Incidence and risk factors for sepsis after childhood splenectomy.

Background: Children who have undergone splenectomy may develop impaired immunologic function and heightened risk of overwhelming postsplenectomy infection. We sought to define the long-term rate of and risk factors for postsplenectomy sepsis.

Methods: We leveraged the Military Health System Data Repository, a nationally representative claims database including >3 million children registered as dependents of members of the United States Armed Services (2005-2014).

Metabolite Profiles of Sugarcane Culm Reveal the Relationship Among Metabolism and Axillary Bud Outgrowth in Genetically Related Sugarcane Commercial Cultivars.

Metabolic composition is known to exert influence on several important agronomic traits, and metabolomics, which represents the chemical composition in a cell, has long been recognized as a powerful tool for bridging phenotype-genotype interactions. In this work, sixteen truly representative sugarcane Brazilian varieties were selected to explore the metabolic networks in buds and culms, the tissues involved in the vegetative propagation of this species. Due to the fact that bud sprouting is a key trait determining crop establishment in the field, the sprouting potential among the genotypes was evaluated.

Funding profiles of multisector health care alliances and their positioning for sustainability.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between different aspects of alliance funding profiles (e.g. range of sources, dependence on specific sources) and participant' perceptions of how well the organization is positioned for the future.

Correction to: Patient perceptions of acute pain and activity disruption following inguinal hernia repair: a propensity-matched comparison of robotic-assisted, laparoscopic, and open approaches.

Unfortunately, the online published article has errors in Table 2. The number "118.0" found under the column "L-IHR" and row "Time from IHR to resume activities" should be corrected to 18.

The Importance of Experimental Design, Quality Assurance, and Control in Plant Metabolomics Experiments.

The output of metabolomics relies to a great extent upon the methods and instrumentation to identify, quantify, and access spatial information on as many metabolites as possible. However, the most modern machines and sophisticated tools for data analysis cannot compensate for inappropriate harvesting and/or sample preparation procedures that modify metabolic composition and can lead to erroneous interpretation of results. In addition, plant metabolism has a remarkable degree of complexity, and the number of identified compounds easily surpasses the number of samples in metabolomics analyses, increasing false discovery risk.

Progressive cationic functionalization of chlorin derivatives for antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation and related vancomycin conjugates.

It is known that multiple cationic charges are required to produce broad-spectrum antimicrobial photosensitizers (PS) for photodynamic inactivation (aPDI) or photodynamic therapy of bacteria and fungi. In the present study we describe the synthesis and aPDI testing of a set of derivatives prepared from the parent pheophytin molecule with different numbers of attached side arms (1-3) each consisting of five quaternized cationic groups (pentacationic), producing the corresponding [Zn2+]pheophorbide-a-N(C2N+C1C3)5 (Zn-Phe-N5+, 5 charges), [Zn2+]chlorin e6-[N(C2N+C1C3)5]2 (Zn-Chl-N10+, 10 charges) and [Zn2+]mesochlorin e6-[N(C2N+C1C3)5]3 (Zn-mChl-N15+, 15 charges). Moreover, a conjugate between Zn-Phe-N5+ and the antibiotic vancomycin called Van-[Zn2+]-m-pheophorbide-N(C2N+C1C3)5 (Van-Zn-mPhe-N5+) was also prepared.

Hernia recurrence following inguinal hernia repair in children.

Purpose: We aimed to describe the incidence, timing, and predictors of recurrence following inguinal hernia repair (IHR) in children.

Methods: We used the TRICARE claims database, a national cohort of >3 million child dependents of members of the U.S.

Contemporary Factors Associated with the Use of Laparoscopy for Inguinal Hernia Repair Among Department of Defense Beneficiaries.

Introduction: The factors that contribute to variation in utilization of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair are unknown. We sought to determine the current usage patterns of laparoscopic and open surgery in the elective repair of uncomplicated unilateral inguinal hernia in a large population with universal health care coverage comprised of Department of Defense (DoD) beneficiaries.

Materials And Methods: The DoD Military Health System Data Repository (MDR) tracks health care delivered to a universally insured population of active/reserve/retired members of the U.

The Role of Mitotic Cell-Substrate Adhesion Re-modeling in Animal Cell Division.

Animal cells undergo a dramatic series of shape changes as they divide, which depend on re-modeling of cell-substrate adhesions. Here, we show that while focal adhesion complexes are disassembled during mitotic rounding, integrins remain in place. These integrin-rich contacts connect mitotic cells to the underlying substrate throughout mitosis, guide polarized cell migration following mitotic exit, and are functionally important, since adherent cells undergo division failure when removed from the substrate.

Testicular atrophy following inguinal hernia repair in children.

Purpose: We sought to determine the incidence and timing of testicular atrophy following inguinal hernia repair in children.

Methods: We used the TRICARE database, which tracks care delivered to active and retired members of the US Armed Forces and their dependents, including > 3 million children. We abstracted data on male children < 12 years who underwent inguinal hernia repair (2005-2014).

Risks and Legal Protections in the World of Big-Data.

The development of large electronic data sets, whether from electronic health records, health registries, or large-scale gene-environment interaction studies, offer unparalleled, innovated opportunities to learn more about human health and disease. However, because these data may be used in unexpected ways without the knowledge or consent of individuals whose data are being used, they also raise critical concerns about protections of individuals against risks. Traditional approaches to protecting research participants and patients may not address new or heightened risks in the "bid data" area.

Patient perceptions of acute pain and activity disruption following inguinal hernia repair: a propensity-matched comparison of robotic-assisted, laparoscopic, and open approaches.

Few publications describe the potential benefit of robotic-assisted inguinal hernia repair on acute postoperative groin pain (APGP). This study compared patients' perceptions of APGP, activity limitation, and overall satisfaction after robotic-assisted- (R), laparoscopic (L), or open (O) inguinal hernia repair (IHR). Random samples of patients from two web-based research panels and surgical practices were screened for patients who underwent IHR between October 28, 2015 and November 1, 2016.

Half-Sandwich Ruthenium Carbene Complexes Link trans-Hydrogenation and gem-Hydrogenation of Internal Alkynes.

The hydrogenation of internal alkynes with [Cp*Ru]-based catalysts is distinguished by an unorthodox stereochemical course in that E-alkenes are formed by trans-delivery of the two H atoms of H. A combined experimental and computational study now provides a comprehensive mechanistic picture: a metallacyclopropene (η-vinyl complex) is primarily formed, which either evolves into the E-alkene via a concerted process or reacts to give a half-sandwich ruthenium carbene; in this case, one of the C atoms of the starting alkyne is converted into a methylene group. This transformation represents a formal gem-hydrogenation of a π-bond, which has hardly any precedent.

Mixed Adenoneuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Gastroesophageal Junction: A Rare Find.

Neoplastic lesions that demonstrate neuroendocrine features are rare. However, esophageal tumors containing both adenocarcinomatous and neuroendocrine components are exceedingly rare. Mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas (MANECs) are gastrointestinal tumors with both adenocarcinomatous and neuroendocrine differentiation.

Recurrent Bacteremia in a Patient With Leukemia.

species are a commensal flora of the human gastrointestinal and the female genitourinary tract. especially the species, are common components of commercial probiotics. They are rarely associated with pathology in immunocompetent people, but they have been known to cause dental caries, bacteremia, and endocarditis in patients with suppressed immune function.

Management of Reducible Ventral Hernias: Clinical Outcomes and Cost-effectiveness of Repair at Diagnosis Versus Watchful Waiting.

Objective: To compare long-term clinical and economic outcomes associated with 3 management strategies for reducible ventral hernia: repair at diagnosis (open or laparoscopic) and watchful waiting.

Background: There is variability in ventral hernia management. Recent data suggest watchful waiting is safe; however, long-term clinical and economic outcomes for different management strategies remain unknown.

Computer-Aided Recognition of Facial Attributes for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

Objectives: To compare the detection of facial attributes by computer-based facial recognition software of 2-D images against standard, manual examination in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).

Methods: Participants were gathered from the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Epidemiology Research database. Standard frontal and oblique photographs of children were obtained during a manual, in-person dysmorphology assessment.

Results of a Quality Improvement Project Aimed at Eliminating Healthcare Waste by Changing Medical Resident Test Ordering Behavior.

Background: In light of rising healthcare costs and evidence of inefficient use of medical resources, there is growing interest in reducing healthcare waste by clinicians. Unwarranted lab tests may lead to further tests, prolonged hospital stays, unnecessary referrals and procedures, patient discomfort, and iatrogenic anemia, resulting in significant economic and clinical effects. Blood tests are essential in guiding medical decisions, but they are also associated with significant financial and clinical costs.

Comparison of pregnancy outcomes using either an Ovsynch or a Cosynch protocol for the first timed AI with liquid or frozen semen in lactating dairy cows.

The objective of this study was to evaluate fertility to the first timed AI (TAI) using either liquid semen or frozen semen after an Ovsynch or a Cosynch protocol in lactating dairy cows. The hypothesis was that there is an increase in fertility to the first TAI when cows are inseminated with liquid semen compared to that when frozen semen is used in a Cosynch protocol. Lactating dairy cows (n = 1724; 540 primiparous, 1184 multiparous) from 9 commercial dairy farms were enrolled on a weekly basis to facilitate first timed AI.

Studies on the scale-up of biomass production with Scenedesmus spp. in flat-plate gas-lift photobioreactors.

Microalgae are flagged as next-generation biomass feedstock for sustainable chemicals and fuels, because they actively metabolize the climate gas CO, do not impact food production, and are not associated with land-use change. Scaling microalgae cultivation processes from lab to pilot scale is key to assessing their economic and ecologic viability. In this work, process performances of two different Scenedesmus species were studied using a 300 L flat-plate gas-lift photobioreactor system (14 m photosynthetically active area) equipped with a customized, broad-spectrum LED illumination system.