Determination of pesticide residues in beans using QuEChERS technique coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: Multivariate optimization of CEN and AOAC methods.

The use of pesticides has led to environmental pollution and posed a global health risk, since they remain as residues on foods. Beans one of the most widely cultivated crop in Africa, and susceptible to attack by insects both on field and during storage, leading to the application of pesticides to control pests' infestation. However, misuse of these chemicals by farmers on beans has resulted in the rejection of beans exported to European countries, due to the presence of pesticide residues at concentrations higher than the maximum residues levels (MRLs).

Examination Approaches to Brachial Plexus Injury for Neurosurgical Residents.

Background: Brachial plexus injury is a severe peripheral nerve injury that affects the upper extremities and causes functional damage and disability. A detailed and accurate clinical examination is required to accurately localise the site of injury. This video manuscript aims to provide guidelines for the structured assessment of a patient with brachial plexus injury, specifically tailored to Malaysian medical students and trainees.

Pain as a Guide in Glasgow Coma Scale Status for Neurological Assessment.

Neurological status is essential and often challenging for neurosurgical residents and also for neurosurgeons to determine surgical management. Pain as a component of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) can be used as a tool in patients, especially an unconscious or comatose patient. In order to elicit this adequate noxious stimulus, a certain amount of pressure-pain threshold is required upon performing either as the central or peripheral technique.

Validating the total cancer location density metric for stratifying patients with low-risk localized prostate cancer at higher risk of grade group reclassification while on active surveillance.

Purpose: To validate a previously proposed prognostic metric, Total Cancer Location (TCLo) density, in a contemporary cohort of men with grade group (GG) 1 prostate cancer (PCa) on active surveillance (AS).

Methods: We evaluated 123 patients who entered AS with maximum GG1 PCa at diagnostic and/or confirmatory biopsy. TCLo was defined as the total number of PCa locations identified on both biopsy sessions.

A systematic scoping review of primary health care service outreach for homeless populations.

Background: Homeless populations (HPs) have difficulties obtaining necessary medical care, and primary health care service outreach (PHSO) might be useful to bridge this gap.

Objective: Using the Centre for Evidence-Based Management Critically Appraised Topics framework, to provide systematic evidence of the usefulness of PHSO interventions for HPs.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in 4 electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane (publication dates between January 1980 and November 2020).

Sepsis, cardiovascular events and short-term mortality risk in critically ill patients.

Introduction: There is paucity of data on the occurrence of cardiovascular events (CVEs) in critically ill patients with sepsis. We aimed to describe the incidence, risk factors and impact on mortality of CVEs in these patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of critically ill patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) between July 2015 and October 2016.

Characterizing the relationship between peak assistance torque and metabolic cost reduction during running with ankle exoskeletons.

Background: Reducing the energy cost of running with exoskeletons could improve enjoyment, reduce fatigue, and encourage participation among novice and ageing runners. Previously, tethered ankle exoskeleton emulators with offboard motors were used to greatly reduce the energy cost of running with powered ankle plantarflexion assistance. Through a process known as "human-in-the-loop optimization", the timing and magnitude of assistance torque was optimized to maximally reduce metabolic cost.

Adverse reactions and safety profile of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines among Asian military personnel.

Introduction: The use of novel mRNA platforms for COVID-19 vaccines raised concern about vaccine safety, especially in Asian populations that made up less than 10% of study populations in the pivotal vaccine trials used for emergency use authorisation. Vaccine safety issues also remain a concern in assessing the clinical risks and benefits of vaccine boosters, particularly in specific age groups or segments of the population. This study describes a vaccination exercise involving Asian military personnel, and the adverse reactions and safety events observed.

Validation of Tokyo Guidelines 2007 and Tokyo Guidelines 2013/2018 Criteria for Acute Cholangitis and Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality.

Background: Acute cholangitis (AC) is a common emergency with a significant mortality risk. The Tokyo Guidelines (TG) provide recommendations for diagnosis, severity stratification, and management of AC. However, validation of the TG remains poor.

Characterization and management of NMIBC recurrences after TMT: a matched cohort analysis.

Introduction And Objective: Bladder preservation with trimodal therapy (TMT) has emerged as a feasible alternative strategy to treat localized muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). There is lack of consensus regarding the treatment of local recurrence following TMT. The aim of this paper is to determine whether traditional NMIBC therapies can be applied to the management of NMIBC recurrences following TMT.

Fabrication of Adipose-Derived Stem Cell-Based Self-Assembled Scaffold under Hypoxia and Mechanical Stimulation for Urethral Tissue Engineering.

Long urethral strictures are often treated with autologous genital skin and buccal mucosa grafts; however, risk of hair ingrowth and donor site morbidity, restrict their application. To overcome this, we introduced a tissue-engineered human urethra comprising adipose-derived stem cell (ASC)-based self-assembled scaffold, human urothelial cells (UCs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). ASCs were cultured with ascorbic acid to stimulate extracellular matrix (ECM) production.

Prospective evaluation of using multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging in cognitive fusion prostate biopsy compared to the standard systematic 12-core biopsy in the detection of prostate cancer.

Purpose: There is mounting evidence to suggest that multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI)-guided biopsy is better than systematic biopsy for the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa). Cognitive fusion biopsy (CFB) involves targeted biopsies of areas of suspicious lesions noted on the mpMRI by transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) operator. This study was undertaken to determine the accuracy of mpMRI of the prostate with Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) version 2 in detecting PCa.

Radical nephrectomy with resection of vena cava thrombus using extracorporeal circulation and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Introduction: Patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with level 3 or 4 caval thrombus have a poor prognosis, with reported five-year survival rates of 30-40%. The aim of this study was to assess the perioperative morbidity and long-term oncological outcomes for radical nephrectomy with resection of vena cava thrombus using a combined surgical approach, including extracorporeal circulation and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of the institutional case log to identify all radical nephrectomies with caval thrombus performed from January 2006 to May 2020.

Natural History of Renal Angiomyolipoma Favors Surveillance as an Initial Approach.

Background: Traditionally, intervention was recommended for angiomyolipomas (AMLs) >4 cm due to the risk of catastrophic hemorrhage.

Objective: To delineate the natural history of AMLs, including growth rates and need for intervention.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A retrospective review was performed of an AML series from 2002 to 2013, which have been followed prospectively until 2018.

External validation of stroke mimic prediction scales in the emergency department.

Background: Acute ischemic stroke is a time-sensitive emergency where accurate diagnosis is required promptly. Due to time pressures, stroke mimics who present with similar signs and symptoms as acute ischemic stroke, pose a diagnostic challenge to the emergency physician. With limited access to investigative tools, clinical prediction, tools based only on clinical features, may be useful to identify stroke mimics.

Canadian experience of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on bladder recurrences in patients managed with trimodal therapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Introduction: Bladder preservation with trimodal therapy (TMT) has emerged as a feasible alternative to radical cystectomy in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) was proven to cause pathological downstaging. For this reason, we evaluated whether receipt of NAC decreases local bladder recurrences in TMT patients.

Utility of digital rectal examination in a population with prostate cancer treated with active surveillance.

Introduction: Digital rectal examination (DRE) is part of the clinical evaluation of men on active surveillance (AS). The purpose of the present study is to analyze the value of DRE as a predictor of upgrading in a population of men with prostate cancer (PCa) treated with AS.

Methods: We used the prostate biopsy (PBx) database from an academic center, including PBx from 2006-2018, and identified 2029 confirmatory biopsies (CxPBx) of men treated with AS, of which 726 men had both diagnostic (initial) and CxPBx information available.

Bladder-sparing treatment options in localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

: Bladder cancer is the 9th most common cancer in the world and the 4 and 8th most common cancer diagnosed in men in the United States and United Kingdom respectively. The standard of care for the treatment of MIBC is radical cystectomy. Bladder preserving treatment approaches are emerging for select patients and should be considered strongly in patients who decline a radical cystectomy.

A High Percent Free Prostate Specific Antigen in the Setting of Biochemical Recurrence after Radical Prostatectomy is Associated with Poorer Outcomes: A Validation Study Using Prospectively Collected Biobank Specimens.

Purpose: The role of percent free prostate specific antigen (%fPSA) in patients who have undergone radical prostatectomy and subsequently experienced disease relapse is unclear. We previously conducted 2 retrospective studies and found %fPSA 15 or greater in the setting of biochemical recurrence confers more aggressive disease. To validate that finding we used biobank specimens collected prospectively when patients were first diagnosed with biochemical recurrence.

Salvage radical prostatectomy following focal therapy: functional and oncological outcomes.

Objectives: To report the oncological and functional outcomes of salvage radical prostatectomy (sRP) after focal therapy (FT).

Patients And Methods: A retrospective review of all patients who underwent sRP after FT was performed. Clinical and pathological outcomes focussed on surgical complications, oncological, and functional outcomes.

A novel predictor of clinical progression in patients on active surveillance for prostate cancer.

Introduction: Active surveillance (AS) is standard of care in low-risk prostate cancer (PCa). This study describes a novel total cancer location (TCLo) density metric and aims to determine its performance in predicting clinical progression (CP) and grade progression (GP).

Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients on AS after confirmatory biopsy (CBx).