Epidemiology of overall and early-onset serrated polyps versus conventional adenomas in a colonoscopy screening cohort

Serrated polyps (SPs) are precursors to one-third of colorectal cancers (CRCs), with histological subtypes: hyperplastic polyps (HPs), sessile serrated lesions (SSLs) and traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs). The incidence of early-onset CRC before the age of 50 is increasing, with limited understanding of SPs in younger cohorts. Using a large colonoscopy-based cohort, we characterized epidemiologic profiles of SP subtypes, compared to conventional adenomas, with secondary analysis on early-onset polyps. Ninety-four thousand four hundred and twenty-seven patients underwent screening colonoscopies between 2010 and 2018. Demographic, endoscopic and histopathologic characteristics of each polyp subtype were described. High-risk polyps included SSLs ≥10 mm/with dysplasia and conventional adenomas ≥10 mm/with tubulovillous/villous histology/high-grade dysplasia. We examined polyp prevalence with age and compared early- (age < 50) and late-onset polyps (age ≥ 50). Eighteen thousand one hundred and twenty-five patients had SPs (4357 SSLs, 15 415 HPs, 120 TSAs) and 26 699 had conventional adenomas. High-risk SSLs were enriched in the ascending colon (44.1% vs 2.6-35.8% for other locations; P < .003). Early- and late-onset SPs had similar subsite distribution. Early-onset conventional adenomas were more enriched in the distal colon/rectum (51.8% vs 43.4%, P < .001). Multiple conventional adenomas were more represented in late-onset groups (40.8% vs 33.8%, P < .001), with no difference in SSLs. The prevalence of conventional adenomas/high-risk conventional adenomas increased continuously with age, whereas the prevalence of SSLs/high-risk SSLs was stable from age 40 years onwards. A higher proportion of women were diagnosed with early-onset than late-onset SSLs (62.9% vs 57.6%, P = .03). Conventional adenomas, SSLs, early- and late-onset polyps have distinct epidemiology. The findings have implications for improved colonoscopy screening and surveillance and understanding the etiologic heterogeneity of CRC.     

Impact of modified-release opioid use on clinical outcomes following total hip and knee arthroplasty: a propensity score-matched cohort study

Modified-release opioids are often prescribed for the management of moderate to severe acute pain following total hip and knee arthroplasty, despite recommendations against their use due to increasing concerns regarding harm. The primary objective of this multicentre study was to examine the impact of modified-release opioid use on the incidence of opioid-related adverse events compared with immediate-release opioid use, among adult inpatients following total hip or knee arthroplasty. Data for total hip and knee arthroplasty inpatients receiving an opioid analgesic for postoperative analgesia during hospitalisation were collected from electronic medical records of three tertiary metropolitan hospitals in Australia. The primary outcome was the incidence of opioid-related adverse events during hospital admission. Patients who received modified with or without immediate-release opioids were matched to those receiving immediate-release opioids only (1:1) using nearest neighbour propensity score matching with patient and clinical characteristics as covariates. This included total opioid dose received. In the matched cohorts, patients given modified-release opioids (n = 347) experienced a higher incidence of opioid-related adverse events overall, compared with those given immediate-release opioids only (20.5%, 71/347 vs. 12.7%, 44/347; difference in proportions 7.8% [95%CI 2.3–13.3%]). Modified-release opioid use was associated with an increased risk of harm when used for acute pain during hospitalisation after total hip or knee arthroplasty.     

CNS Maturation Process in Children and Adolescents in the Northern Region of the Russian Federation and Its Reflection in the Dynamics of Integral EEG Parameters

Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology - We present here results from analysis of the formation of brain bioelectrical activity in children and adolescents living in the northern region of Russia...     

Oral cancer prediction by noninvasive genetic screening

Oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) develop in genetically altered epithelium in the mucosal lining, also coined as fields, which are mostly not visible but occasionally present as white oral leukoplakia (OL) lesions. We developed a noninvasive genetic assay using next-generation sequencing (NGS) on brushed cells to detect the presence of genetically altered fields, including those that are not macroscopically visible. The assay demonstrated high accuracy in OL patients when brush samples were compared with biopsies as gold standard. In a cohort of Fanconi anemia patients, detection of mutations in prospectively collected oral brushes predicted oral cancer also when visible abnormalities were absent. We further provide insight in the molecular landscape of OL with frequent changes of TP53, FAT1 and NOTCH1. NGS analysis of noninvasively collected samples offers a highly accurate method to detect genetically altered fields in the oral cavity, and predicts development of OSCC in high-risk individuals. Noninvasive genetic screening can be employed to screen high-risk populations for cancer and precancer, map the extension of OL lesions beyond what is visible, map the oral cavity for precancerous changes even when visible abnormalities are absent, test accuracy of promising imaging modalities, monitor interventions and determine genetic progression as well as the natural history of the disease in the human patient.     

Existing fixation modalities for Jones type fifth metatarsal fracture fixation pose high rates of complications and nonunion

Jones type fifth metatarsal fractures pose a challenge to the foot and ankle surgeon, given documented high nonunion rates as well as high complication rates including hardware prominence, nerve injury, and screw breakage for existing treatment modalities including screw and plantar plate fixation. We call for the design of innovative Jones-fracture specific implants which contour to the natural curve of the fifth metatarsal. Future research should aim to expand upon existing literature for Jones fracture fixation and evaluate efficacy of novel implants which are designed to address unacceptably high complication rates for existing treatment modalities.