scholarly journals Cervical elasticity during pregnancy: current state of the problem

2018 ◽  
Vol 99 (6) ◽  
pp. 954-958
Author(s):  
M G Tukhbatullin ◽  
K V Yanakova

Uterine cervix undergoes various changes throughout the pregnancy, which are characterized by the general term “remodeling”. In particular, this process includes changes of the length (shortening) and consistency (softening) of uterine cervix. The latter from the clinical point of view is important not only for observation of pregnant women with normal course of pregnancy but also for predicting such states as an outcome of labor induction or preterm delivery. Traditionally, cervical elasticity has been estimated through digital examination and Bishop score, however, currently there are available imaging techniques, which are more objective and precise. Amongst these methods, elastography plays a special role. Elastography allows measuring the capacity of tissues to deform. The softer the tissues, the higher mentioned capacity under the applied pressure. Currently there are various methods of elastography, starting from real-time elastography, when the capacity to be deformed is registered under the influence of physiologic movements or minimal manual pressure, to shear wave elastography, when the velocity of propagation of shear waves is measured. Although there are number of methods of elastography and perspectives of their use in obstetric practice, at the present time there is no consensus on standardization of these methods. In the cervical elastography this task is even more complicated, because there is no reference tissue to be compared with, especially this is true for strain elastography. The aim of this study was comparative analysis of methods estimating cervical elasticity and underlining current problems from the clinical point of view.

Fachsprache ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 104-122
Author(s):  
Winfried Thielmann

Abstract Languages for special purposes have mainly been considered from the point of view that they are specialized, i.e. that they satisfy the terminological needs of expression of specialized groups. The purpose of this contribution is to demonstrate that specialized discourses such as university lectures may make specific use of ordinary language devices. An analysis of sections from German lectures in physics and mechanical engineering reveals that deictics play a special role in propositional  composition. The findings are relevant for the general principles of linguistic science and knowledge transfer as well as for teaching German as a first or second academic language. Schlagwörter: Sprache wissenschaftlicher Lehre – Deixis – Physik – Maschinenbau – propositionale Komposition Key words: Language of academic teaching – deictics – physics – mechanical engineering – propositional composition


2018 ◽  
Vol 68 (12) ◽  
pp. 2818-2822
Author(s):  
Maria Cristina Oprea ◽  
Mihaela Vlad ◽  
Ioana Golu ◽  
Ioan Sporea ◽  
Lazar Fulger

Thyroid nodules are a common pathology found in 50 to 60% of otherwise healthy people. Diagnostic imaging techniques are help discriminating between benign and malignant nodules, while fine needle aspiration is still a gold standard. Shear wave elastography, a recent imaging technique, holds the promise to become reliable diagnostic tools and is currently used in combination with ultrasound. We here report data obtained in a series of 52 thyroid nodules analysed by means of elastography, as well as conventional and Doppler ultrasound. We found no differences in age, nodule and thyroid volume, length, width, thickness and maximum diameter between benign and malignant lesions. Several sonographic patterns are considered to be predictive of malignancy, out of which we only found the intranodular blood flow to be statistically significant. By the means of shear wave elastography we have first assessed tissue elasticities, which are shown in a range of colours, depending on tissue elasticity/stiffness. Then, we have measured and recorded four parameters automatically displayed by the system, namely SWE-mean, SWE-max, SWE-SD and SWE-ratio. Data analysis showed all these quantitative parameters had good sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and area under the curve, as calculated by the ROC curve. As with these parameters, the cut-off points were lower than in literature, still able to indicate reliable diagnoses, which were confirmed by histopathological exam. Our conclusion is that shear wave elastography has great potential for reliably and accurately diagnosing thyroid malignancies.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphane Goria ◽  
Louise Dupet ◽  
Maëva Négroni ◽  
Gabriel Sega ◽  
Philippe Arnoux ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND most serious games and other game-based tools are designed as digital games or escape games. They are designed for learning or sometimes in the field of medicine as an aid to care. However, they can also be seen as an aid to research, in our case, to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of imaging techniques for cancer detection. OBJECTIVE we present a case study of action research on the design of a serious board game intended to consider the advantages and weaknesses of a diagnostic method in a different ways. The goal was to better understand the principles of designing a tool using game or play. METHODS we explicitly implemented another process than gamification to develop a structure reminiscent of the game to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of different imaging techniques from the point of view of the respondents (in this case specialists not directly involved in the project). Based on this feedback and the scientific literature on this subject, we detail the main categories of games and games developed for serious use in order to understand their differences. Concerning the cancer research part to which game contributes, our method is based on questions asked to experts and practitioners of this specialty. RESULTS an expert point of view translation tool in the form of a game has been realized to apprehend a research in a different way. CONCLUSIONS we show with the help of a diagram, some possible design paths leading to this type of design result including two hidden dimensions to consider (the awareness of the game or play by the "player" and his role as a contributor or recipient).


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 2333794X2199090
Author(s):  
Vilounna Sanaphay ◽  
Sourideth Sengchanh ◽  
Alongkone Phengsavanh ◽  
Anousavanh Sanaphay ◽  
Leelawadee Techasatian

Newborn skin disorders are quite common and happen to occur during the neonatal period. Most of the birthmarks are transient; however, worried parents often seek medical advice from their child’s physician regarding skin lesions. Thus, it is important to differentiate the skin lesions from pathologic ones to avoid unnecessary diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. This is the first published study in Lao neonates that carried out the data from 4 central hospitals in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR from September 2019 to February 2020. Among 500 neonates, Sebaceous gland hyperplasia (53%), Mongolian patches (46.6%), and Erythema toxicum neonatorum (30%) were the 3 most common cutaneous conditions found in the Lao newborns. From a clinical point of view, these findings are often a source of parental anxiety and medical concern for inexperienced clinicians.


BMJ Leader ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. leader-2021-000509
Author(s):  
Marcel Levi

BackgroundThe NHS is a fascinating health care system and is enjoying a lot of support from all layers of British society. However, it is clear that the system has excellent features but also areas that can be improved.Story of selfA number of years as a chief executive in one of London’s largest hospital has brought me a wealth of impressions, experiences, and understanding about working in the NHS. Contrasting those to my previous experience as chief executive in Amsterdam (The Netherlands) provides an interesting insight.ObservationsVery strong features of the NHS are the high level of health care professionals, the focus on quality and safety, and involvement of patients and the public. However, the NHS can significantly improve by addressing the lack of clinical professionals in the lead, curtailing ever increasing bureaucracy, and reducing its peculiar preference for outsourcing even the most crucial activities to private parties. The frequent inability to swiftly and successfully complete goal-directed negotiations as well as the large but from a clinical point of view irrelevant private sector are areas of sustained bewilderment. Lastly, the drive for innovation and transformation as well as the level of biomedical research in the NHS and supported by the British universities is fascinating and outstanding.


Author(s):  
Pedro Galvão ◽  

Education plays a very special role in Dewey’s System of thought. And according to Dewey, science, being knowledge at its best, has an unsurpassable educational value which every genuine democracy must take seriously. Here I try to show how and why Dewey developed this point of view. I start by considering how, in Dewey’s System, education is seen as a form of experience deeply significant to philosophy. Then I try to stress the most inte resting points concerning Dewey’s view of education as a social process. This leds me to explain why Dewey thought that the best kind of education should occur in a democratic environment and what does he mean by that. At this point it becomes possible (I hope) to effectively understand where Dewey saw the educational value of scientific knowledge and how, according to him, should that value be promoted. Since the superiority of scientific knowledge lies in its method, Dewey argued, science becomes deprived of all its educational value whenever is taught, as ususal, as a mere ready-made subject-matter.


Author(s):  
Léo Werner Süffert ◽  
Ennio Pessôa

After an extensive review of the literature, regarding zinc.oxide/eugenol impression pastes, we selected 20 of the most representatives as our references. Trough personal information of several of the investigators it was discovered that dimensional changes of theese materials is one of the most difficult properties to be measured. A new method was developed to measure dimensional changes ot 4 (four) of the most widely used zinc.oxide/eugenol impression materials in Brazil. The results, presented through several graphs and tables showed that dimensional changes varied from 0,003%, values which may probably be considered negligible from a clinical point of view. We noticed, however, high values for standard deviation and variance which indicate the high variability within the experiments. Those values were not found when we used the same method with mercaptan and silicone impression materials, in which the measurement of dimensional changes was highly reproducible. One hypothesis (which we intend to investigate in a later research) is that, during storage, a sedimentation could occur, of the components of greater density! Consequently ther might result a change in composition, independent of the method used to establishe the proportion of the two pastes, be it by wheight or measurement of lenght, which could be the cause of variability of the composition of each mixture!


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 33-53
Author(s):  
Jan Pacholski

From travel accounts to guidebooks: The beginnings of guidebooks to the Giant Mountains Karkonosze for travellers in the late 18th and early 19th centuryIn the history of European tourism the Giant Mountains Karkonosze occupy a unique place thanks to the Chapel of St. Lawrence, funded by Count Christoph Leopold Schaffgotsch and located on the summit of Śnieżka. Its construction in the Habsburg dominions in the turbulent period of the Counter-Reformation was meant to finally put an end to the Silesian-Bohemian border dispute and become a visible sign of Catholic rule over the highest mountain range of the two neighbouring countries. The construction of the chapel also marked the beginning of tourism in the highest range of the Sudetes; initially, its nature was religious and focused on pilgrimages to the summit of Śnieżka, featuring, in addition to local inhabitants, also sanatorium visitors to Cieplice Warmbrunn, which was owned by the Schaffgotschs.After the three Silesian Wars, as a result of which the lands to the north of the mountains were separated from the Habsburgs’ Kingdom of Bohemia, the situation in the region changed radically. The Counter-Reformation pressure ceased and the Lutherans began to grow in importance, supported as they were by the decidedly pro-Protestant Prussian state, governed by its tolerant monarch.The period was also marked by an unprecedented growth in the literature on the Giant Mountains — there were poems Tralles, nature studies Volkmar and travel accounts GutsMuths, Troschel and others written about the highest range of the Sudetes. A special role among these writings was played by works aimed at introducing the public from the capital Berlin to the new province of the Kingdom of Prussia, especially to the mountains, so exotic from the point of view of the “groves and sands” of Brandenburg. These publications were written primarily by Lutheran clergymen, which was not without significance to the nature of the works. This was also a time when the first guidebooks to the Giant Mountains were written, with many of their authors also coming from the same milieu.What emerges from this image is a kind of confessionalisation of tourism in the highest mountains of Silesia and Bohemia: on the one hand there are mass Catholic pilgrimages and on the other — a new type of individual tourists who, with a book in hand, traverse mountain paths in a decidedly more independent fashion.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 441-458
Author(s):  
Ivan Alexandrovich Chikharev

The relevance of the issues raised in the article is related to the active return of Russia to the Mediterranean region, as well as the international political transformations taking place in it. The purpose of the article is to identify the historical foundations, current state and strategic prospects of Russias presence and international influence in the Greater Mediterranean region. The article is based on the methodology of critical geopolitics, historical and comparative approaches, which critically analyze the geopolitical structures of the region, built in the interests of various regional and extra-regional political forces. The historical material of the ancient, medieval, new and modern periods in the history of the macro-region is used, including the poorly studied times of the Mongol presence on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Scientific works on the history, geography and international relations in the region, written in the 18th - 19th centuries, as well as modern scientific information on the trends of technological, infrastructural and political development of the Mediterranean region are introduced into scientific circulation. An important element of the article is the thesis about the special role of Russia in the Pacific-European (Eurasian) transit. From the authors point of view, it includes not only the full implementation of Russias transport and logistics potential in the macro-region, but also the transfer of modern technologies, as well as the promotion of the formation of sustainable political regimes. As a result, a conclusion is made about the deep historical foundations of Russias presence and influence in the region, its strategic prospects are justified, and the main directions of our countrys international activities in the Mediterranean region are highlighted. An important conclusion of the article is the thesis about the need for a multilateral balanced approach to solving macro-regional problems.


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