Abdominal colposuspension with the use of tension-free tape at the lateral abdominal wall: a novel technique.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to present a novel technique for the female pelvic organ prolapsed, an abdominal colpopexy at the lateral abdominal wall (ACLAW) using a tension-free tape and to compare it with the gold standard, the abdominal sacrocolpopexy (ASC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective comparative study was conducted consisting of 38 patients who underwent ACLAW and 40 patients who underwent ASC during the period 2007-2009. POP-Q data as well as PISQ-12 and POPDI-6 score values were recorded during a mean follow-up of 26.71 and 23.52 months for ACLAW and ASC groups, respectively. Parameters like operative time, blood loss and hospital stay time were evaluated as well. RESULTS: Except the 6-month point, anatomical outcome in terms of C point values and total vaginal length was comparable. Both score analyses did not demonstrate statistically significant differences between the groups. The novel technique was proved very much shorter (30 ± 10.2 vs. 125.93 ± 15.42 min, p < 0.001) and less hemorrhagic (1.68 ± 0.79 vs. 2.22 ± 1.08 g/dl reduction in hemoglobin level, postoperatively) than the traditional sacrocolpopexy. Hospital stay time did not demonstrate significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the study results, ACLAW, a technique much easier and shorter than the traditional abdominal colpopexy results in comparable outcomes.

Performance of a new household composter during in-home testing.

This article presents the methodology and the results of the performance testing of a prototype system for the production of high quality compost from biodegradable household waste separated at the source. Selected households in three municipalities of the Attica Region in Greece constituted the users of the home composter. The results indicated the effective operational performance of the prototype household composter in practice (use of the system by the householders on a daily basis), as well as the high level of response of the householders in adopting the composting practice in their daily activities as common practice. The compost that was produced in the households was characterized by high quality, which is in accordance with the quality standards that are set for its use. In only a few cases (in the first cycle of the pilot implementation) the quality of the compost was not high due to the fact that some householders were not yet familiar with the use of the composter, but these operational problems were solved and the compost that was later produced was considered high quality.

Development and optimization of dark Fenton oxidation for the treatment of textile wastewaters with high organic load.

The examination of the effectiveness of the chemical oxidation using Fenton's reagent (H(2)O(2)/Fe(2+)) for the reduction of the organic content of wastewater generated from a textile industry has been studied. The experimental results indicate that the oxidation process leads to a reduction in the chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration up to 45%. Moreover, the reduction is reasonably fast at the first stages of the process, since the COD concentration is decreased up to 45% within four hours and further treatment time does not add up to the overall decrease in the COD concentration (48% reduction within six hours). The maximum color removal achieved was 71.5%. In addition, the alterations observed in the organic matter during the development of the process, as indicated by the ratios of COD/TOC and BOD/COD and the oxidation state, show that a great part of the organic substances, which are not completely mineralized, are subjected to structural changes to intermediate organic by-products.