The flying body: wie Körper und Dinge sich gegenseitig und eine Flugreise hervorbringen

Bodies and things are central dimensions of the “ materiality of the social“, yet they are mostly investigated in different lines of discourse. How can we study these dimensions in one perspective? How do bodies and things 'collaborate' in social processes and ‘become’ together? This contribution tackles these questions based on an empirical study on air travel. In the course of a journey by airplane, bodies and things become relevant in different forms. They have to be gathered and assembled to a mobile formation at the day of travel. At the airport, this formation is decomposed again and subjected to different inspections. In the aircraft, bodies are held still by being 'parked' in the seats like things. Especially when bodies behave recalcitrantly, it becomes evident that this is a demanding accomplishment. 'Flying bodies' are fluid formations of bodies and things that are brought into being situational and change repeatedly in the course of the travel

Dynamik und Statik von Praktiken

Wie lassen sich dynamische und statische Aspekte von Sozialität in einem (praxeologischen) Ansatz fassen? Diese Frage beinhaltet eine besondere theoretische und methodologische Herausforderung, weil sie zwei zunächst gegensätzliche Phänomene aufgreift. Mein Beitrag widmet sich dieser Herausforderung anhand eines spezifischen empirischen Falles, der Flugreise. Sie steht in besonderer Weise sowohl für sozialen Wandel als auch für routinehafte Reproduktion von Sozialität: Einerseits beruhen Flugreisen auf kontinuierlichen technischen und mobilitätspraktischen Veränderungen, etwa die ständige Erneuerung der Möglichkeiten des Eincheckens und der Handhabung von Flugtickets. Andererseits sind es auch hier Routinen und implizites Wissen, die den lückenlosen Ablauf der eng getakteten Flüge garantieren. Der Beitrag zielt also auf die empirische Exploration eines theoretischen Problems ab. Er fragt, wie in diesem spezifischen Fall routinehafte Reproduktion und ständiger Wandel nicht nur nebeneinander und gleichzeitig stattfinden, sondern auch praktisch ineinandergreifen

Visuelle Medien und die (Wieder-)Herstellung von Unmittelbarkeit

Die Verfasser argumentieren, dass bei aller berechtigten Skepsis gegenüber visuellen Medien die ethnografische Forschung pragmatisch auf sie zurückgreifen muss. Als empirisch fundierte Forschung lässt sie sich von der Teilnahme an sozialen Praktiken leiten und irritieren und ist dafür auf Importe aus den untersuchten Feldern und ihren Praktiken angewiesen. An zwei Fallbeispielen aus der soziologischen Praxisforschung wird gezeigt, dass der Einsatz von visuellen Medien als Vermittlern konzeptuell und vor allem praktisch voraussetzungsvoll ist. Der Einsatz von visuellen Medien setzt die Anreicherung des generierten Datenmaterials mit in der Praxis erworbenem bzw. erfahrenem Kontext- und Wahrnehmungswissen durch den Ethnografen voraus, damit dieses als Dokument in der wissenschaftlichen Praxis funktioniert. Die Art zu sehen, die der Forscher im Feld gelernt hat, muss er dem Betrachter seiner Bilder vermitteln. Erst so kann Unmittelbarkeit zwischen der Forschergruppe und dem Bildmaterial entstehen - und es kann Teil der ethnografischen Praxis werden. (entnommen aus Sowiport.de

Qualitative Sozialforschung in Krisenzeiten: Fachgebiet oder Notprogramm?

Diese Frage wird derzeit in verschiedenen Organen der Fachöffentlichkeit diskutiert. Während die einen die Möglichkeiten des Einsatzes digitaler Kommunikationstechnologien in der Forschung optimistisch einschätzen, fürchten die anderen um Forschungsgelegenheiten oder gar um den Markenkern der qualitativen Sozialforschung. Überraschenderweise scheint die Krise eine allgemeine Amnesie zu erzeugen. Jedenfalls vermissen wir in der Debatte den Bezug auf theoretische, methodische und methodologische Erkenntnisse aus der bisherigen Erforschung digitaler Sozialität. Höchste Zeit also, die Debatte an den Forschungs- und Professionalisierungsstand anzuschließen und damit eine Grundlage zu schaffen, auf der die Aufgaben und Möglichkeiten, die sich aus der Pandemie für die qualitative Sozialforschung ergeben, differenzierter diskutiert werden können. What do the pandemic-related contact restrictions mean for qualitative social research? This question is currently being discussed in various spaces of the professional public. While some are optimistic about the possibilities of using digital communication technologies in research, others fear for research opportunities or even for the brand essence of qualitative social research. Surprisingly, the crisis seems to produce a general amnesia. In any case, we miss in the debate the reference to theoretical, and methodological insights from previous research on digital sociality. It is therefore high time to connect the debate to the state of research and professionalization and thus to create a basis on which the tasks and opportunities arising from the pandemic for qualitative social research can be discussed in a more differentiated way

PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF DIPYRONE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH STORAGE HOUSEHOLD’S PROFILE

A dipirona é um dos analgésicos mais populares no Brasil, estando presente na maioria das “farmácias caseiras”. Essa prática de estocagem domiciliar, geralmente encontra-se de forma inadequada, o que pode levar a alterações físico-químicas e microbiológicas do produto farmacêutico. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar alterações na estabilidade de diferentes formas farmacêuticas de dipirona sódica, bem como comparar as características de armazenamento de medicamentos em residências. Para tal, foram simuladas em diferentes condições de armazenamento amostras de comprimidos, solução oral e xarope, durante quatro meses, sendo posteriormente analisadas conforme critérios estabelecidos pela Farmacopeia Brasileira 5ª edição. Para apresentações da dipirona solução oral e xarope, foram realizados testes de pH e segurança biológica (contagem de micro-organismo mesófilos e bolores/leveduras); para os comprimidos, foram realizados os testes de friabilidade, desintegração e doseamento. Os resultados obtidos das análises apresentaram determinações de pH entre 6,11 e 6,96 (dentro dos padrões); não observou-se crescimento de micro-organismos aeróbios e o desenvolvimento de fungos permaneceu <101 UFC/g; todas as amostras foram desintegradas em menos de 10 minutos; para o teste de friabilidade detectaram-se perdas não superiores a 0,60% e para o teor do fármaco as perdas se mantiveram inferiores a 10% do valor nominal. Assim, pode-se concluir que, durante o período da simulação, nenhuma das amostras apresentou variações de acordo com padrões farmacopeicos. Porém, se a exposição aos fatores ambientais continuar associada a um tempo mais prolongado de armazenamento e à falta de higiene na manipulação, os medicamentos estão sujeitos a sofrer alterações físico-químicas e microbianas

Solid Swallow Examination During High Resolution Manometry and EGJ-Distensibility Help Identify Esophageal Outflow Obstruction in Non-obstructive Dysphagia

Single water swallow (SWS) high-resolution manometry (HRM) may miss relevant esophageal motility disorders. Solid test meal (STM) during HRM and lately the functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP) have been shown to be of diagnostic value in the assessment of motility disorders. We aimed to assess the diagnostic yield of STM and FLIP in non-obstructive dysphagia (NOD). Patients assessed for dysphagia with both HRM and FLIP between April 2016 and August 2019 were analyzed for signs of non-obstructive EGJ outflow obstruction (EGJOO) according to Chicago Classification 3.0 (CCv3) and CC adapted for the use with solid swallows (CC-S), followed by an individual group-specific analysis. Five subjects without dysphagia served as control group. Standard HRM- and FLIP-values as well as esophagograms and Eckardt Scores were analyzed. Forty-two patients were identified (male/female, 14/36, median age 62). Twenty-five (59.5%) were diagnosed with EGJOO during STM only (= SWS-negative patients; CC-S). The EGJ distensibility index (EGJ-DI) of symptomatic patients was significantly lower compared to the control group (p = 0.006). EGJ-DI was < 3mm$^{2}$/mmHg in 67% and 88% of patients diagnosed according to CC-S and CCv3, respectively. The IRP during STM showed a significant association to the corresponding EGJ-DI values (p < 0.001). Seventy-six percent of patients received treatment because of additional STM evaluation with a favorable clinical response rate of 89%. STM and FLIP identify EGJOO in symptomatic patients with normal SWS during HRM. STM resembles an inexpensive and clinically meaningful option to diagnose motility disorders and helps to select patients for interventional treatment

Differentiation of functional gastrointestinal disorders from healthy volunteers by lactulose hydrogen breath test and test meal

BACKGROUND AND AIM Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common disorder of gut-brain interaction with incompletely understood pathophysiology. Consequently, heterogeneous expert opinions on diagnostic tests and assessment of treatment efficacies exist. So far, no consensus about the most relevant diagnostic and outcome tool has been reached. In this study, we aimed to analyze the significance of a combined lactulose hydrogen breath test (LHBT) and liquid meal, yet representing a standardized test in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), in FD. METHODS We analyzed data of 146 FD, 204 IBS patients, and 50 healthy volunteers (HV). All patients underwent LHBT with a meal-drink consisting of 30-g Lactulose and 400-mL Ensure®. Effect of abdominal symptom generation in FD/IBS compared with HV was assessed on a patient-reported Likert-scale. RESULTS There was a significant difference between FD/IBS patients and HV in LHBT-induced abdominal pain (odds ratio [OR] 246.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 26.6-2290.7; OR 161.2, 95% CI 16.9-1534.8), abdominal bloating (OR 384.8, 95% CI 92.9-2135.4; OR 524.1, 95% CI 114.7-3432.3), borborygmi (OR 9.9, 95% CI 2.2-46.9; OR 17.7, 95% CI 4.7-67.4), nausea only in FD (OR 174.4, 95% CI 15.5-5375.5), and diarrhea in IBS only (OR 25.8, 95% CI 2.0-7012.6). Hydrogen production was not significantly different in FD/IBS and HV. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we demonstrated significant differences in postprandial symptom generation in FD and IBS compared with HV after LHBT. This does not only allow us to discriminate FD/IBS from HV but may also represent a diagnostic and monitoring tool for FD/IBS in the future, including monitoring of treatment effects

Pyloric dilation with the esophageal functional lumen imaging probe in gastroparesis improves gastric emptying, pyloric distensibility, and symptoms

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The role of decreased pyloric distensibility in gastroparesis as measured by the endolumenal functional luminal imaging probe (EndoFLIP) has been receiving increasing attention. In this study, we present clinical outcomes to pyloric dilation with the esophageal FLIP (EsoFLIP) in regard to gastric emptying, symptom evolution, and FLIP metrics. METHODS Patients evaluated for gastroparesis (gastric emptying studies of t$_{1/2}$ ≥180 minutes during $^{13}$C-octanoic acid breath test and/or gastric remnants during gastroscopy after a sufficient fasting period) were scheduled for EsoFLIP controlled pyloric dilation. Pre- and postprocedural gastric emptying studies, questionnaires (Patient Assessment of Upper GI Symptoms Severity Index [PAGI-SYM; including the Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index] and Patient Assessment of Quality of Life Index [PAGI-QOL]), and FLIP metrics were documented. Dilation was conducted according to a self-developed algorithm. RESULTS Forty-six patients were analyzed (72% women; median age, 39 years [range, 18-88]). Etiologies of gastroparesis were diabetic in 10 patients (22%), idiopathic in 33 (72%), and postoperative in 3 (6%). Postprocedural gastric emptying time decreased from a median of 211 minutes to 179 minutes (P = .001). In accordance, pyloric distensibility, PAGI-SYM, PAGI-QOL, and Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index values improved significantly. After a median follow-up of 3.9 months, 57% of all treated patients with returned questionnaires reported improved symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Pyloric EsoFLIP controlled dilation shows value in the treatment of gastroparesis, both subjectively and objectively. Long-term follow-up to assess efficacy and comparative trials are warranted

Impaired peripheral reaching and on-line corrections in patient DF: optic ataxia with visual form agnosia

An influential model of vision suggests the presence of two visual streams within the brain: a dorsal occipito-parietal stream which mediates action and a ventral occipito-temporal stream which mediates perception. One of the cornerstones of this model is DF, a patient with visual form agnosia following bilateral ventral stream lesions. Despite her inability to identify and distinguish visual stimuli, DF can still use visual information to control her hand actions towards these stimuli. These observations have been widely interpreted as demonstrating a double dissociation from optic ataxia, a condition observed after bilateral dorsal stream damage in which patients are unable to act towards objects that they can recognize. In Experiment 1, we investigated how patient DF performed on the classical diagnostic task for optic ataxia, reaching in central and peripheral vision. We replicated recent findings that DF is remarkably inaccurate when reaching to peripheral targets, but not when reaching in free vision. In addition we present new evidence that her peripheral reaching errors follow the optic ataxia pattern increasing with target eccentricity and being biased towards fixation. In Experiments 2 and 3, for the first time we examined DF’s on-line control of reaching using a double-step paradigm in fixation-controlled and free-vision versions of the task. DF was impaired when performing fast on-line corrections on all conditions tested, similarly to optic ataxia patients. Our findings question the long-standing assumption that DF’s dorsal visual stream is functionally intact and that her on-line visuomotor control is spared. In contrast, in addition to visual form agnosia, DF also has visuomotor symptoms of optic ataxia which are most likely explained by bilateral damage to the superior parietal occipital cortex. We thus conclude that patient DF can no longer be considered as an appropriate single-case model for testing the neural basis of perception and action dissociations