Manual abdominal massage has been shown to effectively treat slow-transit constipation, but it is labor-intensive. To offer an alternative treatment option for constipation, the Bamk-001 automatic abdominal massage device was developed. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the Bamk-001 device on symptom profiles and colon transit time (CTT) in patients with chronic constipation.

Thirty-seven patients with chronic functional constipation diagnosed using the Rome IV criteria were enrolled prospectively from December 2018 to February 2019. All patients received device-assisted automatic abdominal massage for 15min twice daily, once in the morning before breakfast and once at night, for 14days. CTT was measured before and at the end of the study period. Slow-transit constipation and very-slow-transit constipation were defined as CTT ≥ 48h and ≥ 72h, respectively. Patients’ symptom profiles regarding overall defecation satisfaction and device-related adverse events were analyzed.

Among the 37 pa improvement in CTT and symptom profiles in patients with slow-transit constipation. The use of an automatic abdominal massage device as an adjunct in the management of constipation is a potentially beneficial intervention for patients with slow-transit constipation.Interval-censored failure time data arise in a number of fields and many authors have recently paid more attention to their analysis. However, regression analysis of interval-censored data under the additive risk model can be challenging in maximizing the complex likelihood, especially when there exists a non-ignorable cure fraction in the population. For the problem, we develop a sieve maximum likelihood estimation approach based on Bernstein polynomials. To relieve the computational burden, an expectation-maximization algorithm by exploiting a Poisson data augmentation is proposed. U0126 datasheet Under some mild conditions, the asymptotic properties of the proposed estimator are established. The finite sample performance of the proposed method is evaluated by extensive simulations, and is further illustrated through a real data set from the smoking cessation study.

To analyze the co-expression of the intermediate filaments GFAP and cytokeratin in 326 pituitary adenomas with regard to the distribution pattern, the subtype of the adenoma and clinical prognostic data.

Tissue from 326 pituitary adenomas and 13 normal anterior pituitaries collected in the Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, between 2006 and 2009 was investigated by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and electron microscopy.

Co-expression of intermediate filaments GFAP and cytokeratin was associated with hormone expression in 62/278 cases (22%), but only found in 2/48 (4%) of null cell adenomas (p < 0.01). Simultaneous co-expression of GFAP and cytokeratin in the same cells was demonstrated in 26 out of 326 pituitary adenomas and in all 13 pituitaries. In pituitary intermediate filaments were demonstrated in a larger area of the cytoplasm than in adenoma (p < 0.01), however, overlapping expression was seen in 2.6% of the total area in both, pituitary and tumor stem cells. This study may complement the understanding of pituitary adenoma biology.The urban world population will increase from 3 to 8.5 thousand million in the 21st century. Cities become hot spots of both demand for water and global food and for disposed used water and nutrients. Sustainability requires that resource flows through our cities are co-managed and connected to agriculture. Reduced use of harmful chemicals in consumer products facilitates treatment to a quality that allows reuse/recycling of water and nutrients. A solid and liquid waste hierarchy can assist in ordering measures. A novel flexible water balance can guide city infrastructure and keep toilet water separate. New water-saving equipment can substantially reduce water use without losing personal comfort. The combination of these new approaches ascertains access to safe urban water, and that recovered nutrients from cities can substitute half of chemical fertilisers needed in food production. Now, thousands of new cities and suburbs provide unique opportunities to develop resource-smart and sustainable flows.Three InGaN/GaN MQWs samples with varying GaN cap layer thickness were grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) to investigate the optical properties. We found that a thicker cap layer is more effective in preventing the evaporation of the In composition in the InGaN quantum well layer. Furthermore, the quantum-confined Stark effect (QCSE) is enhanced with increasing the thickness of GaN cap layer. In addition, compared with the electroluminescence measurement results, we focus on the difference of localization states and defects in three samples induced by various cap thickness to explain the anomalies in room temperature photoluminescence measurements. We found that too thin GaN cap layer will exacerbates the inhomogeneity of localization states in InGaN QW layer, and too thick GaN cap layer will generate more defects in GaN cap layer.

Placement of self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) has emerged as a minimally invasive treatment option for esophageal perforation and leaks. The aim of our study was to assess the role of SEMS for the management of benign esophageal diseases such as perforations and anastomotic leaks.

All patients (n = 26) who underwent SEMS placement for esophageal perforation and anastomotic leaks between May 2012 and February 2019 were included. Data wereanalyzed in relation to theindications, type of stent used, complications, and outcomes.

Indications for stent placement included anastomotic leaks 65% (n = 17) and perforations 35% (n = 9). Fully covered SEMS (FCSEMS) was placed in 25 patients, and in 1, partially covered SEMS (PCSEMS) was placed. Stent placement was successful in all thepatients (n = 26). Four patients did not report for follow-up after stenting. Among the patients on follow-up, 91% (20/22) had healing of the mucosal defect. Stent-related complications were seen in 5 (23%) patients and included stent migration [3], reactive hyperplasia [1] and stricture [1].