Comparative analysis of robot-assisted simple prostatectomy: the HUGO™ RAS system versus the DaVinci® Xi system.

BACKGROUND: Robot-Assisted Simple Prostatectomy (RASP) has emerged as a promising alternative in the treatment of benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). However, there is currently a lack of comparative studies evaluating different robotic platforms for performing RASP. Therefore, we aimed to compare perioperative and functional outcomes of RASP performed using the HUGO™ RAS System versus the DaVinci® Xi System. METHODS: Forty consecutive cases of RASP performed between May 2021 and March 2023 with the HUGO™ RAS and the DaVinci® Xi at OLV Hospital (Aalst, Belgium) were included in this retrospective study. All surgeries were performed by three experienced surgeons using the same approach. Baseline characteristics, peri-operative and functional outcomes were collected and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The population was equally divided between the two groups with 20 patients in each group. There were no significant differences in preoperative patient characteristics between the two groups, except for the presence of bladder stones prior to the surgery (p = 0.03). No significant differences in total operative time and console time between the two groups were reported (p = 0.3). No cases required conversion to open surgery or additional port placement. During one case performed with the HUGO™ RAS, a malfunctioning monopolar curved shear had to be replaced. However, there was no statistically significant differences in terms of technical robotic problems between the groups (p = 0.3). There was no significant difference between the two groups in perioperative and functional outcomes (all p ≥ 0.2). CONCLUSIONS: We did not observe any statistically significant difference in perioperative and functional outcomes in case of RASP performed with the HUGO™ RAS System and with the DaVinci® Xi System. These findings provide compelling support for considering the HUGO™ RAS as a promising tool for robot-assisted procedures, thereby expanding the utilization of robotics for benign conditions.

2-DE-based proteomic analysis of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seeds.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important grain legume for direct human consumption. Proteomic studies in legumes have increased significantly in the last years but few studies have been performed to date in P. vulgaris. We report here a proteomic analysis of bean seeds by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). Three different protein extraction methods (TCA-acetone, phenol and the commercial clean-up kit) were used taking into account that the extractome can have a determinant impact on the level of quality of downstream protein separation and identification. To demonstrate the quality of the 2-DE analysis, a selection of 50 gel spots was used in protein identification by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS and MALDI-TOF/TOF). The results showed that a considerable proportion of spots (70%) were identified in spite of incomplete genome/protein databases for bean and other legume species. Most identified proteins corresponded to storage protein, carbohydrate metabolism, defense and stress response, including proteins highly abundant in the seed of P. vulgaris such as the phaseolin, the phytohemagglutinin and the lectin-related α-amylase inhibitor.

A new combination of extraction and derivatization methods that reduces the complexity and preparation time in determining phospholipid fatty acids in solid environmental samples.

Combinations of three extraction methods (modified Folch method, modified Bligh and Dyer and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE)) and two derivatization methods (alkaline methanolysis and derivatization with trimethylsulfonium hydroxide (TMSH)) are compared for determining phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) in soil and solid organic samples (animal manures, compost and vermicompost). The modified Folch method rendered the greatest total amount of PLFAs and the highest yields of individual PLFA biomarkers; the effect was most apparent in the vermicompost samples. MAE rendered similar extraction yields as the modified Bligh and Dyer method (the most commonly used extraction method), although MAE is much simpler and faster. The highest conversion yields of PLFAs into fatty acid methyl esters were achieved with TMSH as the derivatization agent. The modified Folch method together with derivatization with TMSH was the least complex and time consuming method of determining microbial community structure in solid environmental samples.

Computer-assisted method development in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry: new proposals.

A new approach is proposed for computer-assisted method development in LC-MS. The procedure consists of three stages. Firstly, an accurate retention model is developed for the peaks in the mixture to be separated by use of an iterative approach with isocratic priming data, which is calibrated and validated by means of a few gradient runs. Secondly, a specially developed LC-MS objective function, based on selectivity targets (the selectivity matrix), is calculated and used to evaluate the simulated chromatograms and drive the optimization process. Thirdly, the retention model and the selectivity matrix objective function are used with an evolutionary algorithm in which the concepts of constrained Pareto optimality are applied, to carry out the unattended optimization process. The system was applied to real data for a complex separation and compared with the results provided by a commercial tool for computer-assisted method development.

The photochemical behaviour of five household pyrethroid insecticides and a synergist as studied by photo-solid-phase microextraction.

In the present study, solid-phase microextraction in photochemical studies was used to investigate UV light induced photodegradation of five pyrethroids (empenthrin, transfluthrin, allethrin, phenothrin and cyphenothrin) and a synergist (piperonyl butoxide), which are common ingredients of household insecticides. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was used to separate and tentatively identify the parent compounds and their corresponding photoproducts generated in the same polydimethylsiloxane fibre. Kinetics curves were obtained and apparent first-order rate constants and half-lives were estimated. Twenty-six photoproducts were tentatively identified and photodegradation pathways for the compounds investigated were proposed. It is a matter of some concern that three of the photoproducts identified [(3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid, 3-phenoxybenzaldehyde and (3-phenoxyphenyl)methanol] have been reported to be endocrine disruptors. There is no record of previous studies of cyphenothrin and empenthrin photodegradation, and therefore the present study represents the first attempt to elucidate the photochemical behaviour of these compounds. Figure Photo-SPME for Pyrethroids.

Alternative sample preparation method for photochemical studies based on solid phase microextraction: synthetic pyrethroid photochemistry.

An alternative sample preparation method for photochemical studies, which overcomes all the disadvantages associated with classical approaches, is proposed. The method is based on Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) and can be considered as being within the scope of "green photochemistry", especially when it is combined with sunlight irradiation. To demonstrate the potential of the procedure, photochemical studies of synthetic pyrethroids were carried out. Photodegradation pathways for five dihalogenovinyl-substituted pyrethroid pesticides: permethrin, deltamethrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin, are proposed, and kinetic curves and parameters provided. This information, obtained by rapidly carried out, green experiments, allows us to corroborate photoproducts reported by other authors and to identify the photoproducts proposed for the first time in the present study.

Computer-assisted transfer of programmed elutions in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

Computer-assisted procedures were used to simulate modifications in chromatograms caused by the transfer of elution programmes between instruments with significantly different dwell volumes. Moreover, for the first time the same approach was used to modify the elution programmes to match the chromatograms produced in the different instruments. The process may consist of making minor modifications to gradient programmes or transforming the original gradient programme into a stepwise gradient profile and/or the simultaneous programming of flow and solvent composition. The combination of these approaches has been shown to have an enormous potential for producing matched chromatograms in instrumental systems with dwell volumes that differ by several millilitres. The efficiency and robustness of the proposed procedure is demonstrated with a variety of compounds (two different mixtures of 10 and 11 analytes), mobile phases (methanol and acetonitrile gradients), flow rates (0.5-1.5 mL/min range), temperatures (35-45 degrees C interval) and gradient profiles (linear, multilinear, curved and stepwise).

Photochemical studies of a polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDES) technical mixture by solid phase microextraction (SPME).

In this work the photochemical behaviour of a technical mixture of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) (BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153 and BDE-154) has been studied. The mixture of BDEs was extracted from aqueous solutions using SPME fibers that were subsequently exposed to different UV irradiation times, procedure so-called Photo-SPME. PBDEs photochemical studies in such medium have been accomplished for the first time. Twenty one different photoproducts, all of them generated by successive bromine atoms losses, have been identified, being their photoformation-photodegradation curves easily determined by the Photo-SPME technique.

Further solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry applications: "on-fibre" and aqueous photodegradation of nitro musks.

Photodegradation kinetics of four nitro musks (musk xylene, musk tibetene, musk ketone and musk moskene) in solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibres ("photo-SPME") and in an aqueous system were studied by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (MS) detection. Musks fragrances were extracted from aqueous solutions using SPME fibres that subsequently were exposed to different UV irradiation times, generating photoproducts easily characterized by their mass spectra. Aqueous photodegradation studies followed by SPME were also performed and compared to photo-SPME. The same fourteen photoproducts have been detected in both media. The potential of this approach to readily calculate apparent rate constants (from 10(-4) to 10(-3) s(-1)), half-life times (from 3 to 32 min) and reaction orders (n = 1) in both media is stated. The main photoreaction determined was photocyclization, but products of photoreduction and photorearrangement have also been detected. Tentative photodegradation pathways for musk moskene and musk tibetene are proposed for the first time.

Simultaneous determination of neutral and acidic pharmaceuticals in wastewater by high-performance liquid chromatography-post-column photochemically induced fluorimetry.

An analytical method for the simultaneous determination of acidic and neutral pharmaceutical active compound (PhACs) residues in wastewater has been developed based on the combination of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and photochemically induced fluorimetry. The photoderivatization conditions for each particular PhAC have been assessed. Off-line optimization of the HPLC separation for both neutral and acidic compounds has been utilised and evaluated. Detection limits in the low ng/ml range have been achieved without sample pretreatment. By applying the developed analytical method combined with solid-phase extraction to real wastewater samples an enrichment factor of approximately two orders of magnitude can be obtained.

Photolysis of polychlorinated biphenyls by solid-phase microextraction. "On-fibre" versus aqueous photodegradation.

The photodegradation kinetics of polychlorinated biphenyls "on-fibre" is described. The utilisation of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibres to monitor photolysis pathways and determine photoproducts constitutes a new approach that exploits the solvent-free aspect and concentration possibilities of this technique. Direct photolysis of aqueous solutions containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was also undertaken and SPME was used in this case for photoproduct extraction purposes. Reductive dechlorination was the main decomposition mechanism in both procedures. Less-chlorinated biphenyls are the principal photoproducts and, among these, some toxic coplanar species have been detected. The influence of irradiation time was evaluated for both treatments. SPME was found to be a good choice for the extraction of photoproducts in experiments conducted in the classical way (extraction after photolysis). Moreover, it is demonstrated that photolysis of PCBs "on fibre" is realistic and provides the possibility of evaluating the phototransformation of these pollutants at environmental levels.

On-fibre photodegradation studies of polychlorinated biphenyls using SPME-GC-MS-MS: a new approach.

The known advantages of solid-phase microextraction as a simple, one-step, rapid and solvent free extraction technique are exploited to study the photodegradation kinetics of polychlorinated biphenyls "on-fibre". The obtained results show the possibilities of this new approach not only to monitor the photolysis pathways of such compounds but to determine the photoproducts produced at different irradiation times and/or wavelengths. Photoproducts of PCB decomposition were less chlorinated biphenyls, among them some coplanar congeners have been found, which is important from a toxicological point of view.

Optimisation of alachlor solid-phase microextraction from water samples using experimental design.

We have tested screening and response surface experimental designs to optimise the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) of the widely used herbicide alachlor. Extraction time and sample volume were the only statistically significant factors from those studied. In the final optimised conditions the procedure was applied to the SPME-HPLC analysis of alachlor in spiked water samples with excellent figures of merit.

Analysis of barbiturates by micro-high-performance liquid chromatography with post-column photochemical derivatization.

This study attempts to combine the advantages of microcolumn high-performance liquid chromatography (micro-HPLC) with those of post-column photochemical derivatization in barbiturate analysis. Some barbiturates are photochemically unstable, leading to photoproducts that show maximum absorption at 270 nm and not the typical one at approximately 220 nm. For this purpose, a laboratory-built photoreactor has been developed to work with micro-HPLC instruments. Its performance is satisfactory in the forensic analysis of barbiturates.

Intraluminal pulsed Doppler evaluation of the pulmonary artery velocity time curve in a canine model of acute pulmonary hypertension.

The velocity pattern of the blood flow in the pulmonary artery was investigated in an animal model of acute pulmonary hypertension. Nine anesthetized, open-chest dogs were embolized with polystyrene microspheres, and the velocity pattern of the blood flow in the pulmonary artery was studied with use of an invasive pulsed Doppler technique. Phasic intraluminal velocity was recorded with use of a miniature piezoelectric crystal activated by 20-MHz Doppler pulses and mounted on the tip of a needle probe introduced into the pulmonary artery. The recorded Doppler quadrature signals were processed by spectral analysis. Significant increases occurred in mean, systolic, and diastolic pulmonary arterial pressures (p less than 0.0002), in pulmonary vascular resistance (p less than 0.005), and in negative velocity time (duration in milliseconds that the mean velocity was directed toward the pulmonic valve) (p less than 0.002). Significant decreases occurred in right ventricular ejection time (p less than 0.006) and in positive velocity time (duration in milliseconds that the mean velocity was directed away from the pulmonic valve) (p less than 0.005). A significant shortening in the time to peak velocity (acceleration time) was found (p less than 0.005). Second-order regression analyses demonstrated an inverse correlation between the ratio of positive velocity time to negative velocity time and the mean pulmonary artery pressure in all animals (r = 0.71). These findings should be compared with the velocity patterns of the blood flow in the pulmonary artery obtained under pulmonary hypertensive conditions due to various causes to facilitate interpretation and understanding of clinical investigations.

Characteristics of blood flow velocity in the hypertensive canine pulmonary artery.

Pulmonary artery blood flow velocity was measured in 15 dogs by a recently developed direct intraluminal pulsed Doppler technique. Changes in velocity characteristics under conditions of experimentally induced hypoxic pulmonary hypertension were observed. Experimental conditions (fractional inspired oxygen concentration = 0.10) produced significant increases in mean pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance. Overall and maximal negative velocity increased with pulmonary hypertension. Negative velocity occurred predominantly in the posterior half of the pulmonary artery during both control and experimental conditions. With pulmonary hypertension, diastolic negative velocity increased only in the posterior half of the pulmonary artery and systolic negative velocity decreased only in the anterior half. More basic knowledge of pulmonary artery blood flow characteristics may facilitate an informed approach to noninvasive detection of pulmonary hypertension. Direct measurements by this recently developed intraluminal technique will be useful in studying various conditions with altered pulmonary blood flow.

Cardiovascular effects of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) after pneumonectomy in dogs.

Little is known regarding the hemodynamic effect of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) following pneumonectomy. To investigate this, 9 mongrel dogs underwent PEEP before and after lung resection. With the chest closed, the dog anesthetized, and partial pressure of carbon dioxide constant, PEEP was added in increments of 2 mm Hg until the animal's condition became hemodynamically unstable. At each level of PEEP, aortic, pulmonary, left atrial, and central venous pressures were monitored while aortic flow (cardiac output) was determined with an electromagnetic probe and airway pressure was measured with a Millar catheter in the respiratory tubing. Pneumonectomy was then performed, PEEP was again sequentially added, and the same measurements were recorded. Both before and after pneumonectomy, a strong positive linear correlation exists between the level of PEEP and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (r greater than 0.74; p less than 0.05). Also, there is a high negative linear correlation between the level of PEEP and cardiac output (r greater than -0.76; p less than 0.05). At 0 mm Hg of PEEP, the PVR is higher after pneumonectomy than before (p less than 0.02). The incremental elevation in PVR persists after pneumonectomy at each level of PEEP, and in 5 of the 9 dogs the slope of the linear regression line relating PVR to PEEP was steeper following resection (p less than 0.05), thereby demonstrating an exaggerated effect of PEEP on PVR. In addition, all animals had a lower cardiac output at each comparable level of PEEP following pneumonectomy (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Changes in ventricular hemodynamics caused by a systemic-pulmonary shunt.

Systemic pulmonary shunts are both surgically created (Blalock-Taussig anastomosis) and obliterated (patent ductus arteriosus), but the effects of such a vascular communication on left ventricular hemodynamics have not been examined quantitatively. To study these effects, innominate arterial allografts were sutured between the descending thoracic aorta and the left main pulmonary artery in nine mongrel dogs. Left ventricular output (LVO) and shunt flow (SF) were monitored with electromagnetic flow probes while simultaneous phasic and mean pressures were recorded from the right atrium, aorta (AOP), and pulmonary artery. Data points (192) were analyzed while SF was varied between 0.02 and 5.5 liters/min using a variable-sized constricting band. Regression analysis showed increases (P less than 0.01) in LVO, stroke work (SW), and stroke volume (SV) in all dogs which were linearly related to SF (r = 0.64-0.99). Increasing SF was also associated with decreases (P less than 0.01, r = 0.61-0.99) in resistance (RES) facing the left ventricle and in diastolic (D) AOP. To compensate for differences in allograft size and to quantify the effects of a patent shunt, the regression equations were used to compare the percentage change in all parameters at SF = 0 and SF = 1.5 liters/min. Increases occurred in SV (46 +/- 21%), SW (32 +/- 14%), and LVO (48 +/- 21%), and decreases were present in DAOP (15 +/- 12%) and RES (32 +/- 13%). These data show that despite the decreases in pressure or the decreases in resistance facing the left ventricle in the presence of a systemic pulmonary shunt, a substantial increase in stroke work occurs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Elective pulmonary lobectomy: factors associated with morbidity and operative mortality.

Periodic review of clinical results is essential to ensure that high-quality patient care is maintained. To that end, we reviewed the morbidity and operative mortality in a consecutive series of 369 pulmonary lobectomies performed between January 1, 1970, and December 31, 1983. There were 251 male and 118 female patients with a mean age of 50.6 years. The thirty-day operative mortality was 2.2% (8/369), with 6 of these deaths related primarily to respiratory insufficiency. Two hundred twenty-four postoperative management problems occurred in 151 patients and included arrhythmia, air leak, pneumothorax, respiratory difficulties, postoperative bleeding, pleural effusion, wound infection, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolus, empyema, bronchial stump leak, and lobar gangrene. Multiple factors were related to the occurrence of postoperative morbidity and mortality using both chi-square analysis to examine each individual item and discriminant analysis to evaluate their interaction. Chi-square tabulation showed no difference in the occurrence of major postoperative complications (p greater than 0.05) related to the side of operation, an abnormal preoperative electrocardiogram, a forced vital capacity of 2.8 liters or less, a one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1) of less than 1.7 liters, an oxygen tension of less than 60 mm Hg, or the seniority of the surgeon (resident versus attending). An increased number of complications (p less than 0.05) was found in male patients, in patients operated on for carcinoma, and in patients older than 60 years. Stepwise discriminant analysis included FEV1 as a significant predictor of postoperative complications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)