Recent QCD Studies at the Tevatron

Since the beginning of Run II at the Fermilab Tevatron, the QCD physics groups of the CDF and D0 experiments have worked to reach unprecedented levels of precision for many QCD observables. Thanks to the large dataset - over 3 fb^-1 of integrated luminosity recorded by each experiment - many important new measurements have recently been made public and will be summarized in this paper.Comment: Contributed to XXII Rencontres de Physique de la Vallee d'Aoste in La Thuile, Italy on behalf of the CDF and D0 collaboration

Observation of the s-channel and other studies of single top quarks at the Tevatron

First observation of single-top-quark production in the s channel is reported. The result is based on the combination of the CDF and D0 measurements of the cross section in proton-antiproton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV. A summary of other recent single-top-quark results are also included.Comment: Submitted to proceedings of Les Rencontres de Physique de la Vall\'ee d'Aoste. (v2 corrects several typos

Higgs Boson Searches at CDF

Results are presented on searches for standard model and non-standard model production of a Higgs boson in pbar-p collisions at sqrt{s}= 1.96 TeV with the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. Using data corresponding to 2-3.6 1/fb of integrated luminosity, searches are performed in a number of different production and decay modes. No excess in data above that expected from backgrounds is observed; therefore, we set upper limits on the production cross section times branching fraction as a function of the Higgs boson mass.Comment: Lake Louise Winter Institute 2009 16th-21st February 2009 Alberta, Canada (4 pages and 4 figures) v2 includes updated reference

Measurement of the inclusive jet cross section using the midpoint algorithm in Run II at CDF

A measurement is presented of the inclusive jet cross section using the Midpoint jet clustering algorithm in five different rapidity regions. This is the first analysis which measures the inclusive jet cross section using the Midpoint algorithm in the forward region of the detector. The measurement is based on more than 1 fb{sup -1} of integrated luminosity of Run II data taken by the CDF experiment at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. The results are consistent with the predictions of perturbative quantum chromodynamics

Bowel dysfunction after transposition of intestinal segments into the urinary tract : 8-year prospective cohort study

Purpose Bowel function may be disturbed after intestinal segments are transposed into the urinary tract to reconstruct or replace the bladder. In 1997, our group were the first to report major bowel dysfunction in a cohort of such patients: up to 42% of those who were asymptomatic preoperatively describing new bowel symptoms postoperatively including explosive diarrhoea, nocturnal diarrhoea, faecal urgency, faecal incontinence and flatus leakage . We now describe bowel symptoms in this same cohort eight years later (2005). Materials and Methods 116 patients were evaluable. Of the remaining 37 from the original report: 30 had died, five no longer wished to be involved, and two could not be traced. Patients were asked to complete postal questionnaires identical to those used in the first follow-up, assessing the severity of bowel symptoms and quality of life using two validated instruments. Responses were compared with those from the original study. The Nottingham Health Profile quality of life scores were also compared to age and sex matched norms. Results 96 (83%) completed eight-year follow-up questionnaires: 43 after ileal conduit diversion (Group 1), 17 after clam enterocystoplasty for overactive bladder (Group 2), 18 after reconstructed bladder for neurogenic bladder dysfunction (Group 3), and 18 with bladder replacement for non-neurogenic causes (Group 4). High prevalence rates of bowel symptoms persisted with no statistically significant differences between the two time points. Of those with symptoms in 2005, around 50% had reported similar symptoms in 1997. Clam enterocystoplasty patients (Group 2) still reported the highest prevalence (59%) of troublesome diarrhoea with one in two on regular anti-diarrhoeal medication. They also had high rates of faecal incontinence (47%), faecal urgency (41%) and nocturnal bowel movement (18%); with high proportions reporting a moderate or severe adverse effect on work (36%), social life (50%) and sex life (43%). High rates were also reported by neurogenic bladder dysfunction patients, including 50% with troublesome diarrhoea. This symptom was reported by 19% after ileal conduit and by 17% after bladder replacement for non-neurogenic causes. The impact of bowel symptoms on every-day activities and quality of life persisted, remaining most severe after clam enterocystoplasty, with 24% regretting undergoing the procedure because of subsequent bowel symptoms. Conclusions: After more than eight years, operations involving transposition of intestinal segments continue to be associated with high rates of bowel symptoms, which impact on everyday activities. These are particularly troublesome following enterocystoplasty for overactive bladder and bladder reconstruction for neurogenic bladder dysfunction. These risks should influence patient selection and potential patients should be warned prior to surgery

Bowel dysfunction after transposition of intestinal segments into the urinary tract : 8-year prospective cohort study

Purpose Bowel function may be disturbed after intestinal segments are transposed into the urinary tract to reconstruct or replace the bladder. In 1997, our group were the first to report major bowel dysfunction in a cohort of such patients: up to 42% of those who were asymptomatic preoperatively describing new bowel symptoms postoperatively including explosive diarrhoea, nocturnal diarrhoea, faecal urgency, faecal incontinence and flatus leakage . We now describe bowel symptoms in this same cohort eight years later (2005). Materials and Methods 116 patients were evaluable. Of the remaining 37 from the original report: 30 had died, five no longer wished to be involved, and two could not be traced. Patients were asked to complete postal questionnaires identical to those used in the first follow-up, assessing the severity of bowel symptoms and quality of life using two validated instruments. Responses were compared with those from the original study. The Nottingham Health Profile quality of life scores were also compared to age and sex matched norms. Results 96 (83%) completed eight-year follow-up questionnaires: 43 after ileal conduit diversion (Group 1), 17 after clam enterocystoplasty for overactive bladder (Group 2), 18 after reconstructed bladder for neurogenic bladder dysfunction (Group 3), and 18 with bladder replacement for non-neurogenic causes (Group 4). High prevalence rates of bowel symptoms persisted with no statistically significant differences between the two time points. Of those with symptoms in 2005, around 50% had reported similar symptoms in 1997. Clam enterocystoplasty patients (Group 2) still reported the highest prevalence (59%) of troublesome diarrhoea with one in two on regular anti-diarrhoeal medication. They also had high rates of faecal incontinence (47%), faecal urgency (41%) and nocturnal bowel movement (18%); with high proportions reporting a moderate or severe adverse effect on work (36%), social life (50%) and sex life (43%). High rates were also reported by neurogenic bladder dysfunction patients, including 50% with troublesome diarrhoea. This symptom was reported by 19% after ileal conduit and by 17% after bladder replacement for non-neurogenic causes. The impact of bowel symptoms on every-day activities and quality of life persisted, remaining most severe after clam enterocystoplasty, with 24% regretting undergoing the procedure because of subsequent bowel symptoms. Conclusions: After more than eight years, operations involving transposition of intestinal segments continue to be associated with high rates of bowel symptoms, which impact on everyday activities. These are particularly troublesome following enterocystoplasty for overactive bladder and bladder reconstruction for neurogenic bladder dysfunction. These risks should influence patient selection and potential patients should be warned prior to surgery

The 6-minute walk test and other endpoints in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: longitudinal natural history observations over 48 weeks from a multicenter study.

IntroductionDuchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) subjects ≥5 years with nonsense mutations were followed for 48 weeks in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of ataluren. Placebo arm data (N = 57) provided insight into the natural history of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and other endpoints.MethodsEvaluations performed every 6 weeks included the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), timed function tests (TFTs), and quantitative strength using hand-held myometry.ResultsBaseline age (≥7 years), 6MWD, and selected TFT performance are strong predictors of decline in ambulation (Δ6MWD) and time to 10% worsening in 6MWD. A baseline 6MWD of <350 meters was associated with greater functional decline, and loss of ambulation was only seen in those with baseline 6MWD <325 meters. Only 1 of 42 (2.3%) subjects able to stand from supine lost ambulation.ConclusionFindings confirm the clinical meaningfulness of the 6MWD as the most accepted primary clinical endpoint in ambulatory DMD trials

Minimal access surgery compared with medical management for chronic gastro-oesophageal reflux disease : UK collaborative randomised trial

ABSTRACT Objective To determine the relative benefits and risks of laparoscopic fundoplication surgery as an alternative to long term drug treatment for chronic gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Design Multicentre, pragmatic randomised trial (with parallel preference groups). Setting 21 hospitals in the United Kingdom. Participants 357 randomised participants (178 surgical,179 medical) and 453 preference participants (261, 192); mean age 46; 66% men. All participants had documented evidence of GORD and symptoms for >12 months. Intervention The type of laparoscopic fundoplication used was left to the discretion of the surgeon. Those allocated to medical treatment had their treatment reviewed and adjusted as necessary by a local gastroenterologist, and subsequent clinical management was at the discretion of the clinician responsible for care. Main outcome measures The disease specific REFLUX quality of life score (primary outcome), SF-36, EQ-5D, and medication use, measured at time points equivalent to three and 12 months after surgery, and surgical complications. Main results Randomised participants had received drugs for GORD for median of 32 months before trial entry. Baseline REFLUX scores were 63.6 (SD 24.1) and 66.8 (SD 24.5) in the surgical and medical randomised groups, respectively. Of those randomised to surgery, 111 (62%) actually had total or partial fundoplication. Surgical complications were uncommon with a conversion rate of 0.6% and no mortality. By 12 months, 38% (59/154) randomised to surgery (14% (14/104) among those who had fundoplication) were taking reflux medication versus 90% (147/164) randomised medical management. The REFLUX score favoured the randomised surgical group (14.0, 95% confidence interval 9.6 to 18.4; P<0.001). Differences of a third to half of 1 SD in other health status measures also favoured the randomised surgical group. Baseline scores in the preference for surgery group were the worst; by 12 months these were better than in the preference for medical treatment group. Conclusion At least up to 12 months after surgery, laparoscopic fundoplication significantly increased measures of health status in patients with GORD. Trial registration ISRCTN15517081This study was funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme (as part of project no. 97/10/99) and the full project report is published in Health Technology Assessment 2008;12:1/181. The Health Services Research Unit is funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health Directorates.Peer reviewe

Deep coverage whole genome sequences and plasma lipoprotein(a) in individuals of European and African ancestries.

Lipoprotein(a), Lp(a), is a modified low-density lipoprotein particle that contains apolipoprotein(a), encoded by LPA, and is a highly heritable, causal risk factor for cardiovascular diseases that varies in concentrations across ancestries. Here, we use deep-coverage whole genome sequencing in 8392 individuals of European and African ancestry to discover and interpret both single-nucleotide variants and copy number (CN) variation associated with Lp(a). We observe that genetic determinants between Europeans and Africans have several unique determinants. The common variant rs12740374 associated with Lp(a) cholesterol is an eQTL for SORT1 and independent of LDL cholesterol. Observed associations of aggregates of rare non-coding variants are largely explained by LPA structural variation, namely the LPA kringle IV 2 (KIV2)-CN. Finally, we find that LPA risk genotypes confer greater relative risk for incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases compared to directly measured Lp(a), and are significantly associated with measures of subclinical atherosclerosis in African Americans