Appendix or Ileum-Which is the Best Material for Mitrofanoff Channel Formation in Adults?

PURPOSE: We report long-term data on a large cohort of adults who underwent formation of a continent catheterizable channel for various indications. We examined outcomes according to the tissue used for channel formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the case notes of 176 consecutive adult patients in whom a continent catheterizable channel was created using the Mitrofanoff principle for a broad range of indications a median of 142 months (range 54 to 386) previously. We evaluated outcomes in terms of continued use and continence for each type of material used for channel formation. RESULTS: At the time of this review 165 of the 173 patients (95.4%) included in this study were alive. We included 114 women (65.9%) and 59 men (34.1%) who underwent surgery at a median age of 42 years (range 18 to 73) with a mean followup of 78.6 months (median 60, range 2 to 365). The rate of revision for all causes was higher in the ileal group than in the group with an appendiceal channel (channel stenosis rate 22.7% vs 17.2%, p = 0.39, and channel incontinence rate 36.0% vs 19.5%, p = 0.03). Although 38.7% of patients underwent major surgical revision of the channel at some point, 75.9% of channels continued to be used, of which 90.2% were continent. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a pragmatic overview of the outcome of these challenging cases. Mitrofanoff channel formation represents a durable technique. Appendix and ileum are each a viable choice for tissue use. Tissue selection depends on availability and individual patient factors.

A Process for Hydrogen Production from the Catalytic Decomposition of Formic Acid over Iridium-Palladium Nanoparticles.

The present study investigates a process for the selective production of hydrogen from the catalytic decomposition of formic acid in the presence of iridium and iridium-palladium nanoparticles under various conditions. It was found that a loading of 1 wt.% of 2% palladium in the presence of 1% iridium over activated charcoal led to a 43% conversion of formic acid to hydrogen at room temperature after 4 h. Increasing the temperature to 60 °C led to further decomposition and an improvement in conversion yield to 63%. Dilution of formic acid from 0.5 to 0.2 M improved the decomposition, reaching conversion to 81%. The reported process could potentially be used in commercial applications.

Desulfurization of Saudi Arabian crudes by oxidation-extraction method.

The oxidation-extraction desulfurization of Saudi Arabian crudes was conducted with hydrogen peroxide-acetic acid oxidation system. The selection of extractant, the optimization of oxidation-extraction conditions, and the exploration of desulfurization mechanism were studied. As DMF was used as the extractant, the optimal desulfurization rate of 35.11 % and oil recovery of 95 % were obtained at 70 °C with the molar ratio of peracetic acid to sulfur of 8:1, the molar ratio of acetic acid to hydrogen peroxide of 2:1 and the volume ratio of extractant to oil of 1:1. The desulfurization effect of different fractions in the treated Saudi Arabian crudes was found to obey the following order: gasoline-diesel fraction >VGO fraction >VR fraction, due to different types and structures of sulfur compounds. The oil quality was less affected and most sulfides were mainly extracted via DMF.

Novel biotreatment process for glycol waters.

Propylene oxide (PO), propylene glycol (PG), and polyols are produced from propylene via propylene chlorohydrin. Effluents from these plants contain biological oxygen demand/chemical oxygen demand (BOD/COD) loads besides high chloride concentrations. The high salinity poses severe problem to adopt conventional methods like activated sludge processes. Presently, a simple, economically viable and versatile microbiological process has been developed to get more than 90% biodegradation in terms of BOD/COD, utilizing specially developed Pseudomonas and Aerobacter. The process can tolerate high salinity up to 10 wt% NaCl or 5 wt% CaCl2 and can withstand wide variations in pH (5.5-11.0) and temperature (15-45 degrees C). The biodegradation of glycols involves two steps. The enzymatic conversion of glycols to carboxylic and hydroxycarboxylic acids is aided by Pseudomonas. Further degradation to CO2 and H2O by carboxylic acid utilizing Aerobacter, and possible metabolic degradative pathway of glycols are discussed. Various process parameters obtained in the lab scale (50 L bioreactor) and pilot scale (20 m3 bioreactor), and unique features of our process are also discussed.

AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION IN CHILDREN.

Seventeen children presenting with airway obstruction have been studied to highlight the similar clinical features of different etiological conditions, their diagnostic limitations, and the importance of early bronchoscopy. There were 8 patients with foreign body in lower airway, out of which 6 were vegetable foreign bodies. Few rarer conditions like membranous laryngotracheobronchitis, subglottic hemangioma and acyanotic congenital heart disease producing airway obstruction have been highlighted. There were 2 deaths in the study unrelated to endoscopic procedure.

[Survey on passive smoking in children in Agadir]. / Enquête sur le tabagisme passif chez l'enfant à Agadir.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to assess children's exposure to tobacco smoke at home, at school and in public places, to study its risks and to educate parents about the dangers of passive smoking. METHODS: This is a survey conducted in October 2007 among children enrolled in pre-school and primary school in the city of Agadir, Morocco. The data was gathered by a written questionnaire completed by parents at home. RESULTS: The survey covered 776 children. The response rate to the questionnaires was 88%. The father was a smoker in 28.9% of cases, against 0.7% for the mother. The prevalence of childhood exposure to tobacco was 34.1% at home, 36.4% in public places and 30.1% in schools. Concerning pregnant women, passive smoking and/or active was associated with a significantly increased risk of respiratory distress in newborn babies and hospitalisations in the neonatology department. In infant and child, involuntary inhalation of tobacco smoke involved an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome and recurrent respiratory symptoms. However, its noxious effects were not found in the case of child asthma and tumour. CONCLUSION: Passive smoking is a real public health problem and smoking is a dangerous but also a preventable source of pollution.