Evaluation of a novel forward-looking optical coherence tomography probe for endoscopic applications: an ex vivo feasibility study.

Background: As a result of recent advances in the development of small microelectromechanical system mirrors, a novel forward-looking optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe with a uniquely large field of view is being commercially developed. The aim of this study is to prospectively assess the feasibility of this advanced OCT probe in interpreting ex vivo images of colorectal polyp tissue and to identify necessary steps for further development.

Methods: A total of 13 colorectal lesions from 9 patients, removed during endoscopic resection, were imaged ex vivo with the OCT device and compared with histopathological images that served as the gold standard for diagnostics.

Using a Supramolecular Monomer Formulation Approach to Engineer Modular, Dynamic Microgels, and Composite Macrogels.

Microgels show advantages over bulk hydrogels due to convenient control over microgel size and composition, and the ability to use microgels to modularly construct larger hierarchical scaffold hydrogel materials. Here, supramolecular chemistry is used to formulate supramolecular polymer, dynamic microgels solely held together by non-covalent interactions. Four-fold hydrogen bonding ureido-pyrimidinone (UPy) monomers with different functionalities are applied to precisely tune microgel properties in a modular way, via variations in monomer concentration, bifunctional crosslinker ratio, and the incorporation of supramolecular dyes and peptides.

The effect of one-room CT guided brachytherapy on procedure time and cost in the treatment of cervical cancer.

Purpose: Brachytherapy is associated with improved overall survival in cervical cancer patients, but the utilization seems hindered by high costs and relatively low reimbursement, particularly in the US. A one-room brachytherapy suite with CT (ORBT) could optimize the treatment workflow. By eliminating transport and waiting times, limiting applicator movement, and providing real-time applicator placement feedback, treatment time and costs could potentially be reduced.

Investigating the self-assembly of 2NapFF and ureido-pyrimidinone multicomponent systems for cell culture.

Low molecular weight gels are formed the self-assembly of small molecules into fibrous structures. In the case of hydrogels, these networks entrap large volumes of water, yielding soft materials. Such gels tend to have weak mechanical properties and a high permeability for cells, making them particularly appealing for regenerative medicine applications.

A systematic review on the effectiveness of robot-assisted minimally invasive gastrectomy.

Background: Robot-assisted minimally invasive gastrectomy (RAMIG) is increasingly used as a surgical approach for gastric cancer. This study assessed the effectiveness of RAMIG and studied which stages of the IDEAL-framework (1 = Idea, 2A = Development, 2B = Exploration, 3 = Assessment, 4 = Long-term follow-up) were followed.

Methods: The Cochrane Library, Embase, Pubmed, and Web of Science were searched for studies on RAMIG up to January 2023.

Participatory methods used in the evaluation of medical devices: a comparison of focus groups, interviews, and a survey.

Background: Stakeholder engagement in evaluation of medical devices is crucial for aligning devices with stakeholders' views, needs, and values. Methods for these engagements have however not been compared to analyse their relative merits for medical device evaluation. Therefore, we systematically compared these three methods in terms of themes, interaction, and time-investment.

Prognostic Information on Progression to Dementia: Quantification of the Impact on Quality of Life.

Background: The increasing interest in early identification of people at risk of developing dementia, has led to the development of numerous models aimed at estimating the likelihood of progression from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia. It is important to study both the need for and possible outcomes related with such prediction models, including the impact of risk predictions on perceived quality of life (QoL).

Objective: This study aimed to quantify the impact that receiving a risk prediction on progression from MCI to dementia has on QoL.

Early technology review: towards an expedited pathway.

Objectives: Evidence development for medical devices is often focused on satisfying regulatory requirements with the result that health professional and payer expectations may not be met, despite considerable investment in clinical trials. Early engagement with payers and health professionals could allow companies to understand these expectations and reflect them in clinical study design, increasing chances of positive coverage determination and adoption into clinical practice.

Methods: An example of early engagement through the EXCITE International model using an early technology review (ETR) is described which includes engagement with payers and health professionals to better inform companies to develop data that meet their expectations.

The IDEAL framework for surgical robotics: development, comparative evaluation and long-term monitoring.

The next generation of surgical robotics is poised to disrupt healthcare systems worldwide, requiring new frameworks for evaluation. However, evaluation during a surgical robot's development is challenging due to their complex evolving nature, potential for wider system disruption and integration with complementary technologies like artificial intelligence. Comparative clinical studies require attention to intervention context, learning curves and standardized outcomes.

Usage and parental knowledge of antibiotics in children undergoing (adeno) tonsillectomy in northern Tanzania.

Introduction: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a growing concern globally, mostly being contributed by a limited understanding of antibiotic utilization as a result of inappropriate acquisition and prescription. Parental awareness is essential in optimizing their usage and preserving the effectiveness of these crucial medications. The current study investigates the usage and parental knowledge of antibiotics in children undergoing (adeno) tonsillectomy ((A)TE) in Northern Tanzania.

Feasibility of a Prototype Image Reconstruction Algorithm for Motion Correction in Interventional Cone-Beam CT Scans.

Rationale And Objectives: Assess the feasibility of a prototype image reconstruction algorithm in correcting motion artifacts in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of interventional instruments in the lung.

Materials And Methods: First, phantom experiments were performed to assess the algorithm, using the Xsight lung phantom with custom inserts containing straight or curved catheters. During scanning, the inserts moved in a continuous sinusoidal or breath-hold mimicking pattern, with varying amplitudes and frequencies.

Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for the degenerative meniscus tear: a comparison of patients included in RCTs and prospective cohort studies.

Background And Purpose: Concerns exist regarding the generalizability of results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM) to treat degenerative meniscus tears. It has been suggested that study populations are not representative of subjects selected for surgery in daily clinical practice. Therefore, we aimed to compare patients included in trials and prospective cohort studies that received APM for a degenerative meniscus tear.

Ventilation tubes (grommets) for otitis media with effusion (OME) in children.

Background: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is an accumulation of fluid in the middle ear cavity, common amongst young children. It may cause hearing loss which, when persistent, may lead to developmental delay, social difficulty and poor quality of life. Management includes watchful waiting, autoinflation, medical and surgical treatment.

Antibiotics for acute otitis media in children.

Background: Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common diseases in childhood for which antibiotics are commonly prescribed; a systematic review reported a pooled prevalence of 85.6% in high-income countries. This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in the Cochrane Library in 1997 and updated in 1999, 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2015.

Care Pathway Analysis to Inform the Earliest Stages of Technology Development: Scoping Oncological Indications in Need of Innovation.

Objectives: Identifying unmet needs for innovative solutions across disease contexts is challenging but important for directing funding and research efforts and informing early-stage decisions during the innovation process. Our aim was to study the merits of care pathway analysis to scope disease contexts and guide the development of innovative devices. We used oncologic surgery as a case study, for which many intraoperative imaging techniques are under development.

Prognosis and prediction of antibiotic benefit in adults with clinically diagnosed acute rhinosinusitis: an individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: A previous individual participant data meta-analysis (IPD-MA) of antibiotics for adults with clinically diagnosed acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) showed a marginal overall effect of antibiotics, but was unable to identify patients that are most likely to benefit from antibiotics when applying conventional (i.e. univariable or one-variable-at-a-time) subgroup analysis.

Study protocol for a multicenter randomised controlled trial on the (cost)effectiveness of biopsy combined with same-session MR-guided LITT versus biopsy alone in patients with primary irresectable glioblastoma (EMITT trial).

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary, malignant brain tumour with a 5-year survival of 5%. If possible, a glioblastoma is resected and further treated with chemoradiation therapy (CRT), but resection is not feasible in about 30% of cases. Current standard of care in these cases is a biopsy followed by CRT.

An Overview of Stakeholders, Methods, Topics, and Challenges in Participatory Approaches Used in the Development of Medical Devices: A Scoping Review.

Background: There is a wide variety of participatory approaches to involve stakeholders in the development of medical devices, but there is no comprehensive overview of these approaches. We therefore studied what participatory approaches are used in the development of medical devices as well as the most important characteristics and challenges of these approaches.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review and searched PubMed, Embase and Web of Science for articles published between July 2014 and July 2019.

MR-guided LITT therapy in patients with primary irresectable glioblastoma: a prospective, controlled pilot study.

Purpose: Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is increasingly being used in the treatment of brain tumors, whereas high-quality evidence of its effectiveness is lacking. This pilot examined the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in patients with irresectable newly diagnosed glioblastoma (nGBM), and generated data on technical feasibility and safety.

Methods: We included patients with irresectable nGBM with KPS ≥ 70 and feasible trajectories to ablate ≥ 70% of the tumor volume.

Stereotactic laser ablation in neuro-oncology - A survey among European neurosurgeons.

Introduction: In the last decades, the application of stereotactic laser ablation (SLA) for the treatment of intracranial tumours has been growing, even though comparative trials are lacking. Our aim was to investigate the familiarity with SLA of neurosurgeons in Europe and their opinion regarding potential neuro-oncological indications. Furthermore, we investigated treatment preferences and variability for three exemplar neuro-oncological cases and willingness to refer for SLA.

Bacterial colonisation of surface and core of palatine tonsils among Tanzanian children with recurrent chronic tonsillitis and obstructive sleep apnoea who underwent (adeno)tonsillectomy.

Objective: Acute and chronic tonsillitis are frequently treated with antibiotics. This study aimed to understand the presence of pathogenic micro-organisms on the surface and core of chronically infected tonsils among Tanzanian children.

Methods: The study enrolled children undergoing adenotonsillectomy.

Effect of prophylactic amoxicillin on tonsillar bacterial pathogens after (adeno)tonsillectomy in children.

Objectives: Unnecessary and inappropriate antibiotic use is an increasing global health challenge. In limited resource settings, prophylactic antibiotics are still often used in (adeno)tonsillectomy (AT), despite evidence against their effectiveness. This study aimed to investigate the effect of prophylactic amoxicillin, given after AT in children.

Prophylactic Mesh Placement During Formation of an End-colostomy: Long-term Randomized Controlled Trial on Effectiveness and Safety.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if prophylactic mesh placement is an effective, safe, and cost-effective procedure to prevent parastomal hernia (PSH) formation in the long term.

Background: A PSH is the most frequent complication after stoma formation. Prophylactic placement of a mesh has been suggested to prevent PSH, but long-term evidence to support this approach is scarce.