720 research outputs found
Re: Marc-Oliver Grimm, Antione G. van der Heijden, Marc Colombel, et al. Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Carcinoma by Standard Number and Dose of BCG Instillations Versus Reduced Number and Standard Dose of BCG Instillations: Results of the European Association of Urology Research Foundation Randomised Phase III Clinical Trial "NIMBUS". Eur Urol. In press. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2020.04.066
No full textA fuzzy failure mode and effects approach to analyse concentrated inspection campaigns on board ships
No full textMaritime actions against substandard operations of ships are a great deal of memorandum of understanding (MoUs) under regional basis agreements among port state control (PSC) organisations. Herein, concentrated inspection campaigns (CIC), performed by the different members of MoUs in certain periods, are a monitoring strategy to effectively control the core operational matters encountered in fire-safety systems, propulsion and auxiliary machinery system, lifesaving appliances, working conditions on board ships, etc. This paper proposes a quantified maritime safety analysis based on fuzzy failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) to evaluate CIC database of MoUs in order to achieve advance creative solutions. Demonstration studies are performed on the special database on fire-safety system deficiencies. Since the fuzzy FMEA outcomes point out the risk prioritisation numbers and relevant control options, the paper attempts to transform CIC feedback into useful information in terms of enhancing the ship PSC inspection concept (e-PSC inspection). The paper theoretically contributes to safety analysis methods in literature while demonstration of e-PSC inspections offers an insight into maritime industry in safety improvement
Diagnostic value of the pediatric lower urinary tract symptom score in children with overactive bladder
No full textThe aims were (1) to assess the pediatric lower urinary tract symptom score (SS) prior to treatment as a means of determining severity of overactive bladder (OAB) and (2) to investigate relationships between SS results and those of standard diagnostic modalities. Symptom scores were recorded pre- and 6 months SS for 294 children with OAB unrelated to neurological disorder. Uroflowmetry-electromyography data, total bladder capacity, and a 2-day bladder diary were also recorded, and upper urinary tract deterioration was investigated as indicated. Overactive bladder was treated with standard approaches. No response to treatment was defined as 0-49 % reduction in OAB-related symptoms based on SS results. Non-responders underwent additional evaluations as indicated. Two hundred forty-one patients (97 %; mean age 9.8 +/- A 2.8 years; mean follow-up 11 months; range 6-18 months) completed the study. One hundred thirteen (47 %) required ultrasonography (USG), and those with abnormal USG had a significantly higher pre- and 6 months SS (p = 0.016). All non-responders (n = 38; 16 %) underwent urodynamics evaluation, 34 underwent spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 34 underwent voiding cystourethrography (VCUG), and 34 underwent dimercaptosuccinic acid scanning (DMSA). Non-responders with terminal detrusor hyperactivity had significantly lower SS after therapy (p = 0.09). Non-responders with abnormal MRI had higher pre- and 6 months SS than those with normal MRI. Thirteen (38 %) of the non-responders who required VCUG had vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), and this subgroup had higher pre-treatment SS (p = 0.030). Seven (21 %) of the non-responders who required DMSA had scarring, and all 7 had VUR. The subgroup with scarring had higher pre-treatment SS (p = 0.030). Pediatric OAB patients with high 6 months SS have a higher incidence of additional upper urinary tract pathology. Those with low pre-treatment SS require fewer laboratory tests and other assessments. The SS tool can reduce the number of urodynamics evaluations, and other tests required to diagnose renal damage in children with OAB
Prediction of human error probabilities in a critical marine engineering operation on-board chemical tanker ship: The case of ship bunkering
No full textShip bunkering, a safety critical operation in marine engineering, can cause drastic environmental damage at sea. Though bunkering presents high safety procedures, minor accidents also can pose potential harm for marine environment and human life. Indeed, it is well-known that numerous bunker accidents can be attributed to different types of human error. Therefore, control of human factor during bunkering operation plays critical role to enhance safety aboard and prevent environmental pollution at sea. This study presents a comprehensive human error prediction during bunkering operation demonstrated with a case study at chemical tanker platform. To achieve this purpose, a Shipboard Operation Human Reliability Analysis (SOHRA) method, which has been developed as a marine-specific approach to quantify human error, is employed. In the view of outcomes, human error reduction measures are recommended. In conclusion, the paper is expected to give practical contribution to the systematically prediction of human error for designated tasks, enhancement of safety control level in operational aspect and protection of the marine environment
Clinical Case Discussion: Bilateral Synchronous Testicular Cancer and Organ-sparing Surgery
No full textMelatonin and tadalafil treatment improves erectile dysfunction after spinal cord injury in rats
No full textOxidative stress plays an important role both in spinal cord injury (SCI) and erectile dysfunction (ED). The present study investigated the effects of melatonin and tadalafil treatment alone or in combination on SCI-induced ED. Male Wistar albino rats (n=40) were divided into five groups: sham-operated control and SCI-injured rats given either vehicle, melatonin (10mg/kg, i.p.), tadalafil (10mg/kg, p.o.) or a combination of melatonin and tadalafil. Spinal cord injury was induced using a standard weight-drop method. On Day 7 after SCI, intracavernosal pressure (ICP) was measured and all rats were decapitated. Cavernosal tissues were obtained to examine caspase 3, nitric oxide synthase (NOS), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, as well as cGMP, nerve growth factor (NGF), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels. Spinal cord injury caused oxidative damage, as evidenced by increases in MDA and cGMP levels. In addition, MPO and caspase 3 activites were increased after SCI, whereas GSH and NGF levels and SOD activity were reduced. Melatonin effectively reversed these oxidative changes. Furthermore, in rats treated with both melatonin and tadalafil, the recoveries were more pronounced than in rats given either melatonin or tadalafil alone. The ICP/mean arterial pressure value in vehicle-treated SCI rats was significantly higher than in the control group, whereas in the tadalafil- and tadalafil+melatonin-treated groups have returned this value had returned to control levels. As an individual treatment, and especially when combined with tadalafil, a well-known agent in the treatment of ED, melatonin prevented SCI-induced oxidative damage to cavernosal tissues and restored ED, most likely due to its anti-oxidant effects
Labor market effects of obesity, smoking, and alcohol use
No full textThis dissertation analyzes the joint effects of obesity, smoking, and binge drinking on wages and on unemployment by using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth data set. The main objective of this study is to show that the effects of these behaviors on wages and unemployment may not be measured accurately in analyses that consider only one or two since these behaviors are correlated or tend to cluster. My results illustrate that failing to include one or more of the health behaviors in wage or unemployment regression would lead to an underestimation of the impact of being obese and an overestimation of the effect of binge drinking for both genders. However, when endogeneity is addressed by employing the Hausman-Taylor instrumental variable (HTIV) method in wage analysis and the multivariate probit method in unemployment analysis, I find that the estimated parameters of obesity or binge drinking are not statistically significantly different whether these behaviors are considered individually or simultaneously. iii This study also conducts several sensitivity analyses. Firstly, the results reveal that the effects of these behaviors are not interactive. Secondly, the paper illustrates that the wage penalties for daily smoking are fairly constant over the wage distribution for both genders, but obesity affects the wages of males and females relatively more at lower quantiles of wages, and there is no wage penalty for being a binge drinker for either gender. Further, it is found that smokers are a heterogeneous group of people. In particular, the wage and unemployment effects of persistent smokers are different than beginning smokers and quitters. Moreover, obesity affects the wages and the likelihood of being unemployed of males only at the extremes of obesity. Lastly, I find evidence of wage penalties for being obese or a smoker in private sector jobs, but in the public sector only male smokers face lower wages.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical referencesIncludes vitaby Ilker Dasta
Comparison of the Radiological and Functional Results of Tight Rope and Clavicular Hook Plate Technique in the Treatment of Acute Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation
No full textOptions for surgery for acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocation vary considerably. This study aimed to examine the functional and radiological results of patients who were operated on using the tightrope (TR) or clavicular hook plate (CHP) technique in the treatment for AC joint dislocation. Materials and methods: The data gathered from 35 consecutive patients who were operated on for AC joint dislocation were analyzed retrospectively in terms of their radiological and functional outcomes. Results: Thirty-two (91.4%) of the 35 patients were male and 3 (8.6%) were female. Thirty (85.7%) patients were classified as Rockwood type 3 and 5 (14.3%) as type 5. Twenty-one patients operated on using the TR technique were categorized as group 1, and 14 patients treated with the CHP technique formed group 2. Functional results were evaluated using the Constant-Murley shoulder scoring system; no statistically significant difference was observed between type 3 and 5 AC separation (p = 0.337). The mean Constant scores of type 3 and 5 injuries were 82.96 and 88.6, respectively. A significant relationship was noted between reduction quality and functional scores (p = 0.006). Postoperative osteoarthritis was seen in 12 (57.14%) patients in group 1 and 7 (50.00%) patients in group 2. In terms of surgery duration, 50.57 minutes in group 1 and 35.71 minutes in group 2 were noted. A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of surgery duration (p < 0.05). Conclusions: TR and CHP techniques, which do not differ significantly in terms of their clinical results, can be used safely in the treatment of AC separation
Sharing Location Information in Multi-UAV Systems by Common Channel Multi-Token Circulation Method in FANETs
No full textUnmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology is being used increasingly for military and civilian purposes. The primary reason for this increase is that UAVs eliminate the risk to human life in difficult and dangerous missions, are cost effective, and easily are deployed. Developments in UAV technology and decreasing costs have increased UAV usage. However, when multiple UAVs are deployed, inter UAV communication becomes complicated. For this reason, communication in multi-UAV systems is the most important problem that needs to be solved. To enable communication among UAVs without infrastructure support, a Flying Ad Hoc Network (FANET) is used. A FANET provides UAVs to fly in tandem without colliding. To ensure coordinated flight, UAVs require the location information of other UAVs. In this study, we developed a common channel multi-token circulation protocol to share location information in multi-UAV systems that communicate using a FANET. The proposed method ensures that UAVs in multi-UAV systems know each other's coordinate information with minimum error
Should We Perform Thoracic Imaging for Every Patient with a Renal Mass?
No full textObjective: Current guidelines for the management of renal mass recommend thoracic imaging for potential metastatic nodules. Small size of the renal mass can be associated with low metastatic potential, which might question the necessity of thoracic imaging in this patient population. This study sought to evaluate the association of thoracic imaging findings with the renal mass characteristics in patients with pathologically proven renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with RCC, who underwent radical/partial nephrectomy and had baseline thoracic imaging available for review. Patients with a suspicious pulmonary mass were evaluated by the Department of Thoracic Surgery. Presence of lung nodule(s) and metastasis was determined and compared with patient and renal mass characteristics. Results: A total of 215 patients were included in the study. Pulmonary nodules suspicious for malignancy were present in 26.8% of the cases and 42% of these patients underwent further examination for the presence of a pulmonary mass. Pathological examination of the pulmonary nodule revealed RCC metastasis in 80% of patients who underwent biopsy or excision of the pulmonary nodule. Of note, in the subgroup analysis according to the pathological stage of the renal mass, 19.3% of patients with pT1a disease had a suspicious pulmonary mass on thoracic imaging. Of these patients, 25% underwent further examination of the pulmonary nodule with a RCC metastasis in 66.6%. Conclusion: The presence of suspicious lung nodules in patients with RCC has metastatic potential regardless of the size of the renal mass. These findings underscore the importance of baseline thoracic imaging and vigilant further evaluation of patients in whom pulmonary nodules are identified
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