Focus Issue on Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Practical Concerns Regarding the 7th Edition AJCC Staging Guidelines

The 7th edition of the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual represents a dramatic shift in the way that cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is staged, in that it is first attempt to incorporate evidence-based medicine into the staging guidelines for cSCC. In our opinion, the changes made to the seventh edition represent a significant improvement over previous editions and will ultimately lead to improved patient stratification, more accurate prognostic data, and a better framework to guide clinical decision making. However, there are a number of issues within the latest guidelines that require clarification or are impractical for clinical practice. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the key changes to the 6th edition staging manual as they pertain to cSCC, to point out impractical component of the 7th edition and/or aspects that require further clarification, and to make recommendations that address any current shortcomings to improve subsequent editions. Specific focus will be given to the inclusion of separate guidelines for cSCC and Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), the incorporation of high-risk factors as modifiers of T stage, the addition of new guidelines for advanced T stage, and the changes in stratification of lymph node status. This paper is modified from a more comprehensive treatment of the staging of nonmelanoma skin cancer by Warner and Cockerell entitled “The new 7th edition American joint committee on cancer staging of cutaneous nonmelanoma skin cancer: a critical review,” in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology (paper accepted, pending publication)

Using Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia to Estimate Inspired Tidal Volume in the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Man-made environmental change may have significant impact on apex predators, like marine mammals. Thus, it is important to assess the physiological boundaries for survival in these species, and assess how climate change may affect foraging efficiency and the limits for survival. In the current study, we investigated whether the respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) could estimate tidal volume (VT) in resting bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). For this purpose, we measured respiratory flow and electrocardiogram (ECG) in five adult bottlenose dolphins at rest while breathing voluntarily. Initially, an exponential decay function, using three parameters (baseline heart rate, the change in heart rate following a breath, and an exponential decay constant) was used to describe the temporal change in instantaneous heart rate following a breath. The three descriptors, in addition to body mass, were used to develop a Generalized Additive Model (GAM) to predict the inspired tidal volume (VTinsp). The GAM allowed us to predict VTinsp with an average ( ± SD) overestimate of 3 ± 2%. A jackknife sensitivity analysis, where 4 of the five dolphins were used to fit the GAM and the 5th dolphin used to make predictions resulted in an average overestimate of 2 ± 10%. Future studies should be used to assess whether similar relationships exist in active animals, allowing VT to be studied in free-ranging animals provided that heart rate can be measured

Respiratory function and mechanics in pinnipeds and cetaceans

Author Posting. © Company of Biologists, 2017. This article is posted here by permission of Company of Biologists for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Experimental Biology 220 (2017): 1761-1773, doi:10.1242/jeb.126870.In this Review, we focus on the functional properties of the respiratory system of pinnipeds and cetaceans, and briefly summarize the underlying anatomy; in doing so, we provide an overview of what is currently known about their respiratory physiology and mechanics. While exposure to high pressure is a common challenge among breath-hold divers, there is a large variation in respiratory anatomy, function and capacity between species – how are these traits adapted to allow the animals to withstand the physiological challenges faced during dives? The ultra-deep diving feats of some marine mammals defy our current understanding of respiratory physiology and lung mechanics. These animals cope daily with lung compression, alveolar collapse, transient hyperoxia and extreme hypoxia. By improving our understanding of respiratory physiology under these conditions, we will be better able to define the physiological constraints imposed on these animals, and how these limitations may affect the survival of marine mammals in a changing environment. Many of the respiratory traits to survive exposure to an extreme environment may inspire novel treatments for a variety of respiratory problems in humans.Funding for this project was provided by the Office of Naval Research (ONR YIP Award no. N000141410563).2018-05-1

A family outbreak of tinea capitis due to Trichophyton violaceum in Michigan. Its control with griseofulvin

An outbreak of tinea capitis caused by Trichophyton violaceum in five siblings of a family of eight in Michigan and its control with griseofulvin are described.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43276/1/11046_2005_Article_BF02145740.pd

Vorschriftsgemäßer Einbau eines Bordrechners in ein Experimentalflugzeug

Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Zulassung von zwei Experimentalrechnern, welche in ein Forschungsflugzeug eingerüstet werden sollen. Das Flugzeug ist ein modifizierter Airbus A320 mit dem Namen "Advanced Technology Research Aircraft" (ATRA). Er ist Teil der Flugzeugflotte, welche vom DLR für Foschungszwecke betrieben wird. Ein Programm, welches die Piloten vor Wirbelschleppen warnt, wird auf den beiden Rechnern ausgeführt. Es soll Warnungen und errechnete Ausweichtrajektorien auf zusätzlichen Cockpit-displays anzeigen. Das Programm selbst ist nicht Teil dieser Arbeit. Der Zulassungsprozess der mechanischen und elektrischen Bauteile des Bordcomputer wird erklärt und dokumentiert, sowie die Auswahl der PC-Komponenten. Darüber hinaus werden die verschiedenen Betriebssysteme behandelt, die für diese Aufgabe eingesetzt werden können. Ergebnis dieser Arbeit sind die einsatzbereiten Bordrechner sowie die erstellten Unterlagen, welche für den Zulassungsprozess benötigt werden

Evaluierung der Log-Ratio Methode als Alternative zu quantitativen Rastermessungen mittels Röntgenfluoreszenzanalyse

Abweichender Titel laut Übersetzung der Verfasserin/des VerfassersEnergy-dispersive XRF analysis provides a fast, non-destructive way to determine element distributions of samples. Once a calibration is done, the method provides an almost effortless way to achieve quantitative information. However, these calibrations are most often not linear and do not pass the origin thus they are only applicable in a very narrow range around the used standards. With the 2008 presented log-ratio calibration equation (LRCE) a promising method that aimed to get rid of this non-linearity has been introduced. The current work investigates how well the method achieves this goal by measuring a set of seven standards with a micro-focused XRF setup and a commercially available hand-held XRF device from Bruker. Parameters goodness-of-fit R2, slope alpha and y-intercept beta have been calculated and compared with both XRF devices as well as the Compton peak correction and the raw data set. Prior to the micro XRF measurements the setup had to be rebuild due to a relocation, thus requiring a check of the system performance. This was done by a long-term drift measurement, ensuring that the same results are achieved in every measurement. Apart from these calibrations, measurements with the hand-held device have been carried out in the historic japanese tower in Brussels. The drift measurements pointed out a slight drift for high count rate elements but the error could be rendered insigni cant when correction methods are applied. The calculations of the micro XRF setup reveals that the LRCE correction is favorable to the Compton peak correction. The performance is especially good for poorly correlated elements. For the hand-held device only elements with low signal and strong air absorption perform better with the LRCE. The measurements of the historic site in Brussels could identify some of the applied materials an techniques on paper and wood basis.11