The ensuing pilot investigation sheds new light on characterizing tumoral and non-tumoral human skin mechanical properties that will not only assist the dermatologist's diagnosis but also could ...constitute the creation of an Artificial Intelligence database for upcoming research. A modern, non-invasive, and contact-free methodology-UNDERSKIN-was developed, and hinges upon Fourier transform computations that permit the analysis of surface wave dispersion with a specific skin inversion model and viscoelastic model. It yields a detailed look at how particle movements of the medium propagate throughout its near sub-surface, hence a novel knowledge of the mechanical responses of skin tumors. The research results display the tumors' viscoelastic responses alongside their respective healthy skin outcomes for each skin layer as well as the dermatologist's touch analysis. Although dermatologists are capable of sensing and having a fair overall assessment of what they are palpating, they are unable heretofore to quantify it and inform where the firmness or softness derives from, which it is necessary to be acquainted with so as to perform an accurate diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, future surgery, and teledermatology.
The Large Hadron Collider forward (LHCf) experiment is designed to use the LHC to verify the hadronic-interaction models used in cosmic-ray physics. Forward baryon production is one of the crucial ...points to understand the development of cosmic-ray showers. We report the neutron-energy spectra for LHC s=7 TeV proton–proton collisions with the pseudo-rapidity η ranging from 8.81 to 8.99, from 8.99 to 9.22, and from 10.76 to infinity. The measured energy spectra obtained from the two independent calorimeters of Arm1 and Arm2 show the same characteristic feature before unfolding the detector responses. We unfolded the measured spectra by using the multidimensional unfolding method based on Bayesian theory, and the unfolded spectra were compared with current hadronic-interaction models. The QGSJET II-03 model predicts a high neutron production rate at the highest pseudo-rapidity range similar to our results, and the DPMJET 3.04 model describes our results well at the lower pseudo-rapidity ranges. However, no model perfectly explains the experimental results over the entire pseudo-rapidity range. The experimental data indicate a more abundant neutron production rate relative to the photon production than any model predictions studied here.
The differential cross sections for inclusive neutral pions as a function of transverse and longitudinal momentum in the very forward-rapidity region have been measured at the LHC with the LHC ...forward detector in proton-proton collisions at sradical=2.76 and 7 TeV and in proton-lead collisions at nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energies of super()sNNradical=5.02TeV. Such differential cross sections in proton-proton collisions are compatible with the hypotheses of limiting fragmentation and Feynman scaling. Comparing proton-proton with proton-lead collisions, we find a sizable suppression of the production of neutral pions in the differential cross sections after subtraction of ultraperipheral proton-lead collisions. This suppression corresponds to the nuclear modification factor value of about 0.1-0.3. The experimental measurements presented in this paper provide a benchmark for the hadronic interaction Monte Carlo simulation codes that are used for the simulation of cosmic ray air showers.
Background
The prognostic and therapeutic features of scleredema are poorly documented.
Objectives
To describe the characteristics of patients with scleredema regarding demographics, clinical ...characteristics, comorbidities, therapeutic interventions and course.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective multicentre study.
Results
We identified 44 patients (26 men).The mean age at diagnosis was 53.8 years. The most common associated disorders were endocrine/metabolic diseases including 30 patients suffering from diabetes, mostly type 2 diabetes. Monoclonal gammopathies were confirmed in five cases. A preceding respiratory tract infection was not a feature. Treatments with different combination or sequential modalities were used with variable results. Phototherapy (UVA1 or PUVA) was the treatment associated with higher, although partial response. Systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs were reserved to patients with severe disease in whom phototherapy had failed or for patients with multiple myeloma. Forty‐one patients were followed up (mean period: 32.2 months).Thirty‐nine patients are alive, 30 with and 9 without skin disease. Two patients died of cardiovascular complications due to myeloma and severe diabetes.
Conclusions
Scleredema is a chronic debilitating disease associated with diabetes and metabolic syndrome, unresponsive to various treatments but not necessarily a life‐threatening condition. Although there is no definitive treatment, phototherapy should be attempted first. Treatment of primary disease including strict glycaemic control combined with physical therapy should be also employed.
Sarcopenia defined by the association of skeletal muscle mass depletion and a decreased physical performance is underdiagnosed in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The objective ...was to assess prevalence of sarcopenia and malnutrition in hospitalized COPD patients during an acute exacerbation, after 6 months follow-up and the 1-year survival.
Hospitalized COPD patients were recruited for the assessment of body composition, handgrip strength, respiratory function, and maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures (MIP and MEP), during hospitalization and 6 months later. Sarcopenia was defined according to the criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older Adults, malnutrition was defined according to French criteria 2007. Survival data were collected 12 months after hospitalization.
We analyzed data from 54 patients, aged 68 ± 9 years and BMI 26.9 ± 7.8 kg/m
, with an average FEV1 of 1.13 ± 0.49 l (45 ± 16% predicted value). Sarcopenia and malnutrition prevalence were, respectively, 48% and 52% during hospitalization, 30% and 30% after 6 months. MIP and MEP were lower in sarcopenic patients (p = 0.01 and 0.009, respectively). In multivariate analysis, skeletal muscle mass index and MIP were positively correlated at 6 months' follow-up (r = 0.40, p = 0.04). The 1-year survival rate was lower in sarcopenic patients (65 vs 86%, p = 0.03), particularly when malnutrition was associated (p = 0.02).
Sarcopenia in COPD patients is highly prevalent during and after recovery of an acute exacerbation, exposing to lower survival. A multimodal management is required to treat sarcopenia and improve prognosis.
Summary Colonic volvulus is the third leading cause of colonic obstruction worldwide, occurring at two principal locations: the sigmoid colon and cecum. In Western countries, sigmoid volvulus ...preferentially affects elderly men whereas cecal volvulus affects younger women. Some risk factors, such as chronic constipation, high-fiber diet, frequent use of laxatives, personal past history of laparotomy and anatomic predispositions, are common to both locations. Clinical symptomatology is non-specific, including a combination of abdominal pain, gaseous distention, and bowel obstruction. Abdominopelvic computerized tomography is currently the gold standard examination, allowing positive diagnosis as well as detection of complications. Specific management depends on the location, patient comorbidities and colonic wall viability, but treatment is an emergency in every case. If clinical or radiological signs of gravity are present, emergency surgery is mandatory, but is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. For sigmoid volvulus without criteria of gravity, the ideal strategy is an endoscopic detorsion procedure followed, within 2 to 5 days, by surgery that includes a sigmoid colectomy with primary anastomosis. Exclusively endoscopic therapy must be reserved for patients who are at excessive risk for surgical intervention. In cecal volvulus, endoscopy has no role and surgery is the rule.
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