Preliminary report on in vivo coronary MRA at 3 Tesla in humans.

Current limitations of coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) include a suboptimal signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which limits spatial resolution and the ability to visualize distal and branch vessel coronary segments. Improved SNR is expected at higher field strengths, which may provide improved spatial resolution. However, a number of potential adverse effects on image quality have been reported at higher field strengths. The limited availability of high-field systems equipped with cardiac-specific hardware and software has previously precluded successful in vivo human high-field coronary MRA data acquisition. In the present study we investigated the feasibility of human coronary MRA at 3.0 T in vivo. The first results obtained in nine healthy adult subjects are presented.

Iowa Department of Transportation Major Items - Preliminary Quantity Report, April 16, 2013; With Addendums

Weekly letting report.

Is ultracision knife safe and efficient for breast capsulectomy? A preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Silicone breast implants are used to a wide extent in the field of plastic surgery. However, capsular contracture remains a considerable concern. This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness and applicability of an ultracision knife for capsulectomy breast surgery. METHODS: A prospective, single-center, randomized study was performed in 2009. The inclusion criteria specified female patients 20-80 years of age with capsular contracture (Baker 3-4). Ventral capsulectomy was performed using an ultracision knife on one side and the conventional Metzenbaum-type scissors and surgical knife on the collateral side of the breast. Measurements of the resected capsular ventral fragment, operative time, remaining breast tissue, drainage time, seroma and hematoma formation, visual analog scale pain score, and sensory function of the nipple-areola complex were assessed. In addition, histologic analysis of the resected capsule was performed. RESULTS: Five patients (median age, 59.2 years) were included in this study with a mean follow-up period of 6 months. Three patients had Baker grade 3 capsular contracture, and two patients had Baker grade 4 capsular contracture. The ultracision knife was associated with a significantly lower pain score, shorter operative time, smaller drainage volume, and shorter drainage time and resulted in a larger amount of remaining breast tissue. Histologic analysis of the resected capsule showed no apoptotic cells in the study group or control group. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that ventral capsulectomy with Baker grade 3 or 4 contracture using the ultracision knife is feasible, safe, and more efficient than blunt dissection and monopolar cutting diathermy and has a short learning curve. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE II: 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 at www.springer.com/00266 .

Aptitudes communicationnelles et formations à la communication en oncologie : Discussion critique

Cet article consiste en une discussion critique de la question de la communication en matière de prise en charge du patient atteint de cancer et de l'enseignement des aptitudes communicationnelles en oncologie. Nous avons d'abord essayé de définir les contours de ce qu'est (ou devrait être) une communication adéquate en oncologie, pour ensuite aborder les concepts sous-tendant les formations à la communication dans ce domaine, le problème des recommandations d'experts et du type dominant d'évaluation se rapportant à ces formations ainsi que les contenus enseignés et ainsi véhiculés.

Iowa Department of Transportation Major Items - Preliminary Quantity Report, May 21, 2013; With Addendums

Weekly letting report.

Iowa Department of Transportation Major Items - Preliminary Quantity Report, June 18, 2013; With Addendums

Weekly letting report.

Iowa Department of Transportation Major Items - Preliminary Quantity Report, July 16, 2013; With Addendums

Weekly letting report.

Iowa Department of Transportation Major Items - Preliminary Quantity Report, August 20, 2013; With Addendums

Weekly letting report.

Preliminary results of venlafaxine exposure in pregnancy, a multicenter prospective cohort ENTIS study

Introduction: Venlafaxine (Efexor®) is a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) used for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders. The limited data on the use of venlafaxine in human pregnancy do not indicate an increased risk of congenital malformations. The main purpose of the study is to assess the rate of major malformations after first trimester exposure to venlafaxine. Methods: This multicenter, prospective cohort study was performed using data from nine centers who are member of the European Network of Teratology Information Services (ENTIS). Data on pregnancy and pregnancy outcome of women who used venlafaxine in pregnancy were collected during individual risk counseling. Standardized procedures for data collection and followup were used by each center. Results: Follow up data were collected on 744 pregnancies of womenwhoused venlafaxine during gestation. In 583 (78.4%) cases the exposure had occurred at least in the first trimester. In total, there were 600 live births (5 twins), 85 spontaneous abortions, 57 elective terminations of pregnancy, 5 fetal deaths, and 2 ectopic pregnancies. The overall rate of major malformations after first trimester exposure and excluding chromosomal and genetic disorders was 3.2% (16/500) in all pregnancies ending in delivery, pregnancy terminations or fetal deaths with fetal-pathological examination. Among live births the malformation rate was 2.7% (13/490). We observed no increased risk for organ specific malformations. Conclusions: The present study indicates that venlafaxine is not a major human teratogen.

Iowa Department of Transportation Major Items - Preliminary Quantity Report, September 17, 2013; With Addendums

Weekly letting report.

Iowa Department of Transportation Major Items - Preliminary Quantity Report, October 15, 2013; With Addendums

Weekly letting report.

Chemical characterization of majolica from 14th-18th century production centers on the Iberian Peninsula: a preliminary neutron activation study

Majolica pottery is one of the most characteristic tableware produced during the Medieval and Renaissance periods. Majolica technology was introduced to the Iberian Peninsula by Islamic artisans during Medieval times, and its production and popularity rapidly spread throughout Spain and eventually to other locations in Europe and the Americas. The prestige and importance of Spanish majolica was very high. Consequently, this ware was imported profusely to the Americas during the Spanish Colonial period. Nowadays, Majolica pottery serves as an important horizon marker at Spanish colonial sites. A preliminary study of Spanish-produced majolica was conducted on a set of 246 samples from the 12 primary majolica production centers on the Iberian Peninsula. The samples were analyzed by neutron activation analysis (NAA), and the resulting data were interpreted using an array of multivariate statistical procedures. Our results show a clear discrimination between different production centers. In some cases, our data allow one to distinguish amongst shards coming from the same production location suggesting different workshops or group of workshops were responsible for production of this pre-industrial pottery.

Iowa Department of Transportation Major Items - Preliminary Quantity Report, September 17, 2013; With Addendums

Weekly letting report.