Evaluation of trauma resources in rural northern Alberta identifies opportunities for improvement.

Background: The care of rural trauma patients in northern Alberta can be extremely challenging because of the vast geographic area, the limited access to health care facilities and the lack of adequate resources to manage severe injuries. Identifying gaps in equipment and personnel in rural centres can provide opportunities for improving the care of injured patients in these environments. We conducted a survey based on Canadian Accreditation Council quality indicators to evaluate trauma infrastructure and human resources in rural centres across northern Alberta.

Activation of the pattern recognition receptor NOD1 augments colon cancer metastasis.

While emerging data suggest nucleotide oligomerization domain receptor 1 (NOD1), a cytoplasmic pattern recognition receptor, may play an important and complementary role in the immune response to bacterial infection, its role in cancer metastasis is entirely unknown. Hence, we sought to determine the effects of NOD1 on metastasis. NOD1 expression in paired human primary colon cancer, human and murine colon cancer cells were determined using immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting (WB).

Gram-Negative Pneumonia Augments Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Metastasis through Host Toll-like Receptor 4 Activation.

Introduction: Surgery is essential for cure of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Rates of postoperative bacterial pneumonias, however, remain high, and clinical data suggests that post-operative infectious complications confer an increased risk for metastasis. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) mediate the inflammatory response to infection by recognizing evolutionarily conserved bacterial structures at the surface of numerous pulmonary cell types; yet, little is known about how host TLR activation influences NSCLC metastasis.

Transanal minimally invasive surgery for benign large rectal polyps and early malignant rectal cancers: experience and outcomes from the first Canadian centre to adopt the technique.

Background: Transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) has emerged as a relatively new technique in treating early cancer and benign lesion of the rectum. The technique is likely to be widely adopted, surpassing other comparable techniques owing to its simple setup and cost-effectiveness. We assessed the outcomes of TAMIS at our centre.

Outcomes of a Single Surgeon-Based Transanal-Total Mesorectal Excision (TATME) for Rectal Cancer.

Background: Several studies have shown the transanal total mesorectal excision (TATME) is emerging as a safe and effective technique for proctectomy. The majority of these studies to date, however, is based on procedures done in centers with teams of two surgeons working simultaneously. Few were performed by single-surgeon teams with sizeable case load.

Predictive Power of the NSQIP Risk Calculator for Early Post-Operative Outcomes After Whipple: Experience from a Regional Center in Northern Ontario.

Background: NSQIP Risk Calculator was developed to allow surgeons to inform their patients about their individual risks for surgery. Its ability to predict complication rates and length of stay (LOS) has made it an appealing tool for both patients and surgeons. However, the NSQIP Risk Calculator has been criticized for its generality and lack of detail towards surgical subspecialties, including the hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) surgery.

Gram-positive pneumonia augments non-small cell lung cancer metastasis via host toll-like receptor 2 activation.

Surgical resection of early stage nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is necessary for cure. However, rates of postoperative bacterial pneumonias remain high and may confer an increased risk for metastasis. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) mediate the inflammatory cascade by recognizing microbial products at the surface of numerous cell types in the lung; however, little is known about how host TLRs influence NSCLC metastasis.

Heterogeneous effects of fructose on blood lipids in individuals with type 2 diabetes: systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental trials in humans.

Objective: Because of blood lipid concerns, diabetes associations discourage fructose at high intakes. To quantify the effect of fructose on blood lipids in diabetes, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental clinical trials investigating the effect of isocaloric fructose exchange for carbohydrate on triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol in type 1 and 2 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library for relevant trials of > or =7 days.