Risk of complication at the time of laparoscopic hysterectomy: a prediction model built from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database.

Background: Although laparoscopic hysterectomy is well established as a favorable mode of hysterectomy owing to decreased perioperative complications, there is still room for improvement in quality of care. Previous studies have described laparoscopic hysterectomy risk, but there is currently no tool for predicting risk of complication at the time of laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Objective: This study aimed to create a prediction model for complications at the time of laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign conditions.

Improving decision making for massive transfusions in a resource poor setting: a preliminary study in Kenya.

Background: The reality of finite resources has a real-world impact on a patient's ability to receive life-saving care in resource-poor settings. Blood for transfusion is an example of a scarce resource. Very few studies have looked at predictors of survival in patients requiring massive transfusion.

A clinical prediction rule for the severity of congenital diaphragmatic hernias in newborns.

Background: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a condition with a highly variable outcome. Some infants have a relatively mild disease process, whereas others have significant pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension. Identifying high-risk infants postnatally may allow for targeted therapy.

The breast reconstruction satisfaction questionnaire (BRECON-31): an affirmative analysis.

Objective: To verify the subscale structure of the BRECON-31 using a test sample of women naïve to the questionnaire.

Methods: The BRECON-31 was administered to women following breast reconstruction. Their responses were subjected to principal components analysis (PCA) with a varimax rotation.

Appropriate time-interval application of alcohol hand gel on reducing influenza-like illness among preschool children: a randomized, controlled trial.

Background: We studied the efficacy of different time-interval applications of alcohol hand gel as a strategy for the prevention of influenza-like illness (ILI) in preschool-age children.

Methods: We performed a classroom-based cluster randomization at a kindergarten school in Bangkok, Thailand. A total of 1437 children were placed into 3 test groups, based on the frequency of alcohol hand gel use for hand hygiene: only before lunch (q lunch), every 120 minutes (q 120), and every 60 minutes (q 60).

Treatment interruptions among patients with tuberculosis in Russian TB hospitals.

Objective: To evaluate risk factors for in-patient treatment interruptions (TIs) in Russian tuberculosis (TB) hospitals.

Methods: The regional case-based registers for all TB patients registered in the main regional TB hospitals were analyzed for the period 1993-2002. Multivariable analysis of risk factors for TIs was performed using logistic regression.

Identifying the components of asthma health status in children with mild to moderate asthma.

Background: Weak and inconsistent correlations between measurements of asthma health status suggest that the disease is composed of nonoverlapping components.

Objective: Factor analysis was used to explore the relationships between measures of asthma morbidity and to identify heterogeneous components of asthma health status in children 5 to 12 years old. Results were compared across time (baseline and 48-month visit) and treatment arms.

Clinical evaluation of oral chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Oral chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is a significant and serious complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The purpose of this study was to characterize the distribution, type, and extent of lesions and their correlation with patient-reported symptoms such as pain and discomfort. The effect of time since transplantation on these measures was also assessed.