1%-86 4%) were neither aware about their tongue lesions nor worri

1%-86.4%) were neither aware about their tongue lesions nor worried about their prognosis. Less than 50% of those who were aware of their tongue lesions sought medical advice.

Conclusion: The high prevalence of tongue lesions necessitates higher awareness of the general dental practitioner by their etiology, diagnosis and management.”
“Background: Intracardiac myxomas in Carney complex are significant causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality through embolic stroke and heart failure. The genetic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of Carney complex-related strokes from atrial myxomas have not been described. The regulatory subunit (R1A) of the protein

kinase gene (PRKAR1A) is https://www.selleckchem.com/ferroptosis.html mutated in >60% of patients Selleck SNX-5422 with Carney

complex. Methods: We studied patients with strokes and cardiac myxomas that were hospitalized in our institution and elsewhere; a total of 7 patients with 16 recurrent atrial myxomas and >14 episodes of strokes were identified. Results: Neurologic deficits were reported; in 1 patient, an aneurysm developed at the site of a previous stroke. All patients were females, were also diagnosed with Cushing syndrome, and all had additional tumors or other Carney complex manifestations. Other than gender, although there was a trend for patients being overweight and hypertensive, no other risk factors were identified. A total of 5 patients (71%) had a PRKAR1A mutation; all mutations (c418_419delCA, c.340delG/p.Val113fsX15, c.353_365del13/p.Ile118fsX6, c.491_492delTG/p.Val164fsX4, and c.17711G.A) were located in exons 3 to 5 and introns 2 to 3, and all led to a non-sense PRKAR1A mRNA. Conclusions: Female patients with Carney complex appear to be at a high risk for recurrent atrial myxomas that lead to multiple strokes. Early identification of a female patient with Carney complex is of paramount importance for the early diagnosis of atrial myxomas and

the prevention of strokes.”
“Proteomic analysis has proved to be an important tool for understanding the complex nature of genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis (CF), by defining the cellular protein environment (proteome) associated GNS-1480 price with wild-type and mutant proteins. Proteomic screens identified the proteome of CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), and provided fundamental information to studies designed for understanding the crucial components of physiological CFTR function. Simultaneously, high-throughput screens for small-molecular correctors of CFTR mutants provided promising candidates for therapy. The majority of CF cases are caused by nucleotide deletions (Delta F508 CFTR; >75%), resulting in CFTR misfolding, or insertion of premature termination codons (similar to 10%), leading to unstable mRNA and reduced levels of truncated dysfunctional CFTR.

Women are more likely to consent

Women are more likely to consent Prexasertib cost to donation than are men.

Summary

Hispanic-American

groups are heterogeneous. Culturally sensitive approaches to communicating a donation request must consider ethnic origin and language preference. Family discussion of donation should be encouraged by the medical community as part of healthcare decision-making (independent of death or crisis); women may serve as an excellent bridge between healthcare providers and families in this regard.”
“OBJECTIVES: To describe women’s recovery and pain control during the first 6 weeks after hospital discharge after gynecologic surgery and estimate the prevalence of inadequate pain control during the first 2 weeks of home recovery after abdominal compared with vaginal gynecologic surgery.

METHODS: Participants, women without chronic pelvic pain undergoing benign nonlaparoscopic gynecologic surgery, completed daily evaluation of pain and pain medication use during the first 2 weeks after discharge and a validated recovery instrument 1, 2, and 6 weeks after discharge. Inadequate pain control was defined as a score of 4 or more (out of 10) on the

four-item Surgical Pain Scale.

RESULTS: Of 140 eligible Tariquidar in vitro participants, 13 were lost to follow-up. Of remaining 127 women, 80 underwent vaginal and 47 abdominal surgery. Inadequate pain control was reported by 45% and 51% of women after vaginal and abdominal surgery, respectively, on recovery day 3 (P=.5); 23% and 30%, respectively, on day 7 (P=.4); and 5% and 23%, respectively, on day 14 (P<.005). Two weeks after discharge, 10% and 32% of women after vaginal and abdominal surgery, respectively, required narcotic pain medications (P<.01). By 6 weeks, approximately half of the women in https://www.selleckchem.com/products/ve-821.html either group reported they felt recovered and two-thirds felt “”back to normal.”"

CONCLUSION: Pain control after hospital discharge is suboptimal for many women after both vaginal and abdominal surgery. The time to full recovery is longer than 6 weeks for half of women. Given increasingly

rapid hospital discharge, optimizing the patient’s experience at home is a priority. (Obstet Gynecol 2012;119:780-4) DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e31824bb15e”
“Pleural angiosarcoma is an extremely rare disease. Although the clinical course could be indolent, the prognosis is very poor once the tumour spreads. Herein, a 69-year old male with a history of thyroid goitre was noted for 5 years before the symptoms of right chest pain and body weight loss developed. His serial chest roenterogram revealed loculated pleural effusion which rapidly progressed to be multiple pleural haematomas. After several sono-guided aspiration/biopsies with undiagnosed pleural haematomas, an exploratory thoracotomy confirmed the diagnosis of pleural angiosarcoma.

The cytotoxicity of CHX in RAW264 7 cells presented a dose- and t

The cytotoxicity of CHX in RAW264.7 cells presented a dose- and time-dependent manner (p < 0.05). The mode of cell death shifted from apoptosis to necrosis when the dosage of CHX increased. The genotoxicity of CHX in RAW264.7 cells had shown DNA damage in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Prolongation of cell cycle

and the increase of ROS generation also expressed in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Taken together, the data suggested that CHX-induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity on macrophages may be via ROS generation. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 29: 452-458, 2014.”
“Nonylphenol (NP) is an endocrine disrupting chemical which has been shown to be able PFTα mw to modulate the endocrine system of various organisms by different mechanisms. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential effects of 4-NP on steroid and thyroid AZD1208 hormone levels in sexually immature male yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus), a protandrous hermaphrodite species. For this, the fish were injected with ascending doses (10, 50, 100, and 200 mu g g(-1) body weight) of 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) or vehicle during 2 weeks. After 7 and 14 days the fish were anesthetized, blood sample were collected and plasma steroid and thyroid hormone concentrations were quantified by radioimmunoassay. The result showed that 4-NP induced a significant increase in 17 beta-etradiol

levels at dose 10 mu g g(-1), while the levels of this hormone in the higher doses decreased compared with the control group. However, 4-NP treatment did not have any significant effect on plasma levels of testosterone. In addition, it was observed that 4-NP affect the level of thyroid hormones in fish. Plasma thyroxine levels increased in

a dose-dependent manner after 7 and 14 days of the exposure. In contrast, a significant decrease in triiodothyronine levels was observed during the experiment period. Moreover, no significant change was detected for thyroid stimulating hormone levels in 4-NP-treated fish. These Lazertinib ic50 results indicated that 4-NP could lead to disturb the balance of steroid and thyroid hormones with potential consequences for sexually immature male yellowfin seabream. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 29: 459-465, 2014.”
“Lead-free bilayered multiferroic thin films consisting of BiFeO3(BFO) and CoFe2O4(CFO) layers with different thicknesses were grown on SrRuO3-coated Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si substrates by radio frequency sputtering. The effects of constituent layer thicknesses on the ferroelectric and magnetic behavior have been studied. The physical behaviors are shown to strongly depend on the thicknesses of the constituent layers. BFO (220 nm)/CFO (30 nm) bilayered thin film demonstrated much improved ferroelectric and ferromagnetic behavior (2P(r)=144.2 mu C/cm(2), 2E(c)=778.0 kV/cm, M-s = 61.2 emu/cm(3), and H-c=200.8 Oe) as compared to those of the single layer BFO thin film.

Significant correlations were observed between the total phenols

Significant correlations were observed between the total phenols or flavonoid contents in methanol extracts and antioxidant activity estimated

for both used tests even for leaves or for flowers extracts. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“In general, syncope in children and adolescents is a benign event. Syncope during exercise may identify patients with a potentially fatal condition. Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia is characterized by life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, usually polymorphic ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, occurring under conditions of exercise or emotional stress. Catecholaminergic polymorphic GSK1210151A ventricular tachycardia is a familial condition that presents with exercise-induced syncope or sudden death in children or young adults. Detailed evaluation should be considered for patients who have syncope during

exercise, injure themselves during the fall (i.e., unprotected faint with no antecedent warning prodrome), or who have a family history of syncope, early sudden cardiac death, myocardial disease, or arrhythmias.”
“Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening hemorrhagic disorder caused by the development of an inhibitor against coagulation factor VIII P505-15 purchase (FVIII). AHA is very rare, affecting approximately 1 in 1 million individuals. However, the incidence may actually be higher, because diagnosis is difficult and the disease can be overlooked. We report a case of an 80-year-old man who presented with sudden onset of severe hemothorax. The patient was diagnosed with presumed AHA based on acute onset

of bleeding symptoms and unexplained isolated LY294002 ic50 prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time. Diagnosis was definitely established by demonstrating a decrease in FVIII activity, presence of FVIII inhibitor activity, and normal von Willebrand factor. The patient was successfully treated with recombinant activated coagulation factor VII and transcatheter artery embolization of the intercostal arteries.”
“By various chromatographic methods, one new phenylpropanoid, acanthopanic acid (1), and three known compounds, 1,2-O-dicaffeoylcyclopenta-3-ol (2), (4S)-alpha-terpineol 8-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), and rutin (4), were isolated from the methanol extract of the Acanthopanax koreanum leaves. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, and their antioxidant activities were evaluated by the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) radical scavenging 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate assay. Among them, compounds 1, 2, and 4 showed significant scavenging capacity with IC50 values of 3.8, 2.6, and 2.9 mu M, respectively, and compound 3 showed weak scavenging capacity with the inhibition rate of 37% at 40 mu M.

Concentrations of particulate matter in kitchens increase to the

Concentrations of particulate matter in kitchens increase to the range of milligrams per cubic meter during cooking.

Solid fuel smoke possesses the majority of the toxins found in tobacco smoke and has also been associated with a variety of diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in women, acute respiratory infection in children and lung cancer in women (if exposed to coal smoke). Other tobacco smoke-associated diseases, such as tuberculosis, Barasertib cost asthma, respiratory tract cancer and interstitial lung diseases, may also be associated with solid fuel smoke inhalation, but evidence is limited. As the desirable change to clean fuels is unlikely, efforts have been made to use efficient, vented wood or coal stoves, with varied success due to inconsistent acceptance by the community.”
“Objective: To characterize the quantitative changes of patella cartilage over time after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) by delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC) and T2 mapping at 3.0 T.

Method: Twenty-six knees of 26 patients (23 women and three men, mean age,

75 years) with primary osteoarthritis and osteonecrosis of the knee underwent TKA with a zirconia ceramic implant in this prospective study. Twelve patients without patella resurfacing (NR group) and 14 patients with patella resurfacing (R group) had TKA with cemented fixation. The implant position was examined by radio-graph, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The clinical scores were checked pre-operatively, 1 year post-operatively and at SNX-5422 inhibitor the final follow-up. Patella cartilage and its thickness were evaluated pre-operatively and 1 year after TKA by dGEMRIC www.selleckchem.com/products/z-devd-fmk.html and T2 mapping in the NR group only. Patella cartilage was divided into eight regions of interest: the deep and superficial layers of the outer lateral and medial half, and the inner lateral and medial half from the central ridge.

Results: The implant position was

appropriate in all cases and clinical scores were not significantly different between the two groups. The post-operative dGEMRIC value of the outer medial half superficial zone in the NR group was significantly decreased compared with the pre-operation value (P < 0.05), whereas T2 mapping was not significantly changed in all zones. The cartilage thickness of the outer zone was significantly thinner post-operatively (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: These findings indicate that osteoarthritic changes in the outer zone of patella cartilage occurred 1 year after TKA. (C) 2012 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“This article raises ethical issues that result if individuals, during the course of research to measure the prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis, are identified with the disease but are not provided with or referred for appropriate treatment.

Overimitation may illuminate not only the structure of children’s

Overimitation may illuminate not only the structure of children’s causal understanding, but also the social learning processes that support our species’ artefact-centric culture.”
“Thermoplastic starch (TPS)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) blend films were modified by crosslinking through soaking the films in glutaraldehyde aqueous solution and then heating in an oven. The effects of the concentration of the glutaraldehyde aqueous solution, soaking time, reaction HM781-36B inhibitor temperature, and time on the crosslinking reaction were investigated. The moisture absorption and mechanical properties of the films were measured to characterize the influence of the crosslinking modification.

It was found that the crosslinking

modification significantly reduced the moisture sensitivity of the TPS/PVA blend films and increased the tensile strength and Young’s modulus but decreased the elongation at break of the TPS/PVA blend films. The described method could be used for posttreating TPS/PVA-based products to optimize their properties. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012″
“Operation of atmospheric discharge of electronegative gases including air at low voltages yet without consuming any inert gas will enormously promote the application of non-thermal plasmas. By taking advantage of the low onset voltage for helium corona, air discharge was successfully launched at much reduced voltages with a needle-plate system partly contained GSK1838705A Protein Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor in a helium-filled glass bulb-for a needle-plate distance of 12 mm, 1.0 kV suffices. Ultraviolet

emission from helium corona facilitates the discharging of air, and the discharge current selleckchem manifests distinct features such as relatively broad Trichel pulses in both half periods. This design allows safe and economic implementation of atmospheric discharge of electronegative gases, which will find a broad palette of applications in surface modification, plasma medicine and gas treatment, etc. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3651600]“
“This paper explores childhood social learning among Aka and Bofi hunter-gatherers in Central Africa. Existing literature suggests that hunter-gatherer social learning is primarily vertical (parent-to-child) and that teaching is rare. We use behavioural observations, open-ended and semi-structured interviews, and informal and anecdotal observations to examine the modes (e. g. vertical versus horizontal/oblique) and processes (e. g. teaching versus observation and imitation) of cultural transmission. Cultural and demographic contexts of social learning associated with the modes and processes of cultural transmission are described. Hunter-gatherer social learning occurred early, was relatively rapid, primarily vertical under age 5 and oblique and horizontal between the ages of 6 and 12.

The distribution of patient parameters

(sex, age, use of

The distribution of patient parameters

(sex, age, use of beta-adrenoceptor antagonists, and ACE inhibitors) in the simulated population were derived from the Italian heart failure patient population. Individual mortality data were derived from general mortality data by multiplying by a NYHA state-specific relative risk, while the probability of changing NYHA class was taken from the Val-HeFT data. Costs (2007 values) were calculated from the perspective of the Italian Health Service (IHS) and AZD2014 manufacturer included costs for drugs and heart failure hospitalizations. Quality-of-life (QOL) weights were obtained by using published health-related QOL data for heart failure patients. A 3.5% annual discount rate was applied. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed on each parameter using original-source 95% confidence interval (CI) values, or a +/-10% range when 95% CI values were unavailable.

Results: For the 10-year time horizon, patients were estimated to live for an average of 2.3 years or 1.7 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), with slight increases in the valsartan group. In this group, hospitalizations for worsening heart failure were predicted to be significantly reduced and overall treatment costs per patient to

decrease by about (sic)550. In subgroup analyses, valsartan lost dominance in patients in NYHA II, and in those receiving beta-adrenoceptor antagonists or ACE inhibitors; the mean incremental cost-utility Omipalisib PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitor ratio for these groups was 21240, 129 200, and 36 500 (sic)/QALY, respectively.

Conclusions: Valsartan in addition

to standard therapy is predicted to dominate standard therapy alone in Italian patients with mild to severe heart failure and low LVEF. There are relevant differences among various patient subgroups, and valsartan is expected to be good value for money particularly in the treatment of the most severe Selleck URMC-099 and less intensively treated (no ACE inhibitors, no beta-adrenoceptor antagonist) heart failure patients.”
“Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has been recognized as an important health outcome measurement for pediatric patients. One of the most promising instruments in measuring pediatric HRQOL emerged in recent years is the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL (TM)). The PedsQL (TM) 3.0 Asthma Module, one of the PedsQL (TM) disease-specific scales, was designed to measure HRQOL dimensions specifically tailored for pediatric asthma. The present study is aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the PedsQL (TM) 3.0 Asthma Module.

Methods: The PedsQL (TM) 3.0 Asthma Module was translated into Chinese following the PedsQL (TM) Measurement Model Translation Methodology. The Chinese version scale was administered to 204 children with asthma and 337 parents of children with asthma from four Triple A hospitals. The psychometric properties were then evaluated.

Results: The percentage of missing value for each item of the scale ranged from 0.00% to 8.31%.


“We describe a rare case of basosquamous carcinoma (BSC) i


“We describe a rare case of basosquamous carcinoma (BSC) in a 69-year-old man. He had noticed a pigmented BAY 73-4506 nodule on his left thigh. Dermoscopic examination showed ulceration at the center and non-typical leaf-like areas at the periphery. Linear-irregular vessels were also seen. He underwent tumor excision in addition to sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). Histopathological examination revealed both features of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma. The sentinel lymph node was positive for tumor cells. Immunostaining for Ber-EP4 was focally positive for invasive tumor cells. Although complete inguinal lymphadenectomy had

been performed, multiple in-transit metastases around the primary lesion and left iliac lymph node metastasis developed after the operation. It is considered that BSC has a worse prognosis than BCC with a potential for metastasis. Based on the findings of previously reported cases and our case, SLNB may be applied

for certain high-risk cases including BSC larger than 3 cm in size and careful follow up is recommended for patients with BSC.”
“The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence and the distribution of cells containing orexin A and orexin type 2 receptor in the horse stomach and gut, by means of immunohistochemical techniques.

Orexin A was identified in the stomach fundic and pyloric regions and in the duodenum. In the same stomach regions, a large subset of orexin A-positive cells also showed orexin type 2 receptor-like immunoreactivity. Moreover, in Vorinostat solubility dmso the duodenum, many of them, seemed to store serotonin.

Characteristically, enteric neurons or ganglia also displayed orexin A and, sometimes, orexin type 2 receptor immunoreaction.

Orexin A and orexin type 2

receptor immunoreactivity HIF pathway was also found in the nerve fibers in the enteric submucosal layer.

Our results, together with data present in the literature, could contribute to the understanding of complex mechanisms regulating the horse gut functionality that are depending very likely on the consequence of the co-operation of both a central and a peripheral control. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“A 90-year-old Japanese woman, taking prednisolone (5-10 mg/day) for polyarthritis, presented to our hospital with multiple subcutaneous lesions on her left arm in 2009. Her history included excision of a phaeomycotic cyst on the left middle finger in 2007. There were three subcutaneous nodules approximately 15 mm in diameter around her left wrist and a large soft cystic lesion measuring 80 mm x 60 mm on her left elbow. A granuloma with neutrophilic infiltration was detected in the deep dermis of a biopsy specimen. Chains composed of round brown cells and short pseudomycelia were found in the granuloma.

Future studies of bisphosphonate treatment following total hip ar

Future studies of bisphosphonate treatment following total hip arthroplasty should focus on clinically relevant end points such as the risks of fracture and revision arthroplasty.”
“The population attempting pregnancy and having Selleckchem ZD1839 babies is ageing. Gynaecological and obstetric complications worsen with age. Maternity services are struggling. Increasing rates of infertility and complications are not matched by the marvels in the laboratory. This paper argues that assisted reproduction treatment has had a damaging social impact. Despite its public acclaim, it helps few and fails many more. The assisted

reproduction industry could take a new and revolutionary direction towards empowering men to experience pregnancy, producing babies from artificial gametes, with a final goal being the liberation of both women and men from the burdens and dangers of pregnancy through the development of artificial wombs. (C) 2013, Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“An experimental investigation, in conjunction with a volume averaged

analytical model, has been developed to improve the confinement and production of the discharge plasma BIX 01294 for plasma thrusters and ion sources. The research conducted explores the discharge performance of a ring-cusp ion source based on the magnetic field configuration, geometry, and power level. Analytical formulations for electron and ion confinement are developed to predict the ionization efficiency for a given discharge chamber design. Explicit determination of discharge loss and volume averaged plasma parameters are obtained via a series of experimental measurements on a ring-cusp NASA Solar Technology Application Readiness (NSTAR) ion thruster to assess the validity of the analytical model. Measurements of the discharge loss with multiple magnetic field configurations compare well with plasma parameter predictions check details for propellant utilizations between 80% and 95%. The results indicate that

increasing the magnetic strength of the first closed magnetic contour line reduces Maxwellian electron diffusion and electrostatically confines the ion population and subsequent loss to the anode wall. The results also indicate that increasing the strength and minimizing the area of the magnetic cusps improves primary electron confinement, increasing the probability of an ionization collision prior to loss at the cusp. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3106087]“
“Background: The correlation between graft appearance and clinical outcome after double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a major concern. In this study, the graft appearance was assessed with use of second-look arthroscopy and was correlated with the clinical outcome.

1063/1 3204648]”
“The relationship between somatic growth an

1063/1.3204648]”
“The relationship between somatic growth and neurocognitive outcome was studied in a cohort of 136 children with intrauterine growth retardation. The children were followed Lip from birth to 9 to 10 years of age by annual measurements of growth parameters, neurodevelopmental evaluations, and IQ. The rate Of catch-up for height between I and 2 years

of age was significantly higher than the catch-up for weight (P < .001). The cognitive outcome at 9 to 10 years correlated with head learn more circumference at all ages. The neurodevelopmental Outcome at 9 to 10 years correlated with weight at all ages. Correlation with head circumference was more significant with IQ, while with weight it was stronger with the neurodevelopmental β-Nicotinamide datasheet score. Height at I year was a significant predictor for IQ and neurodevelopmental outcome at 9 to 10 years. These findings are of distinct importance for prediction of Subsequent neurodevelopmental outcome in children with intrauterine growth retardation.”
“Background: Optimal treatment of soft-tissue sarcoma requires multidisciplinary management at a sarcoma center. However, these rare tumors are often misinterpreted as benign and many are inadequately treated outside a sarcoma center, with an increased risk of local recurrence that often requires further extensive surgical treatment. To improve referral and

centralization of soft-tissue sarcoma management in the southern Sweden health care region, an open-access outpatient clinic at our sarcoma center and simple referral guidelines have been established for the past thirty years. The guidelines call for selleck compound referral of all deep-seated soft-tissue tumors and of all >= 5-cm superficial tumors before open biopsy or surgery. We evaluated adherence to these guidelines and characterized referral patterns. We also studied the consequences of our strategy with regard to the relative numbers

of benign and malignant diagnoses among referred patients.

Methods: Adherence to guidelines, referral pathways, and time to referral to the sarcoma center were analyzed in a population-based series of 100 consecutive patients with soft-tissue sarcoma in the extremities or trunk wall. We also analyzed diagnosis and management of benign and malignant tumors in a second cohort consisting of 464 consecutive patients referred to the sarcoma center because of a soft-tissue tumor.

Results: Ninety-seven of the 100 patients with soft-tissue sarcoma were referred to the sarcoma center. All fifty-eight of the deep-seated soft-tissue sarcomas and twenty-eight of the forty-two superficial tumors were referred before open biopsy or surgery. Three-quarters of the patients with soft-tissue sarcoma first presented to a general practitioner. One-quarter of these patients were directly referred to the sarcoma center, which cut the referral time in half compared with patients initially referred to a local hospital.