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Important Procedure (important + procedure)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	40%

Selected Abstracts

Novel Pretrichial Browlift Technique and Review of Methods and Complications

DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 9 2009
COURTNEY S. McGUIRE BS
BACKGROUND The upper third of the face is integral to our perception of youth and beauty. While the eyelids anchor this facial cosmetic unit, the eyebrows and forehead are intrinsically linked to the upper eyelids, and their position and texture play an important role in creating pleasing eyes as well as conveying mood and youth. The most common browlifts are performed with endoscopic visualization. Yet, this technique requires special equipment and a prolonged learning curve. OBJECTIVE To demonstrate a novel pretrichial technique and to review different browlift methods and their potential adverse effects. METHODS Case series and review of the literature. RESULTS The pretrichial browlift results in a mild to moderate browlift with secondary smoothing of the forehead topography. Aside from bruising and swelling, it results in minimal adverse effects. Other techniques are also effective but may create a larger scar such as a direct browlift, may be more difficult in terms of approach such as the browpexy, or require endoscopes. CONCLUSION Browlifts are an important procedure in rejuvenating the upper third of the face and improving the overall facial aesthetic appearance. The pretrichial browlift is a less invasive open technique that is safe and effective for the appropriate patient. [source]

Utilization rates, complications and costs of percutaneous liver biopsy: a population-based study including 4275 biopsies

LIVER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 5 2008
Robert P. Myers
Abstract Background: Liver biopsy is an important tool in the management of patients with liver disease. Because biopsy practices may be changing, we studied patterns of use in a large Canadian Health Region. We aimed to describe trends in biopsy utilization and the incidence and costs of complications from a population-based perspective. Methods: Administrative databases were used to identify percutaneous liver biopsies performed between 1994 and 2002. Significant complications were identified by reviewing medical records of patients hospitalized within 7 days of a biopsy and those with a diagnostic code indicative of a procedural complication. Analyses of biopsy rates employed Poisson regression. Results: Between 1994 and 2002, 3627 patients had 4275 liver biopsies (median 1 per patient; range 1,12). Radiologists performed the majority (90%), particularly during the latter years (1994 vs. 2002: 73 vs. 98%; P<0.0001). The overall annual biopsy rate was 54.8 per 100 000 population with a 41% (95% CI 23,61%) increase between 1994 and 2002. Annual increases were greatest in males and patients 30,59 years. Thirty-two patients (0.75%) had significant biopsy-related complications (1994,1997 vs. 1998,2002: 1.28 vs. 0.44%; P=0.003). Pain requiring admission (0.51%) and bleeding (0.35%) were most common. Six patients (0.14%) died; all had malignancies. The median direct cost of a hospitalization for complications was $4579 (range $1164,29 641). Conclusions: Liver biopsy rates are increasing likely owing to the changing epidemiology and management of common liver diseases. The similarity of the complication rate in our population-based study with estimates from specialized centres supports the safety of this important procedure. [source]

Chemical and Mineralogical Alteration of Ceramics from A Late Bronze Age Kiln At Kommos, Crete: the Effect On the Formation of A Reference Group

ARCHAEOMETRY, Issue 3 2001
J. Buxeda I Garrigós
The formation of reference groups comprises an important procedure in chemical provenance studies of archaeological pottery. Material from ancient kilns is thought to be especially suitable for reference groups, as it comprises a definite unit of past production. Pottery from the Late Minoan IA kiln excavated at Kommos, Crete was analysed in order to produce a reference group in this important area of Minoan ceramic production. The samples were characterized by a combination of techniques providing information on the chemistry, mineralogy and microstructure of the ceramic body. Initially, the study was unable to establish, in a straightforward manner, a chemical reference group. Different ceramic pastes and a range of selective alterations and contaminations, affected by variable firing temperatures and burial environment, were shown to be responsible for the compositional variability. Procedures are described to compensate for such alterations and the perturbations in the data that they produce. [source]

Protein crystallization for genomics: towards high-throughput optimization techniques

ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION D, Issue 6-2 2002
Naomi E. Chayen
Protein crystallization has gained a new strategic and commercial relevance in the next phase of the genome projects, in which X-ray crystallography will play a major role. Considerable advances have been made in the automation of protein preparation and also in the X-ray analysis and bioinformatics stages once diffraction-quality crystals are available. These advances have not yet been matched by equally good methods for the crystallization process itself. In the area of crystallization, the main effort and resources are currently being invested into the automation of screening procedures to identify potential crystallization conditions. However, in spite of the ability to generate numerous trials, so far only a small percentage of the proteins produced have led to structure determinations. This is because screening in itself is not usually enough; it has to be complemented by an equally important procedure in crystal production, namely crystal optimization. In the rush towards structural genomics, optimization techniques have been somewhat neglected, mainly because it was hoped that large-scale screening alone would produce the desired results. In addition, optimization has relied on particular individual methods that are often difficult to automate and to adapt to high throughput. This article addresses a major gap in the field of structural genomics by describing practical ways of automating individual optimization methods in order to adapt them to high-throughput techniques. [source]

Abrasiveness Testing, Quo Vadis?

GEOMECHANICS AND TUNNELLING, Issue 1 2008
A Commented Overview of Abrasiveness Testing Methods
The growing economic pressure on tunnelling and mining operations has lead to an increasing importance of investigation methods for assessing the abrasiveness of rock and soil. Such investigations can be based on a wide variety of testing procedures and standards covering a wide span of scale, ranging from real-scale tests on site to model tests with simplified tools and microscopic and chemical analyses of rocks and minerals. This paper gives an overview over some of the most important procedures, technical aspects of their application, classification of testing results and the current state of experience. Abrasivitätstest, quo vadis? Ein kommentierter Überblick über Abrasivitäts-Testverfahren Der stetig zunehmende wirtschaftliche Druck auf Tunnelbau und Rohstoffgewinnung führt zu einer steigenden Bedeutung von Untersuchungsverfahren zur Bewertung der Abrasivität von Fest- und Lockergesteinen. Derartige Untersuchungen können mit einer Vielzahl von Verfahren durchgeführt werden, die von Untersuchungen vor Ort im Realmaßstab über Modellversuche mit vereinfachten Werkzeugen bis hin zu mikroskopischen oder chemischen Untersuchungen eine weite Bandbreite an Untersuchungsmaßstäben einschließen. Der vorliegende Beitrag soll einen Überblick über die derzeit wesentlichsten Untersuchungsverfahren, versuchstechnische Aspekte, angewandte Klassifizierungsschlüssel sowie Einsatzerfahrungen mit den jeweiligen Verfahren geben. [source]