Iterative signal separation based multiple phase estimation in digital holographic interferometry.

We propose a new method for signal separation from a multicomponent interference field recorded in a digital holographic interferometry setup. The setup consisting of multiple object illuminating beams results in an interference field containing multiple signal components. The proposed method utilizes an amplitude discrimination criteria established by setting different intensities to the object illuminating beams in order to separate the signal components iteratively.

Phase derivative estimation from a single interferogram using a Kalman smoothing algorithm.

We report a technique for direct phase derivative estimation from a single recording of a complex interferogram. In this technique, the interference field is represented as an autoregressive model with spatially varying coefficients. Estimates of these coefficients are obtained using the Kalman filter implementation.

Neoadjuvant plus adjuvant bevacizumab in early breast cancer (NSABP B-40 [NRG Oncology]): secondary outcomes of a phase 3, randomised controlled trial.

Background: NSABP B-40 was a 3 × 2 factorial trial testing whether adding capecitabine or gemcitabine to docetaxel followed by doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide neoadjuvant chemotherapy would improve outcomes in women with operable, HER2-negative breast cancer and whether adding neoadjuvant plus adjuvant bevacizumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens would also improve outcomes. As reported previously, addition of neoadjuvant bevacizumab increased the proportion of patients achieving a pathological complete response, which was the primary endpoint. We present secondary patient outcomes, including disease-free survival, a specified endpoint by protocol, and data for distant recurrence-free interval, and overall survival, which were not prespecified endpoints but were collected prospectively.

Immunohistochemical Detection of NPM1 Mutation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia and its Association With Cup-like Nuclear Morphology of Blasts.

Blasts showing cup-like nuclei in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have been identified in patients with nucleophosmin 1 gene (NPM1) mutation, that is, AML with cytoplasmic NPM (NPMc+ AML). We analyzed 100 consecutive cases of AML, and defined the cutoff percentages of cup-like blasts in peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirate smears that can predict NPMc+ AML. A lower cutoff level of ≥10% blasts in peripheral blood and ≥9% in bone marrow aspirate gave an excellent specificity for NPMc+ AML and a positive-predictive value of 90.

Efficacy of Adjuvant Trastuzumab for Patients With Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive Early Breast Cancer and Tumors ≤ 2 cm: A Meta-Analysis of the Randomized Trastuzumab Trials.

Purpose: We compared efficacy of trastuzumab versus no trastuzumab in patients with small (≤ 2 cm) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) -positive breast cancer treated in randomized trials.

Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted using data from five of the six adjuvant trastuzumab trials. Efficacy end points were disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).

Three-dimensional displacement measurement from phase signals embedded in a frame in digital holographic interferometry.

A novel technique is proposed for the simultaneous measurement of all three components of displacement from a single recording of the interference field in digital holographic interferometry. The interference field is divided into a number of rectangular segments, and in each of these segments, the interference field is represented as a multicomponent low-order two-dimensional (2D) polynomial phase signal. 2D-product high-order ambiguity function based analysis is applied to obtain an accurate estimation of the 2D polynomial coefficients.

Ipilimumab associated colitis: an IpiColitis case series at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.

Although ipilimumab has been shown to improve survival in patients with metastatic melanoma and cause regression of metastatic renal cell carcinoma, the associated immune-related toxicities are of concern. The resultant T cell activation by this monoclonal antibody causes an increased immune response, which has been associated with many immune-regulated adverse effects. One of the most concerning effects is the development of colitis.

Prevention of bone loss with risedronate in breast cancer survivors: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Unlabelled: In postmenopausal women with low bone mass and hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer on an aromatase inhibitor, risedronate maintained skeletal health assessed by bone density and turnover markers. Women with the greatest decreases in bone turnover markers at 12 months had the greatest increases in bone density at 24 months.

Introduction: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs), adjuvant endocrine therapy for postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, are associated with bone loss and fractures.

Effect of metformin vs placebo on and metabolic factors in NCIC CTG MA.32.

Background: Metformin may improve metabolic factors (insulin, glucose, leptin, highly sensitive C-reactive protein [hs-CRP]) associated with poor breast cancer outcomes. The NCIC Clinical Trials Group (NCIC CTG) MA.32 investigates effects of metformin vs placebo on invasive disease-free survival and other outcomes in early breast cancer.

Intrinsic subtypes, PIK3CA mutation, and the degree of benefit from adjuvant trastuzumab in the NSABP B-31 trial.

Purpose: Considerable molecular heterogeneity exists among human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) -positive breast cancer regarding gene expression and mutation profiling. Evidence from preclinical, clinical neoadjuvant, and metastatic clinical trials suggested that PIK3CA mutational status and PAM50 intrinsic subtype of a tumor were markers of response to anti-HER2 therapies. We evaluated the predictive value of these two biomarkers in the adjuvant setting using archived tumor blocks from National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) trial B-31.

Bone Marrow Involvement in Neuroblastoma: A Study of Hemato-morphological Features.

Bone marrow involvement in neuroblastoma indicates advanced stage of disease. The recent use of autologous bone marrow "rescue", has provided an additional important reason for accurate assessment of bone marrow status in newly diagnosed patients. In this study, we analyzed 44 cases of neuroblastoma for bone marrow infiltration status and their hematological parameters.

Weekly paclitaxel and concurrent pazopanib following doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide as neoadjuvant therapy for HER-negative locally advanced breast cancer: NSABP Foundation FB-6, a phase II study.

This multicenter single-arm phase II study evaluated the addition of pazopanib to concurrent weekly paclitaxel following doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide as neoadjuvant therapy in human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2)-negative locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Patients with HER2-negative stage III breast cancer were treated with doxorubicin 60 mg/m(2) and cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m(2) for four cycles every 3 weeks followed by weekly paclitaxel 80 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days for four cycles concurrently with pazopanib 800 mg orally daily prior to surgery. Post-operatively, pazopanib was given daily for 6 months.

Neuropsychological deficits in temporal lobe epilepsy: A comprehensive review.

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most prevalent form of complex partial seizures with temporal lobe origin of electrical abnormality. Studies have shown that recurrent seizures affect all aspects of cognitive functioning, including memory, language, praxis, executive functions, and social judgment, among several others. In this article, we will review these cognitive impairments along with their neuropathological correlates in a comprehensive manner.

Recurrent phyllodes tumor in the male breast in a background of gynaecomastia.

Phyllodes tumor of the male breast is an extremely rare entity with only a few reports available in the literature. Though exact etiology for development of phyllodes tumor in the male breast is unknown, hormonal imbalance with excess of estrogen action relative to androgen appears to have significant association. This report describes recurrence of phyllodes tumor with malignant features developing in the background of gynaecomastia in a male breast.

Simultaneous estimation of phase and phase derivative using a difference equation representation of the interference field.

A computationally efficient technique for fringe analysis in digital holographic interferometry using a difference equation representation of the interference field is presented. The spatially varying coefficient of the difference equation is estimated accurately by constraining it in the subspace spanned by the linearly independent basis functions. The coefficient estimated provides an accurate estimation of the interference phase derivative and enables the linear estimation of the interference field.

Curious case of muscle spasm.

If no improvement is seen with ongoing treatment for current diagnosis, then diagnosis should be questioned. History taking and physical examination remain essential tools in care of the patient in addition to the current technological advancement.

Single-mode lasing from colloidal water-soluble CdSe/CdS quantum dot-in-rods.

Core-shell CdSe/CdS nanocrystals are a very promising material for light emitting applications. Their solution-phase synthesis is based on surface-stabilizing ligands that make them soluble in organic solvents, like toluene or chloroform. However, solubility of these materials in water provides many advantages, such as additional process routes and easier handling.

Pancytopenia and isolated bone marrow recurrence in a case of previously resected gastric carcinoma: a rare finding.

Recurrences in resected cases of gastric carcinomas are well known. However isolated involvement of bone marrow is a rare presentation. We present a previously treated case of gastric carcinoma-signet-ring cell type who had a progressive shortness of breath since 1 month.

Trastuzumab plus adjuvant chemotherapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer: planned joint analysis of overall survival from NSABP B-31 and NCCTG N9831.

Purpose: Positive interim analysis findings from four large adjuvant trials evaluating trastuzumab in patients with early-stage human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) -positive breast cancer were first reported in 2005. One of these reports, the joint analysis of North Central Cancer Treatment Group NCCTG N9831 (Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Trastuzumab in Treating Women With HER2-Overexpressing Breast Cancer) and the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project NSABP B-31 (Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide Plus Paclitaxel With or Without Trastuzumab in Treating Women With Node-Positive Breast Cancer That Overexpresses HER2), was updated in 2011. We now report the planned definitive overall survival (OS) results from this joint analysis along with updates on the disease-free survival (DFS) end point.

Digital holographic moiré for the direct and simultaneous estimation of strain and slope fields.

A novel method is proposed for the direct and simultaneous estimation of multiple phase derivatives corresponding to strain and slope fields from a single moiré fringe pattern in digital holographic moiré. The interference field in a given row/column is a multicomponent complex exponential signal and is represented as a spatially-varying autoregressive (SVAR) process. The spatially-varying coefficients of the SVAR model are computed by approximating them as the linear combination of linearly independent basis functions.

Early screening to identify patients at risk of developing intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome.

Background: To develop a screening tool to identify patients at risk of developing intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) within 24 h of a patient's admission to intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: Prospective, observational study of 403 consecutively enrolled patients with an indwelling catheter, admitted to a mixed medical-surgical ICU in a tertiary referral, university hospital. Intra-abdominal pressure was measured at least twice daily and IAH and ACS defined as per consensus definitions.

Comparative evaluation of periosteum as a barrier membrane with and without an alloplastic bone graft in periodontal osseous defects: A 9 months follow-up study.

Background: Regenerative procedures frequently include the use of barrier membranes and bone grafting materials to encourage the growth of key surrounding tissues. The present study aims to evaluate and compare the ability of periosteum in intrabony defect regeneration.

Materials And Methods: A total of ten intrabony defects were equally divided in two treatment groups.

Estimation of phase derivatives using discrete energy separation algorithm in digital holographic interferometry.

This Letter proposes a new method for the estimation of the first- and second-order phase derivatives corresponding to strain and curvature from a single fringe pattern in digital holographic interferometry. The method is based on a discrete energy separation algorithm, which provides a biased phase derivative estimate in a noisy environment. Subsequently, the least-squares spline approximation with optimal number of knots selection technique is used to obtain the accurate estimation of phase derivatives.

Periodontio-integrated implants: A revolutionary concept.

Though the fields of regenerative dentistry and tissue engineering have undergone significant advancements, yet its application to the field of implant-dentistry is lacking; in the sense that presently the implants are being placed with the aim of attaining osseointegration without giving consideration to the regeneration of periodontium around the implant. The following article reveals the clinical benefits of such periodontio-integrated implants and reviews the relevant scientific proofs. A comprehensive research to provide scientific evidence supporting the feasibility of periodontio-integrated implants was carried out using various online resources such as PubMed, Wiley-Blackwell, Elsevier etc.