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We report an airborne gravity survey with an absolute gravimeter based on atom interferometry and two relative gravimeters: a classical LaCoste&Romberg (L&R) and a novel iMAR strapdown Inertial Measurement Unit. We estimated measurement errors for the quantum gravimeter ranging from 0.6 to 1.3 mGal depending on the flight conditions and the filtering used. Similar measurement errors are obtained with iMAR strapdown gravimeter, but the long‐term stability is five times worse. The traditional L&R platform gravimeter shows larger measurement errors (3–4 mGal). Airborne measurements have been compared to marine, land, and altimetry‐derived gravity data. We obtain a good agreement for the quantum gravimeter with standard deviations and means on differences below or equal to 2 mGal. This study confirms the potential of quantum technology for absolute airborne gravimetry, which is particularly interesting for mapping shallow water or mountainous areas and for linking ground and satellite measurements with homogeneous absolute referencing. Plain Language Summary: Quantum technology offers a new kind of sensor for airborne gravimetry. Contrary to classical technologies which can only measure variation of gravity from an aircraft, a quantum gravimeter provides directly an absolute measurement of gravity eliminating the necessity of calibrations and drift estimations. We report here an airborne survey with a quantum gravimeter and two classical gravimeters. We demonstrated that the quantum gravimeter reaches the same precision as the best classical gravimeter. The gravity measurements have also been validated with models derived from land and marine gravity measurements and satellite altimetry. Key Points: Unlike classical systems, a quantum gravimeter does not require calibrations or drift estimations during an airborne gravity campaignA quantum gravimeter has demonstrated similar precision than an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) gravimeter and significantly better precision than a spring gravimeterA quantum gravimeter has shown significantly better long‐term stability than an IMU strapdown system even if its drift has been corrected [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is the most commonly performed bariatric surgical procedure worldwide. However, the impact of SG on Barrett's esophagus (BE) remains unknown. The main objective was to determine the rate of BE 5 years after SG. Materials and Methods: Patients, operated in 2012 by SG in one center, who preoperatively and postoperatively (5 years) underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE), 24-h pH monitoring, and esophageal manometry, were included. Results: A total of 59 (81.4% of females) patients were included. Preoperative mean age and body mass index were 45.2 ± 11.7 years and 45.2 ± 8.1 kg/m2 respectively. Preoperative 24-h pH monitoring reported gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in 18 (30.5%) patients. The mean total body weight loss at 5 years was 16.1 ± 11.2%. No significant difference was observed between preoperative and postoperative de Meester's score (20.2 ± 27.1 and 21.0 ± 21.5 respectively (p = 0.91)) nor between preoperative and postoperative number of acid reflux episodes per 24 h (65.1 ± < 40.0 and 50.3 ± 40.3 (p = 0.21)). The UGIE revealed 5 patients (8.5%) with endoscopically suspected esophageal metaplasia, without confirmed metaplasia on histologic examination. GERD was diagnosed in 32 patients (54.2%), de novo GERD in 16 (27.1%) patients and esophagitis in 16 (27.1%) patients. At 5 years, 25 patients (42.4%) reported a lack of regular medical follow-up. Conclusions: This study highlights the incidence of postoperative GERD and endoscopic lesions following SG. Even though SG is not contraindicated in case of reflux, GERD patients who undergo SG may be supervised by a close endoscopic surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sleeve gastrectomy is the most commonly performed bariatric surgery these days but is associated with de novo reflux. Objective: We aimed to study the influence of hypotonic lower esophageal sphincter (LES) on postoperative gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods: Patients with pre- and postoperative esophageal high-resolution manometry (HRM) and 24-h pH monitoring (pHM) were included retrospectively in our study. Preoperative hypotonic LES was defined by a mean residual pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter < 4 mmHg. Postoperative GERD was defined by a DeMeester's score > 14.72. We also evaluated postoperative manometric changes at the esophageal-gastric junction. Results: Sixty-nine patients (54 females and 15 males) had pre- and postoperative HRM and pHM. The mean age was 45.9 ± 9.8 years. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 47.5 ± 7.5 kg/m2. Hypotonic LES concerned 21 patients (30.4%) before sleeve gastrectomy. The mean time between the two esophageal monitorings was 32.1 ± 24.1 months. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of hypotonic LES to predict GERD were 31, 70, 52, and 48% respectively. The LES minimal residual pressure was not statistically decreased after sleeve gastrectomy (p = 0.24). Only the wave speed, esophageal length, and LES length were significantly reduced after SG (p = 0.029, 3.8 × 10−7 and 0.00032). Conclusion: Hypotonic LES has a poor predictive value on postoperative GERD. The LES's length is significantly reduced after SG and this could be a factor explaining de novo reflux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study is to determine the impact of complications after t otal thyroidectomy on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) and to identify significant predictive factors of HR-QoL changes. HR-QoL is usually impaired in patients with thyroid diseases compared to the general population. Thyro idectomy is largely performed in the case of benign thyroid benign and can be associated with long-term complicatio ns (vocal cord palsy, hypoparathyroidism). Design: The prospective ThyrQoL multicenter trial (NCT02167529) includ ed 800 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for benign or malignant non-extensive disease in seven French referral hospitals between 2014 and 2016. Methods: HR-QoL was assessed using the MOS 36-item short form health su rvey (SF-36) self-questionnaire with a 6-month follow-up. Results: We observed a significant improvement of HR-QoL 6 months after surgery (P < 0.0001). Postoperative complications were associated with a non-significant impairment of HR-QoL. In multivariable analysis, Graves' disease was associated with a significant improvement of HR-QoL (OR = 2.39 [1.49; 3.84]) and thyroid malignant disease with an impairment of HR-QoL (OR = 1.44 [0.99; 2.08]) after thyroidectomy. Conclusion: We observed a significant improvement of HR-QoL 6 months after total thyroid surgery for benign thyroid disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

4H-SiC epilayers were irradiated with either protons or electrons and electrically active defects were studied by means of deep level transient spectroscopy. Motion of defects has been found to occur at temperature as low as 350–400 K. Indeed, the application of an electric field has been found to enhance modifications in defect concentrations that can also occur during long time annealing at elevated temperature. Two levels have been revealed and labeled B and M. Two other levels, referred to as S1 and S2 and located at 0.40 and 0.71 eV below the conduction band edge have been studied in detail (capture cross sections, profiling, formation energy, activation energy during annealing). The S1 and S2 levels have been found to exhibit a one to one relation and are proposed to be two charge states of the same acceptor center, labeled the S center. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice bran, a valuable byproduct of the rice milling process, has limitations in food industrial applications due to its instability during storage. This review summaries the methodology for stabilization and its impact on the nutritional properties of rice bran. A variety of treatments have been used and these include heat treatment, low-temperature storage, biological and chemical approaches and these will be discussed in terms of their ability to destroy/inhibit enzyme activity and improve storage performance of rice bran. More importantly, changes in the nutritional value of rice bran in terms of vitamins, polyphenols, tocopherols, flavonoids, free fatty acids caused by stabilization of rice bran will also be discussed. This review highlights the importance of appropriate design of processes for stabilization and controlling storage conditions to ensure quality of the rice bran and enhancing levels of phytochemicals in the bran for novel applications in functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which irradiated p-type crystals of the ternary compounds Hg[sub1-x]Cd[subx]Te with high-energy ions and electrons. Resistivity and Hall measurements; Discussion; Conclusion.

The tableting of fruit powders is gaining popularity due to conveniences in its use, storage, transportation, and product formulation. Food powders are generally cohesive in nature, and their compressibility is highly correlated with the material properties of the powder. Here, the material properties of fruit powders and their respective compressibilities in relation to powder type, drying technique and their operating parameters, portion of the fruit used to produce the fruit powder, and drying aids are discussed. Among the material properties analyzed, moisture content, water activity, particle density, particle size and shape, and powder surface properties are identified as vital properties that highly influence the tableting behavior of fruit powders. The Kawakita and Lüdde model and Heckel equation are widely studied to describe the compressibility and compactibility of fruit powders. A four-parameter model fits the sigmoidal compression data of food powders well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring gravity from an aircraft or a ship is essential in geodesy, geophysics, mineral and hydrocarbon exploration, and navigation. Today, only relative sensors are available for onboard gravimetry. This is a major drawback because of the calibration and drift estimation procedures which lead to important operational constraints. Atom interferometry is a promising technology to obtain onboard absolute gravimeter. But, despite high performances obtained in static condition, no precise measurements were reported in dynamic. Here, we present absolute gravity measurements from a ship with a sensor based on atom interferometry. Despite rough sea conditions, we obtained precision below 10−5 m s−2. The atom gravimeter was also compared with a commercial spring gravimeter and showed better performances. This demonstration opens the way to the next generation of inertial sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope) based on atom interferometry which should provide highprecision absolute measurements from a moving platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Normocalcaemic primary hyperparathyroidism (NcPHPT) is a new clinical entity being diagnosed increasingly among patients with mild primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). The aim of this study was to evaluate quality of life and non‐specific symptoms before and after parathyroidectomy in patients with NcPHPT compared with those with hypercalcaemic mild PHPT (Hc‐m‐PHPT). Methods: This was a prospective multicentre study of patients with mild PHPT from four university hospitals. Patients were evaluated before operation, and 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery for quality of life using the SF‐36‐v2® questionnaire, as well as for 25 non‐specific symptoms. Results: Before operation, the only statistically significant difference between the NcPHPT and Hc‐m‐PHPT groups was in the mean(s.d.) blood calcium level (2·54 versus 2·73 mmol; P < 0·001). At 1 year after surgery, the blood calcium level had improved significantly in both groups, with no significant difference between them. Quality of life improved significantly in each group compared with its preoperative score, with regard to the physical component summary (P = 0·040 and P = 0·016 respectively), whereas the mental component summary improved significantly in the Hc‐m‐PHPT group only (P = 0·043). Only two non‐specific symptoms improved significantly in the NcPHPT group compared with nine in the Hc‐m‐PHPT group. Conclusion: Parathyroidectomy mildly improves quality of life and some non‐specific symptoms in patients with NcPHPT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic, immune/antigen-mediated disease characterized by symptoms related to esophageal dysfunction and an eosinophil-predominant inflammation. This study has aimed to investigate whether the recently observed sensitization to Candida albicans in patients with EoE is owing to pre-existing disease and its underlying abnormal epithelial barrier or, alternatively, is linked to corticosteroid ( CS) therapy. Methods Medical histories, as well as serum and tissue samples of 60 patients with EoE (15 CS naive, 45 with current or previous CS therapy) and 20 controls, stored in the Swiss Eosinophilic Esophagitis Database ( SEED) and Biobank, were analyzed. We applied Immuno CAP to measure IgE levels and immunofluorescence techniques to examine epithelial barrier components. Results Patients with EoE had higher total IgE levels and were more frequently sensitized to C. albicans than controls. In EoE tissue specimens, increased numbers of eosinophils and mast cells, a higher expression levels of thymic stromal lymphopoietin ( TSLP), cathelicidin, proteases, that is, the kallikreins ( KLK)-5 and KLK-7, were observed as compared with controls, while reduced expression of lympho-epithelial Kazal-type-related inhibitor ( LEKTI), filaggrin, E-cadherin, claudin, occludin, desmoglein-1 was found, independent of CS therapy. In CS-treated EoE, significantly lower numbers of CD1a+ cells and cathelicidin expression were noted as compared to CS-naive EoE. Conclusion This study provides further evidence that EoE is associated with an abnormal epithelial barrier and postulates that CS therapy, by reducing innate immune mechanisms, may promote C. albicans colonization and likely subsequent sensitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the safety of revisional surgery to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) compared tolaparoscopic Roux-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) after failed laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). Background: The number of reoperations after failed gastric banding rapidly increased in the United States during the last several years. A common approach is band removal with conversion to another weight loss procedure such as gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy in a single procedure. The safety profile of those procedures remains controversial. Methods: Preoperative characteristics and 30-day outcomes from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program Participant Use Files 2015 were selected for all patients who underwent a 1-stage conversion of LAGB to LSG (conv-LSG) or LRYGB (conv-LRYGB). Conv-LSG cases were matched (1:1) with conv-LRYGB patients by age (±1 year), body mass index (±1 kg/m), sex, and comorbidities including diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, venous stasis, and sleep apnea. Results: A total of 2708 patients (1354 matched pairs) were included in the study. The groups were closely matched as intended. The mean operative time in conv-LRYGB was significantly longer in comparison to conv-LSG patients (151 ± 58 vs 113 ± 45 minutes, P<0.001). No mortality was observed in either group. Patients after conv-LRYGB had a clinically increased anastomotic leakage rate (2.07% vs 1.18%, P = 0.070) and significantly increased bleed rate (2.66% vs 0.44%, P<0.001). Thirty-day readmission rate was significantly higher in conv-LRYGB patients (7.46% vs 3.69%, P<0.001), as was 30-day reoperation rate (3.25% vs 1.26%, P<0.001). The length of hospital stay was longer in conv-LRYGB. Conclusions: A single-stage conversion of failed LAGB leads to greater morbidity and higher complication rates when converted to LRYGB versus LSG in the first 30 days postoperatively. These differences are particularly notable with regards to bleed events, 30-day reoperation, 30-day readmission, operative time, and hospital stay. Commentaire: Il s'agit de la première étude, étudiant les risques postopératoires à 30 jours d'une révision en un temps après anneau gastrique. Cette étude, à partir de la database américaine portant sur 2 708 patients, compare les 2 techniques de révision suivantes: la sleeve gastrectomie versus le gastrique bypass. Les patients opérés en 2015 étaient appariés pour éviter tout biais selon leur âge, leur BMI, leur sexe et leurs comorbidités (diabète, hypertension, hyperlipidémie, stase veineuse et syndrome d'apnée du sommeil). Les résultats mettent en évidence dans cette série sans mortalité postopératoire, un taux plus important non significatif de fistule à 30 jours dans le groupe gastrique bypass vs sleeve (2,07 % vs 1,18 %). Ressortait de manière significative, un taux de saignement (2,66 % vs 0,44 %), un taux de réadmission à 30 jours (7,46 % vs 3,69 %), de réintervention (3,25 % vs 1,26 %) et un taux d'embolie pulmonaire (1,33 % vs 0,15 %) plus important après gastrique bypass versus sleeve. Il existait comme attendu un temps opératoire plus long (151 ± 58 min vs 113 ± 45 min) et une durée d'hospitalisation plus longue (2,3 ± 2,8 jours vs 1,8 ± 2,1 jours) après gastrique bypass versus sleeve. Les auteurs concluent sous réserve bien sûr de l'absence dans leur étude de l'analyse de la perte de poids après ce second temps, que la sleeve gastrectomie est une intervention plus sûre à court terme que le gastrique bypass. La question posée est celle savoir si cette augmentation de cette morbidité est justifiée par une perte de poids plus importante en postopératoire. La méta-analyse de Magouliotis et al. met en évidence une perte de poids plus importante après gastrique bypass versus sleeve gastrectomie à 2 ans dans le cadre d'une conversion d'un anneau gastrique (+ 12 kgs) [2]. Enfin, dans cette étude, seules les chirurgies de révision en un temps étaient étudiées. La question de savoir si cette chirurgie doit être réalisée en un temps ou deux temps reste encore débattue, même si la littérature ne retrouve pas de différence significative en terme notamment de fistule postopératoire [3]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Based on seemingly contradictory results in the existing literature, the objective of our study was to investigate whether older individuals suffering from chronic psychiatric disorders show a more rapid decline in cognitive performances than their non-psychiatric counterparts, or if the pattern of decline through older age is similar in both groups. Method A total of 820 older adults were selected from the Ageing Multidisciplinary Investigation ( AMI) cohort study, which studies health-related issues of people over 65 years old living in rural areas. Among them, 30 suffer from chronic psychiatric disorders. Cognition was assessed with four neuropsychological tests: the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Digit Symbol Substitution Test, the Free and Cued Selective Reminding test and the Isaacs Set Test. Linear mixed models were used to compare the evolution of cognitive performances in the two groups between baseline and the four-year follow-up. Results Despite lower performances at baseline, the pattern of cognitive decline of the psychiatric group is similar to that of the control group. Conclusion As suggested by this study conducted in rural communities, community-dwelling people suffering from chronic psychiatric disorders should not be considered at greater risk of age-related accelerated cognitive decline than the non-psychiatric older population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the oesophagus. Recognized as a distinct entity only two decades ago, the emergence of the disease along with the availability of new technologies has rapidly opened new research avenues and outlined the main features of the pathogenesis of EoE. Yet, each advance in our understanding of the disease has raised new questions about the previous consensus. Currently, new subsets of the disease challenge our diagnostic criteria. For instance, it was believed that EoE did not respond to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy; however, it has now been shown that a substantial proportion of EoE patients indeed respond to PPIs. In addition, a new subset of patients not even presenting eosinophil infiltrates in the oesophagus has also been described. Moreover, approaches for better understanding the heritability of the disease bring into question the dogma of predominant genetic involvement. Furthermore, the specificity and sensitivity of allergy testing for targeted food avoidance is highly controversial, and the production of specific antibodies in EoE now includes IgG4 in addition to IgE. In conclusion, EoE is perceived as 'a moving target' and the aim of this review was to summarize the current understanding of EoE pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Radical surgery provides the best chance of cure for adrenocortical carcinoma ( ACC), but perioperative surgical care for these patients is yet to be standardized. Methods A working group appointed jointly by ENSAT and ESES used Delphi methodology to produce evidence-based recommendations for the perioperative surgical care of patients with ACC. Papers were retrieved from electronic databases. Evidence and recommendations were classified according to the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation ( GRADE) system, and were discussed until consensus was reached within the group. Results Twenty-five recommendations for the perioperative surgical care of patients with ACC were formulated. The quality of evidence is low owing to the rarity of the disease and the lack of prospective surgical trials. Multi-institutional prospective cohort studies and prospective RCTs are urgently needed and should be strongly encouraged. Conclusion The present evidence-based recommendations provide comprehensive advice on the optimal perioperative care for patients undergoing surgery for ACC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a severe inflammatory disease of the esophagus which is characterized histologically by an eosinophilic infiltration into the esophageal tissue. The efficacy of probiotics in the context of atopic diseases has been well investigated but, to date, there has been no study which has evaluated probiotic effects on EoE inflammation. This study sought to identify a probiotic which improves esophageal inflammation in experimental EoE. Methods Two candidate probiotics, Lactococcus lactis NCC 2287 and Bifidobacterium lactis NCC 2818, were tested in a murine model of EoE elicited by epicutaneous sensitization with Aspergillus fumigatus protein extract. Administration of bacterial strains in drinking water was used, respectively, as a preventive or treatment measure, or continuously throughout the study. Inflammatory parameters were assessed in the esophagus, skin, and lungs after allergen challenge. Results In this EoE model, supplementation with L. lactis NCC 2287 significantly decreased esophageal and bronchoalveolar eosinophilia but only when given as a therapeutic treatment. No significant effect on eosinophilia was observed when NCC 2287 was given as a preventive or a continuous intervention. NCC 2287 supplementation had no significant effect on immunoglobulin levels, skin symptom scores, or on transepidermal water loss. Supplementation with another probiotic, B. lactis NCC 2818, had no significant effect on esophageal eosinophilia. Conclusion We identified a L. lactis strain, able to attenuate esophageal eosinophilic inflammation in a preclinical model of EoE. This effect is strain specific and depends on the timing and duration of bacterial supplementation. Confirmation of these observations in human clinical trials is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illusory hand movements can be elicited by a textured disk or a visual pattern rotating under one's hand, while proprioceptive inputs convey immobility information (Blanchard C, Roll R, Roll JP, Kavounoudias A. PLoS One 8: e62475, 2013). Here, we investigated whether visuotactile integration can optimize velocity discrimination of illusory hand movements in line with Bayesian predictions. We induced illusory movements in 15 volunteers by visual and/or tactile stimulation delivered at six angular velocities. Participants had to compare hand illusion velocities with a 5°/s hand reference movement in an alternative forced choice paradigm. Results showed that the discrimination threshold decreased in the visuotactile condition compared with unimodal (visual or tactile) conditions, reflecting better bimodal discrimination. The perceptual strength (gain) of the illusions also increased: the stimulation required to give rise to a 5°/s illusory movement was slower in the visuotactile condition compared with each of the two unimodal conditions. The maximum likelihood estimation model satisfactorily predicted the improved discrimination threshold but not the increase in gain. When we added a zero-centered prior, reflecting immobility information, the Bayesian model did actually predict the gain increase but systematically overestimated it. Interestingly, the predicted gains better fit the visuotactile performances when a proprioceptive noise was generated by covibrating antagonist wrist muscles. These findings show that kinesthetic information of visual and tactile origins is optimally integrated to improve velocity discrimination of self-hand movements. However, a Bayesian model alone could not fully describe the illusory phenomenon pointing to the crucial importance of the omnipresent muscle proprioceptive cues with respect to other sensory cues for kinesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research suggests that relatively stable, fine fraction soil organic matter ( FF-SOM) has almost constant concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur ( NPS) per unit of carbon ( C), although there are considerable differences in the datasets used. Such differences could, in agricultural situations in particular (where inorganic nutrients are often added), result from substantial concentrations of inorganic- N, inorganic- P and inorganic- S that remain in the soil. We assessed the efficacy of removal of inorganic nutrients with different washing procedures (0.1 or 0.5 m hydrochloric acid solution). Even after repeated additions of inorganic- N, inorganic- S and inorganic- P to soil as part of a long-term incubation experiment, washing soil with 0.1 m HCl was effective at removing residual inorganic- N and inorganic- S, but not effective at removing inorganic- P. We demonstrate that estimates of C:N, C:S and C:P ratios in FF-SOM can be substantially underestimated when these washing procedures are not carried out as part of the soil analyses. This leads to overestimation of the amounts of N, P and S that are required for co-sequestration of C during the formation of FF-SOM. Because P is essential for the formation of FF-SOM, more research is needed to obtain an accurate measure of the P required per unit of FF-SOM. Although washing with 0.1 m HCl also removed some FF-C, we suggest a method to compensate for this. We tested the procedure on soil with clay contents ranging from 8 to 60%; however, the stronger acid might be more suitable for soil with larger clay contents. Highlights What is the best method to measure the size and stoichiometry of the stable soil organic matter pool?, Enlarging this soil organic matter pool could help restore fertility and mitigate climate change., Washing soil with dilute acid can remove excess inorganic nutrients, but it also removes organic carbon., We recommend the size of the pool on unwashed soil and the stoichiometry on washed soil is measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a rapidly emerging, chronic inflammatory, genetically impacted disease of the esophagus, defined clinically by symptoms of esophageal dysfunction and, pathologically, by an eosinophil-predominant tissue infiltration. However, in four EoE families, we have identified patients presenting with EoE-typical and corticosteroid-responsive symptoms, but without tissue eosinophilia. The aim of this study was to clinically and immunologically characterize these patients with EoE-like disease. Methods Five patients suffering from an EoE-like disease were evaluated with endoscopic, histologic, functional, and quantitative immunohistological examinations, and mRNA expression determination. Results The frequency of first-generation offspring of patients affected by EoE or EoE-like disease was 40%. Immunofluorescence analysis confirmed an almost complete absence of eosinophils in the esophageal tissues of patients with EoE-like disease, but revealed a considerable T-cell infiltration, comparable to EoE. In contrast to EoE, eotaxin-3 mRNA and protein were markedly reduced in EoE-like disease ( P < 0.05). The mRNA expression levels of three selected EoE genes ( eotaxin-3, MUC4, and CDH26) allowed to discriminate between EoE-like disease, EoE, and normal epithelium. Conclusions Patients suffering from 'EoE without eosinophilia' do not fulfill formally the diagnostic criteria for EoE. However, their clinical manifestation, immunohistology, and gene expression pattern, plus the fact that they bequeath EoE to their offspring, suggest a uniform underlying pathogenesis. Conventional EoE, with its prominent eosinophilia, therefore appears to be only one phenotype of a broader 'inflammatory dysphagia syndrome' spectrum. In this light, the role of the eosinophils, the definition of EoE, and its diagnostic criteria must likely be reconsidered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term (1999 to 2013) data from the Southeastern Aerosol Research and Characterization (SEARCH) network are used to show that anthropogenic emission reductions led to important decreases in fine-particle organic aerosol (OA) concentrations in the southeastern US On average, 45% (range 25 to 63 %) of the 1999 to 2013 mean organic carbon (OC) concentrations are attributed to combustion processes, including fossil fuel use and biomass burning, through associations of measured OC with combustion products such as elemental carbon (EC), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NOx ). The 2013 mean combustionderived OC concentrations were 0.5 to 1.4 μgm-3 at the five sites operating in that year. Mean annual combustionderived OC concentrations declined from 3.8-0.2 μgmm-3 (68% of total OC) to 1.4±0.1 μgmm-3 (60% of total OC) between 1999 and 2013 at the urban Atlanta, Georgia, site (JST) and from 2.9±0.4 μgmm-3 (39% of total OC) to 0.7±0.1 μgmm-3 (30% of total OC) between 2001 and 2013 at the urban Birmingham, Alabama (BHM), site. The urban OC declines coincide with reductions of motor vehicle emissions between 2006 and 2010, which may have decreased mean OC concentrations at the urban SEARCH sites by > 2 μgmm-3. BHM additionally exhibits a decline in OC associated with SO2 from 0.4±0.04 μgmm-3 in 2001 to 0.2±0.03 μgmm-3 in 2013, interpreted as the result of reduced emissions from industrial sources within the city. Analyses using non-soil potassium as a biomass burning tracer indicate that biomass burning OC occurs throughout the year at all sites. All eight SEARCH sites show an association of OC with sulfate (SO4) ranging from 0.3 to 1.0 μgmm-3 on average, representing 25% of the 1999 to 2013 mean OC concentrations. Because the mass of OC identified with SO4 averages 20 to 30%of the SO4 concentrations, the mean SO4-associated OC declined by ∼0.5 to 1 μgmm-3 as SO4 concentrations decreased throughout the SEARCH region. The 2013 mean SO4 concentrations of 1.7 to 2.0 μgmm-3 imply that future decreases in mean SO4-associated OC concentrations would not exceed ∼0.3 to 0.5 μgmm-3. Seasonal OC concentrations, largely identified with ozone (O3), vary from 0.3 to 1.4 μgmm-3 (∼20% of the total OC concentrations). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term (1999 to 2013) data from the Southeastern Aerosol Research and Characterization (SEARCH) network are used to show that anthropogenic emission reductions led to important decreases in fine-particle organic aerosol (OA) concentrations in the southeastern US On average, 45% (range 25 to 63 %) of the 1999 to 2013 mean organic carbon (OC) concentrations are attributed to combustion processes, including fossil fuel use and biomass burning, through associations of measured OC with combustion products such as elemental carbon (EC), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NOx ). The 2013 mean combustionderived OC concentrations were 0.5 to 1.4 μgm-3 at the five sites operating in that year. Mean annual combustionderived OC concentrations declined from 3.8±0.2 μgm-3 (68% of total OC) to 1.4±0.1 μgm-3 (60% of total OC) between 1999 and 2013 at the urban Atlanta, Georgia, site (JST) and from 2.9±0.4 μgm-3 (39% of total OC) to 0.7±0.1 μgm-3 (30% of total OC) between 2001 and 2013 at the urban Birmingham, Alabama (BHM), site. The urban OC declines coincide with reductions of motor vehicle emissions between 2006 and 2010, which may have decreased mean OC concentrations at the urban SEARCH sites by > 2 μgm-3. BHM additionally exhibits a decline in OC associated with SO2 from 0.4±0.04 μgm-3 in 2001 to 0.2±0.03 μgm-3 in 2013, interpreted as the result of reduced emissions from industrial sources within the city. Analyses using non-soil potassium as a biomass burning tracer indicate that biomass burning OC occurs throughout the year at all sites. All eight SEARCH sites show an association of OC with sulfate (SO4) ranging from 0.3 to 1.0 μgm-3 on average, representing ∲25% of the 1999 to 2013 mean OC concentrations. Because the mass of OC identified with SO4 averages 20 to 30%of the SO4 concentrations, the mean SO4-associated OC declined by ∲0.5 to 1 μgm-3 as SO4 concentrations decreased throughout the SEARCH region. The 2013 mean SO4 concentrations of 1.7 to 2.0 μgm-3 imply that future decreases in mean SO4-associated OC concentrations would not exceed ∼0.3 to 0.5 μgm-3. Seasonal OC concentrations, largely identified with ozone (O3), vary from 0.3 to 1.4 μgm-3 (∼20% of the total OC concentrations). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to examine, across 22 countries, the association between community size and individual sport, team sport, and exercise participation. Hierarchal non-linear Bernoulli modeling is used to examine the association between community size (100 000-10 000; <10 000) and (a) individual sport, (b) team sport, and (c) exercise participation. After controlling for country-level clustering and demographic variables, those residing a community with between 100 000 and 10 000 residents are more likely to participate in individual sport [odds ratio ( OR) = 1.14; 95% confidence interval ( CI) = 1.05-1.23] while residing in a community with less than 10 000 residents is unrelated ( OR = 1.06; 95% CI = 0.96-1.19). Those residing in communities with between 100 000 and 10 000 residents were more likely to participate in team sport ( OR = 1.21; 95% CI = 1.01-1.45) while residing in a community with less than 10 000 residents is unrelated ( OR = 1.02; 95% CI = 0.88-1.18). Residing in a community with between 100 000 and 10 000 residents is unrelated to exercise participation ( OR = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.89-1.7), while residing in a community with less than 10 000 residents is negatively related to exercise participation ( OR = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.79-0.93). These findings provide novel evidence that communities between 100 000 and 10 000 residents are related to increased sport participation, particularly team sport participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term (1999 to 2013) data from the Southeastern Aerosol Research and Characterization (SEARCH) network are used to characterize the effects of anthropogenic emission reductions on fine particle organic aerosol (OA) concentrations in the southeastern US. On average, 45 % (range 25 to 63 %) of the 1999 to 2013 mean organic carbon (OC) concentrations are attributed to combustion processes, including fossil-fuel use and biomass burning, through associations of measured OC with combustion products such as elemental carbon (EC), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). The 2013 mean combustion-derived OC concentrations were 0.5 to 1.4 µg m-3 at the five sites operating in that year. Mean annual combustion-derived OC concentrations declined from 3.8 ± 0.2 µg m-3 (68 % of total OC) to 1.4 ± 0.1 µg m-3 (60 % of total OC) between 1999 and 2013 at the urban Atlanta, Georgia, site (JST) and from 2.9 ± 0.4 µg m-3 (39 % of total OC) to 0.7 ± 0.1 µg m-3 (30 % of total OC) between 2001 and 2013 at the urban Birmingham, Alabama, site (BHM). The urban OC declines coincide with reductions of motor-vehicle emissions between 2006 and 2010, which may have decreased mean OC concentrations at the urban SEARCH sites by > 2 µg m-3. BHM additionally exhibits a decline in OC associated with SO2 from 0.4 ± 0.04 µg m-3 in 2001 to 0.2 ± 0.03 µg m-3 in 2013, interpreted as the result of reduced emissions from industrial sources within the city. Analyses using non-soil potassium as a biomass-burning tracer indicate that biomass-burning OC occurs throughout the year at all sites. All eight SEARCH sites show an association of OC with sulfate (SO4) ranging from 0.3 to 1.0 µg m-3 on average, representing ~ 25 % of the 1999 to 2013 mean OC concentrations. Because the mass of OC associated with SO4 averages 20 to 30 % of the SO4 concentrations, the mean SO4-associated OC declined by ~ 0.5 to 1 µg m-3 as SO4 decreased throughout the SEARCH region. The 2013 mean SO4 concentrations of 1.7 to 2.0 µg m-3 imply that future decreases in mean SO4-associated OC concentrations would not exceed ~ 0.3 to 0.5 µg m-3. Seasonal OC concentrations, largely associated with ozone (O3), vary from 0.3 to 1.4 µg m-3 (~ 20 % of the total OC concentrations). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an allergic inflammatory disorder of the esophagus that is compounded by genetic predisposition and hypersensitivity to environmental antigens. Using high-density oligonucleotide expression chips, a disease-specific esophageal transcript signature was identified and was shown to be largely reversible with therapy. In an effort to expand the molecular signature of EoE, we performed RNA sequencing on esophageal biopsies from healthy controls and patients with active EoE and identified a total of 1607 significantly dysregulated transcripts (1096 upregulated, 511 downregulated). When clustered by raw expression levels, an abundance of immune cell-specific transcripts are highly induced in EoE but expressed at low (or undetectable) levels in healthy controls. Moreover, 66% of the gene signature identified by RNA sequencing was previously unrecognized in the EoE transcript signature by microarray-based expression profiling and included several long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA), an emerging class of transcriptional regulators. The lncRNA BRAF-activated non-protein coding RNA (BANCR) was upregulated in EoE and induced in interleukin-13 (IL-13)-treated primary esophageal epithelial cells. Repression of BANCR significantly altered the expression of IL-13-induced proinflammatory genes. Together, these data comprise new potential biomarkers of EoE and demonstrate a novel role for lncRNAs in EoE and IL-13-associated responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Population-based stroke registries are necessary to evaluate the precise burden of stroke. The methodology used in the Brest Stroke Registry and an estimation of its completeness are described. Methods: 'Hot pursuit' as well as 'cold pursuit' were used, and five sources of identification were included: emergency wards, brain imaging, practitioners, death certificates and hospital-based electronic research. Ascertainment for each case was certified by a neurologist. Inclusion criteria were: (1) age >15 years; (2) a stroke defined by WHO criteria or all neurological deficits lasting at least 1 h. Completeness was estimated using capture-recapture method. Results: For 2008, 2009 and 2010, 851, 898, 823 patients were collected, respectively. The number of sources of identification per patient was as follows: one source: 30.8, 24.1 and 18.7%; two sources: 54.5, 42.9 and 31.0%; three sources: 13.4, 30.1 and 46%; four sources: 1.3, 3.0 and 3.8%. Capture-recapture analysis showed data completeness over 90%. Standardized cumulative first-ever stroke incidence using a world standard population was 87 in 2008, 87 in 2009 and 84 in 2010. Conclusions: Case ascertainment by a neurologist, numerous sources, as well as 'hot' and 'cold' pursuit can provide a reliably large data set suitable for further epidemiological studies. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxovanadium complexes are presented as new labels for the development of electrochemical immunosensors. The concept was successfully applied to the accurate detection of estradiol, an emerging environmental pollutant, at concentrations ranging from 4 ng L−1 to 5 μg L−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The treatment of papillary thyroid carcinomas larger than 1 cm usually consists of total thyroidectomy and central lymph node dissection ( LND). In patients with the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma ( FVPTC), preoperative cytology and intraoperative frozen-section analysis cannot always establish the diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate predictive factors for lymph node metastasis in patients with FVPTC and to identify patients who might benefit from LND. Methods The study included patients with FVPTC treated by total thyroidectomy and LND between 2000 and 2010 in four departments. When fewer than six non-involved lymph nodes were removed, the patient was excluded from the analysis. Results Some 199 patients were included. The median tumour size was 17 (range 1-85) mm, and tumours were classified as T1a in 28 patients, T1b in 40, T2 in 53, and T3 in 78. Eighty-one patients (40·7 per cent) had lymph node metastasis (51 classified as N1a and 30 as N1b). Four risk factors were predictive of lymph node metastasis in the multivariable analysis: multifocality (odds ratio ( OR) 2·36, 95 per cent confidence interval 1·15 to 4·86), angiolymphatic invasion ( OR 3·67, 1·01 to 13·36), absence of tumour capsule ( OR 3·00, 1·47 to 6·14) and tumour involvement of perithyroid tissue ( OR 3·89, 1·85 to 8·18). The rate of lymph node metastasis varied between 14 and 94 per cent depending on the presence of risk factors. Conclusion The rate of lymph node metastasis in patients with FVPTC varies widely according to the presence or absence of predictive risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early in the 1990s, several case series described adults suffering from dysphagia and children with refractory reflux symptoms, both accompanied by an eosinophil-predominant infiltration, thereby conclusively distinguishing it from gastroesophageal reflux disease. Eosinophilic esophagitis ( Eo E) was recognized as its own entity in the adult and in the pediatric literature. In the last decade, evidence has accumulated that Eo E represents a T-helper ( Th)2-type inflammatory disease. Remodeling of the esophagus is a hallmark of Eo E, leading to esophageal dysfunction and bolus impaction. Familial occurrence and disease association with single-nucleotide polymorphisms underscore the influence of genetics in this disease. Eosinophilic esophagitis may affect individuals at any age, although the clinical presentation is highly age dependent. There is a significant allergic bias in the Eo E population, with the majority of patients having concurrent allergic rhinitis, asthma, eczema, and/or a history of atopy. One noteworthy difference is that in children, Eo E seems to be primarily a food antigen-driven disease, whereas in adults, mainly aeroallergen sensitization has been observed. Treatment modalities for Eo E include the 3 Ds: drugs, diet, and dilation. The crucial question of whether adult and pediatric Eo E are different phenotypes of one single entity or whether we are confronted with two different diseases is still open. Here, we review similarities and differences between Eo E in adults and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The mechanism of action of sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) remains largely elusive. The aims of this study were to develop a clinically relevant animal model for percutaneous SNS and to describe its effect on the epithelial barrier of the rectum. Methods Under general anesthesia and after percutaneous electrode placement for S3 nerve root stimulation, six pigs underwent unilateral stimulation and six bilateral stimulation. Animals were stimulated for 3 h using an external pulse generator (1-2.5 V; 14 Hz; 210 μs). Six animals underwent electrode implantation without stimulation and served as controls. Full-thickness rectal biopsies were performed prior to and after stimulation. Paracellular permeability was evaluated by measuring sulfonic acid flux across the rectal mucosa in Ussing chambers. Histological assessment of mucosal thickness, epithelial desquamation, and mucus expression were performed. Key Results Percutaneous stimulation resulted in successful anal contractions whose amplitude and uniformity was enhanced following bilateral compared with unilateral stimulation. In controls, paracellular permeability significantly increased during the stimulation period whereas it remained unchanged following unilateral stimulation. In contrast, permeability was significantly reduced by bilateral stimulation. This effect was associated with a concomitant reduction in mucosal thickness and a trend toward increased amount of mucus on surface epithelium compared with controls. Conclusions & Inferences The development of a porcine model of percutaneous SNS revealed the ability of neuromodulation to reinforce rectal epithelial barrier. Furthermore, our results suggest that SNS could be used for treatment of gastrointestinal pathologies with reduced rectal mucosal barrier functions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]