Safety and Outcomes of Linezolid Use for Nocardiosis.

Background: Tropical Australia has a high incidence of nocardiosis, with high rates of intrinsic antimicrobial resistance. Linezolid, the only antimicrobial to which all local species are susceptible, has been recommended in empirical combination treatment regimens for moderate-severe infections at Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) since 2014. We report the safety and efficacy of linezolid use for nocardiosis in this setting.

Loop versus divided colostomy for the management of anorectal malformations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The ideal colostomy type for patients with anorectal malformations (ARM) is undetermined. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of short-term complications comparing loop and divided colostomies.

Methods: After review registration (PROSPERO: CRD42016036481), multiple databases were searched for comparative studies without language or date restrictions.

Flap versus fascial closure for gastroschisis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Flap closure represents an alternative to fascial closure for gastroschisis. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of outcomes comparing these techniques.

Methods: A registered systematic review (

Prospero: CRD42015016745) of comparative studies was performed, querying multiple databases without language or date restrictions.

The correlation between the time spent in utero and the severity of bowel matting in newborns with gastroschisis.

Background: Optimal timing of delivery in fetuses with gastroschisis (GS) is unknown. Some favor early induced delivery to prevent bowel injury. This study evaluates the correlation between bowel injury and the gestational age at birth using the Gastroschisis Prognostic Score (GPS).

A risk-stratified comparison of fascial versus flap closure techniques on the early outcomes of infants with gastroschisis.

Background: While fascial closure is traditionally used in gastroschisis (GS), flap closure (skin or umbilical cord) has gained popularity. We evaluated early outcomes and complications of the two techniques.

Methods: A national, population-based gastroschisis data registry was analyzed from 2005 to 2011.

Study of two different thin film coating methods in transmission laser micro-joining of thin Ti-film coated glass and polyimide for biomedical applications.

Biomedical devices and implants require precision joining for hermetic sealing which can be achieved with low power lasers. The effect of two different thin metal film coating methods was studied in transmission laser micro-joints of titanium-coated glass and polyimide. The coating methods were cathodic arc physical vapor deposition (CA-PVD) and electron beam evaporation (EB-PVD).

Organic nanostructures on silicon, created with semitransparent polystyrene spheres and 248 nm laser pulses.

Arrays of nanostructures are made starting with a template of close-packed, polystyrene spheres on a silicon surface. The spheres are either 1.091 or 2.

Measurement of Automotive Catalyst Washcoat Loading Parameters by Microscopy Techniques.

: Washcoat loading on automotive exhaust catalysts is normally determined, in production, by a weight gain procedure, which gives an accurate measure of washcoat weight present on an individual catalyst but does not address such parameters as uniformity of washcoat loading and geometric surface area within the monolith. Both issues are important factors that affect the catalytic activity (especially during catalyst lightoff) and catalyst cost (due to a thick, less functional washcoat) in an automotive exhaust system. Washcoat loading also plays a role in post-use analysis to determine possible reasons for changes (i.

Coronary bypass after ascending aorta to femoral graft placement running head: CABG after ascending aorta-bifemoral graft.

A 73-year-old woman had undergone ascending aorta-bifemoral bypass 9 years previously and now required coronary artery bypass for unstable angina. The technical considerations for the operation had never been described. We successfully completed the operation by mobilization of the pre-existent graft as it exited the thorax and by intermittent aortic root perfusion of the graft.

Sinus of Valsalva repair for annulo-aortic ectasia and aortic insufficiency.

Objective: The standard treatment of ascending aortic aneurysms (AsAAs) with annulo-aortic ectasia and aortic insufficiency has been composite graft replacement of the valve and ascending aorta. The authors propose a method of repair which preserves the native aortic valve and correct the aneurysmal dilation of the sinus of Valsalva yet preserves its normal shape.

Patients/interventions: Two patients with large AsAAs and severe aortic insufficiency had operative repair by plication of the sinuses of Valsalva which maintained the normal sinus shape and restored coaptation of the aortic leaflets.

Thoracic aortic surgery.

Between 1982 and 1989, 119 patients had repair of thoracic aortic pathology. Thirty-seven had repair of ascending aortic aneurysms, with an 11% hospital mortality. Forty-one patients had urgent repair of acute type A aortic dissections, with a 32% hospital mortality.

Ancrod anticoagulation for cardiopulmonary bypass in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis was diagnosed in a 50-year-old man undergoing a repeat heart operation after heparinization led to microemboli and an eventual left transmetatarsal amputation. A third heart operation was aborted when anticoagulation with low molecular weight heparin produced intraoperative thrombi. The patient was referred to Toronto where ancrod (Arvin) was used to lower plasma fibrinogen level, allowing successful repair of a ventricular septal defect using cardiopulmonary bypass support.

Clinical performance of Bjork-Shiley mechanical heart valves: a perspective on outlet strut fractures in the 60 degrees and 70 degrees convexo-concave disc models.

The convexo-concave disc model of Bjork-Shiley mechanical heart valve is a significant improvement over the spherical disc model and compares favourably to other valves, including bioprostheses, with respect to hemodynamics, thromboembolism, anticoagulant related hemorrhage and prosthetic endocarditis. A small number of the 60 degrees and 70 degrees welded outlet strut Bjork-Shiley convexo-concave valves are at risk of sudden structural failure. The risk is constant or decreasing with time.

5-year results of a prospective study of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

This paper presents the results of a prospective study of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for the treatment of patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease and identifies the variables that are predictive of long-term success. The variables believed to be important prognostically were recorded for 984 consecutive PTAs performed between July 1978 and July 1986. Success or failure was defined using a combination of clinical and objective vascular laboratory criteria.

The determinants of mortality and morbidity after multiple-valve operations.

The factors predictive of hospital mortality and morbidity after contemporary multiple-valve surgical procedures were identified to develop strategies to improve the results of such procedures. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative information was collected prospectively on 90 consecutive patients undergoing surgical procedures between 1982 and 1984. The operative mortality was 5.

Increased risk of urgent revascularization.

To determine the risk factors for operative mortality and morbidity, we performed a prospective analysis of 1,980 patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass operations between 1982 and 1984. The operative mortality was 3.5%, and the incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction was 8.

Endocardial excision versus encircling endocardial ventriculotomy. A comparison of effects on ventricular structure and function.

Although endocardial excision and encircling endocardial ventriculotomy are being performed in patients with extensive triple-vessel disease and compromised ventricular function, long-term effects of the operative intervention on structure and function of the left ventricle have not been determined. These procedures were performed in healthy dogs in three groups: control (ventriculotomy alone), endocardial excision, and encircling endocardial ventriculotomy (five dogs per group). Six weeks later, through a left thoracotomy, an arterial line, left atrial line, and Swan-Ganz catheter were inserted.

Cardiac dysfunction during abdominal aortic operation: the limitations of pulmonary wedge pressures.

The mortality rate for elective abdominal aortic operations remains between 3% and 8% despite careful hemodynamic monitoring, and half of these deaths are cardiac in origin. An extensive evaluation of ventricular function was performed during abdominal aortic operation to detect subtle abnormalities in systolic or diastolic ventricular function that could precipitate progressive ischemic cardiac injury. Twenty-three patients undergoing elective abdominal aortic operations (14 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm [AAA] and nine patients with aortoiliac occlusive disease [AIOD] ) had hemodynamic and nuclear ventriculographic measurements performed preoperatively, during aortic clamping, and immediately after aortic declamping.

Diltiazem cardioplegia. A balance of risk and benefit.

Calcium channel blockers may prevent myocardial injury during cardioplegia and reperfusion. A prospective, randomized trial was instituted to evaluate the hemodynamic and myocardial metabolic recovery in 40 patients undergoing elective aorta-coronary bypass with either diltiazem in crystalloid potassium cardioplegia (n = 20) or crystalloid potassium cardioplegia (n = 20). In a preliminary trial, doses between 150 and 250 micrograms/kg reduced the period of heart block after cross-clamp removal (90 +/- 110 minutes) from that found with higher doses and improved myocardial metabolism.