Organ donation by children in Australia, 2000-2019: impact of the 2009 National Reform Program. A population-based registry data study.

Objectives: To assess the impact of the 2009 National Reform Program for organ donation in Australia on the number and characteristics of organ donors under 16 years of age.

Design, Setting, Participants: Retrospective observational time series study; analysis of Australia and New Zealand Organ Donation (ANZOD) registry data for all consented potential deceased organ donors under 16 years of age during 2000-2019, and of numbers of donors aged 16 years or more reported in ANZOD annual reports.

Main Outcome Measures: Difference between 2000-2008 (pre-reform) and 2009-2019 (reform period) in annual organ donor rates (donors per million population), by age group (under 16 years, 16 years or more), reported as incidence rate ratio (IRR).

sTREM-1 as a diagnostic biomarker for acute appendicitis in children.

Background: The typical history of acute appendicitis is observed in less than 60% of cases. Therefore, searching for a surrogate marker is mandatory. Our goal was to determine whether the soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (sTREM-1) is an efficient biomarker for acute appendicitis.

Electronic conduction during the formation stages of a single-molecule junction.

Single-molecule junctions are versatile test beds for electronic transport at the atomic scale. However, not much is known about the early formation steps of such junctions. Here, we study the electronic transport properties of premature junction configurations before the realization of a single-molecule bridge based on vanadocene molecules and silver electrodes.

An old flame reignites: vagal neuropathy secondary to neurosyphilis.

Objective: This report describes neurosyphilis presenting as vocal fold paresis and velopharyngeal incompetence. This represents the first reported case of neurosyphilis presenting as a vagal neuropathy since 1963.

Study Design: Case report.

Vocal fold paralysis secondary to phonotrauma.

A unique case of acute onset vocal fold paralysis secondary to phonotrauma is presented. The cause was forceful vocalization by a drill instructor on a firearm range. Imaging studies revealed extensive intralaryngeal and retropharyngeal hemorrhage.