The impact of surgical technique on the number of sentinel lymph nodes removed and its effect on complication rates.

Purpose: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a staging procedure used to guide treatment for patients with breast cancer. Multiple variations in the SLNB technique have been described. We questioned how technique impacts the number of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) removed and associated complications.

Peptide-Membrane Interaction between Targeting and Lysis.

Certain cationic peptides interact with biological membranes. These often-complex interactions can result in peptide targeting to the membrane, or in membrane permeation, rupture, and cell lysis. We investigated the relationship between the structural features of membrane-active peptides and these effects, to better understand these processes.

Dimerization of the fungal defense lectin CCL2 is essential for its toxicity against nematodes.

Lectins are used as defense effector proteins against predators, parasites and pathogens by animal, plant and fungal innate defense systems. These proteins bind to specific glycoepitopes on the cell surfaces and thereby interfere with the proper cellular functions of the various antagonists. The exact cellular toxicity mechanism is in many cases unclear.

Progesterone Receptor-Mediated Actions Regulate Remodeling of the Cervix in Preparation for Preterm Parturition.

This study determined whether a progesterone (P) receptor (PR)-mediated mechanism regulates morphological characteristics associated with prepartum cervix remodeling at term and with preterm birth. With focus on the transition from a soft to ripe cervix, the cervix stroma of untreated controls had reduced cell nuclei density/area and less organized extracellular collagen, while the density of macrophages/area, but not neutrophils, increased just 2 days before birth (day 17 vs day 15 or 16.5 postbreeding).

Fragment-Based De Novo Design Reveals a Small-Molecule Inhibitor of Helicobacter Pylori HtrA.

Sustained identification of innovative chemical entities is key for the success of chemical biology and drug discovery. We report the fragment-based, computer-assisted de novo design of a small molecule inhibiting Helicobacter pylori HtrA protease. Molecular binding of the designed compound to HtrA was confirmed through biophysical methods, supporting its functional activity in vitro.

Disruption of the C. elegans Intestinal Brush Border by the Fungal Lectin CCL2 Phenocopies Dietary Lectin Toxicity in Mammals.

Lectins are non-immunoglobulin carbohydrate-binding proteins without enzymatic activity towards the bound carbohydrates. Many lectins of e.g.

Plasticity of the β-trefoil protein fold in the recognition and control of invertebrate predators and parasites by a fungal defence system.

Discrimination between self and non-self is a prerequisite for any defence mechanism; in innate defence, this discrimination is often mediated by lectins recognizing non-self carbohydrate structures and so relies on an arsenal of host lectins with different specificities towards target organism carbohydrate structures. Recently, cytoplasmic lectins isolated from fungal fruiting bodies have been shown to play a role in the defence of multicellular fungi against predators and parasites. Here, we present a novel fruiting body lectin, CCL2, from the ink cap mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea.

SpA, ClfA, and FnbA genetic variations lead to Staphaurex test-negative phenotypes in bovine mastitis Staphylococcus aureus isolates.

Staphylococcus aureus encodes many proteins that act as virulence factors, leading to a variety of diseases, including mastitis in cows. Among these virulence factors, SpA, ClfA, ClfB, FnbA, and FnbB are important for the ability of S. aureus to adhere to and invade host cells as well as to evade host immune responses.

Regional cerebral oxygenation by NIRS does not correlate with central or jugular venous oxygen saturation during interventional catheterisation in children.

Purpose: To evaluate whether regional cerebral oxygenation (rSO(2)) by near-infrared spectroscopy correlates with central venous (SvO(2)) or internal jugular (SjO(2)) oxygen saturation, and whether changes over time (Delta) in rSO(2) (DeltarSO(2)) predict changes in SvO(2) (DeltaSvO(2)) and SjO(2) (DeltaSjO(2)).

Methods: The rSO(2) values were measured using the INVOS 5100 cerebral oximeter in children undergoing interventional cardiac catheterization and were compared with the oxygen saturation of analysed central venous and internal jugular blood samples. Changes over time (Delta) were calculated as the difference between the values before and after catheter intervention for rSO(2).

Comparison of cardiac output measurement using the CardioQP oesophageal Doppler with cardiac output measurement using thermodilution technique in children during heart catheterisation.

The minimally invasive CardioQP oesophageal Doppler probe estimates cardiac output by measuring blood flow velocity in the descending aorta. Individual variables to enter are patient's age, weight and height. We measured cardiac output simultaneously with CardioQP and pulmonary artery catheter thermodilution techniques during heart catheterisation in 40 paediatric patients with congenital heart defects.

Cardiac output measurement in children: comparison of the Ultrasound Cardiac Output Monitor with thermodilution cardiac output measurement.

Objective: To compare the assessment of cardiac output (CO) in children using the noninvasive Ultrasound Cardiac Output Monitor (USCOM) with the invasive pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) thermodilution cardiac output measurement.

Design And Setting: Prospective observational study in a tertiary center for pediatric cardiology of a university children's hospital.

Patients: Twenty-four pediatric patients with congenital heart disease without shunt undergoing cardiac catheterization under general anesthesia.

Prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting in children following adenotonsillectomy, using tropisetron with or without low-dose dexamethasone.

Purpose: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after adenotonsillectomy in children is, in spite of the prophylactic administration of tropisetron, still a frequent event. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of the additional systemic administration of low-dose dexamethasone (0.15 mg x kg(-1)) for the prevention of PONV.

Tracheal sealing by auto-inflation in tracheal tube cuffs.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine if inspiratory pressure from intermittent positive pressure ventilation may be sufficient to inflate the cuff (thus 'auto-inflation') and thereby seal the trachea.

Methods: In a laboratory model we investigated the ability of cuffs of seven 5.0 mm internal diameter (ID) tracheal tubes (Sheridan CF, Mallinckrodt Hi-Contour, Mallinckrodt Sealguard, Mallinckrodt Safety-Flex, Portex Soft Seal, Rueschelit Super-Safety Clear and Microcuff PET) to seal the trachea by auto-inflation, i.

Clinical evaluation of cuff and tube tip position in a newly designed paediatric preformed oral cuffed tracheal tube.

Background: To assess the adequacy of the position of the tracheal tube cuff and tracheal tube tip in the recently introduced preformed oral Microcuff paediatric endotracheal tube (PET) using the manufacturers recommendations for Microcuff tracheal tube size selection.

Methods: With Hospital Ethics Committee approval and informed parental consent, the tracheas of children from birth to adolescence were orally intubated with the preformed oral Microcuff PET. First, the position of the tracheal tube's intubation depth mark in relation to the vocal cords was assessed.

An in vitro study of the compliance of paediatric tracheal tube cuffs and tracheal wall pressure.

Cuff volume-pressure curves and cuff pressure-tracheal wall pressure relationships were investigated in eight brands of currently available cuffed, paediatric tracheal tubes with internal diameters of 5.0 mm. Cuff volume-pressure curves were measured with the cuff unrestricted and with the cuff placed within a tracheal model with wall pressure measurements.

Comparison of cuffed and uncuffed preformed oral pediatric tracheal tubes.

Background: In preformed cuffed tracheal tubes the position of the cuff within the airway is given by its distance to the tube bend placed at the lower teeth. The aim of this study was to compare the design of cuffed and uncuffed preformed pediatric oral tracheal tubes with regard to anatomical landmarks.

Methods: Complete series of cuffed and uncuffed preformed oral pediatric tracheal tubes sized from internal diameter 3.

[Intravenous midazolam-ketamine anaesthesia for closed reduction of forearm fractures in children: impact of additional axillary plexus anaesthesia].

Background: The aim of this study was to compare ketamine requirements in children undergoing closed reduction of forearm fractures under midazolam-ketamine anaesthesia with or without axillary plexus anaesthesia.

Methods: With hospital ethical committee approval, we retrospectively analyzed the records of children who received midazolam-ketamine anaesthesia in the years 2000-2001 (group A) and midazolam-ketamine anaesthesia combined with axillary plexus anaesthesia in the years 2002-2004 (group B) for closed reduction of forearm fractures. Requirements for ketamine and postoperative analgesics were noted.

Evaluation of a new recommendation for improved cuffed tracheal tube size selection in infants and small children.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new recommendation for tracheal tube size selection using second-generation Microcuff paediatric endotracheal tubes (PETs) with optimized outer diameter (OD) of the distal tube.

Methods: With Ethics Committee approval, patients aged from birth to 5 years, requiring general anaesthesia with orotracheal intubation, were included. Tracheal tube sizes were selected as follows: internal diameter (ID) 3.

Tracheal tube-tip displacement in children during head-neck movement--a radiological assessment.

Background: Aims of this study were to assess the maximum displacement of tracheal tube tip during head-neck movement in children, and to evaluate the appropriateness of the intubation depth marks on the Microcuff Paediatric Endotracheal Tube regarding the risk of inadvertent extubation and endobronchial intubation.

Methods: We studied children, aged from birth to adolescence, undergoing cardiac catheterization. The patients' tracheas were orally intubated and the tracheal tubes positioned with the intubation depth mark at the level of the vocal cords.

Comparison of tracheal tube cuff diameters with internal transverse diameters of the trachea in children.

Background: In this study, we evaluated the ratio of the cuff diameters of the Microcuff paediatric tracheal tube (Microcuff PET, Weinheim, Germany) to fluoroscopically measured internal transverse tracheal diameters in children from birth to adolescence.

Methods: With Institutional Ethics Committee approval and parental consent, we measured the internal transverse tracheal diameters from fluoroscopy images in children undergoing cardiac catheterization requiring general anaesthesia with oro-tracheal intubation. Minimal tracheal sealing pressures were assessed at standardized respirator settings.

Low insulin, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels in children with Prader-Labhart-Willi syndrome.

It is well established that insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and insulin are low in growth hormone deficiency, but due to their dependence on nutrition, they are elevated in healthy obese children. As the presence of growth hormone deficiency in Prader-Labhart-Willi syndrome (PWS) is still controversial, we studied insulin, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels in 19 children with PWS (age range 0.5-14.

Effect of 6 months of growth hormone treatment in young children with Prader-Willi syndrome.

Nine prepubertal children with Prader-Willi syndrome were treated with growth hormone (GH; 24 IU/m2/week) for 6 months. Mean height increased by 0.8 SD and mean weight for height decreased by 0.

Enhancing library services: an exploration in meeting customer needs through total quality management.

Total Quality Management (TQM) is a process which focuses on understanding customer needs and improving customer service and satisfaction. A TQM committee was created at the Devereux Foundation's Professional Library to assess user satisfaction and make recommendations for improving library services to better meet consumer needs. The committee distributed a satisfaction survey to 156 of the most likely library users and 84 (54%) were returned.

[Posterior shoulder dislocation in a patient sample of the Swiss Accident Insurance Service].

We report on 17 posterior shoulder dislocations which were investigated by SUVA's medical service during the past three years. We can confirm the information in the literature, that the diagnosis is initially often missed (4 out of 17) and that the injury is often sustained in epileptic fits (4 out of 17). Among our patients, however, the time at which the diagnosis was made did not obviously influence the results of the treatment.