Canal wall reconstruction and mastoid obliteration with composite multi-fractured osteoperiosteal flap

We used inferior pedicled composite multi-fractured osteoperiosteal flap (CMOF), our original and new surgical approach, to obliterate the mastoid cavity and reconstruct the external auditory canal (EAC) to prevent the open cavity problems. CMOF was used to obliterate the mastoid cavity and reconstruct the EAC in 24 patients (13 women, 11 men; age span 12–51 years) who underwent radical mastoidectomy to treat the chronic otitis media between 1998 and 2004. Small meatoplasty was done in all 24 patients to relive their aesthetical concerns. Temporal bone CT scanning was done to observe the neo-osteogenesis in the mastoidectomy cavity and the CMOF, and the EAC volume was measured postoperatively. All our patients were followed-up for 2 years. The epithelization of the new EAC in our patients was complete at the end of the second month. Cholesteatoma, granulation, and recurrence of osteitis did not occur in any of the patients. We saw the new bone formation filling the mastoid cavity in the postoperative temporal bone CT scanning images. The mean volume of the new EAC on the 24th month was 1.83 ± 0.56 cm(3). We had an almost natural EAC, which owed its existence to the neo-osteogenesis that grows behind the CMOF, which we use to obliterate the mastoid cavity and to reconstruct the EAC

Comparative Assessment of Copper, Iron, and Zinc Contents in Selected Indian (Assam) and South African (Thohoyandou) Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) Samples and Their Infusion: A Quest for Health Risks to Consumer

The current study aims to assess the infusion pattern of three important micronutrients namely copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) contents from black tea samples produced in Assam (India) and Thohoyandou (South Africa). Average daily intakes and hazardous quotient were reported for these micronutrients. Total content for Cu, Fe, and Zn varied from 2.25 to 48.82 mg kg−1, 14.75 to 148.18 mg kg−1, and 28.48 to 106.68 mg kg−1, respectively. The average contents of each of the three micronutrients were higher in tea leaves samples collected from South Africa than those from India while the contents in tea infusions in Indian samples were higher than in South African tea samples. Results of this study revealed that the consumption of 600 mL tea infusion produced from 24 g of made tea per day may be beneficial to human in terms of these micronutrients content. Application of nonparametric tests revealed that most of the data sets do not satisfy the normality assumptions. Hence, the use of both parametric and nonparametric statistical analysis that subsequently revealed significant differences in elemental contents among Indian and South African tea

Antrochoanal polyp: A transmission electron and light microscopic study

PubMedID: 15004706Antrochoanal polyp (ACP) is a soft tissue mass originating from the maxillary antrum, emerging from the ostium and extending to the choana through the nasal cavity. Our aim was to investigate the light microscopic and ultrastructural features of ACP and to compare these with nasal polyps originating from the middle meatus (MMP). Seven ACP and seven MMP specimens were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and light microscopy. TEM examination showed epithelial cells with intact cilia covering both polyps. In some MMP cases, degeneration of the epithelium associated with some cilia loss was noted. Goblet cell hyperplasia was more prominent in MMP cases. Degeneration and partial destruction of the endothelial cells of the blood vessels were common findings in ACP cases; however, in the MMP group, endothelial cells were mostly intact with a few aggregates of ribosomes, and intact cell junctions were noted. Light microscopic examination revealed that inflammatory cells in the ACP group were numerous. However, eosinophils were predominant in MMP cases. Squamous metaplasia of the surface epithelium was detected in five ACP cases, but in none of the MMP cases. Basement membrane thickening was detected in two cases of the ACP and in four cases of the MMP group. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups for inflammatory cells, eosinophilic cell infiltration, squamous cell metaplasia, endothelial cell destruction and goblet cell metaplasia. In conclusion, the low number of eosinophils, the high number of other inflammatory cells, the normal appearing basement membrane and intact and normal surface epithelium may reveal that the etiology of ACP might arise from chronic inflammatory processes rather than allergy. The destruction of the endothelium may be considered as a further sign of chronic inflammation. © Springer-Verlag 2004

The role of factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210a mutations in sudden sensorineural hearing loss

PubMedID: 16015153Objectives: To investigate the incidence of factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A in sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients. Study Design: The patient group for this study was selected prospectively in the case of 28 patients and retrospectively in the case of another 28. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: Fifty-six patients (29 female, 27 male) with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) and 95 control subjects (48 female, 47 male) were enrolled in this study. The age of the control subjects were between 26 and 76 (38 ± 16.7), and that of the patients were between 10 and 87 (42.6 ± 18.2). Intervention: The factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A mutations were detected by rapid polymerase chain reaction amplification of genomic DNA extracted from the SSHL patients' peripheral blood cells. Main Outcome Measure: Thrombotic microangiopathic disorders are characterized by widespread microvascular thrombosis leading to end-organ injury. The mutations of factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene are known as genetic risk factors for thrombotic microangiopathy in normal patients. SSHL may occur with occlusion of the cochlear blood supply by microthromboangiopathy. Results: Factor V Leiden mutation was found to be higher in SSHL patients when compared with control subjects (16.1% vs 5.3%). The difference between the two groups was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.02). However, statistical significance was not found between the groups in regard to prothrombin G20210A mutation. Factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene mutations were heterozygous in all of the subjects. Conclusion: A significant association between factor V Leiden mutation and idiopathic SSHL could be shown in this study. There was no correlation, however, between the occurrence of idiopathic SSHL and prothrombin mutation. © 2005, Otology & Neurolology, Inc

Transformation from SysML to RePast and Back

© 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.All rights reserved.Applying Model Driven Architecture (MDA) concepts and tools to Multi Agent Systems (MAS) is a topic of great interest in recent years. MDA intends to reduce computer code development effort via model transformations and makes complex systems available and more practical for research. In this work, we propose a model transformation process for a widely used agent-based modeling and simulation tool, RePast Simphony. We adopt SysML for the platform-independent specification of an agent. We provide platform-independent and platform-specific models for an agent model, a mapping between them and a meta-model specification for RePast Flowchart Diagrams. We show the process for a SysML to RePast round-trip model transformation. Our work covers transformations to/from SysML Activity Diagram from/to RePast Flowchart Diagram

Late Pleistocene–Holocene evolution of the northern shelf of the Sea of Marmara

Chirp sub-bottom profiling, multibeam bathymetric mapping and a combination of faunal and isotopic analysis of molluscs and foraminifera in sediment cores on the northern shelf of the Sea of Marmara (SoM) provide evidence of sea-level excursions, water exchanges between the adjacent Mediterranean and Black Seas, and oscillating salinity over the last 160ka bp. During the marine isotope stages MIS-2, MIS-3, MIS-4 and MIS-6 the SoM disconnected from the Mediterranean Sea and evolved into a lake. During MIS-1, MIS-5 and MIS-7, the SoM reconnected and became salty once again. Sapropels formed shortly after each invasion of Mediterranean saltwater observed in our cores. Concurrent suboxic–dysoxic conditions prevailed over quite shallow substrates on the shelf. Ancient shorelines are pervasive at −85m on the northern shelf and in the region of Prince Islands coincident with the elevation of the modern bedrock sill in the Çanakkale (Dardanelles) Strait. At times when global (eustatic) sea level dropped below this sill, the surface of the SoM stabilized at its outlet and freshened. Thus this particular shoreline is interpreted as the edge of the most recent SoM lake that existed from about 75ka bp to 12ka bp. The freshening is observed in very light (−6‰) values of δ18O measured on freshwater molluscs and the complete absence of foraminifera. Two brief lacustrine episodes during MIS-5 suggest that the level of the Çanakkale outlet might have been as shallow as −50m in the past, a likelihood supported by submerged terraces along its margins bounding the modern central channel and the presence of an euryhaline biofacies in Unit L4.1 corresponding to MIS-5b. δ18O profiles and carbon-14 dating show that salinification of the SoM and the blossoming of bioherms evolved rapidly after the latest connection with the Mediterranean at 12ka bp. However, freshening proceeded more slowly once the connection was severed