Increase in short telomeres during the third trimester in human placenta.

An increase in telomere shortening in gestational tissues has been proposed as a mechanism involved in the timing for the initiation of parturition. An increase in very short telomeres with increasing gestational age has been observed in mice; this study sought to explore this phenomenon in human pregnancies. Specifically, this study addressed the hypothesis that prior to labor, the quantity of very short telomeres (<3 kilobase (kb) lengths) increases in human placental tissue as term gestation approaches.

Intraoperative resident education for robotic laparoscopic gastric banding surgery: a pilot study on the safety of stepwise education.

Background: Incorporation of robotic surgery into resident education poses questions regarding intraoperative teaching and patient care. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of gradually increasing resident console responsibility on resident competency and patient safety, in the presence of a proctor and bedside surgeon, for robotic laparoscopic-assisted gastric banding (R-LAGB) compared with the classical training model (CTM) of residents as first assistant.

Study Design: Eight clinical year 4 (CY4) residents completed 60 R-LAGB using a one-to-one proctored training model (PTM).

Successful implementation of the american college of surgeons/association of program directors in surgery surgical skills curriculum via a 4-week consecutive simulation rotation.

Introduction: Increased patient awareness, duty hour restrictions, escalating costs, and time constraints in the operating room have revolutionized surgery education. Although simulation and skills laboratories are emerging as promising alternatives for skills training, their integration into graduate surgical education is inconsistent, erratic, and often on a voluntary basis. We hypothesize that, by implementing the American College of Surgeons/Association of Program Directors in Surgery Surgical Skills Curriculum in a structured, inanimate setting, we can address some of these concerns.

Robotic vs. conventional laparoscopic gastric banding: a comparison of 407 cases.

Background: The current indications for using a robotic technique in bariatric surgery remain unclear. The objective of this study was to quantify the safety and potential benefits of this novel technology as compared to the conventional laparoscopic approach.

Methods: A retrospective database of patients who underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) between December 2006 and June 2009 was examined.