Review of lattice results concerning low-energy particle physics: Flavour Lattice Averaging Group (FLAG).

We review lattice results related to pion, kaon, D- and B-meson physics with the aim of making them easily accessible to the particle-physics community. More specifically, we report on the determination of the light-quark masses, the form factor [Formula: see text], arising in the semileptonic [Formula: see text] transition at zero momentum transfer, as well as the decay constant ratio [Formula: see text] and its consequences for the CKM matrix elements [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, we describe the results obtained on the lattice for some of the low-energy constants of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] Chiral Perturbation Theory. We review the determination of the [Formula: see text] parameter of neutral kaon mixing as well as the additional four B parameters that arise in theories of physics beyond the Standard Model. The latter quantities are an addition compared to the previous review. For the heavy-quark sector, we provide results for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] (also new compared to the previous review), as well as those for D- and B-meson-decay constants, form factors, and mixing parameters. These are the heavy-quark quantities most relevant for the determination of CKM matrix elements and the global CKM unitarity-triangle fit. Finally, we review the status of lattice determinations of the strong coupling constant [Formula: see text].

Review of lattice results concerning low-energy particle physics.

We review lattice results related to pion, kaon, [Formula: see text]- and [Formula: see text]-meson physics with the aim of making them easily accessible to the particle-physics community. More specifically, we report on the determination of the light-quark masses, the form factor [Formula: see text], arising in semileptonic [Formula: see text] transition at zero momentum transfer, as well as the decay-constant ratio [Formula: see text] of decay constants and its consequences for the CKM matrix elements [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. Furthermore, we describe the results obtained on the lattice for some of the low-energy constants of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] Chiral Perturbation Theory and review the determination of the [Formula: see text] parameter of neutral kaon mixing. The inclusion of heavy-quark quantities significantly expands the FLAG scope with respect to the previous review. Therefore, we focus here on [Formula: see text]- and [Formula: see text]-meson decay constants, form factors, and mixing parameters, since these are most relevant for the determination of CKM matrix elements and the global CKM unitarity-triangle fit. In addition we review the status of lattice determinations of the strong coupling constant [Formula: see text].

Population-based study of the need for cholecystectomy after obesity surgery.

BACKGROUND: Weight loss following obesity surgery is associated with gallstone formation, but there is limited evidence on whether prophylactic cholecystectomy is indicated during obesity surgery. The aim of this study was to clarify the need for cholecystectomy following obesity surgery. METHODS: A Swedish nationwide, population-based cohort study was conducted during the 22-year interval 1987-2008. Need for later cholecystectomy for gallstone disease was assessed in patients who had undergone obesity surgery in comparison with the general population of corresponding age, sex and calendar year. This need was also compared with the need for cholecystectomy in cohorts of patients who had undergone antireflux surgery and appendicectomy. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) with 95 per cent confidence intervals (c.i.) were calculated to estimate the relative risk. RESULTS: In the obesity surgery cohort of 13 443 patients, the observed number of cholecystectomies (1149, 8·5 per cent) exceeded the expected number by over fivefold (SIR 5·5, 95 per cent c.i. 5·1 to 5·8). The observed need for imperative cholecystectomy (for cholecystitis, cholangitis, pancreatitis, or jaundice; 427, 3·2 per cent) was also greater than expected (SIR 5·2, 4·7 to 5·7). The SIR peaked 7-24 months after obesity surgery and decreased with longer follow-up. The SIRs for cholecystectomy after antireflux surgery and appendicectomy were 2·4 (2·2 to 2·6) and 1·7 (1·6 to 1·7) respectively. CONCLUSION: An increased need for cholecystectomy after obesity surgery was confirmed, but was probably partly due to an increased detection of gallbladder disease only because of the surgery; the individual's risk of imperative cholecystectomy was low. Therefore, prophylactic cholecystectomy might not be recommended during obesity surgery.

Factors predicting survival in patients with advanced oesophageal cancer: a prospective multicentre evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Oesophageal cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, with poor prognosis and severe morbidity. In majority of cases, palliative treatment is the only option available. AIM: To find factors that can predict survival for patients with incurable cancer of the oesophagus or gastro-oesophageal junction and hence aid in the choice of treatment. METHODS: Ninety-six patients were included. Health-related quality of life questionnaires (EORTC QLQ C-30 and QLQ OES18) were administered and computerized tomography-derived size assessment of the primary tumours was performed. Univariate and multivariate Cox-regression analyses were used to determine potential predictors of survival. RESULTS: Karnofsky Index, occurrence of metastases (M-stage), Union International Contre le Cancer-stage, computerized tomography-derived tumour size assessment and 10 of 25 scales and single items from the health-related quality of life questionnaires were found to be related to survival. In the multivariate analysis, three of the health-related quality of life questionnaire scales (physical functioning, fatigue and reflux) were found to add prognostic information to M-stage, the single strongest predictor (HR 1.9, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In addition to M-stage, the outcome of health-related quality of life questionnaires can sharpen the prediction of survival in patients with advanced cancer of the oesophagus or gastro-oesophageal junction and thus aid in the choice of palliative treatment strategy.

An antireflux stent versus conventional stents for palliation of distal esophageal or cardia cancer: a randomized clinical study.

BACKGROUND: Self-expandable metal stents placed across the esophagogastric junction for palliative treatment of malignant strictures may lead to gastroesophageal reflux and pulmonary aspiration. This study compared the effects of a Dua antireflux stent with those of a conventional stent. METHODS: Patients with incurable cancer of the distal esophagus or gastric cardia were randomly assigned to receive an antireflux stent (n = 19) or a standard stent (n = 22) at nine Swedish hospitals during the period September 1, 2003 to July 31, 2005. Complications were recorded at clinical follow-up visits. Survival rates were assessed through linkage to the Population Register. Dysphagia, reflux symptoms, esophageal pain, dyspnea, and global quality of life were assessed as changes in mean scores between baseline and 1 month after stent insertion through validated questionnaires. RESULTS: No technical problems occurred during stent placement in the 41 enrolled patients. Fewer patients with complications were observed in the antireflux stent group (n = 3) than in the standard group (n = 8), but no statistically significant difference was shown (p = 0.14). The survival rates were similar in the two groups (p = 0.99; hazard ratio, 1.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-2.0). The groups did not differ significantly in terms of studied esophageal or respiratory symptoms or quality of life. Clinically relevant improvement in dysphagia occurred in both groups. Dyspnea decreased after antireflux stent insertion (mean score change, -11), and increased after insertion of standard stent (mean score change, +21). CONCLUSIONS: Antireflux stents may be used without increased risk of complications, mortality, esophageal symptoms, or reduced global quality of life. These results should encourage large-scale randomized trials that can establish potentially beneficial effects of antireflux stents.

Stent insertion or endoluminal brachytherapy as palliation of patients with advanced cancer of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction. Results of a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

SUMMARY: Esophageal cancer often presents as advanced stage disease with a dismal prognosis, with only 10-15% of patients surviving 5 years. Therefore, in a large proportion of patients, palliative treatment is the only option available. The aim of this study was to prospectively compare the palliative effect of self-expandable stent placement with that of endoluminal brachytherapy regarding the effect on quality of life and on specific symptoms. Sixty-five patients with advanced cancer of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction were randomized to treatment with either an Ultraflex expandable stent or high-dose-rate endoluminal brachytherapy with 7 Gy x 3 given in 2-4 weeks. Clinical assessment and health-related quality of life (HRQL) were measured at inclusion and 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months later. The HRQL was measured with standardized questionnaires (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Oesophageal Module and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Twenty-eight patients completed the stent treatment and 24 patients the brachytherapy. The group of patients treated with stent reported significantly better HRQL scores for dysphagia (P < 0.05) at the 1-month follow-up, but most other HRQL scores, including functioning and symptom scales, deteriorated. Among brachytherapy-treated patients, improvement was found for the dysphagia-related scores at the 3-months follow-up, whereas other significant changes of scores were few. The median survival time was comparable in the two groups (around 120 days). In conclusion, insertion of self-expandable metal stents offered a more instant relief of dysphagia compared to endoluminal brachytherapy, but HRQL was more stable in the brachytherapy group.

A nationwide study of the use of self-expanding stents in patients with esophageal cancer in Sweden.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic insertion of self-expanding metal stents is used for palliative treatment of esophageal and cardia cancer, but the safety profiles, and the influence of age, sex, and hospital volume have not previously been evaluated in a population-based setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective population-based study was conducted, including all patients treated with esophageal stenting for malignant disease recorded in Swedish national registries in the period 1997 - 2000. Patients with esophageal or cardia cancer were identified in the cancer registry, and those treated with esophageal stenting were selected from the in-patient registry. Survival and emigration were assessed using the registries for causes of death and emigration, respectively. Procedure-related complications were assessed by reviewing medical records. RESULTS: Among 1052 registered patients with esophageal or cardia cancer, 402 patients (38 %), with a median age of 74 years, were treated with esophageal stenting. After treatment, the median in-hospital stay was 7 days, and the median survival was 100 days. Survival times were similar between age groups and sexes. Stenting was conducted at 38 Swedish hospitals, with a range of 1-59 procedures at each hospital. Among 152 (38 %) patients who were evaluated for complications, 41 (27 %) had complications of some type, while 20 (13 %) experienced direct procedure-related complications. No differences in complication frequencies were found between high-volume and low-volume centers. There were only two procedure-related deaths (1 %), both due to esophageal perforation. No reduction in the median survival time was found in patients with complications. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with self-expanding metal stents is a widely used and reasonably safe procedure among patients with malignant dysphagia, independent of sex, age, or hospital volume in Sweden.

The implementation of the 'International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health' (ICF) in daily practice of neurorehabilitation: an interdisciplinary project at the Kantonsspital of Lucerne, Switzerland.

PURPOSE: The current paper describes the implementation of ICF as a standard language and framework for description of human functioning and disability for common use in every day work by the multiprofessional team. METHOD: An interdisciplinary project team involving all rehabilitation specialities was constituted. The extensive original document of ICF was broken down to a simplified raster for body functions and structures, activities and participation, as well as for contextual factors. These rasters had to cover the most important aspects concerning the patients treated on our unit. Checklists on the basis of these rasters were worked out for use by the different specialized teams. Using these checklists, rehabilitation conferences, form and language of interdisciplinary communication, goal setting and documentation were introduced newly in every day work for the interdisciplinary rehabilitation team, structured strictly based on the ICF-criteria. RESULTS: Since April 2002 the ICF-based processes are implemented in routine work for all members of the rehabilitation staff. First experiences show good acceptance by the team members, improvements in communication and documentation as well as substantial gains in content and handling of rehabilitation conferences. As a result of the implementation we observed, that participation, context and domiciliary interventions gained quite more influence in every day work at the unit. CONCLUSION: Implementation improved considerably the quality of interdisciplinary work processes and contributed to a more systematic approach to rehabilitation tasks by the team members.

Differential expression and function of the Drosophila Pax6 genes eyeless and twin of eyeless in embryonic central nervous system development.

We analyzed the expression and function of eyeless (ey) and twin of eyeless (toy) in the embryonic central nervous system (CNS) of Drosophila. Both genes are differentially expressed in specific neuronal subsets (but not in glia) in every CNS neuromere, and in the brain, specific cell populations co-expressing both proteins define a longitudinal domain which is intercalated between broad exclusive expression domains of ey and toy. Studies of genetic null alleles and dsRNA interference did not reveal any gross neuroanatomical effects of ey, toy, or ey/toy elimination in the embryonic CNS. In contrast, targeted misexpression of ey, but not of toy, resulted in profound axonal abnormalities in the embryonic ventral nerve cord and brain.

[Acute abdomen calls for considerable care resources. Analysis of 3727 in-patients in the county of Stockholm during the first quarter of 1995]. / Akut buksjukdom kräver stora vårdresurser. Analys av 3,727 inlagda patienter första kvartalet 1995 i Stockholms län.

A total of 3,727 in-patients with acute abdominal symptoms were identified during the first quarter of 1995 at the surgical clinics of the nine hospitals with emergency departments in the county of Stockholm. The diagnoses were: non-specific abdominal pain 24%; cholecystitis 9%; appendicitis 8%; bowel obstruction 7%; intra-abdominal malignancy, diseases of the urinary tract and peptic ulcer 6% each; gastrointestinal hemorrhage, diverticulitis of the colon and pancreatitis 5% each; other diseases as a cause of abdominal symptoms, 19%. 1,601 operations were performed of which 47% were endoscopic procedures. The mean duration of hospital stay was 4.8 days. The length of stay increased significantly with age. The age-related relative frequency of hospitalization due to acute abdominal pain was also dramatically higher in the elderly cohorts. These facts and the prognosis of an 18% increase of inhabitants 50 years of age or older until 2010 in Greater Stockholm signal an increased need of hospital resources for this large group of patients in the coming years.