Adrenal functional reserve in the full spectrum of chronic kidney disease.

Background: Altered cortisol levels have been associated with an increase in mortality and a decrease in health-related quality of life in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, adrenal response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test has not been evaluated in patients with stage 3a to 5 CKD with and without renal replacement therapy (RRT).

Objective: To evaluate adrenal function in patients with CKD.

Materials And Methods: Adults with CKD underwent a low-dose cosyntropin stimulation test (1 µg synthetic ACTH), with serum cortisol levels being measured at 0, +30 and +60 minutes post-test.

Occipital condyle screw fixation viability according to age and gender anatomy: A computed tomography-based analysis.

Objective: To assess the Occipital condyle morphology in an all-age population of Northeastern Mexico, and determine age and gender related changes for surgical viability.

Methods: A total of 175 consecutive HRCT scans were included and divided into 5 age groups. The condylar length, width, height, sagittal angle, anterior, posterior and medial intercondylar distances, and intercondylar angle of the OC were measured.

Avoiding iatrogenic injuries to the vertebral artery: A morphometric study of the vertebral artery-free dissection area.

Objective: To determine the area of a safety window that excludes the vertebral artery for the safe access of the occipital condyle screws during occipitocervical fixation.

Methods: This study included 138 cervical computed tomography angiograms. Six measurements per side were made in each imaging study.

Trustworthiness of randomized trials in endocrinology-A systematic survey.

Background: Trustworthy (i.e. low risk of bias) randomized clinical trials (RCTs) play an important role in evidence-based decision making.

Applying Social Network Analysis to Evaluate Implementation of a Multisector Population Health Collaborative That Uses a Bridging Hub Organization.

Multisector collaboratives are increasingly popular strategies for improving population health. To be comprehensive, collaboratives must coordinate the activities of many organizations across a geographic region. Many policy-relevant models encourage creation and use of centralized hub organizations to do this work, yet there is little guidance on how to evaluate implementation of such hubs and track their network reach.

Effect of online hemodiafiltration compared with hemodialysis on quality of life in patients with ESRD: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Background: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is related to high morbidity, mortality, and impaired health-related quality of life. While hemodialysis (HD) is the current life-saving standard of treatment for patients with ESRD, their quality of life (QoL) remains far from desirable. Online HDF (OL-HDF), due to its convenience, could improve the QoL of patients with ESRD, however, this remains uncertain.

Anatomical variations of the ethmoidal roof: differences between men and women.

Aim: During the paranasal sinuses surgery different complications may occur, both vascular and bony. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the ethmoidal roof configuration through the Keros and Yenigun classifications, analyzing results stratified by gender and side.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 120 high-resolution computed tomography paranasal sinus study images and measured the depth of the cribriform plate in a coronal view and the anterior-posterior length in a cross section.

Clinical, biomechanical and morphological assessment of anterior cruciate ligament Kevlar®-based artificial prosthesis in rabbit model.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, biomechanical and morphological characteristics of a Kevlar®-based prosthetic ligament as a synthetic graft of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in an experimental animal model in rabbits.

Methods: A total of 27 knees of rabbits randomly divided into 3 groups (control, ACL excision and ACL replacement with a Kevlar® prosthesis) were analyzed using clinical, biomechanical and morphological tests at 6, 12 and 18 weeks postprocedure.

Results: The mean displacement in mechanical testing was 0.

Perineural spread-susceptible structures: a non-pathological evaluation of the skull base.

Perineural spread adenoid cystic carcinoma can alter the dimension of foramina and canals of the skull base. The objective of this study was to determine the range of normal variation of the foramina and canals of both hemicranium. We analyzed 200 individuals with no alterations of the skull base in a retrospective manner using high-resolution computed tomography.