Light Dark Matter Search with a High-Resolution Athermal Phonon Detector Operated above Ground.

We present limits on spin-independent dark matter-nucleon interactions using a 10.6 g Si athermal phonon detector with a baseline energy resolution of σ_{E}=3.86±0.04(stat)_{-0.00}^{+0.19}(syst) eV. This exclusion analysis sets the most stringent dark matter-nucleon scattering cross-section limits achieved by a cryogenic detector for dark matter particle masses from 93 to 140 MeV/c^{2}, with a raw exposure of 9.9 g d acquired at an above-ground facility. This work illustrates the scientific potential of detectors with athermal phonon sensors with eV-scale energy resolution for future dark matter searches.

Erratum: First Dark Matter Constraints from a SuperCDMS Single-Charge Sensitive Detector [Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 051301 (2018)].

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.051301.

Isolated fetal ascites.

OBJECTIVE: We present a rather rare case of isolated fetal ascites. We summarize its possible causes and diferential diagnostic procedure, our pregnancy managment and final outcome of the child. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. SETTINGS: Gynekologicko-porodnická klinika, Masarykova nemocnice, Ústí nad Labem; Neonatologická klinika, Masarykova nemocnice, Ústí nad Labem. METHODS: The pacient 18-years-old, I/0, was admitted to our clinic in the 32nd week of pregnancy with the dia-gnosis of significant isolated fetal ascites. Gradually, the most common causes of isolated ascites were excluded by the examination algorithm: developmental defects of GIT, urogenital tract and heart defects, genetic disorders, metabolic defects and immune and nonimmune causes of fetal hydrops. During the hospitalization, ascites lightening puncture was performed twice because of the significant lung tissue compression - without significant long-term effect. At the gestational age of 33+4, caesa-rean delivery was indicated for extreme ascites growth and significant lung tissue relapse. A boy of 2150 g with a serious respiratory distress was born. Immediately after delivery in the operating theatre a relieving ascites puncture was performed and the ventilation parameters improved immediately thereafter. During the following hospitalization the ascites has spontaneously, completely and definitely resorbed. The newborn was released into home care 49 days after delivery. CONCLUSION: Idiopatic isolated fetal ascites is a relatively rare diagnosis with a favourable outcome. The etiology of ascites could not be identified.

Acute immune trobocytopenic purpura in pregnant adolescent.

OBJECTIVE: The article reviews the causes of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy and the basic examination scheme. Further, it deals in more details with diagnosis of immune thromocytopenic purpura (ITP) and presents a case report of a rare case of acute severe ITP in pregnant adolescent. DESIGN: Review article and case report. SETTINGS: Department Obstet/Gynecol Uni J. A. Purkyně and Masaryk´s Hospital, Ústí nad Labem; Children and adolescent dep. Hospital Most; Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion Prague; Department of Children Med. Uni J. A. Purkyně and Masaryk´s Hospital, Ústí nad Labem; Department of Clinic Hematology Masaryk´s Hospital, Ústí nad Labem; Department of Neonatology Uni J. A. Purkyně and Masaryk´s Hospital, Ústí nad Labem. METHODS: Based on a review of the published papers, general rules for diagnosis, treatment, fetal risks, pregnancy management and labor in women with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) are given. Further we present the case of a 16-year-old pregnant girl with an acute severe form of ITP not responding to corticosteroid treatment who underwent twice critical decline of platelets up to 1×109 and repeatedly it was necessary to access the application of IVIG and Azathioprim (Imuran) was also used in her treatment. Pregnancy was unplanned terminated for dg. placental abortion in gestational age 32+4.The girl of 1740 g/42 cm was born with Apgar score 10-10-10 with no signs of thrombocytopenia. Surgery and postoperative course in the mother without complications. The newborn was discharged from the hospital into home care at a gestational age of 36+1 along with his mother. RESULTS: We present a case of acute severe form of ITP in pregnancy with a successful though somewhat dramatic end. CONCLUSIONS: These rare cases are demanding in terms of logistical, personnel and material provision. The aim of the treatment is to achieve a satisfactory maturity of the fetus, the treatment is financially demanding and is not without risks. Therefore, these cases should only be dealt with at Perinatology Centers in close cooperation with hematologists and neonatologists.

Results from the Super Cryogenic Dark Matter Search Experiment at Soudan.

We report the result of a blinded search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) using the majority of the SuperCDMS Soudan data set. With an exposure of 1690 kg d, a single candidate event is observed, consistent with expected backgrounds. This analysis (combined with previous Ge results) sets an upper limit on the spin-independent WIMP-nucleon cross section of 1.4×10^{-44} (1.0×10^{-44}) cm^{2} at 46 GeV/c^{2}. These results set the strongest limits for WIMP-germanium-nucleus interactions for masses >12 GeV/c^{2}.

First Dark Matter Constraints from a SuperCDMS Single-Charge Sensitive Detector.

We present the first limits on inelastic electron-scattering dark matter and dark photon absorption using a prototype SuperCDMS detector having a charge resolution of 0.1 electron-hole pairs (CDMS HVeV, a 0.93 g CDMS high-voltage device). These electron-recoil limits significantly improve experimental constraints on dark matter particles with masses as low as 1 MeV/c^{2}. We demonstrate a sensitivity to dark photons competitive with other leading approaches but using substantially less exposure (0.49 g d). These results demonstrate the scientific potential of phonon-mediated semiconductor detectors that are sensitive to single electronic excitations.

[Pregnancy in women with congenital bleeding disorder]. / Gravidita u pacientek s vrozenou krvácivou chorobou.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY: To highlight the risks associated with pregnancy at women with von Willebrand´s disease or hemophilia. Introduce the rules of multidisciplinary prenatal and peripartal care to minimalize these risks. The article is accompanied by case report where maladministration led to fatal consequences for the newborn. DESIGN: Review and case report.Seatings: Department Obstetric and Gynecology UJEP and Masaryk´s Hospital Ústí n/Labem, Institute Haematology and Blood Transfer Prague, Children´s Haemato-onkology Clinic University Hospital Prague Motol.Coclusions: The pregnancy in both above-mentioned diseases is risky. The close multidisciplinary collaboration is required.

[Delivery of macrosomic fetus]. / Porod velkého plodu.

UNLABELLED: Fetal macrosomia is associated with an increased risk of perinatal mortality and morbidity for both, mother and fetus. The frequency of these births is between 1.3 to 1.5%. Macrosomic fetuses are defined with a weight of 4500 g and more. Diagnosis and prediction of macrosomia or fetal birth weight is key to determine the tactics of delivery. It is based on the combination and assessment of medical history, clinical parameters and ultrasound biometry. The limit for elective caesarean section is considered the estimated fetal weight in healthy mothers of more than 5000 g. For mothers with diabetes an indication of the caesarean section should be considered for fetal weight of more than 4000 g. DESIGN: A review of the literature.

[Hyperthyroidism in pregnancy, less common disorder of the thyroid gland complicating the pregnancy]. / Hypertyreóza v gravidite, méne castá porucha stítné zlázy komplikující tehotenství - kazuistika.

The case report focuses on the case of heavy Graves - Basedow thyreotoxicosis in 33 years old secundipara who was transferred to our departement from regional hospital for decompensation of gestational hypertension, oligohydramnios and the suspition on intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). In our clinical praxis the problems of thyroid gland in terms of its reduced function in pregnant women are getting more frequent. The goal of this article is to describe the less often situation, the hyperthyroidism in the third trimestr of the pregnancy. Thyretoxicosis in pregnancy is associated with higher risk of preterm labour, preeclampsia, IUGR, heart failure and stillbirth. Some of these complications confirmes our case report.

Extraction and parametrization of grain boundary networks in glacier ice, using a dedicated method of automatic image analysis.

Microstructure analysis of polar ice cores is vital to understand the processes controlling the flow of polar ice on the microscale. This paper presents an automatic image processing framework for extraction and parametrization of grain boundary networks from images of the NEEM deep ice core. As cross-section images are acquired using controlled surface sublimation, grain boundaries and air inclusions appear dark, whereas the inside of grains appears grey. The initial segmentation step of the software is to separate possible boundaries of grains and air inclusions from background. A Machine learning approach is utilized to gain automatic, reliable classification, which is required for processing large data sets along deep ice cores. The second step is to compose the perimeter of section profiles of grains by planar sections of the grain surface between triple points. Ultimately, grain areas, grain boundaries and triple junctions of the later are diversely parametrized. High resolution is achieved, so that small grain sizes and local curvatures of grain boundaries can systematically be investigated.

Polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations and activity of sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus vary by sex.

We determined the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations of 40 male and 40 female adult sea lampreys Petromyzon marinus captured in the Cheboygan River, a tributary to Lake Huron, during May 2011. In addition, we performed a laboratory experiment using passive integrated transponder tags to determine whether male adult sea lampreys were more active than female adult sea lampreys. Sex had a significant effect on PCB concentration, and PCB concentration at a given level of sea lamprey condition was approximately 25 % greater in males than in females. Adjusting for the difference in condition between the sexes, males averaged a 17 % greater PCB concentration compared with females. Results from the laboratory experiment indicated that males were significantly more active than females. The observed sex difference in PCB concentrations was not due to female sea lampreys releasing eggs at spawning because the sea lamprey is semelparous, and we caught the sea lampreys before spawning. Rather, we attributed the sex difference in PCB concentrations to a greater rate of energy expenditure in males compared with females. We proposed that this greater rate of energy expenditure was likely due to greater activity. Our laboratory experiment results supported this hypothesis. A greater resting metabolic rate may also have contributed to a greater rate of energy expenditure. Our findings should eventually be applicable toward improving control of sea lamprey, a pest responsible for considerable damage to fisheries in lakes where it is not native.

[Pregnancy and multiple sclerosis -outcomes analysis 2003-2011]. / Tehotenství a roztrousená skleróza - analýza výsledku z let 2003-2011.

OBJECTIVE: The analysis of perinatal results in pregnant women with multiple sclerosis (MS) and the assessment of the influence of pregnancy on this chronic disease in the population of pregnant women in our hospital in the years 2003-2011. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Neurology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and the Motol Hospital, Prague. METHODS: Sixty-six women with the diagnosis of MS were included in our study in the years 2003-2011. All these women delivered at our clinic and were neurologically followed until the end of six months post partum. We evaluated the influence of pregnancy on the activity of the disease during the pregnancy and 6 months after delivery, the impact on the disability progression, the influence of the mode of delivery, the analgesia used, and breastfeeding, on the relapse rate post partum. We also assessed the impact of multiple sclerosis on the course of the pregnancy, where we looked for pregnancy complications in patients with multiple sclerosis, differences in the management of labor, and the results of newborns of mothers with this disease. We performed a statistical analysis. RESULTS: Relapse during pregnancy occurred in 4 of the 66 women (6.1%, relapse rate - RR 0.1);17 women experienced a post partum relapse in the first six months after delivery (25.7%, RR 0.5). From our sample of 44 women breastfed (66.7%), 10 had relapse (10/44, 22.7%) in comparison with the 7 women out of a total of 22 who did not breastfed (7/22, 31.8%). No statistical significance was established, OR = 0.6 (0.2-2.0), p = 0.5518. Epidural analgesia (EDA) was used by 16 women (24.2%). Post partum relapse experienced 3 women that used EDA (3/16, 18.8%) and 14 women that did not use EDA (14/50, 28 %). OR = 0.6 (0.1-2.4), p = 0.5325. Neither breastfeeding, nor epidural analgesia correlated with presence of a post partum relapse. Pregnancy did not influence disability progression, EDSS (Disability status scale, Kurtzke`s scale) before pregnancy and after delivery was stable (EDSS 1.5 or EDSS 1.6). Vaginal delivery had 77% women, post partum relapse had 15 of them (15/50, 30%), 12 women (18.1%) had a caesarean section, relapse occure at 2 of them (2/16, 12.5%), three births (4.5%) were completed by vaginal extraction operations. Five women (7.6%) delivered before 37th week of pregnancy. Birth weight under 2500 g was found in 9 women (13.6%). The incidence of serious pregnancy complications was not increased, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) was confirmed in 4 births (6%). CONCLUSION: There is no need to worry about pregnancy in patients with multiple sclerosis. Therapy provides long-term remission of the disease, and during pregnancy itself due to hormonal changes it is stabilized and the relapse rate decreases. In the post partum period relapse rate increases, however, the pregnancy did not influence disability progression. The mode of delivery in women with this disease is not different from the general population. Neither breastfeeding, nor epidural analgesia correlated with presence of a post partum relapses. The number of complications in pregnancy is not increased and the overall perinatal outcomes are comparable with the general population.

[Thrombophilic mutation by women with serious pregnancy complications]. / Výskyt trombofilních mutací zen se závaznými tehotenskými komplikacemi.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether maternal or fetal genotype frequencies of the inherited thrombophilic gene mutation (F V Leiden, F II) are altered in adverse pregnancy outcomes - severe preeclampsia, IUGR, abruption of placenta and stillbirth. DESIGN OF THE STUDY: Retrospective study. SETTING: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Teaching Hospital and the 2nd Medical Faculty of the Charles University in Prague. METHODS: We studied 232 women who had pregnancy complications. All women were tested postpartum for mutation of factor V Leiden and G20210A prothrombine gene. At the same time were tested the newborns of those women. RESULTS: In the group of women with preeklampsia (n=141) we have demonstrated 5 women with mutation encoding for F V, 5 women with mutation encoding for F II and 1 combination of both. In the group of IUGR 2 women with mutation F V, 1 with mutation F II a 1 combination of both were found. In women after stillbirth occure two mutation of F V, one mutation of F II and one combination of both. In the group with abruptio of placenta was 1 case of mutation F V and 3 cases of mutation F II. When we tested a newborn we found 4 cases of mutation F V and 3 cases of F II in the group with preeclampsia, 4 cases of mutation F V 3 cases od mutation of F II in the group with IUGR, no case in the group with abruptio of placenta and 1 case in a death fetus. There was no assotiation between any severe pregnancy complications and any of the maternal or fetal inherited thrombophilia. CONCLUSION: Factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene mutations did not seem play a significant role in adverse pregnancy outcome in our population.

[Does the asymptomatic carriage of FV Leiden and FII prothrombin in heterozygous configuration represent the increased risk of thrombembolic complications during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum?]. / Predstavuje asymptomatické nosicství mutace FV Leiden a FII protrombin v heterozygotní. Konfiguraci zvýsené riziko trombembolických komplikací v prubehu tehotenství, porodu a sestinedelí?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the course of pregnancy and puerperium in asymptomatic carriers of FV Leiden and FII prothrombin mutation in heterozygous configuration in terms of risk of thrombembolic disease and late pregnancy complications. To evaluate whether global prophylactic LMWH administration already during pregnancy has brought some benefit to these women. TYPE OF STUDY: Prospective study. METHODS: From June 2007 to June 2011, we monitored the incidence of thrombembolic events (TED) and severe late pregnancy complications in 473 asymptomatic carriers of FV Leiden and FII prothrombin mutation in heterozygous configuration. We also compared the ongoing changes of commonly clinically available hemocoagulation tests. In selected women, we added to coagulation tests a thrombin generation test (TGA) and thrombin-antithrombin test (TAT). In 253 women (Group A), preventive LMWH application was introduced already during pregnancy. In 220 women (Group B), the application of LMWH was commenced as late as on the delivery day. In both groups application of LMWH continued during the puerperium. RESULTS: The incidence of TED in the whole group of carriers of thrombophylic mutations accounted for 0.19%. The incidence of severe late pregnancy complications was very low - 3%. Medians of the monitored parameters of the hemocoagulation in compared groups and 'healthy' controls did not show statistically significant differences at any stage of pregnancy, labor or end of puerperium, with the exception of the results of TAT test at the end of puerperium. CONCLUSIONS: No direct causal relationship has been established between asymptomatic carriage of Leiden and prothrombin mutation in heterozygous configuration and the occurrence of severe late pregnancy complications. These types of mutation represent only a slightly increased risk in terms of development of thrombophylic events. General LMWH prophylaxis during pregnancy is not indicated. However, individual careful monitoring of hemocoagulation changes and early detection of associated transient situations potentiating risk of thrombembolic events is desirable. Statistically significant differences in the TAT results between group A and B at the end of puerperium revealed that the recommended extended LMWH prophylaxis until the end of puerperium was not followed by a number of women who started the prophylaxis on the date of labor.

[Peripartal life-threatening hemorrhage - interdisciplinary consensus opinion]. / Peripartální zivot ohrozující krvácení - mezioborové konsenzuální stanovisko.

22 experts from the fields of gynecology and obstetrics, anesthesiology and resuscitation, intensive care, hematology and transfusion medicine has developed recommendations for diagnosis and procedure for life-threatening peripartum haemorrhage, which is still one of the most common causes of maternal mortality in childbirth. This guidelines, which is valid for the Czech Republic, supported by a total of 10 professional medical societies. There are based on new knowledge applicable at this time and is focused mainly on eliminating the most common causes of bleeding during delivery and prevention of haemorrhagic shock.

[Is it necessary to revise the guidelines on prevention of thrombembolic disease in pregnancy?]. / Je treba revidovat doporucení prevence trombembolické nemoci u tehotných?

AIM OF THE STUDY: Analysis of the issue of thrombembolic complications in pregnant women. TYPE OF THE STUDY: Current concepts review. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2nd Medical Faculty of Charles University and Teaching Hospital Motol, Prague. METHODS: Analysis of practical implementation of the guideline on the thrombembolic complication prevention during pregnancy. Notes on individual conditions and situations from the viewpoint of thrombembolic complication risk, using "evidence based medicine". Comparison of the Czech and Anglo-American guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: There is no general consensus on implementation of the guideline on thrombembolism prevention in pregnant women in the Czech Republic and many mistakes may be found in this respect. Although the issue falls primarily into the competence of haematologists, there is a number of situations that must be resolved by the obstetrician.

Sub-millimeter precise photon interaction position determination in large monolithic scintillators via convolutional neural network algorithms.

In this work, we present the development and application of a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based algorithm to precisely determine the interaction position ofγ-quanta in large monolithic scintillators. Those are used as an absorber component of a Compton camera (CC) system under development for ion beam range verification via prompt-gamma imaging. We examined two scintillation crystals: LaBr3:Ce and CeBr3. Each crystal had dimensions of 50.8 mm × 50.8 mm × 30 mm and was coupled to a 64-fold segmented multi-anode photomultiplier tube (PMT) with an 8 × 8 pixel arrangement. We determined the spatial resolution for three photon energies of 662, 1.17 and 1.33 MeV obtained from 2D detector scans with tightly collimated137Cs and60Co photon sources. With the new algorithm we achieved a spatial resolution for the CeBr3 crystal below 1.11(8) mm and below 0.98(7) mm for the LaBr3:Ce detector for all investigated energies between 662 keV and 1.33 MeV. We thereby improved the performance by more than a factor of 2.5 compared to the previously used categorical average pattern algorithm, which is a variation of the well-established k-nearest neighbor algorithm. The trained CNN has a low memory footprint and enables the reconstruction of up to 104events per second with only one GPU. Those improvements are crucial on the way to future clinicalin vivoapplicability of the CC for ion beam range verification.

Long-term outcome after thrombectomy in acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Current data appear in favour of thrombectomy for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, information on long-term outcome after thrombectomy is limited. We performed a retrospective long-term study to assess the risk of cardiac re-hospitalizations and survival after discharge from the index hospitalization for STEMI. METHODS: Patients originally randomized to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with thrombectomy vs. standard PCI were included in a retrospective long-term observational study. The primary study endpoint was the combined risk for all-cause death or cardiac re-hospitalization after index discharge under optimal medical therapy. The cumulative number of cardiac hospitalization days and ventricular remodelling assessed by echocardiography and plasma biomarkers were secondary endpoints. RESULTS: Of 94 STEMI patients who had been randomized between 11/2000 and 03/2003, 89 patients consented to long-term follow-up. A total of 43 patients had been allocated to thrombectomy and 46 to standard primary PCI. The minimum follow-up time was 1115 days. There was a significantly lower risk for death or cardiac re-hospitalization for patients of the thrombectomy group (hazard ratio = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.49-0.98, P = 0.036). The incidence of recurrent myocardial infarction was not different (P = 0.343). No differences in cardiac remodelling were detected by echocardiography, with the exception that heart-type fatty acid binding protein at 53.2 +/- 17 months was lower in the thrombectomy group (P = 0.045). CONCLUSION: Thrombectomy in STEMI may decrease the long-term risk for death or cardiac re-hospitalization.

Re-evaluation of cord blood arterial and venous reference ranges for pH, pO(2), pCO(2), according to spontaneous or cesarean delivery.

Umbilical cord blood gas analysis (pO(2) and pCO(2)) is now recommended in all high-risk baby deliveries and in some centers it is performed routinely following all deliveries. The aim of this study was to re-evaluate cord blood arterial and venous reference ranges for pH, pO(2), pCO(2) in newborns, delivered by spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) and by cesarean section (CS) performed in Faculty Hospital Motol. Two groups of subjects were selected for the study. Group I consisted of 303 newborns with SVD. Group II consisted of 189 newborns delivered by cesarean section. Cord blood samples were analyzed for standard blood gas and pH, using the analytical device Rapid Lab 845 and Rapid Lab 865. We obtained reference values expressed as range (lower and upper reference value expressed as 2.5 and 97.5 percentiles) for cord blood in newborns with SVD: arterial cord blood: pH=7.01-7.39; pCO(2)=4.12-11.45 kPa; pO(2)=1.49-5.06 kPa; venous cord blood: pH=7.06-7.44; pCO(2)=3.33-9.85 kPa; pO(2)=1.80-6.29 kPa. We also obtained reference values for cord blood in newborns delivered by CS: arterial cord blood: pH=7.05-7.39; pCO(2)=5.01-10.60 kPa; pO(2)=1.17-5.94 kPa; venous cord blood: pH=7.10-7.42; pCO(2)=3.88-9.36 kPa; pO(2)=1.98-7.23 kPa. Re-evaluated reference ranges play essential role in monitoring conditions of newborns with spontaneous and caesarean delivery.