Enhanced autopsy triage (EA-Triage) in drug-related deaths: integrating quick toxicological analysis and postmortem computed tomography.

The objective was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of an enhanced autopsy triage (EA-Triage) setup consisting of postmortem computed tomography (PMCT), simulated quick toxicological analysis (sQTA), external examination, and case information in determining cause of death (COD) in persons with past or current use of illegal drugs (drug-related deaths). Information on drug-related deaths selected for medico-legal autopsy in 2020-2021 at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark, was analyzed retrospectively. The included cases underwent conventional autopsy, PMCT, and systematic toxicological analysis.

Clinical outcome and quality of life after gracilis muscle transposition for fistula closure over a 10-year period.

Purpose: Gracilis muscle transposition (GMT) is an established surgical technique in the treatment of anorectal fistulas and fistulas to the vagina and the urinary system when previous closure options have failed. There is little evidence on the success rate of this procedure in the long term.

Methods: This is a follow-up study on all patients undergoing GMT over a 10-year period at a tertiary referral center for complex fistulas.

[Laparoscopic resection of a giant colon diverticulum : Case report and review of the literature].

Background: Giant diverticula are rare complications of diverticular disease. Current opinion regards operative therapy as the method of choice for the treatment of symptomatic giant diverticula; however, there is neither consensus about the technique nor about the necessary extent of resection. Based on a non-systematic review of the literature, an overview of giant diverticula in terms of epidemiology, pathology and classification is given.

Long-term functional outcome of colonic resections: how much does faecal impairment influence quality of life?

Aim: Older data suggest that colonic resection has a negative impact on continence and quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional outcome of colonic resections for colonic cancer and diverticulitis and its influence on quality of life.

Methods: Patients who underwent colonic resection between 2005 and 2013 were identified from a prospective database.

Laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy in complex pelvic floor disorder.

Aim: For the treatment of complex pelvic organ prolapse, many different surgical procedures are described without any comparative studies available. Laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy after D'Hoore is one of the methods, which is publicized to treat patients with symptomatic rectocele, enterocele and rectal prolapse.

Method: All patients who received ventral mesh rectopexy since 07/10 for symptomatic rectocele, enterocele and possible rectal prolapse I ° or II ° in terms of a complex pelvic floor disorder were included in this follow-up study.

The effect of cannabis on regular cannabis consumers' ability to ride a bicycle.

To assess the effects of cannabis on the ability required to ride a bicycle, repetitive practical cycling tests and medical examinations were carried out before and after inhalative consumption of cannabis. A maximum of three joints with body weight-adapted THC content (300 μg THC per kg body weight) could be consumed by each test subject. Fourteen regular cannabis-consuming test subjects were studied (12 males, 2 females).

Abuse of the over-the-counter antispasmodic butylscopolamine for the home synthesis of psychoactive scopolamine.

Unlabelled: We report on two patients who ingested psychoactive scopolamine that was synthesized at home from butylscopolamine (Buscopan®), which is available as over-the-counter antispasmodic in nearly 100 countries worldwide. Patient 1 presented with severe central anticholinergic toxidrome, while patient 2 suffered from minor symptoms. An empty blister of Buscopan® was found in the patients' home, but initially was not suspected to be causative for the observed central anticholinergic symptoms, as Buscopan® is not able to pass the blood-brain barrier in its native form.

Laparoscopic surgery for rectal prolapse and pelvic floor disorders.

Pelvic floor disorders are different dysfunctions of gynaecological, urinary or anorectal organs, which can present as incontinence, outlet-obstruction and organ prolapse or as a combination of these symptoms. Pelvic floor disorders affect a substantial amount of people, predominantly women. Transabdominal procedures play a major role in the treatment of these disorders.

The TICAP-Study (titanium clips for appendicular stump closure): A prospective multicentre observational study on appendicular stump closure with an innovative titanium clip.

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the DS Titanium Ligation Clip for appendicular stump closure in laparoscopic appendectomy.

Methods: Overall, 502 patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy were recruited for this observational multicentre study in nine study centres between October 2011 and July 2013. The clip was finally applied in 390 patients.

Oncologic colorectal resection after endoscopic treatment of malignant polyps: does endoscopy have an adverse effect on oncologic and surgical outcomes?

Background: Early colorectal cancer is increasingly treated by endoscopic removal. In cases of incomplete resection or high-risk carcinoma, additional surgery is necessary.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of subsequent oncologic surgery after endoscopic resection of colorectal cancer, the rate of lymph node metastasis, residual cancer, and morbidity and mortality rates of the operation.

Influence of conversion on the perioperative and oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer compared with primarily open resection.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of conversion on perioperative and short- and long-term oncologic outcomes in laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer and to compare these with those for an open control group.

Methods: The data of 276 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for rectal cancer between 2006 and 2010 at a single institution were prospectively collected. Of the 276 patients, 114 underwent primarily open surgery, and 162 underwent laparoscopic surgery (on an intention-to-treat basis).

A randomised, multi-centre, prospective, observer and patient blind study to evaluate a non-absorbable polypropylene mesh vs. a partly absorbable mesh in incisional hernia repair.

Background: The implantation of a polymer mesh is considered as the standard treatment for incisional hernia. It leads to lower recurrence rates compared to suture techniques without mesh implantation; however, there are also some drawbacks to mesh repair. The operation is more complex and peri-operative infectious complications are increased.

Risk of colorectal cancer after detection and removal of adenomas at colonoscopy: population-based case-control study.

Purpose: Empirical evidence for recommendations of surveillance intervals after detection and removal of adenomas at colonoscopy is still sparse and mostly based on observations of adenoma recurrence. We aimed to assess risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) according to time since polypectomy and factors that might be relevant for risk stratification.

Methods: In a population-based case-control study conducted in Germany, detailed history and results of previous large-bowel endoscopies were obtained by interview and from medical records.

Appendix stump closure with titanium clips in laparoscopic appendectomy.

Purpose: Different techniques, including clips, have been used to close the stump in laparoscopic appendectomy. The aim was to investigate the results after application of a newly developed titanium clip for this operation.

Methods: From June 2008 to February 2010, 104 patients from two different hospitals undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy were included in this prospective study.

A fatal intoxication by chloroprene.

Unlabelled: Objective Chloroprene, 2-chloro-1,3 butadiene, is a volatile synthetic liquid. The chloroprene monomer is extremely reactive and is used for the production of latexes and synthetic rubber such as Neoprene. Up to now an acute lethal human exposure has been described only once in the literature [19].

Protection from colorectal cancer after colonoscopy: a population-based, case-control study.

Background: Colonoscopy with detection and removal of adenomas is considered a powerful tool to reduce colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence. However, the degree of protection achievable in a population setting with high-quality colonoscopy resources remains to be quantified.

Objective: To assess the association between previous colonoscopy and risk for CRC.

Management and outcome of anastomotic leakage after colonic surgery.

Aim: Anastomotic leakage remains a key factor for morbidity after colonic surgery. The aim of the study was to analyse the outcome of different therapeutical approaches.

Method: Of 1731 consecutive patients undergoing colonic resection between 1998 and 2005 at our institution, 67 patients with anastomotic leakage were identified from a prospective database.

Towards an 18S phylogeny of hexapods: accounting for group-specific character covariance in optimized mixed nucleotide/doublet models.

The phylogenetic diversification of Hexapoda is still not fully understood. Morphological and molecular analyses have resulted in partly contradicting hypotheses. In molecular analyses, 18S sequences are the most frequently employed, but it appears that 18S sequences do not contain enough phylogenetic signals to resolve basal relationships of hexapod lineages.

First-generation SNP/InDel markers tagging loci for pathogen resistance in the potato genome.

A panel of 17 tetraploid and 11 diploid potato genotypes was screened by comparative sequence analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertion-deletion polymorphisms (InDels), in regions of the potato genome where genes for qualitative and/or quantitative resistance to different pathogens have been localized. Most SNP and InDel markers were derived from bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) insertions that contain sequences similar to the family of plant genes for pathogen resistance having nucleotide-binding-site and leucine-rich-repeat domains (NBS-LRR-type genes). Forty-four such NBS-LRR-type genes containing BAC-insertions were mapped to 14 loci, which tag most known resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL) in potato.

A hexapod nuclear SSU rRNA secondary-structure model and catalog of taxon-specific structural variation.

RNA molecules and in particular the nuclear SSU RNA play an important role in molecular systematics. With the advent of increasingly parameterized substitution models in systematic research, the incorporation of secondary-structure information became a realistic option compensating interdependence of character variation. As a prerequisite, consensus structures of eukaryotic SSU RNA molecules have become available through extensive comparative analyses and crystallographic studies.

Quantitative genotyping of single-nucleotide polymorphisms by allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization on DNA microarrays.

Genotyping of SNPs (single-nucleotide polymorphisms) has challenged the development of several novel techniques. Most of these methods have been introduced to discriminate binary SNPs in diploid species. In the present study, the quantitative genotyping of SNPs in natural DNA pools of a polyploid organism via DNA microarrays was analysed.

Tagging quantitative trait loci for maturity-corrected late blight resistance in tetraploid potato with PCR-based candidate gene markers.

Late blight caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans is the economically most important and destructive disease in potato cultivation. Quantitative resistance to late blight available in tetraploid cultivars is correlated with late maturity in temperate climates, which is an undesirable characteristic. A total of 30 DNA-based markers known to be linked to loci for pathogen resistance in diploid potato were selected and tested as polymerase chain reaction-based markers for linkage with quantitative trait loci (QTL) for late blight resistance and plant maturity in two half-sib families of tetraploid potatoes.

Refinement of single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping methods on human genomic DNA: amplifluor allele-specific polymerase chain reaction versus ligation detection reaction-TaqMan.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have proven to be powerful genetic markers for a variety of genetic applications, e.g., association studies leading to dissection of both monogenetic and complex diseases.