How a food scanner app influences healthy food choice.

The use of mobile applications to assist with food decision making has increased significantly. Although food scanner applications provide nutritional information to consumers in the marketplace, little is known about their effects on users' intentions and behavior. This research investigates whether a mobile food scanner app can influence consumers toward healthier food choices. Four studies tested whether information displayed through a food scanner app (as opposed to no information or front-of-packaging label information) influenced purchase intentions for food products (Studies 1-3) or led consumers to make healthier food choices (Study 4). Application-provided information enhanced hypothetical choice and purchase intentions of healthy products in comparison no information, but it did not influence real behavior when participants made choices in an experimental supermarket. Information provided through a food scanner app was systematically outperformed by front-of-packaging label information.

Preoperative Mechanical Bowel Preparation for Gynecologic Surgeries: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) before benign laparoscopic or vaginal gynecologic surgeries. DATA SOURCES: Database searches of MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase (OVID), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Sciences and citations and reference lists published up to December 2021. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: Randomized clinical trials in any language comparing MBP with no preparation were included. Two reviewers independently screened 925 records and extracted data from 12 selected articles and assessed the risk of bias with the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials tool. A random-effects model was used for the analysis. Surgeon findings (surgical field view, quality of bowel handling and bowel preparation), operative outcomes (blood loss, operative time, length of stay, surgical site infection), and patient's preoperative symptoms and satisfaction were collected. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: Thirteen studies (1715 patients) assessing oral and rectal preparations before laparoscopic and vaginal gynecologic surgeries were included. No significant differences were observed with or without MBP on surgical field view (primary outcome, risk ratio [RR] 1.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.97-1.05, p = .66, I2 = 0%), bowel handling (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.95-1.08, p = .78, I2 = 67%), or bowel preparation. In addition, there were no statistically significant differences in perioperative findings. MBP was associated with increased pain (mean difference [MD] 11.62[2.80-20.44], I2 = 76, p = .01), weakness (MD 10.73[0.60-20.87], I2 = 94, p = .04), hunger (MD 17.52 [8.04-27.00], I2 = 83, p = .0003), insomnia (MD 10.13[0.57-19.68], I2 = 82, p = .04), and lower satisfaction (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.53-0.87, I2 = 76%, p = .002) compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: MBP has not been associated with improved surgical field view, bowel handling, or operative outcome. However, in view of the adverse effects induced, its routine use before benign gynecologic surgeries should be abandoned.

Temporal evolution of plutonium concentrations and isotopic ratios in the Ukedo - Takase Rivers draining the Difficult-To-Return zone in Fukushima, Japan (2013-2020).

In 2011, the Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident released significant quantities of radionuclides into the environment. Japanese authorities decided to progressively reopen the Difficult-To-Return Zone after the decontamination of priority reconstruction zones. These areas include parts of the initially highly contaminated municipalities located to the north of the FDNPP, including Namie Town, an area drained by the Ukedo and Takase Rivers. Eleven years after the accident, research focused on the spatial distribution of plutonium (Pu) and radiocesium (Cs) isotopes at contrasted individual locations. To complement previous results, the current research was conducted on flood sediment deposits collected at the same locations after major flooding events during eleven fieldwork campaigns organised between 2013 and 2020 at the outlet of the Ukedo and Takase Rivers (n = 22). The results highlighted a global decrease of the Pu and 137Cs contents in sediment with time during the abandonment phase in the region, from 2013 (238.20 fg g-1) to 2020 (4.28 fg g-1). Furthermore, based on the analysis of the 240Pu/239Pu isotopic ratios, the plutonium transiting these rivers (range: 0.166 - 0.220) essentially originated from the global fallout (0.180 ± 0.014 (Kelley et al., 1999)). Sediment showed contrasted properties in the two investigated rivers, which is likely mainly the result of the occurrence of Ogaki Dam on upper sections of the Ukedo River as it strongly impacts the material supply from this river to the Pacific Ocean. A statistical analysis highlighted the strong correlation between Pu activity concentrations and 137Cs activities in both rivers, confirming that both radionuclides are transported with a similar pathway. Despite it was detected early after the accident (2011-2013), the current research demonstrates that plutonium originating from FDNPP is no longer detected in these rivers draining the Difficult-To-Return Zone at the onset of the reopening of the area to its former inhabitants.

Strontium isotope evidence for a trade network between southeastern Arabia and India during Antiquity.

Cotton (Gossypium sp.), a plant of tropical and sub-tropical origin, appeared at several sites on the Arabian Peninsula at the end of the 1st mill. BCE-beginning of the 1st mill. CE. Its spread into this non-native, arid environment is emblematic of the trade dynamics that took place at this pivotal point in human history. Due to its geographical location, the Arabian Peninsula is connected to both the Indian and African trading spheres, making it complex to reconstruct the trans-continental trajectories of plant diffusion into and across Arabia in Antiquity. Key questions remain pertaining to: (1) provenance, i.e. are plant remains of local or imported origin and (2) the precise timing of cotton arrival and spread. The ancient site of Mleiha, located in modern-day United Arab Emirates, is a rare and significant case where rich archaeobotanical remains dating to the Late Pre-Islamic period (2nd-3rd c. CE), including cotton seeds and fabrics, have been preserved in a burned-down fortified building. To better understand the initial trade and/or production of cotton in this region, strontium isotopes of leached, charred cotton remains are used as a powerful tracer and the results indicate that the earliest cotton finds did not originate from the Oman Peninsula, but were more likely sourced from further afield, with the north-western coast of India being an isotopically compatible provenance. Identifying the presence of such imported cotton textiles and seeds in southeastern Arabia is significant as it is representative of the early diffusion of the crop in the region, later to be grown extensively in local oases.

Direct dating reveals the early history of opium poppy in western Europe.

This paper aims to define the first chrono-cultural framework on the domestication and early diffusion of the opium poppy using small-sized botanical remains from archaeological sites, opening the way to directly date minute short-lived botanical samples. We produced the initial set of radiocarbon dates directly from the opium poppy remains of eleven Neolithic sites (5900-3500 cal BCE) in the central and western Mediterranean, northwestern temperate Europe, and the western Alps. When possible, we also dated the macrobotanical remains originating from the same sediment sample. In total, 22 samples were taken into account, including 12 dates directly obtained from opium poppy remains. The radiocarbon chronology ranges from 5622 to 4050 cal BCE. The results show that opium poppy is present from at least the middle of the sixth millennium in the Mediterranean, where it possibly grew naturally and was cultivated by pioneer Neolithic communities. Its dispersal outside of its native area was early, being found west of the Rhine in 5300-5200 cal BCE. It was introduced to the western Alps around 5000-4800 cal BCE, becoming widespread from the second half of the fifth millennium. This research evidences different rhythms in the introduction of opium poppy in western Europe.

Impact of sentinel lymph node mapping on recurrence patterns in endometrial cancer.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping has emerged as a promising solution to the ongoing debate regarding lymphadenectomy in the initial surgical management of endometrial cancer. Currently, little is known about its possible impact on location of disease recurrence compared to systematic lymphadenectomy. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 472 consecutive patients with endometrial cancer who underwent either SLN mapping (SLN cohort, n=275) or systematic lymphadenectomy (LND cohort, n=197) from sequential, non-overlapping historical time points were compared. Clinical characteristics were extracted from a prospectively gathered electronic database. Both overall and pelvic sidewall recurrence free survival (RFS) were evaluated at 48-month post-operative follow-up. RESULTS: No significant difference in overall RFS could be identified between the cohorts at 48months (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.43-1.28, p=0.29). However, the SLN cohort had improved pelvic sidewall RFS compared to the LND cohort (HR 0.32, 95% CI 0.14-0.74, p=0.007). The pelvic sidewall recurrences accounted for 30% of recurrences in the SLN cohort (8 out of 26 recurrences) compared to 71.4% in the LND cohort (20 out of 28 recurrences). CONCLUSIONS: SLN mapping may enable more efficient detection of the LNs at greatest risk of metastasis and help to guide adjuvant therapy, which in turn seems to decrease the risk of pelvic sidewall recurrences.

BECLA, a new assessment battery for acquired deficits of language: Normative data from Quebec-French healthy younger and older adults.

Compared to English, for which there exist numerous tests and batteries for the assessment of acquired deficits of language, the tools available to assess French-speaking individuals are much more limited. The Batterie d'Évaluation Cognitive du Langage (BECLA) was purposely developed to fulfill the need for French assessment tools based on theoretical models of cognitive psychology. It comprises 19 tasks, designed to assess each of the components and routes involved in single word processing in order to identify the functional locus/loci of impairment. In this article, we describe the BECLA and we present normative data for individuals 18-94 years of age (N=248). The sample was stratified by age, gender, and years of education, according to the Institut de la statistique du Québec, in order to be representative of the French-Quebec population. Percentile scores were provided for each BECLA task in order to show the relative rank of each raw score according to significant correlates. The BECLA is a new clinical, theoretically based assessment battery, useful for identifying and characterizing acquired deficits of language in younger and older adults.

Mid-term survival after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Results with respect to the anesthetic management and to the access route (transfemoral versus transapical).

CONTEXT: Several studies have analyzed the long-term survival after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). However, no previous studies have looked at survival beyond 1-year with respect to the type of anesthesia. AIMS: The aim was to evaluate the mid-term survival after TAVI with respect to the type of anesthesia (general anesthesia [GA] vs. local anesthesia ± sedation [LASedation]) or the type of procedure (transfemoral [transfem] vs. transapical TAVI) performed. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included TAVI's between January 2009 and June 2013. Patients were divided into three groups: transfem TAVI under GA, transfem TAVI under LASedation and transapical TAVI. A total of 176 patients were eligible. The following clinical outcomes were evaluated: (1) Mortality, (2) Major cardiovascular complications, (3) Conduction abnormalities and arrhythmias, (4) Acute kidney injury, (5) Aortic regurgitation, (6) Neurologic events, (7) Vascular complications, (8) Pulmonary complications, (9) Bleeding, (10) Infectious complications, (11) Delirium. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: A Kruskal-Wallis test was performed to test significance between the three groups for quantitative variables. Categorical variables were compared using a Chi-square test. Survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the survival of both transfem TAVI's (P = 0.46). The short-term outcome of the transfem TAVI groups was better than the transapical arm, but their mid-term survival did not show any significant difference (P = 0.69 transapical vs. transfem GA; P = 0.07 transapical vs. transfem LASedation). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that the type of anesthesia and the access route do not influence mid-term survival after TAVI.

Injectable botulinum toxin as a treatment for plantar hyperhidrosis: a case study.

Hyperhidrosis is defined as excessive and uncontrollable sweating due to overactivity of the eccrine sweat glands. The first line of treatment for plantar hyperhidrosis consists of conservative therapies such as topical solutions (ie, antiperspirant applications and aluminum chloride preparations) and iontophoresis. When the patient has failed these standard treatments, the other available medical options are rather limited and not well tolerated. Botulinum toxin type A (Botox, Allergan Inc, Irvine, California) is a purified neurotoxin complex approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2004 for multiple medical conditions, including severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis that failed conservative topical therapies. Few recent clinical studies have suggested that botulinum toxin is effective in the treatment of plantar hyperhidrosis. In this case study, two patients received intradermal injections of botulinum toxin type A into the plantar aspect of both feet. A 3-month follow-up evaluated the efficacy of botulinum toxin type A by subjectively assessing the amount of residual sweating. In these two patients, botulinum toxin type A was an effective and safe treatment for plantar hyperhidrosis.