Semantics-based information extraction for detecting economic events

As today's financial markets are sensitive to breaking news on economic events, accurate and timely automatic identification of events in news items is crucial. Unstructured news items originating from many heterogeneous sources have to be mined in order to extract knowledge useful for guiding decision making processes. Hence, we propose the Semantics-Based Pipeline for Economic Event Detection (SPEED), focusing on extracting financial events from news articles and annotating these with meta-data at a speed that enables real-time use. In our implementation, we use some components of an existing framework as well as new components, e.g., a high-performance Ontology Gazetteer, a Word Group Look-Up component, a Word Sense Disambiguator, and components for detecting economic events. Through their interaction with a domain-specific ontology, our novel, semantically enabled components constitute a feedback loop which fosters future reuse of acquired knowledge in the event detection process

Contribution of Direct Heating, Thermal Conduction and Perfusion During Radiofrequency and Microwave Ablation

Both radiofrequency (RF) and microwave (MW) ablation devices are clinically used for tumor ablation. Several studies report less dependence on vascular mediated cooling of MW compared to RF ablation. We created computer models of a cooled RF needle electrode, and a dipole MW antenna to determine differences in tissue heat transfer

Long-term effect of stereotactic body radiation therapy for primary hepatocellular carcinoma ineligible for local ablation therapy or surgical resection. Stereotactic radiotherapy for liver cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We evaluated the long-term effect of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for primary small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ineligible for local therapy or surgery.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Forty-two HCC patients with tumors ≤ 100 cc and ineligible for local ablation therapy or surgical resection were treated with SBRT: 30-39 Gy with a prescription isodose range of 70-85% (median 80%) was delivered daily in three fractions. Median tumor volume was 15.4 cc (3.0-81.8) and median follow-up duration 28.7 months (8.4-49.1).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Complete response (CR) for the in-field lesion was initially achieved in 59.6% and partial response (PR) in 26.2% of patients. Hepatic out-of-field progression occurred in 18 patients (42.9%) and distant metastasis developed in 12 (28.6%) patients. Overall in-field CR and overall CR were achieved in 59.6% and 33.3%, respectively. Overall 1-year and 3-year survival rates were 92.9% and 58.6%, respectively. In-field progression-free survival at 1 and 3 years was 72.0% and 67.5%, respectively. Patients with smaller tumor had better in-field progression-free survival and overall survival rates (<32 cc vs. ≥32 cc, <it>P </it>< 0.05). No major toxicity was encountered but one patient died with extrahepatic metastasis and radiation-induced hepatic failure.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>SBRT is a promising noninvasive-treatment for small HCC that is ineligible for local treatment or surgical resection.</p

Management of colorectal cancer presenting with synchronous liver metastases

Up to a fifth of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) present with synchronous hepatic metastases. In patients with CRC who present without intestinal obstruction or perforation and in whom comprehensive whole-body imaging confirms the absence of extrahepatic disease, evidence indicates a state of equipoise between several different management pathways, none of which has demonstrated superiority. Neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy is advocated by current guidelines, but must be integrated with surgical management in order to remove the primary tumour and liver metastatic burden. Surgery for CRC with synchronous liver metastases can take a number of forms: the 'classic' approach, involving initial colorectal resection, interval chemotherapy and liver resection as the final step; simultaneous removal of the liver and bowel tumours with neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy; or a 'liver-first' approach (before or after systemic chemotherapy) with removal of the colorectal tumour as the final procedure. In patients with rectal primary tumours, the liver-first approach can potentially avoid rectal surgery in patients with a complete response to chemoradiotherapy. We overview the importance of precise nomenclature, the influence of clinical presentation on treatment options, and the need for accurate, up-to-date surgical terminology, staging tests and contemporary management options in CRC and synchronous hepatic metastatic disease, with an emphasis on multidisciplinary care

Litigation following groin hernia repair in England

Purpose Since 1995, litigation following surgical procedures has cost the National Health Service (NHS) over 1.3 billion GBP (Great British Pounds)/2.1 billion USD (United States Dollars)/1.4 billion Euros. Despite it being the most commonly undertaken general surgical operation, no study has examined clinical negligence claims in England following groin hernia repairs. Methods Data from the NHS Litigation Authority of all claims made from 1995 to 2009 was obtained and interrogated. Results In total, 398 claims were made. Of these, 209 cases had been settled, of which 144 (46.6%) were in favour of the claimant to a cost of 7.35 million GBP/ 12 million USD/7.93 million Euros. Testicular injury and chronic pain featured in 40% of all claims. Visceral injuries and injuries requiring corrective procedures were the only predictors of a successful claim (P = 0.015 and P = 0.002, respectively). Claims associated with visceral and vascular injuries were more likely to occur in laparoscopic than in open repairs. Sexual dysfunction and chronic pain resulted in the highest average payouts of 85,467 GBP/140,565 USD/92,177 Euros and 81,288 GBP/ 133,693 USD/87,674 Euros, respectively. Conclusion Patients should be fully informed of the incidence of testicular injury and chronic pain during the consent process. Approaches minimising visceral and vascular injury particularly in laparoscopic repair should be adopted to reduce litigation and improve patient care.</p

Extra‐pancreatic end‐to‐side hepaticojejunostomy: a practical modification of the duodenum‐preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR) for chronic pancreatitis

BackgroundDuodenum‐preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR) is recognised for the surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis. Approximately 15–20% of patients undergoing DPPHR require a synchronous biliary drainage procedure for stricture.Methods and resultsThis report describes a technical modification involving the placement of an extra‐pancreatic end‐to‐side Roux hepaticojejunostomy utilising the same jejunal loop employed for pancreaticojejunal anastomosis.DiscussionExtra‐pancreatic end‐side hepaticojejunostomy is a simple technical modification of DPPHR. The biliary anastomosis is constructed according to the well‐established principles of biliary reconstruction and represents a safe and valuable technical option

Extreme Achalasia Presenting as Anorexia Nervosa

Background. Achalasia may lead to cachexia if not diagnosed in an early stage. Surgery in cachectic patients is hazardous and complications may result in a protracted recovery or even death. Different treatment options have been described. In this paper, we report a stepwise surgical laparoscopic approach which appears to be safe and effective. Methods. Over a one-year period, a patient with a body mass index (BMI) below 17 being treated for anorexia nervosa was referred with dysphagia. Because of the extreme cachexia, a laparoscopic feeding jejunostomy (LFJ) was fashioned to enable long-term home enteral feeding. The patient underwent a laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) when the BMI was normal. Results. The patient recovered well following this stepwise approach. Conclusion. Patients with advanced achalasia usually present with extreme weight loss. In this small group of patients, a period of home enteral nutrition (HEN) via a laparoscopically placed feeding jejunostomy allows weight gain prior to safe definitive surgery

Study of the distribution of mercury in the various compartments of the North-Sea and Scheldt estuary ecosystems

The distribution of mercury in various compartments of the North Sea and Scheldt ecosystems was investigated. The experimental results showed that: (1), in the North Sea, the ratio of particulate to dissolved mercury in the water column was close to 1 : 1, while in the estuary (particularly in its upper portion) this ratio was much higher; (2), the mercury content of living organisms was higher in phyto- and zooplankton than in fish, although detrital matter still contained about five times more mercury than phytoplankton; and (3), the concentration of mercury in marine sediments was situated between those found in zooplankton and fish. Thermodynamic stability diagrams for aqueous and solid mercury compounds in seawater and brackish water provided valuable information for the interpretation of the observed mercury distribution. Under reducing conditions, mercury-sulphide compounds were predominant, in both water systems. These compounds play a very important role in the accumulation and release of mercury in sediments (the stable solid compound under reducing conditions, cinnabar, determines the mobility of mercury in the interstitial water), and in living organisms (the latter produce metallothioneins, which contain a large number of - SH groups and show high affinities for mercury). In combination with electrostatic forces these compounds probably also play a role in the process of adsorption of Hg CI;, which is theoretically the predominant mercury compound in the North Sea and the major part of the Scheldt estuary, on suspended matter