Randomised controlled trial of intravenous nafamostat mesylate in COVID pneumonitis: Phase 1b/2a experimental study to investigate safety, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics.

Background: Many repurposed drugs have progressed rapidly to Phase 2 and 3 trials in COVID19 without characterisation of Pharmacokinetics /Pharmacodynamics including safety data. One such drug is nafamostat mesylate.

Methods: We present the findings of a phase Ib/IIa open label, platform randomised controlled trial of intravenous nafamostat in hospitalised patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonitis.

Quantifying displacement of urogenital organs after abdominoperineal resection for rectal cancer.

Aim: This study aimed to quantify displacement of urogenital organs after abdominoperineal resection (APR), and to explore patient and treatment characteristics associated with displacement.

Method: Patients from 16 centres who underwent APR for primary or recurrent rectal cancer (2001-2018) with evaluable preoperative and 6-18 months postoperative radiological imaging were included in the study. Anatomical landmarks on sagittal images were related to a coordinate system based on reference lines between fixed bony structures and absolute displacements were calculated using the Pythagorean theorem.

CT assessment of the quality of omentoplasty and its implications for perineal wound healing.

Purpose: This study was designed to examine the impact of an omentoplasty and its quality on pelviperineal morbidity after abdominoperineal resection (APR) for rectal cancer.

Methods: This was a retrospective single-centre study of consecutive patients undergoing APR for primary or recurrent rectal cancer between 2000 and 2018. Quality of omentoplasty was categorised (sufficient vs insufficient) based on postoperative CT scans.

Spontaneous haemothorax from an extramedullary haematopoietic mass.

We report the presentation of a 43-year-old female with an unusual acute complication from an inherited blood dyscrasia. After a provisional working diagnosis of pulmonary embolus, the patient was finally diagnosed with spontaneous haemorrhage from extramedullary haematopoietic foci within the thorax.

Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax: a rare complication of pulmonary embolism.

An 85-year-old lady presented with a left middle cerebral artery territory infarct. Several days into her admission she became hypoxic and haemodynamically unstable. A CT pulmonary angiogram showed bilateral pulmonary emboli, right-sided parenchymal cavitation due to infarction and an associated large pneumothorax.

A case-control study of colorectal cancer detection by quantification of DNA isolated from directly collected exfoliated colonocytes.

This pilot study aimed to assess an original test based on the analysis of exfoliated colonocytes as a new approach to colorectal cancer (CRC) detection. DNA was isolated from exfoliated cells collected from the surface of the rectal mucosa by a standardized minimally invasive procedure in a case-control trial involving 66 patients with CRC diagnosis and 110 healthy volunteers (age 50-70). PicoGreen staining and quantitative real-time PCR (QRTPCR) were used for DNA quantification.

The coronary sinus conduit function: anatomical study (relationship to adjacent structures).

Background: The mitral valve annulus (MVA) is anchored antero-medially to the aorta. Dilatation of the MVA primarily affects its postero-lateral aspect, which is related to the coronary sinus (CS). The CS and its tributaries have been used for pacing the left ventricle in patients with intractable heart failure.

The osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP).

The osteo-odonto-keratoprosthesis (OOKP), although described over 40 years ago, remains the keratoprosthesis of choice for end-stage corneal blindness not amenable to penetrating keratoplasty. It is particularly resilient to a hostile environment such as the dry keratinized eye resulting from severe Stevens-Johnson syndrome, ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, trachoma, and chemical injury. Its rigid optical cylinder gives excellent image resolution and quality.