pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Three-dimensional power Doppler angiography in endometrial cancer: correlation with tumor characteristics

To assess the correlation between intratumoral vascularization using three-dimensional power Doppler angiography (3D-PDA) and several histological tumor characteristics in a series of patients with endometrial carcinoma.
METHODS:

Ninety-nine women (mean age, 61.7 (range, 31-84) years) diagnosed as having endometrial cancer were assessed by transvaginal 3D-PDA before surgical staging. Endometrial volume (EV) and 3D-PDA vascular indices (vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI)) were calculated using the Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis (VOCAL) method. All patients were surgically staged. Individual tumor features such as histological type, tumor grade, myometrial infiltration depth, lymph-vascular space involvement, cervical involvement, lymph node metastases and tumor stage were considered for analysis. Multivariate logistic regression (MLR) analysis was used to determine which 3D-PDA parameters were independently associated with each histological characteristic.
RESULTS:

MLR analysis showed that only EV and VI were independently associated with myometrial infiltration (EV: odds ratio (OR), 1.119 (95% CI, 1.025-1.221), P = 0.012; VI: OR, 1.127 (95% CI, 1.063-1.195), P = 0.001) and tumor stage (EV: OR, 1.103 (95% CI, 1.012-1.202), P = 0.025; VI: OR, 1.120 (95% CI, 1.057-1.187), P = 0.001), only VI was independently associated with tumor grade (OR, 1.056 (95% CI, 1.023-1.091), P = 0.001) and only EV was independently associated with lymph node metastases (OR, 1.086 (95% CI, 1.017-1.161), P = 0.001).
CONCLUSION:

3D-PDA analysis of tumor vascularization in endometrial cancer correlates with some prognostic histological characteristics
Fetal cerebral blood flow velocities in congenital diaphragmatic hernia

OBJECTIVES: Left ventricular cardiac output is decreased in fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Our aim was to assess whether this alters cerebral perfusion or growth in utero. METHODS: Fetal head circumference, biparietal diameter, lung-to-head ratio and middle cerebral artery (MCA) Doppler flow patterns were assessed with ultrasound in 103 fetuses with prenatally diagnosed CDH. Total fetal lung volume and cerebral volume were measured using magnetic resonance imaging. Values were transformed to gestational age independent scores (multiples of the median; MoM) and compared with controls. Subanalyses were made according to whether the CDH was left (n = 86) or right sided (n = 17) and to whether it was isolated (n= 86) or associated with other anomalies (n = 17). RESULTS: Middle cerebral artery flow velocity was significantly lower in CDH than in healthy fetuses (0.79 +/- 0.19 MoM; p < 0.0001) but MCA pulsatility index was unchanged (0.99 +/- 0.25 MoM; p = 0.79). Cranial biometry and cerebral volume in CDH fetuses fall in the normal range. Gestational age adjusted lung area was correlated with MCA peak systolic velocity which was in turn correlated with brain volume. CONCLUSIONS: Fetal cerebral blood flow velocities are decreased in CDH yet cranial and cerebral growth are conserved. Further work will need to address whether part of the neurologic impairment observed in long-term survivors of CDH finds its origin in the prenatal period. Copyright (c) 2010 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.status: publishe
First-trimester combined screening for trisomy 21 at 7-14 weeks' gestation.

OBJECTIVE: To establish an algorithm for first-trimester combined screening for trisomy 21 with biochemical testing from 7 to 14 weeks' gestation and ultrasound testing at 11-13 weeks. METHODS: This was a multicenter study of 886 pregnancies with trisomy 21 and 222 475 unaffected pregnancies with measurements of free β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) at 7-14 weeks' gestation. Multiple regression modeling of log-transformed marker values was used to produce log multiples of the median (MoM) values for PAPP-A and free β-hCG. The models included terms for the center attended and the machine used for biochemical analysis, gestational age, maternal racial origin, maternal weight, smoking status and method of conception. Bivariate Gaussian distributions were fitted to log MoM PAPP-A and log MoM free β-hCG in trisomy 21 and in unaffected pregnancies. In each case the patient-specific risk for trisomy 21 was estimated by multiplying the individual maternal age-related risk with the likelihood ratio (LR) for fetal nuchal translucency (NT) according to the mixture model and the combined LR for maternal serum free β-hCG and PAPP-A. Estimates of detection rates for trisomy 21 and false-positive rates were calculated for combined screening with measurements of NT at 12 weeks together with measurements of free β-hCG and PAPP-A from 8 to 13 weeks. RESULTS: In trisomy 21 pregnancies the mean log MoM free β-hCG increased linearly with gestation between 7 and 14 weeks, whereas the relation between log MoM PAPP-A and gestation was fitted by a quadratic equation such that the maximum separation between trisomy 21 and unaffected pregnancies occurs at 9-10 weeks. At a false-positive rate of 3% the detection rate of combined screening at 12 weeks was 86% and this increased to 90% by biochemical testing at 9 weeks and ultrasound scanning at 12 weeks. The detection rate increased to 92% by measuring PAPP-A at 9 weeks and free β-hCG at the time of the scan at 12 weeks. CONCLUSION: The performance of first-trimester biochemical screening for trisomy 21 is best at 9-10 weeks rather than at 7-8 or 11-14 weeks
Prenatal treatment of meconium peritonitis with urinary trypsin inhibitor.

We describe a case of congenital meconium peritonitis with progressive fetal ascites and polyhydramnios. Fetal ascites could be only partially reduced on paracentesis at 29 weeks' gestation, and it subsequently increased. Urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI), a physiological anti-inflammatory substance, was administered into the fetal abdominal cavity at a second paracentesis performed at 35 weeks' gestation. There was a significant amount of fetal ascites remaining 1 day after the second paracentesis, but this completely resolved within 5 days. A healthy infant was delivered vaginally and no surgical intervention was required. The case suggests that UTI can reduce meconium-induced chemical peritonitis and thereby facilitate intrauterine remission of fetal ascites
Prenatal diagnosis of anterior sacral meningocele.

Anterior sacral meningocele is an extremely rare condition and there has been only one previous report of a prenatal diagnosis. We report the case of a 36-year-old primigravida who was referred following detection of a huge fetal pelvic cyst on routine ultrasound examination at 19 + 4 weeks' gestation. Neither fetal ultrasound nor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 20 + 5 weeks' gestation could detect communication between the cyst and the spinal cord. Because extension of the pear-shaped cyst through the pelvic diaphragm down to the perineum was reminiscent of dilated vagina and uterine cervix, a tentative diagnosis of hydrometrocolpos secondary to imperforate hymen was considered. On follow-up MRI at 33 + 5 weeks' gestation, a narrow stalk connecting the pelvic cyst and the spinal canal through the anterior sacral foramen was clearly delineated, allowing us to reach the prenatal diagnosis of anterior sacral meningocele
Second-trimester soft markers: relation to first-trimester nuchal translucency in unaffected pregnancies

Objective Genetic sonography following first-trimester combined screening appears to increase substantially detection rates for Down syndrome but it relies on the unproved assumption of independence between these tests. In this study we aimed to investigate the relationship between first-trimester nuchal translucency (NT) and a series of second-trimester soft markers and structural defects in unaffected pregnancies. Methods NT measurement in the first trimester was followed by second-trimester scan (18 to 23 + 6 weeks) including examination for three categorical markers (intracardiac echogenic foci, hyperechogenic bowel and structural defects) and measurement of nasal bone length, nuchal-fold thickness, femur length, humerus length, renal pelvis diameter and prenasal thickness. All continuous variables were expressed in multiples of the median (MoM) for gestation and correlation coefficients between log-transformed NT and second-trimester variables were calculated. In addition, frequencies of soft markers and structural defects in cases with increased NT were compared to those with normal NT, using MoM cut-offs. Results In a dataset of 1970 cases, NT was significantly correlated (P &lt; 0.05) with all second-trimester continuous variables, the correlation being strongest for nuchal-fold thickness (r = 0.10). There was a higher frequency of cases with second-trimester nuchal-fold thickness above the 97.5th centile (10.7 vs. 2.2%) and hyperechogenic bowel (2.4 vs. 0.1%) in cases with increased NT. Conclusions Straightforward reassessment of risk using likelihood ratios derived from the second-trimester genetic sonogram might lead to inaccurate estimates. Multivariate models using continuous second-trimester variables might be preferable in sequential screening strategies. Copyright. 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES
Pubic bone injuries in primiparous women: magnetic resonance imaging in detection and differential diagnosis of structural injury

Objective  To evaluate the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing structural injury in primiparous women at risk for pelvic floor injury.    Methods  This was an observational study of 77 women who underwent 3T MRI after delivery. Women were operationally defined as high risk ( n  = 45) for levator ani muscle tears (risk factors: second‐stage labor > 150 min or < 30 min, anal sphincter tear, forceps, maternal age > 35 years and birth weight > 4000 g) or low risk ( n  = 32): vaginally delivered without these risk factors ( n  = 12); delivered by Cesarean section after second‐stage labor > 150 min ( n  = 14) or delivered by Cesarean section without labor ( n  = 6). All women were imaged using fluid‐sensitive MRI sequences. Two musculoskeletal radiologists reviewed images for bone marrow edema, fracture, pubic symphysis measurements and levator ani tear.    Results  MRI showed pubic bone fractures in 38% of women at high risk for pelvic floor injury and in 13% of women at low risk for pelvic floor injury (χ 2 (3) = 9.27,  P  = 0.03). Levator ani muscle tears were present in 44% of the high‐risk women and in 9% of the low‐risk women (χ 2 (3) = 11.57,  P  = 0.010). Bone marrow edema in the pubic bones was present in 61% of women studied across delivery categories. Complex patterns of injury included combinations of bone marrow edema, fractures, levator ani tears and pubic symphysis injuries. No MRI‐documented injuries were present in 18% of women at high risk and 44% at low risk for pelvic floor injury (χ 2 (1) = 6.2,  P  = 0.013).    Conclusions  Criteria identifying primiparous women at risk for pelvic floor injury can predict increased risk of bone and soft tissue changes at the pubic symphysis. Fluid‐sensitive MRI has utility for differential diagnosis of structural injury in postpartum women. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Assessment of the sensitivity and specificity of serological (IFAT) and molecular (direct PCR) techniques for diagnosis of leishmaniasis in lagomorphs using a Bayesian approach

Leishmaniasis, caused by Leishmania infantum, is a vector-borne zoonotic disease that is endemic to the Mediterranean basin. The potential of rabbits and hares to serve as competent reservoirs for the disease has recently been demonstrated, although assessment of the importance of their role on disease dynamics is hampered by the absence of quantitative knowledge on the accuracy of diagnostic techniques in these species. A Bayesian latent-class model was used here to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of the Immuno-fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) in serum and a Leishmania-nested PCR (Ln-PCR) in skin for samples collected from 217 rabbits and 70 hares from two different populations in the region of Madrid, Spain. A two-population model, assuming conditional independence between test results and incorporating prior information on the performance of the tests in other animal species obtained from the literature, was used. Two alternative cut-off values were assumed for the interpretation of the IFAT results: 1/50 for conservative and 1/25 for sensitive interpretation. Results suggest that sensitivity and specificity of the IFAT were around 70–80%, whereas the Ln-PCR was highly specific (96%) but had a limited sensitivity (28.9% applying the conservative interpretation and 21.3% with the sensitive one). Prevalence was higher in the rabbit population (50.5% and 72.6%, for the conservative and sensitive interpretation, respectively) than in hares (6.7% and 13.2%). Our results demonstrate that the IFAT may be a useful screening tool for diagnosis of leishmaniasis in rabbits and hares. These results will help to design and implement surveillance programmes in wild species, with the ultimate objective of early detecting and preventing incursions of the disease into domestic and human populations
Use of a perineural coiled catheter at the sciatic nerve in dogs after tibial plateau levelling osteotomy – preliminary observations

The analgesic effects of peripheral nerve blocks can be prolonged with the placement of perineural catheters allowing repeated injections of local anaesthetics in humans. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the clinical suitability of a perineural coiled catheter (PCC) at the sciatic nerve and to evaluate pain during the early post-operative period in dogs after tibial plateau levelling osteotomy. Pre-operatively, a combined block of the sciatic and the femoral nerves was performed under sonographic guidance (ropivacaine 0.5%; 0.3 mL kg−1 per nerve). Thereafter, a PCC was placed near the sciatic nerve. Carprofen (4 mg kg−1 intravenously) was administered at the end of anaesthesia. After surgery, all dogs were randomly assigned to receive four injections of ropivacaine (group R; 0.25%, 0.3 mL kg−1) or NaCl 0.9% (group C; 0.3 mL kg−1) every 6 h through the PCC. Pain was assessed by use of a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a multi-dimensional pain score (4Avet) before surgery (T-1), for 390 min (T0, T30, T60, T120, T180, T240, T300, T360 and T390) as well as 1 day after surgery (Day 1). Methadone (0.1 mg kg−1) was administered each time the VAS was ≥40 mm or the 4Avet was ≥5. At T390 dogs received buprenorphine (0.02 mg kg−1). Data were compared using Mann–Whitney rank sum tests and repeated measures analysis of variance. Regardless of group allocation, 55% of dogs required methadone. VAS was significantly lower at T390 (P = 0.003), and at Day 1 (P = 0.002) and so was 4Avet at Day 1 (P = 0.012) in group R than in group C. Bleeding occurred in one dog at PCC placement and PCC dislodged six times of 47 PCCs placed. Minor complications occurred with PCC but allowed four repeated administrations of ropivacaine or saline over 24 h in 91.5% of the cases
Synergistic effect of metal soaps and natural zeolite on poly(vinyl chloride) thermal stability

The synergistic effect of metal soaps (zinc stearate and calcium stearate) and/or natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) on PVC thermal stability was investigated. For this purpose, PVC plastisol was prepared by mixing poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and dioctyl phthalate (DOP) and stabilized with different amounts of metal soaps and zeolite. Kinetic studies of dehydrochlorination at 140 and 160°C were done for unstabilized and stabilized PVC plastigels using 763 PVC Thermomat equipment. The stabilizing effect of zeolite on the increase in the induction period of the sample was considered to result from the absorption of HCl, a property that was thought to reduce the autocatalytic effect of HCl evolved at the initial stages of dehydrochlorination. Since the induction time of the sample having 0.53% of zinc stearate and 0.53% of zeolite was higher than those of the PVC plastigels having only zinc stearate or zeolite, the synergistic effect on thermal stability was observed at low leveles of these additives
Assessment of weld line performance of PP/Talc moldings produced in hot runner injection molds

Weld lines are weak regions in thermoplastic injection moldings caused by low molecular entanglement and unfavorable orientation. Their occurrence may lead to a significantly reduced mechanical performance of the
products. Therefore, when weld lines are likely to occur in molded products, they must be taken into account during the mechanical and technological design processes.
The weld lines become more critical when particulate fillers are compounded with the polymer. The performance of weld lines in talc-filled polypropylene box moldings produced with a double-gated hot runner
mold is assessed in this work. The processing conditions were varied in order to cause morphology and tensile-impact resistance changes. The weld performance
at room temperature was assessed in terms of the energy absorbed in the impact tests. It was found that the performance depends on the injection temperature, the injection rate, and the orientation of the talc particles in the weld-line plane.EU programme ALF
Formulation and properties' evaluation of PVC/(dioctyl phthalate)/ (epoxidized rubber seed oil) plastigels

Epoxidized rubber seed oil (4.5% oxirane content, ERSO) was prepared by treating the oil with peracetic acid generated in situ by reacting glacial acetic acid with hydrogen peroxide. The thermal behavior of the ERSO was determined by differential scanning calorimetry. The effect of the epoxidized oil on the thermal stability of poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) plastigels, formulated to contain dioctyl phthalate (DOP) plasticizer and various amounts of the epoxidized oil, was evaluated by using discoloration indices of the polymer samples degraded at 1600C for 30 min and thermogravimetry at a constant heating rate of 10°C/min up to 600°C. The thermal behavior of the ERSO was characterized by endothermic peaks at about 150°C, which were attributed to the formation of network structures via epoxide groups, and at temperatures above 300°C, which were due to the decomposition of the material. Up to 50% of the DOP plasticizer in the PVC plastisol formulation could be substituted by ERSO without a marked deleterious effect on the consistency of the plastigel formed. In the presence of the epoxidized oil, PVC plastigel samples showed a marked reduction in discoloration and the number of conjugated double bonds, as well as high temperatures for the attainment of specific extents of degradation. These results showed that the ERSO retarded/inhibited thermal dehydrochlorination and the formation of long (n > 6) polyene sequences in PVC plastigels. The plasticizer efficiency/permanence of ERSO in PVC/DOP plastigels was evaluated from mechanical properties' measurements, leaching/migration tests, and water vapor permeability studies. The results showed that a large proportion of DOP could be substituted by ERSO in a PVC plastisol formulation without deleterious effects on the properties of the plastigels
Peroxide crosslinking of rigid poly(vinyl chloride)

This is a pre-publication version of an article published in the journal, Journal of Vinyl & Additive Technology [© Wiley & Sons] and the definitive version is available at: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/Peroxide crosslinking of unplasticised poly(vinyl chloride), PVC with trimethylolpropane\ud
trimethacrylate (TMPTMA) has been investigated. Formulations used in this work contained a nontoxic\ud
lead free stabiliser and showed good colour and heat stability. The samples have been\ud
examined by differential scanning calorimeter(DSC) and tensile properties at room temperature and at\ud
130oC were measured. Gel content or tetrahydrofuran (THF) insoluble material was measured as an\ud
indication of crosslinking. It is shown that premature crosslinking can be avoided during processing.\ud
It was found that 190oC was the optimum processing temperature for maximum gel content. The\ud
residual unsaturation was monitored using FTIR
Surface resistivity and mechanical properties of rotationally molded polyethylene/graphite composites

Antistatic polymers are required to dissipate static charges safely from component surfaces. Our overall objective has been to develop cost-effective flame-retarded and antistatic polyethylene compounds suitable for rotomolding. This communication considers the surface resistivity and mechanical properties of rotationally molded linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)/graphite composites containing natural Zimbabwean graphite, expandable graphite, or expanded graphite. Dry blending and melt compounding were employed to obtain antistatic composites at the lowest graphite contents. Dry blending was found to be an effective mixing method for rotomolding antistatic LLDPE/graphite composites, thereby eliminating an expensive compounding step. Dry-blended Zimbabwean graphite composites showed the lowest surface resistivity at all graphite contents, with a surface resistivity of 105 Ω/square at 10 wt% loading. Although rotomolded powders obtained following the melt compounding of Zimbabwean graphite exhibited higher resistivity values, the variability was much lower. Injection molding resulted in surface resistivity values above 1014 Ω/square for all compositions used. The rotomolded composites exhibited poor mechanical properties, in contrast to injection-molded composites. The Halpin-Tsai model showed good fits to the tensile modulus data for injection-molded Zimbabwean and expandable graphite.Institutional Research Development Programme (IRDP) of the National Research Foundation of South Africa and Xyris Technology CC.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1548-0585hb201
EVA nanocomposites based on South African Koppies clay

South African Koppies bentonite was organo-modified with single tail and double tail alkyl
ammonium cationic surfactants with the latter intercalated both below and above the clay CEC.
Corresponding poly(ethylene-co-vinylacetate) nanocomposites were prepared by twin-screw melt
compounding. Transmission electron microscopy indicated the presence of mixed nano- and
micron-sized clay morphologies. X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the crystallinity of the
particles improved and that the d-spacing values increased on incorporating the clays in the
polymer matrix. It is postulated that, rather than indicating polymer co-intercalation, this is caused
by further intercalation of either excess surfactants or surfactant residues that were released by
shear delamination of the clays during compounding. Improved mechanical properties were
realized especially when using the clay containing the longer double tail surfactant
intercalated at levels in excess of the cation exchange capacity of the clay. The
nanocomposites showed improved tensile modulus and elongation at break values at the expense of a reduction in impact strength while tensile strength was about the same as for the
neat polymer.The Institutional Research Development Programme (IRDP), the South Africa/Mozambique Collaborative Programme of the National Research Foundation (NRF), and the Mozambican Research Foundation (FNI)http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1548-05852015-09-30hb201