Selective Arterial Embolizations of Renal Angiomyolipomas Using 96% Ethanol: A Case Series of 5 Patients.

Angiomyolipomas are rare benign tumors of the kidneys, with a risk of spontaneous hemorrhage including severe retroperitoneal bleedings. In this study, we report clinical outcomes of 5 patients who underwent 8 embolization sessions using 96% ethanol, as there is scarce data using this embolic agent for this indication. The primary angiographic success could be achieved in all but 1 lesion, which was not accessible due to vasospasm of the supplying vessel. Therapeutic success could be demonstrated in all treated cases for which follow-up imaging was available (n = 3). In 1 complex patient, a mildly reduced renal function, as well as a new onset of arterial hypertension was detected after treatment. Nontarget embolization of vital kidney tissue was demonstrated in another patient; it remained asymptomatic. Embolization therapy using 96% ethanol is an optional method to treat renal angiomyolipomas

Cone-Beam CT-assisted navigation for endovascular treatment of erection-related artery stenosis in patients with erectile dysfunction.

BACKGROUND Angioplasty and stenting have emerged as endovascular treatment options for arteriogenic erectile dysfunction over the past few years. Considerable anatomical variation of the erection related pelvic arteries can be challenging during these procedures, leading to time-consuming repetitive super-selective angiograms for navigation. TECHNIQUE We report a novel technique of using C-arm Cone-Beam CT and vessel navigation software to facilitate super-selective catheterization. CONCLUSION Cone-Beam CT-guided navigation for vascular assessment of arteriogenic ED is an optional approach compared to exclusive angiographic assessment. Compared to CT angiography, C-arm Cone-Beam CT offers benefits regarding usage of contrast media and radiation exposure. It has the advantage to combine imaging with endovascular procedures in a single session, reduces time to target navigation in complex pelvic arteries anatomy and may increase therapy safety in endovascular treatment of ED

Upside-down positioning of a peri-interventional cava filter during endovascular thrombectomy of a septic superior vena cava thrombosis.

A 43-year-old male patient with advanced colon carcinoma presented with disseminated staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and central venous catheter associated septic thrombosis of the superior vena cava. Despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy and surgical debridement of distant foci, bacteremia persisted, so an endovascular thrombectomy was performed. Contrary to the usual application, the Capturex® peri-interventional cava filter was positioned upside down, in the direction of the blood flow, in the superior vena cava to prevent septic embolism during mechanical thrombectomy. The wall-adherent septic thrombus was mechanically detached using a RAT fragmentation basket® followed by Aspirex® rotational thrombectomy. Final phlebography showed complete thrombus removal. Small thrombus fragments could be demonstrated in the filter after retrieval. The adapted technique of a reverse positioning of the Capturex® filter in the superior vena cava seems feasible and effective

Reviewing the International Year of Deserts and Desertification 2006: What contribution towards combating global desertification and implementing the united nations convention to combat desertification?

During the United Nations General Assembly's 58th Ordinary Session in 2003, a decision was adopted declaring 2006 the International Year of Deserts and Desertification (IYDD). This paper critically reviews this International Year. It draws on the key outputs from IYDD events from across the globe to highlight the challenges and ways forward in both combating desertification and implementing the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The paper considers what the IYDD outputs mean for the current and historical controversies surrounding the desertification issue and presents an overall evaluation of the successes of IYDD for the different stakeholder groups within the desertification regime. It is concluded that while the International Year can be considered to have met the United Nations's four objectives: to address the long-term oriented implementation of the UNCCD; raise awareness of the implications of desertification; facilitate networking with all stakeholders; and disseminate information relating to the UNCCD, the real challenge lies in moving the IYDD outcomes away from the conferences, meetings and networks that contributed to their generation, towards a more concrete, tangible effort to conserve deserts and effectively monitor and control desertification and land degradation on the ground

Epstein-Barr virus - molecular basis for malignant transformation

Epstein-Barr (EBV) is a widespread virus which can be detected in more than 90% of world population. Primary EBV infection during adolescence and adultness results in infectious mononucleosis, while in children it is usually asymptomatic. EBV is responsible for different malignant forms of B-cell or epithelial cancers, such as Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin`s lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, hairy leukoplakia and HIV-associated lymphomas. Evidence exists that infection with EBV is also linked with a higher risk of hepatocellular and gastric cancers, as well as autoimmune diseases.EВV shows two alternative life cycles - latent and lytic. After the primary infection, the virus remains in B lymphocytes in latency, while the lytic infection takes place predominantly in the epithelial cells and can last for months with constant virus release in saliva and nasopharyngeal secretion. Unlike other herpes viruses, development of oncological diseases is linked with the latent cycle, as a result of immune response‘s failure to control latently infected cells.With the present work we try to concisely review the current knowledge about mechanisms of EBV pathogenesis in humans and to summarize recent findings in the field

Análisis crítico y valoración sobre la implementación de un sistema de pensiones mixto en España

El modelo del sistema de pensiones en España ha sido tema principal de diversos trabajos académicos, algunos de ellos defienden la factibilidad del modelo de reparto, mientras que otros indican que implementar un modelo mixto es más rentable para el país. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido analizar la posible implementación de un modelo mixto de pensiones en la nación española. Con ese fin, las preguntas a responder con esta investigación han sido las siguientes: ¿Puede implementarse considerando la situación económica actual del país? ¿Qué beneficios puede traer a la sociedad y al sector público su implementación? ¿Cómo es posible pasar de un sistema de reparto a uno mixto? ¿Cuál es el mejor método

Iridium Catalysed Borylation as a Platform for Exploring the Use of Non-Covalent Interactions to Control Regio- and Enantioselectivity

Transition metal catalysed C-H activation is a highly desirable strategy for the functionalization of organic molecules. It allows for a rapid generation of structurally complex products from simple precursors in an atom- and step-economic fashion. Iridium catalysed borylation of arenes is a powerful yet mild C-H activation transformation which yields synthetically useful boronate esters. Interestingly the selectivity of this reaction is largely based upon steric considerations. As a result, the process is highly effective for 1,3-disubstituted arenes but produces a statistical mixture of regioisomers for 1,2-disubstituted arenes. Non-covalent interactions are a very powerful tool, utilized beautifully in enzymatic catalysis to address issues of regio- and enantioselectivity. In sharp contrast however their utilisation in directing the same aspects of selectivity in transition metal catalysed transformations is rather underexplored. This doctoral thesis aims to explore the use of non-covalent interactions in this setting. Chapter 2 of this thesis discloses the evaluation of an anionic sulfonated bipyridine ligand, previously reported within the group, to act as a hydrogen-bond acceptor to interact with aromatic amides. This interaction was shown to be crucial for the development of a meta-selective borylation process with excellent levels of meta-selectivity seen on three distinct substrate classes: benzylamine, phenethylamine and phenylpropylamine derived amides. Chapter 3 explores the further development of the sulfonated bipyridine scaffold with the introduction of a chiral counter-cation. The approach allows for the formation of a chiral environment around the metal centre via a chiral counter-ion directed catalysis and was demonstrated on the example of desymmetrising iridium catalysed borylation of arenes. The design and development of a modified version of the sulfonated bipyridine ligand bearing a cinchona alkaloid derived counter-cation is presented. The novel ligand design has enabled the borylation of meta-substituted benzhydrylamides and phosphinamides giving enantioenriched products in great enantioselectivities and good yields. When utilised for borylation of ortho-substituted benzhydrylamides, the process was demonstrated not only to be enantioselective, but also regioselective for the meta-position. The reaction represented a rare case of utilising a chiral cation to direct enantioselectivity of a transition metal catalysed process, enabling a challenging enantioselective remote C-H activation to yield highly versatile boronate ester products.EPSRC and ER

Ekologinis ūkininkavimas : tausojimas žemės ūkyje

Vytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij