Prospective comparison among three intrarectal anesthetic treatments combined with periprostatic nerve block during transrectal ultrasonography-guided prostate biopsy.

BACKGROUND: Recent trends in prostate biopsy analgesia suggest a combination anesthetic to provide better pain relief than periprostatic nerve block (PPNB) alone. This study aimed to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of three intrarectal local anesthesia (IRLA) combined with PPNB in patients undergoing transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized study, 120 prostate biopsy patients were equally divided into four IRLA groups: group 1 (placebo) received simple lubrication; group 2 received 2% lidocaine gel; group 3 received 100 mg indomethacin suppository and group 4 received 5% prilocaine/lidocaine (EMLA) cream. PPNB with 2% lidocaine was applied in all groups. A ten-point visual analog scale evaluated both pain associated with the probe insertion and pain associated with prostate sampling. Adverse effects or complications due to anesthesia during and after the procedure were documented. RESULTS: Compared with group 1, groups 3 and 4 had significantly lower pain scores at both probe insertion and prostate sampling while group 2 showed no significant differences at both pain scores. Moreover, group 4 showed significantly lower pain scores at probe insertion compared to group 3, while no significant difference was observed at prostate sampling. Mild complications were observed in all groups with no significant difference in the incidence of complications between groups. CONCLUSION: Intrarectal application of EMLA cream is a more efficient pain reduction than either 2% lidocaine gel or 100 mg indomethacin suppository when applied combined with PPNB. This combination represents an effective option of pain relief for patients undergoing TRUS-guided prostate biopsy.

COPAIA 7. Alianza estratégica para la creación de capacidades en análisis de riesgos para la inocuidad de los alimentos en las Américas

El principal objetivo de este trabajo es brindar las bases para un esfuerzo coordinado con el fin de crear capacidad de análisis de riesgos para la inocuidad de los alimentos en la región de América Latina y el Caribe (ALC) reuniendo a organizaciones internacionales (Organización Panamericana de la Salud-OPS, Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura -FAO e Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura-IICA) y universidades (Universidad de Nebraska-Lincoln, Universidad de Maryland, Universidad de Minnesota y Universidad Tecnológica de Texas) mediante la Alianza Estratégica para la Creación de Capacidades en Análisis de Riesgos para la Inocuidad de los Alimentos (AECAR). Esperamos que este trabajo, creado por la alianza, logre: a) generar confianza y fortalecer la comunicación entre todas las organizaciones que trabajan en la región; b) proporcionar las bases para enfoques coordinados, consistentes y efectivos para crear capacidad y desarrollar programas de estudio; y c) facilitar la implementación del marco para análisis de riesgos en la región. Este trabajo presenta los recursos actuales de los autores, considera algunos ejemplos exitosos de implementación de análisis de riesgos en la región (de los sectores académicos y gubernamentales), los desafíos experimentados al implementar el análisis de riesgos, y una hoja de ruta para la creación de capacidad propuesta por esta alianza para ampliar la adopción de análisis de riesgos en la región.

The main goal of this paper is to provide the foundation for a coordinated effort for food safety risk analysis capacity building in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region by bringing together international organizations (Panamerican Health Organization-PAHO, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations-FAO and the Interamerican Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture-IICA) and universities (University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Maryland, University of Minnesota and Texas Tech University) through the Strategic Alliance in Risk Analysis Capacity Building (SARAC). We expect that this paper, authored by the alliance, will: a) build trust and strengthen communication among all the organizations that work in the region; b) provide the foundation for coordinated, consistent, and effective approaches to capacity building and curriculum development; and c) facilitate the implementation of the risk analysis framework within the region. This paper provides the current resources by the authors, discusses some successful examples of risk analysis implementation in the region (from academia and government sectors), the challenges experienced on implementing risk analysis and a capacity building roadmap proposed by this alliance to enhance the adoption of risk analysis in the region.

Hylleraas hydride binding energy: diatomic electron affinities.

Theoretical adiabatic electron affinities are often considered inaccurate because they are referenced to only a single value. Ground state electron affinities for all the main group elements and homonuclear diatomics were identified recently using the normalized binding energy of the hydrogen atom: [0.75420375(3)/2 = 0.37710187(1) eV]. Here we revisit experimental values and extend the identifications to diatomics in the G2-1 set. We assign new ground state electron affinities: (eV) Cl2, 3.2(2); Br2, 2.87(14); CH, 2.1(2); H2, 0.6 ; NH, 1.1, SiH, 1.90. Anion Morse potentials are calculated for H2 and N2 from positive electron affinities and for hyperfine superoxide states for the first time.

Impact of tDCS on performance and learning of target detection: interaction with stimulus characteristics and experimental design.

We have previously found that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over right inferior frontal cortex (RIFC) enhances performance during learning of a difficult visual target detection task (Clark et al., 2012). In order to examine the cognitive mechanisms of tDCS that lead to enhanced performance, here we analyzed its differential effects on responses to stimuli that varied by repetition and target presence, differences related to expectancy by comparing performance in single- and double-blind task designs, and individual differences in skin stimulation and mood. Participants were trained for 1h to detect target objects hidden in a complex virtual environment, while anodal tDCS was applied over RIFC at 0.1 mA or 2.0 mA for the first 30 min. Participants were tested immediately before and after training and again 1h later. Higher tDCS current was associated with increased performance for all test stimuli, but was greatest for repeated test stimuli with the presence of hidden-targets. This finding was replicated in a second set of subjects using a double-blind task design. Accuracy for target detection discrimination sensitivity (d'; Z(hits)-Z(false alarms)) was greater for 2.0 mA current (1.77) compared with 0.1 mA (0.95), with no differences in response bias (ß). Taken together, these findings indicate that the enhancement of performance with tDCS is sensitive to stimulus repetition and target presence, but not to changes in expectancy, mood, or type of blinded task design. The implications of these findings for understanding the cognitive mechanisms of tDCS are discussed.

Factors contributing to the poor bulk behavior of meat and bone meal and methods for improving these behaviors.

Meat and bone meal (MBM), a product of the rendering industry, is a potential feedstock for numerous bio-based applications. Design of processing equipment for MBM is difficult due to MBM's bulk behaviors; it flows less easily than many other granular materials, and it tends to foul the surfaces of processing equipment. This study examines the major factors contributing to MBM's poor bulk behavior, including moisture content, fat content, particle size distribution and temperature, and the relative importance of these factors. Potential methods for improving MBM's bulk properties, including use of an anti-caking agent, dehydration, fat extraction, milling and refrigeration are also studied. The effects of these factors were determined by a standard laboratory measurement, the Hausner ratio, as well as by the rate of surface-fouling and dust generation using a pilot-scale aspirator. In contrast to past studies with other granular materials, moisture content was shown to have an insignificant effect on MBM's bulk behavior. The results, however, show that MBM fat content is a major determinant of the bulk behavior of the MBM. Reduction of fat content resulted in major changes in MBM's bulk behavior, by all measures used. Less dramatic changes were achieved through refrigeration to solidify the fat and/or treatment with an anti-caking agent.

Comparing easy and accessible parameters of glycemic control in type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: HbA1c is considered the gold standard of long-term glycemic control and is recommended as a routine test for every diabetic patient. However, its common use in clinical practice has some problems related to lack of standardization and its relative cost. Recent studies have suggested, that postprandial blood glucose could be better than a fasting sample, as a marker of diabetes control. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the relative value of plasma glucose samples at different times of the day, and easy and accessible programs for home blood and urinary glucose measurements compared with HbA1c in assessing the mean glycemic control of type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: Sixty type 2 diabetic patients were instructed to do home blood and urine glucose monitoring for two months, at the end, plasma glucose profiles were obtained. RESULTS: The mean of all the capillary BG measurements had the best correlation with the HbA1c (r = 0.84, p < 0.001), followed by the mean of the capillary BG measurements before breakfast and supper (r = 0.82, p < 0.001), and the 2 hr. postbreakfast plasma glucose (r = 0.79 p < 0.001). The fasting PG had a low correlation (r = 0.65, p < 0.001), but a good sensitivity to predict a fair or a poor metabolic control. Diabetes duration and type of treatment explained 17% and 28% of variance in HbA1c levels. CONCLUSIONS: A bimonthly fasting PG correlated well with the glycosylated hemoglobin and is the easiest and cheapest way of monitoring glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients with some preserved insulin reserve (diabetes for less than 10 years and on treatment with only one hypoglycemic agent). A sample of capillary BG, fasting, once per week correlates better with the HbA1c than a fasting PG every 2-3 months. The 2 hr and 5 hr postbreakfast PG have a good correlation with the HbA1c, but are not a substitute for doing BG monitoring. Glycosuria may be a useful parameter to rule out a fair or poor metabolic control in some patients.

Effect of storage time on solubility and color of spray-dried soymilk.

Soymilk was spray dried under various combinations of inlet air temperature and atomizer speed. The insolubility index and the tristimulus color parameters (L, a, b) of the fried soymilk were monitored over a 59-week storage time period. The soymilk insolubility exhibited erratic trends over time. Yellowness (b) and lightness (L) of the dried soymilk correlated well with dryer atomizer speed. yellowness data, however, showed no significant difference among treatments, even when variations over time where considered. Lightness data, on the other hand, was found to be a function of storage time and atomizer speed and could be predicted to within a +/- 1.0% error.

Clinical and radiologic evaluation of optic pathway lesions.

The clinical evaluation can often suggest the level of a visual pathway lesion; however, several different types of pathological processes, can produce the same visual field deficit. Imaging evaluation with CT and/or MRI can help to localize and characterize these diverse types of pathology. A radiological differential diagnosis can then be suggested which, in turn, facilitates patient management. In certain instances, the specific cause of a visual field defect can be identified with the radiological evaluation.

Glaucoma filtration surgery in rabbits using bioerodible polymers and 5-fluorouracil.

A prospective, randomized, double-masked, and placebo-controlled study was performed to examine the effect of a localized and sustained delivery of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on the success of glaucoma filtration surgery in 18 rabbits. A bioerodible polyanhydride composed of bis (p-carboxyphenoxy) hexane (PCPH) and sebacic acid (SA) was used as the drug carrier. The polymer and 5-FU (10% by weight) were molded into 4-mm long cylinders by a 15-gauge needle. These implants, with and without the therapeutic agent, were placed at the site of filtration surgery intraoperatively. The results showed that intraocular pressures (IOPs) were lower in the experimental eyes during the second postoperative week, but eventually both experimental and control eyes returned to preoperative levels. Filtration blebs lasted longer in experimental eyes and bleb failure occurred before IOP failure in both experimental and control eyes. Implant disappearance occurred after IOP and bleb failure. Experimental eyes had more postoperative complications than control eyes. Eventually, the filtration surgery failed in both the experimental and control rabbit eyes.