D3 Lymphadenectomy for Right Colon Cancer: Feasibility, Safety, and Early Outcomes from a District General Hospital in London.

Observational studies suggest a link between D3 lymphadenectomy and improved disease-free survival in some colon cancer patients. However, high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm its advantage over D2 lymphadenectomy. Concerns about potential complications with D3 have limited its use outside of Japan.

Outcomes Post Beyond Total Mesorectal Excision Plane Resections Following Setting up Complex Colorectal Cancer Service in a District General Hospital.

This study aims to validate the feasibility of a hub-and-spoke model for pelvic exenteration (PE) surgery while upholding favorable patient outcomes. A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing PE at our trust October 2017 and December 2023 was conducted. Descriptive statistics and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were employed.

Exploring the Landscape of Aptamers: From Cross-Reactive to Selective to Specific, High-Affinity Receptors for Cocaine.

We reported over 20 years ago MNS-4.1, the first DNA aptamer with a micromolar affinity for cocaine. MNS-4.

Faecal Immunochemical Testing to Detect Colorectal Cancer in Symptomatic Patients: A Diagnostic Accuracy Study.

(1) Background: NHS England recommended faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) for symptomatic patients in June 2020 to rationalise limited diagnostic services during COVID-19. (2) Aim: to investigate the diagnostic performance of FIT, analysing the proportion of FIT-negative colorectal cancers (CRC) missed in symptomatic patients and how this risk could be mitigated. (3) Design and Setting: a retrospective study of biochemistry and cancer databases involving patients referred from primary healthcare with suspected CRC to a single secondary care trust in North East London.

Is Panenteric Pillcam Crohn's Capsule Endoscopy Ready for Widespread Use? A Narrative Review.

Patients diagnosed with Crohn's disease are increasingly subjected to repeat colonoscopic and radiological examinations to assess the extent of the disease severity and the effects of treatment. Pillcam Crohn's video capsule, a modified colon capsule, was developed to generate a minimally invasive mouth to rectum video of the gastrointestinal tract. The capsule provides a wide-angle panoramic mucosal view to assess inflammation, ulceration, stenosis, disease extent, and effect of treatment.

A functional group-guided approach to aptamers for small molecules.

Aptameric receptors are important biosensor components, yet our ability to identify them depends on the target structures. We analyzed the contributions of individual functional groups on small molecules to binding within 27 target-aptamer pairs, identifying potential hindrances to receptor isolation-for example, negative cooperativity between sterically hindered functional groups. To increase the probability of aptamer isolation for important targets, such as leucine and voriconazole, for which multiple previous selection attempts failed, we designed tailored strategies focused on overcoming individual structural barriers to successful selections.

A cohort study of duplicate faecal immunochemical testing in patients at risk of colorectal cancer from North-West England.

Objectives: We sought to investigate if duplicate faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) sampling improves the negative and positive predictive value of patients thought to be at risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Specifically, we aimed to investigate whether the proportion of FIT-negative CRC missed by a single FIT test in symptomatic patients could be reduced by duplicate FIT testing.

Design: A retrospective service evaluation cohort study of the diagnostic accuracy of duplicate FIT testing.

Review: Colon Capsule Endoscopy in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused considerable disruption in healthcare services and has had a substantial impact on the care of patients with chronic diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease. Endoscopy services were significantly restricted, resulting in long waiting lists. There has been a growing interest in the use of capsule endoscopy in the diagnostic pathway and management of these patients.

QbD-driven formulation development and evaluation of topical hydrogel containing ketoconazole loaded cubosomes.

The proposed study aimed to develop topical hydrogel containing ketoconazole loaded cubosomes with lower surfactant concentrations using the 'Quality by Design' (QbD) approach. Risk assessment was performed, followed by screening and optimization of formulations by 3 factorial design using Design-Expert® software. Keeping the combination of constituents similar to that of the optimized batches as predicted post conduct of 'Design of Experiment' (DoE) studies, scale-up batches were prepared.

Optimizing Nutrition in Preterm Low Birth Weight Infants-Consensus Summary.

Preterm birth survivors are at a higher risk of growth and developmental disabilities compared to their term counterparts. Development of strategies to lower the complications of preterm birth forms the rising need of the hour. Appropriate nutrition is essential for the growth and development of preterm infants.

Cuboid Vesicles Formed by Frame-Guided Assembly on DNA Origami Scaffolds.

We describe the use of a frame-guided assembly (FGA) strategy to construct cuboid and dumbbell-shaped hetero-vesicles on DNA origami nanostructure scaffolds. These are achieved by varying the design of the DNA origami scaffolds that direct the distribution of the leading hydrophobic groups (LHG). By careful selection of LHGs, different types of amphiphiles (both polymer and small-molecule surfactants) were guided to form hetero-vesicles, demonstrating the versatility of the FGA strategy and its potential to construct asymmetric and dynamic hetero-vesicle assemblies with complex DNA nano-scaffolds.

DNA nanotechnology for nanophotonic applications.

DNA nanotechnology has touched the epitome of miniaturization by integrating various nanometer size particles with nanometer precision. This enticing bottom-up approach has employed small DNA tiles, large multi-dimensional polymeric structures or more recently DNA origami to organize nanoparticles of different inorganic materials, small organic molecules or macro-biomolecules like proteins, and RNAs into fascinating patterns that are difficult to achieve by other conventional methods. Here, we are especially interested in the self-assembly of nanomaterials that are potentially attractive elements in the burgeoning field of nanophotonics.

Gestational intestinal obstruction complicated by cortical blindness - a multidisciplinary case report.

Our case highlights the difficulty of diagnosing and managing surgical pathology during the advanced stages of pregnancy.

Transmural eosinophilic gastritis with gastric outlet obstruction: case report and review of the literature.

Eosinophil-associated gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) are uncommon conditions whose aetiologies are unclear, but which are characterised by eosinophilic infiltration and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract in the absence of other causes of eosinophilia. We report the case of a 65-year-old woman with eosinophilic gastritis who underwent a Polya gastrectomy for a suspected gastric tumour with gastric outflow obstruction. Subsequent histological examination showed a non-malignant transmural eosinophilic infiltration of the stomach wall, a rare pathological entity.

We still need to operate at night!

Introduction: In the past the National Confidential Enquiry into Peri-operative deaths (NCEPOD) have advocated a reduction in non-essential night-time operating in NHS hospitals. In this study a retrospective analysis of the emergency general surgical operative workload at a London Teaching centre was performed.

Methods: All general surgical and vascular emergency operations recorded prospectively on the theatre database between 1997 and 2004 were included in the study.

Bridging the health gap in Uganda: the surgical role of the clinical officer.

Introduction: A scarcity of trained medical personnel impedes Uganda's ability to deliver healthcare effectively. The role of the Clinical Officer (CO) was established to assist the provision of primary healthcare to rural communities.

Methods: Twenty COs, attending a clinical course, responded to a structured questionnaire to determine their local investigative resources, the cases encountered by them in the two-week period preceding the course and the surgical and obstetric procedures that they felt able to perform.