The hydrogels consist of ABA triblock copolymer, in which the thermosensitive A-blocks are methacrylated poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide lactate)s and the B-block is poly(ethylene glycol) with molecular weight of 10 kDa. These hydrogels are prepared by using a combination of physical and chemical cross-linking methods. When a solution of a thermosensitive methacrylated p(HPMAm-lac)-PEG-p(HPMAm-lac) is heated above its cloud point a viscoelastic material is obtained,

which can be stabilized by introducing covalent cross-links by photopolymerization. By varying the polymer concentration, hydrogels with different mechanical CX-6258 chemical structure properties are formed, of which the cross-linking density, mesh size, swelling and degradation behavior can be tuned. It was demonstrated that the release rate of

three model proteins (lysozyme, BSA and IgG, with hydrodynamic diameters ranging from 4.1 to 10.7 nm) depended on the protein size and hydrogel molecular weight between cross-links and was governed by the Fickian diffusion. Importantly, the encapsulated proteins were quantitatively released and the secondary structure and the enzymatic activity of lysozyme were fully preserved demonstrating the protein friendly nature of the studied delivery system. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Background: The dermal bra technique was reported by the authors in 2003 for reduction mammaplasty and ptosis correction. The authors have summarized and modified continuously and here SCH727965 mw share their experience and analyze the long-term safety and efficacy of this technique.\n\nMethods: Three hundred forty-seven patients underwent the dermal bra technique in the authors’ department from October of 2003 to October of 2011,

and 213 of them were followed successfully for 3 months to 2 years. Patients before and after October of 2006 were divided into early and late groups. The incidence of complications, the long-term satisfaction rate, and modifications that have been developed were noted and analyzed.\n\nResults: Short-term complications occurred in 55 breasts (7.9 percent), including hematoma (seroma), delayed wound healing, fat necrosis, deep folds, necrosis, and numbness of the nipple-areola complex. Long-term complications EPZ004777 datasheet were found in 28 breasts (6.6 percent), including widened scar and enlarged areola, irregular areola, secondary ptosis, sunken nipple-areola complex, numbness of the nipple-areola complex, cyst, and chronic infection. Except for one case of nipple-areola complex numbness, all complications were corrected successfully. The long-term satisfaction rate was 95.7 percent. With three major modifications (W-or V-shaped gland resection, medial rotation of gland flap, and modified purse-string suture), the short-term and long-term complication rates (p < 0.01) and satisfaction rate (p < 0.

The CAT is also involved in all scientific advice on ATMPs and in two new regulatory procedures for ATMPs, the classification Selleck LY2606368 and the certification procedures. The CAT will also play a key role in early

contacts with developers of ATMPs.”
“Using high-speed video recordings, we carried out an analysis of the locomotion gaits of the following aquatic Heteroptera: coral treaders Hermatobates weddi (Hermatobatidae), sea striders Halovelia septentrionalis (Veliidae), and water striders Metrocoris histrio (Gerridae), in the Island of Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. Most insects use an alternating double tripod gait for walking, whereas species of Gerridae and some Veliidae use a synchronous rowing gait. We found that H. weddi used a peculiar locomotion gait, a modification of the double tripod gait. In this special gait, two alternating dipods (mid and hind legs) are used, while the forelegs remained inactive.

Contralateral mid and hind stroked simultaneously. The mid leg recovered immediately after the stroke; however, the hind leg was delayed and remained extended after the stroke. Next, the following bipod stroked, and when that mid leg finished the stroke, both ipsilateral mid and hind (the one which did not recover after the stroke) legs recovered together. Turning is also unique in H. weddi because the body axis rotation and the course turning (deflection) were clearly separated in two phases. We compared the kinematics of check details H. weddi Selleck OSI906 pattern with the synchronous rowing pattern found in H. septentrionalis and M. histrio and discussed some biomechanical consequences. We also analyzed phylogenetic implications of this gait, and we posit that the modified double dipod gait is a uniquely derived character of the family Hermatobatidae. The synchronous rowing gait would be an autapomorphy for the clade Gerridae + Veliidae.

The modified thorax, with the meso and metacoxae horizontally directed, would be a synapomorphy for the superfamily Gerroidea (Hermatobatidae, Gerridae, and Veliidae).”
“Chromosomal syndromes contribute significantly to reproductive failure, birth defects, mental retardation, delayed puberty, and hermaphrodites in humans. It has been estimated that at least 5% of all human conceptions are aneuploids, most of them resulting in pregnancy loss. The well-established factor to produce babies with chromosomal syndromes is advanced age of mothers. However, in India, more of young mothers give birth to babies with chromosomal syndromes. The present study has been attempted to investigate the possible causes. A total of 175 children with chromosomal aneuploidy and 300 controls were screened for cytogenetic investigation from major hospitals of Mysore city. Genetic register was established, pedigree was constructed and degree of consanguinity was studied for the cases where parental consanguinity was evident. Cytogenetic and statistical analysis were carried out using logistic regression.

“
“Background: Among adult women an association between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and obesity has been observed. Research with lesbian women has

consistently identified high rates of obesity as well as frequent reports of CSA, but associations between sexual abuse and obesity have not been fully explored. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between sexual abuse (SA) history and obesity among heterosexual (n = 392) and lesbian (n = 475) women (age 35-64) who participated in the Epidemiologic STudy of HEalth Risk in Women (ESTHER) Project in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.\n\nMethods: Obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) >= 30. Covariates included self-reported SA, sexual orientation, demographic factors, and history of a depression this website or anxiety diagnosis. SA history was assessed by three factors: (1) SA experienced under

the age of 18 by a family member or (2) by a nonfamily member and (3) forced, unwanted sexual experience(s) at age >= 18. Data selleck were analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression models.\n\nResults: Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that obesity was associated with African American race, lesbian sexual orientation, intrafamilial CSA, and history of mental health diagnosis. Protective factors were having a household income of at least $75,000 and having a bachelor’s degree or higher.\n\nConclusions: Results suggest that lesbian women may be at greater risk of obesity than heterosexual women and that intrafamilial CSA-regardless of sexual

orientation-may play a role in the development of obesity.”
“The specific component responsible and the mechanistic pathway for increased human morbidity and mortality after cigarette smoking are yet to be delineated. We propose that 1) injury and disease following cigarette smoking are associated with exposure to and retention of particles produced Selleck Alvocidib during smoking and 2) the biological effects of particles associated with cigarette smoking share a single mechanism of injury with all particles. Smoking one cigarette exposes the human respiratory tract to between 15,000 and 40,000 mu g particulate matter; this is a carbonaceous product of an incomplete combustion. There are numerous human exposures to other particles, and these vary widely in composition, absolute magnitude, and size of the particle. Individuals exposed to all these particles share a common clinical presentation with a loss of pulmonary function, increased bronchial hyperresponsiveness, pathologic changes of emphysema and fibrosis, and comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, and cancers. Mechanistically, all particle exposures produce an oxidative stress, which is associated with a series of reactions, including an activation of kinase cascades and transcription factors, release of inflammatory mediators, and apoptosis.

Recent findingsContinued work using animal models have confirmed the neuroprotective properties of ESAs, including promotion of oligodendrocyte development in the face of neuronal injury. Clinical studies in term and preterm infants have reported the neuroprotective effects following ESA administration, and improved neurodevelopmental outcomes have been reported in the studies of preterm infants.SummaryESAs show great promise in preventing

and treating brain injury in term and preterm infants.”
“Purpose. To compare the central corneal thickness (CCT), axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and lens thickness (LT) measured with Lenstar with those obtained with ultrasound pachymetry and A-scan contact ultrasound (ASU) in children.\n\nMethods. phosphatase inhibitor library ODs of 565 school children were included. All measurements were obtained 30 min after instilling 1% tropicamide. For each instrument, three consecutive measurements per each child were performed. Initially, examiner

1 performed measurements with Lenstar to obtain CCT, AL, ACD, and LT. Later, examiner 2 performed measurements with corneal pachymetry to obtain CCT. Finally, ASU was used by examiner 2 to obtain AL, ACD, and LT. Four parameters obtained with Lenstar were compared with those obtained with pachymetry and ASU using Pearson correlation coefficients (r) and Bland-Altman SC79 analyses.\n\nResult. Lenstar measurements were R406 chemical structure obtained in 557 of 565 subjects(mean age; 10.48 +/-

2.11 years, mean spherical equivalent of the ODs; +0.47 +/- 1.18 diopters) whereas ASU and pachymetry could be performed in 530 of 565. Four hundred seventy-nine subjects were statistically assessed after 41 subjects were extracted as outliers from 530 subjects in whom all instruments could be performed. Mean difference between pachymetry and Lenstar was 13.20 +/- 13.13 mu m [95% confidence interval (CI): 12.01 to 14.37]. Mean difference between ASU and Lenstar was -0.72 +/- 0.35 mm (95% CI: -0.75 to -0.69) for AL, -0.27 +/- 0.32 mm (95% CI: -0.30 to -0.24) for ACD, and 0.24 +/- 0.28 mm (95% CI: 0.22 to 0.27) for LT. R values were 0.912 (p < 0.001), 0.904 (p < 0.001), 0.487 (p < 0.001), 0.369 (p < 0.001) for CCT, AL, ACD, and LT respectively.\n\nConclusions. AL and ACD were found to be greater with Lenstar, whereas CCT and LT measures were smaller. It is concluded that there was agreement between instruments for CCT and ACD, because the small differences between measures were clinically insignificant. AL and LT values cannot be used interchangeably. If these differences are considered, Lenstar can replace ASU and pachymetry for the majority of children. (Optom Vis Sci 2011;88:912-919)”
“Bemisia tabaci, biotype B, commonly known as the silverleaf whitefly (SLW) is an alien species that invaded Australia in the mid-90s.

Based on the average 300 mg kg(-1) (dry mass) Zn concentration which is 0.03% of the shoot dry mass the variety is suggested to be classified

as Zn accumulator. (C) 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.”
“To assess the impact of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) infection during pregnancy on maternal and fetal outcomes, we present the clinical and laboratory findings and outcomes of 5 pregnant women with CCHF infection as well as fetal outcomes. We also reviewed previously reported cases with CCHF infection in pregnant women. All pregnant women with CCHF infection BAY 57-1293 inhibitor who had been hospitalized between August 2007 and September 2011 were included. The gestational ages at the time of CCHF infection were 8, 18, 20, 21 and 32 weeks. CCHF infection was acquired during the 1st

trimester in only 1 Selleckchem AZD6094 case and resulted in spontaneous abortion. The other 4 pregnant women completely recovered, all reached a healthy full-term gestation and 4 term babies were born. All infants had normal birth weight and were found to be healthy on their first examination and follow-up. In the literature concerning CCHF infection in pregnancy, 8 published articles including case reports or case series and 1 poster presentation including 1 case could be accessed. In conclusion, there is a risk of vertical transmission of CCHF infection, and infections acquired early in gestation had a poor prognosis for the fetus. (C) 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one of the most prevalent mental disorders in the elderly, but its functional neuroanatomy is not well understood. GS-9973 supplier Given the role of emotion dysregulation in GAD, we sought to describe the neural bases of emotion regulation in late-life GAD by analyzing the functional connectivity (FC) in the Salience Network and the Executive Control Network during worry induction and

worry reappraisal. Methods: The study included 28 elderly GAD and 31 non-anxious comparison participants. Twelve elderly GAD completed a 12-week pharmacotherapy trial. We used an in-scanner worry script that alternates blocks of worry induction and reappraisal. We assessed network FC, using the following seeds: anterior insula (AI), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST), and the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Results: GAD participants exhibited greater FC during worry induction between the left AI and the right orbitofrontal cortex, and between the BNST and the subgenual cingulate. During worry reappraisal, the non-anxious participants had greater FC between the left dlPFC and the medial PFC, as well as between the left AI and the medial PFC, and elderly GAD patients had greater FC between the PVN and the amygdala. Following 12 weeks of pharmacotherapy, GAD participants had greater connectivity between the dlPFC and several prefrontal regions during worry reappraisal.

Regular follow up until all symptoms BMS-777607 have resolved is mandatory, with clear guidelines for stepwise resumption of physical activity.”
“Metamorphopsia is a visual illusion related to the perception of an object’s shape, size, colour or angle. Reversal of vision metamorphopsia is a rare, transient form of metamorphopsia

described as an inversion of the field of vision, usually a 180-degree reversion within the frontal plane. We describe the case of a 64-year-old male patient who first experienced a 90-degree rotation of the field of vision and then had the impression of his body rotating in space. The symptoms were preceded by disequilibrium, astigmatism and vomiting. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head showed focuses of vasogenic lesions in the pons and left cerebellar hemisphere. Magnetic resonance angiography of cerebral vessels did not reveal the left vertebral artery This is

the first described case of reversal of vision metamorphopsia with 90-degree rotation of the field of vision with accompanying disorder Nepicastat ic50 of the spatial position of the body.”
“Background: Recently, a direct correlation with telomere length, proliferative potential and telomerase activity has been found in the process of aging in peripheral blood cells. The objective of the study was to evaluate telomere length and proliferative potential in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) after stimulation with Concanavalin A (ConA) of young adults compared with older adults.\n\nMethods: Blood samples were obtained from 20 healthy young males (20-25 years old) (group Y) and 20 males (60-65 years old) (group O). We compared PBMC proliferation before and after stimulation with ConA. DNA was isolated

from cells separated before and after culture with ConA for telomeric measurement by real-time polymerase chain reaction.\n\nResults: In vitro stimulation of PBMCs from young subjects induced an increase of telomere length as well as CA4P a higher replicative capacity of cell proliferation. Samples from older adults showed higher loss of telomeric DNA (p = 0.03) and higher levels of senescent (<= 6.2 kb) telomeric DNA (p = 0.02) and displayed a marked decrease of proliferation capacity. Viability cell counts and CFSE tracking in 72-h-old cell cultures indicated that group O PBMCs (CD8+ and CD4+ T cells) underwent fewer mitotic cycles and had shorter telomeres than group Y (p = 0.04).\n\nConclusions: Our findings confirm that telomere length in older-age adults is shorter than in younger subjects. After stimulation with ConA, cells are not restored to the previous telomere length and undergo replicative senescence. This is in sharp contrast to the response observed in young adults after ConA stimulation where cells increase in telomere length and replicative capacity. The mechanisms involved in this phenomenon are not yet clear and merit further investigation.

Expression levels of rpS6 were quantified. A significant dose-related increase in rpS6P expression in PRL, IL, BLA, NAcC but not in the NAcS and hippocampus was found after acute KET. These data confirm acute KET-induced neuroplasticity effects, and extend these findings to drug addiction-related brain areas. NeuroReport 24:388-393 (C) 2013 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

NeuroReport 2013, 24:388-393″
“Androgens click here are key mediators of prostate development and function, a role that extends to the development of prostate diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. In prostate, DHT is the major androgen and reduction and glucuronidation are the major metabolic pathways for DHT elimination. A streamlined method for quantitation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 5 alpha-androstan-3 alpha,17 beta-diol (3 alpha-diol), and 3 alpha-diol glucuronide (diol-gluc) was established and validated for use with archived prostate tissue specimens to facilitate examination URMC-099 ic50 of the roles of the underlying

metabolism. This involved a sequential 70/30 hexane/ethyl acetate (hex/EtOAc) extraction of steroids, followed by an ethyl acetate extraction for diol-gluc. Derivatization of the hex/EtOAc fraction with2-fluoro-1-methylpyridinium p-toluene-4-sulfonate (FMP) was used to enhance sensitivity for hydroxyl steroids and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was utilized for analysis of both fractions. The method was validated with calibration standards followed by recovery assessment from spiked samples of BPH and normal prostate. Lower limits of quantitation (LLOQ) were 50 pg/g, AZD2014 20 pg/g and 100 pg/g for DHT, 3 alpha-diol and diol-gluc, respectively for extracts from 50 mg equivalents of tissue. Prepared samples were stable for up to three weeks at 4 degrees C and 37 degrees C. The method provides excellent sensitivity and selectivity for determination of tissue levels of DHT, 3 alpha-diol, and diol-gluc. Furthermore,

this protocol can easily be extended to other hydroxyl steroids, is relatively straightforward to perform and is an effective tool for assessing steroid levels in archived clinical prostate samples. Crown Copyright (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Background: Cervical cancer is the third commonest type of cancer among women in Malaysia. Our aim was to determine the distribution of human papilloma virus (HPV) genotypes in cervical cancer in our multi-ethnic population. Materials and Methods: This was a multicentre study with a total of 280 cases of cervical cancer from 4 referral centres in Malaysia, studied using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) detection of 12 high risk-HPV genotypes.

We demonstrate that with dynamic force balance achieved by pulse shaping, the peak of the far-field load synchronizes with the specimen fracture time. Furthermore, the evolution of dynamic stress

intensity factor (SIF) obtained from the dynamic finite element analysis agrees with that from Hydroxylase inhibitor quasi-static analysis. These results prove that with dynamic force balance in SHPB, the inertial effect is minimized even for samples with complex geometries like notched SCB disc. The dynamic force balance thus enables the regression of dynamic fracture toughness using quasi-static analysis. This dynamic SCB method provides an easy and cost-effective way to measure dynamic fracture toughness of rocks and other brittle materials.”
“The present study investigated how Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects temporal coordination among the trunk, arm, and fingers during trunk-assisted reach-to-grasp movements. Seated participants with PD and healthy controls made prehensile movements. During the reach to the object, the involvement of the trunk was altered based on the instruction; the trunk was not involved, moved forward (flexion), or moved backward (extension) in the sagittal plane. Each of the trunk movements was combined with an

extension or flexion motion of the arm during the reach. For the transport component, the individuals with PD substantially delayed selleck compound the onset of trunk motion relative selleck screening library to that of arm motion in conditions where the trunk was moved in the direction opposite from the arm reaching toward the object. At the same time, variability of intervals between the onsets and intervals between the velocity

peaks of the trunk and wrist movements was increased. The magnitudes of the variability measures were significantly correlated with the severity of PD. Regarding the grasp component, the individuals with PD delayed the onset of finger movements during reaching. These results imply that PD impairs temporal coordination between the axial and distal body segments during goal-directed skilled actions. When there is a directional discrepancy between the trunk and wrist motions, individuals with PD appear to prioritize wrist motion that is tied to the task goal over the trunk motion. An increase in disease severity magnifies the coordination deficits.”
“Chronic inflammation is a molecular element of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) are considered to be an important proinflammatory factor. However, it is still incompletely understood how SFAs induce proinflammatory cytokine expression. Hereby we report that activating transcription factor (ATF) 4, a transcription factor that is induced downstream of metabolic stresses including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, plays critical roles in SFA-induced interleukin-6 (Il6) expression. DNA microarray analysis using primary macrophages revealed that the ATF4 pathway is activated by SFAs.

“
“In cementless total hip arthroplasty, osteoporosis find more may jeopardize the achievement of immediate stability and lead to migration of anatomically shaped femoral stems. Poor quality of proximal cancellous bone per se may also affect the rate of osseointegration. In a selected group of female total hip arthroplasty patients (mean age 64 years) with unremarkable medical history, intertrochanteric cancellous bone biopsy was taken from the site of

stem implantation. Local bone quality, determined by structural mu CT imaging and destructive compression testing of the biopsy tissue, was used as the predictor of three-dimensional stem migration determined by radiostereometric analysis (RSA) up to 24 months. The patients exhibited major differences in mechanical properties of the intertrochanteric cancellous bone, which were closely related Ruboxistaurin clinical trial to the structural parameters calculated from mu CT data. Unexpectedly, the major differences observed in the quality of trochanteric cancellous bone had

only minor reflections in the RSA migration of the femoral stems. In statistical analysis, the mu CT-based bone mineral density quartile (low, middle, high) was the only significant predictor for stem translation at 24 months (p = 0.022) but only a small portion (R(2)=0.16) of the difference in translation could be explained by changes in bone mineral density quartile. None of the other parameters investigated predicted stem migration in translation or rotation. In conclusion, poor quality of

intertrochanteric cancellous bone seems to contribute to the risk of implant migration less than expected. Probably also the importance of surgical preservation of intertrochanteric cancellous bone has been over-emphasized for osseointegration of cementless stem. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Bingeing on sugar may activate neural pathways in a manner similar to taking drugs of abuse, resulting in related signs of dependence. The present experiments test whether rats that have been bingeing on sucrose and then fasted demonstrate signs of opiate-like withdrawal. Rats were maintained on 12-h deprivation followed by 12-h access to a 10% sucrose solution and chow for 28 days, then fasted for 36 h. These animals spent less P005091 datasheet time on the exposed arm of an elevated plus-maze compared with a similarly deprived ad libitum chow group, suggesting anxiety. Microdialysis revealed a concomitant increase in extracellular acetylcholine and decrease in dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens shell. These results did not appear to be due to hypoglycemia. The findings suggest that a diet of bingeing on sucrose and chow followed by fasting creates a state that involves anxiety and altered accumbens dopamine and acetylcholine balance. This is similar to the effects of naloxone, suggesting opiate-like withdrawal. This may be a factor in some eating disorders. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

) with anti-inflammatory, immune reaction inhibiting, antiviral, and hepatocyte and antihepatic fibrosis protective activities. However, the effect of oxymatrine on heart failure is not yet known. In this study, the effect of oxymatrine on heart failure was investigated using a Sprague-Dawley rat model of chronic heart failure. Morphological findings showed that in the group treated with 50 and 100 mg/kg of oxymatrine; intermyofibrillar lysis disappeared, myofilaments were orderly, closely and evenly arranged; and mitochondria contained tightly packed cristae compared with the heart failure group. We investigated the cytosolic Ca2+ transients

and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ content, and assessed the expression of ryanodine receptor (RyR2), SR-Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA2a), and L-type Ca2+ channel (dihydropyridine

SB202190 chemical structure check details receptor, DHPR). We found that the cytosolic Ca2+ transients were markedly increased in amplitude in the medium- (Delta F/F (0) = 26.22 +/- A 2.01) and high-dose groups (Delta F/F (0) = 29.49 +/- A 1.17) compared to the heart failure group (Delta F/F (0) = 12.12 +/- A 1.35, P < 0.01), with changes paralleled by a significant increase in the SR Ca2+ content (medium-dose group: Delta F/F (0) = 32.20 +/- A 1.67, high-dose group: Delta F/F (0) = 32.57 +/- A 1.29, HF: Delta F/F (0) = 17.26 +/- A 1.05, P < 0.01). Moreover, we demonstrated that the expression of SERCA2a and Omipalisib in vitro cardiac DHPR was significantly increased in the medium- and

high-dose group compared with the heart failure rats. These findings suggest that oxymatrine could improve heart failure by improving the cardiac function and that this amelioration is associated with upregulation of SERCA2a and DHPR.”
“Purpose of review\n\nAs familiarity with laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) has grown, application has expanded into increasingly complex cases. In this review, we present a recent series describing use of LPN in specific clinical scenarios and describe common technical modifications commonly employed in each case. In addition, we discuss modifications to standardly performed maneuvers.\n\nRecent findings\n\nPartial nephrectomy was originally reserved for absolute indications and small peripheral masses. However, well tolerated utilization of LPN in larger and more complex tumors including those in hilar or central locations, in kidneys with multiple masses, and in patients with previous renal surgery have been described. Additionally, patients with comorbidities such as obesity, and anatomic variations including multiple renal vessels and solitary kidneys have also undergone LPN with success. Furthermore, modifications to standard techniques have helped improve perioperative characteristics, such as warm ischemia time, to levels comparable to open surgery. Although many of the LPN series are small, they represent the most recent novel applications of the technique.