Chronic skin disease and levels of physical activity in 17 777 Spanish adults: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: To date there is limited literature on the prevalence of chronic skin conditions and its association with levels of physical activity (PA) in Spain. AIM: To determine the prevalence of chronic skin disease and to compare levels of PA between people with and without chronic skin disease in a large representative sample of Spanish adults aged 15-69 years. METHODS: Data from the Spanish National Health Survey 2017 were analysed. Chronic skin disease was assessed using a yes/no question. PA was measured using the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Total PA metabolic equivalent of task min/week were calculated, and PA was included in the analyses as a continuous and a five-category variable. RESULTS: This cross-sectional study included 17 777 adult participants (52.0% women; mean ± SD age 45.8 ± 14.1 years), of whom 940 (5.3%) had chronic skin disease. After adjusting for several potential confounders, there was a negative association between chronic skin disease and PA (OR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.76-1.00, P = 0.05), which was significant for men (OR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.62-0.93, P = 0.01) but not for women (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.81-1.16, P = 0.72). CONCLUSIONS: In this large representative sample of Spanish adults, the prevalence of chronic skin disease was low. Levels of PA were lower in men with than in men without chronic skin conditions, but this association was not seen in women.

Inkjet printable-photoactive all inorganic perovskite films with long effective photocarrier lifetimes.

Photoactive perovskite quantum dot films, deposited via an inkjet printer, have been characterized by x-ray diffraction and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The crystal structure and bonding environment are consistent with CsPbBr3 perovskite quantum dots. The current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage (C-V) transport measurements indicate that the photo-carrier drift lifetime can exceed 1 ms for some printed perovskite films. This far exceeds the dark drift carrier lifetime, which is below 50 ns. The printed films show a photocarrier density 109 greater than the dark carrier density, making these printed films ideal candidates for application in photodetectors. The successful printing of photoactive-perovskite quantum dot films of CsPbBr3, indicates that the rapid prototyping of various perovskite inks and multilayers is realizable.

How Does the Amount and Composition of PM Deposited on Platanus acerifolia Leaves Change Across Different Cities in Europe?

Particulate matter (PM) deposited on Platanus acerifolia tree leaves has been sampled in the urban areas of 28 European cities, over 20 countries, with the aim of testing leaf deposited particles as indicator of atmospheric PM concentration and composition. Leaves have been collected close to streets characterized by heavy traffic and within urban parks. Leaf surface density, dimensions, and elemental composition of leaf deposited particles have been compared with leaf magnetic content, and discussed in connection with air quality data. The PM quantity and size were mainly dependent on the regional background concentration of particles, while the percentage of iron-based particles emerged as a clear marker of traffic-related pollution in most of the sites. This indicates that Platanus acerifolia is highly suitable to be used in atmospheric PM monitoring studies and that morphological and elemental characteristics of leaf deposited particles, joined with the leaf magnetic content, may successfully allow urban PM source apportionment.

Embryonic hematopoietic stem cells and interstitial Cajal cells in the hindgut of late stage human embryos: evidence and hypotheses.

There have been few studies on human embryos describing a specific pattern of hindgut colonization by hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and interstitial Cajal cells (ICCs). We aimed to study CD34, CD45 and CD117/c-kit expression in late stage human embryos, to attain observational data that could be related to studies on the aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM)-derived HSCs, and data on hindgut ICCs. Antibodies were also applied to identify alpha-smooth muscle actin and neurofilaments. Six human embryos of 48-56 days were used. In the 48 day embryo, the hindgut was sporadically populated by c-kit+ ICCs, but, in all other embryos, a layer of myenteric ICCs had been established. Intraneural c-kit+ cells were found in pelvic nerves and vagal trunks, suggesting that the theory of Ramon y Cajal assuming that ICCs may be primitive neurons may not be so invalid. Also in the 48 day embryo, c-kit+/CD45+ perivascular cells were found along the pelvic neurovascular axes, suggesting that not only liver, but also other organs could be seeded with HSCs from the AGM region. CD45+ cells with dendritic morphologies were found in all hindgut layers, including the epithelium. This last evidence is suggestive of an AGM contribution to the tissue resident macrophages and could be related to processes of sprouting angiogenesis which, in turn, have been found to be guided by filopodia of endothelial tip cells. Further studies on human embryonic and fetal material should be performed to attempt to clarify whether the hindgut colonization with HSCs is a transitory or definitive process.

Estrogen and progesterone receptor expression in the mammary gland tumors.

In the primary mammary malignant tumors, including in situ carcinoma, it is recommended the carrying out of immunohistochemical diagnosis for the estrogen (ER) and the progesterone receptors (PR). We have studied the ER and the PR expression in malignant tumors, trying to identify the corresponding phenotypes according to the presence of these tumors. We have carried out a study on a total number of 80 carcinomas, divided into two groups: the first one constituted of 54 cases of carcinomas on which we had clinical data, and another group, constituted of 26 cases of mammary carcinoma, where no clinical data was available. We have observed that the values and the distribution of the ER and PR taken from the biopsies made in the patients with mammary carcinoma are influenced by the age and menopausal status. The combination of the ER/PR results lead to the definition of many tumoral phenotypes.

Bilateral hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy in adult polycystic kidney disease patients: a UK centre experience.

PURPOSE: We report our experience with bilateral hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy in patients with adult polycystic kidney disease. MATERIALS & METHODS: Between November 2009 and November 2010, 3 patients with adult polycystic kidney disease underwent bilateral hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy in our institution. Indications for bilateral nephrectomy included recurrent cyst hemorrhage, impaired gastrointestinal function and early satiety due to direct intestinal compression by large polycystic kidneys, and anatomical lack of space for future renal transplantation. We retrospectively reviewed the records of these patients and we are reporting our experience. RESULTS: All three patients successfully underwent bilateral hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy with a mean operating time of 208 minutes (range 195 to 220). There were no conversions to open procedure. Blood loss was less than 100 ml in all cases. Mean renal unit size was of 2037 g (range 1798 to 2214). Hospital stay ranged from 10 to 12 days. One patient developed a chest infection postoperatively and suffered from a prolonged ileus. Another patient developed a retroperitoneal hematoma, which was treated conservatively. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy is a feasible and safe procedure in adult polycystic kidney disease patients, which has potential benefits of a shorter hospital stay and reduced morbidity and mortality in comparison to open procedure.

Day case laparoscopic nephrectomy: initial experience.

RATIONALE: Laparoscopic nephrectomy tends to become the new gold standard surgical technique in a selected population (non-functioning kidney, localised renal cell carcinoma). Day surgery is a popular pathway of care and, procedures of ever-increasing complexity are being considered. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to report the postoperative complications of day case laparoscopic nephrectomy, according to the Clavien system, and, to assess the feasibility of the procedure performed as a day case. MATERIAL AND RESULTS: This study included all the patients considered for day case transperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy between May 2008 and November 2009. Sixteen consecutive patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. There were ten procedures on the left hand-side and six on the right hand-side. Age ranges from 22 to 77 years old. Male to female ratio was 9:7. The preoperative diagnosis was non-functioning kidney in 9 cases and kidney tumour in the other 7 cases. All but two patients have been discharged in the same day (87.5%). The readmission rate was of 12.5%. One wheel-chair bonded patient was readmitted four days after the procedure, because of adynamic ileus, and another one three days later because of wound infection. There were two grade I and one grade IV complications (Clavien system). The patient readmitted with grade IV complication, wheel-chair bonded because of cerebral palsy, was not a typical day surgery patient. DISCUSSION: The vast majority of complications were minor and resulted in no residual disability. In our small series, the day case laparoscopic nephrectomy was feasible and safe.

[Foreign bodies in the urogenital tract--between iatrogeny and autoerotism]. / Corpi straini la nivelul aparatului uro-genital--între iatrogenie si autoerotism.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to evaluate the cause, diagnosis and management of foreign bodies in the urogenital tract reviewing a 7 years experience. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2000 to 2007, 12 patients were treated in our department because of foreign bodies localized in the urogenital tract. We retrospectively analyzed the data regarding presentation, diagnosis and management. RESULTS: The foreign bodies from the urogenital tract included: mascara, spray cap, wires, candle, swabs, plastic tube, remnants from JJ ureteral stent and nefrostomy tube. Diagnostic investigations varied from case to case and consisted of: KUB (kidney, ureter and bladder), abdominal ultrasound, urography, computer tomography, and also cystoscopy. The management was endoscopic in 4 (33%) cases, but in the great majority of them--8 (67.6%) it was necessary a classical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Foreign bodies localized in the urogenital tract, represents a relative rare pathology and in many situations those cases have legal implications. Investigations must include radiologic investigations in order to identify their exact location and size. In many cases the management can not be endoscopic and it is necessary a classic intervention.