Investigating the teratogenic potential of diclofenac sodium on chick embryos: A warning for pregnant women.

Teratogenic and embryotoxic effect of diclofenac sodium (DS) on different developmental stages of the chick-embryos was investigated by examining different parameters such as its mortality rate, hatching, morphological measurements, weighing its internal organs and calculation of different indices. Experiment was divided into four trials with different dose (0.1 mL, 0.

Advanced breast conservation and partial breast reconstruction - a review of current available options for oncoplastic breast surgery.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting one in three women with new cancer diagnosis in England. Breast-conserving surgery is the primary surgical option in a vast majority of these patients. Use of oncoplastic techniques in breast conservation surgery has significantly improved the aesthetic outcomes without compromising the oncological safety of cancer resections.

Prophylactic antibiotic use in acellular dermal matrix-assisted implant-based breast reconstruction.

Background: Prophylactic antibiotics are used in acellular dermal matrix-assisted implant-based breast reconstructions. However, there are no universally accepted guidelines regarding the best regimen. This retrospective, multicentre study was designed to compare the different prophylactic antibiotic regimens in these patients in three hospitals across two NHS trusts over a five-year period.

Uric acid increases IL-1β secretion and Caspase-1 activation in PBMCs of Behçet's disease patients: The in vitro immunomodulatory effect of xanthine oxidase inhibitor Allopurinol.

Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystem disease, which shares some features with other diseases belonging to the autoinflammatory disorders panel. Recent studies have postulated that IL-1β/Caspase-1 may play a cardinal role in autoinflammatory diseases. In this study, we aimed to (i) elucidate the mechanism underlying the involvement of xanthine oxidase (XO) and Uric Acid (UA) in BD (ii) study the direct effects of UA and XO inhibitor "Allopurinol" on nitric oxide (NO) and caspase-1-mediated IL-1β release in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of BD patients.

Mid-term bariatric surgery outcomes for obese patients: does weight matter?

Introduction: Studies have attempted to identify prognostic indicators for successful outcomes following bariatric surgery for obesity. The aim of this study was to determine whether the degree of obesity affects outcomes in patients who are morbidly obese (basal metabolic index, BMI, 40-49.9 kg/m), super-obese (BMI 50-59.

Increased IL-1β levels are associated with an imbalance of "oxidant/antioxidant" status during Behçet's disease.

Behçet's disease is a multisystem disease. It stands at the crossroad between the autoimmunity and auto-inflammatory disorders. In this study, we sought to address a relationship that might exist between interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and the oxidants/antioxidants markers in Behçet's patients.

Human Epidermal Growth Factor 2-positive Breast Cancer with Mammographic Microcalcification: Relationship to Pathologic Complete Response after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

Purpose To determine the relationship between the presence or absence of mammographic calcifications in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancers and pathologic complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and to determine other tumor and clinical characteristics that may be predictive of such a response. Materials and Methods A database of all patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy between 2007 and 2015 was retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographic characteristics, mammographic appearance, molecular subtype of cancer (luminal or nonluminal), radiologic response (based on breast magnetic resonance images), surgery, and pathologic response to treatment were recorded.

The need for triple assessment and predictors for diagnosis of breast cancer in patients <40 years of age.

Aim: To assess the safety of selective use of triple assessment with omission of radiological assessment proposed in patients <40-years old.

Materials And Methods: Data were collected retrospectively for all patients seen in the one-stop breast clinic between January 2014 and August 2015. Demographics, symptoms, diagnostics, and treatment details were recorded.

The Comparison of Strattice and SurgiMend in Acellular Dermal Matrix-Assisted, Implant-Based Immediate Breast Reconstruction.

Background: Strattice (porcine derivative) and SurgiMend (bovine derivative) are the two most common acellular dermal matrices used in breast reconstruction in the United Kingdom. This retrospective study compared clinical outcomes in immediate implant-based breast reconstruction patients.

Methods: The study, conducted across three hospitals, included all patients who underwent immediate implant-based breast reconstruction using Strattice and SurgiMend.

The impact of "Be Clear on Cancer" campaign on breast care services provided by a specialist oncoplastic unit - A retrospective case control study.

Introduction: "Be Clear on Cancer" (BCOC) was a national campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer in women over seventy years old. Cancer Research UK conducted this campaign from 03 February 2014 to 15 March 2014. This study assesses its impact on breast care services.

Long-term outcomes of a randomized clinical trial of supervised exercise, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or combined treatment for patients with intermittent claudication due to femoropopliteal disease.

Background: The aim was to compare the long-term outcomes of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), a supervised exercise programme (SEP) and combined treatment (PTA + SEP) in patients with intermittent claudication owing to femoropopliteal disease.

Methods: Patients recruited to an RCT comparing these treatments were invited for long-term follow-up from 2010 to 2011. Indicators of limb ischaemia were recorded (ankle : brachial pressure index (ABPI) and treadmill walking distances).

Comparison of Use of Short Form-36 Domain Scores and Patient Responses for Derivation of Preference-Based SF6D Index to Calculate Quality-Adjusted Life Years in Patients with Intermittent Claudication.

Background: The short form 36 (SF36) questionnaire is used for assessment of generic quality of life. Responses to the individual question in SF36 are also used for calculation of the SF6D index score. This score is used for calculation of quality adjusted-life years (QALYs) in economical analyses.

Utility of contrast enema to assess anastomotic integrity and the natural history of radiological leaks after low rectal surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: There is no clear consensus on how to assess low rectal anastomotic integrity and patency prior to reversal of de-functioning stoma. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the utility of contrast enema (CE) in this context and to clarify the natural history of radiological leaks.

Methods: Keyword search of electronic databases (Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar) and bibliographic cross-referencing were performed to identify appropriate studies.

The morbidity of negative appendicectomy.

Introduction: The increased use of diagnostic laparoscopy for management of right iliac fossa pain may have lowered the threshold for removing normal appendices, particularly as there is a perception that this practice carries little additional morbidity. The aim of this retrospective audit was to determine the negative appendicectomy rate after laparoscopic appendicectomy (LA) in our busy district hospital, and to compare the relative incidence and severity of complications after removal of an inflamed or non-inflamed appendix.

Methods: Adult patients who underwent LA in 2011-2012 were identified from theatre registers.

Effect of supervised exercise on physical function and balance in patients with intermittent claudication.

Background: The aim of the study was to identify whether a standard supervised exercise programme (SEP) for patients with intermittent claudication improved specific measures of functional performance including balance.

Methods: A prospective observational study was performed at a single tertiary vascular centre. Patients with symptomatic intermittent claudication (Rutherford grades 1-3) were recruited to the study.

Fear of falling in claudicants and its relationship to physical ability, balance, and quality of life.

Objectives: Intermittent claudication is associated with poor physical function, quality of life (QoL), and balance impairment. Fear of falling (FoF) is a recognized contributing factor to poor physical ability. Any link between claudication and FoF is yet to be determined.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty results in improved physical function but not balance in patients with intermittent claudication.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify whether revascularization by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for patients with intermittent claudication improved measures of functional performance including balance.

Methods: A prospective observational study was performed at a single tertiary vascular center. Patients with symptomatic intermittent claudication (Rutherford grades 1-3) were recruited to the study.

Economic analysis of a randomized trial of percutaneous angioplasty, supervised exercise or combined treatment for intermittent claudication due to femoropopliteal arterial disease.

Background: The aim was to compare costs and utilities of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), a supervised exercise programme (SEP) and combined treatment (PTA + SEP) in patients with intermittent claudication (IC) to establish the most cost-effective treatment.

Methods: Patients with IC due to femoropopliteal disease were randomized to receive PTA, SEP or PTA + SEP. Assessments were performed before, and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postintervention.

Comparison of 12-w versus 14-w endovenous laser ablation in the treatment of great saphenous varicose veins: 5-year outcomes from a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for lower limb varicose veins in the short and midterm results. This study reports the 5-year outcomes of EVLA technique at different power settings.

Methods: Patients with primary symptomatic, unilateral varicose veins secondary to saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) incompetence and great saphenous vein (GSV) reflux were recruited and randomized to either 12W (intermittent laser withdrawal) or 14W (continuous laser withdrawal).

Balance impairment, physical ability, and its link with disease severity in patients with intermittent claudication.

Background: To determine whether increasing claudication severity is associated with impaired balance and physical functional ability.

Methods: A prospective observational study in claudicants was performed. Disease severity was determined according to Rutherford's criteria.

Endovenous laser ablation in the treatment of small saphenous varicose veins: does site of access influence early outcomes?

Objective: The study was performed to evaluate the clinical and technical efficacy of endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) of small saphenous varicosities, particularly in relation to the site of endovenous access.

Methods: Totally 59 patients with unilateral saphenopopliteal junction incompetence and small saphenous vein reflux underwent EVLA (810 nm, 14 W diode laser) with ambulatory phlebectomies. Small saphenous vein access was gained at the lowest site of truncal reflux.

Evolution of an endovenous laser ablation practice for varicose veins.

Objective: We aimed to assess the evolution of an endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) practice in the management of varicose veins in a university teaching hospital vascular surgical unit, over five years.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of a prospectively collected database of patients undergoing EVLA for great saphenous vein incompetence and followed up for a year. For inter- and intragroup comparison, patients were divided into three groups: group A: endovenous access generally established at the perigenicular level (n = 105); group B: when practice changed to gain access at lowest point of demonstrable reflux (n = 70); and group C: when tumescence delivery changed from manual injections to delivery via peristaltic pump (n = 49).

Intraluminal thrombus has a selective influence on matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors (tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases) in the wall of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Background: The influence of intraluminal thrombus (ILT) on the proteolytic environment within the wall of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is unknown. This is the first study to examine the correlation between ILT thickness and the levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their natural inhibitors (tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases [TIMPs]) within the adjacent AAA wall.

Methods: Thirty-five patients undergoing elective repair of AAAs were studied.

Saphenopopliteal ligation and stripping of small saphenous vein: does extended stripping provide better results?

Objective: Saphenopopliteal ligation (SPL) for venous insufficiency is a challenging procedure, with mixed results being reported. The role of stripping of the small saphenous vein (SSV) is contentious. This prospective observational study aimed to assess the risks and benefits of this procedure.