Σφακιανάκης Αλέξανδρος
ΩτοΡινοΛαρυγγολόγος
Αναπαύσεως 5 Άγιος Νικόλαος
Κρήτη 72100
00302841026182
00306932607174
alsfakia@gmail.com

Αρχειοθήκη ιστολογίου

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Σάββατο 16 Ιανουαρίου 2016

Techniques and long-term outcomes of cotton-clipping and cotton-augmentation strategies for management of cerebral aneurysms

Journal of Neurosurgery, Ahead of Print.
OBJECTIVE To address the challenges of microsurgically treating broad-based, frail, and otherwise complex aneurysms that are not amenable to direct clipping, alternative techniques have been developed. One such technique is to use cotton to augment clipping ("cotton-clipping" technique), which is also used to manage intraoperative aneurysm neck rupture, and another is to reinforce unclippable segments or remnants of aneurysm necks with cotton ("cotton-augmentation" technique). This study reviews the natural history of patients with aneurysms treated with cotton-clipping and cotton-augmentation techniques. METHODS The authors queried a database consisting of all patients with aneurysms treated at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2014, to identify cases in which cotton-clipping or cotton-augmentation strategies had been used. Management was categorized as the cotton-clipping technique if cotton was used within the blades of the aneurysm clip and as the cotton-clipping technique if cotton was used to reinforce aneurysms or portions of the aneurysm that were unclippable due to the presence of perforators, atherosclerosis, or residual aneurysms. Data were reviewed to assess patient outcomes and annual rates of aneurysm recurrence or hemorrhage after the initial procedures were performed. RESULTS The authors identified 60 aneurysms treated with these techniques in 57 patients (18 patients with ruptured aneurysms and 39 patients with unruptured aneurysms) whose mean age was 53.1 years (median 55 years; range 24–72 years). Twenty-three aneurysms (11 cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage) were treated using cotton-clipping and 37 with cotton-augmentation techniques (7 cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage). In total, 18 patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage. The mean Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score at the time of discharge was 4.4. At a mean follow-up of 60.9 ± 35.6 months (median 70 months; range 10–126 months), the mean GOS score at last follow-up was 4.8. The total number of patient follow-up years was 289.4. During the follow-up period, none of the cotton-clipped aneurysms increased in size, changed in configuration, or rebled. None of the patients experienced early rebleeding. The annual hemorrhage rate for aneurysms treated with cotton-augmentation was 0.52% and the recurrence rate was 1.03% per year. For all patients in the study, the overall risk of hemorrhage was 0.35% per year and the annual recurrence rate was 0.69%. CONCLUSIONS Cotton-clipping is an effective and durable treatment strategy for intraoperative aneurysm rupture and for management of broad-based aneurysms. Cotton-augmentation can be safely used to manage unclippable or partially clipped intracranial aneurysms and affords protection from early aneurysm re-rupture and a relatively low rate of late rehemorrhage.

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Celine Dion Update News: Singer’s Brother Is Battling Cancer Of Tongue, Brain … – Morning Ledger

1JQE8RB
Morning Ledger
Celine Dion Update News: Singer's Brother Is Battling Cancer Of Tongue, Brain …
Morning Ledger
Just short of a few days after the death of her husband René Angélil, Celine Dion faces yet another heartbreak as her 59-year-old brother Daniel Dion is hospitalized from his battle with cancer and is given only a few days to live. As Celine Dion
Celine Dion's brother Daniel is also battling cancer and has 'hours to live'Daily Mail
Celine Dion's Brother Dying Of Cancer: He Only Has Hours To LiveHollywood Life
Celine Dion's Brother Dying Of Cancer: 'Could Be Any Day Now'PerezHilton.com
USA TODAYThe Indian ExpressNew Idea
all 558 news articles »

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Céline Dion is about to get hit with another heartbreaking tragedy – SheKnows.com

2064GlY
SheKnows.com
Céline Dion is about to get hit with another heartbreaking tragedy
SheKnows.com
Céline just lost her husband René Angélil to cancer yesterday, and now another important member of her family is reportedly on his deathbed, too. Céline's brother, Daniel Dion, is suffering from multiple cancers — including the same throat cancer that

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GSE67579 The genome of the seagrass Zostera marina

Contributors : Janina Brakel ; Till Bayer ; Yves Van de Peer ; Thorsten Reusch ; Jeanine L Olsen
Series Type : Expression profiling by high throughput sequencing
Organism : Zostera marina

This dataset contains the transcriptome sequence of Zostera marina as produced by Illumina sequencing. Four tissues were sequenced, female flower in late and early stages of development, the male flower, the root and leaf tissue.

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Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome induced by Hiccough Therapy, a Case Report and Literature Review

Publication date: Available online 15 January 2016
Source:Basal Ganglia
Author(s): Chengwu Gu, Weipeng Guo, Yongjun Chen
we report an unusual case of a patient who presented with neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) associated with hiccough therapy, together with a review of the current knowledge on NMS. A 70-year-old male patient rapidly developed significant hyperthermia, rigidity, and unconsciousness and upregulated serum creatine kinase after 3 days of receiving a parenteral high dose of haloperidol. The diagnosis of NMS was established, discontinued haloperidol and dantrolene administration via nasogastric tube made him rehabilitation. which makes the clinicians be vigilant of the utilization of haloperidol and other antipsychotics, especially for non-psychosis use.

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A case of isolated amyloid light-chain amyloidosis of the radial nerve

Journal of Neurosurgery, Ahead of Print.
Peripheral nerve involvement may be the first sign of systemic amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis, a rare disease. Physical examination and electrodiagnostic testing are the mainstays of peripheral neuropathy evaluation at presentation. Sural nerve biopsy is performed in conjunction with serum and urine protein evaluation to differentiate between focal and systemic disease. Systemic disease is treated with a combination of chemotherapy, steroids, and stem cell transplantation. Isolated peripheral nerve disease is extremely rare. The authors here report the case of an 80-year-old woman who presented with progressive right upper-extremity weakness due to right radial neuropathy discovered upon electrodiagnostic testing. Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) revealed a focal lesion within the right radial nerve. She underwent radial nerve exploration and excision of an intraneural mass consisting of amyloid on histopathology, with mass spectrometry analysis diagnostic for AL amyloidosis. Noninvasive testing and clinical history did not suggest systemic involvement. This unique case of isolated peripheral nerve AL amyloidosis in the absence of signs and symptoms of systemic disease is described, and the literature demonstrating peripheral nerve involvement in AL amyloidosis is reviewed.

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Letter to the Editor: Optic nerve sheath diameter as ICP marker

Journal of Neurosurgery, Ahead of Print.

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A pilot study of the utility of a laboratory-based spinal fixation training program for neurosurgical residents

Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, Ahead of Print.
OBJECTIVE Pedicle and lateral mass screw placement is technically demanding due to complex 3D spinal anatomy that is not easily visualized. Neurosurgical and orthopedic surgery residents must be properly trained in such procedures, which can be associated with significant complications and associated morbidity. Current training in pedicle and lateral mass screw placement involves didactic teaching and supervised placement in the operating room. The objective of this study was to assess whether teaching residents to place pedicle and lateral mass screws using navigation software, combined with practice using cadaveric specimens and Sawbones models, would improve screw placement accuracy. METHODS This was a single-blinded, prospective, randomized pilot study with 8 junior neurosurgical residents and 2 senior medical students with prior neurosurgery exposure. Both the study group and the level of training-matched control group (each group with 4 level of training-matched residents and 1 senior medical student) were exposed to a standardized didactic education regarding spinal anatomy and screw placement techniques. The study group was exposed to an additional pilot program that included a training session using navigation software combined with cadaveric specimens and accessibility to Sawbones models. RESULTS A statistically significant reduction in overall surgical error was observed in the study group compared with the control group (p = 0.04). Analysis by spinal region demonstrated a significant reduction in surgical error in the thoracic and lumbar regions in the study group compared with controls (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04, respectively). The study group also was observed to place screws more optimally in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions (p = 0.02, p = 0.04, and p = 0.04, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Surgical resident education in pedicle and lateral mass screw placement is a priority for training programs. This study demonstrated that compared with a didactic-only training model, using navigation simulation with cadavers and Sawbones models significantly reduced the number of screw placement errors in a laboratory setting.

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A case of isolated amyloid light-chain amyloidosis of the radial nerve

Journal of Neurosurgery, Ahead of Print.
Peripheral nerve involvement may be the first sign of systemic amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis, a rare disease. Physical examination and electrodiagnostic testing are the mainstays of peripheral neuropathy evaluation at presentation. Sural nerve biopsy is performed in conjunction with serum and urine protein evaluation to differentiate between focal and systemic disease. Systemic disease is treated with a combination of chemotherapy, steroids, and stem cell transplantation. Isolated peripheral nerve disease is extremely rare. The authors here report the case of an 80-year-old woman who presented with progressive right upper-extremity weakness due to right radial neuropathy discovered upon electrodiagnostic testing. Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) revealed a focal lesion within the right radial nerve. She underwent radial nerve exploration and excision of an intraneural mass consisting of amyloid on histopathology, with mass spectrometry analysis diagnostic for AL amyloidosis. Noninvasive testing and clinical history did not suggest systemic involvement. This unique case of isolated peripheral nerve AL amyloidosis in the absence of signs and symptoms of systemic disease is described, and the literature demonstrating peripheral nerve involvement in AL amyloidosis is reviewed.

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A case of spinal epidural venous malformation with mediastinal extension: management with combined surgery and percutaneous sclerotherapy

Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics, Ahead of Print.
While spinal epidural arteriovenous malformations, fistulas, and shunts are well reported, the presence of a venous malformation in the spinal epidural space is a rare phenomenon. Herein, the authors report the clinical presentation, imaging findings, pathological features, and the outcome of surgical and percutaneous interventional management of a mediastinal and spinal epidural venous malformation in a young woman who presented clinically with neurogenic claudication from presumed venous hypertension precipitating the formation of a syrinx. The patient underwent a C6–T5 osteoplastic laminectomy for decompression of the spinal canal and subtotal resection of the epidural venous malformation, followed by percutaneous sclerotherapy of the mediastinal and residual anterior spinal venous malformation. She developed transient loss of dorsal column sensation, which returned to baseline within 3 weeks of the surgery. A 6-month postoperative MRI study revealed complete resolution of the syrinx and the mediastinal venous malformation. Twelve months after the surgery, the patient has had resolution of all neurological symptoms with the exception of her premorbid migraine headaches. A multidisciplinary approach with partial resection and the use of percutaneous sclerotherapy for the residual malformation can be used to successfully treat a complex venous malformation.

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A case of spinal epidural venous malformation with mediastinal extension: management with combined surgery and percutaneous sclerotherapy

Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics, Ahead of Print.
While spinal epidural arteriovenous malformations, fistulas, and shunts are well reported, the presence of a venous malformation in the spinal epidural space is a rare phenomenon. Herein, the authors report the clinical presentation, imaging findings, pathological features, and the outcome of surgical and percutaneous interventional management of a mediastinal and spinal epidural venous malformation in a young woman who presented clinically with neurogenic claudication from presumed venous hypertension precipitating the formation of a syrinx. The patient underwent a C6–T5 osteoplastic laminectomy for decompression of the spinal canal and subtotal resection of the epidural venous malformation, followed by percutaneous sclerotherapy of the mediastinal and residual anterior spinal venous malformation. She developed transient loss of dorsal column sensation, which returned to baseline within 3 weeks of the surgery. A 6-month postoperative MRI study revealed complete resolution of the syrinx and the mediastinal venous malformation. Twelve months after the surgery, the patient has had resolution of all neurological symptoms with the exception of her premorbid migraine headaches. A multidisciplinary approach with partial resection and the use of percutaneous sclerotherapy for the residual malformation can be used to successfully treat a complex venous malformation.

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Advances in Local and Systemic Therapies for Hepatocellular Cancer

Abstract Global incidence and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has increased over the past two decades. Although transplantation and surgical resection offer a chance for cure and long-term survival, most patients present with more advanced tumor stage when these therapies are not possible. Although rarely curative, locoregional therapy with transarterial chemoembolization or radioembolization offers a survival benefit for those with liver-isolated HCC who are not amenable to curative therapies. Patients with metastatic disease or macrovascular invasion are treated with systemic therapy; however, median survival remains below 1 year. Patients with severe liver dysfunction or poor performance status should be treated with best supportive care given poor prognosis and n…

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Clinically Relevant Physical Benefits of Exercise Interventions in Breast Cancer Survivors

Abstract Evidence is currently limited for the effect of exercise on breast cancer clinical outcomes. However, several of the reported physical benefits of exercise, including peak oxygen consumption, functional capacity, muscle strength and lean mass, cardiovascular risk factors, and bone health, have established associations with disability, cardiovascular disease risk, morbidity, and mortality. This review will summarize the clinically relevant physical benefits of exercise interventions in breast cancer survivors and discuss recommendations for achieving these benefits. It will also describe potential differences in intervention delivery that may impact outcomes and, lastly, describe current physical activity guidelines for cancer survivors. (Source: Current Oncology Reports)

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Soft tissue stability and volumetric changes after 5 years in pontic sites with or without soft tissue grafti ng: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

To evaluate volumetric changes (VC) of pontic sites with or without soft tissue grafting over 5 years.

Material and Methods

Twelve patients participating in a prospective clinical trial evaluating fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) were selected on the basis of having received a subepithelial connective tissue graft for soft volume augmentation in pontic sites (augmentation group [AG]). An additional 12 patients, belonging to the same study, that had not received soft tissue grafting were used as controls (control group [CG]). Casts made from dental impressions taken at prosthesis delivery (baseline [BL]) and at 5 years (5-FU) were digitized, and linear and volumetric measurements performed to assess the soft tissue pontic height (PH), abutment height (AH), (VC) and changes in tissue thickness (TT) on the buccal side of the pontics.

Results

There were no significant differences at BL between the two groups for linear measurements (P > 0.05). The changes in soft tissue pontic height (PHC) amounted to a loss in the height of 0.34 mm (SD = 0.5) and 0.35 mm (0.2) for AG and CG, respectively. The mean VC amounted to a loss of 5.31 mm3 (±1.1) (AG) and 4.32 mm3 (±1.7) (CG). None of the changes between BL and 5-FU in volumetric and linear measurements, including TT and mean mesial and distal abutment height changes (mAHC and dAHC), reached statistically significant differences between AG and CG (P > 0.05). However the changes in linear measurements from BL to 5-FU were significant in all parameters for both groups (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

At an observational period of 5 years, pontic sites with or without grafting under FDPs demonstrated similar dimensional stability.

Clinical relevance

Pontic sites with or without grafting are volumetrically stable over 5 years.

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Long-term prospective cohort study on dental implants: clinical and microbiological parameters

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Abstract

Objective

The aim of the present prospective cohort study is to evaluate clinical and microbiological data of dental implants after at least 8 years of follow-up.

Material and methods

A total of 110 patients and 232 implants were included at baseline and followed during 1 year. Fifty-two patients and 108 implants could be evaluated at the final examination. Clinical and microbiological data were taken at baseline, 1 year and at least 8 years.

Results

The mean follow-up time was 10.8 ± 1.7 years. Plaque index was, respectively, 0.50 ± 0.50 at baseline, 0.50 ± 0.50 at 1 year and 0.33 ± 0.67 at ≥8 years. Gingival index was, respectively, 1.08 ± 0.19 at baseline, 1.01 ± 0.39 at 1 year and 0.22 ± 0.47 at ≥8 years. Sulcular bleeding index was, respectively, 0.17 ± 0.22 at baseline, 0.11 ± 0.33 at 1 year and 0.17 ± 0.22 at ≥8 years. Probing depth was, respectively, 2.67 ± 0.75 at baseline, 3.00 ± 0.83 at 1 year and 2.74 ± 1.00 at ≥8 years. Clinical attachment level was, respectively, 3.75 ± 1.17 at baseline, 4.00 ± 1.06 at 1 year and 4.00 ± 1.17 at ≥8 years. Peri-implant mucositis was detected around 60.2% of implants in 73.1% of patients, while peri-implantitis was affecting 12% of implants in 15.4% of patients. Some bacteria species were associated with worsened clinical parameters.

Conclusions

About 69.4% of implants (75/108) and 67.3% of the patients (35/52) were considered as success in the present prospective cohort study after a mean follow-up of 10.8 years. Microbial follow-up may help to identify patients at risk for peri-implant disease.

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Pharmacological thromboprophylaxis and total hip or knee replacement

British Journal of Nursing, Volume 25, Issue 1, Page 45-53, January 2016.


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Shared decision making for patients living with inflammatory arthritis

British Journal of Nursing, Volume 25, Issue 1, Page 31-35, January 2016.


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No health without a workforce, no workforce without nurses

British Journal of Nursing, Volume 25, Issue 1, Page 54-55, January 2016.


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A question of accountability

British Journal of Nursing, Volume 25, Issue 1, Page 75-75, January 2016.


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Management of the behavioural manifestations of Hunter syndrome

British Journal of Nursing, Volume 25, Issue 1, Page 22-30, January 2016.


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From staff nurse to nurse consultant

British Journal of Nursing, Volume 25, Issue 1, Page 66-66, January 2016.


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Angelil Dies After Long Battle with Throat Cancer – Longevity LIVE

Angelil Dies After Long Battle with Throat Cancer
Longevity LIVE
Throat Cancer is any cancer that affects the voice box, vocal cords and other parts of the throat, such as the tonsils and the oropharynx. It can be grouped into two categories: pharyngeal cancer which starts in the pharynx and laryngeal cancer which

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Angelil Dies After Long Battle with Throat Cancer – Longevity LIVE

Angelil Dies After Long Battle with Throat Cancer
Longevity LIVE
Throat Cancer is any cancer that affects the voice box, vocal cords and other parts of the throat, such as the tonsils and the oropharynx. It can be grouped into two categories: pharyngeal cancer which starts in the pharynx and laryngeal cancer which

and more »

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Screening mammography: There is a golden mammoth in the room!

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β-Glucan restores tumor-educated dendritic cell maturation to enhance antitumor immune responses

Abstract

Tumors can induce the generation and accumulation of immunosuppressive cells such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in a tumor microenvironment, contributing to tumor escape from immunological attack. Although dendritic cell-based cancer vaccines can initiate antitumor immune responses, tumor-educated dendritic cells (TEDCs) involved in the tolerance induction have attracted much attention recently. In this study, we investigated the effect of β-glucan on TEDCs and found that β-glucan treatment could promote the maturation and migration of TEDCs and that the suppressive function of TEDCs was significantly decreased. Treatment with β-glucan drastically decreased the levels of regulatory T (Treg) cells but increased the infiltration of macrophages, granulocytes and DCs in tumor masses, thus elicited Th1 differentiation and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses and led to a delay in tumor progression. These findings reveal that β-glucan can inhibit the regulatory function of TEDCs, therefore revealing a novel function for β-glucan in immunotherapy and suggesting its potential clinical benefit. β-Glucan directly abrogated tumor-educated dendritic cells-associated immune suppression, promoted Th1 differentiation and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte priming and improved antitumor responses. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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Bmp signaling in colonic mesenchyme regulates stromal microenvironment and protects from polyposis initiation

Abstract

In the colon, myofibroblasts are primary contributors in the establishment of the microenvironment involved in tissue homeostasis. Alterations in myofibroblast functions lead to changes resulting in a toxic microenvironment nurturing tumorigenesis. Bone morphogenetic proteins (Bmps) are morphogens known to play key roles in adult gut homeostasis. Studies in genetically-modified mice have shown that Bmp disruption in all cell layers leads to the development of gut polyposis. In contrast, our studies showed that loss of Bmp exclusively in the gastrointestinal epithelium resulted in increased epithelial proliferation without polyposis initiation, thus suggesting a key role for mesenchymal Bmp signaling in polyposis initiation. In order to identify the role of mesenchymal Bmp signaling on the microenvironment and its impact on colonic mucosa, a mouse model was generated with suppression of Bmp signaling exclusively in myofibroblasts (Bmpr1a ΔMES). Bmpr1a ΔMES mice exhibited increased subepithelial proliferation with changes in cellular composition leading to the development of a primed stroma with modulation of extracellular matrix proteins, immune cells and cytokines as early as 90 days of age. This microenvironmental deregulation was associated with increased polyposis initiation at one year of age. These results are the first to demonstrate that mesenchymal Bmpr1a inactivation alone is sufficient to prompt an expansion of myofibroblasts leading to the development of a reactive mesenchyme that contributes to polyposis initiation in the colon. These findings support the novel concept that inhibition of Bmp signaling in mesenchymal cells surrounding the normal epithelium leads to important changes instructing a toxic microenvironment sufficient to induce colonic polyposis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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Alcohol and breast cancer tumor subtypes in a Spanish Cohort

Although alcohol intake is an established risk factor for overall breast cancer, few studies have looked at the relationship between alcohol use and breast cancer risk by the four major subtypes of breast cancer and very few data exist in the alcohol-breast cancer relationship in Spanish women. A population-based case-control study was conducted in Galicia, Spain. A total of 1766 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 1997 and 2014 and 833 controls participated in the study. Data on demographics, breast cancer risk factors, and clinico-pathological characteristics were collected. We examined the alcohol-breast cancer association according to the major breast cancer subtypes [hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative (luminal A); hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-positive (luminal B); hormone-receptor-negative, HER2-negative (TNBC); and hormone-receptor-negative, HER2-positive (HER2 overexpressing)] as well as grade and morphology in Spanish women. With the exception of HER2 overexpressing, the risk of all subtypes of breast cancer significantly increased with increasing alcohol intake. The association was similar for hormonal receptor positive breast cancer, i.e., luminal A and luminal B breast cancer (odds ratio, OR 2.16, 95 % confidence interval, CI 1.55–3.02; and OR 1.98, 95 % CI 1.11–3.53, respectively), and for TNBC (TNBC: OR 1.93, 95 % CI 1.07–3.47). The alcohol-breast cancer association was slightly more pronounced among lobular breast cancer (OR 2.76, 95 % CI 1.62–4.69) than among ductal type breast cancers (OR 2.21, 95 % CI 1.61–3.03). In addition, significant associations were shown for all grades, I, II and III breast cancer (OR 1.98, 95 % CI 1.26–3.10; OR 2.34, 95 % CI 1.66–3.31; and OR 2.16, 95 % CI 1.44–3.25 for Grades I, II and III, respectively). To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the association of breast cancer subtypes and alcohol intake in Spanish women. Our findings indicate that breast cancer risk increased with increasing alcohol intakes for three out of the four major subtypes of breast cancer. The association was similar for hormonal receptor positive breast cancer, i.e., luminal A and luminal B breast cancer, and for TNBC. The association seemed to be slightly more pronounced for lobular than ductal breast cancers. No differences were detected by grade.

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An overview of platforms for cloud based development

This paper provides an overview of the state of the art technologies for software development in cloud environments. The surveyed systems cover the whole spectrum of cloud-based development including integrated programming environments, code repositories, software modeling, composition and documentation tools, and application management and orchestration. In this work we evaluate the existing cloud development ecosystem based on a wide number of characteristics like applicability (e.g. programming and database technologies supported), productivity enhancement (e.g. editor capabilities, debugging tools), support for collaboration (e.g. repository functionality, version control) and post-development application hosting and we compare the surveyed systems. The conducted survey proves that software engineering in the cloud era has made its initial steps showing potential to provide concrete implementation and execution environments for cloud-based applications. However, a number of important challenges need to be addressed for this approach to be viable. These challenges are discussed in the article, while a conclusion is drawn that although several steps have been made, a compact and reliable solution does not yet exist.

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The increased ratio of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 versus 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 in chronic periodontitis irrespective of obesity

11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1), which converts inactive cortisone to active cortisol, has been reported to play an important role in metabolic diseases as well as chronic inflammatory diseases. The involvement of 11β-HSD1 in chronic periodontitis was investigated in the present study. The relationship between the levels of 11β-HSD1, chronic periodontitis, and body mass index (BMI) was analyzed. The expression of 11β-HSD1 mRNA was significantly higher in the chronic periodontitis group than in the control group. Since the expression of 11β-HSD2, which converts active cortisol to inactive cortisone, was slightly lower in the chronic periodontitis group than in the controls, the ratio of 11β-HSD1 versus 11β-HSD2 was significantly higher in the chronic periodontitis group than in the controls. A correlation was not observed between BMI and the level of 11β-HSD1 or between BMI and the ratio of 11β-HSD1 versus 11β-HSD2. These results suggested that an increase in the ratio of 11β-HSD1 versus 11β-HSD2 was associated with chronic periodontitis irrespective of obesity.

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Frenum-like oral synechiae of the lip and vestibule

Abstract Two cases where aberrant tissue was attached to the lower lip mimicking the inferior labial frenum were reported. The frenum-like tissue extended from the gingival margin between the lower left deciduous central and lateral incisors in case 1 and between the lower right deciduous central and lateral incisors in case 2, to the dry lower lip. Histologically, the resected specimen was regarded as normal oral mucosa covered with stratified squamous epithelium, without a clear amniotic band. The frenum-like tissue of the lower lip found in both our patients was diagnosed as a category of oral synechiae, of unknown origin. (Source: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery)

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Efficacy of buccal fat pad in the surgical management of oral submucous fibrosis: a prospective study

Conclusion Buccal fat pad can be used effectively in the surgical management of oral submucous fibrosis with good functional and esthetic outcome, with only drawback of supple lobulated fat, which requires delicate handling and its limitation to reach anteriorly beyond the canine region. (Source: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery)

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A pilot study of the utility of a laboratory-based spinal fixation training program for neurosurgical residents

Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, Ahead of Print.
OBJECTIVE Pedicle and lateral mass screw placement is technically demanding due to complex 3D spinal anatomy that is not easily visualized. Neurosurgical and orthopedic surgery residents must be properly trained in such procedures, which can be associated with significant complications and associated morbidity. Current training in pedicle and lateral mass screw placement involves didactic teaching and supervised placement in the operating room. The objective of this study was to assess whether teaching residents to place pedicle and lateral mass screws using navigation software, combined with practice using cadaveric specimens and Sawbones models, would improve screw placement accuracy. METHODS This was a single-blinded, prospective, randomized pilot study with 8 junior neurosurgical residents and 2 senior medical students with prior neurosurgery exposure. Both the study group and the level of training-matched control group (each group with 4 level of training-matched residents and 1 senior medical student) were exposed to a standardized didactic education regarding spinal anatomy and screw placement techniques. The study group was exposed to an additional pilot program that included a training session using navigation software combined with cadaveric specimens and accessibility to Sawbones models. RESULTS A statistically significant reduction in overall surgical error was observed in the study group compared with the control group (p = 0.04). Analysis by spinal region demonstrated a significant reduction in surgical error in the thoracic and lumbar regions in the study group compared with controls (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04, respectively). The study group also was observed to place screws more optimally in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions (p = 0.02, p = 0.04, and p = 0.04, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Surgical resident education in pedicle and lateral mass screw placement is a priority for training programs. This study demonstrated that compared with a didactic-only training model, using navigation simulation with cadavers and Sawbones models significantly reduced the number of screw placement errors in a laboratory setting.

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Letter to the Editor: Optic nerve sheath diameter as ICP marker

Journal of Neurosurgery, Ahead of Print.

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A case of isolated amyloid light-chain amyloidosis of the radial nerve

Journal of Neurosurgery, Ahead of Print.
Peripheral nerve involvement may be the first sign of systemic amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis, a rare disease. Physical examination and electrodiagnostic testing are the mainstays of peripheral neuropathy evaluation at presentation. Sural nerve biopsy is performed in conjunction with serum and urine protein evaluation to differentiate between focal and systemic disease. Systemic disease is treated with a combination of chemotherapy, steroids, and stem cell transplantation. Isolated peripheral nerve disease is extremely rare. The authors here report the case of an 80-year-old woman who presented with progressive right upper-extremity weakness due to right radial neuropathy discovered upon electrodiagnostic testing. Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) revealed a focal lesion within the right radial nerve. She underwent radial nerve exploration and excision of an intraneural mass consisting of amyloid on histopathology, with mass spectrometry analysis diagnostic for AL amyloidosis. Noninvasive testing and clinical history did not suggest systemic involvement. This unique case of isolated peripheral nerve AL amyloidosis in the absence of signs and symptoms of systemic disease is described, and the literature demonstrating peripheral nerve involvement in AL amyloidosis is reviewed.

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A case of isolated amyloid light-chain amyloidosis of the radial nerve

Journal of Neurosurgery, Ahead of Print.
Peripheral nerve involvement may be the first sign of systemic amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis, a rare disease. Physical examination and electrodiagnostic testing are the mainstays of peripheral neuropathy evaluation at presentation. Sural nerve biopsy is performed in conjunction with serum and urine protein evaluation to differentiate between focal and systemic disease. Systemic disease is treated with a combination of chemotherapy, steroids, and stem cell transplantation. Isolated peripheral nerve disease is extremely rare. The authors here report the case of an 80-year-old woman who presented with progressive right upper-extremity weakness due to right radial neuropathy discovered upon electrodiagnostic testing. Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) revealed a focal lesion within the right radial nerve. She underwent radial nerve exploration and excision of an intraneural mass consisting of amyloid on histopathology, with mass spectrometry analysis diagnostic for AL amyloidosis. Noninvasive testing and clinical history did not suggest systemic involvement. This unique case of isolated peripheral nerve AL amyloidosis in the absence of signs and symptoms of systemic disease is described, and the literature demonstrating peripheral nerve involvement in AL amyloidosis is reviewed.

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A case of spinal epidural venous malformation with mediastinal extension: management with combined surgery and percutaneous sclerotherapy

Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics, Ahead of Print.
While spinal epidural arteriovenous malformations, fistulas, and shunts are well reported, the presence of a venous malformation in the spinal epidural space is a rare phenomenon. Herein, the authors report the clinical presentation, imaging findings, pathological features, and the outcome of surgical and percutaneous interventional management of a mediastinal and spinal epidural venous malformation in a young woman who presented clinically with neurogenic claudication from presumed venous hypertension precipitating the formation of a syrinx. The patient underwent a C6–T5 osteoplastic laminectomy for decompression of the spinal canal and subtotal resection of the epidural venous malformation, followed by percutaneous sclerotherapy of the mediastinal and residual anterior spinal venous malformation. She developed transient loss of dorsal column sensation, which returned to baseline within 3 weeks of the surgery. A 6-month postoperative MRI study revealed complete resolution of the syrinx and the mediastinal venous malformation. Twelve months after the surgery, the patient has had resolution of all neurological symptoms with the exception of her premorbid migraine headaches. A multidisciplinary approach with partial resection and the use of percutaneous sclerotherapy for the residual malformation can be used to successfully treat a complex venous malformation.

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A case of spinal epidural venous malformation with mediastinal extension: management with combined surgery and percutaneous sclerotherapy

Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics, Ahead of Print.
While spinal epidural arteriovenous malformations, fistulas, and shunts are well reported, the presence of a venous malformation in the spinal epidural space is a rare phenomenon. Herein, the authors report the clinical presentation, imaging findings, pathological features, and the outcome of surgical and percutaneous interventional management of a mediastinal and spinal epidural venous malformation in a young woman who presented clinically with neurogenic claudication from presumed venous hypertension precipitating the formation of a syrinx. The patient underwent a C6–T5 osteoplastic laminectomy for decompression of the spinal canal and subtotal resection of the epidural venous malformation, followed by percutaneous sclerotherapy of the mediastinal and residual anterior spinal venous malformation. She developed transient loss of dorsal column sensation, which returned to baseline within 3 weeks of the surgery. A 6-month postoperative MRI study revealed complete resolution of the syrinx and the mediastinal venous malformation. Twelve months after the surgery, the patient has had resolution of all neurological symptoms with the exception of her premorbid migraine headaches. A multidisciplinary approach with partial resection and the use of percutaneous sclerotherapy for the residual malformation can be used to successfully treat a complex venous malformation.

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Lumbar paraspinal muscle morphometry and its correlations with demographic and radiological factors in adult isthmic spondylolisthesis: a retrospective review of 120 surgically managed cases

Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, Ahead of Print.
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to assess the cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of lumbar paraspinal muscles in adults with isthmic spondylolisthesis (IS), to compare them with those in the normative population, and to evaluate their correlations with demographic factors and MRI changes in various spinal elements. METHODS The authors conducted a retrospective study of patients who had undergone posterior lumbar interbody fusion for IS, and 2 of the authors acting as independent observers calculated the CSAs of various lumbar paraspinal muscles (psoas, erector spinae [ES], multifidus [MF]) on preoperative axial T2-weighted MR images from the L-3 to L-5 vertebral levels and computed the CSAs as ratios with respect to the corresponding vertebral body areas. These values were then compared with those in an age- and sex-matched normative population and were analyzed with respect to age, sex, duration of symptoms, grade of listhesis, and various MRI changes at the level of the listhesis (pedicle signal change, disc degeneration, and facetal arthropathy). RESULTS Compared with values in normative controls, the mean CSA value for the ES muscle was significantly higher in the study cohort of 120 patients (p = 0.002), whereas that for the MF muscle was significantly lower (p = 0.009), and more so in the patients with PSC (p = 0.002). Magnetic resonance imaging signal change in the pedicle was seen in half of the patients, all of whom demonstrated a Type 2 change. Of the variables tested in a multivariate analysis, age independently predicted lower area values for all 3 muscles (p ≤ 0.001), whereas female sex predicted a lower mean psoas area value (p < 0.001). None of the other variables significantly predicted any of the muscle area values. A decrease in the mean MF muscle area value alone was associated with a significantly increased likelihood of a PSC (p = 0.039). CONCLUSIONS Compared with normative controls, patients with IS suffer selective atrophy of their MF muscle, whereas their ES muscle undergoes a compensatory hypertrophy. Advancing age has a detrimental effect on the areas of the lumbar PSMs, whereas female sex predisposes to a decreased psoas muscle area. Multifidus muscle atrophy correlates with PSC, indicating the role of this deep stabilizer in the biomechanical stability of spondylolisthetic spines. This may be of clinical significance in targeted physiotherapy programs during the conservative management of IS.

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A pilot study of the utility of a laboratory-based spinal fixation training program for neurosurgical residents

Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, Ahead of Print.
OBJECTIVE Pedicle and lateral mass screw placement is technically demanding due to complex 3D spinal anatomy that is not easily visualized. Neurosurgical and orthopedic surgery residents must be properly trained in such procedures, which can be associated with significant complications and associated morbidity. Current training in pedicle and lateral mass screw placement involves didactic teaching and supervised placement in the operating room. The objective of this study was to assess whether teaching residents to place pedicle and lateral mass screws using navigation software, combined with practice using cadaveric specimens and Sawbones models, would improve screw placement accuracy. METHODS This was a single-blinded, prospective, randomized pilot study with 8 junior neurosurgical residents and 2 senior medical students with prior neurosurgery exposure. Both the study group and the level of training-matched control group (each group with 4 level of training-matched residents and 1 senior medical student) were exposed to a standardized didactic education regarding spinal anatomy and screw placement techniques. The study group was exposed to an additional pilot program that included a training session using navigation software combined with cadaveric specimens and accessibility to Sawbones models. RESULTS A statistically significant reduction in overall surgical error was observed in the study group compared with the control group (p = 0.04). Analysis by spinal region demonstrated a significant reduction in surgical error in the thoracic and lumbar regions in the study group compared with controls (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04, respectively). The study group also was observed to place screws more optimally in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions (p = 0.02, p = 0.04, and p = 0.04, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Surgical resident education in pedicle and lateral mass screw placement is a priority for training programs. This study demonstrated that compared with a didactic-only training model, using navigation simulation with cadavers and Sawbones models significantly reduced the number of screw placement errors in a laboratory setting.

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The 100 most-cited articles in spinal oncology

Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, Ahead of Print.
OBJECTIVE The authors' objective was to identify the 100 most-cited research articles in the field of spinal oncology. METHODS The Thomson Reuters Web of Science service was queried for the years 1864–2015 without language restrictions. Articles were sorted in descending order of the number of times they were cited by other studies, and all titles and abstracts were screened to identify the research areas of the top 100 articles. Levels of evidence were assigned on the basis of the North American Spine Society criteria. RESULTS The authors identified the 100 most-cited articles in spinal oncology, which collectively had been cited 20,771 times at the time of this writing. The oldest article on this top 100 list had been published in 1931, and the most recent in 2008; the most prolific decade was the 1990s, with 34 articles on this list having been published during that period. There were 4 studies with Level I evidence, 3 with Level II evidence, 9 with Level III evidence, 70 with Level IV evidence, and 2 with Level V evidence; levels of evidence were not assigned to 12 studies because they were not on therapeutic, prognostic, or diagnostic topics. Thirty-one unique journals contributed to the 100 articles, with the Journal of Neurosurgery contributing most of the articles (n = 25). The specialties covered included neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, neurology, radiation oncology, and pathology. Sixty-seven articles reported clinical outcomes. The most common country of article origin was the United States (n = 62), followed by Canada (n = 8) and France (n = 7). The most common topics were spinal metastases (n = 35), intramedullary tumors (n = 18), chordoma (n = 17), intradural tumors (n = 7), vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty (n = 7), primary bone tumors (n = 6), and others (n = 10). One researcher had authored 6 studies on the top 100 list, and 7 authors had 3 studies each on this list. CONCLUSIONS This study identified the 100 most-cited research articles in the area of spinal oncology. The studies highlighted the multidisciplinary and multimodal nature of spinal tumor management. Recognition of historical articles may guide future spinal oncology research.

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Percutaneous pedicle screw placement into a spinal segment previously treated with vertebroplasty: technical note

Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, Ahead of Print.
Vertebral augmentation with cement has become a common procedure for the treatment of compression fractures, leading to a growing population who have had this procedure and are now in need of another spinal surgery. This technical note reports an undescribed method for placing pedicle screws through a previously cemented level.

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These new articles for The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism are available online

These new articles for The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism are available online

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Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen is a Potential Anti-Angiogenic Target in Adrenocortical Carcinoma
Michael JP Crowley, et al. | The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism | Jan 15, 2016
Effects of the internal circadian system and circadian misalignment on glucose tolerance in chronic shift workers
Christopher J. Morris, et al. | The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism | Jan 15, 2016
MicroRNA species in follicular fluid associating with polycystic ovary syndrome and related intermediary phenotypes
Anja E. Sørensen, et al. | The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism | Jan 15, 2016
Validation of PHPQoL, a disease-specific Quality of Life Questionnaire for patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism
SM Webb, et al. | The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism | Jan 15, 2016

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These new articles for Molecular Endocrinology are available online

These new articles for Molecular Endocrinology are available online

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SNARE-mediated cholesterol movement to mitochondria supports steroidogenesis in rodent cells
Ye Lin, et al. | Molecular Endocrinology | Jan 15, 2016

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Lingual Foregut duplication cysts in the Neonate: potential role for marsupialization as initial management.

We describe a case of a neonate born with a ventral tongue FDC which prevented mouth closure and precluded oral intake. Due to excessive potential for morbidity with surgical excision, the cyst was managed primarily by surgical marsupialization. We review the literature, and suggest that marsupialization may be a desirable temporizing measure for oral cavity cysts, offering an initial alternative to complete excision in the neonatal period. (Source: International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology Extra)

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Looking to the Future in an Unprecedented Time for Cancer Drug Development

Over the past several years sustained commitment to cancer research has been translated into therapeutic advances across a broad range of drug and biologic products. The magnitude of benefit observed with many of these cancer therapies has enabled the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products at the FDA to proactively utilize regulatory programs to expedite the delivery of safe and effective therapies to patients. How did we get here, and what can the cancer drug development community do to continue to bring tangible benefit to cancer patients? (Source: Seminars in Oncology)

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Molecules, Vol. 21, Pages 103: Antibacterial Peptide CecropinB2 Production via Various Host and Construct Systems

Cecropin is a cationic antibacterial peptide composed of 35–39 residues. This peptide has been identified as possessing strong antibacterial activity and low toxicity against eukaryotic cells, and it has been claimed that some types of the cecropin family of peptides are capable of killing cancer cells. In this study, the host effect of cloning antibacterial peptide cecropinB2 was investigated. Three different host expression systems were chosen, i.e., Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Pichia pastoris. Two gene constructs, cecropinB2 (cecB2) and intein-cecropinB2 (INT-cecB2), were applied. Signal peptide and propeptide from Armigeres subalbatus were also attached to the gene construct. The results showed that the best host for cloning cecropinB2 was P. pastoris SMD1168 harboring the gene of pGAPzαC-prepro-cecB2 via Western blot confirmation. The cecropinB2 that was purified using immobilized-metal affinity chromatography resin showed strong antibacterial activity against the Gram-negative strains, including the multi-drug-resistant bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii.

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Sustainability, Vol. 8, Pages 86: The Effect of Land Use on Availability of Japanese Freshwater Resources and Its Significance for Water Footprinting

All relevant effects on water must be assessed in water footprinting for identifying hotspots and managing the impacts of products, processes, and services throughout the life cycle. Although several studies have focused on physical water scarcity and degradation of water quality, the relevance of land use in water footprinting has not been widely addressed. Here, we aimed to verify the extent of land-use effect in the context of water footprinting. Intensity factors of land use regarding the loss of freshwater availability are modeled by calculating water balance at grid scale in Japan. A water footprint inventory and impacts related to land use are assessed by applying the developed intensity factors and comparing them with those related to water consumption and degradation. Artificial land use such as urban area results in the loss of many parts of available freshwater input by precipitation. When considering water footprint inventory, the dominance of land use is less than that of water consumption. However, the effect of land use is relevant to the assessment of water footprint impact by differentiating stress on water resources. The exclusion of land use effect underestimates the water footprint of goods produced in Japan by an average of around 37%.

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Sensors, Vol. 16, Pages 111: Galileo: The Added Value for Integrity in Harsh Environments

A global navigation satellite system (GNSS)-based navigation is a challenging task in a signal-degraded environments where GNSS signals are distorted by multipath and attenuated by fading effects: the navigation solution may be inaccurate or unavailable. A possible approach to improve accuracy and availability is the joint use of measurements from different GNSSs and quality check algorithms; this approach is investigated here using live GPS and Galileo signals. A modified receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) algorithm, including geometry and separability checks, is proposed to detect and exclude erroneous measurements: the multi-constellation approach provides redundant measurements, and RAIM exploits them to exclude distorted observations. The synergy between combined GPS/Galileo navigation and RAIM is analyzed using live data; the performance is compared to the accuracy and availability of a GPS-only solution. The tests performed demonstrate that the methods developed are effective techniques for GNSS-based navigation in signal-degraded environments. The joint use of the multi-constellation approach and of modified RAIM algorithms improves the performance of the navigation system in terms of both accuracy and availability.

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Polymers, Vol. 8, Pages 19: 3D Printing of Scaffold for Cells Delivery: Advances in Skin Tissue Engineering

Injury or damage to tissue and organs is a major health problem, resulting in about half of the world's annual healthcare expenditure every year. Advances in the fields of stem cells (SCs) and biomaterials processing have provided a tremendous leap for researchers to manipulate the dynamics between these two, and obtain a skin substitute that can completely heal the wounded areas. Although wound healing needs a coordinated interplay between cells, extracellular proteins and growth factors, the most important players in this process are the endogenous SCs, which activate the repair cascade by recruiting cells from different sites. Extra cellular matrix (ECM) proteins are activated by these SCs, which in turn aid in cellular migrations and finally secretion of growth factors that can seal and heal the wounds. The interaction between ECM proteins and SCs helps the skin to sustain the rigors of everyday activity, and in an attempt to attain this level of functionality in artificial three-dimensional (3D) constructs, tissue engineered biomaterials are fabricated using more advanced techniques such as bioprinting and laser assisted printing of the organs. This review provides a concise summary of the most recent advances that have been made in the area of polymer bio-fabrication using 3D bio printing used for encapsulating stem cells for skin regeneration. The focus of this review is to describe, in detail, the role of 3D architecture and arrangement of cells within this system that can heal wounds and aid in skin regeneration.

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IJERPH, Vol. 13, Pages 133: Chronic Arsenic Poisoning Probably Caused by Arsenic-Based Pesticides: Findings from an Investigation Study of a Household

In addition to naturally occurring arsenic, man-made arsenic-based compounds are other sources of arsenic exposure. In 2013, our group identified 12 suspected arsenicosis patients in a household (32 living members). Of them, eight members were diagnosed with skin cancer. Interestingly, all of these patients had lived in the household prior to 1989. An investigation revealed that approximately 2 tons of arsenic-based pesticides had been previously placed near a well that had supplied drinking water to the family from 1973 to 1989. The current arsenic level in the well water was 620 μg/L. No other high arsenic wells were found near the family's residence. Based on these findings, it is possible to infer that the skin lesions exhibited by these family members were caused by long-term exposure to well water contaminated with arsenic-based pesticides. Additionally, biochemical analysis showed that the individuals exposed to arsenic had higher levels of aspartate aminotransferase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase than those who were not exposed. These findings might indicate the presence of liver dysfunction in the arsenic-exposed individuals. This report elucidates the effects of arsenical compounds on the occurrence of high levels of arsenic in the environment and emphasizes the severe human health impact of arsenic exposure.

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