Background: Near-infrared fluorescence (NIF)-mapping with indocyanine green dye (ICG) facilitates the identification of the intersegmental plane during minimally invasive segmentectomy. Our pilot study showed that ICG is associated with an increase in oncological margin distance from the tumour, greater than the surgeon's best judgment. We hypothesized that, with greater experience, the surgeon's judgement will improve, and the benefit of ICG will diminish.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cannabis use during pregnancy has been increasing and is associated with adverse neonatal outcomes, such as low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PTB). It remains largely unknown whether the association between cannabis use in pregnancy and increased risk of adverse neonatal outcomes is impacted by the frequency of cannabis use and whether thresholds exist below which risk is not significantly increased. The objective of this systematic review is to assess whether the association between cannabis use during pregnancy and the risk of adverse neonatal outcomes is dependent on the frequency of use and whether risk thresholds exist.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) are at the top of the pyramid of evidence as they offer the best answer on the efficacy of a new treatment. RCTs are true experiments in which participants are randomly allocated to receive a certain intervention (experimental group) or a different intervention (comparison group), or no treatment at all (control or placebo group). Randomization, along with other methodological features such as blinding and allocation concealment, safeguard against biases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Endobronchial ultrasound elastography produces a color map of mediastinal lymph nodes, with the color blue (level 60) indicating stiffness. Our pilot study demonstrated that predominantly blue lymph nodes, with a stiffness area ratio greater than 0.496, are likely malignant.
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