Patch testing with aluminium Finn Chambers could give false-positive reactions in patients with contact allergy to aluminium

Background Earlier laboratory studies have shown that sodium tetrachloropalladate, Myroxylon pereirae, caine mix II, and palladium chloride trigger the release of aluminium (Al) from Finn Chambers (FC). Objectives To investigate whether aluminium realease from FC could influence the diagnostic outcome of patch testing with FC. Method A retrospective analysis of patch test results from 2010 to 2019 was performed. A two-sided Fisher\u27s exact test was used to calculate any overrepresentation of contact allergy to Al among patients with positive reactions to sodium tetrachloropalladate, Myroxylon pereirae, caine mix II, and palladium chloride. Results A total of 5446 patients had been tested with FC during the study period. There was a significant overrepresentation of contact allergy to Al among patients with positive reactions to sodium tetrachloropalladate, Myroxylon pereirae, caine mix II, and palladium chloride. Patients with a strong Al allergy had significantly higher amounts of concomitant reactions to sodium tetrachloropalladate, Myroxylon pereirae, caine mix II, and palladium chloride compared to patients with weak Al allergy. These results were not seen for patients tested with Finn Chambers AQUA. Conclusion In patients with contact allergy to Al, patch testing with Finn chambers could give false-positive reactions to sodium tetrachloropalladate, Myroxylon pereirae, caine mix II, and palladium chloride

Nuclear Safeguards R&D and Innovation at the JRC

Nuclear safeguards are from the very origin of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), and as enshrined in the EURATOM Treaty, a key duty of the European Commission and a field in which JRC has a fully unique position in Europe. In this area JRC is an un-replaceable R&D partner of Euratom safeguards authority and IAEA through its very extensive support programme. The JRC R&D safeguards programme aims in one hand at maintaining traditional safeguards at level so that deterrence to diversion from civil cycle remains high, taking into account that more installations will need to be safeguarded by EU and international authorities. This relies on development of advanced NDA, DA and CS techniques, full remote and unattended (authenticated) technology and stringent quality systems in measurements and results delivery. In another hand the RD programme put more focus on material flows in sensitive uranium and spent fuel handling facilities and use of fingerprinting techniques to cover diversion scenarios and more performing and accurate environmental sampling techniques and traces analysis. Open-source analysis and development of new tools and methodologies for the control of Import/export are areas where the effort is also increased. In the JRC R&D programme a special attention is also given to the development of accountancy and safeguards concepts for advanced fuel cycles (GenIV) as well as proliferation resistance methodology. This scientific/technical work is encompassed by appropriate training activities. This paper is about some of the new R&D and innovation activities of the JRC as part of the EU contribution to the implementation of effective nuclear safeguards inside and outside the EU.JRC.E.9-Nuclear security (Ispra

Integration of Nuclear Safeguards and Security at the JRC

At political level, security and safeguards remain in separate hands. Safeguards are implemented by international and national authorities through an international treaty, while security is an important national responsibility. At a technical level the synergies between safeguards and security lead to their integration allowing better optimization of the resources and important benefit from exchange of experience and expertise between the two systems. In this paper, we will illustrate this integration process between nuclear security and safeguards. Many examples will be presented such as: non destructive assay (NDA) in nuclear safeguard /detection and identification of illicit nuclear and radioactive materials, destructive analysis (DA) and environmental sampling in nuclear safeguards/ nuclear forensic, use of seals in nuclear security for containers, combined camera and gamma/neutron source for source localisation in luggage, Open source information, export controls are also areas were the integration is possible.JRC.E.9-Nuclear security (Ispra

Substantial Decrease in Comorbidity 5 Years After Gastric Bypass : A Population-based Study From the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry

OBJECTIVE:: To evaluate effect on comorbid disease and weight loss 5 years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery for morbid obesity in a large nationwide cohort. BACKGROUND:: The number patients having surgical procedures to treat obesity and obesity-related disease are increasing. Yet, population-based, long-term outcome studies are few. METHODS:: Data on 26,119 individuals [75.8% women, 41.0 years, and body mass index (BMI) 42.8?kg/m] undergoing primary RYGB between May 1, 2007 and June 30, 2012, were collected from 2 Swedish quality registries: Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry and the Prescribed Drug Registry. Weight, remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, depression, and sleep apnea, and changes in corresponding laboratory data were studied. Five-year follow-up was 100% (9774 eligible individuals) for comorbid diseases. RESULTS:: BMI decreased from 42.8?±?5.5 to 31.2?±?5.5?kg/m at 5 years, corresponding to 27.7% reduction in total body weight. Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (15.5%–5.9%), hypertension (29.7%–19.5%), dyslipidemia (14.0%–6.8%), and sleep apnea (9.6%–2.6%) was reduced. Greater weight loss was a positive prognostic factor, whereas increasing age or BMI at baseline was a negative prognostic factor for remission. The use of antidepressants increased (24.1%–27.5%). Laboratory status was improved, for example, fasting glucose and glycated hemoglobin decreased from 6.1 to 5.4?mmol/mol and 41.8% to 37.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:: In this nationwide study, gastric bypass resulted in large improvements in obesity-related comorbid disease and sustained weight loss over a 5-year period. The increased use of antidepressants warrants further investigation

Stroke i samband med hjärtkirurgi : riskfaktorer, mekanismer och effekter på överlevnad

Introduction: Neurological complications and stroke in association with cardiac surgery is a serious problem. The stroke event can occur during surgery (early stroke) or in the postoperative period with a symptom free interval (delayed stroke). Particle embolization due to aortic manipulation during surgery has been suspected as a mechanism for early stroke. The present thesis address mechanisms and survival effects of stroke both clinically (I-III) and experimentally (IV-V). Methods: Study I) Within a cohort of 2641 consecutive cases, a group of cardiac surgery patients with stroke and evaluated by computed tomography (CT) were studied (n=77). CT-findings were analyzed in relation to stroke symptoms. Study II) Data from 9122 patients undergoing coronary surgery were analyzed. Records of patients with any signs of neurological complications were reviewed to extract 149 subjects with stroke at extubation (early, 1.6%) versus 99 patients having a free interval (delayed, 1.1%). Early and delayed stroke were evaluated separately. Independent risk factors for stroke were analyzed by logistic regression and survival by Cox regression (9.3 years median follow-up). Study III) Patients with early (n=223) and delayed stroke (n=116) were identified among 10809 patients undergoing cardiac and aortic surgery, both groups exposed to cardiopulmonary bypass. Stroke patients were subdivided by the hemispheric location of lesions. Subgroups were compared and their associated pre- and peroperative variables and survival were analyzed. Study IV) Aortic cross-clamp manipulation was studied in a human cadaveric perfusion model. The pressurized aorta was repeatedly cross-clamped and washout samples were collected before and after clamp maneuvers. Particles in the washout samples were evaluated by microscopy and by digital image analysis. Study V) Pig aortas were pressurized and cannulated. Washout samples were collected before and after cannulation (n = 40). Particles were deposited onto a 10-μm filter to be evaluated by microscopy and digital image analysis. Results: Study I) In the group of patients exposed to routine cardiac surgery (i.e., clamping and cannulation) and with early stroke, right-hemispheric lesions were more frequent than of the contra-lateral side (P=0.005). Patients with aortic dissections had a strong dominance of bilateral findings, which was different from the unilateral pattern in the routine-surgery group (P<0.001). Study II) Early and delayed stroke did not share any risk factors. Both early and delayed stroke explained mortality in the early postoperative period (P<0.001, P<0.001 respectively) but also at long term follow-up (P=0.008, P<0.001 respectively). For patients surviving their first postoperative year, delayed but not early stroke influenced long-term mortality (P=0.001 and P=0.695, respectively). Study III) Stroke lesions in association to cardiac surgery were near exclusively ischemic. Early stroke had a preponderance for right-hemispheric lesions (P=0.009). In contrast, patients with early stroke that had undergone surgery of the aorta with circulatory arrest showed a pattern with more bilateral lesions compared to ‘cardiac-type’ operations (P<0.001). Patients with bilateral lesions had a dramatically impaired survival compared to those with unilateral lesions (P<0.001). Study IV) In the cadaveric perfusion model, cross-clamping produced a significant output of particles, which was seen for size intervals of 1 mm and smaller (P=0.002 to P=0.022). In all size intervals the particle output correlated with the degree of overall aortic calcification (P =0.002 to P=0.025). Study V) At cannulation of the pig aorta, more particles were noted after cannulation compared to before the maneuver (P<0.001). This increase included small (<0.1 mm, P<0.001) and intermediate-size particles (0.1-0.5 mm, P< 0.001). Particles above 0.5 mm were few and were not associated with cannulation. Conclusions: The influence of stroke on mortality was devastating, for both early and delayed stroke. These two stroke groups had obvious differences in both their risk factors and their hemispheric distribution. It is here emphasized that early and delayed stroke should be considered as two separate entities with suggested mechanistic differences. Ischemic lesions accounted for near all stroke events seen in association to cardiac surgery. For early stroke, these were mostly located within the right hemisphere. Results from the experimental studies underscore microembolic risks associated with aortic manipulation

Successful stenting of four spontaneous oesophageal perforations in a single patient during a 3-year period

Spontaneous oesophageal perforation, a rare condition associated with high mortality due to mediastinitis and multi-organ failure, can be treated surgically or with endoscopic stents. We present a case of four right-sided oesophageal perforations during a 3-year period in a single patient, all successfully stented. The 51-year-old Caucasian male had his first oesophageal perforation in 2012, which was successfully treated with a fully covered endoscopic stent. No residual pathology was seen at stent removal. Two years later, the patient was successfully treated with stents twice for recurrent perforations. The fourth spontaneous perforation at the same site occurred this fall, and again endoscopic treatment was successful. The patient does not report any squeals. In spite of the successful outcome, we would like to emphasize the need for close surveillance and readiness for definitive surgical treatment

External Radon Disturbance of 14

Low-level detector systems for 14C dating are frequently located in underground or basement laboratories to reduce the influence of cosmic radiation. However, if careful precautions are not taken, the presence of radioactive radon as may severely disturb the analytical results. Measurements of the influence of radon on a proportional counter system, show that a radon level of 100 Bq m-3, a level not uncommon in basement rooms, is sufficient to produce an unacceptable uncertainty in the 14C results. Radon levels of up to 1500 Bq m-3 can be demonstrably reduced to about 30 Bq m-3, using a separate ventilation system that generates a slight overpressure in the laboratory.This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between Radiocarbon and the University of Arizona Libraries.The Radiocarbon archives are made available by Radiocarbon and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform February 202