Establishing a colorectal cancer research database from routinely collected health data: the process and potential from a pilot study.

Objective: Colorectal cancer is a common cause of death and morbidity. A significant amount of data are routinely collected during patient treatment, but they are not generally available for research. The National Institute for Health Research Health Informatics Collaborative in the UK is developing infrastructure to enable routinely collected data to be used for collaborative, cross-centre research.

Prognostic factors for survival and ambulatory status at 8 weeks with metastatic spinal cord compression in the SCORAD randomised trial.

Background: Metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) carries a poor prognosis and management is based on the likelihood of maintaining mobility and predicted survival.

Patients And Method: SCORAD is a randomised trial of 686 patients comparing a single dose of 8 Gy radiotherapy with 20 Gy in 5 fractions. Data was split into a training set (412, 60%) and a validation set (274, 40%).

Outcomes following front-line chemotherapy in peripheral T-cell lymphoma: 10-year experience at The Royal Marsden and The Christie Hospital.

We evaluated the outcomes for patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) undergoing front-line chemotherapy at our institutions between 2002 and 2012. One hundred and fifty-six patients were eligible, comprising PTCL not otherwise specified (NOS) (n = 50, 32.0%), angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) (n = 44, 28.

A combined single high-dose rate brachytherapy boost with hypofractionated external beam radiotherapy results in a high rate of biochemical disease free survival in localised intermediate and high risk prostate cancer patients.

Introduction: Dose escalation has been shown to improve biochemical outcome in localised prostate cancer. An HDR brachytherapy boost is an effective strategy for dose escalation, since it exploits the low α/β ratio in prostate cancer, allowing the delivery of a high biological dose to the tumour. We sought to evaluate the biochemical disease free survival in patients with intermediate and high risk localised prostate cancer treated with EBRT plus HDR brachytherapy as a boost, in our institution.

Survival patterns in teenagers and young adults with cancer in the United Kingdom: Comparisons with younger and older age groups.

Aims: We aimed to describe and compare survival in teenagers and young adults (TYAs) with cancer to that of younger children and older adults, to identify sub-populations at greater or lesser risk of death.

Methods: We compared survival in cancer patients diagnosed in the United Kingdom aged 13-24 years (TYAs) to those aged 0-12 (children) and 25-49 years (adults) using the National Cancer Data Repository. All cases had a first cancer diagnosis between 1st January 2001 and 31st December 2005 with censor date 31st December 2010 or death if earlier.

Incidence of glioma in a northwestern region of England, 2006-2010.

Background: Gliomas are important because they affect disproportionately high numbers of people of working age and have a poor prognosis. Neurosurgeons were concerned about a possible recent cluster of glioma cases in a northwestern region in England.

Methods: All patients aged 18-89 years in Lancashire and South Cumbria with a histologically confirmed glioma diagnosed at the Royal Preston Hospital between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2010, were ascertained.

Ovarian cancer among 8,005 women from a breast cancer family history clinic: no increased risk of invasive ovarian cancer in families testing negative for BRCA1 and BRCA2.

Background: Mutations in BRCA1/2 genes confer ovarian, alongside breast, cancer risk. We examined the risk of developing ovarian cancer in BRCA1/2-positive families and if this risk is extended to BRCA negative families.

Patients And Methods: A prospective study involving women seen at a single family history clinic in Manchester, UK.

Mortality in neurofibromatosis 1: in North West England: an assessment of actuarial survival in a region of the UK since 1989.

Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is a comparatively common autosomal dominant disorder. However, relatively few studies have assessed lifetime risk; and information about the effect of NF1 on mortality remains uncertain. NF1 patients were identified using The North West regional family Genetic Register, which covers the 4.

Cancer at ages 15-29 years: the contrasting incidence in India and England.

Background: There has been a steady increase in published research from Europe and North America on the epidemiology of cancers in young people. There are limited data from the developing world. We contrast the incidence of cancer at ages 15-29 years in India and England.

Reduced morbidity and improved healing with bone morphogenic protein-2 in older patients with alveolar cleft defects.

Background: In older cleft patients, alveolar bone grafting may be associated with poor wound healing, graft exposure, recurrent fistula, and failure of tooth eruption. A new procedure using a resorbable collagen matrix with bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 was compared with traditional iliac crest bone graft to close alveolar defects in older patients.

Methods: Skeletally mature patients with an alveolar cleft defect undergoing alveolar cleft repair were divided into either group 1 (BMP-2, experimental) or group 2 (traditional iliac graft, control) (n = 21).

In vitro microdistraction of preosteoblasts: distraction promotes proliferation and oscillation promotes differentiation.

Osteoblast biology is influenced in vivo by a 3-dimensional (3D) extracellular matrix that mediates their adhesion and interaction and by a constant state of compressive and tensile forces. To study the role of mechanical stress on osteoblasts in vitro, these parameters must be addressed. Therefore, this study describes the use of a novel, in vitro system that subjects cells to distractive and compressive forces in a 3D environment.

Delayed closure of the hard palate leads to speech problems and deleterious maxillary growth.

Background: Hard palate cleft closure has been associated with maxillary hypoplasia. The Schweckendiek procedure offers delayed hard palate closure to avoid early subperiosteal dissection and palatal scarring. This study sought to compare single-stage versus delayed hard palate closure for speech outcome and maxillary growth.

Autologous fat transfer national consensus survey: trends in techniques for harvest, preparation, and application, and perception of short- and long-term results.

Background: Despite a perceived interest in autologous fat transfer, there is no consensus as to the best technique or the level of success. The purpose of the present study was to determine the national trends in techniques for harvest, preparation, and application of autologous fat, as well as the success perceived by practitioners.

Methods: Comprehensive surveys were sent to 650 randomly selected members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Monobloc advancement by distraction osteogenesis decreases morbidity and relapse.

Background: Treatment of midface hypoplasia and forehead retrusion with monobloc advancement is associated with significant complications, including meningitis, prolonged intubation, and frontal bone flap necrosis. To see whether distraction of the monobloc segment offered decreased morbidity, the authors compared clinical outcomes of patients who underwent conventional monobloc advancement with those of patients who underwent monobloc distraction.

Methods: Group 1 (conventional monobloc; n = 12) underwent traditional monobloc advancement with bone grafting.

Genioplasty distraction osteogenesis and hyoid advancement for correction of upper airway obstruction in patients with Treacher Collins and Nager syndromes.

Background: Treacher Collins and Nager syndromes may present with mandibular hypoplasia that causes posterior collapse of the tongue base and a decreased oropharyngeal airway. Mandibular distraction and orthognathic advancement are effective treatments to correct the airway, but failure may occur despite achieving class I occlusion. For this select population, the authors propose a novel procedure of genioplasty distraction and hyoid advancement to optimize epiglottal positioning.

Improved malar projection with transconjunctival hydroxyapatite granules.

Background: Augmentation of the zygomatic body enhances appearance and provides a more youthful look. Porous hydroxyapatite granules offer an alternative to alloplastic implants.

Methods: Hydroxyapatite granules were placed by means of a transconjunctival approach into subperiosteal malar pockets (n = 8).

Improved outcomes in cleft patients with severe maxillary deficiency after Le Fort I internal distraction.

Background: Correction of severe maxillary deficiency in cleft lip-cleft palate patients often results in undercorrection, relapse, and need for secondary corrective procedures. Le Fort I internal distraction osteogenesis offers an alternative to one-step orthognathic advancement, with advantages of gradual lengthening through scar and earlier treatment in growing patients.

Methods: Patients with cleft lip-cleft palate deformities and maxillary deficiency were divided into three groups treated by Le Fort I advancement: group 1, mild to moderate deficiency (< 10 mm) with conventional orthognathic procedure; group 2, severe deficiency (> or = 10 mm) with conventional orthognathic procedure; and group 3, distraction procedure for severe deficiency (> or = 10 mm) (n = 51).

Case report of optic atrophy in pansynostosis: an unusual presentation of scalp edema from hair braiding.

Pansynostosis (fusion of all cranial sutures) and optic atrophy were found as incidental CT scan and ophthalmological findings in an 8-year-old who presented to the emergency room with scalp edema from tight 'cornrow' hair braiding. Cranial vault expansion was successfully performed. Ophthalmological problems have stabilized but have not reversed.

Favorable morphologic change of preosteoblasts in a three-dimensional matrix with in vitro microdistraction.

Background: Distraction osteogenesis has been used to correct hypoplastic and asymmetric bony deformities in the growing patient, yet its underlying cellular mechanisms are poorly understood. Using a new in vitro model, the microdistractor, morphologic properties of preosteoblasts under mechanical strain were studied.

Methods: Mouse calvarial MC3T3 cells were suspended in a polymerized three-dimensional collagen gel and stressed for 14 days as one of three groups (n = 30): (1) distraction (0.

Top-10 list of herbal and supplemental medicines used by cosmetic patients: what the plastic surgeon needs to know.

Background: Widespread use of herbal medications/supplements among the presurgical population may have a negative effect on perioperative patient care. Thus, the authors' goal was to identify the prevalence of such use in a cosmetic surgery patient population compared with use among the general public; to assess physician awareness of proper management of these herbal medications/supplements; and to review the literature to provide rational strategies for managing perioperative patients taking these remedies.

Methods: To assess patient (n = 100) and general public (n = 100) usage rates, open-ended lists of (1) the most common herbal medications/supplements and (2) homeopathic treatments were compiled.