Permanent Iatrogenic Fibular Nerve Injury following Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy.

The aim of this study was to describe three dogs with permanent fibular nerve injury following tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO). Fibular nerve injury following TPLO led to atrophy of the cranial tibial muscle, absent hock flexion and a mild lameness. Fibular nerve injury was confirmed in one case with electrodiagnostics.

Microbial Consortia and Mixed Plastic Waste: Pangenomic Analysis Reveals Potential for Degradation of Multiple Plastic Types via Previously Identified PET Degrading Bacteria.

The global utilization of single-use, non-biodegradable plastics, such as bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), has contributed to catastrophic levels of plastic pollution. Fortunately, microbial communities are adapting to assimilate plastic waste. Previously, our work showed a full consortium of five bacteria capable of synergistically degrading PET.

Repurposing Pilocarpine Hydrochloride for Treatment of Candida albicans Infections.

Acetylcholine modulates the virulence of and regulates an appropriate immune response to infection in a infection model. Indeed, the evidence suggests that possesses a functional cholinergic receptor that can regulate filamentous growth and biofilm formation. Furthermore, immune cell subsets possess repertories of cholinergic receptors which regulate an effective and appropriate cellular immune response to infection.

Development and validation of a lipase nasogastric tube position test.

Background: Nasogastric tube position should be checked every day by either aspirate pH or chest radiography to prevent fatal misplaced feeding into the lungs. Many patients do not have acidic gastric aspirates and require daily chest radiographs. We developed and validated a lipase test that was compatible with non-acidic gastric aspirates.

Identification of RNF168 as a PML nuclear body regulator.

Promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein forms the basis of PML nuclear bodies (PML NBs), which control many important processes. We have screened an shRNA library targeting ubiquitin pathway proteins for effects on PML NBs, and identified RNF8 and RNF168 DNA-damage response proteins as negative regulators of PML NBs. Additional studies confirmed that depletion of either RNF8 or RNF168 increased the levels of PML NBs and proteins, whereas overexpression induced loss of PML NBs.

Surgeon Volume and Cancer Esophagectomy, Gastrectomy, and Pancreatectomy: A Population-based Study in England.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess whether there is a proficiency curve-like relationship between surgeon volume and operative mortality and determine the minimum surgeon volume for optimum operative mortality.

Background: The inverse relationship between hospital volume and operative mortality is well-established for esophageal, gastric, and pancreatic cancer. The recommended minimum surgeon volumes are however uncertain.

Timing of High-Dose Rate Brachytherapy With External Beam Radiotherapy in Intermediate and High-Risk Localized Prostate CAncer (THEPCA) Patients and Its Effects on Toxicity and Quality of Life: Protocol of a Randomized Feasibility Trial.

Background: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in males in the UK and affects around 105 men for every 100,000. The role of radiotherapy in the management of prostate cancer significantly changed over the last few decades with developments in brachytherapy, external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), and image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT). One of the challenging factors of radiotherapy treatment of localized prostate cancer is the development of acute and late genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicities.

Design and validation of the surgical ward round assessment tool: a quantitative observational study.

Background: Ward round skills are essential for the best management of surgical inpatients, but assessment of their quality has received inadequate attention. This study aims to design and validate the surgical ward round assessment tool (SWAT).

Methods: We used modified Healthcare Failure Mode and Effects Analysis to develop the SWAT by identifying ward round steps.

Escalation of care in surgery: a systematic risk assessment to prevent avoidable harm in hospitalized patients.

Objective: To systematically risk assess and analyze the escalation of care process in surgery so as to identify problems and provide recommendations for intervention.

Background: The ability to escalate care appropriately when managing deteriorating patients is a hallmark of surgical competence and safe postoperative care. Healthcare-Failure-Mode-Effects-Analysis (HFMEA) is a methodology adapted from safety-critical industries, which allows for hazardous process failures to be prospectively identified and solutions to be recommended.

Taking ergonomics to the bedside--a multi-disciplinary approach to designing safer healthcare.

A multi-disciplinary approach to designing safer healthcare was utilised to investigate risks in the bed-space in elective surgical wards. The Designing Out Medical Error (DOME) project brought together clinicians, designers, psychologists, human factors and business expertise to develop solutions for the highest risk healthcare processes. System mapping and risk assessment techniques identified nearly 200 potential failure modes in hand hygiene, isolation of infection, vital signs monitoring, medication delivery and handover of information.

Surgical adverse events: a systematic review.

Background: The aim of this systematic review is to quantify potentially preventable patient harm from the frequency, severity, and preventability of the consequences and causes of surgical adverse events to help target patient safety improvement efforts.

Data Sources: Two authors independently reviewed articles retrieved from systematic searches of the Cochrane library, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature databases for inclusion and exclusion criteria, methodology, and end points. All retrospective record review studies of adverse events were included.

A systematic proactive risk assessment of hazards in surgical wards: a quantitative study.

Objective: To identify and prioritize hazards in surgical wards and recommend interventions.

Background: Retrospective and prospective studies report the frequency and severity of surgical adverse events, but not in sufficient detail to allow interventions to be recommended in surgical wards.

Methods: Seventy hours of observations were used to record all activities occurring in surgical wards, and from these activities health care processes were derived.

Ergonomic risk assessment of nasogastric tube placement and implications for design and training.

The placement of nasogastric (NG) tubes is known to be prone to error and may lead to serious issues for patient safety and wellbeing. In some instances these have been catastrophic and resulted in the death of the patient. This study sought to explore the potential risks associated with this procedure through the use of systematic prospective risk assessment.

Interventions designed to prevent healthcare bed-related injuries in patients.

Background: Every patient in residential healthcare has a bed. Falling out of bed is associated with preventable patient harm. Various interventions to prevent injury are available.

Interventions designed to prevent healthcare bed-related injuries in patients.

Background: Every patient in residential healthcare has a bed. Falling out of bed is associated with preventable patient harm. Various interventions to prevent injury are available.

Effectiveness of an audible reminder on hand hygiene adherence.

Background: Multimodal interventions aim to improve health care workers' adherence to hand hygiene guidelines. Visitors are not primarily targeted, but may spread epidemic infections. Effective interventions that improve the adherence of visitors to hand hygiene guidelines are needed to prevent the transmission of epidemic infections to or from health care environments.

Hospital volume and survival in oesophagectomy and gastrectomy for cancer.

Background: High volume upper gastrointestinal cancer hospitals demonstrate improved postoperative mortality rates, but the impact on survival is unclear. This population-based cohort study explores the effect of hospital volume on survival following upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery.

Patients And Methods: This study used a population-based cohort of 3866 patients who underwent surgery for oesophageal or gastric cancer between 1998 and 2008 with follow-up until December 2008.

Transthoracic versus transhiatal esophagectomy for the treatment of esophagogastric cancer: a meta-analysis.

Objective: To study the differences in short and long-term outcomes of transthoracic and transhiatal esophagectomy for cancer.

Background: Studies have compared transthoracic with transhiatal esophagectomy with varying results. Previous systematic reviews (1999, 2001) do not include the latest randomized controlled trials.

Development of a surgical educational research program-fundamental principles and challenges.

Background: Surgical educational research is the scientific investigation of any aspect of surgical learning, teaching, training, and assessment. The research into development and validation of educational tools is vital to optimize patient care. This can be accomplished by establishing high quality educational research programs within academic surgical departments.

Mirizzi syndrome associated with hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm: a case report.

Introduction: This is the first case report of Mirizzi syndrome associated with hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm.

Case Presentation: A 54-year-old man presented with painful obstructive jaundice and weight loss. Computed tomography showed a hilar mass in the liver.

Tailgut cysts: report of two cases.

Aim: An illustration of the diagnosis and management of tailgut cysts.

Materials And Methods: Two cases of tailgut cyst and a review of the literature.

Results: A female patient presented with acute urinary retention with a retrorectal mass felt during rectal examination and confirmed on ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging underwent surgical resection and histology confirmed a chronically inflamed mucoid fluid-filled cyst partly lined by non-keratinised squamous epithelium.

Prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms in over 65-year-old men with inguinal hernias.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) in over 65-year-old men who have inguinal hernias and discuss if pre-operative selective screening of this population is appropriate.

Patients And Methods: A prospective study on 70 consecutive male patients with an age range of 65-88 years (mean, 74 years) who were referred to a single vascular consultant's out-patient clinic with an inguinal hernia were screened for the presence of an AAA with an ultrasound scan before hernia repair over a period of 3 years.

Results: Two patients were found to have an AAA measuring 3.