Maxillary sinus anatomy variation and nasal cavity width: structural computed tomography imaging

Variability of the bony structures located in the maxillary sinus, and of the lateral nasal wall topography, have practical significance during surgical procedures conducted by maxillofacial surgeons or otolaryngologists. The retrospective analysis of 111 computed tomography examinations of patients (52 male and 59 female) diagnosed in our institution was made to evaluate anatomical variations of the maxillary sinus. In the study the frequency of the Haller cell was 29/222 (13%), and the prevalence of one or more septa per sinus was 49/222 (26%). The infraorbital recess was found in 6/222 (3%) of cases. The mean width of the nasal duct was enlarged at the side where the Haller cell was present (p < 0.01) or where bony septa were absent in the maxillary sinus (p < 0.01). Bony structures of the maxillary sinus and changes in topography of the lateral nasal wall should compel surgeons to carefully analyze the computed tomography scans before operations in this area

The study of arterial anastomoses in the region of the alveolar process and the anterior maxilla wall in foetuses

The anterior maxilla wall and alveolar process are covered by the arterial network. Procedures in this region can cause heavy bleeding. Knowledge of the anatomical course of a particular artery is essential for performing surgery in this area. The aim of this study was to search for and then analyse anastomoses between the infraorbital and posterior superior alveolar artery. In the study, 19 maxillas of foetuses were analysed. The arteries were injected with coloured latex. The dissection was carried out using a surgical microscope and microsurgical equipment. The lower eyelid with cheek skin was separated and the facial muscles were cut to expose the maxilla and arteries of the alveolar process. The study revealed that in 10 out of 19 of the specimens there was an arterial connection between the infraorbital and posterior superior alveolar artery. The course of the analysed anastomosis was diverse. In all cases we observed an anterior superior alveolar artery. In all specimens the alveolar process was vascularised by many arteries originating from the analysed anastomosis. The location of the analysed anastomosis can be stated before operation, on the line between the medial eye angle and the sixth tooth of the same side. The anastomosis described in the study means that caudally running arteries are important in choosing incisions in procedures performed at the alveolar process

THE SCENARIOS APPROACH TO ATTENUATION-BASED REMEDIES FOR INORGANIC AND RADIONUCLIDE CONTAMINANTS

Guidance materials based on use of conceptual model scenarios were developed to assist evaluation and implementation of attenuation-based remedies for groundwater and vadose zones contaminated with inorganic and radionuclide contaminants. The Scenarios approach is intended to complement the comprehensive information provided in the US EPA's Technical Protocol for Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) of Inorganic Contaminants by providing additional information on site conceptual models and extending the evaluation to consideration of Enhanced Attenuation approaches. The conceptual models incorporate the notion of reactive facies, defined as units with hydrogeochemical properties that are different from surrounding units and that react with contaminants in distinct ways. The conceptual models also incorporate consideration of biogeochemical gradients, defined as boundaries between different geochemical conditions that have been induced by waste disposal or other natural phenomena. Gradients can change over time when geochemical conditions from one area migrate into another, potentially affecting contaminant mobility. A recognition of gradients allows the attenuation-affecting conditions of a site to be projected into the future. The Scenarios approach provides a stepwise process to identify an appropriate category of conceptual model and refine it for a specific site. Scenario materials provide links to pertinent sections in the EPA technical protocol and present information about contaminant mobility and important controlling mechanism for attenuation-based remedies based on the categories of conceptual models

Implementation of NSOM to biological samples

Near-field scanning optical microscopy is a technique providing images of structures with spatial resolution better than $\lambda/2$, which is undetectable in far-field where the Abbe law of limiting resolution is critical. In parallel to the optical imaging, topography maps are also acquired. Near-field scanning optical microscopy measurements can be performed both in air and liquid environments. The later makes the technique very useful for biomaterials analysis offering information that could not be obtained with other methods. Our work presents the results of recent studies on application of near-field scanning optical microscopy to imaging of cells in air as well as in physiological buffers. Differences in cell's topography and morphology have been noticed between two cell lines from human bladder non-malignant (HCV29) and malignant (T24) cancers. Presented results are part of the research that characterizes physiological changes of cells depending on stage of cancer

20 Typ z przewagą limfocytów ziarnicy złośliwej: Czy wymaga odmiennego leczenia?

WstępTyp z przewagą limfocytów ziarnicy złośliwej (LP-HD) jest wyróżniany jako odrębna postać histokliniczna. Ponadto wykazuje się duże morfologiczne podobieństwo do chłoniaka nieziarniczego z limfocytów B, który w rozpoznaniach LP-HD LP-HD może stanowić do 10%. Celem pracy jest ocena przebiegu klinicznego i wyniki leczenia chorych na LP-HD.MateriałW Krakowskim Centrum Onkologii w latach 1987–1996 leczono 53 chorych z rozpoznaniem LP-HD, 14 kobiet i 39 mężczyzn (M:K – 2,8:1). Wiek chorych wahał się od 14 do 73 lat, mediana 39 lat. W stopniu zaawansowania I+II było 31 chorych (58,5%), III+IV 22 chorych (41,5%). Objawy B stwierdzono u 13/53 chorych (24,5%), X 10/53 chorych (18,8%), E u 2/53 chorych (3,8%). U 2/31 chorych (6,5%) proces był zlokalizowany w układzie chłonnym przedprzeponowym. W grupie I+II, 1 chory był leczony wyłącznie chemicznie (CHT), 22 chorych leczono wyłącznie CHT, 3 chorych RT i 10 chorych CHT+RT. Czas obserwacji waha się od 16 do 132 miesięcy (mediana 66 miesięcy).WynikiW całej grupie uzyskano 78% 5 – letnich i 71% 10 – letnich przeżyć, w grupie I+II odpowiednio 90% i 78%. W grupie III+IV 5 i 10 – letnie przeżycia wyniosły 62%. Całkowitą regresję po I rzucie leczenia uzyskano u 100% chorych w grupie I+II 4/5 wznów (80%) stwierdzono w układzie chłonnym przedprzeponowym. Czas wystąpienia wznowy wahał się od 14 do 712 miesięcy (mediana 41 miesięcy). U jednego chorego stwierdzono transformację typu LP w LD.U 3/53 chorych (5,6%) stwierdzono w kontroli chłoniaka nieziarniczego (MALT żołądka, nieokreślony chłoniak o wysokim stopniu złośliwości, chłoniak z limfocytów T) w okresie od 13 do 35 miesięcy (mediana 28 miesięcy). W grupie III+IV przeżycie 5 – letnie wyniosło 69% u chorych leczonych CHT i 32% leczonych wyłącznie RT (p = 0,3).Wnioski1.Wyniki leczenia chorych na LP-HD w naszym materiale nie odbiegają od wyników leczenia chorych na klasyczną postać ziarnicy. Ograniczenie zakresu RT w grupie I+II i CHT w grupie III+IV może mieć wpły na pogorszenie wyników leczenia.2.Mimo odrębności morfologicznych typ LP-HD powinien być leczony jak klasyczna postać ziarnicy złośliwej

Structures in multicomponent polymer films : their formation, observation, applications in electronics and biotechnology

Several strategies to form multicomponent films of functional polymers, with micron, submicron and nanometer structures, intended for plastic electronics and biotechnology are presented. These approaches are based on film deposition from polymer solution onto a rotating substrate (spin-casting), a method implemented already on manufacturing lines. Film structures are determined with compositional (nanometer) depth profiling and (submicron) imaging modes of dynamic secondary ion mass spectrometry, near-field scanning optical microscopy (with submicron resolution) and scanning probe microscopy (revealing nanometer features). Self-organization of spin-cast polymer mixtures is discussed in detail, since it offers a one-step process to deposit and align simultaneously domains, rich in different polymers, forming various device elements: (i) Surface segregation drives self-stratification of nanometer lamellae for solar cells and anisotropic conductors. (ii) Cohesion energy density controls morphological transition from lamellar (optimal for encapsulated transistors) to lateral structures (suggested for light emitting diodes with variable color). (iii) Selective adhesion to substrate microtemplates, patterned chemically, orders lateral structures for plastic circuitries. (iv) Submicron imprints of water droplets (breath figures) decorate selectively micron-sized domains, and can be used in devices with hierarchic structure. In addition, selective protein adsorption to regular polymer micropatterns, formed with soft lithography after spin-casting, suggests applications in protein chip technology. An approach to reduce lateral blend film structures to submicron scale is also presented, based on (annealed) films of multicomponent nanoparticles

Differential effect of cigarette smoking on hydrogen peroxide and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances exhaled in patients with community acquired pneumonia

Background. This study was designed to investigate the effect of cigarette smoking on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARs) concentrations in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods. H2O2 and TBARs concentrations in EBC were determined with spectrofluorimetrical assays. Results. Non-smoking CAP patients (n=24) exhaled 1.4, 1.8 and 1.7 times more H2O2 than the smoking patients with CAP (n=19) as assessed one (0.73±0.32 μM v. 0.51±0.36 μM), three (0.84±0.31 μM v. 0.47±0.24 μM) and five (0.66±0.28 μM v. 0.40±0.35 μM) days after admission (p<0.05 in each case). Over 10 days of hospital treatment, mean level of exhaled H2O2 0.45±0.22 μM in CAP patients with smoking history was decreased if compared with 0.71±0.19 μM exhaled H2O2 in CAP group (p=0.005). On the contrary, TBARs concentration evaluated over entire study period was increased in smoking CAP patients (median 0.02 μM, range 0-0.32 μM) compared with non-smoking group (median 0.01 μM, range 0-0.21 μM, p<0.05). Concurrent, active smoking status was related with the decreased levels of H2O2 exhaled in breath condensate within the course of CAP but it appeared to increase levels of TBARs. Conclusions. The differential alternations of oxidative parameters in EBC with respect to the smoking status might provide evidence of increased H2O2 decomposition and enhanced generation of reactive species in airways of CAP patients

Efficacy of Statin Therapy in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension : a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Since the evidence regarding statin therapy in PAH has not been conclusive, we assessed the impact of statin therapy in PAH through a systematic review and meta-analysis of available studies. We searched selected databases up to August 1, 2015 to identify the studies investigating the effect of statin administration on PAH. Meta-analysis was performed using either a fixed-effects or random-effect model according to I 2 statistic. Meta-analysis of 8 studies with 665 patients did not suggest any significant improvement in 6-min walking distance (6MWD) by statin therapy (weighed mean difference [WMD]:-6.08 m, 95% confidence interval [CI]:-25.66, 13.50, p = 0.543; Q = 8.41, I 2 = 28.64%). Likewise, none of the other indices including pulmonary arterial pressure (WMD:-0.97 mmHg, 95%CI:-4.39, 2.44, p = 0.577; Q = 14.64, I 2 = 79.51%), right atrial pressure (WMD: 1.01 mmHg, 95%CI:-0.93, 2.96, p = 0.307; Q = 44.88, I2 = 95.54%), cardiac index (WMD: 0.05 L/min/m2, 95%CI:-0.05, 0.15, p = 0.323; Q = 3.82, I 2 = 21.42%), and pulmonary vascular resistance (WMD:-1.42 dyn 17s/cm5, 95%CI:-72.11, 69.27, p = 0.969; Q = 0.69, I2 = 0%) was significantly altered by statin therapy. In conclusion, the results of the meta-analysis did not show a statistically significant effect of statin therapy in the improvement of 6MWD, pulmonary arterial pressure, right atrial pressure, cardiac index and pulmonary vascular resistance

Embracing the polypill as a cardiovascular therapeutic: is this the best strategy?

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an important cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. CVD morbidity and mortality are associated with significant financial costs related to hospitalization, medication, and lost productivity. The concept of the 'polypill' for the reduction of cardiovascular risk was proposed in 2000. A polypill is a fixed combination of drugs in a single tablet or capsule. The initial polypill consisted of three different classes of antihypertensive drugs (each at half dose), in addition to aspirin, a statin, and folic acid. The challenge today is to produce polypills containing drugs with established efficacy and complementary actions. Areas covered: The authors provide their expert perspectives on the polypill and consider the randomized clinical trials that have evaluated the safety, efficacy, adherence, and cost-effectiveness of polypills. Expert opinion: The polypill makes prescribing easier by reducing the need for complex treatment algorithms and dose titration. It also appears to be cost-effective. However, there are several issues that need to be addressed before the polypill can be used routinely. A single polypill formulation may not be suitable for all patients. It may be necessary to develop several types of polypill to meet the needs of different patient groups