After being given both written and oral information on the experimental protocol and procedures, the subjects gave their informed, written consent to participate.
After completing MRI procedures, the subjects were returned to the YNPRC and temporarily housed in a single cage for 6 12 h to allow the effects of the anesthesia to wear off, after which they were returned to their home cage.
After completing PET procedures, the subjects were returned to the YNPRC and temporarily housed in a single cage for approximately 18 h to allow the effects of the anesthesia to wear off and radioactivity to decay.
In most of the procedures, the subjects had the preoperative Tubiana stage "2" [n = 814545%)].
After the study procedures, the subjects were transported back to BPRU.
In 27 (15%) of the procedures, the subjects reported that they were smokers (i.e. information about smoking was lacking in three patients).
At baseline and 6 months after surgical procedures, the subjects were studied in the early morning in a recumbent position and after an overnight fast.
In 83/285 procedures (i.e. no data in patient folder in three procedures), the subjects did not hand in two valid QuickDASH forms and were thus excluded from the study.
During this procedure, the subject was asked to swallow to facilitate placement of the balloon into the stomach.
