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Background Evidence indicates that low-grade inflammation is involved in manychronic diseases of ageing. Modifiable lifestyle factors including dietcan affect low-grade inflammation. Dietary patterns allow assessment of the complex interactions of food nutrients and health and may be associated with inflammatory status. This systematic review aimed to summarises current evidence from observational studies for associations between dietary patterns and inflammatory biomarkers in the general adult population. This review followed the PRISMA guidelines. Methods We conducted a systematic search in Embase, CINAHL Complete, Global Health and MEDLINE complete databases. Search terms included terms for diet (“dietary patterns”, “diet scores”) and inflammation (“inflammation“, “c-reactive protein“, “interleukin“). Results The search produced 7161 records. Duplicates were removed leaving 3164 for screening. There were 69 studies included (60 cross-sectional, 9 longitudinal). Papers included studies that were: 1) observational studies; 2) conducted in community-dwelling adults over 18 years of age; 3) assessed dietary patterns; 4) measured specified biomarkers of inflammation and 5) published in English. Dietary patterns were assessed using diet scores (n = 45), data-driven approaches (n = 22), both a data-driven approach and diet score (n = 2). The most frequently assessed biomarkers were CRP (n = 64) and/or IL-6 (n = 22). Cross-sectionally the majority of analyses reported an association between higher diet scores (mostly Mediterranean and anti-inflammatory diet scores) and lower inflammatory markers with 82 significant associations from 133 analyses. Only 22 of 145 cross-sectional analyses using data-driven approaches reported an association between a dietary patterns and lower inflammatory markers; the majority reported no association. Evidence of an association between dietary patterns and inflammatory markers longitudinally is limited, with the majority reporting no association. Conclusions Adherence to healthy, Mediterranean and anti-inflammatory dietary scores, appear to be associated with lower inflammatory status cross-sectionally. Future research could focus on longitudinal studies using a potential outcomes approach in the data analysis. Trial registration PROSPERO Registration Number CRD42019114501.

Ten cases of central hepatic resection for benign and malignant strictures are reported. Reconstruction was by hepaticojejunostomy with placement of a transhepatic silastic stent across the anastomosis. Four patients had carcinomas at the hepatic bifurcation. Four had high biliary stricture and two had intrahepatic stones and strictures. Follow-up ranged from six to 30 months. Two patients died in the postoperative period at two months and 18 months, both with widely patent hepaticojejunostomies. Satisfactory results have been obtained in seven of the eight remaining patients. These seven are symptom-free and without jaundice.

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We give a broad overview of some of the possible (and actual) applications of rapid thermal processing (RTP) techniques. Pioneering work done in the field of RTP is described, and a large number of references (about 90) are given. Because of the very wide range of possible applications the detail in which each is discussed may not be in direct relation to their importance for commercial or research purposes.The three main modes of RTP, the adiabatic, thermal flux and isothermal modes are described and contrasted in terms of heat flow, physical processes and suitability for various applications in the field of silicon semiconductor processing.The main types of equipment utilised for RTP research studies are briefly described, ranging from pulsed and cw laser and electron beam sources to radiant heat sources such as graphite plate and lamp systems.Three examples of the application of RTP to silicon semiconductor processing are described in some detail, with comparisons to conventional processing techniques made where relevant.The use of isothermal annealing systems for the acitivation of ion-implanted dopants is described and reviewed. The possible advantages of RTP are given, and the place of such technology in modern CMOS processing are briefly summarised.The formation of silicon-on-insulator structures using RTP techniques is described and compared with the competing technologies of oxygen implantation and porous silicon.Finally, the wide-ranging, new field of in situ multi-stage processing (or limited reaction processing) is briefly described, and possible applications discussed. This final section covers a subject in which much interest at the research level is presently focused.

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