Incisional hernia repair with a slowly absorbable P4HB mesh: what happens after the mesh disappears? A retrospective longitudinal clinical study.

Purpose: To analyze the incisional hernia recurrence rate at a long-term follow-up using a biosynthetic long-term absorbable mesh in patients with a higher risk of surgical infection in a contaminated surgical field.

Methods: This was a retrospective multicentric study. All patients undergoing incisional hernia repair between 2016 and 2018 at 6 participating university centers were included.

PET image segmentation using a Gaussian mixture model and Markov random fields.

Background: Classification algorithms for positron emission tomography (PET) images support computational treatment planning in radiotherapy. Common clinical practice is based on manual delineation and fixed or iterative threshold methods, the latter of which requires regression curves dependent on many parameters.

Methods: An improved statistical approach using a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) is proposed to obtain initial estimates of a target volume, followed by a correction step based on a Markov random field (MRF) and a Gibbs distribution to account for dependencies among neighboring voxels.

Engagement of the B cell receptor for antigen differentially affects B cell responses to Toll-like receptor-7 agonists and antagonists in BXSB mice.

Nucleic acid sensors of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family play a well-established role in the pathogenesis of lupus. This is particularly true for a single-stranded RNA-sensing TLR-7 receptor, as lupus mice lacking TLR-7 show ameliorated disease. Cytosine-guanosine dinucleotide (CpG)-DNA-sensing TLR-9, conversely, has a complex regulatory role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Evidence for the efficacy of an 8% strontium acetate dentifrice for instant and lasting relief of dentin hypersensitivity.

An 8% strontium acetate, 1040 ppm sodium fluoride-based dentifrice has been demonstrated in in vitro and in situ studies to provide deep and acid-resistant tubule occlusion. Clinical efficacy studies have shown instant and lasting dentin hypersensitivity relief from this dentifrice, which has recently been launched by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare as Sensodyne Rapid Relief.

B-cell receptor for antigen modulates B-cell responses to complex TLR9 agonists and antagonists: implications for systemic lupus erythematosus.

The capacity to make secondary structures significantly affects the ability of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonists and antagonists to either induce or block TLR9-dependent activation in B cells. However, it has a minor impact on TLR9-induced activation in interferon alpha (IFNα)-producing dendritic cells. Based on the ability of inhibitory oligodeoxynucleotides to form predictable secondary structures, we have classified TLR9-antagonists into Class R ('restricted', palindromic) and Class B ('broadly reactive', linear) oligodeoxynucleotides.

Considerations for the development of over-the-counter dentifrices for the treatment and relief of dentin sensitivity.

There have been many recent articles and reviews covering the effectiveness of dentifrices for the treatment and relief of dentin sensitivity. To date, there are no articles which fully examine all the compromises that a dentifrice formulator and manufacturer have to make when developing an effective dentifrice technology in the context of theoretical approaches and proposed modes of action. This article provides a first review and discussion of the currently available technologies, nerve depolarization and occluding agents.

Ethical conduct recommendations for quality improvement projects.

The distinction between QI, research, and clinical care projects has never been clear. However, QI projects may raise ethical concerns, and organizations need to ensure that patients involved in QI projects are adequately protected. The recommendations within the VHA report are intended as a starting point for dialogue to provide guidance for the responsible ethical conduct of QI projects.

Development of an interinstitutional resident record completion policy.

Seven hospitals in the Dayton, Ohio area collaborated in the development of generic record completion policies to assist with orientation of medical school residents. A uniform delinquent record policy was also developed, which defined the steps that would be taken if records remained incomplete. The interinstitutional policies resulted in a more cooperative atmosphere among residents, the medical school, and the hospitals, which contributed to improved quality of documentation and a decrease in the number of delinquent records by as much as 70 percent.