Thoracotomy patch repair of large diaphragmatic herniae in a porcine model: a tale of two patches.

Purpose: Congenital diaphragmatic herniae (CDH) may require patch closure in 50% of the cases. We assessed a biologic and composite mesh in a porcine CDH model.

Methods: Left sided thoracotomy was performed in 20 pigs.

Adult pilomyxoid astrocytoma presenting in the temporal lobe.

Pilomyxoid astrocytoma (PMA) is a rare variant of astrocytoma that is usually present in the hypothalamic and chiasmatic areas in the paediatric population. PMA shares many similar histopathological features to Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA), with some notable differences in its radiological and histopathological findings. On the contrary, PMA has been reported to behave more aggressively in its clinical progression than PA.

Closing time: Reputational constraints on capital account policy in emerging markets.

Unlabelled: Do international reputational concerns constrain governments' economic policy choices? We assess this question by analyzing emerging market decisions to tighten restrictions on capital outflows. While policymakers should be more likely to tighten restrictions to protect their economies as capital flow volatility (CFV) increases, investors view outflow controls as heterodox policies that violate investment contracts. We argue that the effect of CFV on outflow controls depends on the use of controls in peer markets.

Development and Implementation of Dried Blood Spot-Based COVID-19 Serological Assays for Epidemiologic Studies.

Serological surveillance studies of infectious diseases provide population-level estimates of infection and antibody prevalence, generating crucial insight into population-level immunity, risk factors leading to infection, and effectiveness of public health measures. These studies traditionally rely on detection of pathogen-specific antibodies in samples derived from venipuncture, an expensive and logistically challenging aspect of serological surveillance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, guidelines implemented to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection made collection of venous blood logistically difficult at a time when SARS-CoV-2 serosurveillance was urgently needed.

Infection History and Current Coinfection With Schistosoma mansoni Decreases Plasmodium Species Intensities in Preschool Children in Uganda.

Malaria-schistosomiasis coinfections are common in sub-Saharan Africa but studies present equivocal results regarding the interspecific relationships between these parasites. Through mixed-model analyses of a dataset of Ugandan preschool children, we explore how current coinfection and prior infection with either Schistosoma mansoni or Plasmodium species alter subsequent Plasmodium intensity, Plasmodium risk, and S mansoni risk. Coinfection and prior infections with S mansoni were associated with reduced Plasmodium intensity, moderated by prior Plasmodium infections, wealth, and host age.

Microscale residual stresses in additively manufactured stainless steel.

Additively manufactured (AM) metallic materials commonly possess substantial microscale internal stresses that manifest as intergranular and intragranular residual stresses. However, the impact of these residual stresses on the mechanical behaviour of AM materials remains unexplored. Here we combine in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiments and computational modelling to quantify the lattice strains in different families of grains with specific orientations and associated intergranular residual stresses in an AM 316L stainless steel under uniaxial tension.

Predictors of hospitalization and surgical intervention among patients with motorcycle injuries.

Background: To describe the distribution of injuries, hospitalization rates by body areas injured, and surgery-requiring admissions, and to identify independent predictors of admission to a regional hospital in Jamaica.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among persons presenting to the St Ann's Bay Regional Hospital in Jamaica (2016-2018) with injuries sustained from motorcycle crashes. A census was done of patients admitted to the surgery ward from the emergency room, as well as those referred to the Orthopaedic Outpatient Department.

Helmet use among motorcycle accident victims in the north-east region of Jamaica.

Currently in Jamaica, motorcyclists account for the largest group of fatalities among all road users. Between 2016 and 2018, a cross sectional study was conducted at the Saint Ann's Bay Regional Hospital involving 155 participants. There were 98.

Publishing trends in Journal of Paediatric Surgery, Pediatric Surgery International and European Journal of Pediatric Surgery over the past three decades.

The aim of this study was an analysis of the changing publication trends over the last three decades in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery (JPS), Pediatric Surgery International (PSI) and European Journal of Pediatric Surgery (EJPS) by studying the bibliometric variables, authorship, collaboration, and citation trends. A previously applied methodology using intermittent years was applied to review the archives of JPS, PSI and EJPS over the last 30 years. Citation data were collected from the Web of Science database.

Developmental outcome at 3 years of age of infants following surgery for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

Purpose: The study compared neurodevelopmental outcome at 3 years of age of infants with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) who underwent pyloromyotomy with healthy control infants in New South Wales, Australia.

Methods: Infants with IHPS as well as controls were recruited between August 2006 and July 2008. Developmental assessments were performed using the Bayley scales of infant and toddler development (version III) (BSITD-III) at 1 and 3 years of age.

Effects of pH on the Antibiotic Resistance of Bacteria Recovered from Diabetic Foot Ulcer Fluid .

Background: This study investigated the resistance of bacteria isolated from diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) to antibiotics frequently used in the management of the diabetic foot infections, at a range of pH values (pH 6.5, 7.5, and 8.

Development of a high risk pancreatic screening clinic using 3.0 T MRI.

Selective screening for pancreatic cancer (PC) has been proposed. We describe the establishment of a comprehensive multidisciplinary screening program using 3.0 T MRI.

Elevated Preoperative Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio is Predictive of a Poorer Prognosis for Pediatric Patients with Solid Tumors.

Background: An elevated neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been shown to indicate poorer prognosis for adults with solid tumors and potentially represents an independent, universal adjunct prognostic factor. The value of NLR in a pediatric setting has not been evaluated. This study sought to determine the prognostic value of NLR for pediatric patients with solid tumors.

A bibliometric analysis of pediatric liver transplantation publications.

Citation counts can identify landmark papers. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize the top-cited articles in the pediatric liver transplantation literature. A search strategy for the Scopus database was designed for pediatric liver transplantation publications from 1945 to 2014.

Application-Specific Computational Materials Design via Multiscale Modeling and the Inductive Design Exploration Method (IDEM).

The development of materials is a laborious, iterative, expensive, and intuitive process, often requiring decades to transition from early laboratory studies to commercial applications. This research seeks to address this issue by demonstrating a systematic process for linking process-structure-property-performance (PSPP) relations. We argue that the limitations on time for the arise in large part due to lack of effective approaches for exploring the material design space that anticipates application requirements, objectives, and constraints.

The influence of socio-demographic, psychological and knowledge-related variables alongside perceived cooking and food skills abilities in the prediction of diet quality in adults: a nationally representative cross-sectional study.

Background: Interventions to increase cooking skills (CS) and food skills (FS) as a route to improving overall diet are popular within public health. This study tested a comprehensive model of diet quality by assessing the influence of socio-demographic, knowledge- and psychological-related variables alongside perceived CS and FS abilities. The correspondence of two measures of diet quality further validated the Eating Choices Index (ECI) for use in quantitative research.

Barriers and facilitators to cooking from 'scratch' using basic or raw ingredients: A qualitative interview study.

Background: Previous research has highlighted an ambiguity in understanding cooking related terminology and a number of barriers and facilitators to home meal preparation. However, meals prepared in the home still include convenience products (typically high in sugars, fats and sodium) which can have negative effects on health. Therefore, this study aimed to qualitatively explore: (1) how individuals define cooking from 'scratch', and (2) their barriers and facilitators to cooking with basic ingredients.

Surgical safety checklists briefings: Perceived efficacy and team member involvement.

Researchers have shown inconsistencies in compliance, outcomes and attitudes of surgical team members related to surgical safety checklist briefings. The purpose of this study was to examine surgical circulator and scrub practitioners' perceptions of safety checklist briefings and team member involvement, and to identify potential improvements in the process based on those perceptions. An anonymous survey was conducted with members of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST).

Water slide injuries in Jamaica.

Background: Patients are presented in this study to describe injuries, each of which have not been previously described in the literature, as a result of a specific mechanism of injury on a water slide. Some of these injuries are potentially fatal and are usually the result of a very high energy mechanism of injury. All injuries occurred in a 6-week time span in the summer of 2015.

External ventricular drain infections at the Canberra Hospital: A retrospective study.

External ventricular drains (EVD) are crucial for the emergency management of hydrocephalus and raised intracranial pressure. Infection is the most morbid and costly cause of EVD malfunction and can cost up to $50,000 US to treat per case. In 2007, Canberra Hospital changed EVD management protocols requiring set-up of EVD transducer systems in theatre, cessation of prophylactic antibiotics after 24hours, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples second or third daily and discontinuation of elective EVD changes.

Neurologic, psychiatric, and other medical manifestations of nitrous oxide abuse: A systematic review of the case literature.

Background/objectives: Nitrous oxide (N2 O) is known to have abuse potential, although debate regarding the toxic effects of such abuse continues. Our objective was to review the case literature and present the neurologic, psychiatric and medical consequences of N2 O abuse.

Methods: A systematic literature review was completed for case reports using keywords "nitrous oxide" with "abuse/abusing" or "misuse/misusing" or "overuse/overusing" or "addiction.

Chemomechanical Origin of Hydrogen Trapping at Grain Boundaries in fcc Metals.

Hydrogen embrittlement of metals is widely observed, but its atomistic origins remain little understood and much debated. Combining a unique identification of interstitial sites through polyhedral tessellation and first-principles calculations, we study hydrogen adsorption at grain boundaries in a variety of face-centered cubic metals of Ni, Cu, γ-Fe, and Pd. We discover the chemomechanical origin of the variation of adsorption energetics for interstitial hydrogen at grain boundaries.