Geologic Map of the Hood River Quadrangle, Washington and Oregon

The report is comprised of a 1:100,000 scale geologic map and accompanying text. The text consists of unit descriptions, a table of age dates, a table of major element geochemistry, correlation diagram, and a source of mapping diagram. (ACR

TREATMENT WITH TAMSULOSIN IN PATIENTS WITH DISTAL URETERAL CALCULI

Background: Symptomatic ureteral calculi are one of the most important issues in urologist emergency clinical settings. Spontaneous passage of distal ureteral calculi is usually achieved with good hydration and spasmoanalgetic drugs. alpha-blocker therapy may facilitate and accelerate the spontaneous passage of ureteral stones.Patients and methodsIn retrospective study we analyzed patients with renal colic admitted to our department in 2006. All of them had clinical examination, urine and blood analysis, plain radiography (number, size and location of radiopaque calculi) and intravenous pyelography (kidney function and morphology). All patients with distal ureteral calcus were treated with spasmoanalgetics and with or without alpha-adrenergic antagonist tamsulosin. We analyzed eventual spontaneous passage of the calculi, additional procedures (splints, ureterorenoscopy, open procedures, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)). We used Student's t-test for statistical analysis.Results48 from 72 patients had urinary calculus. 35 (73 %) of them had calculus in the distal part of ureter. 17 (49 %) of 35 patients with distal ureteral calculus were treated with tamsulosin and in all (100 %) spontaneous stone passage was observed. 18 (51 %) patients were not treated with tamsulosin and spontaneous passage was observed in 18 (65 %) patients (p = 0.000).ConclusionsTamsulosin therapy promotes expulsion of ureteral stones

Magnetic phase diagram of Ca-substituted EuFe2_2As2_2

The simultaneous presence of a Fe-related spin-density wave and antiferromagnetic order of Eu$^{2+}$ moments ranks EuFe$_2$As$_2$ among the most interesting parent compounds of iron-based pnictide superconductors. Here we explore the consequences of the dilution of Eu$^{2+}$ magnetic lattice through on-site Ca substitution. By employing macro- and microscopic techniques, including electrical transport and magnetometry, as well as muon-spin spectroscopy, we study the evolution of Eu magnetic order in both the weak and strong dilution regimes, achieved for Ca concentration $x(\mathrm{Ca}) = 0.12$ and 0.43, respectively. We demonstrate the localized character of the Eu antiferromagnetism mediated via RKKY interactions, in contrast with the largely itinerant nature of Fe magnetic interactions. Our results suggest a weak coupling between the Fe and Eu magnetic sublattices and a rapid decrease of the Eu magnetic interaction strength upon Ca substitution. The latter is confirmed both by the depression of the ordering temperature of the Eu$^{2+}$ moments, $T_\mathrm{N}$, and the decrease of magnetic volume fraction with increasing $x(\mathrm{Ca})$. We establish that, similarly to the EuFe$_2$As$_2$ parent compound, the investigated Ca-doped compounds have a twinned structure and undergo a permanent detwinning upon applying an external magnetic field

Importance of basophil activation testing in insect venom allergy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Venom immunotherapy (VIT) is the only effective treatment for prevention of serious allergic reactions to bee and wasp stings in sensitized individuals. However, there are still many questions and controversies regarding immunotherapy, like selection of the appropriate allergen, safety and long term efficacy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Literature review was performed to address the role of basophil activation test (BAT) in diagnosis of venom allergy.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In patients with positive skin tests or specific IgE to both honeybee and wasp venom, IgE inhibition test can identify sensitizing allergen only in around 15% and basophil activation test increases the identification rate to around one third of double positive patients. BAT is also diagnostic in majority of patients with systemic reactions after insect stings and no detectable IgE. High basophil sensitivity to allergen is associated with a risk of side effects during VIT. Persistence of high basophil sensitivity also predicts a treatment failure of VIT.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>BAT is a useful tool for better selection of allergen for immunotherapy, for identification of patients prone to side effects and patients who might be treatment failures. However, long term studies are needed to evaluate the accuracy of the test.</p

Antimicrobial use in European acute care hospitals: results from the second point prevalence survey (PPS) of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial use, 2016 to 2017

Antimicrobial agents used to treat infections are life-saving. Overuse may result in more frequent adverse effects and emergence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms. In 2016-17, we performed the second point-prevalence survey (PPS) of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial use in European acute care hospitals. We included 1,209 hospitals and 310,755 patients in 28 of 31 European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries. The weighted prevalence of antimicrobial use in the EU/EEA was 30.5% (95% CI: 29.2-31.9%). The most common indication for prescribing antimicrobials was treatment of a community-acquired infection, followed by treatment of HAI and surgical prophylaxis. Over half (54.2%) of antimicrobials for surgical prophylaxis were prescribed for more than 1 day. The most common infections treated by antimicrobials were respiratory tract infections and the most commonly prescribed antimicrobial agents were penicillins with beta-lactamase inhibitors. There was wide variation of patients on antimicrobials, in the selection of antimicrobial agents and in antimicrobial stewardship resources and activities across the participating countries. The results of the PPS provide detailed information on antimicrobial use in European acute care hospitals, enable comparisons between countries and hospitals, and highlight key areas for national and European action that will support efforts towards prudent use of antimicrobials

Integrative transcriptomic analysis in human and mouse model of anaphylaxis identifies gene signatures associated with cell movement, migration and neuroinflammatory signalling

Background: Anaphylaxis is an acute life-threatening allergic reaction and a concern at a global level; therefore, further progress in understanding the underlying mechanisms and more effective strategies for diagnosis, prevention and management are needed. Objective: We sought to identify the global architecture of blood transcriptomic features of anaphylaxis by integrating expression data from human patients and mouse model of anaphylaxis. Methods: Bulk RNA-sequencings of peripheral whole blood were performed in: i) 14 emergency department (ED) patients with acute anaphylaxis, predominantly to Hymenoptera venom, ii) 11 patients with peanut allergy undergoing double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) to peanut, iii) murine model of IgE-mediated anaphylaxis. Integrative characterisation of differential gene expression, immune cell-type-specific gene expression profiles, and functional and pathway analysis was undertaken. Results: 1023 genes were commonly and significantly dysregulated during anaphylaxis in ED and DBPCFC patients; of those genes, 29 were also dysregulated in the mouse model. Cell-type-specific gene expression profiles showed a rapid downregulation of blood basophil and upregulation of neutrophil signature in ED and DBPCFC patients and the mouse model, but no consistent and/or significant differences were found for other blood cells. Functional and pathway analysis demonstrated that human and mouse blood transcriptomic signatures of anaphylaxis follow trajectories of upregulation of cell movement, migration and neuroinflammatory signalling, and downregulation of lipid activating nuclear receptors signalling. Conclusion: Our study highlights the matched and extensive blood transcriptomic changes and suggests the involvement of discrete cellular components and upregulation of migration and neuroinflammatory pathways during anaphylaxis

Endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-homeostasis is altered in small and non-small cell lung cancer cell lines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Knowledge of differences in the cellular physiology of malignant and non-malignant cells is a prerequisite for the development of cancer treatments that effectively kill cancer without damaging normal cells. Calcium is a ubiquitous signal molecule that is involved in the control of proliferation and apoptosis. We aimed to investigate if the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca²⁺-homeostasis is different in lung cancer and normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The intracellular Ca²⁺-signaling was investigated using fluorescence microscopy and the expression of Ca²⁺-regulating proteins was assessed using Western Blot analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In a Small Cell Lung Cancer (H1339) and an Adeno Carcinoma Lung Cancer (HCC) cell line but not in a Squamous Cell Lung Cancer (EPLC) and a Large Cell Lung Cancer (LCLC) cell line the ER Ca²⁺-content was reduced compared to NHBE. The reduced Ca²⁺-content correlated with a reduced expression of SERCA 2 pumping calcium into the ER, an increased expression of IP₃R releasing calcium from the ER, and a reduced expression of calreticulin buffering calcium within the ER. Lowering the ER Ca²⁺-content with CPA led to increased proliferation NHBE and lung cancer cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The significant differences in Ca²⁺-homeostasis between lung cancer and NHBE cells could represent a new target for cancer treatments.</p

MRI of the lung (1/3):methods

Proton magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has recently emerged as a clinical tool to image the lungs. This paper outlines the current technical aspects of MRI pulse sequences, radiofrequency (RF) coils and MRI system requirements needed for imaging the pulmonary parenchyma and vasculature. Lung MRI techniques are presented as a “technical toolkit”, from which MR protocols will be composed in the subsequent papers for comprehensive imaging of lung disease and function (parts 2 and 3). This paper is pitched at MR scientists, technicians and radiologists who are interested in understanding and establishing lung MRI methods. Images from a 1.5 T scanner are used for illustration of the sequences and methods that are highlighted. Main Messages • Outline of the hardware and pulse sequence requirements for proton lung MRI • Overview of pulse sequences for lung parenchyma, vascular and functional imaging with protons • Demonstration of the pulse-sequence building blocks for clinical lung MRI protocol

Recent Advances in Graph Partitioning

We survey recent trends in practical algorithms for balanced graph partitioning together with applications and future research directions

Attributable deaths and disability-adjusted life-years caused by infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the EU and the European Economic Area in 2015: a population-level modelling analysis

Background: Infections due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria are threatening modern health care. However, estimating their incidence, complications, and attributable mortality is challenging. We aimed to estimate the burden of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria of public health concern in countries of the EU and European Economic Area (EEA) in 2015, measured in number of cases, attributable deaths, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). Methods: We estimated the incidence of infections with 16 antibiotic resistance–bacterium combinations from European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net) 2015 data that was country-corrected for population coverage. We multiplied the number of bloodstream infections (BSIs) by a conversion factor derived from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control point prevalence survey of health-care-associated infections in European acute care hospitals in 2011–12 to estimate the number of non-BSIs. We developed disease outcome models for five types of infection on the basis of systematic reviews of the literature. Findings: From EARS-Net data collected between Jan 1, 2015, and Dec 31, 2015, we estimated 671 689 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 583 148–763 966) infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, of which 63·5% (426 277 of 671 689) were associated with health care. These infections accounted for an estimated 33 110 (28 480–38 430) attributable deaths and 874 541 (768 837–989 068) DALYs. The burden for the EU and EEA was highest in infants (aged <1 year) and people aged 65 years or older, had increased since 2007, and was highest in Italy and Greece. Interpretation: Our results present the health burden of five types of infection with antibiotic-resistant bacteria expressed, for the first time, in DALYs. The estimated burden of infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the EU and EEA is substantial compared with that of other infectious diseases, and has increased since 2007. Our burden estimates provide useful information for public health decision-makers prioritising interventions for infectious diseases