Use of linear radiofrequency device in liver resection

Background/Aim. Linear radiofrequency device (LRFD) is disposable tool designed for liver parenchyma transection using controlled radiofrequency to 'seal' blood vessels and bile ducts, making liver resection easier and safer compared to classical resectional techniques. The aim of this study was to determine real value of the LRFD compared to the standard 'keliclasia' technique. Methods. This prospective study analyzed the significant intraoperative parameters and postoperative results of the 200 patients who underwent surgery at the Surgery Clinic of Clinical Centre in Niš, between January 1, 2001, and January 1, 2009. The patients were divided into two groups: the control Keli group (144 patients) with the 'keliclasia' resection technique and the control RF group (with resection performed using LRFD - Tissue Link / Dissection Sealer (DS - 3.0) (56 patients). The following parameters were analyzed: duration of liver ischemia, liver parenchyma transection time, intraoperative blood loss, significant intraoperative and postoperative complication rate, duration of hospitalization and mortality. Results. LRFD was used in 56 liver resections. The average duration of liver ischemia in the RF group was shorter than in the Keli group (7 versus 22 minutes). Parenchymal liver transection was significantly slower in the RF group than in the Keli group (2.05 versus 4.34 cm2/minutes, respectively). There was less intraoperative bleeding using LRFD 'Keliclasia' tehniquethan in the control group (390 mL compared to 420 mL, respectively). After the use of LRFD two cases of biliary leak and 4 pleural effusions were registered. Conclusion. LRFD is simple device for safe liver transection with decreased need for liver ischemia and singificant reducing of the intraoperative blood loss. High price for disposable device and slow parenchyma transection are disadvantages of this device

Scardinius knezevici Bianco & Kottelat, 2005 and Alburnus scoranza Bonaparte, 1845: New species of ichthyofauna of Serbia and the Danube basin

Research into the ichthyofauna of the Vlasina Lake reservoir in south Serbia, which is part of the Danube basin, was carried out in 1993, 40 years after its formation. The results of the research reveal the presence of several species of fish belonging to the Adriatic and Aegean basin, such as Alburnus albidus, Rutilus basak, Scardinius graecus and Pachychilon macedonicus. These findings are of great importance from the aspect of conservation, because the species Scardinius graecus and Alburnus albidus are on the European list of endangered fish species. In the latest study of the Vlasina Lake reservoir ichthyofauna (70 years after its formation), the above-mentioned species were not found. However, the presence of naturalized populations of two species from the Adriatic basin were confirmed: Scardinius knezevici and Alburnus scoranza. These findings represent the first known areal expansion of these species, which are new to the ichthyofauna of Serbia, from the Adriatic into the Danube (Black Sea) basin.[Acknowledgments. The present work was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Serbia (Projects No. 43002 and 173025).

Scardinius knezevici Bianco & Kottelat, 2005 and Alburnus scoranza Bonaparte, 1845: New species of ichthyofauna of Serbia and the Danube basin

Research into the ichthyofauna of the Vlasina Lake reservoir in south Serbia, which is part of the Danube basin, was carried out in 1993, 40 years after its formation. The results of the research reveal the presence of several species of fish belonging to the Adriatic and Aegean basin, such as Alburnus albidus, Rutilus basak, Scardinius graecus and Pachychilon macedonicus. These findings are of great importance from the aspect of conservation, because the species Scardinius graecus and Alburnus albidus are on the European list of endangered fish species. In the latest study of the Vlasina Lake reservoir ichthyofauna (70 years after its formation), the above-mentioned species were not found. However, the presence of naturalized populations of two species from the Adriatic basin were confirmed: Scardinius knezevici and Alburnus scoranza. These findings represent the first known areal expansion of these species, which are new to the ichthyofauna of Serbia, from the Adriatic into the Danube (Black Sea) basin.Projekat ministarstva br. 43002 i br. 17302

Karakterizacija Morus vrsta u odnosu na mikro, makro i toksične elemente

This study examines the mineral composition of the extracts of the fruits, leaves and roots of white mulberry (Morus alba L.) and black mulberry (Morus nigra L.) grown in Serbia. All extract samples of white and black mulberry were analyzed for the content of micro (B, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Se, Sr, Zn), macro (Ca, Mg, Na), and toxic metals (Al, As, Cd, Hg, Pb) by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The study revealed that parts of the plant had statistically significant impact on the levels of the examined elements among the two Morus species. All extracts contained high amounts of Ca, Mg, Na, B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn. The studies showed that in the most of extracts dominant macro element was Mg (591- 1942 μg/g of dry extract), while dominant microelements were Zn, B, Cu in all extracts, except for the black mulberry leaves, whose extract was most abundant in Fe (143 μg/g of dry extract). The highest content of micro and macro elements was detected in the extract of black mulberry leaves. This work contributes to the knowledge of the nutritional properties of Morus species. The obtained results may be useful in the evaluation of new dietary and food products.Ispitivanje je bazirano na određivanju mineralnog sastava ekstrakata Morus alba L. (beli dud) i Morus nigra L . (crni dud) uključujući plod, list i koren sa teritorije Srbije. U svim analiziranim ekstraktima određen je sadržaj mikro (B, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Se, Sr, Zn), makro (Ca, Mg, Na) i toksičnih elemenata (Al, As, Cd, Hg, Pb) primenom optičke emisione spektroskopije sa induktivno kuplovanom plazmom (ICP-OES). Ispitivanje je pokazalo da postoji statistički značajna korelacija između delova biljke Morus vrste i sadržaja ispitivanih elemenata. U svim ekstraktima je dokazan visok sadržaj elemenata: Ca, Mg, Na, B, Cu, Fe, Mn i Zn, respektivno. Dominantan makro element u većem broju ekstrakata je Mg (591 - 1942 μg/g suvog ekstrakta). Što se tiče mikroelemenata, u svim ispitivanim ekstraktima u većem sadržaju su zastupljeni Zn, B i Cu. U uzorku M. nigra posebno se izdvaja Fe po svom sadržaju (143 μg/g suvog ekstrakta) u odnosu na ostale prisutne elemente. Od svih ispitivanih uzoraka najviši sadržaj mikro i makro elemenata je detektovan u ekstraktima lista M. Nigra. Ovaj rad doprinosi poznavanju nutritivnih svojstava Morus vrsta. Dobijeni rezultati mogu biti korisni u kreiranju novih dijetetskih i prehrambenih proizvoda

The prothrombin factor ii g20210a mutation with pulmonary thromboembolism and a normal level of fibrin degradation products

Diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) usually includes clinical pretest probability assessment, testing for specific degradation products of cross-linked fibrin (D-dimer) and imaging studies. Patients with radiological findings attributable to pulmonary infarction and normal D-dimer level, may present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. A 37-year-old Caucasian female had episodes of hemoptysis, and bilateral pulmonary nodular infiltrates on chest radiograph and computerized tomography. The plasma D-dimer level was normal, perfusion lung scan was not conclusive and histological examination of an open lung biopsy revealed recent thrombotic pulmonary infarction. She deteriorated and more perfusion defects were detected on perfusion lung scan. Genetic analysis revealed her to be a carrier of the prothrombin factor II (FII) G20210A mutation

A(1)ATVar: A Relational Database of Human SERPINA1 Gene Variants Leading to alpha(1)-Antitrypsin Deficiency and Application of the VariVis Software

We have developed a relational database of human SERPINA1 gene mutations, leading to a,antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency, called A(1)ATVar, which can be accessed over the World Wide Web at www.goldenhelix.org/A1ATVar. Extensive information has been extracted from the literature and converted into a searchable database, including genotype information, clinical phenotype, allelic frequencies for the commonest AAT variant alleles, methods of detection, and references. Mutation summaries are automatically displayed and user-generated queries can be formulated based on fields in the database. A separate module, linked to the FINDbase database for frequencies of inherited disorders allows the user to access allele frequency information for the three most frequent AAT alleles, namely PiM, PiS, and PiZ. The available experimental protocols to detect AAT variant alleles at the protein and DNA levels have been archived in a searchable format. A visualization tool, called VariVis, has been implemented to combine A(1)ATVar variant information with SERPINA1 sequence and annotation data. A direct data submission tool allows registered users to submit data on novel AAT variant alleles as well as experimental protocols to explore SERPINA1 genetic heterogeneity, via a password-protected interface. Database access is free of charge and there are no registration requirements for querying the data. The A(1)ATVar database is the only integrated database on the Internet offering summarized information on AAT allelic variants and could be useful not only for clinical diagnosis and research on AAT deficiency and the SERPINA1 gene, but could also serve as an example for an all-in-one solution for locus-specific database (LSDB) development and curation. Hum Mutat 30, 308-313, 2009

Scardinius knezevici Bianco & Kottelat, 2005 and Alburnus scoranza Bonaparte, 1845: New species of ichthyofauna of Serbia and the Danube basin

Research into the ichthyofauna of the Vlasina Lake reservoir in south Serbia, which is part of the Danube basin, was carried out in 1993, 40 years after its formation. The results of the research reveal the presence of several species of fish belonging to the Adriatic and Aegean basin, such as Alburnus albidus, Rutilus basak, Scardinius graecus and Pachychilon macedonicus. These findings are of great importance from the aspect of conservation, because the species Scardinius graecus and Alburnus albidus are on the European list of endangered fish species. In the latest study of the Vlasina Lake reservoir ichthyofauna (70 years after its formation), the above-mentioned species were not found. However, the presence of naturalized populations of two species from the Adriatic basin were confirmed: Scardinius knezevici and Alburnus scoranza. These findings represent the first known areal expansion of these species, which are new to the ichthyofauna of Serbia, from the Adriatic into the Danube (Black Sea) basin.Projekat ministarstva br. 43002 i br. 17302

Fenotyp typu „talia hipertriglicerydemiczna“ i zespół metaboliczny określany na podstawie różnych kryteriów oraz zależności między tymi zaburzeniami a kontrolą stężeń lipidów i glikemii u chorych na cukrzycę typu 2

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) describes clustering of obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia and hypertension and increases risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The ‘hypertriglyceridemic waist’ phenotype (HTGW) represents a simple approach to identifying individuals with increased risk. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of HTGW and MetS in type 2 diabetic patients, and to examine their relation to lipids and blood glucose control. Material and methods: 300 type 2 diabetic patients were analysed, and their history of diabetes, anthropometric measures, measurements of blood pressure (BP), lipids and glycemic control parameters were taken. Results: In type 2 diabetic patients, the prevalence of MetS was 71.0% by the AHA/NHLBI definition and 75.33% by the IDF definition. The prevalence was 62.58% and 66.45% in men, and 80% and 84.83% in women by the same definitions, respectively. There were 41.33% of patients with HTGW (42.76% among women and 40% among men). There were statistically significant differences of age, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and postprandial glucose (PPG) in women with and without MetS according to both definitions, and of total and LDL cholesterol with and without MetS according to AHA/NHLBI (but not IDF). In men, there were statistically significant differences of total cholesterol and of HbA1c with and without MetS according to AHA/NHLBI (but not IDF). Women with HTGW had higher levels of total and LDL cholesterol, systolic and diastolic BP. Men with HTGW had higher levels of total cholesterol, diastolic BP, HbA1c, FPG and PPG. Conclusions: Determining MetS or HTGW helps identify those with increased cardiovascular risk. (Pol J Endocrinol 2011; 62 (4): 316–323)Wstęp: Zespół metaboliczny (MetS) obejmujący otyłość, dyslipidemię, hiperglikemię i nadciśnienie tętnicze zwiększa ryzyko chorób sercowo-naczyniowych i cukrzycy typu 2. Określanie fenotypu „talii hipertriglicemicznej” (HTGW) jest prostą metodą identyfikowania chorych z grupy wysokiego ryzyka. Celem badania było ustalenie częstości HTGW i MetS u chorych na cukrzycę typu 2 oraz ocena zależności miedzy tymi zaburzeniami a kontrolą stężeń lipidów i glikemii. Materiał i metody: Do badania włączono 300 chorych na cukrzycę typu 2 i przeanalizowano dane dotyczące przebiegu cukrzycy, parametrów antropometrycznych, wartości ciśnienia tętniczego, stężeń lipidów i kontroli glikemii. Wyniki: U chorych na cukrzycę typu 2 kryteria MetS według definicji AHA/NHLBI spełniało71,0%, a kryteria IDF — 75,33%; odsetek chorych z MetS wynosił wśród mężczyzn odpowiednio 62,58% i 66,45%, a wśród kobiet 80% i 84,83%. U 41,33% chorych stwierdzono cechy HTGW, 42,76% tej grupy stanowiły kobiety, a 40% mężczyźni. U kobiet wykazano istotne statystycznie różnice w zakresie wieku, glikemii na czczo (FPG) i glikemii poposiłkowej (PPG) między grupami z MetS i bez niego, rozpoznanym na podstawie obu definicji, natomiast w zakresie stężenia cholesterolu całkowitego i frakcji LDL różniły się one tylko między grupami z MetS i bez niego wydzielonymi na podstawie definicji AHA/NHLBI (a nie na podstawie kryteriów IDF). U mężczyzn wykazano statystycznie istotne różnice stężeń cholesterolu całkowitego HbA1c między grupami z MetS i bez niego określonym według AHA/NHLBI (ale nie według IDF). U kobiet z HTGW stwierdzono wyższe stężenia cholesterolu całkowitego i cholesterolu frakcji LDL oraz wyższe wartości ciśnienia skurczowego i rozkurczowego. U mężczyzn z HTGW odnotowano wyższe wartości stężeń cholesterolu całkowitego, rozkurczowego ciśnienia tętniczego, HbA1c, FPG i PPG. Wnioski: Rozpoznanie MetS lub HTGW pozwala zidentyfikować osoby obciążone zwiększonym ryzykiem sercowo-naczyniowym. (Endokrynol Pol 2011; 62 (4): 316–323

An extensible framework for multicore response time analysis

In this paper, we introduce a multicore response time analysis (MRTA) framework, which decouples response time analysis from a reliance on context independent WCET values. Instead, the analysis formulates response times directly from the demands placed on different hardware resources. The MRTA framework is extensible to different multicore architectures, with a variety of arbitration policies for the common interconnects, and different types and arrangements of local memory. We instantiate the framework for single level local data and instruction memories (cache or scratchpads), for a variety of memory bus arbitration policies, including: Round-Robin, FIFO, Fixed-Priority, Processor-Priority, and TDMA, and account for DRAM refreshes. The MRTA framework provides a general approach to timing verification for multicore systems that is parametric in the hardware configuration and so can be used at the architectural design stage to compare the guaranteed levels of real-time performance that can be obtained with different hardware configurations. We use the framework in this way to evaluate the performance of multicore systems with a variety of different architectural components and policies. These results are then used to compose a predictable architecture, which is compared against a reference architecture designed for good average-case behaviour. This comparison shows that the predictable architecture has substantially better guaranteed real-time performance, with the precision of the analysis verified using cycle-accurate simulation

The emergence of non-secretory multiple myeloma during the non-cytotoxic treatment of essential thrombocythemia: A case report

Introduction. The emergence of multiple myeloma as a second malignancy in patients with essential thrombocythemia is extremely rare. Several cases have been published so far, pointing out the impact of a cytotoxic effect during treatment of essential thrombocythemia on the development of multiple myeloma. Case presentation. We report the case of a 52-year-old Caucasian man who presented to our hospital because of leukocytosis, a slightly decreased hemoglobin level and thrombocytosis. After a complete hematological work-up, essential thrombocythemia was diagnosed. The patient was included in a multicenter clinical study, treated with anagrelide and his platelet counts were maintained in the normal range for more than 3 years. A sudden drop in his hemoglobin level with normal leukocyte and platelet count occurred at the same time as a back pain. Magnetic resonance imaging of his spine revealed the existence of a pathological fracture of Th4, the collapse of the upper edge of Th7 and osteolytic lesions of multiple thoracic vertebrae. Repeated hematological examinations, including bone biopsy with immunohistochemistry, disclosed diagnosis of multiple myeloma of the non-secretory type. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge this is the first published case in which multiple myeloma developed during the treatment of essential thrombocythemia with the non-cytotoxic drug anagrelide. Our attempts to find a common origin for the coexistence of multiple myeloma and essential thrombocythemia have not confirmed the genetic basis of their appearance. Further studies are needed to determine the biological impact of this coexistence