Appendix tumors in the era of laparoscopic appendectomy

Background: The safety of laparoscopic appendectomy for the management of incidentally discovered appendiceal tumors has not yet been established. Methods: Appendiceal tumor cases managed by laparoscopy or laparotomy over a 10-year period were reviewed. Results: The pathological diagnoses were 23 carcinoid and 20 cancerous lesions. The median patient ages were 36 and 69years, respectively, for carcinoid and other tumors (p < 0.05). Acute appendicitis was present in 70% of carcinoid cases and 35% of other tumors (p < 0.05). Eight patients with carcinoid tumors were operated on by laparoscopy, whereas 15 underwent laparotomy. Laparoscopic and open procedures were performed in three and 17 patients with cancerous lesions, respectively. Invaded surgical margins were seen after laparoscopy in 20% of patients and open surgery in 6%. Synchronous colon carcinoma was detected in 14% of the patients with an appendix neoplasm. The 5-year survival rates were similar after both laparoscopic and open appendectomy for either carcinoid or other tumors. Conclusion: Laparoscopic appendectomy for appendiceal tumors seems to have a slightly higher rate of inadequate resection. However, it is not associated with a significantly worse patient prognosis than open appendectom

Association between serum resistin level and outcomes in kidney transplant recipients.

Resistin is an adipocytokine that is associated with inflammation, coronary artery disease, and other types of cardiovascular disease among patients with normal kidney function. However, little is known about the association of resistin with outcomes in kidney transplant recipients. We collected socio-demographic and clinical parameters, medical and transplant history, and laboratory data from 988 prevalent kidney transplant recipients enrolled in the Malnutrition-Inflammation in Transplant-Hungary Study (MINIT-HU study). Serum resistin levels were measured at baseline. Associations between serum resistin level and death with a functioning graft over a 6-year follow-up period were examined in unadjusted and adjusted models. The mean±SD age of the study population was 51 ± 13 years, among whom 57% were men and 21% were diabetics. Median serum resistin concentrations were significantly higher in patients who died with a functioning graft as compared to those who did not die during the follow-up period (median [IQR]: 22[15-26] vs. 19[14-22] ng/ml, respectively; P &lt; 0.001). Higher serum resistin level was associated with higher mortality risk in both unadjusted and fully adjusted models: HRs (95% CI): 1.33(1.16-1.54) and 1.21(1.01-1.46), respectively. In prevalent kidney transplant recipients, serum resistin was an independent predictor of death with a functioning graft

Modelling the influence of the froth phase on recovery in batch and continuous flotation cells

To determine model parameters, a large data set was required. This is due to the semi-empirical nature of the proposed froth model. In this regard, the use of data obtained from continuously operated cells was therefore not suitable for deriving model parameters. It was thought that this could only be achieved by using data obtained from a batch flotation cell. A batch flotation cell has a distinct advantage of being suitable for generating, rapidly, large amount of data. However, the non-steady behaviour of froths found in this type of cell require a robust methodology for extracting the necessary parameters. In return this methodology was developed in this thesis. The main hypothesis of this methodology is that batch flotation performance, in terms of recovery, can be adequately approximated by treating a batch test as if it consists of a series of tests carried out in continuously operated flotation cells. Each flotation time interval is regarded as a single stage. Treating batch data in this manner allows for the derivation of desired kinetic parameters to describe flotation performance

Combined X Ray Emission Spectroscopy at Phosphorus and Nickel Detecting Subtle Changes in Catalyst Electronic Structure at High Resolution

Valence to core X ray emission spectroscopy VtC XES is widely used to characterize valence electronic structure, especially of transition metal systems in homogeneous and bioinorganic catalysis. Although metal K edge VtC XES has proved useful, its observable information content is limited by the large lifetime broadening of the metal 1s core hole, and its practical application is limited by small VtC emission probability and thus low count rates. Ligand VtC XES in transition metal complexes, though largely unexplored, offers a higher resolution and potential for broad applications in catalysis research. Here, P VtC XES is introduced for catalysts with phosphine ligands, perhaps the most important class of spectator ligands in homogeneous catalysis. P VtC XES is sensitive to subtle changes in electronic structure, with difference spectra that are well reproduced by density functional theory DFT calculations, indicating that DFT can not only provide insight into the physical origins of spectral features but can also facilitate the identification of unknown species. Comparison to Ni VtC XES, as well as previously published X ray absorption data, establishes the high resolution and complementary benefits of the technique. The potential of P VtC XES as a metal and spin agnostic tool for experimentally assessing electronic structure and mechanisms in phosphine coordinated catalysts is highlighte

Measurements of the branching fractions of B+→ppK+ decays

The branching fractions of the decay B+ → pp̄K+ for different intermediate states are measured using data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 1.0 fb-1, collected by the LHCb experiment. The total branching fraction, its charmless component Mpp̄ < 2.85 GeV/c2 and the branching fractions via the resonant cc̄ states η c(1S) and ψ(2S) relative to the decay via a J/ψ intermediate state are [Equation not available: see fulltext.] Upper limits on the B + branching fractions into the η c(2S) meson and into the charmonium-like states X(3872) and X(3915) are also obtained

Study of charmonium production in b -hadron decays and first evidence for the decay Bs0

Using decays to φ-meson pairs, the inclusive production of charmonium states in b-hadron decays is studied with pp collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb−1, collected by the LHCb experiment at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV. Denoting byBC ≡ B(b → C X) × B(C → φφ) the inclusive branching fraction of a b hadron to a charmonium state C that decays into a pair of φ mesons, ratios RC1C2 ≡ BC1 /BC2 are determined as Rχc0ηc(1S) = 0.147 ± 0.023 ± 0.011, Rχc1ηc(1S) =0.073 ± 0.016 ± 0.006, Rχc2ηc(1S) = 0.081 ± 0.013 ± 0.005,Rχc1 χc0 = 0.50 ± 0.11 ± 0.01, Rχc2 χc0 = 0.56 ± 0.10 ± 0.01and Rηc(2S)ηc(1S) = 0.040 ± 0.011 ± 0.004. Here and below the first uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic.Upper limits at 90% confidence level for the inclusive production of X(3872), X(3915) and χc2(2P) states are obtained as RX(3872)χc1 < 0.34, RX(3915)χc0 < 0.12 andRχc2(2P)χc2 < 0.16. Differential cross-sections as a function of transverse momentum are measured for the ηc(1S) andχc states. The branching fraction of the decay B0s → φφφ is measured for the first time, B(B0s → φφφ) = (2.15±0.54±0.28±0.21B)×10−6. Here the third uncertainty is due to the branching fraction of the decay B0s → φφ, which is used for normalization. No evidence for intermediate resonances is seen. A preferentially transverse φ polarization is observed.The measurements allow the determination of the ratio of the branching fractions for the ηc(1S) decays to φφ and p p asB(ηc(1S)→ φφ)/B(ηc(1S)→ p p) = 1.79 ± 0.14 ± 0.32

Model-independent evidence for J/ψpJ/\psi p contributions to Λb0→J/ψpK−\Lambda_b^0\to J/\psi p K^- decays

The data sample of $\Lambda_b^0\to J/\psi p K^-$ decays acquired with the LHCb detector from 7 and 8~TeV $pp$ collisions, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb$^{-1}$, is inspected for the presence of $J/\psi p$ or $J/\psi K^-$ contributions with minimal assumptions about $K^- p$ contributions. It is demonstrated at more than 9 standard deviations that $\Lambda_b^0\to J/\psi p K^-$ decays cannot be described with $K^- p$ contributions alone, and that $J/\psi p$ contributions play a dominant role in this incompatibility. These model-independent results support the previously obtained model-dependent evidence for $P_c^+\to J/\psi p$ charmonium-pentaquark states in the same data sample.Comment: 21 pages, 12 figures (including the supplemental section added at the end

Differential branching fraction and angular analysis of Λb0→Λμ+μ−\Lambda^{0}_{b} \rightarrow \Lambda \mu^+\mu^- decays

The differential branching fraction of the rare decay $\Lambda^{0}_{b} \rightarrow \Lambda \mu^+\mu^-$ is measured as a function of $q^{2}$, the square of the dimuon invariant mass. The analysis is performed using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 \mbox{ fb}^{-1}, collected by the LHCb experiment. Evidence of signal is observed in the $q^2$ region below the square of the $J/\psi$ mass. Integrating over 15 < q^{2} < 20 \mbox{ GeV}^2/c^4 the branching fraction is measured as d\mathcal{B}(\Lambda^{0}_{b} \rightarrow \Lambda \mu^+\mu^-)/dq^2 = (1.18 ^{+ 0.09} _{-0.08} \pm 0.03 \pm 0.27) \times 10^{-7} ( \mbox{GeV}^{2}/c^{4})^{-1}, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic and due to the normalisation mode, $\Lambda^{0}_{b} \rightarrow J/\psi \Lambda$, respectively. In the $q^2$ intervals where the signal is observed, angular distributions are studied and the forward-backward asymmetries in the dimuon ($A^{l}_{\rm FB}$) and hadron ($A^{h}_{\rm FB}$) systems are measured for the first time. In the range 15 < q^2 < 20 \mbox{ GeV}^2/c^4 they are found to be A^{l}_{\rm FB} = -0.05 \pm 0.09 \mbox{ (stat)} \pm 0.03 \mbox{ (syst)} and A^{h}_{\rm FB} = -0.29 \pm 0.07 \mbox{ (stat)} \pm 0.03 \mbox{ (syst)}.Comment: 27 pages, 10 figures, Erratum adde

Measurement of the mass and lifetime of the Ωb−\Omega_b^- baryon

A proton-proton collision data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb$^{-1}$ collected by LHCb at $\sqrt{s}=7$ and 8 TeV, is used to reconstruct $63\pm9$ $\Omega_b^-\to\Omega_c^0\pi^-$, $\Omega_c^0\to pK^-K^-\pi^+$ decays. Using the $\Xi_b^-\to\Xi_c^0\pi^-$, $\Xi_c^0\to pK^-K^-\pi^+$ decay mode for calibration, the lifetime ratio and absolute lifetime of the $\Omega_b^-$ baryon are measured to be \begin{align*} \frac{\tau_{\Omega_b^-}}{\tau_{\Xi_b^-}} &= 1.11\pm0.16\pm0.03, \\ \tau_{\Omega_b^-} &= 1.78\pm0.26\pm0.05\pm0.06~{\rm ps}, \end{align*} where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic and from the calibration mode (for $\tau_{\Omega_b^-}$ only). A measurement is also made of the mass difference, $m_{\Omega_b^-}-m_{\Xi_b^-}$, and the corresponding $\Omega_b^-$ mass, which yields \begin{align*} m_{\Omega_b^-}-m_{\Xi_b^-} &= 247.4\pm3.2\pm0.5~{\rm MeV}/c^2, \\ m_{\Omega_b^-} &= 6045.1\pm3.2\pm 0.5\pm0.6~{\rm MeV}/c^2. \end{align*} These results are consistent with previous measurements.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://lhcbproject.web.cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/LHCbProjectPublic/LHCb-PAPER-2016-008.htm

Study of B−→DK−π+π−B^{-}\to DK^-\pi^+\pi^- and B−→Dπ−π+π−B^-\to D\pi^-\pi^+\pi^- decays and determination of the CKM angle γ\gamma

We report a study of the suppressed $B^-\to DK^-\pi^+\pi^-$ and favored $B^-\to D\pi^-\pi^+\pi^-$ decays, where the neutral $D$ meson is detected through its decays to the $K^{\mp}\pi^{\pm}$ and CP-even $K^+K^-$ and $\pi^+\pi^-$ final states. The measurement is carried out using a proton-proton collision data sample collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0~fb$^{-1}$. We observe the first significant signals in the CP-even final states of the $D$ meson for both the suppressed $B^-\to DK^-\pi^+\pi^-$ and favored $B^-\to D\pi^-\pi^+\pi^-$ modes, as well as in the doubly Cabibbo-suppressed $D\to K^+\pi^-$ final state of the $B^-\to D\pi^-\pi^+\pi^-$ decay. Evidence for the ADS suppressed decay $B^{-}\to DK^-\pi^+\pi^-$, with $D\to K^+\pi^-$, is also presented. From the observed yields in the $B^-\to DK^-\pi^+\pi^-$, $B^-\to D\pi^-\pi^+\pi^-$ and their charge conjugate decay modes, we measure the value of the weak phase to be $\gamma=(74^{+20}_{-19})^{\rm o}$. This is one of the most precise single-measurement determinations of $\gamma$ to date.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures; All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://lhcbproject.web.cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/LHCbProjectPublic/LHCb-PAPER-2015-020.htm