Diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis of the knee joint: 3-year follow-up of a case report

Antonios A. Koutalos(Antonios A. Koutalos ),Dimitrios Ragias(Dimitrios Ragias ),Emmanouel Rizniotopoulos(Emmanouel Rizniotopoulos ),Konstantinos Tsanadis(Konstantinos Tsanadis ),Emmanouil Xydias(Emman 대한방사선종양학회 2022 Radiation Oncology Journal Vol.40 No.4

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a proliferative, recurrent and locally invasive disease of the synovium. The symptoms of the disorder are not typical and thus it is very often misdiagnosed. Most of the times, magnetic resonance imaging presents the nodular model of development and sets the basis for the diagnosis. The final diagnosis will be set by the pathological evaluation of the lesion’s biopsy. PVNS may be localized (nodule with a clear boundary with/without presence of single pedicle) or diffuse (extensive involvement of the adjacent nerves and vessels). Depending on the extension of the PVNS, a different management approach is performed, lesion excision vs. resection, followed by radiotherapy respectively. We report a case of diffuse PVNS in the knee joint, treated with surgical excision and adjuvant radiotherapy as well as follow-up imaging after a time period of 3 years.

Abdominal ultrasonography with color Doppler analysis in the assessment of ileal Crohn’s disease: comparison with magnetic resonance enterography

( Antonio Carlos Da Silva Moraes ),( Glycia De Freitas Moraes ),( Antonio Luis Eiras De Araujo ),( Ronir Raggio Luiz ),( Celeste Elia ),( Antonio Jose Carneiro ),( Heitor Siffert Pereira De Souza ) 대한장연구학회 2019 Intestinal Research Vol.17 No.2

Background/Aims: Consistently defining disease activity remains a critical challenge in the follow-up of patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). We investigated the potential applicability of abdominal ultrasonography with color Doppler (USCD) analysis for the detection of morphological alterations and inflammatory activity in CD. Methods: Forty-three patients with CD ileitis/ileocolitis were evaluated using USCD analysis with measurements obtained on the terminal ileum and right colon. Sonographic parameters included wall thickening, stricture, hyperemia, presence of intra-abdominal mass, and fistulas. Patients were evaluated for the clinical activity (Harvey-Bradshaw Index [HBI]), fecal calprotectin (FC) and C-reactive protein (CRP). The USCD performance was assessed using magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) as a criterion standard. Results: Most measurements obtained with USCD matched the data generated with MRE; however, the agreement improved in clinically active patients where sensitivity, positive predictive value, and accuracy were >80%, considering wall thickening and hyperemia. Complications such as intestinal wall thickening, stricture formation, and hyperemia, were detected in the USCD analysis with moderate agreement with MRE. The best agreement with the USCD analysis was obtained in regard to FC, where the sensitivity, positive predictive value, and accuracy were >70%. The overall performance of USCD was superior to that of HBI, FC and CRP levels, particularly when considering thickening, stricture, and hyperemia parameters. Conclusions: USCD represents a practical noninvasive and low-cost tool for evaluating patients with ileal or ileocolonic disease, particularly in clinically active CD. Therefore, USCD might become a useful asset in the follow-up of patients with CD. (Intest Res 2019;17:227-236.)

Design of a Telescopic tower for wind energy production with reduced environmental impact

Antonio Pantano,Tullio Tucciarelli,Nicola Montinaro,Antonio Mancino 한국정밀공학회 2020 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.7 No.1

A prototype of a telescopic pole for wind energy production with low environmental impact and its lifting system for a 60–250 kW turbine and a height of 30 m have been designed and manufactured. A telescopic tower, which is raised and lowered by automation or by remote control, allows to differentiate the presence of the generator within the landscape over time. The technology currently available for lifting and lowering wind turbines is made up of telescopic poles of heights of less than 10 meters and with tilting posts of height below 30 m. Without a state of the art to refer to, the telescopic pole and its lifting system have been designed starting from scratch and solving with innovative ideas the various criticalities that have arisen. The design of the telescopic coupling, the design for maintaining the preload and for the rotational decoupling, the optimization the design of the pairs of sleeves by numerical simulations, the design of the pegs and the bushes of the jack-up lifting system have been presented. The prototype was installed in Caltanissetta, Italy, and successfully tested.

Automated design of optimum longitudinal reinforcement for flexural and axial loading

Antonio Tomás,Antonio Alarcón 사단법인 한국계산역학회 2012 Computers and Concrete, An International Journal Vol.10 No.2

The problem of a concrete cross section under flexural and axial loading is indeterminate due to the existence of more unknowns than equations. Among the infinite solutions, it is possible to find the optimum, which is that of minimum reinforcement that satisfies certain design constraints (section ductility, minimum reinforcement area, etc.). This article proposes the automation of the optimum reinforcement calculation under any combination of flexural and axial loading. The procedure has been implemented in a program code that is attached in the Appendix. Conventional-strength or high-strength concrete may be chosen, minimum reinforcement area may be considered (it being possible to choose between the standards ACI 318 or Eurocode 2), and the neutral axis depth may be constrained in order to guarantee a certain sectional ductility. Some numerical examples are presented, drawing comparisons between the results obtained by ACI 318, EC 2 and the conventional method.

A Practical Approach to Adaptive Sliding Mode Control

José Antonio González,Antonio Barreiro,Sebastián Dormido 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2019 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.17 No.10

This paper is concerned with the development of a practical approach to the design of adaptive sliding mode controllers. The objective is to define an adaptive control law that presents some desired advantages such as non overestimation of the disturbance input, cancellation of the chattering phenomenon, zero overshooting response, avoid control saturation and simplicity of algorithm tuning. In this practical approach a solution is provided thatuses both, adaptive sliding surfaces and adaptive control gains so the proposed controller is able to manage input disturbances with bounded derivatives.

Relationship between sonorheometry parameters and laboratory values in a critical care setting in Italy: a retrospective cohort study

Romanelli Antonio,Gammaldi Renato,Calicchio Alessandro,Palmese Salvatore,Siglioccolo Antonio 대한외상학회 2023 大韓外傷學會誌 Vol.36 No.3

Purpose: This preliminary retrospective study analyzed the relationship between the parameters provided by sonorheometry device Quantra and the coagulation values obtained from standard venous blood samples in patients admitted in intensive care unit (ICU).Methods: We reviewed medical charts of 13 ICU adult patients in whom at least one coagulation study with Quantra was performed. The relationship between Quantra and laboratory data was analyzed with the Spearman rank correlation coefficient (rho). The 95% confidence interval (CI) was computed. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: We collected 28 data pairs. Statistically significant moderate correlations were found for the following parameters: clot time (CT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (rho=0.516; 95% CI, 0.123–0.904; P=0.009; clot stiffness (CS) and the international normalized ratio (INR; rho=0.418; 95% CI, 0.042–0.787; P=0.039); INR and platelet contribution to CS (rho=0.459; 95% CI, 0.077–0.836; P=0.022); platelet count and platelet contribution to CS (PCS; rho=0.498; 95% CI, 0.166–0.825; P=0.008); and fibrinogen and fibrinogen contribution to CS (FCS; rho=0.620; 95% CI, 0.081–0.881; P=0.001).Conclusions: Quantra can provide useful information regarding coagulation status, showing modest correlations with the parameters obtained from laboratory tests. During diffuse bleeding, CT and FCS values can guide the proper administration of clotting factors and fibrinogens. However, the correlation of INR with CS and PCS can cause misinterpretation. Further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between Quantra parameters and laboratory tests in the critical care setting and the role of sonorheometry in guiding targeted therapies and improving outcomes.

Role of $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT, $^{123}I$-MIBG SPECT, and CT in Restaging Patients Affected by Malignant Pheochromocytoma

Cantalamessa, Antonio,Caobelli, Federico,Paghera, Barbara,Caobelli, Antonio,Vavassori, Francesca The Korea Society of Nuclear Medicine 2011 핵의학 분자영상 Vol.45 No.2

Purpose Pheochromocytoma (PH) is a rare catecholaminesecreting tumor that arises from chromaffin tissue within the adrenal medulla and extra-adrenal sites; commonly it is sporadic, and malignant PH accounts for about 10% of all cases. Several imaging modalities have been used for the diagnosis and staging of this tumor: functional imaging using radio-labelled metaiodobenzylguanidine and, more recently, $^{18}F$-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ($^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT), which offers substantial sensitivity and specificity to correctly detect metastatic PH and helps to identify patients suitable for treatment with radiopharmaceuticals. The aim of our study was to compare CT, $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT, and $^{123}I$-metaiodobenzylguanidine single photon emission tomography ($^{123}I$-MIBG SPECT) as feasible methods to restage patients diagnosed histologically with PH. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 38 patients (27 females and 11 males; mean age: $44{\pm}15$ years) with malignant PH documented histologically after surgical intervention. These patients underwent CT, $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT, and $^{123}I$-MIBG SPECT. Results $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT showed positive results for neoplastic tissue in 33/38 patients (86.8%) and negative in 5/38 (13.2%), in concordance with CT alone. $^{123}I$-MIBG SPECT was positive in 30/38 patients (78,9%) and negative in 8/38 (21.1%). No differences in lesion numbers were found between $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT and CT, whereas a difference could be demonstrated between $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT and $^{123}I$-MIBG SPECT. Conclusion $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT could more accurately restage patients with PH than CT and $^{123}I$-MIBG SPECT, also in the absence of a staging study.

Low-Voltage Tunable Pseudo-Differential Transconductor with High Linearity

Juan Antonio Gómez,Melita Pennisi,Antonio Lopez Martin,Ramon González Carvajal,Jaime Ramírez-Angulo,Manuel Pedro Carrasco 한국전자통신연구원 2009 ETRI Journal Vol.31 No.5

A novel tunable transconductor is presented. Input transistors operate in the triode region to achieve programmable voltage-to-current conversion. These transistors are kept in the triode region by a novel negative feedback loop which features simplicity, low voltage requirements, and high output resistance. A linearity analysis is carried out which demonstrates how the proposed transconductance tuning scheme leads to high linearity in a wide transconductance range. Measurement results for a 0.5 μm CMOS implementation of the transconductor show a transconductance tuning range of more than a decade (15 μA/V to 165 μA/V) and a total harmonic distortion of -67 dB at 1 MHz for an input of 1 Vpp and a supply voltage of 1.8 V.

Correlation between short-term blood pressure variability parameters with mobil-O-graph pulse wave velocity

Marco Antonio Vieira Silva,Luiz Antonio Pertilli Rodrigues Resende,Mateus Marchiori Vieira,Camila Blanco Ferreira Jajah,Lucas Alves Berzotti,Nicole Cristine Rambourg,Ian Dias de Souza Pierson,João Luc 대한고혈압학회 2022 Clinical Hypertension Vol.28 No.-

Blood pressure variability (BPV) and arterial stiffness show an association with increased cardiovascular events. Evidences demonstrated an association between higher short-term systolic BPV and stiffer arteries. There is no previous study assessed the correlation between BPV and arterial stiffness measured by a Mobil-O-Graph device. We issued to evaluate the correlation between short-term BPV parameters and Mobil-O-Graph pulse wave velocity (PWV) among suspected hypertensive individuals under treatment.Mobil-O-Graph device estimated arterial stiffness (oscillometric PWV [oPWV]) in 649 individuals, and they recorded 24-h ambulatory BP; 428 had suspected hypertension and 221 under treatment. We analyzed the correlation between oPWV and measures of BPV: SD of 24 h BP (24-h SD), SD of daytime BP (daytime-SD), and SD of nighttime BP (nighttime-SD), weighted SD of 24-h BP (wSD), coefficient of variation of 24-h BP (CV 24-h) and average real variability (ARV). Oscillometric PWV showed a positive correlation with all systolic BPV measures, in both groups. Among suspected hypertensives: 24-h SD, r = 0.30; SD daytime-SD, r = 0.34; nighttime-SD, r = 0.16; wSD, r = 0.30; CV 24-h, r = 0.24; ARV, r = 0.22. In the treated individuals: 24-h SD, r = 0.46; daytime-SD, r = 0.47; nighttime-SD, r = 0.35; wSD, r = 0.50; CV 24-h, r = 0.43; ARV, r = 0.37, all P < 0.001. Diastolic BPV demonstrated association with some measures of BPV. In suspected hypertensive group: nighttime-SD, r = 0.13; wSD, r = 0.10, both P < 0.001. And in treated individuals: daytime-SD, r = 0.23; wSD, r = 0.22; CV 24-h, r = 0.19 (all P < 0.001), ARV, r = 0.15 ( P < 0.05). Systolic daytime-SD in suspected and diastolic CV 24-h in treated group independently predicted oPWV. We observed a positive and independent correlation between Mobil-O-Graph pulse wave velocity and BPV measures, strong to systolic BPV and weak to diastolic BP.

Anesthetic management of urgent cesarean delivery in a parturient with acute malaria infection -a case report-

Bruno Antonio Zanfini,Antonio Maria Dell'Anna,Stefano Catarci,Luciano Frassanito,Salvatore Vagnoni,Gaetano Draisci 대한마취통증의학회 2016 Korean Journal of Anesthesiology Vol.69 No.2

Malaria is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in Africa, Southeast Asia and South America. Nonetheless, several cases of malaria have been reported in Western countries involving travelers from endemic areas, though very few involve pregnant women. In this article, we report a case of a young woman born in Sierra Leone who had been living in Italy for two years. She was admitted to our hospital with malaise; worsening of her condition led to Plasmodium falciparum infection diagnosis early during her hospital stay, as well as an urgent cesarean delivery. We briefly discuss the features of malaria in pregnancy, the difficulties associated with early diagnosis, and the possible fetal and maternal implications, and also consider how the disease may affect anesthetic management.