Martius flaps for low rectovaginal fistulae: a systematic review and proportional meta-analysis.

Background: Rectovaginal fistulae (RVF) are notoriously challenging to treat. Martius flap (MF) is a technique employed to manage RVF, among various others, with none being universally successful. We aimed to assess the outcomes of RVF managed with MF interposition.

An integrated cell atlas of the lung in health and disease.

Single-cell technologies have transformed our understanding of human tissues. Yet, studies typically capture only a limited number of donors and disagree on cell type definitions. Integrating many single-cell datasets can address these limitations of individual studies and capture the variability present in the population.

Omentoplasty to reduce anastomotic leak in colorectal surgery: a meta-analysis.

Background: Anastomotic leaks (AL) remain a devastating complication following intestinal anastomoses resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. Wrapping the anastomosis with omentum may be protective although data are conflicting. We performed a meta-analysis to assess the effect of omentoplasty on colorectal anastomoses.

The discovAIR project: a roadmap towards the Human Lung Cell Atlas.

The Human Cell Atlas (HCA) consortium aims to establish an atlas of all organs in the healthy human body at single-cell resolution to increase our understanding of basic biological processes that govern development, physiology and anatomy, and to accelerate diagnosis and treatment of disease. The Lung Biological Network of the HCA aims to generate the Human Lung Cell Atlas as a reference for the cellular repertoire, molecular cell states and phenotypes, and cell-cell interactions that characterise normal lung homeostasis in healthy lung tissue. Such a reference atlas of the healthy human lung will facilitate mapping the changes in the cellular landscape in disease.

Incidence of Clostridioides difficile in patients post loop ileostomy reversal in an Australian tertiary hospital: a retrospective study.

Introduction: The purpose of a loop ileostomy is to temporarily divert faeces away from a distal anastomosis, to reduce the consequences of anastomotic leak. This ultimately requires a second procedure to restore bowel continuity, which confers risk of complications including the development of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). It is hypothesized that patients who undergo loop ileostomy reversal are at increased risk of CDI when compared with other patients undergoing elective colorectal surgical procedures, and that these patients also experience an increased length of stay (LOS).

Incisional hernia following ileostomy closure: who's at risk? The Gold Coast experience.

Background: Diverting ileostomy is utilized to protect high-risk anastomoses, though it is not shown to reduce the leak rate it may reduce the severe consequences of an anastamotic leak. In recent years mesh development has advanced to allow placement of meshes into potentially contaminated fields, such as an ostomy closure site.

Method: A retrospective review of all ileostomy closure procedures in Gold Coast from 1st January 2011 until 31st December 2018 were included.

On the Complexity of Resting State Spiking Activity in Monkey Motor Cortex.

Resting state has been established as a classical paradigm of brain activity studies, mostly based on large-scale measurements such as functional magnetic resonance imaging or magneto- and electroencephalography. This term typically refers to a behavioral state characterized by the absence of any task or stimuli. The corresponding neuronal activity is often called idle or ongoing.

Assessment of an integrated knowledge translation intervention to improve nutrition intakes among patients undergoing elective bowel surgery: a mixed-method process evaluation.

Background: A large evidence-practice gap exists regarding provision of nutrition to patients following surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the processes supporting the implementation of an intervention designed to improve the timing and adequacy of nutrition following bowel surgery.

Methods: A mixed-method pilot study, using an integrated knowledge translation (iKT) approach, was undertaken at a tertiary teaching hospital in Australia.

Prophylactic mesh placement at index permanent end colostomy creation to prevent parastomal hernia-an updated meta-analysis.

Background: Debate persists regarding the efficacy of prophylactic mesh insertion (PMI) at index permanent stoma creation to reduce the rate of parastomal hernia (PSH). This meta-analysis aimed to appraise all the latest evidence from newly published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on PMI for PSH prevention.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for relevant articles from inception until November 2020.

Evaluation of an intervention to improve nutrition intake in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery: A mixed-methods pilot study.

Objectives: Timely and adequate nutrition after surgery is important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an intervention, developed using an integrated knowledge translation approach, designed to improve oral intake among postoperative colorectal patients.

Methods: A pre/post, mixed-methods pilot study was undertaken at a tertiary teaching hospital in Australia.

Increasing rate of colorectal cancer in younger patients: a review of colonoscopy findings in patients under 50 at a tertiary institution.

Background: In Australia, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death. It is more common in patients over 50 years, with previous evidence showing patients under 50 years account for only 9% of CRC. However, recent Australian and International studies have shown an increase in CRC incidence in patients under 50 years of age.

Transanal total mesorectal excision the Gold Coast experience: learning curve and comparison to traditional technique.

Background: Laparoscopic and open techniques in rectal cancer are well-published, however, technical challenges remain for mid to low rectal cancer resections in the narrow pelvis. Transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) has been pioneered to potentially circumvent these challenges. The aims of this study were to evaluate the learning curve associated with our first cases of taTME as well as compare outcomes to that of conventionally performed rectal resections.

Characterization of information processing in the subthalamic area of Parkinson's patients.

Despite advances in symptomatic treatment options the pathomechanism of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) remains poorly understood. Animal studies from recent years suggest pathological information processing in the basal ganglia network to be responsible for major movement deficits observed in patients, which, according to the information lesion hypothesis, might also explain the mechanism of action of deep brain stimulation (DBS). Using novel measures from information theory we characterize the information content, storage and transfer of intraoperatively recorded local field potentials (LFP) from the subthalamic area of n ​= ​19 PD patients undergoing surgery for implantation of electrodes for deep brain stimulation.

The management of diverticulitis: a review of the guidelines.

Radiological evidence of inflammation, using computed tomography (CT), is needed to diagnose the first occurrence of diverticulitis. CT is also warranted when the severity of symptoms suggests that perforation or abscesses have occurred. Diverticulitis is classified as complicated or uncomplicated based on CT scan, severity of symptoms and patient history; this classification is used to direct management.

Reproducible Neural Network Simulations: Statistical Methods for Model Validation on the Level of Network Activity Data.

Computational neuroscience relies on simulations of neural network models to bridge the gap between the theory of neural networks and the experimentally observed activity dynamics in the brain. The rigorous validation of simulation results against reference data is thus an indispensable part of any simulation workflow. Moreover, the availability of different simulation environments and levels of model description require also validation of model implementations against each other to evaluate their equivalence.

The influence of filtering and downsampling on the estimation of transfer entropy.

Transfer entropy (TE) provides a generalized and model-free framework to study Wiener-Granger causality between brain regions. Because of its nonparametric character, TE can infer directed information flow also from nonlinear systems. Despite its increasing number of applications in neuroscience, not much is known regarding the influence of common electrophysiological preprocessing on its estimation.

Disease and Carrier Isolates of Neisseria meningitidis Cause G1 Cell Cycle Arrest in Human Epithelial Cells.

Microbial pathogens have developed several mechanisms to modulate and interfere with host cell cycle progression. In this study, we analyzed the effect of the human pathogen Neisseria meningitidis on the cell cycle of epithelial cells. Two pathogenic isolates, as well as two carrier isolates, were tested for their ability to adhere to and invade into the epithelial cell lines Detroit 562 and NP69 and to modulate the cell cycle.

Determination of ATP and ADP Secretion from Human and Mouse Platelets by an HPLC Assay.

Background: Secretion of ADP and ATP is an essential prerequisite for platelet aggregation. Impaired nucleotide secretion can cause aggregation defects and increased bleeding risk. Quantitative determination of platelet nucleotide content and exocytosis is thus of importance for the characterization and diagnosis of bleeding phenotypes.

Functional results of laparoscopic resection rectopexy for symptomatic rectal intussusception.

Purpose: This study was designed to assess the role of laparoscopic resection rectopexy for symptomatic rectal intussusception in patients who failed medical treatment. The functional outcomes of laparoscopic resection rectopexy were evaluated.

Methods: Patients who underwent laparoscopic resection rectopexy for rectal intussusception between July 1998 and November 2004 were identified.