Comparison of transabdominal ultrasound and electromagnetic transponders for prostate localization.

The aim of this study is to compare two methodologies of prostate localization in a large cohort of patients. Daily prostate localization using B-mode ultrasound has been performed at the Nebraska Medical Center since 2000. More recently, a technology using electromagnetic transponders implanted within the prostate was introduced into our clinic (Calypso(R)). With each technology, patients were localized initially using skin marks. Localization error distributions were determined from offsets between the initial setup positions and those determined by ultrasound or Calypso. Ultrasound localization data was summarized from 16619 imaging sessions spanning 7 years; Calypso localization data consists of 1524 fractions in 41 prostate patients treated in the course of a clinical trial at five institutions and 640 localizations from the first 16 patients treated with our clinical system. Ultrasound and Calypso patients treated between March and September 2007 at the Nebraska Medical Center were analyzed and compared, allowing a single institutional comparison of the two technologies. In this group of patients, the isocenter determined by ultrasound-based localization is on average 5.3 mm posterior to that determined by Calypso, while the systematic and random errors and PTV margins calculated from the ultrasound localizations were 3 - 4 times smaller than those calculated from the Calypso localizations. Our study finds that there are systematic differences between Calypso and ultrasound for prostate localization

Application of Earth Resources Technology Satellite data to urban development and regional planning: Test site - County of Los Angeles

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Ichthyological Bulletin of the J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology; No. 39

Part 1: The nature of the barriers separating the Lake Malawi and Zambezi fish faunas: The nature of the barrier separating the ‘Lake Malawi’ from the ‘Lower Zambezi’ fish faunas was investigated by electrofishing the 145 km stretch of the Shire River surrounding the Murchison cataracts. The study shows that the lowermost element of the cataracts, the Kapachira Falls, is an absolute physical barrier to upstream movement of ‘Lower Zambezi’ species. The barrier to downstream movement by ‘Lake Malawi’ species is largely ecological and has two components, the fluviatile nature of the Upper and Middle Shire and especially the torrential nature of the cataracts, which are unsuitable for lacustrine species, and competition with the ‘Lower Zambezi’ fauna of the Lower Shire by the few species which succeed in negotiating the cataracts.Part 2: An annotated checklist of the fish fauna of the River Shire south of Kapachira Falls, Malawi: The Shire River drains Lake Malawi and is a major tributary of the Lower Zambezi River. Sixty-one species of fish have been recorded in the lower reaches which are separated from the lower Shire basin by the Kapachira Falls and from the ‘East Coast River’ fauna present in the Upper Ruo River by the Zoa Falls. The fauna is essentially similar to that of the Lower Zambezi, although some Lake Malawi endemics occur sporadically in the upper part of the flood plain.Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation

Introduction

What are the strategies, modalities and aspirations of island-based, stateless nationalist and regionalist parties in the twenty-first century? Political independence is now easier to achieve, even by the smallest of territories; yet, it is not so likely to be pursued with any vigour by the world's various persisting sub-national (and mainly island) jurisdictions. Theirs is a pursuit of different expressions of sub-national autonomy, stopping short of independence. And yet, a number of independence referenda are scheduled, including one looming in Scotland in autumn 2014

Omega-3 Supplementation, Menstrual Cycle, and Acute Eccentric Exercise on Plasma Lipid Profiles

Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation and the menstrual cycle may independently influence plasma lipids and lipoproteins following acute exercise. PURPOSE: The current study investigated the effects of dietary fish oil supplement and acute eccentric exercise on plasma lipids and lipoproteins during two different phases of the menstrual cycle [mid-follicular (MF) vs. mid-luteal phase (ML)]. METHODS: As a double-blind, placebo-controlled design, 22 healthy young females (age= 20.86±1.39 years) volunteered. Participants were randomly assigned to either the fish oil (N=11) or the placebo (N=11) group. The fish oil group took a total of 6 capsules of fish oil per day (6g total; each capsule with 2.4 g of eicosapentaenoic acid and 1.8 g of docosahexaenoic acid), while the placebo group took 6 capsules of safflower oil/day (6g total; 2.8 g of lauric acid, 1.1g of myristic acid, 0.4 g of caprylic acid, 0.4 g of oleic acid, and 0.09 mg of linoleic acid) for 3 weeks. Participants in each group performed an acute eccentric single-leg exercise protocol during the MF and ML phases, which consisted of 10 sets of 10 repetitions with a 3-min resting between sets at an isokinetic speed of 30⁰/sec. The leg exercised for the MF phase was randomly selected and the opposing leg exercised during the ML phase. Plasma samples were collected at pre-, 6-hours post-exercise (6-hr PE), and 24-hours post-exercise (24-hr PE)] to analyze total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), lipoprotein (a), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C). Data were analyzed using a multivariate analysis of variance (p \u3c 0.05). If a significant interaction was found, a Tukey’s post-hoc test was performed. RESULTS: Plasma lipids and lipoproteins were not different between the fish oil and placebo groups or before and after the acute eccentric leg exercise. However, HDL-C was significantly higher (p = 0.041) during the ML (61.66 ± 2.44 mg/dL) phase than that of the MF (54.53 ± 2.44 mg/dL) phase. CONCLUSION: Although it didn’t reach a statistical significance, the overall lipid and lipoprotein profile tended to improve following a relatively short-term fish oil supplement in healthy, young women. Acute eccentric exercise may not negatively affect plasma lipids and lipoproteins. Elevated HDL-C during the mid-luteal phase may possibly be associated with increased estradiol levels. It is recommended for future studies that an extended period of fish oil supplement using different dosages and exercise regimen be implemented to examine a long-term benefit of fish oil supplement in a variety of sample groups

Scheduling language and algorithm development study. Volume 3, phase 2: As-built specifications for the prototype language and module library

Detailed specifications of the prototype language and module library are presented. The user guide to the translator writing system is included

Relationship between vascular resistance and sympathetic nerve fiber density in arterial vessels in children with sleep disordered breathing

Sleep disordered breathing in children is associated with increased blood flow velocity and sympathetic overactivity. Sympathetic overactivity results in peripheral vasoconstriction and reduced systemic vascular compliance, which increases blood flow velocity during systole. Augmented blood flow velocity is recognized to promote vascular remodeling. Importantly, increased vascular sympathetic nerve fiber density and innervation in early life plays a key role in the development of early-onset hypertension in animal models. Examination of sympathetic nerve fiber density of the tonsillar arteries in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy for Sleep disordered breathing will address this question in humans.Thirteen children scheduled for adenotonsillectomy to treat sleep disordered breathing underwent pupillometry, polysomnography, flow-mediated dilation, resting brachial artery blood flow velocity (velocity time integral), and platelet aggregation. The dorsal lingual artery (tonsil) was stained and immunofluorescence techniques used to determine sympathetic nerve fiber density. Sympathetic nerve fiber density was correlated with increased resting velocity time integral (r=0.63; P<0.05) and a lower Neuronal Pupillary Index (r=-0.71, P<0.01), as well as a slower mean pupillary constriction velocity (mean, r=-0.64; P<0.05). A faster resting velocity time integral was associated with a slower peak pupillary constriction velocity (r=-0.77; P<0.01) and higher platelet aggregation to collagen antigen (r=0.64; P<0.05). Slower mean and peak pupillary constriction velocity were associated with higher platelet aggregation scores (P<0.05; P<0.01, respectively).These results indicate that sympathetic activity is associated with change in both the function and structure of systemic vasculature in children with sleep disordered breathing.Anna Kontos, Kurt Lushington, James Martin, Quenten Schwarz, Ryan Green, Ben, David Wabnitz, Xiangjun Xu, Elke M. Sokoya, Scott Willoughby, Mathias Baumert, Antonio Ferrante, Melissa La Forgia, Declan Kenned