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Approach Consisting (approach + consisting)
Selected Abstracts"FAR" chemoradiotherapy improves laryngeal preservation rates in patients with T2N0 glottic carcinoma,HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 7 2002Yoshihiko Kumamoto MD Abstract Background The appropriate treatment approach for patients with T2N0 laryngeal cancer remains highly controversial. Because radiotherapy alone is associated with a high risk of local recurrence, we have developed a triple combination treatment approach consisting of 5-fluorouracil (250 mg/day, i.v.), vitamin A (50,000 unit/day, i.m.) and external radiation (2.0 Gy/day), which we have termed "FAR therapy." Methods Patients with T2N0 glottic carcinoma were initially treated with 15 days of FAR therapy, which included a cumulative radiation dose of 30Gy (i.e., "30 Gy of FAR therapy"). Those patients who demonstrated a complete response either clinically or pathologically continued to receive further FAR therapy, with up to 60,70 Gy. All other patients received laryngectomy without any additional treatment. Results Ninety-five patients were treated according to this program, and most of the patients (98%) were able to complete this treatment course. Eighty-eight patients (93%) were treated with FAR therapy alone. The local control and ultimate local control rates were 91% (85 of 93), and 99% (92 of 93), respectively. The cumulative 5-year voice preservation and complete laryngeal preservation rates were 91% and 87%, respectively. The cumulative 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 97%. Conclusions Because a high rate of laryngeal preservation was achieved without compromising disease-specific survival, our treatment approach based on FAR therapy may be promising for the treatment of patients with T2N0 glottic carcinoma. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Composition- and Shape-Controlled Synthesis and Optical Properties of ZnxCd1,xS Alloyed Nanocrystals,ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 3 2005C. Li Abstract Composition-tunable ZnxCd1,xS alloyed nanocrystals have been synthesized by a new approach consisting of thermolyzing a mixture of cadmium ethylxanthate (Cd(exan)2) and zinc ethylxanthate (Zn(exan)2) precursors in hot, coordinating solvents at relatively low temperatures (180,210,°C). The composition of the alloyed nanocrystals was accurately adjusted by controlling the molar ratio of Cd(exan)2 to Zn(exan)2 in the mixed reactants. The alloyed ZnxCd1,xS nanocrystals prepared in HDA/TOP (HDA: hexadecylamine; TOP: trioctylphosphine) solution exhibit composition-dependent shape and phase structures as well as composition-dependent optical properties. The shape of the ZnxCd1,xS nanocrystals changed from dot to single-armed rod then to multi-armed rod with a decrease of Zn content in the ternary nanoparticles. The alloying nature of the ZnxCd1,xS nanocrystals was consistently confirmed by the results of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Further, the shape-controlled synthesis of the ternary alloyed nanocrystals was realized by selecting appropriate solvents. Uniform nanodots in the whole composition range were obtained from TOPO/TOP solution, (TOPO: trioctylphosphine oxide) and uniform nanorods in the whole composition range were prepared from HDA/OA solution (OA: octylamine). The effect of the reaction conditions, such as solvent, reaction temperature, and reaction time, on the PL spectra of the alloyed ZnxCd1,xS nanocrystals was also systematically studied, and the reaction conditions were optimized for improving the PL properties of the nanocrystals. [source] Atmospheric circulation patterns related to heavy snowfall days in Andorra, PyreneesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2005Pere Esteban Abstract Heavy snowfalls over mountain regions are often a direct cause of avalanches. Specific synoptic-scale atmospheric situations are responsible for these kinds of extreme snowfall event, and this is indeed the case for Andorra, a small country located in the Pyrenees, between France and Spain. Based on days with an intensity of at least 30 cm of snow in a 24 h period, the present study uses principal component analysis (PCA) and clustering techniques to characterize the synoptic circulation patterns for these days during the winter season. The area of analysis encompasses the region 30,60°N by 30°W,15°E and the period covers the winter seasons from 1986,87 to 2000,01. The methodology proposed involves a preprocessing approach consisting of a spatial standardization of the data used for the PCA, an alternative approximation to decide the centroids and the number of groups for the K -means clustering, and the rejection of the iterations for this algorithm. This approach enables the synoptic classification of every heavy snowfall day, and composite maps were constructed for sea-level pressure, 500 hPa geopotential height, and 1000,500 m thickness (the 5270 m, 5400 m and 5520 m contour lines). The results show seven circulation patterns, most of them with an Atlantic component of the wind, and others with a clear Mediterranean advection that could be combined with cold continental air. The results, as weather charts, could be a useful tool to assist meteorological models in heavy snowfall forecasting, and the day's classification obtained opens up future possibilities for detailed meteorological and climatological analysis of the established types. Copyright © 2005 Royal Meteorological Society [source] VISCOELASTICITY OF A SIMULATED POLYMER AND COMPARISON WITH CHICKPEA FLOUR DOUGHSJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESS ENGINEERING, Issue 3 2006NIDHI YADAV ABSTRACT An integrated approach consisting of compression and stress relaxation is performed with a simulated model system of poly dimethyl siloxane (PDMS), a viscoelastic polymer material when the compressive strain, height of sample and crosshead speed were varied. The parameters derived are the forces at the end of compression and relaxation, energy for compression and the extent of elasticity of the sample based on the ratios of forces as well as the proposed energy values. The results were verified with food doughs undergoing large deformations that show a nonlinear behavior. The proposed extent of elasticity based on the ratios of energy stored and compression can be used as an index for the characterization of viscoelasticity. A nonlinear three-parameter model had also been proposed to predict the stress decay characteristics as a function of time, which was found suitable for the PDMS system, and was better than the two-parameter Peleg model as judged by lower variance values (0.0006,0.018 and 0.002,0.048, respectively). Further, an actual system of food doughs in the form of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) flour dough was used to verify the proposed model and viscoelastic index at different moisture contents (27,39%) subjected to compressive strains of 25,75%. The nonlinear relaxation characteristics of the food dough are sensitive to moisture content as well as to strain level. [source] A combined proteomic and transcriptomic approach to the study of stage differentiation in Leishmania infantumPROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 12 2006François McNicoll Abstract Protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania are found as promastigotes in the sandfly vector and as amastigotes in mammalian macrophages. Mechanisms controlling stage-regulated gene expression in these organisms are poorly understood. Here, we applied a comprehensive approach consisting of protein prefractionation, global proteomics and targeted DNA microarray analysis to the study of stage differentiation in Leishmania. By excluding some abundant structural proteins and reducing complexity, we detected and identified numerous novel differentially expressed protein isoforms in L.,infantum. Using 2-D gels, over 2200,protein isoforms were visualized in each developmental stage. Of these, 6.1% were strongly increased or appeared unique in the promastigote stage, while the relative amounts of 12.4% were increased in amastigotes. Amastigote-specific protein isoform and mRNA expression trends correlated modestly (53%), while no correlation was found for promastigote-specific spots. Even where direction of regulation was similar, fold-changes were more modest at the RNA than protein level. Many proteins were present in multiple spots, suggesting that PTM is extensive in this organism. In several cases, different isoforms appeared to be specific to different life stages. Our results suggest that post-transcriptional controls at translational and post-translational levels could play major roles in differentiation in Leishmania parasites. [source] ORIGINAL RESEARCH,WOMEN'S SEXUAL HEALTH: Biofeedback, Electrical Stimulation, Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises, and Vaginal Cones: A Combined Rehabilitative Approach for Sexual Dysfunction Associated with Urinary IncontinenceTHE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 6 2009Massimo Rivalta MD ABSTRACT Introduction., Urinary incontinence (UI) is often associated with sexual dysfunction. We present our preliminary experience with a combined rehabilitative approach consisting of biofeedback, functional electrical stimulation, pelvic floor muscle exercises, and vaginal cones. Aim., The potential impact of such practice on UI and sexual function was analyzed in our case series and discussed. Main Outcome Measures and Methods., We evaluated three women affected by UI and sexual dysfunction. The patients underwent combined pelvic floor rehabilitation (PFR), kept voiding diaries, and filled out the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI questionnaire) before and after the completion of PFR. We evaluated each domain score, including desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Results., After the combined rehabilitation program, none of them had UI requiring pad use or referred urine leakage during sexual activity, including intercourse. Before PFR, FSFI score ranged from 16 to 21; after treatment, the FSFI score ranged from 22.1 to 29.3. There was an improvement in patients regarding desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. Conclusions., A complete rehabilitation can provide a beneficial effect on sexual function. A larger trial, on a more extended female population, is currently in progress, in order to confirm our findings. The effectiveness of a complete PFR scheme, together with the lack of side effects, makes it a suitable approach to sexual dysfunction that is associated with UI. Rivalta M, Sighinolfi MC, De Stefani S, Micali S, Mofferdin A, Grande M, and Bianchi G. Biofeedback, electrical stimulation, pelvic floor muscle exercises, and vaginal cones: A combined rehabilitative approach for sexual dysfunction associated with urinary incontinence. J Sex Med 2009;6:1674,1677. [source] | |||||||||||||