Should We Be Afraid Of Neuroendocrine Appendix Tumors?

Introduction: Appendix neoplasms are rarely seen and usually detected by chance after appendectomy. Carcinoid tumors, also called neuroendocrine tumors, make up more than 50% of appendix tumors. Since the diagnosis is usually made as a result of examination of postoperative pathology specimens, patients should be followed up well after appendectomy. Material and Method: 820 appendectomies performed between 2016 and 2020 in Eskisehir Osmangazi University General Surgery Clinic were examined and the patients whose pathology results were appearing as appendix neoplasm were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Neoplastic lesions were detected in 22 of 820 patients. The most common tumoral lesions in the appendix are neuroendocrine tumors and were seen in 8 patients (0.9%) in our series. The average age of patients is 44.75. It was determined that 6 of the patients were male and 2 were female. The average tumor diameter was found to be 4.9 mm. Discussion: Among the appendix malignant tumors, neuroendocrine tumors are the most common. Apart from this, although rare, goblet cell carcinoma, lymphoma, mucocele, primary adenocarcinoma and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma are also seen. In our study, the incidence of neuroendocrine tumors in patients with appendectomy was 0.9%. In the literature, the rates on this issue range from 0.3% to 0.9%. In our study, the average age of patients with neuroendocrine tumors was determined to be 44.75 and is consistent with the literature. Appendix neuroendocrine tumors rarely metastasize. Carcinoid syndrome due to appendix carcinoid tumor is rare and is often associated with liver metastasis. Although serosal and intramural lymphatic invasion, tumors smaller than 2 cm in diameter can be treated with appendectomy and mesoapendix resection. Conclusion: Appendix neoplasms are generally diagnosed after examination of pathology specimens after appendectomy. Although their prognosis is good, they should be followed closely since the presence of synchronous and metachronous tumor is high.Keywords: appendix, tumor, incidentalDOI: 10.7176/JHMN/78 0

Fibroadenoma of ectopic breast tissue of the axilla in an adolescent girl: Report of a rare entity

Ectopic breast tissue (EBT) is a well-described entity in the English  literature. However, fibroadenoma of the ectopic breast is a rare entity. We present a case of a 13-year-old adolescent girl with a subcutaneous mass in the right axilla that was pathologically identical to fibroadenoma seen in the EBT. To our knowledge, this is the second youngest patient reported with axillary EBT, which should be considered as a part of the differential diagnosis for axillary masses. Keywords: adolescent, axilla, ectopic breast tissue, fibroadenoma, mass Departments of aPediatric Surgery, bPathology, Sami Ulus Maternity and Children’s Hospital and cDepartment of Reproductive Endocrinology, Zubeyde Hanım Women Health Hospital, Ankara, Turke

Variations on Hammersley's interacting particle process

The longest increasing subsequence problem for permutations has been studied extensively in the last fifty years. The interpretation of the longest increasing subsequence as the longest 21-avoiding subsequence in the context of permutation patterns leads to many interesting research directions. We introduce and study the statistical properties of Hammersleytype interacting particle processes related to these generalizations and explore the finer structures of their distributions. We also propose three different interacting particle systems in the plane analogous to the Hammersley process in one dimension and obtain estimates for the asymptotic orders of the mean and variance of the number of particles in the systems.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Discrete Mathematics Letter

The inclination angle and mass of the black hole in XTE J1118+480

We have obtained optical and infrared photometry of the quiescent soft X-ray transient XTE J1118+480. In addition to optical and J-band variations, we present H- and Ks-band ellipsoidal variations for this system. We model the variations in all bands simultaneously with the WD98 light curve modeling code. The infrared colors of the secondary star in this system are consistent with those of a K7 V, while there is evidence for light from the accretion disk in the optical. Combining the models with the observed spectral energy distribution of the system, the most likely value for the orbital inclination angle is 68 degrees ±2 degrees. This inclination angle corresponds to a primary black hole mass of 8.53+/-0.60 M☉. Based on the derived physical parameters and infrared colors of the system, we determine a distance of 1.72+/-0.10 kpc to XTE J1118+480

The Inclination Angle of and Mass of the Black Hole in XTE J1118+480

We have obtained optical and infrared photometry of the quiescent soft X-ray transient XTE J1118+480. In addition to optical and J-band variations, we present the first observed H- and K_s-band ellipsoidal variations for this system. We model the variations in all bands simultaneously with the WD98 light curve modeling code. The infrared colors of the secondary star in this system are consistent with a K7V, while there is evidence for light from the accretion disk in the optical. Combining the models with the observed spectral energy distribution of the system, the most likely value for the orbital inclination angle is 68 +/- 2 deg. This inclination angle corresponds to a primary black hole mass of 8.53 +/- 0.60 M_sun. Based on the derived physical parameters and infrared colors of the system, we determine a distance of 1.72 +/- 0.10 kpc to XTE J1118+480.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, To appear in ApJ 01 May 2006 issu

Comprehensive Analysis of Prognostic Factors Affecting Postoperative Mortality in Adult Patients Undergoing Lower Extremity Amputation due to Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Aim:Mortality is significantly increased in patients undergoing amputation for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). The new biomarkers prognostic nutritional index (PNI), C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio, and comorbidities may help predict prognosis. This study aimed to determine the factors affecting mortality in DFU patients undergoing amputation.Methods:This study is a retrospective case series of patients who underwent lower extremity amputation due to DFU between 2016 and 2018. Data on demographics, clinical information, laboratory test results, comorbidities, hospital stays, re-amputations, and complications were recorded. PNI was calculated using serum albumin concentration and lymphocyte count.Results:A total of 97 patients (21 females and 76 males) were analyzed in the study, with 18 patients having bilateral lower extremity amputations (foot amputation, below-knee amputation, and above-knee amputation). The mean age was 64.48 years, and the mean follow-up period was 34.27 months. The mean length of hospital stay was 19.09 days, with a mean of 1.34 days spent in the intensive care unit. Preoperative laboratory test results showed a mean creatinine level of 1.4 mg/dL, a urea level of 55.22 mg/dL, an albumin level of 2.8 g/L, and a fasting blood glucose level of 168.8 mg/dL. The mean preoperative PNI was 39.31, and the mean CRP/albumin ratio was 42.51. Intensive care unit admission, CRP/albumin ratio, and CRP levels significantly affect 1-year postoperative mortality. The cut-off value for CRP as determined by receiver operating characteristic analysis was 89.9 mg/L. No significant association was found between comorbidities and mortality.Conclusion:We demonstrated that comorbidities and the new biomarker PNI did not affect mortality. CRP levels, intensive care unit admission, and the new predictor CRP/albumin ratio significantly affected 1-year mortality

Viability of SH-SY5Y cells is associated with purinergic P2 receptor expression alterations

To investigate the role of metabotrophic purinergic P2Y receptors in neuroblastoma cell survival, expression of P2 receptors by normal mouse (C57BL/6) brain and human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells was investigated by Western blot and real time PCR studies. Viability of SH-SY5Y cells treated with purinergic receptor antagonists suramin and pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulfonate (PPADS) was evaluated by MTT assay and flow cytometry. In the brain samples of C57BL/6 mice, expressions of P2Y4 and P2X7 were significantly reduced, whereas that of P2Y1 was significantly elevated in an age-dependent manner. SH-SY5Y cell viability was significantly reduced and necrotic cell rates were mildly increased by 400 μM suramin and 100 μM PPADS treatment. Antagonist treatment downregulated P2Y1, P2Y2 and P2Y4 and upregulated P2Y6, P2Y12 and P2X7 mRNA levels in SH-SY5Y cells on the 24th hour. These alterations were abolished for all P2 receptors except P2Y1 in the 48th hour. P2Y receptors are expressed by both normal mouse brain and human neuroblastoma cells. Purinergic receptor antagonism interferes with neuroblastoma viability through elevation of necrotic cell death and modulation of P2 receptor expression. P2Y receptors might thus be useful targets for future anti-tumor treatment trials

On heat transfer at microscale with implications for microactuator design

The dominance of conduction and the negligible effect of gravity, and hence free convection, are verified in the case of microscale heat sources surrounded by air at atmospheric pressure. A list of temperature-dependent heat transfer coefficients is provided. In contrast to previous approaches based on free convection, supplied coefficients converge with increasing temperature. Instead of creating a new external function for the definition of boundary conditions via conductive heat transfer, convective thin film coefficients already embedded in commercial finite element software are utilized under a constant heat flux condition. This facilitates direct implementation of coefficients, i.e. the list supplied in this work can directly be plugged into commercial software. Finally, the following four-step methodology is proposed for modeling: (i) determination of the thermal time constant of a specific microactuator, (ii) determination of the boundary layer size corresponding to this time constant, (iii) extraction of the appropriate heat transfer coefficients from a list provided and (iv) application of these coefficients as boundary conditions in thermomechanical finite element simulations. An experimental procedure is established for the determination of the thermal time constant, the first step of the proposed methodology. Based on conduction, the proposed method provides a physically sound solution to heat transfer issues encountered in the modeling of thermal microactuators

Elevated Blood Lead Concentrations in Essential Tremor: A Case–Control Study in Mersin, Turkey

Essential tremor (ET) is one of the most common neurologic disorders. Aside from underlying susceptibility genes, recent studies have also begun to focus on environmental toxic factors. Yet there remains a paucity of information on such factors, making studies of environmental factors important. A recent study in New York City found blood lead concentrations to be elevated in ET cases compared with matched controls. Chronic exposure to lead produces cerebellar damage, and this could predispose individuals to develop ET

Monolithic Integration of Silicon Nanowires With a Microgripper

Si nanowire (NW) stacks are fabricated by utilizing the scalloping effect of inductively coupled plasma deep reactive ion etching. When two etch windows are brought close enough, scallops from both sides will ideally meet along the dividing centerline of the windows turning the separating material column into an array of vertically stacked strings. Upon further thinning of these NW precursors by oxidation followed by oxide etching, Si NWs with diameters ranging from 50 nm to above 100 nm are obtained. The pattern of NWs is determined solely by photolithography. Various geometries ranging from T-junctions to circular coils are demonstrated in addition to straight NWs along specific crystallographic orientations. The number of NWs in a stack is determined by the number of etch cycles utilized. Due to the precise lithographic definition of NW location and orientation, the technique provides a convenient batch-compatible tool for the integration of NWs with MEMS. This aspect is demonstrated with a microgripper, where an electrostatic actuation mechanism is simultaneously fabricated with the accompanying NW endeffectors. Mechanical integrity of the NW–MEMS bond and the manipulation capability of the gripper are demonstrated. Overall, the proposed technique exhibits a batch-compatible approach to the issue of micronanointegration