Effect of an Outbound Scheduling Team on the Timeliness of Scheduling Referrals to Pediatric Otolaryngology.

Objective: Families preferring to receive care in a language-other-than-English have disparities in access to care. We studied the effect of implementing an ambulatory outbound scheduling team on the timeliness of scheduling referrals to pediatric otolaryngology. We hypothesized this intervention could increase access to care.

Strengthening Health Research and Ethics Systems in Timor-Leste.

Introduction: Meaningful health research should lead to evidence-based decision-making that can be translated into policy and practice. Every country needs to have a well-functioning and resourced ethics review and clearance system to ensure health and medical research is conducted in line with ethical standards, preventing harm to research participants, and contributing to better health outcomes and national priorities. The purpose of this study is to describe the origins of the system for managing health research and ethics in Timor-Leste and how it has evolved over time; to identify the strengths and limitations of the current system; and to recommend areas for improvement.

Distal tibial osteotomy compared to proximal osteotomy for limb lengthening in children.

Aims: The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to assess and investigate the safety and efficacy of using a distal tibial osteotomy compared to proximal osteotomy for limb lengthening in children.

Methods: In this study, there were 59 consecutive tibial lengthening and deformity corrections in 57 children using a circular frame. All were performed or supervised by the senior author between January 2013 and June 2019.

Efficacy and Safety of "Sleeper Plate" in Temporary Hemiepiphysiodesis and the Observation of "Tethering".

Background: Guided growth is commonly performed by placing an extraperiosteal 2-hole plate across the growth plate with one epiphyseal and one metaphyseal screw. Recent studies investigated the efficacy of the removal of the metaphyseal screw only (sleeper plate) after correction. They concluded the practice to be unnecessary as only 19% of patients showed recurrence of deformity.

Antibody Response to mRNA Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 with Chronic Kidney Disease, Hemodialysis, and after Kidney Transplantation.

Most trials on mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 did not include patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), hemodialysis (HD) patients, or kidney transplant recipients (KTR). However, those patients have a higher risk for a severe course of COVID-19 disease and mortality. Available literature has demonstrated a reduced efficacy of mRNA vaccines in HD patients and KTR, while data on CKD patients is scarce.

Ilizarov Method for Acute Paediatric Tibial Fractures.

Aim And Background: A systemic method for the application of Ilizarov fixators and on-table fracture reduction is described in this instructional article. This technique has been developed from the unit's practice in adult patients. The indications, underlying principles and rationale for the method are also discussed.

Clinical outcomes in pediatric tibial lengthening and deformity correction: a comparison of the Taylor Spatial Frame with the Orthex Hexapod System.

Purpose: Comparison of two hexapod frame systems in paediatric tibial deformity correction; the Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF) and Orthex Hexapod System.

Methods: Paediatric patients with congenital and acquired tibial deformities treated with either TSF (between 2014 and 2016) or Orthex (between 2017 and 2019) frames were included in a retrospective comparative study. Outcome measures were healing index, pin infection rate, regenerate quality and density, software residual rate, deformity correction accuracy, strut exchanges and quality of life (QoL).

Lower limb paediatric trauma with bone and soft tissue loss: Ortho-plastic management and outcome in a major trauma centre.

Aim: We examined the management and outcome of patients suffering complex paediatric lower limb injuries with bone and soft tissue loss.

Method: Patients were identified from our prospective trauma database (2013-2018). Inclusion criteria were age (<18 years) and open lower-limb trauma.

Sex-specific epigenetic gene activation profiles are differentially modulated in human placentas affected by intrauterine growth restriction.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the sex specific expression of histone protein modifications responsible for rapid gene expression in IUGR placentas.

Patients And Methods: We screened for fetal sex-specific expression of the histone proteins H3K4me3 and H3K9ac in 23 IUGR and 40 control placentas via immunohistochemistry. The trophoblast-like cell line BeWo was used in order to analyze a potential effect of stimulation with prednisolone on H3K4me3 and H3K9ac in vitro.

Quality of life and post-traumatic stress symptoms in paediatric patients with tibial fractures during treatment with cast or Ilizarov frame.

Purpose: To compare quality of life in children and adolescents with tibial fracture during treatment with either a definitive long-leg cast or Ilizarov frame.

Methods: A prospective, longitudinal cohort study was undertaken. Patients aged between 5 and 17 years with tibial fractures treated definitively using a long-leg cast or Ilizarov frame were recruited at first follow-up.

Glucocorticoid receptors α and β are modulated sex specifically in human placentas of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Purpose: The objective of this study was to analyze the expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) subtypes GRα and GRβ in placentas affected by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Methods: We analyzed the sex-specific placental expression of GRα and GRβ in 23 IUGR and 40 control placentas using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The GR gene, also known as nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 1 (NR3C1), mRNA production in trophoblast-like cell line BeWo after stimulation with prednisolone was analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and on the protein level using western blot analysis.

A loss of a velocity-duration trade-off impairs movement precision in patients with cerebellar degeneration.

Current theories discussing the role of the cerebellum have been consistently pointing towards the concept of motor learning. The unavailability of a structure for motor learning able to use information on past errors to change future movements should cause consistent metrical deviations and an inability to correct them; however, it should not boost "motor noise." However, dysmetria, a loss of endpoint precision and an increase in endpoint variability ("motor noise") of goal-directed movements is the central aspect of cerebellar ataxia.

Treatment and functional outcomes of complex tibial fractures in children and adolescents using the Ilizarov method.

Aims: The aim of this study was to report the clinical, functional and radiological outcomes of children and adolescents with tibial fractures treated using the Ilizarov method.

Patients And Methods: Between 2013 and 2016 a total of 74 children with 75 tibial fractures underwent treatment at our major trauma centre using an Ilizarov frame. Demographic and clinical information from a prospective database was supplemented by routine functional and psychological assessment and a retrospective review of the notes and radiographs.

Laser-fabricated cell patterning stencil for single cell analysis.

Precise spatial positioning and isolation of mammalian cells is a critical component of many single cell experimental methods and biological engineering applications. Although a variety of cell patterning methods have been demonstrated, many of these methods subject cells to high stress environments, discriminate against certain phenotypes, or are a challenge to implement. Here, we demonstrate a rapid, simple, indiscriminate, and minimally perturbing cell patterning method using a laser fabricated polymer stencil.

Duration of Administration of Antibiotic Agents for Open Fractures: Meta-Analysis of the Existing Evidence.

Background: Surgical site infection remains a significant concern in treating patients with open fractures. In prevention of such, current guidelines support the immediate administration of antibiotic agents. The duration of antibiotic treatment is still controversial.

Distinct Roles of Catalytic Cysteine and Histidine in the Protease and Ligase Mechanisms of Human Legumain As Revealed by DFT-Based QM/MM Simulations.

The cysteine protease enzyme legumain hydrolyzes peptide bonds with high specificity after asparagine and under more acidic conditions after aspartic acid [Baker E. N.J.

Spatio-temporal precipitation climatology over complex terrain using a censored additive regression model.

Flexible spatio-temporal models are widely used to create reliable and accurate estimates for precipitation climatologies. Most models are based on square root transformed monthly or annual means, where a normal distribution seems to be appropriate. This assumption becomes invalid on a daily time scale as the observations involve large fractions of zero observations and are limited to non-negative values.

Are Albumin Levels a Good Predictor of Mortality in Elderly Patients with Neck of Femur Fractures?

Background: Neck of femur (NOF) fractures are associated with significant morbidity and mortality in elderly people with multiple co-morbidities; making management of this patient subgroup challenging. Predictors of an increase in morbidity and mortality would therefore provide a useful framework for the assessment and management of this demographic. Within the current literature, hypoalbuminaemia (<35g/dl) has been highlighted as being a good biochemical predictor of short-term mortality (<12 months).

A platform for high-throughput bioenergy production phenotype characterization in single cells.

Driven by an increasing number of studies demonstrating its relevance to a broad variety of disease states, the bioenergy production phenotype has been widely characterized at the bulk sample level. Its cell-to-cell variability, a key player associated with cancer cell survival and recurrence, however, remains poorly understood due to ensemble averaging of the current approaches. We present a technology platform for performing oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification measurements of several hundreds to 1,000 individual cells per assay, while offering simultaneous analysis of cellular communication effects on the energy production phenotype.

Thermodynamic Analysis of Isomerization Equilibria of Chlorotoluenes and Dichlorobenzenes in a Biphasic Reaction Systems Containing Highly Acidic Chloroaluminate Melts.

Thermodynamics and kinetics of the isomerization of chlorotoluenes and dichlorobenzene to the technically desired meta-isomers have been studied in the presence of highly acidic chloroaluminate melts with alkali metal and organic imidazolium cations. Enthalpies of four isomerization processes in reacting systems of chlorotoluenes and dichlorobenzene were obtained from temperature dependencies of the corresponding equilibrium constants in the liquid phase. Experimental reaction enthalpies, enthalpies of vaporization, and absolute vapor pressures of chlorotoluenes and dichlorobenzene have been used for the validation of quantum-chemical methods to predict thermodynamic functions of the four reactions under study successfully.

A simple non-perturbing cell migration assay insensitive to proliferation effects.

Migration is a fundamental cellular behavior that plays an indispensable role in development and homeostasis, but can also contribute to pathology such as cancer metastasis. Due to its relevance to many aspects of human health, the ability to accurately measure cell migration is of broad interest, and numerous approaches have been developed. One of the most commonly employed approaches, because of its simplicity and throughput, is the exclusion zone assay in which cells are allowed to migrate into an initially cell-free region.

Integrated Framework for Patient Safety and Energy Efficiency in Healthcare Facilities Retrofit Projects.

There is a growing focus on enhancing energy efficiency in healthcare facilities, many of which are decades old. Since replacement of all aging healthcare facilities is not economically feasible, the retrofitting of these facilities is an appropriate path, which also provides an opportunity to incorporate energy efficiency measures. In undertaking energy efficiency retrofits, it is vital that the safety of the patients in these facilities is maintained or enhanced.

Galectin 2 (gal-2) expression is downregulated on protein and mRNA level in placentas of preeclamptic (PE) patients.

Introduction: Galectin 2 (gal-2) belongs to the proto type group and consists of two homologous carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs) resulting in multiple sugar binding sites. The expression of gal-2 has been shown to be involved in processes of angiogenesis and inflammation but was not analyzed before in preeclamptic (PE) placentas. Therefore the aim of this study was an analysis of expression and localization of gal-2 in placentas from patients suffering from PE.

Isomerisation of 1,4-dichlorobenzene using highly acidic alkali chloroaluminate melts.

The isomerisation reaction of 1,4-dichlorobenzene leading to the thermodynamically favoured and technically desired 1,3-dichlorobenzene has been studied comparing highly acidic chloroaluminate melts with organic imidazolium and alkali metal ions. Interestingly, the inorganic melts show much higher reactivity and full recyclability if small AlCl3 losses are compensated and the reaction is carried out under slight HCl pressure.