New Results From Lattice QCD: Non-Perturbative Renormalization and Quark Masses

For the first time, we compute non-perturbatively, i.e. without lattice perturbation theory, the renormalization constants of two-fermion operators in the quenched approximation at $\beta=6.0$, 6.2 and 6.4 using the Wilson and the tree-level improved SW-Clover actions. We apply these renormalization constants to fully non-perturbatively estimate quark masses in the $\bar{MS}$ scheme from lattice simulations of both the hadron spectrum and the Axial Ward Identity in the quenched approximation. Some very preliminary unquenched Wilson results obtained from the gluon configurations generated by the T$\chi$L Collaboration at $\beta=5.6$ and $N_{f}=2$ are also discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Invited talk given at the QCD 98 Euroconference, Montpellier, France, 2-8 July 199

Transition in the workplace: The experience of Italian transgender and gender non-conforming people through the lens of the minority stress theory

Transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) people are a highly stigmatized population experiencing high rates of minority stress and adverse health outcomes. Notwithstanding that, they are able to use adaptive coping strategies to buffer the effect of stigma on their health. Recently, vocational experiences of TGNC individuals were connected to minority stressors, highlighting the effects that stigma have on vocational outcomes. Through the lens of the minority stress theory, this study aimed at exploring the emotional and psychological implications of the gender transition process in the workplace in two male-to-female and six female-to-male Italian TGNC individuals taking part in the study “Reinterpreting organizations through transgender and gender non-conforming narratives”. Participants sent their narratives to the editorial board of the PuntOorg International Journal (PIJ). Narratives were analyzed through the thematic inductive analysis. Three macrocategories were identified, each containing core themes, as follows: 1) Minority stressors (a. Transphobia and rejection; b. Felt stigma and stigma anticipation; c. Internalized transphobia; d. Passing as an obstacle); 2) Protective factors (a. Passing as a resource; b. Coming out, visibility, and intimacy with colleagues; c. Resilience); 3) Effect of minority stress on health (a. Depression; b. Anger and suicide ideation). Results and organizational implications are discussed

Splenic Embolization Decreases Infectious Complications and Resource Utilization Compared to Splenectomy in Severely Injured Patients

Introduction. Increasing use of main coil angioembolization for splenic injury has raised concerns of increased complication rates and resource utilization compared to splenectomy. This study examined complication rates for severely injured patients undergoing splenectomy versus main coil angioembolization. Methods. Demographic data (age, sex, and race), Injury Severity Score (ISS), and splenic injury grade were collected prospectively on all patients admitted to the intensive care unit with blunt splenic injury treated with splenectomy or main coil angioembolization. Outcome measures (transfusion requirements, mechanical ventilation use and duration, mortality, intensive care unit and hospital length of stay, infection rate, and systemic inflammatory response syndrome or SIRS score) were reviewed daily. Results. Of 116 patients reviewed, 65 underwent splenectomy and 51 underwent main coil angioembolization. Groups were comparable for age, sex, race, and mechanism of injury. Splenectomized patients had a higher ISS (41 vs 31) and splenic injury grade (3.7 vs 3.2). The main coil angioembolization group had a lower transfusion requirement, hospital length of stay, incidence of mechanical ventilation, nosocomial infection rate, and SIRS score. Overall, mortality and ventilator days were lower but not statistically significant. Conclusions. Severely injured patients treated with splenectomy had significantly higher infection rates and resource utilization compared to those treated with main coil angioembolization

Matrix Elements without Quark Masses on the Lattice

We introduce a new parameterization of four-fermion matrix elements which does not involve quark masses and thus allows a reduction of systematic uncertainties in physical amplitudes. As a result the apparent quadratic dependence of e'/e on m_s is removed. To simplify the matching between lattice and continuum renormalization schemes, we express our results in terms of Renormalization Group Invariant B-parameters which are renormalization-scheme and scale independent. As an application of our proposal, matrix elements of DeltaI=3/2 and SUSY DeltaF=2 ($F=S,C,B$) four-fermion operators have been computed.Comment: LATTICE99(Matrix Elements), 3 pages, 1 figure, BUHEP-99-2

Lo stigma anti-transgender da una prospettiva ecologico-sociale: Effetti sulla salute psico-fisica e strategie di intervento

The present study offers an overview on stigma against transgender people, analyzing its effects on physical and psychological well-being. We adopted a socio-ecological perspective, according to which antitransgender stigma may manifest at different levels: along the environment-individual spectrum, stigma may occur at the institutional, interpersonal and individual level. All these typologies make transgender people a very vulnerable group, at risk for several health problems. Authors will finally overview some specific psycho-social interventions aimed at reducing stress, by matching each level of stigma with internationally well-established good practices

Towards a lattice calculation of the coefficients of the QCD chiral Lagrangian

We discuss a general strategy to compute the coefficients of QCD chiral Lagrangian by using the lattice regularization of QCD with Wilson fermions. This procedure requires the introduction of an effective Lagrangian for lattice QCD as an intermediate step in the calculation. The continuum QCD chiral Lagrangian can be then obtained by expanding the lattice effective Lagrangian in increasing powers of the external momenta. A suitable renormalization procedure is required to account for the chiral symmetry breaking introduced by the Wilson term in the lattice action. In anticipation of a numerical simulation, the lattice effective Lagrangian is computed analytically and investigated in the strong coupling and large $N$ limitComment: Talk presented at LATTICE96(chirality in qcd) , 3 pages, no figures. Latex file with espcrc2 styl

Effect of P2Y12 inhibitors on organ support-free survival in critically ill patients hospitalized for COVID-19: A randomized clinical trial

IMPORTANCE: Platelet activation is a potential therapeutic target in patients with COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of P2Y12 inhibition among critically ill patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This international, open-label, adaptive platform, 1:1 randomized clinical trial included critically ill (requiring intensive care-level support) patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Patients were enrolled between February 26, 2021, through June 22, 2022. Enrollment was discontinued on June 22, 2022, by the trial leadership in coordination with the study sponsor given a marked slowing of the enrollment rate of critically ill patients. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned to receive a P2Y12 inhibitor or no P2Y12 inhibitor (usual care) for 14 days or until hospital discharge, whichever was sooner. Ticagrelor was the preferred P2Y12 inhibitor. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was organ support-free days, evaluated on an ordinal scale that combined in-hospital death and, for participants who survived to hospital discharge, the number of days free of cardiovascular or respiratory organ support up to day 21 of the index hospitalization. The primary safety outcome was major bleeding, as defined by the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis. RESULTS: At the time of trial termination, 949 participants (median [IQR] age, 56 [46-65] years; 603 male [63.5%]) had been randomly assigned, 479 to the P2Y12 inhibitor group and 470 to usual care. In the P2Y12 inhibitor group, ticagrelor was used in 372 participants (78.8%) and clopidogrel in 100 participants (21.2%). The estimated adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for the effect of P2Y12 inhibitor on organ support-free days was 1.07 (95% credible interval, 0.85-1.33). The posterior probability of superiority (defined as an OR \u3e 1.0) was 72.9%. Overall, 354 participants (74.5%) in the P2Y12 inhibitor group and 339 participants (72.4%) in the usual care group survived to hospital discharge (median AOR, 1.15; 95% credible interval, 0.84-1.55; posterior probability of superiority, 80.8%). Major bleeding occurred in 13 participants (2.7%) in the P2Y12 inhibitor group and 13 (2.8%) in the usual care group. The estimated mortality rate at 90 days for the P2Y12 inhibitor group was 25.5% and for the usual care group was 27.0% (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.76-1.23; P = .77). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this randomized clinical trial of critically ill participants hospitalized for COVID-19, treatment with a P2Y12 inhibitor did not improve the number of days alive and free of cardiovascular or respiratory organ support. The use of the P2Y12 inhibitor did not increase major bleeding compared with usual care. These data do not support routine use of a P2Y12 inhibitor in critically ill patients hospitalized for COVID-19. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04505774

Utility of esophageal gastroduodenoscopy at the time of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in trauma patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The utility of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) performed at the time of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is unclear. We examined whether EGD at time of PEG yielded clinically useful information important in patient care. We also reviewed the outcome and complication rates of EGD-PEG performed by trauma surgeons.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Retrospective review of all trauma patients undergoing EGD with PEG at a level I trauma center from 1/01–6/03.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>210 patients underwent combined EGD with PEG by the trauma team. A total of 37% of patients had unsuspected upper gastrointestinal lesions seen on EGD. Of these, 35% had traumatic brain injury, 10% suffered multisystem injury, and 47% had spinal cord injury. These included 15 esophageal, 61 gastric, and six duodenal lesions, mucosal or hemorrhagic findings on EGD. This finding led to a change in therapy in 90% of patients; either resumption/continuation of H₂-blockers or conversion to proton-pump inhibitors. One patient suffered an upper gastrointestinal bleed while on H2-blocker. It was treated endoscopically. Complication rates were low. There were no iatrogenic visceral perforations seen. Three PEGs were inadvertently removed by the patient (1.5%); one was replaced with a Foley, one replaced endoscopically, and one patient underwent gastric repair and open jejunostomy tube. One PEG leak was repaired during exploration for unrelated hemorrhage. Six patients had significant site infections (3%); four treated with local drainage and antibiotics, one requiring operative debridement and later closure, and one with antibiotics alone.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>EGD at the time of PEG <b>may add </b>clinically useful data in the management of trauma patients. Only one patient treated with acid suppression therapy for EGD diagnosed lesions suffered delayed gastrointestinal bleeding. Trauma surgeons can perform EGD and PEG with acceptable outcomes and complication rates.</p