Management of thoracoabdominal gunshot wounds - Experience from a major trauma centre in South Africa.

Introduction: The management of thoracoabdominal (TA) gunshot wounds (GSW) remains challenging. This study reviewed our experience with treating such injuries over a decade.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at a major trauma centre in South Africa over a ten-year period from December 2012 to January 2022.

Outcomes for sigmoid volvulus managed with and without early definitive surgery: 20-year experience in a tertiary referral centre.

Background: Sigmoid volvulus is rare in Western countries. Patients at risk of sigmoid volvulus are often older with significant co-morbidity. Without sigmoid colectomy there is a high recurrence rate, but indications for surgery are controversial.

Observation versus intervention for incidental common bile duct stones at intraoperative cholangiogram: a systematic review.

Background: The natural history of incidental common bile duct stones (CBDS) is poorly understood. Current evidence is conflicting, with several studies suggesting the majority may pass spontaneously. Despite this, guidelines recommend routine removal even if asymptomatic.

Serum lactate level is an independent predictor of mortality in cardiac stab wounds - A South African experience.

Introduction: Despite dramatic advances in the care of trauma patients over the last fifty years, cardiac stab wounds (CSW) remain highly lethal, and the specific relationship between serum lactate level and mortality is unknown.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on all patients who presented with intraoperatively confirmed CSW from January 2008 to January 2020 at a major trauma centre in South Africa. Admission serum lactate level and patients' clinical outcomes were reviewed.

Penetrating buttock trauma is morbid but rarely fatal - A South African experience.

Background: Penetrating injuries to the buttock are relatively rare but are associated with significant morbidity. This study aimed to review our experience in managing penetrating trauma to the buttocks to contextualize the injury, document the most common associated injuries, and generate an algorithm to assist with the management of these patients.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at a major trauma center in South Africa over 8 years (January 2012 to January 2020).

Contemporary management of isolated free fluid on computed tomography scan in blunt abdominal trauma-experience from a Level 1 trauma centre in New Zealand.

Aims: The management of patients with blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) who have isolated free fluid (IFF) with no solid organ injury (SOI) on computed tomography (CT) remains controversial. This study aims to determine if the volume of free fluid (FF) is a predictor of the need for operative management of traumatic intra-abdominal injuries, by reviewing the local cumulative experience with IFF at a major trauma centre in New Zealand.

Methods: A retrospective study was undertaken over nine years at a Level 1 trauma centre in New Zealand.

Double Jeopardy Injuries: Improved Clinical Outcomes With FAST Imaging and Subxiphoid Pericardial Window for Combined Cardiac and Abdominal Stab Wounds.

Background: This study reviews our experience with combined cardiac and abdominal stab wounds over 12 years and reviews how changes in technology and clinical approaches have impacted our management of these patients.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 2008 to January 2020 at a major trauma centre in South Africa. All patients with concurrent SWs to the chest and the abdomen and required both a thoracotomy for cardiac injury and a laparotomy for an intra-abdominal injury at the same setting were included.

Foley Catheter Balloon Tamponade for Actively Bleeding Wounds Following Penetrating Neck Injury is an Effective Technique for Controlling Non-Compressible Junctional External Haemorrhage.

Background: The foley catheter balloon tamponade (FCBT) has been widely employed in the management of trauma. This study reviews our cumulative experience with the use of FCBT in the management of patients presenting with a penetrating neck injury (PNI).

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at a major trauma centre in South Africa over a 9-year period from January 2012 to December 2020.

Alterations in Leg Extensor Muscle-Tendon Unit Biomechanical Properties With Ageing and Mechanical Loading.

Tendons transfer forces produced by muscle to the skeletal system and can therefore have a large influence on movement effectiveness and safety. Tendons are mechanosensitive, meaning that they adapt their material, morphological and hence their mechanical properties in response to mechanical loading. Therefore, unloading due to immobilization or inactivity could lead to changes in tendon mechanical properties.

Applications of pharmacogenomics in regulatory science: a product life cycle review.

With rapid developments of pharmacogenomics (PGx) and regulatory science, it is important to understand the current PGx integration in product life cycle, impact on clinical practice thus far and opportunities ahead. We conducted a cross-sectional review on PGx-related regulatory documents and implementation guidelines in the United States and Europe. Our review found that although PGx-related guidance in both markets span across the entire product life cycle, the scope of implementation guidelines varies across two continents.

Primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the epididymis: report of a rare case with molecular genetic characterization including mutation analysis of the TP53 gene.

We report a case of primary epididymal mucinous adenocarcinoma in a 60-year-old man who presented with a scrotal mass and subsequently developed pulmonary metastases. On immunohistochemistry the tumor was positive for villin and CK20 and negative for CK7, CDX2, and thyroid transcription factor-1. Molecular genetic analysis revealed an uncommon mutation; 249: AGG →ATG in the TP53 gene, which has not been previously described in association with a primary epididymal adenocarcinoma.

Carcinoma cuniculatum of the esophagus and tongue: report of two cases, including TP53 mutational analysis.

Carcinoma cuniculatum (CC) is a rare variant of extremely well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. We present the clinicopathological features of two cases of CC; one lingual and one esophageal case with a molecular genetic study regarding the TP53 gene mutational status. Case 1 was a 62 year old male with enlarging chronic ulcer in the tongue.

Functionalized curcumin analogs as potent modulators of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Osteosarcoma is a primary bone malignancy with aggressive metastatic potential and poor prognosis rates. In our earlier work we have investigated the therapeutic potential of curcumin as an anti-invasive agent in osteosarcoma by its ability to regulate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. However, the clinical use of curcumin is limited owing to its low potency and poor pharmacokinetic profile.

A planar microelectrode array for simultaneous detection of electrically evoked dopamine release from distinct locations of a single isolated neuron.

Neurotransmission is a key process of communication between neurons. Although much is known about this process and the influence it has on the function of the body, little is understood about the dynamics of signalling from structural regions of a single neuron. In this study we have fabricated and characterised a microelectrode array (MEA) which was utilised for simultaneous multi-site recordings of dopamine release from an isolated single neuron.

In vitro spectrum of activity of finafloxacin, a novel, pH-activated fluoroquinolone, under standard and acidic conditions.

Finafloxacin is a novel fluoroquinolone that exhibits enhanced antibacterial activity under acidic conditions. The aim of this study was to define the in vitro pH-activity relationship. Finafloxacin exhibited optimal antibacterial activity between pH 5.

Exotropic drift and ocular alignment after surgical correction for intermittent exotropia.

Purpose: To evaluate changes in the angle of deviation over time and compare the motor success rate with different initial postoperative deviation in patients undergoing surgical correction for intermittent exotropia.

Methods: Forty-eight patients aged between 1 and 10 years who underwent bilateral lateral rectus recession for intermittent exotropia were retrospectively evaluated. Preoperative and postoperative ocular deviations at 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months were analyzed.

Antitumor activity of natural compounds, curcumin and PKF118-310, as Wnt/β-catenin antagonists against human osteosarcoma cells.

Aberrant activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway promotes osteosarcoma tumorigenesis and metastasis. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that osteosarcoma progression may be delayed by disrupting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway using small molecule inhibitors such as curcumin and PKF118-310. Effective inhibitions of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by curcumin and PKF118-310 in osteosarcoma cells were shown by the suppression of both intrinsic and activated β-catenin/Tcf transcriptional activities using luciferase reporter assays.

Development of inlaid electrodes for whole column electrochemical detection in HPLC.

An electrochemical microfluidic device has been fabricated on PET (polyethylene terephthalate) substrate using an imprinting method. The imprinting transfers patterns from a stamp into a substrate mechanically. However, a blanket mould imprinting process has been introduced to embed the photolithographically produced gold metal electrode lines into the PET substrate resulting in an individually addressable array flush to better than 100 nm.

Independent predictors for mortality in patients with positive Stenotrophomonas maltophilia cultures.

Introduction: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an emerging pathogen in nosocomial infections that may result in high mortality. S. maltophilia often present as part of a polymicrobial culture and it is not well established when treatment is indicated.

Emulsification and inverted hypopyon formation of oxane HD in the anterior chamber.

Background: Oxane HD(R) is a "heavier-than-water" silicone oil which has a specific gravity of 1.02 g/cm(3). When dispersed into droplets, one expects them to sink.

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry based metabolomics of raw and steamed Panax notoginseng.

At present, metabolite profiling is of growing importance in herbal medicine fields such as breeding, formulation, quality control and clinical trials. This preliminary study indicated that ultra-performance liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/TOFMS)-based metabolomics allows direct detection of down-stream derivatives of metabolites, arising from the herbal formulation process. This analytical approach allows the discrimination and tentative authentication of unique biomarkers related to different herbal extracts using unsupervised multivariate principal component analysis (PCA).

Knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation among the public in Hong Kong: telephone questionnaire survey.

Objectives: To evaluate the knowledge of basic life-support and training experience in cardiopulmonary resuscitation among the public in Hong Kong and to identify areas for improvement in public education.

Design: Telephone interview using a structured multiple-choice questionnaire.

Setting: Random cross-section of the Hong Kong public, from mid-March to May 2002.

Outcome of electroclinical, electrographic, and clinical seizures in the newborn infant.

Three seizure types have been described in the neonate: electroclinical, electrographic, and clinical only. Controversy still exists about whether the episodic abnormal movements seen in some infants, which are not accompanied by simultaneous ictal discharges on the EEG, are true seizures. Twenty-four infants with seizures were studied, 17 had purely electrographic and/or electroclinical seizures, seven had clinical-only seizures; six of these seven had clonic seizures, without facial manifestations or autonomic change.