Quality of life in patients undergoing surveillance for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer-a systematic review

BACKGROUND: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the various instruments available to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) in patients diagnosed with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) undergoing surveillance. METHODS: A PubMed literature review was carried out with query terms (“Urinary Bladder Neoplasms” [Mesh] OR “Bladder malignancy”) AND (“quality of life”) including all studies up to June 2020. This resulted in 576 peer-reviewed articles. A further 12 articles from additional sources were included. A total of 473 articles were eliminated due to lack of relevance to the topic of concern. A further 93 articles evaluating NMIBC and articles evaluating Radiotherapy were excluded and a total of 22 studies were studied. RESULTS: In total, 22 studies were identified. The vast majority of studies were prospective descriptive studies (n=9), while there were 7 cross-sectional surveys and 6 randomised controlled trials. Most studies evaluated the impact of intravesical treatment on QoL. NMIBC survivors had significantly lower QoL compared to the general population, Surveillance strategies involving repeated intravesical therapies and cystoscopies have a negative impact on QoL with impaired physical function and mental health. CONCLUSIONS: This article emphasizes the importance of assessing the QoL in patients with NMIBC undergoing long term surveillance, as they represent the majority of bladder cancer patients. Development and validation of specific instruments to measure QoL in patients with NMIBC are desperately needed to assess, better understand, and manage the burden of disease and healthcare in this group of patients

Effect of Hagedorn States on Isothermal Compressibility of Hadronic Matter formed in Heavy-Ion Collisions: From NICA to LHC Energies

In this work, we have studied the isothermal compressibility ($\kappa_T$) as a function of temperature, baryon chemical potential and centre-of-mass energy ($\sqrt{s_{NN}}$) using hadron resonance gas (HRG) and excluded-volume hadron resonance gas (EV-HRG) models. A mass cut-off dependence of isothermal compressibility has been studied for a physical resonance gas. Further, we study the effect of heavier resonances ($>$ 2 GeV) on the isothermal compressibility by considering the Hagedorn mass spectrum, ${\rho}(m)\sim{\exp(bm)}/{(m^2+m_0^2)^{5/4}}$. Here, the parameters, $b$ and $m_0$ are extracted after comparing the results of recent lattice QCD simulations at finite baryonic chemical potential. We find a significant difference between the results obtained in EV-HRG and HRG models at a higher temperatures and higher baryochemical potentials. The inclusion of the Hagedorn mass spectrum in the partition function for hadron gas has a large effect at a higher temperature. A higher mass cut-off in the Hagedorn mass spectrum takes the isothermal compressibility to a minimum value, which occurs near the Hagedorn temperature ($T_H$). We show explicitly that at the future low energy accelerator facilities like FAIR (CBM), Darmstadt and NICA, Dubna the created matter would be incompressible compared to the high energy facilities like RHIC and LHC.Comment: Same as published pape

Homography-Based Correction of Positional Errors in MRT Survey

The Mauritius Radio Telescope (MRT) images show systematics in the positional errors of sources when compared to source positions in the Molonglo Reference Catalogue (MRC). We have applied two-dimensional homography to correct positional errors in the image domain and avoid re-processing the visibility data. Positions of bright (above 15-$\sigma$) sources, common to MRT and MRC catalogues, are used to set up an over-determined system to solve for the 2-D homography matrix. After correction, the errors are found to be within 10% of the beamwidth for these bright sources and the systematics are eliminated from the images.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, The Low-Frequency Radio Universe, Proceedings of a conference held at NCRA-TIFR, Pune, 8-12 December 2008, ASP Conference Series, Vol. 407, 2009, Eds: D.J. Saikia, D.A. Green, Y. Gupta and T. Ventur

Two-dimensional homography-based correction of positional errors in widefield MRT images

A steradian of the southern sky has been imaged at 151.5 MHz using the Mauritius Radio Telescope (MRT). These images show systematics in positional errors of sources when compared to source positions in the Molonglo Reference Catalogue (MRC). We have applied two-dimensional homography to correct for systematic positional errors in the image domain and thereby avoid re-processing the visibility data. Positions of bright (above 15-{\sigma}) point sources, common to MRT catalogue and MRC, are used to set up an over-determined system to solve for the homography matrix. After correction the errors are found to be within 10% of the beamwidth for these bright sources and the systematics are eliminated from the images. This technique will be of relevance to the new generation radio telescopes where, owing to huge data rates, only images after a certain integration would be recorded as opposed to raw visibilities. It is also interesting to note how our investigations cued to possible errors in the array geometry. The analysis of positional errors of sources showed that MRT images are stretched in declination by ~1 part in 1000. This translates to a compression of the baseline scale in the visibility domain. The array geometry was re-estimated using the astrometry principle. The estimates show an error of ~1 mm/m, which results in an error of about half a wavelength at 150 MHz for a 1 km north-south baseline. The estimates also indicate that the east-west arm is inclined by an angle of ~40 arcsec to the true east-west direction.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Biomarkers in Bladder Cancer Survellance

© 2021 Sugeeta, Sharma, Ng, Nayak and Vasdev. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). https://doi.org/10.3389/fsurg.2021.735868Aim: This is a narrative review with an aim to summarise and describe urinary biomarkers in the surveillance of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). It provides a summary of FDA-approved protein biomarkers along with emerging ones which utilise genetic, epigenetic and exosomal markers. We discuss the current limitations of the available assays. Background: Current guidelines advice a combination of cystoscopy, imaging, and urine cytology in diagnosis and surveillance. Although cytology has a high specificity, it is limited by low sensitivity particularly in low grade tumours. There are six FDA-approved urinary assays for diagnosis and surveillance of bladder cancer. They have shown to improve sensitivity and specificity to be used alongside cytology and cystoscopy but have a lower specificity in comparison to cytology and false positives often occur in benign conditions. Recent developments in laboratory techniques has allowed for use of markers which are RNA-, DNA-based as well as extracellular vesicles in the past decade. Methods: Using the PubMed/Medline search engines as well as Google Scholar, we performed an online search using the terms “bladder cancer,” “non-muscle invasive bladder cancer,” and “urine biomarkers” with filter for articles in English published up to May 2021. Systematic reviews and original data of clinical trials or observational studies which contributed to the development of the biomarkers were collated. Results: Biomarkers identified were divided into FDA-approved molecular biomarkers, protein biomarkers and gene-related biomarker with a table summarising the findings of each marker with the most relevant studies. The studies conducted were mainly retrospective. Due to the early stages of development, only a few prospective studies have been done for more recently developed biomarkers and limited meta-analyses are available. Therefore a detailed evaluation of these markers are still required to decide on their clinical use. Conclusion: Advancements of analytical methods in BC has driven the research towards non-invasive liquid-based biomarkers in adjunct to urine cytology. Further large prospective studies are required to determine its feasibility in a clinical setting as they are not effective when used in isolation as they have their limitation. With the ongoing pandemic, other than reduction in costs and increased accuracy, the need for biomarkers to cope with delay in cystoscopies in diagnosis and surveillance is crucial. Thus clinical trials with direct comparison is required to improve patient care.Peer reviewe

Leptoquark-assisted Singlet-mediated Di-Higgs Production at the LHC

At the LHC, the gluon-initiated processes are considered to be the primary source of di-Higgs production. However, in the presence of a new resonance, the light-quark initiated processes can also contribute significantly. In this paper, we look at the di-Higgs production mediated by a new singlet scalar. The singlet is produced in both quark-antiquark and gluon fusion processes through loops involving a scalar leptoquark and right-handed neutrinos. With benchmark parameters inspired from the recent resonant di-Higgs searches by the ATLAS collaboration, we examine the prospects of such a resonance in the TeV-range at the High-Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) in the $b\bar{b} \tau^{+}\tau^{-}$ mode with a multivariate analysis. We obtain the $5\sigma$ and $2\sigma$ contours and find that a significant part of the parameter space is within the reach of the HL-LHC.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables. Published versio

Design and Simulation of a semi-transparent photovoltaic thermal (PVT) indirect solar dryer integrated with kitchen chimney using ANN technique

633-639In the proposed research, an effort has been made to develop a thermal model for a semi-transparent PVT solar dryer integrated with a kitchen chimney for faster drying of agricultural produce to enhance their shelf life. The thermal model is based on energy balance equations derived based on the design of the dryer and different climatic parameters for April month in New Delhi. It has been observed that there is an increase of 8oC in the drying chamber for the initial kitchen chimney outlet temperature of 72oC with a packing factor of 0.83 for the semi-transparent solar cells, which has also been validated by the ANN model. An exhaust fan placed between the PVT air collector and drying chamber is operated using electrical energy generated from the PVT air collector, making the entire set up self-sustainable

IMECE2005-80078 WIREBOND RELIABILITY ASSESSMENTS AND LAYOUT GUIDELINES FOR A TO247 PACKAGE USING FEA

ABSTRACT Automotive electronics design and manufacture present unique challenges for product reliability. Recent trends toward mounting electronic systems directly onto engines introduce a new level of severity in terms of thermal and vibration environments. Automotive microelectronic packages experience thermal stresses that can possibly cause components and electrical interconnection damage. The loss of electrical interconnection due to coarse Aluminium wires in electronic modules is one of the most critical reliability problems in automotive electronics packaging. The paper intends to help understand and investigate the reliability of Aluminium wire bonds that make the electrical connection between integrated chips and the leads inside a typical leaded electronic package like TO247. Finite element modeling (FEM) is used to simulate the stresses the package goes through during reliability tests. Results are compared to empirical testing. The FE model consists of the entire TO247 package including the leadframe, overmold, chip, substrate, Al wire loops and corresponding bond pads. Results from simulations provide information to map out high stress locations on the heels of the wirebonds due to package warp. In addition, the results also provide manufacturing engineers the insight to develop general bonding guidelines for Aluminium wires. As a result of this exercise, the development team is able to counter the issue and provide a design guideline to design the leadframe, place components away from high stress locations and pursue a more symmetrical layout to reduce the effect of thermal stresses

Combined Non Transecting Anastomotic Urethroplasty with Buccal Mucosal Augmentation for the Management of Segmental Urethral Strictures – A Retrospective Study

Background: Urethral strictures are one of the common problems encountered by the urologist and affect one in 10,000 males. The aetiology can be secondary to inammation, trauma or can be idiopathic. The time honoured management of strictures by dilatation was associated with high recurrence rates. Currently various techniques of urethroplasty are used in the management of strictures. We herein describe our early experience with a combined technique of non transecting urethroplasty with buccal mucosal augmentation for the management of segmental urethral strictures. Objective: To report our early experience for the treatment of segmental urethral strictures with combined non transecting anastomotic urethroplasty and buccal mucosal augmentation. Material and Methods: A total of three patients underwent non transecting anastomotic urethroplasty with buccal mucosal augmentation between January 2010 and December 2013 with a minimum follow up of one year. Results: At one year follow up all patients were free of obstructive symptoms and, none of the patients developed recurrence. No patient developed erectile dysfunction during the course of follow up. Conc lusion: Non tr ans e c ting ana stomoti c urethroplasty with buccal mucosal augmentation is a viable option for long segment strictures with diverticulum and segmental urethral strictures. This method helps in reducing the length of buccal graft required. Due to the non-transecting nature of the surgery, blood supply to urethra is maintained, there is good graft uptake and the incidence of erectile dysfunction is reduce

Paecilomyces lilacinus causing debilitating sinusitis in an immunocompetent patient: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Since the discovery of the first documented case of <it>Paecilomyces </it>in 1963, only five cases of <it>Paecilomyces </it>sinusitis have been described to date and all of them have predisposing factors such as immunocompromised status or prior nasal surgery. We present the first case of <it>Paecilomyces lilacinus </it>sinusitis in a fit young woman with no identified predisposing factors. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first known case in the UK and in Europe.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 20-year-old Iraqi woman who has lived in the UK for the past five years presented with rhinorrhea, hyposmia, and nasal obstruction. She was previously fit and well and had no significant medical history. Imaging revealed a fungal infection that was eventually revealed on cytological examination to be <it>P. lilacinus</it>.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>P. lilacinus </it>is both a difficult and important organism to identify because it has intrinsic anti-fungal resistance. In our case, the infection was severe and recurrent, and the organism demonstrated resistance to common oral anti-fungal agents. There was a delay in its diagnosis, owing to its similarity in appearance to <it>Penicillium </it>and a difficulty in distinguishing between the two without specialized knowledge of fungal taxonomy. In the field of otolaryngology, <it>Paecilomyces </it>is relatively unknown. Our intention is to raise awareness of this organism as well as to describe the challenges in its management.</p