Endoscopic bronchial ultrasound in mediastinal staging of lung cancer

Lung cancer is a global healthcare concern with a low 5-year survival rate and a high proportion of advanced-stage cases at diagnosis. In the absence of distant metastasis, the most important prognostic marker is mediastinal lymph node involvement. Timely diagnosis and staging improves prognosis, making rapid, safe, and accurate investigation essential. Endoscopic bronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is a minimally invasive technique which allows for ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) during bronchoscopy, with cytological sampling of several intrathoracic groups of lymph nodes. EBUS reduces need for open surgical biopsy, with good sensitivity and specificity and excellent safety profile. This article reviews current evidence regarding use of EBUS in lung cancer staging, including its role in other intrathoracic malignancies.eviews current evidence regarding use of EBUS in lung cancer staging, including its role in other intrathoracic malignancies.peer-reviewe

Metallurgy of armour exhibited at the Palace Armoury, Valletta, Malta

The metallurgy of ten armour pieces from the Palace Armoury Collection in Malta was examined. Results showed that out of ten artefacts examined, six were produced in low carbon steel, one from a high carbon steel and three were made from wrought iron. One of the wrought iron armour pieces was fabricated from a phosphoric iron, an unusual material for these artefacts. All the steel artefacts exhibited a ferrite-pearlite microstructure. In their manufacture, no attempts had been made at producing martensite by full or slack quenching. All metal fragments contained slag inclusions. The elongated nature of the latter suggested that these artefacts were forged into shape.peer-reviewe

Allozyme genetic variability in the sea cucumber (holothuria polii) around the Maltese Islands

Allozyme electrophoresis was carried out over 7 loci that were selected from a maximum of fourteen enzymes. These 7 loci showed an average polymorphism, over the entire population, of 23%. Genetic index and distance showed that a genetic variation is present in the sub-populations surveyed, with a significant difference within the sub-populations of Delimara and Anchor Bay. 54% of the specimens sampled show that they are coming from the same population. Another 12%, mainly specimens collected from Anchor Bay, show that they are genetically different. In both these sites, different sub-populations may have been in contact with different environmental conditions allowing for changes to occur. Differences in allelic frequencies between Holothuria polii from different sites were also detected.peer-reviewe

Rapd analysis of the genetic variability in the population of the sea cucumber holothuria polii around the Maltese Islands, Central Mediterranean

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was used to assess the genetic variation of the sea cucumber Holothuria polii population. A total of 33 loci were chosen from the 7 primers used. The study revealed that there is divergence between sub-populations found on the east coast and the west coast of Malta, especially at the Anchor Bay site (I = 0.7; D = 0.3). On the other hand, Delimara’s sub-population showed a high homozygozity and less effective alleles (H = 0.214, N = 1.295), possibly due to a decline in numbers, as a result to new selection pressures. The UPGMA dendrogram obtained of the entire Maltese population shows that H. polii is sub-divided into two distinct populations, the north-westerly sub-populations and the south-eastern sub-populations.peer-reviewe

Narrow gates, strait ways: the postmodern sacred and the icon

This study compares two prevalent notions in postmodern philosophy and critical-cultural theory: the sacred and the icon. On the one hand, the sacred has often been described as the exposure to an abyssal reality that is completely foreign to human perception and control. This deeply subversive event is presented through two of its most influential thinkers, Georges Bataille and Maurice Blanchot. On the other hand, the icon marks the experience of a sensitivity to the singular selfhood of the other. It comprises a loving receptivity to its unique identity, in particular the identity of the human or divine stranger who is excluded or victimized by human narratives and structures. Intrinsic to the ethical scene, as I show through Emmanuel Levinas and Richard Kearney, is an interaction rather than a subjugation of the subject by the other. This project seeks to present the similarities and differences between the sacred and the icon. In particular, it calls for a certain relationship between them, allowing both to be observed in each other’s respective light. Both are thus re-examined through their relation to each other. Moreover, this bond is seen to be ethically significant for either phenomenon and it helps redefine the sacred and the icon in a manner that is closer to actual experience. It also perceives either one in terms of a practical efficacy. To exemplify these views, the Christian mystical experience known as the ‘passive dark night of the soul’ is explored insofar as it constitutes one of the most radical instances of the icon. Crucial to this relationship is its exposure of the possible shortcomings and misjudgements of previous conceptions of the sacred. A potential new role for the sacred is indicated: a function that is at once more ethical and constructive. Above all, the underlying concern of this study is the very nature of this interaction of the two extremes. Throughout, it shows this affiliation as dialectical by nature. Between the sacred and the icon, a process of a mutual coinciding and estranging takes place

Inflammation and resolution in exercise-induced skeletal muscle injury: The effect of NSAID treatment on pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory/pro-resolving lipid mediators.

Current approaches in the treatment of exercise-induced muscle injury rely on the inhibition of pro-inflammatory pathways to alleviate cardinal signs of inflammation; redness, swelling, heat and pain. However, recent research suggests that the cellular events which occur early in acute inflammation engage an active and coordinated inflammatory resolution program characterised by a switch from pro-inflammatory mediators to production of active pro-resolution factors that govern the withdrawal of inflammation whilst facilitating tissue healing. This led to the identification of novel classes of anti-inflammatory/pro-resolving lipid mediators, including the lipoxins (LX), resolvins (Rv), and protectins (P), which may provide new targets in the treatment of inflammation. METHODS: Sixteen untrained male subjects (age 23±0.7yr, mass 88±3.1kg) were assigned to a placebo (PLA) (n=8) or ibuprofen (IBU) (n=8) group. Subjects completed a single bout of resistance exercise consisting of 3 sets of 8-12 repetitions of a squat, leg press and leg extensions at 80% 1RM. Intravenous blood samples were obtained at rest, at 30 min intervals between 0 and 3 h and again at 24 h post exercise. The IBU group orally consumed 400mg of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen pre-exercise, and again at 5 and 10 h post exercise (1200 mg/day). Serum lipid mediator profiles were analysed via LC-MS targeted lipidomics. RESULTS: Acute exercise increased serum levels of pro-inflammatory eicosanoid species derived from both the COX-1 and 2 (prostaglandins: e.g. PGF2α, PGE2, PGD2, TXB2) and 5-LOX (leukotrienes: e.g. LTB4, LTB5) pathways. Additionally, heightened circulating levels of novel pro-resolving lipid mediators derived from arachidonic acid (LXA4 and LXB4), EPA (RvE1) and DHA (RvD1 andPD1 isomer) were detected post-exercise. Both the pro-inflammatory COX-1 & 2/5-LOX responses, as well as pro-resolving lipid mediator biosynthesis were blunted by the administration of the COX-1 and 2 inhibiting NSAID ibuprofen. CONCLUSION: Pro-inflammatory eicosanoids as well as novel pro-resolving bioactive lipid mediators are acutely up regulated following unaccustomed resistance exercise; a response which is diminished by IBU treatment. We hypothesize that the active resolution of exercise-induced inflammation may be important in effective post-exercise recovery and that a shift from anti-inflammatory interventions towards those which promote active resolution may hasten natural withdrawal of inflammation whilst facilitating the successful repair and regeneration of damaged muscle tissue

Rapid prototyping-coded masks for x-ray backscatter imaging

Coded masks (CM) often lack a self-supporting structure that is difficult to manufacture without recourse to drilled holes in place of ideal square apertures, degrading imaging properties. An alternative approach is presented with three-dimensional (3-D) printed CM molds cast with a radio-opaque material that allows square elements to be retained. Two methods are presented; hot casting a bismuth alloy (density 8.6  g cm  −  3) and cold casting with tungsten powder/epoxy resin (densities 9.6 and 10.6  g cm  −  3). A critical review of 3-D printed-CM fabrication along with some typical x-ray backscatter images is presented. A signal-to-noise ratio from both the machined tungsten and cold cast 3-D printed mask were comparable, with the former having a slight advantage. Also, 3-D printed cold cast masks were found to be more economical and easier to rapid prototype over traditional drilled tungsten masks