Effects of naftopidil on double-J stent-related discomfort: a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study

AbstractTo evaluate the effect of naftopidil 75 mg once daily for ureteral double-J (DJ) stent-related discomfort after a ureteroscopic procedure using a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. 100 patients with indwelled retrograde DJ ureteral stents after ureteroscopic stone removal or retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) were randomized 1:1 to receive either placebo or naftopidil during the stenting period. At the time of stent removal, the Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire (USSQ), the International Prostate Symptom Score and the total amount of used analgesics were reported. Of the 92 patients who completed the study, 49 patients were enrolled in the placebo group, and 43 patients in the naftopidil group. USSQ urinary symptom scores (30.90 vs. 29.23, p = 0.299) and USSQ body pain scores (22.28 vs. 19.58, respectively, p = 0.286) were lower in the naftopidil group than in the placebo group, but the difference was not significant. Multivariate analysis showed that the use of a ureteral access sheath during RIRS was the only significant predictor of postoperative DJ-related pain (OR = 2.736, p = 0.031). The use of naftopidil once daily did not significantly reduce DJ ureteral stent-related discomfort. Larger-scaled prospective studies should be conducted to evaluate the effects of naftopidil on DJ stent-related symptoms and surgeries.</jats:p

MAGIC NUMBERS AND STABLE STRUCTURES FOR FULLERENES, FULLERIDES AND FULLERENIUM IONS

MACROSCOPIC amounts of the two fullerenes C60 and C70 have been available for a year1, and have already had an enormous impact on research in chemistry and physics. Experimentalists are now turning their attention to the higher fullerenes2,3. Qualitative molecular-orbital theory predicts4-6 stability for Cn with n = 60, 70, (72), 76, 78, 84, . . . , of which all but C72 have now been produced by evaporation of graphite1-3, and in general for infinite series of closed-shell neutral fullerenes for n=60 + 6k (k≠1), 70+30k, 84+36k (all )7-9. Recent experimental observations of endohedral LaCn metallofullerenes10 have been rationalized in terms of 'magic numbers' for fullende anions Cn 2-, for which special stability is predicted11 at n=74, 82, 88, . . . ; but the exact extent of charge transfer in these complexes has yet to be determined. Here we present calculations of magic numbers in the fullerenium sequence Cn 2+ (n = 74, 80, (88), 92) and show that the electron count determines stability and the atom count determines structure in all three (neutral, anionic and cationic) series. Stable cations have two carbons more, and stable anions two carbons less, than the corresponding stable neutral cluster. We predict likely structures of the 'magic' cations