Sidewall angle tuning in focused electron beam-induced processing.

Structures fabricated using focused electron beam-induced deposition (FEBID) have sloped sidewalls because of the very nature of the deposition process. For applications this is highly undesirable, especially when neighboring structures are interconnected. A new technique combining FEBID and focused electron beam-induced etching (FEBIE) has been developed to fabricate structures with vertical sidewalls.

The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and hyperprolactinemia in women with PCOS.

Introduction: Ovulatory dysfunction is usually caused by an endocrine disorder, of which polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause. PCOS is usually associated with estrogen levels within the normal range and can be characterized by oligo-/anovulation resulting in decreased progesterone levels. It is suggested that decreased progesterone levels may lead to more autoimmune diseases in women with PCOS.

Clinical and self-reported markers of reproductive function in female survivors of childhood Hodgkin lymphoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) on clinical reproductive markers and pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: This study was embedded within the DCOG LATER-VEVO study; a Dutch, multicenter, retrospective cohort study between 2004 and 2014. Serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), inhibin B, antral follicle count (AFC), and self-reported (first) pregnancy outcomes were evaluated in female childhood HL survivors and controls.

Oncofertility Perspectives for Girls with Cancer.

Infertility is a serious early, as well as late, effect of childhood cancer treatment. If addressed in a timely manner at diagnosis, fertility preservation measures can be taken, preferably before the start of cancer treatment. However, pediatric oncologists might remain reluctant to offer counseling on fertility-preservation methods, although infrastructure to freeze ovarian tissue has become available and is currently considered standard care for pre- and postpubertal girls at high risk of gonadal damage.

[Pharmacobezoar in a woman with a clomipramine intoxication].

Background: Medicines with controlled release can cause a rare phenomenon, known as pharmacobezoar, following overdose of these medications.

Case Description: A case of a 56-year-old women with severe clomipramine intoxication is described. X-ray of the abdomen showed a cluster of tablets in the caecum.

Bisphosphonate nephropathy: A case series and review of the literature.

From rat studies, human case reports and cohort studies, bisphosphonates seem to impair renal function. However, when critically reviewing the literature, zoledronate and pamidronate are more frequently involved in renal deterioration than other bisphosphonates. When bisphosphonate nephropathy occurs, zoledronate more frequently induces tubular toxicity whereas pamidronate typically induces focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.

Fertility preservation for female patients with childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer: recommendations from the PanCareLIFE Consortium and the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group.

Female patients with childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer are at increased risk for fertility impairment when treatment adversely affects the function of reproductive organs. Patients and their families desire biological children but substantial variations in clinical practice guidelines reduce consistent and timely implementation of effective interventions for fertility preservation across institutions. As part of the PanCareLIFE Consortium, and in collaboration with the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group, we reviewed the current literature and developed a clinical practice guideline for fertility preservation in female patients who were diagnosed with childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer at age 25 years or younger, including guidance on risk assessment and available methods for fertility preservation.

BDNF Outperforms TrkB Agonist 7,8,3'-THF in Preserving the Auditory Nerve in Deafened Guinea Pigs.

In deaf subjects using a cochlear implant (CI) for hearing restoration, the auditory nerve is subject to degeneration, which may negatively impact CI effectiveness. This nerve degeneration can be reduced by neurotrophic treatment. Here, we compare the preservative effects of the naturally occurring tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) agonist brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the small-molecule TrkB agonist 7,8,3'-trihydroxyflavone (THF) on the auditory nerve in deafened guinea pigs.

Counseling and surveillance of obstetrical risks for female childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors: recommendations from the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group.

Female childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors have an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes related to their cancer- or treatment-associated sequelae. Optimal care for childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors can be facilitated by clinical practice guidelines that identify specific adverse pregnancy outcomes and the clinical characteristics of at-risk subgroups. However, national guidelines are scarce and vary in content.

Pregnancy, time to pregnancy and obstetric outcomes among female childhood cancer survivors: results of the DCOG LATER-VEVO study.

Purpose: To evaluate pregnancy rates, time to pregnancy (TTP) and obstetric outcomes in female childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) and to identify specific diagnosis- and treatment-related factors associated with these outcomes.

Methods: The study is part of the DCOG LATER-VEVO study, a nationwide multicenter cohort study evaluating fertility among long-term Dutch female CCSs. Data were collected by questionnaire.

Prophylactic Use of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators in the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death in Dialysis Patients.

Background: Patients with end-stage renal disease who are undergoing dialysis are reported to be at high risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD), and to date, no therapy has been shown to be effective in reducing this risk. The feasibility and value of prophylactic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation to prevent SCD is uncertain.

Methods: We conducted the ICD2 trial (Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator in Dialysis Patients), a prospective, randomized, controlled study investigating the value and safety of ICD implantation to prevent SCD in 200 patients on dialysis with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≥35%, after adequate screening and optimization of other treatments.

[Acute kidney failure due to uterine prolapse].

Background: Kidney failure due to uterine prolapse is rare, nonetheless, early recognition and treatment of this form of postrenal kidney failure are essential in order to prevent serious complications.

Case Description: In this article we describe a 73-year-old woman and a 63-year-old-woman with severe kidney failure due to a uterine prolapse. Both patients were initially treated with a nephrostomy catheter to ensure the passage of urine from the kidneys, after which the uterus was repositioned using a vaginal ring.

Reproductive Function and Outcomes in Female Survivors of Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancer: A Review.

Some survivors of childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer are at increased risk of gonadal dysfunction and adverse pregnancy outcomes. We reviewed currently available literature that evaluated reproductive function and pregnancy outcomes of female cancer survivors diagnosed before the age of 25 years. High-dose alkylating agent chemotherapy and abdominal/pelvic radiotherapy adversely affect gonadal function in a dose-related fashion, with older age at exposure conferring greater risk as a result of the age-related decline in ovarian reserve.

The distress thermometer provides a simple screening tool for selecting distressed childhood cancer survivors.

Aim: We investigated the value of the distress thermometer, a one-item screening tool, in childhood cancer survivors.

Methods: The participants were 286 childhood cancer survivors who visited an outpatient clinic at Erasmus MC University-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, for the first time from 2001 to 2008 and completed the distress thermometer and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Higher scores reflected more distress.

The rational design of a Au(I) precursor for focused electron beam induced deposition.

Au(I) complexes are studied as precursors for focused electron beam induced processing (FEBIP). FEBIP is an advanced direct-write technique for nanometer-scale chemical synthesis. The stability and volatility of the complexes are characterized to design an improved precursor for pure Au deposition.

Si amorphization by focused ion beam milling: Point defect model with dynamic BCA simulation and experimental validation.

A Ga focused ion beam (FIB) is often used in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis sample preparation. In case of a crystalline Si sample, an amorphous near-surface layer is formed by the FIB process. In order to optimize the FIB recipe by minimizing the amorphization, it is important to predict the amorphous layer thickness from simulation.

Area-selective atomic layer deposition of Ru on electron-beam-written Pt(C) patterns versus SiO substratum.

Area selectivity is an emerging sub-topic in the field of atomic layer deposition (ALD), which employs opposite nucleation phenomena to distinct heterogeneous starting materials on a surface. In this paper, we intend to grow Ru exclusively on locally pre-defined Pt patterns, while keeping a SiO substratum free from any deposition. In a first step, we study in detail the Ru ALD nucleation on SiO and clarify the impact of the set-point temperature.

Longitudinal follow-up in female Childhood Cancer Survivors: no signs of accelerated ovarian function loss.

Study Question: Is the long-term decline of ovarian function, as reflected by a decrease in serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentration, accelerated over time in female childhood cancer survivors (CCS) as compared to healthy women of the same age?

Summary Answer: The median decline of AMH levels in long-term female CCS is not accelerated and similar to that observed in healthy controls.

What Is Known Already: Gonadal function is compromised in female CCS treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Ovarian function is most compromised in survivors treated with total body irradiation, abdominal or pelvic irradiation, stem cell transplantation or high doses of alkylating agents.

Gonadal function in boys with newly diagnosed cancer before the start of treatment.

Study Question: Are Inhibin B and testosterone levels reduced in boys with newly diagnosed cancer prior to therapy?

Summary Answer: Pretreatment serum levels of Inhibin B and testosterone are significantly reduced in boys with newly diagnosed cancer, compared to reference values.

What Is Already Known: Disease-related gonadal impairment has been demonstrated in girls and young women diagnosed with cancer, prior to therapy.

Study Design, Size, Duration: We conducted a descriptive study in boys newly diagnosed with cancer between January 2006 and February 2014.

Recommendations for Premature Ovarian Insufficiency Surveillance for Female Survivors of Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancer: A Report From the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group in Collaboration With the PanCareSurFup Consortium.

Purpose: Female survivors of childhood, adolescent, and young adult (CAYA) cancer who were treated with alkylating agents and/or radiation, with potential exposure of the ovaries, have an increased risk of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Clinical practice guidelines can facilitate these survivors' access to optimal treatment of late effects that may improve health and quality of survival; however, surveillance recommendations vary among the existing long-term follow-up guidelines, which impedes the implementation of screening.

Patients And Methods: The present guideline was developed by using an evidence-based approach and summarizes harmonized POI surveillance recommendations for female survivors of CAYA cancer who were diagnosed at age < 25 years.

Reduced trigeminovascular cyclicity in patients with menstrually related migraine.

Objective: A case-control study to investigate the effect of the menstrual cycle on trigeminal nerve-induced vasodilation in healthy women and patients with menstrually related migraine (MRM).

Methods: Using a laser-Doppler imager, we compared the vasodilator effects of capsaicin application and electrical stimulation (ES) on the forehead skin, a trigeminal nerve-innervated dermatome, in premenopausal patients with MRM (n = 22), healthy controls (n = 20), and postmenopausal women without migraine (n = 22). Blood samples were collected for female sex hormone measurements.

Acetone and the precursor ligand acetylacetone: distinctly different electron beam induced decomposition?

In focused electron beam induced deposition (FEBID) acetylacetone plays a role as a ligand in metal acetylacetonate complexes. As part of a larger effort to understand the chemical processes in FEBID, the electron-induced reactions of acetylacetone were studied both in condensed layers and in the gas phase and compared to those of acetone. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) shows that the electron-induced decomposition of condensed acetone layers yields a non-volatile hydrocarbon residue while electron irradiation of acetylacetone films produces a non-volatile residue that contains not only much larger amounts of carbon but also significant amounts of oxygen.