Penile allotransplantation for penis amputation following ritual circumcision: a case report with 24 months of follow-up.

Introduction: Ritual circumcision complicated by gangrene is a leading cause of penile loss in young men in South Africa. This deeply rooted cultural tradition is unlikely to be abolished. Conventional reconstructive techniques using free vascularised tissue flaps with penile implants are undesirable in this often socioeconomically challenged group because donor site morbidity can hinder manual labour and vigorous sexual activity might lead to penile implant extrusion.

Feasibility of automatic evaluation of clinical rules in general practice.

Purpose: To assess the extent to which clinical rules (CRs) can be implemented for automatic evaluation of quality of care in general practice.

Methods: We assessed 81 clinical rules (CRs) adapted from a subset of Assessing Care of Vulnerable Elders (ACOVE) clinical rules, against Dutch College of General Practitioners (NHG) data model. Each CR was analyzed using the Logical Elements Rule METHOD: (LERM).

Do urologists follow the golden rule? A global urolithiasis management study by the Clinical Research Office of the Endourological Society.

Introduction: The primary objective of this study was to compare surgical management options for various urolithiasis scenarios that urologists would choose for themselves vs. the options they would recommend for their patients. The secondary objective was to identify the common recommended treatments for upper urinary tract stones of various sizes and locations.

Quality of Co-Prescribing NSAID and Gastroprotective Medications for Elders in The Netherlands and Its Association with the Electronic Medical Record.

Objective: To assess guideline adherence of co-prescribing NSAID and gastroprotective medications for elders in general practice over time, and investigate its potential association with the electronic medical record (EMR) system brand used.

Methods: We included patients 65 years and older who received NSAIDs between 2005 and 2010. Prescription data were extracted from EMR systems of GP practices participating in the Dutch NIVEL Primary Care Database.

Standardization of patient outcomes reporting in percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Background And Purpose: There exist no global standards for defining patient outcomes in renal stone surgery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of reporting of outcomes in studies investigating percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and to propose standardized consensus definitions for common outcomes.

Methods: We performed a literature search in PubMed for randomized controlled studies that investigated PCNL between 2002 and 2012.

The 1-year decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after radical nephrectomy in patients with renal masses and matched living kidney donors is the same.

Objectives: To determine short-term differences in renal function evolution between patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) submitted to radical nephrectomy (RN) and living kidney donors matched for age and gender. To assess the role of co-morbidity as a risk factor for developing an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) .

Co-prescription of gastroprotective agents and their efficacy in elderly patients taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: a systematic review of observational studies.

Background & Aims: Guidelines recommend prescribing gastroprotective agents (proton pump inhibitors, misoprostol) to older patients (primarily ≥65 years old) taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to prevent gastrointestinal ulcers. Older individuals are underrepresented in clinical trials of these agents. We systematically reviewed evidence from observational studies on the use of gastroprotective agents in elderly patients and their ability to prevent NSAID-related ulcers in this population.

A nephrolithometric nomogram to predict treatment success of percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Purpose: Imaging is routinely done preoperatively and postoperatively to assess patients treated with percutaneous nephrolithotomy. We developed a nomogram for percutaneous nephrolithotomy success.

Materials And Methods: From November 2007 to December 2009 the CROES (Clinical Research Office of the Endourological Society) collected data on consecutive patients at 96 centers globally.

Partial nephrectomy: is there an advantage of the self-retaining barbed suture in the perioperative period? A matched case-control comparison.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the self-retaining barbed suture (SRBS) in renal defect repair during partial nephrectomy (PN), by assessing perioperative outcomes.

Methods: From June 2010 on we have been using the SRBS for superficial layer closure during open and laparoscopic PN in two European centers. These data were collected prospectively and matched with historical PN cases performed with conventional suture.

Inappropriateness of medication prescriptions to elderly patients in the primary care setting: a systematic review.

Background: Inappropriate medication prescription is a common cause of preventable adverse drug events among elderly persons in the primary care setting.

Objective: The aim of this systematic review is to quantify the extent of inappropriate prescription to elderly persons in the primary care setting.

Methods: We systematically searched Ovid-Medline and Ovid-EMBASE from 1950 and 1980 respectively to March 2012.

Application of the logical elements rule method for formalization of clinical rules: case study of ACOVE-NLI.

The Logical Elements Rule Method (LERM) is a step-wise method for formalizing if-then clinical rules. We applied LERM to a set of 40 clinical rules used in pharmacological quality assessment initiatives to assess (1) the amenability of the rules to formalization for decision support application (2) comparing adherence to rules that can and cannot be formalized, and (3) the usefulness of LERM as a tool for this task. Five rules could not be formalized, all due to unclear decision criteria.

Age and gender related differences in renal cell carcinoma in a European cohort.

Purpose: We evaluated the influence of age on gender related differences in the renal cell carcinoma presentation of patients operated on between 1995 and 2005 in a European country. We also assessed the trend of missing pathological data.

Materials And Methods: Data on all patients who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma during 1995 to 2005 in The Netherlands were retrospectively collected from the prospective PALGA (Pathological Anatomical National Automated Archive) database.

Categorisation of complications and validation of the Clavien score for percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Background: Although widely used, the validity and reliability of the Clavien classification of postoperative complications have not been tested in urologic procedures, such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

Objective: To validate the Clavien score and categorise complications of PCNL.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Data for 528 patients with complications after PCNL were used to create a set of 70 unique complication-management combinations.

Impact of case volumes on the outcomes of percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated relationships between case volumes and outcomes in surgery. Little is known about the impact of case volumes on the outcomes of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

Objective: To investigate the influence of case volumes on the efficacy and safety outcomes of PCNL.

LERM (Logical Elements Rule Method): a method for assessing and formalizing clinical rules for decision support.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to create a step-by-step method for transforming clinical rules for use in decision support, and to validate this method for usability and reliability.

Methods: A sample set of clinical rules was identified from the relevant literature. Using an iterative approach with a focus group of mixed clinical and informatics experts, a method was developed for assessing and formalizing clinical rules.

Firearm injuries in Nairobi, Kenya: who pays the price?

Because firearm injuries affect the health and social fabric of Kenya, we investigated the problem in collaboration with Kenya's affiliate of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. This public health problem has its roots in the civil strife and prevalence of small arms and light weapons in the Horn of Africa. We studied persons with firearm injuries who reached Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi during a 6-month period in 2006.