A qualitative assessment of human cadavers embalmed by Thiel's method used in laparoscopic training for renal resection

Human cadaveric tissue is the fundamental substrate for basic anatomic and surgical skills training. A qualitative assessment of the use of human cadavers preserved by Thiel's method for a British Association of Urological Surgeons-approved, advanced laparoscopic renal resection skills training course is described in the present study. Four trainees and four experienced laparoscopic surgeons participated in the course. All participants completed a five-point Likert scale satisfaction questionnaire after their training sessions. The quality of cadaveric tissue and the training session were assessed with particular emphasis placed on the ease of patient positioning, the ease of trocar placement, the preservation of tissue planes, the ease of renal pedicle dissection, and the quality of tissue preservation. All of the participants highly rated the quality of the cadaveric tissue embalmed by Thiel's method (mean scores for quality on the five-point Likert scale were 4.5 and 4.3 by the trainees and experienced laparoscopic surgeons, respectively). All of the steps of laparoscopic renal resection were rated 4.0 or more on the Likert scale by both trainees and faculty members. The initial response rates for using a human cadaver embalmed by Thiel's method as a training tool for laparoscopic nephrectomy showed encouraging results. The performance of a laparoscopic nephrectomy on a human cadaver embalmed by Thiel's method bears close resemblance to real laparoscopic nephrectomy procedures, and thus demonstrates added advantages to the previously reported models.     

Hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy: Initial case report

Nephroureterectomy with removal of a bladder cuff was performed successfully on a 47-year-old man for transitional cell carcinoma of the right renal pelvis using hand-assisted laparoscopy. The results showed that hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy is an efficacious alternative to open surgery and provides the urologist new to laparoscopy a shorter learning curve compared with standard laparoscopy.     

Seismic behavior of diaphragm-through connections of concrete-filled square steel tubular columns and H-shaped steel beams

Based on the introductions of a type of diaphragm-through connection between concrete-filled square steel tubular columns (CFSSTCs) and H-shaped steel beams,a finite element model of the connection is developed and used to investigate the seismic behavior of the connection.The results of the finite element model are validated by a set of cyclic loading tests.The cyclic loading tests and the finite element analyses indicate that the failure mode of the suggested connections is plastic hinge at the beam with inelastic rotation angle exceeding 0.04 rad.The suggested connections have sufficient strength,plastic deformation and energy dissipation capacity to be used in composite moment frames as beam-to-column rigid connections.     

Down Syndrome with End-Stage Renal Disease

Down syndrome is one of the most common genetic causes of learning disabilities in children. Although the incidence of renal and urological involvement in Down syndrome is not very common, monitoring of patients with Down syndrome for renal diseases should be done regularly as patient’s age into the second and third decades. With increased survival, it appears that a growing number of these patients present with chronic renal failure. Down syndrome patients are apparently not suited for peritoneal dialysis because of lacking cooperation. This procedure can be prone to failure, mainly because of an increased risk of peritonitis. Handling such patients especially those on peritoneal dialysis is challenging. Here we report a case of Down syndrome with end-stage renal disease treated with hemodialysis for 6 months. To the best of our knowledge and current literature review this is the first case report of a patient with Down syndrome undergoing hemodialysis.     

Analysis of protein posttranslational modifications by mass spectrometry: With special reference to haemoglobin

Mass spectrometry provides a convenient platform for the study of different protein post translational modifications from clinical specimen. Analysis of different post translational modifications of hemoglobin like glycation and glutathionylation can provide useful information on the disease progression and the possible outcome of therapies. In the present study, we have addressed post translational modifications of hemoglobin like glutathionylation and glycation in relation to diabetes and chronic renal failure. We found that both alpha and beta chains of human hemoglobin are glycated irrespective of the extent of glycemia as evidenced by a mass increment of 162 Da. The phenomenon of glutathionylation was observed with only the beta globin chain of hemoglobin probably due to the presence of an accessible cysteine residue indicated by a mass increment of 305 Da. Also, the extent of gltuathionylation observed in the CRF patients could correlate with the severity of the oxidative stress owing to renal replacement therapies like dialysis and transplantation.     

Urinary protein thiols in different grades of proteinuria

Total thiol status of plasma, especially thiol groups over protein contributes maximum to the plasma antioxidant status of the body. Serum protein thiols were found to be decreased in various disease conditions including chronic renal failure patients. Only few studies determined the levels of urinary protein thiols in disease conditions. The current study was designed to know the levels of urinary protein thiols in patients with different grades of proteinuria. The study was conducted on urine of 40 healthy controls and 61 cases with proteinuria. Based on proteinuria cases were further divided into two groups; group I - microproteinuria (150–300 mg protein/d), 32 cases, group II - frank proteinuria (>300 mg protein/d), 29 cases. Urinary thiol levels were determined by spectrophotometric method using dithionitrobenzoic acid. A significant decrease (p<0.01) in urinary thiol in group I and group II cases was observed in present study and this decrease was associated with proteinuria.     

带蒂大网膜包肾术对肾小球硬化大鼠残余肾组织的影响

为了探讨带蒂大网膜包肾术对肾小球硬化大鼠残余肾组织的影响,采用单侧肾切除加二次注射阿霉素制备肾小球硬化大鼠模型,称取体质量,检测血尿素氮、肌酐等,随机分为模型组、带蒂大网膜包肾术治疗组、正常对照组。应用光学显微镜(包括HE、PAS染色),电镜以观察肾组织病理学改变。带蒂大网膜包肾术可降低血尿素氮;带蒂大网膜包肾术治疗的大鼠肾组织病理改变有明显改善。结论带蒂大网膜包肾术可减轻肾小球硬化大鼠肾损伤。     

钢管混凝土组合柱实践研究

随着建筑材料科学技术的发展,近年来又出现了一种新的结构形式,即钢——混凝土组合结构。该新型的组合结构,充分发挥了钢材和混凝土各自的性能特点,介绍了钢管混凝土柱的性能特点、研究现状和工程应用,提出了钢管混凝土柱的未来发展方向。     

低温液相制备Se管状结构

研究了低温液相制备Se管状结构,用JSM-5600LV扫描电镜和X-射线衍射仪（Rigaku,D／Max-2400,Cu Kα tradiation,（λ=1.54178A）对产物进行表征,研究结果表明：硒管状结构的形成与三方硒的螺旋生长特性密不可分,实验条件如反应温度、体系的pH值等也影响着硒的生长过程。     

现浇薄壁灌注桩在某基坑支护中的设计与应用

通过基于液压高频振动锤施工成形的大直径现浇薄壁灌注桩技术在某深厚软土基坑支护中的成功应用,分析比较了不同直径灌注桩排桩支护的经济与技术指标,提出了环形截面配筋计算方法和环形截面支撑桩与地下室楼(底)板结合处的构造处理方法,论证该型型在沿海软土地基基坑支护工程中具有广泛的推广价值.