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We aimed to investigate a hypothesised association between daily mean temperature and the risk of surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). For the period of 1 January 2005 until 31 December 2019, we collected daily data on mean temperatures and date of 2995 operations for ATAAD at 10 Nordic cities included in the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection (NORCAAD) collaboration. Using a two-stage time-series approach, we investigated the association between hot and cold temperatures relative to the optimal temperature and the rate of ATAAD repair in the selected cities. The relative risks (RRs) of cold temperatures (≤−5°C) and hot temperatures (≥21°C) compared to optimal temperature were 1.47 (95% CI: 0.72–2.99) and 1.43 (95% CI: 0.67–3.08), respectively. In line with previous studies, we observed increased risk at cold and hot temperatures. However, the observed associations were not statistically significant, thus only providing weak evidence of an association.

Objectives: Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a rare but severe condition, routinely treated with emergent cardiac surgery. Many surgeons have the notion that patients with ATAAD tend to come in clusters, but no studies have examined these observations. This investigation was undertaken to study the potential association between the lunar cycle and the incidence of ATAAD. Methods: We collected information on 2995 patients who underwent ATAAD surgery at centres from the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection collaboration. We cross-referenced the time of surgery with lunar phase using a case-crossover design with 2 different definitions of full moon (>99% illumination and the 7-day full moon period). Results: The period when the moon was illuminated the most (99% definition) did not show any significant increase in incidence for ATAAD surgery. However, when the full moon period was compared with all other moon phases, it yielded a relative risk of 1.08 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00–1.17, P = 0.057] and, compared to waxing moon, only the relative risk was 1.11 (95% CI 1.01–1.23, P = 0.027). The peak incidence came 4–6 days after the moon was fully illuminated. Conclusions: This study found an overrepresentation of surgery for ATAAD during the full moon phase. The explanation for this is not known, but we speculate that sleep deprivation during full moon leads to a temporary increase in blood pressure, which in turn could trigger rupture of the aortic wall. While this finding is interesting, it needs to be corroborated and the clinical implications are debateable.

We report the first study on the thermal behavior of the stiffness of individual carbon nanotubes, which is achieved by measuring the resonance frequency of their fundamental mechanical bending modes. We observe a reduction of the Young's modulus over a large temperature range with a slope -(173±65) ppm/K in its relative shift. These findings are reproduced by two different theoretical models based on the thermal dynamics of the lattice. These results reveal how the measured fundamental bending modes depend on the phonons in the nanotube via the Young's modulus. An alternative description based on the coupling between the measured mechanical modes and the phonon thermal bath in the Akhiezer limit is discussed., Dynamics of Micro and Nano Systems

We report the first study on the thermal behavior of the stiffness of individual carbon nanotubes, which is achieved by measuring the resonance frequency of their fundamental mechanical bending modes. We observe a reduction of the Young’s modulus over a large temperature range with a slope −(173±65)ppm/K in its relative shift. These findings are reproduced by two different theoretical models based on the thermal dynamics of the lattice. These results reveal how the measured fundamental bending modes depend on the phonons in the nanotube via the Young’s modulus. An alternative description based on the coupling between the measured mechanical modes and the phonon thermal bath in the Akhiezer limit is discussed.

Since cheese is poor in energy for bacterial growth, it is believed that non-starter lactic acid bacteria growth and flavour development are supported by the nutrients from lysis of the starter culture. This study was performed to investigate the dynamics of interaction between starter and non-starter strains from cheese. A starter culture lysate was prepared by enzymatic digestion and tested as a growth substrate for Lactobacillus sp. strains. The two starter culture strains of Lactococcus lactis were also tested on the starter-lysate. All seventeen strains were individually inoculated at the level of 5.0 log10 cfu mL−1 in M17 broth, with or without 10% starter-lysate, and incubated at 30 °C for 140 h. The optical density600 nm was modelled with the primary log-transformed Logistic model with delay and lag phase duration, maximum specific growth rate as well as maximum population density obtained. Biphasic growth was mainly observed when the strains were able to utilize the starter-lysate as an energy source. To deal with the lack-of-fit related to the biphasic growth, the observed data points of the curve were divided after graphic evaluation and according to deviation of the residuals from the range ±0.05. Modelling was then performed in two phases by applying the same primary Logistic model in each of the two parts of the growth curve. Values of root-mean-square error and graphic evaluation indicated the good fitting of the data with the suggested approach. The growth of the two Lactococcus lactis strains was not affected by the starter-lysate. However, thirteen of the non-starter strains had their growth rates increased. The increase was greatest for Lactobacillus rhamnosus KU-LbR1, which reached maximum optical densities of 0.23 and 0.58 in the absence and the presence of starter-lysate, respectively. No effect of the starter-lysate was shown for the growth of Lactobacillus curvatus strains. The extend of the growth of non-s

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented demand for real-time surveillance data in order to inform critical decision makers regarding the management of the pandemic. The aim of this review is to describe how the Danish national microbiology database, MiBa, served as a cornerstone for providing data to the real-time survelliance system by linkage to other nationwide health registries. The surveillance system was established on an existing IT health infrastructure and a close network between clinical microbiologists, information technology experts and public health officials. In 2020, testing capacity for SARS-CoV-2 was ramped up from none to over 10,000 weekly PCR tests per 100,000 population. The crude incidence data mirrored this increase in testing. Real-time access to denominator data and patient registries enabled adjustments for fluctuations testing activity, providing robust data on crude SARS-CoV-2 incidence during the changing diagnostic and management strategies. The use of the same data for different purposes, e.g. final laboratory reports, information to the public, contact tracing, public health and science, has been a critical asset for the pandemic response.It has also raised issues concerning data protection and critical capacity of the underlying technical systems and key ressources. However, even with these limitations, the set-up has enabled decision makers to adopt timely interventions. The experiences from COVID-19 may motivate a transformation from traditional indicator based public health surveillance to an all-encompassing information system based on access to a comprehensive set of data sources, including diagnostic and reference microbiology.

PURPOSE: Transmedic Organ Care System (OCS) allows preservation of the donor heart by perfusing the organ at 34°C in a beating state and providing additional assessment options. The perfusion protocols as established by the manufacturer is valid for adult human hearts, using coronary flows in the 8-900ml/min range guided by lactate measurements. Higher flow can facilitate higher degrees of cardiac oedema which can be associated with diastolic dysfunction, and generel impairment of contractility of the heart. The aim of the study is to establish the optimal coronary flow in a juvenile porcine heart, similar in size to the adult human heart, that minimizes oedema and still meets the metabolic requirements.METHODS: 18 pigs in the range of 60-70kg was used for the trial and randomized into three groups with a coronary flow of 6-, 7- or 800ml/min for 180 minuts. After intubation and propofol/fentanyl anesthesia was induced, median sternotomy was performed and the heart prepared for harvest. Immediately after crossclamp 1000ml of HTK Custodiol cardioplegia was administered, and the heart prepared as per protocol for the human heart. The heart was connected a OCS-based system and randomized to one of three regimens: a coronary flow of 6-, 7- or 800ml/min for 180 minutes at 34 degree celsius, with the pressure autoregulated to 65mmHg. The pump flow was adjusted to give the desired coronary flow. Haemodynamic parameteres were continously recorded, arterial and venous lactates sampled every 30 minutes. Biopsies taken form the apex of the left ventricle and the heart was weighed after 180 minuts of perfusion.RESULTS: Our primary endpoint was met, as the weight gain in the 800ml/min group was significantly higher than the 600ml/min group (103g +/-20g vs 72g +/- 15g, p<0.05). There were no significant difference in the final lactate (relative to the initial levels) after three hours of perfusion. All hearts had end arterial lactate under 5.0 mmol/l. At the en

This study was performed to investigate the presence of histamine forming bacteria in commercially available cheeses as well as to evaluate the histamine forming potential using in vitro models. Five long–time-ripened cheeses made from different milk types were analysed for histamine producing bacterial isolates. The ability of the isolates to produce histamine was tested by incubation at 37 °C for five days in a restricted media with a pH indicator. Changes in the amino-compound profile were investigated using ultra performance liquid chromatography. Only eight of 106 isolates were able to produce compounds raising the pH and seven of those were confirmed to be histamine producers. Despite the fact that all isolates were obtained from the same vintage Danish Gouda cheese, made from raw cow milk, the amino-compound profile as well as the response to different environmental conditions diverged between the isolates. Rep-PCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to further characterize the isolates. Pediococcus pentosaceus was for the first time reported to be a histamine producer in cheese. The presence of the histidine decarboxylase gene (hdcA) was confirmed by PCR amplification of the histidine decarboxylase gene in four of the isolates. The results indicate that evaluating the presence and concentration of histamine is not only a relevant parameter to evaluate quality and safety, but is also an important tool to classify histamine producers in cheese.

BACKGROUND: The lack of lung transplant donors has necessitated the use of donors with a smoking history and donors of older age. We have evaluated the effects of donor smoking history and age on recipient morbidity and mortality with baseline values of pulmonary function and survival free of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) as morbidity variables.METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of 588 consecutive lung transplant recipients and their corresponding 454 donors. Donors were divided into three groups: group 1 included smokers, group 2 nonsmokers, and group 3 had unknown smoking status; these were further divided into three age groups: group A: 0 to 39 years; group B: 40 to 54 years; and group C: ≥55 years.RESULTS: One hundred fifty-one donors were former or actual smokers, 175 were nonsmokers, and 128 had unknown smoking histories. Baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced vital capacity, and diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide were lowest in the groups who received lungs from a smoking donor. CLAD-free survival was identical in all smoking groups, and overall survival was better both for lungs from nonsmoking donors and donors with unknown smoking status compared to lungs from smoking donors. One hundred sixty-nine donors were in age group A, 203 in B, and 82 in C. Baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced vital capacity, and diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide were lowest in the groups who received lungs from donors older than 55 years. Overall survival as well as CLAD-free survival was significantly lower with donors ≥55 years.CONCLUSIONS: Donor smoking history and older donor age impact lung function, mortality, and CLAD-free survival after transplantation. Because of a shortage of organs, extended donor criteria may be considered while taking waiting list mortality into account.