Aim
To assess the effectiveness of transanal irrigation (TAI) compared with posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) in severe and chronic low anterior resection syndrome (LARS).
Method
A two‐group ...parallel, open‐label randomized controlled trial carried out in a single university hospital. The study population included patients with a LARS scale score of more than 29 points who had undergone rectal surgery more than 1 year previously. These were randomly allocated, with a central randomization system, following a 1:1 sequence to TAI or PTNS. The main study outcome was to achieve a reduction of at least one LARS grade in at least 50% of the patients, for each intervention.
Results
A total of 27 patients (TAI = 13, PTNS = 14) were randomized. Both groups were similar with regard to confounding factors. Four patients were excluded because of intercurrent disease or early dropout, leaving 23 (TAI, n = 10; PTNS, n = 13) for analysis. Eight out of 10 and 4 out of 13 patients were downgraded with TAI and PTNS, respectively. The median LARS score decreased from 35 interquartile range (IQR) 32–39 to 12 (IQR 12–26) (P = 0.021) for the TAI group and from 35 (IQR 34–37) to 30 (IQR 25–33) (P = 0.045) for the PTNS group. The Vaizey score fell from 15 (IQR 11–18) to 6 (IQR 4–7) (P = 0.037) and from 14 (IQR 13–17) to 9 (IQR 7–10) (P = 0.007) with TAI and PTNS, respectively, with 80% and 38% of patients, respectively, showing decreases of more than 50%. Improvement in quality of life was observed in both groups.
Conclusion
Both treatments improved the LARS score in this study but this was only significant in the TAI group.
ABSTRACT
We present and analyse optical photometry and high-resolution Southern African Large Telescope spectra of the symbiotic recurrent nova V3890 Sgr at quiescence. The orbital period, P = ...747.6 d, has been derived from both photometric and spectroscopic data. Our double-line spectroscopic orbits indicate that the mass ratio is q = Mg/MWD = 0.78 ± 0.05, and that the component masses are MWD ≈ 1.35 ± 0.13 M⊙ and Mg ≈ 1.05 ± 0.11 M⊙. The orbit inclination is ≈67−69○. The red giant is filling (or nearly filling) its Roche lobe, and the distance set by its Roche lobe radius, d ≈ 9 kpc, is consistent with that resulting from the giant pulsation period. The outburst magnitude of V3890 Sgr is then very similar to those of RNe in the Large Magellanic Cloud. V3890 Sgr shows remarkable photometric and spectroscopic activity between the nova eruptions with time-scales similar to those observed in the symbiotic recurrent novae T CrB and RS Oph and Z And-type symbiotic systems. The active source has a double-temperature structure that we have associated with the presence of an accretion disc. The activity would be then caused by changes in the accretion rate. We also provide evidence that V3890 Sgr contains a CO WD accreting at a high, ∼a few× 10−8 to 10−7 M⊙ yr−1, rate. The WD is growing in mass, and should give rise to a Type Ia supernova within ≲106 yr – the expected lifetime of the red giant.
In its classical form, autophagy is an essential, homeostatic process by which cytoplasmic components are degraded in a double-membrane-bound autophagosome in response to starvation. Paradoxically, ...although autophagy is primarily a protective process for the cell, it can also play a role in cell death. The roles of autophagy bridge both the innate and adaptive immune systems and autophagic dysfunction is associated with inflammation, infection, neurodegeneration and cancer. In this review, we discuss the contribution of autophagy to inflammatory, infectious and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as cancer.
•Autophagy is a homeostatic process by which cell components are degraded.•Autophagy can also play a role in cell death.•Autophagy contributes to host defense and inflammation.•Autophagic dysfunction is associated with cancer.
The research objective is the stabilization of soils with natural polymers and fibres to produce a composite, sustainable, non-toxic and locally sourced building material. Mechanical tests have been ...conducted with a clay soil supplied by a Scottish brick manufacture. Alginate (a natural polymer from the cell walls of brown algae) has been used as bonding in the composite. Sheep’s wool was used as reinforcement. Tests done showed that the addition of alginate separately increases compression strength from 2.23 to 3.77
MPa and the addition of wool fibre increases compression strength a 37%. The potential benefit of stabilization was found to depend on the combinations of both stabilizer and wool fibre. Adding alginate and reinforcing with wool fibre doubles the soil compression resistance. Better results were obtained with a lower quantity of wool.
Long-term trends of atmospheric Quercus pollen recorded for 25 years (1995–2019) in southern Spain (Cordoba city, Andalusia region) have been studied to determine the influence of climate ...fluctuations and other anthropogenic factors on Mediterranean oak vegetation areas. Atmospheric pollen analysis revealed different changes on reproductive Quercus phenology through the study period. Pollination intensity showed an average cumulated value of the Main Pollen Season Integral of 12,832 Pollen * day/m3, with a high variability among years (±SD 8,048) and a significant rising trend of 771 pollen grains per year, being stronger in recent years (2014–2019). It was remarkable the high quantity of Quercus pollen grains detected out of the Main Pollen Season (703 Pollen * day/m3 ± SD 431), also increasing in recent years.
Regarding Quercus phenology, results indicated as the main Quercus species in the area, Quercus ilex subsp. ballota (holm oak), Q. coccifera, Q. faginea and Q. suber, presented a gradually pollination during spring (from mid-March to early June), although a lengthening of the pollination season is observed in recent years. This phenomenon could be explained by the progressive delay in the pollination of Q. suber. Regarding climate factors, a decrease in rainfall, especially during winter and autumn was recorded, along with colder winters but warmer springs, summers, and autumns. These changes were significantly correlated with pollination timing and intensity. The climate parameters most affecting were those related to temperature and sunshine. However, the total annual pollen showed a significant negative correlation with the annual recorded rainfall. Results show that recent climatic change, among other factors, are leading to changes in the timing and intensity of the Quercus pollen season in the Mediterranean area.
Display omitted
•Oaks are bioindicators of the impact of Climate Change on Mediterranean forest.•Analysis of airborne Quercus pollen concentration measured for a 25-year period.•Strong correlation of meteorological fluctuations on oaks species.•Increase of oak pollen concentration and pollen season.
An accurate estimation of the allergen concentration in the atmosphere is essential for allergy sufferers. The major cause of pollinosis all over Europe is due to grass pollen and Phl p 5 has the ...highest rates of sensitization (>50%) in patients with grass pollen-induced allergy. However, recent research has shown that airborne pollen does not always offer a clear indicator of exposure to aeroallergens. This study aims to evaluate relations between airborne grass pollen and Phl p 5 concentrations in Córdoba (southern Spain) and to study how meteorological parameters influence these atmospheric records. Monitoring was carried out from 2012 to 2014. Hirst-type volumetric spore trap was used for pollen collection, following the protocol recommended by the Spanish Aerobiology Network (REA). Aeroallergen sampling was performed using a low-volume cyclone sampler, and allergenic particles were quantified by ELISA assay. Besides, the influence of main meteorological factors on local airborne pollen and allergen concentrations was surveyed. A significant correlation was observed between grass pollen and Phl p 5 allergen concentrations during the pollen season, but with some sporadic discrepancy episodes. The cumulative annual Pollen Index also varied considerably. A significant correlation has been obtained between airborne pollen and minimum temperature, relative humidity and precipitation, during the three studied years. However, there is no clear relationship between allergens and weather variables. Our findings suggest that the correlation between grass pollen and aeroallergen Phl p 5 concentrations varies from year-to-year probably related to a complex interplay of meteorological variables.
•High pollen concentrations do not always imply high aeroallergen levels.•Pollen concentrations are better correlated with weather factors than allergen.•Light winds prompt the accumulation of grass pollen near the surface.
Context.
St 2-22 is a relatively poorly studied S-type symbiotic system that belongs to a small group of jet-producing systems as a result of disc accretion onto a white dwarf fed by its red giant ...companion.
Aims.
The goal of this paper is to analyse the nature and derive the basic parameters of St 2-22, and to follow the jet evolution.
Methods.
Photometric monitoring for over 16 yr and high-quality spectroscopic data enabled us to shed new light on its nature. The high-resolution SALT spectra and
V
I
c
photometry obtained during and between the last two outbursts have been used to search for periodic changes, to derive spectroscopic orbits of both system components, and to study the outburst and jet evolution.
Results.
We present the orbital and stellar parameters of the system components. The orbital period is
P
orb
= 918 ± 6
d
. The double-line spectroscopic orbits indicate the mass ratio
q
=
M
g
M
h
−1
= 3.50 ± 0.53, and the components masses
M
g
sin
3
i
∼ 2.35
M
⊙
and
M
h
sin
3
i
∼ 0.67
M
⊙
. The orbit shows significant eccentricity,
e
= 0.16 ± 0.07. The orbital inclination is close to 70°. During outbursts, accelerating and decelerating jets are observed with changes in their radial velocity component in a range from ∼1500 up to nearly 1800 km s
−1
. St 2-22 turned out to be a classical symbiotic system very similar to the precursor of the group – Z And.
To cite this article: Cecchi L, D'Amato G, Ayres JG, Galan C, Forastiere F, Forsberg B, Gerritsen J, Nunes C, Behrendt H, Akdis C, Dahl R, Annesi-Maesano I. Projections of the effects of climate ...change on allergic asthma: the contribution of aerobiology. Allergy 2010; 65: 1073-1081. Climate change is unequivocal and represents a possible threat for patients affected by allergic conditions. It has already had an impact on living organisms, including plants and fungi with current scenarios projecting further effects by the end of the century. Over the last three decades, studies have shown changes in production, dispersion and allergen content of pollen and spores, which may be region- and species-specific. In addition, these changes may have been influenced by urban air pollutants interacting directly with pollen. Data suggest an increasing effect of aeroallergens on allergic patients over this period, which may also imply a greater likelihood of the development of an allergic respiratory disease in sensitized subjects and exacerbation of symptomatic patients. There are a number of limitations that make predictions uncertain, and further and specifically designed studies are needed to clarify current effects and future scenarios. We recommend: More stress on pollen/spore exposure in the diagnosis and treatment guidelines of respiratory and allergic diseases; collection of aerobiological data in a structured way at the European level; creation, promotion and support of multidisciplinary research teams in this area; lobbying the European Union and other funders to finance this research.
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