LASSO-based screening for potential prognostic biomarkers associated with glioblastoma.

Background: Glioblastoma is the most common malignancy of the neuroepithelium, yet existing research on this tumor is limited. LASSO is an algorithm of selected feature coefficients by which genes associated with glioblastoma prognosis can be obtained.

Methods: Glioblastoma-related data were selected from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and information was obtained for 158 samples, including 153 cancer samples and five samples of paracancerous tissue.

Access to Health Care Improves COVID-19 Vaccination and Mitigates Health Disparities Among Medicare Beneficiaries.

Background: COVID-19 disproportionately impacts the elderly, particularly racial/ethnic minorities and those with low socioeconomic status (SES). These latter groups may also have higher vaccine hesitancy. We aim to evaluate if access to care improves COVID-19 vaccination rates and improves health disparities.

Two alternative splicing variants of a sugar gustatory receptor modulate fecundity through different signalling pathways in the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens.

Insect gustatory receptors play crucial roles in multiple physiological behaviours. Although the alternative splicing of some gustatory receptors has been observed in insect species, differences in their ligands and functions have rarely been reported. Here, we cloned NlGr10a and NlGr10b, two alternative splicing variants of a sugar gustatory receptor gene in the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), and found that their ligands were different by calcium imaging assay.

Identification of putative fecundity-related gustatory receptor genes in the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens.

Background: The insect gustatory system plays a central role in the regulation of multiple physiological behaviors and the co-evolution between insects and their hosts. The gustatory receptors (Gr) are important to allow insects to sense their environment. It is critical to the selection of foods, mates and oviposition sites of insects.

Attitudes and Beliefs of Pediatric Surgical Specialists on Costs of Care and High Deductible Health Plans.

Health care consumers are burdened with rising out-of-pocket medical expenses. Surgical specialists' experience and attitude towards patients' out-of-pocket costs and the influence of these factors on healthcare utilization are unknown. Our aim was to define the pediatric surgeons' experience with the financial concerns of their patients.

Correlating Abdominal Wall Thickness and Body Mass Index to Predict Usefulness of Right Lower Quadrant Ultrasound for Evaluation of Pediatric Appendicitis.

Objectives: To inform selective and efficient use of appendix ultrasound (US) beyond adult parameters of body mass index (BMI) of less than 25 kg/m, we correlate abdominal wall thickness (AWT) with age and BMI to generate parameters for male and female children. Information presented in chart format can aid in the decision to utilize US for the evaluation of appendicitis.

Methods: In this observational study, 1600 pediatric computed tomography scans of the abdomen and pelvis were analyzed to obtain measurements of AWT in the right lower quadrant.

The role of environmental tobacco exposure and Helicobacter pylori infection in the risk of chronic tonsillitis in children.

Context And Objective:: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a chronic infectious pathogen with high prevalence. This study investigated the interaction between environmental tobacco exposure and H.

Subspecialization within pediatric surgical groups in North America.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the current status of subspecialization in North American pediatric surgical practices and to evaluate factors associated with subspecialization.

Methods: A survey was sent to each pediatric surgical practice in the United States and Canada. For each of 44 operation types, ranging in complexity and volume, the respondents chose one of the following responses: 1.

Asymptomatic malrotation: Diagnosis and surgical management: An American Pediatric Surgical Association outcomes and evidence based practice committee systematic review.

Objective: Patients with malrotation, or an intestinal rotation abnormality (IRA), can experience serious adverse events. Increasingly, asymptomatic patients are being diagnosed with malrotation incidentally. Patients with symptomatic malrotation require surgery in an urgent or semiurgent manner to address their symptoms.

Postoperative Regimentation Of Treatment Optimizes Care and Optimizes Length of Stay (PROTOCOL) after pyloromyotomy.

Background/purpose: A non-standardized approach to caring for infants after pyloromyotomy for pyloric stenosis was associated with prolonged postoperative length of stay (pLOS) at our institution. We studied the impact of a standardized postoperative care protocol on pLOS, patients' clinical course, and nursing care.

Methods: A retrospective chart review identified that 27% of infants who underwent uncomplicated pyloromyotomy had prolonged pLOS, defined as more than one postoperative midnight.

Prevention of infectious complications after elective colorectal surgery in children: an American Pediatric Surgical Association Outcomes and Clinical Trials Committee comprehensive review.

Objective: This goal of this review was to examine the clinical evidence in support of commonly utilized measures intended to reduce complications following elective colorectal surgery.

Data Source: Literature searches were performed to identify relevant studies from Medline, PubMed, and Cochrane databases.

Study Selection: The American Pediatric Surgery Association Outcomes and Clinical Trials Committee selected eight questions to address this topic systematically in the context of three management areas: 1) appropriate utilization of systemic antibiotics for colorectal procedures, 2) reduction of stool burden through mechanical bowel preparation, and 3) intraluminal gut decontamination through use of enteral nonabsorbable antibiotics.

Pediatric surgeons' attitudes toward regionalization of neonatal surgical care.

Background/purpose: Research has suggested that high-risk pediatric surgical patients have better outcomes when treated in resource-rich children's environments. Surgical neonates are a particularly high-risk population and some suggest that regionalization might be a strategy to improve clinical outcomes in neonatal surgical patients. We conducted a national survey of pediatric surgeons in the United States to explore their attitudes toward regionalization of neonatal surgical care.

Optimizing resources for the surgical care of children: an American Pediatric Surgical Association Outcomes and Clinical Trials Committee consensus statement.

The United States' healthcare system is facing unprecedented pressures: the healthcare cost curve is not sustainable while the bar of standards and expectations for the quality of care continues to rise. Systems committed to the surgical treatment of children will likely require changes and reorganization. Regardless of these mounting pressures, hospitals must remain focused on providing the best possible care to each child at every encounter.

Pediatric surgery on YouTube™: is the truth out there?

Background/purpose: In 2000, we described the variability of pediatric surgical information on the Internet. Since then, online videos have become an increasingly popular medium for education and personal expression. The purpose of this study was to examine the content and quality of videos related to pediatric surgical diagnoses on the Internet.

Risk-adjusted hospital outcomes for children's surgery.

Unlabelled: BACKGROUND The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric was initiated in 2008 to drive quality improvement in children's surgery. Low mortality and morbidity in previous analyses limited differentiation of hospital performance.

Methods: Participating institutions included children's units within general hospitals and free-standing children's hospitals.

Impact of wait time on outcome for inguinal hernia repair in infants.

Background: Prolonged surgical wait times are a problem in many health care systems. We used data from two pediatric surgical centers, one Canadian and one American, in order to determine if increased wait times are related to rates of incarceration and adverse outcomes.

Methods: Data were collected for children under the age of 2 who presented with an inguinal hernia to either the emergency department or clinic in the two hospitals in 2002 and 2003.

Retrograde jejunoduodenal intussusception: a rare cause of acute pancreatitis after surgery for duodenal atresia.

Duodenojejunostomy is a surgical treatment option in the repair of duodenal atresia. This case describes the heretofore unreported phenomenon of retrograde jejunoduodenal intussusception causing acute pancreatitis in a patient who underwent duodenojejunostomy in infancy.

Liver transplantation and chemotherapy in children with unresectable primary hepatic malignancies: development of a management algorithm.

Objectives: Total surgical excision and adjunctive chemotherapy are cornerstones of treatment of primary hepatic malignancies in children. Recent studies suggest that transplantation is a viable option for unresectable tumors, but there are questions concerning decision making regarding resectability and timing of transplantation in relation to chemotherapy. We developed a management algorithm based on our experience, with reference to recently published multicenter transplantation outcomes.

Trauma stat and trauma minor: are we making the call appropriately?

Objectives: Trauma accounts for a significant number of pediatric emergency room visits and is the leading cause of death in pediatric patients over 1 year of age. To provide quality care, protocols are used to mobilize personnel to treat injured patients. We reviewed our experience at a level 1 pediatric trauma center, where a 2-tiered trauma activation protocol is used in treating children with significant injuries.

An analysis of pediatric gunshot wounds treated at a Level I pediatric trauma center.

Background: We reviewed the incidence and injury severity of children with gunshot wounds (GSWs) at our hospital.

Methods: We compared trauma registry, emergency unit (EU), and admissions data from January 1993 to June 1996 (period I) and July 1996 to December 1999 (period II). Outcome measures included EU disposition (death, immediate operation, pediatric intensive care unit, ward), injury severity, mortality, and injury cause (accidental, intentional).

Cut it out: Managing hepatic abscesses in patients with chronic granulomatous disease.

Background: Hepatic abscesses develop in patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) because the liver is a site of constant bacterial challenge. The authors investigated the roles of drainage and hepatic resection in the management of liver abscesses in CGD patients.

Methods: Medical records of CGD patients with hepatic abscesses from 1990 to 2001 were reviewed.

Management of late-stage parapneumonic empyema.

Purpose: Despite the reported value of early video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for empyema, many children are still referred to the surgeon late in the disease process. The authors wished to determine the optimal management strategy for this group of children.

Methods: Medical records of all children (n = 70) from 1990 to 2000 with late-presenting empyema (stage II or III) were reviewed.