The Influence of Scar Patterns After Reduction Mammoplasty on Eye Movement and Gaze Pattern:An Eye-Tracking Investigation

Background:Given that scars are acknowledged as the primary cause of postoperative dissatisfaction following reduction mammoplasty, it is imperative to comprehend the patient’s visual perception of different scar patterns in order to enhance patient satisfaction. To achieve this, eye-tracking technology provides an unbiased method of evaluating how observers assess breast scars.Methods:58 participants (32 females and 26 males) between the ages of 19 and 82 years (mean age of 29.47 ± 10.98 years) were shown 18 color photographs, taken at 3 viewing angles (right 45° oblique, frontal and frontal view with arms raised), from 6 patients undergone reduction mammoplasty with the inverted T-scar technique (3 patients) or no-vertical-scar technique (3 patients). The images were presented to every participant for a fixed duration of 5 s each. Eye-tracking device was used to collect and analyze the gaze data of viewers.Results:The nipple-areola complex (NAC) and the periareolar scar captured observers’ gaze faster, had longer duration and more count of eye fixation than all other parts of breast scars, regardless of the viewing angle and scar pattern. Moreover, the scar region in the inverted T-scar pattern received greater and faster visual attraction of observer’s gaze than the no-vertical-scar pattern.Conclusion:The NAC and the periareolar scar seem to be perceived as the most important regions for breast aesthetics. The findings can be helpful to assist plastic surgeons in determining the most appropriate technique for reduction mammoplasty, meanwhile underlining the importance of a fine periareolar scar and symmetric NAC for excellent aesthetic outcomes

Rapid and Precise Semi-Automatic Axon Quantification in Human Peripheral Nerves

We developed a time-efficient semi-automated axon quantification method using freeware in human cranial nerve sections stained with paraphenylenediamine (PPD). It was used to analyze a total of 1238 facial and masseteric nerve biopsies. The technique was validated by comparing manual and semi-automated quantification of 129 (10.4%) randomly selected biopsies. The software-based method demonstrated a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 87%. Semi-automatic axon counting was significantly faster (p<0.001) than manual counting. It took 1hour and 47minutes for all 129 biopsies (averaging 50sec per biopsy, 0.04seconds per axon). The counting process is automatic and does not need to be supervised. Manual counting took 21hours and 6minutes in total (average 9minutes and 49seconds per biopsy, 0.52seconds per axon). Our method showed a linear correlation to the manual counts (R=0.944 Spearman rho). Attempts have been made by several research groups to automate axonal load quantification. These methods often require specific hard- and software and are therefore only accessible to a few specialized laboratories. Our semi-automated axon quantification is precise, reliable and time-sparing using publicly available software and should be useful for an effective axon quantification in various human peripheral nerves

COMPOSE-HPC: A Transformational Approach to Exascale

The goal of the COMPOSE-HPC project is to 'democratize' tools for automatic transformation of program source code so that it becomes tractable for the developers of scientific applications to create and use their own transformations reliably and safely. This paper describes our approach to this challenge, the creation of the KNOT tool chain, which includes tools for the creation of annotation languages to control the transformations (PAUL), to perform the transformations (ROTE), and optimization and code generation (BRAID), which can be used individually and in combination. We also provide examples of current and future uses of the KNOT tools, which include transforming code to use different programming models and environments, providing tests that can be used to detect errors in software or its execution, as well as composition of software written in different programming languages, or with different threading patterns

The only known cyclopygid–‘atheloptic’ trilobite fauna from North America: the upper Ordovician fauna of the Pyle Mountain Argillite and its palaeoenvironmental significance

The trilobite fauna of the upper Ordovician (middle Katian) Pyle Mountain Argillite comprises a mixture of abundant mesopelagic cyclopygids and other pelagic taxa and a benthic fauna dominated by trilobites lacking eyes. Such faunas were widespread in deep water environments around Gondwana and terranes derived from that continent throughout Ordovician time but this is the only known record of such a fauna from North America and thus from Laurentia. It probably reflects a major sea level rise (the ‘Linearis drowning events’) as does the development of coeval cyclopygid-dominated deep water trilobite faunas in terranes that were marginal to Laurentia and are now preserved in Ireland and Scotland. The Pyle Mountain Argillite trilobite fauna occurs with a deep water Foliomena brachiopod fauna and comprises 22 species. Pelagic trilobites (mostly cyclopygids) constitute 36% of the preserved sclerites, and 45% of the fauna is the remains of trilobites lacking eyes, including one new species, Dindymene whittingtoni sp. nov. Three species of cyclopygid are present, belonging in Cyclopyge, Symphysops and Microparia (Heterocyclopyge). Cyclopygids are widely thought to have been stratified in the water column in life and thus their taxonomic diversity reflects the relative depths of the sea-beds on which their remains accumulated. A tabulation of middle and upper Katian cyclopygid-bearing faunas from several palaeoplates and terranes arranged on the basis of increasing numbers of cyclopygid genera allows an assessment of the relative depth ranges of the associated benthic taxa. The Pyle Mountain Argillite fauna lies towards the deeper end of this depth spectrum

Serum Metabolomic Profiling of Patients with Lipedema

Lipedema is a chronic condition characterized by disproportionate and symmetrical enlargement of adipose tissue, predominantly affecting the lower limbs of women. This study investigated the use of metabolomics in lipedema research, with the objective of identifying complex metabolic disturbances and potential biomarkers for early detection, prognosis, and treatment strategies. The study group (n = 25) comprised women diagnosed with lipedema. The controls were 25 lean women and 25 obese females, both matched for age. In the patients with lipedema, there were notable changes in the metabolite parameters. Specifically, lower levels of histidine and phenylalanine were observed, whereas pyruvic acid was elevated compared with the weight controls. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for the diagnostic accuracy of histidine, phenylalanine, and pyruvic acid concentrations in distinguishing between patients with lipedema and those with obesity but without lipedema revealed good diagnostic ability for all parameters, with pyruvic acid being the most promising (area under the curve (AUC): 0.9992). Subgroup analysis within matched body mass index (BMI) ranges (30.0 to 39.9 kg/m2) further revealed that differences in pyruvic acid, phenylalanine, and histidine levels are likely linked to lipedema pathology rather than BMI variations. Changes in low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-6 TG levels and significant reductions in various LDL-2-carried lipids of patients with lipedema, compared with the lean controls, were observed. However, these lipids were similar between the lipedema patients and the obese controls, suggesting that these alterations are related to adiposity. Metabolomics is a valuable tool for investigating lipedema, offering a comprehensive view of metabolic changes and insights into lipedema’s underlying mechanisms

Первичные результаты применения стромально-васкулярной фракции аутологичной жировой ткани при стрессовом недержании мочи у мужчин

Introduction. Male stress urinary incontinence (SUI), which affects 10 % of the population, is most commonly caused by the effects of operations on the prostate gland. Despite the presence of a large number of surgical and conservative methods to treat this disease, the problem of choosing treatment tactics is still relevant. There are limited literature data on the effectiveness of using the stromal-vascular fraction (SVF) of autologous fat in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence. The aim of this study is to analyse the usage of SVF in the treatment of SUI patients.Materials and methods. A randomised study was carried out on a group of 8 patients with stress urinary incontinence of mild and moderate severity more than one year after radical prostatectomy or transurethral resection of the prostate. The patients received stromal-vascular fractions of autologous fat into the bladder sphincter area during the period November 2017 — June 2018.Results. After 4 weeks, the Pad Test and ICIQ-SF QoL assessments showed the first positive clinical results and improving quality of life. Checkpoints of 3, 6 and 12 months were selected for measuring results. Cytological analysis of the stromalvascular fraction of autologous fat revealed the expression of mesenchymal stem cell markers CD44, CD73, CD90, which may explain the method’s high efficiency.Conclusion. This work supports the hypothesis that transplantation of SVF from autologous adipose tissue is an effective and safe method for treating patients with incontinence.Введение. Стрессовое недержание мочи (СНМ) встречается у 10 % мужчин. Наиболее частой причиной возникновения СНМ у мужчин являются последствия операций на предстательной железе. Несмотря на наличие большого количества хирургических и консервативных методов лечения данного заболевания, проблема выбора тактики лечения до сих пор остается актуальной. Имеются ограниченные данные литературы об эффективности использования стромально-васкулярной фракции (СВФ) аутологичного жира в лечении стрессового недержания мочи. Целью данного исследования является анализ эффективности применения СВФ в лечении пациентов СНМ.Материалы и методы. Проводится открытое проспективное рандомизированное исследование. Исследуемая группа включала 8 пациентов со стрессовым недержанием мочи легкой и средней степени тяжести более одного года после радикальной простатэктомии или трансуретральной резекции простаты. Данным пациентам в период с ноября 2017 по июнь 2018 г. было выполнено введение стромально-васкулярной фракции аутологичного жира в зону сфинктера мочевого пузыря.Результаты. На основании Pad test и опросников ICIQ-SF, QoL через 4 недели получены первые положительные клинические результаты и улучшение качества жизни. Контрольными точками для оценки результатов выбраны 3, 6 и 12 месяцев. Цитологический анализ стромально-васкулярной фракции аутологичного жира выявил экспрессию маркеров мезенхимальных стволовых клеток CD44, CD73, CD90, что, вероятнее всего, и обуславливает высокую эффективность данного метода.Заключение. В данной работе отмечено, что трансплантация СВФ из аутологичной жировой ткани представляется эффективным и безопасным методом лечения пациентов с недержанием мочи.Введение. Стрессовое недержание мочи (СНМ) встречается у 10 % мужчин. Наиболее частой причиной возникновения СНМ у мужчин являются последствия операций на предстательной железе. Несмотря на наличие большого количества хирургических и консервативных методов лечения данного заболевания, проблема выбора тактики лечения до сих пор остается актуальной. Имеются ограниченные данные литературы об эффективности использования стромально-васкулярной фракции (СВФ) аутологичного жира в лечении стрессового недержания мочи. Целью данного исследования является анализ эффективности применения СВФ в лечении пациентов СНМ.Материалы и методы. Проводится открытое проспективное рандомизированное исследование. Исследуемая группа включала 8 пациентов со стрессовым недержанием мочи легкой и средней степени тяжести более одного года после радикальной простатэктомии или трансуретральной резекции простаты. Данным пациентам в период с ноября 2017 по июнь 2018 г. было выполнено введение стромально-васкулярной фракции аутологичного жира в зону сфинктера мочевого пузыря.Результаты. На основании Pad test и опросников ICIQ-SF, QoL через 4 недели получены первые положительные клинические результаты и улучшение качества жизни. Контрольными точками для оценки результатов выбраны 3, 6 и 12 месяцев. Цитологический анализ стромально-васкулярной фракции аутологичного жира выявил экспрессию маркеров мезенхимальных стволовых клеток CD44, CD73, CD90, что, вероятнее всего, и обуславливает высокую эффективность данного метода.Заключение. В данной работе отмечено, что трансплантация СВФ из аутологичной жировой ткани представляется эффективным и безопасным методом лечения пациентов с недержанием мочи.

Use of stromal-vascular fraction from autological fat tissue under stressed urinary disease in men

The aim of the work is to develop a minimally invasive method for restoring the function of the sphincter of the urinary bladder using autologous fat in the stromal-vascular fraction (SVF). Materials and methods. Patients with a diagnosis of stress urinary incontinence of moderate severity were given a transurethral injection of an autologous SVF into the zone of the external sphincter of the bladder. Isolation of SVF was performed by a nonenzymatic method using tumescent lipoaspiration. The resulting material was sent to the laboratory for the study of cellular composition. Results. Based on the Pad test and ICIQ-SF questionnaires, Qol received the first positive clinical results and improved quality of life after 4 weeks. Conclusions. In this work, it is noted that transplantation of SVF from autologous adipose tissue appears to be an effective and safe method of treatment of patients with incontinence.Цель работы - разработка малоинвазивного метода восстановления функции сфинктера мочевого пузыря с применением стромально-васкулярной фракции(СВФ) аутологичного жира. Материалы и методы. Пациентам с диагнозом стрессовое недержание мочи легкой и средней степеней тяжести выполнено трансуретральное введение аутологичной СВФ в зону наружного сфинктера мочевого пузыря. Выделение СВФ производилось неферментным методом при помощи тумесцентной липоаспирации. Полученный материал был направлен в лабораторию для исследования клеточного состава. результаты. На основании Pad test и опросников ICIQ-SF, Qol через 4 недели получены первые положительные клинические результаты и улучшение качества жизни. Выводы. В данной работе отмечено, что трансплантация СВФ из аутологичной жировой ткани представляется эффективным и безопасным методом лечения пациентов с недержанием мочи