An abbreviated Faecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale for Chinese-speaking population with colorectal cancer after surgery: cultural adaptation and item reduction.

No instrument is available to assess the impact of faecal incontinence (FI) of quality of life for Chinese-speaking population. The purpose of the study was to adapt the Faecal Incontinence Quality of Life Scale (FIQL) for patients with colorectal cancer, assess the factor structure and reduce the items for brevity. A sample of 120 participants were enrolled. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent and contrasted-groups validity were assessed. Construct validity was analysed using an exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). The internal consistency (Cronbach's α of the total scale and four subscales = 0.98 and 0.97, 0.96, 0.92, 0.82 respectively), test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients ≥.98 for all scales with p < .001) and significant correlations of all scales with selected subscales of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey and the Wexner scale suggested satisfactory reliability and validity. The severe FI group (with a Wexner score ≥9) scored significantly lower on the scale than the less severe FI group (with a Wexner score <9) did (p < .001). The CFA supported a two-factor structure and demonstrated an excellent model fit of the 15-item abbreviated version of the FIQL-Chinese. The FIQL-Chinese has satisfactory validity and reliability and the abbreviated version may be more practical and applicable.

A report on emergent uranyl binding phenomena by an amidoxime phosphonic acid co-polymer.

The development of technology to harvest the uranium dissolved in seawater would enable access to vast quantities of this critical metal for nuclear power generation. Amidoxime polymers are the most promising platforms for achieving this separation, yet the design of advanced adsorbents is hindered by uncertainty regarding the uranium binding mode. In this work we use XAFS to investigate the uranium coordination environment in an amidoxime-phosphonic acid copolymer adsorbent. In contrast to the binding mode predicted computationally and from small molecule studies, a cooperative chelating model is favoured, attributable to emergent behavior resulting from inclusion of amidoxime in the polymer. Samples exposed to seawater also display a feature consistent with a µ(2)-oxo-bridged transition metal, suggesting the formation of an in situ specific binding site. These findings challenge long held assumptions and provide new opportunities for the design of advanced adsorbent materials.

Effect of extraperitoneal bupivacaine analgesia in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernioplasty is significantly less painful than open repair, but it is not completely painless. Local anesthetics are thought to decrease postoperative pain when placed at the surgical site. We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy of extraperitoneal bupivacaine treatment during laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair for the reduction of postoperative pain. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs that investigated the outcomes of extraperitoneal bupivacaine analgesia versus control in laparoscopic TEP hernia repair. Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale at 4-6 h and at 24 h following the surgery. The secondary outcomes included complications and analgesia consumption. RESULTS: We reviewed eight trials that included a total of 373 patients. We found no difference between the groups in postoperative pain reduction following laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernia repair. The intensity of pain was not significantly different between the bupivacaine treatment group and the control group. The pooled mean differences in pain scores were -0.26 (95% CI -0.72 to 0.21) at 4-6 h and -0.47 (95% CI -1.24 to 0.29) at 24 h. No bupivacaine-related complications were reported. CONCLUSION: Extraperitoneal bupivacaine treatment during laparoscopic TEP inguinal hernioplasty is not more efficacious for the reduction of postoperative pain than placebo.

Number of Clostridium botulinum Spores in Honey.

A dialysis-enrichment culture method for detecting Clostridium botulinum spores in honey is described. The method was used to survey 55 honey samples representative of 53 lots being sold at retail and 186 honey collections from 154 individual producers. Based on finding the organism in at least one of three 25-g test portions of a sample, one type A and one type B positive were found among the retail samples. Type A spores were found in collections of five different producers and type B in those of five others. Five of 13 different lots from one producer were positive for type A spores. One producer sample had both types A and B spores. Maximum most probable number by the five-tube method was seven botulinum spores (upper 95% confidence limit of 17) per 25 g of sample.