308 research outputs found
Diagnosis of conjunctivitis in primary care: comparison of two different culture procedures
Physical functioning and quality of life after cancer rehabilitation
Physical functioning and quality of life after cancer rehabilitation van Weert, E; Hoekstra-Weebers, JEHM; Grol, BMF; Otter, R; Arendzen, JH; Postema, K; van der Schans, CP Con el fin de superar los problemas relacionados con el cá ncer y mejorar la calidad de vida, se desarrollĂł un programa de rehabilitaciĂł n multifocal intensiva para pacientes oncolĂł gicos. Nuestra hipĂł tesis era que un programa de rehabilitaciĂł n intensiva de seis semanas de duraciĂł n se traducirĂa en mejorĂas fisiolĂł gicas y de la calidad de vida. Treinta y cuatro pacientes con problemas fĂsicos y psicosociales relacionados con el cá ncer. A´mbito: Centro de rehabilitaciĂł n. DisenËśo: Estudio observacional prospectivo. Intervencio´n: Un programa de rehabilitaciĂł n multifocal intensiva de seis semanas constituido por cuatro componentes: ejercicio individual, deportes, psicoeducaciĂł n e informaciĂł n. Criterios de valoracio´n: Ejercicio en bicicleta ergomĂ© trica limitado por los sĂntomas, fuerza muscular y calidad de vida (RAND-36, RSCL y MFI). Las mediciones se hicieron antes (T0) y despuĂ© s de seis semanas de rehabilitaciĂł n (T1). DespuĂ© s del programa de rehabilitaciĂł n intensiva se observaron mejorĂas estadĂsti-camente significativas en el ejercicio en bicicleta ergomĂ© trica limitado por los sĂntomas, en la fuerza muscular y en varios dominios del RAND-36, RSCL y MFI. El programa de rehabilitaciĂł n multifocal intensiva de seis semanas tuvo efectos beneficiosos inmediatos sobre las variables fisiolĂł gicas, la calidad de vida y la fatiga
Divergences in Real-Time Classical Field Theories at Non-Zero Temperature
The classical approximation provides a non-perturbative approach to
time-dependent problems in finite temperature field theory. We study the
divergences in hot classical field theory perturbatively. At one-loop, we show
that the linear divergences are completely determined by the classical
equivalent of the hard thermal loops in hot quantum field theories, and that
logarithmic divergences are absent. To deal with higher-loop diagrams, we
present a general argument that the superficial degree of divergence of
classical vertex functions decreases by one with each additional loop: one-loop
contributions are superficially linearly divergent, two-loop contributions are
superficially logarithmically divergent, and three- and higher-loop
contributions are superficially finite. We verify this for two-loop SU(N)
self-energy diagrams in Feynman and Coulomb gauges. We argue that hot,
classical scalar field theory may be completely renormalized by local (mass)
counterterms, and discuss renormalization of SU(N) gauge theories.Comment: 31 pages with 7 eps figure
Personalized neck irradiation guided by sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, larynx or hypopharynx with a clinically negative neck:(Chemo)radiotherapy to the PRIMary tumor only. Protocol of the PRIMO study
Background: Elective neck irradiation (ENI) is performed in head and neck cancer patients treated with definitive (chemo)radiotherapy. The aim is to eradicate nodal metastases that are not detectable by pretreatment imaging techniques. It is conceivable that personalized neck irradiation can be performed guided by the results of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). It is expected that ENI can be omitted to one or both sides of the neck in 9 out of 10 patients, resulting in less radiation side effects with better quality of life. Methods/design: This is a multicenter randomized controlled trial aiming to compare safety and efficacy of treatment with SLNB guided neck irradiation versus standard bilateral ENI in 242 patients with cN0 squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, larynx or hypopharynx for whom bilateral ENI is indicated. Patients randomized to the experimental-arm will undergo SLNB. Based on the histopathologic status of the SLNs, patients will receive no ENI (if all SLNs are negative), unilateral neck irradiation only (if a SLN is positive at one side of the neck) or bilateral neck irradiation (if SLNs are positive at both sides of the neck). Patients randomized to the control arm will not undergo SLNB but will receive standard bilateral ENI. The primary safety endpoint is the number of patients with recurrence in regional lymph nodes within 2 years after treatment. The primary efficacy endpoint is patient reported xerostomia-related quality of life at 6 months after treatment. Discussion: If this trial demonstrates that the experimental treatment is non-inferior to the standard treatment in terms of regional recurrence and is superior in terms of xerostomia-related quality of life, this will become the new standard of care.</p
Carrageenan-based hydrogels for the controlled delivery of PDGF-BB in bone tissue engineering applications
One of the major drawbacks found in most bone tissue engineering approaches developed so far consists in the
lack of strategies to promote vascularisation. Some studies have addressed different issues that may enhance
vascularisation in tissue engineered constructs, most of them involving the use of growth factors (GFs) that are
involved in the restitution of the vascularity in a damaged zone. The use of sustained delivery systems might also
play an important role in the re-establishment of angiogenesis. In this study, !-carrageenan, a naturally occurring
polymer, was used to develop hydrogel beads with the ability to incorporate GFs with the purpose of establishing
an effective angiogenesis mechanism. Some processing parameters were studied and their influence on the final
bead properties was evaluated. Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) was selected as the angiogenic factor
to incorporate in the developed beads, and the results demonstrate the achievement of an efficient encapsulation
and controlled release profile matching those usually required for the development of a fully functional vascular
network. In general, the obtained results demonstrate the potential of these systems for bone tissue engineering
applications.This work was supported by the European NoE EXPERTISSUES (NMP3-CT-2004-500283), the European STREP HIPPOCRATES (NMP3-CT-2003-505758), and by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the project PTDC/FIS/68517/2006 and through the V. Espirito Santo's Ph.D. grant (SFRH/BD/39486/2007)
Sensitive Spectroscopic Detection of Large and Denatured Protein Aggregates in Solution by Use of the Fluorescent Dye Nile Red
The fluorescent dye Nile red was used as a probe for the sensitive detection of large, denatured aggregates of the model protein β-galactosidase (E. coli) in solution. Aggregates were formed by irreversible heat denaturation of β-galactosidase below and above the protein’s unfolding temperature of 57.4°C, and the presence of aggregates in heated solutions was confirmed by static light scattering. Interaction of Nile red with β-galactosidase aggregates led to a shift of the emission maximum (λmax) from 660 to 611 nm, and to an increase of fluorescence intensity. Time-resolved fluorescence and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) measurements showed that Nile red detected large aggregates with hydrodynamic radii around 130 nm. By steady-state fluorescence measurements, it was possible to detect 1 nM of denatured and aggregated β-galactosidase in solution. The comparison with size exclusion chromatography (SEC) showed that native β-galactosidase and small aggregates thereof had no substantial effect on the fluorescence of Nile red. Large aggregates were not detected by SEC, because they were excluded from the column. The results with β-galactosidase demonstrate the potential of Nile red for developing complementary analytical methods that overcome the size limitations of SEC, and can detect the formation of large protein aggregates at early stages
Factors controlling the distribution of vascular and non-vascular epiphytes in the northern Andes
Eye Tracking-based Evaluation of User Engagement with Standard and Personalised Digital Education for Diabetic Patients
Bioactive Electrospun Scaffolds Delivering Growth Factors and Genes for Tissue Engineering Applications
A biomaterial scaffold is one of the key factors for successful tissue engineering. In recent years, an increasing tendency has been observed toward the combination of scaffolds and biomolecules, e.g. growth factors and therapeutic genes, to achieve bioactive scaffolds, which not only provide physical support but also express biological signals to modulate tissue regeneration. Huge efforts have been made on the exploration of strategies to prepare bioactive scaffolds. Within the past five years, electrospun scaffolds have gained an exponentially increasing popularity in this area because of their ultrathin fiber diameter and large surface-volume ratio, which is favored for biomolecule delivery. This paper reviews current techniques that can be used to prepare bioactive electrospun scaffolds, including physical adsorption, blend electrospinning, coaxial electrospinning, and covalent immobilization. In addition, this paper also analyzes the existing challenges (i.e., protein instability, low gene transfection efficiency, and difficulties in accurate kinetics prediction) to achieve biomolecule release from electrospun scaffolds, which necessitate further research to fully exploit the biomedical applications of these bioactive scaffolds
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