Numerical comparison of compound and extracted eye models for high frequency dosimetry

This paper compares the numerical results for the induced electric field, the specific absorption rate (SAR), and the corresponding temperature increase in two detailed models of the human eye. The first model features the human eye placed in the free space, while the second one incorporates the eye model in the realistic head model obtained from the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The electromagnetic model is based on the hybrid FEM/BEM formulation for the biological tissue, whereas the thermal dosimetry model is based on the bioheat equation solved by using the finite element method. The preliminary analysis showed a similar distribution of the induced electric field along the pupillary axis obtained in both models, however, the numerical results for the SAR and related temperature increase showed discrepancy between the two models, which can be attributed to the high values of induced field in the corneal and scleral regions obtained in the compound eye model

Clinical and Demographic Characteristics of Patients with Molluscum Contagiosum Treated at the University Dermatology Clinic Maribor in a 5-year period

Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) is a common skin pathogen in both adults and children. In this prospective study, we clinically evaluated consecutive patients with molluscum contagiosum (MC) who had been examined during a 5-year period at the second-largest dermatology clinic in Slovenia and described their main demographic and clinical characteristics, concomitant diseases, and treatment success. The study included 188 patients, of which 121 (64%) were men and 67 (36%) were women. A total of 135 (72%) patients were adults, with lesions that were most commonly located in the anogenital region (98%) and were probably sexually acquired. Two adult patients were diagnosed with concurrent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Fifty-three (28%) patients were children with a mean age of 5.7 years, most commonly presenting with lesions on the torso and extremities (85%). In adults, the infection most commonly occurred in male patients, while in children it was slightly more common in female patients. At presentation, 58% of patients had more than 5 MC lesions. A total of 30% of the included children had concomitant atopic dermatitis. We did not observe an increased occurrence of MCV infection in patients with atopic dermatitis. All patients were treated with curettage of the lesions. The cure rate at the first follow-up visit after 2 months was relatively high (63%), and recurrences were not associated with the number or site of lesions at presentation or with concomitant atopic dermatitis. </p

On the Applicability of Numerical Quadrature for Double Surface Integrals at 5G Frequencies

The human exposure assessment to wireless communications systems including the fifth generation (5G) mobile systems is related to determining the specific absorption rate (SAR) or the absorbed power density (APD). The assessment of both quantities requires the use of various numerical techniques, including moments method (MoM). As the use of MoM results in a fully populated system matrix, a tremendous computational cost is incurred, both in terms of matrix fill time and memory allocation, as the matrix size is directly related to frequency of the problem. This paper investigates the applicability of numerical integration at frequencies related to 5G. The novelty of this work is related to the comprehensive set of tests of various combination of source and observation triangles using the developed unit cube test. A number of convergence tests were performed to investigate the effects of the increasing frequency and the discretization scheme on the numerical solution, as well as to determine how to curb the computational requirements by the proficient use of numerical integration. The results show that in the lower GHz range, lower integration orders could be used, resulting in the decrease of matrix fill time without loss of solution accuracy

SeptiFast Real-Time PCR for Detection of Bloodborne Pathogens in Patients with Severe Sepsis or Septic Shock

Several studies have been performed investigating the role of a real-time multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay LightCycler® SeptiFast® with inconsistent results. In prospective evaluation of adult patients with severe sepsis or septic shock SeptiFast assay and blood culture results were compared regarding concordance, the impact of SeptiFast assay on antimicrobial therapy adjustment, time to results and the role of SeptiFast assay as a marker of disease severity. 63 blood sample sets were collected from 57 patients. 51 (80.9%) results were concordant negative and 7 (11.1%) concordant positive. In one (1.6%) sample set blood culture was positive and SeptiFast assay negative, in three (4.8%) sample sets with negative blood cultures pathogens were detected by SeptiFast assay and in one (1.6%) patient an additional pathogen was detected by SeptiFast assay. If blood culture is considered as „gold standard“, 1 (1.6%) SeptiFast false negative and 4 (6.3%) false positive results were identified (sensitivity 87.5%, specificity 92.6%, negative predictive value 97.8%). Antibiotic treatment was adjusted according to SeptiFast assay in 4 (6.3%) cases. Time to final results was significantly shorter with SeptiFast assay (32 ± 23 h vs. 97 ± 28 h, p<0.0001). Positive SeptiFast assay was not associated with higher mortality, C-reactive protein or procalcitonin (p=0.74, p=0.44 and p=0.12, respectively). According to our results SeptiFast assay can be used as a valuable add-on to blood culture in diagnostic workup of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock but it cannot replace the blood culture

Clinical Features and Virologic Characteristics of Primary and Early HIV-1 Infection in Slovenian Patients

Analysis of time trends in newly diagnosed HIV-1 infected patients in Slovenia over a 10-year period (1996-2005) showed an increase in the number of newly diagnosed HIV-1 infected patients in 2004 and 2005 as well as increase in the number of newly diagnosed patients with primary/early HIV-1 infection. A retrospective analysis was performed in order to evaluate the clinical, epidemiological, laboratory and virological parameters of primary/early HIV-1 infection presenting with or without acute retroviral syndrome (ARS). Primary/early HIV-1 infection was diagnosed in 33 (19.5%) out of 169 newly diagnosed HIV-1 infected patients during the 10-year period. Most patients experienced ARS, the most commonly reported symptoms being fever, malaise and pharyngitis, followed by rash and lymphadenopathy. Median CD4 cell count was 415 cells/mm3, median CD8 cell count was 865 cells/mm3 and median HIV-1 viral load at the time of diagnosis was 5.1 log10 copies/mL. The increase in the number of newly diagnosed HIV-1 infected patients may be in part due to increased awareness among clinicians of the possibility of ARS, and the possibility of increased awareness of symptoms of ARS among persons at high risk of infection

HIV-1 Subtype B Epidemic and Transmission Patterns in Slovenia

In the present study the epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtype B in Slovenia during the 10-year period was investigated using phylogenetic analysis of pol gene sequences. 119 pol sequences generated on samples dated from January 1996 to December 2005 were retrieved from the database of Slovenian HIV/AIDS Reference Laboratory. The phylogenetic analysis revealed 14 potentially significant transmission clusters (bootstrap value 98%), comprising 34 HIV-1 strains. The vast majority of clustered individuals were men (91%), and of them, 79% were men who have sex with men. Factors significantly associated with clustering were: recent infection (HIV-1 infection during or after year 2003), diagnosis of primary HIV-1 infection, higher CD4 cell count and acquiring HIV-1 infection in Slovenia. Recent subtype B HIV-1 infections are the important driving force of current HIV-1 epidemic in Slovenia

Accuracy of genotyping for HPV16 and 18 to triage women with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions: a pooled analysis of VALGENT studies

Background: Genotyping for the most carcinogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) types (HPV16/HPV18) can identify high risk of underlying cervical precancer and guide further management.Research design and methods: A pooled analysis was performed of the clinical accuracy of high-risk HPV (hrHPV) testing and HPV16/18 genotyping in triage of women with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL). Data regarding 24 assays evaluated in four VALGENT validation panels were used.Results: In women with LSIL, hrHPV had a pooled sensitivity for CIN2+ of 95.5% (95% CI: 91.0-97.8%) and a specificity of 25.3% (95% CI: 22.2-28.6%). HPV16/18 genotyping had a sensitivity and specificity for CIN2+ of 52.9% (95% CI: 48.4-57.4%) and 83.5% (95% CI: 79.9-86.5%), respectively. The average risk of CIN2+ was 46.1% when HPV16/18-positive, 15.5% in women who were HPV16/18-negative but positive for other hrHPV types and 4.3% for hrHPV-negative women.Conclusions: Triage of women with LSIL with HPV16/18 genotyping increases the positive predictive value compared to hrHPV testing but at the expense of lower sensitivity. Arguably, women testing positive for HPV16/18 need further clinical work-up. Whether colposcopy referral or further surveillance is recommended for women with other hrHPV types may depend on the post-test risk of precancer and the local risk-based decision thresholds