Background & Aims: Dynamic muscle plasty has been advocated as therapy for refractory fecal incontinence and for anorectal reconstruction to avoid colostomy after abdominoperineal resection. This ...study evaluates the results of a multicenter experience with dynamic muscle plasty in the treatment of fecal incontinence and total anal reconstruction.
Methods: One hundred thirty-nine patients were enrolled at 12 centers between June 1992 and November 1994 and followed up through June 1996. Intramuscular leads and neurostimulators were implanted to stimulate transposed gracilis or gluteus muscle. Success was defined as 70% reduction in solid stool incontinence for patients with baseline incontinence and zero incontinence to solid stool for patients with baseline stomas and for patients undergoing total anal reconstruction.
Results: Overall, 85 of 128 graciloplasty patients (66%) achieved and maintained a successful outcome over the follow-up period. By etiology, these proportions were 71%, 50%, and 66% for patients with acquired fecal incontinence, congenital incontinence, and total anal reconstruction, respectively. One third of graciloplasty patients experienced a major wound complication, with therapy failing in 41%. Experienced centers had better outcomes and lower complication rates than inexperienced centers. Of the 11 gluteoplasty patients, 5 (45%) achieved and maintained a successful outcome.
Conclusions: Dynamic graciloplasty may be an effective procedure for patients with refractory, end-stage fecal incontinence as well as for patients who require anorectal excision for low-lying malignancy. However, the procedure has significant morbidity that can lead to functional failure. Outcome after dynamic graciloplasty appears to correlate with surgical experience. In contrast to graciloplasty, the use of dynamic gluteoplasty should be limited to investigational purposes.
GASTROENTEROLOGY 1999;116:549-556
Abstract
Characterization of material structure with X-ray or neutron scattering using e.g. Pair Distribution Function (PDF) analysis most often rely on refining a structure model against an ...experimental dataset. However, identifying a suitable model is often a bottleneck. Recently, automated approaches have made it possible to test thousands of models for each dataset, but these methods are computationally expensive and analysing the output, i.e. extracting structural information from the resulting fits in a meaningful way, is challenging. Our
M
achine
L
earning based
Mot
if
Ex
tractor (ML-MotEx) trains an ML algorithm on thousands of fits, and uses SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanation) values to identify which model features are important for the fit quality. We use the method for 4 different chemical systems, including disordered nanomaterials and clusters. ML-MotEx opens for a type of modelling where each feature in a model is assigned an importance value for the fit quality based on explainable ML.
Context: We have previously shown that exercise-induced GH release is not mediated by ghrelin, but it remains to be studied whether the increase in GH may suppress postexercise ghrelin levels.
...Objective: The objective of this study was to characterize systemic ghrelin levels after exercise with and without concomitant GH administration.
Design, Participants, and Intervention: Group A: Twenty-nine elite athletes (age, 18–37 yr) were studied after a maximal exercise test. Group B: In a double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study, 32 healthy subjects (age, 18–33 yr) were randomized to placebo, GH 0.1 IU/kg per day, or GH 0.2 IU/kg per day for 4 wk. These subjects performed a multistage fitness test to assess maximum oxygen uptake at baseline and after 4 wk. We measured total circulating ghrelin levels before and immediately after exercise and at 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after exercise.
Results: Group A: Serum ghrelin levels after exercise decreased significantly (P < 0.01). Group B: Exercise at baseline was associated with a significant lowering of ghrelin levels after exercise (P < 0.0001). In addition, 4 wk of high-dose GH were followed by a further approximately 20% reduction in basal and after exercise serum ghrelin (micrograms per liter): 0.78 (range 0.52–1.17) vs. 0.63 (range 0.50–0.91), P < 0.05.
Conclusions: 1) Ghrelin levels decrease significantly after exercise in elite athletes and healthy subjects. 2) High-dose GH suppresses ghrelin levels. 3) These data support the hypothesis that GH feedback inhibits ghrelin secretion.
Rotation is expected to have an important influence on the structure and the evolution of stars. However, the mechanisms of angular momentum transport in stars remain theoretically uncertain and very ...complex to take into account in stellar models. To achieve a better understanding of these processes, we desperately need observational constraints on the internal rotation of stars, which until very recently was restricted to the Sun. In this paper, we report the detection of mixed modes-i.e., modes that behave both as g modes in the core and as p modes in the envelope-in the spectrum of the early red giant KIC 7341231, which was observed during one year with the Kepler spacecraft. By performing an analysis of the oscillation spectrum of the star, we show that its non-radial modes are clearly split by stellar rotation and we are able to determine precisely the rotational splittings of 18 modes. We then find a stellar model that reproduces very well the observed atmospheric and seismic properties of the star. We use this model to perform inversions of the internal rotation profile of the star, which enables us to show that the core of the star is rotating at least five times faster than the envelope. This will shed new light on the processes of transport of angular momentum in stars. In particular, this result can be used to place constraints on the angular momentum coupling between the core and the envelope of early red giants, which could help us discriminate between the theories that have been proposed over the last few decades.
Quinoa is a potential new seed crop for protein feed and human consumption in Europe, with tolerance to a range of abiotic stresses. For this purpose the study was planned to analyse the effect of ...important agronomic strategies like nitrogen level, N application strategy, row spacing and harvest time on yield and quality of quinoa. The experiments took place in the field of the experimental station of the Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen. Three levels of organic nitrogen from slurry was used (60, 120 and 180 kg N ha−1), supplied either all at once at sowing, or split between sowing and beginning of the reproductive phase. The effect of row spacing and harvest time was studied by harvesting seeds at seed maturity, which occurred 2–3 weeks prior to the mechanical harvest by threshing, and a couple of months after. Yield increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) with an application up to 180 kg N ha−1, reaching 2200 kg ha−1. Increasing N also caused a significantly increased seed weight (up to 3.3 mg) and protein content (up to 17 %). N level did not affect number and amount of weeds. Split application with part of the N applied at bud formation did not have a significant effect on yield. Delayed harvest had a negative influence on seed weight, whereas protein content was stable after harvesting even a month after seed maturity. A late harvest significantly reduced seed germination, being reduced by 50 % after a 2‐month delay. A conclusion from this study is that both yield and protein content of seed can be manipulated by N level and application strategy. Harvest time is important for securing a high seed quality measured as seed germination, seed weight and protein content. A fast germination of quinoa is an important characteristic demonstrating that the crop has good possibilities for being well‐established in the field when free from weeds at the time of sowing. The choice of row spacing is important and depends on weed control method. Weed control strategy should be developed based on modern precision tools.
Aim
Few studies have evaluated how preadmission use of antidepressants affects outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients after they have undergone surgery. Therefore, our aim is to examine whether ...preadmission use of antidepressants increased the risk of complications and death in patients who underwent CRC surgery.
Method
Using the Danish Colorectal Cancer Group Database we identified patients who underwent CRC surgery in Denmark from 2005 to 2012. We identified prescriptions for antidepressants redeemed within 1 year prior to surgery and categorized patients as current users (≤ 90 days), former users (91–365 days) and nonusers. All patients were followed from surgery to 30 days thereafter or to death. We calculated 30‐day rates of complications, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality and compared these between users and nonusers using logistic and Cox regression adjusting for potential confounders.
Results
Of 27 374 patients, 8.9% were current users and 3.0% were former users. Antidepressant users were older and had more comorbidity but a similar cancer stage. Compared with nonusers, current users had a higher risk of postoperative reoperation adjusted odds ratio (aORs) = 1.15 (95% CI 1.02–1.30), medical complications aORs = 1.41 (95% CI 1.25–1.60) and increased ICU admission rate adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.32 (95% CI 1.21–1.45). The 30‐day mortality was 11.4% for current users, 9.1% for former users and 6.2% for nonusers aHR = 1.34 (95% CI 1.17–1.53) for current vs nonusers.
Conclusion
Patients with preadmission use of antidepressants had a higher risk of complications and ICU admission, and higher 30‐day mortality following CRC surgery than nonusers.
Since its invention in the 1950s, semiconductor solar cell technology has evolved in great leaps and bounds. Solar power is now being considered as a serious leading contender for replacing fossil ...fuel based power generation. This article reviews the evolution and current state, and potential areas of near future research focus, of leading inorganic materials based solar cells, including bulk crystalline, amorphous thin-films, and nanomaterials based solar cells. Bulk crystalline silicon solar cells continue to dominate the solar power market, and continued efforts at device fabrication improvements, and device topology advancements are discussed. III-V compound semiconductor materials on c-Si for solar power generation are also reviewed. Developments in thin-film based solar cells are reviewed, with a focus on amorphous silicon, copper zinc tin sulfide, cadmium telluride, as well as nanostructured cadmium telluride. Recent developments in the use of nano-materials for solar power generation, including silicon and gallium arsenide nanowires, are also reviewed.
The plant Golgi plays a pivotal role in the biosynthesis of cell wall matrix polysaccharides, protein glycosylation, and vesicle trafficking. Golgi-localized proteins have become prospective targets ...for reengineering cell wall biosynthetic pathways for the efficient production of biofuels from plant cell walls. However, proteomic characterization of the Golgi has so far been limited, owing to the technical challenges inherent in Golgi purification. In this study, a combination of density centrifugation and surface charge separation techniques have allowed the reproducible isolation of Golgi membranes from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliam) at sufficiently high purity levels for in-depth proteomic analysis. Quantitative proteomic analysis, immunoblotting, enzyme activity assays, and electron microscopy all confirm high purity levels. A composition analysis indicated that approximately 19% of proteins were likely derived from contaminating compartments and ribosomes. The localization of 13 newly assigned proteins to the Golgi using transient fluorescent markers further validated the proteome. A collection of 371 proteins consistently identified in all replicates has been proposed to represent the Golgi proteome, marking an appreciable advancement in numbers of Golgi-localized proteins. A significant proportion of proteins likely involved in matrix polysaccharide biosynthesis were identified. The potential within this proteome for advances in understanding Golgi processes has been demonstrated by the identification and functional characterization of the first plant Golgi-resident nucleoside diphosphatase, using a yeast complementation assay. Overall, these data show key proteins involved in primary cell wall synthesis and include a mixture of well-characterized and unknown proteins whose biological roles and importance as targets for future research can now be realized.
Drought adaptation strategies of two bambara groundnut landraces, Uniswa Red and S19‐3, collected from contrasting environments in Africa, were compared. Our objectives were to investigate the ...relative significance of effective stomatal control induced by the abscisic acid (ABA) signalling and osmotic adjustment in regulating plant water relations in general for this legume species. The ABA concentration ABA in the leaf increased linearly with declining relative leaf water content, and there were significantly higher ABA in Uniswa Red compared with S19‐3 at the final harvest in the drought‐stressed plants. Estimated by a linear‐plateau model, S19‐3 initiated the reduction in transpiration at a significantly lower soil water threshold (FTSW = 0.50 ± 0.024) than Uniswa Red (FTSW = 0.69 ± 0.023) indicating that the latter was more sensitive in reducing plant water use in response to soil drying. A similar trend was found for stomatal closure during soil drying, although the soil water thresholds at which relative stomatal conductance (gs) started to decline were not significantly different between the two landraces. By an early closure of stomata and hence an early reduction in transpiration rate during soil drying, Uniswa Red could be defined as a ‘water‐saver' such that it maintains leaf water status to a great extent of soil water deficit. This strategy is important for survival during intermittent drought. While S19‐3 could be defined as a ‘water‐spender' with a late closure of stomata, hence a late declining of transpiration rate during soil drying allowed the landrace to maximize its water use despite giving up its leaf water relations. Such drought response together with a fast phenological development of S19‐3 indicates that the landrace is capable of escaping from terminal drought while maximizing its water use and productivity when soil water is available.
We examined long‐term musculoskeletal and cardiac adaptations elicited by recreational football (FG, n=9) and running (RG, n=10) in untrained premenopausal women in comparison with a control group ...(CG, n=9). Training was performed for 16 months (∼2 weekly 1‐h sessions). For FG, right and left ventricular end‐diastolic diameters were increased by 24% and 5% (P<0.05), respectively, after 16 months. Right ventricular systolic function measured by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) increased (P<0.05) in FG after 4 months and further (P<0.05) after 16 months (15% and 32%, respectively). In RG and CG, cardiac structure, E/A and TAPSE remained unchanged. For FG, whole‐body bone mineral density (BMD) was 2.3% and 1.3% higher (P<0.05) after 16 months, than after 4 and 0 months, respectively, with no changes for RG and CG. FG demonstrated substantial improvements (P<0.05) in fast (27% and 16%) and slow (16% and 17%) eccentric muscle strength and rapid force capacity (Imp30ms: 66% and 65%) after 16 months compared with 4 and 0 months, with RG improving Imp30ms by 64% and 46%. In conclusion, long‐term recreational football improved muscle function, postural balance and BMD in adult women with a potential favorable influence on the risk of falls and fractures. Moreover, football training induced consistent cardiac adaptations, which may have implications for long‐term cardiovascular health.
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