Radiofrequency-induced thermotherapy of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma and immunohistochemical analysis of vessel proliferation: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma presents with symptoms of nasal obstruction and epistaxis. The treatment of choice is embolization followed by surgery.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 52-year-old man underwent surgery for nasopharyngeal angiofibroma after adjuvant radiofrequency-induced thermotherapy. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of angiofibroma with clinical follow-up after thermocoagulation therapy supported by quantitative, double immunohistochemistry. We found this case of angiofibroma to be of interest owing to the presentation of symptoms leading to biopsy, the pathohistological observations obtained with synchronous Ki67/cluster of differentiation 34 and Ki67/smooth muscle actin immunohistochemistry and high pericyte proliferation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Coagulation of angiofibroma vessels followed by acquisition of a thick mantle of pericytes in a patient with a nasopharyngeal growth suggests that radiofrequency-induced thermotherapy could be a useful, palliative therapy for bleeding nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, supporting vessel maturation prior to surgical tumor removal.</p

Influence of composition, bonding characteristics and microstructure on the electrochemical and optical stability of AlOxNy thin films

Thin films of AlOxNy were deposited by magnetron sputtering in a wide composition range. Different structures and morphologies were observed, depending on the composition and bonding states, which opened the possibility to tailor the properties of this oxynitride system between those of pure Al and those of nitride and oxide films. In a wide range of stoichiometries, one can report the formation of nanocomposite porous films, where Al nanoparticles are dispersed in an amorphous matrix of AlOxNy. The electrochemical behaviour of the films was studied in isotonic NaCl solution. It was observed that the pitting 2 potential characteristic of aluminium disappears with the incorporation of oxygen and nitrogen in the films, being replaced by a smooth current increase. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy performed during 35 days showed that the corrosion resistance of the films steadily increases. The unusual optical reflectance profile of some films is maintained after immersion for several months.Fundação para a Ciência e a TecnologiaPrograma Pessoa 2010/2011, Cooperação Portugal/França, Proc.º 441.00, Project“COLOURCLUSTER”

Corrosion behavior of friction stir welded lap joints of AA6061-T6 aluminum alloy

In this work, the corrosion behaviors of friction-stir lap welding of 6061-T6 Al-alloy are studied. The friction-stir lap welding was performed under different welding conditions (rotation speed and welding speed). The corrosion behavior of the parent alloy, the weld nugget zone (WNZ), and the heat affected zone (HAZ) of each welded sample working as an electrode, were investigated by the Tafel polarization test in 3.5 wt. (%) NaCl at ambient temperature. The morphology of the corroded surface of each region was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy together with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The results showed that the corrosion resistance of the parent alloy was better than the WNZ and the HAZ in both welding conditions. Localized pit dissolution and intergranular corrosion were the dominant corrosion types observed in the parent alloy, WNZ, and HAZ. The parent alloy, WNZ, and HAZ exhibited similar corrosion potentials (Ecorr) after T6 heat treatment. This treatment had a better effect on the corrosion resistance of the welded regions than the parent alloy

Magnesia-Based Cements: A Journey of 150 Years, and Cements for the Future?

This review examines the detailed chemical insights that have been generated through 150 years of work worldwide on magnesium-based inorganic cements, with a focus on both scientific and patent literature. Magnesium carbonate, phosphate, silicate-hydrate, and oxysalt (both chloride and sulfate) cements are all assessed. Many such cements are ideally suited to specialist applications in precast construction, road repair, and other fields including nuclear waste immobilization. The majority of MgO-based cements are more costly to produce than Portland cement because of the relatively high cost of reactive sources of MgO and do not have a sufficiently high internal pH to passivate mild steel reinforcing bars. This precludes MgO-based cements from providing a large-scale replacement for Portland cement in the production of steel-reinforced concretes for civil engineering applications, despite the potential for CO2 emissions reductions offered by some such systems. Nonetheless, in uses that do not require steel reinforcement, and in locations where the MgO can be sourced at a competitive price, a detailed understanding of these systems enables their specification, design, and selection as advanced engineering materials with a strongly defined chemical basis

Cartographie de la fréquence de chute de blocs à partir de blessures observées sur les arbres et de simulations trajectographiques

International audienceWhereas numerous model now allow to simulate rockfall propagation in forest stands, the mapping of the release areas and associated frequency remains difficult, due to the very low number of observed events. Meanwhile, dendrochronological studies demonstrated that trees impacted by rockfall record information about the spatial distribution of rockfall trajectories. Here we tested, both with simulations and on a real-case study, a framework for the mapping of release areas from observed tree impacts and simulated trajectories. The spatial distribution of tree impacts results from the propagation of rocks from several source cells with different release probabilities. Observations of impacts and simulation of trajectories make it possible to solve the system for the relative release frequencies. With simulated scenarios, we tested the capacity of this method to accurately map the release points depending on their number, distance and width, and on the tree density and diameters. Results show that individual release points can be accurately determined when a sufficient number of rockfall events have occurred. Forest characteristics have only a secondary influence. The method was successfully implemented in a real-case study were 1024 tree were inventoried for rock impacts

A newborn with infantile fibrosarcoma of foot: treatment with chemotherapy and extremity-sparing surgery

WOS: 000273441700015PubMed: 20038940Infantile fibrosarcoma represents less than 1% of all childhood cancers, but it is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma in those under 1 year of age. We report an infant with congenital infantile fibrosarcoma diagnosed as hemangiopericytoma. He was treated with chemotherapy and extremity-sparing surgery. Amputation was avoided. Journal of Perinatology (2010) 30, 63-65; doi: 10.1038/jp.2009.9

An intraoperative unexpected respiratory problem in a patient with Apert syndrome

WOS: 000251145600007PubMed: 17952033We present a case of a 5-year-old child who underwent four operations (three for syndactyly of the hands and one for craniofacial corrections). At the third hour of his craniofacial operation, his EtCO, started to increase and airway resistance was encountered during manual ventilation. The position of the head and neck was checked. An increase in secretion with oral and endotracheal aspiration and a decrease in saturation were observed. When breath sounds disappeared, the patient was reintubated orally. The nasal tube was obstructed with a mucolytic plug. There was no problem during the other operations. This case is presented since anaesthesiologists should be aware of the high incidence of respiratory complications in Apert syndrome