Agreement Between Physician Evaluation and the Composite Response Index in Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis.

Objective: Diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a highly heterogeneous disease. A provisionally approved Composite Response Index in diffuse cutaneous SSc (CRISS) was developed as a 1-year outcome measure for clinical trials. Our goal was to further validate the CRISS by examining agreement between CRISS definitions for improved/non-improved with physicians' evaluation of disease.

Epidemiology and outcomes of gastroschisis in Tasmania.

Aim: To describe the epidemiology and outcomes of gastroschisis in Tasmania.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of all pregnancies complicated by gastroschisis in Tasmania from 1996 to 2015 was undertaken (epidemiology cohort), and the presentation, surgical management and outcomes (surgery cohort) were reviewed for the period between September 1990 and July 2015.

Results: Gastroschisis was detected in 58 pregnancies during the 20-year epidemiology cohort period, giving an incidence of 4.

Experience with tofacitinib in Canada: patient characteristics and treatment patterns in rheumatoid arthritis over 3 years.

Objectives: To describe characteristics, treatment patterns and persistence in patients with RA treated with tofacitinib, an oral Janus kinase inhibitor, in Canadian clinical practice between 1 June 2014 and 31 May 2017.

Methods: Data were obtained from the tofacitinib eXel support programme. Baseline demographics and medication history were collected via patient report/special authorization forms; reasons for discontinuation were captured by patient report.

The Scleroderma Patient-Centered Intervention Network Cohort: baseline clinical features and comparison with other large scleroderma cohorts.

Objectives: The Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) Cohort is a web-based cohort designed to collect patient-reported outcomes at regular intervals as a framework for conducting trials of psychosocial, educational, self-management and rehabilitation interventions for patients with SSc. The aim of this study was to present baseline demographic, medical and patient-reported outcome data of the SPIN Cohort and to compare it with other large SSc cohorts.

Methods: Descriptive statistics were used to summarize SPIN Cohort characteristics; these were compared with published data of the European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) and Canadian Scleroderma Research Group (CSRG) cohorts.

Calcinosis is associated with digital ischaemia in systemic sclerosis-a longitudinal study.

Objective: To determine if ischaemia is a causal factor in the development of calcinosis in SSc.

Methods: Patients with SSc were assessed yearly. Physicians reported the presence of calcinosis, digital ischaemia (digital ulcers, digital necrosis/gangrene, loss of digital pulp on any digits and/or auto- or surgical digital amputation) and nailfold capillary dropout assessed using a dermatoscope.

Genetic susceptibility loci of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia do not represent risk for systemic sclerosis: a case control study in Caucasian patients.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related interstitial lung disease (ILD) has phenotypic similarities to lung involvement in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP). We aimed to assess whether genetic susceptibility loci recently identified in the large IIP genome-wide association studies (GWASs) were also risk loci for SSc overall or severity of ILD in SSc.

Methods: A total of 2571 SSc patients and 4500 healthy controls were investigated from the US discovery GWAS and additional US replication cohorts.

Tune-In and Time-Out: Toward Surgeon-Led Prevention of "Never" Events.

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) distributed a surgical safety checklist in 2008 in a bid to improve patient safety and quality of care in the operating theater. Adherence to the checklist has been shown to reduce "never" events, for example, wrong site surgery. The aim of this quality improvement study was to determine the current adherence by surgeons to the checklist at The Royal Hobart Hospital.

Relationship Between Disease Characteristics and Oral Radiologic Findings in Systemic Sclerosis: Results From a Canadian Oral Health Study.

Objective: Systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma) is associated with a wide periodontal ligament (PDL) and mandibular erosions. We investigated the clinical correlates of SSc with these radiologic abnormalities.

Methods: Subjects from the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group cohort underwent detailed radiologic examinations.

Antimalarial drugs alone may still have a role in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: Antimalarials have been used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for several decades. Current guidelines do not include the use of these drugs alone for RA patients. The purpose of the study is to review RA patients, to find those who have done well on antimalarials alone, and see if there are common features that predict good treatment outcome with these drugs.

The Canadian Systemic Sclerosis Oral Health Study IV: oral radiographic manifestations in systemic sclerosis compared with the general population.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare oral radiologic abnormalities associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc) against abnormalities in the general population.

Study Design: Patients with SSc and healthy controls were enrolled in a multi-site cross-sectional study. Included in the radiology examination were a panoramic radiograph, four bitewings, and an anterior mandibular periapical radiograph.

Antinuclear antibody-negative systemic sclerosis.

Objective: To examine the demographic and clinical characteristics of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients without antinuclear antibodies (ANA) compared to ANA-positive patients.

Methods: SSc patients enrolled in the Scleroderma Family Registry and DNA Repository were included. Relevant demographic and clinical data were entered by participating sites or obtained by chart review.

Relationship between disease characteristics and orofacial manifestations in systemic sclerosis: Canadian Systemic Sclerosis Oral Health Study III.

Objective: Systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma) is associated with decreased saliva production and interincisal distance, more missing teeth, and periodontal disease. We undertook this study to determine the clinical correlates of SSc with these oral abnormalities.

Methods: Subjects were recruited from the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group cohort.

The Canadian systemic sclerosis oral health study II: the relationship between oral and global health-related quality of life in systemic sclerosis.

Objective: Both oral and global health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are markedly impaired in SSc. In this study we aimed to determine the degree of association between oral HRQoL and global HRQoL in SSc.

Methods: Subjects were recruited from the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group registry.

2013 American College of Rheumatology/European League against rheumatism classification criteria for systemic sclerosis outperform the 1980 criteria: data from the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group.

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine the sensitivity of the new 2013 classification criteria for systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma) in an independent cohort of SSc subjects and to assess the contribution of individual items of the criteria to the overall sensitivity.

Methods: SSc subjects from the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group cohort were assessed. Sensitivity was determined in several subgroups of patients.

The Canadian systemic sclerosis oral health study: orofacial manifestations and oral health-related quality of life in systemic sclerosis compared with the general population.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare oral abnormalities and oral health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with SSc with the general population.

Methods: SSc patients and healthy controls were enrolled in a multisite cross-sectional study. A standardized oral examination was performed.

Adolescent bariatric surgery--thoughts and perspectives from the UK.

Opinions of healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom regarding bariatric surgery in adolescents are largely unknown. This study aims to explore the perspectives of medical professionals regarding adolescent bariatric surgery. Members of the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society and groups of primary care practitioners based in London were contacted by electronic mail and invited to complete an anonymous online survey consisting of 21 questions.

Paediatric laparoscopic hernia repair: Ex vivo skills in the reduced training era.

Introduction: Changes to surgical working hours have resulted in shorter training times and fewer learning opportunities. Tools that develop surgical skills ex-vivo are of particular interest in this era. Laparoscopic skills are regarded as essential by many for modern paediatric surgery practice.

Targeting tumour necrosis factor alleviates signs and symptoms of inflammatory osteoarthritis of the knee.

Introduction: Inflammation associated with synovial expression of TNFα is a recognised feature of osteoarthritis (OA), although no studies have yet reported beneficial effects of anti-TNFα therapy on clinical manifestations of inflammation in OA.

Methods: We conducted an open-label evaluation of adalimumab over 12 weeks in 20 patients with OA of the knee and evidence of effusion clinically. Inclusion criteria included daily knee pain for the month preceding study enrolment and a summed pain score of 125 to 400 mm visual analogue scale on the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain subscale.

Does thoracoscopic congenital diaphragmatic hernia repair cause a significant intraoperative acidosis when compared to an open abdominal approach?

Purpose: Thoracoscopic congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) repair is increasingly reported. A significant intraoperative acidosis secondary to the pneumocarbia, as well as an increased recurrence rate, are possible concerns. Our aim was to review our early experience of the technique.

Using an optical trocar for laparoscopic access in overweight and obese children.

The open Hasson technique with a purse-string suture is generally favored among pediatric surgeons performing laparoscopy. This is a challenge in overweight and obese children and often leads to delays or conversion to laparotomy. In this article, we report our experience with an optical trocar for primary port access in overweight and obese children.