Medicine by Alexandros G. Sfakianakis,Anapafseos 5 Agios Nikolaos 72100 Crete Greece,00306932607174: 01/29/19

Τρίτη 29 Ιανουαρίου 2019

The Utility of the Airborne Technique for Lymphaticovenular Anastomosis

No abstract available

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Discussion: Assessing the Quality of Microvascular Breast Reconstruction Performed in the Urban Safety-Net Setting: A Doubly Robust Regression Analysis

No abstract available

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Superficial Circumflex Iliac Artery Perforator Flap: An Anatomical Study of the Correlation of the Superficial and the Deep Branches of the Artery and Evaluation of Perfusion from the Deep Branch to the Sartorius Muscle and the Iliac Bone

Background: Harvesting the sartorius muscle and the iliac bone with a superficial circumflex iliac artery (SCIA) perforator flap can be a challenging procedure. The aim of this study was to describe the anatomical topology of the deep branch of the SCIA in fresh cadavers, which has not been reported in detail. Methods: Twenty groin regions from 10 fresh cadavers were dissected. The characteristics and landmarks of the SCIA system, including branches to the sartorius muscle and the iliac bone, were examined. Perfusion of the sartorius muscle and the iliac bone by means of the deep branch of the SCIA was evaluated with indocyanine green angiography and computed tomographic angiography. Results: The superficial and the deep branches were identifiable in all specimens. In 85 percent of the specimens, the bifurcation point could be seen within 2 cm from a fixed site: 6 cm from the pubic tubercle to the anterior superior iliac spine, and 3 cm caudal from that point. The deep branch in each case gave off branches to the sartorius muscle and the iliac bone. The cephalad portion of the sartorius muscle (up to 8 cm from the anterior superior iliac spine) and the superficial portion of the iliac bone (up to 1.5 cm from the iliac crest) were perfused by the deep branch of the SCIA. Conclusions: In all specimens, both the superficial branch and the deep branch of the SCIA were found. The deep branch was found consistently to give off perfusing branches to the sartorius muscle and the iliac bone.

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Autologous Breast Reconstruction after Failed Implant-Based Reconstruction: Evaluation of Surgical and Patient-Reported Outcomes and Quality of Life

Background: There is a subset of patients who initially undergo implant-based breast reconstruction but later change to autologous reconstruction after failure of the implant reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to examine outcomes and quality of life in this group of patients. Methods: After institutional review board approval, a retrospective chart review of a prospectively maintained database was performed and BREAST-Q surveys were evaluated. Results: One hundred thirty-seven patients underwent autologous breast reconstruction following failed implant-based reconstruction with 192 total flaps. Failure of implant reconstruction was defined as follows: capsular contracture causing pain and/or cosmetic deformity [n = 106 (77 percent)], dissatisfaction with the aesthetic result [n = 15 (11 percent)], impending exposure of the implant/infection [n = 8 (6 percent)], and unknown [n = 8 (6 percent)]. Complications requiring operative intervention included partial flap loss [n = 5 (3 percent)], hematoma [n = 5 (3 percent)], vascular compromise requiring intervention for salvage [n = 2 (1 percent)], and total flap loss [n = 1 (1 percent)]. Thirty-four patients (23 percent) had BREAST-Q surveys. There was a statistically significant increase in overall outcomes (p

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Reply: Two-Point Discrimination Predicts Pain Relief after Lower Limb Nerve Decompression for Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

No abstract available

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Making Sense of Stem Cells and Fat Grafting in Plastic Surgery: The Hype, Evidence, and Evolving U.S. Food and Drug Administration Regulations

Summary: Autologous fat grafting and adipose-derived stem cells are two distinct entities with two different risk profiles, and should be regulated as such. Autologous fat grafting prepared with the additional step of stromal vascular fraction isolation is considered a form of "stem cell therapy" given the high concentration of stem cells found in stromal vascular fraction. Much ambiguity existed in the distinction between autologous fat grafting and stromal vascular fraction initially, in terms of both their biological properties and how they should be regulated. The market has capitalized on this in the past decade to sell unproven "stem cell" therapies to unknowing consumers while exploiting the regulatory liberties of traditional fat grafting. This led to a Draft Guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2014 proposing stricter regulations on fat grafting in general, which in turn elicited a response from plastic surgeons, who have safely used autologous fat grafting in the clinical setting for over a century. After a series of discussions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released its Final Guidance in November of 2017, which established clear distinctions between autologous fat grafting and stromal vascular fraction and their separate regulations. By educating ourselves on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's final stance on fat grafting and stem cell therapy, we can learn how to navigate the regulatory waters for the two entities and implement their clinical use in a responsible and informed manner.

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A Head-to-Head Comparison of the Vascular Basis of the Transverse Myocutaneous Gracilis, Profunda Artery Perforator, and Fasciocutaneous Infragluteal Flaps: An Anatomical Study

Background: Perforator flaps of the upper thigh or buttock provide a valuable secondary choice in autologous breast reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to compare the vascular territories and supplying vessels of the transverse myocutaneous gracilis flap, the profunda artery perforator flap, and the fasciocutaneous infragluteal flap. Methods: In total, 26 lower limbs from 13 fresh specimens were investigated. All flap pedicles were selectively injected with methylene blue, eosin red, or green ink. The pedicle external diameters, lengths, and locations were measured. The dimensions of angiosomes, their intraindividual and interindividual correlations, and their relations to anatomical landmarks were analyzed. Results: The profunda artery perforator pedicle had the greatest mean external diameter with 3.6 ± 0.7 mm, followed by the transverse myocutaneous gracilis and fasciocutaneous infragluteal pedicles with 2.9 ± 0.6 mm and 2.9 ± 0.7 mm, respectively. The fasciocutaneous infragluteal pedicle was longest with a mean length of 12.5 ± 1.5 cm, whereas the profunda artery perforator and transverse myocutaneous gracilis pedicles had lengths of 8.8 ± 1.0 cm and 6.7 ± 1 cm on average. The profunda artery perforator angiosome provided the largest size, with a mean area of 98.5 ± 26.7 cm2, followed by the fasciocutaneous infragluteal angiosome (77.2 ± 9.0 cm2) and the transverse myocutaneous gracilis angiosome (74.1 ± 32.1 cm2). Conclusions: The authors' anatomical findings about the transverse myocutaneous gracilis, profunda artery perforator, and fasciocutaneous infragluteal territories provide clinically valuable data for flap selection in breast reconstruction if an abdominal flap is not feasible.

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Proliferative Lesions Found at Reduction Mammaplasty: Incidence and Implications in 995 Breast Reductions

Background: Reduction mammaplasty relieves symptomatic macromastia. Pathologic specimens occasionally reveal unsuspected proliferative lesions or carcinoma. Few studies examine the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes in this population. Methods: A retrospective review was performed between 2000 and 2012. The pathologic condition was categorized as benign, proliferative, or cancer. Results: Five hundred seventy-two patients underwent 995 reduction mammaplasties. Cancer was detected in 23 specimens (2.3 percent) and proliferative lesions were detected in 137 (13.8 percent). Compared with patients with benign pathologic findings, patients with proliferative lesions or cancer were older (p

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Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Silicone versus Saline Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction Using the BREAST-Q

Background: The most common type of breast reconstruction is implant-based breast reconstruction. Implant-based reconstruction has been reported to impact quality-of-life outcomes. Therefore, the authors sought to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of saline versus silicone implants. Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed data from patients who underwent breast reconstruction with saline or silicone implants at their institution. This included type of procedure, acellular dermal matrix use, complications, and number of revisions. Costs were estimated using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services physician fee schedule and hospital costs. Effectiveness was measured using BREAST-Q–adjusted life-years, a measure of years of perfect breast health, based on BREAST-Q data collected before mastectomy and reconstruction and at 12 months after final reconstruction. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was obtained for silicone and saline reconstruction. Results: The authors identified 134 women, among which 77 (57 percent) underwent silicone and 57 (43 percent) underwent saline breast reconstruction. The cost of saline reconstruction was $1288.23 less compared with silicone. BREAST-Q–adjusted life-years were 28.11 for saline and 23.57 for silicone, demonstrating higher cost-effectiveness for saline. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for saline was −$283.48, or $283.48 less per year of perfect breast-related health postreconstruction than silicone. Conclusions: The authors' results indicate that saline breast reconstruction may be more cost-effective compared with silicone at 12 months after final reconstruction. Silicone was both more expensive and less effective than saline. However, given the relatively small cost difference, surgeon and patient preference may be important in determining type of implant used.

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Is the Medial Sural Artery Perforator Flap a New Workhorse Flap? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: The medial sural artery perforator flap offers thin, pliable tissue with a relatively long pedicle and low donor-site morbidity. This study explores the characteristics and uses of the medial sural artery perforator flap along with postoperative outcomes and complications. Methods: A systematic literature review was performed using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify all cases of medial sural artery perforator flap reconstruction. Descriptive and meta-analyses were performed on pooled outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression identified factors associated with increased complication rates. Results: Thirty-five studies encompassing 526 medial sural artery perforator flaps were included for analysis. The most common reasons for surgery were oncologic (47.6 percent) and traumatic injuries (31.8 percent). The oral cavity was the most common recipient location (45.5 percent). Average flap dimensions were 6.0 ± 2.3 cm × 9.8 ± 3.6 cm, with an average pedicle length of 10.1 ± 6.6 cm. Meta-analysis revealed an overall complication rate of 14.3 percent (Q value = 22.16; p = 0.877; I2= −39.9). Use of chimeric medial sural artery perforator flaps was associated with significantly higher rates of complications (OR, 3.92; p = 0.039; 95 percent CI, 1.10 to 13.89). The majority of flap donor sites were closed primarily (68 percent) versus 32 percent that were covered with split-thickness skin grafts. A flap width greater than 5.75 cm had an odds ratio of 5.3 (95 percent CI, 1.3 to 21.8; p = 0.014) of having a donor-site complication if closed primarily. Conclusions: The medial sural artery perforator flap offers thin, pliable tissue with a relatively long pedicle and has minimal donor-site morbidity when the donor site is managed appropriately. As such, it should be considered a workhorse flap for both head and neck and extremity reconstruction.

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Discussion: Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Silicone versus Saline Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction Using the BREAST-Q

No abstract available

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Effective Application of Mixed Reality Device HoloLens: Simple Manual Alignment of Surgical Field and Holograms

Summary: The technology used to add information to a real visual field is defined as augmented reality technology. Augmented reality technology that can interactively manipulate displayed information is called mixed reality technology. HoloLens from Microsoft, which is a head-mounted mixed reality device released in 2016, can display a precise three-dimensional model stably on the real visual field as hologram. If it is possible to accurately superimpose the position/direction of the hologram in the surgical field, surgical navigation-like use can be expected. However, in HoloLens, there was no such function. The authors devised a method that can align the surgical field and holograms precisely within a short time using a simple manual operation. The mechanism is to match the three points on the hologram to the corresponding marking points of the body surface. By making it possible to arbitrarily select any of the three points as a pivot/axis of the rotational movement of the hologram, alignment by manual operation becomes very easy. The alignment between the surgical field and the hologram was good and thus contributed to intraoperative objective judgment. By using the method of this study, the clinical usefulness of the mixed reality device HoloLens will be expanded.

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Reply: Arterial Vascularization of the Mandibular Condyle and Fractures of the Condyle

No abstract available

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Predictable Location of Breast Sensory Nerves for Breast Reinnervation

Summary: The sensory innervation to the breast originates from the medial and lateral cutaneous branches of the third to fifth intercostal nerves, which are at risk for injury or loss during mastectomy. Providing reinnervation after mastectomy was introduced almost 20 years ago, but it is not widely performed, perhaps because of the difficulty of locating a recipient nerve. The authors have performed cadaveric dissections to allow for precise anatomical localization of the lateral intercostal branch providing breast sensation. Bilateral chest dissections were performed on 10 female cadavers. The lateral intercostal nerve providing sensation to breast tissue was identified. The distances from the sternum, the midclavicular line, and the lateral pectoralis minor—in addition to nerve diameter—were measured. The nerve was successfully identified bilaterally in all cadavers. The majority of nerves (16 of 20) exited from under the fourth rib. The average distance from the sternum was 13.1 ± 1.3 cm (range, 10 to 15 cm) and the average distance from the midclavicular line was 11.8 ± 2.2 cm (range, 8 to 16 cm). The nerve exited at the lateral border of the pectoralis minor or within 2 cm from the lateral border for all cadavers. The diameter of the nerve was consistently 2 mm. The nerve traveled under the thoracodorsal vessels, aiding in identification. The authors identified the predictable location of the lateral intercostal nerve providing sensation to the breast. The authors hope that by enabling surgeons to locate this nerve, more well-conducted studies will be performed investigating techniques and outcomes for breast reinnervation.

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Intraoperative Tissue Perfusion Measurement by Laser Speckle Imaging: A Potential Aid for Reducing Postoperative Complications in Free Flap Breast Reconstruction

Summary: Adequate tissue perfusion is essential to minimize postoperative complications following microsurgery. Intraoperative knowledge of tissue perfusion could aid surgical decision-making and result in reduced complications. Laser speckle imaging is a new, noninvasive technique for mapping tissue perfusion. This article discusses the feasibility of using laser speckle imaging during free flap breast reconstruction and its potential to identify areas of inadequate perfusion, thus reducing surgical complications. Adult patients scheduled to undergo free flap breast reconstruction were recruited into the study. Laser speckle images were obtained from the abdominal and breast areas at different stages intraoperatively. Zonal perfusion was compared with the Holm classification and clinical observations. Twenty patients scheduled to undergo free flap breast reconstruction were recruited (23 reconstructed breasts) (mean age, 50 years; range, 32 to 68 years). Flap zonal perfusion was 238 (187 to 313), 222 (120 to 265), 206 (120 to 265), and 125 (102 to 220) perfusion units for zones I, II, III, and IV, respectively (analysis of variance, p

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Reply: Fournier Gangrene: Association of Mortality with the Complete Blood Count Parameters

No abstract available

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Objective Methods for Breast Sensibility Testing

Background: The breast and the factors that affect the sensitivity of the nipple-areola complex have been a significant subject of study in recent years. The main purpose of this study was to provide an objective assessment of the effect of volumetric differences on nipple-areola complex sensitivity. Methods: Data were collected examining the right breast of 34 female volunteers. The mechanosensitive Aβ-fiber and mechanoinsensitive C-fiber function of the nipple-areola complex was assessed after mechanical and chemical stimulation, respectively. Flare responses were elicited chemically by the application of histamine by means of iontophoresis and recorded by laser Doppler imaging. The correlation of the maximum flare area responses with the breast volume and nipple-areola complex and the response from the von Frey fiber test was estimated using linear regression analysis. Results: Nipple-areola complex area increased with breast volume and, similarly, the area of histamine-induced axon reflex flare response follows the larger nipple-areola complex. However, a larger nipple-areola complex correlated with higher local mechanical thresholds. Higher mechanical thresholds were linked to smaller axon reflex area, suggesting combined small- and thick-fiber neuropathy. Conclusions: Objective small-fiber assessment using laser Doppler imaging and subjective mechanical threshold tests were used successfully to quantify function of Aβ and C fibers in the nipple-areola complex. Increased breast volume was linked to larger nipples, but also to impairment of Aβ and C fibers. Sensory testing can be incorporated into preoperative and postoperative management of patients undergoing breast operations to assess changes of neuronal function of the nipple-areola complex after surgery.

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Ingestion of plastic fragments by the Guri sea catfish Genidens genidens (Cuvier, 1829) in a subtropical coastal estuarine system

Abstract

One of the most recognized anthropogenic impacts in marine environments is solid waste pollution, especially plastic, which can be ingested by fish, thus interfering with their health. In this context, the aim of this study is to describe the ingestion of plastic fragments and to identify the possible effect of this contamination in the condition factor of Genidens genidens in the Laguna Estuarine System. The stomach contents of 92 G. genidens (26 juveniles and 66 adults) were analyzed. The Index of Relative Importance was performed to identify the contribution of each prey item. Condition factor (CF) was used to analyze the effect of plastic ingestion on the fish's body condition (by comparing individuals in the same ontogenetic phase). For the juveniles, eight items were observed, the most important of which were Penaeidae, followed by Portunidae and plastic. For the adults, 12 items were observed, the most important of which were Penaeidae, Portunidae, Polychaeta, and plastic. The analysis of CF demonstrated higher values for individuals without plastic in the stomach, which indicated a better health condition. The CF of a fish may be affected by variations in the physiological condition, environmental stresses, and nutritional and biological variations, and could be used to compare the body condition or health of a fish species. The ingestion of plastic could significantly influence the worst body condition of the individuals that were analyzed in the present study. The plastic pollution in marine coastal waters is associated with the appropriate waste management levels.

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Comparison of NOSE Scores Following Functional Septorhinoplasty Using Autologous versus Cadaveric Rib

Facial plast Surg
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1677718

In functional septorhinoplasty (FSRP), alternative grafting material is used if septal cartilage is insufficient for reconstructive needs. Autologous costal cartilage (ACC) and irradiated homologous costal cartilage (IHCC) are compared via the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale. One-hundred forty-one patients who underwent FSRP with ACC or IHCC between January 2013 and March 2018 were administered the NOSE scale pre- and postoperatively at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months. There was no significant difference in mean NOSE scores between the ACC and IHCC cohorts at the preoperative visit (68.5 [standard deviation, SD 24.1] and 71.7 [20.1], respectively; p < 0.6) or first postoperative visit (30.4 [26.6] and 33.9 [30.4], respectively; p < 0.6) or subsequent visits. NOSE scores demonstrated a clinically and statistically significant improvement at all follow-up time points for both the ACC and IHCC groups. Patients who underwent grafting with IHCC were significantly older than those with ACC; average age of 55.6 [SD: 17.3] versus 40.1 [SD:12.1]; (p < 0.001). Two IHCC (0.05%) patients had postoperative infections; both resolved with antibiotics, but one required revision surgery. Both ACC and IHCC provide reliable grafting material when septal cartilage is insufficient. In FSRP for nasal airway obstruction, ACC and IHCC both provide a clinically and statistically significant reduction in NOSE scores postoperatively that remain stable between follow-up time points. The authors find no difference in NOSE scores between the ACC and IHCC groups; however, IHCC did have a higher rate of postoperative infection. Both materials should be discussed with patients and are an important part of the informed consent process.
[...]

Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Article in Thieme eJournals:
Table of contents | Abstract | Full text

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Dissemination of resistance genes in duck/fish polyculture ponds in Guangdong Province: correlations between Cu and Zn and antibiotic resistance genes

Abstract

Duck/fish polyculture farming is a typical farming model in the Pearl River delta in southern China. We examined soil, water, and sediment samples from three duck-fish farms in Guangdong Province in September and December 2014. We determined the abundance of three metal resistance genes, 16S rDNA, and 23 antibiotic resistance genes encoding resistance to tetracycline, sulfonamides, quinolones, chloramphenicol, and β-lactamases. Microbial community structure was quantified by Illumina high-throughput sequencing of 16S rDNA genes. We found a prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes and the sul1, sul2, tetA, tetM, aac(6′)-Ib, and floR genes were the most abundant. Levels of Cu and Zn were significantly correlated with numerous ARG types and sul2, floR, and tetM were identified as potential antibiotic resistance gene indicators. Cu levels were significantly and positively correlated with the relative abundance of sul3, tetT, tetW, qnrB, qnrS, fexB, sul1, sul2, tetM, and qnrA. Zn was significantly correlated to relative abundance of sul2, sul3, tetM, tetA, tetT, tetW, qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, aac(6′)-Ib, qepA, bla_SHV, cmlA, floR, fexA, cfr, and fexB. The levels of Acinetobacter, Brevibacillus, and Wautersiella showed significant positive correlations with metal resistance genes as well as qnrB, oqxA, oqxB, and bla_SHV (p > 0.8). Sphingobacterium, Flavobacterium, Acidothermus, and Corynebacterium had significant correlations with abundance of tetracycline resistance genes, sulfonamide resistance genes, bla_TEM, bla_CTX, and cfr (p > 0.8). Sphingobacterium, Flavobacterium, Acidothermus, and Corynebacterium were most abundant in soil samples while Acinetobacter, Brevibacillus, and Wautersiella were most abundant in water samples. Dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes in aquaculture environments is extensive and tracing their origins is necessary to establish risk assessment methods required for aquatic environmental protection.

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Graphene Implant Can Hear Your Brain Whisper

Researchers have been using electrode arrays to record the brain's electrical activity for decades, mapping activity in different brain regions to understand what it looks like when everything is working, and what is happening when it is not. Until now, however, these arrays have only been able to detect activity over a certain frequency threshold. A new technology developed by the Graphene Flagship overcomes this technical limitation, unlocking the wealth of information found below 0.1 Hz, w...

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Siemens Healthineers Debuts AI-Rad Companion Chest CT

Siemens Healthineers presented its first intelligent software assistant for radiology, the AI-Rad Companion Chest CT, at the 2018 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting, Nov. 25-30 in Chicago. The software brings artificial intelligence (AI) to computed tomography (CT). Using CT images of the chest, it can differentiate between various structures in that region of the body, highlighting them individually, and mark and measure potential abnormalities in the lungs, heart, a...

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Roche Launches uPath Enterprise Digital Pathology Software

Roche announced the launch of its new uPath enterprise software for digital pathology. The software improves on the previous version, known as Ventana Virtuoso, with new personalization capabilities for pathology workflows. uPath enhances the user experience by drastically decreasing image rendering times, integrating automated image analysis and improving efficiency by enabling an improved workflow for sharing cases between pathologists. To aid in the development of uPath software, Roc...

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NucleusHealth Introduces StatStream+ Technology for Medical Image Cloud Streaming

Medical image management and teleradiology company NucleusHealth debuted the next milestone in the Nucleus.io cloud platform with their StatStream+ technology at the 2018 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting, Nov. 25-30, 2018, in Chicago. StatStream+ represents a major improvement, according to the company, over the existing StatStream technology first launched within Nucleus.io to deliver medical images from the cloud quickly. StatStream+ was engineered to allow ins...

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Novel Technique May Significantly Reduce Breast Biopsies

A novel technique that uses mammography to determine the biological tissue composition of a tumor could help reduce unnecessary breast biopsies, according to a new study appearing in the journal Radiology.1 Mammography has been effective at reducing deaths from breast cancer by detecting cancers in their earliest, most treatable stages. However, many women are called back for additional diagnostic imaging and, in many cases, biopsies, for abnormal findings that are ultimately proven benign...

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Philips Launches Azurion With FlexArm

Philips announced the launch of Azurion with FlexArm, designed to enhance positioning flexibility for image-guided procedures. During increasingly complex interventions, clinicians need to quickly and easily visualize critical anatomy and identify changes to the patient during the procedure. Azurion with FlexArm includes a set of innovations that makes it easier for the clinician to perform imaging across the whole patient in both 2-D and 3-D. As the clinician moves the system, the image b...

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Electrokinetic remediation of antibiotic-polluted soil with different concentrations of tetracyclines

Abstract

This study investigated the efficacy of electrokinetic remediation of soils polluted with different concentrations of tetracyclines (TCs). Three widely used TCs (oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, and tetracycline) were selected, and concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 20, and 50 mg/kg (C0, C5, C10, C20, C50) were selected for comparison. Antibiotic-polluted soils with no electric field served as controls. The average removal rates of TCs in different treatments ranged from 25 to 48% after 7-day remediation. The contributing ratios of electrokinetics to TCs removal varied from 22 to 84%. The concentrations of NH₄⁺ increased in soils and electrolytes, which indicated the decomposition of TCs in the electric field. The highest removal amount of TCs was obtained in the C50 treatment, due to efficient reactions of TCs with oxidative radicals generated during the electrolysis. The fluctuant range of pH in the electrolytes was decreased with increasing concentration of TCs, while the soil pH was increased. The removal rate of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in the C5 treatment was significantly higher than that in other treatments. The abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) increased with the concentrations of TCs in soils. It might result from the induction of increasing selective pressure of antibiotics. Significant removal of ARGs occurred in the C50 treatment (38–60%). In terms of controlling ARB and ARGs, which were more resistant, the electrokinetic technology showed advantageous effects. Above all, electrokinetic technology provides an effective remediation method, especially for TC-polluted soil with a concentration of 20–50 mg/kg.

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Scientists protest plan to weaken US gender-discrimination law

Scientists protest plan to weaken US gender-discrimination law

Scientists protest plan to weaken US gender-discrimination law, Published online: 29 January 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-00276-w

More than 89,000 public comments flood in on government proposal to rewrite Title IX, which prohibits sexual harassment in educational settings.

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[ASAP] Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation with a Bifunctional Iron(II) Hydride: Experiment Meets Computation

TOC Graphic

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b12506

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[ASAP] Mechanism of the Manganese-Pincer-Catalyzed Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Coupling of Nitriles and Alcohols

TOC Graphic

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b11308

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[ASAP] Mild Covalent Functionalization of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides with Maleimides: A “Click” Reaction for 2H-MoS2 and WS2

TOC Graphic

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b10930

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[ASAP] Predicting Site-Binding Modes of Ions and Water to Nucleic Acids Using Molecular Solvation Theory

TOC Graphic

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b11474

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[ASAP] Model Anionic Block Copolymer Vesicles Provide Important Design Rules for Efficient Nanoparticle Occlusion within Calcite

TOC Graphic

Journal of the American Chemical Society

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b12507

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Ethiopia’s church forests are a last refuge for dwindling biodiversity

Ethiopia's church forests are a last refuge for dwindling biodiversity

Ethiopia's church forests are a last refuge for dwindling biodiversity, Published online: 29 January 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-00275-x

Ecologists are working with the nation's Tewahedo churches to preserve these pockets of lush, wild habitat.

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Dead bees, dusty offices: US scientists face post-shutdown malaise

Dead bees, dusty offices: US scientists face post-shutdown malaise

Dead bees, dusty offices: US scientists face post-shutdown malaise, Published online: 29 January 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-00344-1

Science agencies scramble to recover from one government closure as another looms.

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A robotic vine that can coil itself around the real thing

A robotic vine that can coil itself around the real thing

A robotic vine that can coil itself around the real thing, Published online: 29 January 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-00308-5

Artificial device imitates plants that rely on osmosis to power their tendrils.

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Chinese effort to clone gene-edited monkeys kicks off

Chinese effort to clone gene-edited monkeys kicks off

Chinese effort to clone gene-edited monkeys kicks off, Published online: 29 January 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-00292-w

Genetically identical primates could provide improved animal models of human disease, but some researchers raise ethical issues.

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Daily briefing: How to team up with big tech

Daily briefing: How to team up with big tech

Daily briefing: How to team up with big tech, Published online: 29 January 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-00342-3

Rewards and risks of technology-industry funding, the first cloned gene-edited monkeys and the life-science technologies to watch.

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The “sigmoid” esophagus

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The “central stellate scar” sign in renal oncocytoma

from A via a.sfakia on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2FVLg2z

Forest gaps influence fungal community assembly in a weeping cypress forest

Abstract

The forest gap crucially influences forest environments, but its effects on local fungal community assembly are not fully understood. In this study, the fungal community in a weeping cypress forest was investigated as a function of forest gap locations based on forest clearing, using amplicon sequencing of the ITS2 region. The results showed that the fungal community significantly varied with the variations in soil properties related to gap location. Deterministic processes played pivotal roles in fungal community assembly, which was mainly driven by the temperature, moisture, available nitrogen, and microbial carbon in soil. Beta diversity of the fungal community increased from the gap center to the closed canopy. The relative abundances of dominant orders such as Microascales, Sordariales, and Chaetothyriales regularly varied as a function of gap location, and they were potential indicators for different gap locations. Based on network analysis, gap locations caused distinct co-occurrence patterns of fungal communities. This study shed light on the roles of forest gaps in the assembly of local fungal communities and provided additional strategies to manage forest ecosystems.

from A via a.sfakia on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2G9AzbV

Dead bees, dusty offices: US scientists face post-shutdown malaise

from A via a.sfakia on Inoreader https://go.nature.com/2sRVOr7

Protective effects of quercetin supplementation against short-term toxicity of cadmium-induced hematological impairment, hypothyroidism, and testicular disturbances in albino rats

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the probable protective effect of quercetin (QUE) against cadmium (Cd)-induced sub-chronic toxicity in rats. Adult male rats were given either Cd (as cadmium chloride; 5 mg/kg) alone or in combination with QUE (50 mg/kg) daily for 4 weeks by oral gavage. At the end of the experimental period, Cd accumulation, and selected hematological, thyroid, and reproductive markers were assessed. Results revealed that Cd treatment significantly increased Cd concentrations in blood, thyroid gland, and testicular tissue of rats. Cd also caused a decline in hemoglobin content, hematocrit value, and total erythrocyte and leucocyte counts. Further, significant suppressions in the blood levels of hormones related to thyroid gland function, and male reproductive hormones (i.e., testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone), were observed in Cd-treated rats compared to the control. In parallel, low sperm count and sperm motility, increased sperm abnormalities, and marked pathology occurred in testis. Combination with QUE recorded amelioration of the deleterious effects of Cd, involving regulation of hematological toxicity and thyroid hormonal levels and subsequently modulation of testicular function. In conclusion, it appears that dietary QUE can rescue from Cd-induced hematological dysfunctions and testicular damage by reversing the hypothyroid state.

from Energy Ecology Environment Ambio via Terpsi Hori on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2FVfG53

Disrupted Identities and Frontier Forts: Enlisted Men and Officers at Fort Lane, Oregon Territory, 1853–1856

Abstract

Frontiers are contingent and dynamic arenas for the negotiation, entrenchment, and innovation of identity, and the imposing materiality of frontier fortifications and their prominence in colonial topographies make them ideal laboratories in which to examine this dynamic. This article presents the results of large-scale excavations in 2011 and 2012 at the officers' quarters and enlisted men's barracks at Fort Lane, a U.S. Army outpost used during the Rogue River Wars in southern Oregon between 1853 and 1856. We consider how, within this arena, the identities of social class, Confederate or Union, and East Coaster or frontiersman, were crafted in this pre–Civil War frontier setting at the dawn of the modern era.

from A via a.sfakia on Inoreader http://bit.ly/2MGyy8r