Cameraless peritoneal entry in abdominal laparoscopy.

Background And Objectives: Despite significant advances in laparoscopic instrumentation and techniques, injury to intraabdominal structures remains a potentially serious complication of peritoneal access. Consensus on the best method to obtain peritoneal access is lacking. A safe technique that does not rely on direct visualization of the abdominal layers could shorten the learning curve for surgeons and potentially be adopted by other physicians for a variety of nonsurgical indications for peritoneal entry.

Multi-drug resistant E.coli urosepsis in physicians following transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsies--three cases including one death.

Three male physicians underwent transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsies for elevated prostate-specific antigen levels or irregular digital rectal exam findings. All three of these patients developed urosepsis secondary to multi-drug resistant organisms despite antibiotic prophylaxis. There are increasing reports of infectious complications following prostate biopsy caused by multi-drug resistant organisms.

Maternal and fetal risk factors associated with severity of hypospadias: a comparison of mild and severe cases.

Objective: To determine maternal and fetal demographic factors which predict the risk of increasing severity of hypospadias.

Patients And Methods: A population-based study using the Nova Scotia Atlee Perinatal Database was performed. Demographic variables of mothers and boys with hypospadias were obtained from 1980 to 2007 inclusive.

Photocontrol of flowering and stem extension of the intermediate-day plant Echinacea purpurea.

Intermediate-day plants (IDP) flower most rapidly and completely under intermediate photoperiods (e.g., 12-14 h of light), but few species have been identified and their flowering responses are not well understood.