Land use change threatens global biodiversity and compromises ecosystem functions, including pollination and food production. Reduced taxonomic α-diversity is often reported under land use change, yet the impacts could be different at larger spatial scales (i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction And Objectives: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. Cognitive fusion transrectal ultrasound prostate biopsy is one of several modalities for diagnosing this disease. However, no existing studies have shown the clear superiority of one image-guided technique over another.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Radical cystectomy (RC) with ileal conduit (IC) remains a main treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Laparoscopy in this multistage surgery is quite demanding, so laparoscopic RC (LRC) with intracorporeal IC (IIC) is a technically exceptional procedure. We aim to simplify it, demonstrating our technique, step-by-step.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction And Objectives: Laryngeal chondrosarcoma is a rare laryngeal pathology arising from cartilaginous structures and is predominantly found in the cricoid cartilage. This study investigates its presentation, treatment modalities and patient outcomes.
Patients Or Materials And Methods: Retrospective study of laryngeal chondrosarcoma cases followed from 1992 to 2022 in the Otorhinolaryngology department of a cancer center - Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa.
Objective: To assess if there is a preferable intervention between retrograde ureteral stent (RUS) and percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) tube, in cases of upper urinary tract stone obstruction with complications requiring urgent drainage, by evaluating outcomes regarding urinary symptoms, quality of life (QoL), spontaneous stone passage, and length of hospital stays, since there is no literature stating the superiority of one modality over the other.
Methods: We searched MEDLINE and other sources for relevant articles in June 2019 without any date restrictions or filters applied. The selection was done first by the title and abstract screening and then by full-text assessment for eligibility.
Automatic diagnosis systems capable of handling multiple pathologies are essential in clinical practice. This study focuses on enhancing precise lesion localization, classification and delineation in transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) to reduce cancer recurrence. Despite deep learning models success, medical applications face challenges like small and limited datasets and poor image characterization, including the absence lack of color/texture modeling.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOrchiectomy is the recommended treatment for many testicular conditions. However, testicular prosthesis placement is not always performed for different reasons. In this study, we aimed to evaluate patients' opinions and the impact on sexual function and quality of life.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis paper confronts two approaches to classify bladder lesions shown in white light cystoscopy images when using small datasets: the classical one, where handcrafted-based features feed pattern recognition systems and the modern deep learning-based (DL) approach. In between, there are alternative DL models that had not received wide attention from the scientific community, even though they can be more appropriate for small datasets such as the human brain motivated capsule neural networks (CapsNets). However, CapsNets have not yet matured hence presenting lower performances than the most classic DL models.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhilos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci
September 2021
Ongoing environmental changes are affecting physical, chemical and biological soil components. Evidence of impacts of soil changes on pollinators' and seed dispersers' behaviour, fitness and density is scarce, but growing. Here, we reviewed information on such impacts and on a number of mechanisms that may explain its propagation, taking into account the full range of resources required by the large and diverse number of species of these two important functional groups.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: This study aimed to compare trainees' laparoscopic performance concerning the peg-transfer (PT) and needle-guidance (NG) exercises after watching the original European Basic Laparoscopic Urologic Skills (E-BLUS) video or after watching a video-mentored tutorial (VMT) with 'tips and tricks', narration and didactic illustrations.
Material And Methods: An experimental, unblinded, parallel, 2-intervention, 2-period randomized trial with an allocation ratio of 1:1 was conducted. Forty-two participants were randomized into 2 groups.
Background And Objectives: The emerging use of endovascular therapies for acute ischemic stroke, like intra-arterial thrombectomy, compels a better understanding of the anesthetic management required and its impact in global outcomes. This article reviews the available data on the anesthetic management of endovascular treatment, comparing general anesthesia with conscious sedation, the most used modalities, in terms of anesthetic induction and procedure duration, patient mobility, occlusion location, hemodynamic parameters, outcome and safety; it also focuses on the state-of-the-art on physiologic and pharmacologic neuroprotection.
Contents: Most of the evidence on this topic is retrospective and contradictory, with only three small randomized studies to date.
Background: There are a large number of assessment tools for tinnitus, with little consensus on what it is important to measure and no preference for a minimum reporting standard. The item content of tinnitus assessment tools should seek to capture relevant impacts of tinnitus on everyday life, but no-one has yet synthesised information about the range of tinnitus complaints. This review is thus the first comprehensive and authoritative collection and synthesis of what adults with tinnitus and their significant others report as problems in their everyday lives caused by tinnitus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Otosclerosis is a common form of conductive hearing loss characterized by abnormal bone remodeling exclusively in the otic capsule. The prevalence of otosclerosis varies in racial populations and is described as being rare in black African populations. In this paper we aim to report five cases of clinical, and surgically confirmed, otosclerosis in black individuals, in São Tomé and Príncipe.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe nasal dorsum framework plays a major role in nasal and facial harmony. This study presents a new approach to an already known technique, intermediate osteotomies, which can be used routinely in patients with cosmetically unpleasant changes in eyebrow-tip line features, allowing the acquisition of a natural, aesthetically agreeable and harmonious dorsum contour, while preserving nasal function. The approach was evaluated retrospectively in 50 consecutive patients at a tertiary referral hospital.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSurgical site infection (SSI) remains an important problem in colorectal surgery. The aim of this study is to determine whether the use of a wound protection system can be effective in reducing the incidence of wound infection after colorectal resection. Ninety-five consecutive patients underwent colorectal resection, carried out by one single surgeon during a six-year period (2009-2015).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The prevalence of adrenal incidentalomas is increasing with the aging of the population and the use of high resolution imaging technics. Current protocols propose a comprehensive monitoring of their functional and morphological state, but with no conclusive clinical evidence that endorses it.
Method: Retrospective study of 96 patients diagnosed with adrenal incidentaloma between 2008 and 2012.
Background: Aluminum (Al) toxicity is an important limitation to food security in tropical and subtropical regions. High Al saturation on acid soils limits root development, reducing water and nutrient uptake. In addition to naturally occurring acid soils, agricultural practices may decrease soil pH, leading to yield losses due to Al toxicity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn order to conduct the screening phase of the first epidemiological survey of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in Mexico, we needed a screening tool to detect autistic symptomatology in a large sample of school-age children. We used the Spanish version of the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). We recruited a clinical sample of 200 children (81% males; mean age: 7.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: To describe a surgical technique to treat colostomy prolapse as a day case procedure with the patient under sedation and analgesia.
Method: A 60-mm GIA Universal Stapler is inserted into the lumen of the prolapsed colon at right angles to the contour of the abdominal wall. Several firings are then made to completely divide the prolapsed colon.
Aim: The aim of the study was to analyze the short-term and long-term outcomes of nonagenarians treated for colorectal cancer.
Method: A retrospective analysis was performed of 74 patients, ≥ 90 years of age, diagnosed with colorectal cancer during the period 1986-2009. Comorbidity, American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) grade, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, mortality, morbidity and survival were analyzed.