596 research outputs found
Non-Preemptive Scheduling on Machines with Setup Times
Consider the problem in which n jobs that are classified into k types are to
be scheduled on m identical machines without preemption. A machine requires a
proper setup taking s time units before processing jobs of a given type. The
objective is to minimize the makespan of the resulting schedule. We design and
analyze an approximation algorithm that runs in time polynomial in n, m and k
and computes a solution with an approximation factor that can be made
arbitrarily close to 3/2.Comment: A conference version of this paper has been accepted for publication
in the proceedings of the 14th Algorithms and Data Structures Symposium
(WADS
Laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) sacrocolpopexy: feasibility and efficacy of knotless procedure performed with conventional instruments
The aim of this paper was to report a case of a patient with stage IV vaginal vault prolapse treated by laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) sacrocolpopexy using an Alexis retractor and a surgical glove attached to three trocars through a 3.5-cm umbilical incision. Only conventional laparoscopic instruments were used for intrabdominal dissection of vagina and peritoneum. The mesh was fixed to the vaginal fornix and to the sacral periosteum from the promontory using running sutures hold in the extremities by polymer clips. The posterior peritoneum was closed over the mesh. LESS sacrocolpopexy performed with conventional instruments is a difficult but feasible and efficient technique to treat vaginal vault prolapse that respects the principles of conventional laparoscopic or open repairs. Alexis retractor associated with knotless sutures are technical options that simplify LESS reconstructive surgical maneuvers
Gait profile score and movement analysis profile in patients with Parkinson's disease during concurrent cognitive load
Background: Gait disorders are common in individuals with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and the concurrent performance of motor and cognitive tasks can have marked effects on gait. The Gait Profile Score (GPS) and the Movement Analysis Profile (MAP) were developed in order to summarize the data of kinematics and facilitate understanding of the results of gait analysis. Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of the GPS and MAP in the quantification of changes in gait during a concurrent cognitive load while walking in adults with and without PD. Method: Fourteen patients with idiopathic PD and nine healthy subjects participated in the study. All subjects performed single and dual walking tasks. The GPS/MAP was computed from three-dimensional gait analysis data. Results: Differences were found between tasks for GPS (P<0.05) and Gait Variable Score (GVS) (pelvic rotation, knee flexion-extension and ankle dorsiflexion-plantarflexion) (P<0.05) in the PD group. An interaction between task and group was observed for GPS (P<0.01) for the right side (Cohen's d=0.99), left side (Cohen's d=0.91), and overall (Cohen's d=0.88). No interaction was observed only for hip internal-external rotation and foot internal-external progression GVS variables in the PD group. Conclusions: The results showed gait impairment during the dual task and suggest that GPS/MAP may be used to evaluate the effects of concurrent cognitive load while walking in patients with PD
Association between Selected Oral Pathogens and Gastric Precancerous Lesions
We examined whether colonization of selected oral pathogens is associated with gastric precancerous lesions in a cross-sectional study. A total of 119 participants were included, of which 37 were cases of chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, or dysplasia. An oral examination was performed to measure periodontal indices. Plaque and saliva samples were tested with real-time quantitative PCR for DNA levels of pathogens related to periodontal disease (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythensis, Treponema denticola, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans) and dental caries (Streptococcus mutans and S. sobrinus). There were no consistent associations between DNA levels of selected bacterial species and gastric precancerous lesions, although an elevated but non-significant odds ratio (OR) for gastric precancerous lesions was observed in relation to increasing colonization of A. actinomycetemcomitans (OR = 1.36 for one standard deviation increase, 95% Confidence Interval = 0.87–2.12), P. gingivalis (OR = 1.12, 0.67–1.88) and T. denticola (OR = 1.34, 0.83–2.12) measured in plaque. To assess the influence of specific long-term infection, stratified analyses by levels of periodontal indices were conducted. A. actinomycetemcomitans was significantly associated with gastric precancerous lesions (OR = 2.51, 1.13–5.56) among those with ≥ median of percent tooth sites with PD≥3 mm, compared with no association among those below the median (OR = 0.86, 0.43–1.72). A significantly stronger relationship was observed between the cumulative bacterial burden score of periodontal disease-related pathogens and gastric precancerous lesions among those with higher versus lower levels of periodontal disease indices (p-values for interactions: 0.03–0.06). Among individuals with periodontal disease, high levels of colonization of periodontal pathogens are associated with an increased risk of gastric precancerous lesions
Exercise and postprandial lipemia: effects on vascular health in inactive adults
Background: There is evidence to suggest that postprandial lipemia are is linked to the impairment of endothelial
function, which is characterized by an imbalance between the actions of vasodilators and vasoconstrictors. The aim
of this study was to determine the effects of a 12-week high-intensity training (HIT) and moderate continuous
training (MCT) protocol on postprandial lipemia, vascular function and arterial stiffness in inactive adults after
high-fat meal (HFM) ingestion.
Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted in 20 healthy, inactive adults (31.6 ± 7.1 years). Participants followed
the two exercise protocols for 12 weeks. To induce a state of postprandial lipemia (PPL), all subjects received a HFM.
Endothelial function was measured using flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), normalized brachial artery FMD (nFMD),
aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx). Plasma total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein
cholesterol (HDL-c), triglycerides and glucose were also measured.
Results: The effects of a HFM were evaluated in a fasted state and 60, 120, 180, and 240 min postprandially. A significant
decrease in serum glucose between 0 min (fasted state) and 120 min postprandially was found in the HIT group (P= 0.
035). Likewise, FMD (%) was significantly different between the fasted state and 60 min after a HFM in the HIT group
(P = 0.042). The total cholesterol response expressed as area under curve (AUC)(0–240) was lower following HIT than
following MCT, but no significant differences were observed (8%, P > 0.05). Similarly, triglycerides AUC(0–240) was also
lower after HIT compared with MCT, which trended towards significance (24%, P= 0.076). The AUC(0–240) for the glucose
response was significantly lower following HIT than MCT (10%, P = 0.008). FMD and nFMD AUC(0–240) were significantly
higher following HIT than following MCT (46.9%, P = 0.021 and 67.3%, P = 0.009, respectively). PWV AUC(0–240) did not
differ following between the two exercise groups (2.3%, P > 0.05).
Conclusions: Supervised exercise training mitigates endothelial dysfunction and glucose response induced by PPL.
Exercise intensity plays an important role in these protective effects, and medium-term HIT may be more effective than
MCT in reducing postprandial glucose levels and attenuating vascular impairment.This study as funded in part by the Center for Studies on Measurement of
Physical Activity, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del
Rosario (Code N° FIUR DN-BG001). We declare that the results of the study
are presented clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification, or appropriate
data manipulatio
Arachnoid cyst in a patient with psychosis: Case report
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aetiology of a psychotic disturbance can be due to a functional or organic condition. Organic aetiologies are diverse and encompass organ failures, infections, nutritional deficiencies and space-occupying lesions. Arachnoid cysts are rare, benign space-occupying lesions formed by an arachnoid membrane containing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In most cases they are diagnosed by accident. Until recently, the coexistence of arachnoid cysts with psychiatric disturbances had not been closely covered in the literature. However, the appearance of some references that focus on a possible link between arachnoid cysts and psychotic symptoms has increased the interest in this subject and raised questions about the etiopathogeny and the therapeutic approach involved.</p> <p>Clinical presentation</p> <p>We present the clinical report of a 21-year-old man, characterised by the insidious development of psychotic symptoms of varying intensity, delusional ideas with hypochondriac content, complex auditory/verbal hallucinations in the second and third persons, and aggressive behaviour. The neuroimaging studies revealed a voluminous arachnoid cyst at the level of the left sylvian fissure, with a marked mass effect on the left temporal and frontal lobes and the left lateral ventricle, as well as evidence of hypoplasia of the left temporal lobe. Despite the symptoms and the size of the cyst, the neurosurgical department opted against surgical intervention. The patient began antipsychotic therapy and was discharged having shown improvement (behavioural component), but without a complete remission of the psychotic symptoms.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It is difficult to be absolutely certain whether the lesion had influence on the patient's psychiatric symptoms or not.</p> <p>However, given the anatomical and neuropsychological changes, one cannot exclude the possibility that the lesion played a significant role in this psychiatric presentation. This raises substantial problems when it comes to choosing a therapeutic strategy.</p
Analysis of sex and gender-specific research reveals a common increase in publications and marked differences between disciplines
Oertelt-Prigione S, Parol R, Krohn S, Preißner R, Regitz-Zagrosek V. Analysis of sex and gender-specific research reveals a common increase in publications and marked differences between disciplines. BMC Medicine. 2010;8(1): 70.© 2010 Oertelt-Prigione et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the CreativeCommons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited
Metabolic alteration of urinary steroids in pre- and post-menopausal women, and men with papillary thyroid carcinoma
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To evaluate the metabolic changes in urinary steroids in pre- and post-menopausal women and men with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Quantitative steroid profiling combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to measure the urinary concentrations of 84 steroids in both pre- (n = 21, age: 36.95 ± 7.19 yr) and post-menopausal female (n = 19, age: 52.79 ± 7.66 yr), and male (n = 16, age: 41.88 ± 8.48 yr) patients with PTC. After comparing the quantitative data of the patients with their corresponding controls (pre-menopause women: n = 24, age: 33.21 ± 10.48 yr, post-menopause women: n = 16, age: 49.67 ± 8.94 yr, male: n = 20, age: 42.75 ± 4.22 yr), the levels of steroids in the patients were normalized to the mean concentration of the controls to exclude gender and menopausal variations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Many urinary steroids were up-regulated in all PTC patients compared to the controls. Among them, the levels of three active androgens, androstenedione, androstenediol and 16α-hydroxy DHEA, were significantly higher in the pre-menopausal women and men with PTC. The corticoid levels were increased slightly in the PTC men, while progestins were not altered in the post-menopausal PTC women. Estrogens were up-regulated in all PTC patients but 2-hydroxyestrone and 2-hydroxy-17β-estradiol were remarkably changed in both pre-menopausal women and men with PTC. For both menopausal and gender differences, the 2-hydroxylation, 4-hydroxylation, 2-methoxylation, and 4-methoxylation of estrogens and 16α-hydroxylation of DHEA were differentiated between pre- and post-menopausal PTC women (<it>P </it>< 0.001). In particular, the metabolic ratio of 2-hydroxyestrone to 2-hydroxy-17β-estradiol, which could reveal the enzyme activity of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, showed gender differences in PTC patients (<it>P </it>< 1 × 10<sup>-7</sup>).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results are expected be helpful for better understanding the pathogenic differences in PTC according to gender and menopausal conditions.</p
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