‐β‐CD. The complex between BCA and HP‐β‐CD was prepared in the molar ratio of 1 : 1. The antibacterial activity of the inclusion complex was investigated against the various bacteria, fungus and yeast using the microdilution method. The minimal inhibitory concentration values for the analysed strain of bacteria were in the range of 0.84–1.69 mg/cm3, whereby the prepared inclusion complex exhibited less effect on the reduction of the number of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae species compared to pure BCA. The inclusion complex of BCA was significantly more active against Candida albicans than pure BCA. Biochanin A and its inclusion complex has not expressed the activity against Aspergillus niger. Conclusions: Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that the antimicrobial activity of BCA was remained unchanged after complexation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interpretation of the outcome after laparoscopic repair (LR) of ventral hernias presented in the literature often is based on pooled data of primary ventral hernias (PVH) and incisional ventral hernias (IVH). This prospective cohort study was performed to investigate whether this pooling of data is justified.Methods: The data of 1,088 consecutive patients who underwent LR of PVH or IVH were prospectively collected and reviewed for baseline characteristics, operative findings, and postoperative complications classified as Clavien grade 3 or higher.Results: The PVH group consisted of 662 patients, and the IVH group comprised 426 patients. The mean Association of American Anesthesiologists classification was higher in IVH group (1.92 vs 1.68; P ≤ 0.001), as was rate of conversion to open surgery (7 vs 0.5 %; P < 0.001). The IVH group required more adhesiolysis (76 vs 0.9 %; P < 0.001), a longer procedure (73 vs 42 min; P < 0.001), and a longer hospital stay (4.53 vs 2.43 days; P < 0.001). The recurrence rate was higher in the IVH group (5.81 vs 1.37 %; P < 0.001), as was total complication rate (18.69 vs 4.55 %; P < 0.001).Conclusions: This study showed significant differences in baseline characteristics and operative findings between patients undergoing PVH repair and those undergoing IVH repair. Continued pooling of data on LR of IVH and PVH combined, commonly found in the current literature, seems incorrect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interpretation of the outcome after laparoscopic repair (LR) of ventral hernias presented in the literature often is based on pooled data of primary ventral hernias (PVH) and incisional ventral hernias (IVH). This prospective cohort study was performed to investigate whether this pooling of data is justified. Methods: The data of 1,088 consecutive patients who underwent LR of PVH or IVH were prospectively collected and reviewed for baseline characteristics, operative findings, and postoperative complications classified as Clavien grade 3 or higher. Results: The PVH group consisted of 662 patients, and the IVH group comprised 426 patients. The mean Association of American Anesthesiologists classification was higher in IVH group (1.92 vs 1.68; P ≤ 0.001), as was rate of conversion to open surgery (7 vs 0.5 %; P < 0.001). The IVH group required more adhesiolysis (76 vs 0.9 %; P < 0.001), a longer procedure (73 vs 42 min; P < 0.001), and a longer hospital stay (4.53 vs 2.43 days; P < 0.001). The recurrence rate was higher in the IVH group (5.81 vs 1.37 %; P < 0.001), as was total complication rate (18.69 vs 4.55 %; P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study showed significant differences in baseline characteristics and operative findings between patients undergoing PVH repair and those undergoing IVH repair. Continued pooling of data on LR of IVH and PVH combined, commonly found in the current literature, seems incorrect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Dense NiFe2−x Y x O4 ceramics (with 0≤ x ≤0.3) were prepared. [•] Pure spinels were obtained for x ≤0.07 while for x ≥0.15 samples had secondary phases. [•] With addition of yttrium, ac conductivity slightly increased. [•] We suggest several effects that can explain the observed changes in ac conduction. [•] With addition of yttrium, dielectric constant increased while the tg δ decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The main source of postoperative pain after laparoscopic repair of ventral hernia is thought to be fixation of implanted mesh. This study aimed to analyze whether a relation exists between the number of tacks used for fixation and postoperative pain. Methods: To reduce the number of prognostic variables, only patients with primary umbilical hernia who underwent laparoscopic repair with double-crown mesh fixation were enrolled in this study. Two groups differing only in the manner of tacking were compared. Group 1 ( n = 40), collected from previous studies, showed no specific efforts to minimize the number of tacks. Group 2 was a cohort of 40 new patients who underwent double-crown fixation using the minimal number of tacks considered to provide adequate mesh fixation. To eliminate systematic and random errors, the study analyzed only for postoperative pain. The severity of the patients' pain was assessed preoperatively and then 2, 6, and 12 weeks postoperatively using a visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from 0 to 100. Results: The mean number of tacks used differed significantly between the two groups: group 1 (45.4 ± 9.6) vs group 2 (20.4 ± 1.4) ( p = 0.001). Postoperative pain differed significantly only at the 3-month postoperative assessment: group 1 VAS (5.78) vs group 2 VAS (1.80) ( p = 0.002). Conclusions: Although postoperative pain differed significantly at the 3-month follow-up assessment, both VAS scores were so low that from a clinical point of view, this difference seems irrelevant. Fewer tacks do not create less pain, nor do more tacks create more pain. This absence of a correlation between the number of tacks used and postoperative pain may indicate that pain after laparoscopic repair of at least small ventral hernias possibly is generated according to some 'threshold' principle rather than according to a cumulative effect created by more points of fixation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent, activity-limiting pain after laparoscopic ventral or incisional hernia repair (LVIHR) appears to be related to fixation of the implanted mesh. A randomized study comparing commonly used fixation techniques with respect to postoperative pain and quality of life has not previously been reported. A total of 199 patients undergoing non-urgent LVIHR in our unit between August 2005 and July 2008 were randomly assigned to one of three mesh-fixation groups: absorbable sutures (AS) with tacks; double crown (DC), which involved two circles of tacks and no sutures; and nonabsorbable sutures (NS) with tacks. All operations were performed by one of two experienced surgeons, who used a standardized technique and the same type of mesh and mesh-fixation materials. The severity of the patients’ pain was assessed preoperatively and at 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months postoperatively by using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Quality of life (QoL) was evaluated by administering a standard health survey before and 3 months after surgery. Results in the three groups were compared. The AS, DC, and NS mesh-fixation groups had similar patient demographic, hernia and operative characteristics. There were no significant differences among the groups in VAS scores at any assessment time or in the change in VAS score from preoperative to postoperative evaluations. The QoL survey data showed a significant difference among groups for only two of the eight health areas analyzed. In this trial, the three mesh-fixation methods were associated with similar postoperative pain and QoL findings. These results suggest that none of the techniques can be considered to have a pain-reduction advantage over the others. Development of new methods for securing the mesh may be required to decrease the rate or severity of pain after LVIHR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential for shrinkage of intraperitoneally implanted meshes for laparoscopic repair of ventral and incisional hernia (LRVIH) remains a concern. Numerous experimental studies on this issue reported very inconsistent results. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) mesh has the unique property of being revealed by computed tomography (CT). We therefore conducted an analysis of CT findings in patients who had previously undergone LRVIH with an ePTFE mesh (DualMesh, WL Gore, Flagstaff, AZ, USA) in order to evaluate the shrinkage of implanted meshes. Of 656 LRVIH patients with DualMesh, all patients who subsequently underwent CT scanning were identified and only those with precisely known transverse diameter of implanted mesh and with CT scans made more than 3 months postoperatively were selected ( n = 40). Two radiologists who were blinded to the size of the implanted mesh measured in consensus the maximal transverse diameter of the meshes by using the AquariusNET program (TeraRecon Inc., San Mateo, CA, USA). Mesh shrinkage was defined as the relative loss of transverse diameter as compared with the original transverse diameter of the mesh. The mean time from LRVIH to CT scan was 17.9 months (range 3–59 months). The mean shrinkage of the mesh was 7.5% (range 0–23.7%). For 11 patients (28%) there was no shrinkage at all. Shrinkage of 1–10% was found in 16 patients (40%), of 10–20% in 10 patients (25%), and of 20–24% in 3 patients (7.5%). No correlation was found regarding the elapsed time between LRVIH and CT, and shrinkage. There were two recurrences, one possibly related to shrinkage. Our observations indicate that shrinkage of DualMesh is remarkably lower than has been reported in experimental studies (8–51%). This study is the first to address the problem of shrinkage after intraperitoneal implantation of synthetic mesh in a clinical material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All hernia recurrences in a series of 505 patients who underwent laparoscopic repair of a ventral hernia ( n = 291) or incisional hernia ( n = 214) were analyzed to identify factors responsible for the recurrence. In all laparoscopic repairs, an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene prosthesis overlapping the hernia margins by ≥3 cm was fixed with a double ring of tacks alone ( n = 206) or with tacks as well as sutures ( n = 299). During the mean follow-up time of 31.3 ± 18.4 months, nine patients (1.8%) had a recurrence, eight of which were repaired laparoscopically. Operative reports and videotapes of all initial repairs and repairs of recurrences were analyzed. All recurrences followed an incisional hernia repair ( p < 0.001). Five recurrences developed after mesh fixation with both tacks and sutures and four after mesh fixation with tacks alone ( p = 1.0). All recurrences were at the site of the apparently sufficient original incision scar: in eight patients, the recurrent hernia was attached to the mesh; in one, it developed in another part of the scar. All initial repairs had been performed without technical errors. Upon repair of the recurrences, a new, larger mesh was placed over the entire incision, not just the hernia. There were no re-recurrences during follow-up (mean 19.8 ± 10.3 months). Recurrence after incisional hernia repair appears to be due primarily to disregard for the principle that the whole incision—not just the hernia—must be repaired. Our experience supports the idea that the entire incision has a potential for hernia development. Insufficient coverage of the incision scar is a risk factor for recurrence after laparoscopic repair of ventral and incisional hernia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]