206 research outputs found
Detection of recurrent prostate cancer after primary radiation therapy: An evaluation of the role of multiparametric 3T magnetic resonance imaging with endorectal coil
No full textObjectives: The value of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) in staging prostate cancer (PCa) before salvage prostatectomy is currently unclear because of the minimal data comparing mpMRI results to final pathologic stage at surgery. The aim of the study is to determine the diagnostic performance of mpMRI in characterizing viable recurrent tumor and lymph node metastasis following radiation therapy (RT) failure.
Methods and materials: Between January 2007 and July 2014, 19 patients with biopsy-proven recurrent PCa after primary RT underwent 3T mpMRI and subsequent salvage prostatectomy with extended pelvic lymphadenectomy. mpMRI images were independently reviewed by 2 genitourinary MRI radiologists (R1 and R2), blinded to the pathology results, to evaluate extraprostatic extension (EPE), seminal vesicle invasion (SVI), and pelvic lymph node metastasis (PLNM). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, receiver operating characteristic curves, and interobserver agreement (R1 and R2) were evaluated for each outcome on a per-patient basis. Final pathologic results were used as a gold standard for comparison in all patients. A multivariate analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between the index lesion's apparent diffusion coefficient value and its enhancement characteristics with the Gleason score.
Results: EPE was found in 14 (73.7%) patients, SVI in 13 (68.4%), and PLNMin 5 (26.3%). mpMRI sensitivity for PLNM was 60.0% (R1 and R2) with specificity of 85.7% (R1) and 92.8% (R2). With regards to SVI, the sensitivity was 61.5% (R1) and 76.9% (R2), with a specificity of 66.6% (R1 and R2). Sensitivity for EPE was 50.0% (R1) and 71.43% (R2), with a specificity of 80.0% (R1) and 100.00% (R2). No significant associations were found at multivariate analysis. The evaluation of PLNM, SVI, and PCa recurrence within the prostate demonstrated moderate interobserver agreement (kappa, 0.51-0.57).
Conclusions: mpMRI has good accuracy for detecting PLNM, SVI, and EPE after RT. mpMRI provides useful information in locally recurrent PCa following primary radiation therapy. (C) 2016 American Society for Radiation Oncology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
Synthesis of SWNT/Pt nanocomposites for their effective role in hydrogen storage applications
No full text
DHEA in elderly women and DHEA or testosterone in elderly men
No full textBACKGROUND:
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone are widely promoted as antiaging supplements, but the long-term benefits, as compared with potential harm, are unknown.
METHODS:
We performed a 2-year, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study involving 87 elderly men with low levels of the sulfated form of DHEA and bioavailable testosterone and 57 elderly women with low levels of sulfated DHEA. Among the men, 29 received DHEA, 27 received testosterone, and 31 received placebo. Among the women, 27 received DHEA and 30 received placebo. Outcome measures included physical performance, body composition, bone mineral density (BMD), glucose tolerance, and quality of life.
RESULTS:
As compared with the change from baseline to 24 months in the placebo group, subjects who received DHEA for 2 years had an increase in plasma levels of sulfated DHEA by a median of 3.4 microg per milliliter (9.2 micromol per liter) in men and by 3.8 microg per milliliter (10.3 micromol per liter) in women. Among men who received testosterone, the level of bioavailable testosterone increased by a median of 30.4 ng per deciliter (1.1 nmol per liter), as compared with the change in the placebo group. A separate analysis of men and women showed no significant effect of DHEA on body-composition measurements. Neither hormone altered the peak volume of oxygen consumed per minute, muscle strength, or insulin sensitivity. Men who received testosterone had a slight increase in fat-free mass, and men in both treatment groups had an increase in BMD at the femoral neck. Women who received DHEA had an increase in BMD at the ultradistal radius. Neither treatment improved the quality of life or had major adverse effects.
CONCLUSIONS:
Neither DHEA nor low-dose testosterone replacement in elderly people has physiologically relevant beneficial effects on body composition, physical performance, insulin sensitivity, or quality of life. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00254371 [ClinicalTrials.gov].)
Advances of MXene heterostructure composites in the area of sensing and biomedical applications: an overview
No full textAmong various two-dimensional materials, MXenes have emerged as versatile materials that incorporate transition metal carbide, nitride, and carbonitrides. MXenes are gaining paramount attraction among the scientific community in areas of catalyst, energy, electromagnetic shielding, and sensors due to their outstanding mechanical, electrical, sensing, optical, and tunable characteristics. The unique properties such as surface chemistry, graphene-like morphology, metal-like conductivity, and high hydrophilicity ameliorate MXene as an ideal 2D material for surface-related applications. This review focuses on the most recent reports on the surface modifications/surface chemistry and electrochemical sensing of different analytes using MXenes for biomedical applications, biomolecule detection, and environmental monitoring. The present review concisely summarizes different characterization techniques, such as X-ray diffraction methods and electron microscopy, for evaluating MXene characteristics. Apart from titanium carbide MXene, other MXene needs a careful investigation to accentuate the future perspectives of MXenes in sensor devices. This comprehensive review paper aims to inspire the scientific community that is intrigued by the potential properties, benefits, prospects, and difficulties of utilizing 2D materials in various biosensing and biomedical applications
The midwife factor in obstetric procedures and neonatal outcome
No full textAims. In the face of major tendency towards midwiferyled-care it was our purpose to investigate the extent of the influence of the midwife on the rates of obstetric procedures and perinatal outcome. Methods. 5384 consecutive deliveries at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. University of Graz, were enrolled in the study. The following data were collected: mode of delivery, pH of umbilical artery, Apgar score. Firstly, data were investigated for interindividual differences and, secondly, for relationship with age of the midwife as a measure of experience. Results. Interindividual differences were significant for episiotomy rates (minimum: 31.6%; maximum 76.9%; p<0.001), forceps rates (minimum: 1.7%; maximum 11.1%;p=0.002) and pH of umbilical arteries (minimum: 7.21:maxinium: 7.28 p=0.001) but not for cesarean section rates and Apgar scores. Linear regression analysis was significant between age of midwives and pH of umbilical arteries (p<0.001: r=0.055) and for one-minute Apgar score (p=0.009; r=0.050) but not for episiotomy rates, cesarean section rates, forceps rates and five-minutes Apgar score. Conclusions. There are large interindividual differences in obstetric intervention rates which cannot be explained by the midwives' age. Provision of health care should be primarily determined by need and not by the personal characteristics of the health care provider, thus interindividual differences should be reduced and more often taken into account when analyzing any kind of data
PEGASIS-E: Power Efficient Gathering in Sensor Information System Extended
No full textIn this paper, an improved energy efficient PEGASIS based protocol (PEGASIS-E) has been proposed. PEGASIS-E uses average distance among the sensor nodes as the criteria for chaining, thereby providing better performance in terms of energy dissipation and amount of information sent to BS. The simulation results obtained show that PEGASIS-E gives an increase in the network lifetime as compared to PEGASIS
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