Tire abrasion particles negatively affect plant growth even at low concentrations and alter soil biogeochemical cycling

Tire particles (TPs) are a major source of microplastic on land, and considering their chemical composition, they represent a potential hazard for the terrestrial environment. We studied the effects of TPs at environmentally relevant concentrations along a wide concentration gradient (0–160 mg g−1) and tested the effects on plant growth, soil pH and the key ecosystem process of litter decomposition and soil respiration. The addition of TPs negatively affected shoot and root growth already at low concentrations. Tea litter decomposition slightly increased with lower additions of TPs but decreased later on. Soil pH increased until a TP concentration of 80 mg g−1 and leveled off afterwards. Soil respiration clearly increased with increasing concentration of added TPs. Plant growth was likely reduced with starting contamination and stopped when contamination reached a certain level in the soil. The presence of TPs altered a number of biogeochemical soil parameters that can have further effects on plant performance. Considering the quantities of yearly produced TPs, their persistence, and toxic potential, we assume that these particles will eventually have a significant impact on terrestrial ecosystems

Ten Misconceptions from the History of Analysis and Their Debunking

The widespread idea that infinitesimals were "eliminated" by the "great triumvirate" of Cantor, Dedekind, and Weierstrass is refuted by an uninterrupted chain of work on infinitesimal-enriched number systems. The elimination claim is an oversimplification created by triumvirate followers, who tend to view the history of analysis as a pre-ordained march toward the radiant future of Weierstrassian epsilontics. In the present text, we document distortions of the history of analysis stemming from the triumvirate ideology of ontological minimalism, which identified the continuum with a single number system. Such anachronistic distortions characterize the received interpretation of Stevin, Leibniz, d'Alembert, Cauchy, and others.Comment: 46 pages, 4 figures; Foundations of Science (2012). arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1108.2885 and arXiv:1110.545

Outcome of anal symptoms and anorectal function following two obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS)-a nested case-controlled study.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) is a significant risk factor for developing anal incontinence. It can therefore be hypothesised that recurrent OASI in a subsequent delivery may predispose women to further anal sphincter dysfunction. METHODS: A nested case-controlled study based on data collected prospectively between 2006 and 2019. Women matched for age and ethnicity, with a history of one OASI and no sphincter damage in a subsequent delivery (control) were compared to women sustaining a second OASI. Assessment was carried out using the St Mark's score (SMIS), anorectal manometry and endoanal ultrasound scan (findings quantified using the modified Starck score). RESULTS: Eighty-four women were included and equally distributed between the two groups, who were followed up 12 weeks postnatally. No difference in SMIS scores was found. Maximum resting pressure (MRP, mmHg) and maximum squeeze pressure (MSP, mmHg) were significantly reduced in the study group. Median (IQR) MRP in the study group was 40.0 (31.3-54.0) versus 46.0 (39.3-61.5) in the control group (p = 0.030). Median (IQR) MSP was 73.0 (58.3-93.5) in the study group versus 92.5 (70.5-110.8) (p = 0.006) in the control group. A significant difference (p = 0.002) was found in the modified Starck score between the study group (median 0.0 [IQR 0.0-6.0]) and control group (median 0.0 [IQR 0.0-0.0]). CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that women with recurrent OASI do not have significant anorectal symptoms compared to those with one OASI 12 weeks after delivery, but worse anal sphincter function and integrity. Therefore, on long-term follow-up, symptoms may possibly develop. This information will be useful when counselling women in a subsequent pregnancy

СТРЕСС-ОТВЕТ ПРИ РАДИКАЛЬНЫХ ОПЕРАЦИЯХ ПО ПОВОДУ РАКА ЖЕЛУДКА

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the anesthetic effect of the combination of xenon and dexmedetomidine during surgery for gastric cancer. Material and methods. The prospective randomized study included 53 patients with operable II–III stage gastric cancer. The age range was from 26 to 75 years. The patients underwent gastrectomy (n=21) and subtotal distal gastrectomy (n=32). The study group comprised 27 patients who received anesthesia with xenon and dexmedetomidine combined with epidural analgesia. The control group consisted of 26 patients who received anesthesia with sevoflurane in combination with epidural analgesia. Intraoperative patient monitoring was performed according to Harvard intraoperative monitoring standards. Plasma levels of ACTH, STH cortisole, IL-1β, IL-6, and CRP as well as cytokine profile were used to evaluate the effect of two anesthetic methods. Results. In the perioperative period, the combination of xenon and dexmedetomidine in combination with epidural analgesia was characterized by significant inhibition of systemic inflammatory reactions and a lower release of stress hormones as components of a surgical stress response expressed by a lower level of pro-inflammatory cytokines and somatotropic hormone. The frequency of postoperative inflammatory complications was lower in the xenon group than in the control group. Conclusion. The use of the combination of xenon and dexmedetomidine during surgery for gastric cancer provides a more adequate course of the perioperative period. Цель исследования – оценить эффективность анестезиологического пособия комбинацией ксенона и дексмедетомидина при операциях по поводу рака желудка. Материал и методы. В проспективное рандомизированное исследование включены 53 пациента с операбельным раком желудка II–III стадий, в возрасте 26–75 лет, ASA I–II, которым были выполнены операции в объеме гастрэктомии (n=21), субтотальной дистальной резекции желудка (n=32). В I (основной) группе (n=27) проводилась комбинированная анестезия ксеноном и дексмедетомидином в сочетании с эпидуральной аналгезией. Во II (контрольной) группе (n=26) проводилась анестезия севорфлюраном в сочетании с эпидуральной аналгезией. Проводился стандартный интраоперационный мониторинг по Гарвардскому стандарту. Эффективность сравниваемых методов анестезиологического пособия оценивали по уровеню АКТГ, СТГ, кортизола, IL-1β, IL-6 и СРБ и цитокиновому профилю. Результаты. Комбинация ксенона и дексмедетомидина в сочетании с эпидуральной аналгезией на всех этапах периоперационного периода характеризовалась значимым торможением системных воспалительных реакций и меньшим выбросом гормонов стресса как компонентов хирургической стрессовой реакции, выражающейся более низким уровнем провоспалительных цитокинов и соматотропного гормона. В основной группе отмечена меньшая частота послеоперационных нехирургических осложнений, обусловленных системной воспалительной реакцией. Заключение. Применение комбинированного анестезиологического пособия с использованием ксенона и дексмедетомидина при операциях по поводу рака желудка обеспечивает более адекватное течение периоперационного периода.

A weak scientific basis for gaming disorder: let us err on the side of caution

We greatly appreciate the care and thought that is evident in the 10 commentaries that discuss our debate paper, the majority of which argued in favor of a formalized ICD-11 gaming disorder. We agree that there are some people whose play of video games is related to life problems. We believe that understanding this population and the nature and severity of the problems they experience should be a focus area for future research. However, moving from research construct to formal disorder requires a much stronger evidence base than we currently have. The burden of evidence and the clinical utility should be extremely high, because there is a genuine risk of abuse of diagnoses. We provide suggestions about the level of evidence that might be required: transparent and preregistered studies, a better demarcation of the subject area that includes a rationale for focusing on gaming particularly versus a more general behavioral addictions concept, the exploration of non-addiction approaches, and the unbiased exploration of clinical approaches that treat potentially underlying issues, such as depressive mood or social anxiety first. We acknowledge there could be benefits to formalizing gaming disorder, many of which were highlighted by colleagues in their commentaries, but we think they do not yet outweigh the wider societal and public health risks involved. Given the gravity of diagnostic classification and its wider societal impact, we urge our colleagues at the WHO to err on the side of caution for now and postpone the formalization

ОЦЕНКА ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ ЭПИДУРАЛЬНОЙ АНЕСТЕЗИИ ПРИ КОМБИНИРОВАННОМ И ХИРУРГИЧЕСКОМ ЛЕЧЕНИИ РАКА ПРЯМОЙ КИШКИ

The comparative analysis of the efficacy of anesthetic management in 53 patients with operable rectal cancer was carried out. In the study group patients (n=29), preemptive thoracic epidural analgesia was used. In the control group, (n=24), anesthesia was induced with sevofluorane and fentanyl. Preemptive thoracic epidural analgesia provided a reliable blockade of nociceptors and neural pathways, normalized stress response and decreased the severity of the systemic inflammatory response by stimulating the production of antiinflammatory cytokines.Проведен сравнительный анализ эффективности обеспечения и течения периоперационного периода у 53 больных операбельным раком прямой кишки. В основной группе (n=29)  в качестве интраоперационного обезболивания применялась упреждающая анестезия на основе инфузионной грудной эпидуральной аналгезии. В контрольной группе (n=24) пациентов оперировались в условиях анестезии с использованием севофлюрана и фентанила. Установлено, что в основной группе отмечается более адекватное течение анестезиологического этапа периоперационного периода. Упреждающая анестезия на основе периоперационной инфузионной грудной эпидуральной аналгезии обеспечивает надежную блокаду ноцицептивных и чувствительных рецепторов и проводящих нервных путей и обеспечивает нормализацию стрессового ответа, а также уменьшает выраженность системной воспалительной реакции за счет стимуляции продукции противовоспалительных цитокинов

A systematic review of non-invasive modalities used to identify women with anal incontinence symptoms after childbirth

© 2018, The International Urogynecological Association. Introduction and hypothesis: Anal incontinence following childbirth is prevalent and has a significant impact upon quality of life (QoL). Currently, there is no standard assessment for women after childbirth to identify these symptoms. This systematic review aimed to identify non-invasive modalities used to identify women with anal incontinence following childbirth and assess response and reporting rates of anal incontinence for these modalities. Methods: Ovid Medline, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Collaboration, EMBASE and Web of Science databases were searched for studies using non-invasive modalities published from January 1966 to May 2018 to identify women with anal incontinence following childbirth. Study data including type of modality, response rates and reported prevalence of anal incontinence were extracted and critically appraised. Results: One hundred and nine studies were included from 1602 screened articles. Three types of non-invasive modalities were identified: validated questionnaires/symptom scales (n = 36 studies using 15 different instruments), non-validated questionnaires (n = 50 studies) and patient interviews (n = 23 studies). Mean response rates were 92% up to 6 weeks after childbirth. Non-personalised assessment modalities (validated and non-validated questionnaires) were associated with reporting of higher rates of anal incontinence compared with patient interview at all periods of follow-up after childbirth, which was statistically significant between 6 weeks and 1 year after childbirth (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This systematic review confirms that questionnaires can be used effectively after childbirth to identify women with anal incontinence. Given the methodological limitations associated with non-validated questionnaires, assessing all women following childbirth for pelvic-floor symptomatology, including anal incontinence, using validated questionnaires should be considered