Study of nanopores ordering in anodic aluminum oxide templates achieved by three step process.

Enhancement of naturally-occurred self ordering nanopores in anodic aluminum oxide membrane by performing three-step anodic oxidation process has been reported. Naturally-occurred self ordering of nanopores in anodic aluminum oxide membrane has brought it into the applications of template for fabrication of nanoscale materials. Three-step anodic oxidation method was used to achieve self-ordering of nanopores. Effect of duration of first and second steps on the ordering of nanopores was investigated. The current-time curves recorded during anodization elucidate an almost same behavior for all three steps. Scanning electron micrographs show hexagonally arranged 45 nm pores in a manner which contribute into the formation of highly ordered areas, called domains. Larger ones are clearly observed over the surface, for samples with longer first and second anodization steps.

Randomised clinical trial of the influence of pulmonary recruitment manoeuvre on reducing shoulder pain after laparoscopy.

Shoulder pain after laparoscopy is common and its probable mechanism is residual CO(2) gas after surgery. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of pulmonary recruitment manoeuvre which means pulmonary inflation with positive pressure of 40 cm H(2)O to remove gas and reduction of shoulder pain after gynaecological laparoscopic surgery. A double-blind clinical trial on 146 patients for minor gynaecological laparoscopy was performed from May 2008 to February 2009. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups of control and intervention (cases). The intervention was five manual inflations of the lungs with positive pressure ventilation of 40 cmH(2)O at the end of surgery, while the last one was held for 5 s. In the controls, CO(2) was removed by the traditional passive deflation of abdominal cavity. Shoulder pain intensity was assessed at 4, 12, 24 and 48 h after the surgery using a visual analogue scale (VAS).The background variables; characteristics of operation and analgesic use were recorded. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. A total of 131 complete sets of data were analysed. Participants in the two groups were matched for age, parity, body mass index, type of surgery and CO(2) pressure setting. The relative frequency of shoulder pain at 4 h did not show significant differences in the two groups, but was lower in the intervention group at 12, 24, and 48 h after the surgery (p = 0.001). Pain scores in the control and intervention group were 3.6 +/- 3.5 vs 1.28 +/- 1.7; 3.4 +/- 2.9 vs 1.19 +/- 1.7; 2.6 +/- 2.4 vs 0.89 +/- 1.3; 1.5 +/- 1.6 vs 0.46 +/- 0.7, at 4, 12, 24 and 48 h after operation, respectively (p < 0.001). The controls had greater usage of analgesics 1.12 +/- 5.67 compared with 0.95 + 0.31 in the cases. It was concluded that pulmonary recruitment manoeuvre seems to be a simple and safe way to reduce shoulder pain and analgesic use after laparoscopy.

Benign cerebellar astrocytoma in childhood: experience at the Hospital for Sick Children 1980-1992.

Between 1 January 1980, and 31 December 1992, 66 patients with cerebellar astrocytoma were diagnosed and treated at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. These patients ranged in age between 1 and 18 years, with a mean age of 7.3 years. Thirty-eight patients were male and 28 were female. Total removal was possible in 61 patients and no recurrence occurred in these 61 patients. In the 5 patients in whom an incomplete resection was carried out, regrowth occurred between 1 and 8 years following resection.