Outcomes of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in COVID-19-Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: An Inverse Probability Weighted Analysis.

Unlabelled: Although venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) has been used in case of COVID-19 induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), outcomes and criteria for its application should be evaluated.

Objectives: To describe patient characteristics and outcomes in patients receiving VV ECMO due to COVID-19-induced ARDS and to assess the possible impact of COVID-19 on mortality.

Design Setting And Participants: Multicenter retrospective study in 15 ICUs worldwide.

Predictive factors for post-operative respiratory infections after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: outcome of randomized trial.

Background: The first and only randomized trial comparing open esophagectomy (OE) with minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) showed a significant lower incidence of post-operative respiratory infections in the patients who underwent MIE. In order to identify which specific factors are related to a better respiratory outcome in this trial an additional analysis was performed.

Methods: This was a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

Children With Anorectal Malformations, Hirschsprung Disease, and Their Siblings: Proxy Reports and Self-Reports.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to compare parent proxy reports with that of self-reports of children with anorectal malformations (ARMs) or Hirschsprung disease (HD) and healthy siblings and thereafter was examine whether these comparisons differed between patients and their siblings.

Methods: Parents (n = 98) of either children with ARM (n = 44) or HD (n = 54) and a healthy sibling (n = 98) recruited from the 6 Dutch pediatric surgical centers and from the ARM and HD patient societies were included in this cross-sectional multilevel study. Agreement between child self-reports and parent proxy reports was compared through mean differences and through (intraclass) correlations.

Tape versus cast for non-operative treatment of primary patellar dislocation: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: We hypothesized that taping results in better short-term functional outcome and comparable redislocation rates.

Methods: In a prospective randomised clinical trial, 18 patients with a primary patellar dislocation ≥18 years old without accompanying fractures or previous surgery to the knee were included. After 1 week of dorsal splinting, they were randomized into two groups: taping and cylinder cast immobilization.

Long-term evaluation of porous PEGT/PBT implants for soft tissue augmentation.

Porous PEGT/PBT implants with different physico-chemical characteristics were evaluated to identify its potential as biodegradable and biofunctional soft tissue filler. Implants (50 x 10 x 5 mm3) were implanted subcutaneously in mini-pigs and tissue response, tissue volume generated and its consistency were assessed quantitatively with a 52 weeks follow-up. The absence of wound edema, skin irritation, and chronic inflammation demonstrated biocompatibility of all implants evaluated.

Minimal rotation aberrations cause radiographic misdiagnosis of trochlear dysplasia.

Radiologic criteria are commonly used to diagnose femoral trochlear dysplasia causing patellofemoral (sub)luxations. A dysplastic trochlea can be identified on conventional radiographs when the line of the trochlear groove crosses the anterior border of one or both condyles. The aim of this study was to establish the influence of rotation on the precision of these radiographic criteria as classified on a true lateral conventional radiograph.

Obstetric complications in Marfan syndrome.

Objective: To investigate the obstetric maternal and neonatal outcome of pregnancy in women with Marfan syndrome.

Methods: Retrospective observational multi-center study based on congenital heart disease registry.

Results: Sixty-three of the 122 enrolled women with Marfan syndrome had been pregnant 142 times (including 111 pregnancies>20 weeks, 28 (20%) miscarriages and 3 elective abortions).

Telomeres: a diagnosis at the end of the chromosomes.

In recent years, subtelomeric rearrangements have been identified as a major cause of mental retardation and/or malformation syndromes. So far, over 2500 subjects with mental retardation have been tested and reported of whom approximately 5% appeared to have a subtelomeric rearrangement. In this review, the clinical aspects of each known (submicroscopic) subtelomeric deletion will be presented and the various methods available for detecting subtelomeric abnormalities will be discussed.

Changing patterns of keratin expression could be associated with functional maturation of the developing human bladder.

Purpose: We investigate the keratin phenotype of human transitional epithelium at various gestational ages and whether keratin composition of transitional epithelium is related to bladder function and morphology.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive sections from formalin fixed paraffin embedded blocks of autopsy bladder tissue from 21 male and 5 female fetuses, gestational age 12 to 40 weeks and 7 infants 2 days to 19 months old were cut and stained with antibodies recognizing basal cell keratins 5, 14 and 17, intermediate squamous cell keratin 13 and columnar cell keratins 7, 8, 18 and 20.

Results: With gestational age there were distinct changes in expression of keratins recognizing columnar cells, consisting of focal loss of keratin 7 in transitional epithelium, restriction of keratin 20 expression to umbrella cells and expression of keratin 18 throughout the full thickness of transitional epithelium.

Bismuth-based quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori - a single triple capsule plus lansoprazole.

Background: Recently a new 'all in one' single capsule with the three components of bismuth-based triple therapy became available in trials for treating Helicobacter pylori.

Aim: To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of this new capsule when combined with lansoprazole.

Methods: A total of 66 consecutive infected patients from a single centre received two single triple capsules four times daily and lansoprazole 30 mg b.

Intrathecal coadministration of bupivacaine diminishes morphine dose progression during long-term intrathecal infusion in cancer patients.

Objective: To determine the difference in intrathecal morphine dose progression between a continuous intrathecal infusion of a morphine/bupivacaine mixture and morphine for pain relief in patients with cancer.

Design: Patients were treated with intrathecal drugs in a randomized study and followed prospectively until death.

Setting: Institute for Anesthesiology, Department of Pain Treatment, University Hospital Nijmegen, St Radboud, The Netherlands.

A neuropeptide in human semen: oxytocin.

The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) has been detected in testis and epididymis of several mammals. The peptide affects steroidogenesis and sperm transport in vivo. Effects of OT on sperm motility in vitro seems to be contradictory.

Congenital microgastria: a case report and review of literature.

Congenital microgastria is an uncommon result of impairment of normal foregut development. To date, only 39 cases have been described in the literature. We report a boy born with microgastria and bilateral hypoplastic kidneys who had feeding problems, resulting in failure to thrive and growth retardation.

Oedema formation with the vasodilators nifedipine and diazoxide: direct local effect or sodium retention?

Objective: To determine whether the common side effect of ankle oedema with arteriolar vasodilators such as the calcium entry blocker (CEB) nifedipine and the potassium channel opener (PCO) diazoxide is the direct result of peripheral vasodilation or merely a consequence of renal sodium retention.

Design: In 12 healthy sitting volunteers we studied for 3 h the effects of 20 mg nifedipine, 150 mg diazoxide intravenously, 25 mg captopril and placebo on oedema formation and sodium excretion.

Conclusions: Foot swelling was determined with a new accurate device (coefficient of variation 0.

Comparison of Sandimmun with a new cyclosporin derivative (IMM 125) in renal transplant patients with stable renal function. IMM 125 Multicentre Study Group.

A double-blind switch-over study was carried out on 70 renal transplant patients to assess the value of a new cyclosporin derivative, IMM 125. Preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies indicated that IMM 125 was as equally immunosuppressive as Sandimmun, but that its therapeutic index should be superior. The duration of the treatment was 24 weeks.

Yersinia enterocolitica infection in children.

The clinical presentation, course and outcome of Yersinia enterocolitica infection was studied prospectively in 125 children. Enteric forms occurred in 114 children (92 enteritis, 20 pseudoappendicitis, 2 chronic ileitis), of whom 17 also had extramesenteric manifestations; 11 children had one or more extramesenteric forms without enteric disease. Enteritis occurred more frequently in young children whereas serious forms and extramesenteric forms were more common in children older than 6 years of age (P < 0.

Ciprofloxacin vs. cefotaxime regimens for the treatment of intra-abdominal infections.

The efficacy of ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole was compared with that of cefotaxime plus gentamicin plus metronidazole in 79 patients with proven intra-abdominal infections. Patients were classified with the Peritonitis Index Altona-II (PIA-II) score for severity of disease, underlying conditions, prognosis and type of infection. Local peritonitis was diagnosed in 21 patients, generalized peritonitis in 25, intra-abdominal abscesses in 33; 35 patients had polymicrobial infections.

Surgical removal of subretinal neovascular membranes.

Since 1991 we have been gaining experience in the surgical removal of submacular subretinal membranes in patients with presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (POHS), idiopathic subretinal neovascularisation, myopia and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Seventeen patients were operated between 1991 and 1993. Significant improvement of vision was achieved in 4 out of 5 patients with POHS, 3 out of 5 with idiopathic neovascularisation, 2 out of 4 with myopia but none of 3 patients with AMD.

Continuous high thoracic epidural administration of morphine with bupivacaine after thoracotomy.

Background And Objectives: The purpose of the study is to determine the ideal concentration of morphine when given with bupivacaine as a continuous high thoracic epidural infusion for postthoracotomy pain.

Methods: In a prospective study, 60 patients scheduled for thoracic surgery received a high thoracic epidural catheter. Postoperative analgesia was provided by a continuous epidural infusion for 3 days.

Metoclopramide stimulates kaliuresis during felodipine without affecting its natriuresis.

Calcium entry blockers such as felodipine induce natriuresis without a parallel rise of potassium excretion. Previous studies with exogenous aldosterone and felodipine have suggested that the absence of kaliuresis might be explained by a felodipine-induced inhibition of aldosterone release. The natriuresis with calcium entry blockers could not be attributed to a similar mechanism but might be due to the stimulation of intrarenal natriuretic systems such as the dopaminergic system.

Thrombocythemic erythromelalgia, primary erythermalgia, and secondary erythermalgia: three distinct clinicopathologic entities.

On the basis of clinical, laboratory, and histopathologic studies, the authors discern three distinct types of red, congested, and burning extremities that need to be distinguished for effective treatment according to their etiology: erythromelalgia in thrombocythemia, primary erythermalgia, and secondary erythermalgia. Each entry is discussed in turn.