69 +/- 0.18 vs. 0.61 +/- 0.19, P = 0.048). During 1, 6, and 12 months of follow-ups, the procedures did not demonstrate a significant difference in IPSS, QoL score, Qmax, AG-014699 cell line or PVR (P bigger than 0.05). Mean peri-operative decrease of hemoglobin in the HoLEP group was similar to the ThuVEP group (17.1 +/- 12.0 g/L vs. 15.2 +/- 10.1 g/L, P = 0.415). Early and late incidences of complications were
low and did not differ significantly between the two groups of 120-W ThuVEP and HoLEP patients (P bigger than 0.05). Conclusions: 120-W ThuVEP and HoLEP are potent, safe and efficient modalities of minimally invasive surgeries for patients with LUTS due to BPH. Compared with HoLEP, 120-W ThuVEP offers advantages of reduction of laser enucleation time and improvement of laser efficiency.”
“Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) subgenotypes, the spectrum of mutations in the precore/core region through phylogenetic analysis, and the relevance of viral characteristics in disease progression in Korean patients. Methods: 133 patients with chronic HBV infection were enrolled. The precore and core region of HBV was amplified and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis was performed for subgenotyping and the changes of nucleotides and amino acid were compared in liver disease stages. Results: HBV/C2 find more subgenotype was predominant in chronic HBV carriers (98.5%), followed by HBV/A2
(0.75%) and HBV/C7 (0.75%). The mutations of the precore region were not different between liver disease stages. However, amino acid changes in the cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitope (p < 0.020), CD4+ T cell epitope (p < 0.027), or B cell check details epitope (p < 0.029) were significantly higher in liver cirrhosis patients than in chronic hepatitis patients, but not in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Conclusion: HBV/C2 is the most prevalent subgenotype in Korea, and HBV/C7 subgenotype found in the Philippines was first identified in the Korean population. Mutations in immune epitopes within the core gene were significantly associated with disease progression.
Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“Background and purpose: The aim of this study was to compare MRI-based morphological gross tumour volumes (GTVs) to biological tumour volumes (BTVs), defined by the pathological radiotracer uptake in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with (18)F-fluoroethyltyrosine (FET), subsequently clinical target volumes (CTVs) and finally planning target volumes (PTVs) for radiotherapy planning of glioblastoma.\n\nPatients and methods: Seventeen patients with glioblastoma were included into a retrospective protocol. Treatment-planning was performed using clinical target volume (CTV = BTV + 20 mm or CTV = GTV + 20 mm + inclusion of the edema) and planning target volume (PTV = CTV + 5 mm). Image fusion and target volume delineation were performed with OTP-Masterplan (R).