Effect of Antibiotic Duration in Emergency General Surgery Patients with Intra-Abdominal Infection Managed with Open vs Closed Abdomen.

Background: Data on duration of antibiotics in patients managed with an open abdomen (OA) due to intra-abdominal infection (IAI) are scarce. We hypothesized that patients with IAI managed with OA rather than closed abdomen (CA) would have higher rates of secondary infections (SIs) independent of the duration of the antibiotic treatment.

Methods: This was an observational, prospective, multicenter, international study of patients with IAI requiring laparotomy for source control.

Predictors and Cost Comparison of Subsequent Urinary Stone Care at Index Versus Non-Index Hospitals.

Objective: To examine the effects of care fragmentation, or the engagement of different health care systems along the continuum of care, on patients with urinary stone disease.

Methods: All-payer data from the 2016 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Databases from Florida (FL) and New York (NY) were used to identify a cohort of adult patients with an emergency department visit for a diagnosis of urolithiasis, who subsequently re-presented to an index or non-index hospital for renal colic and/or urological intervention. Patient demographics, regional data, and procedural information were collected and 30-day episode-based costs were calculated.

Accidental or intentional ingestion of toothbrushes: experience with 8 adult patients.

Purpose: Ingestion of a toothbrush is an unusual event but may occur either accident or by intent. Radiological examinations play a crucial role in determining the exact location of the object within the gastrointestinal tract and in planning for its removal by endoscopic or surgical intervention.

Methods: Medical and radiological records of 8 patients who had swallowed the broken heads or entire toothbrush were retrospectively reviewed.

Resurgence of intestinal ascariasis among adults: radiological diagnosis and clinical implications.

To report the radiological features of intestinal ascariasis and to review the clinical implications of this re-emerging disease for adult population of the USA. This retrospective observational study involved 12 adult patients, whose radiological examinations disclosed unsuspected presence of ascaris in their intestinal tract. They were evaluated by computed tomography of the abdomen with oral contrast, small bowel series with barium, and magnetic resonance enterography.

Puf-A promotes cancer progression by interacting with nucleophosmin in nucleolus.

Previously, we identified Puf-A as a novel member of Puf-family RNA-binding proteins; however, its biological functions remain obscure. Analysis of tumor samples of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) showed that high Puf-A expression correlated with high histology grade and abnormal p53 status. Kaplan-Meier curve for overall survival revealed high expression of Puf-A to predict poor prognosis in stage I NSCLC.

Anal cancer incidence in men with HIV who have sex with men: are black men at higher risk?

Objective: To assess differences in anal cancer incidence between racial/ethnic groups among a clinical cohort of men with HIV who have sex with men.

Design: Clinical cohort study.

Methods: We studied men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Centers for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems (CNICS) who initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) under HIV care in CNICS.

Preclinical applications of high-definition manometry system to investigate pelvic floor muscle contribution to continence mechanisms in a rabbit model.

External anal sphincter (EAS), external urethral sphincters, and puborectalis muscle (PRM) have important roles in the genesis of anal and urethral closure pressures. In the present study, we defined the contribution of these muscles alone and in combination with the sphincter closure function using a rabbit model and a high-definition manometry (HDM) system. A total of 12 female rabbits were anesthetized and prepared to measure anal, urethral, and vaginal canal pressures using a HDM system.

Trends in Childhood Poison Exposures and Fatalities: A Retrospective Secondary Data Analysis of the 2009-2019 U.S. National Poison Data System Annual Reports.

Despite significant prevention efforts, childhood poison exposures remain a serious public health challenge in the United States. This study aimed to assess annual trends of pharmaceutical vs. non-pharmaceutical poison exposures in the US among children 0-19 years and compare the odds of death by children's age group.

Radiological features and clinical implications of persistent congenital mesocolon: Pictorial essay.

In human foetus, the mesenteries that carry vascular and neural supply to the alimentary tube play an important role in its development and anatomical location within the abdominal cavity. The mesenteric attachments of the small bowel, transverse colon and sigmoid allow them to be intraperitoneally mobile structures. In contrast, the ascending and descending colon lose their mesenteries by fusion with the parietal peritoneum and become fixed in retroperitoneal position along the posterolateral walls of the abdomen.

Intramural diverticulosis and diverticulitis of the colon: Pictorial essay.

Diverticulosis of the colon is a gradually progressive disease that usually starts in early adulthood and increases with advancing age in its anatomical extent and the size of diverticula. It is important to recognize the initial stages of diverticular development in young patients in order to properly diagnose and manage the potential complications of this very common intestinal disorder. This article presents the pathological and radiological features of early diverticular formation, when the mucosal outpouchings are very small and contained within the colonic wall as distinct intramural lesions.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of fluconazole as early empiric treatment of coccidioidomycosis pneumonia (Valley Fever) in adults presenting with community-acquired pneumonia in endemic areas (FLEET-Valley Fever).

Introduction: Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection endemic in the southwestern United States (US). Primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis (PPC) is a leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in this region, although its diagnosis is often delayed, leading to lag in antifungal treatment and subsequent morbidity. The impact of early empiric antifungal therapy as part of treatment for CAP in endemic areas on clinical outcomes is unknown.

Musculoskeletal ultrasound in hemophilia: Results and recommendations from a global survey and consensus meeting.

Introduction: For persons with hemophilia, optimization of joint outcomes is an important unmet need. The aim of this initiative was to determine use of ultrasound in evaluating arthropathy in persons with hemophilia, and to move toward consensus among hemophilia care providers regarding the preferred ultrasound protocols for global adaptation.

Methods: A global survey of hemophilia treatment centers was conducted that focused on understanding how and why ultrasound was being used and endeavored to move toward consensus definitions of both point-of-care musculoskeletal ultrasound (POC-MSKUS) and full diagnostic ultrasound, terminology to describe structures being assessed by ultrasound, and how these assessments should be interpreted.

Intraperitoneal Barium From Gastrointestinal Perforations: Reassessment of the Prognosis and Long-Term Effects.

The purpose of this study was to reassess the outcome and potential consequences of intraperitoneal barium leakage during radiologic evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract. This retrospective study included 18 patients who had significant intraperitoneal leakage of barium from gastrointestinal perforations that were not suspected or diagnosed before the radiologic procedures. This complication occurred during a barium enema examination in nine patients, an upper gastrointestinal study in seven, and a small bowel series in two patients.

The Year in Perioperative Echocardiography: Selected Highlights from 2020.

This article is the fifth of an annual series reviewing the research highlights of the year pertaining to the subspecialty of perioperative echocardiography for the Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. The authors thank Editor-in-Chief Dr. Kaplan and the editorial board for the opportunity to continue this series.

Association of Sinonasal Inflammation With Functional Brain Connectivity.

Importance: In recent years, there have been several meaningful advances in the understanding of the cognitive effects of chronic rhinosinusitis. However, an investigation exploring the potential link between the underlying inflammatory disease and higher-order neural processing has not yet been performed.

Objective: To describe the association of sinonasal inflammation with functional brain connectivity (Fc), which may underlie chronic rhinosinusitis-related cognitive changes.

Pulsion diverticula of the rectum: Radiological diagnosis and clinical implications.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the appearance of acquired rectal diverticula on barium enema and computed tomography (CT) and to review the pertinent clinical data about this entity.

Methods: This series included 3 men and 6 women, who ranged in age from 47 to 82 years (average: 64 years). Air-contrast barium enema in 6 patients with history of anorectal disease or obstructed defecation demonstrated rectal diverticula.

Interactive anesthesiology educational program improves wellness for anesthesiologists and their children.

Study Objective: Anesthesiologists have a high prevalence of burnout with adverse effects on professionalism and safety. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of an interactive anesthesiology educational program on the wellness of anesthesia providers and their children, as assessed by a modified Professional Fulfillment Index.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Effects of solriamfetol in a long-term trial of participants with obstructive sleep apnea who are adherent or nonadherent to airway therapy.

Study Objectives: Solriamfetol, a dopamine/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, is approved in the United States and European Union to treat excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (37.5-150 mg/day) and narcolepsy (75-150 mg/day). This analysis evaluated solriamfetol's efficacy in subgroups of participants with OSA who were adherent or nonadherent to primary OSA therapy at baseline and examined whether solriamfetol affected the use of primary therapy in an open-label extension trial.