Direct prediction of bioethanol yield in sugar beet pulp using near infrared spectroscopy.

Sugar beets are a raw material for the production of sugar and ethanol. The decision on which end product to pursue could be facilitated by fast and reliable means of predicting the potential ethanol yield from the beets. A Near Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy-based approach was tested for the direct prediction of the potential bioethanol production from sugar beets. A modified partial least squares (MPLS) regression model was applied to 125 samples, ranging from 21.9 to 31.0 gL(-1) of bioethanol in sugar beet brei. The samples were analyzed in reflectance mode in a Direct Contact Food Analyser (DCFA) FOSS-NIRSystems 6500 monochromator, with standard error of cross validation (SECV), standard error of prediction (SEP), coefficient of determination (r(2)) and coefficient of variation (CV) of 0.51, 0.49, 0.91 and 1.9 gL(-1), respectively. The NIR technique allowed direct prediction of the ethanol yield from sugar beet brei (i.e. the product obtained after sawing beets with a proper machine) in less than 3 min.

Evaluation of disk diffusion method for determining posaconazole susceptibility of filamentous fungi: comparison with CLSI broth microdilution method.

The disk diffusion method was evaluated for determining posaconazole susceptibility against 78 strains of molds using two culture media in comparison with the CLSI (Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute) broth microdilution method (M38-A). A significant correlation between disk diffusion and microdilution methods was observed with both culture media.

Laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy for prostatic cancer.

Development of laparoscopic techniques has converted lymphadenectomy into a real alternative to current laparotomy technique. The limitation of diagnostic imaging methods to know ganglion involvement in prostate cancer as well the high incidence of false negatives in frozen intrasurgical biopsies following open-surgery lymphadenectomy has pushed us since november of 1990 to develop laparoscopic lymphadenectomy with staging. This study analyses the diverse diagnostic imaging methods and continues with a precise description of the laparoscopic technique. The authors summarize the results of our series and finish the article with a review of the most controversial aspects as well as the diagnostic value, advantages and disadvantages with respect to open surgery techniques, complications and indications of this technique at the present moment.

[Current indications for laparoscopic surgery in urology]. / Indicaciones actuales de cirugía laparoscópica en urología.

More than four years have elapsed since the first laparoscopic pelvian lymphadenectomy for the staging of prostate cancer was performed. The early impact of the procedure involved the broadening and gradual application of laparoscopy to the group of organs and diseases of our specialty, mainly with therapeutical purposes. Urologists are able to reproduce nowadays many of the traditional surgical procedures through these methods. The present paper tries to conduct an update of the different techniques applied up to now on the different structures (genitalia, prostate, bladder, ureter, kidney, adrenals, pelvian nodes and other) and to analyze objectively some specific indications based on the experience gathered by several authors and our own.

[Laparoscopic surgery instrumentation]. / Instrumental en cirugía laparoscópica.

Today the urologist can perform many of the conventional surgical procedures by laparoscopic methods, which could not have been developed and improved without technological support. Industry has continued to provide solutions to each new requirement of laparoscopic surgery through more ergonomic materials and instruments. The different equipment and instruments for performing laparoscopic procedures are analyzed and described in the present article.

[Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy]. / Linfadenectomía laparoscópica.

The limitations of the diagnostic imaging methods in determining lymph node involvement in pelvic tumors (prostatic cancer) and the high incidence of false negatives in the intraoperative frozen biopsies done during open lymphadenectomy have prompted us to develop laparoscopic staging lymphadenectomy since November, 1990. The different imaging and invasive diagnostic methods are briefly analyzed in the present article. The laparoscopic lymphadenectomy procedure is described in detail and a summary of our series is presented.

[Laparoscopic nephrectomy: a case report]. / Nefrectomía laparoscópica: caso report.

Presentation and clinical picture outline of a patient who underwent transperitoneal laparoscopy-assisted nephrectomy. The procedure lasted 4 hours and the patient was discharged 72 hours later without incidence or complications. The paper describes the technique (presently unique and for selective indications), as well as the resources that the extensive laparoscopic experience of our group put into practice to perform the first successful laparoscopic nephrectomy in humans in our country.

[Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy for lymphatic staging in prostatic cancer: preliminary experience]. / Linfadenectomía laparoscópica para estadiaje ganglionar en cáncer prostático: experiencia inicial.

The current diagnostic methods, primarily transrectal ultrasound scanning (supported with ultrasound-directed biopsy), CAT and tumoral markers, allow an earlier and more reliable diagnosis of prostatic neoplasias. The chances of diagnosing these tumours while in low stages (A, B, and C without affecting the seminal vesicle) imply a higher indication for radical surgery (prostatectomy) with an intention to cure. However, the prognosis and therefore the indication will be determined by the presence of regional nodular affectation. Imaging diagnostic methods (lymphography, CAR, NMR) have been proven incapable of providing an acceptable degree of diagnostic safety, therefore staging lymphadenectomy continues to be mandatory. Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy allows to meet requirements of surgical radicality comparable to those of traditional open surgery while showing an irrefutable decrease of morbidity and being more convenient for the patient. Our early experience with this surgical technique of staging in prostatic neoplastic pathology is illustrated.