Helicobacter species in cancers of the gallbladder and extrahepatic biliary tract

Helicobacter species have been found in human bile and biliary tract (BT) tissue and are suspected to cause BT diseases, including gallbladder and extrahepatic cancers, collectively referred to in this work as BT cancers. We conducted a literature review of the epidemiological evidence linking the presence of Helicobacter species in bile or BT biopsies to BT cancers and benign diseases. Reports showed great variability with respect to study methods. Nine studies of BT cancers were identified, all with 30 or fewer BT cancers; eight included cancer-free control subjects and used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a means of Helicobacter species detection. In four of these studies, Helicobacter species were detected in patients with BT cancer significantly more frequently than in controls, at least when controls without BT diseases were used. In two studies, no Helicobacter species were detected in either cases or controls. Helicobacter species were also often detected in benign BT diseases such as gallstone disease or chronic cholecystitis. As our current knowledge relies on a few small studies that showed substantial differences, larger studies and more standardised protocols for detecting DNA and antibodies against Helicobacter species are needed to investigate a potential association with BT cancer

Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for Elemental Analysis in Environmental, Cultural Heritage and Space Applications: A Review of Methods and Results

Analytical applications of Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), namely optical emission spectroscopy of laser-induced plasmas, have been constantly growing thanks to its intrinsic conceptual simplicity and versatility. Qualitative and quantitative analysis can be performed by LIBS both by drawing calibration lines and by using calibration-free methods and some of its features, so as fast multi-elemental response, micro-destructiveness, instrumentation portability, have rendered it particularly suitable for analytical applications in the field of environmental science, space exploration and cultural heritage. This review reports and discusses LIBS achievements in these areas and results obtained for soils and aqueous samples, meteorites and terrestrial samples simulating extraterrestrial planets, and cultural heritage samples, including buildings and objects of various kinds

The weekend effect in patients hospitalized for upper gastrointestinal bleeding: A single-center 10-year experience

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess the possible weekend effect in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) on the basis of a 10-year single-center experience in Serbia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of hospital records in the University Clinic 'Dr Dragisa Misovic-Dedinje', Belgrade, Serbia, from 2002 to 2012 was conducted. Patients admitted for UGIB were identified, and data on demographic characteristics, symptoms, drug use, alcohol abuse, diagnosis and treatment were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to assess the association between weekend admission and the occurrence of rebleeding and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Analyses included 493 patients. Rebleeding occurred significantly more frequently on weekends (45.7 vs. 32.7%, P=0.004). Weekend admission [odds ratio (OR)=1.78; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15-2.74], older age (OR=1.02; 95% CI: 1.00-1.03), and the presence of both melaena and hematemesis (OR=2.29; 95% CI: 1.29-4.07) were associated with the occurrence of rebleeding. No difference between weekend and weekday admissions was observed for the in-hospital mortality rate (6.9% vs. 6.0%, P=0.70). Older age (OR=1.14; 95% CI: 1.08-1.20), presentation with melaena and hematemesis (OR=4.12; 95% CI: 1.56-10.90) and need for surgical treatment (OR=5.16; 95% CI: 1.61-16.53) were significant predictors of all-cause mortality. Patients with nonvariceal bleeding had significantly higher rebleeding rates on weekends (44 vs. 32.3%, P=0.013). CONCLUSION: There was no significant weekend effect in the mortality of patients admitted for UGIB, irrespective of the source of bleeding. Increased attention to older patients presenting with a more severe clinical picture is needed to prolong survival and prevent rebleeding. \ua9 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins