A major challenge for those in North America will be to provide t

A major challenge for those in North America will be to provide the health care for elders with cancer and other diseases in the coming years. To meet this challenge we must expand and train the number of health care providers at all levels. Muss, H. B. (2009). Clinical Oncology 21, 92-98 (C) 2008 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Background: The number of implantable cardioverter defibrillator

(ICD) replacements is increasing, which adds to patient learn more risk and costs.

Objectives: To understand the impact of increasing ICD longevity on need for replacements, costs, and some of the risks.

Methods: Using the Veterans Affairs records, veterans with ICD implants between June 1992 and April 2007 and dead as of April 2009 were identified. Data were obtained by retrospective records review. The longevity of each ICD was the duration from implant to explant. For each ICD, the longevity needed to avoid one replacement was defined as longevity of that ICD plus the longevity of the subsequent ICD.

Results: The study cohort had 164 patients with 301 ICD implants. Ninety-two

patients had at least one ICD replacement. Two patients were excluded for missing data. Twenty-seven patients had an ICD explanted for reasons other than battery depletion. Sixty-three patients received 83 ICDs for battery depletion alone. Among 27 patients who had ICD replacements for other reasons, four patients may have avoided a device infection related to ICD replacement if the initial ICD had lasted 7 years. If all JNJ-26481585 molecular weight ICDs had lasted 5, 7, or 9 years, then 26%, 58%, and 84% of patients, respectively, would not have needed an ICD replacement. Also 17, 37, and 53 PI3K inhibitor ICD replacements, respectively, would have been avoided, saving US$314,500-US$980,500 over 15 years at 2005 Medicare re-imbursement rates.

Conclusions: Prolongation of battery life to 7 or 9 years is important to reduce patient risks and decrease costs. (PACE 2010; 33:314-319)”
“Objective-To

evaluate risk factors for outcome for dogs with adrenal gland tumors with or without invasion of the caudal vena cava treated via adrenalectomy.

Design-Retrospective study.

Animals-86 dogs that underwent adrenalectomy for treatment of adrenal gland tumors.

Procedures-Medical records of dogs that underwent adrenalectomy for treatment of an adrenal gland tumor from 1993 to 2009 were reviewed; data collected including signalment, clinical signs, diagnostic test findings, treatments prior to surgery, findings at surgery including additional procedures performed and extent of caudal vena caval invasion (local invasion [caudal to the hepatic portion of the vena cava] or extensive invasion [cranial to the hepatic portion of the vena cava]), procedures performed during surgery, histopathologic diagnosis, perioperative complications, follow-up data, and necropsy findings.

05) with VS3 (73 5 +/- 3 1 and 47 1 +/- 2 1) than VS1 (63 3 +/- 3

05) with VS3 (73.5 +/- 3.1 and 47.1 +/- 2.1) than VS1 (63.3 +/- 3.3 and 39.7 +/- 2.8). In experiment 3, embryos were vitrified by solid surface in VS1 or VS3 solutions and cryoprotectants

were diluted in-straw after warming in a TCM 199, 0.25m sucrose solution or holding media. Survival rates of embryos vitrified in VS3 did not differ between those exposed to 0.25m sucrose (74.7 +/- 1.3 and 57.2 +/- 2.2) or holding (77.3 +/- 1.4 and 58.0 +/- 2.5) medium after warming; however, survival rates of embryos vitrified in VS1 were higher (p<0.05) in those exposed to 0.25m sucrose (67.7 +/- 2.3 and 47.0 +/- 1.7) than holding medium (54.5 +/- 1.0 and 27.7 +/- 3.1). In conclusion, solid-surface vitrification using simplified EG-based solutions and in-straw dilution with holding media may be a practical alternative for cryopreservation and direct transfer of in vitro-produced bovine embryos.”
“Introduction: Biological.

therapy has dramatically changed HIF inhibitor management of Crohn’s disease (CD). New data have confirmed the benefit and relative long-term safety of anti-TNF alpha inhibition as part of a regular scheduled administration programme. The EPACT appropriateness criteria for maintenance treatment after medically-induced remission (MIR) or surgically-induced remission (SIR) of CD thus required updating.

Methods: A multidisciplinary international expert panel (EPACT II, Geneva, Switzerland) discussed and anonymously rated detailed, explicit clinical indications based on evidence in the literature and personal expertise. C59 Wnt inhibitor Median ratings (on a 9-point scale) were stratified into three assessment categories: appropriate (7-9), uncertain (4-6 AZD1208 and/or disagreement) and inappropriate (1-3). Experts ranked appropriate medication according to their own clinical practice, without any consideration of cost.

Results: Three hundred and ninety-two specific indications for maintenance treatment of CD were rated (200 for MIR and 192 for SIR). Azathioprine, methotrexate and/or anti-TNF alpha antibodies were considered appropriate in 42 indications, corresponding to 68% of all appropriate interventions (97% of MIR and 39% of SIR). The

remaining appropriate interventions consisted of mesalazine and a “”wait-and-see”" strategy. Factors that influenced the panel’s voting were patient characteristics and outcome of previous treatment. Results favour use of anti-TNF alpha agents after failure of any immunosuppressive therapy, while earlier primary use remains controversial.

Conclusion: Detailed explicit appropriateness criteria (EPACT) have been updated for maintenance treatment of CD. New expert recommendations for use of the classic immunosuppressors as well as anti-TNF alpha agents are now freely available online (www.epact.ch). The validity of these criteria should now be tested by prospective evaluation. (C) 2009 European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A relative measure of the polydispersity index (PI) of the melt i

A relative measure of the polydispersity index (PI) of the melt is calculated and Roscovitine the PI increases as the HDPE is further reprocessed. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 112: 639-648, 2009″
“Porous silicon based one-dimensional photonic crystals, such as Bragg mirror and optical microcavity, has been modified by infiltration of a new biocompatible polymer, an amino functionalized poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL-NH(2)), and characterized as optical biochemical

sensors. The entrapped polymer adds strong chemical stability to the nanocrystalline matrix on exposure to alkaline solutions preserving the device sensing abilities in monitoring volatile substances and chemical compounds. On the basis of these results, these hybrid structures can be proposed as a high performance platform for biochemical applications. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3177344]“
“Biodegradable

blends of LDPE and cellulose acetate phthalate have been prepared. Maleic anhydride-grafted LDPE has been added as a compatibilizer to this blend. The elastic modulus and tensile strength has been considerably improved by adding LDPE-g-maleic anhydride compatibilizer. Scanning electron microscope micrographs CH5424802 cost reflected the observed results for the increase in mechanical properties of the blend. Further blend morphology exhibited a deformed matrix for the compatibilized blends. Thermogravimetric analysis Studies showed two-stage degradation for the blends. Differential scanning calorimetry thermograms showed a loss of crystallinity for the LDPE phase. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 112: 649-659, 2009″
“A simplified approach is used to determine the relative importance of slow (>3 s) and fast (<3 s) charged trap contributions to threshold

voltage this website shifts (Delta V-th) induced by negative bias temperature instability in HfSiON gate dielectric p-channel field effect transistors. For the devices under study the relative importance of the two components is approximately the same. Total trap density induced threshold voltage shifts from measurements at 368, 398, and 428 K can be fitted to a simplified law of the form Delta V-th=Ae(-EA/kT)t alpha with E-A = 0.085 +/- 0.012 eV and alpha = 0.186 +/- 0.003. The importance of ignoring fast trap effects in overestimating reliability lifetimes is discussed. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3160330]“
“Blends of the biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were prepared by means of a melt blending method.

(C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc J Appl Polym Sci 123: 3363-3374,

(C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 123: 3363-3374, 2012″
“Laparoscopy, because of its availability and safety, provides a valuable tool in the evaluation of undiagnosed chronic pelvic pain. It is a simple and definitive means of establishing the presence or absence of pelvic pathology without resorting to major abdominal surgery.

To evaluate the causes of chronic pelvic pain using laparoscopy and to correlate between clinical examination, ultrasonography, and laparoscopy.

The present prospective study was

done in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Pt. BD Sharma, PGIMS Rohtak. Fifty cases of chronic pelvic pain attending gynae OPD were included in the study. After detailed history, examination, investigations, and ultrasonography, the patients were subjected find more to laparoscopy.

The mean age and parity of the patients with CPP was 30.88 +/- A 7.71 years and 1.74 +/- A 1.38, respectively. The mean duration of pain was 2.8 years (6 months-8 years). The commonest

finding on laparoscopy was adhesions in 40%, endometriosis in 18%, and pelvic congestion syndrome in AG-881 in vivo 20%, while 10% of the patients had normal pelvis. Laparoscopic findings were taken as gold standard and pelvic examination and ultrasonographic findings were compared with it.

Clinical examination and ultrasonography has a sensitivity of 8.1 and 2%, respectively. Laparoscopy helps in detecting many causes of CPP which clinical methods and ultrasonography fail to identify. This enforces the position of laparoscopy as a gold standard in evaluation of this condition.”
“Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) has generated interest for use in electrical energy storage, mostly due to its high dielectric constant compared to other polymers. There still exist challenges, such as its high energy losses, that have prevented large scale commercialization of PVDF-based

capacitors, but progress is continuously being made. In this paper we explore a promising route to improve the energy storage performance of PVDF, through a synergy of HFP comonomers and of kaolinite clay nanofillers. This study shows that the addition of these high aspect ratio fillers to poly(vinylidene Selleck CFTRinh172 fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) [P(VDF-HFP)] copolymers does not increase the polar phase and, consequently, these composites exhibit markedly enhanced dielectric properties at high electric fields. Specifically, strained films of these composites exhibit reduced high field losses, markedly increased breakdown strength and, thus, large recoverable energy density values, in the range of 19 J/cm(3). (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3609082]“
“Objective

To study the use of fine needle cytology (FNC) in the diagnosis of orbital and gelid lesions.

Two key challenges in the computational modeling of allostery are

Two key challenges in the computational modeling of allostery are the prediction of the structure of one allosteric state starting from the structure of the other, and elucidating the mechanisms underlying the conformational coupling of the effector and active sites. Here we approach these two challenges using the Rosetta high-resolution

structure prediction methodology. We find that the method can recapitulate the relaxation of effector-bound forms of single domain allosteric proteins into the corresponding ligand-free states, particularly when sampling is focused buy GNS-1480 on regions known to change conformation most significantly. Analysis of the coupling between contacting pairs of residues in large ensembles of conformations spread throughout the landscape between and around the two allosteric states suggests that the transitions are built up from blocks of tightly coupled interacting sets of residues that are more loosely coupled to one another.”
“We present a model for the effect of thermal annealing on a single-layer InAs/GaAs quantum dot (QD) heterostructure and study the corresponding variation in full photoluminescence (PL) spectrum. In/Ga interdiffusion due to annealing is modeled by Fickian diffusion and the Schrodinger equation is solved separately for electrons and holes to obtain ground state PL peaks of the heterostructure at different annealing

temperatures. We theoretically examine the decrease PF-04929113 in strain effects and carrier confinement potentials with annealing. PL spectra of the entire ensemble of QDs, annealed at different temperatures, are calculated from a lognormal distribution of QD heights derived from experimental atomic force microscopy (AFM) data. Results from our calculations, which illustrate the blueshift in emission wavelength and linewidth variation in PL with annealing, are in excellent agreement with experimental PL observations Cl-amidine research buy on the same samples. This highlights

the potential of the model to assist in precisely engineering the optical properties of QD materials for specific device applications. Moreover, the simplicity of the model and its multiple useful features including computation of material interdiffusion, band profiles and full PL spectra make it a valuable tool to study annealing effects on QD heterostructures. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3431388]“
“Women with breast cancer may have significant problems adjusting to the disease and therapy, due to the significant changes in body image and sexuality associated. The aim of this study was to I) assess sexual functioning 3 months after surgical procedures for breast cancer, and 2) prospectively investigate the usefulness of a Sense of Coherence (SOC) and beauty treatment as predictors of sexual functioning.

05m/keV “
“Background: Over the last years, growing resistan

05m/keV.”
“Background: Over the last years, growing resistance of gonorrhea to quinolones has emerged worldwide. Currently, cases with resistance to oral and parenteral

third-generation cephalosporins are increasingly reported. Because learn more gonorrhea is not a notifiable infection in Germany, data on epidemiology and antimicrobial surveillance of gonorrhea are scarce. We present the results of N. gonorrhoea testing at the University Hospital Dresden over the course of ten years.

Patients and Methods: The results of cultural and nucleic acid amplification testing of gonorrhea and accompanying infections of 1,850 smears between 2001 and 2010 were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: Among 181 patients (mean age 30.4 years) 159 had positive PCR analyses for gonorrhea and 50 positive cultures of Neisseria gonorrhoea. The

rate of ciprofloxacin resistance was high (in 46 % of all isolates), primarily in men. Resistance to cefotaxime and ceftriaxone could not be detected so far. In 40 % of the cases at least one accompanying urogenital infection occurred, predominantly with Chlamydia trachomatis.

Conclusions: Similar to other regions of Germany, a high percentage of resistance to quinolones was found in gonorrhea, but not to cephalosporins. Additionally, accompanying infections were frequent and warrant screening. In the light of recent cases of resistance to cephalosporins currently emerging in Europe, cultural diagnosis of gonorrhea should definitely

be intensified by all means. JQ-EZ-05 The results should be integrated into a surveillance system.”
“Advances in imaging have an increasingly significant role in the diagnosis, staging and restaging of patients with bladder cancer. This paper reviews the current use of imaging in bladder neoplasms, comparing the different radiologic investigations, www.selleckchem.com/products/ly2090314.html and discusses the potential applications of novel imaging techniques in the management of patients with bladder cancer. Copyright (C) 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“Purpose: It is now feasible to detect DNA double strand breaks (DSB) in tissues by measuring the induction and resolution of DNA repair foci, such as -H2AX, using immunofluorescent microscopy and digital image analysis. This review will highlight principal tools and approaches to tissue microscopy and analysis. It will also discuss the practical considerations of using microscopy invitro and invivo in measuring intranuclear foci following irradiation. Conclusions: Computer-based image analysis algorithms allow an objective and quantitative analysis of foci and protein-protein interactions using 3D confocal images. Finally, we review the literature in which DNA repair foci have been investigated as a biodosimeter or a biomarker of DNA repair in normal tissues.


“An implementation system of three-dimensional endoscopic


“An implementation system of three-dimensional endoscopic photoacoustic imaging is presented. The developed endoscopic photoacoustic detector integrates a multielement linear transducer array, a reflective device, a Plexiglass tube, and ultrasonic coupling medium. To match with the acoustic impendence of Plexiglass selleck kinase inhibitor tube, a glycerin solution with 45% volume percentage was used as the ultrasonic coupling medium. This ultrasonic coupling medium can decrease photoacoustic pressure transmission loss

during the progress of photoacoustic signal propagation. The capability of the system for three-dimensional imaging was verified with chicken breast tissue. Furthermore, pig normal rectal tissue and mouse breast tumor tissue in an ex vivo cavity model were imaged by the system. The reconstructed three-dimensional photoacoustic image presented the structural information of normal and lesion tissue. The experimental results demonstrate the multielement-based endoscopic photoacoustic imaging system with inside-out laser exciting mode has the ability of reconstructing three-dimensional images of biology tissue. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3626789]“
“Dicumyl peroxide (DCP) vulcanized poly(butadiene-co-acrylonitrile)-polyaniline

dodecylbenzenesulfonate [NBR-PAni.DBSA] blends were Selleckchem Akt inhibitor successfully prepared by using the practical thermomechanical mixing method. The effect of alignment of PAni.DBSA particles on the mechanical and electrical properties of vulcanized blends was studied (by passing the blends through a two roll-mills). All vulcanized blends strained parallel to the GANT61 flow direction when passed through the two roll-mills had their electrical conductivities enhanced with increasing strain in tension. Good historical memory in term of the electrical conductivities during three cycles of straining (with 300 times of strain loading and

unloading motion for each cycle) was observed for all vulcanized blends (99% retention of original value before straining). These vulcanized blends also showed better mechanical properties (i.e., higher tensile strength and tear strength) than the ones strained perpendicularly to the flow direction. With the ideal mechanical properties and reversible electrical behavior, this type of blend can potentially emerge as a new class of flexible smart material. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012″
“Predictive understanding of cell signaling network operation based on general prior knowledge but consistent with empirical data in a specific environmental context is a current challenge in computational biology. Recent work has demonstrated that Boolean logic can be used to create context-specific network models by training proteomic pathway maps to dedicated biochemical data; however, the Boolean formalism is restricted to characterizing protein species as either fully active or inactive.


“Objectives: To review a stepwise approach to the evaluati


“Objectives: To review a stepwise approach to the evaluation and treatment of subclinical hyperthyroidism.

Methods: English-language articles regarding clinical management of subclinical hyperthyroidism published between 2007 and 2012 were reviewed.

Results: Subclinical BI 6727 in vivo hyperthyroidism is encountered on a daily basis in clinical practice. When evaluating patients with a suppressed serum thyrotropin value, it is important to exclude other potential etiologies such as overt triiodothyronine toxicosis, drug effect, nonthyroidal illness,

and central hypothyroidism. In younger patients with mild thyrotropin suppression, it is acceptable to perform testing again in 3 to 6 months to assess for persistence before performing further diagnostic testing. In older patients or patients with thyrotropin values less than 0.1 mIU/L, diagnostic testing should proceed without delay. Persistence of thyrotropin suppression is more typical of nodular thyroid autonomy, whereas thyroiditis and mild Graves disease frequently resolve spontaneously. The clinical consequences

of subclinical hyperthyroidism, such as atrial dysrhythmia, accelerated bone loss, increased fracture rate, and higher rates of cardiovascular mortality, are dependent on age and severity. The decision to treat subclinical hyperthyroidism is directly tied to an assessment of the potential for clinical consequences in untreated disease. Definitive therapy is generally selected for patients with nodular autonomous function, whereas antithyroid drug therapy is more appropriate for mild, persistent Graves disease.

Conclusion: www.selleckchem.com/products/bgj398-nvp-bgj398.html The presented stepwise approach to the care of patients presenting with an isolated suppression of serum thyrotropin focuses on the differential diagnosis, a prediction of the likelihood of persistence, an assessment of potential risks posed to the patient, and, finally, a personalized choice of therapy. (Endocr Pract.

AZD5153 molecular weight 2012;18: 772-780)”
“A family of passive echogenic markers is presented by which the position and orientation of a surgical instrument can be determined in a 3-D ultrasound volume, using simple image processing. Markers are attached near the distal end of the instrument so that they appear in the ultrasound volume along with the instrument tip. They are detected and measured within the ultrasound image, thus requiring no external tracking device. This approach facilitates imaging instruments and tissue simultaneously in ultrasound-guided interventions. Marker-based estimates of instrument pose can be used in augmented reality displays or for image-based servoing. Design principles for marker shapes are presented that ensure imaging system and measurement uniqueness constraints are met. An error analysis is included that can be used to guide marker design and which also establishes a lower bound on measurement uncertainty.

7%), respectively The upper abdomen was compressed in 22 patient

7%), respectively. The upper abdomen was compressed in 22 patients (34.9%) by the two-finger technique and in 16 patients (25.3%) by the two-thumb technique with the range of 0.3-10.8 mm.

Conclusion: When applying the 2010 AHA Guidelines for infant CPR, recommended finger placement allows for adequate compression of the LV in more than 90% of patients. In 23-35% of infants, the upper abdomen is compressed from 0.3 mm to 10.7 mm.

(C) 2012 Elsevier Nepicastat research buy Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) gained attention as a possibility to reduce myocardial injury after a subsequent sustained episode of myocardial ischaemia. This prospective randomized study was carried out to assess whether RIPC reduces myocardial injury in coronary artery bypass grafting patients. Eighty patients were assigned to remote preconditioning or control treatment. Ischaemic preconditioning was induced by three 5-min cycles of upper limb ischaemia and reperfusion after anaesthesia induction. Haemodynamic and markers of myocardial damage were analysed preoperatively and over 48 h postoperatively. The cardiac index was higher immediately after remote preconditioning in the main group. There were

no differences in other haemodynamic, troponin I and creatine kinase-MB concentrations at any time point between groups. Thus, short-term remote preconditioning improves haemodynamics and does not reduce myocardial injury find more SNS-032 chemical structure after coronary artery bypass surgery. Further study of high-risk patients may be needed to fully evaluate the clinical effect of RIPC.”
“Background and objective: Increased pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) usually coexists with impaired lung function in IPF. Data on the effect of

pulmonary hypertension (PH) on cardiopulmonary responses during exercise in IPF patients is very limited. We sought to investigate the impact of PH on exercise capacity and the correlation between systolic PAP (sPAP) and pulmonary function testing, as well as cardiopulmonary exercise parameters, in patients with IPF and PH.

Methods: Eighty-one consecutive patients with IPF, who were evaluated over a 6-year period, were retrospectively studied. Patients underwent pulmonary function testing, Doppler echocardiography and maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing. PH was defined as sPAP > 35 mm Hg.

Results: PH was diagnosed in 57% of the patients. Categorization of patients according to severity of PH indicated a significant reduction in maximum work rate, peak O(2) uptake, anaerobic threshold and peak O(2) pulse in those with sPAP > 50 mm Hg. In IPF patients with PH, estimated sPAP correlated with peak O(2) uptake, anaerobic threshold, peak O(2) pulse and end-tidal CO(2) at anaerobic threshold, while the strongest correlation was between sPAP and ventilatory equivalent for CO(2) at anaerobic threshold (r = 0.611, P < 0.001).

week 1 vs week 24: 11 6 +/- 0 5 vs 9 0 +/- 0 5 vs 8 6 +/- 0 5

week 1 vs. week 24: 11.6 +/- 0.5 vs. 9.0 +/- 0.5 vs. 8.6 +/- 0.5 mmol/L and 1,999 +/- 85 vs. 1,536 +/- 51 vs. 1,538 +/- 72 mmol/L/min, both p < 0.01). In parallel, the glucagon response decreased (23,762 +/- 4,732 vs. 15,989 +/- 3,193 vs. 13,1207 AZD7762 +/- 1,946 pg/mL/min, p < 0.05) and the GLP-1 response increased (4,440 +/- 249 vs. 6,407 +/- 480 vs. 6,008 +/- 429 pmol/L/min, p < 0.01). The GIP response was decreased at week 24 (baseline-115,272 +/- 10,971 vs. week 24-88,499 +/- 10,971 pg/mL/min, p < 0.05). Insulin levels did not change significantly. Glycemic control was still improved 1 week after explantation.

The data indicate DJBL to be a promising treatment

for obesity and type 2 diabetes, causing rapid improvement of glycemic control paralleled by changes in gut hormones.”
“A four-stage procedure for the isolation

of the ChGC from the biomass of natural fungi-the honey mushroom (Armillariella mellea) and the yellow morel (Morchella esculenta), belonging to the classes Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes, respectively, has been developed. The isolation procedure included deproteinization (2% NaOH + 0.1% sodium stearate, 83-85A degrees C, 2 h), demineralization (1% HCl, 55-60A degrees C, 2 h), depigmentation (5% H(2)O(2) in ammonia (30-35A degrees C, 4 h)), and deglucanization (2% NaOH, 83-85A degrees C, 2 h). The original raw material and the chitin-containing materials were characterized on the basis PR 171 of results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray analysis, and pyrolytic gas chromatography using crustacean chitin as a reference compound. The content of chitin in the final products was 70% for

A. mellea and 50% for M. esculenta. The possibility of obtaining chitin-containing materials with the required properties selleck chemicals by selecting the fungal species and treatment conditions (the succession and repetition of certain stages) is demonstrated.”
“Open techniques represent a valid repair option for severe asymmetric pectus excavatum in adults. The use of metal supports is recommended to reduce the risk of recurrence. A wide variety of metal supports have been proposed, with pre-, trans- or retrosternal fixation. A novel open technique using titanium bars fixed to the ribs with clips has been recently introduced (STRATOS (TM) system) for chest wall reconstruction, rib fracture fixation and chest wall malformation repair. We employed this technique in two adult patients with severe asymmetric pectus excavatum: after sternal mobilization, one bar is passed below the body of the sternum and secured with clips bilaterally to two ribs. In the first case, the results remained excellent 5 years after surgery. In the second case, the initial results were satisfying but the bar ruptured after 30 months: removal of the bars and clips was performed and a subsequent recurrence of the deformity occurred.