134 research outputs found
Meta-analysis of antibiotics versus appendicectomy for non-perforated acute appendicitis
Background: For more than a century, appendicectomy has been the treatment of choice for appendicitis. Recent trials have challenged this view. This study assessed the benefits and harms of antibiotic therapy compared with appendicectomy in patients with non-perforated appendicitis. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted for randomized trials comparing antibiotic therapy with appendicectomy in patients with non-perforated appendicitis. Key outcomes were analysed using random-effects meta-analysis, and the quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results: Five studies including 1116 patients reported major complications in 25 (4.9 per cent) of 510 patients in the antibiotic and 41 (8.4 per cent) of 489 in the appendicectomy group: risk difference -2.6 (95 per cent c.i. -6.3 to 1.1) per cent (low-quality evidence). Minor complications occurred in 11 (2.2 per cent) of 510 and 61 (12.5 per cent) of 489 patients respectively: risk difference -7.2 (-18.1 to 3.8) per cent (very low-quality evidence). Of 550 patients in the antibiotic group, 47 underwent appendicectomy within 1 month: pooled estimate 8.2 (95 per cent c.i. 5.2 to 11.8) per cent (high-quality evidence). Within 1 year, appendicitis recurred in 114 of 510 patients in the antibiotic group: pooled estimate 22.6 (15.6 to 30.4) per cent (high-quality evidence). For every 100 patients with non-perforated appendicitis, initial antibiotic therapy compared with prompt appendicectomy may result in 92 fewer patients receiving surgery within the first month, and 23 more experiencing recurrent appendicitis within the first year. Conclusion: The choice of medical versus surgical management in patients with clearly uncomplicated appendicitis is value-and preference-dependent, suggesting a change in practice towards shared decision-making is necessary.Peer reviewe
Millimeter observations of the disk around GW Orionis
The GW Ori system is a pre-main sequence triple system (GW Ori A/B/C) with
companions (GW Ori B/C) at 1 AU and 8 AU, respectively, from the
primary (GW Ori A). The primary of the system has a mass of 3.9 ,
but shows a spectral type of G8. Thus, GW Ori A could be a precursor of a B
star, but it is still at an earlier evolutionary stage than Herbig Be stars. GW
Ori provides us an ideal target for experiments and observations (being a
"blown-up" upscaled Solar System with a very massive "sun" and at least two
"upscaled planets"). We present the first spatially-resolved millimeter
interferometric observations of the disk around the triple pre-main-sequence
system GW Ori, obtained with the the Submillimeter Array, both in continuum and
in the , , and
lines. These new data reveal a huge, massive, and bright disk in the GW Ori
system. The dust continuum emission suggests a disk radius around 400 AU. But,
the emission shows much more extended disk with a size
around 1300 AU. Due to the spatial resolution (1), we cannot detect
the gap in the disk which is inferred from spectral energy distribution (SED)
modeling. We characterize the dust and gas properties in the disk by comparing
the observations with the predictions from the disk models with various
parameters calculated with a Monte Carlo radiative transfer code RADMC-3D. The
disk mass is around 0.12 , and the disk inclination with respect to
the line of sight is around 35. The kinematics in the disk
traced by the CO line emission strongly suggest that the circumstellar material
in the disk is in Keplerian rotation around GW Ori. Tentatively substantial
depletion in gas phase is required to explain the
characteristics of the line emission from the disk.Comment: 10 pages, 8 Figure, 3 tables, Accepted by A&
Main-Belt Comet P/2012 T1 (PANSTARRS)
We present initial results from observations and numerical analyses aimed at
characterizing main-belt comet P/2012 T1 (PANSTARRS). Optical monitoring
observations were made between October 2012 and February 2013 using the
University of Hawaii 2.2 m telescope, the Keck I telescope, the Baade and Clay
Magellan telescopes, Faulkes Telescope South, the Perkins Telescope at Lowell
Observatory, and the Southern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) telescope. The
object's intrinsic brightness approximately doubles from the time of its
discovery in early October until mid-November and then decreases by ~60%
between late December and early February, similar to photometric behavior
exhibited by several other main-belt comets and unlike that exhibited by
disrupted asteroid (596) Scheila. We also used Keck to conduct spectroscopic
searches for CN emission as well as absorption at 0.7 microns that could
indicate the presence of hydrated minerals, finding an upper limit CN
production rate of QCN<1.5x10^23 mol/s, from which we infer a water production
rate of QH2O<5x10^25 mol/s, and no evidence of the presence of hydrated
minerals. Numerical simulations indicate that P/2012 T1 is largely dynamically
stable for >100 Myr and is unlikely to be a recently implanted interloper from
the outer solar system, while a search for potential asteroid family
associations reveal that it is dynamically linked to the ~155 Myr-old Lixiaohua
asteroid family.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter
Total Hip Arthroplasty or Hemiarthroplasty for Hip Fracture.
BACKGROUND: Globally, hip fractures are among the top 10 causes of disability in adults. For displaced femoral neck fractures, there remains uncertainty regarding the effect of a total hip arthroplasty as compared with hemiarthroplasty. METHODS: We randomly assigned 1495 patients who were 50 years of age or older and had a displaced femoral neck fracture to undergo either total hip arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasty. All enrolled patients had been able to ambulate without the assistance of another person before the fracture occurred. The trial was conducted in 80 centers in 10 countries. The primary end point was a secondary hip procedure within 24 months of follow-up. Secondary end points included death, serious adverse events, hip-related complications, health-related quality of life, function, and overall health end points. RESULTS: The primary end point occurred in 57 of 718 patients (7.9%) who were randomly assigned to total hip arthroplasty and 60 of 723 patients (8.3%) who were randomly assigned to hemiarthroplasty (hazard ratio, 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64 to 1.40; P = 0.79). Hip instability or dislocation occurred in 34 patients (4.7%) assigned to total hip arthroplasty and 17 patients (2.4%) assigned to hemiarthroplasty (hazard ratio, 2.00; 99% CI, 0.97 to 4.09). Function, as measured with the total Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) total score, pain score, stiffness score, and function score, modestly favored total hip arthroplasty over hemiarthroplasty. Mortality was similar in the two treatment groups (14.3% among the patients assigned to total hip arthroplasty and 13.1% among those assigned to hemiarthroplasty, P = 0.48). Serious adverse events occurred in 300 patients (41.8%) assigned to total hip arthroplasty and in 265 patients (36.7%) assigned to hemiarthroplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Among independently ambulating patients with displaced femoral neck fractures, the incidence of secondary procedures did not differ significantly between patients who were randomly assigned to undergo total hip arthroplasty and those who were assigned to undergo hemiarthroplasty, and total hip arthroplasty provided a clinically unimportant improvement over hemiarthroplasty in function and quality of life over 24 months. (Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00556842.)
A Triple Protostar System Formed via Fragmentation of a Gravitationally Unstable Disk
Binary and multiple star systems are a frequent outcome of the star formation
process, and as a result, almost half of all sun-like stars have at least one
companion star. Theoretical studies indicate that there are two main pathways
that can operate concurrently to form binary/multiple star systems: large scale
fragmentation of turbulent gas cores and filaments or smaller scale
fragmentation of a massive protostellar disk due to gravitational instability.
Observational evidence for turbulent fragmentation on scales of 1000~AU has
recently emerged. Previous evidence for disk fragmentation was limited to
inferences based on the separations of more-evolved pre-main sequence and
protostellar multiple systems. The triple protostar system L1448 IRS3B is an
ideal candidate to search for evidence of disk fragmentation. L1448 IRS3B is in
an early phase of the star formation process, likely less than 150,000 years in
age, and all protostars in the system are separated by 200~AU. Here we
report observations of dust and molecular gas emission that reveal a disk with
spiral structure surrounding the three protostars. Two protostars near the
center of the disk are separated by 61 AU, and a tertiary protostar is
coincident with a spiral arm in the outer disk at a 183 AU separation. The
inferred mass of the central pair of protostellar objects is 1 M,
while the disk surrounding the three protostars has a total mass of 0.30
M_{\sun}. The tertiary protostar itself has a minimum mass of 0.085
M. We demonstrate that the disk around L1448 IRS3B appears susceptible
to disk fragmentation at radii between 150~AU and 320~AU, overlapping with the
location of the tertiary protostar. This is consistent with models for a
protostellar disk that has recently undergone gravitational instability,
spawning one or two companion stars.Comment: Published in Nature on Oct. 27th. 24 pages, 8 figure
Planet Populations as a Function of Stellar Properties
Exoplanets around different types of stars provide a window into the diverse
environments in which planets form. This chapter describes the observed
relations between exoplanet populations and stellar properties and how they
connect to planet formation in protoplanetary disks. Giant planets occur more
frequently around more metal-rich and more massive stars. These findings
support the core accretion theory of planet formation, in which the cores of
giant planets form more rapidly in more metal-rich and more massive
protoplanetary disks. Smaller planets, those with sizes roughly between Earth
and Neptune, exhibit different scaling relations with stellar properties. These
planets are found around stars with a wide range of metallicities and occur
more frequently around lower mass stars. This indicates that planet formation
takes place in a wide range of environments, yet it is not clear why planets
form more efficiently around low mass stars. Going forward, exoplanet surveys
targeting M dwarfs will characterize the exoplanet population around the lowest
mass stars. In combination with ongoing stellar characterization, this will
help us understand the formation of planets in a large range of environments.Comment: Accepted for Publication in the Handbook of Exoplanet
Outgassing Behavior of C/2012 S1 (ISON) From September 2011 to June 2013
We report photometric observations for comet C/2012 S1 (ISON) obtained during
the time period immediately after discovery (r=6.28 AU) until it moved into
solar conjunction in mid-2013 June using the UH2.2m, and Gemini North 8-m
telescopes on Mauna Kea, the Lowell 1.8m in Flagstaff, the Calar Alto 1.2m
telescope in Spain, the VYSOS-5 telescopes on Mauna Loa Hawaii and data from
the CARA network. Additional pre-discovery data from the Pan STARRS1 survey
extends the light curve back to 2011 September 30 (r=9.4 AU). The images showed
a similar tail morphology due to small micron sized particles throughout 2013.
Observations at sub-mm wavelengths using the JCMT on 15 nights between 2013
March 9 (r=4.52 AU) and June 16 (r=3.35 AU) were used to search for CO and HCN
rotation lines. No gas was detected, with upper limits for CO ranging between
(3.5-4.5)E27 molec/s. Combined with published water production rate estimates
we have generated ice sublimation models consistent with the photometric light
curve. The inbound light curve is likely controlled by sublimation of CO2. At
these distances water is not a strong contributor to the outgassing. We also
infer that there was a long slow outburst of activity beginning in late 2011
peaking in mid-2013 January (r~5 AU) at which point the activity decreased
again through 2013 June. We suggest that this outburst was driven by CO
injecting large water ice grains into the coma. Observations as the comet came
out of solar conjunction seem to confirm our models.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, 3 table
Fixation Using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip Fractures
Objectives: To conduct a pilot trial for the Fixation using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip Fractures (FAITH-2) protocol to assess feasibility of a definitive trial.
Design: Pilot trial.
Setting: Twenty-five clinical sites across North America and Australia were initiated, but enrolment occurred in only 15 North American sites.
Patients/participants: Ninety-one randomized adults aged 18 to 60 years with a femoral neck fracture requiring surgical fixation.
Intervention: Eligible patients were randomized to receive surgical treatment (sliding hip screw or cancellous screws) AND nutritional supplementation (4000 IU of vitamin D or placebo) for 6 months postfracture.
Main outcome measurements: Feasibility outcomes included: clinical site initiation, participant enrolment rate, proportion of participants with complete 12-month follow-up, level of data quality, and rate of protocol adherence (number of randomization errors, crossovers between treatment groups, and daily supplementation adherence).
Results: Eighty-six of 91 participants randomized into the pilot trial from 15 North American hospitals were deemed eligible. Four of five primary feasibility criteria were not achieved as we were unable to initiate clinical sites outside of North America and Australia due to feasibility constraints, slow participant enrolment (60 participants recruited over 36 mo), low adherence with daily nutritional supplementation at the 6-week (72.1%), 3-month (60.5%), and 6-month (54.7%) follow-up visits, and a high loss to follow-up rate of 22.1% at 12 months.
Conclusions: Despite not meeting key feasibility criteria, we increased our knowledge on the logistics and anticipated barriers when conducting vitamin D supplementation trials in this trauma population, which can be used to inform the design and conduct of future trials on this topic
Fixation Using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip Fractures (FAITH-2): The Clinical Outcomes of a Multicenter 2 × 2 Factorial Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial in Young Femoral Neck Fracture Patients
Objective:
To assess whether the fixation method and vitamin D supplementation affect the risk of patient-important outcomes within 12 months of injury in nongeriatric femoral neck fracture patients.
Design:
A pilot factorial randomized controlled trial.
Setting:
Fifteen North American clinical sites.
Participants:
Ninety-one adults 18–60 years of age with a femoral neck fracture requiring surgical fixation.
Intervention:
Participants were randomized to a surgical intervention (sliding hip screw or cancellous screws) and a vitamin D intervention (vitamin D3 4000 IU daily vs. placebo for 6 months).
Main Outcome Measurements:
The primary clinical outcome was a composite of patient-important complications (reoperation, femoral head osteonecrosis, severe femoral neck malunion, and nonunion). Secondary outcomes included fracture-healing complications and radiographic fracture healing.
Results:
Eighty-six participants with a mean age of 41 years were included. We found no statistically significant difference in the risk of patient-important outcomes between the surgical treatment arms (hazard ratio 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.40–2.02, P = 0.80) and vitamin D supplementation treatment arms (hazard ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.42–2.18, P = 0.92).
Conclusions:
These pilot trial results continue to describe the results of current fixation implants, inform the challenges of improving outcomes in this fracture population, and may guide future vitamin D trials to improve healing outcomes in young fracture populations. Although the pilot trial was not adequately powered to detect treatment effects, publishing these results may facilitate future meta-analyses on this topic.
Level of Evidence:
Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence
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