To evaluate the impact of dysfunction of the facial nerve after superficial parotidectomy for pleomorphic adenoma of the superficial lobe, we prospectively analysed the data of 79 patients using the ...Facial Disability Index (FDI) and the Short-Form 36-Item (SF-36) questionnaires up to 12 months postoperatively. The function of the facial nerve was grading on the House-Brackmann Scale. Results at 1 week and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months were compared with preoperative (baseline) measurement. The maximum reduction in FDI scores coincided with the highest facial paresis values at one week. Physical values on the FDI significantly decreased during the first three months (p=.039 at 3 months) and psychosocial values improved significantly from then onwards (p=.001 at 12 months). At 12 months, there were signs of full recovery compared with the preoperative baseline, and it was even exceeded in some psychosocial items. The SF-36 questionnaire showed no significant differences at any time during the study. The FDI was a useful instrument with which to understand the impact of facial disability and wellbeing associated with physical, social, and emotional aspects after superficial parotidectomy. Unlike the SF-36 questionnaire, the FDI offers clinicians a tool with which to counsel patients and better inform them about the anticipated results of operation before superficial parotidectomy.
The influence of solvent polarity on the nature and extent of non-covalent interactions responsible for BPA:4-Vinlypyridine complex formation has been investigated in the pre-polymerization mixture ...and correlated with polymer-ligand recognition. The combination of FTIR, 1H NMR and UV–Vis spectroscopy has made possible the development of a more comprehensive understanding of pre-polymerization events at a molecular level, and how they govern the properties of subsequent polymerized MIPs. The MIP ATR characterization provides direct insight into the bonding within matrix-template system, confirming that monomer:template H-bonded complexes survived the polymerization process and the presence of two functional monomers in the binding sites. The polymer has shown an excellent affinity for BPA in aqueous solutions with poor recognition in organic solvents. Loss of affinity in organic solvents together with selectivity studies suggested that the binding mechanism depended critically on the conformation of the polymeric binding pockets, which when combined with H-bonding and weak electrostatic interactions allowed for selective recognition.
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•MIP ATR analysis confirmed BPA:4Vpy H-bonded complexes survived polymerization.•MIP ATR analysis confirmed two functional groups in MIP binding sites.•Reversible conformational changes explained the poor results in nonpolar solvents.•Detailed description of rebinding mechanism in water based on MIP-ATR spectroscopy.•Selectivity depended on analyte:monomer interactions, shape, solubility.
In double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) the use of a reliable and practical method to calculate the insertion depth of the endoscope could help to improve diagnosis accuracy and optimize the effort and ...cost of the technique. The objectives of this work were to compare and evaluate two methods of estimating the insertion depth and to obtain a descriptive model capable of representing the exploration dynamics and efficiency in terms of advanced distance and time.
Oral DBE was performed in 25 pigs. Insertion depth was calculated during the procedure by: 1) estimation of time and distance for each push and pull cycle during progression; and 2) estimation of distance during withdrawal. At the maximum insertion depth a tattoo was placed, and the observed measures for the two methods were compared with the distance between the pylorus and the mark after euthanasia and necropsy of the animals 1 week after DBE.
The average insertion depth during progression, withdrawal, and after necropsy was 324.92 cm, 317.23 cm, and 342.05 cm, respectively (P Anova = 0.72). The Pearson correlation coefficient (r > 0.85; P < 0.001) and paired Brand - Altman plots demonstrated high agreement between progression and necropsy (0.03 % difference) and between withdrawal and necropsy (6.9 % difference). The exploration dynamics and efficiency in terms of advanced distance per cycle and time fitted to potential and logarithmic regression models, respectively.
Measurement of insertion depth in vivo was validated in the porcine model during progression and withdrawal. Estimation during progression was more accurate and allowed exploration dynamics and efficiency to be plotted, which might be used as approximate reference values for humans.
Planck pre-launch status: The Planck mission Crone, G.; Guyot, G.; Gregorio, A. ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
09/2010, Letnik:
520
Journal Article, Publication, Web Resource
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The European Space Agency's Planck satellite, launched on 14 May 2009, is the third-generation space experiment in the field of cosmic microwave background (CMB) research. It will image the ...anisotropies of the CMB over the whole sky, with unprecedented sensitivity (${{\Delta T}\over T}$ ~ 2 × 10-6) and angular resolution (~5 arcmin). Planck will provide a major source of information relevant to many fundamental cosmological problems and will test current theories of the early evolution of the Universe and the origin of structure. It will also address a wide range of areas of astrophysical research related to the Milky Way as well as external galaxies and clusters of galaxies. The ability of Planck to measure polarization across a wide frequency range (30-350 GHz), with high precision and accuracy, and over the whole sky, will provide unique insight, not only into specific cosmological questions, but also into the properties of the interstellar medium. This paper is part of a series which describes the technical capabilities of the Planck scientific payload. It is based on the knowledge gathered during the on-ground calibration campaigns of the major subsystems, principally its telescope and its two scientific instruments, and of tests at fully integrated satellite level. It represents the best estimate before launch of the technical performance that the satellite and its payload will achieve in flight. In this paper, we summarise the main elements of the payload performance, which is described in detail in the accompanying papers. In addition, we describe the satellite performance elements which are most relevant for science, and provide an overview of the plans for scientific operations and data analysis.
Several novel metal–quinolone compounds have been synthesized and characterized by analytical, spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction methods. The crystal structure of the four compounds, Na
2(Cd(Cx)
...3)(Cd(Cx)
3(H
2O))·12H
2O, Co(Cp)
2(H
2O)
2·9H
2O, Zn(Cp)
2(H
2O)
2·8H
2O and Cd(HCp)
2(Cl)
2·4H
2O, is presented and discussed: HCx=1-ethyl-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo(1,3)-dioxolo(4,5-
g)cinnoline-3-carboxylic acid and HCp=1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(1-piperazinyl)-3-quinoline carboxylic acid. In all these compounds the quinolone acts as a bidentate chelate ligand that binds through one carboxylate oxygen atom and the exocyclic carbonyl oxygen atom. Complexes of ciprofloxacin were screened for their activity against several bacteria, showing activity similar to that of the ligand. In addition, the number of bacteria killed after 3 h of incubation with the ligand, Co(Cp)
2(H
2O)
2·9H
2O, Ni(Cp)
2·10H
2O and Cu(Cp)
2·6H
2O, was determined against
S. aureus ATCC25923. There is a direct relationship between the growth rate and the lethal rate. Against growing bacteria, the ligand is the most bactericidal and Cu(Cp)
2·6H
2O is the less bactericidal. On the contrary, against non-dividing bacteria, the complexes were more bactericidal than the ligand, with Cu(Cp)
2·6H
2O the most bactericidal compound.
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