Struma ovarii is an uncommon type of ovarian tumor derived by germinal cells, characterized by the predominance of thyroid tissue (> 50%); 90-95% of these formations are benign and mainly affect the ...left ovary, while in 6% of the cases struma ovarii is bilateral. The malignant transformation is a rare condition that often occurs after 50 years. In most instances, diagnosis of malignant struma ovarii is made postoperatively during histological analysis. This tumor appears to derive by one germinal cell through loss of heterozygosity of the androgen receptor gene and of the X chromosome. Clinical symptoms comprise abdominopelvic mass, lower abdominal pain, abnormal vaginal bleeding, and ascites (the occurrence of this condition has been observed in one-third of the cases). The patients with struma ovarii generally do not manifest symptoms related to thyroid hyperfunction, reported only in 8% of the cases, and due to hyperstimulation of the thyroid by auto-antibodies. Thyroid tissue of the struma ovarii, often embedded in a teratoma, may be papillary, follicular or with mixed pattern and it can include elements of mucinous cystoadenomas, Brenner's tumor or carcinoid or melanomas cells. Here the authors report their experience with an unusual case of Hashimoto thyroiditis onset after laparoscopic removal of struma ovarii.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare and potentially lethal syndrome characterized by severe thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia, and aspecific neurologic symptoms. ...This syndrome is the result of an abnormal intravascular platelet aggregation which induces transient ischemia in various organs, especially in the central nervous system. Platelet aggregation causes also fragmentation of erythrocytes, thus leading to the characteristic anaemia. The exact cause of TTP is unknown, but a large body of evidence suggest that this syndrome might be due to acquired (immunological) or congenital ADAMTS13 deficiency. The dysregulation of ADAMTS 13 activity could promote massive release of high molecular weight multimers of von Willebrand factor (VWF) from endothelium and, as a consequence, could cause intravascular platelet aggregation. Pregnancy is commonly associated with numerous metabolic, immunological, and haemostatic changes which could increase thrombotic risk: during pregnancy, in fact, it is generally observed an increase of procoagulant activity and a decrease of fibrinolytic activity; moreover, at the end of pregnancy, it is not rare to find thrombocytopenia. All these reasons lead us to consider pregnancy itself as a triggering event for the onset of TTP. The authors describe a case of TTP occurred during puerperium, in a patient who underwent caesarean section.
Phosphonium derivatives of HOAt such as PyAOP are useful for the solid-phase preparation of a range of peptides that include those incorporating hindered amino acids, difficult short sequences, and ...cyclic peptides. An advantage relative to uronium salts is that excess PyAOP does not undergo the detrimental side-reaction at the amino terminus which blocks further chain assembly.
Phosphonium derivatives of HOAt such as PyAOP are useful for the solid-phase preparation of a range of peptides that include those incorporating hindered amino acids, difficult short sequences, and cyclic systems. An advantage relative to uronium salts is that excess PyAOP does not undergo the detrimental side-reaction at the amino terminus which blocks further chain assembly.
The Extreme Energy Events (EEE) experiment consists in a network of cosmic muon tracker telescopes, each made of three Multi-gap Resistive Plate Chambers (MRPC), able to precisely measure the ...absolute muon crossing time and the muon integrated angular flux at the ground level. To investigate the MRPC telescope response and performance, a simulation tool was developed in GEMC, software package based on GEANT4 libraries. The framework was validated by comparing simulations with the EEE experimental data. Detailed description of telescope response is fundamental to carry on the physics program of the EEE project, and it could open other research avenues, such as using the telescope in combination with other detectors to perform a (muon) tomography of material surrounding the telescope. In this paper, the EEE simulation framework will be presented reporting results and discussing further applications.
Man, since ancient times, has been convinced of, and has researched scientific evidence that the barometric and gravitational forces play an important role in structural and biological variation of ...the planets, influencing the various forms of life. In particular, the synergistic relationships between variations in atmospheric pressure and gravitational forces on human gestation period have been the subject of rigorous observations and statistical calculations, which have not led to a universal conclusion in literature.
The aim of our work was to check whether there is a higher incidence of spontaneous deliveries, during the periods of full Moon than during the other phases of the Moon.
We performed a retrospective analysis of 327 non-induced vaginal deliveries in a year, divided by month. We subsequently analyzed the incidence of these deliveries during periods of full Moon Vs other lunar phases.
We evidenced a statistically significant difference between the annual total spontaneous deliveries happened in full Moon periods Vs all other Moon phases (T= 2,3948; p=0,0256). However, we reported a discordant trend of deliveries in full Moon period, depending on each considered month.
Since these differences were found both in increase and decrease, it is unacceptable the assumption of a linear correlation between periods of full Moon and increased frequency of spontaneous deliveries. For this reason, our data allow us to conclude that there is no need to increase the number of doctors and midwives in obstetric units during these periods.
A simulation tool based on GEMC framework to describe the MRPC telescope of the Extreme Energy Events (EEE) Project is presented. The EEE experiment is mainly devoted to the study of the secondary ...cosmic muons by using MRPC telescope distributed in high schools and research centres in Italy and at CERN. This takes into account the muon interactions with EEE telescopes and the structures surrounding the experimental apparata; it consists of a dedicated event generator producing realistic muon distribution and a detailed geometry description of the detector. Microscopic behaviour of MRPCs has been included to produce experimental-like data. A method to estimate the chamber efficiency directly from data has been implemented and tested by comparing the experimental and simulated polar angle distribution of muons.
To evaluate a dental adhesive system that uses a single conditioning/primer agent.
Twenty-five flat enamel and dentin bonding sites were prepared to 600 grit on human molar teeth. The Clearfil Liner ...Bond 2 adhesive system was used to bond Clearfil AP-X composite to both enamel and dentin. After 24 hours of water storage, shear bond strengths were determined using an Instron testing machine. Fifty V-shaped cavity preparations were prepared in human molar teeth with an enamel and cementum margin. Composite restorations were placed using the new adhesive system. The teeth were stored for 24 hours, thermocycled, stained with AgNO3 , sectioned and examined for microleakage. SEM examinations were also completed to evaluate the effects of the treatment steps on enamel and dentin surfaces.
Mean shear bond strengths for the experimental adhesive to enamel and dentin were 28.2 +/- 4.9 and 19.4 +/- 3.1 MPa. A t-test revealed that the enamel bond strength was significantly greater (P<0.05) than the dentin strength. No marginal leakage was observed from the enamel margins of the restorations. Three restorations showed minimal leakage from the cementum margins. SEM examinations showed resin penetration into both the conditioned enamel and dentin surfaces. The adhesive system produced high bond strengths to both enamel and dentin, exhibited very minimal microleakage and was easy to use.
Reviews need for internal leadership training programs at academic health centers and describes three programs. Elements common to the programs include small classes, participants from many areas of ...academic medicine and health care, building on prior experience and training, training conducted away from the institution, short sessions, faculty from within and outside the institution, and strategies to reinforce learning. (Author/MSE)
Aim of the study was to assess the recovery and quality of sexual activity of women during postpartum, in relation to delivery.
We recruited 200 women at 8 weeks after delivery. For each patient we ...recorded mode of delivery, age, body mass index (BMI), parity and test Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) score.
Sixty-four women (32%) had spontaneous deliveries without episiotomy, 48 (24%) had it with episiotomy, 88 (44%) had caesarean sections. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) test showed no significant differences among the 3 groups for age, BMI, parity. The test FSFI evidenced 68 cases (34%) of Regular Female Sexual Function (RFSF) and 132 (66%) of Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD). The ANOVA test showed significant differences among the 3 groups in RFSF (F 2, 14=8.075, P=0.005), but not in FSD (F 2, 30=2.646, P=0.087). In RFSF, FSFI score was higher in women who had vaginal delivery with episiotomy compared with the other two groups. Conversely, in FSD (both with or without resumed sexual activity at 8 weeks postpartum) we evidenced that patients who had vaginal delivery with episiotomy showed lower FSFI score than the other two groups, with a decrease in lubrication, orgasm and satisfaction scores. Furthermore, we observed that most of the RFSF patients had a job and breastfed.
Our results did not evidence a direct and significant correlation between mode of delivery and onset of female postpartum sexual dysfunction, even if FSD patients who underwent episiotomy during delivery markedly showed low FSFI scores.
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