Companion Animals as Buffer against the Impact of Stress on Affect: An Experience Sampling Study.

Companion animals have been identified as a unique source of social support and as contributors to mental wellbeing. This study uses the Experience Sampling Method to test whether this effect is due to stress-buffering. A total of 159 dog and cat owners responded to a series of randomly scheduled questionnaires on their smartphones.

Partial-thickness scalds in children: A comparison of different treatment strategies.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of different treatment strategies for children with partial-thickness scalds at two burn centers. At the first burn center, these burns were treated with a hydrofiber dressing (Aquacel, Convatec, Inc., Princeton, NJ, USA) or silver sulfadiazine (SSD, Flammazine, Sinclair IS Pharma, London, UK Pharmaceuticals), while at the second burn center, cerium nitrate-silver sulfadiazine (CN-SSD, Flammacerium, Sinclair IS Pharma, London, UK Pharmaceuticals) was used.

Effect and mechanism of hydrocortisone on organ function in patients with severe burns.

Introduction: In patients with severe burns, resuscitation with large volumes of fluid is needed, partly because of an increase in capillary leakage. Corticosteroids might be beneficial by diminishing capillary leakage. This study aimed to assess in severely burned nonseptic patients whether hydrocortisone (HC) improved outcome and diminished capillary leakage.

Hyperglycemia and ambulatory surgery.

Background: Perioperative hyperglycemia is associated with postoperative complications after major surgery. However, more than 50% of surgical procedures are performed in an ambulatory setting, where glucose is not routinely measured. The objectives of this study were to investigate the change in capillary glucose during ambulatory surgery, to identify patients at risk for perioperative increasing glucose and to evaluate whether hyperglycemia predisposes for complications after ambulatory surgery.

Value of an electronic tutorial for image interpretation in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia.

Background And Objectives: Use of ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA) requires considerable training. An embedded electronic tutorial as an element of an ultrasound machine may help to identify sonoanatomy for novices. Therefore, we investigated whether an electronic tutorial could improve accuracy or speed of performance in identifying anatomical structures.

Short-term safety and efficacy of the Trans-oral Endoscopic Restrictive Implant System for the treatment of obesity.

Background: Medical treatment of obesity often fails, and surgical treatment, although successful, is aggressive.

Objective: To evaluate the short-term safety and efficacy of an endoscopic restrictive implant procedure in the treatment of obesity.

Design: Prospective, observational study.

Feasibility of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication as a day-case procedure.

Background: The aim of this prospective double-cohort pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility and desirability of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) performed in day-care when compared with laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in day-care.

Methods: Patients who underwent a LNF in day-care were prospectively evaluated. LNF patients were treated according to LC in day-care protocol.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: day-care versus clinical observation.

Objective: To determine the feasibility and desirability of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in day-care versus LC with clinical observation.

Summary Background Data: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been performed regularly as outpatient surgery in patients with uncomplicated gallstone disease in the United States, but this has not been generally accepted in Europe. The main objections are the risk of early severe complications (bleeding) or other reasons for readmission, and the argument that patients might feel safer when observed for one night.

[Experiences with outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

Objective: To determine the feasibility and desirability of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in day care.

Design: Prospective, pilot study.

Setting: Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

[An intrauterine and prenatal fasciola hepatica infection in a dairy herd in South Netherlands].

A intra-uterine infection with Fasciola hepatica in a three years old cow is proved on a milking cow herd in the South of the Netherlands. Two calves showed to have a prenatal infection. Further investigations on the farm revealed a general presence of this parasite.