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We report a case of a 73-year-old woman affected by Lemmel's syndrome, a rare type of obstructive jaundice caused by a periampullary duodenal diverticulum. The patient was admitted to the Emergency Department for pneumonia associated with mild epigastric pain and vomiting. While hospitalized for antibiotic treatment, the appearance of jaundice led us to discover a periampullary duodenal diverticulum by endoscopy and CT scan. The jaundice was successfully managed endoscopically with removal of food debris from the diverticulum.

Neutrinoless double- $$\beta $$ β decay of $$^{76}$$ 76 Ge is searched for with germanium detectors where source and detector of the decay are identical. For the success of future experiments it is important to increase the mass of the detectors. We report here on the characterization and testing of five prototype detectors manufactured in inverted coaxial (IC) geometry from material enriched to 88% in $$^{76}$$ 76 Ge. IC detectors combine the large mass of the traditional semi-coaxial Ge detectors with the superior resolution and pulse shape discrimination power of point contact detectors which exhibited so far much lower mass. Their performance has been found to be satisfactory both when operated in vacuum cryostat and bare in liquid argon within the Gerda setup. The measured resolutions at the Q-value for double- $$\beta $$ β decay of $$^{76}$$ 76 Ge ( $$Q_{\beta \beta }$$ Q β β = 2039 keV) are about 2.1 keV full width at half maximum in vacuum cryostat. After 18 months of operation within the ultra-low background environment of the GERmanium Detector Array (Gerda) experiment and an accumulated exposure of 8.5 kg $$\cdot $$ · year, the background index after analysis cuts is measured to be $$4.9^{+7.3}_{-3.4}\times 10^{-4} \ \text {counts}/(\text {keV} \cdot \text {kg} \cdot \text {year})$$ 4 . 9 - 3.4 + 7.3 × 10 - 4 counts / ( keV · kg · year ) around $$Q_{\beta \beta }$$ Q β β . This work confirms the feasibility of IC detectors for the next-generation experiment Legend.

Two computational methods based on the Ising model were implemented for studying temporal dynamic in co-authorship networks: an interpretative for real networks and another for simulation via Monte Carlo. The objective of simulation networks is to evaluate if the Ising model describes in similar way the dynamic of the network and of the magnetic system, so that it can be found a generalized explanation to the behaviours observed in real networks. The scientific papers used for building the real networks were acquired from WoS core collection. The variables for each record took into account bibliographic references. The search equation for each network considered specific topics trying to obtain an advanced temporal evolution in terms of the addition of new nodes; that means 3 steps, a time to reach the interest of the scientific community, a gradual increase until reaching a peak and finally, a decreasing trend by losing of novelty. It is possible to conclude that both methods are consistent with each other, showing that the Ising model can predict behaviours such as the number and size of communities (or domains) according to the temporal distribution of new nodes.

BackgroundSafe and potent antiretroviral medications in child-friendly formulations are needed to treat young children living with HIV-1. We aimed to select dosing for a dispersible tablet formulation of dolutegravir that achieved pharmacokinetic exposures similar to those in adults, and was safe and well tolerated in young children.MethodsInternational Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trial (IMPAACT) P1093 is a phase 1-2 ongoing multicentre, open-label, non-comparative study of dolutegravir. A 5 mg dispersible tablet formulation of dolutegravir was studied in children aged 4 weeks to less than 6 years old, weighing at least 3 kg, with HIV RNA of greater than 1000 copies per mL and no previous treatment with integrase strand transfer inhibitor recruited from IMPAACT clinical research sites in Africa, the Americas, and Asia. Doses were selected on the basis of intensive pharmacokinetic evaluation on days 5-10, with safety and tolerability assessed up to 48 weeks. The primary objectives of this study are to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of dolutegravir in combination with optimised background therapy and to establish the dose of dolutegravir that achieves the targeted 24-h trough concentration and 24-h area under the curve for infants, children, and adolescents with HIV-1, to establish the safety and tolerability of dolutegravir at 24 and 48 weeks, and to select a dose that achieves similar exposure to the dolutegravir 50 mg once daily dose in adults. This analysis included participants treated with the proposed dose of dolutegravir dispersible tablets in two stages for each of three age cohorts. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01302847) and is ongoing.FindingsWe recruited 181 participants from April 20, 2011, to Feb 19, 2020; of these, 96 received dolutegravir dispersible tablets. This analysis included 73 (35, 48% female) participants who received the final proposed dose with median (range) age of 1 year (0·1 to 6·0), weight (minimum-maximum) of 8·5 kg (3·7 to 18·5), plasma HIV-1 RNA concentration of 4·2 log10 copies per mL (2·1 to 7·0), and CD4% of 24·0% (0·3 to 49·0); 64 (87·7%) were treatment-experienced. The selected dose within each age cohort (≥2 years to

Surveys on Serial Transverse Enteroplasty (STEP) published in international literature (1 January 2003- 31 May 2021) were searched. Articles were included from 17 countries: 1/23 comparative and 22/23 cohort studies. STEP was performed on 308 patients: pediatrics, adults, and mixed ages. Pediatric group included 16 studies and the adult 6. Pre-STEP residual small bowell (SB) length for pediatrics and adults ranged from 18 to 26 cm and from 30 to 70 cm, respectively. Post-STEP increased SB length for pediatrics and adults ranged between 42 and 100% and 50% and 176%, respectively. For pediatrics, enteral autonomy was reached in 32.22% of cases, parenteral nutrition (PN) dependence was 36.11%, a repeated STEP procedure (Re-STEP) was needed in 17.22%, and a bowel transplant was performed in 6.11%. In adults, enteral autonomy was achieved in 52.38%, while PN dependence was 37.1%, and no Re-STEP or transplantation were required. For the mixed group, post-STEP bowel length increased from 2 to 50 cm, enteral autonomy was obtained in 43%, PN dependence was 57%, without reported Re-STEP or transplantation. Mortality rates were between 5.55% (pediatric) and 7.14% (adults). Preoperative length with preservation of ileocecal valve represented the main predictive factors to achieve enteral autonomy.

Biliary lithiasis is common worldwide, affecting almost 20% of the general population, though few experience symptoms. The frequency of choledocholithiasis in patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis is estimated to be 10-33%, depending on patients' age. Unlike gallbladder lithiasis, the medical and surgical treatment of common bile duct stones is uncertain, having changed over the last few years. The prior gold standard treatment for cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis was open cholecystectomy with bile duct clearance, choledochotomy, and/or surgical sphincterotomy. In the last 10-15 years, new treatment approaches to the complex pathology of choledocholithiasis have emerged with the advent of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), laparoscopic surgery, and advanced diagnostic procedures. Although ERCP followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the preferred mode of management, a single-step strategy (laparo-endoscopic rendezvous) has gained acceptance due to lesser morbidity and a lower risk of iatrogenic damage. Given the above, a tailored approach relying on careful evaluation of the disease is necessary in order to minimize complication risks and overall costs. Yet, the debate remains open, with no consensus on the superiority of laparo-endoscopic rendezvous to more conventional approaches.

We present results on the search for two-neutrino double-electron capture (2νECEC) of 124Xe and neutrinoless double-β decay (0νββ) of 136Xe in XENON1T. We consider captures from the K shell up to the N shell in the 2νECEC signal model and measure a total half-life of T2νECEC1/2=(1.1±0.2stat±0.1sys)×1022yr with a 0.87kgyr isotope exposure. The statistical significance of the signal is 7.0σ. We use XENON1T data with 36.16kgyr of 136Xe exposure to search for 0νββ. We find no evidence of a signal and set a lower limit on the half-life of T0νββ1/2>1.2×1024yrat90%CL. This is the best result from a dark matter detector without an enriched target to date. We also report projections on the sensitivity of XENONnT to 0νββ. Assuming a 275kgyr 136Xe exposure, the expected sensitivity is T0νββ1/2>2.1×1025yrat90%CL, corresponding to an effective Majorana mass range of ⟨mββ⟩

Optimum filters are granted increasing recognition as valuable tools for parametric estimation in many scientific and technical fields. The DPLMS method, introduced some twenty years ago, is effective among the synthesis algorithms since it derives the optimum filters directly from the experimental signal and noise waveforms. Two new extensions of the DPLMS method are here presented. The first one speeds up the synthesis phase and improves the energy estimation by synthesizing optimum filters with automatically designed flat-top length. The second one improves the quality of parameter estimation in multi-channel systems by taking advantage of the inter-channel noise correlation properties. The theoretical and functional aspects behind the DPLMS method for optimum filter synthesis are first recalled and illustrated in more detail. The two new DPLMS extensions are subsequently introduced from the theoretical viewpoint and more thoroughly considered from the applicative perspective. The DPLMS optimum filters have been applied first to simulated signals with various amounts and characteristics of superimposed noise and then to the experimental waveforms acquired from a solid-state Ge detector. The results obtained are considered from both the absolute viewpoint and in comparison with those of more traditional, suboptimal filters. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the two new DPLMS extensions. For single-channel energy estimations, the optimum filters provide comparatively better results than the other filters. The DPLMS multi-channel optimum filters further enhance the quality of the estimations, compared to single-channel optimum filters, with non-negligible inter-channel noise correlation. The effectiveness and robustness of the DPLMS method in synthesizing high-quality filters for energy estimation will be tested soon within leading-edge multi-channel physics experiments., Comment: 17 pages, 13 figures

The GERmanium Detector Array (Gerda) is a low background experiment located at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in Italy, which searches for neutrinoless double-beta decay of $$^{76}$$ 76 Ge into $$^{76}$$ 76 Se+2e$$^-$$ - . Gerda has been conceived in two phases. Phase II, which started in December 2015, features several novelties including 30 new 76Ge enriched detectors. These were manufactured according to the Broad Energy Germanium (BEGe) detector design that has a better background discrimination capability and energy resolution compared to formerly widely-used types. Prior to their installation, the new BEGe detectors were mounted in vacuum cryostats and characterized in detail in the Hades underground laboratory in Belgium. This paper describes the properties and the overall performance of these detectors during operation in vacuum. The characterization campaign provided not only direct input for Gerda Phase II data collection and analyses, but also allowed to study detector phenomena, detector correlations as well as to test the accuracy of pulse shape simulation codes.

Introduction: Condylomas or genital warts (GW) are the most frequently diagnosed sexually transmitted infection (STI) in STI centers in Chile, but there are no population statistics available. Objectives: To describe the prevalence of GW in patients from 18-60 years of age who attend outpatient dermatology, gynecology and urology practice; the demographic characteristics of the patients and the diagnostic and treatment tools. Methods: A sample of Chilean specialists stratified by region, population and gender of patients was provided with a logbook and answered a questionnaire. Results: The GW prevalence was 2.44% for the whole group; 3.76% for the 18-34 age group and 1.29% for the 35-60 years group (p = 0.0000). The average age of patients with GW was 29.4 years in women and 32.7 years in men (p = 0.019). The distribution by age was different according to gender and health system. Visual inspection was the most frequent diagnostic method used and imiquimod cream the most common treatment, however, there were differences in the use of diagnostic and therapeutic tools according to the patient’s gender, specialty of the doctor and health system. Conclusions: The high prevalence of GW confirmed the need and importance of public health interventions to address this problem.

The quality assessment process, based on customer satisfaction, is fundamental in the delivery of the best care services. This is most evident in care settings where trainee students are allowed to assist the patients. The purpose of this review is to clarify whether nursing students have an impact on patients' assessment of the quality of their nursing care.A systematic literature search was carried out using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines in six databases: PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycInfo. Two co-authors independently screened titles, abstracts, and full-text articles, following explicit exclusion and inclusion criteria. Analyses included non-randomized and non-homogeneous samples, involving both selected patients and methods for assessing their satisfaction.After full-text screening, 30 articles were identified, but only 11 were considered pertinent to the topic of the review. The trainee-patient relationship is based on mutual help and can improve the patient experience and trainee learning. The instruments used to measure perceived quality were found to be valid and reliable.The studies under review show high levels of satisfaction among patients when nursing care is delivered through training, particularly when the patients who agree to be treated by nursing trainees have previous experience of hospitalization and relationships with trainees. Educational background and the empathy and communication skills of both professional nurses and trainees influence patients' perception of the quality of care and their satisfaction with it.

The GERmanium Detector Array (GERDA) collaboration searched for neutrinoless double-$\beta$ decay in $^{76}$Ge with an array of about 40 high-purity isotopically-enriched germanium detectors. The experimental signature of the decay is a monoenergetic signal at Q$_{\beta\beta}$ = 2039.061(7)keV in the measured summed energy spectrum of the two emitted electrons. Both the energy reconstruction and resolution of the germanium detectors are crucial to separate a potential signal from various backgrounds, such as neutrino-accompanied double-$\beta$ decays allowed by the Standard Model. The energy resolution and stability were determined and monitored as a function of time using data from regular $^{228}$Th calibrations. In this work, we describe the calibration process and associated data analysis of the full GERDA dataset, tailored to preserve the excellent resolution of the individual germanium detectors when combining data over several years., Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures

The GERmanium Detector Array (GERDA) experiment searched for the lepton-number-violating neutrinoless double-$\beta$ ($0\nu\beta\beta$) decay of $^{76}$Ge, whose discovery would have far-reaching implications in cosmology and particle physics. By operating bare germanium diodes, enriched in $^{76}$Ge, in an active liquid argon shield, GERDA achieved an unprecedently low background index of $5.2\times10^{-4}$ counts/(keV$\cdot$kg$\cdot$yr) in the signal region and met the design goal to collect an exposure of 100 kg$\cdot$yr in a background-free regime. When combined with the result of Phase I, no signal is observed after 127.2 kg$\cdot$yr of total exposure. A limit on the half-life of $0\nu\beta\beta$ decay in $^{76}$Ge is set at $T_{1/2}>1.8\times10^{26}$ yr at 90% C.L., which coincides with the sensitivity assuming no signal., Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letters

We present the first search for bosonic superweakly interacting massive particles (super-WIMPs) as keV-scale dark matter candidates performed with the GERDA experiment. GERDA is a neutrinoless double-β decay experiment which operates high-purity germanium detectors enriched in Ge76 in an ultralow background environment at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) of INFN in Italy. Searches were performed for pseudoscalar and vector particles in the mass region from 60 keV/c2 to 1 MeV/c2. No evidence for a dark matter signal was observed, and the most stringent constraints on the couplings of super-WIMPs with masses above 120 keV/c2 have been set. As an example, at a mass of 150 keV/c2 the most stringent direct limits on the dimensionless couplings of axionlike particles and dark photons to electrons of gae<3×10−12 and α′/α<6.5×10−24 at 90% credible interval, respectively, were obtained.

We present the first search for bosonic superweakly interacting massive particles (super-WIMPs) as keV-scale dark matter candidates performed with the GERDA experiment. GERDA is a neutrinoless double-s decay experiment which operates high-purity germanium detectors enriched in ^{76}Ge in an ultralow background environment at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) of INFN in Italy. Searches were performed for pseudoscalar and vector particles in the mass region from 60 keV/c^{2} to 1 MeV/c^{2}. No evidence for a dark matter signal was observed, and the most stringent constraints on the couplings of super-WIMPs with masses above 120 keV/c^{2} have been set. As an example, at a mass of 150 keV/c^{2} the most stringent direct limits on the dimensionless couplings of axionlike particles and dark photons to electrons of g_{ae}

The GERDA experiment searches for the neutrinoless double beta decay of 76Ge. The experiment is using 36 kg of high-purity germanium detectors, simultaneously as source and detector, deployed into ultra-pure cryogenic liquid argon. GERDA is one the leading experiment in the field, reporting the highest sensitivity on the half-life of 0νββ decay with 1.1·1026 yr, the lowest background index with 6·10−4 cts/(keV·kg·yr) and an excellent energy resolution of 0.12% (FWHM). The search for the 0νββ decay of the isotope 76Ge will be continued in the next years by the LEGEND-200 experiment, that aims to reach a sensitivity up to 1027 yr using 200 kg of enriched HPGe detectors. The preparation of this experiment already started. The basic concepts of the GERDA read-out electronics, obeying both the severe requirements of ultra high radio-purity and cryogenic operation, are summarized. For LEGEND-200 a new electronics design, including a separation of the preamplifier in two stages, has been already designed and realized: results from tests are presented. Additionally, we will introduce the digital signal processing adopted for the energy reconstruction in GERDA and a new implementation of an optimum digital filter by means of the DPLMS method. This method are discussed and the first application to GERDA data are presented.

Background: On target F-18-Flortaucipir (FTP) binding of Alzheimer's disease tau aggregates and off-target binding of melanocytes have been demonstrated with autoradiography. Objective: We aimed to investigate the hypothesis that if binding in choroid plexus (CP) is due to melanocytes, the signal would be elevated in Black/African American (B/AA) compared to White (W) participants. In addition, we examined whether CP signal affects measurements in adjacent regions, and whether correcting for spill-in effects has an influence on associations between hippocampus (HC) FTP and amyloid or cognition. Methods: FTP race differences in 147 Harvard Aging Brain Study participants (23 B/AA, 124W) were examined in CP, HC, HC covaried for CP, amygdala, inferior temporal gyrus, entorhinal cortex, and fusiform regions. Associations between CP FTP and other regions-of-interest (ROIs) were probed to assess spill-in effects. A statistical regression approach to attenuate CP spill-in was tested by relating adjusted HC SUVR residuals and unadjusted HC SUVR to race, cognition and amyloid. All analyses were covaried for age, sex, education and amyloid deposition, and Bonferroni-corrected for multiple comparisons. Results: B/AA individuals had elevated CP and HC SUVR (p < 0.007), whereas other ROI SUVR and HC SUVR covaried for CP SUVR did not show race differences (p > 0.05). CP SUVR was associated with HC SUVR (p< 10(-14)), but with no other ROI SUVR (p > 0.05). When adjusting HC SUVR for CP SUVR, no race differences in residual HC SUVR were detected, and relationships with amyloid and memory became apparent. Conclusion: Melanocyte FTP binding may account partially for high CP signal. This off-target binding affects mainly HC FTP measurements, which should be interpreted with caution.

In the global landscape of neutrinoless double beta ($0\nu\beta\beta$) decay search, the use of semiconductor germanium detectors provides many advantages. The excellent energy resolution, the negligible intrinsic radioactive contamination, the possibility of enriching the crystals up to 88% in the $^{76}$Ge isotope as well as the high detection efficiency, are all key ingredients for highly sensitive $0\nu\beta\beta$ decay search. The MAJORANA and GERDA experiments successfully implemented the use of germanium (Ge) semiconductor detectors, reaching an energy resolution of $2.53 \pm 0.08$ keV at the Q$_{\beta\beta}$ and an unprecedented low background level of $5.2 \times 10^{-4}$ cts/(keV$\cdot$kg$\cdot$yr), respectively. In this paper, we will review the path of $0\nu\beta\beta$ decay search with Ge detectors from the original idea of E. Fiorini et al. in 1967, to the final recent results of the GERDA experiment setting a limit on the half-life of $^{76}$Ge $0\nu\beta\beta$ decay at $T_{1/2} > 1.8 \times 10^{26}$ yr (90\% C.L.). We will then present the LEGEND project designed to reach a sensitivity to the half-life up to $10^{28}$ yr and beyond, opening the way to the exploration of the normal ordering region., Comment: 28 pages, 15 figures

Objective Recent studies have shown that positron emission tomography (PET) tracer AV-1451 exhibits high binding affinity for paired helical filament (PHF)-tau pathology in Alzheimer's brains. However, the ability of this ligand to bind to tau lesions in other tauopathies remains controversial. Our goal was to examine the correlation of in vivo and postmortem AV-1451 binding patterns in three autopsy-confirmed non-Alzheimer tauopathy cases. Methods We quantified in vivo retention of [F-18]-AV-1451 and performed autoradiography, [H-3]-AV-1451 binding assays, and quantitative tau measurements in postmortem brain samples from two progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) cases and a MAPT P301L mutation carrier. They all underwent [F-18]-AV-1451 PET imaging before death. Results The three subjects exhibited [F-18]-AV-1451 in vivo retention predominantly in basal ganglia and midbrain. Neuropathological examination confirmed the PSP diagnosis in the first two subjects; the MAPT P301L mutation carrier had an atypical tauopathy characterized by grain-like tau-containing neurites in gray and white matter with heaviest burden in basal ganglia. In all three cases, autoradiography failed to show detectable [F-18]-AV-1451 binding in multiple brain regions examined, with the exception of entorhinal cortex (reflecting incidental age-related neurofibrillary tangles) and neuromelanin-containing neurons in the substantia nigra (off-target binding). The lack of a consistent significant correlation between in vivo [F-18]-AV-1541 retention and postmortem in vitro binding and tau measures in these cases suggests that this ligand has low affinity for tau lesions primarily made of straight tau filaments. Interpretation AV-1451 may have limited utility for in vivo selective and reliable detection of tau aggregates in these non-Alzheimer tauopathies. ANN NEUROL 2017;81:117–128

The GERmanium Detector Array (Gerda) experiment at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory (LNGS) of INFN is searching for neutrinoless double-beta (0νββ) decay of 76Ge. The technological challenge of Gerda is to operate in a “background-free” regime in the region of interest (ROI) after analysis cuts for the full 100 kg·yr target exposure of the experiment. A careful modeling and decomposition of the full-range energy spectrum is essential to predict the shape and composition of events in the ROI around Qββ for the 0νββ search, to extract a precise measurement of the half-life of the double-beta decay mode with neutrinos (2νββ) and in order to identify the location of residual impurities. The latter will permit future experiments to build strategies in order to further lower the background and achieve even better sensitivities. In this article the background decomposition prior to analysis cuts is presented for Gerda Phase II. The background model fit yields a flat spectrum in the ROI with a background index (BI) of $$ {16.04}_{-0.85}^{+0.78}\cdotp {10}^{-3} $$ 16.04 − 0.85 + 0.78 · 10 − 3 cts/(keV·kg·yr) for the enriched BEGe data set and $$ {14.68}_{-0.52}^{+0.47}\cdotp {10}^{-3} $$ 14.68 − 0.52 + 0.47 · 10 − 3 cts/(keV·kg·yr) for the enriched coaxial data set. These values are similar to the one of Phase I despite a much larger number of detectors and hence radioactive hardware components.

Resumen Introducción: Los condilomas o verrugas genitales (VG) son la infección de transmisión sexual (ITS) más diagnosticada en los centros de ITS en Chile, pero no existen estadísticas poblacionales. Objetivos: Describir la prevalencia de VG en pacientes de 18-60 años que acuden a consulta ambulatoria de dermatología, ginecología y urología; características demográficas de los pacientes y prácticas de diagnóstico y tratamiento. Material y Métodos: A una muestra de especialistas chilenos estratificados por región, población y sexo de pacientes se les proporcionó un diario de registro y aplicó un cuestionario. Resultados: Prevalencia VG grupo total: 2,4%; en grupo etario 18-34 años: 3,7%; en grupo etario 35-60 años: 1,29% (p = 0,0000). La edad media de los pacientes con VG fue 29,4 años en mujeres y 32,7 años en hombres (p = 0,019); la distribución por edad fue diferente según sexo y sistema de salud. La inspección visual fue el método diagnóstico más frecuente y la crema de imiquimod el tratamiento más común. Hubo diferencias en el uso de herramientas diagnósticas y terapéuticas según sexo del paciente, especialidad del médico y sistema de salud. Conclusiones: Existe una alta prevalencia de VG, que debería ser tomada en cuenta para planificar las intervenciones de salud pública para abordar este problema.

Resumen Introducción: Los condilomas o verrugas genitales (VG) son la infección de transmisión sexual (ITS) más diagnosticada en los centros de ITS en Chile, pero no existen estadísticas poblacionales. Objetivos: Describir la prevalencia de VG en pacientes de 18-60 años que acuden a consulta ambulatoria de dermatología, ginecología y urología; características demográficas de los pacientes y prácticas de diagnóstico y tratamiento. Material y Métodos: A una muestra de especialistas chilenos estratificados por región, población y sexo de pacientes se les proporcionó un diario de registro y aplicó un cuestionario. Resultados: Prevalencia VG grupo total: 2,4%; en grupo etario 18-34 años: 3,7%; en grupo etario 35-60 años: 1,29% (p = 0,0000). La edad media de los pacientes con VG fue 29,4 años en mujeres y 32,7 años en hombres (p = 0,019); la distribución por edad fue diferente según sexo y sistema de salud. La inspección visual fue el método diagnóstico más frecuente y la crema de imiquimod el tratamiento más común. Hubo diferencias en el uso de herramientas diagnósticas y terapéuticas según sexo del paciente, especialidad del médico y sistema de salud. Conclusiones: Existe una alta prevalencia de VG, que debería ser tomada en cuenta para planificar las intervenciones de salud pública para abordar este problema. Introduction: Condylomas or genital warts (GW) are the most frequently diagnosed sexually transmitted infection (STI) in STI centers in Chile, but there are no population statistics available. Objectives: To describe the prevalence of GW in patients from 18-60 years of age who attend outpatient dermatology, gynecology and urology practice; the demographic characteristics of the patients and the diagnostic and treatment tools. Methods: A sample of Chilean specialists stratified by region, population and gender of patients was provided with a logbook and answered a questionnaire. Results: The GW prevalence was 2.44% for the whole group; 3.76% for the 18-34 age group and 1.29% for the 35-60 years group (p = 0.0000). The average age of patients with GW was 29.4 years in women and 32.7 years in men (p = 0.019). The distribution by age was different according to gender and health system. Visual inspection was the most frequent diagnostic method used and imiquimod cream the most common treatment, however, there were differences in the use of diagnostic and therapeutic tools according to the patient's gender, specialty of the doctor and health system. Conclusions: The high prevalence of GW confirmed the need and importance of public health interventions to address this problem.

The GERmanium Detector Array (GERDA) experiment located at the INFN Gran Sasso Laboratory (Italy), is looking for the neutrinoless double beta decay of Ge76, by using high-purity germanium detectors made from isotopically enriched material. The combination of the novel experimental design, the careful material selection for radio-purity and the active/passive shielding techniques result in a very low residual background at the Q-value of the decay, about 1e-3 counts/(keV kg yr). This makes GERDA the first experiment in the field to be background-free for the complete design exposure of 100 kg yr. A search for neutrinoless double beta decay was performed with a total exposure of 47.7 kg yr: 23.2 kg yr come from the second phase (Phase II) of the experiment, in which the background is reduced by about a factor of ten with respect to the previous phase. The analysis presented in this paper includes 12.4 kg yr of new Phase II data. No evidence for a possible signal is found: the lower limit for the half-life of Ge76 is 8.0e25 yr at 90% CL. The experimental median sensitivity is 5.8e25 yr. The experiment is currently taking data. As it is running in a background-free regime, its sensitivity grows linearly with exposure and it is expected to surpass 1e26 yr within 2018., 8 pages, to appear in the proceedings of TAUP2017

The GERDA experiment searches for the lepton-number-violating neutrinoless double-β decay of ^{76}Ge (^{76}Ge→^{76}Se+2e^{-}) operating bare Ge diodes with an enriched ^{76}Ge fraction in liquid argon. The exposure for broad-energy germanium type (BEGe) detectors is increased threefold with respect to our previous data release. The BEGe detectors feature an excellent background suppression from the analysis of the time profile of the detector signals. In the analysis window a background level of 1.0_{-0.4}^{+0.6}×10^{-3} counts/(keV kg yr) has been achieved; if normalized to the energy resolution this is the lowest ever achieved in any 0νββ experiment. No signal is observed and a new 90% C.L. lower limit for the half-life of 8.0×10^{25} yr is placed when combining with our previous data. The expected median sensitivity assuming no signal is 5.8×10^{25} yr.

An observation of neutrinoless double beta ([Formula: see text]) decay would allow to shed light onto the nature of neutrinos. Gerda (GERmanium Detector Array) aims to discover this process in a background-free search using [Formula: see text]Ge. The experiment is located at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso (LNGS) of the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) in Italy. Bare, isotopically enriched, high purity germanium detectors are operated in liquid argon. Gerda follows a staged approach. In Phase II 35.6 kg of enriched germanium detectors are operated since December 2015. The application of active background rejection methods, such as a liquid argon scintillation light read-out and pulse shape discrimination of germanium detector signals, allows to reduce the background index to the intended level of [Formula: see text] cts/(keV⋅kg⋅yr). No evidence for the [Formula: see text] decay has been found in 23.2 kg⋅yr of Phase II data, and together with data from Phase I the up-to-date most stringent half-life limit for this process in [Formula: see text]Ge has been established, at a median sensitivity of 5.8⋅10[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]yr the 90[Formula: see text]% C.L. lower limit is 8.0⋅10[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]yr.

Summary Patients with schizophrenia have increased mortality and morbidity compared with the general population. These patients have a 20-year shorter lifespan than peers without schizophrenia, mainly due to premature cardiovascular disease, suicide, and cancer. Patients with severe mental illness are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease related to increased incidence of diabetes, hypertension, smoking, poor diet, obesity, dyslipidaemia, metabolic syndrome, low physical activity, and side-effects of antipsychotic drugs. Some second-generation antipsychotics (eg, clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone) are associated with an increased risk of weight gain and obesity, impaired glucose tolerance and new-onset diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, and cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms by which schizophrenia and patients with severe mental illness are susceptible to cardiometabolic disorders are complex and include lifestyle risks and direct and indirect effects of antipsychotic drugs. An understanding of these risks might lead to effective interventions for prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic disorders in schizophrenia and severe mental illness.

GERDA is a new generation experiment searching for neutrinoless double beta decay of 76Ge, operating at INFN Gran Sasso Laboratories (LNGS) since 2010. Coaxial and Broad Energy Germanium (BEGe) Detectors have been operated in liquid argon (LAr) in GERDA Phase I. In the framework of the second GERDA experimental phase, both the contacting technique, the connection to and the location of the front end readout devices are novel compared to those previously adopted, and several tests have been performed.In this work, starting from considerations on the energy scale stability of the GERDA Phase I calibrations and physics data sets, an optimized pulse filtering method has been developed and applied to the Phase II pilot tests data sets, and to few GERDA Phase I data sets. In this contribution the detector performances in term of energy resolution and time stability are here presented.The improvement of the energy resolution, compared to standard Gaussian shaping adopted for Phase I data analysis, is discussed and related to the optimized noise filtering capability. The result is an energy resolution better than 0.1% at 2.6 MeV for the BEGe detectors operated in the Phase II pilot tests and an improvement of the energy resolution in LAr of about 8% achieved on the GERDA Phase I calibration runs, compared to previous analysis algorithms.