Discerning Post Anesthesia Readiness for Transition (DPART): A Measurement Tool.

Purpose: To develop a valid reliable measurement tool that accurately quantifies postanesthesia recuperation in adult and pediatric patients.

Design: A descriptive factor-isolating design guided by measurement theory.

Methods: Instrument development was based on collaborative discussions of professional evidence.

The role of passive surveillance and citizen science in plant health.

The early detection of plant pests and diseases is vital to the success of any eradication or control programme, but the resources for surveillance are often limited. Plant health authorities can however make use of observations from individuals and stakeholder groups who are monitoring for signs of ill health. Volunteered data is most often discussed in relation to citizen science groups, however these groups are only part of a wider network of professional agents, land-users and owners who can all contribute to significantly increase surveillance efforts through "passive surveillance".

Comparison of green pit viper and Agkistrodon halys antivenom in inhibition of coagulopathy due to Trimeresurus albolabris venom: an in-vitro study using human plasma.

Introduction: There are two antivenoms that may be administered in Hong Kong following a bite by Trimeresurus albolabris: the green pit viper antivenom from the Thai Red Cross Society in Thailand and the Agkistrodon halys antivenom from the Shanghai Institute of Biological Products in China. Both are recommended by the Central Coordinating Committee of Accident and Emergency Services of the Hospital Authority for treating patients with a bite by Trimeresurus albolabris. The choice of which antivenom to use is based on physician preference.

Atmospheric deposition of phosphorus to land and freshwater.

We compiled published and newly-obtained data on the directly-measured atmospheric deposition of total phosphorus (TP), filtered total phosphorus (FTP), and inorganic phosphorus (PO4-P) to open land, lakes, and marine coasts. The resulting global data base includes data for c. 250 sites, covering the period 1954 to 2012.

Green pit viper antivenom from Thailand and Agkistrodon halys antivenom from China compared in treating Cryptelytrops albolabris envenomation of mice.

Objective: To compare the relative efficacy of the green pit viper antivenom from Thailand and Agkistrodon halys antivenom from China. DESIGN. In-vivo experimental study.

A cross-sectional survey of snake oral bacterial flora from Hong Kong, SAR, China.

Objective: To determine the pattern of oral bacterial flora and their sensitivity to antibiotics in freshly captured native snakes in Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.

Methods: Healthy native snakes were captured and kept in a designated centre. Snake species were identified by experienced herpetologists.

Prevention and handling of complications of renal focal therapies.

Small renal lesions often confer relatively low oncologic risk and, as such, dictate for treatment strategies with low morbidity. Minimally invasive ablative techniques have been developed and can deliver good outcomes where used judiciously. The potential risks of treatment relate to the method of ablation, the route by which it is delivered, together with patient and tumor factors.

Chemical fluxes in time through forest ecosystems in the UK - soil response to pollution recovery.

Long term trend analysis of bulk precipitation, throughfall and soil solution elemental fluxes from 12 years monitoring at 10 ICP Level II forest sites in the UK reveal coherent national chemical trends indicating recovery from sulphur deposition and acidification. Soil solution pH increased and sulphate and aluminium decreased at most sites. Trends in nitrogen were variable and dependant on its form.

Minimally invasive ablative technique for the treatment of small renal masses.

Minimally invasive nephron sparing techniques are becoming popular treatment modalities in the face of smaller renal tumours diagnosed in an increasingly elderly population. Techniques include cryoablation and radiofrequency ablation, delivered via percutaneous or laparoscopic approaches. Laparoscopic cryoablation shows the lowest recurrence rates but this must be balanced against higher morbidity compared to the percutaneous approaches.

Oral bacterial flora of the Chinese cobra (Naja atra) and bamboo pit viper (Trimeresurus albolabris) in Hong Kong SAR, China.

Objective: To determine the oral bacterial flora associated with two common local venomous snakes in Hong Kong, namely the Chinese cobra (Naja atra) and the bamboo pit viper (Trimeresurus albolabris).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: A non-government organisation and a regional hospital in Hong Kong.

Does the rate of shock wave delivery affect outcomes in patients receiving shock wave lithotripsy for urinary calculi?

This Practice Point discusses a meta-analysis performed by Semins and colleagues, which included a total of 589 patients from four studies who were randomized to receive shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) delivered at either 120 shock waves per minute (fast rate) or 60 shock waves per minute (slow rate). The slow-rate group had a 10.2% increased chance of successful treatment compared with the fast-rate group (P = 0.

The use of Raman spectroscopy to provide an estimation of the gross biochemistry associated with urological pathologies.

Near-infrared Raman spectroscopy, an optical technique that is able to interrogate biological tissues, has been used to study bladder and prostate tissues, with the objective being to provide a first approximation of gross biochemical changes associated with the process of carcinogenesis. Prostate samples for this study were obtained by taking a chip at TURP, and bladder samples from a biopsy taken at TURBT and TURP, following ethical approval. Spectra were taken from purchased biochemical constituents and different pathologies within the bladder and the prostate.

The use of Raman spectroscopy to differentiate between different prostatic adenocarcinoma cell lines.

Raman spectroscopy (RS) is an optical technique that provides an objective method of pathological diagnosis based on the molecular composition of tissue. Studies have shown that the technique can accurately identify and grade prostatic adenocarcinoma (CaP) in vitro. This study aimed to determine whether RS was able to differentiate between CaP cell lines of varying degrees of biological aggressiveness.

Assessment of fiberoptic near-infrared raman spectroscopy for diagnosis of bladder and prostate cancer.

Objectives: To determine whether a fiberoptic Raman system, suitable for in vivo use, is able to differentiate between benign and malignant bladder and prostate pathologic findings in vitro. Raman spectroscopy is an optical technique that provides a measure of the molecular composition of tissue by analyzing the way that tissue scatters laser light. Laboratory studies have shown that the technique can be used to identify and characterize transitional cell carcinoma and prostate adenocarcinoma in vitro.

Review of a routine test of cardiac function before aortic aneurysm surgery.

The majority of vascular surgeons employ tests of cardiac function prior to embarking on elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. This study reviewed the value of measuring preoperative ventricular ejection fraction (VEF). The records of the 207 patients considered for elective AAA repair between 1994 and 2000 were reviewed.

The use of Raman spectroscopy to identify and characterize transitional cell carcinoma in vitro.

Objective: To determine whether Raman spectroscopy can be used to differentiate between normal, inflammatory and malignant bladder pathologies in vitro, and secondly if it can used to grade and stage transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).

Materials And Methods: In all, 1525 Raman spectra were measured from 75 bladder samples comprising normal bladder, cystitis, carcinoma in situ (CIS), TCC and adenocarcinoma. Multivariate analysis was applied to the spectral dataset to construct diagnostic algorithms; these were then tested for their ability to determine the histological diagnosis of each sample from its Raman spectrum.

Raman spectroscopy for identification of epithelial cancers.

There is a real need for improvements in cancer detection. Significant problems are encountered when utilising the gold standard of excisional biopsy combined with histopathology. This can include missed lesions, perforation and high levels of inter- and intra-observer discrepancies.

National and international variation in the registration of bladder cancer.

Objective: To determine whether variations exist in the methods by which different cancer registries record information on bladder cancers.

Methods: The registration practices of the various cancer registries within the UK, Europe and the USA were investigated by consulting the available publications and by correspondence with registry staff. In addition, a telephone survey was carried out within the UK to determine whether the national guidelines on bladder cancer coding were being followed.

The use of Raman spectroscopy to identify and grade prostatic adenocarcinoma in vitro.

Raman spectroscopy is an optical technique, which provides a measure of the molecular composition of tissue. Raman spectra were recorded in vitro from both benign and malignant prostate biopsies, and used to construct a diagnostic algorithm. The algorithm was able to correctly identify each pathological group studied with an overall accuracy of 89%.

Comparison of POSSUM scoring and the Hardman Index in selection of patients for repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Background: The aim was to assess to what extent the POSSUM (Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity) and Hardman scoring systems were predictive of outcome after surgery for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA).

Methods: From January 1990 to December 2001, 232 patients presented with RAAA. Forty-one were treated conservatively and all died; the remainder had emergency surgery.

The influence of histological diagnosis on the postoperative complication rate following trans-urethral resection of prostate (TURP).

Background: A number of studies have shown that the early mortality following TURP is higher for patients with prostate cancer than those with benign disease. This study examines the effect of the histological diagnosis on the predischarge complication rate following TURP.

Methods: Information on the postoperative, predischarge complications of 3036 patients, who underwent TURP over the last decade at our institution, was collated from the urology department database (AuditBase for Windows).

A single normal ultrasonographic scan at age 65 years rules out significant aneurysm disease for life in men.

Background: Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has been carried out in Gloucestershire since 1990. All men in the county are offered aortic ultrasonography in their 65th year. Men with an aortic diameter of less than 26 mm are considered 'normal' and no follow-up is arranged.