Visual neuroprosthesis: present and future perspectives.

The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of the replacements used in lost vision in the form of the bionic eye, to show their deficiencies and outline other possibilities for non-invasive stimulation of functional areas of the visual cortex. The review highlights the damage not only to the primary altered cellular structures, but also to all other horizontally and vertically localised structures. Based on the results of a large number of functional magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiological methods, the authors focus on the pathology of the entire visual pathway in pigmentary retinopathy (PR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This study provides a recent overview of the possible systems used to replace lost vision. These range from stimulation with intraocular implants, through stimulation of the optic nerve and lateral geniculate nucleus to the visual cortex. The second part deals with the design of image processing technology and its transformation into the form of transcranial stimulation of undamaged parts of the brain, which is protected by a patent. This is comprehensive overview of the current possibilities of replacement of lost vision and a proposal for a new non-invasive methods of stimulation of functional neurons of the visual cortex.

Presentation, management and outcome of 32 patients with pregnancy-associated breast cancer: a matched controlled study.

Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is a rare and challenging problem. We sought to describe epidemiology, management and outcome of women in whom breast cancer was diagnosed during pregnancy or within one year after delivery. Thirty-two women with PABC were referred to two European Union oncology centers between 1995 and 2007, 16 during pregnancy and 16 within 1 year after delivery. Data concerning diagnosis, management, delivery and fetal and maternal outcome were recorded. A group of 32 patients (matched controls) presenting with nonpregnancy-associated breast cancer (non-PABC) was matched for age at diagnosis, tumor size and stage to each PABC patient. Differences in outcome between the PABC and non-PABC groups were then assessed. Histological features were similar in both groups, except that estrogen receptor-negative tumors were more common in the PABC group. Three patients received chemotherapy and two others underwent surgery during pregnancy, with no excess toxicity or severe maternal/fetal adverse effects. All children in the PABC group were healthy, except for one exposed to epirubicin in utero and born with rectal atresia. Overall survival was similar in PABC and non-PABC patients (p = 0.449). The subgroup of patients with breast cancer diagnosed within one year after delivery showed a shorter time to relapse than controls or patients with gestational cancer (p = 0.0178). PABC is a special situation, necessitating individualized, multi-disciplinary management. Prognosis is similar for women with nongestational cancer matched for age and stage though poorer outcome postpartum should be further investigated.