Path decompositions for Markov chains

We present two path decompositions of Markov chains (with general state space) by means of harmonic functions, which are dual to each other. They can be seen as a generalization of Williams' decomposition of a Brownian motion with drift. The results may be illustrated by a multitude of examples, but we confine ourselves to different types of random walks and the Polya urn.Comment: Published by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org) in the Annals of Probability (http://www.imstat.org/aop/) at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/00911790400000023

'The intraabdominal bleeding with an inguinal defect that mimicking a femoral vein aneurysm'. A case report

Inguinal hernia repair is commonly performed operation in surgical practice. Thirty-five years old female patient was operated with the diagnosis of inguinal hernia. The inguinal defect was misdiagnosed as femoral vein aneurysm in surgical exploration. The postoperative diagnostic imaging revealed that the inguinal defect had been confused as femoral vein aneurysm due to intra-abdominal hemorrhogical fluid after an ovarian cyst rupture

Prolonged venous bleeding due to traditional treatment with leech bite: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The medicinal leech, <it>Hirudo medicinalis</it>, has been used in the treatment of many diseases for thousands of years. In Turkey, it is used most commonly in the management of venous diseases of lower extremities.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 25-year-old Turkish woman presented to our emergency room with bleeding from her left leg. She had been treated for varicose veins in her lower extremities with leeches about 24 hours before admission to the emergency room. The bleeding was controlled by applying pressure with sterile gauze upon the wound, and she was discharged. She returned after four hours having started bleeding again. Hemostasis was achieved by vein ligation under local anesthesia.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Leech bite should be evaluated as a special injury. Prolonged bleeding can be seen after leech bites. In such cases, hemostasis either with local pressure or ligation of the bleeding vessel is mandatory.</p

Changes in Knee Joint Mechanics After Medial Meniscectomy Determined With a Poromechanical Model

The menisci play a vital role in the mechanical function of knee joint. Unfortunately, meniscal tears often occur. Meniscectomy is a surgical treatment for meniscal tears; however, mechanical changes in the knee joint after meniscectomy is a risk factor to osteoarthritis (OA). The objective of this study was to investigate the altered cartilage mechanics of different medial meniscectomies using a poromechanical model of the knee joint. The cartilaginous tissues were modeled as nonlinear fibril-reinforced porous materials with full saturation. The ligaments were considered as anisotropic hyperelastic and reinforced by a fibrillar collagen network. A compressive creep load of body weight was applied in full extension of the right knee during 200s standing. Four finite element models were developed to simulate different meniscectomies of the joint using the intact model as the reference for comparison. The modeling results showed a higher load support in the lateral than medial compartment in the intact joint, and the difference in the load share between the compartments was augmented with medial meniscectomy. Similarly, the contact and fluid pressures were higher in the lateral compartment. On the other hand, the medial meniscus in the normal joint experienced more loading than the lateral one. Furthermore, the contact pressure distribution changed with creep, resulting in a load transfer between cartilage and meniscus within each compartment while the total load born by the compartment remained unchanged. This study has quantified the altered contact mechanics on the type and size of meniscectomies, which may be used to understand meniscal tear or support surgical decisions.Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of CanadaNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)CGIAR; Compute Canada; TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey)Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK)Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (Funder ID: 10.13039/501100000038).; Compute Canada (Funder ID: 10.13039/100013020).; TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) (Funder ID: 10.13039/501100004410).WOS:0006132957000122-s2.0-85091106308PubMed: 3245152

Distraction osteogenesis is inhibited by cancer radiotherapy with Co 60

Aim: To investigate the effects of radiotherapy on distraction osteogenesis performed on the same bone in an area that has not received radiation. Radiotherapy (Co60) was carried out in a region where tumors may develop, and then, on the assumption that the tumoral region had been removed, distraction osteogenesis was carried out, and the effects were investigated. Method: Thirty New Zealand rabbits were randomized into two groups, a study group (15 rabbits) and a control group (15 rabbits). In the study group, Co60 was administered by teletherapy to the distal half of the left tibia. Rabbits in the control group were kept in the same environment for the same period, but were not subjected to radiotherapy. Four weeks after radiotherapy, osteotomy was performed on the proximal part of the left tibia of all subjects, and distraction was carried out until 10mm. After distraction was completed, the outcomes were evaluated radiologically, scintigraphically, and histopathologically, and the results were compared. Results: New bone formation achieved through distraction osteogenesis in the study group animals was inadequate, while new bone tissue achieved in the control group was superior (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Radiotherapy has a negative effect on distraction osteogenesis, even if performed on a different part of the bone

Primary hydatid disease in adductor muscles

Primary muscular Echinococcus infection is very rare without involvement of thoracic and abdominal organs. In this case a 31-year-old man who had a growing mass in the postero-medial part of his right thigh was examined. The mass was diagnosed as hydatid cyst using ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and serological tests. It was removed surgically and there has been no recurrence one year after the surgery. The MRI imaging characteristics may differ depending on the life cycle stage of the parasite. In this case report, we discuss the imaging characteristics of the muscular hydatid cyst with special emphasis on the MRI findings. In regions where hydatidosis is endemic, a mass found in body muscles should be considered as a muscular hydatid cyst

Electron Microscopy of Psoriatic Skin before and after Psoralen/Ultraviolet A Treatment

PubMedID: 8823556Skin biopsy specimens of patients with psoriasis receiving psoralen/ultraviolet A treatment were examined. A decrease in tonofilaments and keratohyaline granules and enlarged intercellular spaces were common findings in all cases. Hyperchromatic nuclei in the horny cells and hyperactive keratinocytes in the malpighian layer were also observed. Treatment resulted in normalization of keratinocytes and stimulation of melanocytes. Our study revealed that psoralen/ultraviolet A is effective and important in the treatment of psoriasis, but patients should be evaluated for atypical changes