Extrinsic Anisotropy of Two-Phase Newtonian Aggregates: Fabric Characterization and Parameterization.

Rocks of the Earth's crust and mantle commonly consist of different minerals with contrasting mechanical properties. During progressive, high-temperature (ductile) deformation, these rocks develop extrinsic mechanical anisotropy linked to strain partitioning between different minerals, amount of accumulated strain, and bulk strain geometry. Extrinsic anisotropy plays an important role in a wide range of geodynamic processes up to the scale of mantle convection.

A strength inversion origin for non-volcanic tremor.

Non-volcanic tremor is a particularly enigmatic form of seismic activity. In its most studied subduction zone setting, tremor typically occurs within the plate interface at or near the shallow and deep edges of the interseismically locked zone. Detailed seismic observations have shown that tremor is composed of repeating small low-frequency earthquakes, often accompanied by very-low-frequency earthquakes, all involving shear failure and slip.

Digitalisation and COVID-19: The Perfect Storm.

"A ship in the harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for," observed that sage 19th century philosopher William Shedd. In other words, technology of high potential is of little value if the potential is not exploited. As the shape of 2020 is increasingly defined by the coronavirus pandemic, digitalisation is like a ship loaded with technology that has a huge capacity for transforming mankind's combat against infectious disease.

Droplet Digital PCR Detects Low-Density Infection in a Significant Proportion of Helicobacter Pylori-Negative Gastric Biopsies of Dyspeptic Patients.

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori-infected individuals may present low-density infection, undetectable by conventional tests such as histology, rapid urease test, or urea breath test. Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) is more sensitive than other polymerase chain reaction methods. We aimed to evaluate the ability of ddPCR to detect H.

Policies and actions to tackle rare diseases at European level.

Rare diseases (RDs) are defined by the European Union as life-threatening or chronically debilitating conditions, with a prevalence lower than 5 per 10 000 inhabitants. Around 6000 diseases are described, affecting between 6% and 8% of the European population. Due to their severity, diffusion and multi-faceted aspects, RD are an area where collaboration in public health, health care and research provides a major integrated added value.

Adalimumab or Infliximab for the Prevention of Early Postoperative Recurrence of Crohn Disease: Results From the ENEIDA Registry.

Background: Anti-tumor necrosis factor agents (anti-TNFs) are efficacious at preventing the postoperative recurrence (POR) of Crohn disease, as demonstrated in 2 randomized controlled trials. However, real-life data for infliximab or adalimumab in this setting are scarce. Our aim was to assess both the efficiency of anti-TNFs at preventing early POR of Crohn disease in clinical practice and the associated risk factors for POR.

Relevant Infections in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and Their Relationship With Immunosuppressive Therapy and Their Effects on Disease Mortality.

Background And Aims: There is controversy as to whether the risk of relevant infection in IBD is related to immunosuppressants or the disease itself. The aims of this study were to evaluate: [1] the life-long prevalence and types of relevant infections in patients with IBD related to immunosuppressive treatment, and [2] the relationship of both infection and patient comorbidity to mortality.

Methods: Observational multicentre retrospective study of IBD patients that presented a relevant infection.

A robust and accurate surrogate method for monitoring the frequency and duration of combined sewer overflows.

Discharges of untreated wastewater from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) can affect hydraulic stress and have significant environmental impacts on receiving water bodies. Common flow rate and water level sensors for monitoring of CSO events are expensive in terms of investment costs, installation, operation and maintenance. This paper presents a novel surrogate method to detect CSO events by using two low-cost temperature sensors.

Fatigue in out-patients with inflammatory bowel disease: Prevalence and predictive factors.

Background And Aim: Fatigue is a common and bothersome symptom in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. The study was aimed to determine the relationship of biological and psychological factors with IBD-related fatigue.

Methods: Consecutive clinically inactive IBD outpatients receiving immunosuppressants or biological drugs were enrolled between January and December 2013.

Good diagnostic accuracy of a chemiluminescent immunoassay in stool samples for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with dyspepsia.

Laboratory-based chemiluminescence immunoassays (CLIA) are widely used in clinical laboratories. Some years ago, a CLIA test was developed for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in stool samples, known as LIAISON H. pylori SA, but little information on its use has been reported.

Occult H. pylori infection partially explains 'false-positive' results of (13)C-urea breath test.

Background: In a previous study, UBiT-100 mg, (Otsuka, Spain), a commercial (13)C-urea breath test omitting citric acid pre-treatment, had a high rate of false-positive results; however, it is possible that UBiT detected low-density 'occult' infection missed by other routine reference tests. We aimed to validate previous results in a new cohort and to rule out the possibility that false-positive UBiT were due to an 'occult' infection missed by reference tests.

Methods: Dyspeptic patients (n = 272) were prospectively enrolled and UBiT was performed, according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Using data from monitoring combined sewer overflows to assess, improve, and maintain combined sewer systems.

Using low-cost sensors, data can be collected on the occurrence and duration of overflows in each combined sewer overflow (CSO) structure in a combined sewer system (CSS). The collection and analysis of real data can be used to assess, improve, and maintain CSSs in order to reduce the number and impact of overflows. The objective of this study was to develop a methodology to evaluate the performance of CSSs using low-cost monitoring.

Impact of surveillance of hepatitis b and hepatitis c in patients with inflammatory bowel disease under anti-TNF therapies: multicenter prospective observational study (REPENTINA 3).

Aims: Assess IBD patients starting anti-TNF for the impact of preventive measures in HBV and/or HCV, and the predictive response factors to HBV vaccination.

Methods: Multicenter prospective study including 389 IBD patients. Four interventions were established: I-1) anti-HBs <100IU/L: HBV vaccination with double doses at 0-1-2months, and revaccination if titres <100IU/L (seroprotection defined as anti-HBs10-100IU/L and effective vaccination anti-HBs >100IU/L); I-2) anti-HBs >100IU/L (previous effective vaccination): monitoring levels; I-3) anti-HBc and/or HCV+: analysis every two months; I-4) HBsAg+: start anti-virals.

Centres of Expertise and European Reference Networks: key issues in the field of rare diseases. The EUCERD Recommendations.

Background: Rare diseases, because of their intrinsic characteristics - large number of disorders and syndromes, low individual prevalence, severity, often limited information, lack of therapies - can benefit from collaboration and sharing of expertise while maximising the limited resources available for these conditions. Therefore, the development of Centres of Expertise (CEs) and European Reference Networks (ERNs) in this field is crucial.The European Union Committee of Experts on Rare Diseases (EUCERD) has been charged to assist the European Commission with the preparation and implementation of activities in the field of rare diseases in Europe.

Field validation of a new low-cost method for determining occurrence and duration of combined sewer overflows.

Combined sewer overflow (CSO) events produced in combined sewer systems (CSS) during wet weather conditions are a threat for the receiving water bodies. The large number of CSO structures normally present in a CSS makes that the monitoring of the complete CSO network in a simultaneous way would drastically increase the investment costs. In this paper, a new methodology is presented aiming to characterize the occurrence and duration of CSO events by means of low-cost temperature sensors.

Anti-inflammatory Lactobacillus rhamnosus CNCM I-3690 strain protects against oxidative stress and increases lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Numerous studies have shown that resistance to oxidative stress is crucial to stay healthy and to reduce the adverse effects of aging. Accordingly, nutritional interventions using antioxidant food-grade compounds or food products are currently an interesting option to help improve health and quality of life in the elderly. Live lactic acid bacteria (LAB) administered in food, such as probiotics, may be good antioxidant candidates.

microRNA profiling in duodenal ulcer disease caused by Helicobacter pylori infection in a Western population.

Although the connection of microRNAs (miRNAs) to some diseases is well established, their involvement in chronic infections such as Helicobacter pylori has received less attention. The aim was to compare miRNA expression profiling in patients with duodenal ulcer (DU) due to H. pylori infection with that in infected patients without DU and in uninfected patients.

A new validation of the Spanish Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire-Crohn's disease version.

Objectives: The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI) is an instrument that measures work impairment in the setting of different diseases. One previous study validating the WPAI in Crohn's disease (CD) patients suggested that its reproducibility may be unsatisfactory. This study evaluated the validity and reproducibility of the Spain Spanish version of the WPAI questionnaire in CD patients.

Real-time PCR improves Helicobacter pylori detection in patients with peptic ulcer bleeding.

Background And Aims: Histological and rapid urease tests to detect H. pylori in biopsy specimens obtained during peptic ulcer bleeding episodes (PUB) often produce false-negative results. We aimed to examine whether immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR can improve the sensitivity of these biopsies.

Development and validation of the Crohn's disease perceived work disability questionnaire.

Background: No validated instruments have been developed to measure work disability in Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of our study was to develop and validate a CD perceived work disability questionnaire (CPWDQ).

Methods: Development phase: an initial questionnaire containing 52 items was obtained from patients' interviews plus additional sources; it was completed by 106 patients and the 16 most significant items were selected using a psychometric method in order to create the CPWDQ.

Disease-specific health-related quality of life in patients with esophageal achalasia before and after therapy.

Background: To evaluate disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with symptomatic esophageal achalasia before and after therapy.

Methods: Symptoms and disease-specific HRQoL were evaluated before and 3 months after therapy. Therapy selection, either dilatation or myotomy, depended exclusively on the opinion of the physician on charge of the patient.

Comparative accuracy of 3 monoclonal stool tests for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection among patients with dyspepsia.

Background: Well-devised studies comparing new but different monoclonal fecal tests for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection are scarce. The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of 3 monoclonal stool tests: 2 rapid in-office tools-RAPID Hp StAR and ImmunoCard STAT! HpSA-and an enzyme immunoassay test-Amplified IDEIA Hp StAR-for diagnosing H. pylori infection prior to eradication treatment.

Analysis of court criteria for awarding disability benefits to patients with Crohn's disease.

Background & Aims: Chronic disability and its consequences for social life and employment are important but often neglected aspects of Crohn's disease. No specific scores have been developed to evaluate chronic disability in patients with Crohn's disease; the medical criteria used by government authorities to award disability benefits have not been analyzed. We aimed to determine the courts' criteria for awarding disability benefits to patients with Crohn's disease in Spain.