Pancreatic necrosectomy using covered esophageal stents: a novel approach.

Background: Endoscopic necrosectomy for necrotizing pancreatitis has been increasingly used as an alternative to surgical or percutaneous interventions. The use of fully covered esophageal self-expandable metallic stents may provide a safer and more efficient route for internal drainage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic treatment of pancreatic necrosis with these stents.

Endoscopic ultrasonographic access and drainage of the common bile duct.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is currently the standard of care for biliary drainage. In the hands of experienced endoscopists, conventional ERCP has a failed cannulation rate of 3% to 5%. Failures have traditionally been referred for either percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) or surgery.

A fast and sensitive alternative for β-galactosidase detection in mouse embryos.

The bacterial lacZ gene is widely used as a reporter in a myriad of mouse transgenic experiments. β-Galactosidase, encoded by lacZ, is usually detected using X-gal in combination with ferric and ferrous ions. This assay produces a blue indole precipitate that is easy to detect visually.

Reperfusion brain injury: focus on cellular bioenergetics.

Energy production for the maintenance of brain function fails rapidly with the onset of ischemia and is reinstituted with timely reperfusion. The key bioenergetic organelle, the mitochondrion, is strongly affected by a cascade of events occurring with ischemia and reperfusion. Enhanced production of reactive oxygen species, disruption of calcium homeostasis, and an inflammatory response are induced by reperfusion and have a profound effect on cellular bioenergetics in reversible stroke.

Biomechanical assessment of a rear-seat inflatable seatbelt in frontal impacts.

This study evaluated the biomechanical performance of a rear-seat inflatable seatbelt system and compared it to that of a 3-point seatbelt system, which has a long history of good real-world performance. Frontal-impact sled tests were conducted with Hybrid III anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) and with post mortem human subjects (PMHS) using both restraint systems and a generic rear-seat configuration. Results from these tests demonstrated: a) reduction in forward head excursion with the inflatable seatbelt system when compared to that of a 3-point seatbelt and; b) a reduction in ATD and PMHS peak chest deflections and the number of PMHS rib fractures with the inflatable seatbelt system and c) a reduction in PMHS cervical-spine injuries, due to the interaction of the chin with the inflated shoulder belt.

Comparison of localized versus systemic levels of Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), its tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) and cytokines in tuberculous and non-tuberculous pleuritis patients.

The interaction of Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), its tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) and pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection is important to understand the immune response at the site of infection. We compared the levels of MMPs, TIMPs and cytokines in plasma (BL) and pleural fluid (PF) of tuberculosis (TB) and non tuberculosis (NTB) patients. Comparison between BL and PF showed significantly higher levels of MMP-1, TIMP-1 and -3 in TB PF; of MMP-7, -8, -9 in BL of both groups.

The relevance of BRCA genetics to prostate cancer pathogenesis and treatment.

The breast cancer susceptibility genes 1 (BRCA1) and 2 (BRCA2) are cellular proteins involved in DNA repair. They are normally expressed in the breast, ovaries, prostate, and other tissues. Their germline mutation is the cause of hereditary breast-ovarian cancer syndromes.

Topical diclofenac gel for the management of periocular actinic keratosis.

Purpose: We sought to evaluate the efficacy of topical 3% diclofenac gel in the management of periocular actinic keratosis.

Methods: Four consecutive patients with periocular actinic keratosis who were treated with topical 3% diclofenac gel twice daily for up to 4 months were included in the study. Patients were reviewed at 1 and 2 months and then as clinically required up to 13 months after treatment.

Displaced anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fractures: Arthroscopic staple fixation.

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) avulsion fracture is commonly associated with knee injuries and its management is controversial ranging from conservative treatment to arthroscopic fixation. The aim of our study was to assess the clinical and radiological results of arthroscopic staple fixation in the management of ACL avulsion fractures.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-two patients (17 males and 5 females) who underwent arthroscopic staple fixation for displaced ACL avulsion fractures were analysed.

Incongruent reduction following post-traumatic hip dislocations as an indicator of intra-articular loose bodies: A prospective study of 117 dislocations.

Background: Intra-articular loose bodies following simple dislocations can lead to early degeneration. Nonconcentric reduction may indicate retained loose bodies and offer a method to identify patients requiring exploration so that this undesirable outcome can be avoided.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and seventeen consecutive simple dislocations of the hip presenting to the hospital from January 2000 to June 2006 were assessed for congruency after reduction by fluoroscopic assessment of passive motion in the operating room as well as with good quality radiographs.

Alkaline protease from Bacillus cereus VITSN04: Potential application as a dehairing agent.

The objective of this work is to use protease enzyme as an ecofriendly alternative to chemicals in dehairing. An alkaline protease producing bacterium was isolated from protein-rich soil sample. The bacterium was identified as Bacillus cereus VITSN04 by 16S rRNA gene sequencing method.

Extension of the neuroprotective time window for thiazolidinediones in ischemic stroke is dependent on time of reperfusion.

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability but has limited therapeutic options. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), agonists for the nuclear receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ, reduce infarct volume and improve neurologic function following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats. Translation of these findings into clinical therapy will require careful assessment of dosing paradigms and effective time windows for treatment.

An alternative method to determining optical lever sensitivity in atomic force microscopy without tip-sample contact.

Force studies using atomic force microscopy generally require knowledge of the cantilever spring constants and the optical lever sensitivity. The traditional method of evaluating the optical lever sensitivity by pressing the tip against a hard surface can damage the tip, especially sharp ones. Here a method is shown to calculate the sensitivity without having to bring the tip into contact.

Atom scale characterization of the near apex region of an atomic force microscope tip.

Three-dimensional atom probe tomography (APT) is successfully used to analyze the near-apex regions of an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip. Atom scale material structure and chemistry from APT analysis for standard silicon AFM tips and silicon AFM tips coated with a thin film of Cu is presented. Comparison of the thin film data with that observed using transmission electron microscopy indicates that APT can be reliably used to investigate the material structure and chemistry of the apex of an AFM tip at near atomic scales.

Quality of consent form completion in orthopaedics: are we just going through the motions?

Consent plays a vital role in every aspect of medicine and surgery, facilitating the patient in making informed decisions about their treatment. The recently published Reference Guide to Consent, by the Department of Health (DH), notes that, although not a legal requirement, the completion of consent forms is good practice, particularly in interventions such as surgery. In addition, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman noted that a significant number of complaints about consent involved the complainant feeling that they did not fully understand what was going to happen.

Femoral neuropraxia after vaccination in a 3-month-old infant: a case report.

We report an incidence of a 3-month-old infant who developed femoral neuropraxia after vaccination (diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis/inactivated poliovirus/haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine) in the thigh. To the best of our knowledge, femoral nerve injury after vaccination has not been reported in the literature before. However, this baby made good neurological recovery within 8 weeks after vaccination.

Addressable nanowell arrays formed using reversibly sealable hybrid elastomer-metal stencils.

There are two major array formats used in life science research and biomedical analysis. The first is the microwell plate format with millimeter-sized wells each with microliter capacity addressed individually and repeatedly during experiments. The second is the microarray format with micrometer-sized spots that are patterned initially but not addressable individually thereafter.

Friction and wear behavior of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene as a function of crystallinity in the presence of the phospholipid dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine.

In this study, the friction and wear behavior of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) were evaluated as a function of polymer crystallinity in the presence of the phospholipid dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) dissolved in ethanol. Samples of UHMWPE were separately heat treated to get high and low crystallinity samples. Degree of crystallinity was evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry.

Nanoscale friction switches: friction modulation of monomolecular assemblies using external electric fields.

This paper presents experimental investigations to actively modulate the nanoscale friction properties of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) assembly using an external electric field that drives conformational changes in the SAM. Such "friction switches" have widespread implications in interfacial energy control in micro/nanoscale devices. Friction response of a low-density mercaptocarboxylic acid SAM is evaluated using an atomic force microscope (AFM) in the presence of a DC bias applied between the sample and the AFM probe under a nitrogen (dry) environment.