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In restorative dentistry, acrylamide monomers bearing phosphonic acid moieties have proved to be useful species for the formulation of dental self-etch adhesives since they provide enhanced adhesion to hydroxyapatite and are not subject to hydrolysis, thus potentially improving their adhesive durability. Previous studies have demonstrated that phosphonic acid acrylamides increase the rate of photopolymerization of diacrylamide monomers. To understand whether this rate acceleration is specific to the acrylamide function of the monomer, or due to the phosphonic acid group per se, or is applicable only with a crosslinking reaction, we have synthesized several acrylamide and methacrylate monomers bearing phosphonic acid or phosphonate moieties and studied their photopolymerization kinetics. The acrylamide phosphonic acid was found to accelerate the polymerization rate but similar monomers bearing a phosphonate ester group had a much smaller effect. A similar accelerating effect was observed when the phosphonic acid-based monomers were copolymerized with a monofunctional acrylamide monomer, excluding the possibility that the rate acceleration might be related to the crosslinking process. This rate effect is also observed when a nonpolymerizable organic phosphonic acid is present in the polymerizing medium. We suggest that the increase of the medium polarity is responsible for this rate enhancement effect. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Switzerland, breast cancer is the leading cancer among women, with breast-conserving surgery (BCS) being the preferred treatment for small tumors. The margin status post-surgery is a critical predictor of local recurrence. Achieving negative margins remains a challenge, leading to re-excision in 20-30% of cases. Traditional methods like intraoperative examination palpation and radiography have limitations in assessing excised margins. This study introduces the Histolog ® Scanner, a confocal microscopy tool, as a potential solution. It provides real-time images of tissue architecture, allowing for rapid and accurate assessment of excised margins. Our research compared the Histolog ® Scanner with standard per-operative radiography in patients with non palpable breast cancer. Preliminary results indicate that the Histolog ® Scanner offers a reliable and time-efficient method for margin assessment, suggesting its potential for clinical integration.

Objective: To evaluate a novel technique for diaphragmatic full-thickness resection (DFTR) using a vascular stapler to perform cytoreductive surgeries in patients with advanced ovarian cancer., Study Design: Single-center retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer undergoing stapled diaphragmatic full-thickness resections (S-DFTRs) as part of cytoreductive surgeries between January 2018 and June 2022, according to the IDEAL recommendations., Results: Fifteen patients underwent cytoreductive surgeries with S-DFTRs. The median operative time was 300 (114-547) minutes. Cytoreduction was considered complete in all cases. All S-DFTRs were performed on the right diaphragm. Concomitant left diaphragmatic peritoneal stripping was performed in 5 cases (33.3%) and was associated with a conventional DFTR in 1 case (6.7%). Prophylactic intraoperative tube thoracostomy was never required. Four patients (26.7%) were admitted to the intensive care unit. Pleural effusion was observed in 9 patients (60.0%), and 4 (26.7%) required a postoperative pigtail catheter thoracostomy. Three patients (20.0%) required catheter placement on the right hemithorax (ipsilaterally to the S-DFTR) and 2 patients (13.3%) required catheters on the left hemithorax (contralaterally to the S-DFTR). Pneumothorax requiring tube thoracostomy was observed in 1 case (6.7%) on the left hemithorax (contralaterally to the S-DFTR). Pulmonary embolism and pneumonia were both observed once (6.7%). The median hospitalization length was 14 (5-36) days. During the follow-up, 6 patients (40.0%) had a recurrence, but none involved the pleura or the diaphragm. According to the IDEAL classification, this study could be ranked as stage 2a (development)., Conclusions: This technique appears to be a fast and safe method for performing diaphragmatic cytoreductive surgeries and could reduce postoperative complications., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer frequently present with peritoneal carcinomatosis, and a diaphragmatic involvement is observed in about 40% of cases. The goal of treatment includes complete surgical cytoreduction associated with systemic chemotherapy. Complete diaphragmatic cytoreduction is a crucial step and plays a major role in the overall survival of these patients. Deep infiltrating peritoneal carcinomatosis nodules are treated with diaphragmatic full-thickness resections, but these procedures involve opening the pleural cavity and are associated with a high rate of postoperative complications, such as pleural effusion and pneumothorax. A chest drain is often required, causing significant discomfort for the patients and potentially being an additional source of complications. In this study, we present a novel surgical technique to perform diaphragmatic resections using a linear stapler without opening the pleural cavity or needing a chest drain., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None declared., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

We derive an asymptotic model for wave propagation across a ferromagnetic film, neglecting anisotropy and damping, close to the ferromagnetic resonance. The resulting model is a nonlinear Schrödinger equation, which can be either focusing or defocussing, depending on the magnitude and direction of the external magnetic field. We use it to compute the nonlinear eigenmodes of standing spin waves, that can be excited in the film; the eigenmodes can be expressed using Jacobi's elliptic functions. It is shown that their frequency spectrum varies with the amplitude of the modes., (© 2020 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Chitosan, a renewable feedstock, is modified and used as a catalytic support in the presence of potassium iodide. The system is highly efficient towards the incorporation of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) into epoxides. It demonstrates very good thermal stability and is recyclable more than five times without loss of activity. The optimal reaction conditions were determined using allylglycidyl ether as a model and extended to a wide range of other epoxides. Cyclic carbonates were obtained with very high yield in a few hours under mild conditions (2-7 bar≈0.2-0.7 MPa, 80 °C) and no solvent., (© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Objective: This paper investigates the photo-co-polymerization behavior of a blend of a diacrylamide (DEBAAP) with a phosphonylated acidic monomer using either bis(acyl)phosphine oxide or camphorquinone/amine as photo-initiator and studies the effect of variation of the structure of the phosphonylated acidic monomer on the shear bond strength to human dentin., Methods: Photopolymerization kinetics has been assessed through the use of photo-DSC with either initiating system and with and without a phosphonic acid monomer, while the shear bond strengths (SBS) of dentin bonding agents formulated with several phosphonylated acidic monomers have been evaluated by macro SBS testing on human dentin., Results: Photo-DSC results show that bis(acyl)phosphine oxide initiates a faster polymerization than camphorquinone/amine and that both photopolymerizations are accelerated by the phosphonic acid monomer. Similar results were obtained between adhesives based on camphorquinone/amine and a commercial adhesive (AdheSE, Ivoclar-Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein). The best performances were obtained when BAPO was used as the initiator, in many cases far better than the commercial adhesive. Adhesive SEA6 based on difluoromethylphosphonic acid C demonstrated the best adhesion results of this study. Significance The bis(acyl)phosphine oxide photo-initiator causes faster photopolymerization of two-step self-etching dental adhesive, and its use could yield better bonding performance., (Copyright © 2016 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We show that direct measurement of the beam radius in Z-scan experiments using a CCD camera at the output of a 4f-imaging system allows higher sensitivity and better accuracy than Baryscan. One of the advantages is to be insensitive to pointing instability of pulsed lasers because no hard (physical) aperture is employed as in the usual Z-scan. In addition, the numerical calculations involved here and the measurement of the beam radius are simplified since we do not measure the transmittance through an aperture and it is not subject to mathematical artifacts related to a normalization process, especially when the diffracted light intensity is very low.

We consider the kick- (tilt-) induced mobility of two-dimensional (2D) fundamental dissipative solitons in models of bulk lasing media based on the 2D complex Ginzburg-Landau equation including a spatially periodic potential (transverse grating). The depinning threshold, which depends on the orientation of the kick, is identified by means of systematic simulations and estimated by means of an analytical approximation. Various pattern-formation scenarios are found above the threshold. Most typically, the soliton, hopping between potential cells, leaves arrayed patterns of different sizes in its wake. In the single-pass-amplifier setup, this effect may be used as a mechanism for the selective pattern formation controlled by the tilt of the input beam. Freely moving solitons feature two distinct values of the established velocity. Elastic and inelastic collisions between free solitons and pinned arrayed patterns are studied too.

Recently, some authors have examined the possibility of an interaction between proton pump inhibitors (especially omeprazole) and clopidogrel. Pharmacodynamically, this interaction is proven and leads to a reduction in anti-aggregation activity. Nevertheless, the clinical implications are not fully clarified. We are all waiting for a randomised prospective study assessing specifically this issue. Meanwhile, caution is recommended when prescribing PPI in patients taking clopidogrel.

Background: Migration of Latin Americans to the USA, Canada and Europe has modified Chagas disease distribution, but data on imported cases and on risks of local transmission remain scarce. We assessed the prevalence and risk factors for Chagas disease, staged the disease and evaluated attitudes towards blood transfusion and organ transplant among Latin American migrants in Geneva, Switzerland., Methodology/principal Findings: This cross-sectional study included all consecutive Latin American migrants seeking medical care at a primary care facility or attending two Latino churches. After completing a questionnaire, they were screened for Chagas disease with two serological tests (Biomérieux ELISA cruzi; Biokit Bioelisa Chagas). Infected subjects underwent a complete medical work-up. Predictive factors for infection were assessed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.1012 persons (females: 83%; mean age: 37.2 [SD 11.3] years, Bolivians: 48% [n = 485]) were recruited. 96% had no residency permit. Chagas disease was diagnosed with two positive serological tests in 130 patients (12.8%; 95%CI 10.8%-14.9%), including 127 Bolivians (26.2%; 95%CI 22.3%-30.1%). All patients were in the chronic phase, including 11.3% with cardiac and 0.8% with digestive complications. Predictive factors for infection were Bolivian origin (OR 33.2; 95%CI 7.5-147.5), reported maternal infection with T. cruzi (OR 6.9; 95%CI 1.9-24.3), and age older than 35 years (OR 6.7; 95%CI 2.4-18.8). While 22 (16.9%) infected subjects had already donated blood, 24 (18.5%) and 34 (26.2%) considered donating blood and organs outside Latin America, respectively., Conclusions: Chagas disease is highly prevalent among Bolivian migrants in Switzerland. Chronic cardiac and digestive complications were substantial. Screening of individuals at risk should be implemented in nonendemic countries and must include undocumented migrants.