The influence of temperature on mechanical properties of the base material (BM) and welded joint (WJ) made of steel S690QL

This paper presents the analysis of the influence of temperature on mechanic properties of the base material and welded joints made of high strength steel. The joints were welded on S690QL high strength steel plates using the Metal Active Gas (MAG) Welding and two filler materials of different properties. Since the steel S690QL belongs to a group of steels with high strength, the aim of this paper is to determine the temperature at which strength starts to decrease. Experimental tensile testings of the welded joints were performed at five different temperatures in the range from 20 to 550 °C

The influence of temperature on mechanical properties of the base material (BM) and welded joint (WJ) made of steel S690QL

This paper presents the analysis of the influence of temperature on mechanic properties of the base material and welded joints made of high strength steel. The joints were welded on S690QL high strength steel plates using the Metal Active Gas (MAG) Welding and two filler materials of different properties. Since the steel S690QL belongs to a group of steels with high strength, the aim of this paper is to determine the temperature at which strength starts to decrease. Experimental tensile testings of the welded joints were performed at five different temperatures in the range from 20 to 550 °C

Influence of metal-ceramic fixed dental restorations on the occurrence of discoloration of gingiva

Background. Adverse effects of dental cast alloys on the health of patients are the problem in clinical practice. The aim of this paper was to describe the case of a patient with discolorated gingivae in the presence of fixed dental restorations and used diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Case report. A 30-year old patient, presented with the complaints about unsatisfactory esthetic of his fixed dental restorations. He complained about the greyish discoloration of gingivae, inappropriate color of the crowns, and a larger space between the central incisors. Both discolorated and normal gingivae around the fixed dental restorations were taken by excision and the samples of gingivae were examined histopathologically, and by using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry test (AAS). Histopathological examination of the discolorated gingivae showed the presence of non-specific inflammation with a foreign body. AAS revealed the presence of various metals in the samples and the higher metal contents in the samples of discolorated gingivae as compared with the samples of normal gingivae. New metal-ceramic crowns were made for the patient. Conclusion. A main cause of greyish discoloration of gingivae was presence of a metal in gingival tissue. After the excision of discolorated gingivae old metalceramic crowns should be replaced with new crowns

Discoloration of gingiva in the presence of fixed dental restorations

Aim. To investigate the frequency of discoloration of gingiva in the presence of fixed dental restorations, regarding the type of alloy of which restorations were made, and to show histopathological changes of discolored gingiva. Methods. One hundred and eighty four patients of both sexes were examined. The average age of the examinees was 52. They were divided into four groups according to the alloys from which their restorations were made. Standardized history questionnaires and clinical examination procedures were developed for this study. In ten examinees, whose teeth were indicated for extraction and who had a discoloration of gingiva, the samples of tissue were taken from the discolored gingiva for histopathological examination. Results. Our results showed the presence of discolored gingiva in all four groups. It was most frequent in the examinees with fixed restorations made of Ni-Cr alloy (43,5%) and less frequent in those with fixed dental restorations made of gold alloy (26,5%). Histopathological examination showed the presence of tissue foreign body granulomas with giant cells in which the metal particles were found, partially as small and partially as large particles. Conclusion. Results suggested that grayish discoloration of gingiva was present in all four groups of examinees. The highest number of examinees with discolored gingiva was in the group with restorations made of Ni-Cr alloy. Grayish discoloration of gingiva was a consequence of incorporation of metal particles into gingival tissue

Influence of chemiotherapeutic protocol and neuroendocrine differentiation on metastatic non-small cell lung cancer treatment results

Background/Aim. In 40-50% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the time of making a diagnosis, the disease is yet at IIIb and IV stage. Standard in the treatment of these patient is the application of systemic chemiotherapy based on CIS/Carboplatin preparations. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of two different chemiotherapeutic protocols and neuroendocrine differentiation on treatment response and survival in patients with metastatic NSCLC. Methods. We examined 85 patients with metastatic NSCLC, of which 51 with stage IIIb, and 34 with stage IV of the disease. The histologic diagnosis of NSCLC was determined by tissue assays using hematoxylin eosin method. Neuroendocrine differentiation was determined by immunohistochemical analysis of neuron- specific enolase (NSE), chromogranin A, and synapthophysin expression using monoclonal mouse anti- human bodies (DAKO, Denmark). According to chemiotherapeutic protocol, the patients were randomly assigned into combined Taxol + Cisplatin group (Tax + Cis, n = 35), and Cyclophosphamide + Etoposide + Carboplatin group (CEP, n = 50). The treatment was conducted within 4-6 chemiotherapeutic cycles. The efficacy was assessed after the therapy regimen and median survival time was assessed after the randomization. Results. A total of 31 (36.47%) patients had a favourable therapeutic response, both partial and complete response (54.2% in the Tax + Cis group and 24% in CEP group of patients, respectively, p < 0.001). The median survival time in both groups was 13.1 months (15.3 months in the Tax + Cis group and 10.6 months in the CEP group, respectively, p < 0.001). A one-year follow-up survival period was confirmed in 40% of patients (60% only in the Tax + Cis group). A total of 23 (27.05%) patients with metastatic NSCLC had neuroendocrine differentiation. The disease progression or stable disease was noted only in patient with NSCLC without neuroendocrine differentiation (n = 42, 67.7%, p < 0.001). The median survival time in patients with NSCLC and neuroendocrine differentiation was 14.8 months, without neuroendocrine differentiation 10.7 months (p < 0.001). The patients with NSCLC and neuroendocrine differentiation in the CEP group had a longer one-year follow-up survival period than patients in Tax + Cis group (p < 0.001). In Tax-Cis group of patients, there was no significant difference in one-year follow-up survival period with neuroendocrine differentiation. Conclusion. Better therapeutic response and longer median survival time in metastatic NSCLC was obtained using Tax + Cis as compared to CEP protocol. Similar effect was noted using CEP protocol in patients with NSCLC and neuroendocrine differentiation.

Intracranial menigioma manifested after delivery in a patient with Hodgkin's disease

Background. Intracranial meningioma is rarely reported in the patients treated for Hodgkin’s disease (HD), known to mainly occur in the area of radiation therapy. Case report. A 26-year-old woman with HD, and intracranial meningioma following the delivery, was presented. As we knew, a similar case had not been reported in the literature before. Three years prior the surgery for intracranial tumor, the patient had been started to be treated for HD of neoplasm stage I (NS I) type, by the use of the standard (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone) BEA-COPP protocol. The remission of HD, achieved after 7 cycles, persisted over a 27-month-period up to the delivery. Within this period, the patient was without neurologic disorder, but with the obvious psychotic behavior, for which the patient was treated with haloperidol. Two days following the normal delivery, during the acute disorder of the consciousness, intracranial tumor was found. A complete bilateral meningioma (11.7 × 8.3 × 8.1 cm) of the frontal parietal zone was removed. Conclusion. there were no reliable signs of the use of an intensive hemotherapy in the reported case (alkylating cytostatics and topoisomerases inhibitors) which might have caused the proliferation of a benign solid tumor. The pregnancy was supposed to be the possible second risk factor for causing the growth of a meningioma. On the basis of the significant psychic disorders before the pregnancy, as well as upon the size of the operated on tumor, we concluded that the occurrence of intracranial meningioma could be regarded the parallel neoplastic disease or the second primary tumor

Frequency of metastatic tumors in the heart

Introduction. Secondary or metastatic tumors in the heart occur more frequently than primary ones, and, according to the published series, their frequency found in autopsic material ranges from 1.6% to 20.6%. Metastatic tumors in the heart are rarely clinically symptomatic, and, therefore, they are rarely diagnosed within the lifetime. They are mostly diagnosed at autopsy. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of metastatic tumors of the heart, their primary localization, as well as the localization of the metastases found in the autopsic material within the period 1972−2004. Metods. During the autopsy of the patients died of metastatic tumors, we microscopically and macroscopically analyzed all the organs and tissues to determine the metastases of primary tumors in other organs, especially in the heart and pericardium. Results. Within the period from 1972−2004, 11 403 autopsies were performed. In 2 928 (25.6%) out of 11 403 autopsies, the presence of malignant tumor was diagnosed, and in 79 (2.7%) of these cases, metastasis of the heart was found out. Only in 5 of the cases, the presence of metastasis in the heart was diagnosed during the lifetime. The most frequent metastases in the heart were caused by pulmonary carcinoma (18 cases), leukemia and malignant lymphoma (8 cases, each), then pancreatic and breast carcinoma, while the metastases of other carcinomas were rather rare. In 40 (60.76%) cases, the metastasis was localized in the myocardium, but more often in the left ventricle, in 24 (30.38%) cases in the pericardium, in 4 cases in the epicardium and in the 3 of them in the mitral and tricuspid valve. Only in one case of renal carcionoma, metastasis was found in the right atrium and it occurred by spreading (dissemination) through the lumen of the inferior vena cava. Conclusion. Metastatic tumors of the heart are rather rare, and rarely clinically symptomatic, and, thus, rarely diagnosed during life. The methods of choice for the diagnosis of the metastasis in the heart are echocardiography, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, cytological analysis of the pericardial effusion and biopsy. The treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy

Ménétrier's disease associated with ulcerative collitis

In this paper a 21 year old patient was presented with Ménétrier's disease, associated with ulcerative colitis. The first symptoms of ulcerative colitis occured at the age of eleven, since when the patient has been conservatively treated several times because of the exacerbations of the desease. During control examinations presence of polipoid changes in stomach was discovered by upper endoscopy. Gastrectomy was suggested because the patient had excessive anemic syndrome which required weekly substitutional therapy with deplasmatic eritrocytes, as well as hypoproteinemia, while multiple polipoid changes suspect for malignancy were gastroscopically identifided. Patient accepted surgical treatment, and was transfered to the Clinic of Surgery. Total gastrectomy was performed, and patohystological finding confirmed Ménétrier's desease. After two weeks, the patient was released from the hospital in good general condition, with regular clinical and laboratory findings

Brown tumor of the maxilla in patient with secondary hyperparathyroidism

Brown tumor or parathyroid osteopathy is a kind of bony lesion caused by hyperparathyroidism. It appears as an expansive osteolytic lesion mostly in mandible, ribs, pelvis and femur, but rarely in the upper jaw. Bone resorption is the result of osteoclastic activity due to an increased activity of parathyroid hormone. A 25-years-old male patient was operated on due to clinicaly and radiographicaly obvious maxillary tumor and increased values of parathyroid hormon (PTH - 1 050 ng/l). The level of calcium in blood was normal (Ca 2.34 mEq/L). The patient was dialyzed for years because of the chronic renal failure. Histopathologic analysis confirmed brown tumor, that appeared as bony lesion of secondary hyperparathyroidism due to the chronic renal failure. The operation of the upper jaw had been performed before parathyroidectomy, due to an excessive growth of tumor followed by heavy epistaxes. The subsequent parathyroidectomy was followed by the regression of remaining bony lesions

Influence of clinical and neurophysiological parameters on the function outcome of the facial nerve after vestibular schwannoma surgery

Introduction: Vestibular schwannomas are benign neoplasms of the nerve seath, and they represent the third most common endocranial tumour, following the meningioma and the pituitary adenomas. The primary symptoms of vestibular schwannomas are hearing loss, tinnitus as well as a balance disorder. The therapy of vestibular schwannoma consists of observation, surgery and radiosurgery. The majority of patients who are good candidates for surgery are already affected by significant hearing impairment, thus one of the primary goals of the surgery is the preservation of facial nerve function. Aim: To analyze the outcome of facial nerve function one-year post-surgery using clinical and neuropsychological parameters. Material and methods: This study analyzed the patient's clinical status on admission along with the neuroradiological characteristics of tumours and the neurophysiological intraoperative parameters and their effect on the facial nerve function in the early postoperative period as well as one year after the surgery using the House–Brackmann scale. Results: A total of 30 patients who underwent surgery from January 1st 2015 to December 31st 2018 at the Clinical Centre of Serbia, Neurosurgery Clinic for vestibular schwannomas were examined. The median age of the patients was 51 years. Hearing loss was present in all patients. Sensitivity drop in the innervation region of n. trigeminus was present in 7 (23.3%) patients, as was tinnitus. Cerebellar symptomatology (76%) was present in the highest percentage of patients. Conclusion: We can conclude that the most important aspects of the facial nerve function are the preoperative state of the facial nerve and the electrophysiological parameters. Although the radical procedure of surgery led to an immediate postoperative outcome, it was not significant for the ultimate outcome of treatment. Thus, radical surgery may be considered to carry the same risk of definitive impairment of the facial nerve function, just like a combination treatment with subtotal resection and stereotaxic radiosurgery