Advantages of preoperative hybrid SPECT/CT in detection of sentinel lymph nodes in cutaneous head and neck malignancies

There is some controversy around the value of sentinel lymph node excision (SLNE). Especially SLNE of cutaneous head and neck malignancies has been debated intensively, in part because of the complexity of the lymphatic drainage in this region associated with potential high morbidity. In order to improve preoperative three-dimensional mapping of sentinel lymph nodes (SLN), in the head and neck region, by means of hybrid single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) is gaining significance. Our study seeks to identify the potential medical and economic advantages of preoperative SPECT/CT in direct comparison to standard SLNE without SPECT/CT in patients with cutaneous head and neck malignancies.

Morphological and biochemical T2 evaluation of cartilage repair tissue based on a hybrid double echo at steady state (DESS-T2d) approach

To use a new approach which provides, based on the widely used three-dimensional double-echo steady-state (DESS) sequence, in addition to the morphological information, the generation of biochemical T2 maps in one hybrid sequence.

Analysis Methodology for Flow-level Evaluation of a Hybrid Mobile-Sensor Network

Our society uses a large diversity of co-existing wired and wireless networks in order to satisfy its communication needs. A cooper- ation between these networks can benefit performance, service availabil- ity and deployment ease, and leads to the emergence of hybrid networks. This position paper focuses on a hybrid mobile-sensor network identify- ing potential advantages and challenges of its use and defining feasible applications. The main value of the paper, however, is in the proposed analysis approach to evaluate the performance at the mobile network side given the mixed mobile-sensor traffic. The approach combines packet- level analysis with modelling of flow-level behaviour and can be applied for the study of various application scenarios. In this paper we consider two applications with distinct traffic models namely multimedia traffic and best-effort traffic.

Segregation of species-specific male attractiveness in f(2) hybrid lake Malawi cichlid fish

Among the huge radiations of haplochromine cichlid fish in Lakes Malawi and Victoria, closely related species are often reproductively isolated via female mate choice although viable fertile hybrids can be produced when females are confined only with heterospecific males. We generated F(2) hybrid males from a cross between a pair of closely related sympatric cichlid fish from Lake Malawi. Laboratory mate choice experiments using microsatellite paternity analysis demonstrated that F(2) hybrid males differed significantly in their attractiveness to females of the two parental species, indicating heritable variation in traits involved in mate choice that may contribute to reproductive isolation between these species. We found no significant correlation between male mating success and any measurement of male colour pattern. A simple quantitative genetic model of reproductive isolation suggests that there may be as few as two chromosomal regions controlling species-specific attractiveness. We propose that adaptive radiation of Lake Malawi cichlids could be facilitated by the presence of genes with major effects on mate choice and reproductive isolation.

Stabilization of Juxta-Physeal Distal Tibial and Fibular Fractures in a Juvenile Tiger Using a Hybrid Circular-Linear External Fixator

OBJECTIVE: To report stabilization of closed, comminuted distal metaphyseal transverse fractures of the left tibia and fibula in a tiger using a hybrid circular-linear external skeletal fixator. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical report. ANIMAL: Juvenile tiger (15 months, 90 kg). METHODS: From imaging studies, the tiger had comminuted distal metaphyseal transverse fractures of the left tibia and fibula, with mild caudolateral displacement and moderate compression. Multiple fissures extended from the fractures through the distal metaphyses, extending toward, but not involving the distal tibial and fibular physes. A hybrid circular-linear external skeletal fixator was applied by closed reduction, to stabilize the fractures. RESULTS: The fractures healed and the fixator was removed 5 weeks after stabilization. Limb length and alignment were similar to the normal contralateral limb at hospital discharge, 8 weeks after surgery. Two weeks later, the tiger had fractures of the right tibia and fibula and was euthanatized. Necropsy confirmed pathologic fractures ascribed to copper deficiency. CONCLUSION: Closed application of the hybrid construct provided sufficient stability to allow this 90 kg tiger's juxta-articular fractures to heal with minimal complications and without disrupting growth from the adjacent physes.

Plexiform hybrid granular cell tumor/perineurioma: a novel variant of benign peripheral nerve sheath tumor with divergent differentiation

The descriptive term hybrid peripheral nerve sheath tumor refers to any neoplasm of the neurilemmal apparatus composed of more than one pathologically defined tumoral equivalent derived from its constituent cells. Within this uncommon nosological category, participation of granular cell tumor - a neoplasm of modified Schwann cells - has been reported only exceptionally. We describe a hitherto not documented variant composed of an organoid mixture of granular cell tumor and perineurioma with plexiform growth. A solitary subcutaneous nodule of 1.5 cm diameter was excised from the right ring finger of a 19-year-old female with no antecedents of neurofibromatosis or relevant trauma. Histology revealed a monotonous, yet cytologically dimorphic proliferation of classical granular cells intermingled with flattened, inconspicuous perineurial cells. Immunohistochemical double labeling detected expression of S100 protein in the former and of EMA and GLUT-1 in the latter. While the respective staining patterns for S100 protein and EMA or GLUT-1 tended to be mutually exclusive, a minority of cells exhibited transitional granular cell/perineurial immunophenotype. Electron microscopy permitted direct visualization of a plethora of lysosomes in the granular cell moiety, and of pinocytotic vesicles and tight junctions in perineurial cells. Intratumoral axons were not detected. Expanding intraneurally, the lesion showed discrete encapsulation by the local perineurium, and resulted in plexiform growth. The MIB-1 labeling index averaged 1%. We interpret our findings as supporting evidence for the dual cell lineage to have arisen through metaplasia, with the tumor's dynamics probably having been driven by the granular cell component.

A novel interface for hybrid mock circulations to evaluate ventricular assist devices

This paper presents a novel mock circulation for the evaluation of ventricular assist devices (VADs), which is based on a hardware-in-the-loop concept. A numerical model of the human blood circulation runs in real time and computes instantaneous pressure, volume, and flow rate values. The VAD to be tested is connected to a numerical-hydraulic interface, which allows the interaction between the VAD and the numerical model of the circulation. The numerical-hydraulic interface consists of two pressure-controlled reservoirs, which apply the computed pressure values from the model to the VAD, and a flow probe to feed the resulting VAD flow rate back to the model. Experimental results are provided to show the proper interaction between a numerical model of the circulation and a mixed-flow blood pump.

Systematic review of clinical outcomes in hybrid procedures for aortic arch dissections and other arch diseases

Available data on clinical outcomes of hybrid aortic arch repair are limited, especially for patients with aortic dissection. The objective of this review was to provide pooled analysis of periprocedural mortality and neurologic outcomes in hybrid procedures involving the aortic arch for dissection and other aortic diseases.