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Successful Results (successful + result)
Selected AbstractsMethodological and statistical issues in pharmacogenomicsJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 2 2010Bas J. M. Peters Abstract Pharmacogenomics strives to explain the interindividual variability in response to drugs due to genetic variation. Although technological advances have provided us with relatively easy and cheap methods for genotyping, promises about personalised medicine have not yet met our high expectations. Successful results that have been achieved within the field of pharmacogenomics so far are, to name a few, HLA-B*5701 screening to avoid hypersensitivity to the antiretroviral abacavir, thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) genotyping to avoid thiopurine toxicity, and CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genotyping for better dosing of the anticoagulant warfarin. However, few pharmacogenetic examples have made it into clinical practice in the treatment of complex diseases. Unfortunately, lack of reproducibility of results from observational studies involving many genes and diseases seems to be a common pattern in pharmacogenomic studies. In this article we address some of the methodological and statistical issues within study design, gene and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) selection and data analysis that should be considered in future pharmacogenomic research. First, we discuss some of the issues related to the design of epidemiological studies, specific to pharmacogenomic research. Second, we describe some of the pros and cons of a candidate gene approach (including gene and SNP selection) and a genome-wide scan approach. Finally, conventional as well as several innovative approaches to the analysis of large pharmacogenomic datasets are proposed that deal with the issues of multiple testing and systems biology in different ways. [source] Pulmonary hypertension in pregnancy: two cases and review of the literatureINTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL, Issue 11 2009A. M. Higton Abstract Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in pregnancy carries a mortality of 30,56%. There are few published data to guide clinicians in its management. Two pregnant women with severe PAH have been treated at Royal Perth Hospital with a successful result in both. Their presentation and management are described. We review the physiological changes in pregnancy, pathophysiology in PAH, and review the literature describing treatment of PAH in pregnancy. [source] Too much of a good thing: the ,problem' of political communications in a mass media democracyJOURNAL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, Issue 3 2007Ivor Gaber Francis Fukuyama asks: ,,,is liberal democracy prey to serious internal contradictions, contradictions so serious that they will eventually undermine it as a political system?' This paper argues that one of these ,internal contradictions' is the political communications process and it can be sufficiently serious to undermine the democratic system,but such an undermining is not inevitable. The problem can be described as follows: Democratic systems require that citizens are kept fully informed by governments (and others) in the interests of transparency and ultimately accountability. Hence, all political communications have, as their final objective, the accountability of politicians at the ballot box. Thus all political communications have what can be described as ,above' and ,below' the line content. The above-the-line is the actual content of the message, the below-the-line is the implicit one of ,think better of me and my colleagues think worse of my opponents'. Consequently, no matter how personally honest and open an individual politician might be, the democratic system requires her or him to be always thinking about securing a successful result at the ballot box. Thus we have the ,political communications paradox'. Voters want politicians to be honest and accountable but this very demand means that politicians, implicitly, always have to have another agenda in operation when they are communicating with the public, i.e. securing their approval and then their support. As a result the trust which is a fundamental to the workings of a democratic system is constantly being undermined. This has two effects. First, that governments are obliged to make communications, rather than delivery, their real priority and second trust, not just in politicians but in the political system as a whole, tends to wane over time, which in turn endangers the very system it was designed to underpin. But this decline is not inevitable because the system has some in-built self-correcting mechanisms These include: the rise of new parties and/or leaders who portray themselves as ,new' and ,untainted',New Labour, New Conservatives, etc., an almost regular ,re-balancing' of the power relationship that exists between politicians and the civil service, particularly in the communications field, the rise of new forms of communication that seek to by-pass the institutional roadblocks that are perceived as being the cause of the problems and finally increased attention by journalists and academics to the process of political communications makes it more difficult for politicians to continue with ,business as usual' as far as their communication activities are concerned. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Management of secondary hyperparathyroidism of dialysis patientsNEPHROLOGY, Issue 2003Tadao AKIZAWA SUMMARY: Hyperphosphatemia, vitamin D deficiency, and resulted hypocalcemia have been regarded as classical pathogeneses of secondary hyperparathyroidism. These factors have been treated by the administration of phosphorus binder and vitamin D derivatives. However, these therapies have not brought about a successful result for the prevention and treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism. The reason could be mainly attributed to the hypercalcemia that results from the administration of calcium salts as a phosphorus binder and the calcemic action of vitamin D. To prevent hypercalcemia, non-calcium containing phosphorus binder (sevelamer hydrochloride) and vitamin D analogues, which suppress PTH secretion with minimum calcemic action, have been developed. These new vitamin D analogues include 19-nor-1-alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D2 (paricalcitol), 1-alpha-hydroxyvitamin D2 (doxercalciferol), 22oxa-calcitriol (maxacalcitol) and F6-calcitriol (falecalcitriol). Furthermore, calcimimetics that stimulate calcium-sensing receptor of parathyroid cells as calcium and suppress PTH secretion are now under clinical trial. Percutaneous direct injection therapy of vitamin D, vitamin D analogue or calcimimetics into parathyroid gland has also been reported. The combination of these new strategies is expected to effectively and safely suppresses secondary hyperparathyroidism that has been resistant to conventional medical treatments. [source] Modern Concepts of Frontal Sinus SurgeryTHE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 1 2001Rainer Weber MD Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis To validate the endonasal surgical approach to frontal sinus in inflammatory sinus disease, trauma, and selective tumor surgery, and to define the role of external approaches to the frontal sinus. Endonasal frontal sinusotomy can range from endoscopic removal of obstructing frontal recess cells or uncinate process to the more complex unilateral or bilateral removal of the frontal sinus floor as described in the Draf II,III drainage procedures. In contrast, the osteoplastic frontal sinusotomy remains the "gold standard" for external approaches to frontal sinus disease. Methods A retrospective review of 1286 patients undergoing either endonasal or external frontal sinusotomy by the authors at four university teaching programs from 1977. Prior author reports were updated and previously unreported patient series were combined. Results Six hundred thirty-five patients underwent type I frontal sinusotomy, 312 type II sinusotomy, and 156 type III sinusotomy. A successful result was seen in these groups, 85.2% to 99.3%, 79% to 93.3%, and 91.5% to 95%, respectively. External frontal sinusotomy or osteoplastic frontal sinusotomy was successfully performed in 187 of 194 patients. Clinical symptoms, endoscopic findings, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance image scanning, and reoperation rate measured postoperative success. Conclusions A stepwise approach to the surgical treatment of frontal sinusitis, trauma, and selective benign tumors yields successful results as defined by specific criteria which vary from 79% to 97.8%. The details of specific techniques are discussed, essential points emphasized, and author variations noted. [source] Does the need to self-digitate or the presence of a large or nonemptying rectocoele on proctography influence the outcome of transanal rectocoele repair?COLORECTAL DISEASE, Issue 2 2003S. G. Stojkovic Abstract Introduction Transanal repair of anterior rectocoele is a well described technique with variable success rate. In our department we offer repair to patients who fit the following criteria; the need to self digitate (transvaginal or perineal); a large rectocoele; a nonemptying rectocoele. Using these selection criteria previous authors have shown excellent results. The aim of our study was to review our results using this selective approach and also to determine whether the need to self digitate, the presence of a large rectocoele and the degree of emptying could predict which patients would achieve a successful result. Methods Fifty-five patients underwent repair over a three-year period. The main presenting symptom was noted for each patient and also whether self-digitation was required in order to achieve successful evacuation. Dynamic evacuation proctography was performed on all patients. Size of rectocoele, percentage of paste expelled and other proctographic abnormalities were noted for each patient. Follow up was at 6 weeks and 6 months at which point patients were asked whether their symptoms had resolved, improved, remained the same or had worsened. Results Complete data were available for 48 of the patients (median age 52 years, IQR 43,63). The presenting complaint was constipation in 22 patients, obstructive defeacation in 15, incomplete evacuation in 5, postdefaecation soiling in 4 and dyspareunia in 2. Thirty-eight patients noted the need to self-digitate, 10 did not. Proctography revealed a large rectocoele (> 4 cm) in 22 patients and a medium or small rectocoele (< 4 cm) in 26 patients. There was a rectocoele alone in 34 patients, in combination with perineal descent in 11 and with intussusception in 3. Median percentage of paste expelled was 70% (range 20,95). At 6 weeks postoperatively, 43 patients had complete resolution of their symptoms whilst 5 reported only some or no improvement. At 6 months, 37 patients sustained complete resolution of their symptoms and 11 did not. Pre-operative factors were compared for these two groups of patients. There was no difference in age (P > 0.05, Mann,Whitney U -test) between the two groups There was also no difference in size of rectocoele, degree of emptying, the presence of another proctographic abnormality and the need to self-digitate between the two groups (P > 0.05, Fisher's exact test). Discussion No factors were seen to distinguish between the successful and unsuccessful groups of patients following rectocoele repair, however, an overall success rate of 75% was achieved using our selection criteria. This figure is in keeping with reported success rates in the literature. [source] Surgical extrusion of a crown-root fractured immature permanent incisor: 36 month follow-upDENTAL TRAUMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2007Zuhal K Abstract,,, Crown-root fracture is defined as a fracture involving enamel, dentin and pulp and can be classified as either complicated or uncomplicated. The tooth with crown-root fracture presents a lot of problems during coronal restorations and extraction was formerly used in many cases. But loss of a permanent incisor in a young patient may create severe emotional problems and alternative treatment approaches must be considered. This report presents the successful results of a surgical extrusion of a complicated crown-root fractured, immature permanent incisor in a 9-year-old boy. Examination 36 months after the trauma indicated that the treatment had provided functional and esthetic results. [source] A fibre flexure,shear model for seismic analysis of RC-framed structuresEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 5 2009P. Ceresa Abstract While currently existing modelling approaches of reinforced concrete (RC) behaviour allow a reasonably accurate prediction of flexural response, the determination of its shear counterpart needs further developments. There are various modelling strategies in the literature able to predict the shear response and the shear,flexure coupling under monotonic loading conditions. However, very few are the reported models that have demonstrated successful results under cyclic loading, as in the seismic load case. These considerations lead to this research work focused on the development of a flexure,shear model for RC beam,column elements. A reliable constitutive model for cracked RC subjected to cyclic loading was implemented as bi-axial fibre constitutive model into a two-dimensional Timoshenko beam,column element. Aim of this research work is to arrive at the definition of a numerical model sufficiently accurate and, at the same time, computationally efficient, which will enable implementation within a finite element package for nonlinear dynamic analysis of existing non-seismically designed RC structures that are prone to shear-induced damage and collapse. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Simultaneous Quantification of Heavy Metals Using a Solid State Potentiometric Sensor ArrayELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 8 2009Jesús Gismera Abstract A potentiometric sensor array of four nonspecific electrodes with solid-state membranes is developed and tested for simultaneous analysis of copper(II), mercury(II), and silver(I) ions. The cross-sensitivity responses of the sensors for these ions are evaluated. The array potentiometric signals are processed by partial least-squares regression (PLS) and back propagation artificial neural networks (ANN) to determinate analyte concentrations. The ANN configuration is optimized and two different training algorithms of the ANN are also evaluated. Best results are obtained when the potentiometric sensors are activated and the data are processed using ANN and the gradient descent adaptive algorithm. The system is used to quantify these heavy metals in synthetic samples and in dental amalgams with successful results. [source] Integrated Bienzyme Chip for Ethanol MonitoringELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 12 2006Javier Gonzalo-Ruiz Abstract An ethanol chip biosensors based on bienzymatic system has been developed. Horse radish peroxidase and alcohol oxidase have been co-immobilized into a polypyrrole matrix, as well as the mediator, onto the integrated working electrode. Variables that affect to the chronoamperometric response of ethanol have been optimized through the experimental design methodology. Under these conditions, the slopes of several calibrations curves show a reproducibility, repeatability and limit of detection of 6.09% (n=5), 9.03% (n=5) and 2.98±0.38,mmol dm,3 (,=,=0.05, n=3), respectively. Finally, the biosensors based on platinum chips were applied to the determination of ethanol in white wine samples, obtaining successful results. [source] Paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and nedaplatin (TIN) salvage chemotherapy for patients with advanced germ cell tumorsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 6 2007Norio Nonomura Background: The paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin regimen has been used to treat metastatic testicular cancer with successful results. We investigated the usefulness of a paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and nedaplatin (TIN) regimen as salvage therapy for patients with advanced testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs). Methods: Eight patients with advanced GCTs were treated with TIN. The treatment was performed as salvage therapy for cases refractory to therapies, such as bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin, and irinotecan with nedaplatin. The TIN regimen consisted of paclitaxel (200 mg/m2) by 24-h infusion on day 1, followed by ifosfamide (1.2 g/m2) infusions over 2 h on days 2,6, and nedaplatin (100 mg/m2) given over 2 h on day 2. Results: Seven out of eight patients achieved a disease-free status after chemotherapy, followed by surgical resection of the residual tumor. Six of the seven patients have continued to show no evidence of disease after salvage therapy, with a median follow-up period of 27 months, but one patient developed a ,growing teratoma syndrome' in the mediastinum 31 months after TIN chemotherapy. All patients developed grade 4 leukocytopenia. However, it could be managed by using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Only one patient developed grade 2 sensory neuropathy and no patient developed nephrotoxicity. Conclusion: The TIN regimen was efficacious and well-tolerated as salvage chemotherapy for Japanese patients with advanced GCTs. [source] Regeneration of canine peroneal nerve with the use of a polyglycolic acid,collagen tube filled with laminin-soaked collagen sponge: a comparative study of collagen sponge and collagen fibers as filling materials for nerve conduitsJOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 6 2001Toshinari Toba Abstract A novel artificial nerve conduit was developed and its efficiency was evaluated on the basis of promotion of peripheral nerve regeneration across an 80-mm gap in dogs. The nerve conduit was made of a polyglycolic acid,collagen tube filled with laminin-soaked collagen sponge. Conduits filled with either sponge- or fiber-form collagen were implanted into an 80-mm gap of the peroneal nerve (five dogs for each form). Twelve months postoperatively nerve regeneration was superior in the sponge group both morphometrically (percentage of neural tissue: fiber: 39.7 ± 5.2, sponge: 43.0 ± 4.5, n=3) and electrophysiologically (fiber: CMAP 1.06 ± 0.077, SEP 1.32 ± 0.127 sponge: CMAP 1.04 ± 0.106, SEP 1.24 ± 0.197, n=5), although these differences were not statistically significant. The observed regeneration was complementary to successful results reported previously in the same model, in which collagen fibers exclusively were used. The results indicate a possible superiority of collagen sponge over collagen fibers as filling materials. In addition, the mass-producibility, superior scaffolding potential, and capacity for gradual release of soluble factors of the sponge provide make it an attractive alternative to fine fibers, which are both technologically difficult and costly to produce. This newly developed nerve conduit has the potential to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration across longer gaps commonly encountered in clinical settings. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res (Appl Biomater) 58: 622,630, 2001 [source] Synthesis and properties of the polythiourethanes obtained by the cationic ring-opening polymerization of cyclic thiourethanesJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 16 2006Daisuke Nagai Abstract The cationic ring-opening polymerization of a five-membered thiourethane [3-benzyl-1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione (BOT)] with boron trifluoride etherate afforded the corresponding polythiourethane with a narrow molecular weight distribution in an excellent yield. The molecular weight of the polymers could be controlled by the feed ratio of the monomer to the initiator. A kinetic study of the polymerization revealed that the polymerization rate of BOT (1.3 × 10,2 L mol,1 min,1) was two times larger than that of the six-membered thiourethane [3-benzyltetrahydro-1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione (BTOT); 6.8 × 10,3 L mol,1 min,1], and the monomer conversion obeyed the first-order kinetic equation. These observations, along with the successful results in the two-stage polymerization, supported the idea that this polymerization proceeded in a controlled manner. Block copolymerizations of BOT with BTOT were also carried out to afford the corresponding di- and triblock copolymers with narrow molecular weight distributions. The order of the 5% weight loss temperatures was as follows: poly(3-benzyltetrahydro-1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione) [poly(BTOT)] > poly(BTOT54 - b -BOT46) > poly(3-benzyl-1,3-oxazolidine-2-thione) [poly(BOT)]. This indicated that an increase in the BTOT unit content raised the decomposition temperature. The order of the refractive indices was poly(BOT) > poly(BTOT54 - b -BOT46) > poly(BTOT54 - b -BOT46 - b -BTOT50) > poly(BTOT); this was in accord with the order of the sulfur content in the polymer chain. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4795,4803, 2006 [source] Synthesis of well-defined three-armed polystyrene having thiourethane,isocyanurate as the core structure derived from trifunctional five-membered cyclic dithiocarbonateJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 22 2005Akane Suzuki Abstract The synthesis of a three-armed polymer with an isocyanurate,thiourethane core structure is described. Monofunctional reversible addition,fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent 2 and trifunctional RAFT agent 5 were prepared from mercapto-thiourethane and tris(mercapto-thiourethane), which were obtained from the aminolysis of mono- and trifunctional five-membered cyclic dithiocarbonates, respectively. The radical polymerization of styrene in the presence of 2,2,-azobis(isobutyronitrile) and RAFT agent 2 in bulk at 60 °C proceeded in a controlled fashion to afford the corresponding polystyrene with desired molecular weights (number-average molecular weight = 3000,10,100) and narrow molecular weight distributions (weight-average molecular weight/number-average molecular weight < 1.13). On the basis of the successful results with the monofunctional RAFT agents, three-armed polystyrene with thiourethane,isocyanurate as the core structure could be obtained with trifunctional RAFT agent 5 in a similar manner. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5498,5505, 2005 [source] Visualization of active devices and automatic slice repositioning ("SnapTo") for MRI-guided interventionsMAGNETIC RESONANCE IN MEDICINE, Issue 4 2010Ashvin K. George Abstract The accurate visualization of interventional devices is crucial for the safety and effectiveness of MRI-guided interventional procedures. In this paper, we introduce an improvement to the visualization of active devices. The key component is a fast, robust method ("CurveFind") that reconstructs the three-dimensional trajectory of the device from projection images in a fraction of a second. CurveFind is an iterative prediction-correction algorithm that acts on a product of orthogonal projection images. By varying step size and search direction, it is robust to signal inhomogeneities. At the touch of a key, the imaged slice is repositioned to contain the relevant section of the device ("SnapTo"), the curve of the device is plotted in a three-dimensional display, and the point on a target slice, which the device will intersect, is displayed. These features have been incorporated into a real-time MRI system. Experiments in vitro and in vivo (in a pig) have produced successful results using a variety of single- and multichannel devices designed to produce both spatially continuous and discrete signals. CurveFind is typically able to reconstruct the device curve, with an average error of approximately 2 mm, even in the case of complex geometries. Magn Reson Med 63:1070,1079, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Quality of Life and Cost for Patients with Premature Ventricular Contractions by Radiofrequency Catheter AblationPACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2006CONG-XIN HUANG Objective: To evaluate the quality of life (QoL), health-care resource utilization, and cost for the patients with premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) by radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). Methods: RFCA was performed in 58 patients with symptomatic PVCs that were refractory/easy to medication. A 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring, QoL, health-care resources utilization, and cost were assessed at a screening visit and 3 and 12 months after RFCA. Results: RFCA was successfully performed in 56 patients (96.6%). This resulted in a significant improvement in the QoL at 3 and 12 months after the procedure. There were no major complications related to the procedure. Nine patients (15.5%) had residual arrhythmia. Seven of them underwent repeated ablation with successful results. It also improved the QoL and reduced health-care resource utilization and cost. Conclusions: RFCA is a safe and effective treatment for PVCs, and it is a viable alternative to drugs in the presence of disabling symptoms. [source] Rapid steroid discontinuation for pediatric renal transplantation: A single center experiencePEDIATRIC TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 5 2007Keith K. Lau Abstract:, To determine the outcomes of pediatric renal transplant recipients who received immunosuppression consisting of early withdrawal of corticosteroids at a single Northern California center. Protocols using minimal steroid exposure have been recently reported in adult transplant recipients with successful results. We examined the outcomes of pediatric renal transplant recipients who were managed at our center using a protocol with very early discontinuation of steroids after renal transplantation. We retrospectively studied the medical records of all renal transplant recipients followed at the Children's Hospital at the University of California, Davis Medical Center from 01/2004 to 12/2005. All patients were less than 18 yr of age at the time of transplantation. The immunosuppressive protocol included three tapering daily doses of methylprednisolone, together with five doses of thymoglobulin followed by maintenance therapy with tacrolimus and MMF. Eight patients with equal numbers of males and females were transplanted during this time period. There were equal numbers of Caucasians, African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asians. A total of 37.5% (3/8) of the subjects received preemptive transplantation, 25% (2/8) received peritoneal, and 37.5% (3/8) received hemodialysis before transplantation. The median (range) age at transplantation was 12.3 (3.1,16.0) year with a follow-up of 1.7 (0.9,2.8) year. At one yr post-transplantation, 57% (4/7) of patients still required anti-hypertensives. Three children required erythropoietin supplementation after transplantation. The mean delta height standard deviation score at 12 months was 0.20 ± 0.56. There were no episodes of clinical acute rejection. One patient switched from tacrolimus to sirolimus due to biopsy-proven CAN. No patient became diabetic or required hypoglycemic agents. Surveillance biopsies showed no subclinical acute rejection in any patient. Steroid-free immunosuppression is safe in children after renal transplantation. Larger number of patients and longer follow-up are required to further confirm the effectiveness and safety of immunosuppression with rapid steroid discontinuation. [source] Isolated laryngeal myokymia: Diagnosis and treatment,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 10 2010Jacob Sedgh MD Abstract Myokymia is an uncommon neuromuscular disorder that rarely affects the human larynx. No previous reports of isolated laryngeal myokymia are present in the literature, and as such, established treatment protocols are lacking. We report the first case of isolated laryngeal myokymia in a 48-year-old woman with no other neurological findings, and our successful results in initial treatment and maintenance therapy with focal intralaryngeal injections of botulinum toxin A. Laryngoscope, 2010 [source] Modern Concepts of Frontal Sinus SurgeryTHE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 1 2001Rainer Weber MD Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis To validate the endonasal surgical approach to frontal sinus in inflammatory sinus disease, trauma, and selective tumor surgery, and to define the role of external approaches to the frontal sinus. Endonasal frontal sinusotomy can range from endoscopic removal of obstructing frontal recess cells or uncinate process to the more complex unilateral or bilateral removal of the frontal sinus floor as described in the Draf II,III drainage procedures. In contrast, the osteoplastic frontal sinusotomy remains the "gold standard" for external approaches to frontal sinus disease. Methods A retrospective review of 1286 patients undergoing either endonasal or external frontal sinusotomy by the authors at four university teaching programs from 1977. Prior author reports were updated and previously unreported patient series were combined. Results Six hundred thirty-five patients underwent type I frontal sinusotomy, 312 type II sinusotomy, and 156 type III sinusotomy. A successful result was seen in these groups, 85.2% to 99.3%, 79% to 93.3%, and 91.5% to 95%, respectively. External frontal sinusotomy or osteoplastic frontal sinusotomy was successfully performed in 187 of 194 patients. Clinical symptoms, endoscopic findings, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance image scanning, and reoperation rate measured postoperative success. Conclusions A stepwise approach to the surgical treatment of frontal sinusitis, trauma, and selective benign tumors yields successful results as defined by specific criteria which vary from 79% to 97.8%. The details of specific techniques are discussed, essential points emphasized, and author variations noted. [source] Risk Factors and Long-Term Outcome of Transplant Renal Artery Stenosis in Adult Recipients After Treatment by Percutaneous Transluminal AngioplastyAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 1 2006V. Audard Transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) is a common complication of kidney transplantation but attempts to identify predisposing risk factors for TRAS have yielded conflicting results. In order to determine the predisposing factors for transplant (TRAS), we retrospectively reviewed the records of 29 renal allograft recipients with TRAS treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). The TRAS group was compared with a case-control group of 58 patients. Predisposing factors for TRAS included CMV infection (41.4% vs. 12.1% p = 0.0018) and initial delayed graft function (DGF) (48.3% vs. 15.5% p = 0.0018), respectively in the TRAS and the control group. Acute rejection occurred more frequently in patients from the TRAS group (48.3%) compared with the control group (27.6%), although the difference was not significant (p = 0.06). In a multivariate analysis, only CMV infection (p = 0.005) and DGF (p = 0.009) appear to be significantly and independently associated with TRAS. The long-term graft survival was significantly higher in the control group, compared with the TRAS group (p = 0.03). Our study suggests that CMV infection and DGF are two reliable risk factors for TRAS. Despite treatment by PTA with primary successful results, TRAS significantly affects long-term graft outcome. [source] Vascular reconstruction in lower limb musculoskeletal tumoursANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 9 2009J. Ian Spark Abstract Background:, Individual experience in the investigative, planning and operative aspects of lower limb musculoskeletal tumours is often small, making comparison between results difficult. The aim of the study was to describe the recent experience of a single tertiary referral unit performing limb salvage surgery, to identify areas of concern that are amenable to intervention and to provide clinicians an understanding of the surgical options. Methods:, Nine patients with peripheral limb musculoskeletal tumours are described. Four patients had a leiomyosarcoma, and one each of osteosarcoma, synovial chondrosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, liposarcoma and recurrent malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour. Results:, Thirty-day mortality was nil. Two patients (one with a leiomyosarcoma and one with an osteosarcoma) died at 6 months follow-up because of pulmonary metastases. One patient with synovial chondrosarcoma developed a local recurrence and underwent an above-knee amputation. Six patients at 18 months follow-up are alive with no evidence of local recurrence and a functional lower limb. Conclusion:, These cases are a challenge to the clinicians, radiologists and pathologists. Review by a multidisciplinary team can produce successful results with low post-operative morbidity and mortality. Longer follow-up is required to determine the long-term implications. [source] Markovian analysis for automatic new topic identification in search engine transaction logsAPPLIED STOCHASTIC MODELS IN BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, Issue 6 2009Huseyin C. Ozmutlu Abstract Topic analysis of search engine user queries is an important task, since successful exploitation of the topic of queries can result in the design of new information retrieval algorithms for more efficient search engines. Identification of topic changes within a user search session is a key issue in analysis of search engine user queries. This study presents an application of Markov chains in the area of search engine research to automatically identify topic changes in a user session by using statistical characteristics of queries, such as time intervals, query reformulation patterns and the continuation/shift status of the previous query. The findings show that Markov chains provide fairly successful results for automatic new topic identification with a high level of estimation for topic continuations and shifts. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Cryo-assisted anterior approach for surgery of retroocular orbital tumours avoids the need for lateral or transcranial orbitotomy in most casesACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 6 2010Nachum Rosen Acta Ophthalmol. 2010: 88: 675,680 Abstract. Purpose:, To describe and evaluate a cryo-assisted, minimally invasive, anterior approach for orbital tumour surgery. Methods:, Retrospective, non-comparative, consecutive, interventional case series of 103 patients who were operated on by the same surgeon for retroocular orbital tumours over the last 16 years. Results:, A cryo-assisted, minimally invasive, anterior approach was employed in 63 out of the 103 patients (61.2%). In 37 patients (35.9%), anterior orbitotomy without the use of cryoprobe was employed for biopsy or excision of small, anteriorly located lesions. Lateral orbitotomy was used in three patients (2.9%). In a subgroup of 61 patients with circumscribed lesions (mainly cavernous haemangiomas and schwannomas), cryoextraction was used in 51 (83.6%). None of the procedures required conversion to lateral orbitotomy and there were no intraoperative complications. Conclusion:, In contrast to other reports on the treatment of orbital lesions, in the current case series surgery of most solid tumours and many other cystic or infiltrative lesions was achieved here via an anterior, cryo-assisted approach, and thus with minimal trauma to the orbit. This approach warrants more favourable consideration because the combination of the anterior approach with the use of cryoprobe and surgical microscope can yield successful results, even in patients with large or deeply located tumours , obviating in most of them the need for lateral or transcranial orbitotomies with bone flaps. [source] 1353: Cryo-assisted anterior approach for surgery of retro-ocular orbital tumoursACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2010N ROSEN Purpose The aim of this course is to share our experience with transconjunctival or transcutaneous anterior orbitotomy using surgical microscope and cryoextraction approach for surgery of retroocular orbital tumors. Methods Data regarding the used of this anterior surgical approach to retro-ocular orbital tumors was collected from our case series of 103 patients who, over 16 years, were operated on for retroocular orbital tumors and from a newer case series of 24 patients who, over the last 5 years were operated on for orbital cavernous hemangioma. Results A cryo-assisted, minimally invasive, anterior approach was employed in most patients. During more than 20 years lateral orbitotomy was needed only in 3 patients. The operations with anterior approach lasted 57.9 + 15.0 minutes. In none there was need for transformation into lateral orbitotomy and there were no intra-operative complications. No post operative deterioration of visual acuity was evident. Conclusion In contrast to other reports on treatment of orbital lesions, in our experience, surgery of most solid tumors and of many other cystic or infiltrative lesions can be achieved via an anterior, cryo-assisted approach, and thus with minimal trauma to the orbit. This approach warrants more favorable consideration as it can yield successful results even in cases with large or deeply located tumors. In most cases it obviates the need for extra-ocular muscle disinsersion and lateral or transcranial orbitotomies with bone flaps. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||