The Canterbury Charity Hospital: an update (2010-2012) and effects of the earthquakes.

Aim: To update activities of the Canterbury Charity Hospital (CCH) and its Trust over the 3 years 2010-2012, during which the devastating Christchurch earthquakes occurred.

Methods: Patients' treatments, establishment of new services, expansion of the CCH, staffing and finances were reviewed.

Results: Previously established services including general surgery continued as before, some services such as ophthalmology declined, and new services were established including colonoscopy, dentistry and some gynaecological procedures; counselling was provided following the earthquakes.

Long-term outcomes of the australasian randomized clinical trial comparing laparoscopic and conventional open surgical treatments for colon cancer: the Australasian Laparoscopic Colon Cancer Study trial.

Objective: : We report a multicentered randomized controlled trial across Australia and New Zealand comparing laparoscopic-assisted colon resection (LCR) with open colon resection (OCR) for colon cancer.

Background: : Colon cancer is a significant worldwide health issue. This trial investigated whether the short-term benefits associated with LCR for colon cancer could be achieved safely, without survival disadvantages, in our region.

Ethical issues with the disclosure of surgical trial short-term data.

Background: This paper describes the distinctions between major surgical and pharmaceutical trials and questions the application of a common ethical paradigm to guide their conduct and reporting.

Methods: Surgical trials differ from other trials in cumulative therapeutic effects, operator dependence, the clinical setting, interdependence of short- and long-term outcomes, and equipoise. A principal tenant of randomized controlled trial management is the maintenance of interim data confidentiality.

Breath ammonia and trimethylamine allow real-time monitoring of haemodialysis efficacy.

Non-invasive monitoring of breath ammonia and trimethylamine using Selected-ion-flow-tube mass spectroscopy (SIFT-MS) could provide a real-time alternative to current invasive techniques. Breath ammonia and trimethylamine were monitored by SIFT-MS before, during and after haemodialysis in 20 patients. In 15 patients (41 sessions), breath was collected hourly into Tedlar bags and analysed immediately (group A).

Patients "falling through the cracks". The Canterbury Charity Hospital: initial progress report.

Aim: To present the early experience of establishing a community-funded and volunteer-staffed hospital in Christchurch, New Zealand. This was to provide free selected elective healthcare services to patients in the Canterbury region who were otherwise unable to access treatment in the public health system or afford private healthcare.

Methods: Data were reviewed relating to the establishment, financing, staffing and running of the Canterbury Charity Hospital.

Australasian Laparoscopic Colon Cancer Study shows that elderly patients may benefit from lower postoperative complication rates following laparoscopic versus open resection.

Background: A retrospective analysis of age-related postoperative morbidity in the Australia and New Zealand prospective randomized controlled trial comparing laparoscopic and open resection for right- and left-sided colonic cancer is presented.

Methods: A total of 592 eligible patients were entered and studied from 1998 to 2005.

Results: Data from 294 patients who underwent laparoscopic and 298 who had open colonic resection were analysed; 266 patients were aged less than 70 years and 326 were 70 years or older (mean(s.

Interference of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-containing inhalers with measurements of volatile compounds using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry.

Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) is a sensitive technique capable of measuring volatile compounds (VCs) in complex gas mixtures in real time; it is now being applied to breath analysis. We investigated the effect of inhalers containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) on the detection and measurement of haloamines in human breath. SIFT-MS mass scans (MS) and selected ion monitoring (SIM) scans were performed on three healthy non-smoking volunteers before and after inhalation of the following medications: Combiventtrade mark metered-dose inhaler (MDI) (CFC-containing); Ventolintrade mark MDI (CFC-free); Atroventtrade mark MDI (CFC-free), Beclazonetrade mark MDI (CFC-containing); Duolintrade mark nebuliser.

Australian and New Zealand study comparing laparoscopic and open surgeries for colon cancer in adults: organization and conduct.

This article describes the initiation and implementation of the multicentre Australia and New Zealand prospective randomized controlled clinical study comparing laparoscopic and conventional open surgical treatments of right-sided and left-sided potentially curable colon cancer (Australasian Laparoscopic Colon Cancer Study). Six hundred and one adult patients were admitted with a clinical diagnosis of a single adenocarcinoma based on a physical examination and colonoscopy, barium enema or computed tomography scan and randomly allocated to either laparoscopic or open surgery. The primary aim of the study is to compare 5-year mortality and tumour recurrence rates between the two groups.

Short-term outcomes of the Australasian randomized clinical study comparing laparoscopic and conventional open surgical treatments for colon cancer: the ALCCaS trial.

Background: Laparoscopy has revolutionized many abdominal surgical procedures. Laparoscopic colectomy has become increasingly popular. The short- and long-term benefits and satisfactory surgical oncological treatment of colorectal cancer by laparoscopic-assisted resection remain topical.

Classifying algorithms for SIFT-MS technology and medical diagnosis.

Selected Ion Flow Tube-Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS) is an analytical technique for real-time quantification of trace gases in air or breath samples. SIFT-MS system thus offers unique potential for early, rapid detection of disease states. Identification of volatile organic compound (VOC) masses that contribute strongly towards a successful classification clearly highlights potential new biomarkers.

Classification algorithms for SIFT-MS medical diagnosis.

Selected Ion Flow Tube-Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS) is an analytical technique for the real-time quantification of trace gases in air or breath samples. The SIFT-MS system can potentially offer unique capability in the early and rapid detection of a wide variety of diseases, infectious bacteria and patient conditions, by using a classifier to differentiate between control and test groups. By identifying which masses and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) contribute most strongly towards a successful classification, biomarkers for a particular disease state may be discovered.

Composition of volatile organic compounds in diathermy plume as detected by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry.

Background: There is some evidence that surgical plume may pose a risk to health professionals, but the risks posed by volatile organic compounds have not been thoroughly investigated.

Methods: The composition of volatile organic compounds in diathermy plume produced during surgery was analysed by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry.

Results: Hydrogen cyanide (3-51 parts per million), acetylene (2-8 parts per million), and 1,3-butadiene (0.

The rapid evaluation of bacterial growth and antibiotic susceptibility in blood cultures by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry.

We have measured the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) in the headspaces of conventional BacT/ALERT blood culture bottles (Biomerieux, Durham, NC) artificially infected with 5 bacterial strains. Uninfected blood samples were inoculated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Neisseria meningitidis. Growth and species identification were determined at 6 h by measuring a panel of 9 VOC products.

The rapid evaluation of bacterial growth in blood cultures by selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) and comparison with the BacT/ALERT automated blood culture system.

We compared the performance of the BacT/ALERT automated blood culture system with real-time, quantitative volatile organic compound (VOC) detection by selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS). Blood samples from healthy donors were artificially infected with 5 or 100 CFU of organisms commonly causing bacteremia. Positive results by SIFT-MS analysis of headspace gases were recorded for 53/60 (88.

Detection of volatile metabolites produced by bacterial growth in blood culture media by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS).

To achieve faster bacteremia diagnosis, selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) measured metabolic gases in the headspaces of BacT/ALERT blood culture bottles. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Neisseria meningitidis growth and trace gas patterns were detected from 10 colony forming units after 6 h.

The effect of Helicobacter pylori infection and dietary iron deficiency on host iron homeostasis: a study in mice.

Background: Helicobacter pylori, which requires iron to survive, may cause host iron deficiency by directly competing with the host for available iron or by impairing iron uptake as a consequence of atrophy-associated gastric hypochlorhydria. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of H. pylori infection and dietary iron deficiency on host iron homeostasis in a mouse model.

SIFT-MS measurement of VOC distribution coefficients in human blood constituents and urine.

The new technique of selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) has been applied to the measurement of Henry's Law constants for the volatile organic chemicals o-xylene and trichloroethylene that both have low solubility in aqueous solvents. The method is validated by measurements in water at 298 K using the equilibrium partitioning in closed systems (EPICS) methodology in which the equilibrium headspace concentrations for the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are measured in two sealed bottles containing different liquid volumes of very dilute solutions of the VOC. The range of solvents is then extended to human body fluids at 309 K including urine, saline, whole blood, red cells in saline, and plasma.

Serum-derived IgG1-mediated immune exclusion as a mechanism of protection against H. pylori infection.

The induction of protective immunity against Helicobacter challenge in a murine model was found to correlate with the magnitude of IgG (serum and gastric lavage) responsiveness to intra-nasal (i.n.) immunisation.

In situ analysis of solvents on breath and blood: a selected ion flow tube mass spectrometric study.

We report measurements of residual vapour levels of xylenes and trimethylbenzenes, present following a floor re-surfacing procedure, using the technique of selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS). A subject exposed to controlled amounts of xylene and mesitylene was monitored by direct breath exhalation over a 4-hour period after exposure to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) had stopped. The headspace gases above 5 mL blood samples taken over this period were also monitored.

Alcohol in breath and blood: a selected ion flow tube mass spectrometric study.

In this paper we compare the amounts of ethanol in breath and in blood after ingestion of whisky using analysis by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS). Blood ethanol concentrations were also obtained using standard hospital forensic procedures for blood alcohol analyses. We demonstrate the quantitative nature of SIFT-MS analysis by correlating the observed alcohol content of the headspace above 5-mL amounts of venous blood and aqueous solution to which known trace amounts of alcohol have been added.

Iron influences the expression of Helicobacter pylori outer membrane vesicle-associated virulence factors.

Background: Helicobacter pylori shed outer membrane vesicles (OMV) in vitro and in vivo. These OMV, which contain active VacA, provide a potential vehicle for the delivery of H. pylori virulence factors to the gastric mucosa.

Immune response to an 18-kilodalton outer membrane antigen identifies lipoprotein 20 as a Helicobacter pylori vaccine candidate.

Experiments were performed using the standardized murine model of Helicobacter pylori infection to determine the immunogenicity of H. pylori outer membrane vesicles in immune protection. These vesicles, which are naturally shed from the surface of the bacterium, induce a protective response when administered intragastrically to mice in the presence of cholera holotoxin, despite the absence of the urease enzyme and associated Hsp54 chaperonin.