BACKGROUND Galectin-3 (Gal-3) plays a role in the mechanisms underlying ocular venous malformation. We conducted this study to investigate the effect of pingyangmycin pretreatment on the Gal-3 expressions and biological behavior of ocular venous malformation. METHODS Tissue samples were collected from 136 patients with ocular venous malformation. Patients were randomly divided into pingyangmy...

AIMS Extent of cardiac sympathetic activation can be estimated from physiological parameters, blood biomarkers, and imaging findings. This study examined the prognostic value of three markers of sympathetic activity and their relationship to beta blocker dose in heart failure patients. METHODS AND RESULTS A post hoc analysis of 858 heart failure subjects in the ADMIRE-HF trial was performed. ...

BACKGROUND For patients with end-stage renal failure hemodialysis with an autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) has proven to be the ideal vascular access. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to discover potential predictors of a well-functioning hemodialysis fistula. METHODS From December 2009 to March 2011, 80 patients undergoing first time AVF creation were enrolled in our retrospective ...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Our aim was to determine whether the use of routine cystoscopy increases lower urinary tract injury detection (bladder and/or ureter) after robotic surgery performed by gynecologic oncologists. METHODS A retrospective chart review of patients who presented for robotic hysterectomy from 2009-2012 was performed at 2 separate academic medical centers, one that performed...

BACKGROUND The period of menstruation is an eventful one for a significant number of post-pubescent females as they experience lower abdominal pains referred to as dysmenorrhea. This study conducted among female students of the Tamale campus of the University for Development Studies assessed the prevalence of dysmenorrhea, its impact on the students and treatment methods applied. METHODS A cr...

BACKGROUND In commercial pig production, sows are often vaccinated several times per gestation period, resulting in reduced welfare. This preliminary experiment investigated whether the needle-free IDAL vaccinator improves welfare through reduction of stress markers, improvement of behavioural and health parameters compared to traditional needle-syringe method. RESULTS Two treatments (IDAL an...

INTRODUCTION: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality which is often amenable to surgical drainage. The majority of patients recover rapidly after surgical intervention, but 5% to 30% experience recurrence. Although the use of drains after burr hole evacuation may lower recurrence, they are not used routinely because of a lack of evidence showing effic...

This paper proposes three synthetic-type control charts to monitor the mean time-between-events of a homogenous Poisson process. The first proposed chart combines an Erlang (cumulative time between events, Tr ) chart and a conforming run length (CRL) chart, denoted as Synth-Tr chart. The second proposed chart combines an exponential (or T) chart and a group conforming run length (GCRL) chart, d...

PURPOSE Studies have suggested an association between the use of regional paravertebral or epidural anesthesia and a reduction in tumor recurrence following breast cancer surgery. To examine this relationship we performed a retrospective case-control study of patients undergoing breast cancer surgery receiving regional, regional and general, or general anesthesia. METHODS A retrospective char...