STROCSS 2021: Strengthening the reporting of cohort, cross-sectional and case-control studies in surgery.

Introduction: Strengthening The Reporting Of Cohort Studies in Surgery (STROCSS) guidelines were developed in 2017 in order to improve the reporting quality of observational studies in surgery and updated in 2019. In order to maintain relevance and continue upholding good reporting quality among observational studies in surgery, we aimed to update STROCSS 2019 guidelines.

Methods: A STROCSS 2021 steering group was formed to come up with proposals to update STROCSS 2019 guidelines.

Unusual oral expulsion of adult Taenia worm through vomiting.

A 49-year-old woman with a history of abdominal discomfort and raw beef intake vomited a long adult Taenia after an episode of acute febrile illness. This case report describes that Taeniasis can rarely present with oral expulsion of the tapeworm. Acute physiologic stress due to illness or surgery could be implicated.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Diabetic Retinopathy among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Brunei Darussalam: A Cross-sectional Study.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and the factors associated with retinopathy among type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients in Brunei Darussalam.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of all type 2 DM patients who attended diabetic eye screening over a 3-month period at one of four government hospitals. We assessed association between DR with the following variables: age, sex, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), duration of DM, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and microalbuminuria.

A rare case of an intramyocardial mesothelial inclusion cyst.

A symptomatic intramyocardial cyst, whilst a rare occurrence, is most effectively investigated using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Furthermore, following diagnosis it can be effectively treated using a surgical approach.

Do in-hospital outcomes of isolated coronary artery bypass grafting vary between male and female octogenarians?

Objectives: Female gender and advanced age are regarded as independent risk factors for adverse outcomes after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). There is paucity of evidence comparing outcomes of CABG between male and female octogenarians. We aimed to analyse in-hospital outcomes of isolated CABG in this cohort.

Role of NRF2 cascade in determining the differential response of cervical cancer cells to anticancer drugs: an in vitro study.

Background: Cervical cancers are usually treatable if detected in early stages by a combination of therapies. However, the prognosis of cervical cancer patients with metastasis remains unfavorable due to the fact that most of the cervical carcinomas are either resistant to anticancer drugs or show signs of relapse after initial treatment. Therefore, it is important to control the chemoresistance as it is the key to develop effective treatment options for cervical cancer.

In silico bimolecular characterization of anticancer phytochemicals from Fagonia indica.

The in silico molecular dynamics and structure-based site-specific drug design of indigenous plant biomolecules and selected proteins have remarkable potential for cancer therapy. A set of five proteins included for this research were epidermal growth factor protein (PDB ID; 1M17), crystal structure of mutated EGFR kinase (PDB ID; 2EB3), crystal structure of Bcl-xl (PDB ID; 2YXJ), apoptosis regulator protein MCL-1 BH3 (PDB ID; 3MK8) and apoptosis proteins (PDB ID; 5C3H). The present study on in silico investigation of fifteen indigenous medicinal plants were selected there one hundred thirty four ligands available literature were docked against five proteins involved in carcinogenesis.

Wdr1 and cofilin are necessary mediators of immune-cell-specific apoptosis triggered by Tecfidera.

Despite the emerging importance of reactive electrophilic drugs, deconvolution of their principal targets remains difficult. The lack of genetic tractability/interventions and reliance on secondary validation using other non-specific compounds frequently complicate the earmarking of individual binders as functionally- or phenotypically-sufficient pathway regulators. Using a redox-targeting approach to interrogate how on-target binding of pleiotropic electrophiles translates to a phenotypic output in vivo, we here systematically track the molecular components attributable to innate immune cell toxicity of the electrophilic-drug dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera®).

The use of point-of-care testing in detecting platelet function recovery in a patient treated with prasugrel undergoing urgent surgical revascularization.

A recent administration of potent P2Y receptor inhibitor such as prasugrel in patients undergoing cardiac surgery remains a dilemma and little is known about its impact on platelet function recovery. Guidelines recommend discontinuation of prasugrel 7 days before surgery to reduce the risk of surgery-related bleeding. Patients at risk may benefit from preoperative platelet function testing to guide individualized preoperative waiting time.

Curauá-derived carbon dots: Fluorescent probes for effective Fe(III) ion detection, cellular labeling and bioimaging.

This study reports the generation of curauá-derived carbon dots (C-dots) and their suitability for Fe(III) detection, bioimaging and FACS analysis. C-dots were generated from curauá (Ananas erectifolius) fibers by a facile one-step hydrothermal approach. They exhibited graphite-like structure with a mean diameter of 2.

Retrospective analysis of the comparison between carbon dioxide laser-assisted deep sclerectomy combined with phacoemulsification and conventional trabeculectomy with phacoemulsification.

Purpose: To compare outcomes of laser assisted deep sclerectomy (LADS) and conventional trabeculectomy both combined with phacoemulsification.

Methods: We divided 36 eyes into 2 groups, one group with LADS and the other Trabeculectomy. Patients were measured post operatively at 1, 3, 6, 9 months, 1, 2, 3 years for intraocular pressure (IOP), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and number of medications.

Novel Methods and Approaches for Safety Evaluation of Nanoparticle Formulations: A Focus Towards Models and Adverse Outcome Pathways.

Nanotoxicology is an emerging field employed in the assessment of unintentional hazardous effects produced by nanoparticles (NPs) impacting human health and the environment. The nanotoxicity affects the range between induction of cellular stress and cytotoxicity. The reasons so far reported for these toxicological effects are due to their variable sizes with high surface areas, shape, charge, and physicochemical properties, which upon interaction with the biological components may influence their functioning and result in adverse outcomes (AO).

Role of Imaging in a Case of Toxoplasmosis Presenting as Generalized Lymphadenopathy.

Toxoplasmosis is caused by an obligate protozoan intracellular parasite. The disease has variable prevalence globally and is usually asymptomatic. Pregnant and immunocompromised people are at risk of getting infected.

Evaluation of a Digital Handheld Hydrogen Breath Monitor to Diagnose Lactose Malabsorption: Interventional Crossover Study.

Background: Lactose malabsorption is a common condition that affects a broad segment of the population. Clinical diagnosis based on symptom recall can be unreliable and conventional testing can be inconvenient, requiring expensive laboratory-based equipment and conduction of the testing in a clinical setting.

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the performance of a digital handheld hydrogen breath monitor (GIMate) in diagnosing lactose malabsorption compared to a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared device (H2 Check) for the same indication.

Surgical pericardial heart valves: 50 Years of evolution.

Valve disease carries a huge burden globally and the number of heart valve procedures are projected to increase from the current 300 000 to 800 000 annually by 2050. Since its genesis 50 years ago, pericardial heart valve has moved leaps and bounds to ever more ingenious designs and manufacturing methods with parallel developments in cardiology and cardiovascular surgical treatments. This feat has only been possible through close collaboration of many scientific disciplines in the fields of engineering, material sciences, basic tissue biology, medicine and surgery.

Mapping Activity-Dependent Quasi-stationary States of Mitochondrial Membranes with Graphene-Induced Energy Transfer Imaging.

Graphene-induced energy transfer (GIET) was recently introduced for sub-nanometric axial localization of fluorescent molecules. GIET relies on near-field energy transfer from an optically excited fluorophore to a single sheet of graphene. Recently, we demonstrated its potential by determining the distance between two leaflets of supported lipid bilayers.

Benefit-risk assessment and reporting in clinical trials of chronic pain treatments: IMMPACT recommendations.

Chronic pain clinical trials have historically assessed benefit and risk outcomes separately. However, a growing body of research suggests that a composite metric that accounts for benefit and risk in relation to each other can provide valuable insights into the effects of different treatments. Researchers and regulators have developed a variety of benefit-risk composite metrics, although the extent to which these methods apply to randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of chronic pain has not been evaluated in the published literature.

Enteric Nervous System in Neonatal Necrotizing Enterocolitis.

Background: The pathophysiology of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is not clear, but increasing information suggests that the risk and severity of NEC may be influenced by abnormalities in the enteric nervous system (ENS).

Objective: The purpose of this review was to scope and examine the research related to ENS-associated abnormalities that have either been identified in NEC or have been noted in other inflammatory bowel disorders (IBDs) with histopathological abnormalities similar to NEC. The aim was to summarize the research findings, identify research gaps in existing literature, and disseminate them to key knowledge end-users to collaborate and address the same in future studies.

The critical role of learning from investigating and debriefing adverse events.

Debriefing after and learning from adverse surgical events is becoming an integral component of our clinical practices and hospital systems. Morbidity and mortality conferences have been the foundation for this process; however, the approach has evolved to be more constructive with root cause analyses and identification of action items to prevent future adverse events. Additional quality improvement resources include the voluntary National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) databases, which provide seeds for a systematic process of improving patient care.

CHIP/STUB1 Ubiquitin Ligase Functions as a Negative Regulator of ErbB2 by Promoting Its Early Post-Biosynthesis Degradation.

Overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family member ErbB2 (HER2) drives oncogenesis in up to 25% of invasive breast cancers. ErbB2 expression at the cell surface is required for oncogenesis but mechanisms that ensure the optimal cell surface display of overexpressed ErbB2 following its biosynthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum are poorly understood. ErbB2 is dependent on continuous association with HSP90 molecular chaperone for its stability and function as an oncogenic driver.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Comprehensive Qualitative Research Study on Unmet Needs in the "Patient Journey".

Purpose: This qualitative research study aimed to characterize the "patient journey" for patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and identify the unmet needs related to the management and treatment of the condition for healthcare providers (HCPs), patients, and their caregivers.

Materials And Methods: Multifaceted, dynamic methodology, iteratively gathering cognitive, emotional and social insights, was used to support and conduct in-depth, immersion interviews across the USA with 59 HCPs in-office and in roundtable discussions, and 20 patient-support partner dyads in-home.

Results: Patients were aged >18 years, primarily female, and all were diagnosed with CRPS (limited to type 1 in this patient cohort).

Quantitative muscle ultrasound and electrical impedance myography in late onset Pompe disease: A pilot study of reliability, longitudinal change and correlation with function.

Background/objectives: Late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) is slowly progressive, making it difficult to assess clinical change and response to interventions. In this study, quantitative muscle ultrasonography (QMUS) and electrical impedance myography (EIM) were evaluated as potential biomarkers.

Methods: 25 patients with confirmed LOPD were recruited from the Duke Pompe Clinic and evaluated with standard clinical measures, QMUS, standard EIM (sEIM) and hand-held EIM (hEIM).