Zhongmin Xiao¹, Wengang Zhang², Yanmei Zhang^{1, *}, Mu Fan³

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.62, No.1, pp. 267-280, 2020, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2020.06567

Abstract Fluctuated loadings from currents, waves and sea ground motions are observed on offshore steel pipelines, and they will result in small cracks to propagate continuously and cause unexpected damage to offshore/geotechnical infrastructures. In spite of the availability of efficient techniques and high-power computers for solving crack problems, investigations on the fatigue life of offshore pipelines with 3D interacting cracks are still rarely found in open literature. In the current study, systematic numerical investigations are performed on fatigue crack growth behaviours of offshore pipelines containing coplanar and non-coplanar cracks. Extended finite element method (XFEM) is adopted More >

Zahra Ebrahim Soltani^1,2, Farzaneh Rahmani^1,2, Nima Rezaei^2,3

European Cytokine Network, Vol.30, No.1, pp. 1-14, 2019, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2019.0424

Abstract Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is the most common cause of acute paralysis in the United States. Campylobacter jejuni is a common trigger for GBS, igniting autoimmunity as a result of molecular mimicry between C. jejuni lipooligosaccharide (LOS) and host gangliosides. Evidence also suggests an active role for cell-mediated and innate immunity in pathogenesis of GBS. Infection alone is not enough for GBS to develop, infection with the same strain might yield different outcomes in different patients. C. jejuni strains with low to absent molecular mimicry to self-antigens can cause full-blown GBS with positive autoantibodies. A role for T helper More >

Christopher Maucourant^1,a, Gabriel Andrade Nonato Queiroz^2,3,a, Assia Samri¹, Maria Fernanda Rios Grassi^2,3, Hans Yssel¹, Vincent Vieillard¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.30, No.3, pp. 74-81, 2019, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2019.0433

Abstract Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging arbovirus that causes a mosquito-borne disease. Although infection with ZIKV generally leads to mild disease, its recent emergence in the Americas has been associated with an increase in the development of the Guillain-Barre´ syndrome in adults, as well as with neurological complications, in particular congenital microcephaly, in new-borns. Over the five past years, through the combined efforts of the scientific community, comprehensive remarkable progress aimed at deciphering the clinical, virological, physiopathological, and immunological features of ZIKV infection. This review highlights some of the most recent advances in our understanding More >

Gautier Breville¹, Agustina M. Lascano¹, Pascale Roux-Lombard^2,4, Patrice H. Lalive^1,2,3

European Cytokine Network, Vol.30, No.4, pp. 130-134, 2019, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2019.0436

Abstract This pilot study was designed to compare the levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8), a pro-inflammatory chemokine, in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), non-inflammatory polyneuropathy (PNP), and other non-inflammatory neurological diseases (functional syndrome or migraine). The results show elevated CSF IL-8 levels in GBS compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). IL-8 could be considered a potential biomarker to differentiate GBS from CIDP. This distinction could be relevant in terms of therapeutic decisions and functional prognosis. More >

W. Jordan Brockway¹, Andrew J. Bradsher¹, Jessica E. Hook¹, Ashay S. Patel^1,2, Ismael Zamilpa^1,2, Stephen J. Canon^1,2

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.26, No.1, pp. 9675-9679, 2019

Abstract Introduction: 2-octylcyanoacrylate (OC) has been shown to be a viable option for usage following standard circumcision, but data on its utilization following hypospadias repair is limited. Both OC and a standard waterproof transparent dressing (WD) are used following hypospadias repair at our children’s hospital. Our hypothesis is that patients with distal hypospadias repair using OC for surgical dressing have similar outcomes as compared to patients with WD.
Materials and methods: A retrospective study was performed evaluating all patients with distal hypospadias repair during a 2-year period. OC was primarily used by one of the three physicians in… More >

Shu Pan¹, Maria J. D’Amico², Ricardo Munarriz¹

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.26, No.4, pp. 9867-9870, 2019

Abstract Intracavernosal self-injection (ICI) is an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction. A rare but serious complication is needle breakage. We report an unusual case of a 51-year-old transgender female patient who did not desire gender-affirming surgery, and used ICI to treat her longstanding erectile dysfunction. She presented to the emergency department 2 months after needle breakage during ICI, and was subsequently successfully treated with intraoperative fluoroscopy and needle fragment extraction. It is important to recognize transgender patients may desire to preserve sexual function, and for providers to engage in discussion surrounding sexual health throughout treatment for More >

Leonard G. Gomella

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.26, No.4, pp. 9802-9802, 2019

Abstract This article has no abstract. More >

Ahmad N. Alzubaidi¹, Kenneth G. Nepple¹, Annah Vollstedt¹, Laila Dahmoush³, Deqin Ma³, Michael D. Henry^1,2,3,4, James A. Brown^1,4

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.26, No.6, pp. 10054-10060, 2019

Abstract Introduction: Dystroglycan (DG) is a cell surface receptor for extracellular matrix proteins involved in tissue mechanical stability and matrix organization. Initial work has demonstrated that alpha-DG expression is decreased in many types of adenocarcinoma, including prostate, and potentially associated with the development of metastatic disease. However, the consistency between prostate and lymph node alpha-DG staining has not been previously reported. Additionally, identification of an immunohistochemical marker associated with prostate cancer grade, stage, need for adjuvant or salvage therapy, and mortality would have potential clinical value.
Materials and methods: Node-positive, margin-negative radical prostatectomy specimens from a single institution… More >

Zenon Pogorelic^1,2, Christopher Neumann², Miro Jukic¹

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.26, No.6, pp. 10026-10032, 2019

Abstract Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate demographic and clinical characteristics and outcomes of the treatments of the patients with an unusual presentation of testicular torsion (TT) and to clarify their peculiarities.
Material and methods: From January 1999 until December 2017, the case records of 149 patients who underwent surgery for TT were retrospectively reviewed. Out of that number, 25 patients were identified with unusual presentation of an acute scrotum (14 patients who presented with abdominal pain only, and 11 who presented with testicular torsion in the inguinal canal).
Results: The median age of all children… More >

JIANGBO WANG^*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.36, No.4, pp. 381-389, 2019, DOI:10.32381/JPM.2019.36.04.7

Abstract In this study, a novel flame retardant polyvinylphenylsilsesquioxane (PVP) was added into epoxy resin (EP) to prepare EP/PVP (FREP) composites. The results of cone calorimeter measurement showed that in comparison with virgin EP, the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat release (THR) of FREP were reduced by 27.3% and 10.4%, respectively. Moreover, the thermal degradation behavior of FREP was studied by the Kissinger and Ozawa-Flynn-Wall methods. The results suggested that the addition of PVP greatly enhanced the thermal stability of EP in the final stage, which could be attributed to that the branched More >