The effect of coloured overlays and lenses on reading: a systematic review of the literature.

Purpose: There are many anecdotal claims and research reports that coloured lenses and overlays improve reading performance. Here we present the results of a systematic review of this literature and examine the quality of the evidence.

Methods: We systematically reviewed the literature concerning the effect of coloured lenses or overlays on reading performance by searching the PsychInfo, Medline and Embase databases.

Global Surgery 2030: a roadmap for high income country actors.

The Millennium Development Goals have ended and the Sustainable Development Goals have begun, marking a shift in the global health landscape. The frame of reference has changed from a focus on 8 development priorities to an expansive set of 17 interrelated goals intended to improve the well-being of all people. In this time of change, several groups, including the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery, have brought a critical problem to the fore: 5 billion people lack access to safe, affordable surgical and anaesthesia care when needed.

Infantile Periocular Haemangioma: Optimising the Therapeutic Response.

Oral propranolol is now established as the first-line treatment for infantile haemangiomas, and used in up to 20 % of all cases. Propranolol use in infants is most commonly instigated in a controlled environment to monitor for potential serious adverse events such as hypoglycaemia and hypotension. Two test doses are recommended, the first one of 300 μg/kg followed by 2-hourly monitoring.

Surrendering control, or nothing to lose: Parents' preferences about participation in a randomised trial of childhood strabismus surgery.

Background: Intermittent exotropia is the most common form of divergent strabismus (squint) in children. Evidence regarding its optimum management is limited. A pilot randomised controlled trial has recently been completed (Surgery versus Active Monitoring in Intermittent Exotropia trial) to determine the feasibility of a full randomised controlled trial.

Severe complications of strabismus surgery.

Purpose: To determine the type, incidence, and clinical outcomes of severe complications from strabismus surgery in the United Kingdom.

Methods: Cases were identified prospectively through a national surveillance unit between September 1, 2008, and August 31, 2010. Questionnaire data were requested at the time of the complication recognition and at 6 months' follow-up.

International surgery: the development of postgraduate surgical training in Guyana.

Background: Like many developing countries, Guyana has a severe shortage of surgeons. Rather than rely on overseas training, Guyana developed its own Diploma in Surgery and asked for assistance from the Canadian Association of General Surgeons (CAGS). This paper reviews the initial results of Guyana's first postgraduate training program.

Conjunctival granuloma caused by surgical talc.

Talc from surgical gloves has been known to be a cause of granulomas within the surgical cavity. We report a case in which recurrent conjuntival inflammation was found to be caused by talc.

Review of a Canadian forum on international surgery: the Bethune Round Table.

The Bethune Round Table is an annual conference on international surgery that is unique in North America. Hosted by the Office of International Surgery at the University of Toronto, the conference provides a forum for profiling the global realities of surgical need, particularly as they relate to vulnerable and disadvantaged people of low-income countries. The 2004 Bethune Round Table, drawing on input from 4 continents, highlighted "emerging directions".

Fascicular keratitis in children: can corneal phlycten be mobile?

Phlyctenulosis is an uncommon condition that usually affects children's cornea or conjunctiva. Although its exact aetiology is unknown, it is thought to be a non-specific delayed hypersensitivity reaction to staphylococci or other bacterial, fungal or parasitic antigens. Herein a case of a 3.

Tied and tidy: closing the conjunctiva over adjustable sutures.

Background: Adjustable sutures have revolutionized strabismus surgery. Numerous techniques have been described that aim to facilitate postoperative adjustment. Nevertheless, some sort of procedure is always necessary following adjustable suture surgery and has to be arranged within 24 hours.

Effect of emergent presentation on outcome from rectal cancer management.

Background: We have previously reported outcomes for all rectal cancers in BC in 1996. We found that our local recurrence rates and survival were suboptimal relative to current standards in recent literature.

Methods: In this retrospective, population-based study, we report the influence of emergent presentation (obstruction, perforation, massive hemorrhage) on outcomes, types of surgical procedures and use of staging investigations, and use of adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy.

Effects of positive resection margin and tumor distance from anus on rectal cancer treatment outcomes.

Purpose: Rectal cancer outcome depends on stage, technical aspects of surgical excision, and use of adjuvant chemoradiation. Here, we examine effects of positive resection margin and tumor distance from the anus in stage 2 and 3 cancers on 4-year disease-specific survival and recurrence.

Methods: We reviewed all 495 rectal cancer patients registered in British Columbia in 1996.