Long-term Outcomes of Sacral Nerve Stimulation in Pelvic Floor Dysfunctions

David Hernández-Hernández,Bárbara Padilla-Fernández,Milagros Castro Romera,Stephany Hess Medler,David Castro-Díaz 대한배뇨장애요실금학회 2021 International Neurourology Journal Vol.25 No.4

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the long-term outcomes of sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) in both idiopathic and neurogenic pelvic floor disorders in patients treated at a referral center. Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzed the records of 106 patients tested at our department from December 1999 to January 2017. The efficacy variables evaluated were the Global Response Assessment (range, 0%–100%) and, according to the clinical indication, other specific variables such International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire- Short Form, number of catheterizations or pads/day, and the numerical pain scale. The safety variables analyzed were complications (pain, migration, infection), reinterventions and explants. Patients’ quality of life (QoL) and satisfaction with the procedure were evaluated through telephone interviews. Results: The clinical indications were overactive bladder (OAB) (n=36), urinary retention (UR) (n=37), bladder pain syndrome/ interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) (n=19), fecal incontinence (FI) (n=8), and double incontinence (DI) (n=6). The implant rates according to the clinical indication were as follows: OAB, 55.6%; UR, 56.8%; BPS/IC, 63.15%; FI, 87.5%; and DI, 66.7%. Clinical and/or statistically significant improvements in all efficacy variables were observed. Loss of therapeutic effect at 75 months of follow-up was observed in 34% of patients. Device-related pain appeared in 25 patients (39%); in 20 patients, it was resolved by reprogramming and 5 patients required device removal. An overall improvement in QoL and high levels of satisfaction with the procedure were observed. More than 90% of patients would recommend SNS to a friend or relative. Conclusions: SNS is a minimally invasive procedure that offers a real alternative to patients with refractory pelvic floor dysfunction. Its safety profile is very favorable and it provides a long-lasting improvement in symptoms and QoL.

Imaging Diagnosis of Perianal Leiomyoma: A Case Report

Enrique González-Díaz,Blanca García Cengotitabengoa,Ana Belen Dominguez Carbajo,Camino Fernández Fernández,A. Fernández Corona 대한대장항문학회 2021 Annals of Coloproctolgy Vol.37 No.S

A leiomyoma is a benign mesenchymal neoplasm that usually develops where smooth muscle is present. In this report, we present the case of a 75-year-old woman who sought medical attention due to pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence, and without defecatory symptoms. Both pelvic floor ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination showed a well-defined mass in the ischioanal fossa, eventually diagnosed as a perianal leiomyoma. It is considered a rare entity because of its location involving the anal sphincter and clinical features. We describe the ultrasonographic and MRI findings of this perianal leiomyoma, together with differential diagnoses and immunohistochemical characterization.

Molecular epidemiology of Aleutian mink disease virus causing outbreaks in mink farms from Southwestern Europe: a retrospective study from 2012 to 2019

Alberto Prieto,Ricardo Fernández-Antonio,Gonzalo López-Lorenzo,José Manuel Díaz-Cao,Cynthia López-Novo,Susana Remesar,Rosario Panadero,Pablo Díaz,Patrocinio Morrondo,Pablo Díez-Baños,Gonzalo Fernández 대한수의학회 2020 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.21 No.4

Background: Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) causes major economic losses in fur-bearing animal production. The control of most AMDV outbreaks is complex due to the difficulties of establishing the source of infection based only on the available on-farm epidemiological data. In this sense, phylogenetic analysis of the strains present in a farm may help elucidate the origin of the infection and improve the control and biosecurity measures. Objectives: This study had the following aims: characterize the AMDV strains from most outbreaks produced at Spanish farms between 2012–2019 at the molecular level, and assess the utility of the combined use of molecular and epidemiological data to track the possible routes of infection. Methods: Thirty-seven strains from 17 farms were partially sequenced for the NS1 and VP2 genes and analyzed phylogenetically with other strains described worldwide. Results: Spanish AMDV strains are clustered in four major clades that generally show a good geographical correlation, confirming that most had been established in Spain a long time ago. The combined study of phylogenetic results and epidemiological information of each farm suggests that most of the AMDV outbreaks since 2012 had been produced by within-farm reservoirs, while a few of them may have been due to the introduction of the virus through international trade. Conclusions: The combination of phylogenetic inference, together with epidemiological data, helps assess the possible origin of AMDV infections in mink farms and improving the control and prevention of this disease.

Preparation of a Porous Scaffold Based on Polypropylene Grafted with Monomethylitaconate as Potential Bone Graft

A. Neira-Carrillo,M. S. Fernández,J. L. Arias,S. Navarrete G,M. Paz Díaz,M. Yazdani-Pedram 한국고분자학회 2011 Macromolecular Research Vol.19 No.11

Based on polypropylene (PP) grafted with different percentages of maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA) or monomethylitaconate (PP-g-MMI) a new porous scaffold was prepared with porosities in the range of 50-200 μm. The swelling capacity was analyzed, and morphological, mechanical, and elemental analyses of these scaffolds were carried out. In vitro swelling in the simulated body fluid (SBF), chitosan (CHI) of low (70 kDa) and high (350 kDa)molecular weight, and chitosan-hydroxyapatite solutions were assayed at 37 ℃ from 24 h to 4 weeks. The swelling degree (SD) of these scaffolds was in the range of 25%-125%. The highest SD value was found in the low-molecular weight (LMW) chitosan solution. The PP-g-MMI and PP-g-MA with 0.7% and 1% of grafting, respectively, showed the highest SD values in the CHI solution. The in vitro treatment of the scaffold was performed by immersion in LMW chitosan and/or the double ionic diffusion (DID) method. The pore structure of the scaffolds was unaltered after these treatments, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Mechanical properties, that is, fracture resistance and deformation of the porous scaffolds depended on the percentage of grafting. Scaffolds with a smaller pore size showed higher mechanical properties. Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) measurements of PP-g-MMI with 0.7% of grafting after in vitro treatment revealed the formation of hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals with different morphologies on the porous scaffold. It was concluded that the porous scaffold based on PP-g-MMI could be used as a potential prototype bone graft.

New metal-free nanolubricants based on carbon-dots with outstanding antiwear performance

C. Chimeno-Trinchet,M.E. Pacheco,A. Fernández-González,M.E. Díaz-García,R. Badía-Laíño 한국공업화학회 2020 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.87 No.-

Nanoparticles have already demonstrated a good performance in improving the wear and/or coefficientof friction when used as nanolubricants. Nevertheless, they show two main drawbacks: most of them aremetal-based and, therefore, eco-unfriendly, and they are mostly hydrophilic and, consequently, unstablein organic media, whichfinally drives to aggregation/sedimentation and the loose of the good properties. In this work, we carry out the synthesis of carbon-based nanoparticles for additives in lubricants fromtwo different approaches: either using ionic liquids as carbons source, or using glutathione as carbonsource and decorating the so-obtained carbon dots with the big organic cations of the ionic liquid. Thefinal materials (diameters between 2.2 and 3.5 nm) were characterized by TEM, FTIR, XPS, andluminescent methodologies,finding long-term stability of the suspensions in organic media ( 15 days). Carbon dots obtained directly from the ionic liquids, in particular from methyltrioctylammoniumchloride (MTOACDs) have demonstrated to be the best candidate as additive in different base oils (0.1%,w/v) and lubrication regimes, reducing the coefficient of friction about 30% and wear scar in more than60% in the most extreme of the tested conditions (120 N). Additionally, nanolubricants are metal-free andtherefore, more eco-friendly than classic additives.

Zinc doping effects on the microstructural, electrical and optical properties of nanostructured ZnxBi2-xS3 (0≤x≤0.09) thin films grown by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis

Bouachri M.,Oubakalla M.,El-Habib A.,Guerra Carlos Díaz,Shaili H.,Fernández Paloma,Zimou J.,Nouneh K.,Fahoume M. 한국물리학회 2023 Current Applied Physics Vol.54 No.-

Zinc-doped bismuth sulfide (Bi2-xZnxS3) nanocrystalline thin films were deposited on glass substrates by using an ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) technique and their structural, morphological, electrical and optical properties experimentally addressed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and micro-Raman spectroscopy have confirmed the generation of a single-phase polycrystalline orthorhombic material. The crystallite size and micro-deformation of the films was found to depend on the dopant concentration. The surface appears condensed and dense with a uniform spatial grain distribution, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) studies revealed a certain Bi deficiency in both undoped and Zn-doped films. When the nominal Zn doping concentration increases from x = 0 to x = 0.09, the crystallite size decreases from 30 to 21 nm. The optical band gap of the films increased from 1.62 to 1.65 eV with Zn content increasing up to x = 0.06, then reducing to 1.58 eV for the maximum Zn content. Optical measurements showed a high absorption coefficient (α > 104 cm−1) in the visible and near-infrared ranges. The Urbach energy followed a similar behavior as a function of doping concentration. The electrical conductivity as well as the sheet carrier mobility of the Bi2-xZnxS3 films increase sharply by increasing the Zn content up to x = 0.06. For this doping concentration, mobility reaches 1.37 × 105 cm2/Vs while keeping carrier concentration above 1017 cm−3. Our experimental results provide strong evidence that Zn-doping is a suitable method to increase Bi2S3 light-harvesting efficiency in solar cell devices.

Pursuit of optimal synthetic conditions for obtaining colloidal zero-valent iron nanoparticles by scanning pulsed laser ablation in liquids

Ruth Lahoz,Eva Natividad,Álvaro Mayoral,Christian Rentenberger,Daniel Díaz-Fernández,Eduardo J. Félix,Leonardo Soriano,Wolfgang Kautek,Oscar Bomati-Miguel 한국공업화학회 2020 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.81 No.-

Liquid-Assisted Pulsed Laser Ablation (LA-PLA) is a promising top-down method to directly synthesizecolloidal dispersions of nanoparticles in a eco-friendly manner. However, the role of LA-PLA synthesisparameters is not yet fully agreed. This work seeks to optimize the production of nanoscale zero-valentiron (nZVI) particles suitable for biomedical or environmental applications using nanosecond LA-PLA oniron targets with different ablation media, laser and target scanning parameters. The use of alcohols assolvents produces iron-iron oxide core-shell nanoparticles with amorphous cores, except for a smallcrystalline fraction corresponding to the biggest core sizes. Decreasing carbon chain length andcomplexity leads to a thinning of the carbonaceous material coatings and an increase of the colloidalstability and the nanoparticle productivity. Moreover, a decrease of solvent density and surface tensionallows obtaining reduced sizes and polydispersity values. Among, laser and scanning parameters, thepulse accumulation per spot displayed a clear effect in boosting size and productivity. As main outcome,aqueous dispersions with suitable colloidal properties are obtained, either by transferring to water ofoptimized nZVI particles produced in ethanol, or by direct formation of nZVI particles and in situ coatingwith hydrophilic molecules in aqueous solutions of these molecules.

Crystal structure and second harmonic generation in Bi₂TeO₅: An X-N study from synchrotron and neutron diffraction data

Ló,pez, C.A.,Bâ,ati, E.,Ferná,ndez-Dí,az, M.T.,Saouma, F.O.,Jang, J.I.,Alonso, J.A. Academic Press 2019 Journal of solid state chemistry Vol.276 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Bi<SUB>2</SUB>TeO<SUB>5</SUB> has been obtained in polycrystalline form via solid state reaction and structurally characterized from both synchrotron and neutron powder diffraction data, enabling the precise determination of the atomic positions. The crystal structure is defined in the acentric <I>Amb</I>2 space group, containing three crystallographically unequivalent Bi atoms. The position of the stereochemically active electron lone pairs of both Bi<SUP>3+</SUP> and Te<SUP>4+</SUP> ions is inferred to be opposite to the strongly covalent BiO and TeO chemical bonds; the global electron polarization arises from the non-compensated Bi<SUP>3+</SUP> lone electron pairs. Additionally, from difference Fourier maps between synchrotron and neutron diffraction data (X-N technique) it was possible to observe experimental evidence of the lone electron pair for Bi<SUP>3+</SUP>. Nonlinear optical measurements display highly active second harmonic generation response, comparable to that of reference AgGaSe<SUB>2</SUB>.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> The crystal structure is defined in the non-centrosymmetric <I>Amb</I>2 space group. </LI> <LI> Fourier maps between synchrotron and neutron diffraction data (X-N technique). </LI> <LI> Experimental evidence of Bi<SUP>3+</SUP>lone electron pair from X-N study. </LI> <LI> Nonlinear optical measurements display highly active SHG response. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>