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This study is the first systematic effort to investigate psychological services provided to relatives of ICU patients at Nicosia General Hospital. Documentation of psychological sessions provided to relatives of ICU patients for the years 2011–2014 was analyzed. To investigate possible differences in the total number of sessions for the referenced years, the records were analyzed using patients’ demographics, the outcome of hospitalization and the total number of sessions with relatives. A questionnaire was sent to the ICU staff aiming to identify their perception towards the need for psychological support. A total number of 863 psychological sessions were conducted with 640 relatives of 345 patients hospitalized in the ICU. Results indicate that more sessions are recorded when the outcome of younger patients’ condition worsens, whereas the number of sessions decreases for older patients’ families. When comparing the personnel’s beliefs, regarding the importance of providing psychological services to different age groups, significant difference was found suggesting that the older the patient the less sessions they believe are required indicating a possible ageism bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barr L, Metaxas G, Harbach CA, et al. J Appl Toxicol 2012;32:219-232. The concentrations of five esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (parabens) were measured using HPLC-MS/MS at four serial locations across [...]

Vertebrobasilar occlusion poses difficult diagnostic issues and even when properly diagnosed has a poor prognosis. Newer studies highlight a better outcome when thrombectomy was carried out between six and twenty-four hours after an initial diagnosis of stroke. This paper reports a case where a patient suffered a vertebrobasilar stroke secondary to a traumatic bilateral vertebral arteries dissection was treated with late thrombectomy.

Copyright of Annals of 'Constantin Brancusi' University of Targu-Jiu. Engineering Series / Analele Universităţii Constantin Brâncuşi din Târgu-Jiu. Seria Inginerie is the property of Universitatea Constantin Brancusi din Targu-Jiu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background Mucinous cystic neoplasms arise in the ovary and various extra-ovarian sites. While their pathogenesis remains conjectural, their similarities suggest a common pathway of development. There have been rare reports involving the mesentery as a primary tumour site. Case presentation A cystic mass of uncertain origin was demonstrated radiologically in a 22 year old female with chronic abdominal pain. At laparotomy, the mass was fixed within the colonic mesentery. Histology demonstrated a benign mucinous cystadenoma. Methods and results We review the literature on mucinous cystic neoplasms of the mesentery and report on the pathogenesis, biologic behavior, diagnosis and treatment of similar extra-ovarian tumors. We propose an updated classification of mesenteric cysts and cystic tumors. Conclusion Mucinous cystic neoplasms of the mesentery present almost exclusively in women and must be considered in the differential diagnosis of mesenteric tumors. Only full histological examination of a mucinous cystic neoplasm can exclude a borderline or malignant component. An updated classification of mesenteric cysts and cystic tumors is proposed.

The article presents insights into a study which measured the concentrations of alkyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (parabens) in human breast for possible primary cancer in England between 2005 and 2008. Parabens were present in all mastectomized breasts, and were mostly found in the axillary region of the breast tissue. People are encouraged to select cosmetics that are free from parabens which may be transported to breast tissue not only through local application.

The purpose of this experimental study is to investigate whether acute fluid accumulation within the peripancreatic space would increase retro-peritoneal pressure, affecting thus pancreatic perfusion. Six adult male swine ventilated through tracheostomy and having catheters inserted into the right carotid and femoral arteries were used. After baseline systemic hemodynamics and intraabdominal and retroperitoneal pressures assessment, a suspension of color-labeled microspheres was injected into the left cardiac ventricle for pancreatic blood flow evaluation. It is concluded that retroperitoneal fluid collection increases retroperitoneal compartment pressure, leading to pancreatic tissue hypoperfusion.

The article reports on a study that was designed to investigate whether intraperitoneal application of phospholipids is capable of reducing post-operative adhesions in a standardized experimental model of abdominal trauma. Twenty male Wistar rats were subjected to a midline laparotomy and a standard peritoneal and cecum abrasion trauma. Before laparotomy closure a bolus of 3 mL of phospholipids or NaCl was given intraperitoneally. It is thus concluded that phospholipids prevent adhesion formation by means of their lubrication and anti-adhesive properties, as some previous studies have also shown. In addition, the reduction in proinflammatory/fibrogenic cytokines leads us to suggest an immunomodulatory mechanism of action.

Predictive tools provide a unique opportunity to explain the observed differences in outcome between patients of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to associate individual demographic and clinical characteristics with disease severity in COVID-19 patients and to highlight the importance of machine learning (ML) in disease prognosis. The study enrolled 344 unvaccinated patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Data collected by integrating questionnaires and medical records were imported into various classification machine learning algorithms, and the algorithm and the hyperparameters with the greatest predictive ability were selected for use in a disease outcome prediction web tool. Of 111 independent features, age, sex, hypertension, obesity, and cancer comorbidity were found to be associated with severe COVID-19. Our prognostic tool can contribute to a successful therapeutic approach via personalized treatment. Although at the present time vaccination is not considered mandatory, this algorithm could encourage vulnerable groups to be vaccinated.

A low profile wideband spiral antenna array is presented for global mid-band 5G beam steering applications. In the global rollout of mid-band 5G, different frequencies have been licensed within each region (e.g. 3.4-3.8 GHz in the EU and 3.7-5 GHz in the USA). Therefore, antenna arrays must be able to cover a bandwidth of 3.3 GHz to 5 GHz to provide true global coverage. Initially, this work presents the design of a wideband compressed spiral antenna that provides an axial beam throughout its operational bandwidth of 3.3 GHz to 5 GHz, enabling beam steering functionality. Then, this antenna has been placed in a 4 × 4 array with a triangular lattice. The proposed spiral antenna array can provide a scanning range of - 40° ≤ θ ≤  + 40° in all azimuth directions with an average back lobe level of less than - 9.5 dB. This development will allow for low-cost integration of 5G systems for global use, such as passenger aircraft, UAVs, drones, and marine and ground vehicles., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in humans, usually affecting elderly Caucasian men and skin regions mostly exposed to the sun, that rarely metastasizes. We report an unusual and aggressive case of multiple, non-syndromic metastatic BCC with an uncommon primary site in the chest and pulmonary metastases, treated successfully with surgery and vismodegib. A 51-year-old woman presented with a large pigmentary lesion of the chest, close to the sternum. She had the lesion for > 25 years and lately noticed multiple facial lesions. The diagnosis of multiple BCC was suspected and a punch biopsy of the primary lesion was performed. Diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemistry (BerEp4+, EMA- phenotype). After excision, staging with a thorax computed tomography scan revealed metastatic micro-nodules in the left lung, confirmed histologically after video-assisted thoracic surgical biopsy. Adjuvant chemotherapy with vismodegib was proposed and administered. At 30 days follow-up, thorax computed tomography scan was unaltered and her facial lesions showed significant regression. Although prognosis remains poor, early diagnosis and prompt management complimented by novel biological agents, like vismodegib, targeting disease pathogenesis, seems to bring promising results., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (©Copyright: the Author(s).)

Purpose: Human papillomavirus (HPV) involvement in cervical carcinogenesis represents a classical template of analyzing viral-mediated carcinogenesis. Our purpose was to investigate the role of abnormal cyclin D1 protein expression in HPV-mediated squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs)., Methods: Eighty cases characterized as squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) and also borderline cases with molecularly proven HPV infection were examined. Using liquid-based cytology, we constructed 10 slides, each containing 8 cell spots. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) was performed using an anti-Cyclin D1 antibody. Digital image analysis was also implemented for evaluating objectively the protein expression levels on the corresponding stained slides., Results: Cyclin D1 protein overexpression (moderate to high staining intensity values) was observed in 8/80 (10%) cell spots, whereas low expression rates were detected in 72/80 (90%) cases. Cyclin D1 overall expression was strongly associated with the HPV type group (HR-HPV) of the examined cases (p=0.001) and borderline with the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) categorization (p=0.06). Concerning the influence of marker's protein expression in SIL cytological categorization, no statistical significance was identified (p=0.10)., Conclusions: Cyclin D1 overexpression is observed in a subset of SILs developed by HR-HPV persistent infection in cervical epithelial host cells. Although SIL and CIN categorization seem to be not influenced by cyclin D1 expression levels, mechanisms of gene's deregulation should be a promising molecular target for discriminating specific genetic signatures in the corresponding initial cervical neoplastic lesions.

Purpose: To investigate differences in clinical features, MRI findings and tumor biomarker characteristics in screen-detected (SCD) and non-screendetected (NSCD) cancers., Material and Methods: A total of 62 women (mean age, 48.4 years; range, 33-68 years) with biopsy confirmed breast cancer who underwent preoperative breast MRI were retrospectively evaluated by two expert radiologists. The women were divided into two groups according to the mode of cancer detection (Group A: screen- detected, Group B: non-screen/symptomatic cancer) and clinical, histopathological, MRI characteristics and biomarker features in each group were evaluated., Results: NSCD tumors had significantly greater size (3.5 cm vs. 2.1 cm) and Ki-67 expression (68.4% vs. 41.7%) in comparison to SCD cancers. NSCD cancers were less likely to have strongly positive progesterone receptors (Pr) and more likely to have Ki-67 > 15% or positive nodal status (47.4% vs. 8.3%). Increased breast density (ACR C and D: 78.9% vs. 50%ACR A and B) and intense background parenchymal enhancement (BPE, moderate/marked: 42.1% vs. 8.3% minimal/mild) were significantly more frequent in NSCD cases., Conclusion: NSCD cancers had higher prevalence of poor prognostic characteristics in comparison to SCD tumors, including larger tumor size, higher Ki-67 index, and positive nodes. Increased fibroglandular tissue and intense BPE were both strongly associated with NSCD cancers, supporting their use as potential MR biomarkers in breast cancer risk models., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Purpose: Data about non-invasive follow-up of aneurysm after stent-assisted coiling is scarce. We aimed to compare time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) (3D-TOF-MRA) and contrast-enhanced MRA (CE-MRA) at 3-Tesla, with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for evaluating aneurysm occlusion and parent artery patency after stent-assisted coiling., Materials and Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, patients were included if they had an intracranial aneurysm treated by stent-assisted coiling between March 2008 and June 2015, followed with both MRA sequences (3D-TOF-MRA and CE-MRA) at 3-Tesla and DSA, performed in an interval<48hours., Results: Thirty-five aneurysms were included. Regarding aneurysm occlusion evaluation, agreement with DSA was better for CE-MRA (K=0.53) than 3D-TOF-MRA (K=0.28). Diagnostic accuracies for aneurysm remnant depiction were similar for 3D-TOF-MRA and CE-MRA (P=1). Both 3D-TOF-MRA (K=0.05) and CE-MRA (K=-0.04) were unable to detect pathological vessel compared to DSA, without difference in accuracy (P=0.68). For parent artery occlusion detection, agreement with DSA was substantial for 3D-TOF-MRA (K=0.64) and moderate for CE-MRA (K=0.45), with similar good diagnostic accuracies (P=1)., Conclusion: After stent-assisted coiling treatment, 3D-TOF-MRA and CE-MRA demonstrated good accuracy to detect aneurysm remnant (but tended to overestimation). Although CE-MRA agreement with DSA was better, there was no statistical difference between 3D-TOF-MRA and CE-MRA accuracies. Both MRAs were unable to provide a precise evaluation of in-stent status but could detect parent vessel occlusion., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)