Reliability of 3D gait data across multiple laboratories.

The aim of this study was to analyze the repeatability of gait analysis studies performed across multiple trials, sessions, and laboratories. Ten healthy participants (6 male/4 female, mean age of 30, mean BMI of 24kg/m(2)) were assessed in 3 sessions conducted at each of the three Centers of Excellence for Amputee Care within the Department of Defense. For each test session, kinematic and kinetic parameters were collected during five walking trials for each limb.

How home HIV testing and counselling with follow-up support achieves high testing coverage and linkage to treatment and prevention: a qualitative analysis from Uganda.

Introduction: The successes of HIV treatment scale-up and the availability of new prevention tools have raised hopes that the epidemic can finally be controlled and ended. Reduction in HIV incidence and control of the epidemic requires high testing rates at population levels, followed by linkage to treatment or prevention. As effective linkage strategies are identified, it becomes important to understand how these strategies work.

The Alpha-Defensin Immunoassay and Leukocyte Esterase Colorimetric Strip Test for the Diagnosis of Periprosthetic Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Synovial biomarkers have recently been adopted as diagnostic tools for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), but their utility is uncertain. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to synthesize the evidence on the accuracy of the alpha-defensin immunoassay and leukocyte esterase colorimetric strip test for the diagnosis of PJI compared with the Musculoskeletal Infection Society diagnostic criteria.

Methods: We performed a systematic review to identify diagnostic technique studies evaluating the accuracy of alpha-defensin or leukocyte esterase in the diagnosis of PJI.

Glottic stenosis.

Glottic stenosis is a fixed, focal narrowing at the level of the laryngeal inlet, the true vocal cords. It may be either congenital or acquired and be related to a wide range of etiologies. The stenosis may be either anterior, posterior, or in rare cases, complete.

International Pediatric Otolaryngology Group (IPOG) consensus recommendations: Routine peri-operative pediatric tracheotomy care.

Objectives: To develop consensus recommendations for peri-operative tracheotomy care in pediatric patients.

Methods: Expert opinion by the members of the International Pediatric Otolaryngology Group (IPOG). The mission of the IPOG is to develop expertise-based consensus recommendations for the management of pediatric otolaryngologic disorders with the goal of improving patient care.

International Pediatric ORL Group (IPOG) laryngomalacia consensus recommendations.

Objective: To provide recommendations for the comprehensive management of young infants who present with signs or symptoms concerning for laryngomalacia.

Methods: Expert opinion by the members of the International Pediatric Otolaryngology Group (IPOG).

Results: Consensus recommendations include initial care and triage recommendations for health care providers who commonly evaluate young infants with noisy breathing.

Easier Said Than Done: Keys to Successful Implementation of the Distress Assessment and Response Tool (DART) Program.

Purpose: Systematic screening for distress in oncology clinics has gained increasing acceptance as a means to improve cancer care, but its implementation poses enormous challenges. We describe the development and implementation of the Distress Assessment and Response Tool (DART) program in a large urban comprehensive cancer center.

Method: DART is an electronic screening tool used to detect physical and emotional distress and practical concerns and is linked to triaged interprofessional collaborative care pathways.

Efficient identification of nationally mandated reportable cancer cases using natural language processing and machine learning.

Objective: To help cancer registrars efficiently and accurately identify reportable cancer cases.

Material And Methods: The Cancer Registry Control Panel (CRCP) was developed to detect mentions of reportable cancer cases using a pipeline built on the Unstructured Information Management Architecture - Asynchronous Scaleout (UIMA-AS) architecture containing the National Library of Medicine's UIMA MetaMap annotator as well as a variety of rule-based UIMA annotators that primarily act to filter out concepts referring to nonreportable cancers. CRCP inspects pathology reports nightly to identify pathology records containing relevant cancer concepts and combines this with diagnosis codes from the Clinical Electronic Data Warehouse to identify candidate cancer patients using supervised machine learning.

Chk1 inhibitor synergizes quinacrine mediated apoptosis in breast cancer cells by compromising the base excision repair cascade.

Quinacrine (QC) causes apoptosis in breast cancer cells by induction of DNA damage, arrest of cells in S-phase, and by topoisomerase inhibition. Here, we show that QC-mediated apoptosis is not only due to increased DNA damage but also by compromising cell cycle checkpoints and base excision repair (BER) capacity in breast cancer cells. QC decreased CHK1, CDKs (CDC2, MDM2, CDC6), cyclins (B1, E1) and CDC25-A in a dose dependent manner.

The Meanings in the messages: how SMS reminders and real-time adherence monitoring improve antiretroviral therapy adherence in rural Uganda.

Objective: To understand how a pilot intervention combining SMS reminders with real-time adherence monitoring improved adherence to HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) for adults initiating treatment in rural Uganda.

Design: Qualitative study, conducted with a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Methods: Sixty-two pilot intervention study participants took part in qualitative interviews on: preferences for content; frequency and timing of SMS adherence reminders; understandings and experiences of SMS reminders; and understandings and experiences of real-time adherence monitoring.

Short message service (SMS) reminders and real-time adherence monitoring improve antiretroviral therapy adherence in rural Uganda.

Objective: To explore the effects of four types of short message service (SMS) plus real-time adherence monitoring on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence: daily reminders, weekly reminders, reminders triggered after a late or missed dose (delivered to patients), and notifications triggered by sustained adherence lapses (delivered to patient-nominated social supporters).

Design: Pilot randomized controlled trial.

Methods: Sixty-three individuals initiating ART received a real-time adherence monitor and were randomized (1 : 1 : 1): (1) Scheduled SMS reminders (daily for 1 month, weekly for 2 months), then SMS reminders triggered by a late or missed dose (no monitoring signal within 2 h of expected dosing); SMS notifications to social supporters for sustained adherence lapses (no monitoring signal for >48 h) added after 3 months.

Comment on "Atlantic and Pacific multidecadal oscillations and Northern Hemisphere temperatures".

Steinman et al. (Reports, 27 February 2015, p. 988) argue that appropriately rescaled multimodel ensemble-mean time series provide an unbiased estimate of the forced climate response in individual model simulations.

Predicted shortage of vascular surgeons in the United Kingdom: A matter for debate?

Background: Vascular surgery became a new independent surgical specialty in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2013. In this matter for debate we discuss the question, is there a "shortage of vascular surgeons in the United Kingdom?"

Materials And Methods: We used data derived from the "Vascular Surgery United Kingdom Workforce Survey 2014", NHS Employers Electronic Staff Records (ESR), and the National Vascular Registry (NVR) surgeon-level public report to estimate current and predict future workforce requirements.

Results: We estimate there are approximately 458 Consultant Vascular Surgeons for the current UK population of 63 million, or 1 per 137,000 population.

Custom 3D-printed acetabular implants in hip surgery--innovative breakthrough or expensive bespoke upgrade?

Custom 3D-printed triflange acetabular cages are a new option in the armamentarium of the revision hip surgeon. This review article defines this technology, its indications, surgical method, advantages, disadvantages, use, current published literature and future applications.

The Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Syndromic Craniosynostosis.

Syndromic craniosynostosis comprises a group of rare conditions often associated with fibroblast growth factor receptor gene mutations. Premature fusion of cranial sutures leads to facial and cranial dysmorphism, which is associated with upper airway compromise and a high incidence of obstructive sleep apnea. The authors performed a literature search to determine the evidence base for interventions used to treat obstructive sleep apnea in this patient group.

Aberrant facial flushing following monobloc fronto-facial distraction.

Background: Patients with syndromic forms of craniosynostosis may experience functional problems such as raised intracranial pressure, proptosis, obstructive sleep apnoea and failure to thrive. The monobloc fronto-facial advancement with osteogenic distraction is increasingly used to correct these functional problems in one procedure as well as improve appearance. The authors report the phenomenon of post operative aberrant facial flushing - an unusual and previously unreported complication of the procedure.

Convection-enhanced delivery of MANF--volume of distribution analysis in porcine putamen and substantia nigra.

Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is a 20kDa human protein which has both neuroprotective and neurorestorative activity on dopaminergic neurons and therefore may have application for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease. The aims of this study were to determine the translational potential of convection-enhanced delivery (CED) of MANF for the treatment of PD by studying its distribution in porcine putamen and substantia nigra and to correlate histological distribution with co-infused gadolinium-DTPA using real-time magnetic resonance imaging. We describe the distribution of MANF in porcine putamen and substantia nigra using an implantable CED catheter system using co-infused gadolinium-DTPA to allow real-time MRI tracking of infusate distribution.

Convection-Enhanced Delivery of Carboplatin PLGA Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Glioblastoma.

We currently use Convection-Enhanced Delivery (CED) of the platinum-based drug, carboplatin as a novel treatment strategy for high grade glioblastoma in adults and children. Although initial results show promise, carboplatin is not specifically toxic to tumour cells and has been associated with neurotoxicity at high infused concentrations in pre-clinical studies. Our treatment strategy requires intermittent infusions due to rapid clearance of carboplatin from the brain.

Association of mutations in FLNA with craniosynostosis.

Mutations of FLNA, an X-linked gene that encodes the cytoskeletal protein filamin A, cause diverse and distinct phenotypes including periventricular nodular heterotopia and otopalatodigital spectrum disorders (OPDS). Craniofacial abnormalities associated with OPDS include supraorbital hyperostosis, down-slanting palpebral fissures and micrognathia; craniosynostosis was previously described in association with FLNA mutations in two individual case reports. Here we present four further OPDS subjects who have pathological FLNA variants and craniosynostosis, supporting a causal link.

The vascular surgery workforce: a survey of consultant vascular surgeons in the UK, 2014.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the demographics, training, and practice characteristics of consultant vascular surgeons across the UK to provide an assessment of current, and inform future prediction of workforce needs.

Methods: A questionnaire was developed using a modified Delphi process to generate questionnaire items. The questionnaire was emailed to all consultant vascular surgeons (n = 450) in the UK who were members of the Vascular Society of Great Britain & Ireland.

Nasal dermoids in children: a proposal for a new classification based on 103 cases at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Objectives: Nasal dermoids are rare developmental anomalies seen in children. This study reports the largest case series of 103 patients seen in a quaternary specialist unit over a 10-year period. We report the surgical and radiological findings and propose a new classification system, which clearly describes the extent of the lesions, thus allowing better surgical planning.