Review article: the diagnostic approach and current management of chylous ascites

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138889/1/apt14284.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138889/2/apt14284_am.pd

Acceptance and use of a smartphone application in cirrhosis

Background and AimsThe development of cirrhosis‐related smartphone applications for remote monitoring is increasing. Whether patients with cirrhosis will welcome such new technology, however, is uncertain.MethodsWe prospectively enrolled patients with cirrhosis (N = 102) to determine predictors of acceptance and utilization of a smartphone application for cirrhosis management using a 12‐item Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) survey. Patients were then shown the EncephalApp© and evaluated for their willingness to download and use the application.ResultsPatients had a median age of 61.3 years and 63.7% had a history of hepatic decompensation. Intention to use the hypothetical application was associated with perceived usefulness (β: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.3‐0.5) and the presence of a caregiver (β: 1.1, 95% CI: 0.2‐2.0). Of the eligible participants, 71% agreed to download the EncephalApp© and the decision was influenced by computer anxiety, behavioural intent, caregiver presence and disease state factors. Actual usage was 32% and not associated with baseline characteristics or the technology acceptance model.ConclusionsPatient acceptance of smartphone applications for the management of cirrhosis is high and related to their attitudes towards technology and the presence of a caregiver. However, usage was low. Future research must employ behavioural interventions to optimize uptake and utilization of remote monitoring technology.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155977/1/liv14494_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/155977/2/liv14494.pd

Editorial: the impact of steatosis on liver stiffness quantification is minimal

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/143754/1/apt14584.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/143754/2/apt14584_am.pd

Proton Microprobe and Particle Induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE) Analysis for Studies of Pathological Brain Tissue

Particle Indiced X-ray Emission and proton microprobe analyses have been applied for the investigation of regional elemental distributions in connection with various pathological states in the brain. Malignant brain tumours and adjacent histologically intact tissue removed during surgery were analysed with PIXE. Systematic elemental variations, e.g., for calcium and selenium, were observed in the tumour front. The proton microprobe was applied to study the Ca and K concentrations in various cell strata in hippocampus following transient ischaemia in rat brain. Significant increases in the Ca level occurred in selectively vulnerable cells within 48 h after the ischaemia

VISTA Milky Way public survey

We propose a public IR variability survey, named \Vista Variables in the Vía Láctea" (V V V ), of the Milky Way bulge and an adjacent section of the mid-plane where star formation activity is high. This would take 1920 hours, covering ~ 109 point sources within an area of 520 sq deg, including 33 known globular clusters and ~ 350 open clusters. The final products will be a deep IR atlas in 5 passbands and a catalogue of ~ 106 variable point sources. These will produce a 3-D map of the surveyed region (unlike single-epoch surveys that only give 2-D maps) using well-understood primary distance indicators such as RR Lyrae stars. It will yield important information on the ages of the populations. The observations will be combined with data from MACHO, OGLE, EROS, VST, SPITZER, HST, CHANDRA, INTEGRAL, and ALMA for a complete understanding of the variable sources in the inner Milky Way. Several important implications for the history of the Milky Way, for globular cluster evolution, for the population census of the bulge and center, and for pulsation theory would follow from this survey

Maternal age and risk of cesarean section in women with induced labor at term - a Nordic register-based study

Abstract Introduction Over the last decades, induction of labor has increased in many countries along with increasing maternal age. We assessed the effects of maternal age and labor induction on cesarean section at term among nulliparous and multiparous women without previous cesarean section. Material and methods We performed a retrospective national registry-based study from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden including 3 398 586 deliveries between 2000 and 2011. We investigated the impact of age on cesarean section among 196 220 nulliparous and 188 158 multiparous women whose labor was induced, had single cephalic presentation at term and no previous cesarean section. Confounders comprised country, time-period and gestational age. Results In nulliparous women with induced labor the rate of cesarean section increased from 14.0% in women less than 20 years of age to 39.9% in women 40 years and older. Compared to women aged 25-29 years, the corresponding relative risk were 0.60 (95% confidence interval (CI); 0.57 to 0.64) and 1.72 (95% CI; 1.66 to 1.79). In multiparous induced women the risk of cesarean section was 3.9% in women less than 20 years rising to 9.1% in women 40 years and older. Compared to women aged 25-29 years, the relative risk were 0.86 (95% CI; 0.54 to 1.37) and 1.98 (95% CI; 1.84 to 2.12), respectively. There were minimal confounding effects of country, time-period and gestational age on risk for cesarean section. Conclusions Advanced maternal age is associated with increased risk of cesarean section in women undergoing labor induction with a single cephalic presentation at term without a previous cesarean section. The absolute risk of cesarean section is 3-5 times higher across 5-year age groups in nulliparous relative to multiparous women having induced labor.Peer reviewe

Jet production in charged current deep inelastic e⁺p scatteringat HERA

The production rates and substructure of jets have been studied in charged current deep inelastic e⁺p scattering for Q² > 200 GeV² with the ZEUS detector at HERA using an integrated luminosity of 110.5 pb⁻¹. Inclusive jet cross sections are presented for jets with transverse energies E_{T}^{jet} > 5 GeV. Measurements of the mean subjet multiplicity, 〈n_{sbj}〉, of the inclusive jet sample are presented. Predictions based on parton-shower Monte Carlo models and next-to-leading-order QCD calculations are compared to the measurements. The value of α_{s} (M_{z}), determined from 〈n_{sbj}〉 at y_{cut} = 10⁻² for jets with 25 < E_{T}^{jet} < 119 GeV, is α_{s} (M_{z}) = 0.1202 ± 0.0052 (stat.)_{-0.0019}^{+0.0060} (syst.)_{-0.0053}^{+0.0065} (th.). The mean subjet multiplicity as a function of Q² is found to be consistent with that measured in NC DIS