A New Transformation Technique for Reducing Information Entropy: A Case Study on Greyscale Raster Images.

This paper proposes a new string transformation technique called (MwI). Four possible ways of rearranging 2D raster images into 1D sequences of values are applied, including scan-line, left-right, strip-based, and Hilbert arrangements. Experiments on 32 benchmark greyscale raster images of various resolutions demonstrated that the proposed transformation reduces information entropy to a similar extent as the combination of the Burrows-Wheeler transform followed by the Move-To-Front or the Inversion Frequencies.

Reflection Symmetry Detection in Earth Observation Data.

The paper presents a new algorithm for reflection symmetry detection, which is specialized to detect maximal symmetric patterns in an Earth observation (EO) dataset. First, we stress the particularities that make symmetry detection in EO data different from detection in other geometric sets. The EO data acquisition cannot provide exact pairs of symmetric elements and, therefore, the approximate symmetry must be addressed, which is accomplished by voxelization.

Liver Frailty Index for Prediction of Short-Term Rehospitalization in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis.

Background: Stratifying patients with liver cirrhosis for risk of rehospitalization is challenging with established scoring systems for chronic liver disease. Frailty captures the physical characteristics of patients with cirrhosis. Its value for predicting short-term rehospitalizations in hospitalized patients remains to be defined.

Case Report: Skeletal Muscle Lymphoma as a Result of Slow Centrifugal Migration of Untreated Primary Neurolymphomatosis?

Introduction: Fludeoxyglucose (F) (FDG) hybrid positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is currently a well-documented tool for diagnosis, staging, and therapeutic follow-up of lymphoma with significant impact on therapeutic decisions.

Patient Concerns And Interventions: We reported a case of a 71-year-old woman with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the left gluteal muscles as a possible result of slow centrifugal migration of untreated neurolymphomatosis (NL) of the lumbosacral plexus suggested on FDG PET/CT 4 years ago, when the patient was complaining for weakness and numbness of the left leg, but the proposed biopsy of peripheral nerve was not performed. Four years later, no pathological FDG uptake was present in nerves and lymph nodes, but PET/CT detected multiple FDG-positive infiltrates in the left gluteal muscles, appearing as a continuation of previously involved nerves.

Interference of Known or Suspected Endometriosis in Reporting FDG PET/CT Performed in Another Indication.

Introduction: Endometriosis is a common gynecologic condition that may be visualized on 18F-FDG PET/CT and mimic lesions of malignancy. We analyzed the interference of known or suspected endometriosis in reporting 18F-FDG PET/CT performed in another indication.

Results: The PET/CT images of 18 women with known (n = 15) or suspected (n = 3) endometriosis were analyzed.

Identification of Whole-Serum Glycobiomarkers for Colorectal Carcinoma Using Reverse-Phase Lectin Microarray.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common types of cancer among men and women worldwide. Efforts are currently underway to find novel and more cancer-specific biomarkers that could be detected in a non-invasive way. The analysis of aberrant glycosylation of serum glycoproteins is a way to discover novel diagnostic and prognostic CRC biomarkers.

WITHDRAWN: Autologous adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction cells application in patients with osteoarthritis.

Ahead of Print article withdrawn by publisher

[Mesenterointestinocolonovascular arterial ischemic disease: guidelines of the angiology section of Slovak Medical Chamber (AS SMC, 2013)].

Organovascular arterial ischemic diseases (cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, extremitovascular, renovascular, genitovascular, pulmovascular, mesenterovascular, dermovascular, oculovascular, otovascular, stomatovascular etc.) are an important manifestations of systemic atherosclerosis and other arterial diseases of vascular system (arteriolosclerosis/arteriolonecrosis; diabetic macroangiopathy; diabetic microangiopathy; Mönckeberg´s mediosclerosis/mediocalcinosis; arteritis - vasculitis; syndromes of arterial compression; fibromuscular dysplasia; cystic adventitial degeneration; arterial thrombosis; arterial embolism/thromboembolism; traumatic and posttraumatic arteriopathies; physical arteriopathies; chemical and toxic arteriopathies; iatrogenic arterial occlusions; dissection of aorta and of arteries; coiling; kinking; complicated arterial aneurysms; arteriovenous fistula, rare vascular diseases). Key clinical-etiology-anatomy-pathophysiology (CEAP) aspects of the mesenteriovascular arterial ischemic diseases are discussed in this article (project Vessels).

Positive family history promotes participation in colorectal cancer screening.

Background: Participation rates in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening are rather low. We evaluated the interest of first degree relatives (FDR) of CRC patients to participate in a colonoscopy screening and compared the findings to controls with a negative family history.

Methodology: There were 235 CRC patients diagnosed in our centre in 1984-2001.

Is there any role for prevention strategies for colorectal cancer other than population-based screening?

Colorectal carcinoma is a growing medical problem. Prevention represents the most effective approach for reducing the incidence and mortality. Population-based screening with subsequent colonoscopic polypectomy is the most common strategy.

[Families at risk of colon cancer II. Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal carcinoma].

Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is an autosomal dominant inherited disease characterised by almost inevitable development of colorectal carcinoma and/or endometrium and other defined malignancies in affected individuals. HNPCC is caused by a germline mutation in a mismatch repair genes (MMR). The purpose of this review is to summarize current knowledge regarding HNPCC with the focus on recent data on genetic testing, surveillance guidelines and therapy.

[Families at risk of colon cancer I. Familial adenomatous polyposis].

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a well-defined autosomal dominant inherited disease characterised by a diffuse polyposis of the colon and rectum leading to inevitable colorectal cancer by 50 years. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge regarding this entity with the focus on recent knowledge on genetic testing, surveillance guidelines and therapy of FAP. Available medical databases were searched from 1998 to May 2003 using keywords "familial adenomatous polyposis", followed by further search for particular issues.

Uterine necrosis after laparoscopic uterine vessel dissection for symptomatic fibroid--a case report.

Laparoscopic dissection of uterine vessels is a new minimally invasive method to treat symptomatic fibroids. A potential complication of uterine artery dissection is uterine necrosis. A woman with a large intramural fibroid underwent laparoscopic dissection of the uterine vessels using ultrasonic activated shears and three months later developed focal uterine necrosis requiring exploratory laparotomy and supracervical hysterectomy.

Novel MLH1 and MSH2 germline mutations in the first HNPCC families identified in Slovakia.

Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is a dominantly-inherited cancer predisposition syndrome, in which the susceptibility to cancer of the colon, endometrium and ovary is linked to germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. We have recently initiated a cancer prevention program in suspected HNPCC families in the Slovak Republic. The first ten families fulfilling Amsterdam criteria or Bethesda guidelines were screened for germline mutations in MLH1 and MSH2, two MMR genes most frequently mutated in HNPCC families.

Collagen type IV in epithelial tumours of colon.

Collagen type IV in the lamina propria mucosae is one of the main components of the basement membrane of normal and transitional colon mucosa. The aim of the present study was to assess the use of anti-collagen type IV antibodies in the evaluation of biological activity of epithelial tumours of the colon. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens of polyps and carcinomas of the colon from 14 patients were analyzed.

Heterotopic pancreas in gastric antrum with macroscopic appearance of gastric polyp.

Heterotopic pancreas is a relatively rare clinical diagnosis, not commonly involved in differential diagnostic considerations of GI symptoms. The authors report a case of heterotopic pancreas discovered endoscopically in the gastric antrum. A 60-year-old woman presented with epigastric pain.

[Compressive sclerotherapy monitored by ultrasound].

Echosclerotherapy and sonographic control of aimed sclerotherapy resp. is a major advance in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. It facilitates not only aimed administration of highly active substances but ensures above all prevention of serious complications.

[One day surgery--personal experience].

The authors present their own experience with surgery carried out in the out-patient department in 1985-1996. It is a modern, effective, reliable and above all economical therapeutic method, because it maintains the standard of surgery while saving the costs of hospitalisation. It is a very attractive method for patients who want to return to work as soon as possible.

[Hepatic injury.].

Based on a critical review and analysis of results of surgical treatment of blunt liver injuries from 1983 to the present time the authors emphasize the importance of primary treatment of liver injuries. The foremost effort of the surgeon is reliable, aimed haemostasis during temporary short-term ischaemia of the liver by Pringle's manoeuvre or by a block of the suprahepatic cava resp. Pericentesis of the liver is not suitable for hepatic surgery.

Plasma somatostatin levels in ulcerative colitis.

The circadian (24 hour) rhythmicity of somatostatin in healthy subjects and patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) was studied and established. UC patients were found to have a higher 24-hour amplitude, a higher average level and a longer peak level phase of plasma somatostatin. This finding may indicate a defensive role of somatostatin in inflammatory bowel disease.

[Indications for surgical intervention in acute pancreatitis].

The authors analyze in detail a group of 48 patients treated on account of acute pancreatitis in 1988. As regards the severity and prognosis of the disease, they divide it according to the Mainzer classification into three groups. The first mildest one was not subjected to acute operation.