Unlike TE, TLE was associated with fewer postoperative complications than was OE, with no compromise of 2-year RFS. A randomized controlled trial with longer follow-up is needed.

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The conductivities of a protonic conductor, 10 mole percent (m/o) In2Q-doped CaZrO3, were measured in an atmosphere containing hydrogen or deuterium with the 4-wires ac impedance technique at temperatures ranging from 623 to 1673 K. In high oxygen activities, H+/D+-isotope effects were observed below about 1100 K. The ratio of conductivities of protons to deuterons increased as the temperature decreased and rose to about 1.6 at 673 K. It was made clear by this observation that at low temperatures electrical conduction is dominated by proton and at high temperatures by positive hole, respectively. On the other hand, at high hydrogen activities, the isotope effects were observed up to about 1600 K and it was concluded that proton is dominant below this temperature. Over that temperature, the isotope effects vanished and the electrical conductivities were independent of gas potentials. It was concluded that electrical conduction over 1600 K was dominated by oxide ions. As electrical carriers obey the thermally activated process, the activation energies were calculated by the least squares method. The obtained activation energies of protons, deuterons, positive holes, and oxide ion vacancies were 0.74 + 0.05, 0.70 -0.05, 1.21 -+ 0.07, and 2.5 • 0.5 eV, respectively. Based on the model of defects equilibria and these experimental findings, the protonic conduction domain of the specimen was determined and is represented in temperature-potential diagrams.

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A 58-year-old man presented with an intramedullary spinal cord abscess (ISCA) manifesting as posterior neck pain, gait disturbance, and urinary retention, and transverse myelopathy 1 week later. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the ISCA at the C7 to T1 levels. He was treated under a diagnosis of cryptogenic ISCA with high-dose ampicillin and third- or fourth-generation cephalosporins, which resulted in complete recovery after 2 months. Review of the literature between January 1998 and August 2007 identified 26 cases of ISCA, including our patient. We also identified two additional nonsurgically treated ISCA patients reported between 1977 and 2007. The most common presentation was motor deficits in all patients, followed by fever, pain, and bladder dysfunction. The mortality rate was 1 of 26 patients, and neurological sequelae were observed in 15 of the 25 surviving patients. There was no significant difference in the frequency of neurological sequelae between surgically and nonsurgically treated patients. Mean length of the abscess in the surgically treated group was significantly larger than that in the medically treated group (5.8 vs. 2.2 vertebral bodies). All three nonsurgically treated patients with neurological sequelae had anaerobic infections and received antibiotic therapy later and for shorter periods than those with complete neurological recovery. Antibiotic treatment is comparable to surgery plus antibiotic treatment. Early broad-spectrum high-dose ampicillin and third-generation cephalosporin, covering Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and anaerobic organisms, should be the first choice of management for patients with ISCA.

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ObjectivesTo examine the association between overactive bladder (OAB) symptom severity and falls and the contribution of OAB symptoms to falls in a community-dwelling population.DesignCross-sectional study.Setting2 Japanese municipalities.ParticipantsA total of 2505 residents aged over 40 years, who participated in health check-ups conducted in 2010. OAB symptom assessed via overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS) was divided into six categories based on distribution and Japanese clinical guidelines. Mobility problems and depressive symptoms were assessed via the Timed Up and Go test and the short form of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, respectively.Primary outcome measuresSelf-reported any fall and frequent fall (≥2) over the 1-month period. Independent contributions to any fall and frequent falls were assessed via logistic regression to generate population-attributable fractions (PAFs), assuming separate causal relationships between OAB symptoms, mobility problems and depressive symptoms and any or frequent falls.ResultsAmong the total 1350 participants (mean age: 68.3 years) analysed, any fall and frequent falls were reported by 12.7% and 4.4%, respectively. Compared with no OABSS score, moderate-to-severe OAB and mild OAB were associated with any fall (adjusted ORs 2.37 (95% CI 1.12 to 4.98) and 2.51 (95% CI 1.14 to 5.52), respectively). Moderate-to-severe OAB was also strongly associated with frequent falls (adjusted OR 6.90 (95% CI 1.50 to 31.6)). Adjusted PAFs of OAB symptoms were 40.7% (95% CI 0.7% to 64.6%) for any fall and 67.7% (95% CI −23.1% to 91.5%) for frequent falls. Further, these point estimates were similar to or larger than those of mobility problems and depressive symptoms.ConclusionsAn association does indeed exist between OAB symptom severity and falls, and OAB symptoms might be important contributors to falls among community-dwelling adults. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to examine whether or not OAB symptoms predict risk of future falls and fall-related injuries.