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Surface photo voltage (SPV) measurement has become an important semiconductor characterization tool due to the availability of commercial equipment and its non-contact nature. In this study, we discuss the application of the SPV technique for the control and monitoring of ion implanters, specifically for quantifying and qualifying lattice damage and electrically-activated dopants due to ion implantation in p-type CZ silicon. For as- implanted silicon, a measured SPV response includes the implant induced defect density and provides a photo-carrier lifetime; for annealed wafers, SPV measures the surface depletion layer charge of the activated dopants. Using the corona-charging technique and fine-tuning the wavelength and intensity of the probing light allows SPV to be successfully applied to a wide range of implant conditions. In this study, the QC Solutions ICT-300reg system (based on ac-SPV technology) is used for the monitoring and process control of 18 fab implanters. Seven production recipes are monitored daily, allowing process control to be managed within 2 percent accuracy. The theory of small signal ac surface photo voltage and the principles of the technique are briefly discussed. A detailed explanation of the method and how it applies to implanter monitoring is provided. The ICT-300 system is used throughout the study to measure samples and collect presented data. The controlled processes reported are related to critical implant steps, including threshold adjust voltage, P well, and Halo implants. A detailed discussion of the threshold adjust voltage implant characterization and all pertinent aspects of the measurement process are presented.

Aims The goal of any incontinence surgery is overall long-term patient satisfaction. The purpose of our study was to assess long-term patient satisfaction following cadaveric fascia lata pubovaginal sling surgery using the urogenital distress inventory (UDI) and the short form of the incontinence impact questionnaire (IIQ-7). Materials and Methods A total of 47 patients who underwent pubovaginal sling incontinence surgery with a minimum follow-up of 2 years were sent by mail the UDI (total score = 300) and the IIQ-7 (total score = 100). Thirty-seven responses (78.7%) were obtained, with a mean follow-up of 3.8 years (range 2.0–6.2). Results Of the 37 patients who responded, the mean UDI score was 75.8 and the mean IIQ-7 score was 21.4. There was no difference in the mean IIQ-7 score for patients with more than 4 years follow-up as compared to the entire group (28.8, P = 0.22). In contrast, the mean UDI score for patients with more than 4 years follow-up was greater compared to the entire group (99.1, P = 0.04). UDI subscale analysis revealed that patients mainly complained of both irritative and stress symptoms as opposed to obstructive/discomfort symptoms (P

Renal lymphangiectasia is a rare renal condition. We present a case of bilateral renal lymphangiectasia in a 52-year-old man who presented with bilateral flank pain and gross hematuria. The clinical features, diagnosis and characteristic imaging findings are reviewed. This condition should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic renal masses in both children and adults.

Out-of-hospital intravenous line placement is used daily. All available studies take place using paramedics, e.g. US-American emergency medical system. The aim of this study was to assess the intravenous line placement feasibility (time and success rate) in the French emergency medical system.A prospective observational study was performed by a French out-of-hospital team during 3-month assessing the timing and success rates for intravenous line placement. All patients were enrolled at the emergency medical service of a university hospital in France. Six hundred and sixty-nine consecutive patients were included, 388 (58%) had at least one intravenous line placement in the out-of-hospital setting.Success rate was 76% at the first attempt and 98% at the second attempt. The overall success rate for intravenous line placement was 99.7% (only one failure), and the average successful intravenous line time was 4.4+/-2.8 min. Attempts ranged from 1 to 8. The time for intravenous line placement with blood sampling (58% of patients) is statistically longer than without (4.6+/-2.5 vs. 4.3+/-3 min, P0.05). Seventeen of the enrolled patients were trauma patients, and 83% were non-trauma patients. Four hundred and twenty-seven intravenous lines were placed, intravenous 10% had more than one intravenous line. Seventy-one percent of the intravenous lines were used to infuse drugs, the others were security intravenous. No significant difference was noticed between trauma and non-trauma patients in regard to the success rate and the time to place the intravenous line.The out-of-hospital team was skilled at intravenous line placement (success rate=99.7%), and the time required to performed intravenous line access was short.

Angiokeratomas are benign cutaneous vascular lesions characterized by dilated thin-walled blood vessels lying in the upper part of the dermis, mostly associated with an epidermal reaction such as acanthosis and/or hyperkeratosis. Angiokeratomas of Fordyce are predominantly located on the scrotum and are only rarely found on the penis and then usually on the glans penis. We report a rare case of angiokeratoma of Fordyce located on the shaft of the penis and associated with two recurrences after appropriate surgical excision.

Wilms' Tumor is the most common malignant neoplasm of the urinary tract in children. Since 1969, the National Wilms' Tumor Study Group (NWTSG) has contributed to improving the clinical management and outcome of children affected by Wilms' Tumor. We have managed our patients according to NWTSG protocols and report our results herein.Retrospective chart review of consecutive patients presenting at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) with a diagnosis of Wilms' Tumor between April 1990 and March 2001.Forty patients with Wilms' Tumor (18 M/22 F) were diagnosed at CHEO during this interval. Mean age at diagnosis was 28.5 months. The most common presenting feature was a palpable abdominal mass in 85%. An overgrowth syndrome was noted in 10%. Metastatic disease was present at diagnosis in 20%, with the lungs (75%) the most common site of involvement. Distribution of clinical stage: I = 40%, II = 20%, III = 20%, IV = 15%, V = 5%. Favorable histology (FH) was diagnosed in 82.5%, anaplasia in 12.5% and clear cell sarcoma (CCSK) in 5%. Nephrogenic rests were present in 43% (perilobar (PL) = 20%, intralobar (IL) = 18%, PL + IL = 5%). Recurrence of disease occurred in 10%, with lungs (100%) the most frequent site of relapse. Survival was significantly greater in stage I disease and in those patients with FH. Patient 4-year survival data: stage I (FH), 100%; stage II (FH), 80%; stage III (FH), 100%, stage IV (FH), 67%; stages I-IV (CCSK), 100%; stage V, 0%. Overall 4-year survival rates of patients with FH were 92% and of all patients in the study was 86%.The presentation of Wilms' Tumor at our institution mirrors that described in the literature. Importantly, by following NWTSG protocols we have achieved an outcome of overall 4-year patient survival comparable to the "gold standard". This demonstrates the utility of the NWTSG protocols as regards patient management of this relatively uncommon disease.

Nicotine is the primary compound present in tobacco that is responsible for establishing and maintaining tobacco dependence; dependent smokers adjust their smoking behavior to maintain peripheral and central nicotine levels. CYP2A6 is the enzyme responsible for the majority of the inactivation of nicotine in humans. This enzyme is also responsible for activating tobacco-related procarcinogens such as the nitrosamines. This paper outlines how genetic variation in the CYP2A6 gene may protect individuals from becoming nicotine-dependent smokers, and if dependent, how impairment of the CYP2A6 gene function decreases the number of cigarettes consumed by smokers (Pianezza M, Sellers EM, Tyndale RF. 1998. A common genetic defect in nicotine metabolism decreases smoking. Nature 393(6687):750). We also discuss recent findings which suggest that mimicking this gene defect by inhibiting CYP2A6 decreases nicotine metabolism and smoking. Further research is needed in order to improve our understanding of how genetic variation in CYP2A6 alters the risk for nicotine dependence and lowers nicotine consumption. This includes a better understanding of how the genetic variants alter nicotine metabolism in vivo in males and females as well as the role of CYP2A6 genetic variation in risk for tobacco-related cancers. In addition we need to gain a better understanding of how manipulating this enzyme could be used therapeutically in prevention and treatment of smoking as well as in exposure reduction.

Nicotine is the primary compound in tobacco that establishes and maintains tobacco dependence1. Most of this nicotine is metabolized to cotinine by the genetically variable enzyme CYP2A6. Here we show that individuals lacking full functional CYP2A6, who therefore have impaired nicotine metabolism, are significantly protected against becoming tobacco-dependent smokers. In addition, smokers whose nicotine metabolism is thus impaired smoke significantly fewer cigarettes than those with normal nicotine metabolism.

A l’origine de la loi de bioethique de 2004 promulguee alors qu’il etait ministre de la sante, Jean-Francois Mattei a lui-meme impose la remise en question de son texte dans un delai de cinq ans. Une attitude tres revelatrice de la reflexion permanente qui anime ce sage geneticien ayant mis ses carrieres medicale et politique au service de ses ideaux.

En periode de crise economique, la sante est, malheureusement, l’un des postes de depense sur lesquels de trop nombreux patients se decident a rogner : en renoncant totalement aux soins, en optant pour des services low cost ou en s’endettant sur plusieurs annees, quitte a payer, parfois, des taux d’interets exorbitants.

The authors consider the causes of bowel infarction and report the up-to-date diagnostic tools for optional treatment. They verify management and outcome of 97 cases treated during the last decade.

Introduction Les techniques d’imagerie permettent une « dissection »du Muscle Elevateur de l’Anus (MEA) sur le vivant. L’innocuite de l’Imagerie par Resonance Magnetique (I.R.M.) avec reconstruction tridimensionnelle (3D) autorise cette « dissection » a tous les âges. Materiel et methode Cinq sujets (un de sexe masculin et quatre de sexe feminin) âges de 5 a 71 ans ont beneficie d’une IRM (1,5 TESLA) du pelvis avec etude statique et sequences ponderees T1 et T2 dans les 3 plans de l’espace. L’analyse anatomique des MEA est effectuee sur les sequences natives ainsi que sur les reconstructions 3D (logiciel IN SPACE – Siemens). Resultats L’analyse anatomique des M.E.A. est possible chez tous les sujets. Les reconstructions 3D restent d’interpretation delicate chez les enfants. 1) La portion laterale presente au repos un aspect en dome surtout marque dans la partie posterieure ; 2) La portion mediale poursuit en dedans et vers le bas la portion laterale. Les deux portions mediales s’unissent sur la ligne mediane en avant et en arriere du canal anal. Les reconstructions 3D montrent la continuite des portions laterale et mediale et le caractere tenu de la portion laterale. Discussion : L’importance du M.E.A. en clinique et les donnees encore limitees dont on dispose aujourd’hui justifient la poursuite d’un travail de « dissection » sur le vivant. Les connaissances de ce muscle dans le domaine pediatrique ne reposent souvent que sur des extrapolations a partir des donnees obtenues chez l’adulte. Conclusion L’IRM et notamment grâce aux reconstructions 3D permet une approche plus globale et « in vivo » du MEA.