Vehicle cabin air quality: influence of air recirculation on energy use, particles, and CO.

In this study, simulations were performed to investigate the influence of different vehicle climate ventilation strategies, mainly the air recirculation (REC) degree, on the cabin air quality and climate system power. The focus of air quality is on the cabin particle concentrations including PM (particles of aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm), UFP (ultrafine particles of aerodynamic diameter less than 100 nm), and cabin CO concentration.

Size-resolved simulation of particulate matters and CO concentration in passenger vehicle cabins.

The main aim of this study is to develop a mathematical size-dependent vehicle cabin model for particulate matter concentration including PM (particles of aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm) and UFPs (ultrafine particles of aerodynamic diameter less than 100 nm), as well as CO concentration. The ventilation airflow rate and cabin volume parameters are defined from a previously developed vehicle model for climate system design.

PM and ultrafine particles in passenger car cabins in Sweden and northern China-the influence of filter age and pre-ionization.

The main aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of filter status (new and aged), pre-ionization, on the particle filtration in modern passenger cars. Measurements of in-cabin and outside PM (dp < 2.5 μm) concentration and UFP (ultrafine particle, dp < 100 nm) counts, to calculate I/O (indoor to outdoor) ratios, were performed.

FKBP5 expression in human adipose tissue increases following dexamethasone exposure and is associated with insulin resistance.

Objective: To study effects of dexamethasone on gene expression in human adipose tissue aiming to identify potential novel mechanisms for glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance.

Materials/methods: Subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue, obtained from non-diabetic donors (10 M/15 F; age: 28-60 years; BMI: 20.7-30.

Feasibility of a combined percutaneous laparoscopic three-millimeter device.

Background And Objectives: Needlescopic 3-mm instruments induce minimal trauma and produce excellent cosmetic results. A combination of a 3-mm abdominal wall incision and a 5-mm instrument in the abdominal cavity would combine the beneficial features of these two different sizes.

Methods: The Percutaneous Surgical System (PSS) (Ethicon EndoSurgery, Galway, Ireland) is a new instrument consisting of a 3-mm shaft that is introduced percutaneously into the abdominal cavity.

Tensile strength after closure of mesenteric gaps in laparoscopic gastric bypass: three techniques tested in a porcine model.

Background: Internal hernias occur frequently after laparoscopic gastric bypass. We have found no data on the relative strength of the various techniques available for closing these defects. The present study was performed to obtain such data to form a theoretical basis for clinical studies.

Long-term follow-up after elective adult umbilical hernia repair: low recurrence rates also after non-mesh repairs.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish long-term outcome after elective adult umbilical hernia (AUH) repair.

Methods: Peri- and postoperative data considering all consecutive procedures at our institution during the time span from 1999 to 2009 were retrospectively gathered and followed by a questionnaire and, if needed, a clinical investigation in early 2011.

Results: A total of 162 patients (female/male 35 %/65 %) were operated, and 144/162 (89 %) answers were gathered, mean follow-up time 70 months; 77 % were sutured, non-mesh repairs; 94 % of all AUHs were smaller than 3 cm; and 49 % of the operations were performed under local anaesthesia.

More recurrences after hernia mesh fixation with short-term absorbable sutures: A registry study of 82 015 Lichtenstein repairs.

Objective: To assess the effects of different mesh fixation suture materials on the risk of recurrence after Lichtenstein inguinal hernioplasty.

Design: Observational, population-based registry study.

Setting: Data from the nationwide Swedish Hernia Registry.

Improved outcome after laparoscopic cholecystectomy with ultrasonic dissection: a randomized multicenter trial.

Background: In conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy, dissection with electrocautery starts at the triangle of Calot. In a randomized single-center trial, the fundus-first method (dome down) using ultrasonic dissection was faster, involved less pain or nausea, and had a shorter postoperative sick leave. This may relate to the fundus-first method or to the ultrasonic dissection.

Prospective follow-up after curettage-cryosurgery for scalp and face skin cancers.

Background: Cryosurgery (CS) in the treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs), especially in the face and on the scalp, has several advantages vs. other methods. Prospectively gathered long-term results after CS are, however, scarce.

Ten-year results of a randomized clinical trial of laparoscopic total fundoplication with or without division of the short gastric vessels.

Background: Total fundoplication is the most common antireflux operation and can be performed with or without division of the short gastric vessels. There seems to be no difference in short-term outcomes with either approach. The aim of the study was to determine whether there were the long-term differences (after 10 years).

Prolene Hernia System, Lichtenstein mesh and plug-and-patch for primary inguinal hernia repair: 3-year outcome of a prospective randomised controlled trial. The BOOP study: bi-layer and connector, on-lay, and on-lay with plug for inguinal hernia repair.

Background: Dissection requirements differ between various methods for inguinal hernia repair, which may affect operation times, pain response and possibly recovery time. The objectives of this study were to establish if any differences concerning these aspects could be detected following three principally different techniques for primary inguinal hernia repair.

Methods: A total of 472 men between 30 and 75 years of age with primary inguinal hernias were included in a prospective controlled study and randomised to Lichtenstein mesh (L), PerFix Plug (P) or the Prolene Hernia System (PHS) procedure.

Symptom-focused results after laparoscopic fundoplication for refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease--a prospective study.

Background And Aims: Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are common in the general population. Although the results of laparoscopic fundoplication are well documented, there have been no reports on the operative outcome in patients refractory to or with only partial response to medical therapy for GERD.

Patients-methods: Thirty-two patients with GERD, whose continuous high doses of medical treatment with proton-pump inhibitors produced no or only partial symptom relief, underwent laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.

Fibrin glue for securing the mesh in laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair: a study with a 40-month prospective follow-up period.

Background: Anchoring the mesh in laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal groin hernia repair (TEP) with human fibrin glue has theoretical advantages. However, these have been supported and reported previously only in animal studies. Before the initiation of large patient trials, the authors wanted to confirm the feasibility, assess the costs, and rule out any flagrant short- and long-term adverse effects of fibrin glue usage in a small series of patients.

Prospective follow-up after ambulatory plain midline excision of pilonidal sinus and primary suture under local anaesthesia--efficient, sufficient, and persistent.

Objective: Optimal surgical treatment for chronic pilonidal sinus (PS) disease should be easy and efficient. The purpose of this study was to establish the feasibility of and results after ambulatory simple midline excision and primary wound closure under local anaesthesia.

Patients And Methods: The prospective nonrandomised single institution study included 131 consecutive PS patients admitted for surgery.

Local endoscopic removal of duodenal carcinoid tumors.

A swift and aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic approach is advisable when managing submucosal or polypoid lesions in the duodenum, since it is not possible to distinguish small, benign, and unremarkable duodenal growths macroscopically from malignant tumors such as carcinoids. This paper presents a systematic review of the published literature listed in Medline, focusing on the results after endoscopic treatment of duodenal carcinoids during the last 15 years; on the biological behavior of duodenal carcinoids; and on the endoscopic appearance of duodenal carcinoids. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is extremely useful in the diagnostic and preoperative work-up.

Mechanical consequences of short gastric vessel division at the time of laparoscopic total fundoplication.

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is currently the most commonly practiced antireflux operation. Some adverse consequences of the operation remain in the form of mechanical side effects, labeled postfundoplication complaints, of which dysphagia and gas bloat seem to predominate. Measures have been suggested to counteract some of these and one frequently advocated has been division of the short gastric vessels to create a short-floppy wrap.

Quantitative assessment of motility-associated changes in gastric and duodenal luminal pH in humans.

Background: Interdigestive pain relieved by food is a common feature of ulcer disease. We tested the hypothesis that the duodenal bulb is intermittently acidified in association with phase III of the interdigestive motility cycle, and tried to quantify the balance between acid and duodenal bicarbonate secretion during this particular period.

Methods: The experiments were performed in Helicobacter-negative healthy volunteers.

Laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty--an effective long-term therapy for morbidly obese patients?

Background: Vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) has previously been documented as an effective treatment for morbid obesity. We have described a laparoscopic technique to perform this operation. Follow-up data are now presented.

Gastric secretion in cystic fibrosis in relation to the migrating motor complex.

Background: Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have been claimed to have defect intestinal motility and gastric acid secretion. The aim of this work was to study the interdigestive motility and the motility-related secretions in the upper gastrointestinal tract in patients with CF compared to healthy controls.

Methods: Concomitant gastroduodenal manometry combined with intragastric perfusion was performed in 12 healthy volunteers and 10 patients with CF.

Impact of complete gastric fundus mobilization on outcome after laparoscopic total fundoplication.

With the objective of further optimizing the outcome of antireflux surgery, we have studied the importance of dividing the short gastric vessels when performing a laparoscopic total fundoplication. Ninety-nine consecutive patients with chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were enrolled in the trial. Forty-seven patients (25 men, age 52 +/- 1.