14 research outputs found
Laboratory investigation of tomography-controlled continuous steel casting
No full textMore than 96% of steel in the world is produced via the method of continuous casting. The flow condition in the mould, where the initial solidification occurs, has a significant impact on the quality of steel products. It is important to have timely, and perhaps automated, control of the flow during casting. This work presents a new concept of using contactless inductive flow tomography (CIFT) as a sensor for a novel controller, which alters the strength of an electromagnetic brake (EMBr) of ruler type based on the reconstructed flow structure in the mould. The method was developed for the small-scale Liquid Metal Model for Continuous Casting (mini-LIMMCAST) facility available at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. As an example of an undesired flow condition, clogging of the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) was modelled by partly closing one of the side ports of the SEN; in combination with an active EMBr, the jet penetrates deeper into the mould than when the EMBr is switched off. Corresponding flow patterns are detected by extracting the impingement position of the jets at the narrow faces of the mould from the CIFT reconstruction. The controller is designed to detect to undesired flow condition and switch off the EMBr. The temporal resolution of CIFT is 0.5 s
Comparison of inflammatory markers between brucella and non-brucella epididymo-orchitis
No full textABSTRACT Objectives: Brucellosis is a multi-system infectious disease that is associated with inflammation, which causes an increase in acute phase reactants. Hematological inflammatory markers of brucellosis include mean platelet volume (MPV), red cell distribution width (RDW), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of hematological inflammatory markers in Brucella epididymo-orchitis (BEO), and to investigate the utility of these markers for differential diagnosis from non-Brucella epididymo-orchitis (non-BEO). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 22 BEO and 50 non-BEO patients. Hematological parameters were recorded and compared between the two groups. The main diagnostic criteria for BEO were positive clinical findings (i.e., testicular pain, tenderness and scrotal swelling), a positive Rose Bengal test result, standard tube agglutination (STA) titer ≥ 1/160, and/or a positive blood culture. Results: The most decisive factors in discriminating between BEO and non-BEO were NLR, RDW, and MPV, in decreasing order of their strength. Regardless of other factors, NLR values 14.45% significantly increased the odds of BEO (OR=7.020, 95% CI: 1.749-28.176, p=0.006). Independent of the other factors, patients with MPV < 7.65 fL had a 6.336 times higher risk for BEO (95% CI: 1.393 - 28.822, p=0.017). Conclusion: Hematological inflammatory markers such as NLR, RDW, and MPV can aid in the differential diagnosis of BEO and non-BEO
Real-time control of the mould flow in a model of continuous casting in frame of the TOMOCON project
No full textIn continuous casting, the flow structure of the liquid steel in the mould and the two-phase distribution in the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) are crucial for the quality of the produced steel. In order to effectively control the flow in the mould by electromagnetic brakes (EMBrs) and the injection of gas into the SEN, even a rough knowledge of the flow structure would be very helpful. In the framework of the TOMOCON project, the contactless inductive flow tomography (CIFT) and the mutual inductance tomography (MIT) will be integrated into a control loop for slab casters. This control loop will be developed and implemented at the Mini-LIMMCAST facility, which is available at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf. In this paper a short overview of this project will be given.ChemE/Transport Phenomen
The Damage of Penile Doppler Ultrasonoghraphy in Diagnosis of Penile Mondor's Disease: A Report of Two Cases
No full textAbstractPenile Mondor's disease is a thrombophlebitis of the superficial dorsal vein of the penis. It is a rare clinical diagnosis and generally resolves spontaneously. A simple physical examination is sufficient for diagnosis but color Doppler ultrasonography is often carried out as a further investigation. We describe two patients who developed priapism due to penile Doppler ultrasonography which was used for diagnosis of these patients. Now, in our opinion this examination was unnecessary
Comparison of inflammatory markers between brucella and non-brucella epididymo-orchitis
No full textABSTRACT Objectives: Brucellosis is a multi-system infectious disease that is associated with inflammation, which causes an increase in acute phase reactants. Hematological inflammatory markers of brucellosis include mean platelet volume (MPV), red cell distribution width (RDW), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of hematological inflammatory markers in Brucella epididymo-orchitis (BEO), and to investigate the utility of these markers for differential diagnosis from non-Brucella epididymo-orchitis (non-BEO). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 22 BEO and 50 non-BEO patients. Hematological parameters were recorded and compared between the two groups. The main diagnostic criteria for BEO were positive clinical findings (i.e., testicular pain, tenderness and scrotal swelling), a positive Rose Bengal test result, standard tube agglutination (STA) titer ≥ 1/160, and/or a positive blood culture. Results: The most decisive factors in discriminating between BEO and non-BEO were NLR, RDW, and MPV, in decreasing order of their strength. Regardless of other factors, NLR values 14.45% significantly increased the odds of BEO (OR=7.020, 95% CI: 1.749-28.176, p=0.006). Independent of the other factors, patients with MPV </div
Effects of amniotic and maternal CD-146, TGF-beta 1, IL-12, IL-18 and Inf-gamma, on adverse pregnancy outcome
No full textObjective: Our aim was to determine the effects of maternal serum and amniotic fluid levels of cluster of differentiation 146 (CD-146), transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1, interleukin (IL)-12, IL-18, and interferon (IFN)-gamma on intrauterine growth restriction and preterm labor. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we included pregnant women who underwent amniocentesis at Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical School. Women were followed up to labor. The study group comprised 23 women with adverse pregnancy outcomes (intrauterine growth restriction and preterm labor), and the control group comprised 105 women with normal pregnancy outcome. Results: The study group was further divided into two subgroups of preterm labor and intrauterine growth restriction. No significant differences were found for IL-12, IFN-gamma, TGF-beta 1, or CD-146 levels in either plasma or amniotic fluid between the study and control groups. Serum IL-18 levels were similar, but the amniotic fluid level of IL-18 was significantly higher in the intrauterine growth restriction subgroup than that in the preterm labor subgroup and that in the control group (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Increased IL-18 level in amniotic fluid may be a predictor for intrauterine growth restriction. IL-12, IFN-gamma, TGF-beta 1, and CD-146 were not related to adverse pregnancy outcome
Urothelial neoplasm of the bladder in childhood and adolescence: a rare disease
No full textABSTRACT Purpose: Bladder tumors are rare in children and adolescents. For this reason, the diagnosis is sometimes delayed in pediatric patients. We aimed to describe the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up methods of bladder urothelial neoplasms in children and adolescents. Materials and Methods: We carried out a retrospective multicenter study involving patients who were treated between 2008 and 2014. Eleven patients aged younger than 18 years were enrolled in the study. In all the patients, a bladder tumor was diagnosed using ultrasonography and was treated through transurethral resection of the bladder (TURBT). Results: Nine of the 11 patients (82%) were admitted with gross hematuria. The average delay in diagnosis was 3 months (range, 0–16 months) until the ultrasonographic diagnosis was performed from the first episodes of macroscopic hematuria. A single exophytic tumor (1–4cm) was present in each patient. The pathology of all patients was reported as superficial urothelial neoplasm: two with papilloma, one with papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential (PUNLMP), four with low grade pTa, and four with low grade pT1. No recurrence was observed during regular cystoscopic and ultrasonographic follow-up. Conclusions: Regardless of the presence of hematuria, bladder tumors in children are usually not considered because urothelial carcinoma in this population is extremely rare, which causes a delay in diagnosis. Fortunately, the disease has a good prognosis and recurrences are infrequent. Cystoscopy may be unnecessary in the follow-up of children with bladder tumors. We believe that ultrasonography is sufficient in follow-up
Suprascapular nerve block for the treatment of frozen shoulder
No full textAims: The aim of our study was to compare the effects of suprascapular nerve block in patients with frozen shoulder and diabetes mellitus unresponsive to intraarticular steroid injections. Settings and Design: Ten patients without improvement of sign and symptoms after intraarticular injections were made a suprascapular nerve block. Methods: Pain levels and active range of movement of patients were recorded at initial attendance and after 1, 4, and 12 weeks. All patients′ simple pain scores, total pain scores, and range of motion of their shoulders were improved significantly after suprascapular nerve block. Statistical Analysis: In this study, the statistical analyses were performed by using the SPSS 8.0 program (SPSS Software, SPSS Inc., USA). To compare pre- and post-injection results of simple pain score, total pain score, shoulder abduction and external rotation, Wilcoxon test was used. Results: Patient′s simple pain scores, total pain scores also abduction, external rotation and internal rotation angles were improved significantly after suprascapular nerve block. Conclusion: Effective results after suprascapular nerve blockage was obtained for the treatment of refractory frozen shoulder cases
