Hypermetabolism associated with worse prognosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Journal of Neurology - Exploration of hypermetabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with different ethnicities is needed to understand its metabolic implications for clinical management....     

Intravesical sustained release system of lidocaine and oxybutynin results from in vitro and animal study

International Urology and Nephrology - Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic debilitating condition of unknown etiology. Intravesical lidocaine demonstrated pain relief...     

The impact of circulation in a heart–lung machine on function and survival characteristics of red blood cells

Extracorporeal circulation is accompanied by changes in red blood cell morphology and structural integrity that affect cell function and survival, and thereby may contribute to the various side effects of heart–lung machine-assisted surgery. Our main objectives were to determine the effect of circulation of red blood cells in a stand-alone extracorporeal circuit on several parameters that are known to be affected by, as well as contribute to red blood cell aging. As a source of RBCs, we employed blood bank storage units of different ages. In order to assess the relevance of our in vitro observations for the characterization of extracorporal circulation technology, we compared these changes in those of patients undergoing extracorporeal circulation-assisted cardiac surgery. Our results show that circulation in a heart–lung machine is accompanied by changes in red blood cell volume, an increase in osmotic fragility, changes in deformability and aggregation behavior, and alterations in the exposure of phosphatidylserine and in microvesicle generation. RBCs from 1-week-old concentrates showed the highest similarities with the in vivo situation. These changes in key characteristics of the red blood cell aging process likely increase the susceptibility of red blood cells to the various mechanical, osmotic, and immunological stress conditions encountered during and after surgery in the patient’s circulation, and thereby contribute to the side effects of surgery. Thus, aging-related parameters in red blood cell structure and function provide a foundation for the validation and improvement of extracorporeal circulation technology.     

Barriers to Surgical Care Among Children in Somaliland: An Application of the Three Delays Framework

World Journal of Surgery - There are complex barriers that increase delays to surgical care in low- and middle-income countries, particularly among the vulnerable population of children....     

Smartphone application technique for localising magnetically controlled growth rod actuators: the Oxford Magnetic Counter App Technique (TOMCAT)

European Spine Journal - The purpose of this study is to report a novel smartphone app technique to localise a magnetically controlled growing rod (MCGR) actuator, along with determining this novel...