MDCT findings after hepatic chemoembolization with DC-beads: What the radiologist needs to know

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads (TACE-DC-beads) is a new local treatment for primary or metastatic liver tumors. Despite technical efforts to achieve highly selective embolization of the tumor-supplying vessels, small, or large insults to the non-tumorous parenchyma are inevitably induced by the embolic materials or procedure itself. Parenchymal changes following TACE-DC-beads include bile duct injuries (bile duct dilatation, periportal edema, and bilomas), obliteration of intrahepatic portal vein branches, hypodense ill-defined areas, and perilesional parenchymal enhancement. The radiologist must be familiar with the changes induced by this treatment in order to distinguish therapeutic effect and collateral findings from complications and residual or recurrent tumor.     

The contribution of active body movement to visual development in evolutionary robots.

Inspired by the pioneering work by Held and Hein (1963) on the development of kitten visuo-motor systems, we explore the role of active body movement in the developmental process of the visual system by using robots. The receptive fields in an evolved mobile robot are developed during active or passive movement with a Hebbian learning rule. In accordance to experimental observations in kittens, we show that the receptive fields and behavior of the robot developed under active condition significantly differ from those developed under passive condition. A possible explanation of this difference is derived by correlating receptive field formation and behavioral performance in the two conditions.     

Bronquiolitis obliterante con neumonía organizada: forma poco frecuente de toxicidad pulmonar en el tratamiento radioterápico del cáncer de mama

The incidence of symptomatic pneumonitis in patients who had received radiation therapy for breast cancer is low (<1%). Recently, bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) syndrome has been described as a secondary lung toxicity due to the radiation therapy, which appears beyond the radiation field (migratory pneumonitis) and is triggered by hypersensitivity reactions mediated by eosinophils, neutrophils and lymphocytes. We present a patient who, two months after concluding the scheduled radiotherapy, developed a set of clinical, pathological and radiological symptoms compatible with BOOP syndrome. The patient responded well to steroid treatment.

     

Treatment for Fertility and Risk of Ovarian Tumors of Borderline Malignancy

The relationship between fertility drug use and risk of borderline ovarian cancer has been analyzed using data from a case–control study. Cases were 93 women aged 23 to 64 years with histologically confirmed diagnosis of borderline ovarian tumor (according to the World Health Organization criteria) who were admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of the University of Milan. Control subjects were 273 women (ages 24–64 years) admitted for acute nongynecological, nonhormonal, and nonneoplastic conditions. Four cases (4.3%) and no control reported fertility drugs use: this difference was statistically significant (Fisher's exact testP= 0.004).     

Wilderness Programs: Principles, Possibilities and Opportunities for Intervention with Dropout Adolescents

Wilderness Programs (WP) are specialized frameworks for group therapy in an unfamiliar environment. The participants progress through a series of increasingly difficult challenges which seem unsolvable, yet are structured in such a way that success is guaranteed. The present article will describe the principles of WP, followed by the findings of a field research which examined the effect of a WP on a group of dropout youth in Israel, comparing them to an alternative therapy program and a contrast group. The assumptions of the research were that self-esteem and locus of control in the Wilderness group would be improved in comparison to the alternative group and to the contrast group. The research findings partially supported these assumptions, pointing to a significant progress of both experimental groups compared to the contrast group. The WP group stood apart in its results, showing increased self-esteem in four out of six factors compared to the contrast group, but there was no significant change compared to the Alternative Program group. In both experimental groups a clear significant improvement was found in locus of control after the intervention, in contrast to a decrease in those who did not take part in the activities. The discussion will address the research findings and the possibilities and opportunities presented by WP.     

Mechanism of the calcium-dependent stimulation of transmitter release by 4-aminopyridine in synaptosomes

The mechanism of the Ca2+-dependent stimulation of neurotransmitter release by 4-aminopyridine in synaptosomes was studied. The stimulation of gamma-[3H]aminobutyric acid and [3H]acetylcholine release by 4-aminopyridine was not significantly affected either by tetrodotoxin or by the absence of Na+ in the medium, whereas the toxin notably inhibited the release of both transmitters induced by veratridine. On the other hand, the release of labeled gamma-aminobutyric acid induced by 4-aminopyridine was inhibited by both La3+ and ruthenium red, two blockers of Ca2+ transport in synaptosomes. In other experiments, 4-aminopyridine had only a slight stimulatory effect, if any, on the influx of 45Ca2+ into synaptosomes, under both resting and K+-depolarizing conditions. Ruthenium red inhibited the stimulation by K+ of the 45Ca2+ uptake, and 4-aminopyridine did not antagonize this inhibition. We conclude that the transmitter-releasing action of 4-aminopyridine in synaptosomes does not involve an excitatory effect on the membrane which may result in the opening of voltage-sensitive Na+ channels. 4-Aminopyridine does not seem to act either by enhancing Ca2+ entry into the synaptosomes. It is proposed that 4-aminopyridine facilitates the coupling between Ca2+ binding and transmitter secretion at the presynaptic membrane.     

Acetabular revision surgery with the LOR cup: three to 8 years' follow-up

A retrospective review was conducted to evaluate the mid-term results of the Längsovalen Revisionspfanne oblong revision cup. From July 1995 to March 2000, 41 acetabular revision surgeries were performed for aseptic loosening of the acetabular cup. The acetabular defects were classified as type 2A to 3B, according to Paprosky's criteria. Morselized bone grafts were used in 19 cases (45.2%) to fill cavitary defects. The mean postoperative follow-up was 63.5 months (range, 40-99 months). Clinical assessment at follow-up showed a significantly improved mean Harris Hip Score from 46 points preoperatively to 82.2 points postoperatively, whereas the x-ray examination did not show any sign of loosening of the cups. Data analysis showed that significantly better results were correlated with restoring the hip rotation center and reducing leg length discrepancy.