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

The pale evidence for treatment of iron-deficiency anaemia in older people

Funding The authors have received funding to carry out a pilot RCT on management of IDA in older people from the Chief Scientist Office, Scotland.Peer reviewedPostprin

Prognostic value of troponins in acute coronary syndrome depends upon patient age

Peer reviewedPostprin

Hyperonic mixing in five-baryon double-strangeness hypernuclei in a two-channel treatment

Properties of hypernuclei $_{\Lambda \Lambda}^5$H and $_{\Lambda \Lambda }^5$He are studied in a two-channel approach with explicit treatment of coupling of channels ^3\text{Z}+\Lambda+\Lambda and \alpha+\Xi. Diagonal \Lambda\Lambda and coupling \Lambda\Lambda-\Xi N interactions are derived within G-matrix procedure from Nijmegen meson-exchange models. Bond energy \Delta B_{\Lambda\Lambda} in $_{\Lambda \Lambda}^5$He exceeds significantly that in $_{\Lambda \Lambda}^5$H due to the channel coupling. Diagonal \Xi\alpha attraction amplifies the effect, which is sensitive also to \Lambda-core interaction. The difference of the \Delta B_{\Lambda\Lambda} values can be an unambiguous signature of the \Lambda\Lambda-\Xi N coupling in \Lambda\Lambda hypernuclei. However, improved knowledge of the hyperon-nucleus potentials is needed for quantitative extraction of the coupling strength from future data on the \Lambda\Lambda hypernuclear binding energies.Comment: 11 pages with 3 figures; Phys. Rev. C, accepte

Detection of (1,3)-β-d-Glucan in Cerebrospinal Fluid in Histoplasma Meningitis

The diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) histoplasmosis is often difficult. Although cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (1,3)-β-d-glucan (BDG) is available as a biological marker for the diagnosis of fungal meningitis, there are limited data on its use for the diagnosis of Histoplasma meningitis. We evaluated CSF BDG detection, using the Fungitell assay, in patients with CNS histoplasmosis and controls. A total of 47 cases and 153 controls were identified. The control group included 13 patients with a CNS fungal infection other than histoplasmosis. Forty-nine percent of patients with CNS histoplasmosis and 43.8% of controls were immunocompromised. The median CSF BDG level was 85 pg/ml for cases, compared to <31 pg/ml for all controls (P < 0.05) and 82 pg/ml for controls with other causes of fungal meningitis (P = 0.27). The sensitivity for detection of BDG in CSF was 53.2%, whereas the specificity was 86.9% versus all controls and 46% versus other CNS fungal infections. CSF BDG levels of ≥80 pg/ml are neither sensitive nor specific to support a diagnosis of Histoplasma meningitis

ΛΛ\Lambda\Lambda-ΞN\Xi N-ΣΣ\Sigma\Sigma coupling in ΛΛ 6^{~6}_{\Lambda\Lambda}He with the Nijmegen soft-core potentials

The $\Lambda\Lambda$-$\Xi N$-$\Sigma\Sigma$ coupling in $^{~6}_{\Lambda\Lambda}$He is studied with the [$\alpha$ + $\Lambda$ + $\Lambda$] + [$\alpha$ + $\Xi$ + $N$] + [$\alpha$ + $\Sigma$ + $\Sigma$] model, where the $\alpha$ particle is assumed as a frozen core. We use the Nijmegen soft-core potentials, NSC97e and NSC97f, for the valence baryon-baryon part, and the phenomenological potentials for the $\alpha-B$ parts ($B$=$N$, $\Lambda$, $\Xi$ and $\Sigma$). We find that the calculated $\Delta B_{\Lambda\Lambda}$ of $^{~6}_{\Lambda\Lambda}$He for NSC97e and NSC97f are, respectively, 0.6 and 0.4 MeV in the full coupled-channel calculation, the results of which are about half in comparison with the experimental data, $\Delta B^{exp}_{\Lambda\Lambda}=1.01\pm0.20^{+0.18}_{-0.11}$ MeV. Characteristics of the $S=-2$ sector in the NSC97 potentials are discussed in detail.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figure

The influence of early research experience in medical school on the decision to intercalate and future career in clinical academia : A questionnaire study

Funding for the study was made available from University academic development funds.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Persistence of Macrocytosis After Discontinuation of Zidovudine in HIV-Infected Patients

The duration of macrocytosis after stopping zidovudine (ZDV) is unknown. Among 104 HIV-infected patients treated with ZDV for more than 1 year, 84 patients had macrocytosis at ZDV discontinuation. The median mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was 114.6 fL (range 100-128 fL). Patients were divided into 2 groups: those who did (resolved macrocytosis, n = 36) and did not (persistent macrocytosis, n = 48) normalize MCV at 3 to 6 months after ZDV discontinuation. Alcohol use (P = .02), smoking (P = .03), and lower (but within normal range) folic acid levels (P = .05) were related to the persistence of macrocytosis. A persistence of macrocytosis was observed in 57% at 3 to 6 months, 38% at 1 year and 37% at 2 years after ZDV therapy had stopped. Duration of ZDV therapy did not have an effect on the persistence of macrocytosis (P = .73). The median time for the MCV to normalize after stopping ZDV was 12.5 months