In the treatment of degenerative lumbar stenosis, facet-sparing laminectomy with instrumented fusion (FSL) was recently almost totally replaced by less invasive, allegedly equally effective surgical ...techniques. We performed a long-term comparison between outcomes after Young laminoplasty (YL) as a representative of the less invasive technique and FSL.
From December 4, 2000, to March 11, 2005, 56 patients with a history of neurogenic claudication and radiologically verified absolute lumbar stenosis were surgically treated. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 44 patients were enrolled.
Using the Oswestry Disability Index scale, significant improvement on 1-year and 8-year follow-up examinations was noticed in the FSL and YL groups. The Oswestry Disability Index was significantly better in the FSL group compared with the YL group at the 8-year follow-up (27.82 ± 1.918 vs. 40.74 ± 2.163).
FSL is a more invasive and more expensive surgical technique than YL. In a short-term and long-term follow-up comparison, FSL is a more successful operative technique, and the difference increases over time in favor of FSL.
The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) comprise a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases that are secreted as inactive precursors, which are activated by cleavage of an N-terminal pro-peptide. Their ...basic mechanisms of action include cancer cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, migration and invasion, and the regulation of tumour angiogenesis and immune surveillance. The expression of MMP2 and MMP9 has been associated with high potential of metastasis in several human carcinomas including breast cancer. The 29 female patients, 9 premenopausal and 20 postmenopausal, aged from 37 to 79 years were included in this study. Tissue samples were examined in 29 primary and 48 recurrent carcinomas using the tissue microarrays which included 102 cores of primary breast carcinomas and 96 of recurrent breast carcinomas. Immunohistochemistry determined a pattern of expression for MMP9. The staining was diffuse cytoplasmic, strong, moderate, faint/weak and negative. The majority of the breast carcinomas stained homogenously for MMP9 on tumor cells. Statistically significant correlation was found for the expression of MMP9 between primary and recurrent breast carcinomas in general (p < 0.001) and in tumors that were grouped as recurrence before (p = 0.039) and after 24 months (p < 0.001). Strong expression of MMP9 was observed in primary tumors that recurred after 24 months, median: 162.5 (score range 0-300) and those tumors that recurred before 24 months of the initial diagnosis, median: 102.5 (score range 0-250) (p = 0.026).
Highlights Long-term comparison between outcomes of laminoplasty and laminectomy with fusion. We measured difference in the ODI score at 1-year and 8-year follow-up examinations. Laminectomy with ...fusion is in a 1-year follow up more successful operative technique. At 8 year follow-up that difference increases in favor of laminectomy with fusion.
AWAKE SURGERY FOR A PRIMARY BRAIN TUMOR Rotim, Krešimir; Sajko, Tomislav; Batinica, Inga Mladić ...
Liječnički vjesnik,
2015 Jul-Aug, 20150701, Letnik:
137, Številka:
7-8
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Awake brain surgery has been approved as a safe and efficaceous operative procedure with the goal of maximal tumor resection and preservation of neurological function. This case report presents the ...first full awake primary brain tumor surgical procedure performed in Croatia.
Operacije tumora u elokventnom području mozga u budnom stanju bolesnika izvode se s ciljem maksimalnog odstranjenja tumora i istodobnog očuvanja neurološke funkcije. U ovom radu autori opisuju slučaj ...bolesnika s primarnim tumorom mozga u području primarne motoričke kore koji je operiran u budnom stanju. Opisani neurokirurško-anesteziološko-neurofiziološki zahvat prvi je takve vrste izveden u Republici Hrvatskoj.
The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) comprise a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases that are secreted as inactive
precursors, which are activated by cleavage of an N-terminal pro-peptide. Their ...basic mechanisms of action include
cancer cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, migration and invasion, and the regulation of tumour angiogenesis and
immune surveillance. The expression of MMP2 and MMP9 has been associated with high potential of metastasis in several
human carcinomas including breast cancer. The 29 female patients, 9 premenopausal and 20 postmenopausal, aged
from 37 to 79 years were included in this study. Tissue samples were examined in 29 primary and 48 recurrent carcinomas
using the tissue microarrays which included 102 cores of primary breast carcinomas and 96 of recurrent breast carcinomas.
Immunohistochemistry determined a pattern of expression for MMP9. The staining was diffuse cytoplasmic,
strong, moderate, faint/weak and negative. The majority of the breast carcinomas stained homogenously for MMP9 on
tumor cells. Statistically significant correlation was found for the expression of MMP9 between primary and recurrent
breast carcinomas in general (p<0.001) and in tumors that were grouped as recurrence before (p=0.039) and after 24
months (p<0.001). Strong expression of MMP9 was observed in primary tumors that recurred after 24 months, median:
162.5 (score range 0–300) and those tumors that recurred before 24 months of the initial diagnosis, median: 102.5 (score
range 0–250) (p=0.026).
Basalt as a filler in a polymer-based composite material fulfils the demand
of being natural, environment-friendly material for the production of
various composite materials. The material could be ...used as protective layer
and the abrasion should be tested in order to evaluate the properties of the
material. The cavitation test enables the evaluation of the possible service
in conditions that simulate the extensive erosion. The presence of basalt in
the matrix improves the resistance to cavitation. The possibility to further
improve the material could be obtained using the reinforcement of the matrix
itself by incorporation of submicron ceramic particles into the composite.
The obtained hybrid composite material with the addition of reinforcement in
the matrix further improves the cavitation resistance.
Microplastic particles (MPs) are widely distributed pollutants in the environment. While a growing number of studies have shown that MPs are toxic to plant and animal life, systemic efforts to reduce ...their presence have been scarce. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polystyrene (PS) are one of the most common among all plastic-forming MPs. In this study, pure bacterial strains, Bacillus licheniformis and Lysinibacillus
massiliensis, and a mixed bacterial culture of Delftia acidovorans and Bacillus sp., were
used for biodegradation of LDPE and PS microplastics. Biodegradation of MP-PS and
MP-LDPE of particle size 300 – 500 μm was carried out under batch operating conditions at a temperature of 25 ± 2 °C, pH values of 7.15, and 160 rpm during 22 days. The
obtained results showed that mixed bacterial cultures degraded MP-LDPE and MP-PS
better than pure bacterial cultures, and the biodegradation efficiency was higher for MP-LDPE than for MP-PS, as indicated by greater reduction in peak intensity and spectral
deformation, higher colony forming unit (CFU), and inorganic carbon (IC) values.
e24062
Background: Our aim was to determine the frequency of health-related problems faced by breast cancer patients before and six months after the initiation of breast cancer treatment. Methods: ...This prospective study involved 600 female breast cancer patients (26-65 years, mean 52), who participated in the pilot study in the novel individualized integrated rehabilitation programme in 2019-2022 and were followed for at least six months. The patients completed three questionnaires (EORTC QLQ - C30, B23 and NCCN) before the initiation of cancer treatment and six months after. The patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy in 22% of the cases, tumorectomy in 53%, mastectomy in 39%, breast reconstruction in 27%, sentinel node biopsy in 67%, lymphadenectomy in 23%, external beam radiotherapy in 73%, chemotherapy in 45%, anti-HER-2 therapy in 11% and hormonal therapy in 74% of the cases. Data on the patients’ demographics, disease extent, cancer treatment and problems reported in the questionnaires were collected and analysed using descriptive analysis. Results: The problems reported by patients before the initiation of cancer treatment and after six months are presented in Table. In 14 out of 22 parameters, the frequency of problems increased in the six months after the initiation of treatment: fatigue, insomnia, lymphedema, shoulder movement impairment, disturbing scars, heart problems, hot flashes/sweating, gynaecological problems, sexual problems, body image worries, inappropriate nutrition, pain in the shoulder or arm, alopecia and concerns about returning to work. On the other hand, the frequency of problems decreased six months after the initiation of cancer treatment in 6 out of 22 parameters. Our patients less often had depression or anxiety, were too little physically active, smoked, consumed alcohol or used food supplements than before. Conclusions: Six months after the initiation of breast cancer treatment patients have more problems than at the time before treatment.Table: see text
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