Chromatic periodic activity down to 120 megahertz in a fast radio burst.

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are extragalactic astrophysical transients1 whose brightness requires emitters that are highly energetic yet compact enough to produce the short, millisecond-duration bursts. FRBs have thus far been detected at frequencies from 8 gigahertz (ref. 2) down to 300 megahertz (ref. 3), but lower-frequency emission has remained elusive. Some FRBs repeat4-6, and one of the most frequently detected, FRB 20180916B7, has a periodicity cycle of 16.35 days (ref. 8). Using simultaneous radio data spanning a wide range of wavelengths (a factor of more than 10), here we show that FRB 20180916B emits down to 120 megahertz, and that its activity window is frequency dependent (that is, chromatic). The window is both narrower and earlier at higher frequencies. Binary wind interaction models predict a wider window at higher frequencies, the opposite of our observations. Our full-cycle coverage shows that the 16.3-day periodicity is not aliased. We establish that low-frequency FRB emission can escape the local medium. For bursts of the same fluence, FRB 20180916B is more active below 200 megahertz than at 1.4 gigahertz. Combining our results with previous upper limits on the all-sky FRB rate at 150 megahertz, we find there are 3-450 FRBs in the sky per day above 50 Jy ms. Our chromatic results strongly disfavour scenarios in which absorption from strong stellar winds causes FRB periodicity. We demonstrate that some FRBs are found in 'clean' environments that do not absorb or scatter low-frequency radiation.

Short-term outcome after cystectomy: comparison of early oral feeding in an enhanced recovery protocol and feeding using Bengmark nasojejunal tube.

PURPOSE: Cystectomy for bladder cancer is associated with a high risk of postoperative complications. Standardized perioperative protocols, such as enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols, aim to improve postoperative outcome. Postoperative feeding strategies are an important part of these protocols. In this two-centre study, we compared complications and length of hospital stay (LOS) between an ERAS protocol with early oral nutrition and a protocol with early enteral feeding with a Bengmark nasojejunal tube. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 154 consecutive patients who underwent cystectomy for bladder cancer in two hospitals (Hospital A and B) between 2014 and 2016. Hospital A uses an ERAS protocol (n = 45), which encourages early introduction of an oral diet. Hospital B uses a fast-track protocol comprising feeding with a Bengmark nasojejunal tube (Bengmark-protocol, n = 109). LOS and complications according to Clavien classification were compared between protocols. RESULTS: Overall 30-day complication rates in the ERAS and Bengmark protocol were similar (64.4 and 67.0%, respectively; p = 0.463). The rate of postoperative ileus (POI) was significantly lower in the Bengmark protocol (11.9% vs. 34.4% in the ERAS protocol, p = 0.009). This association remained significant after adjustment for other variables (odds ratio 0.32, 95% confidence interval 0.11-0.96; p = 0.042). Median LOS did not differ significantly between protocols (10 days vs. 11 days in the ERAS and Bengmark protocols, respectively; p = 0.861). CONCLUSIONS: Early oral nutrition in Hospital A was well tolerated. However, the Bengmark protocol was superior with respect to occurrence of POI. A prospective study may clarify whether the lower rate of POI was due to the use of early nasojejunal tube feeding or other reasons.

Validation of the urostomy education scale: the European experience.

Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer among European males. Once diagnosed with muscle invasive bladder cancer, a radical cystectomy is the first line treatment, which results in a urostomy. The placement of a urostomy and the care required impacts the patient's life. Previous research validated the Urostomy Education Scale as the first standardized tool capable of documenting the patients' level of stoma self-care skills and useful to guide patient education interventions. A Danish-Dutch Fellowship was established to support and provide further evidence of applicability of the Urostomy Education Scale.

Vas deferens urethral support improves early post-prostatectomy urine continence.

Urine continence is often impaired after radical prostatectomy. Few randomized studies prove the efficacy of novel surgical approaches. Vas deferens urethral support (VDUS) during robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) was studied for improvement of early postoperative urine continence in a single-centre prospective double-blind randomized study with a power of 90% to detect a 30% decrease in early incontinence. 112 men were randomized, and 108 could be analyzed (VDUS n = 54, noVDUS n = 54). VDUS improved early continence by 40% at 1 month (59% vs. 35%, P = 0.02); 6 months postoperatively this was 72% vs. 62%, P = 0.41. A 24-h pad test at 1 day, 3 days, and 1 week showed decreased amounts of urine loss in the VDUS group. The ICIQ-SF score was significantly lower for the VDUS group within the first month after surgery. VDUS had no impact upon quality of life questionnaire analyses for overall and lower urinary tract symptom-related quality of life but showed a significant improvement in the social domain of the EORTC-QLQ-C30 questionnaire. VDUS moderately improved early urine continence within 1 month after RALP.

Robot assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy: initial tips and tricks.

Robot assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) has become a widely accepted and applied surgical method of localized prostate cancer treatment. Initial studies suggest a shorter learning curve for RALP when compared to conventional laparoscopic prostatectomy. Although dexterity for the RALP procedure is increased by the da Vinci surgical robotic system compared to laparoscopic approaches, the anatomical and technical approaches to prostatectomy still require considerable experience in anatomical variations to become proficient and improve oncological and surgical approaches. Several aspects with respect to that can be recognized in the early phases of training. The following aspects helped the author in his initial 150 cases to improve surgical skills: use intraoperative transrectal ultrasound for bladder neck recognition, record and review surgical procedures, experiment with port positioning, training of table assistance. The more recent da Vinci surgical robot systems allow for new dimensions in surgical approaches with particular intraoperative imaging modalities not earlier so easy accessible during surgery. These properties render robot procedures appealing for the now-a-days more and more image-guided approach to surgery.

Role of extent of fascia preservation and erectile function after robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To test a simple intraoperative scoring system for the circumferential extent of fascia preservation (FP) for the prediction of postoperative erectile function. With the advent of robotic and endoscopic surgery for prostate cancer, more extensive FP has emerged as a method to improve postoperative erectile function. METHODS: A total of 107 consecutive cases with normal preoperative erectile function were treated using robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer. The erectile, sexual, and global quality of life outcomes using the European Organization for Research and Treatment and Cancer Quality of Life questionnaire-C30 and prostate cancer-specific 25-item questionnaire were assessed at 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: At 6 months postoperatively, 57 men (53%) reported no or minimal effects on erectile function with or without the use of a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor. The patient age at surgery, prostate size, and FP score were associated with erectile function at 6 months postoperatively. The mean FP score was 9.2 +/- 2.8 and 4.7 +/- 2.4 for patients without and with erectile dysfunction postoperatively, respectively. On multivariate analysis, the FP score and patient age at surgery were the best predictors of postoperative erectile function. No correlation between the FP score and positive surgical resection margin rate was observed. A greater FP score predicted for greater questionnaire-based libido, sexual activity, and sexual function scores. CONCLUSIONS: A scoring system for the extent of circumferential FP during prostatectomy is a stronger predictor of postoperative erectile function recovery than is laterality (bilateral or unilateral) or fascial depth (interfascial or intrafascial). More ventral FP significantly contributed to postoperative erectile function recovery.