International audienc
To assess the relationship between genetic polymorphisms and indinavir pharmacokinetic variability and to study the link between concentrations and short-term response or metabolic safety.
In order to better understand environmental disturbances in the French coastal Mediterranean lagoons, we used an ecotoxicological approach based on the measurement of the toxicity of the sediments using oyster embryo bioassay that provides a basis for assessing the effects on the fauna of contaminants adsorbed on the sedimentary particles. The study covers all of the main lagoons of the French Mediterranean coasts of Languedoc Roussillon, Camargue, and Provence (Berre and Bolmon lagoons), where 188 stations were sampled. The toxicity tests provide evidence of variable levels of toxicity in sediments. Contaminated lagoons such as La peyrade, Le canet, and Ingrill and locally affected lagoons such as Bages-Sigean, Vaccares, Bolmon, and Berre have sampling stations with 100% of larval abnormalities during 24-h development. In all of the lagoons, the toxicity was mainly located close to local harbors and rivers. Salses Leucate (Languedoc roussillon) lagoon was found very clean, with no important toxicity. The results are discussed in terms of environmental disturbances of the coastal lagoons and with regard to the long-term monitoring of the impact of contaminants on the coastal environment.
The aim of this guideline is to provide a minimum standard for the acquisition and interpretation of PET and PET/CT scans with [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). This guideline will therefore address general information about[18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) and is provided to help the physician and physicist to assist to carrying out,interpret, and document quantitative FDG PET/CT examinations,but will concentrate on the optimisation of diagnostic quality and quantitative information.
High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is commonly used for genu varum deformity in young and active patients. Corrective valgus osteotomy may however lead to an oblique joint line in cases of associated femur varum or absence of tibia vara. The over-correction, needed to obtain good long-term clinical results, may increase the obliquity even more. To avoid this drawback, the authors suggest use of an accurate and reproducible radiological protocol including at least a standing AP long-leg X-ray to measure not only the hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle but also the medial distal femoral mechanical angle (MDFMA) and the medial proximal tibial mechanical angle (MPTMA). These measures will guide the surgeon to choose the best indication, including HTO, double level osteotomy (DLO) and distal femoral osteotomy (DFO). Computer-navigation of the osteotomies is the best choice to achieve the preoperative goal. This paper will present the pre- and perioperative protocols of HTO and DLO and the rationale behind this way of thinking.
The purposes of this study were to investigate the mode of failure and survivorship of an independently performed series of medial Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasties. The study included 43 knees in 40 patients with a mean follow-up of 14.88 years: 13 knees (11 patients) had revision surgery (30%), and ten patients required conversion to total knee prosthesis. The mean International Knee Society (IKS) scores at the time of the revision were 145.52 [standard deviation (SD): 39.90, range: 167-200]. The overall alignment of the knee was restored to neutral, with a hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle average of 178° (SD: 3.21°, range: 170-186°). Survivorship, as defined by an endpoint of failure for any reason, showed that the survival rate at five years was 90%, at ten years 74.7% and at 15 years 70%. Excluding inappropriate patient selection and surgeon-associated failures, our survival analysis plot is much improved: survivorship at five years is 94.5%, at ten years 85.7% and at 15 years 80.4%. The Oxford meniscal bearing arthroplasty offers long-term pain relief with good knee function. Unfortunately, we demonstrated a high complication rate, with some of the failures encountered indicating that the surgical technique is very demanding.
We investigate the properties of an atmospheric channel for free spacequantum communication with continuous polarization variables. In ourprepare-and-measure setup, coherent polarization states are transmitted throughan atmospheric quantum channel of 100m length on the roof of our institute'sbuilding. The signal states are measured by homodyne detection with the help ofa local oscillator (LO) which propagates in the same spatial mode as thesignal, orthogonally polarized to it. Thus the interference of signal and LO isexcellent and atmospheric fluctuations are autocompensated. The LO also acts asspatial and spectral filter, which allows for unrestrained daylight operation.Important characteristics for our system are atmospheric channel influencesthat could cause polarization, intensity and position excess noise. Thereforewe study these influences in detail. Our results indicate that the channel issuitable for our quantum communication system in most weather conditions.
Variational approaches to image motion segmentation has been an active field of study in image processing and computer vision for two decades. We present a short overview over basic estimation schemes and report in more detail recent modifications and applications to fluid flow estimation. Key properties of these approaches are illustrated by numerical examples. We outline promising research directions and point out the potential of variational techniques in combination with correlation-based PIV methods, for improving the consistency of fluid flow estimation and simulation
This study was designed to evaluate recurrence and functional outcome of three surgical techniques for rectopexy: open (OR), laparoscopic (LR), and robot-assisted (RR). A case-control study was performed to study recurrence after the three operative techniques used for rectal procidentia. The secondary aim of this study was to examine the differences in functional results between the three techniques.