Assessment of Dependency in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and its Predictors: A Cross-Sectional Study among the Elderly Rural Population in a Sub-Himalayan UT of India.

Background: With an increase in life expectancy over the last few decades, there has been a parallel increase in the prevalence of disabilities among the elderly population. To estimate the prevalence of dependency in activities of daily living (ADL) and its predictors among the rural elderly population.

Material And Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in the community among the rural geriatric population in the field practice area of PG Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College Jammu.

Effect of premolar extraction and anchorage type for orthodontic space closure on upper airway dimensions and position of hyoid bone in adults: a retrospective cephalometric assessment.

Background: This study aimed to assess the effect of premolar extraction and anchorage type for orthodontic space closure on upper airway dimensions and position of hyoid bone in adults by cephalometric assessment.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 142 cephalograms of patients who underwent orthodontic treatment with premolar extraction in four groups of (I) 40 class I patients with bimaxillary protrusion and maximum anchorage, (II) 40 class I patients with moderate crowding and anchorage, (III) 40 class II patients with maximum anchorage, and (IV) 22 skeletal class III patients with maximum anchorage. The dimensions of the nasopharynx, velopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx, and hyoid bone position were assessed on pre- and postoperative lateral cephalograms using AudaxCeph v6.

Endoscopic transstomal stent insertion: a novel approach for a stenosed stoma in a challenging patient.

Transstomal stent deployment to maintain the patency of stoma in a challenging patient who developed stoma stenosis, is a minimal invasive, novel technique. This is a new and alternative approach in management of stoma stenosis in a difficult case using a biodegradable stent for end colostomy.

Mesh safety in pelvic surgery: Our experience and outcome of biological mesh used in laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy.

Background: Laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy (LVMR) continues to be a popular treatment option for rectal prolapse, obstructive defecation/faecal incontinence and rectoceles. In recent years there have been concerns regarding the safety of mesh placements in the pelvis.

Aim: To assess the safety of the mesh and the outcome of the procedure.

Radiographic Position of Impacted Mandibular Third Molars and Their Association with Pathological Conditions.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the radiographic position of impacted mandibular third molars (IMTMs) and their association with pathological conditions.

Materials And Methods: The impaction depth, relationship with ramus, and angulation of 1600 IMTMs and their association with 2 molar distal caries and root resorption, pathological conditions, and proximity to the mandibular canal were evaluated on panoramic radiographs. The IMTM position was determined based on the depth of impaction according to the Pell and Gregory classification, relationship with ramus according to the Pell and Gregory classification, and angulation according to the Winter's classification.

A novel endoscopic treatment for anastomotic leakage post anterior resection: Padlock over the scope clip.

Background: Anastomotic dehisense is a serious complication of anterior resections. We have had success in our centre utilising Endosponge therapy to salvage anastomotic leaks but this requires multiple endoscopic sessions and can take around 6 weeks to heal in some cases. This can delay further management such as chemotherapy.

The first five years of a preventive programme for haemoglobinopathies in Northeastern Iraq.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a preventive programme for haemoglobinopathies in a single centre in Northeastern Iraq.

Methods: Premarital screening, genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis (PND) were implemented over a 5 year period.

Results: Among a total of 108,264 screened individuals (54,132 couples), β-thalassaemia trait, δβ-thalassaemia trait, and sickle cell trait were diagnosed in 3.

Tricuspid valve repair with left ventricular assist device implantation: is it warranted?

Background: Tricuspid regurgitation is common in patients with advanced heart failure. The ideal operative strategy for managing tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR) in patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is unclear. This study was designed to evaluate the effect on outcomes of concomitant tricuspid valve repair (TVR) for moderate to severe (3(+)/4(+)) TR at the time of LVAD implantation.

In vivo evaluation of zirconia ceramic in the DexAide right ventricular assist device journal bearing.

Zirconia is a ceramic with material properties ideal for journal bearing applications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of zirconium oxide (zirconia) as a blood journal bearing material in the DexAide right ventricular assist device. Zirconia ceramic was used instead of titanium to manufacture the DexAide stator housing without changing the stator geometry or the remaining pump hardware components.

Where does atrial fibrillation surgery fail? Implications for increasing effectiveness of ablation.

Objective: Surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation is generally safe and effective, but atrial fibrillation redevelops in approximately 20% of patients. We sought to determine anatomic factors, technology factors, or both that contribute to these failures.

Methods: Four hundred eight patients underwent 5 types of atrial fibrillation ablation depending on their atrial fibrillation history and need for concomitant surgical intervention: the classic maze procedure, high-intensity focused ultrasound, the left atrial maze procedure, the biatrial maze procedure, and pulmonary vein isolation.

A pilot study for inducing chronic heart failure in calves by means of oral monensin.

Introduction: Heart failure remains a major cause of mortality in the United States, despite advancing technologies, newer methods of treatment, and novel devices. To evaluate such novel devices, a large-animal model of chronic heart failure is critical in carrying out preclinical animal studies.

Methods: We evaluated the efficacy of oral monensin in inducing stable heart failure in five Jersey calves.

Introduction of fixed-flow mode in the DexAide right ventricular assist device.

Background: Although some continuous-flow left ventricular assist device algorithms have been created to respond to varying patient physiology, very little research has been conducted on control of right ventricular support in uni- or biventricular application. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a simple and reliable fixed-flow algorithm for the DexAide right ventricular assist device (RVAD). This algorithm automatically adjusts speed to maintain a target flow while preventing ventricular suction when a requested target flow exceeds available tricuspid flow.

The active tube clearance system: a novel bedside chest-tube clearance device.

Objective: : Chest-tube clogging can lead to complications after heart and lung surgery. Surgeons often choose large-diameter chest tubes or place more than one chest tube when concerned about the potential for clogging. The purpose of this report is to describe the design and function of a proprietary active tube clearance system, a novel device that clears clots and debris from chest tubes.

Novel implantable device to detect cardiac allograft rejection.

Background: Allograft rejection remains the nemesis of solid organ transplantation. Soul Mate is a novel implantable wireless data transmission system that analyzes 9 intramyocardial electrogram parameters recorded from 4 or 6 configurations of 2 or 3 epicardial leads to detect allograft rejection. This study determined the ability of the Soul Mate to detect early rejection of transplanted hearts.

Chest tube selection in cardiac and thoracic surgery: a survey of chest tube-related complications and their management.

Background: Blood accumulating inside chest cavities can lead to serious complications if it is not drained properly. Because life-threatening conditions can result from chest tube occlusion after thoracic surgery, large-bore tubes are generally employed to optimize patency.

Aims: The aim of this study was to better define problems with current paradigms for chest drainage.

The effect of peri-stomal infiltration with bupivacaine/epinephrine on post-operative pain, nausea and ease of surgery in reversal of loop ileostomies.

Purpose: Evidence to support the routine use of local anaesthetic in the reversal of loop ileostomy is equivocal. This randomized control study looked at the use of peri-operative infiltration of stoma with 0.25% bupivacaine with 1/200,000 epinephrine on the ease of surgery and its effect on post-operative pain and nausea.

Development of DexAide right ventricular assist device: update II.

The DexAide right ventricular assist device (RVAD) is a magnetically and hydrodynamically levitated implantable centrifugal pump. Recent progress includes 1) redesign of the inflow/outflow conduits, which yielded two successful 3-month experiments, 2) development of alternative journal bearing materials, and 3) completion of an 18-month duration of in vitro endurance testing. Verification testing of the RVAD electronics has been completed, and a prototype biventricular assist device (BVAD) system has been tested.

Median sternotomy approach for chronic bovine experiments.

Lateral thoracotomy is the traditional surgical approach for preclinical animal testing of various ventricular assist devices. Median sternotomy, however, is regarded from a functional standpoint as the most appropriate approach for cardiac surgical procedures, particularly for device implantation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of performing a median sternotomy in chronic bovine studies.

Alterations of beta-tubulin isotypes in breast cancer cells resistant to docetaxel.

Docetaxel is one of the most active drugs used to treat breast cancer. The cellular target of docetaxel is the microtubule, specifically the beta-tubulin subunit, that comprises a series of isotypes and that can modulate function. This study has examined the role of alteration in beta-tubulin isotypes in vitro and has sequenced the beta-tubulin gene to determine if there were mutations, both of which may represent important mechanisms of acquired resistance to docetaxel.

Reduced expression of p27 is a novel mechanism of docetaxel resistance in breast cancer cells.

Introduction: Docetaxel is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of breast cancer. Breast cancers can have an inherent or acquired resistance to docetaxel but the causes of this resistance remain unclear. However, apoptosis and cell cycle regulation are key mechanisms by which most chemotherapeutic agents exert their cytotoxic effects.