Millimetric Astronomy from the High Antarctic Plateau: site testing at Dome C

Preliminary site testing at Dome C (Antarctica) is presented, using both Automatic Weather Station (AWS) meteorological data (1986-1993) and Precipitable Water Vapor (PWV) measurements made by the authors. A comparison with South Pole and other sites is made. The South Pole is a well established astrophysical observing site, where extremely good conditions are reported for a large fraction of time during the year. Dome C, where Italy and France are building a new scientific station, is a potential observing site in the millimetric and sub-millimetric range. AWS are operating at both sites and they have been continuously monitoring temperature, pressure, wind speed and direction for more than ten years. Site testing instruments are already operating at the South Pole (AASTO, Automated Astrophysical Site-Testing Observatory), while ''light'' experiments have been running at Dome C (APACHE, Antarctic Plateau Anisotropy CHasing Experiment) during summertime. A direct comparison between the two sites is planned in the near future, using the AASTO. The present analysis shows that the average wind speed is lower at Dome C (~1 m/s) than at the South Pole (~2 m/s), while temperature and PWV are comparable.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, se also http://www.atnf.csiro.au/pasa/16_2

Erythema-directed digital photography for the enhanced evaluation of topical treatments for acne vulgaris.

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Treatment of esophageal achalasia in children: Today and tomorrow

Esophageal achalasia (EA) is a rare esophageal motility disorder in children. Laparoscopic Heller myotomy (LHM) represents the treatment of choice in young patients. Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is becoming an alternative to LHM. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and outcomes of POEM vs LHM in treatment of children with EA. Data of pediatric patients with EA, who underwent LHM and POEM from February 2009 to December 2013 in two centers, were collected. Eighteen patients (9 male, mean age: 11.6 years; range: 2-17 years) were included. Nine patients (6 male, mean age: 10.7 years; range: 2-16 years) underwent LHM, and the other 9 (3 males, mean age: 12.2 years; range: 6-17 years) underwent POEM procedure. Mean operation time was shorter in POEM group compared with LHM group (62/149 minutes). Myotomy was longer in POEM group than in LHM group (11/7 cm). One major complication occurred after LHM (esophageal perforation). No clinical and manometric differences were observed between LHM and POEM in follow-up. The incidence of iatrogenic gastroesophageal reflux disease was low (1 patient in both groups). Results of a midterm follow-up show that LHM and POEM are safe and effective treatments also in children. Besides, POEM is a mini-invasive technique with an inferior execution timing compared to LHM. A skilled endoscopic team is mandatory to perform this procedur

The Sunyaev-Zeldovich Effect at 1 and 2 mm towards ROSAT Clusters

An observing campaign was devoted to the search for the Sunyaev-Zeldovich (S-Z) effect towards X-ray ROSAT Clusters in the millimetric spectral domain. A double channel (1.2 and 2 {\it mm}) photometer was installed at the focus of the 15m Swedish ESO Submillimeter Telescope (SEST) in Chile in september 1994 and 1995 and observations of the targets S1077, A2744, S295 and RXJ0658-5557 were gathered. Detections were found for A2744 at 1 {\it mm} and in both channels (at 1.2 and 2 {\it mm}) towards RXJ0658-5557. For the first time there is evidence for the S-Z enhancement and both the latter and the decrement were detected on the same source. We discuss astrophysical and systematic effects which could give origin to these signals.Comment: 6 pg Latex file (style file included) including 1 ps figure, XVIth Moriond Astrophysics Meeting "The Anisotropies of the Cosmic Microwave Background", Les Arcs, Savoie-France, March 16-23 199

Cosmetics for acne: indications and recommendations for an evidence-based approach.

AIM: The aim of this review was to evaluate, by a thorough revision of the literature, the true efficacy of currently available topic and systemic cosmetic acne agents. METHODS: The efficacy of currently available cosmetic acne agents has been retrospectively evaluated via thorough revision of the literature on matched electronic databases (PubMed). All retrieved studies, either randomized clinical trials or clinical trials, controlled or uncontrolled were considered. RESULTS: Scientific evidence suggests that most cosmetic products for acne may enhance the clinical outcome. Cleansers should be indicated to all acne patients; those containing benzoyl peroxide or azelaic/salicylic acid/triclosan show the best efficacy profile. Sebum-controlling agents containing nicotinamide or zinc acetate may minimize excessive sebum production. Cosmetics with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory substances such as, respectively, ethyl lactate or phytosphingosine and nicotinamide or resveratrol, may speed acne recovery. Topical corneolytics, including retinaldehyde/glycolic acid or lactic acid, induce a comedolytic effect and may also facilitate skin absorption of topical drugs. Finally, the use of specific moisturizers should be strongly recommended in all acne patients. CONCLUSION: Cosmetics, if correctly prescribed, may improve the performance of the therapy, whereas wrong procedures and/or inadequate cosmetics may worsen acne. Cosmetological recommendations may allow clinicians to make informed decisions about the role of various cosmetics and to indentify the appropriate indications and precautions. The choice of the most effective product should take into consideration the ongoing pharmacological therapy and acne type/severity as well

COMPASS: a 2.6m telescope for CMBR polarization studies

COMPASS (COsmic Microwave Polarization at Small Scale) is an experiment devoted to measuring the polarization of the CMBR. Its design and characteristics are presented

Esophagogastric dissociation versus fundoplication: Which is best for severely neurologically impaired children?

Purpose: Neurologically impaired children (NIC) often have swallowing difficulties, severe gastroesophageal reflux, recurrent respiratory infections, and malnutrition. Bianchi pro posed esophagogastric dissociation (EGD) as an alternative to fundoplication and gastrostomy. The authors compared these 2 approaches.Methods: Twenty-nine consecutive symptomatic NIC refractory to medical therapy were enrolled in a prospective study and divided into 2 groups: A (n = 12), NIC who underwent fundoplication and gastrostomy; B (n = 14), NIC who underwent EGD. Three were excluded because of previous fundoplication, Anthropometric (percentage of the 50th percentile/ age of healthy children) and biochemical parameters, respiratory infections per year, hospitalization (days per year), feeding time (minutes), and "quality of life" (parental psychological questionnaire, range 0 to 60), were analyzed (t test and Mann-Whitney test) preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively. Complications were recorded.Results: Compared with group A, group B presented a statistically significant increase of all anthropometric and nearly all biochemical parameters with a statistical difference in terms of respiratory infections, hospital stay, feeding time, and psychological questionnaire. In group A, 2 bowel obstructions, 1 tight fundoplication, 1 dumping syndrome, and 3 failures of fundoplication occurred. Group B presented 1 anastomotic stricture, 1 paraesophageal hernia, and 1 bowel obstruction.Conclusions: Compared with fundoplication and gastrostomy, EGD offered better nutritional rehabilitation, reduction in respiratory infections, and improved quality of life. EGD can be rightfully chosen as a primary procedure. J Pediatr Surg 36:677-680. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company

Instruments Measuring Self-Care in Children and Young Adults With Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Review

: Children and young adults (CYAs) with chronic conditions need to engage in self-care to improve their quality of life. This study aimed to retrieve the literature on instruments to assess self-care in CYAs living with chronic conditions and evaluate the psychometric proprieties of the instruments retrieved. A systematic literature review was conducted on six databases to identify peer-reviewed papers that described or used an evaluation instrument of self-care in CYAs with chronic conditions. Twenty-three articles describing 11 instruments of self-care were identified. Five instruments (45.45%) were developed for specific diseases, while six (54.54%) for various chronic illnesses. Most of the instruments were focused on treatment adherence within self-care maintenance (i.e., behaviors to maintain illness stability), excluding the monitoring of clinical parameters or the management of exacerbations. This review provides an overview of available instruments that measure self-care in CYAs with chronic conditions, which health professionals could use for patient education

Self-care in pediatric patients with chronic conditions: A systematic review of theoretical models

Background: To improve outcomes in children and young adults (CYAs) with chronic conditions, it is important to promote self-care through education and support. Aims: (1) to retrieve the literature describing theories or conceptual models of self-care in CYAs with chronic conditions and (2) to develop a comprehensive framework. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted on nine databases, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. All peer-reviewed papers describing a theory or a conceptual model of self-care in CYAs (0-24 years) with chronic conditions were included. Results: Of 2674 records, 17 met the inclusion criteria. Six papers included a theory or a model of self-care, self-management, or a similar concept. Six papers developed or revised pre-existing models or theories, while five papers did not directly focus on a specific model or a theory. Patients were CYAs, mainly with type 1 diabetes mellitus and asthma. Some relevant findings about self-care in CYAs with neurocognitive impairment and in those living with cancer may have been missed. Conclusions: By aggregating the key elements of the 13 self-care conceptual models identified in the review, we developed a new overarching model emphasizing the shift of self-care agency from family to patients as main actors of their self-management process. The model describes influencing factors, self-care behaviors, and outcomes; the more patients engaged in self-care behaviors, the more the outcomes were favorable

Looking for the S-Z Effect towards Distant ROSAT Clusters of Galaxies

We report on observations of the Sunyaev-Zeldovich effect towards X-ray ROSAT clusters taken with a double channel (1.2 and 2 mm) photometer installed at the focus of the 15m SEST antenna in Chile. This paper describes the first results obtained for the high-z clusters S1077, A2744 and S295. Marginal detections were found for A2744 and at 1 mm for S1077. We discuss these data in terms of contamination of sources along the line of sight and give a constraint on the amplitude of the kinematic effect.Comment: 17 pg Latex file (using aasms4.sty) gzip'd tar'd uuencoded file including 1 ps figure, ApJ Letter in pres