Heat Sink Effect on Tumor Ablation Characteristics as Observed in Monopolar Radiofrequency,Bipolar Radiofrequency,and Microwave,Using Ex Vivo Calf Liver Model

Thermal ablation of liver tumors near large blood vessels is affected by the cooling effect of blood flow, leading to incomplete ablation. Hence, we conducted a comparative investigation of heat sink effect in monopolar (MP) and bipolar (BP) radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and microwave (MW) ablation devices.With a perfused calf liver, the ablative performances (volume, mass, density, dimensions), with and without heat sink, were measured. Heat sink was present when the ablative tip of the probes were 8.0 mm close to a major hepatic vein and absent when >30 mm away. Temperatures (T1 and T2) on either side of the hepatic vein near the tip of the probes, heating probe temperature (T3), outlet perfusate temperature (T4), and ablation time were monitored.With or without heat sink, BP radiofrequency ablated a larger volume and mass, compared with MP RFA or MW ablation, with latter device producing the highest density of tissue ablated. MW ablation produced an ellipsoidal shape while radiofrequency devices produced spheres.Percentage heat sink effect in Bipolar radiofrequency : Mono-polar radiofrequency : Microwave was (Volume) 33:41:22; (mass) 23:56:34; (density) 9.0:26:18; and (relative elipscity) 5.8:12.9:1.3, indicating that BP and MW devices were less affected.Percentage heat sink effect on time (minutes) to reach maximum temperature (W) = 13.28:9.2:29.8; time at maximum temperature (X) is 87:66:16.66; temperature difference (Y) between the thermal probes (T3) and the temperature (T1 + T2)/2 on either side of the hepatic vessel was 100:87:20; and temperature difference between the (T1 + T2)/2 and temperature of outlet circulating solution (T4), Z was 20.33:30.23:37.5.MW and BP radiofrequencies were less affected by heat sink while MP RFA was the most affected. With a single ablation, BP radiofrequency ablated a larger volume and mass regardless of heat sink.     

Ethyl lactate as a potential green solvent to extract hydrophilic (polar) and lipophilic (non-polar) phytonutrients simultaneously from fruit and vegetable by-products

Phytonutrients extracted from natural resources are receiving much attention among researchers due to their highly antioxidative characteristics which prevent several degenerative diseases including cardiovascular diseases and cancers. These nutraceutical compounds can be used in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products as natural antioxidants, preservatives, colourants and functional foods. Huge volume of food wastes are generated from the processing industry and these low-value food residues are rich in various phytonutrients worth recovering. This approach of valorisation reduces the generation of food wastes and is cost-effective considering the cheap feedstock, reduced waste management expenses and high market value of extracted compounds. In light of the health and safety risks posed by commonly used organic extraction solvents derived from the petrochemical industry, there is a need to recover the phytonutrients using green, sustainable and efficient solvents that are safe for human consumption. This work discusses ethyl lactate as a safe, green, efficient and potentially cheap solvent to recover phytonutrients from fruit and vegetable by-products. Ethyl lactate is compared with other organic solvents commonly used from the aspects of safety, environmental impacts and efficiency. Current challenges when employing ethyl lactate are also discussed.     

Validation of a simplified technique for using the POPQ pelvic organ prolapse classification system

Our objective was to determine the inter-examiner agreement of a simplified pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POPQ) exam and to assess its correlation with the standard POPQ exam. This study consists of two parts; both were preformed in a prospective, randomized, blinded fashion on women presenting with complaints attributed to pelvic organ support defects. The first study was done to determine the inter-examiner reliability of a simplified POPQ exam. The simplified POPQ exam is based on the POPQ with similar ordinal staging but with only four points measured instead of nine. Forty-eight women underwent exams by five different investigators. The order of exams was randomized and the examiners were blinded to the results of each other’s findings. The results of these two exams were compared using weighted kappa statistics. The second part of the study was done to determine the inter-system agreement between the simplified vs standard POPQ exam. A group of 49 women were examined by four different investigators: one using the simplified and the other using standard POPQ exams. The order of the exams was randomized and the examiners were blinded to the results of each other’s exam. Kendall’s tau-b statistics were used to determine the inter-system agreement. For the inter-examiner reliability of the POPQ exam, the average age was 60±13 years. The weighted kappa statistics for the inter-examiner reliability of the simplified prolapse classification system were 0.86 for the overall stage, 0.89 and 0.86 for the anterior and posterior vaginal walls, respectively, 0.82 for the apex/cuff, and 0.72 for the cervix. All demonstrate significant agreement. For the inter-system association between the simplified POPQ and standard POPQ, the average age was 61±15 year. The Kendall’s tau-b value for overall stage was 0.90, 0.83, and 0.87 for the anterior and posterior walls respectively, and 0.78 for the cuff/apex and 0.98 for the cervix. There is good inter-examiner agreement of a simplified POPQ classification system and it appears to have good inter-system association with the POPQ.IUGA Standardization of Terminology Committee members: Robert Freeman MD (chairman), Steven Swift, Eckhard Petri MD, Richard J. Scotti MD, and Peter Dwyer MD.     

Shouldice hernia repair: results at a teaching institution

Authors with wide experience report that the Shouldice technique for repair of inguinal hernia is very effective. The technique has not gained widespread acceptance or notoriety. For example, the 13th edition of Textbook of Surgery, edited by Sabiston, devotes only one paragraph to this type of herniorrhaphy. Because of the excellent results reported by the Shouldice Clinic, this technique was adopted at the Augusta Veterans Administration Hospital, a teaching hospital of the Medical College of Georgia. Since 1976, a total of 604 Shouldice repairs have been performed by supervised house staff; 468 patients have been followed for up to 8 years and a recurrence rate of 1.3 per cent is reported. Although the follow-up is brief, the Shouldice hernia repair is widely applicable and good results are not dependent on wide experience alone.     

Assessment of closed head injury in trauma-related spinal cord injury

The complete medical records of 122 patients who sustained traumatic spinal cord injuries were reviewed to determine the frequency and results of emergency room assessments for loss of consciousness (LOC) and post-traumatic amnesia (PTA). Eighty-eight percent of the patients were assessed for LOC and 19% were assessed for PTA. Fifty patients (41% of the total population) admitted to LOC, PTA or both. Fourteen of these 50 patients underwent subsequent radiographic examinations of the skull, all of which were negative. Because of the association of intracranial complications and long-term cognitive sequelae with even brief LOC or PTA, early recognition of craniocerebral trauma is an important component of the acute management of spinal cord injured patients.     

Histological changes over time around the site of sustained release naltrexone-poly(DL-lactide) implants in humans.

In order to assess the histological tissue changes over time around the site of implant, tissue biopsies were taken at 1 to 38 months post-implant from 54 (34 male) consenting human subjects who had received the Australian subcutaneous naltrexone-poly(DL-lactide) implant for heroin dependence. The implant consists of multiple tablets containing compressed naltrexone-poly[trans-3,6-dimethyl-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione] (DL-lactide) loaded microspheres. Assessment of tissue samples by pathologists showed an early phase (up to 12 months post-implant) of inflammation, foreign body reaction, and fibrosis. This subsided gradually over the next 12 months until tissue returned to normal by 25+ months. Sufficient evidence was not available to conclude that the poly(DL-lactide) implant matrix was totally biodegradable within the study period. While implant material was not identified in most of the latter biopsies, its presence was noted in one biopsy at 26 months post-implant. Nevertheless the study results did demonstrate the implant's biocompatibility by the lack of inflammation, foreign body reaction, and fibrosis detected by 25+ months. It seems highly probable that surgical technique rather than the implant itself was associated with the additional finding of fat necrosis. Moderate fat necrosis was observed as a common feature of biopsies carried out during the first 6 months following implant. It subsided to mild levels over the next 18 months, and was notably absent by 25+ months. The results of the study indicated that the Australian naltrexone-poly(DL-lactide) implant is well tolerated and may have a role for use in the management of medical conditions such as heroin dependence.     

Effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on work outcomes in vocational rehabilitation for participants with schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Designed to help persons with schizophrenia to persist and perform better at job placements, the Indianapolis Vocational Intervention Program (IVIP) is a program of cognitive-behavioral group and individual interventions. While its feasibility has been previously demonstrated, it is unknown whether IVIP assists persons to achieve greater levels of participation in vocational rehabilitation and higher levels of job performance. In this study, 100 participants with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were offered a six month job placement and randomized to receive IVIP (n = 50) or support services (n = 50) matched for treatment intensity. Number of hours worked was recorded weekly and job performance was assessed biweekly using the Work Behavior Inventory with raters blind to condition. t-tests revealed that participants in the IVIP group worked a significantly greater number of weeks than those in the support condition. Also, repeated measures ANOVA revealed the IVIP group worked more hours across that 26 week period as well. And with regards to work performance, repeated measures of the 56 participants who worked for at least two-thirds of the intervention revealed that participants in the IVIP group had generally better work performance than those in the support condition. Results suggest a connection between cognitive-behavioral interventions and higher levels of work performance in people with schizophrenia.