Electro-optics of confined systems.

Confinement in microenvironments occurs in many natural systems and technological applications. However, little is known about the behaviour of the immersed nanoparticles. In this work we show that their diffusion, electro-orientation and electric field induced polarization can be determined through electric birefringence experiments.

Electro-optical Study of the Anomalous Rotational Diffusion in Polymer Solutions.

Brownian diffusion of spherical nanoparticles is usually exploited to ascertain the rheological properties of complex media. However, the behavior of the tracer particles is affected by a number of phenomena linked to the interplay between the dynamics of the particles and polymer coils. For this reason, the characteristic lengths of the dispersed entities, depletion phenomena, and the presence of sticking conditions have been observed to affect the translational diffusion of the probes.

Electro-orientation of Ag nanowires in viscoelastic fluids.

In this work we study the electro-orientation (through electric birefringence experiments) of silver nanowires in polymer solutions eventually capable of forming gel networks. Information on the structure of the polymer solution is obtained by evaluating the electro-orientation of the nanowires. It is found that in presence of poly(ethylene oxide), Kerr's law (birefringence proportional to the square of the field) is fulfilled, and the randomization process after switching off the external field is purely diffusive, controlled by the viscosity of the Newtonian polymer solution.

[Relevance of clinical and serum parameters on severe urinary sepsis after renal obstruction.].

Introduction: Urosepsis is an underdiagnosed entity with high morbidity and mortality and significant associated costs. The delay in diagnosis leads to an increased risk of multiorgan failure and death. Although its prognosis is better than that of other sepsis, the mortality rate is 20 - 40%.

Primary and metastatic renal hemangiopericytoma.

Objective: Haemangiopericytoma is an uncommon perivascular tumor that occurs more frequently in soft tissues and is extremely rare in the kidney.

Methods: We report two cases: The first one is the case of a 57-year-old man with bilateral metastatic renal haemangiopericytoma which appeared 18 years after removal of a meningeal haemangiopericytoma. The second is a 29-year-old woman with a primary kidney haemangiopericytoma that was casually found in a nephrectomy piece.

Urinary incontinence during pregnancy and postpartum. Associated risk factors and influence of pelvic floor exercises.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) before pregnancy, in the third trimester and postpartum. To analyze its influence on quality of life and associated potential risk factors and the efficacy of pelvic floor exercises.

Methods: Prospective study in 413 pregnant women.

Testicular cancer: our experience after 10 years.

Objectives: Testicular cancer represents about 1% of malignant tumors in men. Of these tumors 95% are germ cell tumors (GCTs), which have a maximum incidence between the second and third decades of life. Our objective was to carry out a retrospective analysis of testicular tumor cases that had been diagnosed in our Health Area between the years 2000 and 2010.

Calcified renal artery aneurism embolization in a solitary kidney.

Objective: To review presentation, diagnosis and treatment of renal artery aneurysms, a very uncommon disease.

Methods: We report the case of a male with a calcified renal artery aneurysm in a solitary kidney.

Results: Symptomatic effects may be hypertension, hematuria or flank pain.

[Posterior nutcracker syndrome: retroaortic renal vein associated with arteriovenous fistula and renal cancinoma. Report of a case and review of literature].

Vascular retroperitoneal alterations are little frequent and nevertheless, more diagnosed. We presented a case of association very little frequents in which a vascular congenital malformation is related to the presence of a renal arteriovenous fistula and a left renal carcinoma in a patient who only presented hematuria. These vascular variations must be considered at the moment for planning a surgery with the purpose of making it safer and to avoid complications.

[Squamous cell carcinoma in a duplicated renal pelvis after percutaneous nephrolithotomy].

Objective: To describe the clinical case of a patient presenting a squamous cell carcinoma in a duplicated renal pelvis, after percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Methods/results: 60-year-old male patient who was diagnosed of a squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis in the pathological study of a lower pole nephrectomy after percutaneous nephrolithotomy for staghorn calculi in the left lower pole renal moiety. The patient suffered a bladder recurrence one year and a half later.

[Tumors of the upper urinary tract. Our experience].

Objectives: To study the clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and evolution of upper urinary tract tumours.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective study on the upper urinary tract tumours treated in our centre, HCU Valladolid, between 1994 and 2007.

Results: 65 tumours were diagnosed, although only 59 were valid for the study.

[Solitary skin metastasis from a bladder carcinoma].

Cutaneous metastases from urothelial carcinomas of the bladder are very rare. They are related to advanced stages of the disease and have poor prognosis with low survival rates. We report one case of cutaneous metastasis appearing after urological manipulation in a patient with bladder muscle invasive carcinoma, with other metastatic sites and poor response to treatment.

Primary small cell carcinoma of the ureter.

We report a case of primary small cell carcinoma of the ureter. These tumors are very rare, locally aggressive and with poor prognosis. A 77-year-old man presented with left flank pain and microhematuria.