An International Consensus Survey among Pediatric Surgeons on the Role of Appendectomy in Malrotation.

Introduction: Ladd's procedure, originally described in 1936 for the treatment of malrotation, does not traditionally include appendectomy as a standard step. We conducted a multinational survey to investigate the current consensus on the role of appendectomy in Ladd's procedure.

Methodology: An anonymous online survey was distributed to pediatric surgeons worldwide.

GAPS phase II: development and pilot results of the global assessment in pediatric surgery, an evidence-based pediatric surgical capacity assessment tool for low-resource settings.

Purpose: Pediatric surgical care in low- and middle-income countries is often hindered by systemic gaps in healthcare resources, infrastructure, training, and organization. This study aims to develop and validate the Global Assessment of Pediatric Surgery (GAPS) to appraise pediatric surgical capacity and discriminate between levels of care across diverse healthcare settings.

Methods: The GAPS Version 1 was constructed through a synthesis of existing assessment tools and expert panel consultation.

Pegargiminase Plus First-Line Chemotherapy in Patients With Nonepithelioid Pleural Mesothelioma: The ATOMIC-Meso Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Arginine deprivation using ADI-PEG20 (pegargiminase) combined with chemotherapy is untested in a randomized study among patients with cancer. ATOMIC-Meso (ADI-PEG20 Targeting of Malignancies Induces Cytotoxicity-Mesothelioma) is a pivotal trial comparing standard first-line chemotherapy plus pegargiminase or placebo in patients with nonepithelioid pleural mesothelioma.

Objective: To determine the effect of pegargiminase-based chemotherapy on survival in nonepithelioid pleural mesothelioma, an arginine-auxotrophic tumor.

Trauma and sexual abuse in children-Epidemiology, challenges, management strategies and prevention in lower- and middle-income countries.

Trauma is rising as a cause of morbidity and mortality in lower- and middle-income countries (LMIC). This article describes the Epidemiology, Challenges, Management strategies and prevention of pediatric trauma in lower- and middle-income countries. The top five etiologies for non-intentional injuries leading to death are falls, road traffic injuries, burns, drowning and poisoning.

Levelized cost estimates of solar photovoltaic electricity in the United Kingdom until 2035.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity represents one of the most promising sources of clean and affordable energy; however, the share of solar power in electricity production remains low, primarily because of the high installation costs. By conducting a large-scale analysis of electricity pricing, we show that solar PV systems are quickly becoming one of the most competitive sources of electricity. Collecting a contemporary UK dataset of 2010-2021, we analyze the historical levelized cost of electricity for several PV system sizes, project until 2035, and conduct a sensitivity analysis.

Response to "Low cost, uncertain value: Why cheap PV may still not become UK's main power source".

We endorse the ideas presented by the authors Klöckl et al. on the need of a mixed bag of energy supplies, with this likely being a combination of solar, wind, hydro, and nuclear in the future. Nevertheless, based on our analysis, we believe that the increased deployment capacity of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems will decrease their cost more than wind, making solar PV important in meeting the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) requirements for greater sustainability.

Prevalence of gastroschisis and its neonatal mortality in the Eastern Cape Province tertiary institutions.

Context: Gastroschisis is a common abdominal wall defect faced by paediatric surgeons worldwide. Early gastroschisis detection, access to improved neonatal intensive care, parenteral nutrition and surgical techniques have led to a reported improvement in mortality of between 4% and 8% in high-income countries. In low to middle income countries, such as in Southern Africa, however, there is as much as 84% mortality among patients with gastroschisis.

Relationship between Serum Ferritin and Outcomes in β-Thalassemia: A Systematic Literature Review.

Among the difficulties of living with β-thalassemia, patients frequently require blood transfusions and experience iron overload. As serum ferritin (SF) provides an indication of potential iron overload, we conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) to assess whether SF levels are associated with clinical and economic burden and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). The SLR was conducted on 23 April 2020 and followed by analysis of the literature.

A Systematic Literature Review of the Relationship between Serum Ferritin and Outcomes in Myelodysplastic Syndromes.

Anemia is the most common form of cytopenia in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), who require chronic red blood cell transfusions and may present high serum ferritin (SF) levels as a result of iron overload. To better understand the potential effects of high SF levels, we conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify evidence on the relationship between SF levels and clinical, economic, or humanistic outcomes in adult patients with MDS. Of 267 references identified, 21 were included.

Clinical presentation and management of childhood intussusception in South Africa.

Purpose: We assessed management and outcomes for intussusception at nine academic hospitals in South Africa.

Methods: Patients ≤ 3 years presenting with intussusception between September 2013 and December 2017 were prospectively enrolled at all sites. Additionally, patients presenting between July 2012 and August 2013 were retrospectively enrolled at one site.

Utility value estimates in cardiovascular disease and the effect of changing elicitation methods: a systematic literature review.

Objective: Identify the most recent utility value estimates for cardiovascular disease (CVD) via systematic literature review (SLR) and explore trends in utility elicitation methods in the last 6 years.

Methods: This SLR was updated on January 25, 2018, and identified studies reporting utilities for myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, angina, peripheral artery disease (PAD), and any-cause revascularization by searching Embase, PubMed, Health Technology Assessment Database, and grey literature.

Results: A total of 375 studies reported CVD utilities (pre-2013 vs post-2013: MI, 38 vs 32; stroke, 86 vs 113; stable angina, 8 vs 9; undefined/unstable angina, 23 vs 8; PAD, 29 vs 13; revascularization, 54 vs 40).

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related colitis assessment and prognosis: can IBD scoring point the way?

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) improve survival but cause immune-related adverse events (irAE). We sought to determine if CTCAE classification, IBD biomarkers/endoscopic/histological scores correlate with irAE colitis outcomes.

Methods: A dual-centre retrospective study was performed on patients receiving ICI for melanoma, NSCLC or urothelial cancer from 2012 to 2018.

Evaluation of Intussusception After Oral Monovalent Rotavirus Vaccination in South Africa.

Background: Postlicensure studies have shown an association between rotavirus vaccination and intussusception. We assessed the risk of intussusception associated with Rotarix (RV1) administration, at 6 and 14 weeks of age, in an upper-middle-income country, South Africa.

Methods: Active prospective surveillance for intussusception was conducted in 8 hospitals from September 2013 through December 2017.

An indirect treatment comparison of the efficacy of patisiran and tafamidis for the treatment of hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis with polyneuropathy.

Background: Hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (hATTR amyloidosis) is a progressive, life-threatening disease. Until recently, tafamidis was the only approved pharmacotherapy. Patisiran significantly improved polyneuropathy and quality of life (QoL) in the phase III APOLLO trial.

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in non-small-cell lung cancer: initial response to erlotinib followed by relapse despite continuing radiological resolution of disease.

A 60-year-old male was diagnosed with T3, N3, M1b epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutant lung adenocarcinoma. Five months later he developed significant headaches, weakness and numbness of the left leg, and unsteadiness of gait. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain demonstrated subtle gyral enhancement indicative of early leptomeningeal infiltration.

Value of Supraregional Multidisciplinary Review for the Contemporary Management of Testicular Tumors.

Purpose: Testicular cancers are an uncommon and highly curable group of tumors that are typically managed by specialist multidisciplinary teams (MDTs). Although recent guidelines have emphasized the importance of tumor prognostic factors in predicting recurrence and personalizing therapy in early-stage disease, the role of central pathology review in determining these factors is unclear.

Patients And Methods: We compared the referral histopathology reports with those obtained after expert central review for all cases reviewed by the UK Thames Valley Cancer Network testicular tumor MDT from August 2004 to September 2012.

Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide Donors on Intraocular Pressure in Rabbits.

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the effect of a slow-releasing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donor, GYY 4137, on intraocular pressure (IOP) in normotensive rabbits. Furthermore, we compared the IOP-lowering action of GYY 4137 with those elicited by other H2S-producing compounds, l-cysteine and ACS67 (a hybrid compound of latanoprost with an H2S-releasing moiety).

Methods: IOP was measured in New Zealand normotensive male albino rabbits using a pneumatonometer (model 30 classic; Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments, Depew, NY).

IGF-1R inhibition enhances radiosensitivity and delays double-strand break repair by both non-homologous end-joining and homologous recombination.

Inhibition of type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) enhances tumor cell sensitivity to ionizing radiation. It is not clear how this effect is mediated, nor whether this approach can be applied effectively in the clinic. We previously showed that IGF-1R depletion delays repair of radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), unlikely to be explained entirely by reduction in homologous recombination (HR) repair.

Pharmacological actions of the slow release hydrogen sulfide donor GYY4137 on phenylephrine-induced tone in isolated bovine ciliary artery.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a colorless gas characterized by its pungent odor of rotten eggs has been reported to elicit relaxation effects on basal and pre-contracted non-ocular smooth muscles of several mammalian species. In the present study, we investigated the pharmacological actions of a H2S donor, GYY4137 on isolated bovine posterior ciliary artery after contraction with the adrenergic receptor agonist, phenylephrine. Furthermore, we studied the underlying mechanism of inhibitory action of GYY4137 on the posterior ciliary arteries.

Hydrogen sulfide: role in ion channel and transporter modulation in the eye.

Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S), a colorless gas with a characteristic smell of rotten eggs, has been portrayed for decades as a toxic environmental pollutant. Since evidence of its basal production in mammalian tissues a decade ago, H(2)S has attracted substantial interest as a potential inorganic gaseous mediator with biological importance in cellular functions. Current research suggests that, next to its counterparts nitric oxide and carbon monoxide, H(2)S is an important multifunctional signaling molecule with pivotal regulatory roles in various physiological and pathophysiological processes as diverse as learning and memory, modulation of synaptic activities, cell survival, inflammation, and maintenance of vascular tone in the central nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Depletion of the type 1 IGF receptor delays repair of radiation-induced DNA double strand breaks.

Background And Purpose: IGF-1R depletion sensitizes prostate cancer cells to ionizing radiation and DNA-damaging cytotoxic drugs. This study investigated the hypothesis that IGF-1R regulates DNA double strand break (DSB) repair.

Methods: We tested effects of IGF-1R siRNA transfection on the repair of radiation-induced DSBs by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence for γH2AX, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

Laparoscopically inserted button colostomy as a venting stoma and access port for the administration of antegrade enemas in African degenerative leiomyopathy.

African degenerative leiomyopathy (ADL) is a rare incurable disorder seen in African children, predominantly in southern and south-eastern Africa. ADL presents as chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Management is traditionally conservative, with surgery restricted to the management of complications.