BackgroundThere is no confirmed strategy for treating painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis (PBS/IC) with unclear etiology. Therefore, a pilot study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy and safety of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy in treatment-resistant PBS/IC patients.MethodsHBO treatment (2.0 ATA for 60 minutes/day × 5 days/week for 2 or 4 weeks) was performed on 11 patients with severe symptoms that had not been improved by previous therapy regimens between December 2004 and July 2009.ResultsSeven of the 11 patients demonstrated persistent improvement in symptoms during the 12 months after HBO treatment. These responders demonstrated a decrease in the pelvic pain scale and urgency scale from 7.7 ± 1.0 and, 6.6 ± 0.9 to 3.4 ± 2.5 and 4.3 ± 2.4 after 12 months, respectively (p < 0.05). The total score of the interstitial cystitis symptom index and 24-hour urinary frequency demonstrated a significant sustained decrease from the baseline. Two responders, who received an additional course of HBO 12 and 13 months after initial treatment, respectively, did not suffer impairment for more than two years. There was one case of transient eustachian tube dysfunction and three cases of reversible exudative otitis media as a consequence of HBO treatment.ConclusionsHBO is a potent treatment for PBS/IC patients resistant to conventional therapy. It was well tolerated and provided maintained amelioration of pain, urgency and urinary frequency for at least 12 months.
The low-temperature fabrication of TiO2 electrodes for use in a dye-sensitized solar cell was studied. The use of the sol–gel necking method with a Ti–precursor solution added to a paste including TiO2 nano particles resulted in a high-performance TiO2 electrode. A solar cell using the electrode showed a high efficiency of almost 2%, even when sintered at 200 °C. The improvement in the efficiency was due to the increase in photocurrent of the cell. Increasing the specific surface area of the TiO2 electrode sintered at around 200 °C was corresponded to an increase in the number of micropores. However, it did not contribute to the increase in the amount of adsorbed dye nor did it improve photocurrent. Rather, the crystallization of the added Ti–precursor solution and subsequent increase in conductivity of the TiO2 electrode improved photocurrent. The phase transition temperature of the Ti–precursor solution from amorphous to anatase was detected at 331 °C by differential thermal analysis (DTA) measurement. To fabricate the TiO2 electrode for use in a high-performance solar cell at lower temperatures, the control of crystallization is required.
prepared diazomethane in ether. The reaction mixture was concentrated and chromatographed on silica gel to yield the desired methyl carboxylate.Preparation and Oxidation of (±)-5. A sample of (±)-5 was prepared from (±)-4g (1.14 g) by treatment with m-chloroperbenzoic acid (1.65 g excess) in CHC13 (50 mL) at 0-5 °C over the weekend. The CHC13 solution was washed with NaHC03, dried, and concentrated. The JV-oxide was purified by chromatography on silica gel; NMR (CDC13, 220 MHz) b 1.59 (d, 3 ), 2.14 (s, 3 H), 6.39 (q, 1 ), 7.14-7.43 (m, 3 ), 8.18 (d, 1 H); mass spectrum 1980, 21, 3335.
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