Evaluation of Mode-I Fracture Toughness of Asphalt Mixtures with Symmetric Geometry Specimen at Intermediate Temperature.

Mode I fracture (tensile type) is the common cracking mode of asphalt pavements, which is caused by thermal cyclic loading or traffic. Some studies allow the analysis of the fracture modes by means of standardized tests, some of which are limited, difficult, with little repeatability or do not generate an adequate tension state. In this paper, mode I fracture toughness of asphalt mixtures with symmetric geometry specimens at intermediate temperature is evaluated. Experimental results from direct tension test and simulations on asphalt mix specimens subjected to intermediate temperatures of 10, 20 and 30 °C, mode I load rates (0.5, 1 and 2 mm/min) and notches (2 and 3 cm) were compared to find the variables that reflect the operating conditions of the asphalt mix. Results showed that shear stresses are 8.12% lower in the simulations with respect to the tests, while the load-deformation curves show 30% and 35% variation, where the temperature of 20 °C, the notch of 2 cm and the loading speed of 1 mm/min are the conditions that best represent the stress state of the test; moreover, it manages to consider the elastic and viscous components of the material.

Conization and lymph node evaluation in low-risk cervical cancer. Is it time to avoid radical surgery? Retrospective series and literature review.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the oncologic and obstetric outcomes of patients with low-risk cervical cancer who underwent conization and lymphatic evaluation to preserve fertility. METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively from September 2013 to February 2021. Eligibility criteria included Women with cervical cancer (aged <45 years) who underwent fertility preservation treatment, [stage IA1 with positive lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI), stage IA2, or stage IB1 (≤2 cm) with less <10 mm cervical stromal invasion, according to the International Federaltion of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2018 staging system] aged ≤45 years who wished to preserve their fertility were included in this study. All patients were treated with cervical conization(s) and laparoscopic lymph node evaluation [pelvic lymphadenectomy and/or sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping]. Oncologic and obstetric outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Overall, 31 patients met the inclusion criteria; 15 (48.3%) women were nulliparous. There were 8 IA1LVSI+ (25.8%), 11 IA2 (35.4%) and 12 IB1 (31.7%) tumours, according to 2018 FIGO stage classification. Most patients had squamous cell carcinoma (77.4%). Lymphovascular space involvement was found in thirteen patients (41.9%). Reconization was performed in 17 (54.8%) patients, of which 6(35.2%) were done due to compromised margins, 4(23.5%) for margins under than 3 mm, 3(17.6%) for unreported or coagulated margins and 4(23.5%) because previous conization was done in another institution and we could not obtain the paraffin blocks for pathology review. Twenty patients had MRI and eleven CT scan. Nine (30%) patients had a complete bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection, 9 (26.6%) had SLN mapping with pelvic lymphadenectomy, and 13 (43.3%) had SLN mapping alone after bilateral SLN identification at surgery. After a median follow-up of 41.4 months (range 2-90 months), no recurrences have been detected. In terms of obstetrial outcome, 11 patients attempted pregnancy and 9 became pregnant. First-trimester miscarriage occurred in one patient. Five patients delivered at term by caesarean section, one of them requiring hysterectomy at the time of delivery. Pathology did not show residual disease. Two patients had a vaginal delivery at 38 weeks. One pregnancy is still ongoing. CONCLUSION: Cervical conization with lymph node assessment by SLN mapping/lymphadenectomy is an oncologic safe procedure in patients with low-risk cervical cancer.

Uso del asa electroquirúrgica en neoplasias preclínicas del cervix: ¿quiénes, cuántas y por qué necesitaron un segundo tratamiento? / Preclinical use of the electrosurgery handle in neoplasias of cervix: who, how much and why needed a second treatment?

De un total de 482 pacientes conizadas (años 199 al 2001) 69 (14,3 por ciento) necesitaron una 2ª intervención por diagnóstico de recidivas (1 por ciento), persistencias (6,2 por ciento) y cáncer (5,3 por ciento). La mayoría de estos casos presentaban lesiones citopáticas asociadas a virus papiloma humano, VPH. Los casos de cáncer fueron etapas iniciales que siguieron protocolo estándar. El Asa Leep resultó efectiva en el control del 90,6 por ciento de pacientes con NIE como procedimientos únicos, a los 18 meses de control en promedio. El grupo que requirió 2ª intervención tenía 56,7 por ciento de informes de conos con Borde (+) versus 35 por ciento del antecedente general de nuestra Unidad de Patología Cervical (UPC). -43 por ciento (24/56) de las Piezas de HT resultaron (-); -65 por ciento de los informes de conos con Borde (+) resultó con Pieza (-); -26,8 por ciento (15/56) de conos con Borde (+) resultaron con Pieza de HT (-); La fragmentación del cono Leep dificulta la interpretación del informe de la biopsia respecto al compromiso real del muñon cervical. La electrocoagulación realizada postprocedimiento con Asa Leep podría actuar como 2§ tratamiento. Los resultados no permiten establecer claramente factores de riesgo de persistencia o recidivas de la enfermedad, por lo que estimamos se debe continuar con controles habituales en pcientes con antecedentes de B (+) y B (-). Se puede mantener un criterio de manejo conservador en mujeres con deseo de fertilidad aún con cáncer microinvasor (MICA)