Nodal involvement evaluation in advanced cervical cancer: a single institutional experience

Purpose: To assess the usefulness of different imaging techniques in the detection of nodal involvement in patients with advanced cervical carcinoma. Moreover, to analyze the correlation between the presurgical (FIGO) and postsurgical (pTNM) staging classifications. Materials and Methods: All patients diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer (FIGO Stages IIB-IV) from 2005 to 2012 were selected. The medical charts of 51 patients that underwent presurgical assessment with posterior surgical staging by means of paraaortic lymphadenectomy, were reviewed. Nodal status assessment by computed tomography scan (CT scan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and sonography was compared, as well as the size given in imaging techniques compared to the final pathologic report information. Results: Presurgical analysis by CT scan, MRI, PET, and sonography showed pelvic nodal involvement in 51.3% of patients, and para-aortic involvement in 30.8% of cases. CT scan showed positive pelvic nodes in 35% of cases, but pathologic confirmation was observed in just 17.6% of cases. However, MRI resulted in higher rates of up to 48.8% of cases. Concerning para-aortic nodal involvement, CT scan showed positive nodes in 25% of cases, MRI in 3.2% of cases, and the pathologic report in 15.6% of cases. The authors found significant differences between staging groups among both classifications (FIGO vs. pTNM; p < 0.001). Eight cases (15.7%) were understaged by FIGO classification. Conclusions: Despite all imaging techniques available, none has demonstrated to be efficient enough to avoid the systematic study of para-aortic nodal status by means of surgical evaluatio

Structural properties of various sodium thiogermanate glasses through DFT-based molecular dynamics simulations

We present a study of the structural properties of (x)Na$_2$S-(1-x)GeS$_2$ glasses through DFT-based molecular dynamics simulations, at different sodium concentrations ($0<x<0.5$). We computed the radial pair correlation functions as well as the total and partial structure factors. We also analyzed the evolution of the corner- and edge-sharing intertetrahedral links with the sodium concentration and show that the sodium ions exclusively destroy the former. With the increase of the sodium concentration the ``standard'' FSDP disappears and a new pre-peak appears in the structure factor which can be traced back in the Na-Na partial structure factor. This self organization of the sodium ions is coherent with Na-rich zones that we find at high modifier concentration.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures; to be published in Phys. Rev.

Assessment of satisfaction in patients after hysterectomy by myomatous uterus

Objetivo: el objetivo de este estudio es evaluar los resultados, en cuanto a calidad de vida, de aquellas pacientes que han sido sometidas a una histerectomía por útero miomatoso. Material y métodos: se realiza una encuesta sobre calidad de vida a todas las pacientes sometidas a histerectomía con indicación de útero miomatoso, en un hospital de tercer nivel dentro de la red de hospitales del servicio de salud de la Comunidad de Madrid, en el año 2010. Resultados: Se identificaron un total de 152 pacientes a las que se les había realizado una histerectomía por útero miomatoso, de las cuales contestaron la encuesta un total de 112 (74%) pacientes. Cuando se les preguntó a las pacientes si había mejorado su calidad de vida tras la realización de la histerectomía, un 78’6% (88/112) respondió afirmativamente, un 17% (19/112) refirió tener la misma calidad de vida, y un 4’4% (5/112) respondió que su calidad de vida había empeorado tras la intervención. Conclusiones: las pacientes sometidas a una histerectomía por útero miomatoso presentan un alto grado de satisfacción tras la cirugía, comunicando en su mayoría una mejora en cuanto al dolor pélvico previo a la cirugía, y una mejor calidad de vida tras la intervenciónObjective: the objective of this study is to evaluate the results, in terms of quality of life of those patients who have undergone hysterectomy for fibroid uterus. Material and methods: we performed a survey on quality of life for all patients undergoing hysterectomy with uterine fibroid indication in a tertiary care hospital within the hospital network of the health service of the Community of Madrid, in the year 2010. Results: a total of 152 patients which had undergone a hysterectomy for uterine myoma, which answered the survey a total of 112 (74%) patients. When asked patients if they had improved their quality of life after performing a hysterectomy, a 78’6% (88/112) responded affirmatively, 17% (19/112) reported having the same quality of life, and 4.4% (5/112) responded that their quality of life had worsened after surgery. Conclusions: patients undergoing a hysterectomy for uterine fibroids have a high degree of satisfaction after the surgery, communicating mostly an improvement in pelvic pain prior to surgery, and improved quality of life after surger

Krill as a central node for iron cycling in the Southern Ocean

In order to establish the potential role of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) in the recycling of bioactive elements, we have quantified the release of iron, phosphate, and ammonia by these organisms along the Antarctic Peninsula sector of the Southern Ocean. The experimental results suggested that the presence of krill has a significant impact on ambient iron concentrations, as large amounts of this trace element were released by the krill (22-689 nmol Fe g Dry Weight-1 h-1, equivalent to 0.2 to 4.3 nmol Fe L-1 d-1). Half of this iron release occurred within the first hour of the experiment, and differences in iron and phosphate release rates (3.1 to 14.0 μmol PO4 3- g DW-1 h-1) seemed to reflect differences in food availability. These results identify krill as a major node in iron cycling in the Southern Ocean, potentially influencing iron residence time in the upper water column of this region. Copyright 2007 by the American Geophysical Union.Peer Reviewe

Quantum Magnetic Deflagration in Mn12 Acetate

We report controlled ignition of magnetization reversal avalanches by surface acoustic waves in a single crystal of Mn12 acetate. Our data show that the speed of the avalanche exhibits maxima on the magnetic field at the tunneling resonances of Mn12. Combined with the evidence of magnetic deflagration in Mn12 acetate (Suzuki et al., cond-mat/0506569) this suggests a novel physical phenomenon: deflagration assisted by quantum tunneling.Comment: 4 figure