A 90-102 GHz CMOS based pulsed Fourier transform spectrometer: New approaches for in situ chemical detection and millimeter-wave cavity-based molecular spectroscopy.

We present a system level description of a cavity-enhanced millimeter-wave spectrometer that is the first in its class to combine source and detection electronics constructed from architectures commonly deployed in the mobile phone industry and traditional pulsed Fourier transform techniques to realize a compact device capable of sensitive and specific in situ gas detections. The instrument, which has an operational bandwidth of 90-102 GHz, employs several unique components, including a custom-designed pair of millimeter-wave transmitter and heterodyne receiver integrated circuit chips constructed with 65 nm complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) techniques. These elements are directly mated to a hybrid coupling structure that enables free-space interaction of the electronics with a small gas volume while also acting as a cavity end mirror.

Successful spinal cord stimulation for neuropathic below-level spinal cord injury pain following complete paraplegia: a case report.

Introduction: Neuropathic pain is common in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and often difficult to treat. We report a case where epidural spinal cord stimulation (SCS) below the level of injury has been successfully applied in a patient with a complete spinal cord lesion.

Case Presentation: A 53-year-old female presented with neuropathic below-level SCI pain of both lower legs and feet due to complete SCI below T5.

[Outpatient multimodal pain therapy : Results of a 1-week intensive outpatient multimodal group program for patients with chronic unspecific back pain - retrospective evaluation after 3 and 12 months].

Background: Interdisciplinary pain therapy is nowadays the state of the art for the treatment of chronic unspecific back pain. The aim of this article is to present the retrospective analysis of the data from a 1-week intensive outpatient multimodal interdisciplinary pain therapy group program for treatment of patients with chronic unspecific back pain.

Design And Methods: The questionnaire-based data from patients who attended the program were evaluated before as well as 3 and 12 months after finishing the program.

Applying a Part of the Daily Dose as Boli May Improve Intrathecal Opioid Therapy in Patients With Chronic Pain.

Objectives: The speed of intrathecal drug administration (slow continuous infusion vs. rapid bolus application) might influence the efficacy of therapy despite the equal daily dose in both administration patterns. We tested this hypothesis in a small prospective single-centre pilot study in a population of chronic pain patients with intrathecal opioid therapy.

FEA modeling of CMUT with membrane stand-off structures to enable selectable frequency-mode operation.

A selectable, dual-frequency, capacitive micro- machined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) designed for both high-frequency imaging and low-frequency therapeutic effect is presented. A validated finite element analysis (FEA) CMUT model was used to examine the performance of the proposed dual-frequency transducer. CMUT device simulations were used to design a hybrid device incorporating stand-off structures that divide a large, low-frequency membrane into smaller, high-frequency sub-membranes when the membrane is partially collapsed so that the stand-offs contact the substrate.

Does the inactivation of leukocytes in blood transfusions during and following liver transplantation by gamma-irradiation have an impact on rejection and infection rate?

Background: Leukocytes transmitted in blood products exert a variety of immunological side-effects. Experience with bone marrow transplant recipients has shown that these can be induced even by very few cells. In liver transplant recipients, who usually receive large amounts of blood products, the effects of transfused leukocytes with regards to the rates of rejection and infection have not yet been investigated.

Collagen foil (TissuFoil E) reduces the formation of adhesions when using polypropylene mesh for the repair of experimental abdominal wall defects.

Background And Aims: Polypropylene meshes (PPMs) are routinely used in the treatment of incisional hernias to achieve a tension-free closure of the abdominal wall. Severe adhesions are a common cause of intestinal obstruction, or even intestinal fistulas. Using a porcine model, we investigated whether applying a collagen foil (CF) to the undersurface of a PPM will reduce adhesion formation.

Impact of changing immunosuppressive monotherapy from Cyclosporin A to Tacrolimus in long-term, stable liver transplant recipients.

A number of studies have reported a lower atherogenic lipid profile in liver transplant recipients under tacrolimus (FK506) than in those under cyclosporine A (CyA) immunosuppression. This has mainly been attributed to the steroid-saving effect of FK506. However, the effects of converting CyA to FK506 monotherapy on lipid metabolism have not been specifically investigated.

Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody treatment of Epstein-Barr virus-induced intrahepatic lymphoproliferative disorder following liver transplantation.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) are a common cause of death in transplant patients. Their incidence following liver transplantation is reported to be between 0.5% and 4%.

Portal vein arterialisation as a technical option in liver transplantation: impact on function, regeneration, and morphology of the liver following hemihepatectomy in pigs.

Background: Arterialisation of the portal vein has been propagated as a technical variant in liver transplantation. However, the consequences of this unphysiological vascular supply are insufficiently known.

Methods: Twenty-seven healthy pigs were subjected to a left hemihepatectomy and divided into three groups.

Neoadjuvant treatment with weekly high-dose 5-Fluorouracil as 24-hour infusion, folinic acid and oxaliplatin in patients with primary resectable liver metastases of colorectal cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant treatment comprising weekly high-dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as a 24-hour infusion, folinic acid (FA) and biweekly oxaliplatin (L-OHP), followed by metastatic resection in patients with primarily resectable liver metastases of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Patients And Methods: 20 patients with primarily resectable liver metastases of CRC were enrolled in a prospective phase II study. On an outpatient basis, the patients received a treatment regimen comprising biweekly 85 mg/m(2) L-OHP in the form of a 2-hour intravenous infusion and 500 mg/m(2) FA as a 1- to 2-hour intravenous infusion, followed by 2,600 mg/m(2 ) 5-FU administered as a 24-hour intravenous infusion once weekly.

Outcome of patients with pre-existing portal vein thrombosis undergoing arterialization of the portal vein during liver transplantation.

Arterialization of the portal vein is being propagated as a technical possibility in liver transplant recipients with pre-existing portal vein thrombosis. In our own small series, portal vein arterialization (PVA) was carried out in four patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation. In three of these cases, the portal vein was anastomosed to the aorta via an interposed iliac artery, and in one case, directly to the hepatic artery.

Clinical value of MRC in the follow-up of liver transplant patients with a choledochojejunostomy.

Background: We investigated the clinical value of magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) in liver transplant patients receiving choledochojejunostomy (CDJ).

Methods: Twenty-five MRCs were performed in 23 initially asymptomatic patients 19 months (mean) after liver transplantation with biliary reconstruction via CDJ. The images were evaluated by consensus (two investigators) for bile duct strictures and dilatations.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound improves hepatic vessel visualization after orthotopic liver transplantation.

Background: We investigated whether color-coded Doppler sonography combined with an ultrasound contrast medium would improve the assessment of liver-supplying vessels after orthotopic liver transplantation.

Methods: Forty-seven patients after orthotopic liver transplantation participated. Examinations were done without and then with the ultrasound contrast medium Levovist.

Prognosis of a large cohort of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in a single European centre.

Background/aim: Only a few follow up data are available for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Europe and the USA. Therefore, we analysed all HCC patients admitted to our hospital between 1988 and 1999.

Methods: We documented aetiology, stage (HCC: Okuda and UICC classifications, liver cirrhosis: Child-Pugh score), and diagnostic and therapeutic measures of 281 consecutive HCC patients.

Impact of surgery on survival in palliative patients with metastatic colorectal cancer after first line treatment with weekly 24-hour infusion of high-dose 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid.

Background: In palliative first-line treatment of colorectal cancer, the secondary resection of distant metastases after downstaging has constantly gained in importance. The objective of this prospective study was to examine the tumor response rate, the toxicity, the median survival time and the prognostic impact of metastatic resection after downstaging of consecutively enrolled patients with primary nonresectable colorectal cancer treated with once weekly 24-hour (24-h) infusion of high-dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and folinic acid.

Patients And Methods: Between January 1995 and July 1997, 53 consecutive patients with primary nonresectable metastases were recruited for a prospective phase II study.

[Resection of liver metastases--goal, timing and results].

If left to run their natural course, numerous malignant diseases will eventually produce liver metastases. Without treatment, afflicted patients have a life expectancy of only eight months. At the present time, the only therapeutic option that offers the patient with liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma the chance of a cure is resection of the metastases.

Surgical treatment of HELLP syndrome-associated liver rupture -- an update.

In some 2% of the cases of the HELLP syndrome, severe spontaneous bleeding into the liver accompanied by haemorrhagic liver cell necrosis and rupture of the organ occurs and represents one of the main cause of death. On the basis of our own experience with four cases, a review of the literature is presented with particular focus on a therapeutic concept based on appropriate surgery. Within a MEDLINE search covering the period 1990-1999, the case reports of this kind of liver complication in the literature were analysed in terms of clinical course and outcome.

Arterialization of the portal vein in liver transplantation: a new microsurgical model in the rat.

Background: A preexisting thrombosis of the portal vein and the deep splanchnic bed can make it extremely difficult to reestablish the portal blood flow in orthotopic liver transplantation in man. Complete arterialization of the liver transplant, including the donor portal vein, might be a viable therapeutic option. A new rat transplantation model is described, in which the liver is completely arterialized.

[Pseudoaneurysm of the hepatic artery--a rare complication after orthotopic liver transplantation].

Introduction: Pseudoaneurysm of the hepatic artery is a rare complication of liver transplantation, the most common cause of which--apart from technical surgical problems--is an infection. The most common symptoms are rupture and hemorrhage.

Method: The present case report describes an asymptomatic pseudoaneurysm of the hepatic artery following liver transplantation, and its treatment.

Changes in hepatic hemodynamics after orthotopic liver transplantation: color Doppler sonography.

Background: Liver perfusion has an influence on therapy results in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). The objective of the present study was to investigate changes in hepatic hemodynamics in patients after OLT with color-coded Doppler sonography (CCDS).

Methods: Forty-five consecutive patients were included.

Description of an intraperitoneal tumour xenograft survival model in the pig.

Aims: Experimental animal studies are necessary if the results of minimally invasive oncological surgery are to be improved. In particular the influence of surgical technique on tumour implantation needs further assessment. Small animals such as rodents are inappropriate for such laparoscopic surgical studies.