The Science of the Modern Kitchen.

The kitchen offers chemists an opportunity to cook up chemistry using everyday ingredients. This is the inspiration behind 'The Science of the Modern Kitchen', a chemistry course offered to non-science undergraduates.

Using a high-throughput, whole-cell hydrogenase assay to identify potential small molecule inhibitors of [NiFe]-hydrogenase.

[NiFe]-hydrogenases are used by several human pathogens to catalyze the reversible conversion between molecular hydrogen and protons and electrons. Hydrogenases provide an increased metabolic flexibility for pathogens, such as Escherichia coli and Helicobacter pylori, by allowing the use of molecular hydrogen as an energy source to promote survival in anaerobic environments. With the rise of antimicrobial resistance and the desire for novel therapeutics, the [NiFe]-hydrogenases are alluring targets.

Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy at the time of delayed microvascular breast reconstruction adversely affects patient-reported outcomes: A retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: An increasing number of women with unilateral breast cancer are seeking bilateral mastectomies and reconstruction. At our centre, many women who have undergone previous unilateral therapeutic mastectomy request contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) at the time of delayed reconstruction. These mixed timing reconstructions are particularly challenging as patients have an immediate reconstruction on one side and delayed reconstruction on the other, which may result in asymmetry.

Development and Evaluation of a Machine Learning Prediction Model for Flap Failure in Microvascular Breast Reconstruction.

Background: Despite high success rates, flap failure remains an inherent risk in microvascular breast reconstruction. Identifying patients who are at high risk for flap failure would enable us to recommend alternative reconstructive techniques. However, as flap failure is a rare event, identification of risk factors is statistically challenging.

Development and validation of a risk stratification model for immediate microvascular breast reconstruction.

Background: Immediate breast reconstruction has many advantages but is associated with higher complication rates than delayed reconstruction. Complications can delay the delivery of adjuvant cancer treatments. This study aimed to develop and validate a risk stratification model for the prediction of perioperative complications in immediate microvascular breast reconstruction.

A whole-cell, high-throughput hydrogenase assay to identify factors that modulate [NiFe]-hydrogenase activity.

[NiFe]-hydrogenases have attracted attention as potential therapeutic targets or components of a hydrogen-based economy. [NiFe]-hydrogenase production is a complicated process that requires many associated accessory proteins that supply the requisite cofactors and substrates. Current methods for measuring hydrogenase activity have low throughput and often require specialized conditions and reagents.

Synergistic Interaction Increases Complication Rates following Microvascular Breast Reconstruction.

Background: Microvascular breast reconstruction is a complex procedure that can be associated with high complication rates. Although a number of individual predictors of perioperative complications have been identified, few studies have explored interaction between risk factors. Understanding the synergistic effects of multiple risk factors is central to accurate and personalized preoperative risk prediction.

Increasing body mass index increases complications but not failure rates in microvascular breast reconstruction: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Obesity is often considered a relative contra-indication for microvascular autologous breast reconstruction. We hypothesize that although obesity is associated with increased post-operative complications, abdominally based microvascular post mastectomy breast reconstruction can still be achieved with high rates of success. This study analyses the relationship between increasing body mass index (BMI) and post-operative complications at a high volume specialist centre, with a particular focus on serious complications.

Predicting complications in immediate microvascular breast reconstruction: Validity of the breast reconstruction assessment (BRA) surgical risk calculator.

Background: The Breast Reconstruction Assessment (BRA)-score is a disease-specific risk calculator that estimates the likelihood of postoperative complications in an individual patient. The tool has not been previously externally validated in microvascular breast reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the calculator in patients who underwent microvascular reconstruction at a single specialist institution.