Study of the doubly charmed tetraquark T+cc

Quantum chromodynamics, the theory of the strong force, describes interactions of coloured quarks and gluons and the formation of hadronic matter. Conventional hadronic matter consists of baryons and mesons made of three quarks and quark-antiquark pairs, respectively. Particles with an alternative quark content are known as exotic states. Here a study is reported of an exotic narrow state in the D0D0π+ mass spectrum just below the D*+D0 mass threshold produced in proton-proton collisions collected with the LHCb detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The state is consistent with the ground isoscalar T+cc tetraquark with a quark content of ccu⎯⎯⎯d⎯⎯⎯ and spin-parity quantum numbers JP = 1+. Study of the DD mass spectra disfavours interpretation of the resonance as the isovector state. The decay structure via intermediate off-shell D*+ mesons is consistent with the observed D0π+ mass distribution. To analyse the mass of the resonance and its coupling to the D*D system, a dedicated model is developed under the assumption of an isoscalar axial-vector T+cc state decaying to the D*D channel. Using this model, resonance parameters including the pole position, scattering length, effective range and compositeness are determined to reveal important information about the nature of the T+cc state. In addition, an unexpected dependence of the production rate on track multiplicity is observed

A view on critical oxygen delivery values during cardiopulmonary bypass

Abstract Introduction: Low oxygen delivery during cardiopulmonary bypass is related to a range of adverse outcomes. Previous research specified certain critical oxygen delivery levels associated with acute kidney injury. However, a single universal critical oxygen delivery value is not sensible, as oxygen consumption has to be considered when determining critical delivery values. This study examined the associations between oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption and kidney function in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods. Oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption and kidney function decrease were retrospectively studied in 65 adult patients. Results. Mean oxygen consumption was 56 ± 8 ml/min/m2, mean oxygen delivery was 281 ± 39 ml/min/m2. Twenty-seven patients (42%) had an oxygen delivery lower than the previously mentioned critical value of 272 ml/min/m2. None of the patients developed acute kidney injury according to RIFLE criteria. However, in 10 patients (15%) a decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate of more than 10% was noted, which was not associated with oxygen delivery lower than 272 ml/min/m2. Eighteen patients had a strong correlation (r >0.500) between DO2 and VO2, but this was not related to low oxygen delivery. Central venous oxygen saturation (77 ± 3%), oxygen extraction ratio (21 ± 3%) and blood lactate levels at the end of surgery (1.2 ± 0.3 mmol/l) showed not to be indicative of insufficient oxygen delivery either. Conclusions. This study could not confirm an evident correlation between O2 delivery and O2 consumption or kidney function decrease, even at values below previously specified critical levels. The variability in O2 consumption however, is an indication that every patient has individual O2 needs, advocating for an individualized O2 delivery goal

A view on critical oxygen delivery values during cardiopulmonary bypass

Abstract Introduction: Low oxygen delivery during cardiopulmonary bypass is related to a range of adverse outcomes. Previous research specified certain critical oxygen delivery levels associated with acute kidney injury. However, a single universal critical oxygen delivery value is not sensible, as oxygen consumption has to be considered when determining critical delivery values. This study examined the associations between oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption and kidney function in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods. Oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption and kidney function decrease were retrospectively studied in 65 adult patients. Results. Mean oxygen consumption was 56 ± 8 ml/min/m2, mean oxygen delivery was 281 ± 39 ml/min/m2. Twenty-seven patients (42%) had an oxygen delivery lower than the previously mentioned critical value of 272 ml/min/m2. None of the patients developed acute kidney injury according to RIFLE criteria. However, in 10 patients (15%) a decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate of more than 10% was noted, which was not associated with oxygen delivery lower than 272 ml/min/m2. Eighteen patients had a strong correlation (r >0.500) between DO2 and VO2, but this was not related to low oxygen delivery. Central venous oxygen saturation (77 ± 3%), oxygen extraction ratio (21 ± 3%) and blood lactate levels at the end of surgery (1.2 ± 0.3 mmol/l) showed not to be indicative of insufficient oxygen delivery either. Conclusions. This study could not confirm an evident correlation between O2 delivery and O2 consumption or kidney function decrease, even at values below previously specified critical levels. The variability in O2 consumption however, is an indication that every patient has individual O2 needs, advocating for an individualized O2 delivery goal

Supplementary material for: Sociodemographic, clinical, lifestyle and psychological correlates of peripheral neuropathy among 2–12-year colorectal cancer survivors

Background Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a debilitating complication among colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors that can become chronic. No large-scale study has yet analyzed correlates in multivariable models. We did multivariable analyses to find correlates of PN. Methods In 1,516 all-stage Dutch CRC survivors, cross-sectional data were collected on sensory, motor, autonomic and total PN, sociodemographic (age, sex, education, employment, partner), clinical (time since diagnosis, tumor location, stage, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, co-morbidities), lifestyle (alcohol, smoking, physical activity, body mass index), psychological factors (anxiety, depression, personality) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). After multiple imputation, correlates were analyzed with linear regressions and eliminated with backwards selection. Results CRC survivors (69 years; 42% female) were on average five years post-diagnosis, and 28-65% reported PN. PN was associated with older age, being male (sensory) or female (motor), shorter time since diagnosis, chemotherapy, co-morbidities, anxiety, depression, and worse scores on HRQoL domains, and pain, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, constipation and financial problems. Conclusions In multivariable analyses, PN is affected by receiving chemotherapy, aging, sex, co-morbidities, stress-related factors and HRQoL in CRC survivors. Future PN-related studies can include these factors, and they can be examined in longitudinal studies to gain more knowledge about chronicity and severity of PN

Additional file 3: of Learning to use a body-powered prosthesis: changes in functionality and kinematics

Data Kinematics. (TXT 19 kb

Additional file 2: of Learning to use a body-powered prosthesis: changes in functionality and kinematics

Data IoF scores. (TXT 951 bytes

Additional file 1: of Learning to use a body-powered prosthesis: changes in functionality and kinematics

Read me. (TXT 17 kb

How to prepare a systematic review of economic evaluations for informing evidence-based healthcare decisions: data extraction, risk of bias, and transferability (Part 3/3)

Introduction: This article is part of the series “How to Prepare a Systematic Review (SR) of Economic Evaluations (EE) for Informing Evidence-based Healthcare Decisions” in which a five-step-approach for conducting a SR of EE is proposed. Areas covered: This paper explains the data extraction process, the risk of bias assessment and the transferability of EEs by means of a narrative review and expert opinion. SRs play a critical role in determining the comparative cost-effectiveness of healthcare interventions. It is important to determine the risk of bias and the transferability of an EE. Expert commentary: Over the past decade, several criteria lists have been developed. This article aims to provide recommendations on these criteria lists based on the thoroughness of development, feasibility, overall quality, recommendations of leading organizations, and widespread use