Towards an Integrated Performance Management and Measurement System for healthcare organisations: a case study in Montreal.

This study proposes an approach for developing or improving performance management and measurement systems (PMMSs) for healthcare organisations. First, data is collected to analyse and understand the current organisation's performance management system. Second, the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) method is used to identify the main aspects of the performance management system to be improved.

Renal toxicity and biokinetics models after repeated uranium instillation.

During nuclear fuel processing, workers can potentially be exposed to repeated inhalations of uranium compounds. Uranium nephrotoxicity is well documented after acute uranium intake, but it is controversial after long-term or protracted exposure. This study aims to analyze the nephrotoxicity threshold after repeated uranium exposure through upper airways and to investigate the resulting uranium biokinetics in comparison to reference models.

Novel Cardiokine GDF3 Predicts Adverse Fibrotic Remodeling After Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) induces a repair response that ultimately generates a stable fibrotic scar. Although the scar prevents cardiac rupture, an excessive profibrotic response impairs optimal recovery by promoting the development of noncontractile fibrotic areas. The mechanisms that lead to cardiac fibrosis are diverse and incompletely characterized.

Anti-integrin α therapy improves cardiac fibrosis after myocardial infarction by blunting cardiac PW1 stromal cells.

There is currently no therapy to limit the development of cardiac fibrosis and consequent heart failure. We have recently shown that cardiac fibrosis post-myocardial infarction (MI) can be regulated by resident cardiac cells with a fibrogenic signature and identified by the expression of PW1 (Peg3). Here we identify αV-integrin (CD51) as an essential regulator of cardiac PW1 cells fibrogenic behavior.

Comparison of Human and Experimental Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease.

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) occurs in humans either as a heritable form (hPVOD) due to biallelic inactivating mutations of encoding GCN2) or as a sporadic form in older age (sPVOD). The chemotherapeutic agent mitomycin C (MMC) is a potent inducer of PVOD in humans and in rats (MMC-PVOD). Here, we compared human hPVOD and sPVOD, and MMC-PVOD pathophysiology at the histological, cellular, and molecular levels to unravel common altered pathomechanisms.

Fibrogenic Potential of PW1/Peg3 Expressing Cardiac Stem Cells.

Background: Pw1 gene expression is a marker of adult stem cells in a wide range of tissues. PW1-expressing cells are detected in the heart but are not well characterized.

Objectives: The authors characterized cardiac PW1-expressing cells and their cell fate potentials in normal hearts and during cardiac remodeling following myocardial infarction (MI).

Treatment of HIV-Infected Subjects with Buttock Lipoatrophy Using Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid Gel.

This prospective study explored effectiveness and safety of Macrolane VRF30 for treatment of buttock lipoatrophy in HIV-infected subjects. Ten subjects who were unable to sit for more than 30 minutes because of pain were injected with a mean of 276 mL and followed for 18 months. The pain score was reduced, and the time that subjects could sit was increased at least up to 9 months post treatment.

The use of lipofilling to treat congenital hypoplastic breast anomalies: preliminary experiences.

Background: Treatment options for congenital hypoplastic breast anomalies are often open, including radial scoring, parenchymal flaps, and insertion of expanders and implants. Drawbacks of open techniques involve scarring, the use of drains, and inpatient stays. The use of lipofilling to treat breast deformities is increasing, as more research is completed in this area.

[Surgical treatment of lipodystrophy].

With the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy HIV has become a chronic but not necessarily a life-threatening disease. One drawback of the medication is the lipodystrophy syndrome that develops. Its precise mechanisms underlying are not well understood.

[Body contouring surgery].

Body contouring after massive weight loss is an important step of the treatment for obese and overweight patients. As a member of the bariatric multidisciplinary team, the plastic surgeon helps to finish the reconstruction process by removing skin and fat excess. With the rise of bariatric surgery and extreme weight loss, this surgery is more in demand and has became more and more performed recently and well codified.

Vascular microanastomosis in rat femoral arteries: experimental study comparing non-absorbable and absorbable sutures.

Microsurgery is the procedure of choice for vascular anastamoses between 0.5 and 0.8 mm in diameter.