Endoscopic Balloon Dilatation of Benign Esophageal Stricture—A Nonhazardous Procedure?

Balloon dilatation of benign esophageal strictures has been widely used since its introduction. We have performed 224 dilatation procedures in 52 patients. Dilatation was done as an outpatient procedure. Strictures were due to reflux esophagitis in 25 patients, anastomatic stenosis in 6, achalasia in 5, complications of sclerotherapy in 5, corrosive lesions in 3, and long-standing nasogastric intubation in 2. The cause was unknown in 6 cases. The intention was to dilate all strictures up to 20 mm. Three major complications occurred, and one of these patients died. The risk of perforation seems to be higher after repeated procedures than during the first one

Does Dysphagia Indicate Recurrence of Benign Esophageal Strictures?

Esophageal dilatation in dysphagic patients with benign strictures is usually considered successful if the patients' dysphagia is alleviated. However, the relation between dysphagia and the diameter of a stricture is not well understood. Moreover, the dysphagia may also be caused by an underlying esophageal motor disorder. In order to compare symptoms and objective measurements of esophageal stricture, 28 patients were studied with interview and a radiologic esophagram. The latter included swallowing of a solid bolus. All patients underwent successful balloon dilatation at least one month prior to this study. Recurrence of a stricture with a diameter of less than 13 mm was diagnosed by the barium swallow in 21 patients. Recurrence of dysphagia was seen in 15 patients. Thirteen patients denied any swallowing symptoms. Chest pain was present in 9 patients. Of 15 patients with dysphagia 2 (13%) had no narrowing but severe esophageal dysmotility. Of 13 patients without dysphagia 9 (69%) had a stricture with a diameter of 13 mm or less. Of 21 patients with a stricture of 13 mm or less 14 (67%) were symptomatic while 7 (33%) were asymptomatic. Four of 11 patients with retrosternal pain had a stricture of less than 10 mm. Three patients with retrosternal pain and obstruction had severe esophageal dysmotility. Whether or not the patients have dysphagia may be more related to diet and eating habits than to the true diameter of their esophageal narrowing. We conclude that the clinical history is non-reliable for evaluating the results of esophageal stricture dilatation. In order to get an objective measurement of therapeutic outcome, barium swallow including a solid bolus is recommended

Implementing an Insect Brain Computational Circuit Using III–V Nanowire Components in a Single Shared Waveguide Optical Network

Recent developments in photonics include efficient nanoscale optoelectronic components and novel methods for sub-wavelength light manipulation. Here, we explore the potential offered by such devices as a substrate for neuromorphic computing. We propose an artificial neural network in which the weighted connectivity between nodes is achieved by emitting and receiving overlapping light signals inside a shared quasi 2D waveguide. This decreases the circuit footprint by at least an order of magnitude compared to existing optical solutions. The reception, evaluation and emission of the optical signals are performed by a neuron-like node constructed from known, highly efficient III-V nanowire optoelectronics. This minimizes power consumption of the network. To demonstrate the concept, we build a computational model based on an anatomically correct, functioning model of the central-complex navigation circuit of the insect brain. We simulate in detail the optical and electronic parts required to reproduce the connectivity of the central part of this network, using experimentally derived parameters. The results are used as input in the full model and we demonstrate that the functionality is preserved. Our approach points to a general method for drastically reducing the footprint and improving power efficiency of optoelectronic neural networks, leveraging the superior speed and energy efficiency of light as a carrier of information.Comment: 28 pages, 6 figures; supplementary information 15 pages, 8 figure

A prospective study of Helicobacter pylori in relation to the risk for pancreatic cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The relationship between <it>Helicobacter pylori </it>infection and pancreatic cancer has been investigated in three previous studies with contradictory results. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between <it>H. pylori </it>seropositivity and the risk for pancreatic cancer in a nested case-control study within a population based cohort.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Selected birth-year cohorts (born 1921–1949) of residents in Malmö, Sweden, were invited to a health screening investigation. A total of 33 346 subjects participated. Cases with pancreatic cancer (n = 87) were matched to controls (n = 263) using age, sex and time for baseline investigation as matching variables. <it>H. pylori </it>serology was analysed in stored serum samples using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Odds ratios (OR) for pancreatic cancer were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using logistic regression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>H. pylori </it>seropositivity was not associated with pancreatic cancer in the total cohort (adjusted OR 1.25 (0.75–2.09)). However, a statistically significant association was found in never smokers (OR 3.81 (1.06–13.63) adjusted for alcohol consumption) and a borderline statistically significant association was found in subjects with low alcohol consumption (OR 2.13 (0.97–4.69) adjusted for smoking).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We conclude that no association between <it>H. pylori </it>infection and the risk for pancreatic cancer was found in the total cohort. However, in never smokers and in subjects with low risk alcohol consumption, a positive <it>H. pylori </it>serology was associated with an increased risk for pancreatic cancer. These findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the limited number of cases in these subgroups.</p

Cancer risks in patients treated with growth hormone in childhood: the SAGhE European cohort study.

Context: Growth hormone (GH) is prescribed for an increasing range of indications, but there has been concern that it might raise cancer risk. Published data are limited. Objective: To examine cancer risks in relation to GH treatment. Design: Cohort study. Setting: Population-based. Patients: Cohort of 23,984 patients treated with recombinant human GH (r-hGH) in eight European countries since this treatment was first used in 1984. Cancer expectations from country-specific national population statistics. Main Outcome Measures: Cancer incidence and cancer mortality. Results: Incidence and mortality risks in the cohort were raised for several cancer sites, largely consequent on second primary malignancies in patients given r-hGH after cancer treatment. There was no clear raised risk in patients with growth failure without other major disease. Only for bone and bladder cancers was incidence significantly raised in GH-treated patients without previous cancer. Cancer risk was unrelated to duration or cumulative dose of r-hGH treatment, but for patients treated after previous cancer, cancer mortality risk increased significantly with increasing daily r-hGH dose (P trend < 0.001). Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) incidence increased significantly with longer follow-up (P trend = 0.001 for patients overall and 0.002 for patients without previous cancer). Conclusions: Our results do not generally support a carcinogenic effect of r-hGH, but the unexplained trend in cancer mortality risk in relation to GH dose in patients with previous cancer, and the indication of possible effects on bone cancer, bladder cancer, and HL risks, need further investigation

The development of the javelin

Le javelot : évolution des matériaux, des qualités aérodynamiques de l'engin; changements des règles et leur incidence sur la conception et la fabrication du javelot : nouvelles procédures de tests, illustrées par l'exemple de la société Nordic

Accessible theater? : Essay on the work with and the physical availability of Wermland Opera and Västanå Teater

This bachelor thesis is based on how the two cultural institutions in Sweden have been working onincreasing physical accessibility. Based on the three objectives specified by the Swedish Kulturrådet(Swedish Arts Council). These points are 1.forming a workplace strategy, 2. Work to remove simpleobstacles in buildings and 3.Improved Web access in regard to the accessibility for physically disabled.The work regarding the accessibility goals is set on the time frame 2011-2016. The institutions studiedin this paper are Wermland Opera and Västanå Teater and how the two institutions have worked toimplement the three objectives and how the discussion about the accessibility within the two theaters hasbeen organized.The method of information gathering in this paper has been interviews with representatives from the twotheaters. The interviewees all have different roles within the institutions, both musicians, marketers andadministrative personnel have been interviewed. And the analysis in the paper is based on discourseanalysis and discourse theory, this to show how the two institutions create and maintain the discoursessurrounding accessibility in institutions buildings.The results of the paper have shown that both institutions have made a considerable effort inimplementing the goals set by the Kulturrådet. In comparison between the two institutions WermlandOpera has a much more active discussion in regard to accessibility and the work that they can do. Bothin their theater productions and in the buildings they work within. Västanå Teater has a much more “dayto day” way of handling the work with accessibility in regarding to both the personnel and the buildingsthey work in

Volatilitetsmission : En studie av aktiemarknaderna i Sverige, Tyskland, England, Japan och USA

Denna uppsats ämnar undersöka hur volatilitetstransmissionen mellan sex aktiemarknader i världen ser ut och att utreda vilka aktiemarknader som har mest inflytande över den svenska börsens volatilitet. Uppsatsen syftar även till att utforska om graden av volatilitetsspridning ökat sedan IT-kraschen. Vid utförandet av denna studie används en ekonometrisk tvåstegsmodell inkluderande GARCH och VAR. Resultaten pekar på att det sprids volatilitet mellan aktiemarknaderna och att utländska innovationer står för en långvarig påverkan på den inhemska volatiliteten. Undersökningen visar att svenska börsen är den aktiemarknad som påverkas mest av utländska chocker och att den inte har någon nämnvärd påverkan på de andra aktiemarknaderna. Vidare påvisar resultaten att IT-kraschen lett till att utländska innovationer fått en större betydelse i Sverige liksom att den svenska börsens volatilitet blivit mer beroende av Nasdaqs

Miksi IT-projektit epäonnistuvat?

IT-projektit ovat tunnettuja epäonnistumisistaan. Syitä epäonnistumisiin voi olla useita. Tämän opinnäytetyön tarkoituksena oli tutkia, mitä tekijöitä IT-projektien epäonnistumisien taustalla on ja mitkä ovat IT-projektien epäonnistumisiin vaikuttavat yleisimmät tekijät. Opinnäytetyö on integroiva kirjallisuuskatsaus. Tiedonhaku on tehty kolmeen eri tietokantaan ja rajattu 10 vuotta vanhoihin tutkimusartikkeleihin. Opinnäytetyöhön valittiin 9 tutkimusartikkelia, jotka vastasivat tutkimuskysymyksiin. Tutkimusaineisto analysoitiin sisällönanalyysin sekä sisällön erittelyn avulla. IT-projektien epäonnistumisten taustalla olevat tekijät liittyivät projektinhallintaongelmiin, yhteistyötaitojen puutteisiin ja tiiminjäsenten ammattitaidon puutteisiin. IT-projektien epäonnistumisien yleisin tekijä tutkimusaineiston perusteella liittyi projektisuunnittelun ongelmiin. Toiseksi yleisimmäksi tekijäksi nousivat johtamisongelmat. Kolmanneksi yleisimmäksi tekijäksi nousi IT-projektien epäonnistumisiin liittyen kehittäjien ja loppukäyttäjien välisen yhteistyön ongelmat. Tämä opinnäytetyö on tehty osana Haaga-Helia ammattikorkeakoulun Tietojenkäsittelyn perustutkintoa keväällä 2015. Opinnäytetyön tuloksia voidaan hyödyntää IT-projekteja kehittäessä.IT-projects are reportedly likely to fail. The purpose of this thesis was to investigate what reasons there are behind IT-projects failures and to find out the most common ones. This thesis is an integrative literature review. The data for this thesis is gathered from three different databases and confined to 10 year old research articles. 9 research articles were chosen for this study to give an answer to the research questions. The study reveals that the reasons for IT-projects having failed could lie in problems originating from project management, lack of cooperative skills and lack of skilled team members. The most common reason IT-projects fail, based on the research data, had a connection with project planning. The second most common reason was connected to problems in project leadership. The third most common reason why IT-projects fail can occur due to problems in cooperation between the developers and the end users. This thesis is made as a part of Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences Business In-formation Technology degree programme in 2015. The results of this study can be used to enhance IT-projects development

Accessible theater? : Essay on the work with and the physical availability of Wermland Opera and Västanå Teater

This bachelor thesis is based on how the two cultural institutions in Sweden have been working onincreasing physical accessibility. Based on the three objectives specified by the Swedish Kulturrådet(Swedish Arts Council). These points are 1.forming a workplace strategy, 2. Work to remove simpleobstacles in buildings and 3.Improved Web access in regard to the accessibility for physically disabled.The work regarding the accessibility goals is set on the time frame 2011-2016. The institutions studiedin this paper are Wermland Opera and Västanå Teater and how the two institutions have worked toimplement the three objectives and how the discussion about the accessibility within the two theaters hasbeen organized.The method of information gathering in this paper has been interviews with representatives from the twotheaters. The interviewees all have different roles within the institutions, both musicians, marketers andadministrative personnel have been interviewed. And the analysis in the paper is based on discourseanalysis and discourse theory, this to show how the two institutions create and maintain the discoursessurrounding accessibility in institutions buildings.The results of the paper have shown that both institutions have made a considerable effort inimplementing the goals set by the Kulturrådet. In comparison between the two institutions WermlandOpera has a much more active discussion in regard to accessibility and the work that they can do. Bothin their theater productions and in the buildings they work within. Västanå Teater has a much more “dayto day” way of handling the work with accessibility in regarding to both the personnel and the buildingsthey work in