A rapid method for an offline glycerol determination during microbial fermentation

Background: The purpose of this work was to find a rapid method for glycerol detection during microbial fermentations. The method requirements were, first, to avoid sample pretreatment, and second, to measure glycerol precisely especially out of fermentation broth. Results: This was achieved by combining two reaction principles \u2014 the Malaprade reaction and the Hantzsch reaction. In the Malaprade reaction, glycerol is converted into formaldehyde. This forms a dye in the Hantzsch reaction after which adsorption is than detected. The subsequent assay was investigated with two different fermentation media, a chemically undefined and a chemically defined media, used for Pichia pastoris fermentation. In both media, as well as in real fermentation samples, glycerol content could be reproducibly detected with the method. Moreover, measurements were more precise than using a standard glycerol detection kit. Conclusions: With this rapid assay, glycerol could be detected easily in microbial fermentation broth. It is reliable over a wide concentration range including advantages such as an easy assay set-up, a short assay time and no sample pretreatment

The vibrant soundbridge for conductive and mixed hearing losses: European multicenter study results..

Abstract BACKGROUND/AIMS: The Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) is an active middle ear implant, 'direct-drive' hearing system for the treatment of hearing loss. Recently, the VSB has been applied to conductive and mixed hearing losses. The aim of this study is to evaluate aided benefit, speech recognition in quiet and noise, subjective benefits, changes in residual hearing, and medical and surgical complications in adults with conductive or mixed hearing losses implanted with the VSB using Round Window (RW) Vibroplasty. METHODS: Twelve German-speaking adults participated in a single-subject, repeated measures study design comparing their performance using the VSB with their own unaided preoperative performance. Hearing performance and changes in residual hearing were assessed using routine audiometric measures, sound field thresholds, and word and sentence recognition in quiet and in noise. Subjective benefits, including subjective hearing performance, device satisfaction, and quality of life were evaluated using the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit, the Hearing Device Satisfaction Scale, and the Glasgow Benefit Inventory, respectively. RESULTS: Aided hearing thresholds, word recognition at conversational levels, and sentence recognition in quiet and noise were significantly improved without significant changes in residual cochlear hearing and without major medical and surgical complications. One subject required repositioning surgery to improve transducer coupling with the RW membrane. Subjective benefit and device satisfaction were good, as were overall and general quality of life. CONCLUSION: The VSB, implanted using RW vibroplasty, is a safe and effective treatment for adults with conductive and mixed hearing losses who may have few, if any, other options

Evaluating the incidence of pathological complete response in current international rectal cancer practice: the barriers to widespread safe deferral of surgery

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: , which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/codi.14361. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions."Colorectal Disease © 2018 The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland Introduction: The mainstay of management for locally advanced rectal cancer is chemoradiotherapy followed by surgical resection. Following chemoradiotherapy, a complete response may be detected clinically and radiologically (cCR) prior to surgery or pathologically after surgery (pCR). We aim to report the overall complete pathological response (pCR) rate and the reliability of detecting a cCR by conventional pre-operative imaging. Methods: A pre-planned analysis of the European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP) 2017 audit was performed. Patients treated by elective rectal resection were included. A pCR was defined as a ypT0 N0 EMVI negative primary tumour; a partial response represented any regression from baseline staging following chemoradiotherapy. The primary endpoint was the pCR rate. The secondary endpoint was agreement between post-treatment MRI restaging (yMRI) and final pathological staging. Results: Of 2572 patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery in 277 participating centres across 44 countries, 673 (26.2%) underwent chemoradiotherapy and surgery. The pCR rate was 10.3% (67/649), with a partial response in 35.9% (233/649) patients. Comparison of AJCC stage determined by post-treatment yMRI with final pathology showed understaging in 13% (55/429) and overstaging in 34% (148/429). Agreement between yMRI and final pathology for T-stage, N-stage, or AJCC status were each graded as ‘fair’ only (n = 429, Kappa 0.25, 0.26 and 0.35 respectively). Conclusion: The reported pCR rate of 10% highlights the potential for non-operative management in selected cases. The limited strength of agreement between basic conventional post-chemoradiotherapy imaging assessment techniques and pathology suggest alternative markers of response should be considered, in the context of controlled clinical trials