1,720,971 research outputs found
Scrotal migration of inguinal hernia repair mesh : an unusual cause of testicular mass
Full text linkScrotal masses are common findings in primary care and can develop from all anatomical structures of the scrotum. They are usually painless, although pain may be present occasionally. In this report, we present the case of an unusual testicular mass caused by the migration in the scrotum of a mesh used for inguinal hernia repair. The patient was treated conservatively owing to the spontaneous resolution of symptoms
Inferior vena cava septic thrombosis due to gut perforation after accidental toothpick ingestion
Full text linkA 57-year-old male patient was referred to our emergency department complaining of irremediable abdominal pain associated with mild fever. Abdominal CT scan revealed the presence of a small bowel perforation caused by an ingested toothpick, in association with a subsequent inferior vena cava thrombosis
Image-guided thermal ablation of benign thyroid nodules
No full textBenign thyroid nodules are a common disease in the general population. Most often, they are completely asymptomatic and discovered occasionally during routine ultrasound examinations, and do not require any treatment. When thyroid nodules become symptomatic, surgical excision is still considered standard treatment. In the last few years, several experiences in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules through image-guided percutaneous thermal ablation have been reported with encouraging results, so that currently, these treatments are often proposed as first-choice options for patients with symptomatic benign thyroid nodules. In this paper, we discuss the present literature on the topic, focusing on different techniques available for image-guided percutaneous ablation, particularly radiofrequency (RFA), laser (LA), microwave (MWA), and high-intensity-focus ultrasound (HIFU). Little evidence about the efficacy of MWA and HIFU is now available. According to the literature, good results have been obtained with RFA and LA. Regarding RFA, volume reduction after ablative treatment has been found to range from 47 to 84 % at 3–6 months, and from 62 to 93 % at 1 year; LA also seems to be effective in achieving shrinkage of thyroid nodules, with volume reduction from 37 to 81 % at 3–6 months, and from 13 to 82 % at 1-year follow-up. Moreover, applications of advanced image-guidance modality, such as contrast-enhanced ultrasound and virtual navigation with fusion imaging, are discussed
Technical success, technique efficacy and complications of minimally-invasive imaging-guided percutaneous ablation procedures of breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textObjectives: To systematically review studies concerning imaging-guided minimally-invasive breast cancer treatments. Methods: An online database search was performed for English-language articles evaluating percutaneous breast cancer ablation. Pooled data and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Technical success, technique efficacy, minor and major complications were analysed, including ablation technique subgroup analysis and effect of tumour size on outcome. Results: Forty-five studies were analysed, including 1,156 patients and 1,168 lesions. Radiofrequency (n=577; 50%), microwaves (n=78; 7%), laser (n=227; 19%), cryoablation (n=156; 13%) and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU, n=129; 11%) were used. Pooled technical success was 96% (95%CI 94–97%) [laser=98% (95–99%); HIFU=96% (90–98%); radiofrequency=96% (93–97%); cryoablation=95% (90–98%); microwave=93% (81–98%)]. Pooled technique efficacy was 75% (67–81%) [radiofrequency=82% (74–88); cryoablation=75% (51–90); laser=59% (35–79); HIFU=49% (26–74)]. Major complications pooled rate was 6% (4–8). Minor complications pooled rate was 8% (5–13%). Differences between techniques were not significant for technical success (p=0.449), major complications (p=0.181) or minor complications (p=0.762), but significant for technique efficacy (p=0.009). Tumour size did not impact on variables (p>0.142). Conclusions: Imaging-guided percutaneous ablation techniques of breast cancer have a high rate of technical success, while technique efficacy remains suboptimal. Complication rates are relatively low. Key Points: • Imaging-guided ablation techniques for breast cancer are 96% technically successful. • Overall technique efficacy rate is 75% but largely inhomogeneous among studies. • Overall major and minor complication rates are low (6–8%)
Non-healing post-surgical fistulae : treatment with image-guided percutaneous injection of cyanoacrylic glue
No full textObjectives: To present the results of our experience with cyanoacrylic glue percutaneous injection to treat post-surgical non-healing enteric fistulae after failure of standard treatments. Methods: Eighteen patients (14 males; age range 33–84, mean 69 years) were treated for a non-healing post-surgical enteric fistula after failure of standard treatments. Under computed tomography and/or fluoroscopic guidance, a mixture of cyanoacrylic glue (Glubran 2, GEM, Viareggio, Italy) and ethiodized oil was injected at the site of the fistula. Fistula was considered healed when no material was drained by the percutaneous drainage and a subsequent computed tomography confirmed the disappearance of any fluid collection. Results: In all cases, it was possible to reach the site of the fistula using a percutaneous access. A median of 1 injection (range 1–5) was performed. Fistula healing was achieved in 16/18 (89 %) patients. One patient died for other reasons before fistula healing. Median time for fistula healing was 0 days (mean 8, range 0–58 days). No complications occurred. Reoperation was needed in one patient. Conclusions: Percutaneous injection of cyanoacrylic glue is feasible, safe, and effective to treat non-healing post-surgical enteric fistulae. It may represent a further option to avoid surgical reoperation in frail patients
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
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