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Abstract Background Atopic eczema is a common, chronic, inflammatory skin condition with considerable heterogeneity. South Asian people living in the UK frequently have low serum vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3), and those with atopic disease can present with severe eczema. The association between vitamin D deficiency and eczema severity, and the role of vitamin D supplementation in atopic eczema is inconsistent, and under‐researched in people with Asian ancestry. Objectives This cross‐sectional study investigates the association between serum 25(OH)D3 and eczema severity in a cohort of South Asian children and young adults living in London. Methods Eligible participants were Bangladeshi children and young adults aged 0–30 years with eczema, living in London and participating in the Tower Hamlets Eczema Assessment study. Data was collected via parent/patient self‐reporting, clinical history and examination, and hospital databases. 25(OH)D3 levels were documented retrospectively, if available, from hospital databases. Eczema severity was classified by Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score less than or greater than 10 (clear‐mild vs. moderate‐severe). Multivariate logistic regression was used to adjust for confounding factors. Results 681 participants were included in analyses. 25(OH)D3 results were available for 49.6% (338/681), 84.3% of which had deficient or insufficient lowest 25(OH)D3. Lowest 25(OH)D3 was inversely correlated with EASI score (Spearman's rank R2 = −0.24, p 10 and a lower median lowest and nearest 25(OH)D3. After adjustment for confounding EASI > 10 was significantly associated with a lowest 25(OH)D3

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of TiO2/CaO addition on the crystallization and flexural strength of leucite glass-ceramics (GC). Synthesis of translucent and high strength GCs is important for the development of aesthetic and durable dental restorations. To achieve this, experimental aluminosilicate glasses (1–3 mol% TiO2 and CaO (B1, B2, B3)) were melted in a furnace to produce glasses. Glasses were ball milled, screened and heat treated via crystallization heat treatments, and characterized using XRD, differential scanning calorimetry, dilatometry, SEM and biaxial flexural strength (BFS). Increasing nucleation hold time (1–3 h) led to a reduction in crystallite number for B2 and B3 GC, and significant differences in leucite crystal size at differing nucleation holds within and across test groups (p < 0.05). A high area fraction of leucite crystals (55.1–60.8%) was found in the GC, with no matrix microcracking. Changes in the crystal morphology were found with higher TiO2/CaO addition. Mean BFS of the GC were 211.2–234.8 MPa, with significantly higher Weibull modulus (m = 18.9) for B3 GC. Novel glass compositions enriched with TiO2/CaO led to crystallization of leucite GC of high aspect ratio, with high BFS and reliability. The study’s findings suggest a potential high performance translucent leucite GC for use in the construction of dental restorations.

Immune checkpoints (ICs) are molecules implicated in the fine-tuning of immune response via co-inhibitory or co-stimulatory signals, and serve to secure minimized host damage. Targeting ICs with various therapeutic modalities, including checkpoint inhibitors/monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and CAR-T cells has produced remarkable results, especially in immunogenic tumors, setting a paradigm shift in cancer therapeutics through the incorporation of these IC-targeted treatments. However, the large proportion of subjects who experience primary or secondary resistance to available IC-targeted options necessitates further advancements that render immunotherapy beneficial for a larger patient pool with longer duration of response. B7-H3 (B7 Homolog 3 Protein, CD276) is a member of the B7 family of IC proteins that exerts pleiotropic immunomodulatory effects both in physiologic and pathologic contexts. Mounting evidence has demonstrated an aberrant expression of B7-H3 in various solid malignancies, including tumors less sensitive to current immunotherapeutic options, and has associated its expression with advanced disease, worse patient survival and impaired response to IC-based regimens. Anti-B7-H3 agents, including novel mAbs, bispecific antibodies, ADCs, CAR-T cells, and radioimmunotherapy agents, have exhibited encouraging antitumor activity in preclinical models and have recently entered clinical testing for several cancer types. In the present review, we concisely present the functional implications of B7-H3 and discuss the latest evidence regarding its prognostic significance and therapeutic potential in solid malignancies, with emphasis on anti-B7-H3 modalities that are currently evaluated in clinical trial settings. Better understanding of B7-H3 intricate interactions in the tumor microenvironment will expand the oncological utility of anti-B7-H3 agents and further shape their role in cancer therapeutics.

INTRODUCTION: The burden of influenza in Cambodia is not well known, but it would be useful for understanding the impact of seasonal epidemics and pandemics and to design appropriate policies for influenza prevention and control. The severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) surveillance system in Cambodia was used to estimate the national burden of SARI hospitalizations in Cambodia. METHODS: We estimated age-specific influenza-associated SARI hospitalization rates in three sentinel sites in Svay Rieng, Siem Reap and Kampong Cham provinces. We used influenza-associated SARI surveillance data for one year to estimate the numerator and hospital admission surveys to estimate the population denominator for each site. A national influenza-associated SARI hospitalization rate was calculated using the pooled influenza-associated SARI hospitalizations for all sites as a numerator and the pooled catchment population of all sites as denominator. National influenza-associated SARI case counts were estimated by applying hospitalization rates to the national population. RESULTS: The national annual rates of influenza-associated hospitalizations per 100 000 population was highest for the two youngest age groups at 323 for

Fabrication of complete dentures (CDs) utilizing computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) methods has attracted a lot of attention. The purpose of this paper was to summarize current knowledge about digital CDs and the relevant technology, and to present the application of the new technology in a dental geriatrics case. Initially, some of the challenges regarding digitization of the oral mucosa as a supporting surface of the CDs’ intaglio surface are listed. Next, a brief introduction of the CAD software capabilities regarding CDs is presented. The latest CAM additive and subtractive techniques for CDs are following. Subsequently, the consecutive steps for the construction of a digital CD as part of the prosthodontic treatment of a 90-year-old ambulative female patient are presented. Finally, some considerations about the digital workflow in CD manufacturing are discussed. In conclusion, the new digital technology has clear advantages; however, implementation requires careful planning. The digital workflow is applicable and versatile.

Tooth morphology has a pivotal role in the dental curriculum and provides one of the important foundations of clinical practice. To supplement tooth morphology teaching a three-dimensional (3D) quiz application (app) was developed. The 3D resource enables students to study tooth morphology actively by selecting teeth from an interactive quiz, modify their viewpoint and level of zoom. Additionally, students are able to rotate the tooth to obtain a 3D spatial understanding of the different surfaces of the tooth. A cross-over study was designed to allow comparison of students' results after studying with the new application or traditionally with extracted/model teeth. Data show that the app provides an efficient learning tool and that students' scores improve with usage (18% increase over three weeks, P < 0.001). Data also show that student assessment scores were correlated with scores obtained while using the app but were not influenced by the teaching modality initially accessed (r[superscript 2] = 0.175, P < 0.01). Comparison of the 2016 and 2017 class performance shows that the class that had access to the app performed significantly better on their final tooth morphology assessment (68.0% [plus or minus]15.0 vs. 75.3% [plus or minus]13.4, P < 0.01). Furthermore, students reported that the 3D application was intuitive, provided useful feedback, presented the key features of the teeth, and assisted in learning tooth morphology. The 3D tooth morphology app thus provides students with a useful adjunct teaching tool for learning dental anatomy.

More than 40 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have received hematological or oncological indications over the past 20 years, following the approval of imatinib, and many others are currently being tested in clinical and preclinical level. Beyond their common toxicities, no certain agent from this large class of molecularly targeted therapies was strongly associated with “off-target” impairment of neuromuscular transmission, and although myasthenia gravis (MG) is a well-characterized autoimmune disorder, only few sporadic events proven by serologically detected causative autoantibodies and/or by positive electrophysiological tests are reported in the literature. Herein, we present the first case of anti-MUSK (+) MG in a woman with metastatic BRAF-mutant melanoma after long-term treatment with dabrafenib (BRAF inhibitor) and trametinib (MEK inhibitor). Triggered by this report, a systematic literature review was conducted, summarizing all other cancer cases that developed MG, after exposure to any type of targeted agent and regardless of the underlying malignancy. All available data on the clinical diagnosis, the potential of administered TKIs to induce a seropositive myasthenic syndrome, the immune and non-immune-mediated pathogenesis of postsynaptic damage, and the challenging management of this neuromuscular toxicity were collected and discussed. In the presented case, MG was confirmed by both autoantibodies and nerve-conduction tests, while its reactivation after TKIs rechallenge supports a more than coincidental association. The following review identified 12 cancer cases with TKI-related MG in six case reports and one case series. In most of them, the myasthenia diagnosis was challenging, since the clinical symptomatology of fatigable weakness was not corroborating with consistent laboratory and electrophysiological findings. In fact, anti-AchR titers were positive in five and anti-MuSK only in the abovementioned individual. The symptomatology corresponded to TKI discontinuation and standard treatment with pyridostigmine and prednisolone; intravenous immunoglobulin was added only in three, and two required mechanical ventilation. In an era where TKIs will be prescribed more frequently for various malignancies, even in combinations with immune-checkpoint inhibitors, this report synthesizes their risk for neuromuscular complications and increases the clinicians’ awareness in order to extend the on-treatment and overall survival of TKI-treated cancer patients.

Introduction: The burden of influenza in Cambodia is not well known, but it would be useful for understanding the impact of seasonal epidemics and pandemics and to design appropriate policies for influenza prevention and control. The severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) surveillance system in Cambodia was used to estimate the national burden of SARI hospitalizations in Cambodia. Methods: We estimated age-specific influenza-associated SARI hospitalization rates in three sentinel sites in Svay Rieng, Siem Reap and Kampong Cham provinces. We used influenza-associated SARI surveillance data for one year to estimate the numerator and hospital admission surveys to estimate the population denominator for each site. A national influenza-associated SARI hospitalization rate was calculated using the pooled influenza-associated SARI hospitalizations for all sites as a numerator and the pooled catchment population of all sites as denominator. National influenza-associated SARI case counts were estimated by applying hospitalization rates to the national population. Results: The national annual rates of influenza-associated hospitalizations per 100 000 population was highest for the two youngest age groups at 323 for

Soil is an integral component of the global environmental system which supports the quality and diversity of terrestrial life on Earth. Therefore, it is vital to consider the processes and impacts of soil degradation on society, especially on the provision of environmental goods and services, including food security and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Scientific societies devoted to soil science play significant roles in reducing soil degradation and promoting soil conservation by advancing scientific knowledge, education and environmental sustainability.The ESSC was founded on 4 November 1988, with the aims to: 1. Support research on soil degradation, soil protection and soil and water conservation. 2. Provide a network for the exchange of knowledge about soil degradation processes and soil conservation research and practises. 3. Produce publications on major issues relating to soil degradation and soil and water conservation. 4. Advise regulators and policy-makers on soil issues, especially soil degradation, protection and conservation.The societal challenges that can be addressed through better soil protection, advancing knowledge and scientific approaches to soil protection and sustainable management, mean the ESSC embraces the on-going development, application, review and constructive criticism of highly innovative scientific soil conservation methods. In this context, the ESSC analyses and publicizes the roles and functions of soil in natural and human-modified systems and the functional optimization of soils to ensure sustainable environmental protection.“The thin layer of soil that forms a patchy covering over the continents controls our own existence and that of every other animal of the land” (Rachel Carson (1962) in ‘Silent Spring’). Keywords: Soil degradation, Soil education, Soil functions, Soil health, Soil knowledge

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are designed to manipulate the toxic efficacy of specific chemotherapeutic compounds, employing the high affinity of antibody-mediated delivery so as to drive them selectively to target cancer cells. These immunoconjugates encompass the general tendency towards precision medicine and avert the systemic toxicities of conventional chemotherapy, accomplishing an improved therapeutic index. Cumulative experience acquired from first-generation ADCs offers new perspectives to these promising therapeutic modalities for various hematological and solid cancers and propels their clinical development in a faster-than-ever pace, as indicated by the approval of four novel ADCs during the last year. This paper aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the eight ADCs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and their current indications in oncological practice. Starting from their bio-pharmaceutical background, we track their clinical evolution, with an emphasis on the pivotal trials that led to their commercial release. Late-stage studies examining these eight ADCs in other-than-approved settings as well as the investigation of potential new candidates are also reviewed. In the close future, more data are expected to expand ADCs’ oncological utility and to further reshape their role in cancer therapeutics.

In the era of precision medicine, antibody-based therapeutics are rapidly enriched with emerging advances and new proof-of-concept formats. In this context, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have evolved to merge the high selectivity and specificity of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with the cytotoxic potency of attached payloads. So far, ten ADCs have been approved by FDA for oncological indications and many others are currently being tested in clinical and preclinical level. This paper summarizes the essential components of ADCs, from their functional principles and structure up to their limitations and resistance mechanisms, focusing on all latest bioengineering breakthroughs such as bispecific mAbs, dual-drug platforms as well as novel linkers and conjugation chemistries. In continuation of our recent review on anticancer implication of ADC’s technology, further insights regarding their potential usage outside of the oncological spectrum are also presented. Better understanding of immunoconjugates could maximize their efficacy and optimize their safety, extending their use in everyday clinical practice.

Researchers have adopted the use of magnetic field as a new pre-sowing, environmental friendly technique. Enhancements on plant characteristics with economic impact on producer’s income could be the future of a modern, organic and sustainable agriculture. A field experiment was established at Soil Science Institute of Athens, Lycovrissi, Greece, in the winter of 2014. Two durum wheat cultivars were used. It was a pot experiment with 6 treatments (2 cultivars with 3 magnetic field time exposure). The seeds were treated using a PAPIMI electromagnetic field generator for 0, 30 and 45 minutes one day before planting. The experiment followed a completely randomized design with six treatments and 30 replications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the positive effect of magnetic field pre-sowing treatment in a wide range of plant measurements, including yield. The influence of pulsed electromagnetic field on two varieties of durum wheat seeds showed some statistically significant differences at the 0.05 level in growth measurements, physiological measurements and root growth measurements. Plant tissue analysis showed that magnetic field treatments had higher values than control in total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, copper (only MF-45), zinc (only MF-30) and boron content, although values showed statistically significant differences only in total nitrogen. The results indicate that this innovative technique can increase the yield of durum wheat, through enhanced absorption of nutrients. Pre-sowing treatment of the seeds leads to vigorous plant growth that are more productive.

During the 2014-16 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak, the Magburaka Ebola Management Centre (EMC) operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone, identified that available district maps lacked up-to-date village information to facilitate timely implementation of EVD control strategies. In January 2015, we undertook a survey in chiefdoms within the MSF EMC catchment area to collect mapping and village data. We explore the feasibility and cost to mobilise a local community for this survey, describe validation against existing mapping sources and use of the data to prioritise areas for interventions, and lessons learned.We recruited local people with self-owned Android smartphones installed with open-source survey software (OpenDataKit (ODK)) and open-source navigation software (OpenStreetMap Automated Navigation Directions (OsmAnd)). Surveyors were paired with local motorbike drivers to travel to eligible villages. The collected mapping data were validated by checking for duplication and comparing the village names against a pre-existing village name and location list using a geographic distance and text string-matching algorithm.The survey teams gained sufficient familiarity with the ODK and OsmAnd software within 1-2 hours. Nine chiefdoms in Tonkolili District and three in Bombali District were surveyed within two weeks. Following de-duplication, the surveyors collected data from 891 villages with an estimated 127,021 households. The overall survey cost was €3,395; €3.80 per village surveyed. The MSF GIS team (MSF-OCG) created improved maps for the MSF Magburaka EMC team which were used to support surveillance, investigation of suspect EVD cases, hygiene-kit distribution and EVD survivor support. We shared the mapping data with OpenStreetMap, the local Ministry of Health and Sanitation and Sierra Leone District and National Ebola Response Centres.Involving local community and using accessible technology allowed rapid implementation, at moderate cost, of a survey to collect geographic and essential village information, and creation of updated maps. These methods could be used for future emergencies to facilitate response.

Between August-December 2014, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) patients from Tonkolili District were referred for care to two Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Ebola Management Centres (EMCs) outside the district (distant EMCs). In December 2014, MSF opened an EMC in Tonkolili District (district EMC). We examined the effect of opening a district-based EMC on time to admission and number of suspect cases dead on arrival (DOA), and identified factors associated with fatality in EVD patients, residents in Tonkolili District. Residents of Tonkolili district who presented between 12 September 2014 and 23 February 2015 to the district EMC and the two distant EMCs were identified from EMC line-lists. EVD cases were confirmed by a positive Ebola PCR test. We calculated time to admission since the onset of symptoms, case-fatality and adjusted Risk Ratios (aRR) using Binomial regression. Of 249 confirmed Ebola cases, 206 (83%) were admitted to the distant EMCs and 43 (17%) to the district EMC. Of them 110 (45%) have died. Confirmed cases dead on arrival (n = 10) were observed only in the distant EMCs. The median time from symptom onset to admission was 6 days (IQR 4,8) in distant EMCs and 3 days (IQR 2,7) in the district EMC (p3 days after symptom onset) in the distant compared with the district EMC, but were less likely (aRR = 0.8; 95%CI 0.6-1.0) to have a high viral load (cycle threshold ≤22). A fatal outcome was associated with a high viral load (aRR 2.6; 95%CI 1.8-3.6) and vomiting at first presentation (aRR 1.4; 95%CI 1.0-2.0). The opening of a district EMC was associated with earlier admission of cases to appropriate care facilities, an essential component of reducing EVD transmission. High viral load and vomiting at admission predicted fatality. Healthcare providers should consider the location of EMCs to ensure equitable access during Ebola outbreaks.

Corrigendum to the article: “Influence of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field on Plant Growth, Nutrient Absorption and Yield of Durum Wheat”, Notulae Scientia Biologicae 7(4):505-509, 2015. In the printed version of this article, a figure (page 508, Fig. 5) that was published in Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section B 62(1):94-99 (2012) was accidentally used. The figure was replaced with an original one (Fig. 5 PAPIMI device).

During 2010, an outbreak of West Nile virus infection occurred in Greece. A total of 197 patients with neuroinvasive disease were reported, of whom 33 (17%) died. Advanced age and a history of heart disease were independently associated with death, emphasizing the need for prevention of this infection in persons with these risk factors.

• Current schemes of systemic treatment for HPB malignancies offer a mediocre, at best, survival benefit. • ADCs merge the intricate selectivity and specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the cytotoxicity of attached payloads. • Several intricate characteristics of their design make them a highly promising class of drugs for HPB cancers. • Recent preclinical studies have demonstrated notable antineoplastic effects in vitro and in vivo. • Several agents have been propelled into clinical trial evaluation with promising early results. Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) malignancies constitute a highly aggressive group of cancers that have a dismal prognosis. Patients not amenable to curative intent surgical resection are managed with systemic chemotherapy which, however, confers little survival benefit. Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) are tripartite compounds that merge the intricate selectivity and specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the cytodestructive potency of attached supertoxic payloads. In view of the unmet need for drugs that will enhance the survival rates of HPB cancer patients, the assessment of ADCs for treating HPB malignancies has become the focus of extensive clinical and preclinical investigation, showing encouraging preliminary results. In the current review, we offer a comprehensive overview of the growing body of evidence on ADC approaches tested for HPB malignancies. Starting from a concise discussion of the functional principles of ADCs, we summarize here all available data from preclinical and clinical studies evaluating ADCs in HPB cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: During summer 2010, 262 human cases including 35 deaths from West Nile virus (WNV) infection were reported from Central Macedonia, Greece. Evidence from mosquitoes, birds and blood donors demonstrated that the epidemic was caused by WNV lineage 2, which until recently was considered of low virulence. We conducted a household seroprevalence study to estimate the spread of infection in the population during the epidemic, ascertain the relationship of infection to clinical disease, and identify risk factors for infection. METHODS: We used a two-stage cluster design to select a random sample of residents aged ≥18 years in the outbreak epicentre. We collected demographic, medical, and risk factor data using standard questionnaires and environmental checklists, and tested serum samples for presence of WNV IgG and IgM antibodies using ELISA. RESULTS: Overall, 723 individuals participated in the study, and 644 blood samples were available. Weighted seropositivity for IgG antibodies was 5.8% (95% CI: 3.8-8.6; n=41). We estimated that about 1 in 130 (1:141 to 1:124) infected individuals developed WNV neuroinvasive disease, and approximately 18% had clinical manifestations attributable to their infection. Risk factors for infection reflected high exposure to mosquitoes; rural residents were particularly at risk (prevalence ratio: 8.2, 95% CI: 1.1-58.7). DISCUSSION: This study adds to the evidence that WNV lineage 2 strains can cause significant illness, demonstrating ratios of infection to clinical disease similar to those found previously for WNV lineage 1.

• After a decade of experience with ICIs in melanoma, the ICI-refractory disease remains still a major clinical challenge. • Many intracellular, intra-tumoural and systematic events, from molecular alterations, cellular dynamics, metabolic adaptations even microbiome effects, contribute to melanoma escape from ICI-enhanced immunosurveillance. • This overview is an update of latest evidence on the mechanistic background of melanoma resistance and on the therapeutic approaches currently studied to overcome this phenomenon. • Ongoing strategies, including novel agents, different combinations or sequences are under testing to tackle every described mechanism of immunotherapy resistance. • Better understanding of implicated events will be essential to develop more effective therapies for ICI-refractory melanoma. Marching into the second decade after the approval of ipilimumab, it is clear that immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have dramatically improved the prognosis of melanoma. Although the current edge is already high, with a 4-year OS% of 77.9% for adjuvant nivolumab and a 6.5-year OS% of 49% for nivolumab/ipilimumab combination in the metastatic setting, a high proportion of patients with advanced melanoma have no benefit from immunotherapy, or experience an early disease relapse/progression in the first few months of treatment, surviving much less. Reasonably, the primary and acquired resistance to ICIs has entered into the focus of clinical research with positive (e.g., nivolumab and relatlimab combination) and negative feedbacks (e.g., nivolumab with pegylated-IL2, pembrolizumab with T -VEC, nivolumab with epacadostat, and combinatorial triplets of BRAF/MEK inhibitors with immunotherapy). Many intrinsic (intracellular or intra-tumoral) but also extrinsic (systematic) events are considered to be involved in the development of this resistance to ICIs: i) melanoma cell immunogenicity (e.g., tumor mutational burden, antigen-processing machinery and immunogenic cell death, neoantigen affinity and heterogeneity, genomic instability, melanoma dedifferentiation and phenotypic plasticity), ii) immune cell trafficking, T -cell priming, and cell death evasion, iii) melanoma neovascularization, cellular TME components(e.g., T regs , CAFs) and extracellular matrix modulation, iv) metabolic antagonism in the TME(highly glycolytic status, upregulated CD39/CD73/adenosine pathway, iDO-dependent tryptophan catabolism), v) T -cell exhaustion and negative immune checkpoints, and vi) gut microbiota. In the present overview, we discuss how these parameters compromise the efficacy of ICIs, with an emphasis on the lessons learned by the latest melanoma studies; and in parallel, we describe the main ongoing approaches to overcome the resistance to immunotherapy. Summarizing this information will improve the understanding of how these complicated dynamics contribute to immune escape and will help to develop more effective strategies on how anti-tumor immunity can surpass existing barriers of ICI-refractory melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The PHQ-15 is a brief measure assessing the severity of somatic symptoms and is widely used in different health care settings. We aimed to assess the psychometric properties of its Greek version in patients with chronic physical illnesses seeking urgent or unscheduled care in the Accident and Emergency Department (AED). Methods: The PHQ-15 was translated into Greek using back-translation, and it was administered to 303 patients with diabetes, COPD and rheumatic diseases visiting our AED during a one-year period. Patients were interviewed with the MINI. Depressive (PHQ-9) and somatization symptoms (SCL-12), illness perceptions (B-IPQ) and health-related quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) were also assessed to test criterion and concurrent validity. Results: The Greek version of the PHQ-15 showed acceptable internal consistency. Convergent validity was established by the strong associations observed between PHQ-15 scores and functional status, depressive symptom severity and AED visits during the previous year. PHQ-15 scores were also associated with the patients' concerns about personal and treatment illness's control and their beliefs regarding the number of bodily symptoms attributed to their illness (illness identity). The highly acceptable convergent and discriminant validity of the five individual bodily symptoms assessed by both the PHQ-15 and SCL-12 is a further construct validity indicator. Conclusions: The present findings support the applicability of the Greek version of PHQ-15 in assessing common somatic symptoms either medically explained or unexplained in patients seeking care in the AED, further confirming that it can be considered suitable for use in a broad range of populations in clinical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine occupational dose levels for projections commonly used in fluoroscopically guided percutaneous transhepatic biliary (PTB) drainage and stent placement procedures. Methods: Exposure data from 71 consecutive PTB examinations were analyzed to determine average examination parameters for biliary drainage and stent placement procedures. An anthropomorphic phantom was exposed at three projections common in PTB interventions according to the actual geometric parameters recorded in the patient study. Scattered air-kerma dose rates were measured for neck, waist, and gonad levels at various sites in the interventional radiology laboratory. To produce technique- and instrumentation-independent data, dose rate values were converted to dose-area product (DAP)-normalized air-kerma values. In addition, sets of thermoluminescent dosimetry crystals were placed in both hands of the interventional radiologist to monitor doses during all PTB procedures. Results: Isodose maps of DAP-normalized air-kerma doses in the interventional laboratory for projections commonly used in PTB procedures are presented. To facilitate effective dose estimation, normalized dosimetric data at the interventional radiologist's position are presented for left and right access drainage procedures, metallic stent placement only, and drainage and metallic stent placement in one-session procedures with and without under-couch shielding. Doses to the hands of interventional radiologists are presented for left and right transhepatic biliary access and metallic stent placement. Conclusions: Body level-specific normalized air-kerma distributions from commonly used projections in PTB procedures may be useful to accurately quantify dose, maximum workloads, and possible radiogenic risks delivered to medical personnel working in the interventional radiology laboratory. Normalized dose data presented will enable occupational exposure estimation from other institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to determine the contribution of transmission measurements acquisition to total patient effective dose from cardiac SPECT studies. A dualhead L-shaped gamma camera equipped with a transmission scan acquisition system based on two [sup 153]Gd line sources was used to simulate transmission measurements acquisition exposure on an anthropomorphic phantom. Thermoluminescence dosimeters were used to directly monitor the dose to 550 measuring points in the phantom. The effective dose and associated risk from transmission scans acquisition were estimated and compared to those associated to the radiopharmaceutical injected. The maximum effective dose from a typical transmission measurements acquisition was 1.3 µSv and 1.9 µSv for male and female patients, respectively. The contribution of the typical transmission scans acquisition to total patient radiation risk from a cardiac SPECT study is less than 10[sup -3]. Thus, radiation exposure may not be considered as a limiting factor for the clinical application of attenuation correction methods based on transmission measurements in cardiac SPECT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusive and semi-inclusive production of Λ and $$\bar \Lambda$$ in K p interactions is studied at an incident momentum of 70 GeV/c. Cross sections and single particle distributions are presented and compared with data at lower energies. Scaling is observed between 32 and 70 GeV/c in the Feynman x variable in the target and the beam fragmentation regions for Λ and $$\bar \Lambda$$ inclusive production respectively. An increase of Λ ( $$\bar \Lambda$$ ) production is observed in the beam (target) fragmentation regions, whereas the data at 70 and 32 GeV/c are reasonably close in the central region. The dependence of the Λ( $$\bar \Lambda$$ ) polarization as a function of x is measured and found to be in general agreement with the results at 32 GeV/c. The (Λ $$\bar \Lambda$$ ) pair production cross section increases significantly from 32 to 70 GeV/c. The Λ and $$\bar \Lambda$$ production associated with an identified proton is also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusive charged pion production is studied in an exposure of BEBC, filled with hydrogen, to an incident K beam of 70 GeV/c. Total cross sections for pion production and inclusive longitudinal and transverse momentum distributions of π's and of positive particles are presented and compared with data at lower energies. Earlier evidence for scaling in the fragmentation regions is confirmed. The central region π cross section increases proportionally to p; positive particles show almost no energy dependence at x=0. Particle ratios π/π are studied as a function of x and y and a comparison with 70 GeV/c K p data is made. Analysis of structure functions for (ππ) pairs and of particle production associated with π triggers at large | x| in the context of quark/parton models, provides qualitative evidence for the diquark-quark structure of the proton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]