Sample records for synchronous bilateral breast

  1. Synchronous Bilateral Male Breast Cancer: A Case Report

    PubMed Central

    Sun, Woo-Young; Lee, Ki-Hyeong; Lee, Ho-Chang; Ryu, Dong-Hee; Park, Jin-Woo; Yun, Hyo-Young

    2012-01-01

    Synchronous bilateral breast cancer is extremely rare in men and has not, up to date, been reported in Korea. A 54-year-old man presented with a palpable mass in the right breast. The right nipple was retracted and bilateral axillary accessory breasts and nipples were present. On physical examination, a 2 cm-sized mass was palpated directly under the right nipple, and, with squeezing, bloody discharge developed in a single duct of the left nipple. There was no palpable mass in the left breast, and axillary lymph nodes were not palpable. Physical examination of external genitalia revealed a unilateral undescended testis on the left side. Synchronous bilateral breast cancer was diagnosed using mammography, ultrasonography, and core-needle biopsy. Histopathological examination revealed invasive ductal carcinoma in the right breast and ductal carcinoma in situ in the left breast. Bilateral total mastectomy, sentinel lymph node biopsy, and excision of accessory breasts in the axilla were performed. PMID:22807945

  2. Synchronous bilateral male breast cancer: a case report.

    PubMed

    Sun, Woo-Young; Lee, Ki-Hyeong; Lee, Ho-Chang; Ryu, Dong-Hee; Park, Jin-Woo; Yun, Hyo-Young; Song, Young-Jin

    2012-06-01

    Synchronous bilateral breast cancer is extremely rare in men and has not, up to date, been reported in Korea. A 54-year-old man presented with a palpable mass in the right breast. The right nipple was retracted and bilateral axillary accessory breasts and nipples were present. On physical examination, a 2 cm-sized mass was palpated directly under the right nipple, and, with squeezing, bloody discharge developed in a single duct of the left nipple. There was no palpable mass in the left breast, and axillary lymph nodes were not palpable. Physical examination of external genitalia revealed a unilateral undescended testis on the left side. Synchronous bilateral breast cancer was diagnosed using mammography, ultrasonography, and core-needle biopsy. Histopathological examination revealed invasive ductal carcinoma in the right breast and ductal carcinoma in situ in the left breast. Bilateral total mastectomy, sentinel lymph node biopsy, and excision of accessory breasts in the axilla were performed.

  3. [Synchronous bilateral breast cancer in a male].

    PubMed

    García-Mejido, José Antonio; Delgado-Jiménez, Carmen; Gutiérrez-Palomino, Laura; Sánchez-Sevilla, Miguel; Iglesias-Bravo, Eva; Caballero-Fernández, Virginia

    2013-01-01

    male breast cancer is a disease with low incidence, which is further reduced when it comes to bilateral synchronous presentation. There are few published cases in recent years. The aim is to establish guidelines for the management of this disorder that is so rare. a 75-year-old with tumors in both breasts, which were completely resected with removal of palpable nodes. The histopathological study reported ductal carcinoma. The indicated treatment was adjuvant tamoxifen and radiotherapy. The patient is currently in a disease-free period. this is a rare disease, whose main treatment is surgery, hence the importance of early diagnosis. Most cases require adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy because they are usually diagnosed at an advanced stage.

  4. Three dimensional conformal radiotherapy for synchronous bilateral breast irradiation using a mono iso-center technique

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mani, Karthick Raj; Basu, Saumen; Bhuiyan, Md Anisuzzaman; Ahmed, Sharif; Sumon, Mostafa Aziz; Haque, Kh Anamul; Sengupta, Ashim Kumar; Un Nabi, Md Rashid; Das, K. J. Maria

    2017-06-01

    Objective: The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the synchronous bilateral breast irradiation radiotherapy technique using a single isocenter. Materials and Methods: Six patients of synchronous bilateral breast were treated with single isocenter technique from February 2011 to June 2016. All the patients underwent a CT-simulation using appropriate positioning device. Target volumes and critical structures like heart, lung, esophagus, thyroid, etc., were delineated slice by slice in the CT data. An isocenter was placed above the sternum on the skin and both medial tangential and lateral tangential of the breast / chest wall were created using asymmetrical jaws to avoid the beam divergence through the lung and heart. The field weighting were adjusted manually to obtain a homogenous dose distribution. The planning objectives were to deliver uniform doses around the target and keep the doses to the organ at risk within the permissible limit. The beam energy of 6 MV or combination of 6 MV and 15 MV photons were used in the tangential fields according to the tangential separation. Boluses were used for all the mastectomy patients to increase the doses on the chest wall. In addition to that enhanced dynamic wedge and field in field technique were also used to obtain a homogenous distribution around the target volume and reduce the hot spots. The isocenter was just kept on the skin, such that the beam junctions will be overlapped only on the air just above the sternum. Acute toxicity during the treatment and late toxicity were recorded during the patient's follow-up. Results: During the radiotherapy treatment follow-up there were no acute skin reactions in the field junctions, but one patient had grade 1 esophagitis and two patients had grade 2 skin reactions in the chest wall. With a median follow-up of 38.5 months (range: 8 - 49 months), no patients had a local recurrence, but one patients with triple negative disease had a distant metastases in brain and died

  5. Mucinous metaplasia of breast carcinoma with macrocystic transformation resembling ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma in a case of synchronous bilateral infiltrating ductal carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Lee, Sheng-Huang; Chaung, Chen-Rong

    2008-09-01

    Mammary mucinous cystadenocarcinoma (MCA) is a rare, invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast that is virtually identical morphologically to MCA of the ovary, pancreas or appendix. Synchronous bilateral breast tumors, not uncommonly encountered in fibroadenoma and lobular carcinoma, are unusual in IDC. Reported herein is a primary MCA of the right breast coexisting with a bilateral ordinary IDC in a 55-year-old Taiwanese woman who underwent modified radical mastectomy of both breasts with bilateral axillary level I and II lymph node dissection. In the right breast a 2.5 cm unilocular mucus-filled cyst was found. It had complex papillae, some of which were supported by delicate fibrovascular stroma, lined by simple to slightly stratified columnar neoplastic epithelial cells with intracellular mucin and an abundance of intracystic extracellular mucin, coexisting with a low-grade ordinary IDC. In the left breast a high-grade ordinary IDC was discovered. The patient had undergone simple abdominal total hysterectomy for myoma uteri along with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy 10 years previously. Based on pathological studies and a literature review, it is suggested that mammary MCA arises from mucinous metaplasia and macrocystic transformation of ordinary breast carcinoma. A brief discussion of bilateral breast cancers is also given.

  6. Use of tomotherapy in treatment of synchronous bilateral breast cancer: dosimetric comparison study

    PubMed Central

    Wadasadawala, T; Sarin, R; Upreti, R R; Paul, S; Phurailatpam, R

    2015-01-01

    Objective: Synchronous malignancy in both breasts is a rare incidence. The present study aims at dosimetric comparison of conventional bitangential radiotherapy (RT) technique with conventional [field-in-field (FIF)] and rotational [Helical TomoTherapy® and TomoDirect™ (TD); Accuray Inc., Sunnyvale, CA] intensity-modulated RT for patients with synchronous bilateral breast cancer (SBBC). Methods: CT data sets of 10 patients with SBBC were selected for the present study. RT was planned for all patients on both sides to whole breast and/or chest wall using the above-mentioned techniques. Six females with breast conservation on at least one side also had a composite plan along with tumour bed (TB) boost using sequential electrons for bitangential and FIF techniques or sequential helical tomotherapy (HT) boost (for TD) or simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) for HT. Results: All techniques produced acceptable target coverage. The hotspot was significantly lower with FIF technique and HT but higher with TD. For the organs at risk doses, HT resulted in significant reduction of the higher dose volumes. Similarly, TD resulted in significant reduction of the mean dose to the heart and total lung by reducing the lower dose volumes. All techniques of delivering boost to the TB were comparable in terms of target coverage. HT-SIB markedly reduced mean doses to the total lung and heart by specifically lowering the higher dose volumes. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the cardiac and pulmonary sparing ability of tomotherapy in the setting of SBBC. Advances in knowledge: This is the first study demonstrating feasibility of treatment of SBBC using tomotherapy. PMID:25605345

  7. Synchronous bilateral carcinoma of the breasts occurring in a young woman with a history of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis in infancy.

    PubMed

    Churn, M; Davies, C; Slater, A

    1999-01-01

    We report the case history of a 28-year-old woman who developed synchronous bilateral carcinoma of the breasts, having been diagnosed with multisystem Langerhans' cell histiocytosis in infancy. She had been treated with vinblastine and corticosteroids for 3 years and made a full recovery without late sequelae. We review the association of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis and its treatment with subsequent malignancy, with particular reference to carcinoma of the breast, and discuss the possible causes.

  8. A case of synchronous metastasis of breast cancer to stomach and colon.

    PubMed

    Takeuchi, Hideya; Hiroshige, Shozi; Yoshikawa, Yasuji; Kusumoto, Tetusya; Muto, Yoichi

    2012-09-01

    A case of synchronous metastasis of breast cancer to the stomach and colon is reported. A 38-year-old woman with a history of bilateral breast cancer was admitted for endoscopic examination because of occult blood. Endoscopic examination showed elevated lesions on the mucosal surface of the stomach and cecum. Histopathological examination of the biopsy specimens obtained from both sites showed adenocarcinoma, comprised of tumor cells with structural and nuclear atypia, which were similar to those of the primary breast cancer cells. In immunohistochemical analysis, these tumor cells stained positive for ER. Therefore, we diagnosed a synchronous metastasis of breast cancer to the stomach and colon. Synchronous metastasis of breast cancer to the stomach and colon without liver metastasis or peritoneal dissemination is extremely rare, with only 4 reported cases existing in literature.

  9. Idiopathic bilateral male breast abscess.

    PubMed

    Sinha, Rajan Kumar; Sinha, Mithilesh Kumar; Gaurav, Kumar; Kumar, Amar

    2014-03-10

    A 38-year-old man presented with bilateral breast swelling, along with pain and redness for 7 days. Bilateral axillary nodes were also palpable; which were multiple and discrete. A provisional diagnosis of bilateral breast abscess was made with suspicion of underlying malignancy. Incision and drainage through subareolar incision was performed and the adjoining tissue was excised and sent for histopathological examination.

  10. Idiopathic bilateral male breast abscess

    PubMed Central

    Sinha, Rajan Kumar; Sinha, Mithilesh Kumar; Gaurav, Kumar; Kumar, Amar

    2014-01-01

    A 38-year-old man presented with bilateral breast swelling, along with pain and redness for 7 days. Bilateral axillary nodes were also palpable; which were multiple and discrete. A provisional diagnosis of bilateral breast abscess was made with suspicion of underlying malignancy. Incision and drainage through subareolar incision was performed and the adjoining tissue was excised and sent for histopathological examination. PMID:24614823

  11. Subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for synchronous bilateral lung resection.

    PubMed

    Yang, Xueying; Wang, Linlin

    2018-01-01

    With advancements in medical imaging and current emphasis on regular physical examinations, multiple pulmonary lesions increasingly are being detected, including bilateral pulmonary lesions. Video-assisted thoracic surgery is an important method for treating such lesions. Most of video-assisted thoracic surgeries for bilateral pulmonary lesions were two separate operations. Herein, we report a novel technique of synchronous subxiphoid uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery for bilateral pulmonary lesions. Synchronous bilateral lung resection procedures were performed through a single incision (~4 cm, subxiphoid). This technique was used successfully in 11 patients with bilateral pulmonary lesions. There were no intraoperative deaths or mortality recorded at 30 days. Our results show that the subxiphoid uniportal thoracoscopic procedure is a safe and feasible surgical procedure for synchronous bilateral lung resection with less surgical trauma, postoperative pain and better cosmetic results in qualifying patients. Further analysis is ongoing, involving a larger number of subjects.

  12. Synchronous bilateral warthin tumors: a case report.

    PubMed

    Nascimento, Luiz Augusto; Ferreira, Julia Alessandra Santos; Pio, Raquel Baptista; Takano, Gustavo Henrique Soares; Miziara, Hélcio Luiz

    2014-04-01

    Introduction Warthin tumor is described as papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum and is the second most common tumor of the parotid glands. Bilateral synchronous incidence is rare, occurring in 7 to 10% of the cases. It is more common in males between 60 and 70 years of age and is closely related to smoking. There is slow growth and the condition is a delimited nodule of regular outlines; it has low rates of malignant progression and recurrence. Objective Report a case of synchronous bilateral Warthin tumor occurring in an elderly patient, and review incidence and peculiarities of this tumor. Case Report A 78-year-old man who used to smoke had a history of mild pain in the topography of right parotid three weeks ago. Patient with hypertension, diabetes and a longtime smoker (smoking a pack per day for 32 years) noticed a progressive bulging in the right parotid region for about 2.5 years ago, and noticed another progressive bulging (althought in the left parotid region), for about one year ago. Patient denied fever, redness, skin lesions and pain during this period until last three weeks, when he sought medical attention for a mild pain in the right facial region. The patient underwent cervical magnetic resonance imaging that showed tumor lesions in both parotids. Fine needle aspiration revealed a typical lesion of epithelial oxyphilic cells associated with reactive lymphoid proliferation, suggesting Warthin tumor. The patient underwent two superficial parotidectomies, and the histopathologic result from both tumors of parotid glands showed papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum. Conclusion The occurrence of synchronous bilateral Warthin tumor is extremely rare, and anamnesis and physical examination, as well as some complementary examinations, are important means for diagnostic evaluation. Confirmation of the diagnosis can only be obtained through a histopathologic study. A superficial or total parotidectomy is the recommended treatment for the disease.

  13. Synchronous Bilateral Warthin Tumors: A Case Report

    PubMed Central

    Nascimento, Luiz Augusto; Ferreira, Julia Alessandra Santos; Pio, Raquel Baptista; Takano, Gustavo Henrique Soares; Miziara, Hélcio Luiz

    2013-01-01

    Introduction Warthin tumor is described as papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum and is the second most common tumor of the parotid glands. Bilateral synchronous incidence is rare, occurring in 7 to 10% of the cases. It is more common in males between 60 and 70 years of age and is closely related to smoking. There is slow growth and the condition is a delimited nodule of regular outlines; it has low rates of malignant progression and recurrence. Objective Report a case of synchronous bilateral Warthin tumor occurring in an elderly patient, and review incidence and peculiarities of this tumor. Case Report A 78-year-old man who used to smoke had a history of mild pain in the topography of right parotid three weeks ago. Patient with hypertension, diabetes and a longtime smoker (smoking a pack per day for 32 years) noticed a progressive bulging in the right parotid region for about 2.5 years ago, and noticed another progressive bulging (althought in the left parotid region), for about one year ago. Patient denied fever, redness, skin lesions and pain during this period until last three weeks, when he sought medical attention for a mild pain in the right facial region. The patient underwent cervical magnetic resonance imaging that showed tumor lesions in both parotids. Fine needle aspiration revealed a typical lesion of epithelial oxyphilic cells associated with reactive lymphoid proliferation, suggesting Warthin tumor. The patient underwent two superficial parotidectomies, and the histopathologic result from both tumors of parotid glands showed papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum. Conclusion The occurrence of synchronous bilateral Warthin tumor is extremely rare, and anamnesis and physical examination, as well as some complementary examinations, are important means for diagnostic evaluation. Confirmation of the diagnosis can only be obtained through a histopathologic study. A superficial or total parotidectomy is the recommended treatment for the disease. PMID

  14. Including internal mammary lymph nodes in radiation therapy for synchronous bilateral breast cancer: an international survey of treatment technique and clinical priorities.

    PubMed

    Roumeliotis, M; Long, K; Phan, T; Graham, D; Quirk, S

    2018-06-05

    The aim of this study was to understand the international standard practice for radiation therapy treatment techniques and clinical priorities for institutions including the internal mammary lymph nodes (IMLNs) in the target volume for patients with synchronous bilateral breast cancer. An international survey was developed to include questions that would provide awareness of favored treatment techniques, treatment planning and delivery resource requirements, and the clinical priorities that may lead to the utilization of preferred treatment techniques. Of the 135 respondents, 82 indicated that IMLNs are regularly included in the target volume for radiation therapy (IMLN-inclusion) when the patient is otherwise generally indicated for regional nodal irradiation. Of the 82 respondents that regularly include IMLNs, five were removed as those respondents do not treat this population synchronously. Of the 77 respondents, institutional standard of care varied significantly, though VMAT (34%) and combined static photon and electron fields (21%) were the most commonly utilized techniques. Respondents did preferentially select target volume coverage (70%) as the most important clinical priority, followed by normal tissue sparing (25%). The results of the survey indicate that the IMLN-inclusion for radiation therapy has not yet been comprehensively adopted. As well, no consensus on best practice for radiation therapy treatment techniques has been reached.

  15. Bilateral DCIS following gynecomastia surgery. Role of nipple sparing mastectomy. A case report and review of literature☆

    PubMed Central

    Noor, L.; McGovern, P.; Bhaskar, P.; Lowe, J.W.

    2011-01-01

    Bilateral ductal carcinoma in situ of breast is a very rare disease in men. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is an abnormal proliferation that involves the ductal epithelium and it has the potential of evolving into an invasive tumour. Gynaecomastia (female like breast in men) is a benign condition though it is associated with a reported 3% incidence of unilateral invasive breast cancer.2 Synchronous bilateral breast cancer in association with gynaecomastia is exceptionally rare. The recommended treatment for DCIS in male is mastectomy. So far only 2 cases of bilateral DCIS in male patients has been reported in the literature treated with skin and nipple sparing mastectomies. We report another case of synchronous bilateral DCIS in a male treated with skin and nipple sparing mastectomies. A 44 year-old man with history of long-standing gynecomastia. He had no identifiable risk factor for the development of cancer. His pre operative assessment of breast including mammograms was normal. He underwent bilateral subcutaneous mastectomies, with subsequent incidental diagnosis of synchronous bilateral ductal carcinoma in situ. The case was discussed in multidisciplinary team meeting and the need for further surgery was felt including excision of nipple areola complex. However considering patient wishes, cosmetic outcome and recent literature it was decided to preserve nipple areola complex (NAC) with regular follow up evaluation. Our patient at completion of 18 months of treatment is doing well with no signs of local recurrence. PMID:22096697

  16. Automated assessment of bilateral breast volume asymmetry as a breast cancer biomarker during mammographic screening

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Williams, Alex C.; Hitt, Austin; Voisin, Sophie; Tourassi, Georgia

    2013-03-01

    The biological concept of bilateral symmetry as a marker of developmental stability and good health is well established. Although most individuals deviate slightly from perfect symmetry, humans are essentially considered bilaterally symmetrical. Consequently, increased fluctuating asymmetry of paired structures could be an indicator of disease. There are several published studies linking bilateral breast size asymmetry with increased breast cancer risk. These studies were based on radiologists' manual measurements of breast size from mammographic images. We aim to develop a computerized technique to assess fluctuating breast volume asymmetry in screening mammograms and investigate whether it correlates with the presence of breast cancer. Using a large database of screening mammograms with known ground truth we applied automated breast region segmentation and automated breast size measurements in CC and MLO views using three well established methods. All three methods confirmed that indeed patients with breast cancer have statistically significantly higher fluctuating asymmetry of their breast volumes. However, statistically significant difference between patients with cancer and benign lesions was observed only for the MLO views. The study suggests that automated assessment of global bilateral asymmetry could serve as a breast cancer risk biomarker for women undergoing mammographic screening. Such biomarker could be used to alert radiologists or computer-assisted detection (CAD) systems to exercise increased vigilance if higher than normal cancer risk is suspected.

  17. Breast Cancer with Synchronous Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Rare Presentation.

    PubMed

    Arjunan, Ravi; Kumar, Durgesh; Kumar, K V Veerendra; Premlatha, C S

    2016-10-01

    Primary cancer arising from multiple organs is a well known fact. Synchronous tumours have been most commonly associated with kidney cancer. Bladder, prostate, colorectal and lung cancer are the most common synchronous primaries with Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) identified till date. We found metachronous tumours of breast with RCC in literature search which included both metastatic tumours as well second primaries. Overall, 25 cases of metastatic breast tumours and eight cases of second primary in previously treated RCC have been reported in the literature. Here, we are reporting a case of synchronous presentation of carcinoma breast with RCC which is very rare because most of the multiple malignancies reported in the literature are metastatic tumours or metachronous breast malignancy with RCC.

  18. Breast Cancer with Synchronous Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Rare Presentation

    PubMed Central

    Arjunan, Ravi; Kumar, K V Veerendra; Premlatha, C S

    2016-01-01

    Primary cancer arising from multiple organs is a well known fact. Synchronous tumours have been most commonly associated with kidney cancer. Bladder, prostate, colorectal and lung cancer are the most common synchronous primaries with Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) identified till date. We found metachronous tumours of breast with RCC in literature search which included both metastatic tumours as well second primaries. Overall, 25 cases of metastatic breast tumours and eight cases of second primary in previously treated RCC have been reported in the literature. Here, we are reporting a case of synchronous presentation of carcinoma breast with RCC which is very rare because most of the multiple malignancies reported in the literature are metastatic tumours or metachronous breast malignancy with RCC. PMID:27891445

  19. Four-flap Breast Reconstruction: Bilateral Stacked DIEP and PAP Flaps

    PubMed Central

    Mayo, James L.; Allen, Robert J.

    2015-01-01

    Background: In cases of bilateral breast reconstruction when the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) free flap alone does not provide sufficient volume for body-specific reconstruction, stacking each DIEP flap with a second free flap will deliver added volume and maintain a purely autologous reconstruction. Stacking the profunda artery perforator (PAP) flap with the DIEP flap offers favorable aesthetics and ideal operative efficiency. We present the indications, technique, and outcomes of our experience with 4-flap breast reconstruction using stacked DIEP/PAP flaps. Methods: The authors performed 4-flap DIEP/PAP breast reconstruction in 20 patients who required bilateral reconstruction without adequate single donor flap volume. The timing of reconstruction, average mastectomy/flap weights, and operative time are reported. Complications reviewed include fat necrosis, dehiscence, hematoma, seroma, mastectomy flap necrosis, and flap loss. Results: Twenty patients underwent 4-flap DIEP/PAP breast reconstruction. Surgical time averaged 7 hours and 20 minutes. The primary recipient vessels were the antegrade and retrograde internal mammary vessels. No flap losses occurred. Complications included 1 hematoma, 1 incidence of arterial and venous thrombosis successfully treated with anastomotic revision, 1 incidence of thigh donor site dehiscence, and 3 episodes of minor mastectomy skin flap necrosis. Conclusions: Four-flap breast reconstruction is a favorable autologous reconstructive option for patients requiring bilateral reconstruction without adequate single donor flap volume. Stacking DIEP/PAP flaps as described is both safe and efficient. Furthermore, this combination provides superior aesthetics mirroring the natural geometry of the breast. Bilateral stacked DIEP/PAP flaps represent our first choice for breast reconstruction in this patient population. PMID:26090273

  20. Bilateral breast keloids in an elderly woman associated with bilateral breast cancers and high concentration of serum tumor growth factor-β.

    PubMed

    Sakaguchi, Masanobu; Fukumoto, Takeshi; Fujishima, Fumiyoshi; Fukuda, Kaori; Kozaru, Takeshi; Ban, Masao; Oka, Masahiro

    2017-11-01

    We report a case of bilateral annular breast keloids in a 72-year-old woman who had been suffering from bilateral breast cancers. Histopathologically, the keloids showed unique distribution of α-SMA+, CD34- myofibroblasts and α-SMA-, CD34+ fibroblasts depending on the region. High serum levels of tumor growth factor-β were detected at 6 months after the development of the breast keloids, but not at 10 months. CD163-positive cells were abundantly detected in the skin of the elevated portion of the keloids. In contrast, these cells were considerably less numerous in the skin of the central healing portion compared with the skin of the elevated expanding portion. One interesting idea based on these results is that high levels of tumor growth factor-β released from CD163-positive cells played a crucial role in the formation of breast keloids through active induction of fibroblast differentiation into myofibroblasts. The present case strongly supports the previously proposed idea that keloids can form as a paraneoplastic phenomenon in breast cancer patients with keloid constitution. © 2017 Japanese Dermatological Association.

  1. A synchronized computational architecture for generalized bilateral control of robot arms

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bejczy, Antal K.; Szakaly, Zoltan

    1987-01-01

    This paper describes a computational architecture for an interconnected high speed distributed computing system for generalized bilateral control of robot arms. The key method of the architecture is the use of fully synchronized, interrupt driven software. Since an objective of the development is to utilize the processing resources efficiently, the synchronization is done in the hardware level to reduce system software overhead. The architecture also achieves a balaced load on the communication channel. The paper also describes some architectural relations to trading or sharing manual and automatic control.

  2. Bilateral Breast Reconstruction with Extended Thoracodorsal Artery Perforator Propeller Flaps and Implants

    PubMed Central

    Gunnarsson, Gudjon L.; Børsen-Koch, Mikkel; Nielsen, Henrik T.; Salzberg, Andrew

    2015-01-01

    Summary: We present our experience of bilateral total breast reconstruction using a double-sided extended thoracodorsal artery perforator propeller flap in a case series of 10 patients. Reconstruction was successfully achieved in all cases with few complications. The median time for surgery was 275 minutes (200–330), and the average implant size used was 350 cm3 (195–650). We demonstrate how the extended thoracodorsal artery perforator propeller flap allows for a swift and reliable direct to implant bilateral total breast reconstruction in a simple setting and is a valuable adjunct to our armamentarium of techniques for single-stage bilateral breast reconstruction. PMID:26180736

  3. Outcomes evaluation following bilateral breast reconstruction using latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps.

    PubMed

    Losken, Albert; Nicholas, Claire S; Pinell, Ximena A; Carlson, Grant W

    2010-07-01

    The demand for bilateral breast reconstruction has recently increased. Although numerous options exist, the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap remains a popular technique. The benefits of additional autologous coverage are evident; however, donor site morbidity does exist. The purpose of this report is to evaluate our experience with bilateral latissimus dorsi breast reconstructions, focusing on donor site morbidity and patient satisfaction. All patients who underwent bilateral latissimus dorsi breast reconstruction at Emory University Hospital, were evaluated and included in the series. Data points queried included patient demographics, risk factors, radiation therapy, timing of the procedure (immediate or delayed), type of procedure (latissimus dorsi only, latissimus dorsi with expander, latissimus dorsi with implant), and outcomes. Outcomes included >1 additional operation, any breast and any donor-site complications. A patient satisfaction survey was performed evaluating outcomes such as aesthetic results, general satisfaction, morbidities, and functional assessment. Comparisons were made using radiation therapy, timing of reconstruction, and type of reconstruction as variables. Eighty-three patients underwent bilateral latissimus dorsi breast reconstruction with an average follow-up of 2.3 years. The method of reconstruction included latissimus dorsi with expander (n = 54), latissimus dorsi only (n = 17), and latissimus dorsi with implant (n = 12). Breast complications occurred in 34% of the patients with radiation therapy being a significant risk factor. The average number of secondary operations was 2.3 with the expander group resulting in an increased need for additional procedures. Overall patient satisfaction was 3.93/5, with the average symmetry score being 3.82/5, shape 3.84/5, nipple position 3.92/5, and inframammary fold (IMF) position 4/5. The majority of patients (n = 28/37) reported no pain (0/5) at the time of the survey. Most patients (n = 33

  4. Tamoxifen Citrate, Letrozole, Anastrozole, or Exemestane With or Without Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Invasive RxPONDER Breast Cancer

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-06-11

    Ductal Breast Carcinoma In Situ; Estrogen Receptor and/or Progesterone Receptor Positive; HER2/Neu Negative; Invasive Breast Carcinoma; Multicentric Breast Carcinoma; Multifocal Breast Carcinoma; Synchronous Bilateral Breast Carcinoma

  5. Association between unilateral or bilateral mastectomy and breast cancer death in patients with unilateral ductal carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Agarwal, Shailesh; Pappas, Lisa; Agarwal, Jayant

    2017-01-01

    Utilization of bilateral mastectomy for unilateral breast cancer is increasing despite cost and surgical risks with conflicting reports of survival benefit. Current studies evaluating death after bilateral mastectomy have included patients treated both with breast conservation therapy and unilateral mastectomy. In this study, we directly compared breast cancer-specific death of patients who underwent bilateral or unilateral mastectomy for unilateral breast cancer using a matched cohort analysis. This was an observational study of women diagnosed with unilateral breast cancer from 1998 through 2002, using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. A 4-to-1 matched cohort of patients was selected including 14,075 patients. Mortality of the groups was compared using Cox proportional hazards models for cause-specific death. A total of 41,510 patients diagnosed with unilateral breast cancer were included. Unilateral mastectomy was performed in 93% of patients, while bilateral mastectomy was performed in the remaining 7% of patients. When 4-to-1 matching was performed, 11,260 unilateral mastectomy and 2,815 bilateral mastectomy patients were included. Patients with bilateral mastectomy did not have a significantly lower hazard of breast cancer-specific death when compared with patients with unilateral mastectomy (hazard ratio: 0.92 vs 1.00, p =0.11). Bilateral mastectomy did not provide a clinically or statistically significant breast cancer-specific mortality benefit over unilateral mastectomy based on a matched cohort analysis of a nationwide population database. These findings should be interpreted in the context of patient preference and alternative benefits of bilateral mastectomy.

  6. Association between unilateral or bilateral mastectomy and breast cancer death in patients with unilateral ductal carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Agarwal, Shailesh; Pappas, Lisa; Agarwal, Jayant

    2017-01-01

    Background Utilization of bilateral mastectomy for unilateral breast cancer is increasing despite cost and surgical risks with conflicting reports of survival benefit. Current studies evaluating death after bilateral mastectomy have included patients treated both with breast conservation therapy and unilateral mastectomy. In this study, we directly compared breast cancer–specific death of patients who underwent bilateral or unilateral mastectomy for unilateral breast cancer using a matched cohort analysis. Methods This was an observational study of women diagnosed with unilateral breast cancer from 1998 through 2002, using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. A 4-to-1 matched cohort of patients was selected including 14,075 patients. Mortality of the groups was compared using Cox proportional hazards models for cause-specific death. Results A total of 41,510 patients diagnosed with unilateral breast cancer were included. Unilateral mastectomy was performed in 93% of patients, while bilateral mastectomy was performed in the remaining 7% of patients. When 4-to-1 matching was performed, 11,260 unilateral mastectomy and 2,815 bilateral mastectomy patients were included. Patients with bilateral mastectomy did not have a significantly lower hazard of breast cancer–specific death when compared with patients with unilateral mastectomy (hazard ratio: 0.92 vs 1.00, p=0.11). Conclusion Bilateral mastectomy did not provide a clinically or statistically significant breast cancer–specific mortality benefit over unilateral mastectomy based on a matched cohort analysis of a nationwide population database. These findings should be interpreted in the context of patient preference and alternative benefits of bilateral mastectomy. PMID:29180900

  7. Bilateral Breast Metastases from Vulvar Carcinoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

    PubMed Central

    Kalogerakos, K.; Dimopoulos, Johannes Carl Athanasios; Kalinoglou, N.

    2017-01-01

    Vulvar carcinoma is a rare disease that accounts for 3–5% of all gynecologic malignancies. Breast represents an unusual site of metastasis and only a few cases are reported. We describe the first case of bilateral metastatic breast carcinoma of vulvar origin, at an 80-year-old female patient. Six months after treatment of her primary disease, she presented with bilateral metastatic squamous cell breast carcinoma. Diagnosis was based on clinical, radiological, and histological facts. Breast although rare is another potential site of metastasis in vulvar cancer and thus mammary gland examination should be considered in the follow-up of these patients. Differential diagnosis between primary and metastatic lesions is of utmost importance for appropriate management. PMID:28487793

  8. Bilateral breast abscess: a rare complication of enteric fever.

    PubMed

    Singh, S; Pandya, Y; Rathod, J; Trivedi, S

    2009-01-01

    Breast abscess is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus in pregnant or lactating females. Salmonella spp. is occasionally associated with abscess formation in various organs, but breast abscess is a very rare complication. In enteric fever dissemination to multiple organ systems following bacteraemia can lead to localized abscess. We report a case of bilateral breast abscess due to Salmonella Typhi in an unmarried 35-year-old female without any predisposing conditions. She presented with fever and painful swelling of both the breasts. S. typhi was isolated from both breasts. Such rare cause must be suspected in females without any evident predisposing factors for effective management.

  9. Bilateral breast enlargement in a male toddler: an unusual cause.

    PubMed

    Sharma, Rajni; Jain, Vandana

    2009-11-01

    We report a case of a two and a half yr old boy who presented with complaint of bilateral asymmetrical breast enlargement since infancy. On examination, he had features of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Complete endocrinological evaluation was normal. Trucut biopsy of the breast revealed overgrowth of fibrocollagenous and adipose tissue without hyperplasia of breast parenchyma. Thus a diagnosis of NF1 with pseudogynecomastia was made.

  10. Computerized mass detection in whole breast ultrasound images: reduction of false positives using bilateral subtraction technique

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ikedo, Yuji; Fukuoka, Daisuke; Hara, Takeshi; Fujita, Hiroshi; Takada, Etsuo; Endo, Tokiko; Morita, Takako

    2007-03-01

    The comparison of left and right mammograms is a common technique used by radiologists for the detection and diagnosis of masses. In mammography, computer-aided detection (CAD) schemes using bilateral subtraction technique have been reported. However, in breast ultrasonography, there are no reports on CAD schemes using comparison of left and right breasts. In this study, we propose a scheme of false positive reduction based on bilateral subtraction technique in whole breast ultrasound images. Mass candidate regions are detected by using the information of edge directions. Bilateral breast images are registered with reference to the nipple positions and skin lines. A false positive region is detected based on a comparison of the average gray values of a mass candidate region and a region with the same position and same size as the candidate region in the contralateral breast. In evaluating the effectiveness of the false positive reduction method, three normal and three abnormal bilateral pairs of whole breast images were employed. These abnormal breasts included six masses larger than 5 mm in diameter. The sensitivity was 83% (5/6) with 13.8 (165/12) false positives per breast before applying the proposed reduction method. By applying the method, false positives were reduced to 4.5 (54/12) per breast without removing a true positive region. This preliminary study indicates that the bilateral subtraction technique is effective for improving the performance of a CAD scheme in whole breast ultrasound images.

  11. Synchronous of breast and vulvar Paget's disease: a case report.

    PubMed

    Cooper, J C; Hew, K E; Audlin, K M; Im, D D; Matsuo, K

    2012-01-01

    Synchronous Paget's disease of breast and vulva is extremely rare and has only been reported in the literature in one other case. A 58-year-old postmenopausal woman was found to have crusting, bleeding, and discharge from left nipple, as well as vulvar pruritis at the same time. Biopsy of breast lesion demonstrated Paget's disease with an underlying foci of ductal carcinoma in-situ that required total mastectomy of left breast with sentinel node biopsy and breast reconstruction. For vulvar symptoms, the patient was initially diagnosed with dermatitis and topical ointment was prescribed. However, her symptoms persisted for the next several months, and she underwent vulvar biopsy that demonstrated Paget's disease. She underwent partial vulvectomy. Multiple episodes of recurrent vulvar Paget's disease were noted in the postoperative course that medical therapy with Imiquimod and a second partial vulvectomy was performed. Synchronous of breast and vulvar Paget's disease is presented. There was a delay in diagnosing vulvar Paget's disease in this experienced case. While coincidence of breast and vulvar Paget's disease is likely, ectopic mammary tissue in vulvar as well as secondary metastasis from a focal lesion of breast Paget's disease needs to be carefully evaluated whenever the patient complains of vulvar symptoms in the setting of breast Paget's disease.

  12. Simultaneous bilateral breast reconstruction with the transverse rectus abdominus musculocutaneous free flap.

    PubMed

    Khouri, R K; Ahn, C Y; Salzhauer, M A; Scherff, D; Shaw, W W

    1997-07-01

    The purpose of the study was to assess the results and morbidity associated with simultaneous bilateral TRAM free flap breast reconstruction and describe refinements in its surgical technique. Bilateral prophylactic total mastectomies might be an agreeable option for those patients at highest risk for breast cancer if autogenous tissue breast reconstruction could be performed with reasonable technical ease and acceptable morbidity. However, some surgeons harbor reservations regarding the extensiveness of the surgery, the associated morbidity, and the aesthetic quality of the resulting outcome. A multicenter retrospective review of clinical experience with 120 consecutive patients who underwent 240 simultaneous bilateral TRAM free flap breast reconstructions was developed. The average operating time, including the time required for the breast ablative portion of the procedures, was 8.6 hours. The average length of hospitalization was 7.6 days. However, for the last 40 patients, these figures were reduced to 7.1 hours and 6.1 days, respectively. Nonautologous blood transfusions were needed in 33 cases (28%), but only 1 was required in the last 40 patients. Thromboses developed in six of 240 flaps (2.5%): 4 were arterial and 2 were venous. Re-exploration allowed us to restore circulation in five flaps, whereas one flap was unsalvageable and was replaced successfully with an alternate flap. An uncomplicated deep vein thromboses developed in one patient with a history of recurrent deep vein thromboses that had no adverse effect on her outcome. Minor complications developed in 18 patients (15%) (e.g., hematoma, partial wound necrosis, wound infection, or prolonged postoperative ileus) that did not affect the long-term outcome. Fourteen patients (11.6%) had abdominal wall weakness or hernias. Follow-up time averaged 37.2 months (range, 14-62 months). On last follow-up, patients' self-reported overall satisfaction with the procedure was 56% excellent, 40% good, and 4% fair

  13. A new breast cancer risk analysis approach using features extracted from multiple sub-regions on bilateral mammograms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sun, Wenqing; Tseng, Tzu-Liang B.; Zheng, Bin; Zhang, Jianying; Qian, Wei

    2015-03-01

    A novel breast cancer risk analysis approach is proposed for enhancing performance of computerized breast cancer risk analysis using bilateral mammograms. Based on the intensity of breast area, five different sub-regions were acquired from one mammogram, and bilateral features were extracted from every sub-region. Our dataset includes 180 bilateral mammograms from 180 women who underwent routine screening examinations, all interpreted as negative and not recalled by the radiologists during the original screening procedures. A computerized breast cancer risk analysis scheme using four image processing modules, including sub-region segmentation, bilateral feature extraction, feature selection, and classification was designed to detect and compute image feature asymmetry between the left and right breasts imaged on the mammograms. The highest computed area under the curve (AUC) is 0.763 ± 0.021 when applying the multiple sub-region features to our testing dataset. The positive predictive value and the negative predictive value were 0.60 and 0.73, respectively. The study demonstrates that (1) features extracted from multiple sub-regions can improve the performance of our scheme compared to using features from whole breast area only; (2) a classifier using asymmetry bilateral features can effectively predict breast cancer risk; (3) incorporating texture and morphological features with density features can boost the classification accuracy.

  14. Funding analysis of bilateral autologous free-flap breast reconstructions in Australia.

    PubMed

    Sinha, Shiba; Ruskin, Olivia; McCombe, David; Morrison, Wayne; Webb, Angela

    2015-08-01

    Bilateral breast reconstructions are being increasingly performed. Autologous free-flap reconstructions represent the gold standard for post-mastectomy breast reconstruction but are resource intensive. This study aims to investigate the difference between hospital reimbursement and true cost of bilateral autologous free-flap reconstructions. Retrospective analysis of patients who underwent bilateral autologous free-flap reconstructions at a single Australian tertiary referral centre was performed. Hospital reimbursement was determined from coding analysis. A true cost analysis was also performed. Comparisons were made considering the effect of timing, indication and complications of the procedure. Forty-six bilateral autologous free-flap procedures were performed (87 deep inferior epigastric perforators (DIEPs), four superficial inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps (SIEAs) and one muscle-sparing free transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap (MS-TRAM)). The mean funding discrepancy between hospital reimbursement and actual cost was $12,137 ± $8539 (mean ± standard deviation (SD)) (n = 46). Twenty-four per cent (n = 11) of the cases had been coded inaccurately. If these cases were excluded from analysis, the mean funding discrepancy per case was $9168 ± $7453 (n = 35). Minor and major complications significantly increased the true cost and funding discrepancy (p = 0.02). Bilateral free-flap breast reconstructions performed in Australian public hospitals result in a funding discrepancy. Failure to be economically viable threatens the provision of this procedure in the public system. Plastic surgeons and hospital managers need to adopt measures in order to make these gold-standard procedures cost neutral. Copyright © 2015 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. A brother and sister with breast cancer, BRCA2 mutations and bilateral supernumerary nipples

    PubMed Central

    Coad, Ryan

    2017-01-01

    We describe a 54-year-old man with breast cancer and a BRCA2 mutation who was also found to have bilateral supernumerary nipples. His sister, also with a BRCA2 mutation, was diagnosed with breast cancer in her late forties; she also had bilateral supernumerary nipples. We address the significance of breast cancer arising in breast tissue underlying supernumerary nipples; the known association between supernumerary nipples and genitourinary malignancies/malformations and the possible link between BRCA2 and supernumerary nipple development. We believe that this is the first described case of the latter. We then outline an approach to further management for supernumerary nipple cases. PMID:28361071

  16. Bilateral primary malignant lymphoma of the breast.

    PubMed

    Shpitz, B; Witz, M; Kaufman, Z; Griffel, B; Manor, Y; Dinbar, A

    1985-08-01

    A rare case of bilateral primary malignant lymphoma of breast in a 76 year old woman is presented. The lesion was examined by electron microscopy and immunochemistry. The diagnosis of primary malignant lymphoma remains a diagnosis by exclusion and requires extensive work-up to exclude widespread malignant process. The behaviour of this malignancy tends to be an aggressive one and the prognosis is generally poor.

  17. Bilateral primary malignant lymphoma of the breast.

    PubMed Central

    Shpitz, B.; Witz, M.; Kaufman, Z.; Griffel, B.; Manor, Y.; Dinbar, A.

    1985-01-01

    A rare case of bilateral primary malignant lymphoma of breast in a 76 year old woman is presented. The lesion was examined by electron microscopy and immunochemistry. The diagnosis of primary malignant lymphoma remains a diagnosis by exclusion and requires extensive work-up to exclude widespread malignant process. The behaviour of this malignancy tends to be an aggressive one and the prognosis is generally poor. Images Figure 1 Figure 2 PMID:4034464

  18. The relationship between the belief in a genetic cause for breast cancer and bilateral mastectomy.

    PubMed

    Petrie, Keith J; Myrtveit, Solbjørg Makalani; Partridge, Ann H; Stephens, Melika; Stanton, Annette L

    2015-05-01

    Most women develop causal beliefs following diagnosis with breast cancer and these beliefs can guide decisions around their care and management. Bilateral mastectomy rates are increasing, although the benefits of this surgery are only established in a small percentage of women. In this study we investigated the relationship between causal beliefs and the decision to have a bilateral mastectomy. Women (N = 2,269) from the Army of Women's breast cancer research registry completed an online survey. Women were asked what they believed caused their cancer and responses were coded into 8 causal categories. Participants were also asked about the type of surgery they underwent following their breast cancer diagnosis. The odds ratios for having a double mastectomy were calculated for each causal category using random/bad luck as a referent category. Hormonal factors (22%) and genetics (19%) were the most common causal belief, followed by don't know (19%), environmental toxins (11%), negative emotions (9%), poor health behavior (8%), other (6%) and random/bad luck (6%). Compared with the referent category, the odds ratio of having a bilateral mastectomy was significantly higher in both the genetics and hormonal causal belief groups (OR = 2.36, 95% CI [1.38, 4.02] and OR = 1.98, 95% CI [1.16, 3.38], respectively). Beliefs in a genetic cause for breast cancer are common and are associated with high rates of bilateral mastectomy. This is despite evidence that the actual genetic contribution to breast cancer is much lower than perceived and that bilateral mastectomy is, in most cases, unlikely to improve survival. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

  19. Onco-testicular sperm extraction: birth of a healthy baby after fertility preservation in synchronous bilateral testicular cancer and azoospermia.

    PubMed

    Roque, M; Sampaio, M; Salles, P G de Oliveira; Geber, S

    2015-05-01

    Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCT) represent 1%-1.5% of all male neoplasms, and they have the highest prevalence among men between 15 and 35 years old. Synchronous bilateral disease is a rare presentation, and the ratio of metachronous to synchronous bilateral disease is about 4 : 1. Several studies have suggested a correlation between male infertility and testicular cancer, with a 20-fold increase in the incidence of testicular cancer in infertile patients compared with the general population. At the time of diagnosis, 50%-75% of patients with unilateral TGCT present with subfertility; almost 13% of the patients are azoospermic before treatment, and up to two-thirds of patients become azoospermic following adjuvant cancer therapies. Therefore, fertility preservation should be considered in all oncological treatments. The only available option to preserve the reproductive potential in azoospermic patients with testicular cancer is to perform an onco-testicular sperm extraction (onco-TESE) before cancer treatment. In this paper, we describe a rare case of a patient with synchronous bilateral testicular cancer and azoospermia who was submitted to onco-TESE, sperm cryopreservation, and which was followed by the delivery of a healthy baby after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), emphasising the importance of fertility preservation in oncology patients. © 2014 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

  20. Primary breast leiomyosarcoma and synchronous homolateral lung cancer: a case report

    PubMed Central

    Meroni, Stefano; Voulaz, Emanuele; Alloisio, Marco; De Sanctis, Rita; Bossi, Paola; Cariboni, Umberto; De Simone, Matilde; Cioffi, Ugo

    2017-01-01

    Radiological and histological features of breast leiomyosarcoma can mimic a wide variety of other breast lesions, such as mesenchymal tumors, breast lymphomas, poorly differentiated carcinomas and metaplastic breast carcinomas. The authors present the case of a 62-year-old woman with a primary breast leiomyosarcoma with synchronous ipsilateral lung adenocarcinoma. The latter was an incidental finding during pre-surgical staging examinations. Clinicopathological, immunophenotypic and imaging features cancer are described. A brief review of the literature on imaging findings and management of breast leiomyosarcoma is presented. The authors discuss the differential diagnoses in breast imaging and of the extra-mammary incidental findings. Surgical resection remains the cornerstone of treatment, while radiation therapy and chemotherapy remain to be defined on a single-patient basis. PMID:29312765

  1. Bilateral Breast Reduction Without Opioid Analgesics: A Comparative Study.

    PubMed

    Parsa, Fereydoun Don; Cheng, Justin; Stephan, Brad; Castel, Nikki; Kim, Leslie; Murariu, Daniel; Parsa, Alan A

    2017-09-01

    Breast reduction has traditionally been performed under general anesthesia with adjunct opioid use. However, opioids are associated with a wide variety of adverse effects, including nausea, vomiting, constipation, postoperative sedation, dizziness, and addiction. This study compares bilateral breast reduction using a multimodal opioid-free pain management regimen vs traditional general anesthesia with adjunct opioids. A total of 83 female patients were enrolled in this study. Group 1 includes a retrospective series of 39 patients that underwent breast reduction via general anesthesia with adjunct opioid use. This series was compared to 2 prospective groups of patients who did not receive opioids either preoperatively or intraoperatively. In group 2, twenty-six patients underwent surgery under intravenous sedation and local anesthesia. In group 3, eighteen patients underwent surgery with general anesthesia. All patients in groups 2 and 3 received preoperative gabapentin and celecoxib along with infiltration of local anesthetics during the operation and prior to discharge to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). Primary outcome measures included the duration of surgery, time from end of operation to discharge home, postoperative opioid and antiemetic use, and unplanned postoperative hospitalizations. When compared to group 1, groups 2 and 3 experienced a shorter time from end of operation to discharge home (P < 0.05), fewer unplanned hospital admissions (P < 0.05), and highly significant decrease in postoperative opioid use (P < 0.001). This multimodal approach allows patients to safely undergo opioid-free bilateral breast reduction either under local or general anesthesia as an outpatient. This method resulted in significantly less morbidity, use of opioids postoperatively, as well as unplanned hospital admissions compared to "traditional" breast reduction under general anesthesia with the use of opioids. 3. © 2017 The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

  2. Serratia marcescens Necrotizing Fasciitis Presenting as Bilateral Breast Necrosis

    PubMed Central

    Rehman, Tayyab; Moore, Thomas A.

    2012-01-01

    Serratia marcescens is an extremely rare cause of necrotizing fasciitis. We report the first case of necrotizing fasciitis of the chest wall due to infection with S. marcescens that initially manifested as bilateral breast necrosis. The patient had a fulminant course leading to death within 72 h of presentation. Literature pertinent to S. marcescens-mediated necrotizing fasciitis is also reviewed. PMID:22837315

  3. Gene-body hypermethylation of ATM in peripheral blood DNA of bilateral breast cancer patients

    PubMed Central

    Flanagan, James M.; Munoz-Alegre, Marta; Henderson, Stephen; Tang, Thomas; Sun, Ping; Johnson, Nichola; Fletcher, Olivia; dos Santos Silva, Isabel; Peto, Julian; Boshoff, Chris; Narod, Steven; Petronis, Arturas

    2009-01-01

    Bilaterality of breast cancer is an indicator of constitutional cancer susceptibility; however, the molecular causes underlying this predisposition in the majority of cases is not known. We hypothesize that epigenetic misregulation of cancer-related genes could partially account for this predisposition. We have performed methylation microarray analysis of peripheral blood DNA from 14 women with bilateral breast cancer compared with 14 unaffected matched controls throughout 17 candidate breast cancer susceptibility genes including BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, ATM, ESR1, SFN, CDKN2A, TP53, GSTP1, CDH1, CDH13, HIC1, PGR, SFRP1, MLH1, RARB and HSD17B4. We show that the majority of methylation variability is associated with intragenic repetitive elements. Detailed validation of the tiled region around ATM was performed by bisulphite modification and pyrosequencing of the same samples and in a second set of peripheral blood DNA from 190 bilateral breast cancer patients compared with 190 controls. We show significant hypermethylation of one intragenic repetitive element in breast cancer cases compared with controls (P = 0.0017), with the highest quartile of methylation associated with a 3-fold increased risk of breast cancer (OR 3.20, 95% CI 1.78–5.86, P = 0.000083). Increased methylation of this locus is associated with lower steady-state ATM mRNA level and correlates with age of cancer patients but not controls, suggesting a combined age–phenotype-related association. This research demonstrates the potential for gene-body epigenetic misregulation of ATM and other cancer-related genes in peripheral blood DNA that may be useful as a novel marker to estimate breast cancer risk. Accession numbers: The microarray data and associated .BED and .WIG files can be accessed through Gene Expression Omnibus accession number: GSE14603. PMID:19153073

  4. Synchronous male breast and colon cancer presenting with ileus: A case report.

    PubMed

    Ari, Aziz; Tatar, Cihad; Buyukasik, Kenan; Segmen, Ozgur; Cakir, Coskun; Arikan, Soykan

    2016-01-01

    Cancer developing from more than one origin is called multiple primary cancer (MPC) and is a rare situation. In this article, we report a case presenting to the Emergency Clinic with symptoms of ileus who was diagnosed with synchronous colon and breast cancer. A 57year old male patient presented to the Emergency Clinic with abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation and lack of flatulence. The patient was taken to the operating room for emergency surgery with the diagnosis of intestinal obstruction. While still hospitalized, breast ultrasound was performed, revealing a mass lesion in the right breast measuring 2cm. The core biopsy result was suggestive of invasive ductal adenocarcinoma. Right modified radical mastectomy with removal of the level 2 axillary lymph nodes was performed. The result of the histopathological investigation of the right hemicolectomy specimen was reported as moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, while that of the mastectomy material was invasive ductal adenocarcinoma. Synchronous colorectal cancer is recognized as an important clinical entity, its clinical and pathological properties as well as prognosis are still undetermined. A family history of cancer might be a significant factor in synchronous cancers. Many of the theories about the etiology of multiple primary malignant neoplasia suggest the role of genetic, hormonal, environmental and immunological factors as well as iatrogenic causes. Especially for patients whose treatment begins in the emergency settings, meticulous systemic physical examination is recommended to initiate treatment of a possible synchronous tumor at an earlier stage. Copyright © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  5. Bilateral fungiform papilloma with synchronous verrucous carcinoma of the nasal septum: a rare presentation and a literature review.

    PubMed

    Maithani, T; Dey, D; Pandey, A; Chawla, N

    2012-04-01

    Fungiform papillomas are benign mucosal neoplasms presenting as a unilateral exophytic mass involving the anterior portion of the nasal septum. In this study, we present an exceptional case of a bilateral fungiform papilloma with a synchronous verrucous carcinoma of the nasal septum. A case study with a review of the literature concerning malignant changes in fungiform papilloma. The general consensus in most of the literature is that malignant change in fungiform papilloma is exceptional. Our patient is probably the third reported case of verrucous carcinoma of the nasal septum, and the first report of a bilateral fungiform papilloma with a synchronous verrucous carcinoma. The tumour was subjected to complete surgical removal in the first instance. There was no recurrence at follow up seven months after surgery. Although fungiform papillomas are generally not premalignant, occasional malignant transformation may occur. Thus, they must be managed with the utmost cautiousness.

  6. A Recurrence of Bilateral Diffuse Sclerosing Lobular Hyperplasia of Breast: A Case Report.

    PubMed

    Elfituri, Osama; Sonawane, Snehal; Xu, Haoliang; Warso, Michael A; Wiley, Elizabeth

    2017-12-01

    Mammary sclerosing lobular hyperplasia is an uncommon benign fibroproliferative lesion of adolescent and young women, often of African American heritage with an incidence of ~3%. Patients generally complain of a palpable, painless, or slightly tender and well-defined lump in breast. Very rarely, this lesion may be bilateral and diffuse. The definitive diagnosis of sclerosing lobular hyperplasia requires histopathologic evaluation. Here, we describe a case of diffuse sclerosing lobular hyperplasia in a 29-year-old African American woman that required bilateral mastectomy and recurred bilaterally requiring second resections. This appears to be the first report of this phenomenon.

  7. Bilateral Breast Abscess Caused by E. coli in a Non-lactating Woman: A Rare Case.

    PubMed

    Şimşek, Gürcan; Gündeş, Ebubekir; Tekin, Şakir; Tavlı, Şakir

    2014-07-01

    Breast abscess usually occurs during lactation and the responsible organism is often S. Aureus . Breast abscess in non-lactating women is extremely rare and limited data is available in the literature regarding this entity. In our study, a 36-year-old non-lactating female patient who developed bilateral breast abscess due to E. coli infection without any predisposing factors has been discussed in light of the literature.

  8. Bilateral Breast Abscess Caused by E. coli in a Non-lactating Woman: A Rare Case

    PubMed Central

    Şimşek, Gürcan; Gündeş, Ebubekir; Tekin, Şakir; Tavlı, Şakir

    2014-01-01

    Breast abscess usually occurs during lactation and the responsible organism is often S. Aureus. Breast abscess in non-lactating women is extremely rare and limited data is available in the literature regarding this entity. In our study, a 36-year-old non-lactating female patient who developed bilateral breast abscess due to E. coli infection without any predisposing factors has been discussed in light of the literature. PMID:28331665

  9. Exploring a new bilateral focal density asymmetry based image marker to predict breast cancer risk

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aghaei, Faranak; Mirniaharikandehei, Seyedehnafiseh; Hollingsworth, Alan B.; Wang, Yunzhi; Qiu, Yuchen; Liu, Hong; Zheng, Bin

    2017-03-01

    Although breast density has been widely considered an important breast cancer risk factor, it is not very effective to predict risk of developing breast cancer in a short-term or harboring cancer in mammograms. Based on our recent studies to build short-term breast cancer risk stratification models based on bilateral mammographic density asymmetry, we in this study explored a new quantitative image marker based on bilateral focal density asymmetry to predict the risk of harboring cancers in mammograms. For this purpose, we assembled a testing dataset involving 100 positive and 100 negative cases. In each of positive case, no any solid masses are visible on mammograms. We developed a computer-aided detection (CAD) scheme to automatically detect focal dense regions depicting on two bilateral mammograms of left and right breasts. CAD selects one focal dense region with the maximum size on each image and computes its asymmetrical ratio. We used this focal density asymmetry as a new imaging marker to divide testing cases into two groups of higher and lower focal density asymmetry. The first group included 70 cases in which 62.9% are positive, while the second group included 130 cases in which 43.1% are positive. The odds ratio is 2.24. As a result, this preliminary study supported the feasibility of applying a new focal density asymmetry based imaging marker to predict the risk of having mammography-occult cancers. The goal is to assist radiologists more effectively and accurately detect early subtle cancers using mammography and/or other adjunctive imaging modalities in the future.

  10. Minimizing donor-site morbidity following bilateral pedicled TRAM breast reconstruction with the double mesh fold over technique.

    PubMed

    Bharti, Gaurav; Groves, Leslie; Sanger, Claire; Thompson, James; David, Lisa; Marks, Malcolm

    2013-05-01

    Transverse rectus abdominus muscle flaps (TRAM) can result in significant abdominal wall donor-site morbidity. We present our experience with bilateral pedicle TRAM breast reconstruction using a double-layered polypropylene mesh fold over technique to repair the rectus fascia. A retrospective study was performed that included patients with bilateral pedicle TRAM breast reconstruction and abdominal reconstruction using a double-layered polypropylene mesh fold over technique. Thirty-five patients met the study criteria with a mean age of 49 years old and mean follow-up of 7.4 years. There were no instances of abdominal hernia and only 2 cases (5.7%) of abdominal bulge. Other abdominal complications included partial umbilical necrosis (14.3%), seroma (11.4%), partial wound dehiscence (8.6%), abdominal weakness (5.7%), abdominal laxity (2.9%), and hematoma (2.9%). The TRAM flap is a reliable option for bilateral autologous breast reconstruction. Using the double mesh repair of the abdominal wall can reduce instances of an abdominal bulge and hernia.

  11. Incidental unilateral and bilateral ductal carcinoma in situ encountered in the surgical management of young male gynecomastia.

    PubMed

    Shirah, Bader Hamza; Shirah, Hamza Assad

    2016-07-28

    The increased risk for malignant tumors associated with male gynecomastia has been well established and many authors have reported cases of concurrent gynecomastia and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in the same breast. Synchronous bilateral breast cancer in association with gynecomastia is exceptionally rare. We aim to report and evaluate the management outcome of 5 cases of gynecomastia associated with DCIS (1 bilateral and 4 unilateral). A retrospective database analysis of the surgical treatment outcome of 74 male patients who had gynecomastia was done. A bilateral subcutaneous nipple-preserving mastectomy approach was done to all. Histopathology reports were reviewed. 74 patients diagnosed and treated for gynecomastia were included. The incidence rate of gynecomastia in our hospital male patients was 0.17%. The mean age was 22 years, range 17-29 years. Five (6.76%) patients were found in histopathology specimens to have DCIS, 1 patient (23 years old) had bilateral DCIS of low grade, 4 patients had unilateral positive involvement, 3 had right breast DCIS, and 1 had left breast DCIS, and all were of low-grade papillary subtype. The incidence of ductal carcinoma in situ among our series gynecomastia patients was 6.76%. We conclude that gynecomastia is a benign breast disease but recent reports had described malignant variants, mostly DCIS, including 5 young males in our series. Therefore, regardless of the age group, histopathological examination of the resected gynecomastia tissue should be carefully done in all patients. Further evidence-based studies are needed to investigate the optimum management of incidental DCIS in gynecomastia specimens.

  12. Oncological screening for Bilateral Breast Reduction: a survey of practice variations in UK Breast and Plastics surgeons 2009.

    PubMed

    Hennedige, Anusha A; Kong, Tze Yean; Gandhi, Ashu

    2011-07-01

    Bilateral Breast Reduction (BBR) is a common procedure performed by Breast and Plastic surgeons in the UK. No consensus exists regarding preoperative screening for malignancy or for selective criteria for such screening. Preoperative BBR screening practices among UK Breast and Plastic surgeons are unknown. Ascertain the preoperative and postoperative BBR screening practices of UK Breast and Plastic surgeons. A questionnaire was posted to all 434 Breast and 335 Plastic surgeons in the UK. All results were analysed with relevant statistical methods. 64% of Breast surgeons and 72% of Plastic surgeons responded. 40% of Breast surgeons and 91% of Plastic surgeons perform BBR. Routine radiological screening: 92% Breast 41% Plastic (p < 0.05). Routine breast examination prior to BBR: 98% Breast 91% Plastic. Routine histology for BBR specimens: 96% Breast 90% Plastic. Selective screening of patients aged 30-40 years old: Breast 38% Plastic 10%. Selective screening of patients aged 40-50: Breast 78%, Plastic 53%. Selective screening of patients with strong family history of breast cancer: Breast 72%, Plastic 91%. Selective screening of patients with previous breast cancer: Breast 77%, Plastic 93%. There are significant differences in practice between UK Breast surgeons and Plastic surgeons in preoperative oncological screening for BBR. The large discrepancy in preoperative radiological screening, reflects a ubiquitous pro-screening ideology among Breast surgeons not prevalent among Plastic surgeons. These results will provoke debate towards the direction of consensus to ultimately reflect best practice. Copyright © 2010. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  13. Genetic Heterogeneity in Therapy-Naïve Synchronous Primary Breast Cancers and Their Metastases.

    PubMed

    Ng, Charlotte K Y; Bidard, Francois-Clement; Piscuoglio, Salvatore; Geyer, Felipe C; Lim, Raymond S; de Bruijn, Ino; Shen, Ronglai; Pareja, Fresia; Berman, Samuel H; Wang, Lu; Pierga, Jean-Yves; Vincent-Salomon, Anne; Viale, Agnes; Norton, Larry; Sigal, Brigitte; Weigelt, Britta; Cottu, Paul; Reis-Filho, Jorge S

    2017-08-01

    Purpose: Paired primary breast cancers and metachronous metastases after adjuvant treatment are reported to differ in their clonal composition and genetic alterations, but it is unclear whether these differences stem from the selective pressures of the metastatic process, the systemic therapies, or both. We sought to define the repertoire of genetic alterations in breast cancer patients with de novo metastatic disease who had not received local or systemic therapy. Experimental Design: Up to two anatomically distinct core biopsies of primary breast cancers and synchronous distant metastases from nine patients who presented with metastatic disease were subjected to high-depth whole-exome sequencing. Mutations, copy number alterations and their cancer cell fractions, and mutation signatures were defined using state-of-the-art bioinformatics methods. All mutations identified were validated with orthogonal methods. Results: Genomic differences were observed between primary and metastatic deposits, with a median of 60% (range 6%-95%) of shared somatic mutations. Although mutations in known driver genes including TP53, PIK3CA , and GATA3 were preferentially clonal in both sites, primary breast cancers and their synchronous metastases displayed spatial intratumor heterogeneity. Likely pathogenic mutations affecting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-related genes, including SMAD4, TCF7L2 , and TCF4 ( ITF2 ), were found to be restricted to or enriched in the metastatic lesions. Mutational signatures of trunk mutations differed from those of mutations enriched in the primary tumor or the metastasis in six cases. Conclusions: Synchronous primary breast cancers and metastases differ in their repertoire of somatic genetic alterations even in the absence of systemic therapy. Mutational signature shifts might contribute to spatial intratumor genetic heterogeneity. Clin Cancer Res; 23(15); 4402-15. ©2017 AACR . ©2017 American Association for Cancer Research.

  14. Bilateral Oophorectomy and Breast Cancer Risk in BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutation Carriers.

    PubMed

    Kotsopoulos, Joanne; Huzarski, Tomasz; Gronwald, Jacek; Singer, Christian F; Moller, Pal; Lynch, Henry T; Armel, Susan; Karlan, Beth; Foulkes, William D; Neuhausen, Susan L; Senter, Leigha; Tung, Nadine; Weitzel, Jeffrey N; Eisen, Andrea; Metcalfe, Kelly; Eng, Charis; Pal, Tuya; Evans, Gareth; Sun, Ping; Lubinski, Jan; Narod, Steven A

    2017-01-01

    Whether oophorectomy reduces breast cancer risk among BRCA mutation carriers is a matter of debate. We undertook a prospective analysis of bilateral oophorectomy and breast cancer risk in BRCA mutation carriers. Subjects had no history of cancer, had both breasts intact, and had information on oophorectomy status (n = 3722). Women were followed until breast cancer diagnosis, prophylactic bilateral mastectomy, or death. A Cox regression model was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of breast cancer associated with oophorectomy (coded as a time-dependent variable). All statistical tests were two-sided. Over a mean follow-up of 5.6 years, 350 new breast cancers were diagnosed. Among women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, oophorectomy was not associated with breast cancer risk compared with women who did not undergo an oophorectomy. The age-adjusted hazard ratio associated with oophorectomy was 0.96 (95% CI = 0.73 to 1.26, P = 76) for BRCA1 and was 0.65 (95% CI = 0.37 to 1.16, P = 14) for BRCA2 mutation carriers. In stratified analyses, the effect of oophorectomy was statistically significant for breast cancer in BRCA2 mutation carriers diagnosed prior to age 50 years (age-adjusted HR = 0.18, 95% CI = 0.05 to 0.63, P = 007). Oophorectomy was not associated with risk of breast cancer prior to age 50 years among BRCA1 mutation carriers (age-adjusted HR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.55 to 1.13, P = 51). Findings from this large prospective study support a role of oophorectomy for the prevention of premenopausal breast cancer in BRCA2, but not BRCA1 mutation carriers. These findings warrant further evaluation. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  15. Metastases of transverse colon cancer to bilateral ovaries (Krukenberg tumor) and the left breast: A case report

    PubMed Central

    Luo, Xin-Yu; Wang, Jue; Zhao, Jia; Chen, Rui; Zha, Xiao-Ming

    2017-01-01

    Breast cancer has the highest rate of incidence among all types of cancer in women. Only ~0.43% of breast malignancies occur as a result of metastatic lesions from extramammary tumors. The present study reports an extremely rare case of transverse colon cancer metastasizing to the bilateral ovaries and the left breast. The patient was a 47-year old female, who had a lump in the left breast without axillary lymphadenopathy. Specimens obtained by core needle biopsy were submitted for hematoxylin and eosin examination, and results revealed that the lump was a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Since the patient had elevated levels of the carcinoembryonic antigen and a medical history of a Krukenberg tumor metastasized from colon cancer, immunohistochemical examinations were applied. Results identified that caudal-related homeobox protein 2 and cytokeratin 20 were positively stained, whilst cytokeratin 7 was negatively stained. Therefore, this patient was diagnosed as having colon cancer that had metastasized to the bilateral ovaries and the left breast. As the life expectancy of patients with cancer is increasing, types of metastases that used to be seen as rare are increasingly becoming more common. For clinicians, diagnosis should be cautious, and differential diagnosis should always be kept in mind. PMID:28693131

  16. Hemodynamic changes in the breast and frontal cortex of mothers during breastfeeding.

    PubMed

    Tanimoto, Kimie; Kusaka, Takashi; Nishida, Tomoko; Ogawa, Kayo; Kato, Ikuko; Ijichi, Sonoko; Mikami, Junko; Sobue, Ikuko; Isobe, Kenichi; Itoh, Susumu

    2011-10-01

    The objective of this study was to confirm physiological reactions in the breast and brain in mothers during breastfeeding and collect basic objective data, aiming at effective support for breastfeeding. Ten healthy women who were exclusively breastfeeding their babies participated in this study. Changes in the concentration of oxygenated Hb (oxyHb) and deoxygenated Hb in the breasts and frontal cortex of these women during breastfeeding lactation were measured using double-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Changes were measured in three conditions: (1) in both breasts; (2) the ipsilateral breast and frontal cortex; and (3) the contralateral breast and frontal cortex. OxyHb and total Hb (totalHb) levels in the bilateral breasts decreased significantly after the onset of breastfeeding in comparison with prebreastfeeding levels. These two values repeatedly increased and decreased thereafter. In the frontal cortex, regardless of which breast was involved, oxyHb and totalHb levels increased significantly in comparison with prebreastfeeding levels. Similar hemodynamic changes occurred simultaneously in the bilateral breasts during breastfeeding regardless of the feeding or nonfeeding side. Hemodynamic changes were also noted in the frontal cortex, but the reactions in the breast and prefrontal cortex were different and not synchronous, confirming that the physiological circulatory dynamics during breastfeeding vary among organs.

  17. Breast MRI at 7 Tesla with a bilateral coil and robust fat suppression.

    PubMed

    Brown, Ryan; Storey, Pippa; Geppert, Christian; McGorty, KellyAnne; Klautau Leite, Ana Paula; Babb, James; Sodickson, Daniel K; Wiggins, Graham C; Moy, Linda

    2014-03-01

    To develop a bilateral coil and fat suppressed T1-weighted sequence for 7 Tesla (T) breast MRI. A dual-solenoid coil and three-dimensional (3D) T1w gradient echo sequence with B1+ insensitive fat suppression (FS) were developed. T1w FS image quality was characterized through image uniformity and fat-water contrast measurements in 11 subjects. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and flip angle maps were acquired to assess the coil performance. Bilateral contrast-enhanced and unilateral high resolution (0.6 mm isotropic, 6.5 min acquisition time) imaging highlighted the 7T SNR advantage. Reliable and effective FS and high image quality was observed in all subjects at 7T, indicating that the custom coil and pulse sequence were insensitive to high-field obstacles such as variable tissue loading. 7T and 3T image uniformity was similar (P=0.24), indicating adequate 7T B1+ uniformity. High 7T SNR and fat-water contrast enabled 0.6 mm isotropic imaging and visualization of a high level of fibroglandular tissue detail. 7T T1w FS bilateral breast imaging is feasible with a custom radiofrequency (RF) coil and pulse sequence. Similar image uniformity was achieved at 7T and 3T, despite different RF field behavior and variable coil-tissue interaction due to anatomic differences that might be expected to alter magnetic field patterns. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  18. Breast MRI at 7 Tesla with a Bilateral Coil and Robust Fat Suppression

    PubMed Central

    Brown, Ryan; Storey, Pippa; Geppert, Christian; McGorty, KellyAnne; Leite, Ana Paula Klautau; Babb, James; Sodickson, Daniel K.; Wiggins, Graham C.; Moy, Linda

    2013-01-01

    Purpose To develop a bilateral coil and optimized fat suppressed T1-weighted sequence for 7T breast MRI. Materials and Methods A dual-solenoid coil and 3D T1w gradient echo sequence with B1+ insensitive fat suppression (FS) were developed for 7T. T1w FS image quality was characterized through image uniformity and fat/water contrast measurements in 11 subjects. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and flip angle maps were acquired to assess the coil performance. Bilateral contrast-enhanced and unilateral high resolution (0.6 mm isotropic, 6.5 min acquisition time) imaging highlighted the 7 T SNR advantage. Results Reliable and effective FS and high image quality was observed in all subjects at 7T, indicating that the custom coil and pulse sequence were insensitive to high-field obstacles such as variable tissue loading. 7T and 3T T1w FS image uniformity was similar (P=0.24), indicating adequate 7T B1+ uniformity. High 7T SNR and fat/water contrast enabled 0.6 mm isotropic imaging and visualization of a high level of fibroglandular tissue detail. Conclusion 7T T1w FS bilateral breast imaging is feasible with a custom RF coil and pulse sequence. Similar image uniformity was achieved at 7T and 3T, despite different RF field behavior and variable coil-tissue interaction due to anatomic differences that might be expected to alter magnetic field patterns. PMID:24123517

  19. Patient with bilateral breast enlargement and hypospadias.

    PubMed

    Ali, A A; Ahmed, T; Rashid, M M

    2009-01-01

    A 20 year old man was admitted in the surgical unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital on August 2007 presented with Hypospadias & underdeveloped penis from childhood, gradual enlargement of both breasts for the last 10 years, absence of axillary and pubic hair from puberty & painful swelling of both testes for the last 3 years. The patient was regarded as a female upto the age of 10 years. He has got no voice change since puberty. On examination he had average body built, there was bilateral gynaecomastia, hypospadias, rudimentary penis & absence of pubic and axillary hair. His testosterone level, serum prolactin level, serum progesterone level, serum estradiol level was done. Cytology on buccal smear done and ultrasonography revealed no ovary and uterus. Ultimately patient was diagnosed as a case of androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS). The case is reported for clinical awareness & to share our experience.

  20. Synchronized computational architecture for generalized bilateral control of robot arms

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Szakaly, Zoltan F. (Inventor)

    1991-01-01

    A master six degree of freedom Force Reflecting Hand Controller (FRHC) is available at a master site where a received image displays, in essentially real time, a remote robotic manipulator which is being controlled in the corresponding six degree freedom by command signals which are transmitted to the remote site in accordance with the movement of the FRHC at the master site. Software is user-initiated at the master site in order to establish the basic system conditions, and then a physical movement of the FRHC in Cartesean space is reflected at the master site by six absolute numbers that are sensed, translated and computed as a difference signal relative to the earlier position. The change in position is then transmitted in that differential signal form over a high speed synchronized bilateral communication channel which simultaneously returns robot-sensed response information to the master site as forces applied to the FRHC so that the FRHC reflects the feel of what is taking place at the remote site. A system wide clock rate is selected at a sufficiently high rate that the operator at the master site experiences the Force Reflecting operation in real time.

  1. Pure pectus carinatum (not associated with pectus excavatum) solved by MIRPC (minimally invasive repair of pectus carinatum) associated with bilateral mamarian hypoplasia solved by bilateral breast implants.

    PubMed

    Ciurea, M; Ulmeanu, D; Popa, D; Mercuţ, R; Enache, M; Vânvu, A L; Demetrian, A

    2014-01-01

    We present the case of a young 24-year-old woman with an important but symmetrical pectus carinatum, not associated with pectus excavatum, without cardiorespiratory symptoms but with significant psychosocial implications for the patient, solved by the minimally invasive technique described by Abramson(reversed Nuss procedure) - MIRPC (Minimally invasive Repair of Pectus carinatum). The sternal malformation was associated with bilateral mammary hypoplasia, solved by bilateral breast implants 10 months later. The evolution was favorable and the aesthetic result was satisfactory for the patient. Celsius.

  2. Massive bilateral breast reduction in an 11-year-old girl: 24% ablation of body weight.

    PubMed

    Fiumara, Linda; Gault, David T; Nel, Mark R; Lucas, Dominique N; Courtauld, Elizabeth

    2009-08-01

    An 11-year-old girl with massive virginal breast hypertrophy is presented. The breasts had begun to grow rapidly at puberty and had reached an enormous size within a year, to the point of causing physical impairment and respiratory compromise. Routine blood chemistry and endocrine investigation was normal, as was an MRI scan of the pituitary fossa. A bilateral reduction mammaplasty with free nipple grafts was performed, removing 12.5 kg of tissue in all (24% of the total body weight). There was no recurrence at a 2 year follow up, and no requirement for additional surgery. A review of the literature reveals that breast regrowth is less frequent when free nipple grafting is used, and this technique is recommended for these extraordinary cases.

  3. Bilateral giant juvenile fibroadenomas of the breasts—a rare indication for bilateral skin reducing mastectomy

    PubMed Central

    Neto, Francisco Laitano; Zerwes, Felipe Pereira

    2016-01-01

    Fibroadenoma is the most common benign tumor of the breast but giant juvenile fibroadenoma represent only 0.5% of all fibroadenomas and when bilateral are much more rare. We describe the case of a 25 years old girl that presented with bilateral giant juvenile fibroadenomas and was treated by bilateral skin reducing mastectomy using the inferior dermal flap, implant, and free nipple graft. PMID:27563567

  4. Clinical and ultrasonographic features of male breast tumors: A retrospective analysis.

    PubMed

    Yuan, Wei-Hsin; Li, Anna Fen-Yau; Chou, Yi-Hong; Hsu, Hui-Chen; Chen, Ying-Yuan

    2018-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to determine clinical and ultrasonographic characteristics of male breast tumors. The medical records of male patients with breast lesions were retrieved from an electronic medical record database and a pathology database and retrospectively reviewed. A total of 112 men (125 breast masses) with preoperative breast ultrasonography (US) were included (median age, 59.50 years; age range, 15-96 years). Data extracted included patient age, if the lesions were bilateral, palpable, and tender, and the presence of nipple discharge. Breast lesion features on static US images were reviewed by three experienced radiologists without knowledge of physical examination or pathology results, original breast US image interpretations, or surgical outcomes. The US features were documented according to the BI-RADS (Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System) US lexicons. A forth radiologist compiled the data for analysis. Of the 125 breast masses, palpable tender lumps and bilateral synchronous masses were more likely to be benign than malignant (both, 100% vs 0%, P < 0.05). Advanced age and bloody discharge from nipples were common in malignant lesions (P <0.05). A mass eccentric to a nipple, irregular shape, the presence of an echogenic halo, predominantly internal vascularity, and rich color flow signal on color Doppler ultrasound were significantly related to malignancy (all, P < 0.05). An echogenic halo and the presence of rich color flow signal were independent predictors of malignancy. Specific clinical and US characteristics of male breast tumors may help guide treatment, and determine if surgery or conservative treatment is preferable.

  5. Clinical and ultrasonographic features of male breast tumors: A retrospective analysis

    PubMed Central

    Li, Anna Fen-Yau; Chou, Yi-Hong; Hsu, Hui-Chen; Chen, Ying-Yuan

    2018-01-01

    Objective The purpose of this study was to determine clinical and ultrasonographic characteristics of male breast tumors. Methods The medical records of male patients with breast lesions were retrieved from an electronic medical record database and a pathology database and retrospectively reviewed. A total of 112 men (125 breast masses) with preoperative breast ultrasonography (US) were included (median age, 59.50 years; age range, 15–96 years). Data extracted included patient age, if the lesions were bilateral, palpable, and tender, and the presence of nipple discharge. Breast lesion features on static US images were reviewed by three experienced radiologists without knowledge of physical examination or pathology results, original breast US image interpretations, or surgical outcomes. The US features were documented according to the BI-RADS (Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System) US lexicons. A forth radiologist compiled the data for analysis. Results Of the 125 breast masses, palpable tender lumps and bilateral synchronous masses were more likely to be benign than malignant (both, 100% vs 0%, P < 0.05). Advanced age and bloody discharge from nipples were common in malignant lesions (P <0.05). A mass eccentric to a nipple, irregular shape, the presence of an echogenic halo, predominantly internal vascularity, and rich color flow signal on color Doppler ultrasound were significantly related to malignancy (all, P < 0.05). An echogenic halo and the presence of rich color flow signal were independent predictors of malignancy. Conclusion Specific clinical and US characteristics of male breast tumors may help guide treatment, and determine if surgery or conservative treatment is preferable. PMID:29558507

  6. Bilateral Ewing Sarcoma/Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor of the Breast: A Very Rare Entity and Review of the Literature

    PubMed Central

    Majid, N.; Amrani, M.; Ghissassi, I.; El Cadi, M.; El Bouzidi, M.; El Kabous, M.; Kherbach, A.; Errihani, H.

    2013-01-01

    Peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) are rare malignant tumors, affecting mostly children and adolescents and have been described in breast in eight case reports only. In this paper, we present a case of bilateral mammary ES/PNET where distinction between primary and metastatic diseases was discussed through a literature review. The aim of this work is to demonstrate that although rare, the possibility of PNET should be kept in mind while evaluating a palpable breast abnormality in a young female. PMID:23819085

  7. A Woman's Decision to Choose Bilateral Mastectomy.

    PubMed

    Jerome-D'Emilia, Bonnie; Suplee, Patricia D; Boiler, Jennifer L K; D'Emilia, John C

    2015-01-01

    Rates of bilateral mastectomy as treatment for unilateral breast cancer have been rising. Quantitative analyses have resulted in assumptions about why women choose this procedure, without confirmation from the women. The objective of this study was to explore a woman's decision making in the choice of bilateral mastectomy as a treatment for unilateral breast cancer, regardless of stage. A qualitative descriptive design was used. In-depth interviews were conducted by 2 researchers using a semistructured interview guide to elicit data, which were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis. Twenty-three women were interviewed. Five themes were identified that address specific determinants of the decision-making process: finding something, collecting evidence, perceived level of risk, identifying priorities, and making the decision. Nine women reported that their physicians recommended bilateral mastectomy. Women who recalled being advised of their risk of recurrence reported overestimates of that risk. The reasons women chose bilateral mastectomy were to avoid a lifetime of follow-up screenings with the subsequent fear of hearing that the breast cancer had returned and wanting to stay alive and well for their children and families. Except for women carrying genetic susceptibility to breast cancer, bilateral mastectomy is not considered the standard of care. Yet women are being offered or choosing this procedure. Nurses can be advocates for women by speaking positively about how women have the right to choose their treatment based on best evidence and personal choice. This evidence should include benefits and risks of the treatment.

  8. SU-E-T-18: A Comparison of Planning Techniques for Bilateral Reconstructed Chest Wall Patients Undergoing Whole Breast Irradiation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Volpe, T; Margiasso, R; Saleh, Z

    2015-06-15

    Purpose: As we continuously see more bilateral reconstructed chest wall cases, new challenges are being presented to deliver left-sided breast irradiation. We herein compare three Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) planning techniques (tangents, VMAT, and IMRT) and two free breathing techniques (VMAT and IMRT). Methods: Three left-sided chest wall patients with bilateral implants were studied. Tangents, VMAT, and IMRT plans were created for DIBH scans. VMAT and IMRT plans were created for free breathing scans. All plans were normalized so that 95% of the prescription dose was delivered to 95% of the planning target volume (PTV). The maximum point dosemore » was constrained to less than 120% of the prescription dose. Since the success of DIBH delivery largely depends on patient’s ability to perform consistent breath hold during beam on time, smaller number of Monitor Units (MU) is in general desired. For each patient, the following information was collected to compare the planning techniques: heart mean dose, left and right lung V20 Gy, contra-lateral (right) breast mean dose, cord max dose, and MU. Results: The average heart mean dose over all patients are 1561, 692, 985, 1245, and 1121 cGy, for DIBH tangents, VMAT, IMRT, free breathing VMAT and IMRT, respectively. For left lung V20 are 60%, 28%, 26%, 30%, and 29%. For contra-lateral breast mean dose are 244, 687, 616, 783, 438 cGy. MU are 253, 853, 2048, 1035, and 1874 MUs. Conclusion: In the setting of bilateral chest wall reconstruction, opposed tangent beams cannot consistently achieve desired heart and left lung sparing. DIBH consistently achieves better healthy tissue sparing. VMAT appears to be preferential to IMRT for planning and delivering radiation to patients with bilaterally reconstructed chest walls being treated with DIBH.« less

  9. Use of and Mortality After Bilateral Mastectomy Compared With Other Surgical Treatments for Breast Cancer in California, 1998–2011

    PubMed Central

    Kurian, Allison W.; Lichtensztajn, Daphne Y.; Keegan, Theresa H. M.; Nelson, David O.; Clarke, Christina A.; Gomez, Scarlett L.

    2017-01-01

    IMPORTANCE Bilateral mastectomy is increasingly used to treat unilateral breast cancer. Because it may have medical and psychosocial complications, a better understanding of its use and outcomes is essential to optimizing cancer care. OBJECTIVE To compare use of and mortality after bilateral mastectomy, breast-conserving therapy with radiation, and unilateral mastectomy. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Observational cohort study within the population-based California Cancer Registry; participants were women diagnosed with stages 0–III unilateral breast cancer in California from 1998 through 2011, with median follow-up of 89.1 months. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Factors associated with surgery use (from polytomous logistic regression); overall and breast cancer–specific mortality (from propensity score weighting and Cox proportional hazards analysis). RESULTS Among 189 734 patients, the rate of bilateral mastectomy increased from 2.0% (95% CI, 1.7%–2.2%) in 1998 to 12.3% (95% CI, 11.8%–12.9%) in 2011, an annual increase of 14.3% (95% CI, 13.1%–15.5%); among women younger than 40 years, the rate increased from 3.6% (95% CI, 2.3%–5.0%) in 1998 to 33% (95% CI, 29.8%–36.5%) in 2011. Bilateral mastectomy was more often used by non-Hispanic white women, those with private insurance, and those who received care at a National Cancer Institute (NCI)–designated cancer center (8.6% [95% CI, 8.1%–9.2%] among NCI cancer center patients vs 6.0% [95% CI, 5.9%–6.1%] among non-NCI cancer center patients; odds ratio [OR], 1.13 [95% CI, 1.04–1.22]); in contrast, unilateral mastectomy was more often used by racial/ethnic minorities (Filipina, 52.8% [95% CI, 51.6%–54.0%]; OR, 2.00 [95% CI, 1.90–2.11] and Hispanic, 45.6% [95% CI, 45.0%–46.2%]; OR, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.13–1.20] vs non-Hispanic white, 35.2% [95% CI, 34.9%–35.5%]) and those with public/Medicaid insurance (48.4% [95% CI, 47.8%–48.9%]; OR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.05–1.11] vs private insurance, 36

  10. Motor correlates of models of secondary bilateral synchrony and multiple epileptic foci.

    PubMed

    Jiruska, Premysl; Proks, Jan; Otáhal, Jakub; Mares, Pavel

    2007-10-01

    Bilateral synchronous epileptiform discharges registered in patients with partial epilepsies may be generated by different pathophysiological mechanisms. Differentiation between underlying mechanisms is often crucial for correct diagnosis and adequate treatment in clinical epileptology. The aim of this study was to model in rats two possible mechanisms--secondary bilateral sychrony and interaction between multiple epilepic foci. Furthermore, to describe in detail semiology, laterality and differences in motor phenomena. Secondary bilateral synchrony was modeled by unilateral topical application of bicuculline methiodide (BMI) over the sensorimotor cortex. Bilateral symmetric application of BMI was used as a model of multiple epileptic foci. Electrographic and behavioural phenomena were recorded for 1h following the application of BMI. Electroencephalogram in both groups was characterized by presence of bilateral synchronous discharges. Myoclonic and clonic seizures involving forelimb and head muscles represented the most common motor seizure pattern in both groups. Significant differences were found in the laterality of motor phenomena. Motor seizures in unilateral foci always started in the contralateral limbs whereas symmetrical foci exhibited bilateral independent onset of convulsions. Similar lateralization was observed in interictal motor phenomena (myoclonic jerks). An important influence of posture on epileptic motor phenomena was demonstrated. Active or passive changes in animal posture (verticalization to bipedal posture) caused conversion from unilateral myoclonic jerks or clonic seizures to bilaterally synchronous (generalized) motor phenomena in both groups.

  11. [One-stage Operation through the Same Skin Incision for Synchronous Double Primary Breast and Lung Cancer;Report of a Case].

    PubMed

    Takahashi, Noriyuki; Kuga, Yoko; Uno, Satoko; Saito, Keita

    2018-02-01

    A 75-year-old woman noticed a small mass in the right side breast and consulted our hospital. The results of the detailed examination indicated the synchronous double primary right breast cancer and the same side lung cancer (rS5). One-stage operation from the same skin incision was scheduled. Volume rendering (VR) of computed tomography (CT)-scan was very useful in deciding the position and the length of the skin incision. The breast tumor resection and the right middle lobe resection were successfully performed through 6.5 cm skin incision.

  12. Subcutaneous Venous Port Implantation in Patients with Bilateral Breast Surgery

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Peynircioglu, Bora, E-mail: borapeynir@gmail.com; Arslan, E. Bengi; Cil, Barbaros E.

    2007-06-15

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term follow-up results of subcutaneous venous ports implanted in patients with bilateral mastectomies. We retrospectively reviewed the hospital charts and the electronic database of 17 patients with bilateral mastectomies whom had venous port implantation in our interventional radiology suit. A total of 17 ports were implanted to the paramedian (n = 3) and anterolateral (standard; n = 12) chest wall, on the trapezius muscle (n = 1), and to the antecubital fossa (n = 1). The mean age was 48.29 years (range: 35-60 years). The mean time interval from time ofmore » surgery to port implantation was 34 months (range: 1-84 months). The mean follow-up time was 15 months (range: 7-39 months). Follow-up parameters and classification of the complications was defined according to the SIR guidelines. No procedure-related complication occurred. A single case of mild late infection was noted and the infection rate was 0.19/1000 catheter days. Infusion chemotherapy administration was still going on in eight patients. Two patients died during the follow-up and four patients were lost after 6 months. Port removal was performed in three patients at follow-up because of the end of treatment. One trapezius port and one paramedian port weres among the removed ports without any problem. Although we have a limited number of patients, port placement to the anterior chest wall, either paramedian or anterolateral, on the trapezius muscle or to the antecubital fossa depending on the extent of the bilateral breast surgeries that can be performed with low complication rates by a careful patient and anatomical location selection by involving the patients in the decision-making process. We believe that patient education and knowledge of possible complications have high importance in follow-up.« less

  13. Juvenile granulosa cell tumor of the testis: a bilateral and synchronous case. Should testis-sparing surgery be mandatory?

    PubMed

    Cosentino, Marco; Algaba, Ferran; Saldaña, Lily; Bujons, Ana; Caffaratti, Jorge; Garat, Jose M; Villavicencio, Humberto

    2014-09-01

    Granulosa cell tumor of the testis is an infrequent stromal cell tumor that can be distinguished into adult and juvenile, the latter being more common. Juvenile granulosa cell tumor of the testis is a rare pathologic finding, accounting for 1.2%-3.9% of prepubertal testicular tumors. It is considered as a benign stromal sex cord tumor and is usually unilateral. Although radical surgery was previously considered the treatment of choice, testis-sparing surgery is now recommended in all cases where applicable. We report a bilateral synchronous juvenile granulosa cell tumor in a 6-month-old child treated with testis-sparing surgery and provide a review of the literature. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  14. Factors predictive of immediate breast reconstruction following mastectomy for invasive breast cancer in Australia.

    PubMed

    Roder, D; Zorbas, H; Kollias, J; Pyke, C; Walters, D; Campbell, I; Taylor, C; Webster, F

    2013-12-01

    To investigate person, cancer and treatment determinants of immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) in Australia. Bi-variable and multi-variable analyses of the Quality Audit database. Of 12,707 invasive cancers treated by mastectomy circa 1998-2010, 8% had IBR. This proportion increased over time and reduced from 29% in women below 30 years to approximately 1% in those aged 70 years or more. Multiple regression indicated that other IBR predictors included: high socio-economic status; private health insurance; being asymptomatic; a metropolitan rather than inner regional treatment centre; higher surgeon case load; small tumour size; negative nodal status, positive progesterone receptor status; more cancer foci; multiple affected breast quadrants; synchronous bilateral cancer; not having neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, adjuvant radiotherapy or adjuvant hormone therapy; and receiving ovarian ablation. Variations in access to specialty services and other possible causes of variations in IBR rates need further investigation. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Magnetic resonance mammography in comparison with mammography in the discovery of multifocal, multicentric and bilateral lesions of breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Bakhtavar, Khadijeh; Saran, Maryam; Behzadifar, Masoud; Farsi, Maryam

    2017-08-01

    Breast cancer is one of the health system problems and important diseases that is rising in developing and advanced countries. This study aimed to determine the difference of Magnetic Resonance Mammography (MRM) findings versus mammography in detecting multifocal, multi-centric and malignant bilateral lesions in patients with known breast cancer in Tehran. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Iran and Tehran among breast cancer patients between January 2015 and February 2016. Patients were included in the study prior to surgery, at the request of a surgeon with the aim of detecting multifocal, multi-centric and bilateral lesions. Demographic information was also collected from patients. The results for quantitative variables were expressed as mean and standard deviations, and for qualitative variables, were expressed as relative and absolute frequency. Chi-square test was used to compare the two methods. SPSS Ver.24 (IBM) software was used to analyze the data. Thirty-nine patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age of patients in this study was 48.46±6.836. In mammography, 13 (33.3%) had Composition C and 26 (66.7%) had Composition D according to the type of Composition. In total, 25 patients (89.3%) had one lesion and 3 patients (10.7%) had more than two lesions. In MRM, all lesions observed were mass (54 masses). The number of lesions found in MRM was 27 patients with one lesion (58.9%), 6 patients with two lesions (20.5%) and 5 patients with three lesions (20.6%). MRM detected more lesions compared to mammography (p<0.0001). The value of Chi-square test with a degree of freedom and error level of 0.05 was 3.71 and p<0.0001 that showed a significant relationship between the number of MRM findings in comparison with mammography. The results of our study showed that two or more lesions and bilateral lesions in MRM were more than mammography in women with B Breast Composition C, D; the findings showed that MRM has a better ability to detect breast

  16. Influences on Satisfaction with Reconstructed Breasts and Intimacy in Younger Women Following Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy: a Qualitative Analysis.

    PubMed

    Glassey, Rachael; O'Connor, Moira; Ives, Angela; Saunders, Christobel; Hardcastle, Sarah J

    2018-04-30

    The aim of this study was to explore the influences on satisfaction with reconstructed breasts and intimacy following bilateral prophylactic mastectomy (BPM) in younger women (< 35) with a strong family history of breast cancer. Twenty-six women who had undergone BPM between 1 and6 years ago were recruited from New Zealand and Australia through a genetics clinic, registry, research cohort, and online (M age  = 31). Twenty-three were BRCA mutation carriers. Qualitative interviews guided by interpretative phenomenological analysis were conducted. Four themes were identified: satisfaction with breasts before surgery, outcome expectations, type of mastectomy, and open communication. Women who liked their breasts pre-BPM appeared less satisfied with their reconstructed breasts post-surgery, and women who disliked their breasts before BPM were more satisfied with their reconstructed breasts. Women with unrealistic expectations concerning the look and feel of reconstructed breasts were often unhappy with their reconstructed breasts and felt they did not meet their expectations. Unrealistic photos of breast reconstruction and satisfactory communication of realistic outcome expectations by surgeons or psychologists also appeared to influence satisfaction. Communication with partners prior to BPM appeared to improve satisfaction with intimacy post-BPM. The findings suggest that satisfaction with reconstructed breasts for younger women post-BPM appeared to be influenced by realistic outcome expectations and communication with others concerning reconstructed breast appearance and intimacy post-BPM. Implications for practice include discussion of realistic reconstructed breast appearance, referral to a psychologist to discuss sensitive issues, and accurate communication of surgical risks and consequences.

  17. BOLD responses related to focal spikes and widespread bilateral synchronous discharges generated in the frontal lobe.

    PubMed

    An, Dongmei; Dubeau, François; Gotman, Jean

    2015-03-01

    To investigate whether specific frontal regions have a tendency to generate widespread bilateral synchronous discharges (WBSDs) and others focal spikes and to determine the regions most involved when WBSDs occur; to assess the relationships between the extent of electroencephalography (EEG) discharges and the extent of metabolic changes measured by EEG/functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Thirty-seven patients with interictal epileptic discharges (IEDs) with frontocentral predominance underwent EEG/fMRI. Patients were divided into a Focal (20 patients) group with focal frontal spikes and a WBSD group (17 patients). Maps of hemodynamic responses related to IEDs were compared between the two groups. The mean number ± SD of IEDs in the Focal group was 137.5 ± 38.1 and in the WBSD group, 73.5 ± 16.6 (p = 0.07). The volume of hemodynamic responses in the WBSD group was significantly larger than in the Focal group (mean, 243.3 ± 41.1 versus 114.8 ± 27.4 cm(3), p = 0.01). Maximum hemodynamic responses occurred in both groups in the following regions: dorsolateral prefrontal, mesial prefrontal, cingulate, and supplementary motor cortices. Maxima in premotor and motor cortex, frontal operculum, frontopolar, and orbitofrontal regions were found only in the Focal group, and maxima in thalamus and caudate only occurred in the WBSD group. Thalamic responses were significantly more common in the WBSD group (14/17) than in the Focal group (7/20), p = 0.004. Deactivation in the default mode network was significantly more common in the WBSD group (14/17) than in the Focal group (10/20), p = 0.04. The spatial distribution and extent of blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) responses correlate well with electrophysiologic changes. Focal frontal spikes and WBSDs are not region specific in the frontal lobe, and the same frontal region can generate focal and generalized discharges. This suggests that widespread discharges reflect widespread epileptogenicity rather than a

  18. Characteristics and Survival of Breast Cancer Patients with Multiple Synchronous or Metachronous Primary Cancers.

    PubMed

    Lee, Janghee; Park, Seho; Kim, Sanghwa; Kim, Jeeye; Ryu, Jegyu; Park, Hyung Seok; Kim, Seung Il; Park, Byeong-Woo

    2015-09-01

    Newly developed extra-mammary multiple primary cancers (MPCs) are an issue of concern when considering the management of breast cancer survivors. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of MPCs and to evaluate the implications of MPCs on the survival of breast cancer patients. A total of 8204 patients who underwent surgery at Severance Hospital between 1990 and 2012 were retrospectively selected. Clinicopathologic features and survival over follow-up periods of ≤5 and >5 years were investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses. During a mean follow-up of 67.3 months, 962 MPCs in 858 patients (10.5%) were detected. Synchronous and metachronous MPCs were identified in 23.8% and 79.0% of patients, respectively. Thyroid cancer was the most prevalent, and the second most common was gynecologic cancer. At ≤5 years, patients with MPCs were older and demonstrated significantly worse survival despite a higher proportion of patients with lower-stage MPCs. Nevertheless, an increased risk of death in patients with MPCs did not reach statistical significance at >5 years. The causes of death in many of the patients with MPCs were not related to breast cancer. Stage-matched analysis revealed that the implications of MPCs on survival were more evident in the early stages of breast disease. Breast cancer patients with MPCs showed worse survival, especially when early-stage disease was identified. Therefore, it is necessary to follow screening programs in breast cancer survivors and to establish guidelines for improving prognosis and quality of life.

  19. Intermittent bilateral coherence in physiological and essential hand tremor.

    PubMed

    Chakraborty, Soma; Kopecká, Jana; Šprdlík, Otakar; Hoskovcová, Martina; Ulmanová, Olga; Růžička, Evžen; Zapotocky, Martin

    2017-04-01

    To investigate the prevalence and the temporal structure of bilateral coherence in physiological (PT) and essential (ET) hand tremor. Triaxial accelerometric recordings from both hands in 30 healthy subjects and 34 ET patients were analyzed using spectral coherence and wavelet coherence methods. In 12 additional healthy subjects, the relation between the hand tremor and the chest wall acceleration was evaluated using partial coherence analysis. The majority of both PT and ET subjects displayed significant bilateral coherence. While in PT, bilateral coherence was most frequently found in resting hand position (97% of subjects), in ET the prevalence was comparable for resting (54%) and postural (49%-57%) positions. In both PT and ET, epochs of strong coherence lasting several to a dozen seconds were separated by intervals of insignificant coherence. In PT, bilateral coherence at the main tremor frequency (8-12Hz) was coupled with the ballistocardiac rhythm. The oscillations of the two hands are intermittently synchronized in both PT and ET. We propose that in postural PT, bilateral coherence at the main tremor frequency arises from transient simultaneous entrainment of the left and right hand oscillations to ballistocardiac forcing. Bilateral coherence of hand kinematics provides a sensitive measure of synchronizing influences on the left and right tremor oscillators. Copyright © 2017 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Jejunal perforation after abdominal liposuction, bilateral breast augmentation and facial fat grafting

    PubMed Central

    Coronado-Malagón, Martin; Tauffer-Carrion, Luis Tomas

    2012-01-01

    A 54-year-old woman presented to the emergency department 24 h after undergoing abdominal liposuction, bilateral breast augmentation and facial fat grafting at a private plastic surgery clinic. She presented with the classic evolution of a bowel perforation secondary to abdominal liposuction. A computed tomography (CT) scan found free air in her abdominal cavity. Based on the CT scan and the persistent pain experienced by the patient, an abdominal laparatomy was urgently performed. A jejunum perforation was found and was treated with a resection of the affected segment followed by intestinal anastomosis. The patient had a successful recovery and was discharged seven days later. The present article also reviews the classical presentation of a bowel perforation following abdominal liposuction. PMID:23997589

  1. Jejunal perforation after abdominal liposuction, bilateral breast augmentation and facial fat grafting.

    PubMed

    Coronado-Malagón, Martin; Tauffer-Carrion, Luis Tomas

    2012-01-01

    A 54-year-old woman presented to the emergency department 24 h after undergoing abdominal liposuction, bilateral breast augmentation and facial fat grafting at a private plastic surgery clinic. She presented with the classic evolution of a bowel perforation secondary to abdominal liposuction. A computed tomography (CT) scan found free air in her abdominal cavity. Based on the CT scan and the persistent pain experienced by the patient, an abdominal laparatomy was urgently performed. A jejunum perforation was found and was treated with a resection of the affected segment followed by intestinal anastomosis. The patient had a successful recovery and was discharged seven days later. The present article also reviews the classical presentation of a bowel perforation following abdominal liposuction.

  2. Assessment of global and local region-based bilateral mammographic feature asymmetry to predict short-term breast cancer risk

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Yane; Fan, Ming; Cheng, Hu; Zhang, Peng; Zheng, Bin; Li, Lihua

    2018-01-01

    This study aims to develop and test a new imaging marker-based short-term breast cancer risk prediction model. An age-matched dataset of 566 screening mammography cases was used. All ‘prior’ images acquired in the two screening series were negative, while in the ‘current’ screening images, 283 cases were positive for cancer and 283 cases remained negative. For each case, two bilateral cranio-caudal view mammograms acquired from the ‘prior’ negative screenings were selected and processed by a computer-aided image processing scheme, which segmented the entire breast area into nine strip-based local regions, extracted the element regions using difference of Gaussian filters, and computed both global- and local-based bilateral asymmetrical image features. An initial feature pool included 190 features related to the spatial distribution and structural similarity of grayscale values, as well as of the magnitude and phase responses of multidirectional Gabor filters. Next, a short-term breast cancer risk prediction model based on a generalized linear model was built using an embedded stepwise regression analysis method to select features and a leave-one-case-out cross-validation method to predict the likelihood of each woman having image-detectable cancer in the next sequential mammography screening. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values significantly increased from 0.5863  ±  0.0237 to 0.6870  ±  0.0220 when the model trained by the image features extracted from the global regions and by the features extracted from both the global and the matched local regions (p  =  0.0001). The odds ratio values monotonically increased from 1.00-8.11 with a significantly increasing trend in slope (p  =  0.0028) as the model-generated risk score increased. In addition, the AUC values were 0.6555  ±  0.0437, 0.6958  ±  0.0290, and 0.7054  ±  0.0529 for the three age groups of 37

  3. Body image issues after bilateral prophylactic mastectomy with breast reconstruction in healthy women at risk for hereditary breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Gopie, Jessica P; Mureau, Marc A M; Seynaeve, Caroline; Ter Kuile, Moniek M; Menke-Pluymers, Marian B E; Timman, Reinier; Tibben, Aad

    2013-09-01

    The outcome of bilateral prophylactic mastectomy with breast reconstruction (BPM-IBR) in healthy BRCA1/2 mutation carriers can be potentially burdensome for body image and the intimate relationship. Therefore, in the current analysis the impact on body image, sexual and partner relationship satisfaction was prospectively investigated in women opting for BPM-IBR as well as cancer distress and general quality of life. Healthy women undergoing BPM-IBR completed questionnaires preoperatively (T0, n = 48), at 6 months (T1, n = 44) and after finishing breast reconstruction (median 21 months, range 12-35) (T2, n = 36). With multi-level regression analyses the course of outcome variables was investigated and a statistically significant change in body image and/or sexual and partner relationship satisfaction was predicted by baseline covariates. Body image significantly decreased at T1. At T2 sexual relationship satisfaction and body image tended to be lower compared to baseline. The overall partner relationship satisfaction did not significantly change. At T2, 37 % of the women reported that their breasts felt unpleasantly, 29 % was not satisfied with their breast appearance and 21 % felt embarrassed for their naked body. Most body image issues remained unchanged in 30 % of the women. A negative body image was predicted by high preoperative cancer distress. BPM-IBR was associated with adverse impact on body image in a substantial subgroup, but satisfaction with the overall sexual and partner relationship did not significantly change in time. The psychosocial impact of BPM-IBR in unaffected women should not be underestimated. Psychological support should ideally be integrated both before and after BPM-IBR.

  4. Successful management of synchronous recurrent breast carcinoma with chronic myelogenous leukemia: a case report.

    PubMed

    Elm'hadi, Choukri; Khmamouche, Mohamed Reda; Tanz, Rachid; Toreis, Mehdi; Mahtat, ElMehdi; Allaoui, Mohammed; Oukabli, Mohammed; Messaoudi, Nezha; Errihani, Hassan; Ichou, Mohammed

    2017-01-10

    Survival is increasing after early breast cancer revealing frequent relapses and possibility of developing secondary malignancies. The concomitant occurrence of these two events is exceptionally disastrous and lethal. We report a case of a Moroccan woman who was successfully managed for synchronous recurrent breast carcinoma and chronic myelogenous leukemia. A 42-year-old Moroccan woman was diagnosed with localized breast carcinoma in 2008. She received six cycles of an adjuvant chemotherapy regimen, radiation therapy and hormonal therapy by tamoxifen. After completion of 5 years of tamoxifen our patient reported asthenia; a physical examination found hepatomegaly, massive splenomegaly measuring 21 cm and supraclavicular lymphadenopathy. The staging showed lung and liver metastases. Morphology and immunohistochemical profile of this metastasis identified an adenocarcinoma of mammary origin. In parallel, the diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia was suspected because of the presence of a leukocytosis at 355 × 10 9 /L, with circulating blasts of 4%. Chronic myeloid leukemia was confirmed by a bone marrow biopsy with the presence of Ph chromosome on cytogenetical analysis. Daily imatinib was ordered concurrently with chemotherapy-type docetaxel. The metastases were stable after nine courses of chemotherapy. Due to breast cancer progression 4 months later, bevacizumab and capecitabine were introduced. A major molecular response was achieved after 12 and 18 months. She has now completed 2 years of follow-up, still on a major molecular response, and is undergoing imatinib and capecitabine treatment. Leukocytosis in breast cancer patients can reveal chronic myeloid leukemia. It may warrant a workup to find the underlying etiology, which could include a secondary hematological malignancy.

  5. Normalization of Elevated Tumor Marker CA27-29 after Bilateral Lung Transplantation in a patient with Breast Cancer and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

    PubMed

    Copur, Mehmet Sitki; Wurdeman, Julie Marie; Nelson, Debra; Ramaekers, Ryan; Gauchan, Dron; Crockett, David

    2017-12-11

    Solid tumors involving glandular organs express mucin glycoprotein which is eventually shed into the circulation. As aresult these proteins can easily be measured in the serum and be used as potential tumor markers. The most commonly used tumor markers for breast cancer are CA 27-29 and CA 15-3, which both measure the glycoprotein product of the mucin-1 (MUC1) gene. CA 27-29 has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for monitoring disease activity in breast cancer patients. Most oncology clinical practice guidelines do not recommend the use of tumor markers for routine surveillance of early stage disease but recognize their utility in the metastatic setting. Herein, we present a patient with stage III-A breast cancer and pre-existing hypersensitivity pneumonitis who is found to have an elevated serum tumor marker CA 27-29. After successful curative intent treatment of her early stage breast cancer, she developed gradual and progressive worsening of her lung disease with eventual development of severe pulmonary fibrosis requiring bilateral lung transplantation. As part of the pre-transplant evaluation, she was found to have an elevation of serum tumor marker CA 27-29. While the diagnostic evaluation, including imaging studies was negative for the presence of recurrent disease, the serial serum tumor marker CA 27-29 levels remained persistently elevated. The decision was made for her to undergo bilateral lung transplantation. Shortly after surgery her CA27-29 tumor marker level returned to normal range, and it has continued to remain in the normal range with no evidence of breast cancer recurrence.

  6. Bilateral and symmetrical tinea mammae.

    PubMed

    Yilmaz, Murat; Kavak, Ayse; Yamaner, Nalan Jale

    2013-09-14

    Tinea corporis has rarely been reported in some locations such as on the breast skin as unilaterally. Herein, we present a case of bilateral tinea mammae, which has not been reported before in English language literature to our knowledge.

  7. Pancreatic solitary and synchronous metastasis from breast cancer: a case report and systematic review of controversies in diagnosis and treatment.

    PubMed

    Molino, Carlo; Mocerino, Carmela; Braucci, Antonio; Riccardi, Ferdinando; Trunfio, Martino; Carrillo, Giovanna; Vitale, Maria Giuseppa; Cartenì, Giacomo; De Sena, Guido

    2014-01-05

    Metastases from breast cancer cause the frequent involvement of lung, bone, liver, and brain, while the occurrence of metastases to the gastrointestinal tract is rare, and more frequently discovered after a primary diagnosis of breast cancer. Solitary pancreatic metastases from breast cancer, without widespread disease, are actually unusual, and only 19 cases have been previously described; truly exceptional is a solitary pancreatic metastasis becoming evident together with the primary breast cancer. A 68-year-old woman reported general fatigue, lethargy, and jaundice. Abdominal ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an ampulloma of Vater's papilla; moreover, a neoplastic nodule in the left breast was diagnosed. She underwent surgery for both breast cancer and ampulloma of Vater's papilla. Pathological examination of pancreatic specimen, however, did not confirm primary carcinoma of the duodenal papilla, but showed a metastatic involvement of pancreas from lobular breast cancer. Immunohistochemistry has been essential to confirm the origin of the malignancy: hormone receptors and mammaglobin were expressed in both the primary breast tumor and the pancreatic metastasis. This is one of the few reported cases in literature of an isolated and synchronous pancreatic metastasis from breast cancer, where the definitive diagnosis was obtained only after surgery. We discuss the controversies in this diagnosis and the choice of correct treatment. The surgical resection of solitary metastases can be performed in the absence of disseminated disease.

  8. Breast MRI at 7 Tesla with a bilateral coil and T1-weighted acquisition with robust fat suppression: image evaluation and comparison with 3 Tesla.

    PubMed

    Brown, Ryan; Storey, Pippa; Geppert, Christian; McGorty, KellyAnne; Leite, Ana Paula Klautau; Babb, James; Sodickson, Daniel K; Wiggins, Graham C; Moy, Linda

    2013-11-01

    To evaluate the image quality of T1-weighted fat-suppressed breast MRI at 7 T and to compare 7-T and 3-T images. Seventeen subjects were imaged using a 7-T bilateral transmit-receive coil and 3D gradient echo sequence with adiabatic inversion-based fat suppression (FS). Images were graded on a five-point scale and quantitatively assessed through signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), fibroglandular/fat contrast and signal uniformity measurements. Image scores at 7 and 3 T were similar on standard-resolution images (1.1 × 1.1 × 1.1-1.6 mm(3)), indicating that high-quality breast imaging with clinical parameters can be performed at 7 T. The 7-T SNR advantage was underscored on 0.6-mm isotropic images, where image quality was significantly greater than at 3 T (4.2 versus 3.1, P ≤ 0.0001). Fibroglandular/fat contrast was more than two times higher at 7 T than at 3 T, owing to effective adiabatic inversion-based FS and the inherent 7-T signal advantage. Signal uniformity was comparable at 7 and 3 T (P < 0.05). Similar 7-T image quality was observed in all subjects, indicating robustness against anatomical variation. The 7-T bilateral transmit-receive coil and adiabatic inversion-based FS technique produce image quality that is as good as or better than at 3 T. • High image quality bilateral breast MRI is achievable with clinical parameters at 7 T. • 7-T high-resolution imaging improves delineation of subtle soft tissue structures. • Adiabatic-based fat suppression provides excellent fibroglandular/fat contrast at 7 T. • 7- and 3-T 3D T1-weighted gradient-echo images have similar signal uniformity. • The 7-T dual solenoid coil enables bilateral imaging without compromising uniformity.

  9. Prediction of near-term breast cancer risk using local region-based bilateral asymmetry features in mammography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Yane; Fan, Ming; Li, Lihua; Zheng, Bin

    2017-03-01

    This study proposed a near-term breast cancer risk assessment model based on local region bilateral asymmetry features in Mammography. The database includes 566 cases who underwent at least two sequential FFDM examinations. The `prior' examination in the two series all interpreted as negative (not recalled). In the "current" examination, 283 women were diagnosed cancers and 283 remained negative. Age of cancers and negative cases completely matched. These cases were divided into three subgroups according to age: 152 cases among the 37-49 age-bracket, 220 cases in the age-bracket 50- 60, and 194 cases with the 61-86 age-bracket. For each image, two local regions including strip-based regions and difference-of-Gaussian basic element regions were segmented. After that, structural variation features among pixel values and structural similarity features were computed for strip regions. Meanwhile, positional features were extracted for basic element regions. The absolute subtraction value was computed between each feature of the left and right local-regions. Next, a multi-layer perception classifier was implemented to assess performance of features for prediction. Features were then selected according stepwise regression analysis. The AUC achieved 0.72, 0.75 and 0.71 for these 3 age-based subgroups, respectively. The maximum adjustable odds ratios were 12.4, 20.56 and 4.91 for these three groups, respectively. This study demonstrate that the local region-based bilateral asymmetry features extracted from CC-view mammography could provide useful information to predict near-term breast cancer risk.

  10. Electron arc therapy for bilateral chest wall irradiation: treatment planning and dosimetric study.

    PubMed

    Sharma, P K; Jamema, S V; Kaushik, K; Budrukkar, A; Jalali, R; Deshpande, D D; Tambe, C M; Sarin, R; Munshi, A

    2011-04-01

    The treatment of patients with synchronous bilateral breast cancer is a challenge. We present a report of dosimetric data of patients with bilateral chest walls as the target treated with electron arc therapy. Ten consecutive patients who had undergone electron arc therapy to the bilateral chest wall for breast cancer were analysed. After positioning and immobilisation, patients underwent computed tomography scans from the neck to the upper abdomen. Electron arc plans were generated using the PLATO RTS (V1.8.2 Nucletron) treatment planning system. Electron energy was chosen depending upon the depth and thickness of the planning target volume (PTV). For all patients, the arc angle ranged between 80 and 280° (start angle 80°, stop angle 280°). The homogeneity index, coverage index and doses to organs at risk were evaluated. The patient-specific output factor and thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD) measurements were carried out for all patients. The total planned dose to the PTV was 50Gy/25 fractions/5 weeks. The mean PTV (± standard deviation) was 568.9 (±116)cm(3). The mean PTV coverage was 89 (±5.8)% of the prescribed dose. For the right lung, the mean values of D(1) and D(10) were 46 (±7.6) and 30 (±9)Gy, respectively. For the left lung, the mean values of D(1) and D(10) were 45 (±7) and 27 (±8)Gy, respectively. For the heart, the mean values of D(1), D(5) and D(10) were 21 (±15), 13.5 (±12) and 9 (±9)Gy, respectively. The mean values of TLD at various pre-specified locations on the chest wall surface were 1.84, 1.82, 1.82, 1.89 and 1.78Gy, respectively The electron arc technique for treating the bilateral chest wall is a feasible and pragmatic technique. This technique has the twin advantages of adequate coverage of the target volume and sparing of adjacent normal structures. However, compared with other techniques, it needs a firm quality assurance protocol for dosimetry and treatment delivery. Copyright © 2010 The Royal College of Radiologists

  11. Bilateral breast calciphylaxis in a patient who survived earlier extensive tissue necrosis 5 years previously: A case report.

    PubMed

    Verstappen, E M J; Maaskant-Braat, A J G; Scheltinga, M R

    2018-05-07

    Calciphylaxis is a rare condition including patchy dermal necrosis that mostly affects chronic hemodialysis patients. The syndrome usually heralds impending death although patients may survive following a set of measures including an adapted dialysis regimen. The present case is a unique patient who recovered from an earlier episode of upper leg calciphylaxis 5 years previously but developed fatal bilateral breast necrosis. A 69 year old Caucasian woman with a history of atrial fibrillation, hypertension, CVA, hyperparathyroidectomy for secondary hyperparathyroidism and end stage renal disease with hemodialysis recovered in 2012 from extensive symptomatic left upper leg necrosis due to calciphylaxis. In 2017, she developed painful, necrotic ulcers on both breasts, again due to calciphylaxis. She had no history of anticoagulants use but she did use prednisolone 5mg/day. She received adequate wound care, pain medication, antibiotics and dialysis frequency was increased with an addition of sodium thiosulfate. A bilateral ablation was discussed but she decided to stop all treatment following pulmonary aspiration and passed away one week later. Calciphylaxis is a rare diagnosis that should be considered in patients with renal insufficiency developing painful patches of skin necrosis. A multidisciplinary treatment approach including hyperparathyroidectomy, modified hemodialysis and wound treatment is recommended. There is limited evidence for surgical intervention. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  12. Breast cancer cells synchronous labeling and separation based on aptamer and fluorescence-magnetic silica nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Qiu-Yue; Huang, Wei; Jiang, Xing-Lin; Kang, Yan-Jun

    2018-01-01

    In this work, an efficient method based on biotin-labeled aptamer and streptavidin-conjugated fluorescence-magnetic silica nanoprobes (FITC@Fe3O4@SiNPs-SA) has been established for human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells synchronous labeling and separation. Carboxyl-modified fluorescence-magnetic silica nanoparticles (FITC@Fe3O4@SiNPs-COOH) were first synthesized using the Stöber method. Streptavidin (SA) was then conjugated to the surface of FITC@Fe3O4@SiNPs-COOH. The MCF-7 cell suspension was incubated with biotin-labeled MUC-1 aptamer. After centrifugation and washing, the cells were then treated with FITC@Fe3O4@SiNPs-SA. Afterwards, the mixtures were separated by a magnet. The cell-probe conjugates were then imaged using fluorescent microscopy. The results show that the MUC-1 aptamer could recognize and bind to the targeted cells with high affinity and specificity, indicating the prepared FITC@Fe3O4@SiNPs-SA with great photostability and superparamagnetism could be applied effectively in labeling and separation for MCF-7 cell in suspension synchronously. In addition, the feasibility of MCF-7 cells detection in peripheral blood was assessed. The results indicate that the method above is also applicable for cancer cells synchronous labeling and separation in complex biological system.

  13. Performance of CT scan of abdomen and pelvis in detecting asymptomatic synchronous metastasis in breast cancer.

    PubMed

    James, Justin; Teo, Melanie; Ramachandran, Vivekananda; Law, Michael; Stoney, David; Cheng, Michael

    2017-10-01

    In many centres in Australia, CT scan of abdomen and pelvis (CTAP) is a commonly used staging investigation to detect asymptomatic synchronous metastasis (ASM) in newly diagnosed breast cancer. However, its routine use is not supported by strong evidence either on its cost effectiveness or on specificity. Despite contrary recommendations by international guidelines this staging investigation is widely used among new early breast cancers(EBC). This retrospective study aims to assess the cost effectiveness and usefulness of CTAP in new breast cancers. All patients with primary invasive breast cancers who underwent breast cancer treatment through Eastern health breast unit during 50-month period from January 2012 were included in the study. All staging CTAP results were reviewed to evaluate its yield, false positive rate and cost of investigation per single positive result. Odds ratio for positive test results were calculated for five possible risk factors (Age less than 40 years, stage III disease, presence of LVI, HER2 positive disease and presence of metastasis in lymph node). 49% (n = 285) of all breast cancer patient underwent staging CTAP which lead to the detection of 4 ASM. (Over all yield of 1%) Overall false positive rate was 15% because of 42 indeterminate results needing further tests. Based merely on approved billing rates this amounted to $ 40733 per single ASM identified. Presence of lymph node metastasis did not increase the chance of positive test result (OR = 1.3; CI:0.13-12.69). Staging CTAP is associated with high incidence of false positive rates and low yield, especially among EBCs. It is desirable to choose this investigation more selectively than currently practiced. Crown Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. Primary peritoneal serous carcinoma presenting as inflammatory breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Khalifeh, Ibrahim; Deavers, Michael T; Cristofanilli, Massimo; Coleman, Robert L; Malpica, Anais; Gilcrease, Michael Z

    2009-01-01

    Metastasis to the breast from extramammary malignancies is rare. Nevertheless, its recognition is important because the prognosis and treatment differ from that of primary breast cancer. We report a unique case of primary peritoneal serous carcinoma that initially presented as inflammatory breast cancer. The patient received neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer and subsequently underwent bilateral total mastectomy and bilateral sentinel lymph node biopsy. She was found to have extensive intralymphatic carcinoma in both breasts, with only focal minimal breast parenchymal involvement, and residual metastatic carcinoma in bilateral sentinel lymph nodes. Further work-up revealed pelvic ascites and omental nodularities. The patient underwent laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, which revealed high-grade serous carcinoma involving both ovaries and fallopian tubes. Molecular testing of tumor from the ovary and axillary lymph node showed an identical pattern of allelic loss, confirming a common origin for both tumors. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an extramammary primary malignancy that not only presented as inflammatory breast cancer but also was diagnosed and initially treated as such.

  15. Trends and clinical implications of preoperative breast MRI in Medicare beneficiaries with breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Killelea, Brigid K; Long, Jessica B; Chagpar, Anees B; Ma, Xiaomei; Soulos, Pamela R; Ross, Joseph S; Gross, Cary P

    2013-08-01

    While there has been increasing interest in the use of preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for women with breast cancer, little is known about trends in MRI use, or the association of MRI with surgical approach among older women. Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare database, we identified a cohort of women diagnosed with breast cancer from 2000 to 2009 who underwent surgery. We used Medicare claims to identify preoperative breast MRI and surgical approach. We evaluated temporal trends in MRI use according to age and type of surgery, and identified factors associated with MRI. We assessed the association between MRI and surgical approach: breast-conserving surgery (BCS) versus mastectomy, bilateral versus unilateral mastectomy, and use of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. Among the 72,461 women in our cohort, 10.1 % underwent breast MRI. Preoperative MRI use increased from 0.8 % in 2000-2001 to 25.2 % in 2008-2009 (p < 0.001). Overall, 43.3 % received mastectomy and 56.7 % received BCS. After adjustment for clinical and demographic factors, MRI was associated with an increased likelihood of having a mastectomy compared to BCS (adjusted odds ratio = 1.21, 95 % CI 1.14-1.28). Among women who underwent mastectomy, MRI was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of having bilateral cancer diagnosed (9.7 %) and undergoing bilateral mastectomy (12.5 %) compared to women without MRI (3.7 and 4.1 %, respectively, p < 0.001 for both). In conclusion, the use of preoperative breast MRI has increased substantially among older women with breast cancer and is associated with an increased likelihood of being diagnosed with bilateral cancer, and more invasive surgery.

  16. The Management of Synchronous Bilateral Wilms Tumor: A Report from the National Wilms Tumor Study Group

    PubMed Central

    Hamilton, Thomas E.; Ritchey, Michael L.; Haase, Gerald M.; Argani, Pedram; Peterson, Susan M.; Anderson, James R.; Green, Daniel M.; Shamberger, Robert C.

    2013-01-01

    Objective To provide guidelines for future trials, we reviewed the outcomes of children with synchronous bilateral Wilms tumors (BWT) treated on National Wilms Tumor Study-4 (NWTS-4). Methods NWTS-4 enrolled 3,335 patients (pts) including 188 pts with BWT (5.6%). Treatment and outcome data were collected. Results Among 188 BWT pts registered with NWTS-4, 195 kidneys in 123 patients had initial open biopsy, 44 kidneys in 31 pts had needle biopsies. Although pre-resection chemotherapy was recommended, 87 kidneys in 83 pts were managed with primary resection: Complete nephrectomy 48 in 48 pts, 31 partial/wedge nephrectomies in 27 pts, enucleations 8 in 8 pts. No initial surgery was performed in 45 kidneys in 43 pts, 5 kidneys in 3 pts not coded. Anaplasia was diagnosed after completion of the initial course of chemotherapy in 14 pts (initial surgical procedure: 9 open biopsies, 4 needle biopsies, 1 partial nephrectomy). The average number of days from the start of chemotherapy to diagnosis of anaplasia was 390 (range 44–1,925 days). Relapse or progression of disease occurred in 54 children. End stage renal failure occurred in 23 children, 6 of whom had bilateral nephrectomies. The 8 year event free survival (EFS) for BWT with favorable histology was 74%, and overall survival (OS) was 89%; while the EFS for BWT with unfavorable histology was 40%, OS was 45%. Conclusion The current analysis of patients with BWT treated on NWTS-4 shows that preservation of renal parenchyma is possible in many pts following initial preoperative chemotherapy. The incidence of end-stage renal disease remains significantly higher in children with BWT. Future studies are warranted to address the need for earlier biopsy in non-responsive tumors and earlier definitive surgery to recognize unfavorable histology in these high risk patients. PMID:21394016

  17. Finite Time Control Design for Bilateral Teleoperation System With Position Synchronization Error Constrained.

    PubMed

    Yang, Yana; Hua, Changchun; Guan, Xinping

    2016-03-01

    Due to the cognitive limitations of the human operator and lack of complete information about the remote environment, the work performance of such teleoperation systems cannot be guaranteed in most cases. However, some practical tasks conducted by the teleoperation system require high performances, such as tele-surgery needs satisfactory high speed and more precision control results to guarantee patient' health status. To obtain some satisfactory performances, the error constrained control is employed by applying the barrier Lyapunov function (BLF). With the constrained synchronization errors, some high performances, such as, high convergence speed, small overshoot, and an arbitrarily predefined small residual constrained synchronization error can be achieved simultaneously. Nevertheless, like many classical control schemes only the asymptotic/exponential convergence, i.e., the synchronization errors converge to zero as time goes infinity can be achieved with the error constrained control. It is clear that finite time convergence is more desirable. To obtain a finite-time synchronization performance, the terminal sliding mode (TSM)-based finite time control method is developed for teleoperation system with position error constrained in this paper. First, a new nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode (NFTSM) surface with new transformed synchronization errors is proposed. Second, adaptive neural network system is applied for dealing with the system uncertainties and the external disturbances. Third, the BLF is applied to prove the stability and the nonviolation of the synchronization errors constraints. Finally, some comparisons are conducted in simulation and experiment results are also presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

  18. Subthalamic stimulation modulates cortical motor network activity and synchronization in Parkinson’s disease

    PubMed Central

    Klotz, Rosa; Govindan, Rathinaswamy B.; Scholten, Marlieke; Naros, Georgios; Ramos-Murguialday, Ander; Bunjes, Friedemann; Meisner, Christoph; Plewnia, Christian; Krüger, Rejko

    2015-01-01

    Dynamic modulations of large-scale network activity and synchronization are inherent to a broad spectrum of cognitive processes and are disturbed in neuropsychiatric conditions including Parkinson’s disease. Here, we set out to address the motor network activity and synchronization in Parkinson’s disease and its modulation with subthalamic stimulation. To this end, 20 patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease with subthalamic nucleus stimulation were analysed on externally cued right hand finger movements with 1.5-s interstimulus interval. Simultaneous recordings were obtained from electromyography on antagonistic muscles (right flexor digitorum and extensor digitorum) together with 64-channel electroencephalography. Time-frequency event-related spectral perturbations were assessed to determine cortical and muscular activity. Next, cross-spectra in the time-frequency domain were analysed to explore the cortico-cortical synchronization. The time-frequency modulations enabled us to select a time-frequency range relevant for motor processing. On these time-frequency windows, we developed an extension of the phase synchronization index to quantify the global cortico-cortical synchronization and to obtain topographic differentiations of distinct electrode sites with respect to their contributions to the global phase synchronization index. The spectral measures were used to predict clinical and reaction time outcome using regression analysis. We found that movement-related desynchronization of cortical activity in the upper alpha and beta range was significantly facilitated with ‘stimulation on’ compared to ‘stimulation off’ on electrodes over the bilateral parietal, sensorimotor, premotor, supplementary-motor, and prefrontal areas, including the bilateral inferior prefrontal areas. These spectral modulations enabled us to predict both clinical and reaction time improvement from subthalamic stimulation. With ‘stimulation on’, interhemispheric cortico

  19. Breast Abscess Mimicking Breast Carcinoma in Male.

    PubMed

    Gochhait, Debasis; Dehuri, Priyadarshini; Umamahesweran, Sandyya; Kamat, Rohan

    2018-01-01

    Male breast can show almost all pathological entities described in female breast. Inflammatory conditions of the breast in male are not common; however, occasionally, it can be encountered in the form of an abscess. Clinically, gynecomastia always presents as a symmetric unilateral or bilateral lump in the retroareolar region, and any irregular asymmetric lump raises a possibility of malignancy. Radiology should be used as a part of the triple assessment protocol for breast lump along with fine-needle aspiration cytology for definite diagnosis and proper management.

  20. Subthalamic stimulation modulates cortical motor network activity and synchronization in Parkinson's disease.

    PubMed

    Weiss, Daniel; Klotz, Rosa; Govindan, Rathinaswamy B; Scholten, Marlieke; Naros, Georgios; Ramos-Murguialday, Ander; Bunjes, Friedemann; Meisner, Christoph; Plewnia, Christian; Krüger, Rejko; Gharabaghi, Alireza

    2015-03-01

    Dynamic modulations of large-scale network activity and synchronization are inherent to a broad spectrum of cognitive processes and are disturbed in neuropsychiatric conditions including Parkinson's disease. Here, we set out to address the motor network activity and synchronization in Parkinson's disease and its modulation with subthalamic stimulation. To this end, 20 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease with subthalamic nucleus stimulation were analysed on externally cued right hand finger movements with 1.5-s interstimulus interval. Simultaneous recordings were obtained from electromyography on antagonistic muscles (right flexor digitorum and extensor digitorum) together with 64-channel electroencephalography. Time-frequency event-related spectral perturbations were assessed to determine cortical and muscular activity. Next, cross-spectra in the time-frequency domain were analysed to explore the cortico-cortical synchronization. The time-frequency modulations enabled us to select a time-frequency range relevant for motor processing. On these time-frequency windows, we developed an extension of the phase synchronization index to quantify the global cortico-cortical synchronization and to obtain topographic differentiations of distinct electrode sites with respect to their contributions to the global phase synchronization index. The spectral measures were used to predict clinical and reaction time outcome using regression analysis. We found that movement-related desynchronization of cortical activity in the upper alpha and beta range was significantly facilitated with 'stimulation on' compared to 'stimulation off' on electrodes over the bilateral parietal, sensorimotor, premotor, supplementary-motor, and prefrontal areas, including the bilateral inferior prefrontal areas. These spectral modulations enabled us to predict both clinical and reaction time improvement from subthalamic stimulation. With 'stimulation on', interhemispheric cortico

  1. Women's Educational Needs and Perceptions About Survivorship Following Bilateral Mastectomy.

    PubMed

    Suplee, Patricia D; Jerome-D'Emilia, Bonnie; Boiler, Jennifer L K

    2016-08-01

    More women are choosing to have a bilateral mastectomy to treat unilateral breast cancer despite it not being considered the standard of care. Women are making this choice for various reasons, including anxiety of follow-up screening of the other breast, risk of cancer recurrence for the rest of their lives, and desire to maintain control over the localized cancer. Currently, evidence-based information is lacking regarding this treatment choice. In addition, the concept of survivorship has yet to be examined in this population of women. This study aimed to explore women's educational needs and perceptions about survivorship following bilateral mastectomy as a treatment for unilateral breast cancer. In-depth interviews were conducted with 23 women using a semistructured interview guide. Data were elicited, coded, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Two themes were identified that addressed education and survivorship.

  2. Breast enlargement after two reduction mastoplasties: a case report.

    PubMed

    Mottura, A Aldo

    2007-01-01

    In 1989, a bilateral breast reduction was performed for a large-breasted woman. She returned 1 year later with bilateral breast enlargement as severe as in the original case. The operation was repeated but in a more aggressive way. She became pregnant 2 years later, and both her small breasts began to grow again until they became gigantic. Hormonal tests showed results within the standard limits, and no medical treatment was effective. After the delivery, her breasts reduced in size spontaneously.

  3. Multimodel assessment of BRCA1 mutations in Taiwanese (ethnic Chinese) women with early-onset, bilateral or familial breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Kuo, Wen-Hong; Lin, Po-Han; Huang, Ai-Chu; Chien, Yin-Hsiu; Liu, Tsang-Pai; Lu, Yen-Shen; Bai, Li-Yuan; Sargeant, Aaron M; Lin, Ching-Hung; Cheng, Ann-Lii; Hsieh, Fon-Jou; Hwu, Wuh-Liang; Chang, King-Jen

    2012-02-01

    Although evidence suggests an importance of genetic factors in the development of breast cancer in Taiwanese (ethnic Chinese) women, including a high incidence of early-onset and secondary contralateral breast cancer, a major breast cancer predisposition gene, BRCA1, has not been well studied in this population. In fact, the carcinogenic impacts of many genetic variants of BRCA1 are unknown and classified as variants of uncertain significance (VUS). It is therefore important to establish a method to characterize the BRCA1 VUSs and understand their role in Taiwanese breast cancer patients. Accordingly, we developed a multimodel assessment strategy consisting of a prescreening portion and a validated functional assay to study breast cancer patients with early-onset, bilateral or familial breast cancer. We found germ-line BRCA1 mutations in 11.1% of our cohort and identified one novel missense mutation, c.5191C>A. Two genetic variants were initially classified as VUSs (c.1155C>T and c.5191C>A). c.1155C>T is not predicted to be deleterious in the prescreening portion of our assessment strategy. c.5191C>A, on the other hand, causes p.T1691K, which is predicted to have high deleterious probability because of significant structural alteration, a high deleterious score in the predictive programs and, clinically, triple negative characteristics in breast tumors. This mutant is confirmed by transcription activation and yeast growth-inhibition assays. In conclusion, we show as high a prevalence of germ-line BRCA1 mutation in high-risk Taiwanese patients as in Caucasians and demonstrate a useful strategy for studying BRCA1 VUSs.

  4. Current practice patterns of drain usage amongst UK and Irish surgeons performing bilateral breast reductions: Evidence down the drain.

    PubMed

    Sugrue, Conor M; McInerney, Niall; Joyce, Cormac W; Jones, Deidre; Hussey, Alan J; Kelly, Jack L; Kerin, Michael J; Regan, Padraic J

    2015-01-01

    Bilateral breast reduction (BBR) is one of the most frequently performed female breast operations. Despite no evidence supporting efficacy of drain usage in BBRs, postoperative insertion is common. Recent high quality evidence demonstrating potential harm from drain use has subsequently challenged this traditional practice. The aim of this study is to assess the current practice patterns of drains usage by Plastic & Reconstructive and Breast Surgeons in UK and Ireland performing BBRs. An 18 question survey was created evaluating various aspects of BBR practice. UK and Irish Plastic & Reconstructive and Breast Surgeons were invited to participate by an email containing a link to a web-based survey. Statistical analysis was performed with student t-test and chi-square test. Two hundred and eleven responding surgeons were analysed, including 80.1% (171/211) Plastic Surgeons and 18.9% (40/211) Breast Surgeons. Of the responding surgeons, 71.6% (151/211) routinely inserted postoperative drains, for a mean of 1.32 days. Drains were used significantly less by surgeons performing ≥20 BBRs (p = 0.02). With the majority of BBRs performed as an inpatient procedure, there was a trend towards less drain usage in surgeons performing this procedure as an outpatient; however, this was not statistically significant (p = 0.07). Even with the high level of evidence demonstrating the safety of BBR without drains, they are still routinely utilised. In an era of evidence- based medicine, surgeons performing breast reductions must adopt the results from scientific research into their clinical practice.

  5. Can foam sclerotherapy be used to safely treat bilateral varicose veins?

    PubMed

    Bhogal, R H; Moffat, C E; Coney, P; Nyamekye, I K

    2012-02-01

    We assessed the use of ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) to treat bilateral varicose veins either as synchronous or interval procedures. We specifically assessed total foam volume usage and its influence on early outcome and complications. We reviewed our prospectively compiled computerised database of patients with bilateral varicose veins who have undergone UGFS. Duplex findings, foam volumes used and clinical outcome were assessed. One hundred and twelve patients had undergone UGFS for bilateral varicose veins. Sixty-one had bilateral UGFS (122 legs) and 51 had interval UGFS (102 legs). Seventy-eight percent bilateral and 60% interval procedures were for single trunk disease. Median foam volumes per treatment episode were: 17.5 mls bilateral, and 10 mls interval FS. At two weeks 81% of legs had complete occlusion after bilateral UGFS compared to 70% after interval UGFS. One patient in the bilateral UGFS developed transient visual disturbance. There was no systemic complications in the interval UGFS. Bilateral foam sclerotherapy treatment did not adversly affect vein occlusion rates and there was no significant difference in complication rates between the two groups. Bilateral UGFS can be safely performed in selected patient presenting with bilateral varicose veins.

  6. Metastatic breast disease from cutaneous malignant melanoma.

    PubMed

    Moschetta, Marco; Telegrafo, Michele; Lucarelli, Nicola Maria; Martino, Gianluigi; Rella, Leonarda; Stabile Ianora, Amato Antonio; Angelelli, Giuseppe

    2014-01-01

    Malignant melanoma is one of the most rapidly increasing cancer in the world. Breast metastases from melanoma are uncommon but could reflect a widespread disease. We report a case of malignant widespread melanoma presenting with bilateral breast nodules in a 39 year-old pre-menopausal Caucasian woman with an history of cutaneous melanoma of the trunk. Breast clinical examination revealed the presence of a hard and mobile lump located on the left breast. Ultrasound detected two bilateral nodules corresponding to oval opacities with well-defined edges and without calcifications or architectural distortion on mammography. Fine needle aspiration cytology performed on both breast nodules confirmed that the breast lesions were metastases from primary cutaneous malignant melanoma. A total-body CT examination detected brain, lung and abdominal lymph nodes metastases. The breast represents an uncommon site of metastatic disease from extra-mammary tumors. Imaging features of breast metastases from melanoma usually do not allow a differential diagnosis with breast primary tumors. Breast metastases may be asymptomatic or palpable as dense and well-circumscribed nodules. Breast metastases indicate a widespread disease and should lead to avoid aggressive surgical procedures because of the poor prognosis of patients affected by metastatic melanoma. The detection of bilateral breast metastases from melanoma is highly suggestive of metastatic multi-organ disease and could be useful to address the therapeutic approach. Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  7. Inter-subject synchronization of brain responses during natural music listening

    PubMed Central

    Abrams, Daniel A.; Ryali, Srikanth; Chen, Tianwen; Chordia, Parag; Khouzam, Amirah; Levitin, Daniel J.; Menon, Vinod

    2015-01-01

    Music is a cultural universal and a rich part of the human experience. However, little is known about common brain systems that support the processing and integration of extended, naturalistic ‘real-world’ music stimuli. We examined this question by presenting extended excerpts of symphonic music, and two pseudomusical stimuli in which the temporal and spectral structure of the Natural Music condition were disrupted, to non-musician participants undergoing functional brain imaging and analysing synchronized spatiotemporal activity patterns between listeners. We found that music synchronizes brain responses across listeners in bilateral auditory midbrain and thalamus, primary auditory and auditory association cortex, right-lateralized structures in frontal and parietal cortex, and motor planning regions of the brain. These effects were greater for natural music compared to the pseudo-musical control conditions. Remarkably, inter-subject synchronization in the inferior colliculus and medial geniculate nucleus was also greater for the natural music condition, indicating that synchronization at these early stages of auditory processing is not simply driven by spectro-temporal features of the stimulus. Increased synchronization during music listening was also evident in a right-hemisphere fronto-parietal attention network and bilateral cortical regions involved in motor planning. While these brain structures have previously been implicated in various aspects of musical processing, our results are the first to show that these regions track structural elements of a musical stimulus over extended time periods lasting minutes. Our results show that a hierarchical distributed network is synchronized between individuals during the processing of extended musical sequences, and provide new insight into the temporal integration of complex and biologically salient auditory sequences. PMID:23578016

  8. Inter-subject synchronization of brain responses during natural music listening.

    PubMed

    Abrams, Daniel A; Ryali, Srikanth; Chen, Tianwen; Chordia, Parag; Khouzam, Amirah; Levitin, Daniel J; Menon, Vinod

    2013-05-01

    Music is a cultural universal and a rich part of the human experience. However, little is known about common brain systems that support the processing and integration of extended, naturalistic 'real-world' music stimuli. We examined this question by presenting extended excerpts of symphonic music, and two pseudomusical stimuli in which the temporal and spectral structure of the Natural Music condition were disrupted, to non-musician participants undergoing functional brain imaging and analysing synchronized spatiotemporal activity patterns between listeners. We found that music synchronizes brain responses across listeners in bilateral auditory midbrain and thalamus, primary auditory and auditory association cortex, right-lateralized structures in frontal and parietal cortex, and motor planning regions of the brain. These effects were greater for natural music compared to the pseudo-musical control conditions. Remarkably, inter-subject synchronization in the inferior colliculus and medial geniculate nucleus was also greater for the natural music condition, indicating that synchronization at these early stages of auditory processing is not simply driven by spectro-temporal features of the stimulus. Increased synchronization during music listening was also evident in a right-hemisphere fronto-parietal attention network and bilateral cortical regions involved in motor planning. While these brain structures have previously been implicated in various aspects of musical processing, our results are the first to show that these regions track structural elements of a musical stimulus over extended time periods lasting minutes. Our results show that a hierarchical distributed network is synchronized between individuals during the processing of extended musical sequences, and provide new insight into the temporal integration of complex and biologically salient auditory sequences. © 2013 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  9. Trends in Media Reports of Celebrities' Breast Cancer Treatment Decisions.

    PubMed

    Sabel, Michael S; Dal Cin, Sonya

    2016-09-01

    Although the increasing use of bilateral mastectomies is multifaceted, one source of influence may be the media, including coverage of celebrity breast cancer treatment. We examined trends in media reporting that might impact decision making among women with breast cancer. We performed searches of two comprehensive online databases for articles from major U.S. print publications mentioning celebrities and terms related to the word "breast" and terms related to cancer treatment. Automated analysis using custom-created dictionaries was used to determine word frequencies over time. An analysis of net media tone was conducted using Lexicoder Sentiment Dictionaries. Celebrity breast cancer media reports significantly increased since 2004 (p < .05). Dramatic increases in bilateral mastectomy articles occurred in 2008-2009, with an increase in net positive tone. The surgical treatment was significantly more likely to be mentioned when a celebrity had bilateral mastectomies than unilateral mastectomy or breast conservation (44.8 vs 26.1 %, p < .001). The majority (60 %) of articles on celebrities undergoing bilateral mastectomy for cancer had no mention of genetics, family history, or risk. Media reports of celebrity breast cancer present a bias toward bilateral mastectomies in both frequency and tone. This may sway public opinion, particularly when factors such as risk and genetics are excluded. Surgeons need to work with the media to improve cancer reporting and identify methods to better educate patients prior to surgical consultations.

  10. Primary epithelioid trophoblastic tumor with a synchronous breast carcinoma detected only with FDG-PET/CT Scan.

    PubMed

    Kara, T; Ozcan Kara, P; Baba, F; Celik, C; Kara Gedik, G

    2011-01-01

    Epithelioid trophoblastic tumor is a recently described, rare and distinctive type of gestational trophoblastic tumor. We report the case of a 31-year old patient who had a full-term pregnancy 18 months before presentation. She had a right axillary lymph node metastasis and was referred for FDG-PET/CT scan for evaluation of distant metastasis and to detect primary malignancy. The axillary lymph node biopsy revealed metastatic breast carcinoma. FDG-PET/CT revealed increased uptake of right axillary lymph node, soft tissue density lesion with a diameter of 24 mm on left cervical region with increased FDG uptake, increased uptake on cervical region and left inguinal lymph node with increased uptake. Pelvic MRI imaging and ultrasonography were negative for malignancy in cervical region. Biopsy of the lesion was consistent with epithelioid trophoblastic tumor in cervical region. Gestational trophoblastic tumor was not suspected because she had no signs such as abnormal vaginal bleeding. FDG-PET/CT demonstrated the primary lesion in cervical region. We report a rare case of primary epithelioid trophoblastic tumor detected only with FDG-PET/CT scan which synchronized with breast carcinoma. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier España, S.L. and SEMNIM. All rights reserved.

  11. Breast cancer with synchronous massive metastasis in the uterine cervix: a case report and review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Bogliolo, Stefano; Morotti, Matteo; Valenzano Menada, Mario; Fulcheri, Ezio; Musizzano, Yuri; Casabona, Federico

    2010-04-01

    Metastatic breast cancer is rare in the female genital tract, and when present it more commonly tends to involve ovary or endometrium; uterine cervix is only occasionally involved. This condition poses differential diagnostic problems in the settings of clinical and pathological investigations. An asymptomatic 78-year-old woman came to our attention in the context of routine gynecological surveillance; clinical examination disclosed enlarged uterine body and cervix. Our patient then underwent computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging that outlined the possibility of cervical cancer with parametrial involvement. Moreover, a suspect mass was found on the mammogram in the left breast. Breast surgical excision was performed, which revealed invasive breast carcinoma, while synchronous cervical biopsy discovered distant metastasis in the uterine cervix. On histological examination, both lesions showed non-cohesive architectural pattern consistent with lobular morphology; anyway, to rule out primary poorly differentiated cervical cancer, appropriate immunohistochemical panel was performed, which confirmed the mammary derivation of the tumor. Due to disseminate disease, the patient underwent multisystemic medical treatment including radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy, and she is still alive at 30-month follow-up. Genital tract metastases in patients with known breast carcinoma can present with abnormal vaginal bleeding, but they often are asymptomatic. Therefore, only strict gynecological surveillance of these patients can permit early detection of these secondary lesions. Aggressive treatment of isolated cervical metastasis should be performed when feasible; otherwise, systemic chemotherapy with taxane could be sufficient in increasing survival. It should be emphasized that, in most cases, only accurate immunohistochemical investigation, particularly if performed on the primary lesion as well, can solve differential diagnostic problems and allow the

  12. Metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma to the breast.

    PubMed

    Sheen-Chen, Shyr-Ming; Eng, Hock-Liew; Ko, Sheung-Fat

    2005-01-01

    Secondary malignancy metastatic to the breast is uncommon, with an incidence of 0.5% to 3% of patients with extramammary malignancy. Although rhabdomyosarcoma is a common aggressive primary malignancy in the pediatric age group, metastatic deposits to the breast rarely occur and are mainly seen in adolescent girls. Here, we report an intriguing, rare adult case with metastasis to the breast from nasal rhabdomyosarcoma. A 31-year-old woman with the complaint of right neck mass noted recently came to this hospital for help. She had a history of nasal malignancy treated with radiotherapy in another hospital three months previously. Physical examination revealed multiple neck masses at bilateral neck areas. Bilateral neck dissection was performed and rhabdomyosarcoma, metastatic to lymph node, was the final diagnosis. One year after operation, the patient felt a large lump in her left breast. Surgical excision was performed and histological analysis was consistent with rhabdomyoblastic origin. Secondary malignancy metastatic to the breast is uncommon, yet this entity does exist. In view of the therapeutic implication, a metastatic breast lesion should not be mistaken as the primary breast carcinoma. Only with the awareness of such a possibility can prompt diagnosis and optimal treatment be achieved.

  13. Differences Among a Modern Cohort of BRCA Mutation Carriers Choosing Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomies Compared to Breast Surveillance.

    PubMed

    Gilbert, Elizabeth; Zabor, Emily C; Stempel, Michelle; Mangino, Debra; Heerdt, Alexandra; Pilewskie, Melissa

    2017-10-01

    Women with a BRCA mutation have significantly elevated breast cancer risk, which can be reduced by >90% with bilateral prophylactic mastectomy (BPM). We sought to compare a cohort of BRCA mutation carriers choosing BPM versus breast surveillance to better elucidate factors that may impact decision making. Women with a BRCA mutation were retrospectively identified from a prospectively maintained database. The surveillance cohort (n = 313) consisted of women seen in a high-risk clinic between 2014 and 2016, while the surgery cohort (n = 142) consisted of women who underwent BPM between 2010 and 2016. Clinical and familial factors were compared between the groups. Women choosing BPM were more likely to have a BRCA1 than BRCA2 mutation compared with the surveillance group (57 vs. 45%, p = 0.02) and were less likely to have a personal history of ovarian cancer (10 vs. 20%, p = 0.01). Furthermore, women undergoing BPM were more likely to be married (78 vs. 62%, p = 0.01), to have more children (median 2 vs. 1, p < 0.001), and to have undergone a prophylactic oophorectomy (61 vs. 37%, p < 0.001). Women choosing BPM had more first-degree relatives (63 vs. 48%, p = 0.01) or a sister (23 vs. 14%, p = 0.02) with a history of breast cancer and were more likely to have a family member with ovarian cancer under the age of 40 years (9 vs. 4%, p = 0.03). There was no difference in the number of prior breast biopsies or history of atypia/lobular carcinoma in situ. The decision to undergo BPM appears multifactorial, with gene mutation, family history, and relationships appearing to have the strongest influence on decision making.

  14. False Positive Uptake in Bilateral Gynecomastia on 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT Scan.

    PubMed

    Sasikumar, Arun; Joy, Ajith; Nair, Bindu P; Pillai, M R A; Madhavan, Jayaprakash

    2017-09-01

    A 66-year-old man on hormonal therapy with prostate cancer was referred for Ga-PSMA PET/CT scan for biochemical recurrence. Ga-PSMA PET/CT scan detected moderate heterogeneous tracer concentration in bilateral breast parenchyma, in addition to the abnormal tracer concentration in enlarged prostate gland, right external iliac lymph node, and sclerotic lesion in L4 vertebra. On clinical examination, he was found to have bilateral gynecomastia. Abnormal concentration of Ga-PSMA in breast cancer is now well known, and in this context, it is important to know that tracer localization can occur in gynecomastia as well, as evidenced in this case.

  15. Bilateral Contrast-enhanced Dual-Energy Digital Mammography: Feasibility and Comparison with Conventional Digital Mammography and MR Imaging in Women with Known Breast Carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Dershaw, D. David; Sung, Janice S.; Heerdt, Alexandra S.; Thornton, Cynthia; Moskowitz, Chaya S.; Ferrara, Jessica; Morris, Elizabeth A.

    2013-01-01

    Purpose To determine feasibility of performing bilateral dual-energy (DE) contrast agent–enhanced (CE) digital mammography and to evaluate its performance compared with conventional digital mammography and breast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in women with known breast cancer. Materials and Methods This study was approved by the institutional review board and was HIPAA compliant. Written informed consent was obtained. Patient accrual began in March 2010 and ended in August 2011. Mean patient age was 49.6 years (range, 25–74 years). Feasibility was evaluated in 10 women with newly diagnosed breast cancer who were injected with 1.5 mL per kilogram of body weight of iohexol and imaged between 2.5 and 10 minutes after injection. Once feasibility was confirmed, 52 women with newly diagnosed cancer who had undergone breast MR imaging gave consent to undergo DE CE digital mammography. Positive findings were confirmed with pathologic findings. Results Feasibility was confirmed with no adverse events. Visualization of tumor enhancement was independent of timing after contrast agent injection for up to 10 minutes. MR imaging and DE CE digital mammography both depicted 50 (96%) of 52 index tumors; conventional mammography depicted 42 (81%). Lesions depicted by using DE CE digital mammography ranged from 4 to 67 mm in size (median, 17 mm). DE CE digital mammography depicted 14 (56%) of 25 additional ipsilateral cancers compared with 22 (88%) of 25 for MR imaging. There were two false-positive findings with DE CE digital mammography and 13 false-positive findings with MR imaging. There was one contralateral cancer, which was not evident with either modality. Conclusion Bilateral DE CE digital mammography was feasible and easily accomplished. It was used to detect known primary tumors at a rate comparable to that of MR imaging and higher than that of conventional digital mammography. DE CE digital mammography had a lower sensitivity for detecting additional ipsilateral

  16. Sensitivity after bilateral prophylactic mastectomy and immediate reconstruction.

    PubMed

    Gahm, Jessica; Jurell, Göran; Wickman, Marie; Hansson, Per

    2007-01-01

    The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the cutaneous somatosensory function and patients' subjective experience after bilateral prophylactic mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with implants. Twenty-four patients treated during an eight-year period were included. Somatosensory examination was made at least two years after the latest surgery to study perception thresholds to touch, warmth, cold, and heat pain, using quantitative techniques. Patients also completed a questionnaire about subjective sensitivity. Sixteen women who had had no previous breast surgery were used as a control group. Most patients reported decreased sensitivity in the breasts, which was confirmed by the results from the quantitative somatosensory examination. The results also showed that the ability to experience sexual feelings in the breast is usually lost after this type of operation, and as many as 14 patients reported spontaneous or stimulus-evoked discomfort in the breasts.

  17. Inflammatory Markers and Breast Cancer Risk

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-07-01

    breast cancer [26, 27] or cytologic atypia [28], while another observed elevated IL-6 levels among breast cancer cases with insulin resistance [29...Relation between insulin resistance and serum concentrations of IL-6 and TNF- alpha in overweight or obese women with early stage breast cancer...without oophorectomy, hysterectomy with uni- or bilateral oophorectomy), prior breast biopsy (no, yes), ever been pregnant (no, yes), and

  18. Synchronic nasopharyngeal and intraparotid warthin tumors: A case report and literature review

    PubMed Central

    Domínguez-Malagon, Hugo-Ricardo; Mosqueda-Taylor, Adalberto; Cano-Valdez, Ana-María; Luna-Ortiz, Kuauhyama

    2014-01-01

    Warthin tumor is the second most frequent benign salivary gland tumor after pleomorphic adenoma; it occurs almost exclusively in the parotid gland and peri-parotideal lymph nodes, although it may rarely present in other locations. It may be multicentric and bilateral in a small percentage of cases. Nasopharyngeal Warthin tumor is very rare, and the presence of a synchronic WT involving nasopharynx and parotid is an exceptional event, as it has been described only twice in the literature. In this article we report an additional case of a synchronic Warthin tumor and review the related literature. Key words:Warthin tumor, synchronic WT, multicéntrico, nasopharynx. PMID:25593670

  19. Synchronic nasopharyngeal and intraparotid warthin tumors: A case report and literature review.

    PubMed

    Yáñez-Barraza, Karina-Lizbeth; Domínguez-Malagon, Hugo-Ricardo; Mosqueda-Taylor, Adalberto; Cano-Valdez, Ana-María; Luna-Ortiz, Kuauhyama

    2014-10-01

    Warthin tumor is the second most frequent benign salivary gland tumor after pleomorphic adenoma; it occurs almost exclusively in the parotid gland and peri-parotideal lymph nodes, although it may rarely present in other locations. It may be multicentric and bilateral in a small percentage of cases. Nasopharyngeal Warthin tumor is very rare, and the presence of a synchronic WT involving nasopharynx and parotid is an exceptional event, as it has been described only twice in the literature. In this article we report an additional case of a synchronic Warthin tumor and review the related literature. Key words:Warthin tumor, synchronic WT, multicéntrico, nasopharynx.

  20. Sexual and gender minority breast cancer patients choosing bilateral mastectomy without reconstruction: "I now have a body that fits me".

    PubMed

    Brown, Maria Teresa; McElroy, Jane A

    2018-04-01

    Sexual and gender minority (SGM) breast cancer patients have begun embracing the choice to "go flat" or opt out of reconstruction after bilateral mastectomy, though little is known about this population. SGM breast cancer survivors were identified through purposive and referral sampling and invited to participate in a web-based survey containing both closed- and open-ended items. Of the sixty-eight SGM breast cancer survivors aged 18-75 years who completed the survey between May 2015 and January 2016, 25 percent reported "going flat" (flattoppers®). Bivariate analyses revealed that flattoppers® were significantly more likely to have been diagnosed in the past five years, to identify as genderqueer, to have disclosed their sexual orientation or gender identity (SOGI) to providers, and to report participating in lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender cancer support groups, compared to other participants. More flattoppers® believed that SOGI mattered in terms of getting the support they needed regarding their cancer; this difference was not statistically significant. Thematic analysis of qualitative comments from flattoppers® revealed themes related to reasons for making this treatment choice, interactions with health-care providers around treatment choice, and physical and emotional outcomes of treatment choice. Providers would benefit from training about SOGI as they relate to treatment choices.

  1. Bilateral chondrosarcoma of the jugular foramen: literature review and personal experience.

    PubMed

    Zanoletti, Elisabetta; Faccioli, Chiara; Cazzador, Diego; Mazzoni, Antonio; Martini, Alessandro

    2015-10-01

    Chondrosarcomas (CS) are slow-growing malignant cartilaginous tumors with locally invasive behavior. They account for only 0.15% head and neck neoplasia. There have been no reports in the management of bilateral skull base CS in the literature to date. The synchronous presentation of bilateral CS of the jugular foramen (JF) was diagnosed in a 22-year-old woman with right abducens nerve palsy. Once evaluated the collateral intracranial venous discharge, the lesions were removed in two surgical stages through a bilateral petro-occipital trans-sigmoid (POTS) approach performing a bilateral closure of sigmoid sinus. The patient is disease free 15 years after surgery. No complications occurred. Diplopia improved after excision of the tumor on the right side. A review of relevant English literature was performed. The POTS approach to the JF proved to be safe and effective. Staged radical surgery alone, assessing intracranial venous flow at all stages of surgery, was a valid strategy for bilateral CS, achieving long-term disease control, avoiding early adjuvant radiotherapy, and carrying no complications.

  2. Second primary cancers of the breast: incidence and risk factors.

    PubMed Central

    Hislop, T. G.; Elwood, J. M.; Coldman, A. J.; Spinelli, J. J.; Worth, A. J.; Ellison, L. G.

    1984-01-01

    Between 1946 and 1976 over 9,000 women with breast cancer were seen within one year of diagnosis at the A. Maxwell Evans Clinic (AMEC) in Vancouver, British Columbia. By 1978, 275 had a subsequent diagnosis of a second primary in the contralateral breast: 100 were diagnosed within 1 year, and 175 after 1 year of the first primary. Two separate comparison groups of AMEC patients with unilateral breast cancer were selected to identify risk factors for bilateral breast cancer and to determine the incidence. The average annual incidence rates for a second primary in the contralateral breast were 5.0, 4.1 and 3.0 per 1,000 women for women less than 45 years, 45-54 years, and over 55 years of age at diagnosis of first primary breast cancer, respectively. These rates remained stable for at least 15 years after the diagnosis of the first primary. Two risk factors were found for bilateral cancer within 1 year of the first primary, histologic diagnosis of lobular carcinoma and absence of pathologic involvement of axillary nodes; one risk factor was found for bilateral breast cancer after 1 year of the first primary, family history of breast cancer. PMID:6691900

  3. Bilateral accessory breast tissue of the vulva: a case report introducing a novel labiaplasty technique.

    PubMed

    Wagner, I Janelle; Damitz, Lynn A; Carey, Erin; Zolnoun, Denniz

    2013-05-01

    We present the case of a 23-year-old female with bilateral ectopic breast tissue of the vulva, the repair of which necessitated a novel labiaplasty technique. Labiaplasty is becoming an increasingly frequent cosmetic procedure, and the popularity of brief didactic labiaplasty courses has risen in response to consumer demand. There is a paucity of detailed anatomic description of female sensory innervation patterns to the clitoris and surrounding structures. This places patients at risk for denervation of clitoral structures during labiaplasty procedures. Our novel technique proposes a method of individualized patient neurosensory mapping preoperatively, which allows for surgical planning to avoid injury to the sensory branches of the dorsal clitoral nerve. A 23-year-old female presented with bilateral vulvar masses that involved the clitoral complex, which had first become apparent during the second trimester of pregnancy, and failed to resolve in the postpartum period. We describe the preoperative planning and intraoperative approach and dissection to labiaplasty in this patient, which was complex given the size of the masses, and specifically designed to avoid injury to sensory branches of the dorsal clitoral nerve. As labiaplasty becomes more common, it is important to approach labiaplasty patients with a detailed understanding of the sensory innervation of the clitoris and surrounding structures, to avoid nerve injury and resultant sexual dysfunction. Traditional labiaplasty approaches may violate the sensory innervation patterns of the clitoral region, thus causing a sensory loss that affects patient sexual function. Our novel approach to preoperative clitoral nerve sensory mapping provides an alternative method of labiaplasty that may avoid denervation injury.

  4. Predictors for contralateral prophylactic mastectomy in breast cancer patients

    PubMed Central

    Fu, Yun; Zhuang, Zhigang; Dewing, Michelle; Apple, Sophia; Chang, Helena

    2015-01-01

    Background: In recent years, radical breast cancer surgery has been largely replaced by breast conservation treatment, due to early diagnosis and more effective adjuvant treatment. While breast conservation is mostly preferred, the trend of bilateral mastectomy has risen in the United States. The aim of this study is to determine factors influencing patients’ choice for having contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM). Methods: This is a retrospective study of 373 patients diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer who were treated by bilateral or unilateral mastectomy (BM or UM) at the Revlon/UCLA Breast Center between Jan. 2002 and Dec. 2010. In the BM group, only those with unilateral breast cancer who chose CPM were included in the analysis. Results: When compared with the UM group, the following factors were found to be associated with BM: younger age, pre-menopausal, a family history of breast/ovarian cancer, BRCA mutation, more breast biopsies, history of breast augmentation, having MRI study within 6 months before the surgery, more likely to have reconstruction and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and fewer had neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy/radiation. When patients with bilateral breast cancer were excluded, multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated younger patients with negative nodes, SLNB as the only nodal surgery and positive family history were significant factors predicting CPM and immediate reconstruction using tissue expanders or implants. Conclusion: Younger age, lower TN stage, requiring only SLNB and high risk family history predict contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. Tissue expander/implant-based reconstructions were more frequently chosen by patients with BM. PMID:26097557

  5. Abnormal auditory synchronization in stuttering: A magnetoencephalographic study.

    PubMed

    Kikuchi, Yoshikazu; Okamoto, Tsuyoshi; Ogata, Katsuya; Hagiwara, Koichi; Umezaki, Toshiro; Kenjo, Masamutsu; Nakagawa, Takashi; Tobimatsu, Shozo

    2017-02-01

    In a previous magnetoencephalographic study, we showed both functional and structural reorganization of the right auditory cortex and impaired left auditory cortex function in people who stutter (PWS). In the present work, we reevaluated the same dataset to further investigate how the right and left auditory cortices interact to compensate for stuttering. We evaluated bilateral N100m latencies as well as indices of local and inter-hemispheric phase synchronization of the auditory cortices. The left N100m latency was significantly prolonged relative to the right N100m latency in PWS, while healthy control participants did not show any inter-hemispheric differences in latency. A phase-locking factor (PLF) analysis, which indicates the degree of local phase synchronization, demonstrated enhanced alpha-band synchrony in the right auditory area of PWS. A phase-locking value (PLV) analysis of inter-hemispheric synchronization demonstrated significant elevations in the beta band between the right and left auditory cortices in PWS. In addition, right PLF and PLVs were positively correlated with stuttering frequency in PWS. Taken together, our data suggest that increased right hemispheric local phase synchronization and increased inter-hemispheric phase synchronization are electrophysiological correlates of a compensatory mechanism for impaired left auditory processing in PWS. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  6. Analysis of Trends and Factors in Breast Multiple Primary Malignant Neoplasms

    PubMed Central

    Motuzyuk, Igor; Sydorchuk, Oleg; Kovtun, Natalia; Palian, Zinaida; Kostiuchenko, Yevhenii

    2018-01-01

    Background: The study aims to evaluate the current state and tendencies in multiple primary breast cancer incidence, behavior, and treatment in Ukraine. Methods: A total of 2032 patients who received special treatment at the Department of Breast Tumors and Reconstructive Surgery of the National Cancer Institute from 2008 to 2015 were included in the study. Among them, there were 195 patients with multiple primary malignant neoplasms: 54.9% patients with synchronous cancer and 45.1% patients with metachronous cancer. The average age of patients was 46.6 years, and the percentage of postmenopausal women was 63.1%. Among patients with synchronous cancer, there were 56.1% patients with only breast localizations and 43.9% with combination of breast and other localizations, and among patients with metachronous cancer, there were 46.6% patients with only breast localizations and 53.4% with combination of breast and other localizations. All the patients were evaluated in terms of aggressiveness of the disease, survival rates, as well as risk factors and treatment options. Results: A more aggressive course of breast cancer is observed in patients exposed to radiation from the Chernobyl accident under the age of 30 years (P < .01). The clinical course of disease in patients with synchronous cancer is worse and prognostically unfavorable compared with metachronous cancer (P < .01). The course of the disease in patients who underwent mastectomy is worse compared with patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery (P < .01). Plastic and reconstructive surgery in patients with synchronous cancer was proven to be reasonable in terms of increase in survival (P < .01). Conclusions: The patients with multiple primary breast cancer should have attentive management and treatment. Multidisciplinary team should concern all the risk factors and provide the most sufficient option of management. This is crucial to continue research in this oncological area. PMID

  7. Bilateral coupling facilitates recovery of rhythmical movements from perturbation in healthy and post-stroke subjects.

    PubMed

    Ustinova, Ksenia I; Feldman, Anatol G; Levin, Mindy F

    2013-06-01

    The paretic arm of subjects with stroke has a decreased ability to quickly adapt to and recover from perturbations during rhythmical arm swinging. We investigated whether bilateral coupling in the synchronous motion of two arms may facilitate the restoration of rhythmical movement of the paretic arm in subjects with chronic hemiparesis due to stroke. While standing, stroke and age-matched healthy (control) subjects swung one or both arms synchronously at ~0.8 Hz from the shoulder joints. In randomly selected cycles, one arm was transiently arrested by an electromagnetic device when moving forward or backward. In the control group, bilateral swinging resumed faster than unilateral swinging regardless of which arm was perturbed. In the stroke group, this effect was observed only when the perturbation was applied to the paretic arm, suggesting that the motion of the non-paretic arm accelerated the recovery from perturbation of the paretic arm. In addition, bilateral swinging resumed after reduced anterior-posterior excursions of both arms in stroke subjects. Results confirm previous findings that bilateral swinging is normally guided by central changes in the referent configuration of the two arms that function as a single unit. As a consequence, both arms cooperate in recovery from perturbation of motion applied to one arm. Results also suggest that stroke-related brain damage alters the symmetry of bilateral interaction, resulting in deficits of inter-manual cooperative action. The involvement of the non-paretic arm could be beneficial for the recovery of swinging of both arms and may also facilitate movements of the paretic arm in certain tasks.

  8. Associations of Premenopausal Hysterectomy and Oophorectomy With Breast Cancer Among Black and White Women: The Carolina Breast Cancer Study, 1993–2001

    PubMed Central

    Robinson, Whitney R.; Nichols, Hazel B.; Tse, Chiu Kit; Olshan, Andrew F.; Troester, Melissa A.

    2016-01-01

    Black women experience higher rates of hysterectomy than other women in the United States. Although research indicates that premenopausal hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy decreases the risk of breast cancer in black women, it remains unclear how hysterectomy without ovary removal affects risk, whether menopausal hormone therapy use attenuates inverse associations, and whether associations vary by cancer subtype. In the population-based, case-control Carolina Breast Cancer Study of invasive breast cancer in 1,391 black (725 cases, 666 controls) and 1,727 white (939 cases, 788 controls) women in North Carolina (1993–2001), we investigated the associations of premenopausal hysterectomy and oophorectomy with breast cancer risk. Compared with no history of premenopausal surgery, bilateral oophorectomy and hysterectomy without oophorectomy were associated with lower odds of breast cancer (for bilateral oophorectomy, multivariable-adjusted odds ratios = 0.60, 95% confidence interval: 0.47, 0.77; for hysterectomy without oophorectomy, multivariable-adjusted odds ratios = 0.68, 95% confidence interval: 0.55, 0.84). Estimates did not vary by race and were similar for hormone receptor–positive and hormone receptor–negative cancers. Use of estrogen-only menopausal hormone therapy did not attenuate the associations. Premenopausal hysterectomy, even without ovary removal, may reduce the long-term risk of hormone receptor–positive and hormone receptor–negative breast cancers. Varying rates of hysterectomy are a potentially important contributor to differences in breast cancer incidence among racial/ethnic groups. PMID:27555487

  9. Optimizing Aesthetic Outcomes in Delayed Breast Reconstruction

    PubMed Central

    2017-01-01

    Background: The need to restore both the missing breast volume and breast surface area makes achieving excellent aesthetic outcomes in delayed breast reconstruction especially challenging. Autologous breast reconstruction can be used to achieve both goals. The aim of this study was to identify surgical maneuvers that can optimize aesthetic outcomes in delayed breast reconstruction. Methods: This is a retrospective review of operative and clinical records of all patients who underwent unilateral or bilateral delayed breast reconstruction with autologous tissue between April 2014 and January 2017. Three groups of delayed breast reconstruction patients were identified based on patient characteristics. Results: A total of 26 flaps were successfully performed in 17 patients. Key surgical maneuvers for achieving aesthetically optimal results were identified. A statistically significant difference for volume requirements was identified in cases where a delayed breast reconstruction and a contralateral immediate breast reconstruction were performed simultaneously. Conclusions: Optimal aesthetic results can be achieved with: (1) restoration of breast skin envelope with tissue expansion when possible, (2) optimal positioning of a small skin paddle to be later incorporated entirely into a nipple areola reconstruction when adequate breast skin surface area is present, (3) limiting the reconstructed breast mound to 2 skin tones when large area skin resurfacing is required, (4) increasing breast volume by deepithelializing, not discarding, the inferior mastectomy flap skin, (5) eccentric division of abdominal flaps when an immediate and delayed bilateral breast reconstructions are performed simultaneously; and (6) performing second-stage breast reconstruction revisions and fat grafting. PMID:28894666

  10. [The clinical study of familial breast cancer - now and the problems].

    PubMed

    Nomizu, Tadashi; Matsuzaki, Masami; Katagata, Naoto; Watanabe, Fumiaki; Akama, Yoshinori

    2012-04-01

    The clinical features of familial breast cancer are characterized by early onset, high frequency of bilateral breast cancer, and multiple malignancies of other organs. It is strongly suggested that genetic factors contribute to familial breast cancer. The causative genes now identified are BRCA1 and BRCA2. This disease is called hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC)because breast cancer and ovarian cancer are clustered in the kindred confirmed BRCA mutation. As for BRCA related breast cancer, early onset and highly frequent bilateral breast cancer are characteristic. In addition, the histological grade is high and the positive rate of estrogen receptors is low in BRCA1-related breast cancer. Gene diagnosis of BRCA is useful when choosing a surgical method, chemotherapy, or a surveillance of mutation carriers. The problem in Japan is that the treatment is very expensive, with poor understanding of HBOC of by clinicians and as yet immature genetic counseling system.

  11. Recurrence of primary extramedullary plasmacytoma in breast both simulating primary breast carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Kaviani, Ahmad; Djamali-zavareie, Mansoor; Noparast, Maryam; Keyhani-Rofagha, Sedigheh

    2004-01-01

    Background Extramedullary myelomas (plasmacytoma) are malignant proliferations of plasma cells in the absence of bone involvement. When they occur in the soft tissue they usually involve the upper respiratory tract and oral cavity. Extramedullary plasmacytomas of breast are uncommon. Case presentation A 70 year-old woman with bilateral breast masses underwent excisional biopsy for suspected primary carcinoma that subsequently proved to be a recurrence from extramedullary plasmacytoma of the mediastinum. This was diagnosed and treated 5-years prior to appearance of breast lumps. Conclusion Though uncommon, considering the possibility of metastatic carcinoma and primary, secondary or recurrent lymphoproliferative disease presenting as a breast mass may avoid unnecessary surgeries. PMID:15339332

  12. [Triple synchronous primary gynaecological tumours. A case report].

    PubMed

    Gutiérrez-Palomino, Laura; Romo-de Los Reyes, José María; Pareja-Megía, María Jesús; García-Mejido, José Antonio

    2016-01-01

    Synchronous multiple primary malignancies in the female genital tract are infrequent. From 50 to 70% of them corresponds to synchronous cancers of the endometrium and ovary. To our knowledge, this is only the third case report in the international literature of three concurrent gynaecological cancers of epithelial origin. A case is presented, as well as a literature review due to the infrequency of its diagnosis and the lack of information on the subject. A 49-year-old woman, with previous gynaecological history of ovarian endometriosis. She underwent a hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy, as she had been diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia with atypia. The final histopathology reported synchronous ovarian, Fallopian tube, and endometrial cancer. An extension study and complete surgical staging was performed, both being negative. She received adjuvant treatment of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She is currently free of disease. The aetiology is uncertain. There is controversy relating to increased susceptibility of synchronous neoplasms to pelvic endometriosis and inherited genetic syndromes. Its diagnosis needs to differentiate them from metastatic disease. Additionally, they are problematical from a clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic point of view. The presentation of more cases of triple synchronous cancers is necessary for a complete adjuvant and surgical treatment. Copyright © 2015 Academia Mexicana de Cirugía A.C. Published by Masson Doyma México S.A. All rights reserved.

  13. Bilateral intra-areolar polythelia: report of a rare case.

    PubMed

    Onesti, Maria Giuseppina; Anniboletti, Tommaso; Spinelli, Graziano; Meggiorini, Maria Letizia

    2010-06-01

    A very rare case of bilateral intra-areolar polythelia with two nipples in each breast is presented. There were no other associated malformations and the patient's family history was normal. Surgical correction was performed for cosmetic reasons at the patient's request using transposition flaps in a Z-plasty design. The aesthetic and functional results were satisfactory.

  14. Patient Satisfaction and Nipple-Areola Sensitivity After Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy and Immediate Implant Breast Reconstruction in a High Breast Cancer Risk Population: Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy Versus Skin-Sparing Mastectomy.

    PubMed

    van Verschuer, Victorien M T; Mureau, Marc A M; Gopie, Jessica P; Vos, Elvira L; Verhoef, Cornelis; Menke-Pluijmers, Marian B E; Koppert, Linetta B

    2016-08-01

    Prophylactic skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) and nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) both are associated with major risk reduction in women with high breast cancer risk. Skin-sparing mastectomy followed by nipple-areola complex (NAC) reconstruction is standard of care, but NSM is increasingly being performed. Preservation of the NAC in NSM may increase patient satisfaction. Therefore, we measured NAC sensitivity after NSM and compared patient satisfaction as well as body image after SSM with NSM. Women who underwent prophylactic bilateral SSM or NSM and immediate implant breast reconstruction between 2002 and 2012 were eligible. Patient satisfaction was assessed using the Breast-Q reconstruction questionnaire, body image using Hopwood's body image scale (BIS), and satisfaction with the (reconstructed) NAC using a study-specific questionnaire. In the NSM group, NAC sensitivity was assessed using Semmes Weinstein monofilaments with a 5-point scale and compared with NAC sensitivity in a nonoperated control group. The SSM group comprised 25 women (50 SSMs) and the NSM group 20 women (39 NSMs). Median follow-up was 65 months in the SSM group compared with 27 months in the NSM group (P < 0.01). In univariable analyses, Breast-Q scores were favorable in the SSM group compared with the NSM group with trends for higher "satisfaction with breasts" (66.2 vs 56.6; P = 0.06) and "satisfaction with outcome" (76.1 vs 61.5; P = 0.09). Mean BIS score of 7.1/30 in the SSM group and 9.3/30 in the NSM group (P = 0.35). Adjusted for follow-up, there were no significant differences in Breast-Q scores, nor in BIS scores. Interestingly, satisfaction with the (reconstructed) NAC was similar after SSM and NSM. Nipple-areola complex sensitivity was lower in the NSM group (mean score, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-2.3) compared with the control group (mean score, 4.7; 95% confidence interval, 4.6-4.9; P < 0.01). Breast-Q scores regarding satisfaction with breasts and overall outcome were in

  15. Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy Versus GnRH Analogue in the Adjuvant Treatment of Premenopausal Breast Cancer Patients: Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation of Breast Cancer Outcome, Ovarian Cancer Prevention and Treatment.

    PubMed

    Ferrandina, Gabriella; Amadio, Giulia; Marcellusi, Andrea; Azzolini, Elena; Puggina, Anna; Pastorino, Roberta; Ricciardi, Walter; Scambia, Giovanni

    2017-11-01

    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: There is no available evidence to recommend gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue-based ovarian suppression versus bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) in the adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer, since the two approaches are considered equivalent in terms of oncologic outcome. The role of surgical ovarian ablation has been revitalized based on the advances of minimally invasive surgery, and a better understanding of clinical and molecular basis of hereditary breast/ovarian cancer syndromes. The aim of this study is to analyze the cost-effectiveness of laparoscopic BSO and GnRH analogue administration in patients aged 40-49 years with hormone-sensitive breast cancer. A probabilistic decision tree model was developed to evaluate costs and outcomes of ovarian ablation through laparoscopic BSO, or ovarian suppression through monthly injections of GnRH analogue. Results were expressed as incremental costs per quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. Laparoscopic BSO strategy was associated with a lower mean total cost per patient than GnRH treatment, and considering the difference in terms of QALYs, the incremental effectiveness did not demonstrate a notable difference between the two approaches. From the National Health Service perspective, and for a time horizon of 5 years, laparoscopic BSO was the dominant option compared to GnRH treatment; laparoscopic BSO was less expensive than GnRH, €2385 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2044, 2753] vs €7093 (95% CI = 3409, 12,105), respectively, and more effective. Surgical ovarian ablation is more cost-effective than GnRH administration in the adjuvant treatment of hormone-sensitive breast cancer patients aged 40-49 years, and the advantage of preventing ovarian cancer through laparoscopic BSO should be considered.

  16. External Beam Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation Yields Favorable Outcomes in Patients with Prior Breast Augmentation

    PubMed Central

    Lei, Rachel Y.; Leonard, Charles E.; Howell, Kathryn T.; Henkenberns, Phyllis L.; Johnson, Timothy K.; Hobart, Tracy L.; Kercher, Jane M.; Widner, Jodi L.; Kaske, Terese; Barke, Lora D.; Carter, Dennis L.

    2014-01-01

    Purpose: To report outcomes in breast cancer patients with prior breast augmentation treated with external beam accelerated partial breast irradiation (EB-APBI) utilizing intensity-modulated radiotherapy or 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, both with IGRT. Materials and Methods: Sixteen stage 0/1 breast cancer patients with previous elective bilateral augmentation were treated post-lumpectomy on institutional EB-APBI trials (01185132 and 01185145 on clinicaltrials.gov). Patients received 38.5 Gy in 10 fractions over five consecutive days. Breast/chest wall pain and cosmesis were rated by patient; cosmesis was additionally evaluated by physician per RTOG criteria. Results: The median follow-up from accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) completion was 23.9 months (range, 1.2–58.6). Little to no change in cosmesis or pain from baseline was reported. Cosmetic outcomes at last follow-up were judged by patients as excellent/good in 81.2% (13/16), and by physicians as excellent/good in 93.8% (15/16). Ten patients (62.5%) reported no breast/chest wall pain, five (31.2%) reported mild pain, and one (6.2%) reported moderate pain. All patients remain disease free at last follow-up. The median ipsilateral breast, planning target volume (PTV), and implant volumes were 614, 57, and 333 cm3. The median ratios of PTV/ipsilateral breast volume (implant excluded) and PTV/total volume (implant included) were 9 and 6%. Conclusion: These 16 breast cancer cases with prior bilateral augmentation treated with EB-APBI demonstrate favorable clinical outcomes. Further exploration of EB-APBI as a treatment option for this patient population is warranted. PMID:24995159

  17. Synchronous Endometrial and Ovarian Cancer in Young Women: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

    PubMed

    Dogan, Askin; Schultheis, Beate; Rezniczek, Günther A; Hilal, Ziad; Cetin, Cem; Häusler, Günther; Tempfer, Clemens B

    2017-03-01

    Young women with endometrial cancer (EC) have an increased risk of synchronous ovarian cancer. The prognosis of women with synchronous endometrial and ovarian cancer (SEOC) is good. A high proportion of affected women have hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer syndrome (HNPCC). We present the case of a 45-year-old woman with histologically proven endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the endometrium (pT1B, G2, R0 without lymphovascular space invasion). She underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Final histology revealed a synchronous bilateral endometrioid ovarian cancer (pT1A, G2, R0). HNPCC analysis by immunohistochemistry showed no microsatellite instability in MSH2, MSH6, MLH1, and PMS2. No adjuvant therapy was administered, clinical follow-up with regular gynecological examinations was recommended. In a systematic literature review, 2,904 cases of women with SEOC were identified with 1,035 (36%) of them being premenopausal or <50 years of age. The proportion of women with SEOC among all reported EC cases was 842/23,498 (3%) and the proportion of young women with SEOC among all reported EC cases was 261/23,498 (1%). In summary, microsatellite instability and subsequent mutations in mismatch repair genes compatible with HNPCC were identified in 6/15 (40%) women analyzed. The mean recurrence-free and overall survival times of young women with SEOC were 1.9 (min 0.2, max 3) and 4.0 (min 0.2, max 22.1) years, respectively. Young women with EC have a high risk of synchronous ovarian cancer. Thus, in young women with EC, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy or careful histological assessment of both ovaries are recommended in order to confirm or rule out SEOC. HNPCC testing should be offered to all women. Copyright© 2017, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.

  18. Weight versus volume in breast surgery: an observational study

    PubMed Central

    Parmar, Chetan; West, Malcolm; Pathak, Samir; Nelson, J; Martin, Lee

    2011-01-01

    Objectives The study hypothesis is to assess correlation of breast specimen weight versus volume. Design Consecutive patients undergoing breast surgery at a single tertiary referral centre during a 6-month period were included. Specimen weight was measured in grams. Direct volume measurements were performed using water displacement. Data including side of the breast, age and menstrual status of the patient were noted. Setting Knowledge of breast volume provides an objective guide in facilitating the achievements of balance in reconstructive operations. Surgeons use intraoperative weight measurements from individual breasts to calculate the breast volume assuming that weight is equal to the volume of the specimen. However, it is unclear whether weight accurately reveals the true volume of resection. Participants Forty-one patients were included in the study with 28 having bilateral surgeries, 13 having unilateral procedures giving a total of 69 breast specimens. Main outcome measures Breast specimen weight correlation to breast specimen volume. Results The mean age of the group was 42.4 years. Fifty-two specimens were from premenopausal patients and 17 were of postmenopausal. Thirty-five were left-sided. Twenty-six patients had bilateral breast reduction, two had bilateral mastectomy, nine had a unilateral mastectomy and four patients had a unilateral breast reduction. The difference between weight and volume of these breasts was 36.4 units (6.6% difference). The difference in measurement of weight and volume in premenopausal was 37.6 units compared to 32.6 units in postmenopausal women. The density was 1.07 and 1.06, respectively. This was statistically not significant. Conclusions No significant difference between volume and weight was seen in this series. Furthermore, we are unable to support the notion that premenopausal patients have a significant difference in the proportion of fatty and glandular tissue as there was little difference between the weight and

  19. Weight versus volume in breast surgery: an observational study.

    PubMed

    Parmar, Chetan; West, Malcolm; Pathak, Samir; Nelson, J; Martin, Lee

    2011-11-01

    The study hypothesis is to assess correlation of breast specimen weight versus volume. Consecutive patients undergoing breast surgery at a single tertiary referral centre during a 6-month period were included. Specimen weight was measured in grams. Direct volume measurements were performed using water displacement. Data including side of the breast, age and menstrual status of the patient were noted. Knowledge of breast volume provides an objective guide in facilitating the achievements of balance in reconstructive operations. Surgeons use intraoperative weight measurements from individual breasts to calculate the breast volume assuming that weight is equal to the volume of the specimen. However, it is unclear whether weight accurately reveals the true volume of resection. Forty-one patients were included in the study with 28 having bilateral surgeries, 13 having unilateral procedures giving a total of 69 breast specimens. Breast specimen weight correlation to breast specimen volume. The mean age of the group was 42.4 years. Fifty-two specimens were from premenopausal patients and 17 were of postmenopausal. Thirty-five were left-sided. Twenty-six patients had bilateral breast reduction, two had bilateral mastectomy, nine had a unilateral mastectomy and four patients had a unilateral breast reduction. The difference between weight and volume of these breasts was 36.4 units (6.6% difference). The difference in measurement of weight and volume in premenopausal was 37.6 units compared to 32.6 units in postmenopausal women. The density was 1.07 and 1.06, respectively. This was statistically not significant. No significant difference between volume and weight was seen in this series. Furthermore, we are unable to support the notion that premenopausal patients have a significant difference in the proportion of fatty and glandular tissue as there was little difference between the weight and the volume. An easy, clinically proper formula for the quantification of actual

  20. Bilateral extensive ductitis obliterans manifested by bloody nipple discharge in a patient with long-term diabetes mellitus.

    PubMed

    Wang, Zhiqin; Leonard, Morton H; Khamapirad, Tuenchit; Castro, Claudia Y

    2007-01-01

    Ductitis obliterans or mastitis obliterans is a rare late manifestation of mammary ductal ectasia. We describe a long-term diabetic patient who presented with bilateral bloody nipple discharge and poorly defined nodularities around the nipple of both breasts. The ductography showed multiple segments of irregular ductal narrowing and intraluminal filling defects in both breasts. The bilateral resection of the sub-areolar portion of the breast showed exuberant fibrous obliteration of the large- and medium-sized ducts by granulation tissue associated with few histiocytes. Ductal dilatation and intraductal accumulation of histiocytes was also present. This represents a late and florid form of mammary ductal ectasia. Differential diagnostic considerations including fibrocystic changes, diabetic sclerosing lymphocytic lobulitis, idiopathic granulomatous lobular mastitis, and periductal mastitis (Zuska disease) are discussed. Accurate diagnosis can help avoid or limit radical surgeries in this group of patients.

  1. Breast MRI at 7 Tesla with a bilateral coil and T1-weighted acquisition with robust fat suppression: image evaluation and comparison with 3 Tesla

    PubMed Central

    Brown, Ryan; Storey, Pippa; Geppert, Christian; McGorty, KellyAnne; Leite, Ana Paula Klautau; Babb, James; Sodickson, Daniel K.; Wiggins, Graham C.; Moy, Linda

    2014-01-01

    Objectives To evaluate the image quality of T1-weighted fat-suppressed breast MRI at 7 T, and to compare 7-T and 3-T images. Methods Seventeen subjects were imaged using a 7-T bilateral transmit-receive coil and adiabatic inversion-based fat suppression (FS). Images were graded on a five-point scale and quantitatively assessed through signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), fibroglandular/fat contrast and signal uniformity measurements. Results Image scores at 7 T and 3 T were similar on standard-resolution images (1.1× 1.1×1.1−1.6 mm3), indicating that high-quality breast imaging with clinical parameters can be performed at 7 T. The 7-T SNR advantage was underscored on 0.6-mm isotropic images, where image quality was significantly greater than at 3 T (4.2 versus 3.1, P≤0.0001). Fibroglandular/fat contrast was more than two times higher at 7 T over 3 T, owing to effective adiabatic inversion-based FS and the inherent 7 T signal advantage. Signal uniformity was comparable at 7 T and 3 T (P<0.05). Similar 7-T image quality was observed in all subjects, indicating robustness against anatomical variation. Conclusion The 7-T bilateral transmit-receive coil and adiabatic inversion-based FS technique mitigate the impact of high-field heterogeneity to produce image quality that is as good as or better than at 3 T PMID:23896763

  2. Pseudogynecomastia secondary to injection of heroin into breast tissue.

    PubMed

    Carlson, R H; Velez, R; Rivlin, R S

    1978-03-01

    A 50-year-old man who has a heroin addict developed bilateral, symmetrical swelling of the breasts as a result of injecting himself directly into the breasts for several years. Results of histologic examination of the breast tissue showed granulomatous inflammation and a foreign body reaction without gynecomastia or tumor. Liver and endocrine functions were generally normal.

  3. Synchronicity from synchronized chaos

    DOE PAGES

    Duane, Gregory

    2015-04-01

    The synchronization of loosely-coupled chaotic oscillators, a phenomenon investigated intensively for the last two decades, may realize the philosophical concept of “synchronicity”—the commonplace notion that related events mysteriously occur at the same time. When extended to continuous media and/or large discrete arrays, and when general (non-identical) correspondences are considered between states, intermittent synchronous relationships indeed become ubiquitous. Meaningful synchronicity follows naturally if meaningful events are identified with coherent structures, defined by internal synchronization between remote degrees of freedom; a condition that has been posited as necessary for synchronizability with an external system. The important case of synchronization between mind andmore » matter is realized if mind is analogized to a computer model, synchronizing with a sporadically observed system, as in meteorological data assimilation. Evidence for the ubiquity of synchronization is reviewed along with recent proposals that: (1) synchronization of different models of the same objective process may be an expeditious route to improved computational modeling and may also describe the functioning of conscious brains; and (2) the nonlocality in quantum phenomena implied by Bell’s theorem may be explained in a variety of deterministic (hidden variable) interpretations if the quantum world resides on a generalized synchronization “manifold”.« less

  4. Synchronicity from synchronized chaos

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Duane, Gregory

    The synchronization of loosely-coupled chaotic oscillators, a phenomenon investigated intensively for the last two decades, may realize the philosophical concept of “synchronicity”—the commonplace notion that related events mysteriously occur at the same time. When extended to continuous media and/or large discrete arrays, and when general (non-identical) correspondences are considered between states, intermittent synchronous relationships indeed become ubiquitous. Meaningful synchronicity follows naturally if meaningful events are identified with coherent structures, defined by internal synchronization between remote degrees of freedom; a condition that has been posited as necessary for synchronizability with an external system. The important case of synchronization between mind andmore » matter is realized if mind is analogized to a computer model, synchronizing with a sporadically observed system, as in meteorological data assimilation. Evidence for the ubiquity of synchronization is reviewed along with recent proposals that: (1) synchronization of different models of the same objective process may be an expeditious route to improved computational modeling and may also describe the functioning of conscious brains; and (2) the nonlocality in quantum phenomena implied by Bell’s theorem may be explained in a variety of deterministic (hidden variable) interpretations if the quantum world resides on a generalized synchronization “manifold”.« less

  5. A Switched-Mode Breast Coil for 7 T MRI Using Forced-Current Excitation

    PubMed Central

    Bosshard, John C.; Rispoli, Joseph V.; Dimitrov, Ivan E.; Cheshkov, Sergey; McDougall, Mary Preston; Malloy, Craig; Wright, Steven M.

    2015-01-01

    In high-field magnetic resonance imaging, the radio frequency wavelength within the human body is comparable to anatomical dimensions, resulting in B1 inhomogeneity and nonuniform sensitivity patterns. Thus, this relatively short wavelength presents engineering challenges for RF coil design. In this study, a bilateral breast coil for 1H imaging at 7 T was designed and constructed using forced-current excitation. By forcing equal current through the coil elements, we reduce the effects of coupling between the elements to simplify tuning and to ensure a uniform field across both breasts. To combine the benefits of the higher power efficiency of a unilateral coil with the bilateral coverage of a bilateral coil, a switching circuit was implemented to allow the coil to be reconfigured for imaging the left, right, or both breasts. PMID:25706501

  6. Distant Migration of Multiple Siliconomas in Lower Extremities following Breast Implant Rupture: Case Report.

    PubMed

    Oh, Joo Hyun; Song, Seung Yong; Lew, Dae Hyun; Lee, Dong Won

    2016-10-01

    Siliconoma from ruptured breast implants has been reported in multiple body sites, including but not limited to the breast parenchyma, axillary lymph nodes, upper arm, and even lower leg. In this regard, we report a rare case of distant silicone migration to the lower extremities after traumatic breast implant rupture. A 55-year-old Asian woman who received bilateral augmentation mammoplasty 20 years ago presented with ruptured breast implants from a car accident 2 years earlier. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed intracapsular and extracapsular rupture of the right breast implant, showing "linguine sign." We removed the bilateral breast implants and performed capsulectomy and bilateral reduction mammoplasty using inverted-T incisions. The implant was confirmed as a smooth, silicone gel-filled mammary implant of 125 cm 3 by a Japanese manufacturer, Koken. During her regular follow-up outpatient visits, physical examination revealed 2.5- × 1.5-cm ill-defined, tender, subcutaneous nodules on both knees and 8.5- × 3.0-cm inflammatory changes in the inguinal area with persistent pain. Computed tomography showed no definite mass, but rather infiltrative, nonenhancing soft-tissue densities in the subcutaneous layers of the bilateral inguinal and knee areas. Surgical excision was performed, and pathologic findings confirmed variable vacuoles with foreign body reaction and fibrosis, consistent with siliconoma. It is important to acknowledge that siliconomas can be encountered in patients with ruptured breast implants, especially those manufactured decades ago. Our patient with masses as remote as the inguinal and knee areas is a prime example of how far siliconomas can migrate.

  7. Distant Migration of Multiple Siliconomas in Lower Extremities following Breast Implant Rupture: Case Report

    PubMed Central

    Oh, Joo Hyun; Song, Seung Yong; Lew, Dae Hyun

    2016-01-01

    Summary: Siliconoma from ruptured breast implants has been reported in multiple body sites, including but not limited to the breast parenchyma, axillary lymph nodes, upper arm, and even lower leg. In this regard, we report a rare case of distant silicone migration to the lower extremities after traumatic breast implant rupture. A 55-year-old Asian woman who received bilateral augmentation mammoplasty 20 years ago presented with ruptured breast implants from a car accident 2 years earlier. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed intracapsular and extracapsular rupture of the right breast implant, showing “linguine sign.” We removed the bilateral breast implants and performed capsulectomy and bilateral reduction mammoplasty using inverted-T incisions. The implant was confirmed as a smooth, silicone gel–filled mammary implant of 125 cm3 by a Japanese manufacturer, Koken. During her regular follow-up outpatient visits, physical examination revealed 2.5- × 1.5-cm ill-defined, tender, subcutaneous nodules on both knees and 8.5- × 3.0-cm inflammatory changes in the inguinal area with persistent pain. Computed tomography showed no definite mass, but rather infiltrative, nonenhancing soft-tissue densities in the subcutaneous layers of the bilateral inguinal and knee areas. Surgical excision was performed, and pathologic findings confirmed variable vacuoles with foreign body reaction and fibrosis, consistent with siliconoma. It is important to acknowledge that siliconomas can be encountered in patients with ruptured breast implants, especially those manufactured decades ago. Our patient with masses as remote as the inguinal and knee areas is a prime example of how far siliconomas can migrate. PMID:27826457

  8. Synchronous symmetrical atypical osteoid osteoma of tibia: a case report.

    PubMed

    Sreenivas, T; Menon, Jagdish; Nataraj, A R

    2012-11-01

    We report a case of synchronous symmetrical osteoid osteoma of tibia which was atypical in its appearance on imaging. Our patient was a 30-year-old woman presented with 2 years history of bilateral leg pain more on the right side. The pain was more during night and relieved on taking salicylates. Laboratory investigations were within normal limits. Radiographs and computed tomography revealed bilateral focal irregular cortical sclerosis with narrowing of medullary canal of mid tibia. The lesion on right side was excised enbloc followed by the lesion on left side 3 months later and histologically confirmed as osteoid osteoma. Initially, we thought it was stress fracture or subacute osteomyelitis but it was in fact histopathology which showed osteoid osteoma. Patient was completely asymptomatic postoperatively.

  9. Prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (PBSO) with or without prophylactic bilateral mastectomy (PBM) or no intervention in BRCA1 mutation carriers: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

    PubMed

    Norum, Jan; Hagen, Anne Irene; Maehle, Lovise; Apold, Jaran; Burn, John; Møller, Pål

    2008-05-01

    Women with germline BRCA1 mutation have a significant risk of breast and/or ovarian cancer. Prophylactic bilateral mastectomy (PBM) and prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (PBSO) prevent cancer in mutation carriers. The cost-effectiveness of PBSO (age of 35 years) with or without PBM five years earlier was compared to a no intervention setting employing a marginal cost analysis. National data on cancer incidence, mortality rates and costs were implemented together with observed Norwegian BRCA1 data in a Markov model and PBSO was assumed to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by 90%. A 3% discount rate was used. The additional health care cost per mutation carrier undergoing PBSO and PBM was euro 15,784, and 6.4 discounted life years gained (LYG) was indicated (PBSO alone with 100% acceptance 3.1 LYG). The additional cost per LYG was euro 1973 (PBSO alone euro 1749/LYG). Including all resource use, the figure was a cost of euro 496 and euro 1284 per LYG, respectively. PBSO with or without PBM in BRCA1 mutation carriers is cost-effective. A testing of all incident breast cancers to identify mutation carrying families should be explored.

  10. Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

    PubMed

    Berlin, Eva; Singh, Kunwar; Mills, Christopher; Shapira, Ilan; Bakst, Richard L; Chadha, Manjeet

    2018-01-01

    We are reporting the case of a 58-year-old woman with history of bilateral silicone breast implants for cosmetic augmentation. At 2-year interval from receiving the breast implants, she presented with swelling of the right breast with associated chest wall mass, effusion around the implant, and axillary lymphadenopathy. Pathology confirmed breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (stage III, T4N2M0, using BIA-ALCL TNM staging and stage IIAE, using Ann-Arbor staging). The patient underwent bilateral capsulectomy and right partial mastectomy with excision of the right breast mass and received adjuvant CHOP chemotherapy and radiation to the right breast and regional nodes. Since completion of multimodality therapy, the patient has sustained remission on both clinical exam and PET/CT scan. We report this case and review of the literature on this rare form of lymphoma.

  11. Overview of the role of pre-operative breast MRI in the absence of evidence on patient outcomes.

    PubMed

    Sardanelli, Francesco

    2010-02-01

    The role of pre-operative breast MRI is outlined on the basis of the existing evidence in favor of a superior capability in comparison with mammography and sonography to detect ipsilateral and contralateral malignant lesions and to evaluate the disease extent, including the extensive intraductal component associated with invasive cancers. Patients with a potential higher anticipated benefit from pre-operative MRI can be identified as those: with mammographically dense breasts; with a unilateral multifocal/multicentric cancer or a synchronous bilateral cancer already diagnosed at mammography and sonography; with a lobular invasive cancer; at high-risk for breast cancer; with a cancer which shows a discrepancy in size of >1 cm between mammography and sonography; or under consideration for partial breast irradiation. More limited evidence exists in favor of MRI for evaluating candidates for total skin sparing mastectomy or for patients with Paget's disease. Irrespective of whether the clinical team routinely uses preoperative MRI or not: women newly diagnosed with breast cancer should always be informed of the potential risks and benefits of pre-operative MRI; results of pre-operative MRI should be interpreted taking into account clinical breast examination, mammography, sonography and verified by percutaneous biopsy; MRI-only detected lesions require MR-guidance for needle biopsy and pre-surgical localization, and these should be available or potentially accessible if pre-operative MRI is to be implemented; total therapy delay due to pre-operative MRI (including MRI-induced work-up) should not exceed one month; changes in therapy planning resulting from pre-operative MRI should be decided by a multidisciplinary team. Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. Bilateral prophylactic mastectomy in women with inherited risk of breast cancer--prevalence of pain and discomfort, impact on sexuality, quality of life and feelings of regret two years after surgery.

    PubMed

    Gahm, Jessica; Wickman, Marie; Brandberg, Yvonne

    2010-12-01

    Mastectomy due to breast cancer is associated with chronic pain and a negative impact on sexuality. The purposes of the study were to analyze the prevalence of pain and discomfort in the breasts, impact on sexuality, quality of life, and feelings of regret after bilateral prophylactic mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with implants. Fifty-nine women operated 2004-2006 were included. A questionnaire was sent out two years after the procedure. Complications and re-operations were recorded. Mean follow-up time was 29 months. 93% of patients answered the questionnaire. 69% reported pain and 71% discomfort in the breasts. Lost or much reduced sexual sensations were reported by 85% and enjoyment of sex was negatively impacted for 75% of patients. Quality of life was not affected and feelings of regret were almost non-existent. It is important to inform women approaching this prophylactic procedure about the risk of having unwanted secondary effects. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Automated frequency analysis of synchronous and diffuse sleep spindles.

    PubMed

    Huupponen, Eero; Saastamoinen, Antti; Niemi, Jukka; Virkkala, Jussi; Hasan, Joel; Värri, Alpo; Himanen, Sari-Leena

    2005-01-01

    Sleep spindles have different properties in different localizations in the cortex. First main objective was to develop an amplitude-independent multi-channel spindle detection method. Secondly the method was applied to study the anteroposterior frequency differences of pure synchronous (visible bilaterally, either frontopolarly or centrally) and diffuse (visible bilaterally both frontopolarly and centrally) sleep spindles. A previously presented spindle detector based on the fuzzy reasoning principle and a level detector were combined to form a multi-channel spindle detector. The spindle detector had a 76.17% true positive rate and 0.93% false-positive rate. Pure central spindles were faster and pure frontal spindles were slower than diffuse spindles measured simultaneously from both locations. The study of frequency relations of spindles might give new information about thalamocortical sleep spindle generating mechanisms. Copyright (c) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  14. Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature

    PubMed Central

    Singh, Kunwar; Mills, Christopher; Shapira, Ilan

    2018-01-01

    We are reporting the case of a 58-year-old woman with history of bilateral silicone breast implants for cosmetic augmentation. At 2-year interval from receiving the breast implants, she presented with swelling of the right breast with associated chest wall mass, effusion around the implant, and axillary lymphadenopathy. Pathology confirmed breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (stage III, T4N2M0, using BIA-ALCL TNM staging and stage IIAE, using Ann-Arbor staging). The patient underwent bilateral capsulectomy and right partial mastectomy with excision of the right breast mass and received adjuvant CHOP chemotherapy and radiation to the right breast and regional nodes. Since completion of multimodality therapy, the patient has sustained remission on both clinical exam and PET/CT scan. We report this case and review of the literature on this rare form of lymphoma. PMID:29607225

  15. Risk-reducing Surgery in Women at Risk for Familial Breast or Ovarian Cancer

    PubMed Central

    Rhiem, K.; Pfeifer, K.; Schmutzler, R. K.; Kiechle, M.

    2012-01-01

    An estimated 5 % of breast cancers and 10 % of ovarian cancers may be due to inherited autosomal dominant breast and ovarian cancer alleles BRCA1 und BRCA2. According to population-based studies 1 or 2 women per 1000 carry such a risk allele. The cumulative cancer risk for healthy women with a BRCA-mutation is between 60 and 85 % for breast cancer and between 20 and 60 % for ovarian cancer. Recent studies have reported an increased risk for contralateral breast cancer in women after unilateral breast cancer. Since 1997 the German Cancer Aid has supported an interdisciplinary approach for high-risk women consisting of genetic testing, counselling and prevention in 12 specialised centres. Since 2005 this concept has received additional support from health insurance companies, and results have been assessed with regard to outcomes (e.g. reduced mortality due to more intensive early diagnosis). The number of centres has increased to 15 at various university hospitals. These interdisciplinary centres offer women the opportunity to participate in a structured screening programme for the early diagnosis of breast cancer and provide non-directive counselling on the options for risk-reducing surgery, e.g., prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, prophylactic bilateral mastectomy or contralateral prophylactic mastectomy after unilateral breast cancer. Such surgical interventions can significantly reduce the risk of disease, the respective disease-specific mortality and – particularly prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy – total mortality in BRCA-mutation carriers. PMID:26640291

  16. Bilateral wilms tumor with TP53-related anaplasia.

    PubMed

    Popov, Sergey D; Vujanic, Gordan M; Sebire, Neil J; Chagtai, Tasnim; Williams, Richard; Vaidya, Sucheta; Pritchard-Jones, Kathy

    2013-01-01

    Wilms tumor (WT) with diffuse anaplasia has an unfavorable prognosis and is often (>70%) associated with mutations in the TP53 gene. Although most WTs are unilateral, 5-10% are bilateral, and they are almost always present with nephrogenic rests. The latter are considered a precursor of WT. Two cases of bilateral WTs with nephroblastomatosis, in which anaplastic changes were detected over a period of time, were analyzed using clinical, radiological, histopathological, and molecular-genetic data. TP53 was analyzed by direct sequencing of its full coding sequence and intron-exon boundaries in 11 fragments. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded or frozen specimens. High-resolution genomic copy number profiling was carried out by UCL Genomics on the Affymetrix Human Mapping 250K Nsp or Genome-Wide Human SNP Array 6.0 platform. Both cases demonstrated a strong association between the appearance of anaplastic clones and TP53 mutations. Synchronous ganglioneuroma was diagnosed in one case. Our cases are unique as they represent a long disease history and demonstrate the difficulties in managing rare cases of bilateral WT with anaplasia. These cases also emphasize the practical importance of modern molecular-genetic techniques and their clinical application. Moreover, they highlight the issue of the adequate sampling needed in order to gather comprehensive, efficient, and sufficient information about genetic events in a single tumor.

  17. Trends and Variation in Use of Breast Reconstruction in Patients With Breast Cancer Undergoing Mastectomy in the United States

    PubMed Central

    Jagsi, Reshma; Jiang, Jing; Momoh, Adeyiza O.; Alderman, Amy; Giordano, Sharon H.; Buchholz, Thomas A.; Kronowitz, Steven J.; Smith, Benjamin D.

    2014-01-01

    Purpose Concerns exist regarding breast cancer patients' access to breast reconstruction, which provides important psychosocial benefits. Patients and Methods Using the MarketScan database, a claims-based data set of US patients with employment-based insurance, we identified 20,560 women undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer from 1998 to 2007. We evaluated time trends using the Cochran-Armitage test and correlated reconstruction use with plastic-surgery workforce density and other treatments using multivariable regression. Results Median age of our sample was 51 years. Reconstruction use increased from 46% in 1998 to 63% in 2007 (P < .001), with increased use of implants and decreased use of autologous techniques over time (P < .001). Receipt of bilateral mastectomy also increased: from 3% in 1998 to 18% in 2007 (P < .001). Patients receiving bilateral mastectomy were more likely to receive reconstruction (odds ratio [OR], 2.3; P < .001) and patients receiving radiation were less likely to receive reconstruction (OR, 0.44; P < .001). Rates of reconstruction receipt varied dramatically by geographic region, with associations with plastic surgeon density in each state and county-level income. Autologous techniques were more often used in patients who received both reconstruction and radiation (OR, 1.8; P < .001) and less frequently used in patients with capitated insurance (OR, 0.7; P < .001), patients undergoing bilateral mastectomy (OR, 0.5; P < .001), or patients in the highest income quartile (OR, 0.7; P = .006). Delayed reconstruction was performed in 21% of patients who underwent reconstruction. Conclusion Breast reconstruction has increased over time, but it has wide geographic variability. Receipt of other treatments correlates with the use of and approaches toward reconstruction. Further research and interventions are needed to ensure equitable access to this important component of multidisciplinary treatment of breast cancer. PMID:24550418

  18. The right hippocampus leads the bilateral integration of gamma-parsed lateralized information

    PubMed Central

    Benito, Nuria; Martín-Vázquez, Gonzalo; Makarova, Julia; Makarov, Valeri A; Herreras, Oscar

    2016-01-01

    It is unclear whether the two hippocampal lobes convey similar or different activities and how they cooperate. Spatial discrimination of electric fields in anesthetized rats allowed us to compare the pathway-specific field potentials corresponding to the gamma-paced CA3 output (CA1 Schaffer potentials) and CA3 somatic inhibition within and between sides. Bilateral excitatory Schaffer gamma waves are generally larger and lead from the right hemisphere with only moderate covariation of amplitude, and drive CA1 pyramidal units more strongly than unilateral waves. CA3 waves lock to the ipsilateral Schaffer potentials, although bilateral coherence was weak. Notably, Schaffer activity may run laterally, as seen after the disruption of the connecting pathways. Thus, asymmetric operations promote the entrainment of CA3-autonomous gamma oscillators bilaterally, synchronizing lateralized gamma strings to converge optimally on CA1 targets. The findings support the view that interhippocampal connections integrate different aspects of information that flow through the left and right lobes. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.16658.001 PMID:27599221

  19. Synchronous multifocal necrotizing fasciitis prognostic factors: a retrospective case series study in a single center.

    PubMed

    Lee, Ching-Yu; Li, Yen-Yao; Huang, Tsan-Wen; Huang, Tsung-Yu; Hsu, Wei-Hsiu; Tsai, Yao-Hung; Huang, Jou-Chen; Huang, Kuo-Chin

    2016-12-01

    No reports have been published on synchronous multifocal necrotizing fasciitis (SMNF), a multifocal presence of necrotizing fasciitis in different extremities. We evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of SMNF. Eighteen patients (14 men, 4 women; mean age: 59 years) diagnosed with SMNF of the extremities between January 2004 to December 2012 were enrolled and evaluated. Vibrio species were the most commonly (78%; n = 14) isolated; others were two cases (11%) of Aeromonas spp., one case (6%) of group A β-hemolytic streptococcus, and one case of coagulase-negative staphylococcus. SMNF was in the bilateral lower limbs (72%; n = 13), bilateral upper limbs (17%; n = 3), and one patient with one upper and one lower limb (11%). Non-surviving patients had more bilateral lower limb involvement and thrombocytopenia. Most patients with SMNF were male and had bilateral lower limb and marine Gram-negative bacteria involvement. The mortality of SMNF remained extremely high in patients with involvement of bilateral lower limb and initial thrombocytopenia.

  20. Assessment of two mammographic density related features in predicting near-term breast cancer risk

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zheng, Bin; Sumkin, Jules H.; Zuley, Margarita L.; Wang, Xingwei; Klym, Amy H.; Gur, David

    2012-02-01

    In order to establish a personalized breast cancer screening program, it is important to develop risk models that have high discriminatory power in predicting the likelihood of a woman developing an imaging detectable breast cancer in near-term (e.g., <3 years after a negative examination in question). In epidemiology-based breast cancer risk models, mammographic density is considered the second highest breast cancer risk factor (second to woman's age). In this study we explored a new feature, namely bilateral mammographic density asymmetry, and investigated the feasibility of predicting near-term screening outcome. The database consisted of 343 negative examinations, of which 187 depicted cancers that were detected during the subsequent screening examination and 155 that remained negative. We computed the average pixel value of the segmented breast areas depicted on each cranio-caudal view of the initial negative examinations. We then computed the mean and difference mammographic density for paired bilateral images. Using woman's age, subjectively rated density (BIRADS), and computed mammographic density related features we compared classification performance in estimating the likelihood of detecting cancer during the subsequent examination using areas under the ROC curves (AUC). The AUCs were 0.63+/-0.03, 0.54+/-0.04, 0.57+/-0.03, 0.68+/-0.03 when using woman's age, BIRADS rating, computed mean density and difference in computed bilateral mammographic density, respectively. Performance increased to 0.62+/-0.03 and 0.72+/-0.03 when we fused mean and difference in density with woman's age. The results suggest that, in this study, bilateral mammographic tissue density is a significantly stronger (p<0.01) risk indicator than both woman's age and mean breast density.

  1. A novel robotic surgical technique for thyroid surgery: bilateral axillary approach (BAA).

    PubMed

    Woo, Jung-Woo; Kim, Seo Ki; Park, Inhye; Choe, Jun Ho; Kim, Jung-Han; Kim, Jee Soo

    2017-02-01

    Bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA) robotic thyroidectomy (RT) is proven to be a feasible method for the treatment of well-differentiated thyroid cancers in terms of oncology as well as cosmesis. However, BABA RT causes postoperative sternal discomfort and needs an incision over the nipple areolar area. Here, we suggest a novel robotic surgical technique for thyroid surgery that does not need a breast incision-bilateral axillary approach (BAA). We recruited 51 patients who were willing to undergo the novel BAA robotic thyroid surgery. We performed a propensity score-matched analysis to compare the BAA robotic thyroid surgery group (BAA group) with the conventional open thyroid surgery group (open group). Mean operation time in the BAA group (129.7 min) was significantly longer than that in the open group (103.1 min) (p < 0.001). However, no significant differences in the mean number of metastatic lymph nodes (LNs), mean number of retrieved LNs, vocal cord palsy, hypoparathyroidism, and mean stimulated thyroglobulin level were observed between the two groups. There was no case of postoperative bleeding or chyle leak. Of the 51 patients who had undergone the BAA procedure, 27 patients answered the questionnaire. The mean scale, ranging from 0 to 10, at postoperative 1 day/2 weeks was as follows: voice change score, 3.0/1.6; swallowing difficulty score, 4.0/2.0; anterior neck pain score, 4.6/3.6; anterior neck numbness score, 5.4/4.3; right chest pain score, 3.8/2.1; left chest pain score, 3.6/2.3; right chest numbness score, 3.2/2.8; left chest numbness score, 2.4/2.7; right breast pain score, 0.9/0; left breast pain score, 1.2/0; right breast numbness score, 1.7/0; and left breast numbness score, 2.6/0, respectively. BAA robotic thyroid surgery is a novel, safe, and feasible oncoplastic method, especially for patients who have fear of procedures around the nipple areolar complex.

  2. Increased phase synchronization during continuous face integration measured simultaneously with EEG and fMRI.

    PubMed

    Kottlow, Mara; Jann, Kay; Dierks, Thomas; Koenig, Thomas

    2012-08-01

    Gamma zero-lag phase synchronization has been measured in the animal brain during visual binding. Human scalp EEG studies used a phase locking factor (trial-to-trial phase-shift consistency) or gamma amplitude to measure binding but did not analyze common-phase signals so far. This study introduces a method to identify networks oscillating with near zero-lag phase synchronization in human subjects. We presented unpredictably moving face parts (NOFACE) which - during some periods - produced a complete schematic face (FACE). The amount of zero-lag phase synchronization was measured using global field synchronization (GFS). GFS provides global information on the amount of instantaneous coincidences in specific frequencies throughout the brain. Gamma GFS was increased during the FACE condition. To localize the underlying areas, we correlated gamma GFS with simultaneously recorded BOLD responses. Positive correlates comprised the bilateral middle fusiform gyrus and the left precuneus. These areas may form a network of areas transiently synchronized during face integration, including face-specific as well as binding-specific regions and regions for visual processing in general. Thus, the amount of zero-lag phase synchronization between remote regions of the human visual system can be measured with simultaneously acquired EEG/fMRI. Copyright © 2012 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Clinical Evaluation of Hyaluronic Acid Sponge with Zinc versus Placebo for Scar Reduction after Breast Surgery

    PubMed Central

    Mahedia, Monali; Shah, Nilay

    2016-01-01

    Background: Scar formation is a major source of dissatisfaction among patients and surgeons. Individually, hyaluronan, or hyaluronic acid (HA), and zinc have been shown to reduce scarring. The authors evaluated the safety and efficacy of an HA sponge with zinc compared with placebo when applied to bilateral breast surgery scars; specifically, they evaluated whether the use of this product modulates inflammation and immediate scarring in treated patients after bilateral breast surgery. Methods: This double-blind, randomized, prospective study was approved by the local institutional review board. Bilateral breast surgery patients with right and left incision lines were randomly assigned to receive HA sponge with zinc or placebo within 2 to 4 days after their procedure. Participants were followed up at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 1 year and evaluated at 12 weeks. Three blinded evaluators reviewed photographs of the incision lines and assessed the scars using a visual analog scale, new scale, and a patient satisfaction survey. Results: Nineteen bilateral breast surgery patients were enrolled in the study. Statistical analysis was performed on 14 patients who completed the follow-up. The mean visual analog scale score was lower for the side receiving the HA sponge with zinc (2.6) than for the side receiving placebo (3.0), indicating a better outcome (t test; P = 0.08). The HA sponge with zinc was found to have significant positive findings on a patient satisfaction survey (P = 0.01). Conclusions: This is a preliminary study that shows zinc hyaluronan was associated with high patient satisfaction in achieving a better scar after bilateral breast surgery, irrespective of skin color. It seems to be safe and effective for early scars. PMID:27536470

  4. Fibroadenomatosis involving bilateral breasts and axillary accessory breast tissues in a renal transplant recipient given cyclosporin A.

    PubMed

    Bulakci, Mesut; Gocmez, Ahmet; Demir, Ali Aslan; Salmaslioglu, Artur; Tukenmez, Mustafa; Yavuz, Ekrem; Acunas, Gulden

    2014-10-01

    We present the mammographic and sonographic findings in a case of fibroadenomatosis involving both breasts and axillae in a renal transplant patient after 16 years of treatment with cyclosporin A. Awareness of the fact that cyclosporin A may induce the formation of fibroadenomas, including in accessory breast tissue, is important for correct diagnosis and preventing unnecessary intervention. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  5. Solitary small bowel metastasis from breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Choi, Jung Eun; Park, Shin Young; Jeon, Myung Hoon; Kang, Su Hwan; Lee, Soo Jung; Bae, Young Kyung; Kim, Min Kyoung

    2011-03-01

    The common sites of metastasis of breast cancer are bone, lung, and liver, but gastrointestinal metastasis from breast cancer is rare. We experienced a case of solitary ileal metastasis from breast cancer. A 45-years-old woman presented with melena for several weeks. She showed no other abdominal symptoms. Colonoscopy findings showed an ulcerative mucosal lesion in the terminal ileum, and biopsy was performed. Pathologic examination revealed metastatic carcinoma, originated from breast. The tumor cells were positive for estrogen receptor and negative for Cdx-2. She had had a previous medical history of bilateral breast cancer and undergone breast conserving surgery with sentinel lymph node biopsy for both breasts. The torso positron emission tomography scan at 19 months after surgery showed mildly increased uptake in the terminal ileum which was considered as inflammation. Finally, she was diagnosed with solitary ileal metastasis from breast cancer at 22 months after surgery.

  6. Computer-aided detection of clustered microcalcifications in multiscale bilateral filtering regularized reconstructed digital breast tomosynthesis volume

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Samala, Ravi K., E-mail: rsamala@umich.edu; Chan, Heang-Ping; Lu, Yao

    Purpose: Develop a computer-aided detection (CADe) system for clustered microcalcifications in digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) volume enhanced with multiscale bilateral filtering (MSBF) regularization. Methods: With Institutional Review Board approval and written informed consent, two-view DBT of 154 breasts, of which 116 had biopsy-proven microcalcification (MC) clusters and 38 were free of MCs, was imaged with a General Electric GEN2 prototype DBT system. The DBT volumes were reconstructed with MSBF-regularized simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART) that was designed to enhance MCs and reduce background noise while preserving the quality of other tissue structures. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of MCs was furthermore » improved with enhancement-modulated calcification response (EMCR) preprocessing, which combined multiscale Hessian response to enhance MCs by shape and bandpass filtering to remove the low-frequency structured background. MC candidates were then located in the EMCR volume using iterative thresholding and segmented by adaptive region growing. Two sets of potential MC objects, cluster centroid objects and MC seed objects, were generated and the CNR of each object was calculated. The number of candidates in each set was controlled based on the breast volume. Dynamic clustering around the centroid objects grouped the MC candidates to form clusters. Adaptive criteria were designed to reduce false positive (FP) clusters based on the size, CNR values and the number of MCs in the cluster, cluster shape, and cluster based maximum intensity projection. Free-response receiver operating characteristic (FROC) and jackknife alternative FROC (JAFROC) analyses were used to assess the performance and compare with that of a previous study. Results: Unpaired two-tailedt-test showed a significant increase (p < 0.0001) in the ratio of CNRs for MCs with and without MSBF regularization compared to similar ratios for FPs. For view-based detection

  7. Papillary serous carcinoma of the uterus: increased risk of subsequent or concurrent development of breast carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Geisler, J P; Sorosky, J I; Duong, H L; Buekers, T E; Geisler, M J; Sood, A K; Anderson, B; Buller, R E

    2001-12-01

    Some women with endometrial cancer may be at increased risk for developing breast cancer. The histologic type of endometrial cancer associated with synchronous or subsequent breast cancer has not been clearly established. Our purpose was to determine if a certain histologic type of endometrial cancer was associated with an increased risk of synchronous or subsequent breast cancer. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics tumor registry was queried to ascertain all patients with the diagnosis of uterine cancer from January 1, 1983, to December 31, 1994. Statistics were performed utilizing SPSS for Windows version 9.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL), including Student's t tests and chi(2) tests. Five hundred ninety-two patients had endometrial adenocarcinoma during the study period. Five hundred thirty-six women had endometrioid adenocarcinoma, 23 women had papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC), 21 women had adenosquamous carcinoma, 10 women had clear-cell carcinoma, and 1 woman each had mucinous or squamous carcinoma. Twelve patients had previously been diagnosed with breast carcinomas. Twenty-five patients were diagnosed with breast cancer either concurrently or subsequent to their diagnosis of endometrial cancer. Synchronous or subsequent breast cancers developed in 3.2% of patients with endometrioid carcinoma and in 25% of patients with UPSC (P < 0.001). Patients with UPSC have an increased risk of development of breast cancer as compared to patients with endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterus. (c)2001 Elsevier Science.

  8. Ultrafast Bilateral DCE-MRI of the Breast with Conventional Fourier Sampling: Preliminary Evaluation of Semi-quantitative Analysis.

    PubMed

    Pineda, Federico D; Medved, Milica; Wang, Shiyang; Fan, Xiaobing; Schacht, David V; Sennett, Charlene; Oto, Aytekin; Newstead, Gillian M; Abe, Hiroyuki; Karczmar, Gregory S

    2016-09-01

    The study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and advantages of a combined high temporal and high spatial resolution protocol for dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the breast. Twenty-three patients with enhancing lesions were imaged at 3T. The acquisition protocol consisted of a series of bilateral, fat-suppressed "ultrafast" acquisitions, with 6.9- to 9.9-second temporal resolution for the first minute following contrast injection, followed by four high spatial resolution acquisitions with 60- to 79.5-second temporal resolution. All images were acquired with standard uniform Fourier sampling. A filtering method was developed to reduce noise and detect significant enhancement in the high temporal resolution images. Time of arrival (TOA) was defined as the time at which each voxel first satisfied all the filter conditions, relative to the time of initial arterial enhancement. Ultrafast images improved visualization of the vasculature feeding and draining lesions. A small percentage of the entire field of view (<6%) enhanced significantly in the 30 seconds following contrast injection. Lesion conspicuity was highest in early ultrafast images, especially in cases with marked parenchymal enhancement. Although the sample size was relatively small, the average TOA for malignant lesions was significantly shorter than the TOA for benign lesions. Significant differences were also measured in other parameters descriptive of early contrast media uptake kinetics (P < 0.05). Ultrafast imaging in the first minute of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the breast has the potential to add valuable information on early contrast dynamics. Ultrafast imaging could allow radiologists to confidently identify lesions in the presence of marked background parenchymal enhancement. Copyright © 2016 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. A Study of Evaluation and Management of Rare Congenital Breast Diseases

    PubMed Central

    Mehta, Sudhir Kumar; Bala, Jyoti; Zaman, Muzzafar; Mittal, Amit; Gupta, Guarav; Rudra, Samer; Singal, Samita

    2016-01-01

    Introduction Polymastia and polythelia may be asymptomatic or cause pain, restriction of arm movement, milk discharge, cosmetic problems or anxiety. Cosmesis is the main indication for surgical excision of accessory breasts in axilla. In addition it also confirms the diagnosis and allays the patient’s fear of harbouring a malignancy. Aim To evaluate the presentation of symptoms, investigations required for diagnosis and the management to improve the treatment protocols in patients with breast diseases. Materials and Methods This retrospective study on breast diseases presenting as supernumerary breasts and nipples was conducted in the Department of Surgery between January 2013 and January 2016 at MMIMS Research and hospital, Mullana, Ambala. Patients were evaluated for breast diseases, either benign or malignant in both genders. A total of 32 cases diagnosed as accessory breasts disease were retrieved from the hospital archive. The clinical and radiological evaluation was done in the form of ultrasound and mammography wherever necessary. Accessory breast tissues were excised under general anesthesia and histopathological examinations were done. Results Out of 32 cases: 1(3.125%) male patient had unilateral and 1(3.125%) male had bilateral accessory nipple, 7 (21.87%) females had unilateral and 1(3.125%) had bilateral accessory nipple, 1 (3.125%) diagnosed as accessory axillary fibroadenoma in female, 16(50%) presented as unilateral and 5 (15.62%) had bilateral swelling in the axilla as accessory breast. Patients underwent surgical excision and in 8(25%) cases z- shaped incision was made in view of better cosmesis. Patients were followed up upto 6 months postoperatively. There were no residual swelling and movements of the arm over the shoulder joint were normal. In 3(9.37%) cases, wound dehiscence occurred; in 2 (6.25%) cases lymphoedema formation was seen. These were successfully managed conservatively. Conclusion As breast swellings either fibroadenoma or

  10. A Study of Evaluation and Management of Rare Congenital Breast Diseases.

    PubMed

    Singal, Rikki; Mehta, Sudhir Kumar; Bala, Jyoti; Zaman, Muzzafar; Mittal, Amit; Gupta, Guarav; Rudra, Samer; Singal, Samita

    2016-10-01

    Polymastia and polythelia may be asymptomatic or cause pain, restriction of arm movement, milk discharge, cosmetic problems or anxiety. Cosmesis is the main indication for surgical excision of accessory breasts in axilla. In addition it also confirms the diagnosis and allays the patient's fear of harbouring a malignancy. To evaluate the presentation of symptoms, investigations required for diagnosis and the management to improve the treatment protocols in patients with breast diseases. This retrospective study on breast diseases presenting as supernumerary breasts and nipples was conducted in the Department of Surgery between January 2013 and January 2016 at MMIMS Research and hospital, Mullana, Ambala. Patients were evaluated for breast diseases, either benign or malignant in both genders. A total of 32 cases diagnosed as accessory breasts disease were retrieved from the hospital archive. The clinical and radiological evaluation was done in the form of ultrasound and mammography wherever necessary. Accessory breast tissues were excised under general anesthesia and histopathological examinations were done. Out of 32 cases: 1(3.125%) male patient had unilateral and 1(3.125%) male had bilateral accessory nipple, 7 (21.87%) females had unilateral and 1(3.125%) had bilateral accessory nipple, 1 (3.125%) diagnosed as accessory axillary fibroadenoma in female, 16(50%) presented as unilateral and 5 (15.62%) had bilateral swelling in the axilla as accessory breast. Patients underwent surgical excision and in 8(25%) cases z- shaped incision was made in view of better cosmesis. Patients were followed up upto 6 months postoperatively. There were no residual swelling and movements of the arm over the shoulder joint were normal. In 3(9.37%) cases, wound dehiscence occurred; in 2 (6.25%) cases lymphoedema formation was seen. These were successfully managed conservatively. As breast swellings either fibroadenoma or carcinoma are common entities to come across everywhere but

  11. Identification and management of women with a family history of breast cancer

    PubMed Central

    Heisey, Ruth; Carroll, June C.

    2016-01-01

    Abstract Objective To summarize the best evidence on strategies to identify and manage women with a family history of breast cancer. Sources of information A PubMed search was conducted using the search terms breast cancer, guidelines, risk, family history, management, and magnetic resonance imaging screening from 2000 to 2016. Most evidence is level II. Main message Taking a good family history is essential when assessing breast cancer risk in order to identify women suitable for referral to a genetic counselor for possible genetic testing. Offering risk-reducing surgery (bilateral prophylactic mastectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) to women with BRCA genetic mutations can save lives. All women with a family history of breast cancer should be encouraged to stay active and limit alcohol intake to less than 1 drink per day; some will qualify for chemoprevention. Women with a 20% to 25% or greater lifetime risk of breast cancer should be offered enhanced screening with annual magnetic resonance imaging in addition to mammography. Conclusion Healthy living and chemoprevention (for suitable women) could reduce breast cancer incidence; enhanced screening could result in earlier detection. Referring women who carry BRCA mutations for risk-reducing surgery will save lives. PMID:27737975

  12. Bilateral aldosterone-producing adenomas: differentiation from bilateral adrenal hyperplasia.

    PubMed

    Wu, V C; Chueh, S C; Chang, H W; Lin, W C; Liu, K L; Li, H Y; Lin, Y H; Wu, K D; Hsieh, B S

    2008-01-01

    Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a common curable disease of secondary hypertension. Most such patients have either idiopathic bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (BAH) or unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA). Bilateral APAs are reportedly extremely rare. To compare the distinctive characteristics, clinical course, and outcomes of bilateral APA vs. BAH. Retrospective record review. From July 1994 to Jan 2007, 190 patients diagnosed with PA underwent surgical intervention at our hospital. Bilateral APA was diagnosed in 7/164 patients with histologically-proven APA. Twenty-one patients diagnosed as BAH, and 21 randomly selected of unilateral APA patients, matched by age and sex served as controls. Patients with bilateral APA had similar blood pressure, arterial blood gas analysis, spot urinary potassium to creatinine ratio and clinical symptoms to those with BAH, but lower serum potassium levels (p = 0.027), lower plasma renin activity (p = 0.037), and higher plasma aldosterone concentrations (p = 0.029). Aldosterone-renin ratio (ARR) after administration of 50 mg captopril was higher in bilateral APA than in BAH patients (p = 0.023), but not different between unilateral APA and BAH (p = 0.218). A cut-off of ARR >100 ng/dl per ng/ml/h and plasma aldosterone >20 ng/dl after captopril significantly differentiated bilateral APA from BAH. Bilateral subtotal adrenalectomy normalized blood pressure and biochemistry in all patients with bilateral APA. Bilateral APA, presenting simultaneously or sequentially, may not be a rare disease, accounting for 4.3% of APA in this sample. The clinical presentations of bilateral functional adenoma are not different from BAH, but patients with low serum potassium and ARR >100 after captopril should be carefully evaluated for bilateral adenoma.

  13. Standardization of infrared breast thermogram acquisition protocols and abnormality analysis of breast thermograms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bhowmik, Mrinal Kanti; Gogoi, Usha Rani; Das, Kakali; Ghosh, Anjan Kumar; Bhattacharjee, Debotosh; Majumdar, Gautam

    2016-05-01

    The non-invasive, painless, radiation-free and cost-effective infrared breast thermography (IBT) makes a significant contribution to improving the survival rate of breast cancer patients by early detecting the disease. This paper presents a set of standard breast thermogram acquisition protocols to improve the potentiality and accuracy of infrared breast thermograms in early breast cancer detection. By maintaining all these protocols, an infrared breast thermogram acquisition setup has been established at the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) of Government Medical College (AGMC), Tripura, India. The acquisition of breast thermogram is followed by the breast thermogram interpretation, for identifying the presence of any abnormality. However, due to the presence of complex vascular patterns, accurate interpretation of breast thermogram is a very challenging task. The bilateral symmetry of the thermal patterns in each breast thermogram is quantitatively computed by statistical feature analysis. A series of statistical features are extracted from a set of 20 thermograms of both healthy and unhealthy subjects. Finally, the extracted features are analyzed for breast abnormality detection. The key contributions made by this paper can be highlighted as -- a) the designing of a standard protocol suite for accurate acquisition of breast thermograms, b) creation of a new breast thermogram dataset by maintaining the protocol suite, and c) statistical analysis of the thermograms for abnormality detection. By doing so, this proposed work can minimize the rate of false findings in breast thermograms and thus, it will increase the utilization potentiality of breast thermograms in early breast cancer detection.

  14. Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia causing massive breast enlargement

    PubMed Central

    Bourke, Anita Geraldine; Tiang, Stephen; Harvey, Nathan; McClure, Robert

    2015-01-01

    Pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia (PASH) of the breast is a benign mesenchymal proliferative process, initially described by Vuitch et al. We report an unusual case of a 46-year-old woman who presented with a 6-week history of bilateral massive, asymmetrical, painful enlargement of her breasts, without a history of trauma. On clinical examination, both breasts were markedly enlarged and oedematous, but there were no discrete palpable masses. Preoperative image-guided core biopsies and surgery showed PASH. PASH is increasingly recognised as an incidental finding on image-guided core biopsy performed for screen detected lesions. There are a few reported cases of PASH presenting as rapid breast enlargement. In our case, the patient presented with painful, asymmetrical, massive breast enlargement. Awareness needs to be raised of this entity as a differential diagnosis in massive, painful breast enlargement. PMID:26475873

  15. Model-based position correlation between breast images

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Georgii, J.; Zöhrer, F.; Hahn, H. K.

    2013-02-01

    Nowadays, breast diagnosis is based on images of different projections and modalities, such that sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis can be improved. However, this emburdens radiologists to find corresponding locations in these data sets, which is a time consuming task, especially since the resolution of the images increases and thus more and more data have to be considered in the diagnosis. Therefore, we aim at support radiologist by automatically synchronizing cursor positions between different views of the breast. Specifically, we present an automatic approach to compute the spatial correlation between MLO and CC mammogram or tomosynthesis projections of the breast. It is based on pre-computed finite element simulations of generic breast models, which are adapted to the patient-specific breast using a contour mapping approach. Our approach is designed to be fully automatic and efficient, such that it can be implemented directly into existing multimodal breast workstations. Additionally, it is extendable to support other breast modalities in future, too.

  16. Laparoscopic bilateral transperitoneal adrenalectomy for Cushing syndrome: surgical challenges and lessons learnt.

    PubMed

    Aggarwal, Sandeep; Yadav, Kunal; Sharma, Aditya P; Sethi, Vrishketan

    2013-06-01

    Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is well established for treatment of adrenal lesions. However, bilateral adrenalectomy for Cushing syndrome is a challenging and time-consuming operation. We report our experience of laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy for this disease in 19 patients. From September 2009 to August 2012, we have operated 19 patients with Cushing syndrome and performed bilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy using the transperitoneal approach; synchronous in 15 patients and staged in 4 patients. In 15 patients, the surgery was carried out sequentially on both the sides in lateral position with intraoperative change in position. Complete adrenalectomy including periadrenal fat was carried out on both the sides. Nineteen patients were referred from Department of Endocrinology for bilateral adrenalectomy for adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH)-dependent and ACTH-independent Cushing syndrome. The indications for surgery were Cushing disease in 15 patients, occult/ectopic source of ACTH in 2 patients, and primary adrenal hyperplasia in 2 patients. Fifteen patients underwent bilateral adrenalectomy during the same operation. Four patients underwent staged procedures. All procedures were completed laparoscopically with no conversions. The mean operating time for simultaneous bilateral adrenalectomy was 210 minutes (range, 150 to 240 min). This included the repositioning and reprepping time. There were no major intraoperative complications. The average blood loss was 100 mL (range, 50 to 200 mL). None of the patients required blood transfusions in the postoperative period. The postoperative complications included minor port-site infection in 2 patients. One severely debilitated patient died on the 14th postoperative day because of hospital-acquired pneumonia. The remaining 18 patients have done well in terms of impact on the disease. Laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy for Cushing syndrome is feasible and safe. It confers all the advantages of minimally invasive

  17. Adherence to Guidelines for Breast Surveillance in Breast Cancer Survivors.

    PubMed

    Ruddy, Kathryn J; Sangaralingham, Lindsey; Freedman, Rachel A; Mougalian, Sarah; Neuman, Heather; Greenberg, Caprice; Jemal, Ahmedin; Duma, Narjust; Haddad, Tufia C; Lemaine, Valerie; Ghosh, Karthik; Hieken, Tina J; Hunt, Katie; Vachon, Celine; Gross, Cary; Shah, Nilay D

    2018-05-01

    Background: Guidelines recommend annual mammography after curative-intent treatment for breast cancer. The goal of this study was to assess contemporary patterns of breast imaging after breast cancer treatment. Methods: Administrative claims data were used to identify privately insured and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries with nonmetastatic breast cancer who had residual breast tissue (not bilateral mastectomy) after breast surgery between January 2005 and May 2015. We calculated the proportion of patients who had a mammogram, MRI, both, or neither during each of 5 subsequent 13-month periods. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess associations between patient characteristics, healthcare use, and breast imaging in the first and fifth years after surgery. Results: A total of 27,212 patients were followed for a median of 2.9 years (interquartile range, 1.8-4.6) after definitive breast cancer surgery. In year 1, 78% were screened using mammography alone, 1% using MRI alone, and 8% using both tests; 13% did not undergo either. By year 5, the proportion of the remaining cohort (n=4,790) who had no breast imaging was 19%. Older age was associated with an increased likelihood of mammography and a decreased likelihood of MRI during the first and fifth years. Black race, mastectomy, chemotherapy, and no MRI at baseline were all associated with a decreased likelihood of both types of imaging. Conclusions: Even in an insured cohort, a substantial proportion of breast cancer survivors do not undergo annual surveillance breast imaging, particularly as time passes. Understanding factors associated with imaging in cancer survivors may help improve adherence to survivorship care guidelines. Copyright © 2018 by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

  18. Molecular Testing in Multiple Synchronous Lung Adenocarcinomas: Case Report and Literature Review.

    PubMed

    Rafael, Oana C; Lazzaro, Richard; Hasanovic, Adnan

    2016-02-01

    Discovery of driver mutations in pulmonary adenocarcinoma has revolutionized the field of thoracic oncology with major impact on therapy and diagnosis. Testing for EGFR, ALK, and KRAS mutations has become part of everyday practice. We report a case with multiple synchronous primary pulmonary adenocarcinomas in a 72-year-old female with previous history of smoking. The patient presented with cough and bilateral lung ground glass opacities. A positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan showed no activity in mediastinal lymph nodes. She underwent a left upper lobe biopsy and a right upper lobe wedge resection. Pathology revealed 4 morphologically distinct adenocarcinoma foci, suggestive of synchronous primary lung tumors. Molecular testing demonstrated no mutation in the left tumor. Three different driver mutations were present in the right lung tumors: KRAS codon 12 G12D and G12V and EGFR exon 21 L858R mutation, confirming the initial histologic impression. Subsequently, left upper lobe lobectomy showed 3 additional foci of adenocarcinoma with different morphologies, suggestive of synchronous primaries as well. No additional molecular testing was performed. Synchronous pulmonary adenocarcinomas are not uncommon; however, 4 or more synchronous tumors are rare. Distinguishing multiple primary tumors from intrapulmonary metastases is a common problem in thoracic oncology with major implications for staging, prognosis, and treatment. Lung adenocarcinoma subclassification based on predominant and coexisting histologic patterns can greatly facilitate differentiation between intrapulmonary metastases and multiple synchronous tumors. Use of molecular profiling is recommended since it further increases confidence in the diagnostic workup of multiple pulmonary adenocarcinomas and helps guiding therapy. © The Author(s) 2015.

  19. 68Ga-Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen PET/CT in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

    PubMed

    Passah, Averilicia; Arora, Saurabh; Damle, Nishikant Avinash; Tripathi, Madhavi; Bal, Chandrasekhar; Subudhi, T Kishan; Arora, Geetanjali

    2018-06-01

    The prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a transmembrane protein with elevated expression in prostate cancer cells. Breast cancer also shows PSMA expression. We present the case of a 30-year-old woman with triple-negative bilateral breast carcinoma who underwent bilateral mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. She developed a left chest wall and liver recurrence after primary therapy. Her recurrent disease was also triple-negative. In view of the known poor prognosis and very limited therapeutic options, we performed Ga-PSMA PET/CT scan to explore the possibility of PSMA-based therapy as a future option after exhausting standard-of-care treatments.

  20. Comparison of Bilateral Axillo-Breast Approach Robotic Thyroidectomy with Open Thyroidectomy for Graves' Disease.

    PubMed

    Kwon, Hyungju; Yi, Jin Wook; Song, Ra-Yeong; Chai, Young Jun; Kim, Su-jin; Choi, June Young; Lee, Kyu Eun

    2016-03-01

    There is an ongoing debate about whether robotic thyroidectomy (RT) is appropriate for Graves' disease. The aim of this study was to compare the safety of bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA) RT with that of open thyroidectomy (OT) in patients with Graves' disease. From January 2008 to June 2014, 189 (44 BABA RT and 145 OT) patients underwent total thyroidectomy for Graves' disease. Recurrence of Graves' disease, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, and complication rates including recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy and hypoparathyroidism were analyzed between BABA RT and OT groups, after propensity score matching according to age, gender, body mass index, surgical indication, the extent of operation, excised thyroid weight, and follow-up period. No patient experienced recurrence of Graves' disease after median follow-up of 35.0 months. Intraoperative blood loss (151.8 ± 165.4 mL vs. 134.5 ± 75.4 mL; p = 0.534) and hospital stay (3.4 ± 0.7 day vs. 3.3 ± 0.7 day; p = 0.564) were not different between BABA RT and OT groups. Complication rates including transient RLN palsy (11.4 vs. 11.4%; p = 1.000), transient hypoparathyroidism (18.2 vs. 20.5%; p = 0.787), permanent RLN palsy (0 vs. 2.3%; p = 0.315), and permanent hypoparathyroidism (2.3 vs. 2.3%; p = 1.000) were also comparable between groups. BABA RT for Graves' disease showed comparable surgical completeness and complications to conventional OT. BABA RT can be recommended as an alternative surgical option for patients with Graves' disease who are concerned about cosmesis.

  1. Bilateral cochlear implantation in a patient with bilateral temporal bone fractures.

    PubMed

    Chung, Jae Ho; Shin, Myung Chul; Min, Hyun Jung; Park, Chul Won; Lee, Seung Hwan

    2011-01-01

    With the emphasis on bilateral hearing nowadays, bilateral cochlear implantation has been tried out for bilateral aural rehabilitation. Bilateral sensorineural hearing loss caused by head trauma can get help from cochlear implantation. We present the case of a 44-year-old man with bilateral otic capsule violating temporal bone fractures due to head trauma. The patient demonstrated much improved audiometric and psychoacoustic performance after bilateral cochlear implantation. We believe bilateral cochlear implantation in such patient can be a very effective tool for rehabilitation. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. Multi-epitope Folate Receptor Alpha Peptide Vaccine, Sargramostim, and Cyclophosphamide in Treating Patients With Triple Negative Breast Cancer

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-06-18

    Bilateral Breast Carcinoma; Estrogen Receptor Negative; HER2/Neu Negative; Progesterone Receptor Negative; Stage IB Breast Cancer AJCC v7; Stage II Breast Cancer AJCC v6 and v7; Stage IIA Breast Cancer AJCC v6 and v7; Stage IIB Breast Cancer AJCC v6 and v7; Stage III Breast Cancer AJCC v7; Stage IIIA Breast Cancer AJCC v7; Stage IIIB Breast Cancer AJCC v7; Stage IIIC Breast Cancer AJCC v7; Stage IV Breast Cancer AJCC v6 and v7; Triple-Negative Breast Carcinoma; Unilateral Breast Carcinoma

  3. Gastric metastasis from invasive lobular breast cancer, mimicking primary gastric cancer: A case report.

    PubMed

    Kim, Dae Hoon; Son, Seung-Myoung; Choi, Young Jin

    2018-03-01

    Gastric metastasis from invasive lobular breast cancer is relatively rare, commonly presented among multiple metastases, several years after primary diagnosis of breast cancer. Importantly, gastric cancer that is synchronously presented with lobular breast cancer can be misdiagnosed as primary gastric cancer; therefore, accurate differential diagnosis is required. A 39-year-old woman was visited to our hospital because of right breast mass and progressive dyspepsia. Invasive lobular carcinoma of breast was diagnosed on core needle biopsy. Gastroscopy revealed a diffuse scirrhous mass at the prepyloric antrum and diagnosed as poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma on biopsy. Synchronous double primary breast and gastric cancers were considered. Detailed pathological analysis focused on immunohistochemical studies of selected antibodies, including those of estrogen receptors, gross cystic disease fluid protein-15, and caudal-type homeobox transcription factor 2, were studied. As a result, gastric lesion was diagnosed as metastatic gastric cancer originating from breast. Right breast conserving surgery was performed, and duodenal stent was inserted under endoscopic guidance to relieve the patient's symptoms. Systemic chemotherapy with combined administration of paclitaxel and trastuzumab was initiated. Forty-one months after the diagnosis, the patient is still undergoing the same therapy. No recurrent lesion has been identified in the breast and evidence of a partial remission of gastric wall thickening has been observed on follow-up studies without new metastatic lesions. Clinical suspicion, repeat endoscopic biopsy, and detailed histological analysis, including immunohistochemistry, are necessary for diagnosis of metastatic gastric cancer from the breast.

  4. Epidermoid cyst of the breast: Mammography, ultrasound, MRI.

    PubMed

    Wynne, Elisabeth; Louie, Adeline

    2011-01-01

    Epidermal cysts are common cysts located cutaneously or subcutaneously in the head, neck, and trunk. However, deep epidermal cysts of the breast are very rare, and are frequently associated with traumatic implantation. We present the case of a 62-year-old woman with a palpable mass in the right breast. The patient was evaluated using mammography, ultrasound, and MRI, which uniquely characterized the mass and revealed a second mass. Histological analysis revealed fragments of an epidermoid cyst. The origin of the cysts and location deep within the breast tissue likely were due to a previous bilateral-reduction mammoplasty.

  5. Prevention of breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Olver, Ian N

    2016-11-21

    Modifiable lifestyle factors may reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. Obesity is associated particularly with post-menopausal breast cancer. Diet is important, and exercise equivalent to running for up to 8 hours each week reduces the risk of breast cancer, both in its own right and through reducing obesity. Alcohol consumption may be responsible for 5.8% of breast cancers in Australia and it is recommended to reduce this to two standard drinks per day. Drinking alcohol and smoking increases the risk for breast cancer and, therefore, it is important to quit tobacco smoking. Prolonged use of combined oestrogen and progesterone hormone replacement therapy and oral contraceptives may increase breast cancer risk and this must be factored into individual decisions about their use. Ionising radiation, either from diagnostic or therapeutic radiation or through occupational exposure, is associated with a high incidence of breast cancer and exposure may be reduced in some cases. Tamoxifen chemoprevention may reduce the incidence of oestrogen receptor positive cancer in 51% of women with high risk of breast cancer. Uncommon but serious side effects include thromboembolism and uterine cancer. Raloxifene, which can also reduce osteoporosis, can be used in post-menopausal women and is not associated with the development of uterine cancer. Surgical prophylaxis with bilateral mastectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy can reduce the risk of breast cancer in patients carrying BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. For preventive treatments, mammographic screening can identify other women at high risk.

  6. Breast ultrasound in the management of gynecomastia in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome in monozygotic twins: two case reports.

    PubMed

    Di Grezia, Graziella; Romano, Tiziana; De Francesco, Francesco; Somma, Francesco; Rea, Gaetano; Grassi, Roberto; Gatta, Gianluca

    2014-12-18

    Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is an autosomal dominant disease with incomplete penetrance and variable expression caused by germline mutation of serine threonine kinase 11/liver kinase B1; it is characterized by hamartomatous polyps in the gastrointestinal tract, mucocutaneous melanin pigmentation, and increased predisposition to neoplasms. In Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, bilateral Sertoli cell testicular tumors cause endocrine manifestations including gynecomastia and feminization. This study aimed to assess the role of breast ultrasound in the evaluation of the effectiveness of an innovative surgical approach. This report presents a pair of European 9-year-old identical male twins with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, bilateral prepubertal gynecomastia, and testicular multifocal calcifications. Both twins were treated with anastrozole for 2 years. After finishing treatment, both underwent subcutaneous mastectomy performed by the "modified" Webster technique. Breast examination and ultrasound were performed before and after the pharmacological and surgical treatment. A breast ultrasound scan before surgery showed bilateral gynecomastia in both patients. No solid nodular or cystic formations were present on either side. After pharmacological therapy and surgical glandular removal, a breast examination showed a significant reduction in breast volume; 1 year after surgery, a breast ultrasound scan of both patients showed a total absence of glandular parenchyma, with muscle planes well represented. Breast examination and ultrasound have proved to be a valid approach in the assessment of the treatment of prepubertal gynecomastia because they allow the efficacy of the pharmacological and surgical treatment to be evaluated in a multidisciplinary approach to one of the most frequent endocrine manifestations of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.

  7. Primary Burkitt's lymphoma of the breast without Epstein-Barr virus infection: A case report and literature review.

    PubMed

    Wei, Jianguo; Lin, Caixia; Xu, Chunwei; Xi, Qun; Wang, Cheng

    2015-01-01

    Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is a highly aggressive neoplasm, which arising from the germinal center or post germinal center B-cell. Primary breast lymphomas are extremely rare, and the most common histologic type is diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Primary BL of the breast is much less common than the other types of lymphoma. Here, we report an extremely rare case of a 37-year-old Chinese female with localized bilateral breast, who was referred to our institution for bilateral breast swelling. The left breast tissue ultrasonography showed the short axis measuring 20.3 mm × 18.8 mm and the long axis measuring 22.1 mm × 20.8 mm soft tissue mass. The right breast tissue ultrasonography showed the short axis measuring 30.2 mm × 26.9 mm and the long axis measuring 33.5 mm × 2.18 mm. Coarse needle biopsy of breast masses demonstrated a non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma. The patient underwent a bilateral mastectomy. Histological examination of the tumor showed a characteristic "starry sky" pattern, the medium-sized tumor cells were a monotonous pattern of growth, and there were many abnormal mitotic figures. The neoplastic cells strongly expressed CD20, CD79-μ, MUM-1, PAX-5, CD43 and Bcl-6, Ki-67 were nearly 100% positive, but negative for CD10, Bcl-2 and TdT. By fluorescence in situ hybridization an IGH-MYC gene fusion was detected in the tumor tissue which indicating the presence of a typical BL translocation t(8;14)(q24;q32). The final histopathological diagnosis was primary BL of the breast.

  8. Occult bilateral invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast presenting as gastroduodenal metastases: a case report.

    PubMed

    Zuhair, Abu-Rahmeh; Maron, Abu-Rahmeh

    2015-01-01

    Breast cancer, after malignant melanoma, is the most common cancer metastasizing to the gastrointestinal tract [1,4]. Isolated gastrointestinal metastasis from breast cancer is a quite rare finding. We describe a female patient with a gastric metastasis from an undiagnosed breast cancer who presented to gastroenterology department with a symptoms of abdominal pain.

  9. Efficacy of Directional Microphones in Hearing Aids Equipped with Wireless Synchronization Technology.

    PubMed

    Geetha, Chinnaraj; Tanniru, Kishore; Rajan, R Raja

    2017-04-01

    This study aimed to evaluate the use of directionality in hearing aids with wireless synchronization on localization and speech intelligibility in noise. This study included 25 individuals with bilateral mild to moderate flat sensorineural hearing loss. For the localization experiment, eight loudspeakers (Genelec 8020B) arranged in a circle covering a 0-360° angle and the Cubase 6 software were used for presenting the stimulus. A car horn of 260 ms was presented from these loudspeakers, one at a time, randomly. The listener was instructed to point to the direction of the source. The degree of the localization error was obtained with and without directionality and wireless synchronization options. For speech perception in a noise experiment, signal to noise ratio-50 (SNR-50) was obtained using sentences played through a speaker at a fixed angle of 0°. A calibrated eight-talker speech babble was used as noise and the babble was routed either through 0°, 90°, 270° (through one speaker at a time) or through both 90° and 270° speakers. The results revealed that the conditions where both the wireless synchronization and directionality were activated resulted in a significantly better performance in both localization and speech perception in noise tasks. It can be concluded that the directionality in the wireless synchronization hearing aids coordinates with each other binaurally for better preservation of binaural cues, thus reducing the localization errors and improving speech perception in noise. The results of this study could be used to counsel and justify the selection of the directional wireless synchronization hearing aids.

  10. Simultaneous bilateral decortications via video-assisted thoracic surgery for bilateral empyema

    PubMed Central

    Nose, Naohiro; Anami, Toshiki

    2014-01-01

    Introduction Bilateral empyema is a rare and life-threatening condition that is difficult to treat. We herein report a case of bilateral empyema that was treated with simultaneous bilateral decortications via video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Presentation of case A 38-year-old female complained of chest pain, dyspnea, and high grade fever lasting two weeks. Computed tomography revealed bilateral notching pleural effusion and pneumonia with atelectasis. Bilateral thoracic drainage was performed. From the right chest, white pus was drained, and Streptococcus anginosus was identified. The left drainage fluid was serous, and no bacteria were identified. We diagnosed the patient with right empyema and left para-pneumonic effusion consequent to pneumonia. Because conservative therapies could not resolve the inflammatory findings, simultaneous bilateral VATS decortications were performed. Both thoracic cavities had loculated pleural effusion. In contrast to the preoperative findings, white pus was found in not only the right, but also the left thoracic cavity. She had an uncomplicated postoperative course and recovered. Discussion Bilateral empyema that has developed to the fibrinopleural phase is difficult to treat with drains alone. Bilateral VATS decortications helped to make a definitive diagnosis and treat both sides simultaneously. Conclusion Simultaneous bilateral VATS decortications should be considered as a feasible and effective procedure for bilateral empyema that is refractory to medical treatment. PMID:25528031

  11. Endoscopic thyroidectomy with the da Vinci robot system using the bilateral axillary breast approach (BABA) technique: our initial experience.

    PubMed

    Lee, Kyu Eun; Rao, Jaideepraj; Youn, Yeo-Kyu

    2009-06-01

    Robotic surgery is useful in areas with difficult access like the pelvis. The ideal indications for robotic surgery are still to be established. The neck area, especially the thyroid gland poses a difficult challenge for many endoscopic surgeons. Robotic surgery is useful in this area due to its excellent magnification and endowrist function. We present our initial experience with robotic endoscopic thyroidectomy using the bilateral axillary breast approach (BABA). Between March and May 2008, 15 patients diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer underwent robotic-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomy using the BABA technique. The mean operating time was 218 minutes. There was a steady decrease in operative time from the initial case to the 15th case. The blood loss was minimal. The recurrent laryngeal nerve and parathyroid glands were identified in great detail with ease and preserved in all cases. There were no postoperative complications in any case. Robotic endoscopic thyroidectomy using the BABA technique is a feasible procedure and can be performed safely. It provides an excellent operative field view enabling easy identification of vital structures. It also gives the desired cosmetic results and minimal postoperative pain similar to conventional endoscopic thyroid surgery using the BABA technique.

  12. Inflammatory breast metastases of ovarian cancer: a case report.

    PubMed

    Kayikçioğlu, F; Boran, N; Ayhan, A; Güler, N

    2001-12-01

    Metastasis to the breast from extramammary malignancies is rare. A 35-year-old woman presented with bilaterally inflammatory breast involvement, 2 years after the diagnosis of stage IIIC epithelial ovarian cancer. Neoplastic tissue was immunohistochemically positive using antibodies against OC125 and negative for gross cystic disease fluid protein-15 (BRST-2) and estrogen receptor in biopsy material in the breast. Combination chemotherapy consisting of paclitaxel, cisplatin, and anthracycline was started. She died 18 months after the breast metastasis. Ovarian carcinoma usually presents with signs and symptoms related to the tumor burden within the abdominal cavity. The finding of isolated, distant metastases such as breast involvement without intraabdominal disease is extremely rare. Determining the origin of the primary tumor is important in directing the actual therapy. (c)2001 Elsevier Science.

  13. Bilateral Mastectomy as Radical Treatment of Gynecomastia Secondary to Antiretroviral Therapy in a Low-Income Setting: A Case Report.

    PubMed

    Antunes, Mario; Schiavone, Marcella; Pizzol, Damiano; Di Gennaro, Francesco; Ludovico, Rossana; De Palma, Angela

    2018-05-11

    Gynecomastia is a common finding in males, with an incidence that varies widely globally. In 10-25% of cases, it is caused by drugs. Its pathophysiologic mechanism includes exposure to exogenous estrogens and medications that cause hypogonadism, antiandrogenic effects and hyperprolactinemia. Gynecomastia is associated with exposure to antiretroviral therapy (ART), particularly efavirenz. Sometimes surgery may be required as treatment. We report a case of a 46-year-old man receiving ART presenting with a marked bilateral breast enlargement who underwent bilateral mastectomy as the only successful treatment in a low-income setting.

  14. Evolving paradigms in multifocal breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Salgado, Roberto; Aftimos, Philippe; Sotiriou, Christos; Desmedt, Christine

    2015-04-01

    The 7th edition of the TNM defines multifocal breast cancer as multiple simultaneous ipsilateral and synchronous breast cancer lesions, provided they are macroscopically distinct and measurable using current traditional pathological and clinical tools. According to the College of American Pathologists (CAP), the characterization of only the largest lesion is considered sufficient, unless the grade and/or histology are different between the lesions. Here, we review three potentially clinically relevant aspects of multifocal breast cancers: first, the importance of a different intrinsic breast cancer subtype of the various lesions; second, the emerging awareness of inter-lesion heterogeneity; and last but not least, the potential introduction of bias in clinical trials due to the unrecognized biological diversity of these cancers. Although the current strategy to assess the lesion with the largest diameter has clearly its advantages in terms of costs and feasibility, this recommendation may not be sustainable in time and might need to be adapted to be compliant with new evolving paradigms in breast cancer. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Bilateral Wilms' tumor with anaplasia: lessons from the National Wilms' Tumor Study.

    PubMed

    Hamilton, Thomas E; Green, Daniel M; Perlman, Elizabeth J; Argani, Pedram; Grundy, Paul; Ritchey, Michael L; Shamberger, Robert C

    2006-10-01

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether initial diagnostic technique influenced the ability to identify anaplastic histology, to determine the time interval to diagnosis of anaplasia, and to delineate the incidence of discordant pathology in bilateral Wilms' tumor. We hypothesized that delay in diagnosis of anaplasia could affect time to appropriate surgery and intensive multimodality therapy. One hundred eight-nine children were enrolled in the fourth National Wilms' Tumor Study with synchronous bilateral tumors, 27 of whom were eventually shown to have anaplastic histology. Initial diagnostic technique, time interval to diagnosis of anaplasia, and the incidence of discordant pathology were determined. Anaplasia was identified in 0 of 7 tumors by core needle biopsy, 3 of 9 tumors by open wedge biopsy, and in 7 of 9 cases by partial or complete nephrectomy. The mean duration of first chemotherapy regimen (DD or EE) was 20, 39, and 36 weeks, respectively, before anaplasia was identified at second surgery. Discordant pathology between bilateral tumors was identified on final tissue diagnosis in 20 patients. Only 4 patients had anaplastic tumors in both kidneys. Core needle biopsy did not identify anaplasia in 7 of 7 children. Open biopsy or partial/complete nephrectomy identified anaplasia at initial diagnostic procedure in 10 of 18 children. Twenty of 24 patients at final tissue diagnosis had discordant pathology between the 2 kidneys. Earlier interval incisional biopsy or resection may identify anaplastic histology and limit the duration of chemotherapy targeted to favorable histology for children with bilateral Wilms' tumor and anaplasia.

  16. Synchronization of metronomes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pantaleone, James

    2002-10-01

    Synchronization is a common phenomenon in physical and biological systems. We examine the synchronization of two (and more) metronomes placed on a freely moving base. The small motion of the base couples the pendulums causing synchronization. The synchronization is generally in-phase, with antiphase synchronization occurring only under special conditions. The metronome system provides a mechanical realization of the popular Kuramoto model for synchronization of biological oscillators, and is excellent for classroom demonstrations and an undergraduate physics lab.

  17. High risk for bilateral Warthin tumor in heavy smokers--review of 185 cases.

    PubMed

    Peter Klussmann, Jens; Wittekindt, Claus; Florian Preuss, Simon; Al Attab, Abdulrahman; Schroeder, Ursula; Guntinas-Lichius, Orlando

    2006-12-01

    We identified smoking as a significant risk factor for multilocular Warthin tumor development. Therefore, we recommend taking history of smoking into account when making the decisions for surgical strategy. Warthin tumor is a common benign neoplasm of the parotid gland. Risk factors for multilocular development have not been defined. A total of 185 consecutive patients treated for Warthin tumor were included. Charts were reviewed for symptoms, risk factors, and diagnostic and surgical procedures. Patients were followed for facial function and recurrence. Risk factors were evaluated. Overall, in 203 parotid operations, a lateral parotidectomy (77%) was performed in most cases; 94% were primary surgery and 6% were revision surgery. In 89% of patients swelling was the only symptom. Bilateral Warthin tumor was seen in 17% of patients. Of these cases synchronous and metachronous bilateral tumors were observed in 61% and 39%, respectively. The median time period for second contralateral tumor development was 7 years. Postoperative transient facial dysfunction was observed in 31%, which recovered within 3 months in all cases. Evaluation of risk factors revealed that 89% of the subjects were smokers and 66% were heavy smokers. The risk for bilateral Warthin tumors correlated significantly with the amount of nicotine intake (p=0.003).

  18. Helical tomotherapy in patients with breast cancer and complex treatment volumes.

    PubMed

    Cendales, Ricardo; Schiappacasse, Luis; Schnitman, Franco; García, Graciela; Marsiglia, Hugo

    2011-04-01

    To describe early clinical results of tomotherapy treatment in patients with breast cancer and complex treatment volumes. Ten patients were treated with tomotherapy between January 2009 and March 2010. Treatment planning objectives were to cover at least 95% of the planning target volume with the 95% isodose; to have a minimum dose of 90% and a maximum dose of 105%. All treatments included daily CT/megavoltage image guidance. Acute toxicity was recorded weekly. Six patients were treated because constraints were not accomplished for heart, lung or contralateral breast in a previous three-dimensional conformal plan; two for preexisting cardiac or pulmonary disease, and two more for bilateral breast irradiation. Treatment volumes included the whole breast in the majority of patients, as well as the supraclavicular and the internal mammary chain nodes when indicated. Most patients were older than 50 years, and had an early breast cancer, with positive oestrogen receptors, negative HER2 expression and a poorly differentiated, infiltrating ductal carcinoma. The majority of patients had received neoadjuvant chemotherapy associated to breast-conserving surgery and adjuvant hormonotherapy. Median homogeneity index was 1.09; median coverage index was 0.81. Median V20Gy and V10Gy for ipsilateral lung was 20% and 37.1% respectively. Median V25 and V35 for heart was 15% and 4% respectively. Median dose for contralateral breast was 7 Gy. Skin acute toxicity was grade 1 in 41.7% and grade 2 in 58.3%. Tomotherapy is a technique capable of delivering a well tolerated treatment with high homogeneity and coverage indexes and high capabilities for sparing the organs at risk in patients with anatomically complex breast cancer, bilateral breast cancer, indication for internal mammary chain node irradiation, cardiac toxicity derived from chemotherapy, or preexisting cardiac or pulmonary disease. Further studies are required to evaluate local control and late toxicity.

  19. Effects of silicone expanders and implants on echocardiographic image quality after breast reconstruction.

    PubMed

    Pignatti, Marco; Mantovani, Francesca; Bertelli, Luca; Barbieri, Andrea; Pacchioni, Lucrezia; Loschi, Pietro; De Santis, Giorgio

    2013-08-01

    Use of silicone expanders and implants is the most common breast reconstruction technique after mastectomy. Postmastectomy patients often need echocardiographic monitoring of potential cardiotoxicity induced by cancer chemotherapy. The impairment of the echocardiographic acoustic window caused by silicone implants for breast augmentation has been reported. This study investigates whether the echocardiographic image quality was impaired in women reconstructed with silicone expanders and implants. The records of 44 consecutive women who underwent echocardiographic follow-up after breast reconstruction with expanders and implants at the authors' institution from January of 2000 to August of 2012 were reviewed. The population was divided into a study group (left or bilateral breast expanders/implants, n=30) and a control group (right breast expanders/implants, n=14). The impact of breast expanders/implants on echocardiographic image quality was tested (analysis of covariance model). Patients with a breast expander/implant (left or bilateral and right breast expanders/implants) were included. The mean volume of the breast devices was 353.2±125.5 cc. The quality of the echocardiographic images was good or sufficient in the control group; in the study group, it was judged as adequate in only 50 percent of cases (15 patients) and inadequate in the remaining 15 patients (p<0.001). At multivariable analysis, a persistent relationship between device position (left versus right) and image quality (p=0.001) was shown, independent from other factors. Silicone expanders and implants in postmastectomy left breast reconstruction considerably reduce the image quality of echocardiography. This may have important clinical implications, given the need for periodic echocardiographic surveillance before and during chemotherapy. Therapeutic, III.

  20. Podoplanin-positive Cancer-associated Stromal Fibroblasts in Primary Tumor and Synchronous Lymph Node Metastases of HER2-overexpressing Breast Carcinomas.

    PubMed

    Niemiec, Joanna; Adamczyk, Agnieszka; Harazin-Lechowska, Agnieszka; Ambicka, Aleksandra; Grela-Wojewoda, Aleksandra; Majchrzyk, Kaja; Kruczak, Anna; Sas-Korczyńska, Beata; Ryś, Janusz

    2018-04-01

    We compared the status of stromal podoplanin-positive cancer-associated fibroblasts (ppCAFs) between primary tumors and paired synchronous lymph node metastases (LNMs) and analyzed the prognostic significance of tumoral ppCAFs in 203 patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast carcinoma. ppCAFs were found in 167/203 and in 35/87 tumors and LNM, respectively. ppCAFs were most frequently found in tumors and corresponding LNM (n=52, 59.8%; p=0.001). However, for all LNMs (n=12) without ppCAFs, their paired tumors also lacked ppCAFs. In both tumors and LNMs, ppCAFs were α-smooth muscle actin-positive and cluster of differentiation 21 protein-negative, suggesting them not to be resident lymph node cells. Moreover, in our series, the presence of ppCAFs in tumors was borderline related to poor disease-free survival (p=0.058). These results speak in favor of a hypothesis suggesting ppCAFs accompany metastatic cancer cells migrating from tumor to LNMs. Copyright© 2018, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.

  1. Bilateral macular edema in a patient treated with tamoxifen: a case report and review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Zafeiropoulos, Paraskevas; Nanos, Panagiotis; Tsigkoulis, Evangelos; Stefaniotou, Maria

    2014-01-01

    We present a case of a 41-year-old female patient with progressive bilateral visual loss. On examination, her best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in her right eye was 3/10 and her BCVA in her left eye was 2/10. Fundus and optical coherence tomography examination revealed severe bilateral macular edema. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer 6 years ago and was receiving tamoxifen at a dosage of 20 mg/day ever since. Tamoxifen therapy was discontinued, and the patient received 250 mg of acetazolamide three times a day for a period of 1 month. Both foveae regained their normal contour within 2 months, and her vision was restored to 10/10 BCVA 3 months later. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported where bilateral intraretinal macular edema is the only retinal manifestation in a patient on oral tamoxifen.

  2. Ectopic Male Breast Cancer: A Case Report

    PubMed Central

    Samanta, Dipti Rani; Upadhyay, Ashish; Sheet, Saikat; Senapati, Surendra Nath

    2015-01-01

    Carcinoma of male breast constitutes 1% of total breast malignancy. Carcinoma arising from ectopic breast tissue in male is an extremely rare entity and can be misdiagnosed. Ectopic breast tissue may be supernumerary or aberrant one. Despite morphologic difference, ectopic breast tissue presents characteristics analogous to orthoptic breast in terms of functional and pathologic degeneration. Most of the ectopic breast tissue occurs in thoracic or abdominal portion of milk line. If found in a location outside the milk line, it proves a diagnostic dilemma. We are reporting a case of 60-year-old male who presented with a fixed mass of size 10cm×8cm, in right chest wall infraclavicular area of 6 months duration. Histopathology of the mass revealed invasive duct carcinoma. He had no evidence of malignant or occult primary lesion in the bilateral mammary glands. Due to the paucity of the literature, incidence of ectopic male breast cancer and its management is not well understood. There is high probability of misdiagnosis of this disease. To the best of our knowledge this is the first described case of ectopic male breast cancer in the chest wall, not along the milk line, which is being reported here for documentation. PMID:26436033

  3. Augmented reality for breast imaging.

    PubMed

    Rancati, Alberto; Angrigiani, Claudio; Nava, Maurizio B; Catanuto, Giuseppe; Rocco, Nicola; Ventrice, Fernando; Dorr, Julio

    2018-06-01

    Augmented reality (AR) enables the superimposition of virtual reality reconstructions onto clinical images of a real patient, in real time. This allows visualization of internal structures through overlying tissues, thereby providing a virtual transparency vision of surgical anatomy. AR has been applied to neurosurgery, which utilizes a relatively fixed space, frames, and bony references; the application of AR facilitates the relationship between virtual and real data. Augmented breast imaging (ABI) is described. Breast MRI studies for breast implant patients with seroma were performed using a Siemens 3T system with a body coil and a four-channel bilateral phased-array breast coil as the transmitter and receiver, respectively. Gadolinium was injected as a contrast agent (0.1 mmol/kg at 2 mL/s) using a programmable power injector. Dicom formatted images data from 10 MRI cases of breast implant seroma and 10 MRI cases with T1-2 N0 M0 breast cancer, were imported and transformed into augmented reality images. ABI demonstrated stereoscopic depth perception, focal point convergence, 3D cursor use, and joystick fly-through. ABI can improve clinical outcomes, providing an enhanced view of the structures to work on. It should be further studied to determine its utility in clinical practice.

  4. A Rare Entity: Bilateral First Rib Fractures Accompanying Bilateral Scapular Fractures.

    PubMed

    Gulbahar, Gultekin; Kaplan, Tevfik; Turker, Hasan Bozkurt; Gundogdu, Ahmet Gokhan; Han, Serdar

    2015-01-01

    First rib fractures are scarce due to their well-protected anatomic locations. Bilateral first rib fractures accompanying bilateral scapular fractures are very rare, although they may be together with scapular and clavicular fractures. According to our knowledge, no case of bilateral first rib fractures accompanying bilateral scapular fractures has been reported, so we herein discussed the diagnosis, treatment, and complications of bone fractures due to thoracic trauma in bias of this rare entity.

  5. A Rare Entity: Bilateral First Rib Fractures Accompanying Bilateral Scapular Fractures

    PubMed Central

    Gulbahar, Gultekin; Kaplan, Tevfik; Turker, Hasan Bozkurt; Gundogdu, Ahmet Gokhan; Han, Serdar

    2015-01-01

    First rib fractures are scarce due to their well-protected anatomic locations. Bilateral first rib fractures accompanying bilateral scapular fractures are very rare, although they may be together with scapular and clavicular fractures. According to our knowledge, no case of bilateral first rib fractures accompanying bilateral scapular fractures has been reported, so we herein discussed the diagnosis, treatment, and complications of bone fractures due to thoracic trauma in bias of this rare entity. PMID:26175916

  6. [Bilateral cochlear implants].

    PubMed

    Müller, J

    2017-07-01

    Cochlear implants (CI) are standard for the hearing rehabilitation of severe to profound deafness. Nowadays, if bilaterally indicated, bilateral implantation is usually recommended (in accordance with German guidelines). Bilateral implantation enables better speech discrimination in quiet and in noise, and restores directional and spatial hearing. Children with bilateral CI are able to undergo hearing-based hearing and speech development. Within the scope of their individual possibilities, bilaterally implanted children develop faster than children with unilateral CI and attain, e.g., a larger vocabulary within a certain time interval. Only bilateral implantation allows "binaural hearing," with all the benefits that people with normal hearing profit from, namely: better speech discrimination in quiet and in noise, as well as directional and spatial hearing. Naturally, the developments take time. Binaural CI users benefit from the same effects as normal hearing persons: head shadow effect, squelch effect, and summation and redundancy effects. Sequential CI fitting is not necessarily disadvantageous-both simultaneously and sequentially fitted patients benefit in a similar way. For children, earliest possible fitting and shortest possible interval between the two surgeries seems to positively influence the outcome if bilateral CI are indicated.

  7. [Pedicled versus free TRAM flap for breast reconstruction].

    PubMed

    Galla, T J; Lukas, B; Feller, A M

    1999-03-01

    In breast reconstruction, the free TRAM-flap offers many advantages over the pedicled TRAM-flap. Due to its superior perfusion, the free flap rarely develops necrosis. Shaping of the flap is easier due to the lack of the thick muscle pedicle. Because the rectus muscle is spared, there is minimal donor site morbidity. However, the necessary microvascular anastomoses reduced the acceptance of the free TRAM-flap. During a 13-months period, 51 breast reconstructions were performed in 41 patients, 31 unilateral and ten bilateral. 45 flaps served for delayed reconstruction and six flaps for immediate reconstruction. The operations were performed by two teams working simultaneously. The average operating time was 3.9 hours for unilateral and 6.9 hours for bilateral delayed reconstruction. For immediate reconstruction, 6.2 and 6.3 hours were required for uni- and bilateral procedures, respectively. In 38 flaps, the thoracodorsal vessels served as recipient vessels; 13 flaps were anastomosed to the internal mammary artery and vein. Postoperative complications were observed in 13 patients. Three vessel anastomoses had to be revised. In one flap, a partial necrosis occurred; in two flaps hematoma evacuation was necessary. Two patients suffered from fat necroses at the abdomen and one umbilicus was lost. Skin irritations and seromas at the abdomen occurred in five patients. Pulmonary embolism was diagnosed in one patient three weeks postoperatively. Abdominal hernias or bulging in the epigastric area were not observed up to 15 months after reconstruction. These results reveal a low complication rate for breast reconstruction with the free TRAM-flap. The advantages of this technique as compared to the pedicled technique are discussed.

  8. Analysis of electrically evoked compound action potential of the auditory nerve in children with bilateral cochlear implants.

    PubMed

    Caldas, Fernanda Ferreira; Cardoso, Carolina Costa; Barreto, Monique Antunes de Souza Chelminski; Teixeira, Marina Santos; Hilgenberg, Anacléia Melo da Silva; Serra, Lucieny Silva Martins; Bahmad Junior, Fayez

    2016-01-01

    The cochlear implant device has the capacity to measure the electrically evoked compound action potential of the auditory nerve. The neural response telemetry is used in order to measure the electrically evoked compound action potential of the auditory nerve. To analyze the electrically evoked compound action potential, through the neural response telemetry, in children with bilateral cochlear implants. This is an analytical, prospective, longitudinal, historical cohort study. Six children, aged 1-4 years, with bilateral cochlear implant were assessed at five different intervals during their first year of cochlear implant use. There were significant differences in follow-up time (p=0.0082) and electrode position (p=0.0019) in the T-NRT measure. There was a significant difference in the interaction between time of follow-up and electrode position (p=0.0143) when measuring the N1-P1 wave amplitude between the three electrodes at each time of follow-up. The electrically evoked compound action potential measurement using neural response telemetry in children with bilateral cochlear implants during the first year of follow-up was effective in demonstrating the synchronized bilateral development of the peripheral auditory pathways in the studied population. Copyright © 2015 Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

  9. Quadratus lumborum catheters for breast reconstruction requiring transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps.

    PubMed

    Spence, Nicole Z; Olszynski, Patrycja; Lehan, Anne; Horn, Jean-Lois; Webb, Christopher A J

    2016-06-01

    Patients diagnosed with breast cancer may opt to undergo surgical reconstructive flaps at the time of or after mastectomies. These surgeries leave patients with significant postoperative pain and sometimes involve large surgical beds including graft sites from the abdomen to reconstruct the breast. Consequently, multimodal methods of pain management have become highly favored. Quadratus lumborum catheters offer an opioid-sparing technique that can be performed easily and safely. We present a case of a patient who underwent a breast flap reconstruction and had bilateral quadratus lumborum catheters placed for perioperative pain control.

  10. A longitudinal study of the bilateral benefit in children with bilateral cochlear implants.

    PubMed

    Asp, Filip; Mäki-Torkko, Elina; Karltorp, Eva; Harder, Henrik; Hergils, Leif; Eskilsson, Gunnar; Stenfelt, Stefan

    2015-02-01

    To study the development of the bilateral benefit in children using bilateral cochlear implants by measurements of speech recognition and sound localization. Bilateral and unilateral speech recognition in quiet, in multi-source noise, and horizontal sound localization was measured at three occasions during a two-year period, without controlling for age or implant experience. Longitudinal and cross-sectional analyses were performed. Results were compared to cross-sectional data from children with normal hearing. Seventy-eight children aged 5.1-11.9 years, with a mean bilateral cochlear implant experience of 3.3 years and a mean age of 7.8 years, at inclusion in the study. Thirty children with normal hearing aged 4.8-9.0 years provided normative data. For children with cochlear implants, bilateral and unilateral speech recognition in quiet was comparable whereas a bilateral benefit for speech recognition in noise and sound localization was found at all three test occasions. Absolute performance was lower than in children with normal hearing. Early bilateral implantation facilitated sound localization. A bilateral benefit for speech recognition in noise and sound localization continues to exist over time for children with bilateral cochlear implants, but no relative improvement is found after three years of bilateral cochlear implant experience.

  11. Bit Synchronization with Cross Spectrum Synchronization Loop. Attachment III.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1981-10-01

    AO-AII 1 ICMCR AAE~C BIT SYNCHRONIZATION WITH CROSS SPECTRUM SYNCHRONIZATION LOOP .A_ ETC(U) O’ASFE CT A1 R A MA A 6. A C LINDSEY, C M CHIE NOOOI𔃾...BUR[AU OF STANOARDS 196.- A I~I -I I I Yinwoa on. IAoalt [ S0Box0 2793D, Pasadena Calif 91105 82 03 09098 I7- ATTACHMENT III BIT SYNCHRONIZATION WITH...CROSS SPECTRUM SYNCHRONIZATION LOOP I ’I PREPARED FOR NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20375 .Jr TECHNICAL MONITOR: MR. MORT FRANK I CONTRACT

  12. Remotely Guided Breast Sonography for Long-Term Space Missions: A Case Report and Discussion.

    PubMed

    Silva-Martinez, Jackelynne P; Sorice Genaro, Andreia; Wen, Hui Annie; Glauber, Naama; Russomano, Thais

    2017-12-01

    Space radiation can cause different types of cancers in crewmembers, especially during long-term space missions. To date, a complete bilateral breast ultrasound has not been performed at the International Space Station (ISS). A breast screening imaging technique could be a useful tool for early identification of breast cancer in astronauts. We hypothesized that breast ultrasound performed by a crewmember while being remotely guided by a specialist from the ground could be an essential tool for medical diagnosis in space. This project aimed to test an ultrasound screening protocol for breast tissue using real-time remotely guided telemedicine techniques. One female volunteer, with no previous medical experience, performed a self-scanned bilateral breast ultrasound exam guided by a remote sonographer. Dynamic ultrasound images were collected using a 25 mm broadband linear array transducer. To simulate fluid shift on the volunteer during microgravity, the bed was tilted -6°. Recorded ultrasound images were analyzed by radiologists, comparing the findings with a gold standard. The experiment demonstrated that real-time remotely guided sonography exam is feasible and can yield meaningful clinical results. This case study showed that remotely guided breast ultrasound can be performed and might become an important tool for diagnosis of breast cancer in space missions. The results cannot be generalized based on one subject, and additional research is warranted in this area in addition to its validation on the ISS. This technique, however, has potential for use as part of preventive medicine procedures for long-term space missions at the ISS, and eventually for human settlements on the Moon and Mars.

  13. Three primary synchronous malignancies of the uterus, cervix, and fallopian tube: A case report.

    PubMed

    Song, Liang; Li, Qingli; Yang, Kaixuan; Yin, Rutie; Wang, Danqing

    2018-06-01

    Multiple primary malignancies can occur in the same organ or in multiple organs or systems. Likewise, they can occur simultaneously or successively. Based on the timing of the diagnosis, they are classified as multiple synchronous (i.e., concurrent) or metachronous (i.e., successive) primary malignancies. The vast majority of patients have multiple metachronous malignant tumors; multiple synchronous tumors are rare. A 63-year-old woman presented with the chief complaint of vaginal fluid discharge for 3 months and abdominal pain for 1 month. The patient was diagnosed with multiple synchronous primary malignancies: 1) endometrial poorly differentiated serous adenocarcinoma, stage IV; 2) poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, stage IB1; and 3) left-sided fallopian tube carcinoma in situ. After total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and comprehensive staging and debulking, the patient was administered eight courses of adjuvant chemotherapy (taxane carboplatin/taxane cisplatin). After chemotherapy completion, the patient has been undergoing regular follow-up examinations; no recurrence has been noted at 18 months. It is important to distinguish between multiple synchronous primary malignancies and metastasis of a primary tumor to select the appropriate treatment regimen and to adequately assess the patient's prognosis. When a cancer patient shows clinical manifestations of another tumor, not only metastasis but also the possibility of multiple synchronous primary malignant tumors should be considered. The duration of follow-up in patients with malignant tumors should be extended as much as possible, as the timely detection and treatment of other primary malignant tumors can prolong survival and improve the quality of life.

  14. Breast MRI in community practice: equipment and imaging techniques at facilities in the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium.

    PubMed

    DeMartini, Wendy B; Ichikawa, Laura; Yankaskas, Bonnie C; Buist, Diana; Kerlikowske, Karla; Geller, Berta; Onega, Tracy; Rosenberg, Robert D; Lehman, Constance D

    2010-11-01

    MRI is increasingly used for the detection of breast carcinoma. Little is known about breast MRI techniques among community practice facilities. The aim of this study was to evaluate equipment and acquisition techniques used by community facilities across the United States, including compliance with minimum standards by the ACRIN® 6667 Trial and the European Society of Breast Imaging. Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium facilities performing breast MRI were identified and queried by survey regarding breast MRI equipment and technical parameters. Variables included scanner field strength, coil type, acquisition coverage, slice thickness, and the timing of the initial postcontrast sequence. Results were tallied and percentages of facilities meeting ACRIN® and European Society of Breast Imaging standards were calculated. From 23 facilities performing breast MRI, results were obtained from 14 (61%) facilities with 16 MRI scanners reporting 18 imaging parameters. Compliance with equipment recommendations of ≥1.5-T field strength was 94% and of a dedicated breast coil was 100%. Eighty-three percent of acquisitions used bilateral postcontrast techniques, and 78% used slice thickness≤3 mm. The timing of initial postcontrast sequences ranged from 58 seconds to 8 minutes 30 seconds, with 63% meeting recommendations for completion within 4 minutes. Nearly all surveyed facilities met ACRIN and European Society of Breast Imaging standards for breast MRI equipment. The majority met standards for acquisition parameters, although techniques varied, in particular for the timing of initial postcontrast imaging. Further guidelines by the ACR Breast MRI Accreditation Program will be of importance in facilitating standardized and high-quality breast MRI. Copyright © 2010 American College of Radiology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  15. Overview of Cell Synchronization.

    PubMed

    Banfalvi, Gaspar

    2017-01-01

    The widespread interest in cell synchronization is maintained by the studies of control mechanism involved in cell cycle regulation. During the synchronization distinct subpopulations of cells are obtained representing different stages of the cell cycle. These subpopulations are then used to study regulatory mechanisms of the cycle at the level of macromolecular biosynthesis (DNA synthesis, gene expression, protein synthesis), protein phosphorylation, development of new drugs, etc. Although several synchronization methods have been described, it is of general interest that scientists get a compilation and an updated view of these synchronization techniques. This introductory chapter summarizes: (1) the basic concepts and principal criteria of cell cycle synchronizations, (2) the most frequently used synchronization methods, such as physical fractionation (flow cytometry, dielectrophoresis, cytofluorometric purification), chemical blockade, (3) synchronization of embryonic cells, (4) synchronization at low temperature, (5) comparison of cell synchrony techniques, (6) synchronization of unicellular organisms, and (7) the effect of synchronization on transfection.

  16. Emergence of multiple synchronization modes in hydrodynamically-coupled cilia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guo, Hanliang; Kanso, Eva

    2016-11-01

    Motile cilia and flagella exhibit different phase coordinations. For example, closely swimming spermatozoa are observed to synchronize together; bi-flagellates Chlamydomonas regulate the flagella in a "breast-stroke" fashion; cilia on the surface of Paramecium beat in a fixed phase lag in an orchestrated wave like fashion. Experimental evidence suggests that phase coordinations can be achieved solely via hydrodynamical interactions. However, the exact mechanisms behind it remain illusive. Here, adapting a "geometric switch" model, we observe different synchronization modes in pairs of hydrodynamically-coupled cilia by changing physical parameters such as the strength of the cilia internal motor and the separation distance between cilia. Interestingly, we find regions in the parameter space where the coupled cilia reach stable phase coordinations and regions where the phase coordinations are sensitive to perturbations. We also find that leaning into the fluid reduces the sensitivity to perturbations, and produces stable phase coordination that is neither in-phase nor anti-phase, which could explain the origin of metachronal waves in large cilia populations.

  17. Dynamical inference: where phase synchronization and generalized synchronization meet.

    PubMed

    Stankovski, Tomislav; McClintock, Peter V E; Stefanovska, Aneta

    2014-06-01

    Synchronization is a widespread phenomenon that occurs among interacting oscillatory systems. It facilitates their temporal coordination and can lead to the emergence of spontaneous order. The detection of synchronization from the time series of such systems is of great importance for the understanding and prediction of their dynamics, and several methods for doing so have been introduced. However, the common case where the interacting systems have time-variable characteristic frequencies and coupling parameters, and may also be subject to continuous external perturbation and noise, still presents a major challenge. Here we apply recent developments in dynamical Bayesian inference to tackle these problems. In particular, we discuss how to detect phase slips and the existence of deterministic coupling from measured data, and we unify the concepts of phase synchronization and general synchronization. Starting from phase or state observables, we present methods for the detection of both phase and generalized synchronization. The consistency and equivalence of phase and generalized synchronization are further demonstrated, by the analysis of time series from analog electronic simulations of coupled nonautonomous van der Pol oscillators. We demonstrate that the detection methods work equally well on numerically simulated chaotic systems. In all the cases considered, we show that dynamical Bayesian inference can clearly identify noise-induced phase slips and distinguish coherence from intrinsic coupling-induced synchronization.

  18. Prediction of near-term breast cancer risk using a Bayesian belief network

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zheng, Bin; Ramalingam, Pandiyarajan; Hariharan, Harishwaran; Leader, Joseph K.; Gur, David

    2013-03-01

    Accurately predicting near-term breast cancer risk is an important prerequisite for establishing an optimal personalized breast cancer screening paradigm. In previous studies, we investigated and tested the feasibility of developing a unique near-term breast cancer risk prediction model based on a new risk factor associated with bilateral mammographic density asymmetry between the left and right breasts of a woman using a single feature. In this study we developed a multi-feature based Bayesian belief network (BBN) that combines bilateral mammographic density asymmetry with three other popular risk factors, namely (1) age, (2) family history, and (3) average breast density, to further increase the discriminatory power of our cancer risk model. A dataset involving "prior" negative mammography examinations of 348 women was used in the study. Among these women, 174 had breast cancer detected and verified in the next sequential screening examinations, and 174 remained negative (cancer-free). A BBN was applied to predict the risk of each woman having cancer detected six to 18 months later following the negative screening mammography. The prediction results were compared with those using single features. The prediction accuracy was significantly increased when using the BBN. The area under the ROC curve increased from an AUC=0.70 to 0.84 (p<0.01), while the positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) also increased from a PPV=0.61 to 0.78 and an NPV=0.65 to 0.75, respectively. This study demonstrates that a multi-feature based BBN can more accurately predict the near-term breast cancer risk than with a single feature.

  19. A New Therapeutic Paradigm for Breast Cancer Exploiting Low Dose Estrogen-Induce Apoptosis

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-09-01

    mm3 tumor sections were bilaterally transplanted using a trochar into the axillary mammary fat pads. For studies using tumor models which were... fat pads at 107 cells per site. Tumor growth was tracked by weekly measurements of tumor length (l) and width (w) using Vernier calipers, from which...breast cancer, was originally developed by bilateral injection of 107 MCF-7 cells, grown in tissue culture, into the axillary mammary fat pads of female

  20. New type of chaos synchronization in discrete-time systems: the F-M synchronization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ouannas, Adel; Grassi, Giuseppe; Karouma, Abdulrahman; Ziar, Toufik; Wang, Xiong; Pham, Viet-Thanh

    2018-04-01

    In this paper, a new type of synchronization for chaotic (hyperchaotic) maps with different dimensions is proposed. The novel scheme is called F - M synchronization, since it combines the inverse generalized synchronization (based on a functional relationship F) with the matrix projective synchronization (based on a matrix M). In particular, the proposed approach enables F - M synchronization with index d to be achieved between n-dimensional drive system map and m-dimensional response system map, where the synchronization index d corresponds to the dimension of the synchronization error. The technique, which exploits nonlinear controllers and Lyapunov stability theory, proves to be effective in achieving the F - M synchronization not only when the synchronization index d equals n or m, but even if the synchronization index d is larger than the map dimensions n and m. Finally, simulation results are reported, with the aim to illustrate the capabilities of the novel scheme proposed herein.

  1. Dynamic contrast-enhanced breast MR imaging in men: preliminary results.

    PubMed

    Morakkabati-Spitz, Nuschin; Schild, Hans H; Leutner, Claudia C; von Falkenhausen, Marcus; Lutterbey, Götz; Kuhl, Christiane K

    2006-02-01

    To prospectively evaluate whether the descriptors of lesion features and the diagnostic criteria that have been established for breast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in female patients may be used for differential diagnosis with breast MR imaging in male patients as well. The study design was approved by the institutional review board; all patients gave informed consent. The Institutional Review Board and informed consent information applied to the prospective and any retrospective component of the study. Seventeen consecutive male patients (mean age, 53 years +/- 14) were referred for imaging of a palpable breast mass. In addition to mammography and high-frequency breast ultrasonography, patients underwent dynamic breast MR imaging in a prone position with a dedicated double-breast surface coil. The standardized protocol consisted of a T2-weighted turbo spin-echo sequence followed by a dynamic series. Findings were recorded by using the terminology and descriptors and by evaluating the diagnostic criteria (related to morphology and enhancement kinetics) that have been developed for breast MR imaging in female patients. Validation was achieved at biopsy (nine patients) or follow-up with clinical examination and conventional imaging (eight patients). Because of the small size of the patient cohort, statistical significance was not tested. A total of 24 breast abnormalities were diagnosed. Three patients had invasive breast cancer (five tumors), 11 had gynecomastia (six unilateral, five bilateral), two had pseudogynecomastia, and one had a benign solid tumor (angiolipoma). All malignant tumors appeared as irregular masses with heterogeneous internal architecture or rim enhancement and showed rapid initial enhancement (mean value, 137% +/- 23) followed by a washout time course (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System [BI-RADS] category 5). Diffuse and nodular gynecomastia showed slow initial and persistent enhancement with normal-appearing parenchymal architecture

  2. Active control strategy for synchronization and anti-synchronization of a fractional chaotic financial system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huang, Chengdai; Cao, Jinde

    2017-05-01

    This paper is concerned with the issues of synchronization and anti-synchronization for fractional chaotic financial system with market confidence by taking advantage of active control approach. Some sufficient conditions are derived to guarantee the synchronization and anti-synchronization for the proposed fractional system. Moreover, the relationship between the order and synchronization(anti-synchronization) is demonstrated numerically. It reveals that synchronization(anti-synchronization) is faster as the order increases. Finally, two illustrative examples are exploited to verify the efficiency of the obtained theoretical results.

  3. On Synchronization Primitive Systems.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    The report studies the question: what synchronization primitive should be used to handle inter-process communication. A formal model is presented...between these synchronization primitives. Although only four synchronization primitives are compared, the general methods can be used to compare other... synchronization primitives. Moreover, in the definitions of these synchronization primitives, conditional branches are explicitly allowed. In addition

  4. Stages of chaotic synchronization.

    PubMed

    Tang, D. Y.; Dykstra, R.; Hamilton, M. W.; Heckenberg, N. R.

    1998-09-01

    In an experimental investigation of the response of a chaotic system to a chaotic driving force, we have observed synchronization of chaos of the response system in the forms of generalized synchronization, phase synchronization, and lag synchronization to the driving signal. In this paper we compare the features of these forms of synchronized chaos and study their relations and physical origins. We found that different forms of chaotic synchronization could be interpreted as different stages of nonlinear interaction between the coupled chaotic systems. (c) 1998 American Institute of Physics.

  5. Breast augmentation, antibiotic prophylaxis, and infection: comparative analysis of 1,628 primary augmentation mammoplasties assessing the role and efficacy of antibiotics prophylaxis duration.

    PubMed

    Khan, Umar Daraz

    2010-02-01

    removed after a course of antibiotics and negative swab cultures. The cavity was washed thoroughly with betadine and saline, and new implants were simultaneously reimplanted. The incidence of infection was lowest with a single perioperative dose of intravenous antibiotic compared with a combination of intravenous and oral antibiotics. Superficial infection was seen in 38 breasts (all unilateral), with an incidence of 1.2%, and periprosthetic infection was observed in 17 breasts (13 unilateral and 2 bilateral), giving an infection incidence of 0.52% (p = 0.002). In patients with a single intravenous dose of antibiotic, superficial and periprosthetic infection was seen in four breasts (0.8%) and no breasts, respectively. The difference was not significant (p = 0.13). The patients receiving a single intravenous antibiotic and a 24-h oral antibiotic had superficial and periprosthetic infection rates of 2.3% (8 breasts) and 0.3% (1 breast), respectively, and the difference between the two sub-groups was significantly higher (p = 0.04). The patients receiving an intravenous antibiotic and 5 days of oral antibiotics had superficial and periprosthetic infection rates of 1.1% (26 breasts) and 0.65% (14 breasts), respectively. The difference between the two subgroups was not significant (p = 0.09). Of the 17 periprosthetic infections in 15 patients (13 unilateral and 2 bilateral), 11 breasts (1 bilateral and 9 unilateral) were treated conservatively using antibiotics, passive drainage, and wound healing with secondary intention. Capsular contracture developed in two of the conservatively treated breasts, requiring capsulotomies with change of implants. Of the six periprosthetic infections in six patients, requiring surgical intervention, two implants were treated using explantation with immediate replacement after a course of antibiotics and a negative culture, and two implants were explanted followed by reimplantation later. One patient had both implants removed after unilateral

  6. Predictive features of breast cancer on Mexican screening mammography patients

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rodriguez-Rojas, Juan; Garza-Montemayor, Margarita; Trevino-Alvarado, Victor; Tamez-Pena, José Gerardo

    2013-02-01

    Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide. In response, breast cancer screening programs are becoming common around the world and public programs now serve millions of women worldwide. These programs are expensive, requiring many specialized radiologists to examine all images. Nevertheless, there is a lack of trained radiologists in many countries as in Mexico, which is a barrier towards decreasing breast cancer mortality, pointing at the need of a triaging system that prioritizes high risk cases for prompt interpretation. Therefore we explored in an image database of Mexican patients whether high risk cases can be distinguished using image features. We collected a set of 200 digital screening mammography cases from a hospital in Mexico, and assigned low or high risk labels according to its BIRADS score. Breast tissue segmentation was performed using an automatic procedure. Image features were obtained considering only the segmented region on each view and comparing the bilateral di erences of the obtained features. Predictive combinations of features were chosen using a genetic algorithms based feature selection procedure. The best model found was able to classify low-risk and high-risk cases with an area under the ROC curve of 0.88 on a 150-fold cross-validation test. The features selected were associated to the differences of signal distribution and tissue shape on bilateral views. The model found can be used to automatically identify high risk cases and trigger the necessary measures to provide prompt treatment.

  7. Cost-effectiveness analysis of implants versus autologous perforator flaps using the BREAST-Q.

    PubMed

    Matros, Evan; Albornoz, Claudia R; Razdan, Shantanu N; Mehrara, Babak J; Macadam, Sheina A; Ro, Teresa; McCarthy, Colleen M; Disa, Joseph J; Cordeiro, Peter G; Pusic, Andrea L

    2015-04-01

    Reimbursement has been recognized as a physician barrier to autologous reconstruction. Autologous reconstructions are more expensive than prosthetic reconstructions, but provide greater health-related quality of life. The authors' hypothesis is that autologous tissue reconstructions are cost-effective compared with prosthetic techniques when considering health-related quality of life and patient satisfaction. A cost-effectiveness analysis from the payer perspective, including patient input, was performed for unilateral and bilateral reconstructions with deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps and implants. The effectiveness measure was derived using the BREAST-Q and interpreted as the cost for obtaining 1 year of perfect breast health-related quality-adjusted life-year. Costs were obtained from the 2010 Nationwide Inpatient Sample. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was generated. A sensitivity analysis for age and stage at diagnosis was performed. BREAST-Q scores from 309 patients with implants and 217 DIEP flap reconstructions were included. The additional cost for obtaining 1 year of perfect breast-related health for a unilateral DIEP flap compared with implant reconstruction was $11,941. For bilateral DIEP flaps compared with implant reconstructions, the cost for an additional breast health-related quality-adjusted life-year was $28,017. The sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the cost for an additional breast health-related quality-adjusted life-year for DIEP flaps compared with implants was less for younger patients and earlier stage breast cancer. DIEP flaps are cost-effective compared with implants, especially for unilateral reconstructions. Cost-effectiveness of autologous techniques is maximized in women with longer life expectancy. Patient-reported outcomes findings can be incorporated into cost-effectiveness analyses to demonstrate the relative value of reconstructive procedures.

  8. Beyond circulating microRNA biomarkers: Urinary microRNAs in ovarian and breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Gasparri, Maria Luisa; Casorelli, Assunta; Bardhi, Erlisa; Besharat, Aris Raad; Savone, Delia; Ruscito, Ilary; Farooqi, Ammad Ahmad; Papadia, Andrea; Mueller, Michael David; Ferretti, Elisabetta; Benedetti Panici, Pierluigi

    2017-05-01

    Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide, and ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancy. Women carrying a BRCA1/2 mutation have a very high lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. The only effective risk-reducing strategy in BRCA-mutated women is a prophylactic surgery with bilateral mastectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. However, many women are reluctant to undergo these prophylactic surgeries due to a consequent mutilated body perception, unfulfilled family planning, and precocious menopause. In these patients, an effective screening strategy is available only for breast cancer, but it only consists in close radiological exams with a significant burden for the health system and a significant distress to the patients. No biomarkers have been shown to effectively detect breast and ovarian cancer at an early stage. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulatory molecules operating in a post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Aberrant expression of miRNAs has been documented in several pathological conditions, including solid tumors, suggesting their involvement in tumorigenesis. miRNAs can be detected in blood and urine and could be used as biomarkers in solid tumors. Encouraging results are emerging in gynecological malignancy as well, and suggest a different pattern of expression of miRNAs in biological fluids of breast and ovarian cancer patients as compared to healthy control. Aim of this study is to highlight the role of the urinary miRNAs which are specifically associated with cancer and to investigate their role in early diagnosis and in determining the prognosis in breast and ovarian cancer.

  9. Double breast contour in primary aesthetic breast augmentation: incidence, prevention and treatment.

    PubMed

    Médard de Chardon, Victor; Balaguer, Thierry; Chignon-Sicard, Bérengère; Lebreton, Elisabeth

    2010-04-01

    The goal of this study was to define the incidence of double breast contour in primary aesthetic breast augmentation and to analyze its risk factors. An independent plastic surgeon analyzed the data of 200 patients who had a primary aesthetic breast augmentation with silicone gel implant and with a minimum 12-month follow-up. All patients had pre and postoperative standardized photography. Mastopexy-augmentations, breast reconstructions, breast malformations (tuberous breasts and Poland syndrome), and patients with incomplete data were excluded from the study. Assessment was achieved using an original standardized evaluation form (preoperative breast morphology, surgical options, postoperative aesthetic results). Patients were also asked to complete an exhaustive satisfaction form. A double breast contour was assessed clinically using Massiha's classification. The mean follow-up was 36 months. The double breast contour incidence was 7%. All of them were type I (the so called waterfall deformity). There was no type II (double inframammary crease). They were minor for 6.5% and major for 0.5%. They were related to a preoperative breast ptosis, subpectoral placement, and implant upper malposition. The rate of the type I was 10.5% of submuscular augmentation and 15% of preoperative breast ptosis. A double breast contour was primitive for 6% and secondary for 1% (pregnancy and breast-feeding postaugmentation). It was bilateral for 4.5% (3 cases of upper malposition, 1 case of medial malposition, 2 cases of pregnancy with breast-feeding postaugmentation and 1 patient refused a mastopexy-augmentation). It was unilateral for 2.5% related to a preoperative breast asymmetry with ptosis asymmetry and skin quality asymmetry. The satisfaction rate in the group "double contour" (14 patients) was 85.7% (vs. 91.9%). One patient had revision surgery (upper malposition). These types of deformities are fundamentally different with consideration on their clinical aspects

  10. Online support groups for young women with breast cancer: a proof-of-concept study.

    PubMed

    Stephen, Joanne; Rojubally, Adina; Linden, Wolfgang; Zhong, Lihong; Mackenzie, Gina; Mahmoud, Sahar; Giese-Davis, Janine

    2017-07-01

    This initial study examined a therapist-led, synchronous, online support group (OSG) with psycho-education (OSG + E) compared to self-help psycho-education (E). The study aims were to examine proof of concept-feasibility, acceptability, and usefulness-and to hone methods for a formal RCT. One hundred five young breast cancer survivors (<50 years) post-treatment were randomized either to OSG + E or E. OSG + E received a therapist-led 10-week synchronous online intervention. E received a self-help workbook. Assessments were at baseline, 10 weeks, and 3 months, with willing OSG + E members completing post-study interviews. Researchers used inductive analysis, generating qualitative themes for feasibility, acceptability, and usefulness. We examined trajectories for one primary and two secondary quantitative outcomes and a combined moderator to discover who preferentially benefitted from the intervention. Qualitative analyses revealed that synchronous chat was at times challenging, but minimal technical coaching, structure, set topics, and professional facilitation enabled conversations that were focused and meaningful. A combined moderator indicated that generally more women benefitted from OSG + E relative to E and particularly those women in semi-rural and rural areas. This study suggests that therapist-led synchronous OSGs are feasible, acceptable, and useful for young breast cancer survivors and that a future RCT with a larger sample size, perhaps more focused on non-urban areas, is needed to establish its effectiveness.

  11. A rare approach? Microsurgical breast reconstruction after severe burns

    PubMed Central

    Weitgasser, Laurenz; Bahsoun, Ali; Amr, Amro; Brandstetter, Michael; Knam, Friedrich; Schoeller, Thomas

    2018-01-01

    Breast deformity, in post-burn patients, is a common problem leading to lower self-esteem and reclusive behavior that impairs quality of life. The authors present the course of treatment of an 18-year-old immigrant girl who suffered second- to third-degree burns over approximately 20% of her total body surface area in her early childhood. The second- to third-degree burns were located on her right trunk and abdomen, as well as her right shoulder, neck, and right groin area. Since it was not offered in her home country, reconstructive surgery, including microsurgical breast reconstruction, was sought abroad. Due to the lack of available skin and soft tissue, a bilateral breast reconstruction with free transverse myocutaneous gracilis flaps was offered. This case illustrates one method of using microsurgery to address post-burn breast deformities in order to alleviate psychological suffering and improve quality of life. PMID:29506333

  12. DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction in Patients with Breast Ptosis: 2-Stage Reconstruction Using 3-Dimensional Surface Imaging and a Printed Mold

    PubMed Central

    Yano, Kenji; Taminato, Mifue; Nomori, Michiko; Hosokawa, Ko

    2017-01-01

    Background: Autologous breast reconstruction can be performed for breasts with ptosis to a certain extent, but if patients desire to correct ptosis, mastopexy of the contralateral breast is indicated. However, accurate prediction of post-mastopexy breast shape is difficult to make, and symmetrical breast reconstruction requires certain experience. We have previously reported the use of three-dimensional (3D) imaging and printing technologies in deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction. In the present study, these technologies were applied to the reconstruction of breasts with ptosis. Methods: Eight breast cancer patients with ptotic breasts underwent two-stage unilateral DIEP flap breast reconstruction. In the initial surgery, tissue expander (TE) placement and contralateral mastopexy are performed simultaneously. Four to six months later, 3D bilateral breast imaging is performed after confirming that the shape of the contralateral breast (post-mastopexy) is somewhat stabilized, and a 3D-printed breast mold is created based on the mirror image of the shape of the contralateral breast acquired using analytical software. Then, DIEP flap surgery is performed, where the breast mold is used to determine the required flap volume and to shape the breast mound. Results: All flaps were engrafted without any major perioperative complications during both the initial and DIEP flap surgeries. Objective assessment of cosmetic outcome revealed that good breast symmetry was achieved in all cases. Conclusions: The method described here may allow even inexperienced surgeons to achieve reconstruction of symmetrical, non-ptotic breasts with ease and in a short time. While the requirement of two surgeries is a potential disadvantage, our method will be particularly useful in cases involving TEs, i.e., delayed reconstruction or immediate reconstruction involving significant skin resection. PMID:29184728

  13. Randomized trial of proactive rapid genetic counseling versus usual care for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.

    PubMed

    Schwartz, Marc D; Peshkin, Beth N; Isaacs, Claudine; Willey, Shawna; Valdimarsdottir, Heiddis B; Nusbaum, Rachel; Hooker, Gillian; O'Neill, Suzanne; Jandorf, Lina; Kelly, Scott P; Heinzmann, Jessica; Zidell, Aliza; Khoury, Katia

    2018-08-01

    Breast cancer patients who carry BRCA1/BRCA2 gene mutations may consider bilateral mastectomy. Having bilateral mastectomy at the time of diagnosis not only reduces risk of a contralateral breast cancer, but can eliminate the need for radiation therapy and yield improved reconstruction options. However, most patients do not receive genetic counseling or testing at the time of their diagnosis. In this trial, we tested proactive rapid genetic counseling and testing (RGCT) in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in order to facilitate pre-surgical genetic counseling and testing. We recruited newly diagnosed breast cancer patients at increased risk for carrying a BRCA1/2 mutation. Of 379 eligible patients who completed a baseline survey, 330 agreed to randomization in a 2:1 ratio to RGCT (n = 220) versus UC (n = 108). Primary outcomes were genetic counseling and testing uptake and breast cancer surgical decisions. RGCT led to higher overall (83.8% vs. 54.6%; p < 0.0001) and pre-surgical (57.8% vs. 38.7%; p = 0.001) genetic counseling uptake compared to UC. Despite higher rates of genetic counseling, RGCT did not differ from UC in overall (54.1% vs. 49.1%, p > 0.10) or pre-surgical (30.6% vs. 27.4%, p > 0.10) receipt of genetic test results nor did they differ in uptake of bilateral mastectomy (26.6% vs. 21.8%, p > 0.10). Although RGCT yielded increased genetic counseling participation, this did not result in increased rates of pre-surgical genetic testing or impact surgical decisions. These data suggest that those patients most likely to opt for genetic testing at the time of diagnosis are being effectively identified by their surgeons.

  14. Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration with bilateral facial palsy: a rare primary presentation of breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Jain, Arihant; Vats, Manu; Neogi, Sushanto; Khwaja, Geeta Anjum

    2018-06-21

    Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration is a rare dysfunction of the cerebellum associated with malignancy. Nevertheless, it is the most common paraneoplastic syndrome affecting the brain. A 50-year-old woman presented to the neurology outpatient department (OPD) with symptoms of cerebellar dysfunction since 4 months and complaints of a painless lump in the right breast and drooling from mouth since 1 month. Examination revealed classical signs of cerebellar dysfunction and a 5×5 cm lump in the right breast with a single right axillary lymph node. Serum anti-Yo antibody titre was strongly positive. The patient was referred to General Surgery OPD for opinion. After establishing the diagnosis of right breast carcinoma; she underwent a right modified radical mastectomy. She was referred to the oncologist for chemo/radiotherapy but because of poor performance status, only symptomatic treatment was pursued. Follow-up till now shows no improvement in the neurological dysfunction. © BMJ Publishing Group Limited [2018]. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

  15. Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma Associated With Breast Implants

    PubMed Central

    Ravi-Kumar, Shalini; Sanaei, Omid; Vasef, Mohammad; Rabinowitz, Ian; Fekrazad, Mohammad Houman

    2012-01-01

    A forty two years old woman with a history of bilateral breast augmentation for cosmetic reasons was presented for poor healing of the surgical site. Tissue and periprosthetic fluid were removed from the wound site revealing an atypical lymphoid infiltrate. Subsequently the patient developed axillary lymph adenopathy. Excisional biopsy was performed. Flow cytometry was non-diagnostic. She continued to heal poorly and eventually had removal of implant during a simple mastectomy. A nodular area in the breast specimen showed ALK negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). The patient was treated in the private section, with only a pathology consultation being done at our institution (Figures 1-3). PMID:25734041

  16. Determining the degree of synchronism for intermittent phase synchronization in human electroencephalography data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Koloskova, A. D.; Moskalenko, O. I.

    2017-05-01

    The phenomenon of intermittent phase synchronization during development of epileptic activity in human beings has been discovered based on EEG data. The presence of synchronous behavior phases has been detected both during spike-wave discharges and in the regions of background activity of the brain. The degree of synchronism in the intermittent phase-synchronization regime in both cases has been determined, and it has been established that spike-wave discharges are characterized by a higher degree of synchronism than exists in the regions of background activity of the brain. To determine the degree of synchronism, a modified method of evaluating zero conditional Lyapunov exponents from time series is proposed.

  17. Bilaterally Primary Cementless Total Hip Arthroplasty for Severe Hip Ankylosis with Ankylosing Spondylitis.

    PubMed

    Feng, Dong-Xu; Zhang, Kun; Zhang, Yu-Min; Nian, Yue-Wen; Zhang, Jun; Kang, Xiao-Min; Wu, Shu-Fang; Zhu, Yang-Jun

    2016-08-01

    Total hip arthroplasty is a reliable therapeutic intervention in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, in whom the aims of surgery are to reduce pain, restore hip function and improve quality of life. The current study is a retrospective analysis of the clinical and radiographic findings in a consecutive series of patients with hip ankylosis associated with severe ankylosing spondylitis who underwent bilateral primary total hip arthroplasty using non-cemented components. From June 2008 to May 2012, total hip arthroplasty was performed on 34 hips in 17 patients with bilateral ankylosis caused by ankylosing spondylitis. The study patients included 13 men and 4 women with a mean age of 24.2 years. The mean duration of disease was 8.3 years and the average duration of hip involvement was 7.6 years. All patients had severe hip pain and dysfunction with bilateral bony ankylosis and no range of motion preoperatively and all underwent bilateral cementless total hip arthroplasty performed by a single surgeon. Joint pain, range of motion (ROM), and Harris hip scores were assessed to evaluate the postoperative results. At a mean follow-up of 31.7 months, all patients had experienced significant clinical improvement in function, ROM, posture and ambulation. At the final follow-up, the mean postoperative flexion ROM was 134.4° compared with 0° preoperatively. Similar improvements were seen in hip abduction, adduction, internal rotation and external rotation. Postoperatively, 23 hips were completely pain-free, six had only occasional discomfort, three mild to moderate pain and two severe pain. The average Harris Hip Score improved from 23.7 preoperatively to 65.8 postoperatively. No stems had loosened at the final follow-up in any patient, nor had any revision surgery been required. Bilateral severe hip ankylosis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis can be treated with cementless bilateral synchronous total hip arthroplasty, which can greatly improve hip joint function and

  18. Synchronized delta oscillations correlate with the resting-state functional MRI signal

    PubMed Central

    Lu, Hanbing; Zuo, Yantao; Gu, Hong; Waltz, James A.; Zhan, Wang; Scholl, Clara A.; Rea, William; Yang, Yihong; Stein, Elliot A.

    2007-01-01

    Synchronized low-frequency spontaneous fluctuations of the functional MRI (fMRI) signal have recently been applied to investigate large-scale neuronal networks of the brain in the absence of specific task instructions. However, the underlying neural mechanisms of these fluctuations remain largely unknown. To this end, electrophysiological recordings and resting-state fMRI measurements were conducted in α-chloralose-anesthetized rats. Using a seed-voxel analysis strategy, region-specific, anesthetic dose-dependent fMRI resting-state functional connectivity was detected in bilateral primary somatosensory cortex (S1FL) of the resting brain. Cortical electroencephalographic signals were also recorded from bilateral S1FL; a visual cortex locus served as a control site. Results demonstrate that, unlike the evoked fMRI response that correlates with power changes in the γ bands, the resting-state fMRI signal correlates with the power coherence in low-frequency bands, particularly the δ band. These data indicate that hemodynamic fMRI signal differentially registers specific electrical oscillatory frequency band activity, suggesting that fMRI may be able to distinguish the ongoing from the evoked activity of the brain. PMID:17991778

  19. Recurrent granulomatous mastitis mimicking inflammatory breast cancer

    PubMed Central

    Ergin, Ahmet Bahadir; Cristofanilli, Massimo; Daw, Hamed; Tahan, Gulgun; Gong, Yun

    2011-01-01

    Granulomatous mastitis (GM) is an uncommon benign breast lesion. Diagnosis is a matter of exclusion from other inflammatory, infectious and granulomatous aetiologies. Here, we presented an atypical GM case, which had clinical and radiologic features overlapping with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). The disease had multiple recurrences. The patient is a 40-year-old Caucasian woman with a sudden onset of left breast swelling accompanied by diffuse skin redness, especially of the subareolar region and malodorous yellow nipple discharge from the left nipple. The disease progressed on antibiotic treatment and recurred after local resection. A similar lesion developed even after bilateral mastectomy. GM may show clinical/radiologic features suggestive of IBC. Multiple recurrences can be occasionally encountered. GM after recurrence could be much more alarming clinically. Pathology confirmation is the key for accurate diagnosis and a multidisciplinary approach is important to rule out IBC. PMID:22715267

  20. Synchronous gastric and colonic metastases of invasive lobular breast carcinoma: case report and review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Critchley, Adam Charles; Harvey, James; Carr, Michael; Iwuchukwu, Obi

    2011-07-01

    Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and the main cause of cancer death in the UK. Gastrointestinal (GI) tract metastasis and carcinomatosis from primary breast cancer are rare but breast cancer is the second most common primary malignancy to metastasise to the GI tract after malignant melanoma. The metastatic patterns of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) have been shown to differ considerably. Liver, lung and brain metastases are more common in IDC. Most series report a greater prediliction for lobular carcinoma to metastasise to the GI tract, gynaecological organs or peritoneum. The presentation of GI metastasis due to breast cancer is typically vague and the clinical, radiological, endoscopic and histopathologic findings are often difficult to distinguish from primary gastric carcinoma. Such a patient is more likely to present to a luminal surgeon or gastroenterologist than a breast surgeon. Therefore a high index of clinical suspicion with early endoscopy in those with non-specific symptoms and a past history of breast cancer, particularly ILC, are recommended. It is imperative to differentiate between metastatic breast cancer and primary gastric carcinoma as treatment strategies differ hugely. Therefore, correlation of endoscopic biopsy histology with the primary breast cancer histology is essential. Treatment modalities are limited to appropriate systemic therapy, which may have a palliative effect in up to 50%. Surgical intervention is nearly always limited to palliative bypass only. Prognosis is consistent with the median survival of all women with metastatic disease secondary to breast cancer.

  1. Binaural sensitivity in children who use bilateral cochlear implants.

    PubMed

    Ehlers, Erica; Goupell, Matthew J; Zheng, Yi; Godar, Shelly P; Litovsky, Ruth Y

    2017-06-01

    Children who are deaf and receive bilateral cochlear implants (BiCIs) perform better on spatial hearing tasks using bilateral rather than unilateral inputs; however, they underperform relative to normal-hearing (NH) peers. This gap in performance is multi-factorial, including the inability of speech processors to reliably deliver binaural cues. Although much is known regarding binaural sensitivity of adults with BiCIs, less is known about how the development of binaural sensitivity in children with BiCIs compared to NH children. Sixteen children (ages 9-17 years) were tested using synchronized research processors. Interaural time differences and interaural level differences (ITDs and ILDs, respectively) were presented to pairs of pitch-matched electrodes. Stimuli were 300-ms, 100-pulses-per-second, constant-amplitude pulse trains. In the first and second experiments, discrimination of interaural cues (either ITDs or ILDs) was measured using a two-interval left/right task. In the third experiment, subjects reported the perceived intracranial position of ITDs and ILDs in a lateralization task. All children demonstrated sensitivity to ILDs, possibly due to monaural level cues. Children who were born deaf had weak or absent sensitivity to ITDs; in contrast, ITD sensitivity was noted in children with previous exposure to acoustic hearing. Therefore, factors such as auditory deprivation, in particular, lack of early exposure to consistent timing differences between the ears, may delay the maturation of binaural circuits and cause insensitivity to binaural differences.

  2. Synchronization of chaotic systems

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Pecora, Louis M.; Carroll, Thomas L.

    2015-09-15

    We review some of the history and early work in the area of synchronization in chaotic systems. We start with our own discovery of the phenomenon, but go on to establish the historical timeline of this topic back to the earliest known paper. The topic of synchronization of chaotic systems has always been intriguing, since chaotic systems are known to resist synchronization because of their positive Lyapunov exponents. The convergence of the two systems to identical trajectories is a surprise. We show how people originally thought about this process and how the concept of synchronization changed over the years tomore » a more geometric view using synchronization manifolds. We also show that building synchronizing systems leads naturally to engineering more complex systems whose constituents are chaotic, but which can be tuned to output various chaotic signals. We finally end up at a topic that is still in very active exploration today and that is synchronization of dynamical systems in networks of oscillators.« less

  3. Bilateral Patellar Tendon Rupture

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-07-01

    Bilateral patellar tendon rupture Military Medicine Radiology Corner, Volume 173, July, 2009...Radiology Corner Bilateral patellar tendon rupture (#37) Guarantor: 2dLt Ramon A. Riojas, USAF, MSC1 Contributors: 2dLt Ramon A. Riojas...with the abbreviated answer in the July 2009 issue. 1 The authors present a case of bilateral patellar tendon rupture in an active duty male exiting

  4. Synchronization and anti-synchronization of a fractional order delayed memristor-based chaotic system using active control

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ding, Dawei; Qian, Xin; Wang, Nian; Liang, Dong

    2018-05-01

    In this paper, the issue of synchronization and anti-synchronization for fractional-delayed memristor-based chaotic system is studied by using active control strategy. Firstly, some explicit conditions are proposed to guarantee the synchronization and anti-synchronization of the proposed system. Secondly, the influence of order and time delay on the synchronization (anti-synchronization) is discussed. It reveals that synchronization (anti-synchronization) is faster as the order increases or the time delay decreases. Finally, some numerical simulations are presented to verify the validity of our theoretical analysis.

  5. Content-based intermedia synchronization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oh, Dong-Young; Sampath-Kumar, Srihari; Rangan, P. Venkat

    1995-03-01

    Inter-media synchronization methods developed until now have been based on syntactic timestamping of video frames and audio samples. These methods are not fully appropriate for the synchronization of multimedia objects which may have to be accessed individually by their contents, e.g. content-base data retrieval. We propose a content-based multimedia synchronization scheme in which a media stream is viewed as hierarchial composition of smaller objects which are logically structured based on the contents, and the synchronization is achieved by deriving temporal relations among logical units of media object. content-based synchronization offers several advantages such as, elimination of the need for time stamping, freedom from limitations of jitter, synchronization of independently captured media objects in video editing, and compensation for inherent asynchronies in capture times of video and audio.

  6. Pre-diagnosis oophorectomy, estrogen therapy and mortality in a cohort of women diagnosed with breast cancer

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Introduction Pre-diagnosis oophorectomy and estrogen therapy could impact mortality due to breast cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) among breast cancer survivors. Elective bilateral oophorectomy at the time of hysterectomy for benign conditions is not uncommon among US women. Methods We examined the association between pre-diagnosis total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAHBSO) and both overall and cause-specific mortality in the Collaborative Breast Cancer Studies cohort. Medical history and prior estrogen use were collected during standardized telephone interviews. Vital status, including date and cause of death, was obtained by linkage with the National Death Index. Multivariate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for cause-specific mortality were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression. Results Seventeen percent (N = 1,778) of breast cancer survivors (mean age at diagnosis = 63.5) reported pre-diagnosis TAHBSO. During follow-up (mean = 9.5 years), 2,856 deaths occurred, including 1,060 breast cancer deaths and 459 CVD deaths. Breast cancer deaths occurred a median of 5.1 years after diagnosis; CVD deaths occurred further from diagnosis (median = 9.7 years). Women who reported pre-diagnosis TAHBSO had a 16% decrease in all-cause mortality (HR = 0.84; 95% CI: 0.76, 0.92) compared to those with an intact uterus and ovaries. This overall decrease reflected a 27% lower breast cancer mortality among women who never used postmenopausal hormones (HR = 0.73; CI: 0.55, 0.96) and 43% lower CVD risk among women who reported using estrogen (HR = 0.57; CI: 0.39, 0.83) after TAHBSO. Conclusions Information on prior TAHBSO and estrogen use can inform risk of death from both breast cancer and cardiovascular disease among breast cancer survivors. PMID:24152546

  7. Simulating Synchronous Processors

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1988-06-01

    34f Fvtvru m LABORATORY FOR INMASSACHUSETTSFCOMPUTER SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY MIT/LCS/TM-359 SIMULATING SYNCHRONOUS PROCESSORS Jennifer Lundelius Welch...PROJECT TASK WORK UNIT Arlington, VA 22217 ELEMENT NO. NO. NO ACCESSION NO. 11. TITLE Include Security Classification) Simulating Synchronous Processors...necessary and identify by block number) In this paper we show how a distributed system with synchronous processors and asynchro- nous message delays can

  8. Does pre-operative breast magnetic resonance imaging in addition to mammography and breast ultrasonography change the operative management of breast carcinoma?

    PubMed

    Lim, Hye In; Choi, Jae Hyuck; Yang, Jung-Hyun; Han, Boo-Kyung; Lee, Jeong Eon; Lee, Se-Kyung; Kim, Wan Wook; Kim, Sangmin; Kim, Jee Soo; Kim, Jung-Han; Choe, Jun-Ho; Cho, Eun Yoon; Kang, Seok Seon; Shin, Jung Hee; Ko, Eun Young; Kim, Sang Wook; Nam, Seok Jin

    2010-01-01

    Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used for the local staging of breast cancer, especially to determine the extent of multiple lesions and to identify occult malignancies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pre-operative MRI on the surgical treatment of breast cancer. Between January 2006 and May 2007, 535 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who planned to undergo breast conserving surgery had clinical examinations, bilateral mammography, breast ultrasonography, and breast MRI. The radiologic findings and clinicopathologic data were reviewed retrospectively. Ninety-eight (18.3%) patients had additional lesions, shown as suspicious lesions on breast MRI, but not detected with conventional methods. Eighty-four (15.7%) of these patients had a change in surgical treatment plans based on the MRI results. Forty-seven (8.8%) of the 84 patients had additional malignancies;the other 37 patients (6.9%) had benign lesions. The positive predictive value for MRI-based surgery was 56.0% (47 of 84 patients). During the period of study, the use of pre-operative MRI was increased with time (OR 1.20; 95% CI 1.16-1.23; P < 0.001), but the mastectomy rate did not change significantly (OR 0.98; 95% CI 0.95-1.00; P = 0.059). Multiple factors were analyzed to identify the patients more likely to undergo appropriate and complete surgery based on the additional findings of the pre-operative MRI, but the results were not statistically significant. This research suggests that a pre-operative MRI can potentially lower the rate of incompletely excised malignancies by identifying additional occult cancer prior to surgery and does not lead to an increase in the mastectomy rate; however, because some benign lesions are indistinguishable from suspicious or malignant lesions, excessive surgical procedures are unnecessarily performed in a significant portion of patients. In the future, the criteria for the use of MRI in local staging of breast cancer should be established.

  9. "Apron" flap and re-creation of the inframammary fold following TRAM flap breast reconstruction.

    PubMed

    Amir, A; Silfen, R; Hauben, D J

    2000-03-01

    To the best of our knowledge, the recreation of an inframammary fold after TRAM flap breast reconstruction has not yet been described. This article offers a technique for the creation of an inframammary fold as a secondary procedure. The technique has been performed thus far in two patients with good aesthetic outcomes and no postoperative complications. It may also be suitable for adding bulk to the TRAM flap, especially in bilateral breast reconstruction, and for other minor chest deformities.

  10. Randomised trial comparing hand expression with breast pumping for mothers of term newborns feeding poorly.

    PubMed

    Flaherman, Valerie J; Gay, Barbara; Scott, Cheryl; Avins, Andrew; Lee, Kathryn A; Newman, Thomas B

    2012-01-01

    Breast pumping or hand expression may be recommended when newborns latch or suck poorly. A recent trial found worse outcomes among mothers who used a breast pump in the early postpartum period. The objective of this study was to compare bilateral electric breast pumping to hand expression among mothers of healthy term infants feeding poorly at 12-36 h after birth. Randomised controlled trial. Well-baby nursery and postpartum unit. 68 mothers of newborns 12-36 h old who were latching or sucking poorly were randomly assigned to either 15 min of bilateral electric pumping or 15 min of hand expression. Milk transfer, maternal pain, breastfeeding confidence and breast milk expression experience (BMEE) immediately after the intervention, and breastfeeding rates at 2 months after birth. The median volume of expressed milk (range) was 0.5 (0-5) ml for hand expressing mothers and 1 (0-40) ml for pumping mothers (p=0.07). Maternal pain, breastfeeding confidence and BMEE did not differ by intervention. At 2 months, mothers assigned to hand expression were more likely to be breastfeeding (96.1%) than mothers assigned to breast pumping (72.7%) (p=0.02). Hand expression in the early postpartum period appears to improve eventual breastfeeding rates at 2 months after birth compared with breast pumping, but further research is needed to confirm this. However, in circumstances where either pumping or hand expression would be appropriate for healthy term infants 12-36 h old feeding poorly, providers should consider recommending hand expression.

  11. Aurora Synchronization Improvement

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1991-06-01

    AURORA SYNCHRONIZATION IMPROVEMENT D. M. Weidenheimer, N. R. Pereira, and D. C. Judy* Berkeley Research Associates, Inc., PO Box 852, Springfield...Recently, synchronization of the four pulse-forming lines (PFLs) has been significantly improved over the original de- sign. The four parallel PFLs are...now synchronized to within 10 ns over 60% of the shots. This paper describes the current switching scheme, reports the current timing statistics, and

  12. Breast cancer stem cells in HER2-negative breast cancer cells contribute to HER2-mediated radioresistance and molecular subtype conversion: clinical implications for serum HER2 in recurrent HER2-negative breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Kim, Yun Gyoung; Yoon, Yi Na; Choi, Hyang Suk; Kim, Ji-Hyun; Seol, Hyesil; Lee, Jin Kyung; Seong, Min-Ki; Park, In Chul; Kim, Kwang Il; Kim, Hyun-Ah; Kim, Jae-Sung; Noh, Woo Chul

    2018-01-19

    Although it has been proposed that the beneficial effect of HER2-targeted therapy in HER2-negative breast cancer is associated with the molecular subtype conversion, the underlying mechanism and the clinical biomarkers are unclear. Our study showed that breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) mediated HER2 subtype conversion and radioresistance in HER2-negative breast cancer cells and evaluated serum HER2 as a clinical biomarker for HER2 subtype conversion. We found that the CD44 + /CD24 -/low BCSCs from HER2-negative breast cancer MCF7 cells overexpressed HER2 and EGFR and showed the radioresistant phenotype. In addition, we showed that trastuzumab treatment sensitized the radioresistant phenotype of the CD44 + /CD24 -/low cells with decreased levels of HER2 and EGFR, which suggested that HER2-targeted therapy in HER2-negative breast cancer could be useful for targeting BCSCs that overexpress HER2/EGFR. Importantly, our clinical data showed that serial serum HER2 measurement synchronously reflected the disease relapse and the change in tumor burden in some patients who were initially diagnosed as HER2-negative breast cancer, which indicated that serum HER2 could be a clinical biomarker for the evaluation of HER2 subtype conversion in patients with recurrent HER2-negative breast cancer. Therefore, our data have provided in vitro and in vivo evidence for the molecular subtype conversion of HER2-negative breast cancer.

  13. Synchronization of Multipoint Hoists

    DTIC Science & Technology

    A contractor has conceived an electrohydraulic feedback system that will provide position synchronization of four aircraft cargo hoists. To... synchronized hoist system. Test results show that the feedback system concept provides adequate synchronization control; i.e., the platform pitch and roll

  14. Synchronous papillary carcinoma in thyroglossal duct cyst and thyroid gland: case report and review of literature.

    PubMed

    Cherian, Mathew Pynumootil; Nair, Balakrishnan; Thomas, Shaji; Somanathan, Thara; Sebastian, Paul

    2009-10-01

    We report a rare case of synchronous occurrence of thyroglossal duct cyst carcinoma and thyroid carcinoma and discuss its management in detail. A 59-year-old woman was clinically diagnosed to have a thyroglossal duct cyst and a solitary nodule. Fine-needle aspiration cytology revealed a papillary carcinoma in the thyroglossal duct cyst and a colloid in the thyroid nodule. Sistrunk's procedure along with a total thyroidectomy was performed followed by postoperative radioiodine ablation. Histopathologic examination revealed thyroglossal duct cyst carcinoma and bilateral foci of papillary carcinoma in the thyroid gland. She has remained free of disease on follow-up. Most cancers arising in thyroglossal duct cysts are of low risk, and Sistrunk's procedure is an adequate treatment for such cancers. However, for synchronously occurring cancers of the thyroglossal duct cyst and thyroid gland, or high-risk thyroglossal duct cyst cancers, more aggressive treatment comprising total thyroidectomy, Sistrunk's procedure, and radioiodine therapy is indicated. (c) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  15. Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the breast: the challenge of diagnosing a rare entity.

    PubMed

    Koufopoulos, Nektarios; Goudeli, Christina; Syrios, John; Filopoulos, Evangelos; Khaldi, Lubna

    2017-10-03

    Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma is an extremely rare variant of primary breast tumor which is histologically similar to mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary and pancreas. Herein we report a case of a 63 years old woman diagnosed with diverse histological types of non-synchronous rare primary breast tumors, a medullary carcinoma of the right breast and a mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the left breast. Macroscopically the neoplasm appeared multilocular filled with mucoid material. Under light microscopy the cystic areas were lined by columnar cells with abundant intracellular and extracellular mucin. Solid areas were composed of tall columnar cells with intracellular mucin. Moderate to marked atypia was noticed and tumor cells stained positive for cytokeratin 7 and negative for cytokeratin 20. Moreover tumor cells displayed a basal like immunophenotype expressed as followed: ER negative, PR negative, HER-2 negative, cytokeratin (CK5/6) positive and EGFR positive.

  16. High frame-rate MR-guided near-infrared tomography system to monitor breast hemodynamics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Zhiqiu; Jiang, Shudong; Krishnaswamy, Venkataramanan; Davis, Scott C.; Srinivasan, Subhadra; Paulsen, Keith D.; Pogue, Brian W.

    2011-02-01

    A near-infrared (NIR) tomography system with spectral-encoded sources at two wavelength bands was built to quantify the temporal contrast at 20 Hz bandwidth, while imaging breast tissue. The NIR system was integrated with a magnetic resonance (MR) machine through a custom breast coil interface, and both NIR data and MR images were acquired simultaneously. MR images provided breast tissue structural information for NIR reconstruction. Acquisition of finger pulse oximeter (PO) plethysmogram was synchronized with the NIR system in the experiment to offer a frequency-locked reference. The recovered absorption coefficients of the breast at two wavelengths showed identical temporal frequency as the PO output, proving this multi-modality design can recover the small pulsatile variation of absorption property in breast tissue related to the heartbeat. And it also showed the system's ability on novel contrast imaging of fast flow signals in deep tissue.

  17. STEPPED GEAR SYNCHRONIZERS,

    DTIC Science & Technology

    The book concerns Soviet and foreign experience in the design and use of synchronizers in the step gear boxes of transport vehicles. Side by side...with description of the basic steps in the development of the gear engagement mechanisms and of the design used in synchronizers of domestic and foreign...manufacture, in this work much attention is devoted to the theory of gear engagement in gear boxes equipped with synchronizers , and to figuring out

  18. Bilateral implant reconstruction does not affect the quality of postmastectomy radiation therapy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ho, Alice Y., E-mail: hoa1234@mskcc.org; Patel, Nisha; Ohri, Nisha

    To determine if the presence of bilateral implants, in addition to other anatomic and treatment-related variables, affects coverage of the target volume and dose to the heart and lung in patients receiving postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT). A total of 197 consecutive women with breast cancer underwent mastectomy and immediate tissue expander (TE) placement, with or without exchange for a permanent implant (PI) before radiation therapy at our center. PMRT was delivered with 2 tangential beams + supraclavicular lymph node field (50 Gy). Patients were grouped by implant number: 51% unilateral (100) and 49% bilateral (97). The planning target volume (PTV)more » (defined as implant + chest wall + nodes), heart, and ipsilateral lung were contoured and the following parameters were abstracted from dose-volume histogram (DVH) data: PTV D{sub 95%} > 98%, Lung V{sub 20}Gy > 30%, and Heart V{sub 25}Gy > 5%. Univariate (UVA) and multivariate analyses (MVA) were performed to determine the association of variables with these parameters. The 2 groups were well balanced for implant type and volume, internal mammary node (IMN) treatment, and laterality. In the entire cohort, 90% had PTV D{sub 95%} > 98%, indicating excellent coverage of the chest wall. Of the patients, 27% had high lung doses (V{sub 20}Gy > 30%) and 16% had high heart doses (V{sub 25}Gy > 5%). No significant factors were associated with suboptimal PTV coverage. On MVA, IMN treatment was found to be highly associated with high lung and heart doses (both p < 0.0001), but implant number was not (p = 0.54). In patients with bilateral implants, IMN treatment was the only predictor of dose to the contralateral implant (p = 0.001). In conclusion, bilateral implants do not compromise coverage of the target volume or increase lung and heart dose in patients receiving PMRT. The most important predictor of high lung and heart doses in patients with implant-based reconstruction, whether unilateral or bilateral, is

  19. Posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenal surgery for clinical and subclinical Cushing's syndrome in patients with bilateral adrenal disease.

    PubMed

    Lowery, Aoife J; Seeliger, Barbara; Alesina, Pier F; Walz, Martin K

    2017-08-01

    The treatment of hypercortisolism for patients with bilateral adrenal disease (BAD) is controversial. Bilateral total adrenalectomy results in permanent hypocortisolaemia requiring lifelong steroid replacement. A more conservative surgical approach, with less than bilateral total adrenalectomy (leaving functional adrenal tissue either unilaterally or bilaterally), represents an alternative option; however, long-term outcome or recurrence data are limited. We report our experience with the surgical management of hypercortisolism caused by BAD. Between 2004 and 2016, 42 patients (12 male, 30 female; mean age 58 ± 10 years) with clinical or subclinical Cushing's syndrome (CS/sCS) caused by BAD underwent adrenal surgery via the posterior retroperitoneoscopic approach. Adrenal surgery was defined as "adrenalectomy" when total gland excision was performed or "resection" when a partial or subtotal adrenal resection was performed. Clinical, radiological and biochemical parameters were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively. Seventy adrenal operations performed in total included unilateral resection (n = 3), unilateral adrenalectomy (n = 15), bilateral resection (n = 9), adrenalectomy and contralateral resection (n = 14) and bilateral total adrenalectomy (n = 3). Median operating time was 47.5 min (30-150) with no difference between unilateral and bilateral (synchronous included) procedures (p = 0.15). Mortality was zero. Clavien-Dindo grade of postoperative complications was I (n = 5) and IV (n = 3). All but one patient with CS and 17/31 patients with sCS received postoperative steroid supplementation for a median duration of 20 (1.5-129) months. After median follow-up of 40 months (3-129), the remission rate was 92%; 11 patients required ongoing steroid supplementation. There were three biochemical recurrences (two underwent contralateral resection); two patients with new/progressive radiological nodularity are biochemically eucortisolaemic. A

  20. The variation in breast density and its relationship to delayed wound healing: a prospective study of 40 reduction mammoplasties.

    PubMed

    Baldwin, C J; Kelly, E J; Batchelor, A G

    2010-04-01

    The proportions of glandular and adipose tissue within the breast vary. This study records the variation in density of breast tissue excised at 40 consecutive bilateral breast reductions. Age, body mass index (BMI), breast size and wound healing problems were related to breast density. The removed breast tissue was weighed and volume determined by water displacement. Delayed wound healing was defined as any breast unhealed after 2 weeks. The density of excised tissue varied between 0.8 and 1.2g/cm(3). There was no correlation between age or BMI and breast density. Delayed wound healing occurred in 32% of patients. There was no correlation between delayed wound healing and breast density. However, there was a direct relationship between increasing BMI and delayed wound healing. In this study, breast density varied by up to 50%. The density of breast tissue cannot be predicted by age, BMI or breast size. There is no relationship between delayed wound healing and breast density. Copyright 2009. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  1. Breast cancer prevention strategies in lobular carcinoma in situ: A decision analysis.

    PubMed

    Wong, Stephanie M; Stout, Natasha K; Punglia, Rinaa S; Prakash, Ipshita; Sagara, Yasuaki; Golshan, Mehra

    2017-07-15

    Women diagnosed with lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) have a 3-fold to 10-fold increased risk of developing invasive breast cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the life expectancy (LE) and differences in survival offered by active surveillance, risk-reducing chemoprevention, and bilateral prophylactic mastectomy among women with LCIS. A Markov simulation model was constructed to determine average LE and quality-adjusted LE (QALE) gains for hypothetical cohorts of women diagnosed with LCIS at various ages under alternative risk-reduction strategies. Probabilities for invasive breast cancer, breast cancer-specific mortality, other-cause mortality and the effectiveness of preventive strategies were derived from published studies and from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Assuming a breast cancer incidence from 1.02% to 1.37% per year under active surveillance, a woman aged 50 years diagnosed with LCIS would have a total LE of 32.78 years and would gain 0.13 years (1.6 months) in LE by adding chemoprevention and 0.25 years (3.0 months) in LE by adding bilateral prophylactic mastectomy. After quality adjustment, chemoprevention resulted in the greatest QALE for women ages 40 to 60 years at LCIS diagnosis, whereas surveillance remained the preferred strategy for optimizing QALE among women diagnosed at age 65 years and older. In this model, among women with a diagnosis of LCIS, breast cancer prevention strategies only modestly affected overall survival, whereas chemoprevention was modeled as the preferred management strategy for optimizing invasive disease-free survival while prolonging QALE form women younger than 65 years. Cancer 2017;123:2609-17. © 2017 American Cancer Society. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

  2. Sequential Bilateral Cochlear Implantation in a Patient with Bilateral Meniere’s Disease

    PubMed Central

    Holden, Laura K.; Neely, J. Gail; Gotter, Brenda D.; Mispagel, Karen M.; Firszt, Jill B.

    2012-01-01

    This case study describes a 45 year old female with bilateral, profound sensorineural hearing loss due to Meniere’s disease. She received her first cochlear implant in the right ear in 2008 and the second cochlear implant in the left ear in 2010. The case study examines the enhancement to speech recognition, particularly in noise, provided by bilateral cochlear implants. Speech recognition tests were administered prior to obtaining the second implant and at a number of test intervals following activation of the second device. Speech recognition in quiet and noise as well as localization abilities were assessed in several conditions to determine bilateral benefit and performance differences between ears. The results of the speech recognition testing indicated a substantial improvement in the patient’s ability to understand speech in noise and her ability to localize sound when using bilateral cochlear implants compared to using a unilateral implant or an implant and a hearing aid. In addition, the patient reported considerable improvement in her ability to communicate in daily life when using bilateral implants versus a unilateral implant. This case suggests that cochlear implantation is a viable option for patients who have lost their hearing to Meniere’s disease even when a number of medical treatments and surgical interventions have been performed to control vertigo. In the case presented, bilateral cochlear implantation was necessary for this patient to communicate successfully at home and at work. PMID:22463939

  3. Electrophysiological and Morphological Evidence for Synchronized GnRH Pulse Generator Activity Among Kisspeptin/Neurokinin B/Dynorphin A (KNDy) Neurons in Goats

    PubMed Central

    WAKABAYASHI, Yoshihiro; YAMAMURA, Takashi; SAKAMOTO, Kohei; MORI, Yuji; OKAMURA, Hiroaki

    2012-01-01

    Abstract Neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) that concomitantly express kisspeptin, neurokinin B (NKB) and dynorphin A are termed KNDy neurons and are likely candidates for the intrinsic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulse generator. Our hypothesis is that KNDy neurons are functionally and anatomically interconnected to generate discrete neural signals that govern pulsatile GnRH secretion. Our goal was to address this hypothesis using electrophysiological and anatomical experiments in goats. Bilateral electrodes targeting KNDy neurons were implanted into ovariectomized goats, and GnRH pulse generator activity, represented by characteristic increases in multiple-unit activity (MUA volleys), was measured. Spontaneous and pheromone- or senktide (an NKB receptor agonist)-induced MUA volleys were simultaneously recorded from both sides of the ARC. An anterograde tracer, biotinylated dextran amine (BDA), was also injected unilaterally into the ARC of castrated male goats, and the distribution of fibers containing both BDA and NKB was examined using dual-labeling histochemistry. The results showed that MUA volleys, regardless of origin (spontaneous or experimentally induced), occur simultaneously between the right and left sides of the ARC. Tract tracing indicated that axons projecting from NKB neurons in the ARC were directly apposed to other NKB neuronal cells located bilaterally in the ARC. These results demonstrate that GnRH pulse generator activity occurs synchronously between both sides of the ARC in goats and that KNDy neurons are bilaterally interconnected in the ARC via NKB-containing fibers. Taken together, the results suggest that KNDy neurons form a neuronal circuit to synchronize burst activity among KNDy neurons and thereby generate discrete neural signals that govern pulsatile GnRH secretion. PMID:23080371

  4. Study design: Evaluating gene–environment interactions in the etiology of breast cancer – the WECARE study

    PubMed Central

    Bernstein, Jonine L; Langholz, Bryan; Haile, Robert W; Bernstein, Leslie; Thomas, Duncan C; Stovall, Marilyn; Malone, Kathleen E; Lynch, Charles F; Olsen, Jørgen H; Anton-Culver, Hoda; Shore, Roy E; Boice, John D; Berkowitz, Gertrud S; Gatti, Richard A; Teitelbaum, Susan L; Smith, Susan A; Rosenstein, Barry S; Børresen-Dale, Anne-Lise; Concannon, Patrick; Thompson, W Douglas

    2004-01-01

    Introduction Deficiencies in cellular responses to DNA damage can predispose to cancer. Ionizing radiation can cause cluster damage and double-strand breaks (DSBs) that pose problems for cellular repair processes. Three genes (ATM, BRCA1, and BRCA2) encode products that are essential for the normal cellular response to DSBs, but predispose to breast cancer when mutated. Design To examine the joint roles of radiation exposure and genetic susceptibility in the etiology of breast cancer, we designed a case-control study nested within five population-based cancer registries. We hypothesized that a woman carrying a mutant allele in one of these genes is more susceptible to radiation-induced breast cancer than is a non-carrier. In our study, 700 women with asynchronous bilateral breast cancer were individually matched to 1400 controls with unilateral breast cancer on date and age at diagnosis of the first breast cancer, race, and registry region, and counter-matched on radiation therapy. Each triplet comprised two women who received radiation therapy and one woman who did not. Radiation absorbed dose to the contralateral breast after initial treatment was estimated with a comprehensive dose reconstruction approach that included experimental measurements in anthropomorphic and water phantoms applying patient treatment parameters. Blood samples were collected from all participants for genetic analyses. Conclusions Our study design improves the potential for detecting gene–environment interactions for diseases when both gene mutations and the environmental exposures of interest are rare in the general population. This is particularly applicable to the study of bilateral breast cancer because both radiation dose and genetic susceptibility have important etiologic roles, possibly by interactive mechanisms. By using counter-matching, we optimized the informativeness of the collected dosimetry data by increasing the variability of radiation dose within the case–control sets

  5. Transition to complete synchronization and global intermittent synchronization in an array of time-delay systems.

    PubMed

    Suresh, R; Senthilkumar, D V; Lakshmanan, M; Kurths, J

    2012-07-01

    We report the nature of transitions from the nonsynchronous to a complete synchronization (CS) state in arrays of time-delay systems, where the systems are coupled with instantaneous diffusive coupling. We demonstrate that the transition to CS occurs distinctly for different coupling configurations. In particular, for unidirectional coupling, locally (microscopically) synchronization transition occurs in a very narrow range of coupling strength but for a global one (macroscopically) it occurs sequentially in a broad range of coupling strength preceded by an intermittent synchronization. On the other hand, in the case of mutual coupling, a very large value of coupling strength is required for local synchronization and, consequently, all the local subsystems synchronize immediately for the same value of the coupling strength and, hence, globally, synchronization also occurs in a narrow range of the coupling strength. In the transition regime, we observe a type of synchronization transition where long intervals of high-quality synchronization which are interrupted at irregular times by intermittent chaotic bursts simultaneously in all the systems and which we designate as global intermittent synchronization. We also relate our synchronization transition results to the above specific types using unstable periodic orbit theory. The above studies are carried out in a well-known piecewise linear time-delay system.

  6. Cell Division Synchronization

    DTIC Science & Technology

    The report summarizes the progress in the design and construction of automatic equipment for synchronizing cell division in culture by periodic...Concurrent experiments in hypothermic synchronization of algal cell division are reported.

  7. Visually cued motor synchronization: modulation of fMRI activation patterns by baseline condition.

    PubMed

    Cerasa, Antonio; Hagberg, Gisela E; Bianciardi, Marta; Sabatini, Umberto

    2005-01-03

    A well-known issue in functional neuroimaging studies, regarding motor synchronization, is to design suitable control tasks able to discriminate between the brain structures involved in primary time-keeper functions and those related to other processes such as attentional effort. The aim of this work was to investigate how the predictability of stimulus onsets in the baseline condition modulates the activity in brain structures related to processes involved in time-keeper functions during the performance of a visually cued motor synchronization task (VM). The rational behind this choice derives from the notion that using different stimulus predictability can vary the subject's attention and the consequently neural activity. For this purpose, baseline levels of BOLD activity were obtained from 12 subjects during a conventional-baseline condition: maintained fixation of the visual rhythmic stimuli presented in the VM task, and a random-baseline condition: maintained fixation of visual stimuli occurring randomly. fMRI analysis demonstrated that while brain areas with a documented role in basic time processing are detected independent of the baseline condition (right cerebellum, bilateral putamen, left thalamus, left superior temporal gyrus, left sensorimotor cortex, left dorsal premotor cortex and supplementary motor area), the ventral premotor cortex, caudate nucleus, insula and inferior frontal gyrus exhibited a baseline-dependent activation. We conclude that maintained fixation of unpredictable visual stimuli can be employed in order to reduce or eliminate neural activity related to attentional components present in the synchronization task.

  8. Age at menopause: imputing age at menopause for women with a hysterectomy with application to risk of postmenopausal breast cancer

    PubMed Central

    Rosner, Bernard; Colditz, Graham A.

    2011-01-01

    Purpose Age at menopause, a major marker in the reproductive life, may bias results for evaluation of breast cancer risk after menopause. Methods We follow 38,948 premenopausal women in 1980 and identify 2,586 who reported hysterectomy without bilateral oophorectomy, and 31,626 who reported natural menopause during 22 years of follow-up. We evaluate risk factors for natural menopause, impute age at natural menopause for women reporting hysterectomy without bilateral oophorectomy and estimate the hazard of reaching natural menopause in the next 2 years. We apply this imputed age at menopause to both increase sample size and to evaluate the relation between postmenopausal exposures and risk of breast cancer. Results Age, cigarette smoking, age at menarche, pregnancy history, body mass index, history of benign breast disease, and history of breast cancer were each significantly related to age at natural menopause; duration of oral contraceptive use and family history of breast cancer were not. The imputation increased sample size substantially and although some risk factors after menopause were weaker in the expanded model (height, and alcohol use), use of hormone therapy is less biased. Conclusions Imputing age at menopause increases sample size, broadens generalizability making it applicable to women with hysterectomy, and reduces bias. PMID:21441037

  9. Is Unilateral Implant or Autologous Breast Reconstruction Better in Obtaining Breast Symmetry?

    PubMed

    Cohen, Oriana; Small, Kevin; Lee, Christina; Petruolo, Oriana; Karp, Nolan; Choi, Mihye

    2016-01-01

    Unilateral breast reconstruction poses a special set of challenges to the reconstructive breast surgeon compared to bilateral reconstructions. No studies to date provide an objective comparison between autologous and implant based reconstructions in matching the contralateral breast. This study compares the quantitative postoperative results between unilateral implant and autologous flap reconstructions in matching the native breast in shape, size, and projection using three-dimensional (3D) imaging. Sixty-four patients who underwent unilateral mastectomy with tissue expander (TE)-implant (n = 34) or autologous microvascular free transverse rectus abdominus myocutaneous (TRAM; n = 18) or deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP; n = 12) flap (n = 30) reconstruction from 2007 to 2010 were analyzed. Key patient demographics and risk factors were collected. Using 3D scans of patients obtained during pre and postoperative visits including over 1 year follow-ups for both groups, 3D models were constructed and analyzed for total breast volume, anterior-posterior projection from the chest wall, and 3D comparison. No significant differences in mean age, body mass index, or total number of reconstructive surgeries were observed between the two groups (TE-implant: 52.2 ± 10, 23.9 ± 3.7, 3 ± 0.9; autologous: 50.7 ± 9.4, 25.4 ± 3.9, 2.9 ± 1.3; p > 0.05). The total volume difference between the reconstructed and contralateral breasts in the TE-implant group was insignificant: 27.1 ± 22.2 cc, similar to the autologous group: 29.5 ± 24.7 cc, as was the variance of breast volume from the mean. In both groups, the reconstructed breast had a larger volume. A-P projections were similar between the contralateral and the reconstructed breasts in the TE-implant group: 72.5 ± 3.21 mm versus 71.7 ± 3.5 mm (p > 0.05). The autologous reconstructed breast had statistically insignificant but less A-P projection compared to the contralateral breast (81.9 ± 16.1 mm versus 61

  10. On the estimation of phase synchronization, spurious synchronization and filtering

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rios Herrera, Wady A.; Escalona, Joaquín; Rivera López, Daniel; Müller, Markus F.

    2016-12-01

    Phase synchronization, viz., the adjustment of instantaneous frequencies of two interacting self-sustained nonlinear oscillators, is frequently used for the detection of a possible interrelationship between empirical data recordings. In this context, the proper estimation of the instantaneous phase from a time series is a crucial aspect. The probability that numerical estimates provide a physically relevant meaning depends sensitively on the shape of its power spectral density. For this purpose, the power spectrum should be narrow banded possessing only one prominent peak [M. Chavez et al., J. Neurosci. Methods 154, 149 (2006)]. If this condition is not fulfilled, band-pass filtering seems to be the adequate technique in order to pre-process data for a posterior synchronization analysis. However, it was reported that band-pass filtering might induce spurious synchronization [L. Xu et al., Phys. Rev. E 73, 065201(R), (2006); J. Sun et al., Phys. Rev. E 77, 046213 (2008); and J. Wang and Z. Liu, EPL 102, 10003 (2013)], a statement that without further specification causes uncertainty over all measures that aim to quantify phase synchronization of broadband field data. We show by using signals derived from different test frameworks that appropriate filtering does not induce spurious synchronization. Instead, filtering in the time domain tends to wash out existent phase interrelations between signals. Furthermore, we show that measures derived for the estimation of phase synchronization like the mean phase coherence are also useful for the detection of interrelations between time series, which are not necessarily derived from coupled self-sustained nonlinear oscillators.

  11. Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the breast: the challenge of diagnosing a rare entity

    PubMed Central

    Koufopoulos, Nektarios; Goudeli, Christina; Syrios, John; Filopoulos, Evangelos; Khaldi, Lubna

    2017-01-01

    Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma is an extremely rare variant of primary breast tumor which is histologically similar to mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary and pancreas. Herein we report a case of a 63 years old woman diagnosed with diverse histological types of non-synchronous rare primary breast tumors, a medullary carcinoma of the right breast and a mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the left breast. Macroscopically the neoplasm appeared multilocular filled with mucoid material. Under light microscopy the cystic areas were lined by columnar cells with abundant intracellular and extracellular mucin. Solid areas were composed of tall columnar cells with intracellular mucin. Moderate to marked atypia was noticed and tumor cells stained positive for cytokeratin 7 and negative for cytokeratin 20. Moreover tumor cells displayed a basal like immunophenotype expressed as followed: ER negative, PR negative, HER-2 negative, cytokeratin (CK5/6) positive and EGFR positive. PMID:29081926

  12. Background parenchymal enhancement in preoperative breast MRI.

    PubMed

    Kohara, Satoko; Ishigaki, Satoko; Satake, Hiroko; Kawamura, Akiko; Kawai, Hisashi; Kikumori, Toyone; Naganawa, Shinji

    2015-08-01

    We aimed to assess the influence of background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) on surgical planning performed using preoperative MRI for breast cancer evaluation. Between January 2009 and December 2010, 91 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients (mean age, 55.5 years; range, 30-88 years) who underwent preoperative bilateral breast MRI followed by planned breast conservation therapy were retrospectively enrolled. MRI was performed to assess the tumor extent in addition to mammography and breast ultrasonography. BPE in the contralateral normal breast MRI at the early dynamic phase was visually classified as follows: minimal (n=49), mild (n=27), moderate (n=7), and marked (n=8). The correlations between the BPE grade and age, menopausal status, index tumor size, changes in surgical management based on MRI results, positive predictive value (PPV) of MRI, and surgical margins were assessed. Patients in the strong BPE groups were significantly younger (p=0.002) and generally premenopausal (p<0.001). Surgical treatment was not changed in 67 cases (73.6%), while extended excision and mastectomy were performed in 12 cases (13.2%), each based on additional lesions on MRI. Six of 79 (7.6%) patients who underwent breast conservation therapy had tumor-positive resection margins. In cases where surgical management was changed, the PPV for MRI-detected foci was high in the minimal (91.7%) and mild groups (66.7%), and 0% in the moderate and marked groups (p=0.002). Strong BPE causes false-positive MRI findings and may lead to overly extensive surgery, whereas MRI may be beneficial in select patients with weak BPE.

  13. A case of bilateral aldosterone-producing adenomas differentiated by segmental adrenal venous sampling for bilateral adrenal sparing surgery

    PubMed Central

    Morimoto, R; Satani, N; Iwakura, Y; Ono, Y; Kudo, M; Nezu, M; Omata, K; Tezuka, Y; Seiji, K; Ota, H; Kawasaki, Y; Ishidoya, S; Nakamura, Y; Arai, Y; Takase, K; Sasano, H; Ito, S; Satoh, F

    2016-01-01

    Primary aldosteronism due to unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) is a surgically curable form of hypertension. Bilateral APA can also be surgically curable in theory but few successful cases can be found in the literature. It has been reported that even using successful adrenal venous sampling (AVS) via bilateral adrenal central veins, it is extremely difficult to differentiate bilateral APA from bilateral idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA) harbouring computed tomography (CT)-detectable bilateral adrenocortical nodules. We report a case of bilateral APA diagnosed by segmental AVS (S-AVS) and blood sampling via intra-adrenal first-degree tributary veins to localize the sites of intra-adrenal hormone production. A 36-year-old man with marked long-standing hypertension was referred to us with a clinical diagnosis of bilateral APA. He had typical clinical and laboratory profiles of marked hypertension, hypokalaemia, elevated plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) of 45.1 ng dl−1 and aldosterone renin activity ratio of 90.2 (ng dl−1 per ng ml−1 h−1), which was still high after 50 mg-captopril loading. CT revealed bilateral adrenocortical tumours of 10 and 12 mm in diameter on the right and left sides, respectively. S-AVS confirmed excess aldosterone secretion from a tumour segment vein and suppressed secretion from a non-tumour segment vein bilaterally, leading to the diagnosis of bilateral APA. The patient underwent simultaneous bilateral sparing adrenalectomy. Histopathological analysis of the resected adrenals together with decreased blood pressure and PAC of 5.2 ng dl−1 confirmed the removal of bilateral APA. S-AVS was reliable to differentiate bilateral APA from IHA by direct evaluation of intra-adrenal hormone production. PMID:26538381

  14. A comparison of two methods of infiltration in breast reduction surgery.

    PubMed

    Armour, A D; Rotenberg, B W; Brown, M H

    2001-08-01

    The superwet technique has been shown in previous studies to dramatically reduce blood loss in breast reduction surgery, compared with standard infiltration. A retrospective chart review of 303 consecutive patients undergoing bilateral breast reduction surgery was undertaken to demonstrate additional differences in complication rate, operative time, or sponge use in the operating room. In this series, 132 consecutive patients received standard infiltration along incision lines (25 cc per breast of 1:100,000 epinephrine), and 171 patients received superwet infiltration with 240 cc per breast of 1:1,000,000 epinephrine. The average operative time was significantly reduced in the superwet group, from 78.5 minutes to 70.7 minutes (p < 0.01 level). The average number of sponges used intraoperatively was also decreased significantly (p < 0.01), from 26 to 20 sponges. Complication rates were equally low in both groups, demonstrating the safety of the superwet technique. In addition to limiting blood loss, the superwet infiltration effectively reduces operative time and sponge use without increasing complications in breast reduction surgery.

  15. Breast cancer metastatic to the pituitary gland: a case report.

    PubMed

    Spinelli, Gian Paolo; Lo Russo, Giuseppe; Miele, Evelina; Prinzi, Natalie; Tomao, Federica; Antonelli, Manila; Giangaspero, Felice; Stati, Valeria; Strudel, Martina; Tomao, Silverio

    2012-07-09

    Metastases to the pituitary gland are rare events, and usually indicate widespread malignant disease. The lung and the breast are the most common sites of primary tumors that metastasize to the pituitary gland.Metastases are more frequent in older patients and the most common symptoms at presentation are diabetes insipidus and visual alterations. 72-year-old white woman was treated for a breast carcinoma with right superoexternal quadrantectomy, radiotherapy, and hormone therapy. Twelve years later, the patient presented with bone pain, bilateral progressive visual decline, and onset of hypopituitarism. A diagnosis of secondary bone involvement and pituitary metastasis was made. This was an unusual disease course, and stresses the importance of intensive follow-up in patients with breast cancer even many years after the initial diagnosis This case emphasizes that diagnosis can be difficult and controversial when relapse occurs at uncommon sites.

  16. Synchronization of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions in the tokay gecko

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Roongthumskul, Yuttana; Hudspeth, A. J.

    2018-05-01

    Spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) are a universal feature of all classes of tetrapods. Although the generation mechanism of SOAEs are incompletely understood, these emissions are undoubtedly associated with the active process of the inner ear. In most lizards, unlike mammals and amphibians, robust SOAEs can ordinarily be detected from both ears. In this work, we investigated the interactions between emissions recorded simultaneously from the two ears of tokay geckos. We found that the frequency spectra of SOAEs from both ears of an individual animal are partially correlated: the peaks of several emissions occur at identical frequencies. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of these identical-frequency SOAEs, we perturbed the emissions from one or both ears by manipulating the pressure in the ear canals or by decreasing the local temperature in the vicinity of one inner ear. Suppression of SOAEs due to large positive pressures revealed that some identical-frequency emissions were generated unilaterally, whereas others were contributed by both ears at identical or slightly different frequencies. These bilaterally generated SOAEs became desynchronized as their frequency detuning grew sufficiently large, a phenomenon consistent with the synchronization of two active oscillators. Finally, we found that manipulations of the volume of the oral cavity or altering the impedance of the tympanum strongly affected the synchronization of SOAEs. These findings agreed with previous studies suggesting that the tokay gecko, like other lizards, exhibits strong acoustic coupling between its tympani through the oral cavity.

  17. Successful oxytocin-assisted nipple aspiration in women at increased risk for breast cancer

    PubMed Central

    Suijkerbuijk, Karijn P. M.; van der Wall, Elsken; Meijrink, Helen; Pan, Xiaojuan; Borel Rinkes, Inne H. M.; Ausems, Margreet G. E. M.

    2010-01-01

    The high rate of interval malignancies urges for new screening methods for women at high risk for breast cancer. Nipple aspiration provides direct access to the breast tissue and its DNA, and therefore is a likely candidate, but clinical applications have been limited by the failure to obtain nipple aspiration fluid from most women. We performed oxytocin-assisted nipple aspiration in 90 women at increased risk for breast cancer based on family history or genetic test results (n = 63) and/or previous breast cancer (n = 34). Nipple fluid was obtained from 81/90 women (90%) and bilaterally in 77%. Mean discomfort rating was 0.6 (on a 0–10 scale), which was significantly lower than for mammography or MRI. These findings suggest that a new tool for biomarker detection in oxytocin-assisted nipple fluid of women at high risk for breast cancer is at hand. PMID:20443067

  18. Incremental cancer detection using breast ultrasonography versus breast magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.

    PubMed

    He, Hongying; Plaxco, Jeri S; Wei, Wei; Huo, Lei; Candelaria, Rosalind P; Kuerer, Henry M; Yang, Wei T

    2016-09-01

    To compare the incremental cancer detection rate (ICDR) using bilateral whole-breast ultrasonography (BWBUS) vs dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in patients with primary breast cancer. A retrospective database search in a single institution identified 259 patients with breast cancer diagnosed from January 2011 to August 2014 who underwent mammography, BWBUS and MRI before surgery. Patient characteristics, tumour characteristics and lesions seen on each imaging modality were recorded. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for each modality were calculated. ICDRs according to index tumour histology and receptor status were also evaluated. The effect of additional cancer detection on surgical planning was obtained from the medical records. A total of 266 additional lesions beyond 273 index malignancies were seen on at least 1 modality, of which 121 (45%) lesions were malignant and 145 (55%) lesions were benign. MRI was significantly more sensitive than BWBUS (p = 0.01), while BWBUS was significantly more accurate and specific than MRI (p < 0.0001). Compared with mammography, the ICDRs using BWBUS and MRI were significantly higher for oestrogen receptor-positive and triple-negative cancers, but not for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive cancers. 22 additional malignant lesions in 18 patients were seen on MRI only. Surgical planning remained unchanged in 8 (44%) of those 18 patients. MRI was more sensitive than BWBUS, while BWBUS was more accurate and specific than MRI. MRI-detected additional malignant lesions did not change surgical planning in almost half of these patients. BWBUS may be a cost-effective and practical tool in breast cancer staging.

  19. Current Trends in and Indications for Endoscopy-Assisted Breast Surgery for Breast Cancer: Results from a Six-Year Study Conducted by the Taiwan Endoscopic Breast Surgery Cooperative Group

    PubMed Central

    Lai, Hung-Wen; Chen, Shou-Tung; Chen, Dar-Ren; Chen, Shu-Ling; Chang, Tsai-Wang; Kuo, Shou-Jen; Kuo, Yao-Lung; Hung, Chin-Sheng

    2016-01-01

    Background Endoscopy-assisted breast surgery (EABS) performed through minimal axillary and/or periareolar incisions is a possible alternative to open surgery for certain patients with breast cancer. In this study, we report the early results of an EABS program in Taiwan. Methods The medical records of patients who underwent EABS for breast cancer during the period May 2009 to December 2014 were collected from the Taiwan Endoscopic Breast Surgery Cooperative Group database. Data on clinicopathologic characteristics, type of surgery, method of breast reconstruction, complications and recurrence were analyzed to determine the effectiveness and oncologic safety of EABS in Taiwan. Results A total of 315 EABS procedures were performed in 292 patients with breast cancer, including 23 (7.8%) patients with bilateral disease. The number of breast cancer patients who underwent EABS increased initially from 2009 to 2012 and then stabilized during the period 2012–2014. The most commonly performed EABS was endoscopy-assisted total mastectomy (EATM) (85.4%) followed by endoscopy-assisted partial mastectomy (EAPM) (14.6%). Approximately 74% of the EATM procedures involved breast reconstruction, with the most common types of reconstruction being implant insertion and autologous pedicled TRAM flap surgery. During the six-year study period, there was an increasing trend in the performance of EABS for the management of breast cancer when total mastectomy was indicated. The positive surgical margin rate was 1.9%. Overall, the rate of complications associated with EABS was 15.2% and all were minor and wound-related. During a median follow-up of 26.8 (3.3–68.6) months, there were 3 (1%) cases of local recurrence, 1 (0.3%) case of distant metastasis and 1 (0.3%) death. Conclusion The preliminary results from the EABS program in Taiwan show that EABS is a safe procedure and results in acceptable cosmetic outcome. These findings could help to promote this under-used surgical technique

  20. Impact of selective use of breast MRI on surgical decision-making in women with newly diagnosed operable breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Brennan, Meagan E; McKessar, Merran; Snook, Kylie; Burgess, Ian; Spillane, Andrew J

    2017-04-01

    This study evaluated the impact of breast MRI on surgical planning in selected cases of breast malignancy (invasive cancer or DCIS). MRI was used when there was ambiguity on clinical and/or conventional imaging assessment. Consecutive women with breast malignancy undergoing breast MRI were included. Clinical, mammogram and ultrasound findings and surgical plan before and after MRI were recorded. MRI findings and histopathology results were documented and the impact of MRI on treatment planning was evaluated. MRI was performed in 181/1416 (12.8%) cases (invasive cancer 155/1219 (12.7%), DCIS 26/197 (13.2%)). Indications for MRI were: clinically dense breast tissue difficult to assess (n = 66; 36.5%), discordant clinical/conventional imaging assessment (n = 61; 33.7%), invasive lobular carcinoma in clinically dense breast tissue (n = 22; 12.2%), palpable/mass-forming DCIS (n = 11; 6.1%); other (n = 19; 10.5%). The recall rate for assessment of additional lesions was 35% (63/181). Additional biopsy-proven malignancy was found in 11/29 (37.9%) ipsilateral breast recalls and 8/34 (23.5%) contralateral breast recalls. MRI detected contralateral malignancy (unsuspected on conventional imaging) in 5/179 (2.8%). The additional information from MRI changed management in 69/181 (38.1%), with more unilateral surgery (wider excision or mastectomy) in 53/181 (29.3%), change to bilateral surgery in 12/181 (6.6%), less surgery in 4/181 (2.2%). Clinical examination estimated histological size within 20 mm in 57%, conventional imaging in 55% and MRI in 71%. MRI was most likely to show concordance with histopathology in the 'discordant assessment' and 'invasive lobular' groups and less likely for 'challenging clinically dense breast tissue.' MRI changed management in 69/181 (38.1%). Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Initial experience with laparoscopic inferior epigastric vessel ligation for delayed transverse rectus abdominus musculocutaneous flap breast reconstruction.

    PubMed

    Trus, Thadeus L; Collins, E Dale; Demas, Christopher; Kerrigan, Carolyn

    2007-04-01

    Transverse rectus abdominus musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap breast reconstruction provides excellent cosmetic results. Pedicle flap viability is greatly enhanced by prereconstruction inferior epigastric vessel ligation, which encourages collateral arterial flow (delayed TRAM). We report our initial experience with laparoscopic inferior epigastric vessel ligation. Prospective case series. Tertiary academic center. Female patients with breast cancer who chose pedicle TRAM reconstruction. Vessel ligations were performed 7 to 14 days prior to reconstruction. Abdominal access was achieved with a 3-mm umbilical trocar. A 5-mm trocar was placed lateral to the rectus sheath in the right lower quadrant. Five-millimeter Teflon clips were used to ligate the vessels near their origin. Complications of surgery and subsequent flap viability. From January 2001 to July 2006, 130 patients had laparoscopic inferior epigastric vessel ligation, of whom 123 patients had bilateral ligation. Additional procedures in conjunction with vessel ligation were performed in 38 patients (sentinel node biopsy [27], bilateral oophorectomy [7], liver biopsy [2], breast biopsy [1], and Nissen fundoplication [1]). Median operative time for those patients undergoing ligation only was 32.6 minutes (range, 14-121 minutes). The inferior epigastric vessels were not identified in 2 patients. Metastatic breast cancer involving the liver was found in 1 patient. There were no conversions or complications. Subsequent TRAM flap viability was excellent in most cases, with 1 complete flap necrosis in a high-risk, morbidly obese patient. Laparoscopic inferior epigastric vessel ligation for delayed TRAM flap breast reconstruction is a safe, effective procedure.

  2. Multi-window detection for P-wave in electrocardiograms based on bilateral accumulative area.

    PubMed

    Chen, Riqing; Huang, Yingsong; Wu, Jian

    2016-11-01

    P-wave detection is one of the most challenging aspects in electrocardiograms (ECGs) due to its low amplitude, low frequency, and variable waveforms. This work introduces a novel multi-window detection method for P-wave delineation based on the bilateral accumulative area. The bilateral accumulative area is calculated by summing the areas covered by the P-wave curve with left and right sliding windows. The onset and offset of a positive P-wave correspond to the local maxima of the area detector. The position drift and difference in area variation of local extreme points with different windows are used to systematically combine multi-window and 12-lead synchronous detection methods, which are used to screen the optimization boundary points from all extreme points of different window widths and adaptively match the P-wave location. The proposed method was validated with ECG signals from various databases, including the Standard CSE Database, T-Wave Alternans Challenge Database, PTB Diagnostic ECG Database, and the St. Petersburg Institute of Cardiological Technics 12-Lead Arrhythmia Database. The average sensitivity Se was 99.44% with a positive predictivity P+ of 99.37% for P-wave detection. Standard deviations of 3.7 and 4.3ms were achieved for the onset and offset of P-waves, respectively, which is in agreement with the accepted tolerances required by the CSE committee. Compared with well-known delineation methods, this method can achieve high sensitivity and positive predictability using a simple calculation process. The experiment results suggest that the bilateral accumulative area could be an effective detection tool for ECG signal analysis. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Synchronization of Littoral Operations

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1994-02-08

    AD-A279 713 NAVAL WAR COLI f AF Newport. Rhode Island SYNCHRONIZATION OF LITTORAL OPERATIONS DTIC by ELECTE Dan Wheeland G Lieutenant Commander...NO ACCESSION NO 11. TITLE (Include Security Classification) SYNCHRONIZATION OF LITTORAL OPERATIONS (U) 12 PERSONAL AUTHOR(S) LCDR DANIEL G. WHEELAND...SUBJECT TERMS (Continue on reverse if necessary and identify by block number) FIELD GROUP SUB-GROUP AMPHIBIOUS, LITTORAL, SYNCHRONIZATION

  4. Bilateral Endoscopic Medial Maxillectomy for Bilateral Inverted Papilloma

    PubMed Central

    Kodama, Satoru; Kawano, Toshiaki; Suzuki, Masashi

    2012-01-01

    Inverted papilloma (IP) is a benign tumor of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses that is unilateral in most cases. Bilateral IP, involving both sides of the nasal cavity and sinuses, is extremely rare. This paper describes a large IP that filled in both sides of the nasal cavity and sinuses, mimicking association with malignancy. The tumor was successfully treated by bilateral endoscopic medial maxillectomy (EMM). The patient is without evidence of the disease 24 months after surgery. If preoperative diagnosis does not confirm the association with malignancy in IP, endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) should be selected, and ESS, including EMM, is a good first choice of the treatment for IP. PMID:22953103

  5. Synchronous adenocarcinomas of the colon presenting as synchronous colocolic intussusceptions in an adult

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Intussusception is uncommon in adults. To our knowledge, synchronous colocolic intussusceptions have never been reported in the literature. Here we described the case of a 59-year-old female of synchronous colocolic intussusceptions presenting as acute abdomen that was diagnosed by CT preoperatively. Laparotomy with radical right hemicolectomy and sigmoidectomy was undertaken without reduction of the invagination due to a significant risk of associated malignancy. The final diagnosis was synchronous adenocarcinoma of proximal transverse colon and sigmoid colon without lymph nodes or distant metastasis. The patient had an uneventful recovery. The case also emphasizes the importance of thorough exploration during surgery for bowel invagination since synchronous events may occur. PMID:23241170

  6. Laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in breast cancer patients after transverse rectus abdominus myocutaneous flap reconstructive surgery.

    PubMed

    Awtrey, Christopher S; Abu-Rustum, Nadeem R; Disa, Joseph J; Ivy, Joseph J; Kauff, Noah D; Hummer, Amanda J; Barakat, Richard R

    2005-12-01

    The aim of this study was to describe the feasibility and outcome of laparoscopic risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) in patients with a history of breast cancer who previously had undergone a transverse rectus abdominus myocutaneous (TRAM) flap reconstruction. We performed a retrospective review of patients with a history of breast cancer who had undergone laparoscopic RRSO between February 1995 and April 2002. Patients who had undergone TRAM flap reconstructive surgery were compared with patients who had undergone laparoscopic RRSO without prior reconstructive surgery. We identified 102 patients with a history of breast cancer who were candidates for a laparoscopic RRSO during the study period. One hundred one of these patients underwent the procedure, including 10 patients with a history of TRAM flap breast reconstructive surgery. One patient did not undergo the procedure because she was noted to be hypotensive prior to the procedure from her bowel preparation. There were no differences between the groups with or without prior history of TRAM flap reconstruction with respect to body mass index, prior abdominal surgery, menopausal status, or preoperative ultrasound characteristics. Operatively, there was no difference between the groups with respect to estimated blood loss, hospital stay, and intraoperative and postoperative complication rates. The only noted difference between the two groups was the estimated operating time (TRAM group, 91 min; non-TRAM group, 70 min [P<0.01]). Laparoscopic RRSO is safe and feasible in patients who have undergone a prior TRAM flap reconstruction.

  7. Synchronization of Concurrent Processes

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1975-07-01

    Pettersen Stanford Ur.iversity Artificial Intelligence Laboratory ABSTRACT Th oaoer gives an overview of commonly used synchronization primitives and...wr.ters . ut.l.z.ng the DroDo4d synchronization primitive . The solution is simpler and shorter than other known S’ms The first sections of the paper...un reicr»» side il nrcttaary and Identity by block number) Scheduling, process scheduling, synchronization , mutual exclusion, semaphores , critical

  8. GPS-UTC Time Synchronization

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1989-11-01

    GPS-UTC TIME SYNCHRONIZATION C. H. MCKENZIE W. A. FEESS R, H. LUCAS H. HOLTZ A. L. SATIN The Aerospace Corporation El Segundo, California...Abstract Two automatic algorithms for synchronizing the GPS time standard to the UTC time standard are evaluated. Both algorithms control GPS-UTC...is required to synchronize its broadcast time standard to within one microsecond o f the time standard maintained by the US Naval Observatory

  9. Clinicopathological features of gastric metastasis from breast cancer in three cases.

    PubMed

    Koike, Kenta; Kitahara, Kenji; Higaki, Mayumi; Urata, Masako; Yamazaki, Fumio; Noshiro, Hirokazu

    2014-09-01

    The common sites for metastases from breast cancer are lymph nodes, bone, lung, liver, and brain. Gastrointestinal (GI) metastasis is rarely found or diagnosed in patients with breast cancer. This report presents three cases of gastric metastasis from breast cancer. Case 1 was a 42-year-old female diagnosed with gastric metastasis after mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection for invasive lobular carcinoma of the left breast. Case 2 was a 54-year-old female who was diagnosed to have invasive lobular carcinoma of the left breast with systemic bone and gastric metastasis. Case 3 was a 54-year-old female who was diagnosed to have bilateral invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast with simultaneous bone and gastric metastasis. The immunohistochemical statuses for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, mammaglobin, and gross cystic disease fluid protein-15 (GCDFP-15) between the primary and gastric metastatic lesions were all well matched. All three cases were treated with systemic chemotherapy, hormone therapy or both, without surgical intervention for gastric lesions. Two patients with disseminated disease died 27 and 58 months after diagnosis of gastric metastasis, while one patient without organ metastasis is still alive at 56 months after diagnosis. It is important to make a correct diagnosis by distinguishing gastric metastasis from breast cancer in order to select the optimal initial treatment for systemic disease of breast cancer.

  10. Incoherence-Mediated Remote Synchronization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Liyue; Motter, Adilson E.; Nishikawa, Takashi

    2017-04-01

    In previously identified forms of remote synchronization between two nodes, the intermediate portion of the network connecting the two nodes is not synchronized with them but generally exhibits some coherent dynamics. Here we report on a network phenomenon we call incoherence-mediated remote synchronization (IMRS), in which two noncontiguous parts of the network are identically synchronized while the dynamics of the intermediate part is statistically and information-theoretically incoherent. We identify mirror symmetry in the network structure as a mechanism allowing for such behavior, and show that IMRS is robust against dynamical noise as well as against parameter changes. IMRS may underlie neuronal information processing and potentially lead to network solutions for encryption key distribution and secure communication.

  11. Cost minimisation analysis of using acellular dermal matrix (Strattice™) for breast reconstruction compared with standard techniques.

    PubMed

    Johnson, R K; Wright, C K; Gandhi, A; Charny, M C; Barr, L

    2013-03-01

    We performed a cost analysis (using UK 2011/12 NHS tariffs as a proxy for cost) comparing immediate breast reconstruction using the new one-stage technique of acellular dermal matrix (Strattice™) with implant versus the standard alternative techniques of tissue expander (TE)/implant as a two-stage procedure and latissimus dorsi (LD) flap reconstruction. Clinical report data were collected for operative time, length of stay, outpatient procedures, and number of elective and emergency admissions in our first consecutive 24 patients undergoing one-stage Strattice reconstruction. Total cost to the NHS based on tariff, assuming top-up payments to cover Strattice acquisition costs, was assessed and compared to the two historical control groups matched on key variables. Eleven patients having unilateral Strattice reconstruction were compared to 10 having TE/implant reconstruction and 10 having LD flap and implant reconstruction. Thirteen patients having bilateral Strattice reconstruction were compared to 12 having bilateral TE/implant reconstruction. Total costs were: unilateral Strattice, £3685; unilateral TE, £4985; unilateral LD and implant, £6321; bilateral TE, £5478; and bilateral Strattice, £6771. The cost analysis shows a financial advantage of using acellular dermal matrix (Strattice) in unilateral breast reconstruction versus alternative procedures. The reimbursement system in England (Payment by Results) is based on disease-related groups similar to that of many countries across Europe and tariffs are based on reported hospital costs, making this analysis of relevance in other countries. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. Understanding the factors that influence breast reconstruction decision making in Australian women.

    PubMed

    Somogyi, Ron Barry; Webb, Angela; Baghdikian, Nairy; Stephenson, John; Edward, Karen-Leigh; Morrison, Wayne

    2015-04-01

    Breast reconstruction is safe and improves quality of life. Despite this, many women do not undergo breast reconstruction and the reasons for this are poorly understood. This study aims to identify the factors that influence a woman's decision whether or not to have breast reconstruction and to better understand their attitudes toward reconstruction. An online survey was distributed to breast cancer patients from Breast Cancer Network Australia. Results were tabulated, described qualitatively and analyzed for significance using a multiple logistic regression model. 501 mastectomy patients completed surveys, of which 62% had undergone breast reconstruction. Factors that positively influenced likelihood of reconstruction included lower age, bilateral mastectomy, access to private hospitals, decreased home/work responsibilities, increased level of home support and early discussion of reconstructive options. Most common reasons for avoiding reconstruction included "I don't feel the need" and "I don't want more surgery". The most commonly sited sources of reconstruction information came from the breast surgeon followed by the plastic surgeon then the breast cancer nurse and the most influential of these was the plastic surgeon. A model using factors easily obtained on clinical history can be used to understand likelihood of reconstruction. This knowledge may help identify barriers to reconstruction, ultimately improving the clinicians' ability to appropriately educate mastectomy patients and ensure effective decision making around breast reconstruction. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Enhanced resting-state dynamics of the hemoglobin signal as a novel biomarker for detection of breast cancer

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Graber, Harry L., E-mail: harry.graber@downstate.edu; Xu, Yong; Barbour, Randall L.

    Purpose: The work presented here demonstrates an application of diffuse optical tomography (DOT) to the problem of breast-cancer diagnosis. The potential for using spatial and temporal variability measures of the hemoglobin signal to identify useful biomarkers was studied. Methods: DOT imaging data were collected using two instrumentation platforms the authors developed, which were suitable for exploring tissue dynamics while performing a simultaneous bilateral exam. For each component of the hemoglobin signal (e.g., total, oxygenated), the image time series was reduced to eight scalar metrics that were affected by one or more dynamic properties of the breast microvasculature (e.g., average amplitude,more » amplitude heterogeneity, strength of spatial coordination). Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) analyses, comparing groups of subjects with breast cancer to various control groups (i.e., all noncancer subjects, only those with diagnosed benign breast pathology, and only those with no known breast pathology), were performed to evaluate the effect of cancer on the magnitudes of the metrics and of their interbreast differences and ratios. Results: For women with known breast cancer, simultaneous bilateral DOT breast measures reveal a marked increase in the resting-state amplitude of the vasomotor response in the hemoglobin signal for the affected breast, compared to the contralateral, noncancer breast. Reconstructed 3D spatial maps of observed dynamics also show that this behavior extends well beyond the tumor border. In an effort to identify biomarkers that have the potential to support clinical aims, a group of scalar quantities extracted from the time series measures was systematically examined. This analysis showed that many of the quantities obtained by computing paired responses from the bilateral scans (e.g., interbreast differences, ratios) reveal statistically significant differences between the cancer-positive and -negative subject groups, while the

  14. Cosmetic tourism for breast augmentation: a systematic review.

    PubMed

    Brightman, Louise; Ng, Sze; Ahern, Susannah; Cooter, Rodney; Hopper, Ingrid

    2017-12-03

    The medical tourism industry, and in particular cosmetic tourism for breast augmentation, is becoming an increasingly popular global phenomenon. The objective of this study is to determine the extent of medical literature and the patient risk profiles associated with cosmetic tourism for breast augmentation both locally and abroad. OVID MEDLINE, OVID Embase, Cochrane Central and Proquest electronic databases. The search was conducted through to April 2017. Studies pertaining entirely or partly to cosmetic tourism for breast augmentation were considered for inclusion. Exclusion criteria included non-English articles, studies relating to non-cosmetic or non-implant breast augmentation, and studies that did not separately report on findings associated with breast augmentation abroad. We identified 17 observational studies. Common destinations included Europe, South America and South East Asia. Infectious complications were common. Wound dehiscence and aesthetic dissatisfaction also featured. Catastrophic outcomes such as sepsis, intubation and ventilation, radical bilateral mastectomy, irreversible hypoxic brain injury and death were also reported. There were expectations that home country health systems would treat complications and provide non-medically indicated revision procedures. The burden on home country health systems was evident from a public health perspective. Determining the extent of cosmetic tourism for breast augmentation, including outcomes and complications, will help to inform Australian patients who this seek procedure abroad. Furthermore, it will aid in better understanding the health system implications and may help to guide future research and public health interventions both locally and internationally. © 2017 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

  15. Sexuality and quality of life in women with a prior diagnosis of breast cancer after risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy.

    PubMed

    Tucker, Paige E; Saunders, Christobel; Bulsara, Max K; Tan, Jason Jit-Sun; Salfinger, Stuart G; Green, Helena; Cohen, Paul A

    2016-12-01

    To investigate the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women with a history of breast cancer following risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO). A secondary objective was to examine the effect of a prior diagnosis of breast cancer, and other factors, on sexuality and quality of life (QoL) outcomes. Cross-sectional study of 119 women who underwent RRSO between 2009 and 2014. Data were collected via a questionnaire comprising demographic information and validated measures of sexual function, sexual distress, relationship satisfaction, body image, psychological stress, menopause symptoms and general quality of life. Sixty out of 119 participants who underwent RRSO had a history of breast cancer. Eighty percent of women with breast cancer had female sexual dysfunction (FSD) and 82% had hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) after RRSO. Bilateral mastectomy was associated with higher rates of HSDD (p = 0.028) and higher body image self-consciousness (BISC) during sexual activity (p = 0.011). Breast reconstruction was associated with higher relationship satisfaction (RAS) scores (p = 0.004). Compared to Tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors (AI) were significantly associated with reduced lubrication (p = 0.041), arousal (p = 0.004), orgasm (p = 0.002) and greater dyspareunia (p = 0.027). Prior diagnosis of breast cancer was not associated with the prevalence of FSD (p = 0.532). High rates of FSD and HSDD occur in women with breast cancer following RRSO. Low relationship satisfaction, bodily pain, bilateral mastectomy and the use of aromatase inhibitors were associated with poorer sexual function. Women had similar sexual outcomes and QoL after RRSO, regardless of breast cancer history. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  16. Fault-tolerant clock synchronization in distributed systems

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ramanathan, Parameswaran; Shin, Kang G.; Butler, Ricky W.

    1990-01-01

    Existing fault-tolerant clock synchronization algorithms are compared and contrasted. These include the following: software synchronization algorithms, such as convergence-averaging, convergence-nonaveraging, and consistency algorithms, as well as probabilistic synchronization; hardware synchronization algorithms; and hybrid synchronization. The worst-case clock skews guaranteed by representative algorithms are compared, along with other important aspects such as time, message, and cost overhead imposed by the algorithms. More recent developments such as hardware-assisted software synchronization and algorithms for synchronizing large, partially connected distributed systems are especially emphasized.

  17. Squeezing Enhances Quantum Synchronization.

    PubMed

    Sonar, Sameer; Hajdušek, Michal; Mukherjee, Manas; Fazio, Rosario; Vedral, Vlatko; Vinjanampathy, Sai; Kwek, Leong-Chuan

    2018-04-20

    It is desirable to observe synchronization of quantum systems in the quantum regime, defined by the low number of excitations and a highly nonclassical steady state of the self-sustained oscillator. Several existing proposals of observing synchronization in the quantum regime suffer from the fact that the noise statistics overwhelm synchronization in this regime. Here, we resolve this issue by driving a self-sustained oscillator with a squeezing Hamiltonian instead of a harmonic drive and analyze this system in the classical and quantum regime. We demonstrate that strong entrainment is possible for small values of squeezing, and in this regime, the states are nonclassical. Furthermore, we show that the quality of synchronization measured by the FWHM of the power spectrum is enhanced with squeezing.

  18. Squeezing Enhances Quantum Synchronization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sonar, Sameer; Hajdušek, Michal; Mukherjee, Manas; Fazio, Rosario; Vedral, Vlatko; Vinjanampathy, Sai; Kwek, Leong-Chuan

    2018-04-01

    It is desirable to observe synchronization of quantum systems in the quantum regime, defined by the low number of excitations and a highly nonclassical steady state of the self-sustained oscillator. Several existing proposals of observing synchronization in the quantum regime suffer from the fact that the noise statistics overwhelm synchronization in this regime. Here, we resolve this issue by driving a self-sustained oscillator with a squeezing Hamiltonian instead of a harmonic drive and analyze this system in the classical and quantum regime. We demonstrate that strong entrainment is possible for small values of squeezing, and in this regime, the states are nonclassical. Furthermore, we show that the quality of synchronization measured by the FWHM of the power spectrum is enhanced with squeezing.

  19. Noncoherent DTTLs for Symbol Synchronization

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Simon, Marvin; Tkacenko, Andre

    2007-01-01

    Noncoherent data-transition tracking loops (DTTLs) have been proposed for use as symbol synchronizers in digital communication receivers. [Communication- receiver subsystems that can perform their assigned functions in the absence of synchronization with the phases of their carrier signals ( carrier synchronization ) are denoted by the term noncoherent, while receiver subsystems that cannot function without carrier synchronization are said to be coherent. ] The proposal applies, more specifically, to receivers of binary phase-shift-keying (BPSK) signals generated by directly phase-modulating binary non-return-to-zero (NRZ) data streams onto carrier signals having known frequencies but unknown phases. The proposed noncoherent DTTLs would be modified versions of traditional DTTLs, which are coherent. The symbol-synchronization problem is essentially the problem of recovering symbol timing from a received signal. In the traditional, coherent approach to symbol synchronization, it is necessary to establish carrier synchronization in order to recover symbol timing. A traditional DTTL effects an iterative process in which it first generates an estimate of the carrier phase in the absence of symbol-synchronization information, then uses the carrier-phase estimate to obtain an estimate of the symbol-synchronization information, then feeds the symbol-synchronization estimate back to the carrier-phase-estimation subprocess. In a noncoherent symbol-synchronization process, there is no need for carrier synchronization and, hence, no need for iteration between carrier-synchronization and symbol- synchronization subprocesses. The proposed noncoherent symbolsynchronization process is justified theoretically by a mathematical derivation that starts from a maximum a posteriori (MAP) method of estimation of symbol timing utilized in traditional, coherent DTTLs. In that MAP method, one chooses the value of a variable of interest (in this case, the offset in the estimated symbol

  20. Aspiration of breast abscess under ultrasound guidance: outcome obtained and factors affecting success.

    PubMed

    Elagili, Faisal; Abdullah, Norlia; Fong, Liew; Pei, Tan

    2007-01-01

    To assess ultrasonographically (US) guided needle aspiration of breast abscesses as an alternative to surgical incision and drainage. In our prospective study, 30 patients with 31 breast abscesses (one patient had bilateral breast abscess) underwent percutaneous breast abscess drainage under US guidance with local anaesthesia and oral antibiotics between 1 January 2004 and 31 March 2005. These patients consisted of 16 (53.3%) non-lactating and 14 (46.7%) lactating women, with ages ranging from 18 to 68 years (median, 28 years). The racial distribution comprised 26 (86.7%) Malays, three (10%) Chinese and one (3.3%) Indian. All patients had the chief complaint of breast swelling and 25 (83.3%) had breast pain. Clinically, 28 (93.3%) were found to have a palpable mass. Nine (30%) lesions were in the upper outer quadrant of the left breast. US diameters ranged from 1 to 15 cm (median, 4 cm). The pus volumes varied from 1 to 200 mL (median, 14 mL). Fifteen (50%) patients required only a single aspiration, 10 required multiple aspirations and five required incision and drainage. Those patients in whom needle aspiration failed had multiloculated lesions irrespective of abscess volume and size. Needle aspiration with ultrasound guidance is an effective treatment for breast abscess irrespective of abscess volume and size.

  1. Medical issues in synchronized skating.

    PubMed

    Abbott, Kristin; Hecht, Suzanne

    2013-01-01

    Synchronized skating is a unique sport of team skating and currently represents the largest competitive discipline in U.S. Figure Skating. Synchronized skating allows skaters to compete as part of a team with opportunities to represent their country in international competitions. As the popularity of the sport continues to grow, more of these athletes will present to sports medicine clinics with injuries and illnesses related to participation in synchronized skating. The purpose of this article is to review the common injuries and medical conditions affecting synchronized skaters.

  2. Feasibility study of contralateral risk-reducing mastectomy with breast reconstruction for breast cancer patients with BRCA mutations in Japan.

    PubMed

    Yoshimura, Akiyo; Okumura, Seiko; Sawaki, Masataka; Hattori, Masaya; Ishiguro, Junko; Adachi, Yayoi; Kotani, Haruru; Gondo, Naomi; Kataoka, Ayumi; Iwase, Madoka; Onishi, Sakura; Sugino, Kayoko; Terada, Mitsuo; Horisawa, Nanae; Mori, Makiko; Takaiso, Nobue; Hyodo, Ikuo; Iwata, Hiroji

    2018-03-08

    Contralateral risk-reducing mastectomy (CRRM) for breast cancer patients with BRCA mutations has been reported to not only reduce breast cancer incidence but also to improve survival. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend providing CRRM to women with BRCA mutations who desire CRRM after risk-reduction counseling. However, in Japan, CRRM cannot be performed generally because it is not covered by health insurance. Thus, we conducted a feasibility study to confirm the safety of CRRM. CRRM with bilateral breast reconstructions were performed for breast cancer patients with BRCA mutations. The primary endpoint was early adverse events within 3 months, and secondary endpoints were late adverse events. Between August 2014 and November 2016, ten patients were enrolled. The median age was 37.5 years, and five of the patients had the BRCA1 mutation while five had the BRCA2 mutation. Six patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Eight patients selected silicone breast implants, and two patients selected transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap reconstruction. Pathological findings showed no evidence of occult breast cancers in any of the patients. At a median of 25.5 months follow-up time, CRRM-related early adverse events were hematoma (subsequently removed by re-operation; grade 2, n = 1), wound infection (grade 2, n = 1), skin ulceration (grade 1, n = 2) and wound pain (grade 1, n = 1). Overall, there were no grade 3 or more severe adverse events. Our results confirm that CRRM with reconstruction could be performed safely.

  3. Co-existence of breast and ovarian cancers in BRCA germ-line mutation carriers

    PubMed Central

    Dilawari, A; Cangiarella, J; Smith, J; Huang, A; Downey, A; Muggia, F

    2008-01-01

    The co-existence of breast and ovarian cancers in the same individual should raise suspicion of a hereditary process. Patients with either BRCA1 or BRCA2 germ-line mutations have an average risk of 39% and 11% respectively of developing ovarian cancer by the age of 70; they have a risk of 35–85% of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. We report here unusual pathologic features in a BRCA2 germ-line mutation carrier recently diagnosed with synchronous breast and ovarian cancers, and summarize the findings in six other women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer either simultaneously with the diagnosis of breast cancer or at varying times after the diagnosis. While in most instances this may be a coincidental occurrence in highly susceptible individuals, the patient we highlight raises the provocative hypothesis that at times breast cancer metastasizes to the ovaries of mutation carriers and stimulates the development of an ovarian cancer as well as other cancers. In addition, these ovarian cancers may have different mechanisms of metastases predisposing them to travel to unusual sites. PMID:22275985

  4. Bilateral hydronephrosis

    MedlinePlus

    ... general problems with urination. Alternative Names Hydronephrosis - bilateral Images Female urinary tract Male urinary tract References Elder JS. Obstruction of the urinary tract. In: Kliegman RM, ...

  5. Bilateral Testicular Tumors Resulting in Recurrent Cushing Disease After Bilateral Adrenalectomy.

    PubMed

    Puar, Troy; Engels, Manon; van Herwaarden, Antonius E; Sweep, Fred C G J; Hulsbergen-van de Kaa, Christina; Kamphuis-van Ulzen, Karin; Chortis, Vasileios; Arlt, Wiebke; Stikkelbroeck, Nike; Claahsen-van der Grinten, Hedi L; Hermus, Ad R M M

    2017-02-01

    Recurrence of hypercortisolism in patients after bilateral adrenalectomy for Cushing disease is extremely rare. We present a 27-year-old man who previously underwent bilateral adrenalectomy for Cushing disease with complete clinical resolution. Cushingoid features recurred 12 years later, with bilateral testicular enlargement. Hormonal tests confirmed adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-dependent Cushing disease. Surgical resection of the testicular tumors led to clinical and biochemical remission. Gene expression analysis of the tumor tissue by quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed high expression of all key steroidogenic enzymes. Adrenocortical-specific genes were 5.1 × 105 (CYP11B1), 1.8 × 102 (CYP11B2), and 6.3 × 104 (MC2R) times higher than nonsteroidogenic fibroblast control. This correlated with urine steroid metabolome profiling showing 2 fivefold increases in the excretion of the metabolites of 11-deoxycortisol, 21-deoxycortisol, and total glucocorticoids. Leydig-specific genes were 4.3 × 101 (LHCGR) and 9.3 × 100 (HSD17B3) times higher than control, and urinary steroid profiling showed twofold increased excretion of the major androgen metabolites androsterone and etiocholanolone. These distinctly increased steroid metabolites were suppressed by dexamethasone but unresponsive to human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation, supporting the role of ACTH, but not luteinizing hormone, in regulating tumor-specific steroid excess. We report bilateral testicular tumors occurring in a patient with recurrent Cushing disease 12 years after bilateral adrenalectomy. Using mRNA expression analysis and steroid metabolome profiling, the tumors demonstrated both adrenocortical and gonadal steroidogenic properties, similar to testicular adrenal rest tumors found in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, suggesting the presence of pluripotent cells even in patients without congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Copyright © 2017 by the Endocrine Society

  6. Amnesia Associated with Bilateral Hippocampal and Bilateral Basal Ganglia Lesions in Anoxia with Stimulant Use

    PubMed Central

    Haut, Marc W.; Hogg, Jeffery P.; Marshalek, Patrick J.; Suter, Blair C.; Miller, Liv E.

    2017-01-01

    We report a case of a 55-year-old man with ischemic lesions of the bilateral hippocampus and bilateral basal ganglia following a myocardial infarction during an episode of multiple drug use with subsequent anoxia requiring resuscitation. He presented for a neuropsychological evaluation with an anterograde amnesia for both explicit and procedural memory. There are two main points to this case, the unique aspects of the bilateral multifocal lesions and the functional, cognitive impact of these lesions. We hypothesize that his rare focal bilateral lesions of both the hippocampus and basal ganglia are a result of anoxia acting in synergy with his stimulant drug use (cocaine and/or 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine). Second, his unique lesions produced an explicit and implicit/procedural anterograde amnesia. PMID:28228745

  7. Amnesia Associated with Bilateral Hippocampal and Bilateral Basal Ganglia Lesions in Anoxia with Stimulant Use.

    PubMed

    Haut, Marc W; Hogg, Jeffery P; Marshalek, Patrick J; Suter, Blair C; Miller, Liv E

    2017-01-01

    We report a case of a 55-year-old man with ischemic lesions of the bilateral hippocampus and bilateral basal ganglia following a myocardial infarction during an episode of multiple drug use with subsequent anoxia requiring resuscitation. He presented for a neuropsychological evaluation with an anterograde amnesia for both explicit and procedural memory. There are two main points to this case, the unique aspects of the bilateral multifocal lesions and the functional, cognitive impact of these lesions. We hypothesize that his rare focal bilateral lesions of both the hippocampus and basal ganglia are a result of anoxia acting in synergy with his stimulant drug use (cocaine and/or 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine). Second, his unique lesions produced an explicit and implicit/procedural anterograde amnesia.

  8. Multiple speed expandable bit synchronizer

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bundinger, J. M.

    1979-01-01

    A multiple speed bit synchronizer was designed for installation in an inertial navigation system data decoder to extract non-return-to-zero level data and clock signal from biphase level data. The circuit automatically senses one of four pre-determined biphase data rates and synchronizes the proper clock rate to the data. Through a simple expansion of the basic design, synchronization of more than four binarily related data rates can be accomplished. The design provides an easily adaptable, low cost, low power alternative to external bit synchronizers with additional savings in size and weight.

  9. Bilateral Breast Enlargement: An Unusual Presentation of Superior Vena Cava Obstruction in a Hemodialysis Patient with Fibrosing Mediastinitis

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Goo, Dong Erk, E-mail: degoo@hosp.sch.ac.kr; Kim, Yong Jae; Choi, Deuk Lin

    2011-02-15

    A 67-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease presented with profound edema of both breasts. The presence of a patent hemodialysis basilic transposition fistula and superior vena cava obstruction (SVC), due to fibrosing mediastinitis, was demonstrated by the use of fistulography. Endovascular treatment with a balloon and stent caused immediate resolution of the breast edema.

  10. Detection of mass regions in mammograms by bilateral analysis adapted to breast density using similarity indexes and convolutional neural networks.

    PubMed

    Bandeira Diniz, João Otávio; Bandeira Diniz, Pedro Henrique; Azevedo Valente, Thales Levi; Corrêa Silva, Aristófanes; de Paiva, Anselmo Cardoso; Gattass, Marcelo

    2018-03-01

    The processing of medical image is an important tool to assist in minimizing the degree of uncertainty of the specialist, while providing specialists with an additional source of detect and diagnosis information. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer that affects the female population around the world. It is also the most deadly type of cancer among women. It is the second most common type of cancer among all others. The most common examination to diagnose breast cancer early is mammography. In the last decades, computational techniques have been developed with the purpose of automatically detecting structures that maybe associated with tumors in mammography examination. This work presents a computational methodology to automatically detection of mass regions in mammography by using a convolutional neural network. The materials used in this work is the DDSM database. The method proposed consists of two phases: training phase and test phase. The training phase has 2 main steps: (1) create a model to classify breast tissue into dense and non-dense (2) create a model to classify regions of breast into mass and non-mass. The test phase has 7 step: (1) preprocessing; (2) registration; (3) segmentation; (4) first reduction of false positives; (5) preprocessing of regions segmented; (6) density tissue classification (7) second reduction of false positives where regions will be classified into mass and non-mass. The proposed method achieved 95.6% of accuracy in classify non-dense breasts tissue and 97,72% accuracy in classify dense breasts. To detect regions of mass in non-dense breast, the method achieved a sensitivity value of 91.5%, and specificity value of 90.7%, with 91% accuracy. To detect regions in dense breasts, our method achieved 90.4% of sensitivity and 96.4% of specificity, with accuracy of 94.8%. According to the results achieved by CNN, we demonstrate the feasibility of using convolutional neural networks on medical image processing techniques for

  11. Long-term outcome of accelerated partial breast irradiation using a multilumen balloon applicator in a patient with existing breast implants.

    PubMed

    Akhtari, Mani; Nitsch, Paige L; Bass, Barbara L; Teh, Bin S

    2015-01-01

    Accelerated partial breast irradiation is now an accepted component of breast-conserving therapy. However, data regarding long-term outcomes of patients treated with multilumen catheter systems who have existing breast implants are limited. We report the treatment and outcome of our patient who had existing bilateral silicone subpectoral implants at the time of presentation. Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy of the right breast showed infiltrating mucinous carcinoma. Right breast lumpectomy revealed an 8 mm area of infiltrating ductal carcinoma with mucinous features and nuclear grade 1. A 4-5 cm Contura (Bard Biopsy Systems, Tempe, AZ) device was placed, and she was treated over the course of 5 days twice daily to a dose of 34 Gy using a high-dose-rate iridium-192 source. The planning target volume for evaluation was 73.9 cc. The percentage of the planning target volume for evaluation receiving 90%, 95%, and 100% of the prescribed dose was 99.9%, 99.3%, and 97.8%, respectively. The total implant volume was 234.5 cc and received a mean dose of 15.4 Gy and a maximum dose of 72.8 Gy. The percentage of implant volume receiving 50%, 75%, 100%, and 200% of the prescribed dose was 31.1%, 16.5%, 8.6%, 2.0%, and 0%, respectively. Maximum skin dose was 97% of the prescribed dose. With a followup of nearly 5 years, she continues to be cancer free with minimal late toxicities and good to excellent cosmetic outcome. Accelerated partial breast irradiation using a multilumen balloon applicator in patients with existing breast implants can safely be performed with excellent long-term cosmetic outcome. Further studies are needed to establish the absolute dosimetric tolerance of breast implants. Copyright © 2015 American Brachytherapy Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  12. The transverse musculocutaneous gracilis flap for breast reconstruction: guidelines for flap and patient selection.

    PubMed

    Schoeller, Thomas; Huemer, Georg M; Wechselberger, Gottfried

    2008-07-01

    The transverse musculocutaneous gracilis (TMG) flap has received little attention in the literature as a valuable alternative source of donor tissue in the setting of breast reconstruction. The authors give an in-depth review of their experience with breast reconstruction using the TMG flap. A retrospective review of 111 patients treated with a TMG flap for breast reconstruction in an immediate or a delayed setting between August of 2002 and July of 2007 was undertaken. Of these, 26 patients underwent bilateral reconstruction and 68 underwent unilateral reconstruction, and 17 patients underwent reconstruction unilaterally with a double TMG flap. Patient age ranged between 24 and 65 years (mean, 37 years). Twelve patients had to be taken back to the operating room because of flap-related problems and nine patients underwent successful revision microsurgically, resulting in three complete flap losses in a series of 111 patients with 154 transplanted TMG flaps. Partial flap loss was encountered in two patients, whereas fat tissue necrosis was managed conservatively in six patients. Donor-site morbidity was an advantage of this flap, with a concealed scar and minimal contour irregularities of the thigh, even in unilateral harvest. Complications included delayed wound healing (n = 10), hematoma (n = 5), and transient sensory deficit over the posterior thigh (n = 49). The TMG flap is more than an alternative to the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap in microsurgical breast reconstruction in selected patients. In certain indications, such as bilateral reconstructions, it possibly surpasses the DIEP flap because of a better concealed donor scar and easier harvest.

  13. Successful laparoscopic investigation and resection of solitary colonic metastasis from breast cancer (with video).

    PubMed

    Maekawa, Hisatsugu; Fujikawa, Takahisa; Tanaka, Akira

    2012-11-14

    Metastasis to gastrointestinal tract from breast cancer is an uncommon situation. We report a case of a 52-year-old woman who had a mastectomy for solid-tubular carcinoma of the breast 16 years ago and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for metastatic ovarian tumours 5 years ago, was incidentally found to have colonic metastatic tumour detected by positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT) during follow-up. After identifying a definite location of the tumour in the ascending colon under laparoscopic investigation, laparoscopy-assisted partial colectomy was successfully performed. Histopathology of the resected specimen showed it to be metastasis from solid-tubular carcinoma of the breast. We should be aware that breast cancer can metastasise to the gastrointestinal tract even after the long interval from initial therapy. An index of high suspicion and detailed assessment is mandatory to make a correct diagnosis and following less invasive surgical treatment.

  14. Synchronous diagnosis of metastatic cancer to the thyroid is associated with poor prognosis.

    PubMed

    Chen, Jeng-Yeou; Chen, I-Wen; Hsueh, Chuen; Chao, Tzu-Chieh; Gao, Bing-Ru; Lin, Jen-Der

    2015-03-01

    The incidence and histopathological characteristics of metastatic cancers to the thyroid (MCT) are different in various geographic areas. The aim of this study was to elucidate the clinical features of MCT, including histocytological diagnosis and therapeutic outcomes. A retrospective analysis of patients with thyroid cancer treated and followed up at the Chang Gung Medical Center in Linkou was performed. Among 3957 patients with thyroid cancer, a total of 56 patients with MCT were evaluated. Of them, 47 patients (83.9 %) were diagnosed with malignancy or suspected malignancy via fine needle aspiration cytology of the thyroid. Synchronous primary cancers were diagnosed in 44 of the patients with MCT. Of the MCT, metastasis of lung cancer to the thyroid was the leading category. Other primary sites of MCT were the head and neck, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, breast, cervix, and unknown primary site. The mean 5-, 10-, 20-, and 60-month survival rates were 46.4, 32.1, 21.4, and 7.9 % for the patients. Patients with metachronous thyroid carcinoma had significantly better survival than patients with synchronous cancer. In conclusions, the incidence of MCT in patients with thyroid cancer is low; however, the prognosis of patients with MCT is poor, especially in patients diagnosed with synchronous primary tumors. In this study, MCT commonly originated in organs located near the thyroid, such as the lungs, head, and neck. Close monitoring of these malignancies may improve the prognosis of patients with MCT in the future.

  15. Total bilateral salpingectomy versus partial bilateral salpingectomy for permanent sterilization during cesarean delivery.

    PubMed

    Shinar, Shiri; Blecher, Yair; Alpern, Sharon; Many, Ariel; Ashwal, Eran; Amikam, Uri; Cohen, Aviad

    2017-05-01

    Sterilization via bilateral total salpingectomy is slowly replacing partial salpingectomy, as it is believed to decrease the incidence of ovarian cancer. Our objective was to compare short-term intra and post-operative complication rates of bilateral total salpingectomy versus partial salpingectomy performed during the course of a cesarean delivery. A large series of tubal sterilizations during cesarean sections were studied in a single tertiary medical center between 1/2014 and 8/2016 before and after a policy change was made, switching from partial salpingectomy to total salpingectomy. Patients who underwent bilateral partial salpingectomy using the modified Pomeroy technique were compared with those who underwent total salpingectomy. Operative length, estimated blood loss, postpartum fever, wound infection, need for re-laparotomy, hospitalization length, and blood transfusions were compared. During the study period, 149 women met inclusion criteria. Fifty parturients underwent bilateral total salpingectomy and 99 underwent partial salpingectomy in the course of the cesarean section. Demographic, obstetrical, and surgical characteristics were similar in both groups. Mean cesarean section duration was comparable for partial salpingectomy and total salpingectomy (a median of 35 min in both groups, P = 0.92). Complications were rare in both groups with no significant differences in rates of postpartum fever, wound infection, re-laparotomy, hospitalization length, estimated blood loss, transfusions, and readmissions within 1-month postpartum. Rates of short-term complications are similar in patients undergoing bilateral partial salpingectomy and total salpingectomy during cesarean deliveries, making the latter a feasible alternative to the former.

  16. Synchronization controller design of two coupling permanent magnet synchronous motors system with nonlinear constraints.

    PubMed

    Deng, Zhenhua; Shang, Jing; Nian, Xiaohong

    2015-11-01

    In this paper, two coupling permanent magnet synchronous motors system with nonlinear constraints is studied. First of all, the mathematical model of the system is established according to the engineering practices, in which the dynamic model of motor and the nonlinear coupling effect between two motors are considered. In order to keep the two motors synchronization, a synchronization controller based on load observer is designed via cross-coupling idea and interval matrix. Moreover, speed, position and current signals of two motor all are taken as self-feedback signal as well as cross-feedback signal in the proposed controller, which is conducive to improving the dynamical performance and the synchronization performance of the system. The proposed control strategy is verified by simulation via Matlab/Simulink program. The simulation results show that the proposed control method has a better control performance, especially synchronization performance, than that of the conventional PI controller. Copyright © 2015 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Comparison of breast percent density estimation from raw versus processed digital mammograms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Diane; Gavenonis, Sara; Conant, Emily; Kontos, Despina

    2011-03-01

    We compared breast percent density (PD%) measures obtained from raw and post-processed digital mammographic (DM) images. Bilateral raw and post-processed medio-lateral oblique (MLO) images from 81 screening studies were retrospectively analyzed. Image acquisition was performed with a GE Healthcare DS full-field DM system. Image post-processing was performed using the PremiumViewTM algorithm (GE Healthcare). Area-based breast PD% was estimated by a radiologist using a semi-automated image thresholding technique (Cumulus, Univ. Toronto). Comparison of breast PD% between raw and post-processed DM images was performed using the Pearson correlation (r), linear regression, and Student's t-test. Intra-reader variability was assessed with a repeat read on the same data-set. Our results show that breast PD% measurements from raw and post-processed DM images have a high correlation (r=0.98, R2=0.95, p<0.001). Paired t-test comparison of breast PD% between the raw and the post-processed images showed a statistically significant difference equal to 1.2% (p = 0.006). Our results suggest that the relatively small magnitude of the absolute difference in PD% between raw and post-processed DM images is unlikely to be clinically significant in breast cancer risk stratification. Therefore, it may be feasible to use post-processed DM images for breast PD% estimation in clinical settings. Since most breast imaging clinics routinely use and store only the post-processed DM images, breast PD% estimation from post-processed data may accelerate the integration of breast density in breast cancer risk assessment models used in clinical practice.

  18. Neural Synchronization and Cryptography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ruttor, Andreas

    2007-11-01

    Neural networks can synchronize by learning from each other. In the case of discrete weights full synchronization is achieved in a finite number of steps. Additional networks can be trained by using the inputs and outputs generated during this process as examples. Several learning rules for both tasks are presented and analyzed. In the case of Tree Parity Machines synchronization is much faster than learning. Scaling laws for the number of steps needed for full synchronization and successful learning are derived using analytical models. They indicate that the difference between both processes can be controlled by changing the synaptic depth. In the case of bidirectional interaction the synchronization time increases proportional to the square of this parameter, but it grows exponentially, if information is transmitted in one direction only. Because of this effect neural synchronization can be used to construct a cryptographic key-exchange protocol. Here the partners benefit from mutual interaction, so that a passive attacker is usually unable to learn the generated key in time. The success probabilities of different attack methods are determined by numerical simulations and scaling laws are derived from the data. They show that the partners can reach any desired level of security by just increasing the synaptic depth. Then the complexity of a successful attack grows exponentially, but there is only a polynomial increase of the effort needed to generate a key. Further improvements of security are possible by replacing the random inputs with queries generated by the partners.

  19. Incremental cancer detection of locoregional restaging with diagnostic mammography combined with whole breast and regional nodal ultrasound in women with newly-diagnosed breast cancer

    PubMed Central

    Candelaria, Rosalind P.; Huang, Monica L.; Adrada, Beatriz E.; Bassett, Roland; Hunt, Kelly K.; Kuerer, Henry M.; Smith, Benjamin D.; Chavez-MacGregor, Mariana; Yang, Wei Tse

    2016-01-01

    RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES To determine if locoregional restaging with diagnostic mammography and ultrasound of the whole breast and regional nodes performed for quality assurance in women with newly-diagnosed breast cancer referred to a tertiary care center yields incremental cancer detection. MATERIALS AND METHODS An institutional review board-approved retrospective, single institution database review was performed on the first 1000 women referred to our center in 2010 with a provisional breast cancer diagnosis. Locoregional restaging consisted of diagnostic full-field digital mammography combined with ultrasound of the whole breast and regional nodal basins. Bilateral whole breast ultrasound was performed in women with contralateral mammographic abnormality or had heterogeneously or extremely dense parenchyma. Demographic, clinical and pathologic factors were analyzed. RESULTS Final analyses included 401 women. 34% (138/401) of women did not have their outside images available for review upon referral. Median age was 54 years, range 21–92; median tumor size was 2.9 cm, range 0.6–18, for women whose disease was upstaged and 2.2 cm, range 0.4–15, for women whose disease was not upstaged. Incremental cancer detection rates were 15.5% (62/401) in the ipsilateral breast and 3.9% (6/154) in the contralateral breast (p<0.0001). Total upstage rate was 25% (100/401). Surgical management changed from segmentectomy to mastectomy in 12% (50/401). Re-excision rate after segmentectomy was 19% (35/189). CONCLUSION Locoregional restaging with diagnostic mammography combined with whole breast and regional nodal ultrasound that is performed for standardization of the imaging workup for newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients can reduce underestimation of disease burden and impact therapeutic planning. PMID:27955877

  20. Synchronization in complex networks

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Arenas, A.; Diaz-Guilera, A.; Moreno, Y.

    Synchronization processes in populations of locally interacting elements are in the focus of intense research in physical, biological, chemical, technological and social systems. The many efforts devoted to understand synchronization phenomena in natural systems take now advantage of the recent theory of complex networks. In this review, we report the advances in the comprehension of synchronization phenomena when oscillating elements are constrained to interact in a complex network topology. We also overview the new emergent features coming out from the interplay between the structure and the function of the underlying pattern of connections. Extensive numerical work as well as analyticalmore » approaches to the problem are presented. Finally, we review several applications of synchronization in complex networks to different disciplines: biological systems and neuroscience, engineering and computer science, and economy and social sciences.« less

  1. Nutritional recommendations for synchronized swimming.

    PubMed

    Robertson, Sherry; Benardot, Dan; Mountjoy, Margo

    2014-08-01

    The sport of synchronized swimming is unique, because it combines speed, power, and endurance with precise synchronized movements and high-risk acrobatic maneuvers. Athletes must train and compete while spending a great amount of time underwater, upside down, and without the luxury of easily available oxygen. This review assesses the scientific evidence with respect to the physiological demands, energy expenditure, and body composition in these athletes. The role of appropriate energy requirements and guidelines for carbohydrate, protein, fat, and micronutrients for elite synchronized swimmers are reviewed. Because of the aesthetic nature of the sport, which prioritizes leanness, the risks of energy and macronutrient deficiencies are of significant concern. Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport and disordered eating/eating disorders are also of concern for these female athletes. An approach to the healthy management of body composition in synchronized swimming is outlined. Synchronized swimmers should be encouraged to consume a well-balanced diet with sufficient energy to meet demands and to time the intake of carbohydrate, protein, and fat to optimize performance and body composition. Micronutrients of concern for this female athlete population include iron, calcium, and vitamin D. This article reviews the physiological demands of synchronized swimming and makes nutritional recommendations for recovery, training, and competition to help optimize athletic performance and to reduce risks for weight-related medical issues that are of particular concern for elite synchronized swimmers.

  2. Automated fibroglandular tissue segmentation and volumetric density estimation in breast MRI using an atlas-aided fuzzy C-means method

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wu, Shandong; Weinstein, Susan P.; Conant, Emily F.

    Purpose: Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in the clinical management of breast cancer. Studies suggest that the relative amount of fibroglandular (i.e., dense) tissue in the breast as quantified in MR images can be predictive of the risk for developing breast cancer, especially for high-risk women. Automated segmentation of the fibroglandular tissue and volumetric density estimation in breast MRI could therefore be useful for breast cancer risk assessment. Methods: In this work the authors develop and validate a fully automated segmentation algorithm, namely, an atlas-aided fuzzy C-means (FCM-Atlas) method, to estimate the volumetric amount of fibroglandularmore » tissue in breast MRI. The FCM-Atlas is a 2D segmentation method working on a slice-by-slice basis. FCM clustering is first applied to the intensity space of each 2D MR slice to produce an initial voxelwise likelihood map of fibroglandular tissue. Then a prior learned fibroglandular tissue likelihood atlas is incorporated to refine the initial FCM likelihood map to achieve enhanced segmentation, from which the absolute volume of the fibroglandular tissue (|FGT|) and the relative amount (i.e., percentage) of the |FGT| relative to the whole breast volume (FGT%) are computed. The authors' method is evaluated by a representative dataset of 60 3D bilateral breast MRI scans (120 breasts) that span the full breast density range of the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System. The automated segmentation is compared to manual segmentation obtained by two experienced breast imaging radiologists. Segmentation performance is assessed by linear regression, Pearson's correlation coefficients, Student's pairedt-test, and Dice's similarity coefficients (DSC). Results: The inter-reader correlation is 0.97 for FGT% and 0.95 for |FGT|. When compared to the average of the two readers’ manual segmentation, the proposed FCM-Atlas method achieves a correlation ofr

  3. Automated fibroglandular tissue segmentation and volumetric density estimation in breast MRI using an atlas-aided fuzzy C-means method

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wu, Shandong; Weinstein, Susan P.; Conant, Emily F.

    2013-12-15

    Purpose: Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in the clinical management of breast cancer. Studies suggest that the relative amount of fibroglandular (i.e., dense) tissue in the breast as quantified in MR images can be predictive of the risk for developing breast cancer, especially for high-risk women. Automated segmentation of the fibroglandular tissue and volumetric density estimation in breast MRI could therefore be useful for breast cancer risk assessment. Methods: In this work the authors develop and validate a fully automated segmentation algorithm, namely, an atlas-aided fuzzy C-means (FCM-Atlas) method, to estimate the volumetric amount of fibroglandularmore » tissue in breast MRI. The FCM-Atlas is a 2D segmentation method working on a slice-by-slice basis. FCM clustering is first applied to the intensity space of each 2D MR slice to produce an initial voxelwise likelihood map of fibroglandular tissue. Then a prior learned fibroglandular tissue likelihood atlas is incorporated to refine the initial FCM likelihood map to achieve enhanced segmentation, from which the absolute volume of the fibroglandular tissue (|FGT|) and the relative amount (i.e., percentage) of the |FGT| relative to the whole breast volume (FGT%) are computed. The authors' method is evaluated by a representative dataset of 60 3D bilateral breast MRI scans (120 breasts) that span the full breast density range of the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System. The automated segmentation is compared to manual segmentation obtained by two experienced breast imaging radiologists. Segmentation performance is assessed by linear regression, Pearson's correlation coefficients, Student's pairedt-test, and Dice's similarity coefficients (DSC). Results: The inter-reader correlation is 0.97 for FGT% and 0.95 for |FGT|. When compared to the average of the two readers’ manual segmentation, the proposed FCM-Atlas method achieves a correlation ofr

  4. Association between mammogram density and background parenchymal enhancement of breast MRI

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aghaei, Faranak; Danala, Gopichandh; Wang, Yunzhi; Zarafshani, Ali; Qian, Wei; Liu, Hong; Zheng, Bin

    2018-02-01

    Breast density has been widely considered as an important risk factor for breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between mammogram density results and background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) of breast MRI. A dataset involving breast MR images was acquired from 65 high-risk women. Based on mammography density (BIRADS) results, the dataset was divided into two groups of low and high breast density cases. The Low-Density group has 15 cases with mammographic density (BIRADS 1 and 2), while the High-density group includes 50 cases, which were rated by radiologists as mammographic density BIRADS 3 and 4. A computer-aided detection (CAD) scheme was applied to segment and register breast regions depicted on sequential images of breast MRI scans. CAD scheme computed 20 global BPE features from the entire two breast regions, separately from the left and right breast region, as well as from the bilateral difference between left and right breast regions. An image feature selection method namely, CFS method, was applied to remove the most redundant features and select optimal features from the initial feature pool. Then, a logistic regression classifier was built using the optimal features to predict the mammogram density from the BPE features. Using a leave-one-case-out validation method, the classifier yields the accuracy of 82% and area under ROC curve, AUC=0.81+/-0.09. Also, the box-plot based analysis shows a negative association between mammogram density results and BPE features in the MRI images. This study demonstrated a negative association between mammogram density and BPE of breast MRI images.

  5. Physical Layer Ethernet Clock Synchronization

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-11-01

    42 nd Annual Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI) Meeting 77 PHYSICAL LAYER ETHERNET CLOCK SYNCHRONIZATION Reinhard Exel, Georg...oeaw.ac.at Nikolaus Kerö Oregano Systems, Mohsgasse 1, 1030 Wien, Austria E-mail: nikolaus.keroe@oregano.at Abstract Clock synchronization ...is a service widely used in distributed networks to coordinate data acquisition and actions. As the requirement to achieve tighter synchronization

  6. Synchronous occurrence of breast cancer and pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma: management and review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Salemis, Nikolaos S; Seretis, Charalampos; Nakos, Georgios; Kantounakis, Ioannis; Stoumpos, Charalampos; Spiliopoulos, Kyriakos

    2013-01-01

    Pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma (PSH) is a rare tumor accounting for 0.2-1% of all primary lung tumors. Simultaneous occurrence of PSH with breast cancer has very rarely been reported in the literature. We describe here a case of simultaneous occurrence of PSH with breast cancer. A pathological diagnosis of PSH was confirmed by computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy. Due to the patient's poor performance status and the benign nature of PSH, surgical excision was not considered and the patient was managed conservatively with regular follow-up. Although surgical excision is the preferred treatment for PSH, conservative management may be a reasonable option in carefully selected patients.

  7. Bilateral tension pneumothorax related to acupuncture.

    PubMed

    Tagami, Rumi; Moriya, Takashi; Kinoshita, Kosaku; Tanjoh, Katsuhisa

    2013-06-01

    We report on a patient with a rare case of bilateral tension pneumothorax that occurred after acupuncture. A 69-year-old large-bodied man, who otherwise had no risk factors for spontaneous pneumothorax, presented with chest pressure, cold sweats and shortness of breath. Immediately after bilateral pneumothorax had been identified on a chest radiograph in the emergency room, his blood pressure and percutaneous oxygen saturation suddenly decreased to 78 mm Hg and 86%, respectively. We confirmed deterioration in his cardiopulmonary status and diagnosed bilateral tension pneumothorax. We punctured his chest bilaterally and inserted chest tubes for drainage. His vital signs promptly recovered. After the bilateral puncture and drainage, we learnt that he had been treated with acupuncture on his upper back. We finally diagnosed a bilateral tension pneumothorax based on the symptoms that appeared 8 h after the acupuncture. Because the patient had no risk factors for spontaneous pneumothorax, no alternative diagnosis was proposed. We recommend that patients receiving acupuncture around the chest wall must be adequately informed of the possibility of complications and expected symptoms, as a definitive diagnosis can be difficult without complete information.

  8. [Bilateral caudate head infarcts].

    PubMed

    Kuriyama, N; Yamamoto, Y; Akiguchi, I; Oiwa, K; Nakajima, K

    1997-11-01

    We reported a 67-year-old woman with bilateral caudate head infarcts. She developed sudden mutism followed by abulia. She was admitted to our hospital 2 months after ictus for further examination. She showed prominent abulia and was inactive, slow and apathetic. Spontaneous activity and speech, immediate response to queries, spontaneous word recall and attention and persistence to complex programs were disturbed. Apparent motor disturbance, gait disturbance, motor aphasia, apraxia and remote memory disturbance were not identified. She seemed to be depressed but not sad. Brain CT and MRI revealed bilateral caudate head hemorrhagic infarcts including bilateral anterior internal capsules, in which the left lesion was more extensive than right one and involved the part of the left putamen. These infarct locations were thought to be supplied by the area around the medial striate artery including Heubner's arteries and the A1 perforator. Digital subtraction angiography showed asymptomatic right internal carotid artery occlusion. She bad had hypertension, diabetes mellitus and atrial fibrillation and also had a left atrium with a large diameter. The infarcts were thought to be caused by cardioembolic occlusion to the distal portion of the left internal carotid artery. Although some variations of vasculature at the anterior communicating artery might contribute to bilateral medial striate artery infarcts, we could not demonstrate such abnormalities by angiography. Bilateral caudate head infarcts involving the anterior internal capsule may cause prominent abulia. The patient did not improve by drug and rehabilitation therapy and died suddenly a year after discharge.

  9. Bilateral, independent juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma: case report.

    PubMed

    Mørkenborg, M-L; Frendø, M; Stavngaard, T; Von Buchwald, C

    2015-10-01

    Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is a benign, vascular tumour that primarily occurs in adolescent males. Despite its benign nature, aggressive growth patterns can cause potential life-threatening complications. Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is normally unilateral, originating from the sphenopalatine artery, but bilateral symptoms can occur if a large tumour extends to the contralateral side of the nasopharynx. This paper presents the first reported case of true bilateral extensive juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma involving clinically challenging pre-surgical planning and surgical strategy. A 21-year-old male presented with increasing bilateral nasal obstruction and discharge. Examination revealed tumours bilaterally and imaging demonstrated non-contiguous tumours. Pre-operative angiography showed strictly ipsilateral vascular supplies requiring bilateral embolisation. Radical removal performed as one-step, computer-assisted functional endoscopic sinus surgery was performed. The follow-up period was uncomplicated. This case illustrates the importance of suspecting bilateral juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma in patients presenting with bilateral symptoms. Our management, including successful pre-operative planning, enabled one-step total removal of both tumours and rapid patient recovery.

  10. Synchronization in counter-rotating oscillators.

    PubMed

    Bhowmick, Sourav K; Ghosh, Dibakar; Dana, Syamal K

    2011-09-01

    An oscillatory system can have opposite senses of rotation, clockwise or anticlockwise. We present a general mathematical description of how to obtain counter-rotating oscillators from the definition of a dynamical system. A type of mixed synchronization emerges in counter-rotating oscillators under diffusive scalar coupling when complete synchronization and antisynchronization coexist in different state variables. We present numerical examples of limit cycle van der Pol oscillator and chaotic Rössler and Lorenz systems. Stability conditions of mixed synchronization are analytically obtained for both Rössler and Lorenz systems. Experimental evidences of counter-rotating limit cycle and chaotic oscillators and mixed synchronization are given in electronic circuits.

  11. Continuous and discontinuous transitions to synchronization.

    PubMed

    Wang, Chaoqing; Garnier, Nicolas B

    2016-11-01

    We describe how the transition to synchronization in a system of globally coupled Stuart-Landau oscillators changes from continuous to discontinuous when the nature of the coupling is moved from diffusive to reactive. We explain this drastic qualitative change as resulting from the co-existence of a particular synchronized macrostate together with the trivial incoherent macrostate, in a range of parameter values for which the latter is linearly stable. In contrast to the paradigmatic Kuramoto model, this particular state observed at the synchronization transition contains a finite, non-vanishing number of synchronized oscillators, which results in a discontinuous transition. We consider successively two situations where either a fully synchronized state or a partially synchronized state exists at the transition. Thermodynamic limit and finite size effects are briefly discussed, as well as connections with recently observed discontinuous transitions.

  12. Compatibility of motion facilitates visuomotor synchronization.

    PubMed

    Hove, Michael J; Spivey, Michael J; Krumhansl, Carol L

    2010-12-01

    Prior research indicates that synchronized tapping performance is very poor with flashing visual stimuli compared with auditory stimuli. Three finger-tapping experiments compared flashing visual metronomes with visual metronomes containing a spatial component, either compatible, incompatible, or orthogonal to the tapping action. In Experiment 1, synchronization success rates increased dramatically for spatiotemporal sequences of both geometric and biological forms over flashing sequences. In Experiment 2, synchronization performance was best when target sequences and movements were directionally compatible (i.e., simultaneously down), followed by orthogonal stimuli, and was poorest for incompatible moving stimuli and flashing stimuli. In Experiment 3, synchronization performance was best with auditory sequences, followed by compatible moving stimuli, and was worst for flashing and fading stimuli. Results indicate that visuomotor synchronization improves dramatically with compatible spatial information. However, an auditory advantage in sensorimotor synchronization persists.

  13. Bilateral neuroretinitis associated with mumps.

    PubMed

    Khubchandani, Raju; Rane, Tej; Agarwal, Premlata; Nabi, Fazal; Patel, Phiroze; Shetty, Avinash K

    2002-10-01

    Involvement of the optic nerve is a rare complication of mumps infection. To report a case of bilateral neuroretinitis complicating a mumps infection and to review 5 previously reported cases. Case report and literature review. Tertiary hospital. A 7-year-old girl had sudden-onset blindness due to bilateral neuroretinitis. Approximately 3 weeks prior to the initial examination, she developed a self-limited febrile illness with parotid swelling and subsequent meningoencephalitis. Mumps was determined to be the underlying cause of the meningoencephalitis and bilateral optic neuritis because of the exposure history in this nonvaccinated child, the typical clinical signs and symptoms, and the positive serologic test results. Recovery of visual function was gradual but nearly complete. Physicians should be aware that optic nerve involvement may be a manifestation of mumps infection. The delayed onset of optic neuritis, the bilateral involvement, and the near complete recovery suggest an immune-mediated pathogenesis.

  14. Parental satisfaction in Ugandan children with cleft lip and palate following synchronous lip and palatal repair.

    PubMed

    Luyten, Anke; D'haeseleer, Evelien; Budolfsen, Dorte; Hodges, Andrew; Galiwango, George; Vermeersch, Hubert; Van Lierde, Kristiane

    2013-01-01

    The purpose of the present case control study was to assess parental satisfaction with speech and facial appearance in Ugandan children with complete unilateral or bilateral cleft lip and palate (CLP), who underwent a synchronous lip and palatal closure. The results are compared with an age- and gender-matched control group. The experimental group consisted of the parents or guardians of 44 Ugandan patients (21 males, 23 females) with complete unilateral or bilateral CLP (mean age: 3;1 years). The control group included the foster mothers of 44 orphan children matched by age and gender (mean age: 3;7 years). A survey based on the Cleft Evaluation Profile was used to assess the perceived satisfaction for individual features related to cleft care. Overall high levels of satisfaction were observed in the experimental group for all features (range: 56-100%). No significant differences could be established regarding age, gender, age of lip and palatal closure, cleft type or maternal vs. paternal judgments. In participants who were dissatisfied with the appearance of the lip, the time period between the cleft closure and the survey was significantly larger compared with satisfied participants. Furthermore, significantly lower levels of satisfaction were observed in the cleft group for speech and the appearance of the teeth and the nose compared with the control group. Satisfaction with speech and facial appearance in Ugandan children with cleft lip and/or palate is important since normal esthetics and speech predominantly determine the children's social acceptance in the Ugandan society. As a result of reading this manuscript, the reader will be able to explain the attitudes of parents toward the surgical repair of their children's cleft lip and palate. As a result of reading this manuscript, the reader will be able to identify differences in parental attitudes toward synchronous lip and palate repair. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  15. Bilateral medial medullary infarction due to bilateral vertebral artery dissection.

    PubMed

    Fukuda, Masafumi; Aiba, Toyotaka; Takahashi, Sho

    2004-03-01

    We describe a 52-year-old woman who experienced transient motor weakness and numbness of the left extremities and presented 2 days later with severe hemiparesis and sensory impairment of the right extremities and right lingual palsy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed bilateral upper medial medullary infarction, primarily in the left ventral portion. The findings of both three-dimensional (3D) computed tomographic and conventional angiography suggested dissection of both intracranial vertebral arteries (VAs). Medial medullary infarction is generally caused by atherosclerosis within a VA or anterior spinal artery. This is the first report of bilateral medial medullary infarction due to dissection of both intracranial VAs.

  16. Synchronization of cyclic power grids: Equilibria and stability of the synchronous state

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xi, Kaihua; Dubbeldam, Johan L. A.; Lin, Hai Xiang

    2017-01-01

    Synchronization is essential for the proper functioning of power grids; we investigate the synchronous states and their stability for cyclic power grids. We calculate the number of stable equilibria and investigate both the linear and nonlinear stabilities of the synchronous state. The linear stability analysis shows that the stability of the state, determined by the smallest nonzero eigenvalue, is inversely proportional to the size of the network. We use the energy barrier to measure the nonlinear stability and calculate it by comparing the potential energy of the type-1 saddles with that of the stable synchronous state. We find that the energy barrier depends on the network size (N) in a more complicated fashion compared to the linear stability. In particular, when the generators and consumers are evenly distributed in an alternating way, the energy barrier decreases to a constant when N approaches infinity. For a heterogeneous distribution of generators and consumers, the energy barrier decreases with N. The more heterogeneous the distribution is, the stronger the energy barrier depends on N. Finally, we find that by comparing situations with equal line loads in cyclic and tree networks, tree networks exhibit reduced stability. This difference disappears in the limit of N →∞ . This finding corroborates previous results reported in the literature and suggests that cyclic (sub)networks may be applied to enhance power transfer while maintaining stable synchronous operation.

  17. Case report of metastatic invasive breast lobular carcinoma to the urinary bladder.

    PubMed

    Al Ibraheemi, Ahmed A

    2016-01-01

    Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women except skin cancer. The common metastatic sites include lymph node, lung, liver and bone. However, metastasis to the bladder is extremely rare. To our knowledge, this is the first case of breast cancer metastasis to urinary bladder in Jordan which is reported. Nine years after the initial diagnosis of lobular breast carcinoma, the patient suffered from left side leg edema; Ultrasonography and Computed tomography scanning showed thickening of posterior bladder wall and bilateral hydronephrosis. The biopsy of the bladder confirmed metastatic lesion from the breast. In contrast to the primary tumor, bladder metastasis showed negative expression of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors. However, Her2neu test was negative in both. The reported case confirms that bladder metastasis from breast cancer tend to occur late after the diagnosis of the primary tumor. Furthermore, bladder metastasis can be asymptomatic and heterogeneous in ER and PR expression in comparison with the primary tumor. This report supports the need for careful follow-up and early intervention whenever such clinical situation is suspected. This report supports further evaluation of receptor status at time of metastasis.

  18. Generalized synchronization between chimera states

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Andrzejak, Ralph G.; Ruzzene, Giulia; Malvestio, Irene

    2017-05-01

    Networks of coupled oscillators in chimera states are characterized by an intriguing interplay of synchronous and asynchronous motion. While chimera states were initially discovered in mathematical model systems, there is growing experimental and conceptual evidence that they manifest themselves also in natural and man-made networks. In real-world systems, however, synchronization and desynchronization are not only important within individual networks but also across different interacting networks. It is therefore essential to investigate if chimera states can be synchronized across networks. To address this open problem, we use the classical setting of ring networks of non-locally coupled identical phase oscillators. We apply diffusive drive-response couplings between pairs of such networks that individually show chimera states when there is no coupling between them. The drive and response networks are either identical or they differ by a variable mismatch in their phase lag parameters. In both cases, already for weak couplings, the coherent domain of the response network aligns its position to the one of the driver networks. For identical networks, a sufficiently strong coupling leads to identical synchronization between the drive and response. For non-identical networks, we use the auxiliary system approach to demonstrate that generalized synchronization is established instead. In this case, the response network continues to show a chimera dynamics which however remains distinct from the one of the driver. Hence, segregated synchronized and desynchronized domains in individual networks congregate in generalized synchronization across networks.

  19. Cupping artifact correction and automated classification for high-resolution dedicated breast CT images.

    PubMed

    Yang, Xiaofeng; Wu, Shengyong; Sechopoulos, Ioannis; Fei, Baowei

    2012-10-01

    To develop and test an automated algorithm to classify the different tissues present in dedicated breast CT images. The original CT images are first corrected to overcome cupping artifacts, and then a multiscale bilateral filter is used to reduce noise while keeping edge information on the images. As skin and glandular tissues have similar CT values on breast CT images, morphologic processing is used to identify the skin mask based on its position information. A modified fuzzy C-means (FCM) classification method is then used to classify breast tissue as fat and glandular tissue. By combining the results of the skin mask with the FCM, the breast tissue is classified as skin, fat, and glandular tissue. To evaluate the authors' classification method, the authors use Dice overlap ratios to compare the results of the automated classification to those obtained by manual segmentation on eight patient images. The correction method was able to correct the cupping artifacts and improve the quality of the breast CT images. For glandular tissue, the overlap ratios between the authors' automatic classification and manual segmentation were 91.6% ± 2.0%. A cupping artifact correction method and an automatic classification method were applied and evaluated for high-resolution dedicated breast CT images. Breast tissue classification can provide quantitative measurements regarding breast composition, density, and tissue distribution.

  20. Cupping artifact correction and automated classification for high-resolution dedicated breast CT images

    PubMed Central

    Yang, Xiaofeng; Wu, Shengyong; Sechopoulos, Ioannis; Fei, Baowei

    2012-01-01

    Purpose: To develop and test an automated algorithm to classify the different tissues present in dedicated breast CT images. Methods: The original CT images are first corrected to overcome cupping artifacts, and then a multiscale bilateral filter is used to reduce noise while keeping edge information on the images. As skin and glandular tissues have similar CT values on breast CT images, morphologic processing is used to identify the skin mask based on its position information. A modified fuzzy C-means (FCM) classification method is then used to classify breast tissue as fat and glandular tissue. By combining the results of the skin mask with the FCM, the breast tissue is classified as skin, fat, and glandular tissue. To evaluate the authors’ classification method, the authors use Dice overlap ratios to compare the results of the automated classification to those obtained by manual segmentation on eight patient images. Results: The correction method was able to correct the cupping artifacts and improve the quality of the breast CT images. For glandular tissue, the overlap ratios between the authors’ automatic classification and manual segmentation were 91.6% ± 2.0%. Conclusions: A cupping artifact correction method and an automatic classification method were applied and evaluated for high-resolution dedicated breast CT images. Breast tissue classification can provide quantitative measurements regarding breast composition, density, and tissue distribution. PMID:23039675

  1. Transverse musculocutaneous gracilis flap for treatment of capsular contracture in tertiary breast reconstruction.

    PubMed

    Pülzl, Petra; Huemer, Georg M; Schoeller, Thomas

    2015-02-01

    Capsular contracture is a common complication associated with implant-based breast reconstruction and augmentation leading to pain, displacement, and rupture. After capsulectomy and implant exchange, the problem often reappears. We performed 52 deepithelialized free transverse musculocutaneous gracilis (TMG) flaps in 33 patients for tertiary breast reconstruction or augmentation of small- and medium-sized breasts. The indications for implant removal were unnatural feel and emotion of their breasts with foreign body feel, asymmetry, pain, and sensation of cold. Anyway, most of the patients did not have a severe capsular contracture deformity. The TMG flap is formed into a cone shape by bringing the tips of the ellipse together. Depending on the contralateral breast, the muscle can also be shaped in an S-form to get more projection if needed. The operating time for unilateral TMG flap breast reconstruction or augmentation was on average 3 hours and for bilateral procedure 5 hours. One patient had a secondary revision of the donor site due to disruption of the normal gluteal fold. Eighty percent of the unilateral TMG flap reconstructions had a lipofilling procedure afterward to correct small irregularities or asymmetry. The advantages of the TMG flap such as short harvesting time, inconspicuous donor site, and the possibility of having a natural breast shape make it our first choice to treat capsular contracture after breast reconstruction and augmentation.

  2. Evaluation of expert criteria for preoperative magnetic resonance imaging of newly diagnosed breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Behrendt, Carolyn E; Tumyan, Lusine; Gonser, Laura; Shaw, Sara L; Vora, Lalit; Paz, I Benjamin; Ellenhorn, Joshua D I; Yim, John H

    2014-08-01

    Despite 2 randomized trials reporting no reduction in operations or local recurrence at 1 year, preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly used in diagnostic workup of breast cancer. We evaluated 5 utilization criteria recently proposed by experts. Of women (n = 340) newly diagnosed with unilateral breast cancer who underwent bilateral MRI, most (69.4%) met at least 1 criterion before MRI: mammographic density (44.4%), under consideration for partial breast irradiation (PBI) (19.7%), genetic-familial risk (12.9%), invasive lobular carcinoma (11.8%), and multifocal/multicentric disease (10.6%). MRI detected occult malignant lesion or extension of index lesion in 21.2% of index, 3.3% of contralateral, breasts. No expert criterion was associated with MRI-detected malignant lesion, which associated instead with pre-MRI plan of lumpectomy without PBI (48.2% of subjects): Odds Ratio 3.05, 95% CI 1.57-5.91 (p adjusted for multiple hypothesis testing = 0.007, adjusted for index-vs-contralateral breast and covariates). The expert guidelines were not confirmed by clinical evidence. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Gastric Metastasis as the First Presentation One Year Before Diagnosis of Primary Breast Cancer.

    PubMed

    Woo, Joohyun; Lee, Joo-Ho; Lee, Kyoung Eun; Sung, Sun Hee; Lim, Woosung

    2018-03-26

    BACKGROUND Metastasis to the stomach can be found as the first presentation of breast cancer, although it is very rare. The authors report an unusual case of metastasis to the stomach as the first presentation of breast cancer, which had a good prognosis. CASE REPORT A 51-year-old female underwent radical subtotal gastrectomy and chemotherapy because of gastric cancer with distant metastasis. At the time of diagnosis of gastric cancer, she had a negative result from routine mammography. One year later, a newly detected lesion on routine mammography was confirmed as breast cancer. Initial diagnosis of gastric cancer was changed to metastatic carcinoma from breast cancer through immunohistochemistry after bilateral mastectomy. After the completion of chemotherapy, she is currently receiving treatment with letrozole, without recurrence for 66 months. CONCLUSIONS Considering metastasis from breast cancer might be needed when unusual presentation of gastric cancer is observed even though gastric cancer is still one of the most common malignancies in Korea. Immunohistochemical analysis is helpful for diagnosis. Surgery for metastatic carcinoma of the stomach could be another option for treatment.

  4. OMEGA Navigation System Synchronization

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1982-12-01

    DEC 1982 2. REPORT TYPE 3. DATES COVERED 00-00-1982 to 00-00-1982 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE OMEGA Navigation System Synchronization 5a. CONTRACT...l execution of ONSOD’s annual $5 mi l l ion budget. OMEGA SYSTEM SYNCHRONIZATION One of ONSOD’s p r inc ipa l missions i s t o ensure the...OMEGA system i s maintained within es tabl ished timing t o l e r a ~ c e s . A l l OMEGA s t a t i o n s transmissions a r e synchronized , so t h

  5. Synchronization in interdependent networks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Um, Jaegon; Minnhagen, Petter; Kim, Beom Jun

    2011-06-01

    We explore the synchronization behavior in interdependent systems, where the one-dimensional (1D) network (the intranetwork coupling strength JI) is ferromagnetically intercoupled (the strength J) to the Watts-Strogatz (WS) small-world network (the intranetwork coupling strength JII). In the absence of the internetwork coupling (J =0), the former network is well known not to exhibit the synchronized phase at any finite coupling strength, whereas the latter displays the mean-field transition. Through an analytic approach based on the mean-field approximation, it is found that for the weakly coupled 1D network (JI≪1) the increase of J suppresses synchrony, because the nonsynchronized 1D network becomes a heavier burden for the synchronization process of the WS network. As the coupling in the 1D network becomes stronger, it is revealed by the renormalization group (RG) argument that the synchronization is enhanced as JI is increased, implying that the more enhanced partial synchronization in the 1D network makes the burden lighter. Extensive numerical simulations confirm these expected behaviors, while exhibiting a reentrant behavior in the intermediate range of JI. The nonmonotonic change of the critical value of JII is also compared with the result from the numerical RG calculation.

  6. A chimeric path to neuronal synchronization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Essaki Arumugam, Easwara Moorthy; Spano, Mark L.

    2015-01-01

    Synchronization of neuronal activity is associated with neurological disorders such as epilepsy. This process of neuronal synchronization is not fully understood. To further our understanding, we have experimentally studied the progression of this synchronization from normal neuronal firing to full synchronization. We implemented nine FitzHugh-Nagumo neurons (a simplified Hodgkin-Huxley model) via discrete electronics. For different coupling parameters (synaptic strengths), the neurons in the ring were either unsynchronized or completely synchronized when locally coupled in a ring. When a single long-range connection (nonlocal coupling) was introduced, an intermediate state known as a chimera appeared. The results indicate that (1) epilepsy is likely not only a dynamical disease but also a topological disease, strongly tied to the connectivity of the underlying network of neurons, and (2) the synchronization process in epilepsy may not be an "all or none" phenomenon, but can pass through an intermediate stage (chimera).

  7. SU-E-T-209: Comparison of Plan Quality Between Arm Avoidance (AA) Vs. Non Arm Avoidance VMAT Planning Techniques for Breast Cancer Patients with Bilateral Implant Reconstructions Receiving Postmastectomy Radiation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kuo, L; Ballangrud, A; Ho, A

    Purpose: Breast cancer patients with bilateral implant reconstructions who require postmastectomy radiotherapy can pose unique treatment planning challenges. The use of VMAT may provide advantages over conventional tangent or multi-beam IMRT techniques. Moreover, daily setup uncertainly of the arm position, however, could have significant impact on accurate dose delivery. This study compares the plan qualities between non-AA and AA VMAT techniques. Methods: Three breast cancer patients receiving left chest wall and regional nodal irradiation with bilateral implant reconstructions were studied. PTV included chest wall and IMNs (PTV-CW), and supraclavicular and axillary lymph nodes (PTV-SCV). For each patient, one non-AA VMATmore » plan (VMAT-S) with 4 partial arcs encompassing the ipsilateral arm and three AA VMAT plans where no arcs were entering or existing through the ipsilateral arm were generated. VMAT-AA1 uses 2 arcs for PTV-CW and 2 arcs for PTV-SCV. VMAT-AA2 used two static fields for PTV-SCV with 2 arcs for PTV-CW. VMAT-AA3 used 2 narrow arcs for PTV-CW and 2 long arcs for all PTVs. Prescription dose (PD) was 50 Gy (25 fractions). All plans were normalized to have 95% of PD to 95 % of PTV. PTV dose inhomogeneity and dose to the heart, left lung, right thyroid dose and left humerus were evaluated. Results: For VMAT-S, VMAT-AA1, VMAT-AA2 and VMAT-AA3, respectively, the average and standard deviation (in Gy unless specified otherwise) of PTV D05 are 54.7±0.9, 55.9±0.4, 56.7±0.7 and 55.7±0.4; mean Heart dose: 7.1±0.7, 7.2±0.8, 7.3±0.9 and 6.9±1.0; left lung V20Gy (in %): 28.1±1.0, 28.8+2.2, 32.2±4.1 and 27.8±2.0; mean right thyroid dose: 8.1±0.6, 5.1±2.1, 2.1±0.4 and 5.0±2.0; mean left humerus dose: 20.0±4.4,15.6±4.4, 15.2±8.2 and 15.3±4.6. Conclusion: AA VMAT can produce acceptable clinical plans while eliminating dosimetric impact related to arm setup uncertainty. These data require validation in larger planning studies prior to routine

  8. A synchronous game for binary constraint systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, Se-Jin; Paulsen, Vern; Schafhauser, Christopher

    2018-03-01

    Recently, Slofstra proved that the set of quantum correlations is not closed. We prove that the set of synchronous quantum correlations is not closed, which implies his result, by giving an example of a synchronous game that has a perfect quantum approximate strategy but no perfect quantum strategy. We also exhibit a graph for which the quantum independence number and the quantum approximate independence number are different. We prove new characterisations of synchronous quantum approximate correlations and synchronous quantum spatial correlations. We solve the synchronous approximation problem of Dykema and the second author, which yields a new equivalence of Connes' embedding problem in terms of synchronous correlations.

  9. Silicone granuloma from ruptured breast implants as a cause of cervical lymphadenopathy

    PubMed Central

    Gallagher, G; Skelly, BL

    2016-01-01

    A 56-year-old woman with a 10-year history of bilateral silicone breast implants presented to the ear, nose and throat outpatient clinic with a 2-month history of a right-sided neck lump. She was found to have a 1.3cm supraclavicular lymph node that gave the clinical impression of being reactive. Ultrasonography guided fine needle aspiration was inconclusive and initial review of subsequent computed tomography failed to identify a cause. This was followed by excisional biopsy of the lymph node, which revealed a silicone granuloma that was linked to a ruptured right-sided breast implant placed ten years previously. This case highlights the importance for otolaryngologists to consider silicone granuloma among the differential diagnoses of cervical lymphadenopathy in patients with a history of silicone breast implants. Recognising this differential diagnosis could avoid undue anxiety for patient and clinician regarding more serious pathology. PMID:27167311

  10. Optimistic barrier synchronization

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nicol, David M.

    1992-01-01

    Barrier synchronization is fundamental operation in parallel computation. In many contexts, at the point a processor enters a barrier it knows that it has already processed all the work required of it prior to synchronization. The alternative case, when a processor cannot enter a barrier with the assurance that it has already performed all the necessary pre-synchronization computation, is treated. The problem arises when the number of pre-sychronization messages to be received by a processor is unkown, for example, in a parallel discrete simulation or any other computation that is largely driven by an unpredictable exchange of messages. We describe an optimistic O(log sup 2 P) barrier algorithm for such problems, study its performance on a large-scale parallel system, and consider extensions to general associative reductions as well as associative parallel prefix computations.

  11. A chimeric path to neuronal synchronization

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Essaki Arumugam, Easwara Moorthy; Spano, Mark L.

    2015-01-15

    Synchronization of neuronal activity is associated with neurological disorders such as epilepsy. This process of neuronal synchronization is not fully understood. To further our understanding, we have experimentally studied the progression of this synchronization from normal neuronal firing to full synchronization. We implemented nine FitzHugh-Nagumo neurons (a simplified Hodgkin-Huxley model) via discrete electronics. For different coupling parameters (synaptic strengths), the neurons in the ring were either unsynchronized or completely synchronized when locally coupled in a ring. When a single long-range connection (nonlocal coupling) was introduced, an intermediate state known as a chimera appeared. The results indicate that (1) epilepsy ismore » likely not only a dynamical disease but also a topological disease, strongly tied to the connectivity of the underlying network of neurons, and (2) the synchronization process in epilepsy may not be an “all or none” phenomenon, but can pass through an intermediate stage (chimera)« less

  12. Frame Synchronization Without Attached Sync Markers

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hamkins, Jon

    2011-01-01

    We describe a method to synchronize codeword frames without making use of attached synchronization markers (ASMs). Instead, the synchronizer identifies the code structure present in the received symbols, by operating the decoder for a handful of iterations at each possible symbol offset and forming an appropriate metric. This method is computationally more complex and doesn't perform as well as frame synchronizers that utilize an ASM; nevertheless, the new synchronizer acquires frame synchronization in about two seconds when using a 600 kbps software decoder, and would take about 15 milliseconds on prototype hardware. It also eliminates the need for the ASMs, which is an attractive feature for short uplink codes whose coding gain would be diminished by the overheard of ASM bits. The lack of ASMs also would simplify clock distribution for the AR4JA low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes and adds a small amount to the coding gain as well (up to 0.2 dB).

  13. Analysis of remote synchronization in complex networks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gambuzza, Lucia Valentina; Cardillo, Alessio; Fiasconaro, Alessandro; Fortuna, Luigi; Gómez-Gardeñes, Jesus; Frasca, Mattia

    2013-12-01

    A novel regime of synchronization, called remote synchronization, where the peripheral nodes form a phase synchronized cluster not including the hub, was recently observed in star motifs [Bergner et al., Phys. Rev. E 85, 026208 (2012)]. We show the existence of a more general dynamical state of remote synchronization in arbitrary networks of coupled oscillators. This state is characterized by the synchronization of pairs of nodes that are not directly connected via a physical link or any sequence of synchronized nodes. This phenomenon is almost negligible in networks of phase oscillators as its underlying mechanism is the modulation of the amplitude of those intermediary nodes between the remotely synchronized units. Our findings thus show the ubiquity and robustness of these states and bridge the gap from their recent observation in simple toy graphs to complex networks.

  14. Bilateral juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma: report of a case.

    PubMed

    Wu, Edward C; Chark, Davin W; Bhandarkar, Naveen D

    2014-07-01

    Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is the most common benign neoplasm of the nasopharynx. Almost always unilateral on diagnosis, JNAs are locally invasive and may extend across the midline, giving a false bilateral appearance; as such, true bilateral JNA is exceedingly rare. We present a recent case of true bilateral JNA. Single case report of a patient with bilateral JNA, including clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management. The patient presented with unilateral nasal obstruction and recurrent epistaxis. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated bilateral, noncontiguous masses. Angiography revealed independent vascular supplies from each respective side with no bilateral supply noted. The patient underwent preoperative embolization followed by endoscopic surgical removal of the larger mass; no complications were noted. Follow-up at 2 years demonstrated no recurrence or growth. The vast majority of JNAs are unilateral, though invasive growth to the contralateral side may appear "bilateral" in presentation. Proper identification of true bilateral JNA is helpful in guiding management, wherein excision of both tumors may not be necessary. © 2014 ARS-AAOA, LLC.

  15. Emotions promote social interaction by synchronizing brain activity across individuals

    PubMed Central

    Nummenmaa, Lauri; Glerean, Enrico; Viinikainen, Mikko; Jääskeläinen, Iiro P.; Hari, Riitta; Sams, Mikko

    2012-01-01

    Sharing others’ emotional states may facilitate understanding their intentions and actions. Here we show that networks of brain areas “tick together” in participants who are viewing similar emotional events in a movie. Participants’ brain activity was measured with functional MRI while they watched movies depicting unpleasant, neutral, and pleasant emotions. After scanning, participants watched the movies again and continuously rated their experience of pleasantness–unpleasantness (i.e., valence) and of arousal–calmness. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to derive multisubject voxelwise similarity measures [intersubject correlations (ISCs)] of functional MRI data. Valence and arousal time series were used to predict the moment-to-moment ISCs computed using a 17-s moving average. During movie viewing, participants' brain activity was synchronized in lower- and higher-order sensory areas and in corticolimbic emotion circuits. Negative valence was associated with increased ISC in the emotion-processing network (thalamus, ventral striatum, insula) and in the default-mode network (precuneus, temporoparietal junction, medial prefrontal cortex, posterior superior temporal sulcus). High arousal was associated with increased ISC in the somatosensory cortices and visual and dorsal attention networks comprising the visual cortex, bilateral intraparietal sulci, and frontal eye fields. Seed-voxel–based correlation analysis confirmed that these sets of regions constitute dissociable, functional networks. We propose that negative valence synchronizes individuals’ brain areas supporting emotional sensations and understanding of another’s actions, whereas high arousal directs individuals’ attention to similar features of the environment. By enhancing the synchrony of brain activity across individuals, emotions may promote social interaction and facilitate interpersonal understanding. PMID:22623534

  16. Incremental Cancer Detection of Locoregional Restaging with Diagnostic Mammography Combined with Whole-Breast and Regional Nodal Ultrasound in Women with Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer.

    PubMed

    Candelaria, Rosalind P; Huang, Monica L; Adrada, Beatriz E; Bassett, Roland; Hunt, Kelly K; Kuerer, Henry M; Smith, Benjamin D; Chavez-MacGregor, Mariana; Yang, Wei Tse

    2017-02-01

    This study aims to determine if locoregional restaging with diagnostic mammography and ultrasound (US) of the whole breast and regional nodes performed for quality assurance in women with newly diagnosed breast cancer who were referred to a tertiary care center yields incremental cancer detection. An institutional review board-approved retrospective, single-institution database review was performed on the first 1000 women referred to our center in 2010 with a provisional breast cancer diagnosis. Locoregional restaging consisted of diagnostic full-field digital mammography combined with US of the whole breast and regional nodal basins. Bilateral whole-breast US was performed in women with contralateral mammographic abnormality or had heterogeneously or extremely dense parenchyma. Demographic, clinical, and pathologic factors were analyzed. Final analyses included 401 women. Of the 401 women, 138 (34%) did not have their outside images available for review upon referral. The median age was 54 years (range 21-92); the median tumor size was 2.9 cm (range 0.6-18.0) for women whose disease was upstaged and 2.2 cm (range 0.4-15.0) for women whose disease was not upstaged. Incremental cancer detection rates were 15.5% (62 of 401) in the ipsilateral breast and 3.9% (6 of 154) in the contralateral breast (P < 0.0001). The total upstage rate was 25% (100 of 401). Surgical management changed from segmentectomy to mastectomy in 12% (50 of 401). The re-excision rate after segmentectomy was 19% (35 of 189). Locoregional restaging with diagnostic mammography combined with whole-breast and regional nodal US that is performed for standardization of the imaging workup for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients can reduce underestimation of disease burden and impact therapeutic planning. Copyright © 2017 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Response to apatinib in chemotherapy-failed advanced spindle cell breast carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Na; Liu, Congmin; Hou, Helei; Zhang, Chuantao; Liu, Dong; Wang, Guanqun; Liu, Kewei; Zhu, Jingjuan; Lv, Hongying; Li, Tianjun; Zhang, Xiaochun

    2016-11-01

    Spindle cell carcinoma of the breast is a rare subtype of metaplastic carcinoma, and no effective chemotherapy special for metaplastic carcinoma exists until now. As spindle cell carcinomas of the breast are typically "Triple Negative", endocrine therapy and molecular therapy targeted to Her2 might not be favorable, resulting in poor prognosis. Apatinib is currently being tested in patients with breast or lung cancers. Here we report a successful case using Apatinib to treat spindle cell carcinoma of breast.A 52- year- old woman presented with a gradually enlarged lump in left breast, which was revealed to be a triple-negative spindle cell carcinoma, underwent a modified radical mastectomy. After the first line chemotherapy with Cyclophosphamide and Epirubicin, multiple metastases in bilateral lung and left anterior thoracic wall appeared. After disease progressed with therapy of Bevacizumab combined with Albumin-bound Paclitaxel and Cisplatin, we treated the patient with Apatinib according to her VEGFR expression, which showed nearly complete response and controllable and tolerated side effects. Next-generation sequencing analysis of the tumor specimen and real time ctDNA was performed to observe the mutated gene numbers matched with therapeutic effect. The present case can help to provide a new and effective therapy strategy to treat advanced spindle cell carcinoma.

  18. Response to apatinib in chemotherapy-failed advanced spindle cell breast carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Zhou, Na; Liu, Congmin; Hou, Helei; Zhang, Chuantao; Liu, Dong; Wang, Guanqun; Liu, Kewei; Zhu, Jingjuan; Lv, Hongying; Li, Tianjun; Zhang, Xiaochun

    2016-01-01

    Spindle cell carcinoma of the breast is a rare subtype of metaplastic carcinoma, and no effective chemotherapy special for metaplastic carcinoma exists until now. As spindle cell carcinomas of the breast are typically “Triple Negative”, endocrine therapy and molecular therapy targeted to Her2 might not be favorable, resulting in poor prognosis. Apatinib is currently being tested in patients with breast or lung cancers. Here we report a successful case using Apatinib to treat spindle cell carcinoma of breast. A 52- year- old woman presented with a gradually enlarged lump in left breast, which was revealed to be a triple-negative spindle cell carcinoma, underwent a modified radical mastectomy. After the first line chemotherapy with Cyclophosphamide and Epirubicin, multiple metastases in bilateral lung and left anterior thoracic wall appeared. After disease progressed with therapy of Bevacizumab combined with Albumin-bound Paclitaxel and Cisplatin, we treated the patient with Apatinib according to her VEGFR expression, which showed nearly complete response and controllable and tolerated side effects. Next-generation sequencing analysis of the tumor specimen and real time ctDNA was performed to observe the mutated gene numbers matched with therapeutic effect. The present case can help to provide a new and effective therapy strategy to treat advanced spindle cell carcinoma. PMID:27738308

  19. The linear synchronization measures of uterine EMG signals: Evidence of synchronized action potentials during propagation.

    PubMed

    Domino, Malgorzata; Pawlinski, Bartosz; Gajewski, Zdzislaw

    2016-11-01

    Evaluation of synchronization between myoelectric signals can give new insights into the functioning of the complex system of porcine myometrium. We propose a model of uterine contractions according to the hypothesis of action potentials similarity which is possible to detect during propagation in the uterine wall. We introduce similarity measures based on the concept of synchronization as used in matching linear signals such as electromyographic (EMG) time series data. The aim was to present linear measures to assess synchronization between contractions in different topographic regions of the uterus. We use the cross-correlation function (ƒx,y[l], ƒy,z[l]) and the cross-coherence function (Cxy[ƒ], Cyz[ƒ]) to assess synchronization between three data series of a diestral uterine EMG bundles in porcine reproductive tract. Spontaneous uterine activity was recorded using telemetry method directly by three-channel transmitter and three silver bipolar needle electrodes sutured on different topographic regions of the reproductive tract in the sow. The results show the usefulness of the cross-coherence function in that synchronization between uterine horn and corpus uteri for multiple action potentials (bundles) could be observed. The EMG bundles synchronization may be used to investigate the direction and velocity of EMG signals propagation in porcine reproductive tract. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  20. RUN LENGTH SYNCHRONIZATION TECHNIQUES

    DTIC Science & Technology

    An important aspect of digital communications is the problem of determining efficient methods for acquiring block synchronization . In this paper we...utilizes an N-digit sync sequence as prefix to the data blocks. The results of this study show that this technique is a practical method for acquiring block synchronization .

  1. Synchronization of coupled large-scale Boolean networks

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Li, Fangfei, E-mail: li-fangfei@163.com

    2014-03-15

    This paper investigates the complete synchronization and partial synchronization of two large-scale Boolean networks. First, the aggregation algorithm towards large-scale Boolean network is reviewed. Second, the aggregation algorithm is applied to study the complete synchronization and partial synchronization of large-scale Boolean networks. Finally, an illustrative example is presented to show the efficiency of the proposed results.

  2. Robust finite-time chaos synchronization of uncertain permanent magnet synchronous motors.

    PubMed

    Chen, Qiang; Ren, Xuemei; Na, Jing

    2015-09-01

    In this paper, a robust finite-time chaos synchronization scheme is proposed for two uncertain third-order permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs). The whole synchronization error system is divided into two cascaded subsystems: a first-order subsystem and a second-order subsystem. For the first subsystem, we design a finite-time controller based on the finite-time Lyapunov stability theory. Then, according to the backstepping idea and the adding a power integrator technique, a second finite-time controller is constructed recursively for the second subsystem. No exogenous forces are required in the controllers design but only the direct-axis (d-axis) and the quadrature-axis (q-axis) stator voltages are used as manipulated variables. Comparative simulations are provided to show the effectiveness and superior performance of the proposed method. Copyright © 2015 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Relevance of intraoperative indocyanine green injection in breast reconstruction using DIEP procedure for abdominal scars.

    PubMed

    Louges, M A; Bellaiche, J; Correia, N; Chiriac, S; François, C

    2016-06-01

    The presence of midline sub-umbilical and/or suprapubic scar can sometimes hinder breast reconstruction using deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) procedure. We report the use of indocyanine green injection in a 60-year-old woman in the context of deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) procedure for unilateral breast reconstruction (bilateral breast cancer) with abdominal scar (midline sub-umbilical scar and Pfannenstiel incision scar). This technique underlines the importance of neoangiogenesis mechanisms and helped simplify the surgical gesture initially planned (in order to ensure volume in spite of the scars as a DIEP procedure with double anastomoses was initially planned). This intraoperative vascular imaging technique is a minimally invasive, simple and quick procedure allowing the precise visualization of vascularized territories. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  4. Coupled lasers: phase versus chaos synchronization.

    PubMed

    Reidler, I; Nixon, M; Aviad, Y; Guberman, S; Friesem, A A; Rosenbluh, M; Davidson, N; Kanter, I

    2013-10-15

    The synchronization of chaotic lasers and the optical phase synchronization of light originating in multiple coupled lasers have both been extensively studied. However, the interplay between these two phenomena, especially at the network level, is unexplored. Here, we experimentally compare these phenomena by controlling the heterogeneity of the coupling delay times of two lasers. While chaotic lasers exhibit deterioration in synchronization as the time delay heterogeneity increases, phase synchronization is found to be independent of heterogeneity. The experimental results are found to be in agreement with numerical simulations for semiconductor lasers.

  5. HER2-positive double primary tumor of gastric and breast cancer occur synchronously in a patient: A case report

    PubMed Central

    OUYANG, QUCHANG; TIAN, CAN; GAO, JIANXIANG; HUANG, JIN; FU, HUA; HE, JINSONG; YANG, JIANBO

    2016-01-01

    The simultaneous occurrence of primary gastric cancer and breast cancer is rare, and the positive expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)2 in double primary carcinoma of gastric and breast cancer remains to be reported. The present study presented a 46-year-old woman complaining of irregular acid reflux and stomach discomfort. The stomach cancer was diagnosed by esophagogastroduodenoscopy examination of the pathological biopsies in 2010. The patient underwent a radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer, and postoperative pathological examination revealed moderately-poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with HER2 positive expression. The tumor invaded into the entire thickness of the gastric wall and lymph nodes. The patient received five treatments of postoperative chemotherapy. In August 2011, the patient felt a lump in the right breast. Simple excision of the right breast mass was performed on September 2011, and postoperative pathological examination revealed the invasive ductal carcinoma of the right breast with HER2 amplification by fluorescent in situ hybridization assay. The patient was treated with postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and also Trastuzumab target therapy. The patient succumbed to aggressive disease progression in March 2012. PMID:27123269

  6. Local synchronization of a complex network model.

    PubMed

    Yu, Wenwu; Cao, Jinde; Chen, Guanrong; Lü, Jinhu; Han, Jian; Wei, Wei

    2009-02-01

    This paper introduces a novel complex network model to evaluate the reputation of virtual organizations. By using the Lyapunov function and linear matrix inequality approaches, the local synchronization of the proposed model is further investigated. Here, the local synchronization is defined by the inner synchronization within a group which does not mean the synchronization between different groups. Moreover, several sufficient conditions are derived to ensure the local synchronization of the proposed network model. Finally, several representative examples are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed methods and theories.

  7. Population of 224 realistic human subject-based computational breast phantoms

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Erickson, David W.; Wells, Jered R., E-mail: jered.wells@duke.edu; Sturgeon, Gregory M.

    Purpose: To create a database of highly realistic and anatomically variable 3D virtual breast phantoms based on dedicated breast computed tomography (bCT) data. Methods: A tissue classification and segmentation algorithm was used to create realistic and detailed 3D computational breast phantoms based on 230 + dedicated bCT datasets from normal human subjects. The breast volume was identified using a coarse three-class fuzzy C-means segmentation algorithm which accounted for and removed motion blur at the breast periphery. Noise in the bCT data was reduced through application of a postreconstruction 3D bilateral filter. A 3D adipose nonuniformity (bias field) correction was thenmore » applied followed by glandular segmentation using a 3D bias-corrected fuzzy C-means algorithm. Multiple tissue classes were defined including skin, adipose, and several fractional glandular densities. Following segmentation, a skin mask was produced which preserved the interdigitated skin, adipose, and glandular boundaries of the skin interior. Finally, surface modeling was used to produce digital phantoms with methods complementary to the XCAT suite of digital human phantoms. Results: After rejecting some datasets due to artifacts, 224 virtual breast phantoms were created which emulate the complex breast parenchyma of actual human subjects. The volume breast density (with skin) ranged from 5.5% to 66.3% with a mean value of 25.3% ± 13.2%. Breast volumes ranged from 25.0 to 2099.6 ml with a mean value of 716.3 ± 386.5 ml. Three breast phantoms were selected for imaging with digital compression (using finite element modeling) and simple ray-tracing, and the results show promise in their potential to produce realistic simulated mammograms. Conclusions: This work provides a new population of 224 breast phantoms based on in vivo bCT data for imaging research. Compared to previous studies based on only a few prototype cases, this dataset provides a rich source of new cases spanning a

  8. Population of 224 realistic human subject-based computational breast phantoms

    PubMed Central

    Erickson, David W.; Wells, Jered R.; Sturgeon, Gregory M.; Dobbins, James T.; Segars, W. Paul; Lo, Joseph Y.

    2016-01-01

    Purpose: To create a database of highly realistic and anatomically variable 3D virtual breast phantoms based on dedicated breast computed tomography (bCT) data. Methods: A tissue classification and segmentation algorithm was used to create realistic and detailed 3D computational breast phantoms based on 230 + dedicated bCT datasets from normal human subjects. The breast volume was identified using a coarse three-class fuzzy C-means segmentation algorithm which accounted for and removed motion blur at the breast periphery. Noise in the bCT data was reduced through application of a postreconstruction 3D bilateral filter. A 3D adipose nonuniformity (bias field) correction was then applied followed by glandular segmentation using a 3D bias-corrected fuzzy C-means algorithm. Multiple tissue classes were defined including skin, adipose, and several fractional glandular densities. Following segmentation, a skin mask was produced which preserved the interdigitated skin, adipose, and glandular boundaries of the skin interior. Finally, surface modeling was used to produce digital phantoms with methods complementary to the XCAT suite of digital human phantoms. Results: After rejecting some datasets due to artifacts, 224 virtual breast phantoms were created which emulate the complex breast parenchyma of actual human subjects. The volume breast density (with skin) ranged from 5.5% to 66.3% with a mean value of 25.3% ± 13.2%. Breast volumes ranged from 25.0 to 2099.6 ml with a mean value of 716.3 ± 386.5 ml. Three breast phantoms were selected for imaging with digital compression (using finite element modeling) and simple ray-tracing, and the results show promise in their potential to produce realistic simulated mammograms. Conclusions: This work provides a new population of 224 breast phantoms based on in vivo bCT data for imaging research. Compared to previous studies based on only a few prototype cases, this dataset provides a rich source of new cases spanning a wide range

  9. Fully automated chest wall line segmentation in breast MRI by using context information

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wu, Shandong; Weinstein, Susan P.; Conant, Emily F.; Localio, A. Russell; Schnall, Mitchell D.; Kontos, Despina

    2012-03-01

    Breast MRI has emerged as an effective modality for the clinical management of breast cancer. Evidence suggests that computer-aided applications can further improve the diagnostic accuracy of breast MRI. A critical and challenging first step for automated breast MRI analysis, is to separate the breast as an organ from the chest wall. Manual segmentation or user-assisted interactive tools are inefficient, tedious, and error-prone, which is prohibitively impractical for processing large amounts of data from clinical trials. To address this challenge, we developed a fully automated and robust computerized segmentation method that intensively utilizes context information of breast MR imaging and the breast tissue's morphological characteristics to accurately delineate the breast and chest wall boundary. A critical component is the joint application of anisotropic diffusion and bilateral image filtering to enhance the edge that corresponds to the chest wall line (CWL) and to reduce the effect of adjacent non-CWL tissues. A CWL voting algorithm is proposed based on CWL candidates yielded from multiple sequential MRI slices, in which a CWL representative is generated and used through a dynamic time warping (DTW) algorithm to filter out inferior candidates, leaving the optimal one. Our method is validated by a representative dataset of 20 3D unilateral breast MRI scans that span the full range of the American College of Radiology (ACR) Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) fibroglandular density categorization. A promising performance (average overlay percentage of 89.33%) is observed when the automated segmentation is compared to manually segmented ground truth obtained by an experienced breast imaging radiologist. The automated method runs time-efficiently at ~3 minutes for each breast MR image set (28 slices).

  10. Macronuclear Cytology of Synchronized Tetrahymena pyriformis

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Cameron, I. L.; Padilla, G. M.; Miller, Jr., O. L.

    1966-05-01

    Elliott, Kennedy and Bak ('62) and Elliott ('63) followed fine structural changes in macronuclei of Tetrahymena pyriformis which were synchronized by the heat shock method of Scherbaum and Zeuthen ('54). Using Elliott's morphological descriptions as a basis, we designed our investigations with two main objectives: First, to again study the. morphological changes which occur in the macronucleus of Tetrahymena synchronized by the heat shock method. The second objective was to compare these observations with Tetrahymena synchronized by an alternate method recently reported by Padilla and Cameron ('64). Therefore, we were able to compare the results from two different synchronization methodsmore » and to contrast these findings with the macronuclear cytology of Tetrahymena taken from a logarithmically growing culture. Comparison of cells treated in these three different ways enables us to evaluate the two different synchronization methods and to gain more information on the structural changes taking place in the macronucleus of Tetrahymena as a function of the cell cycle. Our observations were confined primarily to nucleolar morphology. The results indicate that cells synchronized by the Padilla and Cameron method more closely resemble logarithmically growing Tetrahymena in the macronuclear structure than do cells obtained by the Scherbaum and·Zeuthen synchronization method. .« less

  11. Risk-reducing mastectomy for the prevention of primary breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Carbine, Nora E; Lostumbo, Liz; Wallace, Judi; Ko, Henry

    2018-04-05

    Recent progress in understanding the genetic basis of breast cancer and widely publicized reports of celebrities undergoing risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM) have increased interest in RRM as a method of preventing breast cancer. This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2004 and previously updated in 2006 and 2010. (i) To determine whether risk-reducing mastectomy reduces death rates from any cause in women who have never had breast cancer and in women who have a history of breast cancer in one breast, and (ii) to examine the effect of risk-reducing mastectomy on other endpoints, including breast cancer incidence, breast cancer mortality, disease-free survival, physical morbidity, and psychosocial outcomes. For this Review update, we searched Cochrane Breast Cancer's Specialized Register, MEDLINE, Embase and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) on 9 July 2016. We included studies in English. Participants included women at risk for breast cancer in at least one breast. Interventions included all types of mastectomy performed for the purpose of preventing breast cancer. At least two review authors independently abstracted data from each report. We summarized data descriptively; quantitative meta-analysis was not feasible due to heterogeneity of study designs and insufficient reporting. We analyzed data separately for bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy (BRRM) and contralateral risk-reducing mastectomy (CRRM). Four review authors assessed the methodological quality to determine whether or not the methods used sufficiently minimized selection bias, performance bias, detection bias, and attrition bias. All 61 included studies were observational studies with some methodological limitations; randomized trials were absent. The studies presented data on 15,077 women with a wide range of risk factors for breast cancer, who underwent RRM.Twenty-one BRRM studies looking at the incidence of breast cancer or disease-specific mortality, or

  12. Sensorimotor Synchronization across the Life Span

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Drewing, Knut; Aschersleben, Gisa; Li, Shu-Chen

    2006-01-01

    The present study investigates the contribution of general processing resources as well as other more specific factors to the life-span development of sensorimotor synchronization and its component processes. Within a synchronization tapping paradigm, a group of 286 participants, 6 to 88 years of age, were asked to synchronize finger taps with…

  13. Mammographic evidence of microenvironment changes in tumorous breasts.

    PubMed

    Marin, Zach; Batchelder, Kendra A; Toner, Brian C; Guimond, Lyne; Gerasimova-Chechkina, Evgeniya; Harrow, Amy R; Arneodo, Alain; Khalil, Andre

    2017-04-01

    The microenvironment of breast tumors plays a critical role in tumorigenesis. As long as the structural integrity of the microenvironment is upheld, the tumor is suppressed. If tissue structure is lost through disruptions in the normal cell cycle, the microenvironment may act as a tumor promoter. Therefore, the properties that distinguish between healthy and tumorous tissues may not be solely in the tumor characteristics but rather in surrounding non-tumor tissue. The goal of this paper was to show preliminary evidence that tissue disruption and loss of homeostasis in breast tissue microenvironment and breast bilateral asymmetry can be quantitatively and objectively assessed from mammography via a localized, wavelet-based analysis of the whole breast. A wavelet-based multifractal formalism called the 2D Wavelet Transform Modulus Maxima (WTMM) method was used to quantitate density fluctuations from mammographic breast tissue via the Hurst exponent (H). Each entire mammogram was cut in hundreds of 360 × 360 pixel subregions in a gridding scheme of overlapping sliding windows, with each window boundary separated by 32 pixels. The 2D WTMM method was applied to each subregion individually. A data mining approach was set up to determine which metrics best discriminated between normal vs. cancer cases. These same metrics were then used, without modification, to discriminate between normal vs. benign and benign vs. cancer cases. The density fluctuations in healthy mammographic breast tissue are either monofractal anti-correlated (H < 1/2) for fatty tissue or monofractal long-range correlated (H>1/2) for dense tissue. However, tissue regions with H~1/2, as well as left vs. right breast asymetries, were found preferably in tumorous (benign or cancer) breasts vs. normal breasts, as quantified via a combination metric yielding a P-value ~ 0.0006. No metric considered showed significant differences between cancer vs. benign breasts. Since mammographic tissue regions associated

  14. Foveal retinoschisis misdiagnosed as bilateral amblyopia.

    PubMed

    Kyung, Sungeun E; Lee, Minsoo

    2012-12-01

    Juvenile foveal retinoschisis is one of the most common causes of bilateral macular degeneration in young boys. School age with accommodative esotropia may develop amblyopia due to late correction of hyperopia. Retinoschisis is hard to diagnose in patient with subtle macula change and hyperopic amblyopia. We report a case of bilateral foveal retinoschisis before and after treatment with topical dorzolamide, which was misdiagnosed as bilateral hyperopic amblyopia. Optical coherence tomography should be considered in diagnostic procedures of children with hyperopic amblyopia.

  15. System and method to allow a synchronous motor to successfully synchronize with loads that have high inertia and/or high torque

    DOEpatents

    Melfi, Michael J.

    2015-10-20

    A mechanical soft-start type coupling is used as an interface between a line start, synchronous motor and a heavy load to enable the synchronous motor to bring the heavy load up to or near synchronous speed. The soft-start coupling effectively isolates the synchronous motor from the load for enough time to enable the synchronous motor to come up to full speed. The soft-start coupling then brings the load up to or near synchronous speed.

  16. Effects of frustration on explosive synchronization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huang, Xia; Gao, Jian; Sun, Yu-Ting; Zheng, Zhi-Gang; Xu, Can

    2016-12-01

    In this study, we consider the emergence of explosive synchronization in scale-free networks by considering the Kuramoto model of coupled phase oscillators. The natural frequencies of oscillators are assumed to be correlated with their degrees and frustration is included in the system. This assumption can enhance or delay the explosive transition to synchronization. Interestingly, a de-synchronization phenomenon occurs and the type of phase transition is also changed. Furthermore, we provide an analytical treatment based on a star graph, which resembles that obtained in scale-free networks. Finally, a self-consistent approach is implemented to study the de-synchronization regime. Our findings have important implications for controlling synchronization in complex networks because frustration is a controllable parameter in experiments and a discontinuous abrupt phase transition is always dangerous in engineering in the real world.

  17. Applying a CAD-generated imaging marker to assess short-term breast cancer risk

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mirniaharikandehei, Seyedehnafiseh; Zarafshani, Ali; Heidari, Morteza; Wang, Yunzhi; Aghaei, Faranak; Zheng, Bin

    2018-02-01

    Although whether using computer-aided detection (CAD) helps improve radiologists' performance in reading and interpreting mammograms is controversy due to higher false-positive detection rates, objective of this study is to investigate and test a new hypothesis that CAD-generated false-positives, in particular, the bilateral summation of false-positives, is a potential imaging marker associated with short-term breast cancer risk. An image dataset involving negative screening mammograms acquired from 1,044 women was retrospectively assembled. Each case involves 4 images of craniocaudal (CC) and mediolateral oblique (MLO) view of the left and right breasts. In the next subsequent mammography screening, 402 cases were positive for cancer detected and 642 remained negative. A CAD scheme was applied to process all "prior" negative mammograms. Some features from CAD scheme were extracted, which include detection seeds, the total number of false-positive regions, an average of detection scores and the sum of detection scores in CC and MLO view images. Then the features computed from two bilateral images of left and right breasts from either CC or MLO view were combined. In order to predict the likelihood of each testing case being positive in the next subsequent screening, two logistic regression models were trained and tested using a leave-one-case-out based cross-validation method. Data analysis demonstrated the maximum prediction accuracy with an area under a ROC curve of AUC=0.65+/-0.017 and the maximum adjusted odds ratio of 4.49 with a 95% confidence interval of [2.95, 6.83]. The results also illustrated an increasing trend in the adjusted odds ratio and risk prediction scores (p<0.01). Thus, the study showed that CAD-generated false-positives might provide a new quantitative imaging marker to help assess short-term breast cancer risk.

  18. Bilateral Facial Paralysis: A 13-Year Experience.

    PubMed

    Gaudin, Robert A; Jowett, Nathan; Banks, Caroline A; Knox, Christopher J; Hadlock, Tessa A

    2016-10-01

    Bilateral facial palsy is a rare clinical entity caused by myriad disparate conditions requiring different treatment paradigms. Lyme disease, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and leukemia are several examples. In this article, the authors describe the cause, the initial diagnostic approach, and the management of long-term sequelae of bilateral paralysis that has evolved in the authors' center over the past 13 years. A chart review was performed to identify all patients diagnosed with bilateral paralysis at the authors' center between January of 2002 and January of 2015. Demographics, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, initial medical treatment, interventions for facial reanimation, and outcomes were reviewed. Of the 2471 patients seen at the authors' center, 68 patients (3 percent) with bilateral facial paralysis were identified. Ten patients (15 percent) presented with bilateral facial paralysis caused by Lyme disease, nine (13 percent) with Möbius syndrome, nine (13 percent) with neurofibromatosis type 2, five (7 percent) with bilateral facial palsy caused by brain tumor, four (6 percent) with Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome, three (4 percent) with bilateral temporal bone fractures, two (3 percent) with Guillain-Barré syndrome, one (2 percent) with central nervous system lymphoma, one (2 percent) with human immunodeficiency virus infection, and 24 (35 percent) with presumed Bell palsy. Treatment included pharmacologic therapy, physical therapy, chemodenervation, and surgical interventions. Bilateral facial palsy is a rare medical condition, and treatment often requires a multidisciplinary approach. The authors outline diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms of a tertiary care center to provide clinicians with a systematic approach to managing these complicated patients.

  19. A review of bilateral training for upper extremity hemiparesis.

    PubMed

    Stoykov, Mary Ellen; Corcos, Daniel M

    2009-01-01

    Upper extremity hemiparesis is the most common post-stroke disability. Longitudinal studies have indicated that 30-66% of stroke survivors do not have full arm function 6 months post-stroke. The current gold standard for treatment of mild post-stroke upper limb impairment is constraint-induced therapy but, because of the inclusion criteria, alternative treatments are needed which target more impaired subjects. Bilateral arm training has been investigated as a potential rehabilitation intervention. Bilateral arm training encompasses a number of methods including: (1) bilateral isokinematic training; (2) mirror therapy using bilateral training; (3) device-driven bilateral training; and (4) bilateral motor priming. Neural mechanisms mediating bilateral training are first reviewed. The key bilateral training studies that have demonstrated evidence of efficacy will then be discussed. Finally, conclusions are drawn concerning clinical implications based on the reviewed literature. (c) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  20. Asymmetric pelvic and hip rotation in children with bilateral cerebral palsy: uni- or bilateral femoral derotation osteotomy?

    PubMed

    Niklasch, M; Döderlein, L; Klotz, M C; Braatz, F; Wolf, S I; Dreher, T

    2015-02-01

    Internal rotation gait is common among children with bilateral cerebral palsy. However, despite bilaterally increased femoral anteversion asymmetric internal rotation gait is often found. Femoral derotation osteotomy (FDO) is commonly performed bilaterally. Variable functional outcomes are reported especially in cases with mild internal hip rotation during gait and abnormal preoperative pelvic rotation. A major question is if a unilateral treatment of the more involved side in asymmetric cases leads to a comparable or even superior outcome. One hundred and nine children with spastic bilateral CP treated with FDO with pre- and 1-year postoperative 3D gait analysis were retrospectively collected. The asymmetry was calculated from the preoperative difference between both limbs in hip rotation obtained by 3D gait analysis. Twenty-eight children with asymmetry larger than 20° were selected and classified into two groups, according to whether they obtained a unilateral or bilateral FDO. Preoperative clinical examination and pre- and postoperative hip and pelvic rotation in gait analysis on the more and the less involved side did not differ significantly between both groups. Interestingly, in both groups, hip rotation did not change significantly in less-involved limbs, although intraoperative derotation averaged 25°. After unilateral FDO a significant change in pelvic rotation resulted, whereas this was not found after bilateral FDO. The results of this study suggest that unilateral FDO in children with asymmetric internal rotation gait leads to a comparable functional outcome compared to bilateral treatment. Furthermore, it was shown for the first time that considering the asymmetry has a positive effect on pelvic rotation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Deficient "sensory" beta synchronization in Parkinson's disease.

    PubMed

    Degardin, A; Houdayer, E; Bourriez, J-L; Destée, A; Defebvre, L; Derambure, P; Devos, D

    2009-03-01

    Beta rhythm movement-related synchronization (beta synchronization) reflects motor cortex deactivation and sensory afference processing. In Parkinson's disease (PD), decreased beta synchronization after active movement reflects abnormal motor cortex idling and may be involved in the pathophysiology of akinesia. The objectives of the present study were to (i) compare event-related synchronization after active and passive movement and electrical nerve stimulation in PD patients and healthy, age-matched volunteers and (ii) evaluate the effect of levodopa. Using a 128-electrode EEG system, we studied beta synchronization after active and passive index finger movement and electrical median nerve stimulation in 13 patients and 12 control subjects. Patients were recorded before and after 150% of their usual morning dose of levodopa. The peak beta synchronization magnitude in the contralateral primary sensorimotor (PSM) cortex was significantly lower in PD patients after active movement, passive movement and electrical median nerve stimulation, compared with controls. Levodopa partially reversed the drop in beta synchronization after active movement but not after passive movement or electrical median nerve stimulation. If one considers that beta synchronization reflects sensory processing, our results suggest that integration of somaesthetic afferences in the PSM cortex is abnormal in PD during active and passive movement execution and after simple electrical median nerve stimulation. Better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the deficient beta synchronization observed here could prompt the development of new therapeutic approaches aimed at strengthening defective processes. The lack of full beta synchronization restoration by levodopa might be related to the involvement of non-dopaminergic pathways.

  2. Satellite time synchronization of a NASA network.

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Laios, S. C.

    1972-01-01

    A satellite time synchronization technique has been used for synchronization of remotely separated clocks during the past several years. The NASA network has been successfully synchronized to an accuracy of tens of microseconds via the NASA Geodetic Earth Orbiting Satellite GEOS-11. The results indicate that a polar orbit satellite having an onboard clock can effectively be used to synchronize clocks on a global basis.

  3. Five-year results of a prospective clinical trial investigating accelerated partial breast irradiation using 3D conformal radiotherapy after lumpectomy for early stage breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Horst, Kathleen C; Fasola, Carolina; Ikeda, Debra; Daniel, Bruce; Ognibene, Grant; Goffinet, Don R; Dirbas, Frederick M

    2016-08-01

    Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) is emerging as an alternative to whole-breast irradiation. This study presents the results of a prospective trial evaluating 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) to deliver APBI for early-stage breast cancer. Patients with unifocal stage 0-II breast cancer measuring ≤2.5 cm without lymph node involvement were eligible. After lumpectomy, 3D-CRT APBI was delivered to the lumpectomy cavity + margin (34-38.5 Gy in 10 fractions over 5 days). 141 patients with 143 breast cancers (2 bilateral) were treated with 3D-CRT APBI. Median age was 60. Median tumor size was 1.1 cm. At a median follow up of 60 months (range, 5-113), the 5-year and 8-year cumulative incidence rate of a true recurrence is 0.9%. The 5-year and 8-year cumulative incidence rates of an elsewhere failure are 2.4% and 4.4%, respectively. The 5-year and 8-year overall survival is 100% and 94%, respectively. Among the 62 patients with follow up >5 years, 95% had excellent/good cosmetic results. Our experience with 3D-CRT APBI demonstrates excellent cosmesis and local control. Longer follow up will be necessary to evaluate long-term efficacy and toxicity of 3D-CRT APBI. CLINICALTRIALS. NCT00185744. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  4. Time Synchronization in Wireless Sensor Networks

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2003-01-01

    University of California Los Angeles Time Synchronization in Wireless Sensor Networks A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the...4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Time Synchronization in Wireless Sensor Networks 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6...1 1.1 Wireless Sensor Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1.2 Time Synchronization in Sensor Networks

  5. Synchronization Analysis of Master-Slave Probabilistic Boolean Networks.

    PubMed

    Lu, Jianquan; Zhong, Jie; Li, Lulu; Ho, Daniel W C; Cao, Jinde

    2015-08-28

    In this paper, we analyze the synchronization problem of master-slave probabilistic Boolean networks (PBNs). The master Boolean network (BN) is a deterministic BN, while the slave BN is determined by a series of possible logical functions with certain probability at each discrete time point. In this paper, we firstly define the synchronization of master-slave PBNs with probability one, and then we investigate synchronization with probability one. By resorting to new approach called semi-tensor product (STP), the master-slave PBNs are expressed in equivalent algebraic forms. Based on the algebraic form, some necessary and sufficient criteria are derived to guarantee synchronization with probability one. Further, we study the synchronization of master-slave PBNs in probability. Synchronization in probability implies that for any initial states, the master BN can be synchronized by the slave BN with certain probability, while synchronization with probability one implies that master BN can be synchronized by the slave BN with probability one. Based on the equivalent algebraic form, some efficient conditions are derived to guarantee synchronization in probability. Finally, several numerical examples are presented to show the effectiveness of the main results.

  6. Synchronization Analysis of Master-Slave Probabilistic Boolean Networks

    PubMed Central

    Lu, Jianquan; Zhong, Jie; Li, Lulu; Ho, Daniel W. C.; Cao, Jinde

    2015-01-01

    In this paper, we analyze the synchronization problem of master-slave probabilistic Boolean networks (PBNs). The master Boolean network (BN) is a deterministic BN, while the slave BN is determined by a series of possible logical functions with certain probability at each discrete time point. In this paper, we firstly define the synchronization of master-slave PBNs with probability one, and then we investigate synchronization with probability one. By resorting to new approach called semi-tensor product (STP), the master-slave PBNs are expressed in equivalent algebraic forms. Based on the algebraic form, some necessary and sufficient criteria are derived to guarantee synchronization with probability one. Further, we study the synchronization of master-slave PBNs in probability. Synchronization in probability implies that for any initial states, the master BN can be synchronized by the slave BN with certain probability, while synchronization with probability one implies that master BN can be synchronized by the slave BN with probability one. Based on the equivalent algebraic form, some efficient conditions are derived to guarantee synchronization in probability. Finally, several numerical examples are presented to show the effectiveness of the main results. PMID:26315380

  7. Injuries and medical issues in synchronized Olympic sports.

    PubMed

    Mountjoy, Margo

    2009-01-01

    Spectators of the Olympic Games can enjoy a wide variety of sports, including strength, team, timed, endurance, and artistic sports. In the Olympic program, there are two synchronized events: synchronized diving and synchronized swimming. The precision of the synchronization of the athlete's movements and skills is an added feature of entertainment. Synchronized athletes have additional training requirements to perfect the synchronization of their skills. The physical demands on the athlete from the repetition of training required for the perfection of synchronization result in injuries unique to these sports. Although both traumatic and overuse injuries occur, overuse injuries are more common. As these disciplines are artistic, judged sports, these athletes also are susceptible to eating disorders and the female athlete triad. This article reviews the training regimen of these athletes and outlines the injuries and health concerns that are common in the synchronized sports.

  8. Traffic signal synchronization.

    PubMed

    Huang, Ding-wei; Huang, Wei-neng

    2003-05-01

    The benefits of traffic signal synchronization are examined within the cellular automata approach. The microsimulations of traffic flow are obtained with different settings of signal period T and time delay delta. Both numerical results and analytical approximations are presented. For undersaturated traffic, the green-light wave solutions can be realized. For saturated traffic, the correlation among the traffic signals has no effect on the throughput. For oversaturated traffic, the benefits of synchronization are manifest only when stochastic noise is suppressed.

  9. EEG synchronization and migraine

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stramaglia, Sebastiano; Angelini, Leonardo; Pellicoro, Mario; Hu, Kun; Ivanov, Plamen Ch.

    2004-03-01

    We investigate phase synchronization in EEG recordings from migraine patients. We use the analytic signal technique, based on the Hilbert transform, and find that migraine brains are characterized by enhanced alpha band phase synchronization in presence of visual stimuli. Our findings show that migraine patients have an overactive regulatory mechanism that renders them more sensitive to external stimuli.

  10. Injuries in synchronized skating.

    PubMed

    Dubravcic-Simunjak, S; Kuipers, H; Moran, J; Simunjak, B; Pecina, M

    2006-06-01

    Synchronized skating is a relatively new competitive sport and data about injuries in this discipline are lacking. Therefore the purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency and pattern of acute and overuse injuries in synchronized skaters. Before and during the World Synchronized Skating Championship 2004, a questionnaire inquiring about the frequency of injuries in this skating discipline was given to 23 participating teams. A total of 514 women and 14 men senior skaters completed the questionnaires (100 % response). Two hundred and eighteen (42.4 %) female and 6 (42.9 %) male skaters had suffered from acute injuries during their synchronized skating career. As some skaters had suffered from more than one injury, the total number of acute injuries in females was 398 and in males 14. In female skaters 19.8 % of acute injuries were head injuries, 7.1 % trunk, 33.2 % upper, and 39.9 % lower extremity injuries. In male skaters 14.3 % were head injuries, 28.6 % upper, and 57.1 % lower extremity injuries, with no report of trunk injuries. Sixty-nine female and 2 male skaters had low back problems and 112 female and 2 male skaters had one or more overuse syndromes during their skating career. Of 155 overuse injuries in female skaters, 102 (65.8 %) occurred during their figure skating career, while 53 injuries (34.2 %) only occurred when they skated in synchronized skating teams. In male skaters, out of 5 overuse injuries, 4 (80 %) occurred in their figure skating career, while 1 (20 %) occurred during their synchronized skating career. Out of the total of 412 injuries, 338 (82 %) occurred during on-ice practice, while 74 (18 %) happened during off-ice training. Ninety-one (26.9 %) acute injures occurred while practicing individual elements, and 247 (73.1 %) on-ice injuries occurred while practicing different team elements. We conclude that injuries in synchronized skating should be of medical concern due to an increasing number of acute injuries, especially

  11. Measures of Quantum Synchronization in Continuous Variable Systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mari, A.; Farace, A.; Didier, N.; Giovannetti, V.; Fazio, R.

    2013-09-01

    We introduce and characterize two different measures which quantify the level of synchronization of coupled continuous variable quantum systems. The two measures allow us to extend to the quantum domain the notions of complete and phase synchronization. The Heisenberg principle sets a universal bound to complete synchronization. The measure of phase synchronization is, in principle, unbounded; however, in the absence of quantum resources (e.g., squeezing) the synchronization level is bounded below a certain threshold. We elucidate some interesting connections between entanglement and synchronization and, finally, discuss an application based on quantum optomechanical systems.

  12. Measures of quantum synchronization in continuous variable systems.

    PubMed

    Mari, A; Farace, A; Didier, N; Giovannetti, V; Fazio, R

    2013-09-06

    We introduce and characterize two different measures which quantify the level of synchronization of coupled continuous variable quantum systems. The two measures allow us to extend to the quantum domain the notions of complete and phase synchronization. The Heisenberg principle sets a universal bound to complete synchronization. The measure of phase synchronization is, in principle, unbounded; however, in the absence of quantum resources (e.g., squeezing) the synchronization level is bounded below a certain threshold. We elucidate some interesting connections between entanglement and synchronization and, finally, discuss an application based on quantum optomechanical systems.

  13. Contrasting breast cancer molecular subtypes across serial tumor progression stages: biological and prognostic implications

    PubMed Central

    Kimbung, Siker; Kovács, Anikó; Danielsson, Anna; Bendahl, Pär-Ola; Lövgren, Kristina; Stolt, Marianne Frostvik; Tobin, Nicholas P.; Lindström, Linda; Bergh, Jonas; Einbeigi, Zakaria; Fernö, Mårten; Hatschek, Thomas; Hedenfalk, Ingrid

    2015-01-01

    The relevance of the intrinsic subtypes for clinical management of metastatic breast cancer is not comprehensively established. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and prognostic significance of drifts in tumor molecular subtypes during breast cancer progression. A well-annotated cohort of 304 women with advanced breast cancer was studied. Tissue microarrays of primary tumors and synchronous lymph node metastases were constructed. Conventional biomarkers were centrally assessed and molecular subtypes were assigned following the 2013 St Gallen guidelines. Fine-needle aspirates of asynchronous metastases were transcriptionally profiled and subtyped using PAM50. Discordant expression of individual biomarkers and molecular subtypes was observed during tumor progression. Primary luminal-like tumors were relatively unstable, frequently adopting a more aggressive subtype in the metastases. Notably, loss of ER expression and a luminal to non-luminal subtype conversion was associated with an inferior post-recurrence survival. In addition, ER and molecular subtype assessed at all tumor progression stages were independent prognostic factors for post-recurrence breast cancer mortality in multivariable analyses. Our results demonstrate that drifts in tumor molecular subtypes may occur during tumor progression, conferring adverse consequences on outcome following breast cancer relapse. PMID:26375671

  14. Intrafraction Variability and Deformation Quantification in the Breast

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Glide-Hurst, Carri K., E-mail: churst2@hfhs.org; Shah, Mira M.; Price, Ryan G.

    2015-03-01

    Purpose: To evaluate intrafraction variability and deformation of the lumpectomy cavity (LC), breast, and nearby organs. Methods and Materials: Sixteen left-sided postlumpectomy and 1 bilateral breast cancer cases underwent free-breathing CT (FBCT) and 10-phase 4-dimensional CT (4DCT). Deformable image registration was used for deformation analysis and contour propagation of breast, heart, lungs, and LC between end-exhale and end-inhale 4DCT phases. Respiration-induced motion was calculated via centroid analysis. Two planning target volumes (PTVs) were compared: PTV{sub FBCT} from the FBCT volume with an isotropic 10 mm expansion (5 mm excursion and 5 mm setup error) and PTV{sub 4DCT} generated from themore » union of 4DCT contours with isotropic 5 mm margin for setup error. Volume and geometry were evaluated via percent difference and bounding box analysis, respectively. Deformation correlations between breast/cavity, breast/lung, and breast/heart were evaluated. Associations were tested between cavity deformation and proximity to chest wall and breast surface. Results: Population-based 3-dimensional vector excursions were 2.5 ± 1.0 mm (range, 0.8-3.8 mm) for the cavity and 2.0 ± 0.8 mm (range, 0.7-3.0 mm) for the ipsilateral breast. Cavity excursion was predominantly in the anterior and superior directions (1.0 ± 0.8 mm and −1.8 ± 1.2 mm, respectively). Similarly, for all cases, LCs and ipsilateral breasts yielded median deformation values in the superior direction. For 14 of 17 patients, the LCs and breast interquartile ranges tended toward the anterior direction. The PTV{sub FBCT} was 51.5% ± 10.8% larger (P<.01) than PTV{sub 4DCT}. Bounding box analysis revealed that PTV{sub FBCT} was 9.8 ± 1.2 (lateral), 9.0 ± 2.2 (anterior–posterior), and 3.9 ± 1.8 (superior–inferior) mm larger than PTV{sub 4DCT}. Significant associations between breast and cavity deformation were found for 6 of 9 axes. No dependency was found between

  15. Decoder synchronization for deep space missions

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Statman, J. I.; Cheung, K.-M.; Chauvin, T. H.; Rabkin, J.; Belongie, M. L.

    1994-01-01

    The Consultative Committee for Space Data Standards (CCSDS) recommends that space communication links employ a concatenated, error-correcting, channel-coding system in which the inner code is a convolutional (7,1/2) code and the outer code is a (255,223) Reed-Solomon code. The traditional implementation is to perform the node synchronization for the Viterbi decoder and the frame synchronization for the Reed-Solomon decoder as separate, sequential operations. This article discusses a unified synchronization technique that is required for deep space missions that have data rates and signal-to-noise ratios (SNR's) that are extremely low. This technique combines frame synchronization in the bit and symbol domains and traditional accumulated-metric growth techniques to establish a joint frame and node synchronization. A variation on this technique is used for the Galileo spacecraft on its Jupiter-bound mission.

  16. Bilateral mandibular angle fractures: clinical considerations.

    PubMed

    Boffano, Paolo; Roccia, Fabio

    2010-03-01

    The mandibular angle is a frequent site of fracture. It is a weak zone that is more exposed to fractures than other areas of the mandibular bone. The presence of incompletely erupted third molars is associated with a further increased risk of angle fractures. Our objective was to evaluate and discuss the surgical outcomes of a group of patients with bilateral mandibular angle fractures.In our study, patients with bilateral mandibular angle fractures surgically treated from January 1, 2001, to June 30, 2009, at the Division of Maxillofacial Surgery of the University of Turin were retrospectively analyzed. A combined transbuccal and intraoral approach or an intraoral approach only was adopted.Eight patients (7 men and 1 woman) underwent surgery for bilateral mandibular angle fractures. Good to satisfactory reduction of the fractures was obtained with both surgical techniques. Good to fair restored occlusion was observed postoperatively in all patients.Successful treatment of bilateral mandibular angle fractures may be achieved via different techniques. Superficially impacted third molars seem to be associated with an increased risk of angle fractures. Bilateral angle fractures are an ideal model to study the biomechanical pathogenesis of angle fractures.

  17. Quality of life among patients after bilateral prophylactic mastectomy: a systematic review of patient-reported outcomes.

    PubMed

    Razdan, Shantanu N; Patel, Vishal; Jewell, Sarah; McCarthy, Colleen M

    2016-06-01

    Bilateral prophylactic mastectomy (BPM) is effective in reducing the risk of breast cancer in women with a well-defined family history of breast cancer or in women with BRCA 1 or 2 mutations. Evaluating patient-reported outcomes following BPM are thus essential for evaluating success of BPM from patient's perspective. Our systematic review aimed to: (1) identify studies describing health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients following BPM with or without reconstruction; (2) assess the effect of BPM with or without reconstruction on HRQOL; and (3) identify predictors of HRQOL post-BPM. We performed a systematic review of literature using the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane databases were searched. The initial search resulted in 1082 studies; 22 of these studies fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Post-BPM, patients are satisfied with the outcomes and report high psychosocial well-being and positive body image. Sexual well-being and somatosensory function are most negatively affected. Vulnerability, psychological distress and preoperative cancer distress are significant negative predictors of quality of life and body image post-BPM. There is a paucity of high-quality data on outcomes of different HRQOL domains post-BPM. Future studies should strive to use validated and breast-specific PRO instruments for measuring HRQOL. This will facilitate shared decision-making by enabling surgeons to provide evidence-based answers to women contemplating BPM.

  18. Bilateral renal calculi

    PubMed Central

    Sreenevasan, G

    1974-01-01

    Bilateral renal calculi were present in 114 (10.7%) of 1,070 cases of proved urinary calculus admitted to the Urological Department of the General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, during the period November 1968—May 1973. The management of bilateral renal calculi is discussed with reference to the first 100 cases in this series. The introduction of renography has greatly facilitated the decision as to which kidney should be operated on first. The management of patients with and without uraemia is discussed and the use of the modified V and V—Y incisions for the removal of staghorn calculi is described. Complications and results are briefly reviewed. ImagesFig. 1Fig. 4Fig. 6Fig. 7 PMID:4845653

  19. Bilateral vocal cord paralysis in children.

    PubMed

    Chen, Eunice Y; Inglis, Andrew F

    2008-10-01

    Bilateral vocal cord paralysis in children with its many causes presents a challenging problem to the pediatric otolaryngologist. Traditionally, management of bilateral vocal cord paralysis includes securing the airway with a tracheotomy and waiting for spontaneous recovery. Surgeons have tried a variety of surgical procedures in lieu of or in addition to tracheotomy, but none are perfect solutions to the problem. This article reviews the current surgical procedures for bilateral vocal cord paralysis in the pediatric population with a particular focus on the senior author's experience with the endoscopic posterior costal cartilage grafting procedure.

  20. Outcome and cost analysis of bilateral sequential same-day cartilage tympanoplasty compared with bilateral staged tympanoplasty.

    PubMed

    Olusesi, A D; Oyeniran, O

    2017-05-01

    Few studies have compared bilateral same-day with staged tympanoplasty using cartilage graft materials. A prospective randomised observational study was performed of 38 chronic suppurative otitis media patients (76 ears) who were assigned to undergo bilateral sequential same-day tympanoplasty (18 patients, 36 ears) or bilateral sequential tympanoplasty performed 3 months apart (20 patients, 40 ears). Disease duration, intra-operative findings, combined duration of surgery, post-operative graft appearance at 6 weeks, post-operative complications, re-do rate and relative cost of surgery were recorded. Tympanic membrane perforations were predominantly subtotal (p = 0.36, odds ratio = 0.75). Most grafts were harvested from the conchal cartilage and fewer from the tragus (p = 0.59, odds ratio = 1.016). Types of complication, post-operative hearing gain and revision rates were similar in both patient groups. Surgical outcomes are not significantly different for same-day and bilateral cartilage tympanoplasty, but same-day surgery has the added benefit of a lower cost.

  1. Generalized synchronization in relay systems with instantaneous coupling

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gutiérrez, R.; Sevilla-Escoboza, R.; Piedrahita, P.; Finke, C.; Feudel, U.; Buldú, J. M.; Huerta-Cuellar, G.; Jaimes-Reátegui, R.; Moreno, Y.; Boccaletti, S.

    2013-11-01

    We demonstrate the existence of generalized synchronization in systems that act as mediators between two dynamical units that, in turn, show complete synchronization with each other. These are the so-called relay systems. Specifically, we analyze the Lyapunov spectrum of the full system to elucidate when complete and generalized synchronization appear. We show that once a critical coupling strength is achieved, complete synchronization emerges between the systems to be synchronized, and at the same point, generalized synchronization with the relay system also arises. Next, we use two nonlinear measures based on the distance between phase-space neighbors to quantify the generalized synchronization in discretized time series. Finally, we experimentally show the robustness of the phenomenon and of the theoretical tools here proposed to characterize it.

  2. Breast Cancer Metastases to the Gastrointestinal Tract Presenting with Anemia and Intra-abdominal Bleed.

    PubMed

    Khan, Idrees; Malik, Rehan; Khan, Amina; Assad, Salman; Zahid, Mehr; Sohail, Muhammad Saad; Yasin, Faizan; Qavi, Ahmed H

    2017-07-06

    Signet ring adenocarcinoma of the breast with synchronous metastasis to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a rare occurrence, typically presenting with abdominal pain, dyspepsia, or GI bleed. We report a case of metastatic breast cancer presenting with a complaint of anemia. A further diagnostic evaluation revealed generalized lymphadenopathy, nodular thickening of the urinary bladder wall, bone lesions, and enlarged pancreas. Biopsies from the lymph nodes, pancreatic biopsy, and bladder nodule all revealed a signet cell carcinoma. An upper and lower GI endoscopy revealed multiple ulcerated gastric mucosal nodules and polypoid folds in the cecum and proximal ascending colon; the biopsies from these lesions were also positive for signet ring cell adenocarcinoma.

  3. Synchronous identification of friendly targets

    DOEpatents

    Telle, John M.; Roger, Stutz A.

    1998-01-01

    A synchronous communication targeting system for use in battle. The present invention includes a transceiver having a stabilizing oscillator, a synchronous amplifier and an omnidirectional receiver, all in electrical communication with each other. A remotely located beacon is attached to a blackbody radiation source and has an amplitude modulator in electrical communication with a optical source. The beacon's amplitude modulator is set so that the optical source transmits radiation frequency at approximately the same or lower amplitude than that of the blackbody radiation source to which the beacon is attached. The receiver from the transceiver is adapted to receive frequencies approximately at or below blackbody radiation signals and sends such signals to the synchronous amplifier. The synchronous amplifier then rectifies and amplifies those signals which correspond to the predetermined frequency to therefore identify whether the blackbody radiation source is friendly or not.

  4. Clinical Characteristics of Asymmetric Bilateral Gynecomastia: Suggestion of Desirable Surgical Method Based on a Single-Institution Experience.

    PubMed

    Lee, Sung Ryul; Lee, Seung Geun; Byun, Geon Young; Kim, Myoung Jin; Koo, Bum Hwan

    2018-06-01

    Asymmetric bilateral gynecomastia (ABGM) is uncommon, and reports on its characteristics are rare. In the present study, we investigated the clinical characteristics and surgical treatment of ABGM. We conducted a retrospective study of 1159 patients with gynecomastia who underwent subcutaneous mastectomy with liposuction at Damsoyu Hospital from January 2014 to February 2016. We then analyzed differences in the characteristics and operative results between two groups of patients: those with asymmetric and symmetric gynecomastia. Asymmetric gynecomastia was defined as gynecomastia meeting both of the following criteria: (1) upon physical examination, the size of the palpable mass below the nipple-areolar complex was twice as large as the smaller one, and (2) upon ultrasonography, the depth of the glandular tissue under the nipple-areolar complex was twice as large as the smaller one. Fifty-four patients were diagnosed with asymmetric gynecomastia. Among them, 51 had ABGM and three had unilateral gynecomastia. In the asymmetric group, more patients had a larger left than right breast (33 patients, 64.7%). The incidence of true-type (entirely glandular) breasts was significantly higher in the asymmetric group (84.3%) than in the symmetric group (p < 0.001). The asymmetry ratios in the asymmetric and symmetric groups were 1.87 ± 2.07 and 0.20 ± 0.16, respectively (p < 0.001). Bilateral mastectomy provided an acceptable and symmetric cosmetic outcome in patients with ABGM. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

  5. Microsurgical refinements with the use of internal mammary (IM) perforators as recipient vessels in transverse upper gracilis (TUG) autologous breast reconstruction

    PubMed Central

    Libondi, Guido; Ramakrishnan, Venkat

    2017-01-01

    Background The transverse upper gracilis (TUG) flap is the senior authors’ second choice for autologous breast reconstruction when the DIEP flap is not available. It provides durable, pliable tissue with well hidden scars. The main criticism of this flap is the limited volume, donor site complications, short pedicle and vessel mismatch depending on which recipient vessels are used. We described methods of reducing vessel mismatch, complications of venous coupler and refinements to help give a more superior aesthetic outcome. Methods We describe several maneuvers to help reduce vessel mismatch with the use of the internal mammary (IM) perforator vessels with a modification of the Harashina fish-mouth technique or the use of a vessel bifurcation to increase vessel diameter. We also describe the optimum method of perforator preparation and potential methods to prevent palpable venous couplers. The author’s describe their case series of 14 TUG flaps to reconstruct 13 breasts in 12 patients. Results Eight unilateral, 2 partial breast reconstruction, 1 bilateral and 1 bilateral TUG flap for a unilateral reconstruction was carried out. All flaps survived with one partial flap necrosis, one donor site seroma and two cases of palpable/tender venous couplers. The mean reconstructed breast was 320 grams. Conclusions The TUG flap is a reconstructive challenge, but with correct planning a good aesthetic outcome is possible. The IM perforator is our first choice recipient vessel in TUG breast reconstructions. With meticulous preparation and by overcoming vessel mismatch the use of this recipient vessel is a reliable option. PMID:28861378

  6. Nonlinearity induced synchronization enhancement in mechanical oscillators

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Czaplewski, David A.; Lopez, Omar; Guest, Jeffrey R.

    An autonomous oscillator synchronizes to an external harmonic force only when the forcing frequency lies within a certain interval, known as the synchronization range, around the oscillator's natural frequency. Under ordinary conditions, the width of the synchronization range decreases when the oscillation amplitude grows, which constrains synchronized motion of micro- and nano-mechanical resonators to narrow frequency and amplitude bounds. The present invention shows that nonlinearity in the oscillator can be exploited to manifest a regime where the synchronization range increases with an increasing oscillation amplitude. The present invention shows that nonlinearities in specific configurations of oscillator systems, as described herein,more » are the key determinants of the effect. The present invention presents a new configuration and operation regime that enhances the synchronization of micro- and nano-mechanical oscillators by capitalizing on their intrinsic nonlinear dynamics.« less

  7. Disrupted neural synchronization in toddlers with autism

    PubMed Central

    Dinstein, Ilan; Pierce, Karen; Eyler, Lisa; Solso, Stephanie; Malach, Rafael; Behrmann, Marlene; Courchesne, Eric

    2011-01-01

    Summary Autism is often described as a disorder of neural synchronization. However, it is unknown how early in development synchronization abnormalities emerge and whether they are related to the development of early autistic behavioral symptoms. Here, we show that disrupted synchronization is evident in the spontaneous cortical activity of naturally sleeping toddlers with autism, but not in toddlers with language delay or typical development. Toddlers with autism exhibited significantly weaker inter-hemispheric synchronization (i.e. weak “functional connectivity” across the two hemispheres) in putative language areas. The strength of synchronization was positively correlated with verbal ability, negatively correlated with autism severity, and enabled identification of the majority of autistic toddlers (72%) with high accuracy (84%). Disrupted cortical synchronization, therefore, appears to be a notable characteristic of autism neurophysiology that is evident at very early stages of autism development. PMID:21689606

  8. Robust Synchronization Schemes for Dynamic Channel Environments

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Xiong, Fugin

    2003-01-01

    Professor Xiong will investigate robust synchronization schemes for dynamic channel environment. A sliding window will be investigated for symbol timing synchronizer and an open loop carrier estimator for carrier synchronization. Matlab/Simulink will be used for modeling and simulations.

  9. Synchronous Half-Wave Rectifier

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rippel, Wally E.

    1989-01-01

    Synchronous rectifying circuit behaves like diode having unusually low voltage drop during forward-voltage half cycles. Circuit particularly useful in power supplies with potentials of 5 Vdc or less, where normal forward-voltage drops in ordinary diodes unacceptably large. Fabricated as monolithic assembly or as hybrid. Synchronous half-wave rectifier includes active circuits to attain low forward voltage drop and high rectification efficiency.

  10. Altered Distant Synchronization of Background Network in Mild Cognitive Impairment during an Executive Function Task.

    PubMed

    Wang, Pengyun; Li, Rui; Yu, Jing; Huang, Zirui; Yan, Zhixiong; Zhao, Ke; Li, Juan

    2017-01-01

    Few studies to date have investigated the background network in the cognitive state relying on executive function in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients. Using the index of degree of centrality (DC), we explored distant synchronization of background network in MCI during a hybrid delayed-match-to-sample task (DMST), which mainly relies on the working memory component of executive function. We observed significant interactions between group and cognitive state in the bilateral posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and the ventral subregion of precuneus. For normal control (NC) group, the long distance functional connectivity (FC) of the PCC/precuneus with the other regions of the brain was higher in rest state than that working memory state. For MCI patients, however, this pattern altered. There was no significant difference between rest and working memory state. The similar pattern was observed in the other cluster located in the right angular gyrus. To examine whether abnormal DC in PCC/precuneus and angular gyrus partially resulted from the deficit of FC between these regions and the other parts in the whole brain, we conducted a seed-based correlation analysis with these regions as seeds. The results indicated that the FC between bilateral PCC/precuneus and the right inferior parietal lobule (IPL) increased from rest to working memory state for NC participants. For MCI patients, however, there was no significant change between rest and working memory state. The similar pattern was observed for the FC between right angular gyrus and right anterior insula. However, there was no difference between MCI and NC groups in global efficiency and modularity. It may indicate a lack of efficient reorganization from rest state to a working memory state in the brain network of MCI patients. The present study demonstrates the altered distant synchronization of background network in MCI during a task relying on executive function. The results provide a new perspective regarding

  11. Map synchronization in optical communication systems

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gagliardi, R. M.; Mohanty, N.

    1973-01-01

    The time synchronization problem in an optical communication system is approached as a problem of estimating the arrival time (delay variable) of a known transmitted field. Maximum aposteriori (MAP) estimation procedures are used to generate optimal estimators, with emphasis placed on their interpretation as a practical system device, Estimation variances are used to aid in the design of the transmitter signals for best synchronization. Extension is made to systems that perform separate acquisition and tracking operations during synchronization. The closely allied problem of maintaining timing during pulse position modulation is also considered. The results have obvious application to optical radar and ranging systems, as well as the time synchronization problem.

  12. Evolution and update on current devices for prosthetic breast reconstruction

    PubMed Central

    2015-01-01

    Over the past decade, the leading breast reconstruction modality has shifted from autologous tissue to implants. This trend reversal is multi-factorial but includes increasing bilateral mastectomies and the more widespread acceptance of implants due to stringent quality and safety regulatory surveillance by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since 2012, the US FDA has approved several new implant styles, shapes and textures, increasing the choices for patients and surgeons. Predictable, superior aesthetic results after prosthetic breast reconstruction are attainable, but require thoughtful planning, precise surgical technique and appropriate device selection based on several different patient and surgeon parameters, such as patient desires, body mass index, breast shape, mastectomy flap quality and tissue based bio-dimensional assessment. This article briefly reviews historic devices used in prosthetic breast reconstruction beginning in the 1960s through the modern generation devices used today. We reflect on the rigorous hurdles endured over the last several decades leading to the approval of silicone gel devices, along with their well-established safety and efficacy. The various implant characteristics can affect feel and performance of the device. The many different styles and features of implants and expanders are described emphasizing surgical indications, advantages and disadvantages of each device. PMID:26005642

  13. Bilateral tension pneumothorax after acupuncture.

    PubMed

    Mohammad, Nurashikin

    2018-04-19

    Acupuncture is an ancient complementary medicine which is currently used worldwide. Many serious adverse events have been reported which include a spectrum of mild-to-fatal complications. However, the level of awareness with regard to complications is still low both to physicians and patients. We report a 63-year-old who presented with acute shortness of breath 2 hours after having had acupuncture. On examination, there was absent breath sound heard on the left lung and slightly reduced breath sound on the right lung. She had type 1 respiratory failure. Urgent chest radiograph confirmed bilateral pneumothorax which was more severe on the left with tension pneumothorax and mediastinal shift. Chest tubes were inserted bilaterally after failed needle aspiration attempts. Subsequently, the pneumothoraces resolved, and she was discharged well. The bilateral pneumothoraces caused by acupuncture were curable but could have been potentially fatal if diagnosis was delayed. This case report adds to the limited current literature on the complications of acupuncture leading to bilateral pneumothoraces. © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

  14. Concordance Between FISH Analysis of Her-2/Neu Gene in Breast Duct Carcinoma and Corresponding Axillary Nodal Metastases: Egyptian National Cancer Institute Experience.

    PubMed

    Badawy, Omnia M; Hassan, Hannan; ELBakey, Heba A; Mosaad, Maha

    2018-05-10

    Breast cancer is a major health problem in Egypt. Her-2/Neu gene is routinely assessed for all breast cancer patients primarily by immunohistochemistry. At National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo University, Flourescence In Situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of Her-2/Neu gene is carried out for Her-2/Neu score 2 and for some cases of score 3 (particularly those assessed outside NCI). The test is performed essentially on the primary tumor. However, some situations require testing on corresponding lymph node metastases. There is a debate about the concordance between Her-2/Neu status in the primary tumor and synchronous lymph node metastases in various studies. The aim of this study was to test for the concordance between Her-2/Neu status in the primary breast tumor and corresponding axillary nodal metastases. This is a retrospective study in which FISH analysis of Her-2/Neu was carried out simultaneously on archived material of 50 cases previously diagnosed as invasive duct carcinoma and the corresponding nodal metastases from the Pathology Department, NCI. There was complete concordance between Her-2 status in the primary tumor and the corresponding axillary lymph node metastatic deposits in which Her-2 was amplified in 44% of the studied cohort of Egyptian patients. Her-2/Neu gene assessed by FISH analysis on synchronous lymph node metastases is strongly correlated with the primary tumor. Hence, it is justified to carry out the Her-2/Neu test on synchronous lymph nodes to decide on whether to carry out anti-Her-2/Neu target therapy. Further studies on other metastatic sites is recommended.

  15. Tinnitus after Simultaneous and Sequential Bilateral Cochlear Implantation.

    PubMed

    Ramakers, Geerte G J; Kraaijenga, Véronique J C; Smulders, Yvette E; van Zon, Alice; Stegeman, Inge; Stokroos, Robert J; Free, Rolien H; Frijns, Johan H M; Huinck, Wendy J; Van Zanten, Gijsbert A; Grolman, Wilko

    2017-01-01

    There is an ongoing global discussion on whether or not bilateral cochlear implantation should be standard care for bilateral deafness. Contrary to unilateral cochlear implantation, however, little is known about the effect of bilateral cochlear implantation on tinnitus. To investigate tinnitus outcomes 1 year after bilateral cochlear implantation. Secondarily, to compare tinnitus outcomes between simultaneous and sequential bilateral cochlear implantation and to investigate long-term follow-up (3 years). This study is a secondary analysis as part of a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Thirty-eight postlingually deafened adults were included in the original trial, in which the presence of tinnitus was not an inclusion criterion. All participants received cochlear implants (CIs) because of profound hearing loss. Nineteen participants received bilateral CIs simultaneously and 19 participants received bilateral CIs sequentially with an inter-implant interval of 2 years. The prevalence and severity of tinnitus before and after simultaneous and sequential bilateral cochlear implantation were measured preoperatively and each year after implantation with the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ). The prevalence of preoperative tinnitus was 42% (16/38). One year after bilateral implantation, there was a median difference of -8 (inter-quartile range (IQR): -28 to 4) in THI score and -9 (IQR: -17 to -9) in TQ score in the participants with preoperative tinnitus. Induction of tinnitus occurred in five participants, all in the simultaneous group, in the year after bilateral implantation. Although the preoperative and also the postoperative median THI and TQ scores were higher in the simultaneous group, the median difference scores were equal in both groups. In the simultaneous group, tinnitus scores fluctuated in the 3 years after implantation. In the sequential group, four patients had an additional benefit of the second CI: a total

  16. SONET Synchronization: What’s Happening

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1992-12-01

    SONET Synchronization : What’s Happening Robert W. Cubbage Alcatel Network Systems, Inc. Richardson, Texas Abstract Almost everyone that has...heard of SONETkwws that the acronym stands for Synchronous Opticd NETwork. There has been a host of manazine articles on SONET rinns. SONET features, ewn...SONET componmponbility w th digital radio. ~ jza t h& not been highlypnblicizedk the critical relationship between SONET. nehuork synchronization

  17. Simultaneous bilateral elbow dislocation with bilateral medial epicondyle fractures in a 13-year-old female gymnast with hyperlaxity

    PubMed Central

    Bauer, Stefan; Dunne, Ben; Whitewood, Colin

    2012-01-01

    Bilateral simultaneous elbow dislocations are extremely rare and have only been described in 12 cases. In the paediatric population unilateral elbow dislocations are rare with 3–6% of all elbow injuries and there are only few studies describing this injury exclusively in children. There is only one case report of a paediatric patient who sustained a simultaneous bilateral elbow dislocation with medial epicondyle fractures. We present a second paediatric case of simultaneous bilateral elbow dislocation with associated displaced bilateral medial epicondyle fractures in a gymnast with joint hyperlaxity (3 of 5 Wynne-Davies criteria) treated with closed reduction and short-term immobilisation (3 weeks). The patient returned to full trampoline gymnastics between 4 and 5 months postinjury and made an uneventful recovery. PMID:23234820

  18. 21 CFR 892.1410 - Nuclear electrocardiograph synchronizer.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Nuclear electrocardiograph synchronizer. 892.1410... (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES RADIOLOGY DEVICES Diagnostic Devices § 892.1410 Nuclear electrocardiograph synchronizer. (a) Identification. A nuclear electrocardiograph synchronizer is a device intended for use in...

  19. 21 CFR 892.1410 - Nuclear electrocardiograph synchronizer.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Nuclear electrocardiograph synchronizer. 892.1410... (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES RADIOLOGY DEVICES Diagnostic Devices § 892.1410 Nuclear electrocardiograph synchronizer. (a) Identification. A nuclear electrocardiograph synchronizer is a device intended for use in...

  20. 21 CFR 892.1410 - Nuclear electrocardiograph synchronizer.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Nuclear electrocardiograph synchronizer. 892.1410... (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES RADIOLOGY DEVICES Diagnostic Devices § 892.1410 Nuclear electrocardiograph synchronizer. (a) Identification. A nuclear electrocardiograph synchronizer is a device intended for use in...

  1. 21 CFR 892.1410 - Nuclear electrocardiograph synchronizer.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Nuclear electrocardiograph synchronizer. 892.1410... (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES RADIOLOGY DEVICES Diagnostic Devices § 892.1410 Nuclear electrocardiograph synchronizer. (a) Identification. A nuclear electrocardiograph synchronizer is a device intended for use in...

  2. 21 CFR 892.1410 - Nuclear electrocardiograph synchronizer.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Nuclear electrocardiograph synchronizer. 892.1410... (CONTINUED) MEDICAL DEVICES RADIOLOGY DEVICES Diagnostic Devices § 892.1410 Nuclear electrocardiograph synchronizer. (a) Identification. A nuclear electrocardiograph synchronizer is a device intended for use in...

  3. Synchronization of ;light-sensitive; Hindmarsh-Rose neurons

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Castanedo-Guerra, Isaac; Steur, Erik; Nijmeijer, Henk

    2018-04-01

    The suprachiasmatic nucleus is a network of synchronized neurons whose electrical activity follows a 24 h cycle. The synchronization phenomenon (among these neurons) is not completely understood. In this work we study, via experiments and numerical simulations, the phenomenon in which the synchronization threshold changes under the influence of an external (bifurcation) parameter in coupled Hindmarsh-Rose neurons. This parameter ;shapes; the activity of the individual neurons the same way as some neurons in the brain react to light. We corroborate this experimental finding with numerical simulations by quantifying the amount of synchronization using Pearson's correlation coefficient. In order to address the local stability problem of the synchronous state, Floquet theory is applied in the case where the dynamic systems show continuous periodic solutions. These results show how the sufficient coupling strength for synchronization between these neurons is affected by an external cue (e.g. light).

  4. Distributed Synchronization in Communication Networks

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2018-01-24

    synchronization. Secondly, it is known that identical oscillators with sin() coupling functions are guaranteed to synchronize in phase on a complete...provide sufficient conditions for phase- locking , i.e., convergence to a stable equilibrium almost surely. We additionally find conditions when the

  5. Symbol Synchronization for Diffusion-Based Molecular Communications.

    PubMed

    Jamali, Vahid; Ahmadzadeh, Arman; Schober, Robert

    2017-12-01

    Symbol synchronization refers to the estimation of the start of a symbol interval and is needed for reliable detection. In this paper, we develop several symbol synchronization schemes for molecular communication (MC) systems where we consider some practical challenges, which have not been addressed in the literature yet. In particular, we take into account that in MC systems, the transmitter may not be equipped with an internal clock and may not be able to emit molecules with a fixed release frequency. Such restrictions hold for practical nanotransmitters, e.g., modified cells, where the lengths of the symbol intervals may vary due to the inherent randomness in the availability of food and energy for molecule generation, the process for molecule production, and the release process. To address this issue, we develop two synchronization-detection frameworks which both employ two types of molecule. In the first framework, one type of molecule is used for symbol synchronization and the other one is used for data detection, whereas in the second framework, both types of molecule are used for joint symbol synchronization and data detection. For both frameworks, we first derive the optimal maximum likelihood (ML) symbol synchronization schemes as performance upper bounds. Since ML synchronization entails high complexity, for each framework, we also propose three low-complexity suboptimal schemes, namely a linear filter-based scheme, a peak observation-based scheme, and a threshold-trigger scheme, which are suitable for MC systems with limited computational capabilities. Furthermore, we study the relative complexity and the constraints associated with the proposed schemes and the impact of the insertion and deletion errors that arise due to imperfect synchronization. Our simulation results reveal the effectiveness of the proposed synchronization schemes and suggest that the end-to-end performance of MC systems significantly depends on the accuracy of the symbol

  6. Internet stream synchronization using Concord

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sreenan, Cormac J.; Narendran, B.; Agrawal, Prathima; Shivakumar, Narayanan

    1996-03-01

    Using packet networks to transport multimedia introduces delay variations within and across streams, necessitating synchronization at the receiver. This requires stream data to be buffered prior to presentation, which also increases its total end to end delay. Concord recognizes that applications may wish to influence the underlying synchronization policy in terms of its effect on quality of service. It provides a single framework for synchronization within and across streams and employs an application specific tradeoff between packet losses, delay and inter- stream skew. We present a new predictive approach for synchronization and a selection of results from an extensive evaluation of Concord for use in the Internet. A trace driven simulator is used, allowing a direct comparison with alternative approaches. We demonstrate that Concord can operate with lower maximum delay and less variation in total end to end delay, which in turn can allow receiver buffer requirements to be reduced.

  7. Synchronization of coupled metronomes on two layers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Jing; Yu, Yi-Zhen; Wang, Xin-Gang

    2017-12-01

    Coupled metronomes serve as a paradigmatic model for exploring the collective behaviors of complex dynamical systems, as well as a classical setup for classroom demonstrations of synchronization phenomena. Whereas previous studies of metronome synchronization have been concentrating on symmetric coupling schemes, here we consider the asymmetric case by adopting the scheme of layered metronomes. Specifically, we place two metronomes on each layer, and couple two layers by placing one on top of the other. By varying the initial conditions of the metronomes and adjusting the friction between the two layers, a variety of synchronous patterns are observed in experiment, including the splay synchronization (SS) state, the generalized splay synchronization (GSS) state, the anti-phase synchronization (APS) state, the in-phase delay synchronization (IPDS) state, and the in-phase synchronization (IPS) state. In particular, the IPDS state, in which the metronomes on each layer are synchronized in phase but are of a constant phase delay to metronomes on the other layer, is observed for the first time. In addition, a new technique based on audio signals is proposed for pattern detection, which is more convenient and easier to apply than the existing acquisition techniques. Furthermore, a theoretical model is developed to explain the experimental observations, and is employed to explore the dynamical properties of the patterns, including the basin distributions and the pattern transitions. Our study sheds new lights on the collective behaviors of coupled metronomes, and the developed setup can be used in the classroom for demonstration purposes.

  8. Bilateral versus unilateral hearing aids for bilateral hearing impairment in adults.

    PubMed

    Schilder, Anne Gm; Chong, Lee Yee; Ftouh, Saoussen; Burton, Martin J

    2017-12-19

    Acquired hearing loss is common and its incidence increases markedly with age. In most people, 'age-related' hearing loss is sensorineural (due to the loss of cochlear hair cells) and bilateral, affecting both ears to the same degree. Hearing loss categorised as mild, moderate or severe is primarily managed with hearing aids. People with bilateral hearing loss may be offered one aid, fitted to one specific ear, or two aids fitted to both ears. There is uncertainty about the relative benefits to people with hearing loss of these different strategies. To assess the effects of bilateral versus unilateral hearing aids in adults with a bilateral hearing impairment. The Cochrane ENT Information Specialist searched the ENT Trials Register; Cochrane Register of Studies Online; PubMed; Ovid Embase; CINAHL; Web of Science; ClinicalTrials.gov; ICTRP and additional sources for published and unpublished trials. The date of the search was 8 June 2017. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the fitting of two versus one ear-level acoustic hearing aids in adults (over 18 years) with a bilateral hearing impairment, both ears being eligible for hearing aids. We used the standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. Our primary outcomes were patient preference for bilateral or unilateral aids, hearing-specific health-related quality of life and adverse effects (pain or discomfort in the ear, initiation or exacerbation of middle or outer ear infection). Secondary outcomes included: usage of hearing aids (as measured by, for example, data logging or battery consumption), generic health-related quality of life, listening ability and audiometric benefit measured as binaural loudness summation. We used GRADE to assess the quality of the evidence for each outcome; this is indicated in italics. We included four cross-over RCTs with a total of 209 participants, ranging in age from 23 to 85 and with a preponderance of men. All the studies allowed the use of hearing aids for

  9. Bilateral Mandibular Paramolars

    PubMed Central

    Dhull, Rachita Singh; Panda, Swagatika; Acharya, Sonu; Yadav, Shweta; Mohanty, Gatha

    2014-01-01

    ABSTRACT Supernumerary tooth is a developmental anomaly and has been argued to arise from multiple etiologies. These teeth may remain embedded in the alveolar bone or can erupt into the oral cavity. They can cause a variety of complications in the develo­ping dentition. Supernumerary teeth can present in various forms and in any region of the mandible or maxilla, but have a predisposition for the anterior maxilla. Here is the presentation of a case of unusual location of supernumerary teeth located in between mandibular first and second molar region bilaterally. How to cite this article: Dhull KS, Dhull RS, Panda S, Acharya S, Yadav S, Mohanty G. Bilateral Mandibular Paramolars. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2014;7(1):40-42. PMID:25206236

  10. Bilateral mandibular paramolars.

    PubMed

    Dhull, Kanika Singh; Dhull, Rachita Singh; Panda, Swagatika; Acharya, Sonu; Yadav, Shweta; Mohanty, Gatha

    2014-01-01

    Supernumerary tooth is a developmental anomaly and has been argued to arise from multiple etiologies. These teeth may remain embedded in the alveolar bone or can erupt into the oral cavity. They can cause a variety of complications in the develo-ping dentition. Supernumerary teeth can present in various forms and in any region of the mandible or maxilla, but have a predisposition for the anterior maxilla. Here is the presentation of a case of unusual location of supernumerary teeth located in between mandibular first and second molar region bilaterally. How to cite this article: Dhull KS, Dhull RS, Panda S, Acharya S, Yadav S, Mohanty G. Bilateral Mandibular Paramolars. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2014;7(1):40-42.

  11. Synchronization of Finite State Shared Resources

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1976-03-01

    IMHI uiw mmm " AFOSR -TR- 70- 0^8 3 QC o SYNCHRONIZATION OF FINITE STATE SHARED RESOURCES Edward A Sei neide.- DEPARTMENT of COMPUTER...34" ■ ■ ^ I I. i. . : ,1 . i-i SYNCHRONIZATION OF FINITE STATE SHARED RESOURCES Edward A Schneider Department of Computer...SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PAGES WHICH DO NOT REPRODUCE LEGIBLY. ABSTRACT The problem of synchronizing a set of operations defined on a shared resource

  12. Properties and relative measure for quantifying quantum synchronization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Wenlin; Zhang, Wenzhao; Li, Chong; Song, Heshan

    2017-07-01

    Although quantum synchronization phenomena and corresponding measures have been widely discussed recently, it is still an open question how to characterize directly the influence of nonlocal correlation, which is the key distinction for identifying classical and quantum synchronizations. In this paper, we present basic postulates for quantifying quantum synchronization based on the related theory in Mari's work [Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 103605 (2013), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.111.103605], and we give a general formula of a quantum synchronization measure with clear physical interpretations. By introducing Pearson's parameter, we show that the obvious characteristics of our measure are the relativity and monotonicity. As an example, the measure is applied to describe synchronization among quantum optomechanical systems under a Markovian bath. We also show the potential by quantifying generalized synchronization and discrete variable synchronization with this measure.

  13. Polar synchronization and the synchronized climatic history of Greenland and Antarctica

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oh, Jeseung; Reischmann, Elizabeth; Rial, José A.

    2014-01-01

    Stable isotope proxies from ice cores show subtle differences in the climatic fluctuations of the Arctic and Antarctic, and recent analyses have revealed evidence of polar synchronization at the millennial time scale. At this scale, we analogize the polar climates of the last ice ages to two coupled nonlinear oscillators, which adjust their natural rhythms until they synchronize at a common frequency and constant phase shift. Heat and mass transfers across the intervening ocean and atmosphere make the coupling possible. Here we statistically demonstrate the existence of this phenomenon in polar proxy records with methane-matched age models, and quantify their phase relationship. We show that the time series of representative proxy records of the last glaciation recorded in Greenland (GRIP, NGRIP) and Antarctica (Byrd, Dome C) satisfy phase synchronization conditions, independently of age, for periods ranging 1-6 ky, and can be transformed into one another by a π/2 phase shift, with Antarctica temperature variations leading Greenland's. Based on these results, we use the polar synchronization paradigm to replicate the 800 ky-long, Antarctic, EPICA time series from a theoretical model that extends Greenland's 100 ky-long GRIP record to 800 ky. Statistical analysis of the simulated and actual Antarctic records shows that the procedure is stable to change in adjustable parameters, and requires the coupling between the polar climates to be proportional mainly to the difference in heat storage between the two regions.

  14. Small-world networks exhibit pronounced intermittent synchronization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Choudhary, Anshul; Mitra, Chiranjit; Kohar, Vivek; Sinha, Sudeshna; Kurths, Jürgen

    2017-11-01

    We report the phenomenon of temporally intermittently synchronized and desynchronized dynamics in Watts-Strogatz networks of chaotic Rössler oscillators. We consider topologies for which the master stability function (MSF) predicts stable synchronized behaviour, as the rewiring probability (p) is tuned from 0 to 1. MSF essentially utilizes the largest non-zero Lyapunov exponent transversal to the synchronization manifold in making stability considerations, thereby ignoring the other Lyapunov exponents. However, for an N-node networked dynamical system, we observe that the difference in its Lyapunov spectra (corresponding to the N - 1 directions transversal to the synchronization manifold) is crucial and serves as an indicator of the presence of intermittently synchronized behaviour. In addition to the linear stability-based (MSF) analysis, we further provide global stability estimate in terms of the fraction of state-space volume shared by the intermittently synchronized state, as p is varied from 0 to 1. This fraction becomes appreciably large in the small-world regime, which is surprising, since this limit has been otherwise considered optimal for synchronized dynamics. Finally, we characterize the nature of the observed intermittency and its dominance in state-space as network rewiring probability (p) is varied.

  15. Bilateral intraocular calcification in necrotizing cytomegalovirus retinitis.

    PubMed

    Tuncer, Samuray; Oray, Merih; Yildirim, Yeliz; Camcioglu, Yildiz; Tugal-Tutkun, Ilknur

    2014-10-01

    We report a unique case of bilateral intraocular calcification due to necrotizing cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis associated with congenital CMV infection. A 7-month-old boy with a history of congenital CMV infection showed bilateral intraocular calcific plaques on computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography. We reviewed the patient's medical files for the purpose of this report. The patient had a prior medical history of hospitalization for fever and swelling in the neck at 3 months of age. Systemic findings (anemia, neutropenia, hepatosplenomegaly, and reactive lymphadenomegaly) in association with a low CD4 count, high blood CMV viral load, and positivity for urine CMV DNA by polymerase chain reaction led to the diagnosis of bone marrow suppression and congenital CMV infection. At 7 months, he developed horizontal nystagmus and bilateral leukocoria over 20 days. Cranial CT and ultrasonography revealed bilateral intraocular calcific plaques and the patient was referred to rule out retinoblastoma. Fundoscopy was consistent with bilateral hemorrhagic, necrotizing CMV retinitis. Significant resolution of the retinal infiltrations occurred 2 weeks after initiation of systemic treatment with ganciclovir. Intraocular calcification may be a sign of active CMV retinitis. To our knowledge this is the first report of bilateral intraocular calcification serving as the presenting clinical manifestation of necrotizing CMV retinitis.

  16. A minimum spanning forest based classification method for dedicated breast CT images

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Pike, Robert; Sechopoulos, Ioannis; Fei, Baowei, E-mail: bfei@emory.edu

    Purpose: To develop and test an automated algorithm to classify different types of tissue in dedicated breast CT images. Methods: Images of a single breast of five different patients were acquired with a dedicated breast CT clinical prototype. The breast CT images were processed by a multiscale bilateral filter to reduce noise while keeping edge information and were corrected to overcome cupping artifacts. As skin and glandular tissue have similar CT values on breast CT images, morphologic processing is used to identify the skin based on its position information. A support vector machine (SVM) is trained and the resulting modelmore » used to create a pixelwise classification map of fat and glandular tissue. By combining the results of the skin mask with the SVM results, the breast tissue is classified as skin, fat, and glandular tissue. This map is then used to identify markers for a minimum spanning forest that is grown to segment the image using spatial and intensity information. To evaluate the authors’ classification method, they use DICE overlap ratios to compare the results of the automated classification to those obtained by manual segmentation on five patient images. Results: Comparison between the automatic and the manual segmentation shows that the minimum spanning forest based classification method was able to successfully classify dedicated breast CT image with average DICE ratios of 96.9%, 89.8%, and 89.5% for fat, glandular, and skin tissue, respectively. Conclusions: A 2D minimum spanning forest based classification method was proposed and evaluated for classifying the fat, skin, and glandular tissue in dedicated breast CT images. The classification method can be used for dense breast tissue quantification, radiation dose assessment, and other applications in breast imaging.« less

  17. Synchronizing noisy nonidentical oscillators by transient uncoupling

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Tandon, Aditya, E-mail: adityat@iitk.ac.in; Mannattil, Manu, E-mail: mmanu@iitk.ac.in; Schröder, Malte, E-mail: malte@nld.ds.mpg.de

    2016-09-15

    Synchronization is the process of achieving identical dynamics among coupled identical units. If the units are different from each other, their dynamics cannot become identical; yet, after transients, there may emerge a functional relationship between them—a phenomenon termed “generalized synchronization.” Here, we show that the concept of transient uncoupling, recently introduced for synchronizing identical units, also supports generalized synchronization among nonidentical chaotic units. Generalized synchronization can be achieved by transient uncoupling even when it is impossible by regular coupling. We furthermore demonstrate that transient uncoupling stabilizes synchronization in the presence of common noise. Transient uncoupling works best if the unitsmore » stay uncoupled whenever the driven orbit visits regions that are locally diverging in its phase space. Thus, to select a favorable uncoupling region, we propose an intuitive method that measures the local divergence at the phase points of the driven unit's trajectory by linearizing the flow and subsequently suppresses the divergence by uncoupling.« less

  18. Exact synchronization bound for coupled time-delay systems.

    PubMed

    Senthilkumar, D V; Pesquera, Luis; Banerjee, Santo; Ortín, Silvia; Kurths, J

    2013-04-01

    We obtain an exact bound for synchronization in coupled time-delay systems using the generalized Halanay inequality for the general case of time-dependent delay, coupling, and coefficients. Furthermore, we show that the same analysis is applicable to both uni- and bidirectionally coupled time-delay systems with an appropriate evolution equation for their synchronization manifold, which can also be defined for different types of synchronization. The exact synchronization bound assures an exponential stabilization of the synchronization manifold which is crucial for applications. The analytical synchronization bound is independent of the nature of the modulation and can be applied to any time-delay system satisfying a Lipschitz condition. The analytical results are corroborated numerically using the Ikeda system.

  19. Digital synchronization and communication techniques

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lindsey, William C.

    1992-01-01

    Information on digital synchronization and communication techniques is given in viewgraph form. Topics covered include phase shift keying, modems, characteristics of open loop digital synchronizers, an open loop phase and frequency estimator, and a digital receiver structure using an open loop estimator in a decision directed architecture.

  20. Active middle ear implant coupled bilaterally to the round window despite bilateral implanted stapes prostheses.

    PubMed

    Coordes, Annekatrin; Jahreiss, Linda; Schönfeld, Uwe; Lenarz, Minoo

    2017-02-01

    After stapes surgery, patients with mixed or moderate hearing loss have limited possibilities for hearing improvement. We are reporting on a patient who underwent stapedotomy bilaterally 20 years ago and had sensorineural and mixed hearing loss. Recurrent otitis externa prevented the use of hearing aids. This patient was treated bilaterally with the Vibrant Soundbridge (Med-El, Innsbruck, Austria) successively. The Schuknecht piston stapes prostheses remained in situ. The Floating Mass Transducer (FMT; Med-El) was coupled to the round window (RW) and provided good acoustic reinforcement bilaterally. In conclusion, for patients with otosclerosis and stapes surgery, the FMT-RW coupling (Bess AG, Berlin, DE) is a safe procedure with good acoustic amplification. Laryngoscope, 2016 127:500-503, 2017. © 2016 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

  1. Pilotless Frame Synchronization Using LDPC Code Constraints

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jones, Christopher; Vissasenor, John

    2009-01-01

    A method of pilotless frame synchronization has been devised for low- density parity-check (LDPC) codes. In pilotless frame synchronization , there are no pilot symbols; instead, the offset is estimated by ex ploiting selected aspects of the structure of the code. The advantag e of pilotless frame synchronization is that the bandwidth of the sig nal is reduced by an amount associated with elimination of the pilot symbols. The disadvantage is an increase in the amount of receiver data processing needed for frame synchronization.

  2. Management of Bilateral Hemifacial Spasm with Microvascular Decompression.

    PubMed

    Dou, Ning-Ning; Zhong, Jun; Liu, Ming-Xing; Xia, Lei; Sun, Hui; Li, Bin; Li, Shi-Ting

    2016-03-01

    Bilateral hemifacial spasm (HFS) is very rare. The literature contains only 32 clinical reports. Although microvascular decompression (MVD) is widely accepted as effective therapy for HFS, the etiology and surgical treatment of bilateral HFS are seldom addressed. We report our experience with MVD for patients with bilateral HFS. This retrospective report included 10 patients with bilateral HFS. All patients underwent MVD 1 or 2 times and were followed for 5-92 months. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. The etiology and treatment strategies were discussed. Spasm stopped completely on the operative side in all 10 patients. Symptoms on the other side also resolved in 3 patients, improved in 1 patient, and did not improve at all in 6 patients. Of the 6 patients with no improvement, 5 underwent another MVD on the contralateral side within 1 year and experienced relief of symptoms, and 1 patient refused the surgery. The neurovascular conflict was found in all the operations. During the follow-up period, no complications of hearing loss or facial palsy and no recurrence were observed. Vascular compression was the cause of bilateral HFS in our patients, and MVD relieved the symptoms. Thus, we recommend MVD for patients with bilateral HFS. A crowded cerebellopontine angle space and easy attrition of the neurovascular interfaces may play important roles in the occurrence of bilateral HFS. For some patients, 1 MVD can resolve bilateral symptoms. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. An Evaluation of the Design and Usability of a Novel Robotic Bilateral Arm Rehabilitation Device for Patients with Stroke.

    PubMed

    Pei, Yu-Cheng; Chen, Jean-Lon; Wong, Alice M K; Tseng, Kevin C

    2017-01-01

    Case series. IV (case series). Robot-assisted therapy for upper limb rehabilitation is an emerging research topic and its design process must integrate engineering, neurological pathophysiology, and clinical needs. This study developed/evaluated the usefulness of a novel rehabilitation device, the MirrorPath , designed for the upper limb rehabilitation of patients with hemiplegic stroke. The process follows Tseng's methodology for innovative product design and development, namely two stages, device development and usability assessment. During the development process, the design was guided by patients' rehabilitation needs as defined by patients and their therapists. The design applied synchronic movement of the bilateral upper limbs, an approach that is compatible with the bilateral movement therapy and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation theories. MirrorPath consists of a robotic device that guides upper limb movement linked to a control module containing software controlling the robotic movement. Five healthy subjects were recruited in the pretest, and 4 patients, 4 caregivers, and 4 therapists were recruited in the formal test for usability. All recruited subjects were allocated to the test group, completed the evaluation, and their data were all analyzed. The total system usability scale score obtained from the patients, caregivers, and therapists was 71.8 ± 11.9, indicating a high level of usability and product acceptance. Following a standard development process, we could yield a design that meets clinical needs. This low-cost device provides a feasible platform for carrying out robot-assisted bilateral movement therapy of patients with hemiplegic stroke. identifier NCT02698605.

  4. A case presentation of bilateral simultaneous Bell's palsy.

    PubMed

    Kilic, Rahmi; Ozdek, Ali; Felek, Sevim; Safak, M Asim; Samim, Erdal

    2003-01-01

    Bilateral simultaneous facial paralysis is an extremely rare clinical entity. Unlike the unilateral form, bilateral facial paralysis seldom falls into Bell's category. It is most often a special finding in a symptom complex of a systemic disease; many of them are potentially life-threatening, and therefore the condition warrants urgent medical intervention. Lyme disease, Guillian-Barre syndrome, Bell's palsy, leukemia, sarcoidosis, bacterial meningitis, syphilis, leprosy, Moebius syndrome, infectious mononucleosis, and skull fracture are the most common cause of bilateral facial paralysis. Here we present a 16-year-old patient with bilateral simultaneous Bell's palsy.

  5. Bilateral mastoiditis from red tide exposure.

    PubMed

    Honner, Samantha; Kudela, Raphael M; Handler, Ethan

    2012-10-01

    Bilateral mastoiditis in adults has previously been reported only in association with diabetes mellitus or immunocompromised patients. To describe a case of bilateral mastoiditis in a healthy adult and to investigate the etiology. A 53-year-old woman presented to the Emergency Department with bilateral otitis externa and mastoiditis after scuba diving during a harmful algal bloom, commonly known as a "red tide." The levels of coliform bacteria recorded at the time and location of her dive exceeded health regulatory limits and correlate with her atypical culture results. Elevated bacterial counts that result from harmful algal blooms may account for this rare infection. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. Quantum Synchronization of three-level atoms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    He, Peiru; Rey, Ana Maria; Holland, Murray

    2015-05-01

    Recent studies show that quantum synchronization, the spontaneous alignment of the quantum phase between different oscillators, can be used to build superradiant lasers with ultranarrow linewidth. We theoretically investigate the effect of quantum synchronization on many coupled three-level atoms where there are richer phase diagrams than the standard two-level system. This three-level model allows two-color ultranarrow coherent light to be produced where more than one phase must be simultaneously synchronized. Of particular interest, we study the V-type geometry that is relevant to current 87 Sr experiments in JILA. As well as the synchronization phenomenon, we explore other quantum effects such as photon correlations and squeezing. This work is supported by the DARPA QuASAR program, the NSF, and NIST.

  7. Breast cancer in young women in a limited-resource environment.

    PubMed

    Basro, Sarinah; Apffelstaedt, Justus P

    2010-07-01

    Despite the higher incidence of breast cancer in young women in developing countries, there is a paucity of data on their management. We present the clinicopathological features and outcome of treatment of women 35 years or younger with breast cancer in a resource-restricted environment. A total of 141 patients who were diagnosed with primary breast cancer at 35 years or younger from January 2000 to June 2008 were retrieved from the cancer registry of a breast clinic at a tertiary hospital and a private breast health center in South Africa. Clinicopathological features, treatment, and survival were analyzed. Two patients presented with TNM stage 0 (1.4%), 14 with stage I (9.9%), 47 with stage II (33.35%), 47 with stage III (33.3%), and 31 with stage IV (21.9%). Tumor grade was 3 in 47%, grade 2 in 37%, and grade 1 in 16% of patients. One hundred and four patients with stage 0-III disease underwent treatment with curative intent, 83 had a mastectomy, and 12 had breast-conserving surgery. Ninety patients (86.5%) had chemotherapy, 68 (65.4%) had radiotherapy, and 50 (48.1%) had hormonal therapy. Of 93 patients who completed primary therapy, 4 developed contralateral cancers, 3 had locoregional recurrence, 8 developed synchronous locoregional and distant recurrence, and 19 relapsed with distant metastasis only. The 2-year disease-free and overall survival for stage 0-III disease was 48 and 56%, respectively. Young women with breast cancer in a resource-limited environment have similar adverse clinicopathological features to those in developed countries. Their disease is more advanced at presentation with poorer outcome. Increased awareness, better systemic therapy, and more comprehensive genetic studies are essential to improve the dismal outcome.

  8. Synchronous Detection of Male Breast Cancer and Prostatic Cancer in a Patient With Suspected Prostatic Carcinoma on 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT Imaging.

    PubMed

    Kumar, Rajender; Mittal, Bhagwant Rai; Bhattacharya, Anish; Singh, Harmandeep; Singh, Shrawan Kumar

    2018-06-01

    The male breast cancer is very less common as compared with the female breast cancer. We report a case of 64-year-old man who presented with the history of lower urinary tract symptoms. The digital rectal examination revealed hard and nodular prostate, and serum prostate-specific antigen level was 23.4 ng/mL. Ga-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen PET/CT revealed prostate-specific membrane antigen-expressing lesions in the prostate, axillary tail of the right breast, and axillary lymph nodes. Histology from prostate revealed prostate carcinoma, whereas fine-needle aspiration from the breast revealed invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

  9. [Fasciae latae perforator flap for breast reconstruction: An attractive alternative in case of DIEP contraindication].

    PubMed

    Lefèvre, M; Sarfati, B; Honart, J-F; Alkashnam, H; Rimareix, F; Leymarie, N; Kolb, F

    2017-02-01

    The musculocutaneous tensor fascia latae flap was one of the first free flaps described. It is possible to harvest a flap with the same skin paddle, vascularized by a septo-cutaneous perforator running through the tensor fascia lata muscle septum and coming from the ascending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery. The DIEP is currently the workhorse of autologous breast reconstruction, but there are some contraindications. The septo-cutaneous tensor fascia latae perforator flap may be an alternative for women with lateral upper thigh lipodystrophy. Between 2010 and 2014, three flaps have been performed in two patients for delayed breast reconstruction (one case of unilateral reconstruction, and one bilateral). Perforators were identified by preoperative angiography. The intervention was performed in a two-team approach, in only one operative position. Perforators were located in the horizontal axis of the upper rim of the pubis bone. One perforator artery was dissected for each flap. The mean caliber of the pedicle was 2.8mm, and the mean length was 6.4cm. The operative time was 240minutes for unilateral flap, 375minutes for bilateral flap. There was no case of total or partial necrosis, or complications on the donor site. Cosmetic results were considered satisfying by patients and surgeons with the reconstructed breast as well as the donor site. Septo-cutaneous fascia lata perforator flap is an attractive flap for breast reconstruction in patients with DIEP contraindication and lateral upper thigh lipodystrophy. It has many advantages: easy to harvest, length and calibre of the pedicle, double team approach, only one operating position, quality of reconstruction. It is necessary to carry out a larger series of cases to study the complication rate in the donor site. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  10. Mutual synchronization of weakly coupled gyrotrons

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rozental, R. M.; Glyavin, M. Yu.; Sergeev, A. S.

    2015-09-15

    The processes of synchronization of two weakly coupled gyrotrons are studied within the framework of non-stationary equations with non-fixed longitudinal field structure. With the allowance for a small difference of the free oscillation frequencies of the gyrotrons, we found a certain range of parameters where mutual synchronization is possible while a high electronic efficiency is remained. It is also shown that synchronization regimes can be realized even under random fluctuations of the parameters of the electron beams.

  11. Synchronous Generators with Superconductive Excitation Windings,

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1983-07-27

    AD-Al3i 832 SYNCHRONOUS GENERATORS WITH SUPERCONDUCTIVE EXCITATION i/i WINDINGS(U) FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY DIV WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH W PASZEK ET AL. 27...1.1 FTD-ID(RS)T-1087-83 FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY DIVISION SYNCHRONOUS GENERATORS WITH SUPERCONDUCTIVE EXCITATION WINDINGS by W. Paszek and A. Rozycki DTIC...MICROFICHE NR: FTD-83-C-000906 j.r.voiFor SYNCHRONOUS GENERATORS WITH SUPERCONDUCTIVE T EXCITATION WINDINGS 0;~f~on~ SJustification By: W./Paszek and A

  12. Flagellar Synchronization Is a Simple Alternative to Cell Cycle Synchronization for Ciliary and Flagellar Studies

    PubMed Central

    Dutta, Soumita

    2017-01-01

    ABSTRACT The unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is an ideal model organism for studies of ciliary function and assembly. In assays for biological and biochemical effects of various factors on flagellar structure and function, synchronous culture is advantageous for minimizing variability. Here, we have characterized a method in which 100% synchronization is achieved with respect to flagellar length but not with respect to the cell cycle. The method requires inducing flagellar regeneration by amputation of the entire cell population and limiting regeneration time. This results in a maximally homogeneous distribution of flagellar lengths at 3 h postamputation. We found that time-limiting new protein synthesis during flagellar synchronization limits variability in the unassembled pool of limiting flagellar protein and variability in flagellar length without affecting the range of cell volumes. We also found that long- and short-flagella mutants that regenerate normally require longer and shorter synchronization times, respectively. By minimizing flagellar length variability using a simple method requiring only hours and no changes in media, flagellar synchronization facilitates the detection of small changes in flagellar length resulting from both chemical and genetic perturbations in Chlamydomonas. This method increases our ability to probe the basic biology of ciliary size regulation and related disease etiologies. IMPORTANCE Cilia and flagella are highly conserved antenna-like organelles that found in nearly all mammalian cell types. They perform sensory and motile functions contributing to numerous physiological and developmental processes. Defects in their assembly and function are implicated in a wide range of human diseases ranging from retinal degeneration to cancer. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is an algal model system for studying mammalian cilium formation and function. Here, we report a simple synchronization method that allows detection of

  13. Flagellar Synchronization Is a Simple Alternative to Cell Cycle Synchronization for Ciliary and Flagellar Studies.

    PubMed

    Dutta, Soumita; Avasthi, Prachee

    2017-01-01

    The unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is an ideal model organism for studies of ciliary function and assembly. In assays for biological and biochemical effects of various factors on flagellar structure and function, synchronous culture is advantageous for minimizing variability. Here, we have characterized a method in which 100% synchronization is achieved with respect to flagellar length but not with respect to the cell cycle. The method requires inducing flagellar regeneration by amputation of the entire cell population and limiting regeneration time. This results in a maximally homogeneous distribution of flagellar lengths at 3 h postamputation. We found that time-limiting new protein synthesis during flagellar synchronization limits variability in the unassembled pool of limiting flagellar protein and variability in flagellar length without affecting the range of cell volumes. We also found that long- and short-flagella mutants that regenerate normally require longer and shorter synchronization times, respectively. By minimizing flagellar length variability using a simple method requiring only hours and no changes in media, flagellar synchronization facilitates the detection of small changes in flagellar length resulting from both chemical and genetic perturbations in Chlamydomonas . This method increases our ability to probe the basic biology of ciliary size regulation and related disease etiologies. IMPORTANCE Cilia and flagella are highly conserved antenna-like organelles that found in nearly all mammalian cell types. They perform sensory and motile functions contributing to numerous physiological and developmental processes. Defects in their assembly and function are implicated in a wide range of human diseases ranging from retinal degeneration to cancer. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is an algal model system for studying mammalian cilium formation and function. Here, we report a simple synchronization method that allows detection of small

  14. Bilateral Radial Agenesis in a Cat Treated with Bilateral Ulnocarpal Arthrodesis.

    PubMed

    Bezhentseva, Alla; Singh, Harpreet; Boudrieau, Randy J

    2018-06-20

     This article describes corrective antebrachiocarpal re-alignment and arthrodesis for bilateral radial hemimelia (radial agenesis) in an 8-month-old domestic short-haired cat.  Bilateral forelimb deformity of ulnocarpal varus with complete luxation and rotation of the antebrachiocarpal joint spaces, and joint contracture, was observed. Several carpal bones and metacarpal bones I and II and their associated phalanges were absent. Abnormal ambulation and weight bearing on the dorsolateral part of the manus were present. The deformities were treated by bilateral distal ulnar ostectomy and ulnocarpal arthrodesis using a 2.0-mm locking compression plate applied with hybrid fixation and allograft.  Successful deformity correction was obtained with subsequent fusion of the antebrachiocarpal joints. No complications were observed. At long-term follow-up (4.75 years), there was good-to-excellent functional result, with approximately 15° internal rotation of the right forelimb manus and shortened stride with slight circumduction and lameness. All implants remained stable and continued bone remodelling was present. The cat was assessed to have good-to-excellent short- and long-term functional results with excellent owner satisfaction.  Treatment of radial agenesis in the cat has previously been limited to conservative management or limb amputation. While there are several reports of corrective limb-sparing procedures used to treat dogs, this is the first report of a cat with successful salvage corrective surgery. Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart.

  15. Bilateral Traumatic Globe Luxation with Optic Nerve Transection

    PubMed Central

    Tok, Levent; Tok, Ozlem Yalcin; Argun, Tugba Cakmak; Yilmaz, Omer; Gunes, Alime; Unlu, Elif Nisa; Sezer, Sezgin; Ibisoglu, Seda; Argun, Mehmet

    2014-01-01

    Purpose The purpose of this study was to document clinical findings and management of a patient with bilateral globe luxation and optic nerve transection. Materials and Methods A 25-year-old female patient was admitted to the emergency department with bilateral traumatic globe luxation following a motor vehicle accident. Results Visual acuity testing showed no light perception. The right pupil was dilated and bilaterally did not react to light. The globes were bilaterally intact. A computed tomography scan revealed Le Fort type II fractures, bilateral optic nerve transection and disruption of all extraocular muscles. The globes of the patient were bilaterally reduced into the orbit. However, the patient developed phthisis bulbi in the right eye at month 3. Conclusion Globe luxation presents a dramatic clinical picture, and may lead to the development of severe complications due to the concomitance of complete optic nerve dissection and multiple traumas. Even if the luxated globe is repositioned into the orbit, there is still an increased risk of the development of phthisis due to ischemia. PMID:25606034

  16. Benefits of Synchronous Online Courses

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Moser, Scott; Smith, Phil

    2015-01-01

    Most online courses are offered as "asynchronous" courses and have no real-time contact with students. The Synchronous online alternative provides normal scheduled class time and allows students to login to a virtual online classroom with the instructor. We provide an overview of two different platforms for hosting synchronous classes…

  17. Synchronization in networks with heterogeneous coupling delays

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Otto, Andreas; Radons, Günter; Bachrathy, Dániel; Orosz, Gábor

    2018-01-01

    Synchronization in networks of identical oscillators with heterogeneous coupling delays is studied. A decomposition of the network dynamics is obtained by block diagonalizing a newly introduced adjacency lag operator which contains the topology of the network as well as the corresponding coupling delays. This generalizes the master stability function approach, which was developed for homogenous delays. As a result the network dynamics can be analyzed by delay differential equations with distributed delay, where different delay distributions emerge for different network modes. Frequency domain methods are used for the stability analysis of synchronized equilibria and synchronized periodic orbits. As an example, the synchronization behavior in a system of delay-coupled Hodgkin-Huxley neurons is investigated. It is shown that the parameter regions where synchronized periodic spiking is unstable expand when increasing the delay heterogeneity.

  18. Subxiphoid approach for spontaneous bilateral pneumothorax: a case report.

    PubMed

    Fok, Matthew; Karunanantham, Jay; Ali, Jason M; Concina, Serena; Jayakumar, Shruti; Peryt, Adam; Coonar, Aman; Aresu, Giuseppe

    2017-01-01

    The development of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has contributed to reduced pain and improved recovery following thoracic surgery. However, pain remains a major issue. Patients with bilateral pulmonary pathology requiring operative intervention may have even more pain due to bilateral transthoracic incisions. The recently described uniportal subxiphoid VATS approach provides an opportunity to undertake bilateral thoracic surgery through a single incision that avoids the bilateral intercostal nerve damage caused by transthoracic incision and drainage. Here we report a case of a patient requiring bilateral bullectomy and pleurectomy for the management of pneumothorax that was performed successfully by the subxiphoid VATS approach.

  19. Bilateral adrenal masses: a single-centre experience

    PubMed Central

    Bandgar, Tushar; Khare, Shruti; Jadhav, Swati; Lila, Anurag; Goroshi, Manjunath; Kasaliwal, Rajeev; Khadilkar, Kranti; Shah, Nalini S

    2016-01-01

    Background Bilateral adrenal masses may have aetiologies like hyperplasia and infiltrative lesions, besides tumours. Hyperplastic and infiltrative lesions may have coexisting hypocortisolism. Bilateral tumours are likely to have hereditary/syndromic associations. The data on clinical profile of bilateral adrenal masses are limited. Aims To analyse clinical, biochemical and radiological features, and management outcomes in patients with bilateral adrenal masses. Methods Retrospective analysis of 70 patients with bilateral adrenal masses presenting to a single tertiary care endocrine centre from western India (2002–2015). Results The most common aetiology was pheochromocytoma (40%), followed by tuberculosis (27.1%), primary adrenal lymphoma (PAL) (10%), metastases (5.7%), non-functioning adenomas (4.3%), primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (4.3%), and others (8.6%). Age at presentation was less in patients with pheochromocytoma (33 years) and tuberculosis (41 years) compared with PAL (48 years) and metastases (61 years) (P<0.001). The presenting symptoms for pheochromocytoma were hyperadrenergic spells (54%) and abdominal pain (29%), whereas tuberculosis presented with adrenal insufficiency (AI) (95%). The presenting symptoms for PAL were AI (57%) and abdominal pain (43%), whereas all cases of metastasis had abdominal pain. Mean size of adrenal masses was the largest in lymphoma (5.5cm) followed by pheochromocytoma (4.8cm), metastasis (4cm) and tuberculosis (2.1cm) (P<0.001). Biochemically, most patients with pheochromocytoma (92.8%) had catecholamine excess. Hypocortisolism was common in tuberculosis (100%) and PAL (71.4%) and absent with metastases (P<0.001). Conclusion In evaluation of bilateral adrenal masses, age at presentation, presenting symptoms, lesion size, and biochemical features are helpful in delineating varied underlying aetiologies. PMID:27037294

  20. Localization of synchronous cortical neural sources.

    PubMed

    Zerouali, Younes; Herry, Christophe L; Jemel, Boutheina; Lina, Jean-Marc

    2013-03-01

    Neural synchronization is a key mechanism to a wide variety of brain functions, such as cognition, perception, or memory. High temporal resolution achieved by EEG recordings allows the study of the dynamical properties of synchronous patterns of activity at a very fine temporal scale but with very low spatial resolution. Spatial resolution can be improved by retrieving the neural sources of EEG signal, thus solving the so-called inverse problem. Although many methods have been proposed to solve the inverse problem and localize brain activity, few of them target the synchronous brain regions. In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm aimed at localizing specifically synchronous brain regions and reconstructing the time course of their activity. Using multivariate wavelet ridge analysis, we extract signals capturing the synchronous events buried in the EEG and then solve the inverse problem on these signals. Using simulated data, we compare results of source reconstruction accuracy achieved by our method to a standard source reconstruction approach. We show that the proposed method performs better across a wide range of noise levels and source configurations. In addition, we applied our method on real dataset and identified successfully cortical areas involved in the functional network underlying visual face perception. We conclude that the proposed approach allows an accurate localization of synchronous brain regions and a robust estimation of their activity.

  1. Interaction Control to Synchronize Non-synchronizable Networks.

    PubMed

    Schröder, Malte; Chakraborty, Sagar; Witthaut, Dirk; Nagler, Jan; Timme, Marc

    2016-11-17

    Synchronization constitutes one of the most fundamental collective dynamics across networked systems and often underlies their function. Whether a system may synchronize depends on the internal unit dynamics as well as the topology and strength of their interactions. For chaotic units with certain interaction topologies synchronization might be impossible across all interaction strengths, meaning that these networks are non-synchronizable. Here we propose the concept of interaction control, generalizing transient uncoupling, to induce desired collective dynamics in complex networks and apply it to synchronize even such non-synchronizable systems. After highlighting that non-synchronizability prevails for a wide range of networks of arbitrary size, we explain how a simple binary control may localize interactions in state space and thereby synchronize networks. Intriguingly, localizing interactions by a fixed control scheme enables stable synchronization across all connected networks regardless of topological constraints. Interaction control may thus ease the design of desired collective dynamics even without knowledge of the networks' exact interaction topology and consequently have implications for biological and self-organizing technical systems.

  2. Interaction Control to Synchronize Non-synchronizable Networks

    PubMed Central

    Schröder, Malte; Chakraborty, Sagar; Witthaut, Dirk; Nagler, Jan; Timme, Marc

    2016-01-01

    Synchronization constitutes one of the most fundamental collective dynamics across networked systems and often underlies their function. Whether a system may synchronize depends on the internal unit dynamics as well as the topology and strength of their interactions. For chaotic units with certain interaction topologies synchronization might be impossible across all interaction strengths, meaning that these networks are non-synchronizable. Here we propose the concept of interaction control, generalizing transient uncoupling, to induce desired collective dynamics in complex networks and apply it to synchronize even such non-synchronizable systems. After highlighting that non-synchronizability prevails for a wide range of networks of arbitrary size, we explain how a simple binary control may localize interactions in state space and thereby synchronize networks. Intriguingly, localizing interactions by a fixed control scheme enables stable synchronization across all connected networks regardless of topological constraints. Interaction control may thus ease the design of desired collective dynamics even without knowledge of the networks’ exact interaction topology and consequently have implications for biological and self-organizing technical systems. PMID:27853266

  3. An infrared image based methodology for breast lesions screening

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Morais, K. C. C.; Vargas, J. V. C.; Reisemberger, G. G.; Freitas, F. N. P.; Oliari, S. H.; Brioschi, M. L.; Louveira, M. H.; Spautz, C.; Dias, F. G.; Gasperin, P.; Budel, V. M.; Cordeiro, R. A. G.; Schittini, A. P. P.; Neto, C. D.

    2016-05-01

    The objective of this paper is to evaluate the potential of utilizing a structured methodology for breast lesions screening, based on infrared imaging temperature measurements of a healthy control group to establish expected normality ranges, and of breast cancer patients, previously diagnosed through biopsies of the affected regions. An analysis of the systematic error of the infrared camera skin temperature measurements was conducted in several different regions of the body, by direct comparison to high precision thermistor temperature measurements, showing that infrared camera temperatures are consistently around 2 °C above the thermistor temperatures. Therefore, a method of conjugated gradients is proposed to eliminate the infrared camera direct temperature measurement imprecision, by calculating the temperature difference between two points to cancel out the error. The method takes into account the human body approximate bilateral symmetry, and compares measured dimensionless temperature difference values (Δ θ bar) between two symmetric regions of the patient's breast, that takes into account the breast region, the surrounding ambient and the individual core temperatures, and doing so, the results interpretation for different individuals become simple and non subjective. The range of normal whole breast average dimensionless temperature differences for 101 healthy individuals was determined, and admitting that the breasts temperatures exhibit a unimodal normal distribution, the healthy normal range for each region was considered to be the dimensionless temperature difference plus/minus twice the standard deviation of the measurements, Δ θ bar ‾ + 2σ Δ θ bar ‾ , in order to represent 95% of the population. Forty-seven patients with previously diagnosed breast cancer through biopsies were examined with the method, which was capable of detecting breast abnormalities in 45 cases (96%). Therefore, the conjugated gradients method was considered effective

  4. Impact of value based breast cancer care pathway implementation on pre-operative breast magnetic resonance imaging utilization.

    PubMed

    McCray, Devina K S; Grobmyer, Stephen R; Pederson, Holly J

    2017-02-01

    Bilateral breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is commonly used in the diagnostic workup of breast cancer (BC) to assess extent of disease and identify occult foci of disease. However, evidence for routine use of pre-operative MRI is lacking. Breast MRI is costly and can lead to unnecessary tests and treatment delays. Clinical care pathways (care paths) are value-based guidelines, which define management recommendations derived by expert consensus and available evidence based data. At Cleveland Clinic, care paths created for newly diagnosed BC patients recommend selective use of pre-operative MRI. We evaluated the number of pre-operative MRIs ordered before and after implementing an institution wide BC care paths in April 2014. A retrospective review was conducted of BC cases during the years 2012, 2014, and part of 2015. Patient, tumor and treatment characteristics were collected. Pre-operative MRI utilization was compared before and after care path implementation. We identified 1,515 BC patients during the study period. Patients were more likely to undergo pre-operative MRI in 2012 than 2014 (OR: 2.77; P<0.001; 95% CI: 1.94-3.94) or 2015 (OR: 4.14; P<0.001; 95% CI: 2.51-6.83). There was a significant decrease in pre-operative MRI utilization between 2012 and 2014 (P<0.001) after adjustment for pre-operative MRIs ordered for care path indications. Implementation of online BC care paths at our institution was associated with a decreased use of pre-operative MRI overall and in patients without a BC care path indication, driving value based care through the reduction of pre-operative breast MRIs.

  5. Robust Timing Synchronization in Aeronautical Mobile Communication Systems

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Xiong, Fu-Qin; Pinchak, Stanley

    2004-01-01

    This work details a study of robust synchronization schemes suitable for satellite to mobile aeronautical applications. A new scheme, the Modified Sliding Window Synchronizer (MSWS), is devised and compared with existing schemes, including the traditional Early-Late Gate Synchronizer (ELGS), the Gardner Zero-Crossing Detector (GZCD), and the Sliding Window Synchronizer (SWS). Performance of the synchronization schemes is evaluated by a set of metrics that indicate performance in digital communications systems. The metrics are convergence time, mean square phase error (or root mean-square phase error), lowest SNR for locking, initial frequency offset performance, midstream frequency offset performance, and system complexity. The performance of the synchronizers is evaluated by means of Matlab simulation models. A simulation platform is devised to model the satellite to mobile aeronautical channel, consisting of a Quadrature Phase Shift Keying modulator, an additive white Gaussian noise channel, and a demodulator front end. Simulation results show that the MSWS provides the most robust performance at the cost of system complexity. The GZCD provides a good tradeoff between robustness and system complexity for communication systems that require high symbol rates or low overall system costs. The ELGS has a high system complexity despite its average performance. Overall, the SWS, originally designed for multi-carrier systems, performs very poorly in single-carrier communications systems. Table 5.1 in Section 5 provides a ranking of each of the synchronization schemes in terms of the metrics set forth in Section 4.1. Details of comparison are given in Section 5. Based on the results presented in Table 5, it is safe to say that the most robust synchronization scheme examined in this work is the high-sample-rate Modified Sliding Window Synchronizer. A close second is its low-sample-rate cousin. The tradeoff between complexity and lowest mean-square phase error determines

  6. Bilateral aniridia lenticular coloboma and snowflake retinal degeneration.

    PubMed

    Doganay, Selim; Emre, Sinan; Firat, Penpegül

    2009-01-01

    A 6-year-old boy presented with bilateral aniridia associated with lens coloboma and snowflake retinal degeneration. Ophthalmologic examination revealed bilateral corneal peripheral epithelial thickening and aniridia. Additionally, the patient had lenticular coloboma and snowflake retinal degeneration in both eyes. Intraocular pressure was 22 mm Hg bilaterally. The patient also had pendular nystagmus. Uncorrected visual acuity was counting fingers at 2 meters for both eyes, but improved to 0.2 and 0.05, respectively, with correction. Congenital aniridia has been reported with various ophthalmic pathologies, but this is the first case to display bilateral lenticular coloboma and snowflake retinal degeneration associated with aniridia.

  7. Electrohydraulic Synchronizing Servo Control of a Robotic Arm

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, S.; Ruan, J.; Pei, X.; Yu, Z. Q.; Zhu, F. M.

    2006-10-01

    The large robotic arm is usually driven by the electrodraulic synchronizing control system. The electrodraulic synchronizing system is designed with the digital valve to eliminate the effect of the nonlinearities, such as hysteresis, saturation, definite resolution. The working principle of the electrodraulic synchronizing control system is introduced and the mathematical model is established through construction of flow rate equation, continuity equation, force equilibrium equation, etc. To obtain the high accuracy, the PID control is introduced in the system. Simulation analysis shows that the dynamic performance of the synchronizing system is good, and its steady state error is very small. To validate the results, the experimental set-up of the synchronizing system is built. The experiment makes it clear that the control system has high accuracy. The synchronizing system can be applied widely in practice.

  8. Detection of generalized synchronization using echo state networks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ibáñez-Soria, D.; Garcia-Ojalvo, J.; Soria-Frisch, A.; Ruffini, G.

    2018-03-01

    Generalized synchronization between coupled dynamical systems is a phenomenon of relevance in applications that range from secure communications to physiological modelling. Here, we test the capabilities of reservoir computing and, in particular, echo state networks for the detection of generalized synchronization. A nonlinear dynamical system consisting of two coupled Rössler chaotic attractors is used to generate temporal series consisting of time-locked generalized synchronized sequences interleaved with unsynchronized ones. Correctly tuned, echo state networks are able to efficiently discriminate between unsynchronized and synchronized sequences even in the presence of relatively high levels of noise. Compared to other state-of-the-art techniques of synchronization detection, the online capabilities of the proposed Echo State Network based methodology make it a promising choice for real-time applications aiming to monitor dynamical synchronization changes in continuous signals.

  9. Synchronous and metachronous neoplasms in gastric cancer patients: A 23-year study

    PubMed Central

    Ławniczak, Małgorzata; Gawin, Alicja; Jaroszewicz-Heigelmann, Halina; Rogoza-Mateja, Wiesława; Raszeja-Wyszomirska, Joanna; Białek, Andrzej; Karpińska-Kaczmarczyk, Katarzyna; Starzyńska, Teresa

    2014-01-01

    AIM: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of additional primary malignancies in gastric cancer (GC) patients. METHODS: GC patients (862 total; 570 men, 292 women; mean age 59.8 ± 12.8 years) diagnosed at the Department of Gastroenterology at Pomeranian Medical University over a period of 23 years were included in this retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database. Mean follow-up time was 31.3 ± 38.6 mo (range 1-241 mo). The following clinicopathological features of patients with synchronous tumors were compared to those with metachronous tumors: age, sex, symptom duration, family history of cancer, tumor site, stage (early vs advanced), histology, and blood group. GC patients with and without a second tumor were compared in terms of the same clinicopathological features. RESULTS: Of 862 GC patients, 58 (6.7%) developed a total of 62 multiple primary tumors, of which 39 (63%) were metachronous and 23 (37%) synchronous. Four (6.9%) of the 58 multiple GC patients developed two or more neoplasms. The predominant tumor type of the secondary neoplasms was colorectal (n = 17), followed by lung (n = 9), breast (n = 8), and prostate (n = 7). Age was the only clinicopathological feature that differed between GC patients with synchronous vs metachronous malignancies; GC patients with synchronous neoplasms were older than those with metachronous neoplasms (68.0 ± 10.3 years vs 59.9 ± 11.1 years, respectively, P = 0.008). Comparisons between patients with and without a second primary cancer revealed that the only statistically significant differences were in age and blood group. The mean age of the patients with multiple GC was higher than that of those without a second primary tumor (63.4 ± 11.4 years vs 59.5 ± 13.0 years, respectively, P = 0.026). GC patients with a second primary tumor were more commonly blood group O than those without (56.2% vs 31.6%, respectively, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: GC patients may develop other primary cancers

  10. The Earth Synchronous Satellite Carrier Rocket,

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1984-01-26

    FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY DIVISION 0 - THE EARTH SYNCHRONOUS SATELLITE CARRIER ROCKET jJ by Zhou Yiyun ’% AR 2 1984 Approved for public-release; 84 03 01 071...I - FTD-ID(RS)T-1787-83 EDITED TRANSLATION FTD-IDCRS)T-1787-83 26 January 1984 MICROFICHE NR: FTD-84-C-000094 THE EARTH SYNCHRONOUS SATELLITE CARRIER...quality copy available. / THE EARTH SYNCHRONOUS SATELLITE CARRIER ROCKET by Zhou Yiyun Last September, the fight for the champion of the Women’s World

  11. Desynchronization of stochastically synchronized chemical oscillators

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Snari, Razan; Tinsley, Mark R., E-mail: mark.tinsley@mail.wvu.edu, E-mail: kshowalt@wvu.edu; Faramarzi, Sadegh

    Experimental and theoretical studies are presented on the design of perturbations that enhance desynchronization in populations of oscillators that are synchronized by periodic entrainment. A phase reduction approach is used to determine optimal perturbation timing based upon experimentally measured phase response curves. The effectiveness of the perturbation waveforms is tested experimentally in populations of periodically and stochastically synchronized chemical oscillators. The relevance of the approach to therapeutic methods for disrupting phase coherence in groups of stochastically synchronized neuronal oscillators is discussed.

  12. Quality of life among patients after bilateral prophylactic mastectomy: A systematic review of patient reported outcomes

    PubMed Central

    Razdan, Shantanu N.; Patel, Vishal; Jewell, Sarah; McCarthy, Colleen M.

    2016-01-01

    Purpose Bilateral prophylactic mastectomy (BPM) is effective in reducing the risk of breast cancer in women with a well-defined family history of breast cancer or in women with BRCA 1 or 2 mutations. Evaluating patient-reported outcomes following BPM are thus essential for evaluating success of BPM from patient’s perspective. Our systematic review aimed to: (1) identify studies describing health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients following BPM with or without reconstruction; (2) assess the effect of BPM with or without reconstruction on HRQOL; and, (3) identify predictors of HRQOL post BPM. Methods We performed a systematic review of literature using the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane databases were searched. Results The initial search resulted in 1082 studies; 22 of these studies fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Post BPM, patients are satisfied with the outcomes and report high psychosocial well-being and positive body image. Sexual well-being and somatosensory function are most negatively affected. Vulnerability, psychological distress and preoperative cancer distress are significant negative predictors of quality of life and body image post BPM. Conclusion There is a paucity of high quality data on outcomes of different HRQOL domains post BPM. Future studies should strive to use validated and breast-specific PRO instruments for measuring HRQOL. This will facilitate shared decision-making by enabling surgeons to provide evidence-based answers to women contemplating BPM. PMID:26577764

  13. A Spatiotemporal-Chaos-Based Cryptosystem Taking Advantage of Both Synchronous and Self-Synchronizing Schemes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lü, Hua-Ping; Wang, Shi-Hong; Li, Xiao-Wen; Tang, Guo-Ning; Kuang, Jin-Yu; Ye, Wei-Ping; Hu, Gang

    2004-06-01

    Two-dimensional one-way coupled map lattices are used for cryptography where multiple space units produce chaotic outputs in parallel. One of the outputs plays the role of driving for synchronization of the decryption system while the others perform the function of information encoding. With this separation of functions the receiver can establish a self-checking and self-correction mechanism, and enjoys the advantages of both synchronous and self-synchronizing schemes. A comparison between the present system with the system of advanced encryption standard (AES) is presented in the aspect of channel noise influence. Numerical investigations show that our system is much stronger than AES against channel noise perturbations, and thus can be better used for secure communications with large channel noise.

  14. [Bilateral torticollis].

    PubMed

    Kustos, T; Magdics, M

    1993-12-19

    Bilateral torticollis is a very rare form of a well known deformity i.e. muscular torticollis. This malformation might present a differential diagnostic problem both for orthopaedic surgeons and ophthalmologists, as well as, for neurologists. In agreement with the literature, the role of an injury during labour or defective embriogenesis is suggested to play a part.

  15. Guide to Synchronization of Video Systems to IRIG Timing

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1992-07-01

    and industry. 1-2 CHAPTER 2 SYNCHRONISATION Before delving into the details of synchronization , a review is needed of the reasons for synchronizing ... Synchronization of Video Systems to IRIG Timing Optical Systems Group Range Commanders Council White Sands Missile Range, NM 88002-5110 RCC Document 456-92 Range...This document addresses a broad field of video synchronization to IRIG timing with emphasis on color synchronization . This document deals with

  16. On the Synchronization of EEG Spindle Waves

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Long, Wen; Zhang, ChengFu; Zhao, SiLan; Shi, RuiHong

    2000-06-01

    Based on recently sleeping cellular substrates, a network model synaptically coupled by N three-cell circuits is provided. Simulation results show that: (i) the dynamic behavior of every circuit is chaotic; (ii) the synchronization of the network is incomplete; (iii) the incomplete synchronization can integrate burst firings of cortical cells into waxing-and-wanning EEG spindle waves. These results enlighten us that this kind of incomplete synchronization may integrate microscopic, electrical activities of neurons in billions into macroscopic, functional states in human brain. In addition, the effects of coupling strength, connectional mode and noise to the synchronization are discussed.

  17. Chaos synchronization in networks of semiconductor superlattices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Wen; Aviad, Yaara; Reidler, Igor; Song, Helun; Huang, Yuyang; Biermann, Klaus; Rosenbluh, Michael; Zhang, Yaohui; Grahn, Holger T.; Kanter, Ido

    2015-11-01

    Chaos synchronization has been demonstrated as a useful building block for various tasks in secure communications, including a source of all-electronic ultrafast physical random number generators based on room temperature spontaneous chaotic oscillations in a DC-biased weakly coupled GaAs/Al0.45Ga0.55As semiconductor superlattice (SSL). Here, we experimentally demonstrate the emergence of several types of chaos synchronization, e.g. leader-laggard, face-to-face and zero-lag synchronization in network motifs of coupled SSLs consisting of unidirectional and mutual coupling as well as self-feedback coupling. Each type of synchronization clearly reflects the symmetry of the topology of its network motif. The emergence of a chaotic SSL without external feedback and synchronization among different structured SSLs open up the possibility for advanced secure multi-user communication methods based on large networks of coupled SSLs.

  18. Synchronization Dynamics in a Designed Open System

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yokoshi, Nobuhiko; Odagiri, Kazuki; Ishikawa, Akira; Ishihara, Hajime

    2017-05-01

    We theoretically propose a unifying expression for synchronization dynamics between two-level constituents. Although synchronization phenomena require some substantial mediators, the distinct repercussions of their propagation delays remain obscure, especially in open systems. Our scheme directly incorporates the details of the constituents and mediators in an arbitrary environment. As one example, we demonstrate the synchronization dynamics of optical emitters on a dielectric microsphere. We reveal that the whispering gallery modes (WGMs) bridge the well-separated emitters and accelerate the synchronized fluorescence, known as superfluorescence. The emitters are found to overcome the significant and nonuniform retardation, and to build up their pronounced coherence by the WGMs, striking a balance between the roles of resonator and intermediary. Our work directly illustrates the dynamical aspects of many-body synchronizations and contributes to the exploration of research paradigms that consider designed open systems.

  19. Quantum synchronization in an optomechanical system based on Lyapunov control.

    PubMed

    Li, Wenlin; Li, Chong; Song, Heshan

    2016-06-01

    We extend the concepts of quantum complete synchronization and phase synchronization, which were proposed in A. Mari et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 103605 (2013)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.111.103605, to more widespread quantum generalized synchronization. Generalized synchronization can be considered a necessary condition or a more flexible derivative of complete synchronization, and its criterion and synchronization measure are proposed and analyzed in this paper. As examples, we consider two typical generalized synchronizations in a designed optomechanical system. Unlike the effort to construct a special coupling synchronization system, we purposefully design extra control fields based on Lyapunov control theory. We find that the Lyapunov function can adapt to more flexible control objectives, which is more suitable for generalized synchronization control, and the control fields can be achieved simply with a time-variant voltage. Finally, the existence of quantum entanglement in different generalized synchronizations is also discussed.

  20. Reinnervation of Bilateral Posterior Cricoarytenoid Muscles Using the Left Phrenic Nerve in Patients with Bilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis

    PubMed Central

    Zheng, Hongliang; Chen, Donghui; Zhu, Minhui; Wang, Wei; Liu, Fei; Zhang, Caiyun

    2013-01-01

    Objective To evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of reinnervation of the bilateral posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscles using the left phrenic nerve in patients with bilateral vocal fold paralysis. Methods Forty-four patients with bilateral vocal fold paralysis who underwent reinnervation of the bilateral PCA muscles using the left phrenic nerve were enrolled in this study. Videostroboscopy, perceptual evaluation, acoustic analysis, maximum phonation time, pulmonary function testing, and laryngeal electromyography were performed preoperatively and postoperatively. Patients were followed-up for at least 1 year after surgery. Results Videostroboscopy showed that within 1 year after reinnervation, abductive movement could be observed in the left vocal folds of 87% of patients and the right vocal folds of 72% of patients. Abductive excursion on the left side was significantly larger than that on the right side (P < 0.05); most of the vocal function parameters were improved postoperatively compared with the preoperative parameters, albeit without a significant difference (P > 0.05). No patients developed immediate dyspnea after surgery, and the pulmonary function parameters recovered to normal reference value levels within 1 year. Postoperative laryngeal electromyography confirmed successful reinnervation of the bilateral PCA muscles. Eighty-seven percent of patients in this series were decannulated and did not show obvious dyspnea after physical activity. Those who were decannulated after subsequent arytenoidectomy were not included in calculating the success rate of decannulation. Conclusions Reinnervation of the bilateral PCA muscles using the left phrenic nerve can restore inspiratory vocal fold abduction to a physiologically satisfactory extent while preserving phonatory function at the preoperative level without evident morbidity. PMID:24098581

  1. A Synchronous Search for Documents

    DTIC Science & Technology

    An algorithm is described of a synchronous search in a complex system of selective retrieval of documents, with an allowance for exclusion of...stored on a magnetic tape. The number of topics served by the synchronous search goes into thousands; a search within 500-600 topics is performed without additional access to the tape.

  2. A Semantics of Synchronization.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1980-09-01

    suggestion of having very hungry philosophers. One can easily imagine the complexity of the equivalent implementation using semaphores . Synchronization types...Edinburgh, July 1978. [STAR79] Stark, E.W., " Semaphore Primitives and Fair Mutual Exclusion," TM-158, Laboratory for Computer Science, M.I.T., Cambridge...AD-AQ91 015 MASSACHUSETTS INST OF TECH CAMBRIDGE LAB FOR COMPUTE--ETC F/S 9/2 A SEMANTICS OF SYNCHRONIZATION .(U) .C SEP 80 C A SEAQUIST N00015-75

  3. Atypical neural synchronization to speech envelope modulations in dyslexia.

    PubMed

    De Vos, Astrid; Vanvooren, Sophie; Vanderauwera, Jolijn; Ghesquière, Pol; Wouters, Jan

    2017-01-01

    A fundamental deficit in the synchronization of neural oscillations to temporal information in speech could underlie phonological processing problems in dyslexia. In this study, the hypothesis of a neural synchronization impairment is investigated more specifically as a function of different neural oscillatory bands and temporal information rates in speech. Auditory steady-state responses to 4, 10, 20 and 40Hz modulations were recorded in normal reading and dyslexic adolescents to measure neural synchronization of theta, alpha, beta and low-gamma oscillations to syllabic and phonemic rate information. In comparison to normal readers, dyslexic readers showed reduced non-synchronized theta activity, reduced synchronized alpha activity and enhanced synchronized beta activity. Positive correlations between alpha synchronization and phonological skills were found in normal readers, but were absent in dyslexic readers. In contrast, dyslexic readers exhibited positive correlations between beta synchronization and phonological skills. Together, these results suggest that auditory neural synchronization of alpha and beta oscillations is atypical in dyslexia, indicating deviant neural processing of both syllabic and phonemic rate information. Impaired synchronization of alpha oscillations in particular demonstrated to be the most prominent neural anomaly possibly hampering speech and phonological processing in dyslexic readers. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Bilateral ECT induces bilateral increases in regional cortical thickness.

    PubMed

    van Eijndhoven, P; Mulders, P; Kwekkeboom, L; van Oostrom, I; van Beek, M; Janzing, J; Schene, A; Tendolkar, I

    2016-08-23

    Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective treatment for patients suffering from severe or treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD). Unfortunately its underlying neurobiological mechanisms are still unclear. One line of evidence indicates that the seizures produced by ECT induce or stimulate neuroplasticity effects. Although these seizures also affect the cortex, the effect of ECT on cortical thickness is not investigated until now. We acquired structural magnetic resonance imaging data in 19 treatment-resistant MDD patients before and after a bilateral ECT course, and 16 healthy controls at 2 time points, and compared changes in cortical thickness between the groups. Our results reveal that ECT induces significant, bilateral increases in cortical thickness, including the temporal pole, inferior and middle temporal cortex and the insula. The pattern of increased cortical thickness was predominant in regions that are associated with seizure onset in ECT. Post hoc analyses showed that the increase in thickness of the insular cortex was larger in responders than in non-responders, which may point to a specific relationship of this region with treatment effects of ECT.

  5. Metastatic trichilemmal carcinoma in a patient with breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Sofianos, Chrysis; Chauke, Nkhensani Y; Grubnik, Alexandra

    2016-11-21

    Trichilemmal carcinoma (TC) is described as a very rare cancer of the skin adnexa. 1 2 Ninety per cent of the lesions present on the scalp. Prognostic factors in TC are limited to lymph node status and surgical margins, with no statistical significance observed for age or gender of the patient, size of tumour or locoregional recurrence. We present a 46-year-old black patient who developed TC during treatment for breast cancer. Postoperative histology of the scalp lesion excision confirmed no involved margins. At the three monthly appointment, the patient was reviewed and multiple, new scalp lesions were noted. A CT scan of the head, neck found multiple lesions on the scalp, limited to the soft tissue, not involving the outer table of the skull. There was bilateral invasion of the parotid glands. To the best of our knowledge, no syndromes or associations between breast cancer and adnexal skin tumours exist. 2016 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

  6. System Synchronizes Recordings from Separated Video Cameras

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nail, William; Nail, William L.; Nail, Jasper M.; Le, Doung T.

    2009-01-01

    A system of electronic hardware and software for synchronizing recordings from multiple, physically separated video cameras is being developed, primarily for use in multiple-look-angle video production. The system, the time code used in the system, and the underlying method of synchronization upon which the design of the system is based are denoted generally by the term "Geo-TimeCode(TradeMark)." The system is embodied mostly in compact, lightweight, portable units (see figure) denoted video time-code units (VTUs) - one VTU for each video camera. The system is scalable in that any number of camera recordings can be synchronized. The estimated retail price per unit would be about $350 (in 2006 dollars). The need for this or another synchronization system external to video cameras arises because most video cameras do not include internal means for maintaining synchronization with other video cameras. Unlike prior video-camera-synchronization systems, this system does not depend on continuous cable or radio links between cameras (however, it does depend on occasional cable links lasting a few seconds). Also, whereas the time codes used in prior video-camera-synchronization systems typically repeat after 24 hours, the time code used in this system does not repeat for slightly more than 136 years; hence, this system is much better suited for long-term deployment of multiple cameras.

  7. Cost-effectiveness of risk-reducing surgeries in preventing hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

    PubMed

    Schrauder, Michael G; Brunel-Geuder, Lisa; Häberle, Lothar; Wunderle, Marius; Hoyer, Juliane; Reis, André; Schulz-Wendtland, Rüdiger; Beckmann, Matthias W; Lux, Michael P

    2017-04-01

    Risk-reducing surgeries are a feasible option for mitigating the risk in individuals with inherited susceptibility to cancer, but are the procedures cost-effective in the current health-care system in Germany? This study compared the health-care costs for bilateral risk-reducing mastectomy (BRRM) and risk-reducing (bilateral) salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) with cancer treatment costs that could potentially be prevented. The analysis is based on interdisciplinary consultations with individuals with a high familial risk for breast and ovarian cancer at the University Breast Center for Franconia (Germany) between 2009 and 2013 (370 consultations; 44 patients with BRCA1 mutations and 26 with BRCA2 mutations). Health-care costs for risk-reducing surgeries in BRCA mutation carriers were calculated as reimbursements in the German diagnosis-related groups (DRG) hospital pricing system. These costs for the health-care system were compared with the potential cancer treatment costs that could possibly be prevented by risk-reducing surgeries. Long-term health-care costs can be reduced by risk-reducing surgeries after genetic testing in BRCA mutation carriers. The health-care system in Germany would have saved € 136,295 if BRRM had been performed and € 791,653 if RRSO had been performed before the development of cancer in only 50% of the 70 mutation carriers seen in our center. Moreover, in patients with combined RRSO and BRRM (without breast reconstruction), one further life-year for a 40-year-old BRCA mutation carrier would cost € 2,183. Intensive care, including risk-reducing surgeries in BRCA mutation carriers, is cost-effective from the point of view of the health-care system in Germany. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Synchronicity, instant messaging, and performance among financial traders.

    PubMed

    Saavedra, Serguei; Hagerty, Kathleen; Uzzi, Brian

    2011-03-29

    Successful animal systems often manage risk through synchronous behavior that spontaneously arises without leadership. In critical human systems facing risk, such as financial markets or military operations, our understanding of the benefits associated with synchronicity is nascent but promising. Building on previous work illuminating commonalities between ecological and human systems, we compare the activity patterns of individual financial traders with the simultaneous activity of other traders--an individual and spontaneous characteristic we call synchronous trading. Additionally, we examine the association of synchronous trading with individual performance and communication patterns. Analyzing empirical data on day traders' second-to-second trading and instant messaging, we find that the higher the traders' synchronous trading is, the less likely they are to lose money at the end of the day. We also find that the daily instant messaging patterns of traders are closely associated with their level of synchronous trading. This result suggests that synchronicity and vanguard technology may help traders cope with risky decisions in complex systems and may furnish unique prospects for achieving collective and individual goals.

  9. Synchronicity, instant messaging, and performance among financial traders

    PubMed Central

    Saavedra, Serguei; Hagerty, Kathleen; Uzzi, Brian

    2011-01-01

    Successful animal systems often manage risk through synchronous behavior that spontaneously arises without leadership. In critical human systems facing risk, such as financial markets or military operations, our understanding of the benefits associated with synchronicity is nascent but promising. Building on previous work illuminating commonalities between ecological and human systems, we compare the activity patterns of individual financial traders with the simultaneous activity of other traders—an individual and spontaneous characteristic we call synchronous trading. Additionally, we examine the association of synchronous trading with individual performance and communication patterns. Analyzing empirical data on day traders’ second-to-second trading and instant messaging, we find that the higher the traders’ synchronous trading is, the less likely they are to lose money at the end of the day. We also find that the daily instant messaging patterns of traders are closely associated with their level of synchronous trading. This result suggests that synchronicity and vanguard technology may help traders cope with risky decisions in complex systems and may furnish unique prospects for achieving collective and individual goals. PMID:21402941

  10. Axillary silicone lymphadenopathy presenting with a lump and altered sensation in the breast: a case report

    PubMed Central

    2009-01-01

    Introduction Silicone lymphadenopathy is a rare but recognised complication of procedures involving the use of silicone. It has a poorly understood mechanism but is thought to occur following the transportation of silicone particles from silicone-containing prostheses to lymph nodes by macrophages. Case presentation We report of a case involving a 35-year-old woman who presented to the breast clinic with a breast lump and altered sensation below her left nipple 5 years after bilateral cosmetic breast augmentations. A small lump was detected inferior to the nipple but clinical examination and initial ultrasound investigation showed both implants to be intact. However, mammography and magnetic resonance imaging of both breasts revealed both intracapsular and extracapsular rupture of the left breast prosthesis. The patient went on to develop a flu-like illness and tender lumps in the left axilla and right mastoid regions. An excision biopsy of the left axillary lesion and replacement of the ruptured implant was performed. Subsequent histological analysis showed that the axillary lump was a lymph node containing large amounts of silicone. Conclusion The exclusion of malignancy remains the priority when dealing with lumps in the breast or axilla. Silicone lymphadenopathy should however be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients in whom silicone prostheses are present. PMID:19830102

  11. Illumination-based synchronization of high-speed vision sensors.

    PubMed

    Hou, Lei; Kagami, Shingo; Hashimoto, Koichi

    2010-01-01

    To acquire images of dynamic scenes from multiple points of view simultaneously, the acquisition time of vision sensors should be synchronized. This paper describes an illumination-based synchronization method derived from the phase-locked loop (PLL) algorithm. Incident light to a vision sensor from an intensity-modulated illumination source serves as the reference signal for synchronization. Analog and digital computation within the vision sensor forms a PLL to regulate the output signal, which corresponds to the vision frame timing, to be synchronized with the reference. Simulated and experimental results show that a 1,000 Hz frame rate vision sensor was successfully synchronized with 32 μs jitters.

  12. Quantum synchronization of a driven self-sustained oscillator.

    PubMed

    Walter, Stefan; Nunnenkamp, Andreas; Bruder, Christoph

    2014-03-07

    Synchronization is a universal phenomenon that is important both in fundamental studies and in technical applications. Here we investigate synchronization in the simplest quantum-mechanical scenario possible, i.e., a quantum-mechanical self-sustained oscillator coupled to an external harmonic drive. Using the power spectrum we analyze synchronization in terms of frequency entrainment and frequency locking in close analogy to the classical case. We show that there is a steplike crossover to a synchronized state as a function of the driving strength. In contrast to the classical case, there is a finite threshold value in driving. Quantum noise reduces the synchronized region and leads to a deviation from strict frequency locking.

  13. Synchronized smoldering combustion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mikalsen, R. F.; Hagen, B. C.; Frette, V.

    2018-03-01

    Synchronized, pulsating temperatures are observed experimentally in smoldering fires. The entire sample volume (1.8 l) participates in the pulsations (pulse period 2–4 h). The synchrony lasts up to 25 h and is followed by a spontaneous transition to either disordered combustion or self-extinguishment. The synchronization is obtained when the fuel bed is cooled to the brink of extinguishment. Calculations for adiabatic conditions, including heat generation from combustion (nonlinear in temperature) and heat storage in sample (linear in temperature), predict diverging sample temperature. Experimentally, heat losses to surroundings (linear in temperature) prevent temperatures to increase without bounds and lead to pulsations.

  14. Metastasis of lobular breast carcinoma to the uterus in a patient under anastrozole therapy.

    PubMed

    Ustaalioglu, Basak B O; Bilici, Ahmet; Seker, Mesut; Salman, Tarik; Gumus, Mahmut; Barisik, Nagehan O; Salepci, Taflan; Yaylaci, Mustafa

    2009-07-01

    Metastasis of extragenital neoplasms to the uterus are rarely encountered, and usually occur as a manifestation of advanced disease. Lobular carcinoma is the most common type of breast cancer that metastasizes to the uterus. We report on a 56-year-old woman who 3 years previously was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast and was treated with surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. While the patient was on adjuvant anastrozole therapy for 2 years, she complained of vaginal bleeding. Because of endometrial thickening and a uterine leiomyoma detected during abdominal ultrasonographic ex-amination, a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. Histopathologic examination of the specimens revealed carcinoma infiltration of the myometrium, endometrium, cervix, uterine tube, and left ovary. Immunohistochemical staining of tumoral cells with pancytokeratin and gross cystic disease fluid protein (GCDFP-15) proved the diagnosis of metastatic lobular breast carcinoma to the uterus. To our knowledge, this is the second case of lobular breast carcinoma metastasized to the uterus under anastrozole therapy. In women with lobular breast cancer under adjuvant anastrozole therapy, who present with vaginal bleeding, uterine metastasis of lobular carcinoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  15. Inherited congenital bilateral atresia of the external auditory canal, congenital bilateral vertical talus and increased interocular distance.

    PubMed

    Rasmussen, N; Johnsen, N J; Thomsen, J

    1979-01-01

    Six out of twenty descendants of a reportedly affected grandfather have congenital bilateral symmetrical and isolated subtotal atresia of the external auditory canal. Four of the six affected descendants have bilateral foot anomalies--two affected cousins having congenital vertical talus. All of the three affected boys in the third generation have increased interocular distance. Short fifth fingers, bilateral single transverse palmar creases, pyloric stenosis and congenital exotropia were found infrequently and are considered coincidental features. Apart from the atresia, oto-rhinolaryngologic examination, mental function, dermatoglyphics, IgA, kidney function and heart function of the affected descendants were all normal. The karyotype of four affected descendants examined was normal. An autosomal dominant inheritance with variable expressivity is suggested.

  16. Bilateral stress fracture of the fibulae and periostitis of the tibiae.

    PubMed

    Tsuchie, Hiroyuki; Okada, Kyoji; Nagasawa, Hiroyuki; Chida, Shuichi; Shimada, Yoichi

    2010-01-01

    This study describes a unique case of bilateral stress fractures of the fibulae and provides a literature review. A 16-year-old female badminton player presented with pain around the bilateral distal lateral legs. She had mild bilateral varus deformity at the knee joint, and the bilateral ankles showed valgus deformity in standing posture. Radiographs and computed tomography showed periosteal reactions on the bilateral distal fibulae. Technetium-99m bone scintigraphy demonstrated increased uptake in the bilateral distal fibulae and the bilateral middle third of the tibiae. A diagnosis of bilateral distal fibular stress fractures was made. She was advised to stop playing badminton until the symptoms disappeared. Varus deformity of the knee and valgus deformity of the ankle may have influenced the mechanism underlying bilateral symmetric stress fractures. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  17. OMEGA SYSTEM SYNCHRONIZATION.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    TIME SIGNALS, * SYNCHRONIZATION (ELECTRONICS)), NETWORKS, FREQUENCY, STANDARDS, RADIO SIGNALS, ERRORS, VERY LOW FREQUENCY, PROPAGATION, ACCURACY, ATOMIC CLOCKS, CESIUM, RADIO STATIONS, NAVAL SHORE FACILITIES

  18. Synchronization of mobile chaotic oscillator networks

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Fujiwara, Naoya, E-mail: fujiwara@csis.u-tokyo.ac.jp; Kurths, Jürgen; Díaz-Guilera, Albert

    We study synchronization of systems in which agents holding chaotic oscillators move in a two-dimensional plane and interact with nearby ones forming a time dependent network. Due to the uncertainty in observing other agents' states, we assume that the interaction contains a certain amount of noise that turns out to be relevant for chaotic dynamics. We find that a synchronization transition takes place by changing a control parameter. But this transition depends on the relative dynamic scale of motion and interaction. When the topology change is slow, we observe an intermittent switching between laminar and burst states close to themore » transition due to small noise. This novel type of synchronization transition and intermittency can happen even when complete synchronization is linearly stable in the absence of noise. We show that the linear stability of the synchronized state is not a sufficient condition for its stability due to strong fluctuations of the transverse Lyapunov exponent associated with a slow network topology change. Since this effect can be observed within the linearized dynamics, we can expect such an effect in the temporal networks with noisy chaotic oscillators, irrespective of the details of the oscillator dynamics. When the topology change is fast, a linearized approximation describes well the dynamics towards synchrony. These results imply that the fluctuations of the finite-time transverse Lyapunov exponent should also be taken into account to estimate synchronization of the mobile contact networks.« less

  19. Frequency synchronization of a frequency-hopped MFSK communication system

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Huth, G. K.; Polydoros, A.; Simon, M. K.

    1981-01-01

    This paper presents the performance of fine-frequency synchronization. The performance degradation due to imperfect frequency synchronization is found in terms of the effect on bit error probability as a function of full-band or partial-band noise jamming levels and of the number of frequency hops used in the estimator. The effect of imperfect fine-time synchronization is also included in the calculation of fine-frequency synchronization performance to obtain the overall performance degradation due to synchronization errors.

  20. Using GLONASS signal for clock synchronization

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gouzhva, Yuri G.; Gevorkyan, Arvid G.; Bogdanov, Pyotr P.; Ovchinnikov, Vitaly V.

    1994-01-01

    Although in accuracy parameters GLONASS is correlated with GPS, using GLONASS signals for high-precision clock synchronization was, up to the recent time, of limited utility due to the lack of specialized time receivers. In order to improve this situation, in late 1992 the Russian Institute of Radionavigation and Time (RMT) began to develop a GLONASS time receiver using as a basis the airborne ASN-16 receiver. This paper presents results of estimating user clock synchronization accuracy via GLONASS signals using ASN-16 receiver in the direct synchronization and common-view modes.