British Association of Urological Surgeons' suprapubic catheter practice guidelines.

UNLABELLED: What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? The suprapubic catheter (SPC) is a useful and widely used tool in urological practice. However, complications can arise from its insertion or ongoing care. Currently there are no guidelines relating to SPC usage. This study has reviewed the available clinical evidence relating to SPC usage. Where this is lacking, expert opinion has been sought. Guidelines are suggested to help maximise safety and ensure best practice in relation to SPC usage. OBJECTIVE: To report the British Association of Urological Surgeons' guidelines on the indications for, safe insertion of, and subsequent care for suprapubic catheters. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify the evidence base. This was reviewed by a guideline development group (GDG), who then drew up the recommendations. Where there was no supporting evidence expert opinion of the GDG and a wider body of consultees was used. RESULTS: Suprapubic catheterisation is widely used, and generally considered a safe procedure. There is however a small risk of serious complications. Whilst the evidence base is small, the GDG has produced a consensus statement on SPC use with the aim of minimising risks and establishing best practice (Table 1). It should be of relevance to all those involved in the insertion and care of suprapubic catheters. Given the paucity of evidence, areas for future research and development are also highlighted. This review has been commissioned and approved by BAUS and the Section of Female, Neurological and Urodynamic Urology. [Table: see text] CONCLUSIONS: It is hoped that these guidelines will assist in minimising morbidity associated with SPC usage.

Global patterns in human consumption of net primary production.

The human population and its consumption profoundly affect the Earth's ecosystems. A particularly compelling measure of humanity's cumulative impact is the fraction of the planet's net primary production that we appropriate for our own use. Net primary production--the net amount of solar energy converted to plant organic matter through photosynthesis--can be measured in units of elemental carbon and represents the primary food energy source for the world's ecosystems. Human appropriation of net primary production, apart from leaving less for other species to use, alters the composition of the atmosphere, levels of biodiversity, energy flows within food webs and the provision of important ecosystem services. Here we present a global map showing the amount of net primary production required by humans and compare it to the total amount generated on the landscape. We then derive a spatial balance sheet of net primary production 'supply' and 'demand' for the world. We show that human appropriation of net primary production varies spatially from almost zero to many times the local primary production. These analyses reveal the uneven footprint of human consumption and related environmental impacts, indicate the degree to which human populations depend on net primary production 'imports' and suggest policy options for slowing future growth of human appropriation of net primary production.

Energy utilization and carbon metabolism in mediterranean scurb vegetation of Chile and California : I. Methods: A transportable cuvette field photosynthesis and data acquisition system and representative results for Ceanothus greggii.

A transportable system for field and laboratory measurement of plant CO2 exchange and transpiration is described. A computer based data acquisition system which controls data-logging has been successfully proven in mediterranean zones of central Chile and southern California and in the taiga of central Alaska. Six Peltier-effect cooled acrylic plastic chambers are utilized in an open infrared gas analysis system for continuous monitoring of CO2 exchange. Chamber air temperatures automatically track ambient air temperatures or can be preset to maintain a constant temperature. Use of Peltier-effect cooling modules and electric cartridge heaters result in light-weight chambers and heat exchange units with low power requirements. No refrigeration or liquid coolant is required under most operating conditions. A unique sampling method using natural illumination and six chambers allows highly replicated determinations of the temperature and light dependence of photosynthesis and/or respiration to be made over the course of a 6-d sampling period. Measurements are made continuously 24 h/day. Diurnal CO2 exchange patterns are determined from one chamber that tracks the ambient air temperature. The other five chambers have air temperatures fixed at distinct levels over a 35° C range. Each day the chambers are changed to another temperature level according to a randomized sampling pattern. All the data are pooled at the end of the 6-d run to construct the light and temperature response surfaces of CO2 exchange typical of the individuals sampled. Simultaneous determinations of conductance, leaf temperature, air temperature, and light are made.