Implementation of robotic laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a university hospital.

BACKGROUND: Robot surgery is a further step towards new potential developments in minimally invasive surgery. Surgeons must keep abreast of these new technologies and learn their limits and possibilities. Robot-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy has not yet been performed in our institution. The purpose of this report is to present the pathway of implementation of robotic laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a university hospital. METHODS: The Zeus(R) robot system was used. Experimental training was performed on animals. The results of our experimental training allowed us to perform our first two clinical cases. RESULTS: Robot arm set-up and trocar placement required 53 and 35 minutes. Operative time were 59 and 45 minutes respectively. The overall operative time was 112 and 80 minutes, respectively. There were no intraoperative complications. Patients were discharged from the hospital after an overnight stay. CONCLUSION: Robotic laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe and patient recovery similar to those of standard laparoscopy. At present, there are no advantages of robotic over conventional surgery. Nevertheless, robots have the potential to revolutionise the way surgery is performed. Robot surgery is not reserved for a happy few. This technology deserves more attention because it has the potential to change the way surgery is performed

Investigations of fast neutron production by 190 GeV/c muon interactions on different targets

The production of fast neutrons (1 MeV - 1 GeV) in high energy muon-nucleus interactions is poorly understood, yet it is fundamental to the understanding of the background in many underground experiments. The aim of the present experiment (CERN NA55) was to measure spallation neutrons produced by 190 GeV/c muons scattering on carbon, copper and lead targets. We have investigated the energy spectrum and angular distribution of spallation neutrons, and we report the result of our measurement of the neutron production differential cross section.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures ep

Determination of Strong-Interaction Widths and Shifts of Pionic X-Rays with a Crystal Spectrometer

Pionic 3d-2p atomic transitions in F, Na, and Mg have been studied using a bent crystal spectrometer. The pionic atoms were formed in the production target placed in the external proton beam of the Space Radiation Effects Laboratory synchrocyclotron. The observed energies and widths of the transitions are E=41679(3) eV and Γ=21(8) eV, E=62434(18) eV and Γ=22(80) eV, E=74389(9) eV and Γ=67(35) eV, in F, Na, and Mg, respectively. The results are compared with calculations based on a pion-nucleus optical potential

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a day surgery procedure: implementation and audit of 136 consecutive cases in a university hospital

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has been routinely performed since 1989 at our institution, and patients were traditionally admitted for 2 days. In 1996 we implemented a protocol for LC as a day surgery procedure at our center. Although initially reported by others, it has not yet been introduced as routine in Switzerland. The objective of this prospective study was to determine acceptability and safety of LC as an outpatient procedure in a university hospital. Data were collected prospectively for 136 LCs between January 1996 and December 2001. Patients were selected for the study if they wanted to go home within less than 24 hours, had no previous jaundice, and had no anesthetic contraindication. Systematic preoperative liver function tests and hepatic ultrasonography were performed. All patients were admitted on the day of operation. LC was performed using a three-trocar technique. Systematic cholangiography was performed, and all the procedures were completed laparoscopically. There were no common bile duct explorations. Postoperative complications were the following: nausea in seven patients, a minor umbilical hematoma in two. According to patient preference, 101 (74%) were discharged after an overnight stay (less than 24 hours) and 32 (24%) on the same day. The unplanned admission rate was 2%, and none of the patients was subsequently readmitted. The reasons for unplanned admissions were two patients with persistent nausea and one patient for whom an overnight stay was scheduled who presented with a ruptured subcapsular hematoma of the liver. Altogether, 97% of the patients were satisfied with the care they received. Operative costs were not significantly different when comparing inpatient and outpatient LC. The main postoperative savings were in the postoperative costs. Our results confirm that LC as a day surgery procedure is safe, effective, and acceptable to patients and their relatives. These results were achieved by using selection criteria that considered not only the surgical pathology but also the individual and by using appropriate techniques and planned postoperative analgesi

Design and validation of a partial-genome microarray for transcriptional profiling of the Bradyrhizobium japonicum symbiotic gene region

The design and use of a pilot microarray for transcriptome analysis of the symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing Bradyrhizobium japonicum is reported here. The custom-synthesized chip (Affymetrix GeneChip®) features 738 genes, more than half of which belong to a 400-kb chromosomal segment strongly associated with symbiosis-related functions. RNA was isolated following an optimized protocol from wild-type cells grown aerobically and microaerobically, and from cells of aerobically grown regR mutant and microaerobically grown nifA mutant. Comparative microarray analyses thus revealed genes that are transcribed in either a RegR- or a NifA-dependent manner plus genes whose expression depends on the cellular oxygen status. Several genes were newly identified as members of the RegR and NifA regulons, beyond genes, which had been known from previous work. A comprehensive transcription analysis was performed with one of the new RegR-controlled genes (id880). Expression levels determined by microarray analysis of selected NifA- and RegR-controlled genes corresponded well with quantitative real-time PCR data, demonstrating the high complementarity of microarray analysis to classical methods of gene expression analysis in B. japonicum. Nevertheless, several previously established members of the NifA regulon were not detected as transcribed genes by microarray analysis, confirming the potential pitfalls of this approach also observed by other authors. By and large, this pilot study has paved the way towards the genome-wide transcriptome analysis of the 9.1-Mb B. japonicum genom

Hourly resolved cloud modification factors in the ultraviolet

Cloud impacts on the transfer of ultraviolet (UV) radiation through the atmosphere can be assessed by using a cloud modification factor (CMF). CMF, which is based on total global solar irradiation (SOL<sub>CMF</sub>), has proved to be a solid basis to derive CMFs for the UV radiation (UV<sub>CMF</sub>). This is an advantage, because total global irradiance, the basis for SOL<sub>CMF</sub>, is frequently measured and forecasted by numerical weather prediction systems and includes all relevant effects for radiation transmission, such as cloud optical depth, different cloud layers, multiple reflection, as well as the distinct difference as to whether the solar disc is obscured by clouds or not. In the UV range clouds decrease the irradiance to a lesser extent than in the visible and infrared spectral range. Thus the relationship between CMFs for solar radiation and for UV-radiation is not straight forward, but will depend on whether, for example, the solar zenith angle (SZA) and wavelength band or action spectrum in the UV have been taken into consideration. Den Outer et al. provide a UV<sub>CMF</sub> algorithm on a daily basis, which accounts for these influences. It requires as input a daily SOL<sub>CMF</sub> and the SZA at noon. The calculation of SOL<sub>CMF</sub> uses the clear-sky algorithm of the European Solar Radiation Atlas to account for varying turbidity impacts. The algorithm's capability to derive hourly UV<sub>CMFs</sub> based on the SZA at the corresponding hour and its worldwide applicability is validated for erythemal UV using observational data retrieved from the databases of the COST-Action 726 on "Long-term changes and climatology of UV radiation over Europe" and the USDA UV-B Monitoring Program. The clear-sky part of the models has proved to be of good quality. Accumulated to daily doses it forms a tight cluster of points to the highest measured daily sums. All sky model performances for hourly resolution are shown to be comparable in accuracy with the well performing daily models of the COST-726 model intercomparison

Redistribution of gastric blood flow by embolization of gastric arteries before esophagectomy.

Background. Anastomotic leak remains a common and potentially deleterious complication after esophagectomy. Preoperative embolization of the left gastric artery and splenic artery (PAE) has been suggested to lower anastomotic leak rates. We present the results of our 5-year experience with this technique.Methods. All patients undergoing PAE before esophagectomy since introduction of this technique in 2004 were compared in a 1: 2 matched-pair analysis with patients without PAE. Matching criteria were type of anastomosis, neoadjuvant treatment, comorbidity, and age. Data were derived from a retrospective chart review from 2000 to 2006 that was perpetuated as a prospective database up to date. Outcome measures were anastomotic leak, overall complications, and hospital stay.Results. Between 2000 and 2009, 102 patients underwent esophagectomy for cancer in our institution with an overall leak rate of 19% and a mortality of 8%. All 19 patients having PAE since 2004 were successfully matched 1: 2 to 38 control patients without PAE; both groups were similar regarding demographics and operation characteristics. Two PAE (11%) and 8 control patients (21%) had an anastomotic leak, but the difference was statistically not significant (p = 0.469). Overall and major complication rates for PAE and control group were 89% versus 79% (p = 0.469) and 37% versus 34% (p = 1.000), respectively. Median intensive care unit and hospital stay were 3 versus 3 days (p = 1.000) and 22 versus 17 days (p = 0.321), respectively.Conclusions. In our experience, PAE has no significant impact on complications and anastomotic leak in particular after esophagectomy. (Ann Thorac Surg 2011;91:1556-61) (C) 2011 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeon

Ground-based aerosol optical depth trends at three high-altitude sites in Switzerland and Southern Germany from 1995–2010

Ground-based aerosol optical depth (AOD) climatologies at three high-altitude sites in Switzerland (Jungfraujoch and Davos) and Southern Germany (Hohenpeissenberg) are updated and re-calibrated for the period 1995 – 2010. In addition, AOD time-series are augmented with previously unreported data, and are homogenized for the first time. Trend analysis revealed weak AOD trends (λ = 500 nm) at Jungfraujoch (JFJ; +0.007 decade-1), Davos (DAV; +0.002 decade-1) and Hohenpeissenberg (HPB; -0.011 decade-1) where the JFJ and HPB trends were statistically significant at the 95% and 90% confidence levels. However, a linear trend for the JFJ 1995 – 2005 period was found to be more appropriate than for 1995 – 2010 due to the influence of stratospheric AOD which gave a trend -0.003 decade-1 (significant at 95% level). When correcting for a recently available stratospheric AOD time-series, accounting for Pinatubo (1991) and more recent volcanic eruptions, the 1995 – 2010 AOD trends decreased slightly at DAV and HPB but remained weak at +0.000 decade-1 and -0.013 decade-1 (significant at 95% level). The JFJ 1995 – 2005 AOD time-series similarly decreased to -0.003 decade-1 (significant at 95% level). We conclude that despite a more detailed re40 analysis of these three time-series, which have been extended by five years to the end of 2010, a significant decrease in AOD at these three high-altitude sites has still not been observed