Investigation of clouds spatial distribution using ground-based lidar

Certain investigations of spatial distribution of clouds by employing ground based lidar are presented. The great changeability is one of the main properties of the clouds in the boundary layer. As a result, their optical properties change rapidly which complicates the modeling of cloud evolution. Suitable equipped lidars are widely used for diagnostics of the clouds via a number of scattering and absorption processes. In particular, lidar can provide information on the distribution of meteorological parameters and of the other important cloud characteristics both in vertical and horizontal directions. Herein the time and spatial distribution of the aerosol backscattering coefficient of S sub t and S sub c type clouds are investigated by means of a correlation analysis of the lidar obtained data provided from several arbitrary directions and heights

Intraoperative colonoscopy - Indications and advantages

The introduction of colonoscopy as a routine method in the diagnostic and treatment practice is a new stage in coloproctology. As we know, the number of paraneoplastic diseases and multicentral forms of cancer increases. Based on the existence of determinate number of preoperative colonoscopical unexamined patients, we began the application of intraoperative "peranal colonoscopy". With the method of intraoperative colonoscopy were examined 25 patients. From them 19 were men and 6 women at the age of 31 to 65 years. In 25 examined patients we discovered 9 with undiagnosed preoperatively polyps over the stenosing tumor process. Knowing the opportunities of the intraoperative colonoscopy and based on our experience we propose that this method could be applied in urgent operative interventions of colon and rectum with un known source of haemorrhage. Intraoperative colonoscopy is a valuable diagnostic method in the surgeon's hands and its appropriate application to selected patients helps us having the correct operative behaviour

Lytic and mechanical stability of clots composed of fibrin and blood vessel wall components.

Background Proteases expressed in atherosclerotic plaque lesions generate collagen fragments, release glycosaminoglycans (chondroitin sulfate [CS] and dermatan sulfate [DS]) and expose extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins (e.g. decorin) at sites of fibrin formation. Objective Here we address the effect of these vessel wall components on the lysis of fibrin by the tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)/plasminogen system and on the mechanical stability of clots. Methods and results MMP-8-digested collagen fragments, isolated CS, DS, glycosylated decorin and its core protein were used to prepare mixed matrices with fibrin (additives present at a 50-fold lower mass concentration than fibrinogen). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the presence of ECM components resulted in a coarse fibrin structure, most pronounced for glycosylated decorin causing an increase in the median fiber diameter from 85 to 187 nm. Rheological measurements indicated that these structural alterations were coupled to decreased shear resistance (1.8-fold lower shear stress needed for gel/fluid transition of the clots containing glycosylated decorin) and rigidity (reduction of the storage modulus from 54.3 to 33.2 Pa). The lytic susceptibility of the modified fibrin structures was increased. The time to 50% lysis by plasmin was reduced approximately 2-fold for all investigated ECM components (apart from the core protein of decorin which produced a moderate reduction of the lysis time by 25%), whereas fibrin-dependent plasminogen activation by tPA was inhibited by up to 30%. Conclusion ECM components compromise the chemical and mechanical stability of fibrin as a result of changes in its ultrastructure

Treatment recommendations for multimodality management of rectal cancer with a foc us on radiotherapy indications

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Europe and US A and one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide with 30% of all CRCs diagnosed in the rectum. Numerous published trials prove that the treatment of rectal cancer requires multidisciplinary approach. In this article the treatment recommendations for rectal cancer with an emphasis on radiotherapy (RT) application are defined

The role of radiotherapy in the contemporary multimodality management of rectal cancer

During the last 20 years the results of a significant number of trials concerning the multimodality management of rectal cancer have been published. This led to improvement of rectal cancer treatment. Radiotherapy (RT) is part of the standard multimodality treatment of rectal cancer and results in 50% local control improvement. The findings of the trials have answered some questions like the modalities sequencing, the combination of RT and chemotherapy, the RT fractionation regimens and the required total dose in addition to surgery either local or radical, the application of contact RT in early rectal cancer and intraoperative radiotherapy (IOR T) in locally advanced and recurrent rectal cancer. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) followed by total mesorectal excision (TME) is the current standard treatment of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer with improved local control over postoperative CRT. In spite of the improved locoregional control, controversies exists and other opportunities for improvement are being investigated. In the present paper, the evidence behind the current standard of RT and the controversies in the treatment of patients with rectal cancer are reviewed

Electrochemical detection of Nitrofural in the presence of sodium amminepentacyanoferrate (II)

The present study deals with the development of a new qualitative electrochemical analytic test for detecting the chemotherapeutic agent Nitrofural. The combination of sodium amminepentacyanoferrate(II) and electric power, provided by a 9V battery, was successfully implemented for the analysis of the medicine in question

The value of endo rectal ultrasound

In the last twenty years, endorectal ultrasound (ERUS) has become the primary method for locoregional staging of rectal cancer. ERUS is the most accurate modality for assessing local depth of invasion of rectal carcinoma into the rectal wall layers (T stage). Lower accuracy for T2 tumors is commonly reported, which could lead to sonographic overstaging of T3 tumors following preoperative therapy. Unfortunately, ERUS is not as good for predicting nodal metastases as it is for tumor depth, which could be related to the unclear definition of nodal metastases. The use of multiple criteria might improve accuracy. Failure to evaluate nodal statuscould lead to inadequate surgical resection. ERUS can accurately distinguish early cancers from advanced ones, with a high detection rate of residual carcinoma in the rectal wall. ERUS is also useful for detection of local recurrence at the anastomosis site, which might require fine-needle aspiration of the tissue. Overstaging is more frequent than understaging, mostly due to inflammatory changes. Limitations of ERUS are operator and experience dependency, limited tolerance of patients, and limited range of depth of the transducer. The ERUS technique requires a learning curve for orientation and identification of images and planes. With sufficient time and effort, quality and accuracy of the ERUS procedure could be improved

Correlation Between Animal and Mathematical Models for Prostate Cancer Progression

This work demonstrates that prostate tumour progression in vivo can be analysed by using solutions of a mathematical model supplemented by initial conditions chosen according to growth rates of cell lines in vitro. The mathematical model is investigated and solved numerically. Its numerical solutions are compared with experimental data from animal models. The numerical results confirm the experimental results with the growth rates in vivo

Fibrinolysis in a lipid environment: modulation through release of free fatty acids

Background: Thrombolysis is conventionally regarded as dissolution of the fibrin matrix of thrombi by plasmin, but the structure of clots in vivo includes additional constituents (proteins, phospholipids) that modulate their solubilization. Objective: We examined the presence of free fatty acids in thrombi and their effects on distinct stages of fibrinolysis (plasminogen activation, plasmin activity). Methods and Results: Using the fluorescent probe acrylodated intestinal fatty acid-binding protein, variable quantities (up to millimolar concentrations) of free fatty acids were demonstrated in surgically removed human thrombi. Oleic acid at relevant concentrations reversibly inhibits more than 90% of the amidolytic activity of plasmin on a synthetic substrate (Spectrozyme PL), but only partially inhibits its fibrinolytic activity measured using turbidimetry. Chromogenic assays detecting the generated plasmin activity show that plasminogen activation by tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is completely blocked by oleic acid in the fluid phase, but is accelerated on a fibrin matrix. A recombinant derivative of t-PA (reteplase) develops higher fibrin specificity in the presence of oleic acid, because both the inhibition of plasminogen activation in free solution and its enhancement on fibrin template are stronger than with wild-type t-PA. Conclusion: Through the stimulation of plasminogen activation on a fibrin template and the inhibition of plasminogen activators and plasmin in the fluid phase, free fatty acids confine the action of fibrinolytic proteases to the site of clotting, where they partially oppose the thrombolytic barrier function of phospholipids