Automated EEG background analysis to identify neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy treated with hypothermia at risk for adverse outcome: A pilot study

Background: To improve the objective assessment of continuous video-EEG (cEEG) monitoring of neonatal brain function, the aim was to relate automated derived amplitude and duration parameters of the suppressed periods in the EEG background (dynamic Interburst Interval= dIBIs) after neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) to favourable or adverse neurodevelopmental outcome. Methods: Nineteen neonates (gestational age 36-41 weeks) with HIE underwent therapeutic hypothermia and had cEEG-monitoring. EEGs were retrospectively analyzed with a previously developed algorithm to detect the dynamic Interburst Intervals. Median duration and amplitude of the dIBIs were calculated at 1h-intervals. Sensitivity and specificity of automated EEG background grading for favorable and adverse outcomes were assessed at 6h-intervals. Results: Dynamic IBI values reached the best prognostic value between 18 and 24h (AUC of 0.93). EEGs with dIBI amplitude ≥15 μV and duration 10s were specific for adverse outcome (89-100%) at 18-24h (n = 10). Extremely low voltage and invariant EEG patterns were indicative of adverse outcome at all time points. Conclusions: Automated analysis of the suppressed periods in EEG of neonates with HIE undergoing TH provides objective and early prognostic information. This objective tool can be used in a multimodal strategy for outcome assessment. Implementation of this method can facilitate clinical practice, improve risk stratification and aid therapeutic decision-making. A multicenter trial with a quantifiable outcome measure is warranted to confirm the predictive value of this method in a more heterogeneous dataset

A case of autoimmune cholangitis misdiagnosed for cholangiocarcinoma: How to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention?

Introduction. Autoimmune cholangitis or immunoglobulin G4-associated cholangitis (IAC) has been recently regarded as a new clinical and histopathological entity and is a part of a complex autoimmune disorder - IgG4-related systemic disease (ISD). ISD is an autoimmune disease with multi-organic involvement, characterized with IgG4-positive plasmocytic infiltration of various tissues and organs with a consequent sclerosis, which responds well to steroid therapy. Most commonly affected organs are the pancreas (autoimmune pancreatitis, [AIP]) and the common bile duct (IAC). IAC and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) share many clinical, laboratory and imaging findings. Case Outline. We present a case of a 60-year-old male with a biliary stricture of a common bile duct, which was clinically considered as a bile duct carcinoma and treated surgically. Definite histopathological findings and immunohistochemistry revealed profound chronic inflammation, showing lymphoplasmacytic IgG-positive infiltration of a resected part of a common bile duct, highly suggestive for the diagnosis of IAC. In addition, postoperative IgG4 serum levels were also increased. Conclusion. It is of primary clinical importance to make a difference between IAC and CCA, in order to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention. Therefore, IAC should be considered in differential diagnosis in similar cases

Natural attenuation of petroleum hydrocarbons-a study of biodegradation effects in groundwater (Vitanovac, Serbia)

The role of natural attenuation processes in groundwater contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons is of intense scientific and practical interest. This study provides insight into the biodegradation effects in groundwater at a site contaminated by kerosene (jet fuel) in 1993 (Vitanovac, Serbia). Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), hydrochemical indicators (O-2 , NO3-, Mn, Fe, SO42-, HCO3- ), delta C-13 of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and other parameters were measured to demonstrate biodegradation effects in groundwater at the contaminated site. Due to different biodegradation mechanisms, the zone of the lowest concentrations of electron acceptors and the zone of the highest concentrations of metabolic products of biodegradation overlap. Based on the analysis of redox-sensitive compounds in groundwater samples, redox processes ranged from strictly anoxic (methanogenesis) to oxic (oxygen reduction) within a short distance. The dependence of groundwater redox conditions on the distance from the source of contamination was observed. delta C-13 values of DIC ranged from -15.83 to -2.75 parts per thousand, and the most positive values correspond to the zone under anaerobic and methanogenic conditions. Overall, results obtained provide clear evidence on the effects of natural attenuation processes-the activity of biodegradation mechanisms in field conditions

10.5937/tehnika1703383L= Development of methods for traffic simulation of telecommunication processes in IRITEL over 45 years

This paper summarizes the programs intended for simulation of traffic processes in different telecommunications systems. These programs are developed, implemented and verified by the members of the Institute IRITEL through numerous scientific papers and doctoral dissertations taken during 50 years of the Institute activities. Two main areas of traffic simulations are related (but not limited) to the analyses of switching systems and mobile telephony systems

Ex situ bioremedijacija vanbilansnih ugljovodonika, tzv. „otpadnog mazuta“ iz JKP „Beogradske elektrane“ na industrijskoj projektovanoj gomili-haldi zapremine oko 600 m3 - U primeni!

NTD-CH Instituta za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo, Novi Sad i BREM GROUP d.o.o., Beograd, 2008