Structured Preoperative Phone Counseling by Junior Medical Staff for Improving the Consent Process for Tonsillectomy.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of preoperative phone counseling by junior medical staff for improving the standard of informed consent for tonsillectomy.

Study Design: Prospective randomized controlled trial.

Setting: District general hospital.

A randomized controlled trial of a middle meatal silastic stent for reducing adhesions and middle turbinate lateralization following endoscopic sinus surgery.

Background: Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is indicated for patients with recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis symptoms. However, surgical revision can be required because of adhesion formation and middle turbinate lateralization. We investigate the efficacy of a middle meatal silastic stent in reducing these complications after ESS.

Prognostic molecular markers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in a New Zealand population: matrix metalloproteinase-2 and sialyl Lewis x antigen.

Objective: The survival rate for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is among the lowest of the major cancers and has not substantially improved in the past two decades. Tumours with similar histological features may have widely differing clinical outcomes and thus identification of prognostic and predictive biomarkers may be valuable for determining appropriate clinical management strategies. The objective of this study was to establish the prognostic significance of six molecular markers in HNSCC in a New Zealand population: matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP-2, MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1, sialyl Lewis antigens a and x (sLe(a) , sLe(x) ) and alpha B-crystallin.

A study examining rates of medical staff recognition of pressure ulceration in hospital inpatients.

Background: The incidence of pressure ulceration among UK hospital inpatients has been estimated at 10.2-10.3%.

Submucosal lingualplasty for adult obstructive sleep apnea.

Objective: To measure quality-of-life outcomes, polysomnographic outcomes, and adverse effects for a new technique of tongue reduction in obstructive sleep apnea.

Study Design: Case series.

Setting: Tertiary hospital.

Parkinson's tremor mimicking torsades de pointes.

A 72-year-old woman with Parkinson's disease presented to outpatients with a history of falls. The falls were not associated with loss of consciousness, and the history suggested gait and balance problems leading to falls. A 12-lead electrocardiogram, as shown in Figure 1, had the appearance of torsades de pointes.

Bisphosphonate-related subtrochanteric femoral fractures.

Background: Hip fractures are important because they are associated with an increased rate of death, substantial morbidity, enormous costs, and devastating effects on independence and quality of life. Bisphosphonates have proven efficacy in reducing the incidence of spine and nonspine fractures. Several case series and multiple individual case reports from around the world suggest that some subtrochanteric fractures and those of the femoral shaft might occur in patients who have been treated with long-term bisphosphonate therapy.