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Definite Improvement (definite + improvement)
Selected AbstractsSurveillance for endometrial cancer in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndromeINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 4 2007Laura Renkonen-Sinisalo Abstract The estimated lifetime risk for endometrial carcinoma (EC) in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome (HNPCC) is 32,60%, thus supporting surveillance. The survival rate of EC patients is, however, favourable questioning the need for surveillance. Yet, the effectiveness of gynecological surveillance remains to be shown. The 2 previously published studies were based on transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) alone. Intrauterine biopsy has not been tested in surveillance for EC in HNPCC families. The effect of gynecological surveillance was evaluated among 175 Finnish mutation carriers. During 759 person years at risk, there were 503 surveillance visits including TVUS and intrauterine biopsy of endometrium at 94% and 74% of the visits, respectively. EC occurred in 14 cases, 11 of which were diagnosed by surveillance, 8 by intrauterine biopsies. TVUS indicated only 4 EC patients but missed 6 other cases. Intrauterine sampling detected 14 additional cases of potentially premalignant hyperplasia. The stage distribution and survival tended to be more favorable in the 14 EC cases of the surveilled group (no deaths) than in the group of 83 symptomatic mutation carriers of whom 6 died of EC, but with no statistical significance. Four cases of ovarian cancer occurred but none was detected by surveillance in TVUS examinations. In conclusion, EC surveillance in HNPCC seems more effective with endometrial biopsies than with TVUS alone. A definite improvement in survival remains to be shown. The detection of early cancer stages and premalignant lesions offers the opportunity to avoid extensive adjuvant treatment. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Sensitivity of the regional climate of East/Southeast Asia to convective parameterizations in the RegCM3 modelling system.INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 14 2008Part 1: Focus on the Korean peninsula Abstract This study investigates the capability of the regional climate model, RegCM3, to simulate fine-scale regional climate over a narrow peninsula or archipelago. The model is run in one-way double-nested mode with one mother domain and two nested domains. The mother domain encompasses the eastern and southern regions of Asia and adjacent oceans with a grid spacing of 60 km. The first nested domain focuses on the Korean peninsula and the second one covers the Philippine archipelago with a grid spacing of 20 km. The simulation spans a period of 5 years and 1 month, from November 2000 to December 2004. The sensitivity of the two convection schemes, namely, the Grell scheme (Grell) and the MIT-Emanuel scheme (EMU), is studied. Model results obtained with both the Grell and EMU show reasonable performance in capturing the seasonal variation and the spatial characteristics of the East Asian monsoon. However, the Grell simulation appears to have persistent cold and dry biases in the summer season. There is a definite improvement in these model deficiencies by the implementation of EMU. Although the temperature fields in the Grell and EMU simulations are essentially the same in terms of the spatial distribution, the EMU simulation is quantitatively in better agreement with the observed estimates, indicating a substantial reduction in the cold bias. Further, in comparison with the Grell simulation, the EMU simulation shows an improvement in the timing and amplitude of the rain band propagating northward. The spatial distributions of precipitation also have good quality, capturing the localized maxima over Korea. The frequency distributions of daily temperature and precipitation simulated by EMU are closer to observations than those of the Grell simulation. It is found that the convective precipitation derived from different convection parameterizations is a major contributor to the performance of the model in summer. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Use of intense pulsed light in the treatment of scarsJOURNAL OF COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2005H Cartier Summary Background, Reducing erythema and infiltration of inflamed, hypertrophic, and colloidal scars have been a challenge for healthcare providers. Peer-reviewed scientific data for intense pulsed light systems are lacking. Objective, A chronicle of three patients who have participated in the treatment of inflamed, hypertrophic, and colloidal scars, using intense pulsed light. Methods, Intense pulsed light with a selection of wavelengths, pulse durations, and energy densities was used on patients with inflamed, hypertrophic, and colloidal scars. Results, A definite improvement in scar tissue was observed and achieved in all the cases. Conclusion, Intense pulsed light source with the correct outputs is an effective tool for the treatment and improvement of inflamed, hypertrophic, and colloidal scars. [source] Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with osteopathy: Results of a randomized controlled pilot studyJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 9 2007Henry WC Hundscheid Abstract Background and Aim:, Effective treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is not yet available. Osteopathy is a manual treatment which relies on mobilizing and manipulating procedures in order to relieve complaints. In the present study, a randomized controlled trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of osteopathic treatment for IBS. Methods:, Eligible IBS patients were randomized between osteopathy and standard care. Follow-up was 6 months and validated means of follow-up were used. After 1, 3 and 6 months an overall assessment of symptoms was noted and a symptom score was obtained on a 5-point Likert scale. Quality of life (QOL) was scored with the standardized IBSQOL 2000 questionnaire and the Functional Bowel Disorder Severity Index was used. Results:, Twenty patients were randomized into the osteopathy group (OG) and 19 patients were included in the standard care group (SCG). Sixty-eight percent of patients in the OG noted definite overall improvement in symptoms and 27% showed slight improvement. One patient (5%) was free of symptoms at the end of the study. In the SCG, 18% noted definite improvement, 59% showed slight improvement, and in 17% worsening of symptoms was present. The difference in change in overall symptomatic improvement was statistically significant in favor of the osteopathic treatment (P < 0.006). Mean Functional Bowel Disorder Severity Index (FBDSI) score in the OG decreased from 174 to 74 at 6 months (P < 0.0001). Also, a significant decrease was noted in the SCG from 171 to 119 (P < 0.0001). However, the decrease in the OG was significantly higher compared with the standard treatment (P = 0.02). Mean symptom score in the OG decreased from 9.1 to 6.8 but this did not reach statistical significance. In the SCG, no change in symptom score occurred (8.7 vs 10). At 6 months, the score in the OG was significantly lower (6.8 vs 10; P = 0.02). The QOL score increased in the OG at 111 versus 129 (P < 0.009). In the SCG an increase was also noted, but this was not statistically significant (109 vs 121). Conclusion:, Osteopathic therapy is a promising alternative in the treatment of patients with IBS. Patients treated with osteopathy overall did better, with respect to symptom score and QOL. [source] Selection of Leucaena species for afforestation and amelioration of sodic soilsLAND DEGRADATION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 5 2002V. L. Goel Abstract Performance of three exotic species of Leucaena (L. diversifolia, L. shannonii and L. leucocephala) and one local selection of L. leucocephala was evaluated on sodic soil sites (pH 8.6,10.5) in order to select promising species for biomass production and reclamation of these soils. There were significant differences among three species with respect to their field survival (47.7,95.5 per cent), growth in terms of stem volume (40.8,118.6,m3,ha,1) and biomass production (24,70,Mg,ha,1) after eight years of growth. L. leucocephala was rated as the most promising species irrespective of seed source, followed by L. shannonii. L. diversifolia could not perform well on these hostile soils. A definite improvement in physicochemical properties of soil particularly in surface layers (0,5,cm) was observed after eight years of plantations as compared to the same at uncultivated site. The soil pH and sodium content decreased followed by an increase in organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus content. However, efficiency of different species varied greatly to ameliorate these soils depending on quantity and quality of organic matter lying on the floor. L. leucocephala, irrespective of seed origin, showed greater promise for afforestation of sodic soils because of its potential to produce higher biomass per unit area and greater efficiency to ameliorate fertility status of these soils. The study revealed that matching of species to soil conditions is very important for a successful plantation programme and sustainable development of degraded soil sites. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | |||||||||||||