Detection of X-ray elongated emission from a ultraluminous X-ray source in the interacting pair of galaxies NGC 5953/5954

We present radio through X-ray results of a bright (10^{40} erg/s in the 0.5 to 8.0 keV band) ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX), CXOU J153434.9+151149, in the starburst, interacting pair of galaxies NGC 5953/5954. Chandra image of this ULX shows that it is elongated. From HST/WFPC2/F606W data we have detected a counterpart of the ULX system with M_{F606W} ~-7.1 \pm 0.7 mag. This optical counterpart may be either an O-type supergiant star or a young star cluster. From our Fabry-Perot interferometric observations, we have detected Halpha and [NII](6584 A) diffuse emission, with velocity gradients up to 60 km/s at the astrometric corrected Chandra position of the ULX. Different scenarios have been invoked as to explain the possible nature of CXOU J153434.9+151149. Based on the observed X-ray morphology of the ULX, we determine that the inclination angle to the elongated emission will be ~53 deg. Beaming with this geometry from a stellar-mass black hole system will be inadequate to explain the observed X-ray luminosity of this ULX. Finally, we suggest that mild-beaming from a binary black hole with mass more than 50 solar masses, associated with a young star cluster, is the most favorable scenario that describes the multiwavelength properties of this ULX. Future observations are highly essential to determine the nature of this rare object.Comment: 34 pages (referee format), 5 figures, accepted for publication in A

The Large Observatory for x-ray timing

The Large Observatory For x-ray Timing (LOFT) was studied within ESA M3 Cosmic Vision framework and participated in the final down-selection for a launch slot in 2022-2024. Thanks to the unprecedented combination of effective area and spectral resolution of its main instrument, LOFT will study the behaviour of matter under extreme conditions, such as the strong gravitational field in the innermost regions of accretion flows close to black holes and neutron stars, and the supra-nuclear densities in the interior of neutron stars. The science payload is based on a Large Area Detector (LAD, 10 m2 effective area, 2-30 keV, 240 eV spectral resolution, 1° collimated field of view) and a WideField Monitor (WFM, 2-50 keV, 4 steradian field of view, 1 arcmin source location accuracy, 300 eV spectral resolution). The WFM is equipped with an on-board system for bright events (e.g. GRB) localization. The trigger time and position of these events are broadcast to the ground within 30 s from discovery. In this paper we present the status of the mission at the end of its Phase A study

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

Meeting abstrac

The LOFT mission concept: a status update

The Large Observatory For x-ray Timing (LOFT) is a mission concept which was proposed to ESA as M3 and M4 candidate in the framework of the Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 program. Thanks to the unprecedented combination of effective area and spectral resolution of its main instrument and the uniquely large field of view of its wide field monitor, LOFT will be able to study the behaviour of matter in extreme conditions such as the strong gravitational field in the innermost regions close to black holes and neutron stars and the supra-nuclear densities in the interiors of neutron stars. The science payload is based on a Large Area Detector (LAD, >8m2 effective area, 2-30 keV, 240 eV spectral resolution, 1 degree collimated field of view) and a Wide Field Monitor (WFM, 2-50 keV, 4 steradian field of view, 1 arcmin source location accuracy, 300 eV spectral resolution). The WFM is equipped with an on-board system for bright events (e.g., GRB) localization. The trigger time and position of these events are broadcast to the ground within 30 s from discovery. In this paper we present the current technical and programmatic status of the mission

Efficacy and Safety of Dupilumab Maintained in Adults ≥ 60 Years of Age with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis: Analysis of Pooled Data from Four Randomized Clinical Trials

BackgroundAdults aged ≥ 60 years are often underrepresented in atopic dermatitis (AD) clinical trials; age-related comorbidities may impact treatment efficacy and safety.ObjectiveThe aim was to report dupilumab efficacy and safety in patients aged ≥ 60 years with moderate-to-severe AD.MethodsData were pooled from four randomized, placebo-controlled dupilumab trials of patients with moderate-to-severe AD (LIBERTY AD SOLO 1 and 2, LIBERTY AD CAFÉ, and LIBERTY AD CHRONOS) and stratified by age (< 60 [N = 2261] and ≥ 60 [N = 183] years). Patients received dupilumab 300 mg every week (qw) or every 2 weeks (q2w), or placebo with/without topical corticosteroids. Post hoc efficacy at week 16 was examined using broad categorical and continuous assessments of skin lesions, symptoms, biomarkers, and quality of life. Safety was also assessed.ResultsIn the ≥ 60-year-old group at week 16, a greater proportion of dupilumab-treated patients achieved an Investigator's Global Assessment score of 0/1 (q2w: 44.4%; qw: 39.7%) and 75% improvement in Eczema Area and Severity Index (63.0%; 61.6%) versus placebo (7.1% and 14.3%, respectively; P < 0.0001). Type 2 inflammation biomarkers (immunoglobulin E and thymus and activation-regulated chemokine) were also significantly reduced in dupilumab- versus placebo-treated patients (P < 0.01). Results were similar in the < 60-year-old group. The exposure-adjusted incidences of adverse events in dupilumab-treated patients were generally similar to those receiving placebo, with numerically fewer treatment-emergent adverse events in the dupilumab-treated ≥ 60-year-old group versus placebo.LimitationsThere were fewer patients in the ≥ 60-year-old group; post hoc analyses.ConclusionDupilumab improved AD signs and symptoms in patients aged ≥ 60 years; results were comparable to those in patients aged < 60 years. Safety was consistent with the known dupilumab safety profile.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02277743, NCT02277769, NCT02755649, NCT02260986. Does dupilumab benefit adults aged 60 years and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis?(MP4 20,787 KB)

Antiseptics and Disinfectants

Antiseptics and disinfectants (see definitions) share common skin side effects, i.e., irritation, allergic contact dermatitis, and eventually immunological contact urticaria. Some antiseptics fall into disuse, due to their lack of efficacy (dyes) or their strong allergic properties (mercurials), except thiomersal, the indications of which remain important. Current antiseptics (i.e., povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine) are of great importance, due to the emergence of MRSA and CA-MRSA, leading to a decrease in the use of topical antibiotics to which Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria are more and more resistant. Silver-based wound and burn dressings may lead to new cases of allergic contact dermatitis, mainly related to the incorporation of new antiseptics, such as octenidine or PHMB. Disinfectants are a common source of occupational irritant and/or allergic contact dermatitis. Aldehydes are widely used as disinfectants. Formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, and glyoxal are responsible for many cases of allergic contact dermatitis. Quaternary ammonium compounds, and particularly benzalkonium chloride, are disinfectants provoking irritant and/or allergic contact dermatitis. The interpretation of patch tests is difficult, and the use of ROATs is advised