Laparoscopic Incisional Hernia Repair With Fibrin Glue in Select Patients

Hi-Tex dual-sided mesh fixed to the abdominal wall with fibrin glue was successful in the repair of incisional hernia in select patients

Analysis of efficiency-droop mechanisms in single-quantum-well InGaN/GaN light-emitting diodes

In this work, we investigate different mechanisms that have been proposed to be at the origin of the efficiency droop, by comparing numerical device simulations with measurements from single-quantum-well (SQW) InGaN/GaN LEDs. The suitability of each mechanism to explain the droop as observed in the adopted devices and the impact on the droop effect of possible technological modifications are investigated

Dispositivo e metodologia per la misura di concentrazione di gas radon

Un dispositivo di misura della concentrazione di gas Radon comprende una camera di misura (20) dotata di un dispositivo rivelatore (23), atto a rivelare particelle alfa da gas Radon; il dispositivo dell\u2019invenzione comprende inoltre un elettrodo di raccolta (22) esterno alla camera di misura(20), atto a raccogliere i prodotti di decadimento del Radon elettricamente carichi provenienti dalla camera di misura (20).Un\u2019unit\ue0 di controllo (30) temporizza il passaggio tra due fasi operative (I, II) in cui il dispositivo rivelatore (23) e l\u2019elettrodo di raccolta (22) sono attivi non contemporaneamente. [FIG. 1

A 2.4-GHz wireless alpha-ray sensor for remote monitoring and spectroscopy

Wireless alpha-ray device has been designed, realizedand tested in operation. The first prototype is a battery-suppliedsystem with a compact package and wireless communicationcapability. One of the more attractive features is its ability tooperate in a star network (single point-to-multipoint). The sensorrecords the arrival time of the alpha particles and the spectrumof the produced charge; it transmits this information in regulartime intervals or upon request to the base station. The overallsystem has a compact package suitable for remote alpha-rayspectroscopy

Impact on the recall rate of digital breast tomosynthesis as an adjunct to digital mammography in the screening setting. A double reading experience and review of the literature

OBJECTIVES:To estimate the impact on recall rate (RR) of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) associated with digital mammography (DM+DBT), compared to DM alone, evaluate the impact of double reading (DR) and review the literature. METHODS: Ethics committees approved this multicenter study. Patients gave informed consent. Women recalled from population-based screening reading were included. Reference standard was histology and/or 65 1 year follow up. Negative multiple assessment was considered for patients lost at follow up. Two blinded readers (R1, R2) evaluated first DM and subsequently DM+DBT. RR, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV), were calculated for R1, R2, and DR. Cohen \u3ba and \u3c7(2) were used for R1-R2 agreement and RR related to breast density. RESULTS: We included 280 cases (41 malignancies, 66 benign lesions, and 173 negative examinations). The RR reduction was 43% (R1), 58% (R2), 43% (DR). Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV were: 93%, 67%, 71%, 33%, 98% for R1; 88%, 73%, 75%, 36%, 97% for R2; 98%, 55%, 61%, 27%, 99% for DR. The agreement was higher for DM+DBT (\u3ba=0.459 versus \u3ba=0.234). Reduction in RR was independent from breast density (p=0.992). CONCLUSION: DBT was confirmed to reduce RR, as shown by 13 of 15 previous studies (reported reduction 6-82%, median 31%). This reduction is confirmed when using DR. DBT allows an increased inter-reader agreement

Performance of a Radon Sensor Based on a BJT Detector on High-Resistivity Silicon

An autonomous Radon sensor with wireless connectivity has been developed, using a BJT detector on high-resistivity silicon as alpha-particle detector. Charged Radon daughters are collected on the detector surface electrostatically. Thanks to the BJT internal amplification, real-time alpha particle detection is made possible using a very simple readout electronics which records alpha-particle arrival time and charge. Functional tests at known Radon concentrations demonstrated a sensitivity up to 4.9 cph/(100 Bq/m3), which translates into the capability of detecting a Radon concentration of 200±20 Bq/m3 and 500±50 Bq/m3 after 10 and 4 h, respectively. The count rate at nominally-zero Radon concentration was 0.05 cph

Mammographic density: Comparison of visual assessment with fully automatic calculation on a multivendor dataset

To compare breast density (BD) assessment provided by an automated BD evaluator (ABDE) with that provided by a panel of experienced breast radiologists, on a multivendor dataset. Methods Twenty-one radiologists assessed 613 screening/ diagnostic digital mammograms from nine centers and six different vendors, using the BI-RADS a, b, c, and d density classification. The same mammograms were also evaluated by an ABDE providing the ratio between fibroglandular and total breast area on a continuous scale and, automatically, the BI-RADS score. A panel majority report (PMR) was used as reference standard. Agreement (κ) and accuracy (proportion of cases correctly classified) were calculated for binary (BI-RADS a-b versus c-d) and 4-class classification. Results While the agreement of individual radiologists with the PMR ranged from κ=0.483 to κ=0.885, the ABDE correctly classified 563/613 mammograms (92 %). A substantial agreement for binary classification was found for individual reader pairs (κ=0.620, standard deviation [SD]=0.140), individual versus PMR (κ=0.736, SD=0.117), and individual versus ABDE (κ=0.674, SD=0.095). Agreement between ABDE and PMR was almost perfect (κ=0.831). Conclusions The ABDE showed an almost perfect agreement with a 21-radiologist panel in binary BD classification on a multivendor dataset, earning a chance as a reproducible alternative to visual evaluation

Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT): recommendations from the Italian College of Breast Radiologists (ICBR) by the Italian Society of Medical Radiology (SIRM) and the Italian Group for Mammography Screening (GISMa)

This position paper, issued by ICBR/SIRM and GISMa, summarizes the evidence on DBT and provides recommendations for its use. In the screening setting, DBT in adjunct to digital mammography (DM) increased detection rate by 0.5\u20132.7\u2030 and decreased false positives by 0.8\u20133.6% compared to DM alone in observational and double-testing experimental studies. The reduction in recall rate could be less prominent in those screening programs which already have low recall rates with DM. The increase in radiation exposure associated with DM/DBT protocols has been solved by the introduction of synthetic mammograms (sDM) reconstructed from DBT datasets. Thus, whenever possible, sDM/DBT should be preferred to DM/DBT. However, before introducing DBT as a routine screening tool for average-risk women, we should wait for the results of randomized controlled trials and for a statistically significant and clinically relevant reduction in the interval cancer rate, hopefully associated with a reduction in the advanced cancer rate. Otherwise, a potential for overdiagnosis and overtreatment cannot be excluded. Studies exploring this issue are ongoing. Screening of women at intermediate risk should follow the same recommendations, with particular protocols for women with previous BC history. In high-risk women, if mammography is performed as an adjunct to MRI or in the case of MRI contraindications, sDM/DBT protocols are suggested. Evidence exists in favor of DBT usage in women with clinical symptoms/signs and asymptomatic women with screen-detected findings recalled for work-up. The possibility to perform needle biopsy or localization under DBT guidance should be offered when DBT-only findings need characterization or surger