From Stone to Dust: The Life of the Kufic-Inscribed Frieze of Wuqro Cherqos in Tigray, Ethiopia

Until 2010 (when it was broken by a tourist), a curious Kufic-inscribed sandstone block greeted those who entered the narthex of the eleventh-century church of Wuqro Cherqos in East Tigray, Ethiopia. My paper identifies the origin of this misunderstood fragment and presents it in the longue durée, from its architectural placement as part of an inscribed arch in the great mosque of a Fatimid trading colony to its medieval spoliation and use as a chancel arch in the church of Wuqro Cherqos, after northern Ethiopia emerged as a centralized power under the Zagwe dynasty. As the chancel in Wuqro Cherqos, the stone took on new meaning as a luxurious liturgical threshold, complementing the Egyptian and Indian silks that hung alongside it. After the arch came apart in the late 1990s, I show how modern Ethiopian scholars promoted the remaining Arabic-inscribed fragment as an ancient Ethiopian inscription. The life story of this stone fragment reveals a larger picture of Islam’s changing reception in Ethiopia from the Middle Ages to the twenty-first century.

Do organic substances act as a degradable binding matrix in calcium oxalate kidney stones?

Background Calcium oxalate (CaOx) stones are considered to be highly resistant to chemolysis. While significant organic matter has been identified within these stones, which is presumed to bind (inorganic) CaOx particles and aggregates, most chemolysis efforts have focused on methods to attack the CaOx components of a stone. We examine the feasibility of inducing chemolysis of CaOx kidney stones, within hours, by specifically attacking the organic matrix present in these stones. Methods In contrast to previous studies, we focused on the possible “brick and mortar” stone configuration. We systematically tested, via in vitro experiments, the ability of an extensive range of 26 potential chemolysis agents to induce relatively fast disintegration (and/or dissolution) of a large set of natural CaOx stone fragments, extracted during endourological procedures, without regard to immediate clinical application. Each stone fragment was monitored for reduction in weight and other changes over 72 h. Results We find that agents known to attack organic material have little, if any, effect on stone chemolysis. Similarly, protein and enzymatic agents, and oral additive medical treatments, have little immediate effect. Conclusions These findings suggest that the organic and inorganic constituents present in CaOx stones are not structured as “brick and mortar” configurations in terms of inorganic and organic components.

Vinyl-Asbestos Floor Risk Exposure in Three Different Simulations

Vinyl floors are widely used in public areas for their low cost and easy cleaning. From 1960 to 1980, asbestos was often added to improve vinyl floor performances. The Italian Ministerial Decree (M.D.) 06/09/94 indicates asbestos vinyl tiles as non-friable materials and, therefore, few dangerous to human health. This work aims to check through three different experimental tests if asbestos floor tiles, after decades of use, maintain their characteristics of compactness and non-friability. The effect of a small stone fragment stuck in the sole of rubber shoes was reproduced by striking the vinyl floor with a crampon. A vinyl tile was broken into smaller pieces with the aid of pliers to simulate what normally happens when workers replace the floors or sample it to verify the presence of asbestos. The third test reproduced the abrasion of the tile surface due to the dragging of furniture or heavy materials or sand grains that remain attached to the soles of shoes. The tests were carried out in safe conditions, working under an extractor hood with a glove box. Airborne sampling in the hood obtained the concentration of asbestos fibers produced in each test. The simulation tests performed confirms the possible release of fibers if the vinyl tiles are cut, abraded or perforated, as indicated by the Italian M.D.

Forgotten Double J Ureteral Stent for 10 years: A Case Report with Review of Literature

Background: Ureteral stents are a crucial part of urologic surgeries. Complications of Double J stenting (DJS) include migration, fragmentation, and encrustation. In addition, forgotten stents with encrustations and stone formations are difficult to remove. Case Presentation: We report the case of a stent “forgotten” for 10 years, which migrated downward into the proximal ureter, concomitant with multiple ureteral stones and bladder calculus. Whole encrustation of the stent was observed. The “forgotten” stent was positioned 10 years ago during right ureteral stone treatment in the Philippines. In the end, the patient underwent laser cystolithotripsy, stone elimination, ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy and stent removal. The final X-ray post-intervention revealed the absence of any stone fragment or residual DJS fragment. Conclusion: We report the longest period of forgotten DJS with maximum stone burden in the urinary system. To avoid this situation, patients should be educated regarding complications if the stent is not removed within a short period. Moreover, a computerized registry of stent placement can be used to alert the urologist when the stent ought to be removed.

The Romano-British ‘Aedicule’ from Sheepwash Grange, Canwick, Lincolnshire

ABSTRACTA stone fragment from recent excavations at Sheepwash Grange near Lincoln is illustrated and discussed. Initially thought to be an early medieval, Christian grave-marker, because of its excavated context, its original form is reconstructed as a carved stone aedicule of Roman date and interpreted as a lararium. The building depicted is timber framed. Analogies from Britain prove at best partial, but contemporary objects of similar form in the Rhineland and Saarland regions provide close parallels and invite discussion of the connection this evidences. While the excavations included a villa complex likely to be the aedicule's immediate context, the location is an ancient river crossing distinctively marked by repeated activity from earliest prehistory.

Outcome of Upper Ureteric Stone Management by Semirigid Ureterorenoscope and Intracorporeal Pneumatic Lithotripsy

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of upper ureteric stone management using semirigid URS + ICPL. Materials and Methods: Patients undergoing URS + ICPL in patient department were included in the study. Total 38 patient were included in the study from March 2009 to June 2010 in National Institute of Kidney diseases & Urology, Dhaka. Stone size was 8 mm to 1.5 cm, patients were with good renal function, well excreation on both side, without any distal obstruction, infection or multiple ureteric calculi. The procedure was done under SAB.Cystoscopy was done for identification of ureteric orifice and guide wire was passed within ureteric orifice under visual monitoring.46 cm 10 Fr Storz Uretroscope was advanced next to the guide wire.At time a tortuous portion of the ureter was encountered a second guide wire was helpful. As soon as the stone was seen the pneymatic probe was pushed toward the stone.After fixing to the stone, pneumatic source was on and stone fragmentation was started. Care was taken to avoid injury of the ureter and keeping eye one stone fragment migration within the ureter was achieved. Placement of D-J stent was done at the conclusion of the procedure in most of the cases Result: The patients were followed upto 3 months post-operatively. Within immediate complications fever occured in 10 (26.3%) patients, severe haematurea occured in 8 (21.3%) patients, ureteral injury in 8 (21.3%) & ureteric perforation in 2 (4.8%) patients underwent URS+ ICPL. Stone clearance rate after 01 month of intervention was 30 (78.9%). Almost half of the patients developed UTI after 01 month of intervention. Pyelonephritis occured in 2 ( 4.8%) patient in this group. After 03 months of intervention 84.2% patients exibited complete clearance of stone. Only 02 (4.8%) patients developed ureteric stricture. Conclusion: For management of selective sized upper ureteric stone ureterorenoscopy with semirigid one using pneumatic source of energy is a good option for it’s high stone clearance & resonably low complications. Bangladesh Journal of Urology, Vol. 16, No. 2, July 2013 p.47-50

Intermittent gross hematuria after lithotripsy: ureteral stent or residual stone?

PurposeTo explore the role of stone fragment and ureteric stent in process of intermittent gross hematuria (IGH), discuss the definition of ureteral stent related symptoms (USS) in a setting of lithotripsy and clinical outcomes of IGH.MethodsBetween January 2018 and July 2019, patients with completed one month follow up after lithotripsy were collected. Based on whether occurrence of IGH, demographics, stent information and clinical outcomes were mainly analyzed.ResultsA total of 258 consecutive patients were eventually analyzed, among which 97 patients (37.6%) suffered from IGH. Compared to patients without symptom of IGH, preoperative potassium level (3.89±0.43mmol/L vs. 4.02±0.42mmol/L, p=0.01), initial stone free rate (SFR, 50.52% vs. 68.32%, p=0.007) and potassium citrate application (11.34% vs. 4.55%, p=0.04) were found statistically different in univariate analysis. In multivariate logistic analysis, preoperative potassium level (OR: 0.39, CI: 0.19-0.76, p=0.007), potassium citrate (OR: 2.96, CI: 1.07-8.73, p=0.04), initial SFR (OR: 0.42, CI: 0.24-0.74, p<0.001), and hospital stay (OR: 0.94, CI: 0.89-0.99, p=0.045) were independent risk factors, rather than stent size and stent position. Hemoglobin change, stone area reduction and SFR in one-month follow-up were similar between groups, but more outpatient consultations were found in hematuria group (20 vs. 3, p<0.001), among which 2 patients were readmitted for severe ongoing hematuria.ConclusionsStone fragment, rather the size or length of ureteral stent, is the independent risk factors of IGH. Definition of USS is not suitable for IGH after lithotripsy, and a comprehensive inform and enough rest would reduce the unnecessary medical consultations.

«Di pietra un Villanel, che da lontano par vivo»: il Villano con la falce di Valerio Cioli nel giardino mediceo di Pratolino

In the second half of the 16th century, in the garden of the Medicean villa of Pratolino the sculptor Valerio Cioli created, among other groups, the Villano con la falce, which represented a peasant in the act of sawing the reeds in a marshy lake where there was a salamander that spurted water from its mouth. The salamander is now lost while the Villano has been identified so far by critics with the statue of the so-called Mietitore attributed to Cioli and now in the Boboli garden deposits. In the 1990s, during restorations at Pratolino, a stone fragment of a male statue was found: through a careful analysis of the documentary and figurative sources as well as a close comparison with other works certainly by Cioli, this paper aims to recognize the fragment as the Villano con la falce.