Perkutana laser dekompresija – naša iskustva s upotrebom diodnog lasera

Introduction: PLDD (Percutaneous laser disk decompression) is a safe, non-destructive and successful surgical treatment for lumbar disk herniation. The purpose of this study was the evaluation of advantages in the procedure of percutaneous laser disk decompression in the treatment of lumbar disk herniation in comparison to open surgical methods on lumbar disk herniation like microdisectomy. Patients: From June 2008 till July 2009 in the Clinical hospital “Sister of Mercy” Zagreb 91 patients have been treated with percutaneous laser disk decompression and 125 patients have been treated with microdisectomy. Methods: The percutaneous laser disk decompression is done with the usage of a diode laser (LASE maR 1000), intensity of 1000 j, power 12 W and wave length 980 nm. Open surgical methods for lumbar disk herniation are performed with the surgical technique microdisectomy. The input criterion for the research was the adulthood of the examinee and advanced herniation of the intervertebral disk in the lumbar spine, which needed surgical treatment. The analysed parameters were: success of the surgical treatment; relapsing lumbar disk herniations; postsurgical complications; postsurgical stay in the hospital; time needed to return to every-day activities. The data achieved with the analyses of input and output parameters have been compared with the help of the MacNab criteria. There have not been found any statistically significant results in the comparison of data for age, sex and the stage of intervertebral disk herniation in both groups. This is a retrospective research and lasted 12 months. Results: Patients treated with the percutaneous laser disk decompression had in 89,6 % (n=81) very good or excellent results and were satisfied with the success of the treatment. In the group of patients treated with microdisectomy the number of patients, which had very good or excellent results, is minor and numbers 81,2% (n=101). Postsurgical complications appeared in 2,5% (n=2) in the group of patiens operated with percutaneous laser disk decompression. One patient had another percutaneous laser disk decompression and another patient had a MET-Rx interlaminectomy. In the group of patients treated with microdisectomy, the number of patients, where complications appeared, is higher and numbers 6,5% (n=8). As the research moved on the frequency of percutaneous lumbar disk decompression increased, so that this surgical method has been the most present in the last months of the research, while the presence of the microdisectomy was gradually decreasing. Conclusion: The results of the conducted research have afirmated the comparative advantages of contemporary surgical methods in treating lumbar disk herniation in reference to classical treating methods.PLDD (Perkutana laser disk dekompresija) siguran je, nedestruktivan i uspješan kirurški zahvat kod lumbalne diskus hernije. Cilj ove studije je bio evaluacija prednosti procedure perkutane laser disk dekompresije u tretmanu lumbalne diskus hernije naspram otvorenih operacijskih metoda slabinske diskus hernije tipa mikrodiskektomije. Od lipnja 2008.god do srpnja 2009 god. u Kliničkoj bolnici Sestara milosrdnica, 91 bolesnik je tretiran uz pomoć perkutane laser disk dekompresije i 125 bolesnika tretiranih uz pomoć mikrodiskektomije. Perkutana laser disk dekompresije sec.Choy je rađena uz uporabu diodnog lasera (LASE maR 1000) jačine 1000 j, snage 12 W i valne duljine 980 nm. Kriterij uključivanja u istraživanje bio je odrasla životna dob ispitanika i uznapredovala hernijacija intervertebralne ploče slabinske kralježnice, koja je zahtijevala kirurško liječenje. Analizirani izlazni parametri bili su: uspješnost operacijskoga liječenja; recidivirajuće slabinskie diskus hernije; poslijeoperacijske komplikacije; dužina poslijeoperacijskoga boravka u bolnici; vrijeme potrebito za povratak svakodnevnim aktivnostima. Podatke dobivene analizom ulaznih i izlaznih parametara smo uspoređivali uz pomoć Macnab kriterija. Usporedbom podataka za dob, spol, razinu hernijacije intervertebralne ploče u obje skupine bolesnika nisu nađeni statistički značajni rezultati. Ovo je retrospektivno istraživanje u trajanju od 12 mjeseci. Bolesnici kojim je urađena perkutana laser disk dekompresija su u 89,6% imali dobre ili odlične rezultate i bili su zadovoljni uspjehom liječenja. U skupini bolesnika tretiranih uz pomoć mikrodiskektomije broj bolesnika koji su imali dobre ili odlične rezultate nakon operacijskog zahvata i bili zadovoljni uspjehom istog je manji i iznosi 81,2%. Poslijeoperacijske komplikacije su se pojavile kod 2,5% boelsnika operiranih perkutanom laser disk dekompresijom. Od toga je jedan bolesnik ponovno operiran perkutanom laser disk dekompresijom a drugi uz pomoć METRx interlaminektomije. Broj bolesnika sa komplikacijama kod kojih je rađena mikrodiskektomija je znatno veći i iznosi 6,5%. Kako je istraživanje odmicalo učestalost se perkutane lumbalne dekompresije diska povećavala, tako da je ova operacijska metoda bile najzastupljenija u zadnjim mjesecima istraživanja, dok se učestalost mikrodiskektomije postupno smanjivala. Rezultati provedenoga istraživanja afirmirali su komparativne prednosti suvremenih operacijskih metoda liječenja slabinske diskus hernije u odnosu na klasične metode liječenja

Lithologic Composition and Stratigraphy of Quaternary Sediments in the Area of the “Jakusevec” Waste Depository (Zagreb, Northern Croatia)

In the area covered by the “Jakusevec” waste depository, to a depth of 101 m, six lithological units were determined based on fieldwork and laboratory geologic-geophysical investigations. It was discovered that the silty-clayey units (units 1, 3 and 5) are covered by sandy-gravely (units 2 and 4) and gravely ones (unit 6), respectively. These units constitute the sediments of the Middle and Upper Pleistocene and Holocene and are separated by erosional unconformities. The Pleistocene gravels are predominantly of quartz-quartzite composition, while the Holocene ones are composed of carbonate cobbles and pebbles. In contrast, the sands exhibit a fairly uniform mineral composition throughout the column. The Pleistocene silt and clay are mostly composed of muscovite-illite and quartz with lesser amounts of chlorite, kaolinite and smectite. There is a difference in composition of this fraction in unit 6, where the quartz, calcite and dolomite particles prevail and smectite and illite/smectite are absent. Unit 3 is characterised by the goethite content. The Pleistocene layers were formed in a lacustrine-marshy environment while the Holocene sediments are fluviatile. This sedimentary sequence is interrupted by occasional terrestrial phases, or drying-up periods, dependent on the palaeoclimate conditions, particularly the interchange of cold and dry glacials with the warmer and more humid interglacial stage

System for audio capture and classification of baby cry samples

We explore multiclass classification of infants' cries and the relation between the age of the infant and the accuracy of classification. Additionally we explore secure cloud storage and cloud data processing. We compare several state-of-the-art multiclass classification models with recurrent neural networks. Classification accuracy was obtained on data from infants of various ages. For data storage and processing we used the Django Rest API and the opensource cloud platform OpenStack. Multiclass classification models successfully differentiated between different classes of crying, but no age effect has been found. We have demonstrated the aptness of the Django Rest API and OpenStack platform for data storing and processing in the cloud

Interdependence of Petrophysical Properties and Depth: Some Implications of Multivariate Solution on Distinction Between the Lower Pontian Hydrocarbon-bearing Sandstone Units in the Western Part of the Sava Depression

Statistical analysis of reservoir data from the Lower Pontian clastics (the most important hydrocarbon reservoir rocks in the Sava depression), supports established knowledge of the interdependence of petrophysical properties and depth. Irrespective of the focus that the reservoir data may be studied and presented, depth always emerges as a fundamental reservoir descriptor. This is particularly evident when studying the differences between widely spaced oil and gas fields, when the numerical model completely separates the two sets of descriptor variables, indicating two different sources of their internal variability. Porosity and permeability belong to “intrinsic rock properties” while depth must be ascribed to other sources, e.g. tectonic subsidence. Discriminant function weighted with depth (DF1) has such group centroid values, that zones can be drawn within a particular field that coincide with structural relationships. On the function marked with reservoir properties (DF2), group centroid values are higher close to the axes of palaeotransport channels, where sandstone layers are the thickest and particles are best sorted. Group centroid values on the third function (DF3) depict the areas of relatively higher permeability in the apical parts of structures, possibly caused by fracturing due to folding, or by cementation of other parts of reservoirs, where the circulation of pore waters was more pronounced. In the case of the most thoroughly investigated Zutica field, the inverse relationship between depth and porosity becomes evident when compared with the direction of palaeotransport and thickness of reservoir rocks on the respective structure and thickness maps

1, 3-Dipolar Cycloaddition (Part I): Synthesis of 1, 2, 3-Triazole Derivatives in Nucleoside Chemistry

Bakrom katalizirana Huisgenova 1, 3-dipolarna cikloadicija azida i terminalnih alkina kojom regioselektivno nastaju 1, 4-disupstituirani 1, 2, 3-triazoli često je primjenjivana metoda sintetske organske kemije. Zahvaljujući jednostavnim reakcijskim uvjetima, zauzela je značajno mjesto i u području nukleozidne kemije jer omogućuje dobivanje velikog broja potencijalno biološki aktivnih spojeva s nizom zanimljivih dodatnih svojstava induciranih uvođenjem 1, 2, 3-triazolnog strukturnog motiva u molekulu.Copper catalysed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azides and alkynes which leads to 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles is a frequently used method in synthetic organic chemistry. Due to the simple reaction conditions, it has occupied an important place in the field of nucleoside chemistry since it enables preparation of a large number of potentially biologically active compounds with a number of interesting additional properties induced by the presence of 1,2,3-triazole structural motif in the molecule

Phenolic Compounds and Peroxidases in Sunflower Near-Isogenic Lines After Downy Mildew Infection

Two near-isogenic lines of sunflower, resistant (+Pl6 gene) and susceptible (-P16 gene) to downy mildew were used in this paper. Secondary infection with a suspension of Plasmopara halstedii spores was done on the plants in the phase of first pair of leaves. In the samples taken 12 h after infection, content of phenolic compounds in methanolic extracts from frozen leaves was analysed by HPLC. POD activity was determined spectrophotmetrically and POD isoforms by isoelectrophoresis. Constitutive level of phenolic compounds and their accumulation after infection were higher in the susceptible than in the resistant line. Increased POD amount in leaf, constitutively present in NS-H-26R, was in correlation with increased guaiacol-dependent POD activity and low total phenolics contents. After infection, guaiacol- and chlorogenic acid-dependent POD activity significantly increased in both lines. Scopoletin-dependent POD activity was induced upon infection only in NS-H-26R. IEF electrophoresis revealed existance of four anionic isoforms of peroxidase in leaves of both lines. The main isoform with pI 5 was particularly intesified in the resistant line. In conclusion, scopoletin-dependent POD activity that was induced upon infection only in resistant NIL indicates a specific role of POD in coumarin metabolism that is possibly connected with the presence of Pl6 gene

The Philosophical Problems of Artificial Intelligence

Ovaj je diplomski rad koncipiran kao prikaz Turingovog testa te Searleove i Dreyfusove kritike umjetne inteligencije. Rad sam započeo povijesnim prikazom nastanka područja umjetne inteligencije i najavom najvažnijih filozofskih kritika. U drugom sam poglavlju definirao i opisao klasičnu paradigmu UI. Treće je poglavlje posvećeno Alanu Turingu i njegovoj igri oponašanja. U tom mi je poglavlju cilj bio predstaviti Turingov test te ga obraniti od najvažnijih kritika koje su ga pratile, što je poslužilo i kao svojevrsni uvod u četvrto poglavlje i argument kineske sobe Johna Searla. Searlov argument, kao i najvažnije prigovore na njega, detaljno sam izložio te ukazao na filozofske probleme koje on implicira u shvaćanju umjetne inteligencije. Peto poglavlje posvećeno je kritici klasične teorije umjetne inteligencije Huberta Dreyfusa, a s ciljem drugačijeg pristupa istraživanju inteligencije. Ovdje se rad najviše fokusira na prikaz Dreyfusove alternativne teorije inteligencije kroz radikalnu trostruku tezu da je ljudska inteligencija utjelovljena, da su inteligentna tijela situirana te da je svijet u suštini ljudski. Konačno, u zadnjem sam poglavlju iznio završna razmatranja

Novel 1,4-Disubstituted 1,2,3-Triazole Derivatives of the Purine and Pyrimidine Series: Synthesis and Biological Evaluation

U okviru istraživanja protutumorskih spojeva iz skupine „malih molekula” s ciljem dobivanja boljih bioloških učinaka u tretiranju tumorskih stanica sintetizirani su 1,4-disupstituirani 1,2,3-triazolni derivati; gvanozina i aciklovira (5, 10–12 i 14), uracila (19, 20 i 25–33), N-1-sulfoniluracila (34–41) i uridina (46–55). Pronađena je nova metoda sinteze nestabilnog 8-hidrazingvanozina 3 u mikrovalnom reaktoru (MR) koji je zatim uz NaN3 preveden u 8-azidgvanozin 4 i na njemu su ispitani uvjeti za Cu(I) kataliziranu 1,3-dipolarnu cikloadiciju (CuAAC) s terminalnim alkinskim alkoholima. Metoda je primijenjena na sintezu 1,2,3-triazolnih derivata aciklovira (10–12 i 14). U svrhu priprave triazolnih C5 modificiranih pirimidinskih derivata, Sonogashira reakcijom sintetizirani su 5-etiniluracil 18 i 5-etiniluridin 45 (MR), azidi su generirani in situ iz alkil-halogenida i NaN3 ili je upotrijebljen 5-azido šećer 24, te su CuAAC reakcijama u odličnim iskorištenjima dobiveni derivati uracila (19, 25–28, 30–33), a u mikrovalnom reaktoru derivati uridina (46–48, 50–53, 55). Kondenzacijom 1,4-disupstituiranih C5-triazolnih derivata uracila (19, 28–31) uz DBU i sulfonil kloride pripravljeni su odgovarajući N-1-sulfoniluracilni derivati (34, 37–39 i 41) u dobrim iskorištenjima, dok kondenzacijom N1′ nesupstituiranog triazolnog derivata 20 nastaju 35 i 36 u tragovima. Antiproliferativno djelovanje 1,4-disupstituiranih 1,2,3-triazolnih derivata ispitano je na osam staničnih linija (MDCK, HeLa, CaCo-2, NCI-H358, K562, Jurkat, HuT 78 i Raji) te je detaljno analizirana korelacija strukture i biološke aktivnosti.As a part of investigation aimed to identify new small molecules with improved biological properties in the in vitro screening for antitumor activity the 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole derivatives of guanosine, acyclovir (5, 10–12, and 14), uracil (19, 20, and 25–33), N-1-sulfonyl uracil (34–41) and uridine (46–55) were prepared. New synthetic method for preparation of unstable 8-hydrazine guanosine 3 by using microwave reactor (MR) was developed. Product 3 was converted into 8-azido guanosine 4 in the reaction with NaN3. The latter compound was used in numerous experiments directed to find optimal reaction conditions for Cu(I) catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction (CuAAC) with terminal alkynols. By the latter method 1,2,3-triazole acyclovir derivatives (10–12, and 14) were prepared. In order to prepare C5-triazolyl pyrimidine derivatives starting 5-etynyl uracil 18 and 5-etynyl uridine 45 (MR) derivatives were synthesized using Sonogashira coupling; the azides were generated in situ from alkyl halogenides and NaN3 or 5-azido sugar 24 was used. By subsequent CuAAC reaction the C5-triazolyl uracil (19, 25–28, 30–33) and uridine (46–48, 50–53, 55) (MR) derivatives were prepared in excellent yields. Condensation reaction of 1,4-disubstituted C5 triazole uracil derivatives (19, 28–31) with DBU and sulfonyl chlorides gave the respective N-1-sulfonyl uracil derivatives (34, 37–39, and 41) in very good yields, while condensation reaction with N1' unsubstituted triazole derivative 20 resulted with only trace amounts of 35 and 36. All 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole derivatives were tested for the antiproliferative activity on the panel of eight cell lines (MDCK, HeLa, CaCo-2, NCI-H358, K562, Jurkat, HuT 78, and Raji), and detailed analysis of structure/activity relationship (SAR) was presented