Symptomatic medulla compression by vertebral artery

Objective Vertebral artery medulla compression syndrome (VAMCS) is a very rare condition manifesting as different neurological focal deficits. The case of a 36-year-old male with symptomatic brainstem compression by vertebral artery (VA) treated by means of microvascular decompression (MVD) and a review of the literature is presented. Case report On admission, a 36-year-old patient presented with hypoalgesia, hypothermesthesia and hemiparesis on the left side. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head disclosed the right VA loop compressing the ventrolateral medulla and excluded other entities such as brain tumor, stroke and multiple sclerosis. Since displacement and significant compression of the right pyramidal tract was confirmed by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), neurovascular compression syndrome was diagnosed. The patient underwent MVD of the medulla using a Gore-Tex implant as a separating material via the right far-lateral approach. The left hemiparesis and hemisensory loss remitted rapidly after the procedure. The post-procedural neurological improvement was maintained at one year follow-up. Based on a review of the literature, a total of 33 cases of surgically treated VAMCS has been reported so far. Conclusion VAMCS should be considered as the cause of neurological deficits when other pathological entities are ruled out. In symptomatic conflict of the VA with the medulla, microvascular decompression using a Gore-Tex implant can be an effective method of treatment. Nevertheless, a statistical analysis on all reported cases showed favorable results using the VA repositioning technique when compared with MVD (success rate 91% vs. 58%, p<0.05)

Single pulse emission from PSR B0809+74 at 150 MHz using Polish LOFAR station

We report the observations of single pulse emission from the pulsar B0809+74 at 150 MHz using the Polish LOFAR station, PL-611. The three major phenomena of subpulse drifting, nulling, and mode changing associated with single pulse variations are prominently seen in these observations. The pulsar has a single-component conal profile and the single pulses are primarily in the 'normal' drift mode with periodicity (P$_{3}$) 11.1 ± 0.5 P for 96 per cent of the observing duration, while the shorter duration 'slow-drift' mode has P$_{3}$ = 15.7 ± 1.2 P. We were able to measure the phase behaviour associated with drifting from the fluctuation spectral analysis that showed identical linear phase variations across the pulse window for both modes despite their different periodic behaviour. Earlier studies reported that the transitions from the normal state to the slow-drift mode were preceded by the presence of nulling with typical durations of 5 to 10 periods. Our observations however seem to suggest that the transition to nulling follows shortly after the pulsar switches to the slow-drift mode and not at the boundary between the modes, with one instance of complete absence of nulling between mode switching. In addition, we also detected a second type of short-duration nulls not associated with the mode changing that showed quasi-periodic behaviour with periodicity PN ∼ 44 ± 7. The variety of features revealed in the single pulse sequence makes PSR B0809+74 an ideal candidate to understand the physical processes in the Partially Screened Gap dominated by non-dipolar magnetic fields

A study of issues affecting international students at the Graduate School of Business and Public Policy in the Naval Postgraduate School

MBA Professional ReportThe NPS mission is "To provide relevant and unique advanced education and research programs that increase the combat effectiveness of the United States and Allied Forces..." The goal of this study of International Military Students (IMS) at the Graduate School of Business and Public Policyis to identify issues that affect them. A total of 42 IMS participated in the study, out of a possible 59 students from 51 different countries, including four graduating students, 10 new students and 38 current students. Issues that were identified include: lack of information on NPS before coming to Monterey, some students do not select their curriculum, some students have insufficient skills in speaking and writing English, heavy workloads, unfamiliarity with IMS ranks by US students and faculty, and the high cost of living.http://archive.org/details/astudyofissuesff1094510036New Guinea Defense Forces autho

Cloister in Ołobok in the Light of Archaeological Researches in the Year 1997

The objective of preliminary field works conducted in 1997 on the ground of former female Cistercian cloister in Ołobok was to define the size of its original, not preserved foundations and to make plans for future studies as far as architectural history of the object is concerned. The project included studies on the cloister hill stratigraphy and defining the width and range of eastern and northern wing of the claustrum. On the total area of 120 m2 (the cubature exceeded 300 m3) along Tour rows six examination ditches were dug and 108 drills made, with the use of geological drill. Excavations brought 8886 specimens of portable relic material, irregularly distributed in individual examination units. Relics occurred mainly in deposits beyond the confines of the cloister buildings. Finds from Olobok collected during examinations demand further comparative analyses. Although the observations may undergo slight changes during further studies, preliminary characteristics of the relics can be presented now. The largest group of the total number of 4818 relics is constituted of fragments of clay vessels. Among the finds there were: 1394 fragments of window and vessel glass, 1211 fragments of stove tiles (among them 1102 fragments of plate tiles), 18 fragments o f building ceramics, 305 metal articles (mainly nails, hooks, etc.) and 1123 animal bones. According to preliminary analyses the collection of portable finds illustrates mainly the process of functioning of the cloister unit in its baroque phase. Excavations did not bring relics which would enable to illustrate the issue of the material culture of the Olobok female Cistercians in the Middle Ages. Although the present works have not provided us with new knowledge about architectural transformations of the cloister in Olobok, and although it has become obvious that because of a complete destruction of the foundation parts of the monastery it would never be possible, the collected data have allowed to acknowledge that in late Middle Ages the Olobok unit was entirely made of wood. Traces of the late Mediaeval phase were observed only marginally. It should be assumed that the remains of constructions and the ground layers were totally damaged during subsequent building works. Masonry church and a claustrum of undefined spatial form were raised at the end of the 15th or at the beginning of the 16th century. Late gothic cloister was probably totally pulled down in the 17th century and on its place the first baroque foundation was raised. Probably at that time was built a quadrilateral unit of buildings concentrated around elongated viridarium, although that spatial form might have equally well been connected with the second baroque reconstruction, which took place since the 2nd half of the 18th century. Also at that time the Ołobok ’’palace" of female abbots was founded. A total demolition of cloister buildings took place in 1882 and led to a complete disappearance of relic masonry structures. Therefore, the cognitive value of the object is very much limited and regarding its stratigraphy a full reconstruction of the cloister foundations in the respecting stages of its functioning will not be possible.Zadanie pt. „Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki” nr 885/P-DUN/2014 dofinansowane zostało ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej naukę

Nowotwory złośliwe jamy ustnej i szyi w materiale Kliniki Chirurgii Szczękowo-Twarzowej w Poznaniu w okresie 2002–2004

Increasing number of malignant neoplasms of the oral cavity and facial region as well as lower age of the patients hospitalized were the interest of the authors. Material and methods. Clinical data from the years 2002–2004 were analysed in this paper. In this study the factors as: sex and age of patients, tumor localization, histological examinations, surgical treatment of the tumor and lymph nodes are reported. Results. During the 3 years period there were 346 tumors of the oral cavity treated in Clinic of Maxillofacial Surgery in Poznaƒ. Epidemiologic studies have revealed a increased number of squamous cell carcinomas and other malignant tumors as lymphomas, adenoid cystic carcinomas and sarcomas of the oro-facial region. The staging of the tumors is similar as in previous years. Conclusions. The study shows better knowledge about oral malignancies in dentists and general praticioners. The tumor patients are surgically treated earlyer as in previous years

Estrogen receptor β Potential functional significance of a variety of mRNA isoforms

AbstractRecent cloning of estrogen receptor β (ERβ) was followed by the discovery of a variety of its isoforms. This review describes the complexity of ERβ mRNAs in various species for which most data have been gathered so far. The most surprising finding is the great variation in isoform structure among various mammalian species. This may reflect either the fact that only a very limited number of isoforms have been described so far or between-species specificity, especially as common elements in closely related species could still be noted. Isoform variations, as detected mainly at the mRNA sequence level, should result in profound functional differences at the level of proteins as already shown in selected cases. Thus, it is proposed that the diversity of ERβ isoforms implies a functional role of this phenomenon in cellular physiology and pathology of estrogen response