Interferometry with Bose-Einstein Condensates in Microgravity

Atom interferometers covering macroscopic domains of space-time are a spectacular manifestation of the wave nature of matter. Due to their unique coherence properties, Bose-Einstein condensates are ideal sources for an atom interferometer in extended free fall. In this paper we report on the realization of an asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer operated with a Bose-Einstein condensate in microgravity. The resulting interference pattern is similar to the one in the far-field of a double-slit and shows a linear scaling with the time the wave packets expand. We employ delta-kick cooling in order to enhance the signal and extend our atom interferometer. Our experiments demonstrate the high potential of interferometers operated with quantum gases for probing the fundamental concepts of quantum mechanics and general relativity.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures; 8 pages of supporting materia

Location and locoregional extension of gastric cancer – predisposant factors in postoperative acute pancreatitis evolution

Catedra de oncologie, hematologie și radioterapie, USMF „Nicolae Testemițanu”, Laboratorul de chirurgie gastrică și toracică, Secția Gastrologie, Institutul Oncologic, Chișinău, Republica Moldova, Conferința stiințifică „Nicolae Anestiadi – nume etern al chirurgiei basarabene” consacrată centenarului de la nașterea profesorului Nicolae Anestiadi 26 august 2016Introducere. Pancreatitele acute postoperatorii (PAPO) se întâlnesc frecvent, factorii declanșatori fiind diferiți.Scop. Analiza corelaţiei dintre sediul și extinderea locoregională a cancerului gastric și declanşarea PAPO. Material şi metode. Grupul de studiu este constituit din 192 pacienți operați radical pentru cancer gastric în secția Gastrologie a Institutului Oncologic în perioada 2010-2014: barbaţi - 131 (68,23%) și femei – 61 (31,77 %), raportul fiind 2:1, cu vârsta cuprinsă între 21 și 80 ani și incidența maximă între 51 – 60 ani (40,11%). Rezultate. PAPO a evoluat: în 38,09% (24 din 63) din cazuri – cu afecția peretelui posterior gastric; în 26,32% (5 din 19) din cazuri cu aderarea tumorii gastrice la pancreas și în 20,83% (10 din 48) – cu aderarea tumorii la alte organe. Incidența maximă a PAPO a constituit 50% în cazurile cu invazie în pancreas și 44,54% - în cele cu invazie în alte organe adiacente. Concluzii. Afectarea peretelui posterior gastric și aderarea cancerului gastric la organele adiacente, pot fi considerați factori care ar favoriza PAPO. Invazia cu infiltrarea cancerului gastric în organele adiacente, îndeosebi pancreasul, este factorul declanșator pentru PAPO.Introduction. Postoperative acute pancreatitis (POAP) is common, but triggers are different. Purpose. Analysis of correlation between location and loco-regional extension of gastric cancer and POAP evolution. Materials and methods. Our study includes 192 patients, radically operated for gastric cancer in Gastropulmonology Department of Institute of Oncology during 2010-2014: men - 131 (68.23%), women - 61 (31.77 %), the ratio being 2:1 aged between 21 and 80, with high incidence between 51 and 60 years (40.11%). Results. POAP developed as follows: in 38.09% (24 of 63) of cases with affection of posterior gastric wall; in 26.32% (5 of 19) – with invasion into the pancreas and in 20,83% (10 of 48) – with invasion of adjacent organs. Incidence of POAP was 50% in cases with invasion into the pancreas and 44.54% - in cases of invading adjacent organs. Conclusions. Affection of posterior gastric wall and tumor invasion into adjacent organs can be considered as factors that would favor POAP. Invasion with tumor infiltration into adjacent organs, especially into the pancreas, is the triggering factor for POAP

Interim 2017/18 influenza seasonal vaccine effectiveness: Combined results from five European studies

Between September 2017 and February 2018, influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2) and B viruses (mainly B/Yamagata, not included in 2017/18 trivalent vaccines) co-circulated in Europe. Interim results from five European studies indicate that, in all age groups, 2017/18 influenza vaccine effectiveness was 25 to 52% against any influenza, 55 to 68% against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, -42 to 7% against influenza A(H3N2) and 36 to 54% against influenza B. 2017/18 influenza vaccine should be promoted where influenza still circulates

A prospective survey in European Society of Cardiology member countries of atrial fibrillation management: baseline results of EURO bservational Research Programme Atrial Fibrillation (EORP-AF) Pilot General Registry

Aims: Given the advances in atrial fibrillation (AF) management and the availability of new European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines, there is a need for the systematic collection of contemporary data regarding the management and treatment of AF in ESC member countries. Methods and results: We conducted a registry of consecutive in- and outpatients with AF presenting to cardiologists in nine participating ESC countries. All patients with an ECG-documented diagnosis of AF confirmed in the year prior to enrolment were eligible. We enroled a total of 3119 patients from February 2012 to March 2013, with full data on clinical subtype available for 3049 patients (40.4% female; mean age 68.8 years). Common comorbidities were hypertension, coronary disease, and heart failure. Lone AF was present in only 3.9% (122 patients). Asymptomatic AF was common, particularly among those with permanent AF. Amiodarone was the most common antiarrhythmic agent used (~20%), while beta-blockers and digoxin were the most used rate control drugs. Oral anticoagulants (OACs) were used in 80% overall, most often vitamin K antagonists (71.6%), with novel OACs being used in 8.4%. Other antithrombotics (mostly antiplatelet therapy, especially aspirin) were still used in one-third of the patients, and no antithrombotic treatment in only 4.8%. Oral anticoagulants were used in 56.4% of CHA 2DS2-VASc = 0, with 26.3% having no antithrombotic therapy. A high HAS-BLED score was not used to exclude OAC use, but there was a trend towards more aspirin use in the presence of a high HAS-BLED score. Conclusion: The EURObservational Research Programme Atrial Fibrillation (EORP-AF) Pilot Registry has provided systematic collection of contemporary data regarding the management and treatment of AF by cardiologists in ESC member countries. Oral anticoagulant use has increased, but novel OAC use was still low. Compliance with the treatment guidelines for patients with the lowest and higher stroke risk scores remains suboptimal. © The Author 2013

2015/16 seasonal vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation with influenza a(H1N1)pdm09 and B among elderly people in Europe: Results from the I-MOVE+ project

We conducted a multicentre test-negative caseâ\u80\u93control study in 27 hospitals of 11 European countries to measure 2015/16 influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) against hospitalised influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and B among people aged â\u89¥ 65 years. Patients swabbed within 7 days after onset of symptoms compatible with severe acute respiratory infection were included. Information on demographics, vaccination and underlying conditions was collected. Using logistic regression, we measured IVE adjusted for potential confounders. We included 355 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 cases, 110 influenza B cases, and 1,274 controls. Adjusted IVE against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was 42% (95% confidence interval (CI): 22 to 57). It was 59% (95% CI: 23 to 78), 48% (95% CI: 5 to 71), 43% (95% CI: 8 to 65) and 39% (95% CI: 7 to 60) in patients with diabetes mellitus, cancer, lung and heart disease, respectively. Adjusted IVE against influenza B was 52% (95% CI: 24 to 70). It was 62% (95% CI: 5 to 85), 60% (95% CI: 18 to 80) and 36% (95% CI: -23 to 67) in patients with diabetes mellitus, lung and heart disease, respectively. 2015/16 IVE estimates against hospitalised influenza in elderly people was moderate against influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and B, including among those with diabetes mellitus, cancer, lung or heart diseases