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1.
Body Image ; 45: 153-171, 2023 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36934560

ABSTRACT

We conducted one-on-one interviews with 25 Canadian cisgender women who self-identified as having (a) a condition or characteristic causing their body to deviate from societal norms and (b) overcome a negative body image to develop a positive body image. Using coding reliability thematic analyses, we identified 12 themes (italicised) involving processes and experiences associated with shifts in body image. Women had moments that sparked and confirmed the importance of building positive body image (Enough is Enough). They experienced accepting Social Connections and Community and Accessed Critical Knowledge conducive to body positivity. They engaged in Joyful Movement, Adaptive Appearance Investment, and Joyful and Intuitive Eating. They identified how Changing Societal Norms, Becoming Older and Wiser, COVID-19 Pandemic, having Illnesses and Medical Conditions, Pregnancy and Motherhood, and Spirituality, Religion, and Nature affected their body image, values, and valued action. As women engaged in these processes and experiences, shifts occurred in their perceptions of their embodied selves in the world, represented by four "Bigger Lessons:" I Am More Than My Looks, I Am More Than My Body, I am More Than My Self, and I am Inherently Worthy of Love, Respect, and Joy. These findings can inform body image programmes and clinical interventions.


Subject(s)
Body Image , COVID-19 , Pregnancy , Female , Humans , Body Image/psychology , Pandemics , Reproducibility of Results , Social Norms , Canada , Qualitative Research
2.
AIDS Educ Prev ; 34(1): 33-52, 2022 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35192394

ABSTRACT

We investigated whether HIV stigma has changed in recent years. We compared data on stigma settings and manifestations from 2007 (n = 667) and, specifically for health care, 2009 (n = 262), to data acquired in 2019/2020 (n = 258). Results showed reductions in stigma from friends, family, acquaintances, at work, in the financial services sector, and in media, but stigmatizing messages in media remained highly prevalent. Stigma in the LGBTQI+ community, with sexual partners, and while partying also remained prevalent and, disconcertingly, relatively unchanged. Stigma in health care increased. HIV stigma was positively related to psychological distress, and negatively related to social support and medication adherence. Further, most participants were familiar with U=U and PrEP, but 13.3% questioned the accuracy of U=U. Stigma reduction efforts should focus on reducing stigma in media, in the LGBTQI+ community and while dating, and in health care, with U=U as a key message.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections , Cross-Sectional Studies , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Humans , Medication Adherence/psychology , Netherlands/epidemiology , Social Stigma
3.
Chemosphere ; 291(Pt 1): 132680, 2022 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34715103

ABSTRACT

A pH change can enable high-energy-density RFB (redox flow battery) in an aqueous medium. Nevertheless, a membrane to prevent the ion crossover is needed. This study adopted cerium and polysulfide in an acid-base combined electrolyte with an MFI-Zeolite membrane as a separator. The increased potential with pH change is described by the OCP (open circuit potential) difference, which varies by 0.8 V for the combination of acid-acid and acid-base electrolyte. A decrease of 350 mV at the redox peak potential of Ce3+/Ce4+ and a 10 mV negative potential shift for S42-/2S22- highlights the pH effect between the combination of acid-acid and acid-base electrolyte indicates the influence of pH leading in half-cell of anodic than the opposite cathodic side. The UV-visible spectral analysis for Ce3+ and S42- ions displacement shows that cerium and sulfur ions do not migrate to each other half-cell through an MFI-Zeolite membrane. As a result, the current efficiency of 94%, voltage, and energy efficiency of 40%-43% were attained at a current density of 10 mA cm-2. Moreover, the acid-base composition of the Ce/S system showed an energy density of 378.3 Wh l -1.


Subject(s)
Cerium , Zeolites , Electrolytes , Oxidation-Reduction , Sulfides
4.
Environ Res ; 204(Pt A): 111912, 2022 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34450160

ABSTRACT

New electrocatalysts with high reduction efficiency are needed to upgrade the mediated electrochemical reduction for real applications. In addition, automation is required to quantify active electrocatalysts in alkaline media and air pollution. In this study, N2O was removed sustainably by electrogenerated low valent nickel(I) phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate [Ni(I)TSPc] in 1 M KOH using an electroscrubbing system. Ni(I)TSPc electro generation and N2O removal were automated by two (liquid/gas) electrochemical flow sensors, respectively. The Ni(I)TSPc was generated electrochemically up to 95% in 1 M KOH, and high removal efficiency (100%) was observed for 5 ppm N2O and 90% for 10 ppm N2O. A limiting potential change in the in-situ LSV of the chemically synthesized Ni(I)TSPc was taken and derived from the calibration plot and validated by an ex-situ potentiometric titration using an oxygen reduction potential electrode. Using the obtained calibration plot, electrogenerated Ni(I)TSPc allowed a direct determination in a liquid flow cell. The gas flow sensor developed using a KOH/Ni(II)CN4 (TCN (II))-fabricated silver solid amalgam electrode showed an excellent response to N2O concentrations up to 32 ppm. A calibration plot with known concentration was derived and validated by gas chromatography. The response time and sensitivity obtained were approximately 500s and -0.012 mA ppm-1 cm-2, respectively. The sensor stability test confirmed its good stability. Finally, the developed in-situ electrochemical flow sensors were applied to the sustainable automation of N2O pollutant removal.


Subject(s)
Nickel , Electrodes , Temperature
5.
J Hazard Mater ; 420: 126564, 2021 Oct 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34252672

ABSTRACT

This paper reports the sustainable and enhanced generation of a Ni(I) active electro-catalyst using AgSAE as a cathode material for the sustainable degradation of N2O, NO, dichloromethane (DCM), and chlorobenzene (CB) by electroscrubbing in a series operation. The AgSAE electrode showed 1.66 times higher Ni(I) formation than the Ag metal electrode. The AgSAE achieved 20% ± 2% Ni(I) generation in a highly concentrated alkaline medium, whereas Ag metal only achieved 12% ± 2% Ni(I) generation at the same current density. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and voltammetric studies determined that the kinetics of the charge-transfer reaction was also preferential at the AgSAE, with the cathodic peak at -1.26 V vs. Ag/AgCl confirming Ni(I) formation. Initially, the change in the oxygen reduction potential and reduction efficiency of Ni(I) confirmed the removal of N2O, NO, DCM and CB. In addition, the gas Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum revealed 99.8% removal efficiency of toxic pollutants. Therefore, the regeneration of Ni(I) confirmed the sustainable removal of toxic pollutants. Furthermore, the FTIR spectra revealed the formation of NH3 during the reduction of N2O and NO. On the other hand, DCM and CB were reduced to benzene derivatives in the solution phase. In addition, a plausible reduction mechanism was derived. As a result, the AgSAE cathode exhibited two-fold higher removal efficiency of N2O, NO, DCM, and CB than the previously reported electrodes.

6.
PLoS One ; 16(5): e0251507, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33989320

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Weight stigma is prevalent across multiple life domains, and negatively affects both psychological and physical health. Yet, research into weight stigma reduction techniques is limited, and rarely results in reduced antipathy toward higher-weight individuals. The current pre-registered study investigated a novel weight stigma reduction intervention. We tested whether a writing exercise focusing on body functionality (i.e., everything the body can do, rather than how it looks) of another person leads to reductions in weight stigma. METHOD: Participants were 98 women (Mage = 23.17, Range = 16-63) who viewed a photograph of a higher-weight woman, "Anne," and were randomised to complete a writing exercise either describing what "Anne's" body could do (experimental group) or describing her home (active control group). Facets of weight stigma were assessed at pretest and posttest. RESULTS: At posttest, the experimental group evidenced higher fat acceptance and social closeness to "Anne" compared with the active control group. However, no group differences were found in attribution complexity, responsibility, and likeability of "Anne". CONCLUSIONS: A brief body functionality intervention effectively reduced some, but not all, facets of weight stigma in women. This study provides evidence that functionality-focused interventions may hold promise as a means to reduce weight stigma.


Subject(s)
Body Image , Social Stigma , Adolescent , Adult , Body Weight , Exercise , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult
7.
Body Image ; 35: 192-200, 2020 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33045500

ABSTRACT

This study investigated death reflection as a novel strategy to improve body image among women. Young adult women (N = 158; Mage = 21.35) completed a death reflection exercise, a death-related active control exercise (to ensure that effects were due to the manner in which women reflected on their death, rather than due to thoughts about death in general), or a non-death-related active control exercise. Participants completed measures of body image at posttest and 1-week follow-up. The women in the death reflection group, compared to the non-death-related control group, experienced higher body weight satisfaction at posttest. Among women higher in beauty orientation, those in the death reflection group experienced higher body shape satisfaction compared to women in the death-related control group. Effects were medium-to-large in magnitude. No group differences were observed for overall appearance satisfaction, appearance importance, broad conceptualisation of beauty, and endorsement of cultural appearance ideals. These findings provide preliminary support for death reflection as a technique to improve some facets of women's body image. Yet, future research is needed to test whether these effects are replicable and can be extended to other facets of body image.


Subject(s)
Attitude to Death , Body Dysmorphic Disorders/therapy , Body Image , Personal Satisfaction , Psychotherapy , Adult , Body Image/psychology , Female , Humans , Young Adult
8.
Eur J Neurol ; 27(10): 2079-2088, 2020 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32478888

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hidden hearing loss has been reported in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease; however, the auditory-processing deficits have not been widely explored. We investigated the psychoacoustic and neurophysiological aspects of auditory processing in patients with CMT disease type 1A (CMT1A) and type 2A (CMT2A). METHODS: A total of 43 patients with CMT1A and 15 patients with CMT2A were prospectively enrolled. All patients with CMT disease had normal sound-detection ability by using pure-tone audiometry. Spectral-ripple discrimination, temporal modulation detection and auditory frequency-following response were compared between CMT1A, CMT2A and control groups. RESULTS: Although all participants had normal audiograms, patients with CMT disease had difficulty understanding speech in noise. The psychoacoustic auditory processing was somewhat different depending on the underlying pathophysiology of CMT disease. Patients with CMT1A had degraded auditory temporal and spectral processing. Patients with CMT2A had no reduced spectral resolution, but they showed further reduced temporal resolution than the patients with CMT1A. The amplitudes of the frequency-following response were reduced in patients with CMT1A and CMT2A, but the neural timing remained relatively intact. CONCLUSIONS: When we first assessed the neural representation to speech at the brainstem level, the grand average brainstem responses were reduced in both patients with CMT1A and CMT2A compared with healthy controls. As the psychoacoustic aspects of auditory dysfunctions in CMT1A and CMT2A were somewhat different, it is necessary to consider future auditory rehabilitation methods based on their pathophysiology.


Subject(s)
Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease , Auditory Perception , Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease/complications , Humans , Neurophysiology , Psychoacoustics
9.
Eur J Neurol ; 27(6): 1003-1009, 2020 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32125747

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hearing loss (HL) is one of the most influential risk factors of dementia in older adults. However, its potential association with neurodegeneration is not well established. The association between HL and cortical thickness in cognitively normal older adults was evaluated. METHODS: In all, 982 cognitively normal older adults (age ≥65 years) were identified from the Health Promotion Center at the Samsung Medical Center from September 2008 to December 2014. The participants underwent pure-tone audiometry and brain magnetic resonance imaging. HL was evaluated according to a four-frequency (0.5, 1, 2, 4 kHz) pure-tone average. Participants were divided into three groups according to pure-tone average (normal hearing ≤15 dB, minimal HL 16-25 dB, mild-to-severe HL >25 dB). Cortical thickness in the HL groups was compared with that of the normal hearing group. RESULTS: In women, right ear HL was associated with cortical thinning: the minimal HL group showed cortical thinning in the left frontal and bilateral occipital areas and the mild-to-severe HL group showed cortical thinning in the bilateral frontal, right temporal and bilateral occipital areas compared to the normal hearing group. In men, there was no significant association between HL on either side and cortical thickness. CONCLUSION: In older women, right ear HL is associated with neurodegeneration even in a cognitively normal state. Therefore, managing HL especially in older women may be an effective strategy for dementia prevention.


Subject(s)
Cerebral Cortical Thinning , Hearing Loss , Aged , Audiometry, Pure-Tone , Brain , Female , Hearing Loss/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male
10.
J Hazard Mater ; 378: 120765, 2019 10 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31226591

ABSTRACT

Direct catalysis is generally proposed for nitrous oxide (N2O) abatement but catalysis is expensive, requires high temperatures, and suffers from media fouling, which limits its lifetime. In the present study, an ambient temperature electroscrubbing method was developed, coupling wet-scrubbing with an electrogenerated Ni(I) ([Ni(I)(CN)4]3-) mediator, to enable N2O reduction in a single process stage. The initial studies of 10 ppm N2O absorption into 9 M KOH and an electrolyzed 9 M KOH solution showed no removal. However, 95% N2O removal was identified through the addition of Ni(I) to an electrolyzed 9 M KOH. A change in the oxidation/reduction potential from -850 mV to -650 mV occurred following a decrease in Ni(I) concentration from 4.6 mM to 4.0 mM, which confirmed that N2O removal was mediated by an electrocatalytic reduction (MER) pathway. Online analysis identified the reaction product to be ammonia (NH3). Increasing the feed N2O concentration increased NH3 formation, which suggests that a decrease in electrolyzed solution reactivity induced by the increased N2O load constrained the side reaction with the carrier gas. Importantly, this study outlines a new regenerable method for N2O removal to commodity product NH3 at ambient temperature that fosters process intensification, overcomes the limitations generally observed with catalysis, and permits product transformation to NH3.

11.
Transplant Proc ; 50(10): 3222-3227, 2018 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30577189

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The use of expanded-criteria deceased-donor (ECD) kidneys must be evaluated within the objective perspective of critical organ shortage and graft function and survival. In this study, we aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of ECD reliance with concurrent use of ideal-criteria deceased donors (IDDs) and non-ECDs in adult renal transplantation. METHODS: Between February 2000 and December 2015, we analyzed 405 deceased-donor renal transplants, specifically 129 grafts (31.9%) from ECDs, 233 grafts (57.5%) from non-ECDs, and 43 grafts (10.6%) from IDDs. ECDs were classified according to the United Network for Organ Sharing guidelines, while an IDD was defined as a younger person (10-39 years of age) with no medical risk factors who died from a traumatic head injury. Donor and recipient risk factors were separately analyzed and correlated with recipient graft function, and survival was evaluated. RESULTS: ECDs were older (56.8 ± 6.3 years); showed increased incidence of hypertension, diabetes, and cerebrovascular brain death; and had a higher pre-retrieval serum creatinine level than the other groups. ECD kidney recipients were also older (50.6 ± 9.8 years), had a shorter waiting time (P = .031), and demonstrated a low frequency of re-transplantation (P = .028). Long-term renal function followed longitudinally was lower in ECD kidney recipients until five years after transplantation, while the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) level at 7 and 10 years did not differ significantly among the groups (P = .074 and .262, respectively). There were no significant differences in terms of graft survival (P = .394) or patient survival (P = .737) among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although the long-term renal function followed longitudinally was lower in ECD kidney recipients, the use of renal grafts from ECDs is an acceptable method to resolve the disparity of critical organ shortage. However, the classification of the high-risk group should be updated with consideration given to differences in regional characteristics.


Subject(s)
Kidney Transplantation/methods , Tissue Donors/classification , Tissue Donors/supply & distribution , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Female , Graft Survival , Humans , Kidney/physiopathology , Kidney Transplantation/mortality , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Treatment Outcome , Young Adult
12.
Waste Manag Res ; 36(11): 1043-1048, 2018 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30303040

ABSTRACT

Remediation of electronic gas CF4 using commercially available technologies results in another kind of greenhouse gas and corrosive side products. This investigation aimed to develop CF4 removal at room temperature with formation of useful product by attempting an electrogenerated Cu1+[Ni2+(CN)4]1- mediator. The initial electrolysis of the bimetallic complex at the anodized Ti cathode demonstrated Cu1+[Ni2+(CN)4]1- formation, which was confirmed by additional electron spin resonance results. The degradation of CF4 followed mediated electrochemical reduction by electrogenerated Cu1+[Ni2+(CN)4]1-. The removal efficiency of CF4 of 95% was achieved by this electroscrubbing process at room temperature. The spectral results of online and offline Fourier transform infrared analyzer, either in gas or in solution phase, demonstrated that the product formed during the removal of CF4 by electrogenerated Cu1+[Ni2+(CN)4]1- by electroscrubbing was ethanol (CH3CH2OH), with a small amount of trifluoroethane (CF3CH3) intermediate.


Subject(s)
Ethanol , Electrodes
14.
Transplant Proc ; 49(5): 1033-1037, 2017 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28583521

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the prevalence of osteoporosis and the risk factors for its progression in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). METHODS: Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to prospectively measure changes in bone mineral density (BMD) before kidney transplantation (KT) and 1 year after transplantation in 207 individuals. We also analyzed the risk factors of osteoporosis progression during this period. RESULTS: Prior to KT, the mean BMD score (T-score of the femur neck area) was -2.1 ± 1.2, and the prevalence of osteoporosis was 41.5% (86/207). At 1 year post-transplantation, the mean BMD score significantly decreased to -2.3 ± 1.1 (P < .001), and the prevalence of osteoporosis increased to 47.3% (98/207; P = .277). The BMD score worsened over the study period in 69.1% (143/207) of patients, improved in 24.1% (50/207), and showed no change in 6.8% (14/207). Minimal intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) improvement after KT was found to be an independent risk factor of osteoporosis progression. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates progressive loss of BMD after KT and sustained secondary hyperparathyroidism might influence the progression of osteoporosis.


Subject(s)
Disease Progression , Kidney Failure, Chronic/surgery , Kidney Transplantation/adverse effects , Osteoporosis/epidemiology , Postoperative Complications , Absorptiometry, Photon , Adult , Bone Density , Female , Femur Neck , Humans , Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary/etiology , Male , Middle Aged , Osteoporosis/diagnostic imaging , Osteoporosis/etiology , Parathyroid Hormone/blood , Postoperative Period , Prevalence , Prospective Studies , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors
15.
Transplant Proc ; 49(5): 982-986, 2017 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28583572

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Our objective was to investigate the effects of age on patient and graft survival in expanded criteria donor (ECD) renal transplantation. METHODS: Between February 2000 and December 2015, we analyzed 405 deceased donor renal transplants, including 128 grafts (31.9%) from ECDs. Based on recipient age and ECD criteria classification, the recipients were divided into four groups: Group I, non-ECD to recipient age <50 years; Group II, non-ECD to recipient age ≥50 years; Group III, ECD to recipient age <50 years; and Group IV, ECD to recipient age ≥50 years. RESULTS: Among the four groups, there were significant differences in baseline characteristics (age, body mass index [BMI], cause of end-stage renal disease [ESRD], number of kidney transplantations, and use of induction agent). The mean modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) glomerular filtration rate (GFR) level at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years after transplantation was significantly lower in patients with ECDs but MDRD GFR level at 7, 9, and 10 years did not differ significantly (P = .183, .041, and .388, respectively). There were no significant differences in graft survival (P = .400) and patient survival (P = .147). CONCLUSION: Our result shows that, regardless of recipient age, kidney transplants donated by deceased ECDs have similar graft and patient survival.


Subject(s)
Age Factors , Graft Survival , Kidney Transplantation/methods , Tissue Donors , Adult , Female , Humans , Kidney Failure, Chronic/surgery , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Treatment Outcome
16.
Clin Exp Dermatol ; 42(7): 760-762, 2017 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28639343

ABSTRACT

Botulinum toxin type A (BTA) (also known as onabotulinum toxin A) injection is widely used in the field of cosmetic dermatology. Although a few adverse events related to intramuscular BTA injection have been reported, no life-threatening adverse reaction has been documented to date. We report a case of anaphylaxis induced by intramuscular BTA injection into the masseter muscles of a 35-year-old woman. She had previously received injections of the identical BTA product into the same muscles without incident. However, during the reported procedure, symptoms suggestive of angio-oedema and anaphylaxis developed about 5 min after BTA injection. Intramuscular epinephrine was used to manage the reaction. Following this, the patient was found to have an elevated total serum IgE level. We could not perform testing with BTA because of the risk of triggering another episode of anaphylaxis; however, intradermal tests using the identical sterile saline and patch test using the topical anaesthetic cream both showed negative results, thus we strongly suspect BTA as being the cause of anaphylaxis in this case.


Subject(s)
Anaphylaxis/etiology , Botulinum Toxins, Type A/adverse effects , Neuromuscular Agents/adverse effects , Adult , Botulinum Toxins, Type A/therapeutic use , Female , Humans , Hypertrophy/drug therapy , Immunoglobulin E/blood , Injections, Intramuscular , Masseter Muscle/abnormalities , Neuromuscular Agents/therapeutic use
17.
Int J Tuberc Lung Dis ; 21(7): 818-824, 2017 07 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28633708

ABSTRACT

SETTING: Tertiary referral centre, Samsung Medical Center, South Korea. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharmacokinetic parameters and toxicities of once-daily amikacin (AMK) dosing for lung disease due to Mycobacterium abscessus. DESIGN: A retrospective review of 48 patients with M. abscessus lung disease who received once-daily AMK for 4 weeks between January 2012 and June 2015. RESULTS: With a starting dose of 15 mg/kg/day and adjustment of AMK dose according to the peak serum level (Cmax), the Cmax target of 55-65 µg/ml was achieved in 31.3% (15/48) of patients in the first week, 68.8% (33/48) in week 2, 91.7% (44/48) in week 3 and 95.8% (46/48) in week 4. Transient nephrotoxicity developed in 6.3% (3/48) of patients and ototoxicity in 25.0% (6/24), which was determined by audiogram as hearing loss, asymptomatic in five patients and tinnitus in one. Multivariate analysis revealed that the highest drug concentration 12 h after administration was significantly associated with the development of toxicities (adjusted odds ratio 1.862, P = 0.047). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that once-daily AMK for 4 weeks with a target Cmax of 55-65 µg/ml can be used in patients with M. abscessus lung disease, with careful monitoring of toxicity.


Subject(s)
Amikacin/administration & dosage , Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage , Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous/drug therapy , Mycobacterium abscessus/isolation & purification , Aged , Amikacin/adverse effects , Amikacin/pharmacokinetics , Anti-Bacterial Agents/adverse effects , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacokinetics , Drug Administration Schedule , Drug Monitoring/methods , Female , Hearing Loss/chemically induced , Hearing Loss/epidemiology , Humans , Kidney Diseases/chemically induced , Kidney Diseases/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous/microbiology , Republic of Korea , Retrospective Studies , Tinnitus/chemically induced , Tinnitus/epidemiology
18.
Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital ; 37(3): 218-223, 2017 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28516965

ABSTRACT

In this retrospective chart review we compared the subjective and objective benefits of active middle ear implants (AMEIs) with conventional hearing aids (HAs) in patients with sloping high tone hearing loss. Thirty-four patients with sensorineural hearing loss were treated with AMEIs. Of these, six had sloping high tone hearing loss and had worn an HA for more than 6 months. Objective assessments, a pure-tone audiogram, as well as a word recognition test, and the Korean version of the Hearing in Noise Test (K-HINT), and a subjective assessment, the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) questionnaire, were performed. Tests were conducted under three circumstances: 1) the unaided state before surgery; 2) the HA-aided state before surgery; and 3) the AMEI-aided state 3 months after surgery. The average high-frequency hearing gain (≥ 2 kHz) was significantly better with AMEIs than with HAs. Although the result had no statistical significance, AMEIs showed a superior word recognition score (WRS) compared to HAs. However, the most comfortable hearing level at which the WRS was tested was significantly decreased with an AMEI compared to an HA. In the K-HINT, patients with an AMEI showed greater recognition than those fitted with an HA under both quiet and noisy conditions. The APAHB scores revealed that patients were more satisfied with an AMEI rather than an HA on all subscales. The use of vibroplasty in patients with sloping high tone loss resulted in positive hearing outcomes when compared to conventional HAs. Based on the data from this study, AMEIs provided better objective and subjective results and could, therefore, be a better alternative for the treatment of sloping hearing loss.


Subject(s)
Hearing Aids , Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/rehabilitation , Ossicular Prosthesis , Adult , Aged , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies
19.
J Hazard Mater ; 325: 157-162, 2017 Mar 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27930999

ABSTRACT

Among the non-CO2 greenhouse gases, carbon tetrafluoride (CF4) is the most recalcitrant and should be eliminated from the atmosphere. In the present study, a non-combustion electroscrubbing method was used in an attempt to degrade CF4 with an electrogenerated Co1+ mediator in a highly alkaline medium. The initial absorption experiments revealed 165mgL-1 CF4 gas dissolved in 10M NaOH. Different mediator precursors, [Co(II)(CN)5]3-, [Ni(II)(CN)4]2-, [Cu(II)(OH)4]2-, and [Co(II)(OH)4]2-, were used and the electroscrubbing results showed that the electrogenerated Co1+ or [Co(II)(OH)4]2- precursor effectively degraded up to 99.25% of the CF4 gas. The variations in [Co(II)(OH)4]2- reduction efficiency and cyclic voltammetry revealed CF4 degradation followed by electrogenerated Co1+ mediated reduction. The increased zeta potential (+6mV) of the electrogenerated Co1+ showed that the degradation reaction occurs preferably at the solution interface. Electroscrubbing for CF4 removal and the resulting products were controlled by the carrier gas. Air and H2 carrier gases lead to the formation of CHF3 and COF2. N2 as the carrier gas caused 99.25% degradation with ethanol as a product. An 80% CF4 degradation efficiency with CHF3 as the product was observed when a mixture of N2 and air was used as the carrier gas.

20.
Transplant Proc ; 48(8): 2684-2688, 2016 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27788801

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We report the incidence and nature of ureteral and surgical complications in our series of 853 consecutive living-donor renal transplants after laparoscopic living-donor nephrectomy. The aim of this study was to analyze the therapeutic approaches to ureteral complications in kidney transplantations and their relationship with recipient outcome. METHODS: The medical records of patients who underwent kidney transplantation from 2000 to 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. After the donor nephrectomies were performed with the use of laparoscopic, hand-assisted laparoscopic, and vesico-ureteral anastomosis, the recipient's ureteral complications were classified according to the mechanism and site of urinary tract involvement: anastomosis stricture, anastomosis leakage, vesico-ureteral reflux, and urolithiasis. RESULTS: Among the 853 cases of kidney transplantation, ureteral complications occurred in 66 patients (7.73%). The most common complication was urinary tract infection caused by vesico-ureteral reflux (n = 24, 2.81%), which was managed with by means of sub-ureteral polydimethylsiloxane injection. The second most common complication was the anastomosis site stricture (n = 23, 2.69%), which was treated by means of ureteral re-implantation or percutaneous nephrostomy. Anastomosis site leakage occurred in 11 patients (1.28%) and was managed by percutaneous nephrostomy with double-J stenting and drainage or ureteral re-implantation. Urolithiasis occurred in 8 patients (0.93%). CONCLUSIONS: There was an 8% rate of recipient ureteral complications at our institution. Of the 66 patients, 46 (5.4%) required surgical repair. The remaining 20 patients with ureteral complications were treated with conservative care or minimally invasive procedures. The keys to successful management of these problems are early diagnosis and prompt reconstruction whenever possible. Most ureteral complications are easily managed with a successful outcome with early intervention.


Subject(s)
Kidney Transplantation/adverse effects , Postoperative Complications/epidemiology , Urologic Diseases/epidemiology , Adult , Anastomotic Leak/epidemiology , Anastomotic Leak/etiology , Female , Humans , Incidence , Laparoscopy , Living Donors , Male , Middle Aged , Nephrostomy, Percutaneous , Postoperative Complications/etiology , Retrospective Studies , Urologic Diseases/etiology
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