Incorporating simulation in vascular surgery education.

The traditional apprenticeship model introduced by Halsted of "learning by doing" may just not be valid in the modern practice of vascular surgery. The model is often criticized for being somewhat unstructured because a resident's experience is based on what comes through the "door." In an attempt to promote uniformity of training, multiple national organizations are currently delineating standard curricula for each trainee to govern the knowledge and cases required in a vascular residency.

Controlled growth and monitoring of tantalum oxide nanostructures.

Nanoporous metal oxide structures produced by the electrochemical anodization of valve metals, such as Zr, Ti, W, Nb, Al, and recently Ta, have attracted increasing interest because of their potential use as catalysts, waveguides, and three-dimensionally arranged Bragg-stack reflectors. Here we demonstrate the formation of either supported nanotubular Ta oxide films or free-standing Ta oxide membranes, produced by controlling the conditions of Ta anodization in organic-free aqueous HF/H(2)SO(4) solutions. The supported oxide nanotubes, which are at least 15 mum in length, are characterized by very good adhesion to the Ta substrate, and extremely smooth and homogeneous walls.

Effects of tranexamic acid on death, vascular occlusive events, and blood transfusion in trauma patients with significant haemorrhage (CRASH-2): a randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Tranexamic acid can reduce bleeding in patients undergoing elective surgery. We assessed the effects of early administration of a short course of tranexamic acid on death, vascular occlusive events, and the receipt of blood transfusion in trauma patients.

Methods: This randomised controlled trial was undertaken in 274 hospitals in 40 countries.

Trends in childhood trauma mortality in the fast economically developing State of Qatar.

Background: the aim of this study was to explore the trends in injury mortality in children aged 0-18 years in the State of Qatar. No such study has been conducted previously in Qatar.

Methods: univariate statistical analysis was used in this retrospective descriptive study.

Noninvasive assessment of hepatic fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity in Egyptian children with chronic hepatitis C virus infection using FibroTest and ActiTest.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic hepatitis and hepatic fibrosis. Liver biopsy, because of its limitations and risks, might be considered an imperfect gold standard for assessing the severity of chronic liver diseases. In this study, we aimed to prospectively validate FibroTest (FT) and ActiTest (AT) as noninvasive serum biochemical markers for assessment of the degree of hepatic fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity respectively, in pediatric patients with chronic HCV infection and compare them to liver biopsy.

The effect of use of dates on serum potassium in nondiabetic hemodialysis patients.

Hyperkalemia is common in patients with ESRD and may contribute to mortality. Dates have been reported to be high in potassium content. One of the concerns on hemodialysis (HD) is convincing patients to give up ingestion of dates as a part of their diet.

Evaluation of microbiologic and hematologic parameters and E-selectin as early predictors for outcome of neonatal sepsis.

Context: Early diagnosis of neonatal sepsis is mandatory. Various markers are used to diagnose the condition.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of various clinical data and hematologic parameters, such as total leukocyte count, absolute neutrophil count, immature to total neutrophil ratio, and soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) in identification and outcome of neonatal sepsis.

Adnexal mass vascularity assessed by 3-dimensional power Doppler: does it add to the risk of malignancy index in prediction of ovarian malignancy?: four hundred-case study.

The Risk of Malignancy Index (RMI) is used for the prediction of ovarian malignancy. It includes menopausal status, carbohydrate antigen 125 serum levels, and ultrasound criteria. Three-dimensional power Doppler (3-DPD) is a reproducible investigation for assessment of tumor vascularity, classifying vascularity to avascular, parallel, and chaotic patterns.

Global childhood unintentional injury surveillance in four cities in developing countries: a pilot study.

Objective: To determine the frequency and nature of childhood injuries and to explore the risk factors for such injuries in low-income countries by using emergency department (ED) surveillance data.

Methods: This pilot study represents the initial phase of a multi-country global childhood unintentional injury surveillance (GCUIS) project and was based on a sequential sample of children < 11 years of age of either gender who presented to selected EDs in Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt and Pakistan over a 3-4 month period, which varied for each site, in 2007.

Findings: Of 1559 injured children across all sites, 1010 (65%) were male; 941 (60%) were aged >or= 5 years, 32 (2%) were < 1 year old.

Evaluating regional blood spinal cord barrier dysfunction following spinal cord injury using longitudinal dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.

Background: In vivo preclinical imaging of spinal cord injury (SCI) in rodent models provides clinically relevant information in translational research. This paper uses multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate neurovascular pathology and changes in blood spinal cord barrier (BSCB) permeability following SCI in a mouse model of SCI.

Methods: C57BL/6 female mice (n = 5) were subjected to contusive injury at the thoracic T11 level and scanned on post injury days 1 and 3 using anatomical, dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE-MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of some glucosyl- and ribosyl-pyridazin-3-ones.

Reaction of 5,6-diphenylpyridazin-3(2H)-one 1a,b with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl bromide 2 in K(2)CO(3)/acetone gave 5,6-diphenyl-N(2)-(2',3',4',6'-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)pyridazin-3-one 5a,b. The same nucleosides 5a,b were obtained by reaction of 1a,b with peracetylated glucose 3 under MW irradiation. Mercuration of 1a,b followed by reaction with glucosyl bromide 2 gave the same nucleosides 5a,b.

Controlled interconversion of nanoarray of ta dimples and high aspect ratio ta oxide nanotubes.

We report the controlled formation of either high-aspect-ratio Ta(2)O(5) nanotubes or an organized nanoarray of Ta dimples by Ta anodization in a single H(2)SO(4) + HF solution. Dimpled Ta is the stable surface morphology in the first few seconds, followed by the growth of dense and fully vertically aligned Ta(2)O(5) nanotubes (up to 2.5 microm long).

Four-country surveillance of intestinal intussusception and diarrhoea in children.

Aim: Establishment of baseline epidemiology of intussusception in developing countries has become a necessity with the possibility of reintroduction of rotavirus vaccine. The current study assessed the seasonal trend in cases admitted with intussusceptions and dehydrating acute watery diarrhoea in children aged 2 months to 10 years.

Methods: In a prospective surveillance study, teaching and research hospital sites in India (Lucknow and Nagpur), Brazil (Fortazela), Egypt (Ismailia) and Kenya (Nairobi) established a surveillance where a network of hospitals with surgical facilities catered to a reference population of about 1-2 million for reporting of intussusception.

Percutaneous mitral valvotomy versus closed surgical commissurotomy. Up to 15 years of follow-up of a prospective randomized study.

Background: Immediate and intermediate term results of percutaneous mitral valvotomy (PMV) are comparable to closed surgical commissurotomy (CSC). We aimed at exploring this relation in the long term.

Methods: Previously, we randomized 40 consecutive patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis [defined as mitral valve area (MVA) less than 1.

Clinical evaluation of a self-etch adhesive in non-carious cervical lesions.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical performance of a self-etching adhesive in Class V non-carious lesions with and without acid etching procedures.

Methods: A total of 125 Class V non-carious cervical lesions (NCCL) with incisal or occlusal margins in enamel and gingival margins in dentin/cementum were selected and restored with Clearfil SE Bond self-etch adhesive and Clearfil APX resin composite. All cavities were restored using two techniques; after etching the whole cavity for 20 seconds and without acid etching (control).

Synthesis and evaluation of antimicrobial activity of some pyrimidine glycosides.

Reaction of ethyl 4-thioxo-3,4-dihydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate derivatives 1a,b and ethyl 4-oxo-3,4-dihydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate 1c with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl bromide in KOH or TEA afforded ethyl 2-aryl-4-(2',3',4',6'-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosylthio or/ oxy)-6-methylpyrimidine-5-carboxylate 6a-c. The glucosides 6a and 6b were obtained by the reaction of 1a and 1b with peracetylated glucose3 under MW irradiation. Mercuration of 1a followed by reaction with acetobromoglucose gave the same product 6a.

Aneurysm regression after endovascular aneurysm repair: what should we expect?

This study reviewed a large national core laboratory database for the Ancure (Guidant, Menlo Park, California) phase I and II trial of overall aneurysm sac regression after endovascular aneurysm repair. Data were reviewed for aneurysm size and endoleak in follow-up. Endoleak was recorded as well as maximum major and minor axis aortic diameters.

Neurokinin A level in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Background: The present study was performed to investigate the effect of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) on the neurotransmitter neurokinin A (NKA) and determine its relation to the severity of neonatal hypoxia.

Methods: Eighteen neonates suffering from HIE were compared to 10 clinically healthy full-term neonates acting as the control group. Maternal history of each neonate was collected, then deliveries were attended, resuscitation details including the Apgar score and thorough clinical examination of the neonates were performed.

Gastric duplication cysts expressing carcinoembryonic antigen mimicking cystic pancreatic neoplasms in two adults.

Gastric duplication cysts in adults are very rare and usually found incidentally during evaluation for an unrelated ailment. When they are found in close proximity to the pancreas, they can be confused with cystic neoplasms of the pancreas, which are typically also asymptomatic yet more common. As part of the evaluation of cystic pancreatic lesions, cyst fluid analysis for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is undertaken to determine malignant potential.

Ultrasound criteria for severe in-stent restenosis following carotid artery stenting.

Purpose: In-stent restenosis (ISR) is a known complication following carotid artery stenting (CAS). However, ultrasound criteria determining ISR are not well established. We evaluated alternative ultrasound velocity criteria for >70% ISR in our institution.

Dual guidewire placement to enhance arch vessel origin identification: a simple technique to facilitate ostial aortic arch vessel stenting.

Orificial occlusive lesion involving the aortic arch vessels is commonly treated with balloon-expandable stent placement. Stenting of such a lesion typically involves an initial aortogram to precisely identify the vessel origin, followed by deployment of a balloon-expandable stent to cover the ostial lesion. We report a simple technique of an antegrade femoral guidewire placement along the outer curvature of the aortic arch to facilitate the identification of the origin of aortic arch vessels.

Traumatic carotid artery dissection caused by bungee jumping.

Bungee jumping is a popular recreational activity in which participant experiences transient freefall while connected to a bungee cord. The rapid freefall and the resultant rebound force created by the bungee cord can result in a variety of bodily injuries. We report herein a case of traumatic carotid artery dissection caused by bungee jumping.

Factors associated with hypotension and bradycardia after carotid angioplasty and stenting.

Background: Acute procedurally induced hemodynamic depression can occur after carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS). This study was performed to determine the frequency and risk factors for hypotension and bradycardia after the CAS procedure.

Methods: The study reviewed clinical variables and angiographic data of all patients undergoing elective CAS with neuroprotection during a recent 5-year period.

Percutaneous stenting of superior vena cava syndrome: treatment outcome in patients with benign and malignant etiology.

Symptomatic obstruction of the superior vena cava (SVC) can be caused by either intrathoracic malignancy or nonmalignant etiology resulting in superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS). The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of percutaneous stenting of SVCS in patients with malignant and benign disease. During a 9-year period, 56 patients with SVCS underwent percutaneous stenting placement.