Purpose To present a single center outcome from an initial series of gynecological robotic cases with a special reference to obese patients. Methods A retrospective evaluation of 116 women, undergoing elective gynecologic robot-assisted surgery from February 2011 to December 2012. Procedures included hysterectomy (HE), radical HE, adnexectomy, myomectomy, pelvic lymphadenectomy and paraaortic lymp

Abstract Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) with regard to non-vocational outcomes among individuals with severe mental illness. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was carried out, comparing IPS with traditional vocational rehabilitation. The Empowerment Scale, the Worker Role Interview, the Profile of Occupational Engagement, and the Manchest

Volatile compounds isolated from the African medlar (Vangueria infausta L.) were identified by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The volatile components identified in the extract were: hexanoic acid (5600 mu g/g, dry matter, DM), octanoic acid (240 mu g/g, DM), methyl hexanoate (15 mu g/g, DM), ethyl hexanoate (44 mu g/g, DM), methyl octanoate (12 mu g/g, DM) and ethyl o

Biokinetic data are important when calculating the absorbed dose to the patients and can also be used to find the optimal time between injection and imaging. To the authors' knowledge, there are no published biokinetic data in humans for (18)F-choline, except some distribution data at single time points. Four patients with suspicion of metastases due to biochemical recurrence (measurable prostate-

The potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to differentiate into functional bone forming cells provides an important tool for bone regeneration. The identification of factors capable of promoting osteoblast differentiation in MSCs is therefore critical to enhance the osteogenic potential of MSCs. Using microarray analysis combined with biochemical and molecular approach, we found that FGF18, a

There is a growing evidence that neuropeptides may be involved in the pathophysiology of suicidal behavior. A critical review of the literature was conducted to investigate the association between neuropeptides and suicidal behavior. Only articles from peer-reviewed journals were selected for the inclusion in the present review. Twenty-six articles were assessed for eligibility but only 22 studies

The importance of having correct structural descriptions is becoming ever clearer, not only in drug discovery research, but also in the development of new advanced materials. Here the key to optimizing properties lies in understanding the structure-property relationships. Without a correct description theoretical calculations will inevitably fail to describe and explain any experimental observatio

To apply and compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) metal artifact reducing sequences (MARS) including subtraction imaging after contrast application in patients with metal-on-metal (MoM) hip prostheses, investigate the prevalence and characteristics of periprosthetic abnormalities, as well as their relation with pain and risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Microvascular dysfunction, characterized by edema formation secondary to increased blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and decreased blood flow, contributes to poor outcome following brain trauma. Recent studies have indicated that statins may counteract edema formation following brain trauma but little is known about other circulatory effects of statins in this setting. The objecti

The biosphere emits volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) which, after oxidation in the atmosphere, can partition on the existing aerosol population or even form new particles. The large quantities emitted provide means for a large potential impact on both aerosol direct and indirect effects. Biogenic responses to atmospheric temperature change can establish feedbacks even in rather short timescales.

Animals with color vision use color information in intra- and interspecific communication, which in turn may drive the evolution of conspicuous colored body traits via natural and sexual selection. A recent study found that the transparent wings of small flies and wasps in lower-reflectance light environments display vivid and stable structural color patterns, called "wing interference patterns" (

Certain purified indigestible carbohydrates such as inulin have been shown to stimulate gut-derived hormones involved in glycaemic regulation and appetite regulation, and to counteract systemic inflammation through a gut microbiota-mediated mechanism. Less is known about the properties of indigestible carbohydrates intrinsic to food. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility to affe

We propose a novel interconnector design, termed bi-layer interconnector, for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). It can disturb the fuel gas and air on the planes normal to the SOFC three-phase-boundary (TPB) layer. In this paper, a two-dimensional half-cell model is developed to study the concentration overpotentials in the fuel side of the SOFC stack with conventional and novel bi-layer interconnec

The role of natural selection in shaping adaptive trait differentiation in natural populations has long been recognized. Determining its molecular basis, however, remains a challenge. Here, we search for signals of selection in candidate genes for colour and its perception in a passerine bird. Pied flycatcher plumage varies geographically in both its structural and pigment-based properties. Both c

Students’ experiences and perceptions of good teaching and understanding in literature and physics during one school year were investigated through in-depth interviews with students in eight Greek high school classes in the first, second and third grade. The pedagogical quality of in-depth teaching and understanding of subject matter, as described by the students, was investigated. Students’ feeli

Aim: This study aims to describe how mothers spend the period of time between being diagnosed with a dead baby in utero and the induction of the delivery. Material and Methods: Data were collected using a web questionnaire. Five hundred and fifteen women who had experienced a stillbirth after the 22nd week of gestation answered the open question: 'What did you do between the diagnosis of the child

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in the pathological processes of degradation of extracellular matrix and destruction of basement membrane, which leads to tumor invasion and metastasis. In the present study, we investigated membrane-type 2 MMP (MT2-MMP) expression pattern in esophageal cancer tissues collected from 103 patients, and explored MT2-MMP expression pattern in cor

We used two methods, namely stamping and printing, to transfer arrays of epitaxial gallium phosphide (Gap) nanowires from their growth substrate to a soft, biodegradable layer of polycaprolactone (PCL). Using the stamping method resulted in a very inhomogeneous surface topography with a wide distribution of transferred nanowire lengths, whereas using the printing method resulted in an homogeneous

A critical aspect of science is the clear communication of complicated matters. However, language is often ambiguous, and the message can get lost in the telling. In particular, genetic terms can have different meanings for different people. Here, I discuss this problem and suggest remedies to clarify the message.