Analyzing Interaction of Rhodacyanine Inhibitor 'MKT-077' with HSP70s.

Introduction: MKT-077 and its derivatives are rhodacyanine inhibitors that hold potential in the treatment of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and malaria. These allosteric drugs act by inhibiting the ATPase action of heat shock proteins of 70 kDa (HSP70). MKT-077 accumulates in the mitochondria and displays differential activity against HSP70 homologs.

Heat current magnification in classical and quantum spin networks.

We investigate heat current magnification (CM) due to asymmetry in the number of spins in two-branched classical as well as quantum spin systems that are kept between two heat baths at different temperatures. We study the classical Ising-like spin models using Q2R and Creutz cellular automaton dynamics. We show that just the difference in the number of spins is not enough and some other source of asymmetry like unequal spin-spin interaction strengths in the upper and lower branches is required for heat CM.

Heat rectification by two qubits coupled with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction.

We investigate heat rectification in a two-qubit system coupled via the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interaction. We derive analytical expressions for heat currents and thermal rectification and provide possible physical mechanisms behind the observed results. We show that the anisotropy of DM interaction in itself is insufficient for heat rectification, and some other form of asymmetry is needed.

Hyponatremia an indicator of complicated appendicitis in children: Starship experience.

Background: Timely preoperative recognition of children with complicated appendicitis allows for planning and effective management. The aim of this study was to evaluate hyponatremia, an objective biochemical marker, as a predictor of complicated appendicitis.

Methods: A retrospective review of 1283 paediatric patients (≤15 years) who underwent acute appendicectomy from January 2016 to December 2020 (5-year period) was performed.

Side predilection in congenital anomalies of the kidney, urinary and genital tracts.

Background: There appear to be various patterns of sidedness with relation to the common urogenital malformations observed in pediatric urology. The objective of this statistical review was to synthesize this data and to assess if these patterns are significant.

Materials And Methods: Eighteen urogenital conditions were investigated and for each condition the five largest studies that noted laterality were included.

Is hook diathermy safe to dissect the mesoappendix in paediatric patients? A 10-year experience.

Background: Laparoscopic appendicectomy is one of the most commonly performed abdominal surgical procedures in children, with many different techniques used to isolate and control the appendiceal artery. Previous studies have looked into the utility of different methods of mesoappendix dissection, however these have been predominantly small-scale studies performed on adults.

Aim: The current study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of 'hook' diathermy as a sole means of mesoappendix dissection in children under 15 years of age undergoing laparoscopic appendicectomy.

Anterior abdominal wall defects managed at a tertiary maternal-fetal medicine service in New Zealand: What counselling advice can we offer parents?

Background: Anterior abdominal wall defects, including gastroschisis and omphalocoele, are common fetal anomalies. The management remains complicated, and their diagnosis may lead to significant parental distress. Effective parental counselling may impact on parental perceptions of the defect and help guide pregnancy management.

Paediatric pelvic fractures: Starship Hospital experience.

Aim: Pelvic fractures constitute between 0.3% and 4% of all paediatric injuries, with a mortality rate up to 25%. This study aims to review the experience with pelvic fractures at Starship Children's Hospital and demonstrate its role as a marker of severe trauma.

Paediatric testicular tumours in a New Zealand centre.

Aim: This is a 12-year, single-centre retrospective review of paediatric testicular tumours and review of the world literature on paediatric testicular tumours. The aim was to identify presenting features, the range of pathology and management of such tumours in comparison with other published series.

Methods: The hospital's pathology database was searched for all testicular and paratesticular tissue submitted for patients younger than 16 years of age during the 12-year study period January 2000 to December 2011, and patients with testicular tumours identified.

Age at referral for undescended testes: has anything changed in a decade?

Aim: Undescended testis (UDT) affects 1-6% of males and is one of the most common disorders in paediatric surgery.Updated consensus guidelines now recommend surgical management of UDT by 18 months. We compare the age at referral and subsequent timing of orchiopexy with data published from 1996-1998 at our institution, prior to the advent of updated guidelines.

Re-presentations and recurrent events following initial management of the acute paediatric scrotum: a 5-year review.

Background: Previous reviews report relatively low rates of post-operative complications for acute scrotal exploration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the re-presentation to hospital in boys with previous acute scrotal pathology, reviewing contralateral symptoms, post-operative complications, testicular torsion following fixation and failure of conservative management of testicular appendage (TA) torsion.

Methods: All boys under 16 years presenting to our unit with an acute scrotum from January 2008 to December 2012 (5-year period) were identified.

Enterobius vermicularis and its role in paediatric appendicitis: protection or predisposition?

Background: E nterobius vermicularis is one of the most common parasitic infections of the gastrointestinal tract, and has been shown to infest up to 28% of children worldwide. The role of E . vermicularis in acute appendicitis has previously been questioned, with some studies identifying infection as a precursor for inflammation of the appendix, with others refuting such a link.

Megacystis Microcolon Intestinal Hypoperistalsis Syndrome: Case Reports and Discussion of the Literature.

Megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS) is a rare intestinal dysmotility condition that also involves a dilated urinary bladder. It was believed to be an autosomal recessive condition, but genetic studies have suggested possibly an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. Prenatal diagnosis can be challenging, but MRI and amniotic fluid/digestive fluid studies may be complementary investigations to improve diagnostic accuracy.

Paediatric ovarian lesions--the experience at Starship Children's Hospital, New Zealand.

Aim: To review the experience of paediatric ovarian masses at Starship Children's Hospital (Auckland, New Zealand). Primarily to assess the range of pathology, the presenting features, and the surgical management of these lesions.

Methods: A search of the hospital surgical pathology database was carried out to identify patients less than 16 years in whom ovarian tissue was submitted for pathological analysis during the 12 year period from January 2000 to December 2011.

Evaluation of the BladderScan(®) in estimating bladder volume in paediatric patients.

Objective: To evaluate the reliability of estimates of bladder volume (BV) in children with the BladderScan BVI 9400 (BS) compared with the volume obtained at catheterization (CV).

Materials And Methods: BV was measured using the BS in 50 children (age range 6 weeks-14 years) who required urinary catheter placement during surgery or urodynamic studies. BS measurements were taken prior to catheter insertion.

Duration of postoperative intravenous antibiotics in childhood complicated appendicitis: a propensity score-matched comparison study.

Introduction: Postoperative antibiotics complement surgery in managing childhood-complicated appendicitis. However, there is limited evidence to guide clinicians on appropriate duration of therapy. A comparison cohort study was performed to determine whether tailoring duration of inpatient intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy to patient response, assessed using a set of clinical criteria, leads to shortened hospital length of stay (LOS) without compromising patient outcomes.

Carcinoid tumours of the appendix in children in Auckland, New Zealand: 1965-2008.

Aims: Carcinoid tumours (CT) of the appendix are rare in children. The study aims to review paediatric CT of the appendix in Auckland and conduct a literature review.

Method: Retrospective review of all CT of the appendix at the Auckland paediatric hospital from 1965 until 2008.

Syringocoele of the bulbourethral duct with additional lower genito-urinary anomalies.

The ultrasonographic (US) appearance of a syringocoele of the bulbourethral (Cowper) duct, with correlative urethrocystoscopic images, is demonstrated. An infant boy, 5 weeks of age, who presented with E. coli infection of the urinary tract also had bilateral hydroureteronephrosis, small bilateral simple ureterocoeles, and posterior urethral valve leaflets.

Primary school children: access to toilets.

Aim: Most children are continent of urine by the time they are in primary school. Balanced micturition and paradoxically dysfunctional voiding (DV) are acquired behaviour. Children need easy access to toilets at school, to comply with timed voiding which is part of the treatment for DV.

Hollow viscus injury in children: Starship Hospital experience.

Starship Children's Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand, serves a population of 1.2 million people and is a tertiary institution for pediatric trauma. This study is designed to review all cases of abdominal injury (blunt and penetrating) that resulted in injury of a hollow abdominal viscus including the stomach, duodenum, small intestine, large intestine and urinary bladder.

Neonatal infravesical obstruction in females.

Neonatal infravesical obstruction in females is less common than in boys and rarely reported. In this article, we report on 3 cases of infravesical obstruction in female neonates with different etiologies. We also reviewed the literature on this topic.

Isolated imperforate anus in monozygotic twins: case report and implications.

The authors report a case of isolated imperforate anus with perineal fistula in monozygotic twins. Only 4 other well-documented cases of monozygotic twins concordant for isolated anorectal malformation have been reported in the literature. In all these cases the defect occurred below the levator ani muscle.