Development and feasibility of a soft pneumatic-robotic glove to assist impaired hand function in quadriplegia patients: A pilot study.

One of the common disorders in people with quadriplegia is having a weak grip strength that can affect activities of daily living (ADL). This study presents the design of a soft robotic glove via pneumatic actuators and feasibility according to a range of motion (ROM) of proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint and user friendly. The soft robotic glove includes a neoprene cockup, two pumps, a controller that adjusts the pressure of the pumps, two-direction parts, and two silicone tubes placed on an index and middle fingers. A total of seven subjects (2healthy, 5quadriplegia patients) participated in this project. Performance of the device was verified through assessment in healthy participants first and then spinal cord injury (SCI) participants. The device evaluated the range of motion (ROM) of a proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. Then, subjects completed a satisfaction questionnaire. Results showed the ROM of the PIP joint (p value = 0.042) increased by using the robotic glove. The average score of the satisfaction questionnaire was 4.24 which was beyond the desirable threshold. In conclusion, the glove obtained ROM requirements to the grip usual objects and underlined the potential for assisting SCI participants in ADLs. Providing motion in all fingers should be investigated and developed in the future.

A Case of Papillary Urothelial Neoplasm of Low Malignant Potential (PUNLMP) in Childhood.

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) of the bladder is exceedingly rare in the pediatric population. It commonly presents as isolated hematuria. Considering the age group, the physician's low index of suspicion causes a delay in diagnosis. We present a seven-year-old girl complaining of dysuria and painless, intermittent hematuria. She was misdiagnosed with urinary tract infection several times. Although the initial ultrasound showed no abnormality, the second ultrasound after one year detected the tumor. The confirmation and resection are simultaneously achieved by cystoscopy. We concluded that chemotherapy is unnecessary due to the tumor's low-grade nature and the absence of detrusor involvement. One-year follow-up showed no relapse.

Penile Glans Amputation following Circumcision: A Case Report of a Rare Complication.

Circumcision is the most prevalent surgery among men. Like any other surgical intervention, it is associated with several complications. A rare shocking complication is glans amputation which is a urologic emergency. Herein, we present a 4-year-old boy with penile glans amputation following circumcision. The reimplantation was performed in less than two hours. We approximated the ends over a size 4 : 0 catheter. The urethral anastomosis was performed via 6 : 0 Vicryl sutures. Then, we sutured amputated glans in place via Vicryl 4 : 0. We immobilized the penis for a week via bandages used in penile reconstruction surgeries. We also used pentoxifylline to treat glans ischemia after surgery. The patient and his parents did not mention any difficulties or abnormalities while voiding, and the cosmetic result was favorable after three months of follow-up.

Evaluation and Comparison of Metabolic Disorders between Patients with Unilateral and Bilateral Staghorn Renal Stones.

PURPOSE: Metabolic disorders are common in patients with staghorn renal stones. Aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the metabolic disorders in patients with unilateral and bilateral staghorn stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross sectional study, 78 patients who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for staghorn renal stones were included. The urine volume, the level of calcium, oxalate, uric acid, phos-phate, sodium, citrate, creatinine, and cystine from 24 hour urine collection as well as the serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and uric acid were recorded and compared among the two groups with unilateral and bilateral renal stones. RESULTS: 56 patients (71.8%) had unilateral and 22 (28.2%) had bilateral renal stones. At least one abnormal meta-bolic factor was found in 32 (57.1%) and 15 (68.2%) patients with unilateral and bilateral renal stones, respectively (P = .044). Cystine urine levels and serum levels of BUN were higher in cases with bilateral compared to unilateral renal stones (36.4% vs. 12.5%, P = .025 and 27.3% vs. 1.8%, P = .002, respectively). CONCLUSION: Metabolic factors are strongly correlated with the formation of staghorn renal stones specially bilat-eral ones. In our study among different metabolic factors, cystine urine levels and serum levels of BUN were sig-nificantly higher in patients with bilateral renal stones. Proper metabolic assessments are recommended in patients with staghorn urolithiasis.