Surgical Treatment of Wounds Using Stem Cells in Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB)

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of hereditary skin diseases, or genodermatoses, characterized by the formation of severe, chronic blisters with painful and life-threatening complications. Despite the previous and ongoing progress in the field, there are still no effective causative treatments for EB. The treatment is limited to relieving symptoms, which—depending on disease severity—may involve skin (blisters, poorly healing wounds caused by the slightest mechanical stimuli, contractures, scarring, pseudosyndactyly) and internal organ abnormalities (esophageal, pyloric, or duodenal atresia; renal failure; and hematopoietic abnormalities). The last decade saw a series of important discoveries that paved the way for new treatment methods, including gene therapy, bone marrow transplantation, cell therapy (allogenic fibroblasts, mesenchymal stem cells [MSCs], and clinical use of induced pluripotent stem cells. Tissue engineering experts are attempting to develop skin-like structures that can facilitate the process of healing to promote skin reconstruction in injuries that are currently incurable. However, this is incredibly challenging, due to the complex structure and the many functions of the skin. Below, we characterize EB and present its potential treatment methods. Despite the cure for EB being still out of reach, recent data from animal models and initial clinical trials in humans have raised patients’, clinicians’, and researchers’ expectations. Consequently, modifying the course of the disease and improving the quality of life have become possible. Moreover, the conclusions drawn based on EB treatment may considerably improve the treatment of other genetic diseases

SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Centre in Krakow, Poland

The SOLARIS synchrotron located in Krakow, Poland, is a third-generation light source operating at medium electron energy. The first synchrotron light was observed in 2015, and the consequent development of infrastructure lead to the first users’ experiments at soft X-ray energies in 2018. Presently, SOLARIS expands its operation towards hard X-rays with continuous developments of the beamlines and concurrent infrastructure. In the following, we will summarize the SOLARIS synchrotron design, and describe the beamlines and research infrastructure together with the main performance parameters, upgrade, and development plans

Intra-operative gallbladder scoring predicts conversion of laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy: a WSES prospective collaborative study

Abstract Introduction Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the gold-standard approach for cholecystectomy, has surprisingly variable outcomes and conversion rates. Only recently has operative grading been reported to define disease severity and few have been validated. This multicentre, multinational study assessed an operative scoring system to assess its ability to predict the need for conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy. Methods A prospective, web-based, ethically approved study was established by WSES with a 10-point gallbladder operative scoring system; enrolling patients undergoing elective or emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy between January 2016 and December 2017. Gallbladder surgery was considered easy if the G10 score < 2, moderate (2 ≦ 4), difficult (5 ≦ 7) and extreme (8 ≦ 10). Demographics about the patients, surgeons and operative procedures, use of cholangiography and conversion rates were recorded. Results Five hundred four patients, mean age 53.5 (range 18–89), were enrolled by 55 surgeons in 16 countries. Surgery was performed by consultants in 70% and was elective in (56%) with a mean operative time of 78.7 min (range 15-400). The mean G10 score was 3.21, with 22% deemed to have difficult or extreme surgical gallbladders, and 71/504 patients were converted. The G10 score was 2.98 in those completed laparoscopically and 4.65 in the 71/504 (14%) converted. (p <  0.0001; AUC 0.772 (CI 0.719–0.825). The optimal cut-off point of 0.067 (score of 3) was identified in G10 vs conversion to open cholecystectomy. Conversion occurred in 33% of patients with G10 scores of ≥ 5. The four variables statistically predictive of conversion were GB appearance—completely buried GB, impacted stone, bile or pus outside GB and fistula. Conclusion The G10 operative scores provide simple grading of operative cholecystectomy and are predictive of the need to convert to open cholecystectomy. Broader adaptation and validation may provide a benchmark to understand and improve care and afford more standardisation in global comparisons of care for cholecystectomy

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

Physiological parameters for Prognosis in Abdominal Sepsis (PIPAS) Study : a WSES observational study

BackgroundTiming and adequacy of peritoneal source control are the most important pillars in the management of patients with acute peritonitis. Therefore, early prognostic evaluation of acute peritonitis is paramount to assess the severity and establish a prompt and appropriate treatment. The objectives of this study were to identify clinical and laboratory predictors for in-hospital mortality in patients with acute peritonitis and to develop a warning score system, based on easily recognizable and assessable variables, globally accepted.MethodsThis worldwide multicentre observational study included 153 surgical departments across 56 countries over a 4-month study period between February 1, 2018, and May 31, 2018.ResultsA total of 3137 patients were included, with 1815 (57.9%) men and 1322 (42.1%) women, with a median age of 47years (interquartile range [IQR] 28-66). The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 8.9%, with a median length of stay of 6days (IQR 4-10). Using multivariable logistic regression, independent variables associated with in-hospital mortality were identified: age > 80years, malignancy, severe cardiovascular disease, severe chronic kidney disease, respiratory rate >= 22 breaths/min, systolic blood pressure 4mmol/l. These variables were used to create the PIPAS Severity Score, a bedside early warning score for patients with acute peritonitis. The overall mortality was 2.9% for patients who had scores of 0-1, 22.7% for those who had scores of 2-3, 46.8% for those who had scores of 4-5, and 86.7% for those who have scores of 7-8.ConclusionsThe simple PIPAS Severity Score can be used on a global level and can help clinicians to identify patients at high risk for treatment failure and mortality.Peer reviewe

Change in the stereotype of Italians among students of the Erasmus programme - sociological analysis

W pracy przedstawiony jest opis badań jakościowych przeprowadzonych wśród polskich stypendystów programu "Erasmus" we Włoszech. Celem było sprawdzenie jaki wpływ na stereotyp Włochów może mieć przebywanie na stypendium "Erasmus" w tym kraju.This thesis is based on a qualitative research conducted among Polish students who participated in the Erasmus Programme in Italy. The aim was to examine what impact on the stereotype of Italians may have a participation in the Erasmus Programme in Italy

X-ray and Visual Investigations on the Combustion Process of Curved, Low-gas, Pyrotechnic Paths Used in Self-destruction Assemblies of Missile Fusing Systems

The validation of the consistency of combustion front propagation along confined, low-gas, curved, pyrotechnic paths pressed into the grooves of the disc bodies of artillery and rocket ammunition fusing systems, is of critical importance as it concerns the functional reliability and safe usage of such types of ammunition. To validate the above consistency, Real Time X-ray Radioscopy (RTR) was utilized for the recording of the combustion process of curved pyrotechnic paths comprising two delay time segments. To confirm the observations obtained by the RTR technique, visual (VIS) recording was utilized for the unconfined pyrotechnic path. Due to the RTR and VIS techniques, evolution of the combustion process was recorded as a combustion front travelling along the pyrotechnic path. The combustion front had a convex shape. Using the VIS technique, a conical, bright tail was also observed behind the combustion front. The mean velocity of the propagation of the combustion front along each delay segment of the confined pyrotechnic path was determined on the basis of the RTR recordings. Using the RTR and VIS techniques, it was possible to quasi-continuously detect and record the combustion front movement along the confined and unconfined pyrotechnic paths, respectively. The VIS observations confirmed the RTR recording of the convex shape of the combustion front. In addition, the VIS technique allowed us to record the bright, conical tail

Experimental and Numerical Study on the PG-7VM Warhead Performance against High-Hardness Armor Steel

Analyses presented in the article were carried out in order to characterize the main parameters of the shaped charge jet formed due to detonation of the PG-7VM warhead. As opposed to the previously published studies in which rolled homogeneous armored steel was mainly used as a target, in the current work the warhead penetration capability was determined against more contemporary high-hardness (500 HB) ARMSTAL 30PM steel armor with precisely determined mechanical properties. The research included experimental depth of penetration tests and their numerical reproduction in the LS-Dyna software. Special attention was paid to factors that could perturbate the shaped charge jet formation process and under- or overestimate its penetration capability. For this reason, warheads were X-ray inspected for structural discrepancies (voids or air inclusions in explosive, misalignment between the body, explosive, and liner, or lack of contact between the explosive and the liner) and properties of materials (explosive, targets, and most important warhead components) were analyzed before the experiments. The numerical model of the warhead was defined more accurately than in previously published studies, since it was based on the real grenade dimensions and its technical documentation. Thanks to this, the depth of penetration of the target made of ARMSTAL 30PM armored steel plates by the shaped charge jet formed from the PG-7VM warhead obtained by numerical simulation was consistent with the experimental results and equaled 278 mm and 280 mm, respectively. The difference between the experimental and numerical value was smaller than 1%, which confirms that the developed methodology of modeling allows users to properly reproduce the PG-7VM shaped charge jet formation and target penetration processes. A verified numerical model of the shaped charge jet penetration into a steel target was used to determine depth of penetration in function of stand-off distance for the PG-7VM warhead. A maximum depth of penetration of about 317 mm was obtained for the stand-off distance of 360 mm, which may indicate the potential direction of modernization of warheads

X-ray Investigation of Dynamic Phenomena Occurring during Combustion of the Pyrotechnic Charges of 40 mm Grenade Fuze Delay Systems

Experimental Real Time X-ray Radioscopy (RTR) investigation of dynamic phenomena occurring during the combustion of end-burning pyrotechnic charges confined in the fuze body, utilized in the delay systems of 40 mm grenade fuzes, are presented. These pyrotechnic delay systems delay the arming distance pyromechanism and the self-destroying timing assembly. The charge in the delay arming distance pyromechanism was a black powder pellet supported by the safety pin kept in constant position by its driving compressed spring. The self-destroying timing assembly comprised three pyrotechnic segmented columns connected at their ends with ignition relay channels, creating a zig-zag firing train. The following dynamic phenomena were detected and registered by RTR at a frequency of 30 FPS: (i) combustion zone travelling along the pyrotechnic charges, (ii) displacements of the pyromechanism safety pin caused by either the pressure of its spring after burning out of the black powder pellet or by pressure of the combustion products escaping from the zig-zag firing train, (iii) transfer of the ignition impulse between the adjacent pyrotechnic columns, (iv) pressure action of the combustion products on the pyrotechnic columns during transfer of the ignition impulse, and (v) transfer of the final output ignition impulse from the last (third) pyrotechnic column through the channel leading directly to the chamber used for accommodating the fuze detonator

The range of the fractured rock mass zone around the excavation with rockbolt support

W artykule przedstawiono wyniki badań dołowych zasięgu strefy spękań górotworu wokół wyrobiska w samodzielnej obudowie kotwowej wykonanych endoskopem otworowym. Pomiary zrealizowane były w chodniku Bw-1n badawczym w pokładzie 401, który drążony jest przy pomocy kombajnu Bolter Miner. Następnie wykonany został model numeryczny z wykorzystaniem opartego na metodzie elementów skończonych programu Phase2, w celu określenia możliwości prognozowania zasięgu stref spękań.. Na koniec wykonano analizę porównawczą wyników badań dołowych z wynikami z modelu numerycznego.This article presents the results of underground research on the extent of the rock mass fracture zone around excavation with rock bolts only. The measurements were conducted by borehole endoscope in the gallery Bw-1n in the 401 coal seam, which is being driled by Bolter Miner entry driver. A numerical model was also built using the finite element-based program Phase2 to evaluate the fracture zone extent. Finally, the results of the underground research with the results of the numerical model were compared