Surgical Treatment Intensity at the End of Life in Patients With Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To synthesize evidence of surgical treatment intensity, defined as a measure of the quantity of invasive procedures, received by patients in patients with cancer within a defined time period around the 'end of life' (EoL).

Background: Concern regarding overly 'aggressive' care or high health care utilization at the EoL, particularly in cancer, is growing. The contribution surgery makes to the quality and cost of EoL care in cancer has not yet been quantified.

Impact of an in-person small group surgical skills course for preclinical medical students in an era of increased e-learning.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a dramatic decrease in face-to-face teaching. This can particularly impact medical students' skills development. This prompted development of an in-person surgical skills course as guided by the General Medical Council "Outcomes for Graduates" facilitated by tutors with surgical experience.

The CPUP Hip Score predicts displacement of the hip in children with cerebral palsy.

Aims: The Uppföljningsprogram för cerebral pares (CPUP) Hip Score distinguishes between children with cerebral palsy (CP) at different levels of risk for displacement of the hip. The score was constructed using data from Swedish children with CP, but has not been confirmed in any other population. The aim of this study was to determine the calibration and discriminatory accuracy of this score in children with CP in Scotland.

Leisure Time Physical Activity in Children and Young People With Cerebral Palsy: A Population-Based Study.

Purpose: To describe leisure time physical activity in children and young people with cerebral palsy and identify barriers and facilitators to participation.

Methods: Leisure time physical activity participation was derived from a national cerebral palsy register and associated factors were analyzed. Barriers and facilitators to participation were investigated through a survey.

Implementing an Operational Framework to Develop a Streamflow Duration Assessment Method: A Case Study from the Arid West United States.

Streamflow duration information underpins many management decisions. However, hydrologic data are rarely available where needed. Rapid streamflow duration assessment methods (SDAMs) classify reaches based on indicators that are measured in a single brief visit.

Hip displacement in children with cerebral palsy.

Aims: The migration percentage (MP) is one criterion used for surgery in dislocated or displaced hips in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The MP at which a displaced hip can no longer return to normal is unclear. The aim of this paper was to identify the point of no return of the MP through a large population-based study.

Hip displacement and dislocation in a total population of children with cerebral palsy in Scotland.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of hip displacement and dislocation in a total population of children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Scotland before and after the initiation of a hip surveillance programme.

Patients: A total of 2,155 children with CP are registered in the Cerebral Palsy Integrated Pathway Scotland (CPIPS) surveillance programme, which began in 2013. Physical examination and hip radiological data are collected according to nationally agreed protocols.

Preanalytics and Precision Pathology: Pathology Practices to Ensure Molecular Integrity of Cancer Patient Biospecimens for Precision Medicine.

Biospecimens acquired during routine medical practice are the primary sources of molecular information about patients and their diseases that underlies precision medicine and translational research. In cancer care, molecular analysis of biospecimens is especially common because it often determines treatment choices and may be used to monitor therapy in real time. However, patient specimens are collected, handled, and processed according to routine clinical procedures during which they are subjected to factors that may alter their molecular quality and composition.

The effect of femoral orientation on the measurement of the head shaft angle: an ex-vivo study.

This laboratory study evaluates head shaft angle (HSA) reliability using ranges of simulated femoral orientation often seen in children with cerebral palsy. A dry femur was mounted in a jig that enabled the bone to be positioned in a range of internal and external rotation (-40° to + 40°) and flexion (0°-60°), alone or in combination. A metal wire was placed as a surrogate physis to give two HSA angles of 140° and 160°.

Distribution and motor ability of children with cerebral palsy in Scotland: a registry analysis.

Background And Aims: Cerebral palsy is the commonest long-term physical disability in children with a prevalence of between 1.77 and 2.11/1000 live births.

The College of American Pathologists Biorepository Accreditation Program: Results from the First 5 Years.

The College of American Pathologists (CAP) developed the Biorepository Accreditation Program (BAP) in 2012. This program integrates best practices from the International Society for Biological and Environmental Biorepositories, the National Cancer Institute, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program. The goal of this elective program is to provide requirements for standardization in biorepository processes that will result in high-quality specimens that can be used to support research, drug discovery, and personalized medicine.

Spanish Language Pelvic Floor Disorders Patient Information Handouts: How Readable Are They?

Objective: This study aimed to determine the readability of commonly available patient information materials for pelvic floor disorders written in Spanish and compare their readability based on type of content and source.

Methods: Spanish patient information handouts, including pamphlets from the National Institutes of Health, International Urogynecology Association, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, online printable handouts, and industry-sponsored brochures were assessed for readability. Online materials for patients were obtained from Google searches using key words (pelvic floor disorders, urogynecology, patient information handouts, Spanish).

Proceedings of the 1st Puerto Rico Biobanking Workshop.

The 1st Puerto Rico Biobanking Workshop took place on August 20st, 2014 in the Auditorium of the Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus in San Juan Puerto Rico. The program for this 1-day, live workshop included lectures by three biobanking experts, followed by presentations from existing biobanks in Puerto Rico and audience discussion. The need for increasing biobanking expertise in Puerto Rico stems from the fact that Hispanics in general are underrepresented in the biobanks in existence in the US, which limits the research conducted specifically to understand the molecular differences in cancer cells compared to other better studied populations.

A Call to Standardize Preanalytic Data Elements for Biospecimens, Part II.

Context: Biospecimens must have appropriate clinical annotation (data) to ensure optimal quality for both patient care and research. Additional clinical preanalytic variables are the focus of this continuing study.

Objective: To complete the identification of the essential preanalytic variables (data fields) that can, and in some instances should, be attached to every collected biospecimen by adding the additional specific variables for clinical chemistry and microbiology to our original 170 variables.

Transition from paediatric to adult health services in Scotland for young people with cerebral palsy.

Transition from paediatric to adult health-care services has been characterized as being poorly planned and coordinated, resulting in a reduction in services and may be distressing for families. This study aimed to establish what provisions are currently available in Scotland for transition of young people with cerebral palsy and what some clinicians believe future provisions should involve. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 community paediatricians (or equivalents in health boards without community paediatricians) from 12 different Scottish health boards.

How Critical is Patient Positioning in Radiographic Assessment of the Hip in Cerebral Palsy When Measuring Migration Percentage?

Background: Migration percentage (MP) is an accepted method of assessing lateral displacement of the femoral head in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Difficulty in positioning of patients for pelvic radiography remains a concern for the reliability of the MP.

Methods: This 2-part quantitative study examined 100 anteroposterior pelvic radiographs for children with CP.

A call to standardize preanalytic data elements for biospecimens.

Context: Biospecimens must have appropriate clinical annotation (data) to ensure optimal quality for both patient care and research. Clinical preanalytic variables are the focus of this study.

Objective: To define the essential preanalytic variables (data fields) that should be attached to every collected biospecimen and to provide a complete list of such variables, along with their relative importance, which can vary, depending on downstream use, institutional needs, and information technology capabilities.

Biospecimens and biorepositories for the community pathologist.

Pathologists have long served as custodians of human biospecimens collected for diagnostic purposes. Rapid advancements in diagnostic technologies require that pathologists change their practices to optimize patient care. The proper handling of biospecimens creates opportunities for pathologists to improve their diagnoses while assessing prognosis and treatment.

Repeatability of a new observational gait score for unilateral lower limb amputees.

The aim of this study was to assess the repeatability of an observational gait analysis score that was developed specifically for unilateral amputees. Ten videotaped sequences were analysed by six experienced observers on two separate occasions. Data were analysed using percentage agreement, the kappa statistic and the coefficient of repeatability.

Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation of the metatarsal: a pediatric case report and archival review.

Unlabelled: Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferations (BPOP), also known as Nora's lesions, are rare tumors occurring most commonly in the hands and feet. They are benign and rarely exhibit radiological evidence of cortical invasion. We report a case of BPOP showing atypical magnetic resonance imaging features that are inconsistent with BPOP and having a novel chromosomal aberration.

Obturator internus pyomyositis presenting as a pararectal abscess.

This report describes two children who presented with fever, hip pain and a limp, and were subsequently found to have a primary pyomyositis of the obturator internus muscle. A clinical diagnosis of septic arthritis of the hip was made initially, but in both children MRI showed a pararectal abscess, which required incision and drainage. Staphylococcus aureus was cultured from pus from the abscesses and both children made a full recovery subsequently.

Development of temporal and distance parameters of gait in normal children.

Temporal and distance parameters of 33 normal children were obtained from instrumented gait analysis prospectively over five consecutive years. The parameters were normalised to minimise the confounding effects of increasing height and leg length. Rank correlations were performed on normalised speed, normalised stride length, normalised cadence and normalised walk ratio across consecutive pairs of years to examine the ranking of these parameters for an individual child over time.