671 research outputs found
Beta-blockers to prevent gastroesophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis.
BACKGROUND: Nonselective beta-adrenergic blockers decrease portal pressure and prevent variceal hemorrhage. Their effectiveness in preventing varices is unknown. METHODS: We randomly assigned 213 patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension (minimal hepatic venous pressure gradient [HVPG] of 6 mm Hg) to receive timolol, a nonselective beta-blocker (108 patients), or placebo (105 patients). The primary end point was the development of gastroesophageal varices or variceal hemorrhage. Endoscopy and HVPG measurements were repeated yearly. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 54.9 months, the rate of the primary end point did not differ significantly between the timolol group and the placebo group (39 percent and 40 percent, respectively; P=0.89), nor were there significant differences in the rates of ascites, encephalopathy, liver transplantation, or death. Serious adverse events were more common among patients in the timolol group than among those in the placebo group (18 percent vs. 6 percent, P=0.006). Varices developed less frequently among patients with a baseline HVPG of less than 10 mm Hg and among those in whom the HVPG decreased by more than 10 percent at one year and more frequently among those in whom the HVPG increased by more than 10 percent at one year. CONCLUSIONS: Nonselective beta-blockers are ineffective in preventing varices in unselected patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension and are associated with an increased number of adverse events. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00006398.
Inverse Diffusion Theory of Photoacoustics
This paper analyzes the reconstruction of diffusion and absorption parameters
in an elliptic equation from knowledge of internal data. In the application of
photo-acoustics, the internal data are the amount of thermal energy deposited
by high frequency radiation propagating inside a domain of interest. These data
are obtained by solving an inverse wave equation, which is well-studied in the
literature. We show that knowledge of two internal data based on well-chosen
boundary conditions uniquely determines two constitutive parameters in
diffusion and Schroedinger equations. Stability of the reconstruction is
guaranteed under additional geometric constraints of strict convexity. No
geometric constraints are necessary when internal data for well-chosen
boundary conditions are available, where is spatial dimension. The set of
well-chosen boundary conditions is characterized in terms of appropriate
complex geometrical optics (CGO) solutions.Comment: 24 page
Inverse Transport Theory of Photoacoustics
We consider the reconstruction of optical parameters in a domain of interest
from photoacoustic data. Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) radiates high frequency
electromagnetic waves into the domain and measures acoustic signals emitted by
the resulting thermal expansion. Acoustic signals are then used to construct
the deposited thermal energy map. The latter depends on the constitutive
optical parameters in a nontrivial manner. In this paper, we develop and use an
inverse transport theory with internal measurements to extract information on
the optical coefficients from knowledge of the deposited thermal energy map. We
consider the multi-measurement setting in which many electromagnetic radiation
patterns are used to probe the domain of interest. By developing an expansion
of the measurement operator into singular components, we show that the spatial
variations of the intrinsic attenuation and the scattering coefficients may be
reconstructed. We also reconstruct coefficients describing anisotropic
scattering of photons, such as the anisotropy coefficient in a
Henyey-Greenstein phase function model. Finally, we derive stability estimates
for the reconstructions
Decision-making, attitudes, and understanding among patients and relatives invited to undergo genome sequencing in the 100,000 Genomes Project: A multisite survey study
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess decisions, attitudes, and understanding of participants (patients, parents, relatives) having genome sequencing for rare disease diagnosis. METHODS: This study involved a cross-sectional observational survey with participants in the 100,000 Genomes Project. RESULTS: Survey response rate was 51% (504/978). Most participants self-reported that they had decided to undergo genome sequencing (94%) and that this was an informed decision (84%) with low decisional conflict (95%). Most self-reported that they had chosen to receive additional findings (88%) and that this was an informed decision (89%) with low decisional conflict (95%). Participants were motivated more by the desire to help others via research than by the belief it would help them obtain a diagnosis (Z = 14.23, P = 5.75 × 10-46), although both motivations were high. Concerns were relatively few but, where expressed, were more about the potential psychological impact of results than data sharing/access (Z = 9.61, P = 7.65 × 10-22). Concerns were higher among male, Asian or Asian British, and more religious participants. General and context-specific understanding of genome sequencing were both moderately high (means 5.2/9.0 and 22.5/28.0, respectively). CONCLUSION: These findings are useful to inform consent guidelines and clinical implementation of genome sequencing
Clinical and molecular characterization of HER2 amplified-pancreatic cancer
<p>Background:
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal and molecularly diverse malignancies. Repurposing of therapeutics that target specific molecular mechanisms in different disease types offers potential for rapid improvements in outcome. Although HER2 amplification occurs in pancreatic cancer, it is inadequately characterized to exploit the potential of anti-HER2 therapies.</p>
<p>Methods:
HER2 amplification was detected and further analyzed using multiple genomic sequencing approaches. Standardized reference laboratory assays defined HER2 amplification in a large cohort of patients (n = 469) with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).</p>
<p>Results:
An amplified inversion event (1 MB) was identified at the HER2 locus in a patient with PDAC. Using standardized laboratory assays, we established diagnostic criteria for HER2 amplification in PDAC, and observed a prevalence of 2%. Clinically, HER2- amplified PDAC was characterized by a lack of liver metastases, and a preponderance of lung and brain metastases. Excluding breast and gastric cancer, the incidence of HER2-amplified cancers in the USA is >22,000 per annum.</p>
<p>Conclusions:
HER2 amplification occurs in 2% of PDAC, and has distinct features with implications for clinical practice. The molecular heterogeneity of PDAC implies that even an incidence of 2% represents an attractive target for anti-HER2 therapies, as options for PDAC are limited. Recruiting patients based on HER2 amplification, rather than organ of origin, could make trials of anti-HER2 therapies feasible in less common cancer types.</p>
Thermoacoustic tomography arising in brain imaging
We study the mathematical model of thermoacoustic and photoacoustic
tomography when the sound speed has a jump across a smooth surface. This models
the change of the sound speed in the skull when trying to image the human
brain. We derive an explicit inversion formula in the form of a convergent
Neumann series under the assumptions that all singularities from the support of
the source reach the boundary
Validation of the Baveno Vi Criteria to Identify Low Risk Cirrhotic Patients not Requiring Endoscopic Surveillance for Varices
BACKGROUND: The Baveno VI guidelines propose that cirrhotic patients with a liver stiffness measurement (LSM) 150000/μL can avoid screening endoscopy as their combination is highly specific for excluding clinically significant varices. The aim of the study was to validate these criteria. METHODS: Transient elastography data was collected from two institutions from 2006-2015. Inclusion criteria were a LSM ⩾10kPa and an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy within 12 months, with a diagnosis of compensated chronic liver disease. Exclusion criteria were porto-mesenteric-splenic vein thrombosis and non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. Varices were graded as low risk (grade 150) are at low risk of having varices and do not need a screening endoscopy. Varices are a complication of cirrhosis, confer a risk of serious bleeding, and can be diagnosed and treated by endoscopy. Our study reviewed the clinical records of patients who have had liver stiffness scans and endoscopy over a 9 year period at two hospitals. The results show that only about 2% of patients who meet the Baveno VI criteria will be miss classified as not having varices
A Delphi study to determine the European core curriculum for Master programmes in genetic counselling.
Genetic counsellors have been working in some European countries for at least 30 years. Although there are great disparities between the numbers, education, practice and acceptance of these professionals across Europe, it is evident that genetic counsellors and genetic nurses in Europe are working autonomously within teams to deliver patient care. The aim of this study was to use the Delphi research method to develop a core curriculum to guide the educational preparation of these professionals in Europe. The Delphi method enables the researcher to utilise the views and opinions of a group of recognised experts in the field of study; this study consisted of four phases. Phases 1 and 4 consisted of expert workshops, whereas data were collected in phases 2 and 3 (n=35) via online surveys. All participants in the study were considered experts in the field of genetic counselling. The topics considered essential for genetic counsellor training have been organised under the following headings: (1) counselling; (2) psychological issues; (3) medical genetics; (4) human genetics; (5) ethics, law and sociology; (6) professional practice; and (7) education and research. Each topic includes the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to enable genetic counsellors to develop competence. In addition, it was considered by the experts that clinical practice should comprise 50% of the educational programme. The core Master programme curriculum will enable current courses to be assessed and inform the design of future educational programmes for European genetic counsellors
Association Between COVID-19 and Mortality in Hip Fracture Surgery in the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C): A Retrospective Cohort Study
BACKGROUND: This study investigated the outcomes of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-positive patients undergoing hip fracture surgery using a national database.
METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study comparing hip fracture surgery outcomes between COVID-19 positive and negative matched cohorts from 46 sites in the United States. Patients aged 65 and older with hip fracture surgery between March 15 and December 31, 2020, were included. The main outcomes were 30-day all-cause mortality and all-cause mortality.
RESULTS: In this national study that included 3303 adults with hip fracture surgery, the 30-day mortality was 14.6% with COVID-19-positive versus 3.8% in COVID-19-negative, a notable difference. The all-cause mortality for hip fracture surgery was 27.0% in the COVID-19-positive group during the study period.
DICUSSION: We found higher incidence of all-cause mortality in patients with versus without diagnosis of COVID-19 after undergoing hip fracture surgery. The mortality in hip fracture surgery in this national analysis was lower than other local and regional reports. The medical community can use this information to guide the management of hip fracture patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19
Measurement of the neutrino component of an anti-neutrino beam observed by a non-magnetized detector
Two independent methods are employed to measure the neutrino flux of the
anti-neutrino-mode beam observed by the MiniBooNE detector. The first method
compares data to simulated event rates in a high purity \numu induced
charged-current single \pip (CC1\pip) sample while the second exploits the
difference between the angular distributions of muons created in \numu and
\numub charged-current quasi-elastic (CCQE) interactions. The results from
both analyses indicate the prediction of the neutrino flux component of the
pre-dominately anti-neutrino beam is over-estimated - the CC1\pip analysis
indicates the predicted \numu flux should be scaled by , while
the CCQE angular fit yields . The energy spectrum of the flux
prediction is checked by repeating the analyses in bins of reconstructed
neutrino energy, and the results show that the spectral shape is well modeled.
These analyses are a demonstration of techniques for measuring the neutrino
contamination of anti-neutrino beams observed by future non-magnetized
detectors.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures, published in Physical Review D, latest version
reflects changes from referee comment
- …