Close collaboration between local and specialist multidisciplinary teams allows 'fast-tracking' of patients with colorectal liver metastases.

Aim: The ongoing evolution of treatment strategies for colorectal liver metastases necessarily requires all patients to be reviewed at some point by the specialist hepatobiliary unit. This process can be streamlined through close collaboration with the local colorectal multidisciplinary team (MDT). The study was performed to see if a local colorectal MDT was able to make a correct decision regarding potential operability of liver metastases, by comparing its decision with that of two hepatobiliary surgeons in our referral centre.

Diagnostic transitions from childhood to adolescence to early adulthood.

Background: Quantifying diagnostic transitions across development is needed to estimate the long-term burden of mental illness. This study estimated patterns of diagnostic transitions from childhood to adolescence and from adolescence to early adulthood.

Methods: Patterns of diagnostic transitions were estimated using data from three prospective, longitudinal studies involving close to 20,000 observations of 3,722 participants followed across multiple developmental periods covering ages 9-30.

Synthesis through simulation: insights on the epidemiology of mood and anxiety disorders in Canada.

Objective: Prevalence estimates for mood and anxiety disorders in Canada are available, but various methodological approaches have produced inconsistent results. Simulation studies involve careful examination of available data by an expert modelling team working together with subject matter experts. Simulation can integrate datasets and literature-based estimates from various sources into a coherent mathematical representation of the underlying total population epidemiology.

Potential pediatric intensive care unit demand/capacity mismatch due to novel pH1N1 in Canada.

Objective: To investigate the possibility of pediatric intensive care unit shortfalls, using pandemic models for a range of attack rates and durations. The emergence of the swine origin pH1N1 virus has led to concerns about shortfalls in our ability to provide pediatric ventilation and critical care support.

Design: Modeling of pediatric intensive care demand based on pH1N1 predictions using simulation techniques.

Pharmacokinetic comparison of an oral diclofenac potassium liquid-filled soft gelatin capsule with a diclofenac potassium tablet.

Objective: To compare the pharmacokinetic profiles of diclofenac potassium liquid-filled soft gelatin capsules (DPSGC) using patented ProSorb dispersion technology with an immediate-release, diclofenac potassium 50-mg comparator tablet in two open-label, single-dose, randomized, crossover relative bioavailability studies in healthy volunteers.

Methods: In Study 1, volunteers (n = 21) received DPSGC 50 mg or a diclofenac potassium 50-mg comparator tablet in two inpatient study periods. In Study 2 (n = 54), volunteers received DPSGC 25 mg, DPSGC 50 mg, or a diclofenac potassium 50-mg comparator immediate-release tablet in three inpatient study periods.