Far-infrared treatment of experimental sinusitis in rabbits: a pilot study

OBJECTIVE

Thermal therapy has existed for thousands of years and dates back to ancient civilizations such as the Finns, Romans, ancient Chinese, American Indians, and Egyptians. Sun therapy is a form of natural Far Infrared Rays (FIR) thermal therapy. Far infrared rays are invisible rays with the longest wavelength of natural sunlight. However, sunbathing should only be done in moderation, as sunlight contains ultraviolet rays that can burn and damage the skin. More than 30 million people in Asia, Europe, and Australia receive Far Infrared Therapy with FIR lamps. They emit 2-25-micron wavebands. We aimed to investigate whether FIR therapy that uses a similar waveband improves sinusitis symptoms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was conducted on 10 New Zealand rabbits of both sexes, 7-8 months old, with an average weight of 1.8-2.4 kg. They were divided into four study groups. Sinusitis was induced in rabbits by blocking the sinus ostium, whereas some were left as control. Far infrared treatment with an infra-sin device was given with or without antibiotics. Mucosal samples were evaluated microscopically regarding epithelial eruption, epithelial vacuolization, interstitial edema, vascular congestion, leukocyte infiltration, and mucosal thickening.

RESULTS

We found clinical and histopathological improvements in rabbits with sinusitis on the right side of the nose, to which we applied FIR treatment with the device Infra-Sin.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings in this animal study led us to conclude that it would be beneficial to study the effects of FIR treatment on people with allergic rhinitis and sinusitis and to identify the optimal dosing, treatment duration, and intensity. To add to our findings, looking into whether FIR therapy can be used as an alternative to antibiotic treatment for human sinusitis is essential.

Endoscopically operated 15 ventral skull-base dermoid and epidermoid cysts: Outcomes of a case series and technical note

BACKGROUND

Epidermoid and dermoid tumors in the sellar region are rare. These cystic lesions are a surgical challenge, as the thin capsule adheres firmly to nearby structures. A case series of 15 patients is presented.

METHODS

The patients were operated on in our clinic between April 2009 and November 2021. The endoscopic transnasal approach (ETA) was used. Lesions were located in the ventral skull base. In addition, the literature was reviewed to compare clinical features and outcomes of ventral skull-base epidermoid/dermoid tumors operated on via ETA.

RESULTS

In our series, removal of cystic contents and tumor capsule (gross total resection: GTR) was achieved in 3 patients (20%). GTR was not possible for the others, because of adhesions to vital structures. Near total resection (NTR) was achieved in 11 patients (73.4%), and subtotal resection (STR) in 1 (6.6%). At a mean follow-up of 55±26.27 months, there were no cases of recurrence requiring surgery.

CONCLUSION

Our series demonstrates that ETA is suitable for resection of epidermoid and dermoid cysts in the ventral skull base. GTR cannot always be the absolute clinical aim, because of inherent risks. In patients with expected long-term survival, the aggressiveness of surgery should be weighed on an individual risk/benefit basis.

Surface waves and crustal structure on Mars

We detected surface waves from two meteorite impacts on Mars. By measuring group velocity dispersion along the impact-lander path, we obtained a direct constraint on crustal structure away from the InSight lander. The crust north of the equatorial dichotomy had a shear wave velocity of approximately 3.2 kilometers per second in the 5- to 30-kilometer depth range, with little depth variation. This implies a higher crustal density than inferred beneath the lander, suggesting either compositional differences or reduced porosity in the volcanic areas traversed by the surface waves. The lower velocities and the crustal layering observed beneath the landing site down to a 10-kilometer depth are not a global feature. Structural variations revealed by surface waves hold implications for models of the formation and thickness of the martian crust.

Largest recent impact craters on Mars: Orbital imaging and surface seismic co-investigation

Two >130-meter-diameter impact craters formed on Mars during the later half of 2021. These are the two largest fresh impact craters discovered by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter since operations started 16 years ago. The impacts created two of the largest seismic events (magnitudes greater than 4) recorded by InSight during its 3-year mission. The combination of orbital imagery and seismic ground motion enables the investigation of subsurface and atmospheric energy partitioning of the impact process on a planet with a thin atmosphere and the first direct test of martian deep-interior seismic models with known event distances. The impact at 35°N excavated blocks of water ice, which is the lowest latitude at which ice has been directly observed on Mars.

Improving Constraints on Planetary Interiors With PPs Receiver Functions

Seismological constraints obtained from receiver function (RF) analysis provide important information about the crust and mantle structure. Here, we explore the utility of the free-surface multiple of the P-wave (PP) and the corresponding conversions in RF analysis. Using earthquake records, we demonstrate the efficacy of PPs-RFs before illustrating how they become especially useful when limited data is available in typical planetary missions. Using a transdimensional hierarchical Bayesian deconvolution approach, we compute robust P-to-S (Ps)- and PPs-RFs with InSight recordings of five marsquakes. Our Ps-RF results verify the direct Ps converted phases reported by previous RF analyses with increased coherence and reveal other phases including the primary multiple reverberating within the uppermost layer of the Martian crust. Unlike the Ps-RFs, our PPs-RFs lack an arrival at 7.2 s lag time. Whereas Ps-RFs on Mars could be equally well fit by a two- or three-layer crust, synthetic modeling shows that the disappearance of the 7.2 s phase requires a three-layer crust, and is highly sensitive to velocity and thickness of intra-crustal layers. We show that a three-layer crust is also preferred by S-to-P (Sp)-RFs. While the deepest interface of the three-layer crust represents the crust-mantle interface beneath the InSight landing site, the other two interfaces at shallower depths could represent a sharp transition between either fractured and unfractured materials or thick basaltic flows and pre-existing crustal materials. PPs-RFs can provide complementary constraints and maximize the extraction of information about crustal structure in data-constrained circumstances such as planetary missions.

SEIS: Insight's Seismic Experiment for Internal Structure of Mars

By the end of 2018, 42 years after the landing of the two Viking seismometers on Mars, InSight will deploy onto Mars' surface the SEIS (Seismic Experiment for Internal Structure) instrument; a six-axes seismometer equipped with both a long-period three-axes Very Broad Band (VBB) instrument and a three-axes short-period (SP) instrument. These six sensors will cover a broad range of the seismic bandwidth, from 0.01 Hz to 50 Hz, with possible extension to longer periods. Data will be transmitted in the form of three continuous VBB components at 2 sample per second (sps), an estimation of the short period energy content from the SP at 1 sps and a continuous compound VBB/SP vertical axis at 10 sps. The continuous streams will be augmented by requested event data with sample rates from 20 to 100 sps. SEIS will improve upon the existing resolution of Viking's Mars seismic monitoring by a factor of ∼ 2500 at 1 Hz and ∼ 200 000 at 0.1 Hz. An additional major improvement is that, contrary to Viking, the seismometers will be deployed via a robotic arm directly onto Mars' surface and will be protected against temperature and wind by highly efficient thermal and wind shielding. Based on existing knowledge of Mars, it is reasonable to infer a moment magnitude detection threshold of M w ∼ 3 at 40 ∘ epicentral distance and a potential to detect several tens of quakes and about five impacts per year. In this paper, we first describe the science goals of the experiment and the rationale used to define its requirements. We then provide a detailed description of the hardware, from the sensors to the deployment system and associated performance, including transfer functions of the seismic sensors and temperature sensors. We conclude by describing the experiment ground segment, including data processing services, outreach and education networks and provide a description of the format to be used for future data distribution.

ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

The online version of this article (10.1007/s11214-018-0574-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Annular Pancreas, Severe Tracheomalacia and Bronchomalacia in a Preterm Boy with Vacterl Association

VACTERL association includes vertebral anomalies, anal atresia, cardiac defects, tracheao-esophageal fistula, renal anomalies, and limb abnormalities. It is defined by the presence of at least three of these congenital malformations. The incidence has been estimated to be 1/10.000-1/40.000 live births. We report on a preterm infant with VACTERL presentin with respiratory complicatons due to the presence of severe tracheomalacia and bronchomalacia. He also had an annular pancreas.

Effects of various agro-industrial residues on soil fertility and yield and quality of potatoes

Nine combinations of production residues of agro-industries, urban wastes and mineral fertilizers were applied to potatoes (Solanum tuberosum var. Marabel) in a field experiment, and the effect of these combinations on soil characteristics, on yield and on various quality parameters of tubers were determined. The applications significantly affected soil pH, CaCO3 and organic matter content. Total N and available P and K levels of soils showed significant differences between the applications. The content of available Zn and Mn in the soil differed significantly between the applications. Sufficient levels of N, P and K were not attained in leaves in any application. Significant differences were observed between the P content of the leaves of the control and of the other applications. Potassium and Na content of the leaves showed significant variations between the applications. Manganese was at a statistically higher level in the leaves of some combinations. The nitrogen, P and Mn contents of tubers differed significantly between the applications. Phosphorus, K, Mg and Cu levels were found to be sufficient, but Fe, Zn and Mn were low in tubers. Tuber yield was statistically highest in the Wastes P + Mineral NK combination. Reduced sugar and protein content of the tubers was affected significantly by the applications. Significant correlations were found between soil, leaf and tubers.

Initial mini-mental state and cerebral perfusion in Alzheimer's disease

PURPOSE

The relationship between the initial mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score and cerebral perfusion was evaluated in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS

In the study single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images of the brains of 40 AD patients were compared with the brain scans of 10 healthy controls. Each patient underwent MMSE analysis at initial evaluation as well as Tc-99 m hexamethylpropyleneamine oxine (HMPAO) brain SPECT. The patients were followed up for at least 42 months.

RESULTS

The regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) values for patients were found to be significantly decreased for all cerebral lobes compared to the control subjects and p-values were calculated to be less than 0.001 except for occipital lobes. The most statistically significant correlation between the MMSE scores and rCBF values was determined for the left temporal lobe (p < 0.0001). A significant correlation was also found for the right temporal lobe (p < 0.005). A minimal statistically significant correlation was found for the frontal lobes and the left parietal lobe (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall cerebral perfusion was decreased except in the occipital lobes in AD cases with low initial MMSE scores and there was a significant relationship between the decrease in perfusion of the temporal/frontal lobes and the left parietal lobe with the decrease in the initial MMSE scores. The most significant relationship between the decrease in the initial MMSE scores and the rCBF values was determined for the temporal lobes (especially for the left temporal lobe). It was also found that the left frontal lobe was affected from the beginning of the disease.

Membranous structures affecting the success of endoscopic third ventriculostomy in adult aqueductus sylvii stenosis

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the present study was to observe Liliequist's membrane (LM) and membranous structures located in the prepontine cistern via 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with 3D driven equilibrium radio frequency reset pulse (DRIVE) sequence and multiplanar reformat (MPR) images and to evaluate the success of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) by assessing these membranes in adult aqueduct stenosis.

PATIENTS

29 patients (17 female, 12 male) with primary aqueductus sylvii stenosis were included in the study. 19 patients were diagnosed as long-standing overt ventriculomegaly in adults (LOVA) and patients had severe ventriculomegaly, macrocephalus, and aqueduct stenosis on MR imaging. 10 patients were diagnosed as aqueduct stenosis presented with acute onset of hydrocephalus with symptoms of raised ICP. All patients in the study group were analyzed with conventional and cine MRI before and after treatment. We performed 3D DRIVE sequence and MPR at 3-T MR equipment to determine the membranous structures in 3 dimensions. We correlated the success of the procedure considering the preoperative, postoperative MRI and intraoperative images.

RESULTS

5 patients (26.3%) with LOVA and 2 patients (20%) with aqueduct stenosis, in total 7 patients (24.1%), did not respond to ETV. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow was blocked by membranous structures located in the prepontine cistern in 4 of 8 patients. In 2 patients, CSF through the stoma was blocked either by the LM or closed tuber cinerum. In 1 patient insufficient CSF flow was observed through the stoma and the LM accompanying prepontine membranes.Totally closed membranes were observed in the prepontine cistern in 5 patients (17.24%) according to the postoperative MRI. LM was verified in all patients intraoperatively that were also demonstrated in the preoperative MRI.

CONCLUSION

3D sequences with MPR may help to observe not only the LM but also other membranes located through the prepontine cistern, which may be the reason of failed ETV.

Diagnostic value of liquid-based (Liqui-PREP) preparations and interobserver reproducibility in fine needle aspiration cytology of the nodular thyroid lesions

The aim of this study is to define the diagnostic role of Liqui-Prep (LP) technique for the diagnosis of thyroid lesions and to assess interobserver variabilities. In all, 98 thyroid FNA (fine needle aspiration) cytology samples from 83 patients for preoperative evaluation of thyroid nodules, prepared by the LP, were examined. The LP slides were independently evaluated by three pathologists and they were classified into the five categories according to the Bethesda system. The histopathologic diagnoses were grouped as follows: benign, follicular neoplasm, and malignant. Agreements between LP and histopathologic diagnoses were investigated using kappa values. Marginal homogenity and kappa tests were used for statistical analysis for the evaluation of the agreement between the pathologists and the interobserver variability of the thyroid aspiration cytology results. The presence of nucleoli, nuclear grooving, overlapping, intranuclear inclusion, and nuclear irregularity were recorded and scored on each case based on LP slide review. Concurrences between LP and the histologic diagnoses for the three pathologists were almost perfect (k = 0.798; k = 0.826; k = 0.880). When the observers were paired there was no significant difference from the diagnostic point of view. Interobserver agreement among the three pathologists was moderate. Initially diagnostic difficulties may occur because of the inadequate experience of the pathologists concerning the evaluation of the cytologic changes associated with this new technique. Liqui-Prep technique is useful for the cytologic diagnosis of the thyroid nodules. The nuclear irregularity was the most essential feature for the differentiation of malignant lesions from follicular neoplasm by the LP method.

Massive intracerebral haemorrage due to developmental venous anomaly

In cases of intracerebral haematoma associated with developmental venous anomalies (DVAs), there is usually an associated cavernoma, which is thought to be the source of haemorrhage. Only a few cases have been reported in the literature where an intracerebral haemotoma has been caused by a DVA without an associated cavernoma. In this report we describe a case with a massive haematoma due to venous angioma alone.

Endoscopic optic nerve decompression for idiopathic intracranial hypertension in two cases: case report

Pseudotumor cerebri is a syndrome with headaches and visual loss that sometimes cannot be treated with medication. In spite of medical treatment, the clinical course in some patients can approach extreme dysfunction with severe impairment in visual field and acuity as well as incapacitating headache. Patients with progressive or persistent symptoms require surgical treatment and decompression of the optic nerve is the preferred surgical procedure. We report on two cases of bilateral decompression of the optic nerves performed through an endonasal endoscopic approach.