Deflated preconditioned conjugate gradient solvers for linear elasticity

Extensions of deflation techniques previously developed for the Poisson equation to static elasticity are presented. Compared to the (scalar) Poisson equation (J. Comput. Phys. 2008; 227 (24):10196–10208; Int. J. Numer. Meth. Engng 2010; DOI: 10.1002/nme.2932; Int. J. Numer. Meth. Biomed. Engng 2010; 26 (1):73–85), the elasticity equations represent a system of equations, giving rise to more complex low‐frequency modes (Multigrid . Elsevier: Amsterdam, 2000). In particular, the straightforward extension from the scalar case does not provide generally satisfactory convergence. However, a simple modification allows to recover the remarkable acceleration in convergence and CPU time reached in the scalar case. Numerous examples and timings are provided in a serial and a parallel context and show the dramatic improvements of up to two orders of magnitude in CPU time for grids with moderate graph depths compared to the non‐deflated version. Furthermore, a monotonic decrease of iterations with increasing subdomains, as well as a remarkable acceleration for very few subdomains are also observed if all the rigid body modes are included

Predicción de propiedades antimicrobianas de un grupo de quinolonas mediante Topología molecular.

Molecular topology has been applied to the prediction of antimicrobial properties (minimum inhibitory concentration for 50%, MIC50, against Neisseria meningitides, Campylobacter jejuni and Clostridium difficile) for a group of quinolone antiinfectives, using multi-variable regression. The corresponding connectivity functionswere obtained, and the selection criterion was based on their respective statistical parameters. Regression analyses shows that the molecular connectivity model predicts these properties. The corresponding random and stability (cross-validation) study of the different models selected were carried out, showing good stability and null randomness in all cases.Se ha aplicado la topología molecular a la predicción de propiedades antimicrobianas (concentración mínima inhibitoria 50%, CMI50, en Neisseria meningitidis, Capilobacter jejunji y Clostridium difficile) para un grupo de quinolonas, utilizando un análisis de regresión multilineal. Se han obtenido las correspondientes funciones de conectividad, siendo el criterio de selección diversos parámetros estadísticos como F de Snedecor, t de Student, cp de Mallow, etc. Los análisis de regresión muestran que el modelo predictivo propuesto por la conectividad molecular predice estas propiedades. Los correspondientes estudios de estabilidad y aleatoriedad realizados a los modelos seleccionados muestran una buena estabilidad y una nula aleatoriedad

Quality of life of patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma initiating first-line chemotherapy in routine practice

Despite advances in surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, pancreatic adenocarcinoma often progresses rapidly and causes death. The physical decline of these patients is expected to impact their quality of life (QoL). Therefore, in addition to objective measures of effectiveness, the evaluation of health-related QoL should be considered a matter of major concern when assessing therapy outcomes. Observational, prospective, multicenter study including patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma who started first-line chemotherapy in 12 Spanish centers. Treatment and clinical characteristics were recorded at baseline. Patients' health-related quality of life, ECOG, and Karnofsky index were measured at baseline, at Days 15 and 30, and every four weeks up to 6 months of chemotherapy. Health-related quality of life was measured using the EORTC-QLQ-C30 and EQ-5D questionnaires. Other endpoints included overall survival and progression-free survival. The study sample included 116 patients (median age of 65 years). Mean (SD) scores for the QLQ-C30 global health status scale showed a significant increasing trend throughout the treatment (p = 0.005). Patients with either a Karnofsky index of 70-80 or ECOG 2 showed greater improvement in the QLQ-C30 global health status score than the corresponding groups with better performance status (p ≤ 0.010). Pain, appetite, sleep disturbance, nausea, and constipation significantly improved throughout the treatment (p < 0.005). Patients with QLQ-C30 global health status scores ≥50 at baseline had significantly greater overall survival and progression-free survival (p = 0.005 and p = 0.021, respectively). No significant associations were observed regarding the EQ-5D score. Most metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients receiving first-line chemotherapy showed an increase in health-related quality of life scores throughout the treatment. Patients with lower performance status and health-related quality of life at baseline tended to greater improvement. The EORTC QLQ-C30 scale allowed us to measure the health-related quality of life of metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients receiving first-line chemotherapy

Early termination of ISRCTN45828668, a phase 1/2 prospective, randomized study of Sulfasalazine for the treatment of progressing malignant gliomas in adults

BACKGROUND: Sulfasalazine, a NF-kappaB and x(c)-cystine/glutamate antiport inhibitor, has demonstrated a strong antitumoral potential in preclinical models of malignant gliomas. As it presents an excellent safety profile, we initiated a phase 1/2 clinical study of this anti-inflammatory drug for the treatment of recurrent WHO grade 3 and 4 astrocytic gliomas in adults. METHODS: 10 patients with advanced recurrent anaplastic astrocytoma (n = 2) or glioblastoma (n = 8) aged 32-62 years were recruited prior to the planned interim analysis of the study. Subjects were randomly assigned to daily doses of 1.5, 3, 4.5, or 6 grams of oral sulfasalazine, and treated until clinical or radiological evidence of disease progression or the development of serious or unbearable side effects. Primary endpoints were the evaluation of toxicities according to the CTCAE v.3.0, and the observation of radiological tumor responses based on MacDonald criteria. RESULTS: No clinical response was observed. One tumor remained stable for 2 months with sulfasalazine treatment, at the lowest daily dose of the drug. The median progression-free survival was 32 days. Side effects were common, as all patients developed grade 1-3 adverse events (mean: 7.2/patient), four patients developed grade 4 toxicity. Two patients died while on treatment or shortly after its discontinuation. CONCLUSION: Although the proper influence of sulfasalazine treatment on patient outcome was difficult to ascertain in these debilitated patients with a large tumor burden (median KPS = 50), ISRCTN45828668 was terminated after its interim analysis. This study urges to exert cautiousness in future trials of Sulfasalazine for the treatment of malignant gliomas. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN45828668

Jejunogastric intussusception presented with hematemesis: a case presentation and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Jejunogastric intussusception (JGI) is a rare but potentially very serious complication of gastrectomy or gastrojejunostomy. To avoid mortality early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention is mandatory. CASE PRESENTATION: A young man presented with epigastric pain and bilous vomiting followed by hematemesis,10 years after vagotomy and gastrojejunostomy for a bleeding duodenal ulcer. Emergency endoscopy showed JGI and the CT scan of the abdomen was compatible with this diagnosis. At laparotomy a retrograde type II, JGI was confirmed and managed by reduction of JGI without intestinal resection. Postoperative recovery was uneventful. CONCLUSIONS: JGI is a rare condition and less than 200 cases have been published since its first description in 1914. The clinical picture is almost diagnostic. Endoscopy performed by someone familiar with this rare entity is certainly diagnostic and CT-Scan of the abdomen could also help. There is no medical treatment for acute JGI and the correct treatment is surgical intervention as soon as possible

Cardiovascular testing recovery in Latin America one year into the COVID-19 pandemic: An analysis of data from an international longitudinal survey.

The INCAPS COVID Investigators Group, listed by name in the Appendix, thank cardiology and imaging professional societies worldwide for their assistance in disseminating the survey to their memberships. These include alphabetically, but are not limited to, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Arab Society of Nuclear Medicine, Australasian Association of Nuclear Medicine Specialists, Australia-New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine, Belgian Society of Nuclear Medicine, Brazilian Nuclear Medicine Society, British Society of Cardiovascular Imaging, Conjoint Committee for the Recognition of Training in CT Coronary Angiography Australia and New Zealand, Consortium of Universities and Institutions in Japan, Danish Society of Cardiology, Gruppo Italiano Cardiologia Nucleare, Indonesian Society of Nuclear Medicine, Japanese Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Moscow Regional Department of Russian Nuclear Medicine Society, Philippine Society of Nuclear Medicine, Russian Society of Radiology, Sociedad Española de Medicina Nuclear e Imagen Molecular, Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, and Thailand Society of Nuclear Medicine.Peer reviewe

Oligodendroglial neoplasms with ganglioglioma-like maturation: a diagnostic pitfall

Although oligodendroglial neoplasms are traditionally considered purely glial, increasing evidence suggests that they are capable of neuronal or neurocytic differentiation. Nevertheless, ganglioglioma-like foci (GGLF) have not been previously described. Herein, we report seven examples where the primary differential diagnosis was a ganglioglioma with an oligodendroglial component. These five male and two female patients ranged in age from 29 to 63 (median 44) years at initial presentation and neuroimaging features were those of diffuse gliomas in general. At presentation, the glial component was oligodendroglioma in six and oligoastrocytoma in one; one was low-grade and six were anaplastic. A sharp demarcation from adjacent GGLF was common, although some intermingling was always present. The GGLF included enlarged dysmorphic and occasionally binucleate ganglion cells, Nissl substance, expression of neuronal antigens, GFAP-positive astrocytic elements, and low Ki-67 labeling indices. In contrast to classic ganglioglioma, however, cases lacked eosinophilic granular bodies and CD34-positive tumor cells. Scattered bizarre astrocytes were also common and one case had focal neurocytic differentiation. By FISH analysis, five cases showed 1p/19q codeletion. In the four cases with deletions and ample dysmorphic ganglion cells for analysis, the deletions were found in both components. At last follow-up, two patients suffered recurrences, one developed radiation necrosis mimicking recurrence, and one died of disease 7.5 years after initial surgery. We conclude that GGLF represents yet another form of neuronal differentiation in oligodendroglial neoplasms. Recognition of this pattern will prevent a misdiagnosis of ganglioglioma with its potential for under-treatment