Comparison of Risk Factors for Unplanned Conversion from Laparoscopic and Robotic to Open Colorectal Surgery Using the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative (MSQC) Database

Robotic colorectal surgery has been shown to have lower rates of unplanned conversion to open surgery when compared to laparoscopic surgery. Risk factors associated with conversion from robotic to open colectomy and comparisons of the risk factors between robotic and laparoscopic approaches have not been previously reported. Patients who underwent elective laparoscopic and robotic colorectal surgeries between July 1, 2012 and April 28, 2015, were identified in the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative registry. Candidate covariates were identified, and hierarchical logistic regression models were used to identify risk factors for conversion. There were 4796 cases that met study inclusion criteria. Conversion was required in 18.2 % of laparoscopic and 7.7 % of robotic cases (p?<?0.0001). Risk factors for conversion in the laparoscopic group included the following: moderate/severe adhesions, obesity, colorectal cancer, hypertension, rectal operations, urgent priority, and tobacco use. Risk factors for conversion in the robotic group included the following: severe adhesions, bleeding disorder, presence of cancer, cirrhosis, and use of statins. Higher surgeon volume was protective in both groups. Conversion rates are lower for robotic than for laparoscopic colorectal surgery with fewer predictors of conversion. Recognition of factors predicting conversion may allow surgeons to choose an operative approach that optimizes the benefits of the available technologies.     

Study of placenta in sickle cell disorders

Remarkable changes are seen on gross and microscopic examination of placenta of patients with sickle cell disorders, hence the present study was undertaken to find out the pathological changes seen in the placenta of sickle cell disorder patients, as compared to control and to study the effect of maternal sickling on the fetus. It includes total 73 cases, of which 10 were of control group and 63 were from patients with sickle cell disorders, which included 47 sickle cell trait (AS) and 16 sickle cell disease (SS) patients. In group II, 9 (14.28%) patients with SS pattern developed complications during pregnancy, in the form of vaso-occlusive and hemolytic crises. Pregnancy induced hypertension was seen in 4 (25%) out of 16 SS and 11 (23.40%) of the 47 AS patients. Urinary tract infection (UTI) was seen in 6 (37.5%) out of 16 SS and 8 (17.02%) out of 47 AS patients. Placentae in sickle cell disorders showed pathological changes in the form of infarction, calcification, sickled red blood cells and hemorrhage in intervillous spaces, increased syncytial knots, fibrinoid necrosis, stromal fibrosis, hyalinised villi and compensatory proliferation of trophoblastic cells.     

Laccase production by the white-rot fungus Termitomyces clypeatus

Laccase was detected in the culture filtrate of white-rot fungus Termitomyces clypeatus. The enzyme was found at the late phase of submerged growth in a medium containing glucose or cellulose as the carbon source. The present study indicates that laccase produced by T. clypeatus is an intracellular enzyme, released in the medium due to cell lysis at the end of the growing phase. Laccase produced by T. clypeatus is different from the extracellular polyphenol oxidase of T. albuminosus, also produced at the late phase of growth. This is the first report of laccase production by a Termitomyces sp.     

Sensitivity pattern of gram negative bacilli to three beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations using the automated API system

PURPOSE: To evaluate the spectrum of activity of three beta-lactamase inhibitors such as amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid, ticarcillin/ clavulanic acid and piperacillin/ tazobactam in comparison to cephalosporins against gram negative bacilli. METHODS: Gram-negative bacilli isolated from the clinical specimens received in the laboratory were included in the study. Using the API system (bioMiotarieux) during a one-year period, a total of 1,252 Enterobacteriaceae and 385 non-fermenters were evaluated. RESULTS: The percentage resistance of the Enterobacteriaceae isolates was 82.92% to amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid, 58.22% to ticarcillin/clavulanic acid and 22.44% to piperacillin/tazobactam respectively. Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed resistance of 96% to ticarcillin/ clavulanic acid and 61% to piperacillin/ tazobactam and Acinetobacter baumannii showed 49% resistance to ticarcillin/ clavulanic acid and 77% resistance to piperacillin/ tazobactam respectively. The isolates exhibited high resistance to all the generations of cephalosporins and the other groups of antibiotics except carbapenems. CONCLUSIONS: Piperacillin/tazobactam was found to be the most active combination of the three against Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas spp. and ticarcillin/clavulanic acid against Acinetobacter spp. and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.     

Deficient SOCS3 expression in CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells and SOCS3-mediated suppression of Treg function

Naturally occurring CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) suppress T helper (Th) cell-mediated immune responses. The cytokines IL-2 and IL-6 are known to influence Treg function. However, their relative effects on Th cells versus Treg are not well understood. Stimulation with IL-2, and to a lesser extent, IL-6, enhanced Treg proliferation, FoxP3 and CTLA4 maintenance, and suppressive function. In contrast, when IL-2 or IL-6 were added to Treg/Th cell cocultures, suppression was inhibited. The molecule SOCS3 negatively regulates responses to IL-2 and IL-6. Interestingly, unlike Th cells, Treg were found to be deficient in SOCS3 protein expression. The significance of this finding lies in the need for Treg to rapidly respond to these cytokines to prevent unwarranted immune responses to self-antigens. Overexpression of SOCS3 in Treg decreased their proliferation, FoxP3 and CTLA-4 expression and suppressive function. Thus, up-regulation of SOCS3 expression may be a useful therapeutic approach in diseases where inhibition of Treg is desirable.     

Facile synthesis of high specific activity 4‐[1‐14C]butyl‐1,2‐diphenylpyrazolidine‐3,5‐dione (phenylbutazone) using nucleophilic substitution

Metabolism, environmental fate, and low concentration food residue studies would be facilitated by the use of radiolabeled test articles that can be readily quantified within complex matrices. However, radiochemical approaches for such studies require high specific activities to allow analytical detection of correspondingly low masses of test article. The synthesis of high specific activity (>50 μCi/μmol) [¹⁴C]‐radiolabeled phenylbutazone presents a challenge using existing methodology, mainly due to the low solvent volumes required and vigorous refluxing needed to close the pyrazolidinedione ring. Herein, we report on the significant modification of an existing method that allows the synthesis of low masses of high specific activity (>50 μCi/μmol) [¹⁴C]‐phenylbutazone under mild conditions with simple purification and high yield. The closure of the pyrazolidinedione ring of 1,2‐diphenyl‐3,5‐pyrazolidinedione was accomplished as a first step with unlabeled 1,2‐diphenylhydrazine and diethyl malonate in 32% yield under gram‐scale conditions, which avoided the challenges of low solvent use and vigorous refluxing. Low mass of high specific activity n‐[1‐¹⁴C]‐butyl bromide was then added via a nucleophilic substitution reaction as a final step. Yields ranged from 65% to 92% during multiple synthetic attempts with unlabeled butyl bromide and were greatly influenced by reaction stoichiometry and the selection of base.     

Comorbid mental disorders among adults in the mental health surveillance survey

Purpose

To examine the prevalence and correlates of mental disorder comorbidity in the adult U.S. household population.