1,354,901 research outputs found
An overview of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the multimodality treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma
No full textMalignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive tumour with poor prognosis and increasing incidence in industrialized countries because of the previous widespread exposure to asbestos fibres and to the long lag period from time of exposure and the diagnosis of the disease. MPM shows high refractoriety to systemic treatment, single-modality treatment was generally ineffective and did not achieve higher results than supportive care. The incidence of local and distant recurrences after surgery remains high and that was the reason for many centres to perform combined treatments. In the attempt of reducing the incidence of local recurrences, a multimodality approach with surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy was explored. Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) allows higher doses of radiotherapy to the whole hemithorax by avoiding pulmonary toxicity and the results of this approach is a significant reduction of loco-regional relapses; although, extrathoracic metastasis represent a major problem in the management of the disease because of the impact on overall survival. The success with surgical resection after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in stage IIIA lung cancer has been the impetus for several groups to apply this strategy in MPM aiming at reducing the incidence of distant relapse after surgery. Platinum-based chemotherapy plus gemcitabine or pemetrexed for 3-4 cycles followed by surgery and postoperative high-dose radiotherapy showed the best results in terms of overall and progression free survival. This review will focus on the main clinical studies and overview the results of different chemotherapy regimens in the neoadjuvant treatment of MPM. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd
Excavator arms: Numerical, experimental and new concept design
No full textThe aim of this work is to design the arms of a specific excavator adopting unconventional materials and comparing the machine performance due to components lightweight. A real excavator is numerically studied under specific load conditions; subsequently a series of experimental tests were performed in order to quantify the dynamic effects induced by moving load. On the basis of the actions determined by the load diagram and the inertia ones, a structural evaluation was performed on the arms in their original configuration. The results obtained were assumed like minimum performance for new design components using aluminum alloy and composite material with carbon fibers instead of structural steel. The geometry developed by adopting the composite material has an elliptical section instead of a classical rectangular section. With the adoption of the new solutions there is a total weight reduction up to 64.1% for the solution made of composite materials
An overview of extracorporeal lithotriptors in current clinical use : technical notes
No full textASWL ten years ago opened a new era for kidney stone treatment and recently it's showing a new therapeutical approach to biliary stones. Dornier HM3 is since 1983 the first lithotripter with a wide clinical employment. Actually we know about twenty extracorporeal lithotripter in clinical use. Our review try to classify old and new extracorporeal lithotripsy devices looking at technical aspects and lithotripsy center organization
Berry-phase calculation of magnetic screening and rotational g factor in molecules and solids
No full textThe orbital magnetic moment due to rotation or pseudorotation in a molecule or a solid and the corresponding rotational g factor are formulated using the Berry-phase technique and standard density functional plane wave methods. Among the simplest molecules, H-2(+), H-2, C2H2, CH4, and CF4, with known rotational g factors, are used as test cases with excellent results. Alternative, faster localized orbital calculations including the magnetic coupling through heuristic Peierls phase factors are also tested and found to be viable, though less accurate. Application to pseudorotations is exemplified in benzene. It is proposed that these methods will be suited for application to pseudorotations in solids
Permanent stenting in the treatment of ureteral strictures
No full textPermanent metallic stents have found wide application for use in the vascular and biliary systems and currently devices are also available for use in the urinary tract. Permanent stenting of the ureter has proven to be an useful option in the management of obstruction caused by external compression due to malignancy whereas the efficacy of permanent stenting in the treatment of benign ureteral strictures is still controversial. We treated three patients with benign ureteral strictures by implantation of a self-expanding endoluminal stent that resulted in ureteral patency persisting up to 24 months
Effect of platelet concentrate on quality of life after periradicular surgery : a randomized clinical study
No full textIntroduction: Control of postoperative discomfort might enhance the patient's quality of life and treatment acceptance. The aim of the present randomized single-blind study was to evaluate whether the use of platelet concentrate during endodontic surgery might have a favorable impact on pain and other factors related to patient's quality of life during the first week after surgery. Methods: Eighteen patients with periapical lesion were treated with modern endodontic surgical procedure (control group). In another 18 patients, in adjunct to surgical procedure, platelet concentrate was applied on the root end in liquid form, within the bone defect in clot form, and over the suture in liquid form (test group). All patients completed a questionnaire for evaluation of main symptoms and daily activities during the first week after surgery. The outcomes of the questionnaires of the 2 groups were statistically compared. Results: The test group showed significantly less pain and swelling, fewer analgesics taken, and improved functional activities as compared with the control group. Conclusions: The adjunct of platelet concentrate to the endodontic surgical procedure produced significant beneficial effect to patients' quality of life during the early postoperative stage
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