Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements

Measurement of the inclusive isolated-photon cross section in pp collisions at √s = 13 TeV using 36 fb−1 of ATLAS data

The differential cross section for isolated-photon production in pp collisions is measured at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the ATLAS detector at the LHC using an integrated luminosity of 36.1 fb. The differential cross section is presented as a function of the photon transverse energy in different regions of photon pseudorapidity. The differential cross section as a function of the absolute value of the photon pseudorapidity is also presented in different regions of photon transverse energy. Next-to-leading-order QCD calculations from Jetphox and Sherpa as well as next-to-next-to-leading-order QCD calculations from Nnlojet are compared with the measurement, using several parameterisations of the proton parton distribution functions. The predictions provide a good description of the data within the experimental and theoretical uncertainties. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Effectiveness of a national quality improvement programme to improve survival after emergency abdominal surgery (EPOCH): a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial

Background: Emergency abdominal surgery is associated with poor patient outcomes. We studied the effectiveness of a national quality improvement (QI) programme to implement a care pathway to improve survival for these patients. Methods: We did a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial of patients aged 40 years or older undergoing emergency open major abdominal surgery. Eligible UK National Health Service (NHS) hospitals (those that had an emergency general surgical service, a substantial volume of emergency abdominal surgery cases, and contributed data to the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit) were organised into 15 geographical clusters and commenced the QI programme in a random order, based on a computer-generated random sequence, over an 85-week period with one geographical cluster commencing the intervention every 5 weeks from the second to the 16th time period. Patients were masked to the study group, but it was not possible to mask hospital staff or investigators. The primary outcome measure was mortality within 90 days of surgery. Analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis. This study is registered with the ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN80682973. Findings: Treatment took place between March 3, 2014, and Oct 19, 2015. 22 754 patients were assessed for elegibility. Of 15 873 eligible patients from 93 NHS hospitals, primary outcome data were analysed for 8482 patients in the usual care group and 7374 in the QI group. Eight patients in the usual care group and nine patients in the QI group were not included in the analysis because of missing primary outcome data. The primary outcome of 90-day mortality occurred in 1210 (16%) patients in the QI group compared with 1393 (16%) patients in the usual care group (HR 1·11, 0·96–1·28). Interpretation: No survival benefit was observed from this QI programme to implement a care pathway for patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. Future QI programmes should ensure that teams have both the time and resources needed to improve patient care. Funding: National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research Programme

Effectiveness of a national quality improvement programme to improve survival after emergency abdominal surgery (EPOCH): a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial

BACKGROUND: Emergency abdominal surgery is associated with poor patient outcomes. We studied the effectiveness of a national quality improvement (QI) programme to implement a care pathway to improve survival for these patients. METHODS: We did a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial of patients aged 40 years or older undergoing emergency open major abdominal surgery. Eligible UK National Health Service (NHS) hospitals (those that had an emergency general surgical service, a substantial volume of emergency abdominal surgery cases, and contributed data to the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit) were organised into 15 geographical clusters and commenced the QI programme in a random order, based on a computer-generated random sequence, over an 85-week period with one geographical cluster commencing the intervention every 5 weeks from the second to the 16th time period. Patients were masked to the study group, but it was not possible to mask hospital staff or investigators. The primary outcome measure was mortality within 90 days of surgery. Analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis. This study is registered with the ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN80682973. FINDINGS: Treatment took place between March 3, 2014, and Oct 19, 2015. 22 754 patients were assessed for elegibility. Of 15 873 eligible patients from 93 NHS hospitals, primary outcome data were analysed for 8482 patients in the usual care group and 7374 in the QI group. Eight patients in the usual care group and nine patients in the QI group were not included in the analysis because of missing primary outcome data. The primary outcome of 90-day mortality occurred in 1210 (16%) patients in the QI group compared with 1393 (16%) patients in the usual care group (HR 1·11, 0·96-1·28). INTERPRETATION: No survival benefit was observed from this QI programme to implement a care pathway for patients undergoing emergency abdominal surgery. Future QI programmes should ensure that teams have both the time and resources needed to improve patient care. FUNDING: National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research Programme

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Development of educational strategies for knee osteoarthritis people, in spa therapy resort

L’objectif de ce travail était de développer des stratégies éducatives en association avec une cure thermale à destination de patients porteurs de gonarthrose, avec un objectif non seulement d’efficacité clinique et psychologique mais aussi d’amélioration du niveau d’activité physique. Au total, 745 patients souffrants de gonarthrose ont été recrutés sur les 9 stations thermales membre du Cluster Innovatherm et répartis dans les 3 études composant ce projet. La première étude porte sur l’analyse qualitative des freins et des leviers à la pratique d’activité physique. La seconde étude a mesuré le niveau d’activité physique et analysé les facteurs influençant la régularité de la pratique. La troisième étude a évalué les effets d’un programme d’éducation à l’exercice en milieu thermal. L’analyse des résultats des 2 premières études a montré que le niveau d’activité physique des gonarthrosiques était significativement dépendant de certaines données sociodémographiques, anthropométriques (genre, indice de masse corporelle, obésité), de facteurs extrinsèques (lieu de vie, situation familiale) et de facteurs intrinsèques (motivation, bien être, « self-efficacy », fatigue, vieillissement, peur d’aggraver la gonarthrose). La troisième étude a montré que le traitement thermal associé ou non aux ateliers d’éducation à l’exercice permettait d’augmenter significativement le niveau d’activité physique, avec un effet taille moyen de 0.53 [0.28;0.77] à 3 mois. Les ateliers d’éducation à l’exercice ont un effet bénéfique significatif sur l’anxiété, la dépression et les peurs et croyances (sous item médecin du KOFBeQ), à 3 mois. Ces études confirment l’impact du traitement thermal sur les paramètres cliniques de la gonarthrose et fournissent de nouvelles données concernant ce traitement sur l’évolution du niveau d’activité physique. Cette étude argumente en faveur de l’effet cognitif et psychologique du programme d’éducation à l’exercice.The aim of this work was to develop educational strategies in association with spa therapy treatment for patients with knee osteoarthritis, with a goal not only of clinical, psychological but also of improvement of the level of physical activity. A total of 745 patients with knee osteoarthritis were recruited from the 9 member’s thermal spa of the Innovatherm Cluster and distributed among the 3 studies building this project. The first study looked at the qualitative analysis of facilitators and barriers to physical activity. The second study on the level of physical activity and the analysis of the factors influencing the practice. The third study evaluated the effects of a self-management exercise education program in spa therapy resort. Analysis of the results of studies 1 and 2 showed the level of physical activity was significantly dependent on certain anthropometric data (gender, BMI, obesity), extrinsic factors (life situation, family situation) and intrinsic factors (motivation, well-being, self-efficacy, fatigue, aging, fear of aggravating knee osteoarthritis). Study 3 showed that spa treatment associated with or without self-management exercise program significantly increases the physical activity level, with medium effect size 0.53 [0.28; 0.77] at 3 months. Exercise education has a significant beneficial effect between groups in favor of the intervention group on anxiety, depression and fears and beliefs. These studies confirm the impact of spa therapy treatment on the clinical parameters of osteoarthritis and provide new data on the increase of the physical activity level and argue in favor of the cognitive and psychological effect of the self-management exercise program

Développement de stratégies éducatives auprès de patients souffrant de gonarthrose, en milieu thermal

The aim of this work was to develop educational strategies in association with spa therapy treatment for patients with knee osteoarthritis, with a goal not only of clinical, psychological but also of improvement of the level of physical activity. A total of 745 patients with knee osteoarthritis were recruited from the 9 member’s thermal spa of the Innovatherm Cluster and distributed among the 3 studies building this project. The first study looked at the qualitative analysis of facilitators and barriers to physical activity. The second study on the level of physical activity and the analysis of the factors influencing the practice. The third study evaluated the effects of a self-management exercise education program in spa therapy resort. Analysis of the results of studies 1 and 2 showed the level of physical activity was significantly dependent on certain anthropometric data (gender, BMI, obesity), extrinsic factors (life situation, family situation) and intrinsic factors (motivation, well-being, self-efficacy, fatigue, aging, fear of aggravating knee osteoarthritis). Study 3 showed that spa treatment associated with or without self-management exercise program significantly increases the physical activity level, with medium effect size 0.53 [0.28; 0.77] at 3 months. Exercise education has a significant beneficial effect between groups in favor of the intervention group on anxiety, depression and fears and beliefs. These studies confirm the impact of spa therapy treatment on the clinical parameters of osteoarthritis and provide new data on the increase of the physical activity level and argue in favor of the cognitive and psychological effect of the self-management exercise program.L’objectif de ce travail était de développer des stratégies éducatives en association avec une cure thermale à destination de patients porteurs de gonarthrose, avec un objectif non seulement d’efficacité clinique et psychologique mais aussi d’amélioration du niveau d’activité physique. Au total, 745 patients souffrants de gonarthrose ont été recrutés sur les 9 stations thermales membre du Cluster Innovatherm et répartis dans les 3 études composant ce projet. La première étude porte sur l’analyse qualitative des freins et des leviers à la pratique d’activité physique. La seconde étude a mesuré le niveau d’activité physique et analysé les facteurs influençant la régularité de la pratique. La troisième étude a évalué les effets d’un programme d’éducation à l’exercice en milieu thermal. L’analyse des résultats des 2 premières études a montré que le niveau d’activité physique des gonarthrosiques était significativement dépendant de certaines données sociodémographiques, anthropométriques (genre, indice de masse corporelle, obésité), de facteurs extrinsèques (lieu de vie, situation familiale) et de facteurs intrinsèques (motivation, bien être, « self-efficacy », fatigue, vieillissement, peur d’aggraver la gonarthrose). La troisième étude a montré que le traitement thermal associé ou non aux ateliers d’éducation à l’exercice permettait d’augmenter significativement le niveau d’activité physique, avec un effet taille moyen de 0.53 [0.28;0.77] à 3 mois. Les ateliers d’éducation à l’exercice ont un effet bénéfique significatif sur l’anxiété, la dépression et les peurs et croyances (sous item médecin du KOFBeQ), à 3 mois. Ces études confirment l’impact du traitement thermal sur les paramètres cliniques de la gonarthrose et fournissent de nouvelles données concernant ce traitement sur l’évolution du niveau d’activité physique. Cette étude argumente en faveur de l’effet cognitif et psychologique du programme d’éducation à l’exercice