The effect of caffeine ingestion in prevention of post-operative ileus after caesarean section: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Caesarian section (CS) has become more prevalent than the vaginal delivery in Egypt. Many complications could occur after an abdominal surgery. One of the commonest but yet serious complications is the postoperative ileus that can possibly be prevented by caffeine ingestion. The aim of the study is to assess the value of caffeine ingestion in promoting intestinal motility and prevention of postoperative ileus after CS.Methods: This is a randomized controlled trial that was conducted on 560 cases who were recruited from emergency unit and inpatient wards in Ain Shams University maternity hospital. The patients were divided into two groups where the intervention group received caffeinated coffee while the other group received decaffeinated coffee.Results: There was statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding the bowel function after CS (p <0.05). The intervention group had improved intestinal functions after the CS. Patients from the intervention group had audible intestinal sound sooner than the control group. In addition, they passed flatus and were able to tolerate food in less time.Conclusions: Consuming caffeinated coffee after CS contributes significantly to faster restoration of intestinal function. Coffee is a popular drink and can be used to decrease the incidence of postoperative ileus-related complications

Engineering meter-scale porous media flow experiments for quantitative studies of geological carbon sequestration

This technical note describes the FluidFlower concept, a new laboratory infrastructure for geological carbon storage research. The highly controlled and adjustable system produces a strikingly visual physical ground truth of studied processes for model validation, comparison, and forecasting, including detailed physical studies of the behavior and storage mechanisms of carbon dioxide and its derivative forms in relevant geological settings for subsurface carbon storage. The design, instrumentation, structural aspects and methodology are described. Furthermore, we share engineering insights on construction, operation, fluid considerations, and fluid resetting in the porous media. The new infrastructure enables researchers to study variability between repeated CO2 injections, making the FluidFlower concept a suitable tool for sensitivity studies on a range of determining carbon storage parameters in varying geological formations

Values of natural and human-made wetlands: A meta-analysis

The values of goods and services provided by wetland ecosystems are examined through a meta-analysis of an expanded database of wetland value estimates and with a focus on human-made wetlands. This study extends and improves upon previous meta-analyses of the wetland valuation literature in terms of the number of observations, geographical coverage, wetland class and integrity, and the measurement of the effects of scarcity and anthropogenic pressure. We find that water quality improvement, nonconsumptive recreation, and provision of natural habitat and biodiversity are highly valued services. Substitution effects are observed through the negative correlation between values and abundance of other wetlands. Wetland values are found to increase with anthropogenic pressure. An extended metaregression model with cross effects shows that the valuation of specific services varies with the type of wetland producing them. Human-made wetlands are highly valued for biodiversity enhancement, water quality improvement, and flood control

Une infiltration péri-rénale gauche

International audienc

Calcite-functionalized micromodels for pore-scale investigations of CO

Carbon capture and subsequent storage (CCS) is identified as a necessity to achieve climate commitments. Permanent storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) in subsurface saline aquifers or depleted oil and gas reservoirs is feasible, but large-scale implementation of such storage has so far been slow. Although sandstone formations are currently most viable for CO2 sequestration, carbonates play an important role in widespread implementation of CCS; both due to the world-wide abundancy of saline aquifers in carbonate formations, and as candidates for CO2-EOR with combined storage. Acidification of formation brine during CO2 injection cause carbonate dissolution and development of reactive flow patterns. Using calcite-functionalization of micromodels we experimentally investigate fundamental pore-scale reactive transport dynamics relevant for carbonate CO2 storage security. Calcite-functionalized, two-dimensional and siliconbased, pore scale micromodels were used. Calcite precipitation was microbially induced from the bacteria Sporosarcina pasteurii and calcite grains were formed in-situ. This paper details an improved procedure for achieving controlled calcite precipitation in the pore space and characterizes the precipitation/mineralization process. The experimental setup featured a temperature-controlled micromodel holder attached to an automatic scanning stage. A high-resolution microscope enabled full-model (22x27 mm) image capture at resolution of 1.1 µm/pixel within 82 seconds. An in-house developed image-analysis python script was used to quantify porosity alterations due to calcite precipitation. The calcite-functionalized micromodels were found to replicate natural carbonate pore geometry and chemistry, and thus may be used to quantify calcite dissolution and reactive flow at the pore-scale

Une infiltration péri-rénale gauche

International audienceno abstrac

Un fossoyeur qui reste de marbre

International audienc

L’amylose à lysozyme

International audienceLysozyme amyloidosis is a non-neuropathic hereditary amyloidosis identified in 1993. About fifty cases of this rare, probably under-diagnosed disease are reported. Lysozyme amyloidosis has a very broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. Sicca syndrome is often the first symptom, preceding the diagnosis by several years. Every part of the digestive tract can be involved with different grades of severity. The hallmark of this amyloidosis is the usually life-threatening spontaneous hepatic rupture. Renal involvement is frequent and progresses towards end-stage renal failure and dialysis. Skin, lymph nodes, and spleen can also be affected. More recently, cardiac and pulmonary involvement was reported. Phenotypic heterogeneity and incomplete penetrance make the clinical diagnosis difficult. Amyloid deposits are revealed by Congo red staining with birefringence under polarized light. They can be limited or diffuse and lead to the progressive destruction of the architecture of an organ and its failure. Immunohistochemistry reveals the nature of the amyloid variant by identifying antilysozyme antibodies in the deposit. Up to know, eight pathologic mutations and one polymorphism involving exons 2, 3, and 4 of the lysozyme gene have been identified. The transmission is autosomal dominant, without any genotype-phenotype correlation. The therapeutic options are limited and based on symptomatic or supportive treatment. Renal and hepatic transplant has proved its benefits with a prolonged graft survival. A long term regular and multidisciplinary follow-up is required. (C) 2018 Societe Nationale Francaise de Medecine Interne (SNFMI). Published by Elsevier Masson SASL’amylose à lysozyme est une amylose héréditaire non neuropathique identifiée en 1993. Elle reste une pathologie rare avec une cinquantaine de cas rapportés, et probablement encore sous-diagnostiquée.L’amylose à lysozyme présente un très large spectre de manifestations cliniques. Le syndrome sec constitue souvent le premier symptôme précédant de plusieurs années le diagnostic. L’ensemble du tractus digestif peut être atteint avec des degrés de sévérité variable. La caractéristique de cette amylose est la rupture spontanée hépatique qui menace le plus souvent le pronostic vital. L’atteinte rénale est fréquente évoluant vers l’insuffisance rénale terminale et la mise en dialyse. Les autres atteintes sont dermatologiques, ganglionnaires et spléniques. Plus récemment une atteinte cardiaque et pulmonaire est rapportée.L’hétérogénéité phénotypique et la pénétrance incomplète rendent le diagnostic clinique difficile. Les dépôts amyloïdes sont révélés par la coloration au rouge Congo, associée à une biréfringence en lumière polarisée. Ils peuvent être limités ou diffus et conduire à la destruction progressive de l’architecture d’un organe et sa défaillance. Le typage de l’amylose repose sur l’immunohistochimie montrant la positivité des anticorps antilysozyme, ou par analyse protéomique des dépôts après microdissection au laser.L’étude du gène du lysozyme a permis d’identifier à ce jour huit variants amyloïdogènes et un poly-morphisme, touchant les exons 2, 3 et 4. La transmission est autosomique dominante, sans corrélation génotype-phénotype évidente. Les options thérapeutiques sont limitées et reposent sur des traitements symptomatiques ou de support. La transplantation rénale et hépatique a montré son intérêt du fait d’une survie prolongée du greffon. Un suivi régulier, prolongé et multidisciplinaire est nécessaire

Un diagnostic qui prend aux tripes Diffuse arthromyalgia in a 59-year-old man

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