Patients with Community Acquired Pneumonia Exhibit Depleted Vitamin C Status and Elevated Oxidative Stress.

Pneumonia is a severe lower respiratory tract infection that is a common complication and a major cause of mortality of the vitamin C-deficiency disease scurvy. This suggests an important link between vitamin C status and lower respiratory tract infections. Due to the paucity of information on the vitamin C status of patients with pneumonia, we assessed the vitamin C status of 50 patients with community-acquired pneumonia and compared these with 50 healthy community controls.

Urinalysis orders and yield among General Medicine patients: a single-centre's experience in New Zealand.

Background: Urinalysis performed by dipstick testing is an aid to diagnosing urinary tract infections (UTI), and a tool in selecting patients who require urine culture and antibiotic treatment. Previous studies have demonstrated that UTI, especially in the elderly, are over-diagnosed and over-treated. We sought to study the pattern and yield of urinalysis and urine culture at our service in a tertiary institution.

Colonization with enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis is associated with early-stage colorectal neoplasia.

Background: Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF) is a toxin-producing bacteria thought to possibly promote colorectal carcinogenesis by modulating the mucosal immune response and inducing epithelial cell changes. Here, we aim to examine the association of colonic mucosal colonization with ETBF and the presence of a range of lesions on the colonic neoplastic spectrum.

Methods: Mucosal tissue from up to four different colonic sites was obtained from a consecutive series of 150 patients referred for colonoscopy.

Elective surgical outcomes of patients in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Aim: Most studies assessing mortality after surgery have been undertaken in major public hospitals or are procedure specific. The aim of this study was to determine mortality after elective surgery at a total community level with inclusion of all patients undergoing elective surgery.

Method: This was a prospective study of all patients that underwent elective surgery in Christchurch, New Zealand, within a calendar month.

Improved survival for rectal cancer compared to colon cancer: the four cohort study.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. This study was undertaken to evaluate survival outcomes and changes of disease outcomes of CRC patients over the last decades.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of CRC patients in Christchurch was performed in four patient cohorts at 5 yearly intervals; 1993-94, 1998-99, 2004-05 and 2009.

Management of malignant colorectal polyps in New Zealand.

Background: The management of colorectal polyps containing a focus of malignancy is problematic, and the risks of under- and over-treatment must be balanced. The primary aim of this study was to describe the management and outcomes of patients with malignant polyps in the New Zealand population; the secondary aim was to investigate prognostic factors.

Methods: Retrospective review of relevant clinical records at five New Zealand District Health Boards.

Hinchey I and II diverticular abscesses: long-term outcome of conservative treatment.

Background: The management of diverticular disease and its complications are an increasing burden to the health system. The natural history of conservatively managed diverticular abscesses (Hinchey I and II) is poorly described and it remains open to debate whether subsequent sigmoid resection is indicated after conservative management. This observational study compares outcomes of patients treated with conservative management (antibiotics +/- percutaneous drainage) and surgery.

The Outcomes and Patterns of Treatment Failure After Surgery for Locally Recurrent Rectal Cancer.

Objective: To assess the outcomes and patterns of treatment failure of patients who underwent pelvic exenteration surgery for recurrent rectal cancer.

Background: Despite advances in the management of rectal cancer, local recurrence still occurs. For appropriately selected patients, pelvic exenteration surgery can achieve long-term disease control.

Cystoprostatectomy versus prostatectomy alone for locally advanced or recurrent pelvic cancer.

Background: There is minimal published data evaluating the oncological outcome of rectal resection with prostatectomy alone versus rectal resection with cystoprostatectomy in patients undergoing pelvic exenteration for locally advanced or recurrent pelvic cancer. This study aims to evaluate the oncological and functional outcomes of performing rectal resection with prostatectomy alone compared with rectal resection with cystoprostatectomy in patients undergoing pelvic exenteration.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing pelvic exenteration for locally advanced or recurrent pelvic cancer between 1998 and 2012 were identified from a prospectively maintained database.

Continued progress with stage III colorectal cancer--a triple cohort study.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is a common cause of death in New Zealand and its burden is projected to increase in the future. Oncological outcomes from modern treatment have improved, but evidence from the published literature is conflicting. We studied survival outcomes from a series of patients at our local health board.

Skin closure after laparotomy with staples or sutures: a study of the mature scar.

Background: Surgeons are divided in their method of choice for skin closure following laparotomy. We suggest that the most important determinant should be the resulting scar. This study aims to compare both patients' and independent observers' assessment of mature laparotomy scars that had been closed with either subcuticular sutures or external staples.

Survival outcome in New Zealand after resection of colorectal cancer lung metastases.

Background: Colorectal cancer is the second most common type of solid organ cancer in New Zealand behind prostate cancer. Even with treatment, distant disease may develop in the liver and lungs. Surgical resection of isolated liver and/or lung metastasis is now commonly considered, but survival outcomes from the latter are not well described.

Mesenteric panniculitis: a paraneoplastic phenomenon?

Background: Mesenteric panniculitis is an inflammatory condition of mesenteric adipose tissue with characteristic features on abdominal CT imaging. Although its cause is unknown, it has been associated with malignancy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malignancy in patients identified as having mesenteric panniculitis on CT imaging and to identify demographic, clinical, and radiological features that may predict an unknown underlying malignancy.

Reconstruction with Vertical Rectus Abdominus Myocutaneous flap in advanced pelvic malignancy.

Pelvic extenuative surgery produces good long term outcomes in advanced pelvic malignancies. We evaluate the use and clinical outcomes of the Vertical Rectus Abdominus Myocutaenous (VRAM) flap as a reconstruction technique in a heterogenic cohort of patients with advanced colorectal cancer in whom neo-adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy had been performed pre-operatively. Analysis of patients having VRAM flaps for pelvic reconstruction in a tertiary referral centre from 2001 to 2010 was conducted.