The accuracy and reliability of pre-operative templating in revision total knee arthroplasty. A comparison of analogue and digital methods.

Aims: To determine whether the size of the prostheses used in revision knee arthroplasty may be accurately and reproducibly predicted using analogue or digital pre-operative templating techniques.

Methods: Pre-operative radiographs were templated using analogue radiographs and acetate templates, digital radiographs and acetate templates and digital radiographs and digital templating software.

Results: Overall accuracy of predicting the size of implant used at surgery was 44%.

Genetic and environmental etiologies of the longitudinal relations between prereading skills and reading.

The present study explored the environmental and genetic etiologies of the longitudinal relations between prereading skills and reading and spelling. Twin pairs (n = 489) were assessed before kindergarten (M = 4.9 years), post-first grade (M = 7.

Bacteria flying under the radar: linking a bacterial infection to colon carcinogenesis.

The emergence of a link between Helicobacter pylori infection and an increased risk of gastric cancer has raised an awareness of a possible link between colonic microbiota and colorectal cancer. Pertubation of the colonic epithelium by toxin-producing strains of Bacteroides fragilis may increase the risk of premalignant transdifferentiation. However, like H.

Does mass azithromycin distribution impact child growth and nutrition in Niger? A cluster-randomized trial.

Background: Antibiotic use on animals demonstrates improved growth regardless of whether or not there is clinical evidence of infectious disease. Antibiotics used for trachoma control may play an unintended benefit of improving child growth.

Methodology: In this sub-study of a larger randomized controlled trial, we assess anthropometry of pre-school children in a community-randomized trial of mass oral azithromycin distributions for trachoma in Niger.

A second opinion: response to 100 professors.

Induced abortion is a controversial topic among obstetricians. "100 Professors" extolled the benefits of elective abortion in a Clinical Opinion published in AJOG. However, scientific balance requires the consideration of a second opinion from practitioners who care for both patients, and who recognize the humanity of both.

The preventive surgical site infection bundle in colorectal surgery: an effective approach to surgical site infection reduction and health care cost savings.

Importance: Surgical site infections (SSIs) in colorectal surgery are associated with increased morbidity and health care costs.

Objective: To determine the effect of a preventive SSI bundle (hereafter bundle) on SSI rates and costs in colorectal surgery.

Design: Retrospective study of institutional clinical and cost data.

Trends in bacterial and fungal keratitis in South India, 2002-2012.

Objective: To assess the trends in microbiological organisms identified from corneal scrapings from patients with infectious keratitis at a tertiary care medical centre in South India.

Methods: We reviewed the records of the microbiology laboratory at Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai, India, from 2002 until 2012. We identified the microbiological causes of all corneal ulcers from the culture and smear results, and assessed for trends in bacterial and fungal keratitis over time.

Management of the bleeding patient receiving new oral anticoagulants: a role for prothrombin complex concentrates.

Ease of dosing and simplicity of monitoring make new oral anticoagulants an attractive therapy in a growing range of clinical conditions. However, newer oral anticoagulants interact with the coagulation cascade in different ways than traditional warfarin therapy. Replacement of clotting factors will not reverse the effects of dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or apixaban.

Why do Children Differ in Their Development of Reading and Related Skills?

Modern behavior-genetic studies of twins in the U.S., Australia, Scandinavia, and the U.

Laparoscopic versus open low anterior resection for rectal cancer: results from the national cancer data base.

Background: While the use of laparoscopy has increased among patients undergoing colorectal surgery, there is ongoing debate regarding the oncologic equivalence of laparoscopy compared to open low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer.

Methods: The 2010-2011 NCDB was queried for patients undergoing LAR for rectal cancer. Subjects were grouped by laparoscopic (LLAR) versus open (OLAR) technique.

The effect of neoadjuvant radiation therapy on perioperative outcomes among patients undergoing resection of retroperitoneal sarcomas.

Background: Neoadjuvant radiation therapy (RT) has several theoretical benefits in the treatment of retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS), but concerns remain about treatment toxicity and perioperative morbidity. There are limited data regarding its effect on perioperative outcomes, most of which come from small, single-institution series. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term (30-day) postoperative morbidity and mortality associated with neoadjuvant RT following resection of RPS.

Cambridge community Optometry Glaucoma Scheme.

Background: With a higher life expectancy, there is an increased demand for hospital glaucoma services in the United Kingdom.

Design: The Cambridge community Optometry Glaucoma Scheme (COGS) was initiated in 2010, where new referrals for suspected glaucoma are evaluated by community optometrists with a special interest in glaucoma, with virtual electronic review and validation by a consultant ophthalmologist with special interest in glaucoma.

Participants: 1733 patients were evaluated by this scheme between 2010 and 2013.

Importance of including borderline cases in trachoma grader certification.

We assessed trachoma grading agreement among field graders using photographs that included the complete spectrum of disease and compared it with cases where there was consensus among experienced graders. Trained photographers took photographs of children's conjunctiva during a clinical trial in Ethiopia. We calculated κ-agreement statistics using a complete set of 60 cases and then recalculated the κ using a consensus set where cases were limited to those cases with agreement among experienced graders.

Current management and outcome of chronic type B aortic dissection: results with open and endovascular repair since the advent of thoracic endografting.

Background: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has become the preferred treatment for chronic type B aortic dissection (CTBAD) at our institution. However, it remains incapable of treating all patients with CTBAD. The present study aims to review our contemporary results with open and endovascular CTBAD repairs since the advent of thoracic endografting.

Telemedicine diagnosis of cytomegalovirus retinitis by nonophthalmologists.

Importance: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis continues to be a leading cause of blindness in many developing countries. Telemedicine holds the potential to increase the number of people screened for CMV retinitis, but it is unclear whether nonophthalmologists could be responsible for interpreting fundus photographs captured in a telemedicine program.

Objective: To determine the accuracy of nonophthalmologist photographic graders in diagnosing CMV retinitis from digital fundus photographs.

A neutrophil intrinsic impairment affecting Rab27a and degranulation in cystic fibrosis is corrected by CFTR potentiator therapy.

Studies have endeavored to reconcile whether dysfunction of neutrophils in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) is a result of the genetic defect or is secondary due to infection and inflammation. In this study, we illustrate that disrupted function of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), such as that which occurs in patients with ∆F508 and/or G551D mutations, correlates with impaired degranulation of antimicrobial proteins. We demonstrate that CF blood neutrophils release less secondary and tertiary granule components compared with control cells and that activation of the low-molecular-mass GTP-binding protein Rab27a, involved in the regulation of granule trafficking, is defective.

Dementia care in the context of primary care reform: an integrative review.

Objectives: The purpose of this review was to determine the influence of the growing body of evidence about the attributes of high-performing primary care systems on the literature related to the primary care of people living with dementia.

Methods: In this integrative review, we examined a broad range of published and grey literature (2000-2013) about the primary care of dementia, using a systematic approach set up in advance of the literature search. The review was guided by two questions: What are the evident models of primary care for dementia? How do the models line up with the other attributes of high-performing primary care?

Results: Three models were noted: carved-out, co-managed, and integrative-hub, all informed by different assumptions about the role of primary care in dementia.

Trials of nonoperative management exceeding 3 days are associated with increased morbidity in patients undergoing surgery for uncomplicated adhesive small bowel obstruction.

Background: Controversy exists over how long trials of nonoperative management should be pursued in patients with uncomplicated adhesive small bowel obstructions (ASBOs) before deciding to proceed with surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of incremental delays in surgery on the 30-day postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for uncomplicated ASBO.

Methods: American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program 2005-2011 data were used to identify patients with uncomplicated ASBO in whom a trial of nonoperative management was attempted.

Efficacy and safety of antifungal additives in Optisol-GS corneal storage medium.

Importance: Optisol-GS, the most common corneal storage medium in the United States, contains antibacterial but no antifungal supplementation. Most postkeratoplasty endophthalmitis and keratitis cases are now of a fungal origin.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of voriconazole and amphotericin B in reducing Candida species contamination of Optisol-GS under normal storage conditions.

Reliability of trachoma clinical grading--assessing grading of marginal cases.

Background: Clinical examination of trachoma is used to justify intervention in trachoma-endemic regions. Currently, field graders are certified by determining their concordance with experienced graders using the kappa statistic. Unfortunately, trachoma grading can be highly variable and there are cases where even expert graders disagree (borderline/marginal cases).

Visual outcomes in treated bacterial keratitis: four years of prospective follow-up.

Purpose: We described the change in visual acuity experienced by eyes successfully treated for bacterial keratitis.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of a subset of study participants who had previously enrolled in the Steroids for Corneal Ulcers Trial (SCUT). All study participants had been diagnosed with culture-proven bacterial keratitis before enrollment in SCUT and subsequently were randomized to adjunctive topical corticosteroids or placebo.