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Purpose Assessing lacrimal problems pre- and postoperatively with a symptom-based questionnaire (Lac-Q questionnaire) and investigating the patients’ satisfaction depending on choice of operative technique. Methods A total of 112 patients with lacrimal problems operated by external or endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) were enrolled in the study. After the operation they received a symptom-based questionnaire (Lac-Q questionnaire) to evaluate their lacrimal symptoms pre- and postoperatively. Complementary questions regarding the scar generated by the operation and satisfaction with the operation were added. Results Lacrimal problems gave high scores on the Lac-Q questionnaire. Patients expressed both symptomatic and social problems because of epiphora. Patients were satisfied after DCR surgery and there was no difference between external DCR and endonasal DCR concerning the degree of the patients’ satisfaction after the operation. The scar after the operation did bother a few of the patients. Conclusion Lacrimal problems were regarded by the patients as a large symptomatic and social burden. The relief of the symptoms and satisfaction after a DCR operation, regardless of endonasal or external approach, were very good.

A high current, low voltage, single sided MOSFET device has been designed and experimentally verified. The device is based on a die fabricated in standard CMOS and a special package based on PCB technique fabricated in a standard PCB process. The transistor, its special package and its mounting on a mother board are carefully analyzed through simulation. The experimental verification indicates an on-resistance less than 0.5mohm, corresponding to a specific on-resistance of 6.7mohm-mm2.

Purpose Sinonasal malignancies (SNM) represent a rare and complex group of cancers that includes a wide range of histopathological subtypes. Data from population-based cohorts are scarce but warranted as a basis for randomized controlled treatment trials (RCTs). Our aim was to assess overall and histology subset-specific outcomes for SNM patients treated at a tertiary referral centre. Methods A retrospective, population-based, consecutive cohort of patients with SNMs diagnosed from 2001 through 2019 was examined. Outcome was analysed in relation to age, gender, site, stage, histopathology, and treatment. Results Two-hundred and twenty-six patients were identified, whereof 61% presented with stage IV disease. 80% completed treatment with curative intent, which comprised surgery with neoadjuvant (29%) or adjuvant (37%) radiotherapy, monotherapy with surgery (22%), definitive chemoradiotherapy (7%), or radiotherapy (5%). Median follow-up was 106 months. The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 57% and 35%, respectively. Median overall survival was 76 months (esthesioneuroblastoma: 147 months; adenocarcinoma: 117; salivary carcinoma: 88; mucosal melanoma: 69; squamous cell carcinoma: 51, undifferentiated carcinoma: 42; neuroendocrine carcinoma: 9; and NUT-carcinoma 5). The 5- and 10-year disease-free survival rates were 63% and 54%, respectively, and disease-specific survival 83% and 66%. Increasing age, stage IVB, melanoma histopathology, and treatment with definitive chemoradiotherapy emerged as significant independent prognostic risk factors for disease-specific mortality (p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion The results indicate a seemingly good outcome in comparison to previous reports, particularly for mucosal melanoma, adenocarcinoma, and undifferentiated carcinoma. The study provides additional background for future RCTs focusing on histology subset-specific treatment for SNM.

Silicon photon-counting spectral detectors are promising candidates as the next generation detectors for medical CT. For silicon detectors, a low noise floor is necessary to obtain good detection efficiency. A low noise floor can be obtained by having a slow shaping filter in the ASIC, but this leads to a long dead-time, thus decreasing the count-rate performance. In this work, we evaluate the benefit of utilizing two sub-channels with different shaping times. It is shown by simulation that utilizing a dual shaper can increase the dose efficiency for equal count-rate capability by up to 17%.

This paper presents an implementation solution for a digital baseband receiver, which consists mainly of an analog symbol timing recovery (STR) block and a digital carrier recovery block. The STR is realized based on “one-sample-per-symbol” sampling, resulting in relaxed requirement on the A/D converter’s sampling speed. In this sense, the proposed implementation solution is hardware efficient. To functionally verify the solution, a proof-of-concept E-band link system is implemented and tested in the laboratory, which supports 5-Gbit/s data traffic using 16 quadrature amplitude modulation. The test results demonstrate that the proposed solution works for high-capacity millimeter-wave radios for point-to-point links, one of the targeted applications.

Objective Endoscopic pituitary surgery has shown favorable clinical outcomes. Less is known about the impact of surgical approaches on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and work capacity. The present study was undertaken to compare transsphenoidal microscope-assisted surgery with endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery regarding preoperative and surgical factors for the final outcome of HRQoL and work capacity. Methods In a retrospective study of patients operated on for pituitary adenoma, outcome was compared between those operated on before and after transition with endoscopic surgery at our department. Data were gathered via patient questionnaires and patients' files. Results After exclusions, 235 patients were included (99 microsurgical and 136 endoscopic). Frequency of complications was similar but tumor size was significantly larger in the endoscopic group. Complications did not affect HRQoL or work capacity. HRQoL was not affected by surgical technique but showed an overall trend toward lower values compared with the general population. Sick leave, return to work frequency, and permanent sick leave were not affected by surgical technique. Female gender was a factor for lower ratings in all outcome variables. Conclusions Surgical technique does not influence HRQoL or work capacity in this long-term follow-up although both are decreased compared with the general population. We conclude that fully endoscopic pituitary surgery, despite including larger tumors, bears the same risk for complications as microsurgery. In addition, females have a greater risk for decrease in HRQoL and work ability. This factor should be taken into account when informing patients and appreciating expectations of treatment.

Power consumption of analog systems is poorly understood today, in contrast to the very well developed analysis of digital power consumption. We show that there is good opportunity to develop also the analog power understanding to a similar level as the digital. Such an understanding will have a large impact in the design of future electronic systems, where low power consumption will be crucial. Eventually we may reach a power centric analog design methodology.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate treatment outcome in a large population-based cohort of patients with anal cancer treated according to Nordic guidelines.MATERIAL: Clinical data were collected on 1266 patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed from 2000 to 2007 in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. 886 of the patients received radiotherapy 54-64Gy with or without chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil plus cisplatin or mitomycin) according to different protocols, stratified by tumor stage.RESULTS: High age, male gender, large primary tumor, lymph node metastases, distant metastases, poor performance status, and non-inclusion into a protocol were all independent factors associated with worse outcome. Among patients treated according to any of the protocols, the 3-year recurrence-free survival ranged from 63% to 76%, with locoregional recurrences in 17% and distant metastases in 11% of patients. The highest rate of inguinal recurrence (11%) was seen in patients with small primary tumors, treated without inguinal irradiation.CONCLUSIONS: Good treatment efficacy was obtained with Nordic, widely implemented, guidelines for treatment of anal cancer. Inguinal prophylactic irradiation should be recommended also for small primary tumors.