ϕ\phi meson production in sNN\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200 GeV Au+Au and pp collisions at RHIC

We present the results for the measurement of $\phi$ meson production in $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV Au+Au and pp collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). Using the event mixing technique, spectra and yields are obtained from the $\phi\to K^{+}K^{-}$ decay channel for different centrality bins in Au+Au collisions and in pp collisions. We observe that the spectrum shape in Au+Au collisions depends weakly on the centrality and the shape of the spectrum in pp collisions is significantly different from that in Au+Au collisions. In Au+Au collisions, the extracted yield of $\phi$ meson is flat as a function of rapidity; The $$ of $\phi$, extracted from the fit function to the spectra, shows a different behavior as a function of centrality than that of $\pi^-$, $K^-$ and $\bar{p}$Comment: Proceedings for the 7th International Conference on Strangeness in Quark Matte

Patterns of adherence to and compliance with the Portuguese smoke-free law in the leisure-hospitality sector

CIEC – Research Centre on Child Studies, UM (FCT R&D 317)Background: In 2008, the Portuguese smoke-free law came into effect including partial bans in the leisure-hospitality (LH) sector. The objective of the study is to assess the prevalence of smoking control policies (total ban, smoking permission and designated smoking areas) adopted by the LH sector in Portugal. The levels of noncompliance with each policy are investigated as well as the main factors associated with smoking permission and noncompliance with the law. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted between January 2010 and May 2011. A random sample of venues was selected from the Portuguese LH sector database, proportionally stratified according to type, size and geographical area. All venues were assessed in loco by an observer. The independent effects of venues’ characteristics on smoking permission and the level of noncompliance with the law were explored using logistic regression. Results: Overall, 1.412 venues were included. Total ban policy was adopted by 75.9% of venues, while 8.4% had designated smoking areas. Smoking ban was more prevalent in restaurants (85.9%). Only 29.7% of discos/bars/pubs opted for complete ban. Full or partial smoking permission was higher in discos/bar/pubs (OR = 7.37; 95%CI 4.87 to 11.17). Noncompliance with the law was higher in venues allowing smoking and lower in places with complete ban (33.6% and 7.6% respectively, p, 0.001). Discos/bars/pubs with full smoking permission had the highest level of noncompliance (OR = 3.31; 95%CI 1.40 to 7.83). Conclusions: Our findings show a high adherence to smoking ban policy by the Portuguese LH sector. Nonetheless, one quarter of the venues is fully or partially permissive towards smoking, with the discos/bars/pubs considerably contributing to this situation. Venues with smoking permission policies were less compliant with the legislation. The implementation of a comprehensive smoke-free law, without any exceptions, is essential to effectively protect people from the second hand smoke.The work is part of a large Epidemiological Study on the Portuguese Tobacco Control Policy, developed by the Instituto de Medicina Preventiva da Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa and supported, in its preliminary part, by the Direccao Geral da Saude (DGS) and, in the second part, by the national funding institution Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Lack of consistency in safe-sleeping messages to parents

The document attached has been archived with permission from the editor of the Medical Journal of Australia. An external link to the publisher’s copy is included.Roger W Byard, Glenda Cains, Helen Noblet and Maxine Webe

Hodgkin's lymphoma presenting with heart failure: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Cardiac involvement in malignant lymphoma is one of the least investigated subjects in oncology. This article reports a case of cardiac involvement in Hodgkin's lymphoma which presented as heart failure.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of an 8-year-old Afghan girl with Hodgkin's lymphoma. The disease presented with systemic signs and symptoms, including abdominal distension, weakness, pallor, chills, fever, generalized edema, hepatosplenomegaly and generalized lymphadenopathy, as well as signs of heart failure. Test results showed a rare form of heart metastasis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We report a case of Hodgkin's lymphoma with metastasis to the heart, detected premortem. Although the involvement of the heart in a malignancy is relatively common, premortem detection is unusual and only few studies have reported it in the literature.</p

Defining sepsis on the wards: results of a multi-centre point-prevalence study comparing two sepsis definitions

Our aim was to prospectively determine the predictive capabilities of SEPSIS-1 and SEPSIS-3 definitions in the emergency departments and general wards. Patients with National Early Warning Score (NEWS) of 3 or above and suspected or proven infection were enrolled over a 24-h period in 13 Welsh hospitals. The primary outcome measure was mortality within 30 days. Out of the 5422 patients screened, 431 fulfilled inclusion criteria and 380 (88%) were recruited. Using the SEPSIS-1 definition, 212 patients had sepsis. When using the SEPSIS-3 definitions with Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score ≥ 2, there were 272 septic patients, whereas with quickSOFA score ≥ 2, 50 patients were identified. For the prediction of primary outcome, SEPSIS-1 criteria had a sensitivity (95%CI) of 65% (54–75%) and specificity of 47% (41–53%); SEPSIS-3 criteria had a sensitivity of 86% (76–92%) and specificity of 32% (27–38%). SEPSIS-3 and SEPSIS-1 definitions were associated with a hazard ratio (95%CI) 2.7 (1.5–5.6) and 1.6 (1.3–2.5), respectively. Scoring system discrimination evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curves was highest for Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (0.69 (95%CI 0.63–0.76)), followed by NEWS (0.58 (0.51–0.66)) (p < 0.001). Systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria (0.55 (0.49–0.61)) and quickSOFA score (0.56 (0.49–0.64)) could not predict outcome. The SEPSIS-3 definition identified patients with the highest risk. Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score and NEWS were better predictors of poor outcome. The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score appeared to be the best tool for identifying patients with high risk of death and sepsis-induced organ dysfunction

Automated insulin delivery during the first 6 months postpartum (AiDAPT): a prespecified extension study

Background Clinical guidelines in the UK and elsewhere do not specifically address hybrid closed loop (HCL) use in the postpartum period when the demands of caring for a newborn are paramount. Our aim was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of HCL use during the first 6 months postpartum compared with standard care. Methods In this prespecified extension to a multicentre, randomised controlled trial, pregnant women with type 1 diabetes at nine UK sites were followed up for 6 months postpartum. Eligible participants (AiDAPT participants recruited after the implementation of the postpartum protocol amendment approval, those still pregnant or within six months of delivery at the time of amendment implementation and still using HCL or continuous glucose monitoring [CGM] therapy) continued their randomly assigned treatment, either standard insulin therapy with CGM or HCL therapy (CamAPS FX system version 0.3.1, CamDiab, Cambridge, UK). Participants were randomised in a 1:1 ratio with stratification by clinical site using randomly permuted block sizes of 2 or 4. The primary outcome was the between-group difference in percentage time in range ([TIR] 3·9–10·0 mmol/L [70–180mg/dL]), measured during the periods of month 0 up to 3, months 3 to 6, and over 6 months postpartum. The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ISRCTN56898625) and is complete. Findings Of the 124 AiDAPT trial participants, 66 (53%) were ineligible for inclusion in the postpartum extension, and 57 participants consented to continue their treatment per original random allocation. The mean age was 31 years (SD 4), and all participants had early pregnancy HbA1c 59·4 mmol/mol (SD 10·5 [7·6% SD 1·0%]). In the 6 months postpartum, mean time with glucose levels within the target range was higher in the HCL group compared with the standard care group (72% [SD 12%] vs 54% [17%]), with an adjusted treatment difference of 15% (95% CI 7 to 22). Results for hyperglycaemia (>10·0 mmol/L) and mean CGM glucose also favoured HCL (–14% [95% CI –23% to –6%] and –1·3 mmol/L [–2·3 to –0·3], respectively). Hypoglycaemia rates were low, with no between-group differences (2·4% vs 2·6%). There were no treatment effect changes depending on postpartum period (0 up to 3 months vs 3 to 6 months) and no unanticipated safety problems. Interpretation Participants in the HCL group maintained 70% TIR during the first 6 months postpartum, supporting continued use of HCL rather than standard insulin therapy for people with diabetes once they have given birth. Funding National Institute for Health Research, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation. CGM devices were provided by Dexcom at a discounted price