A systematic review of capacity assessment tools in pediatric surgery: Global Assessment in Pediatric Surgery (GAPS) Phase I

Background

The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery highlighted global surgical need but offered little insight into the specific surgical challenges of children in low-resource settings. Efforts to strengthen the quality of global pediatric surgical care have resulted in a proliferation of partnerships between low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs). Standardized tools able to reliably measure gaps in delivery and quality of care are important aids for these partnerships. We undertook a systematic review (SR) of capacity assessment tools (CATs) focused on needs assessment in pediatric surgery.

Minimally disruptive decompression and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.

BACKGROUND: Posterior spinal procedures through tubular exposures have been described. However, tubes restrain visibility and require co-axial instrument manipulation, increasing difficulty and potentially compromising surgical results. An independent-blade retractor system overcomes the obstacles of working through a tube and has been used to perform minimally-disruptive decompression and instrumented tranforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). PURPOSE: To evaluate the advantages to patient recovery and surgical efficacy of this technique. METHODS/RESULTS: Retrospective review of technique employing a minimally-disruptive approach to decompression and transforaminal lumber interbody fusion (TLIF). CONCLUSIONS: Minimally-disruptive decompression and instrumented TLIF can be performed in a safe and effective manner using an independent-blade retractor system. Relative to traditional-open techniques, surgical goals can be accomplished, but with the benefits of minimally-disruptive surgery.     

Myelolipoma of the thoracic spine.

We describe a myelolipoma of the thoracic spine in a patient with gradual and progressive myelopathy. MR imaging showed this predominately fatty lesion to be extradural in location.     

Preliminary evidence for a role of apolipoprotein E alleles in identifying haemodialysis patients at high vascular risk

Conventional risk factors have very low predictive power in identifying haemodialysis patients at high risk of vascular accidents. A role for apolipoprotein E isotypes was looked for in a small, but rigorously defined, cohort of longterm haemodialysis patients. In individuals with high vascular risk, as identified by higher common carotid intima/media thickness, we found an excess of apolipoprotein E4 alleles. This preliminary result requires confirmation in large patient cohorts.      

Phospholipase A2-catalyzed conversion of hepatic cytochrome P450 to P420 in microsomal membranes prepared from young and old rats

Previous studies from this Laboratory have revealed few significant age-related changes in either hepatic microsomal cytochrome P₄₅₀ content or NADPH-cytochrome P₄₅₀ reductase activity, prompting the suggestion that the nearly ubiquitous age-associated decline in the hepatic metabolism of xenobiotics by the mixed-function oxidases is a result of alterations in the lipid matrix in which the macromolecular components are organized. In order to examine this postulate, the membrane microenvironment surrounding hepatic microsomal cytochrome P₄₅₀ was enzymatically digested with snake venom phospholipase A₂, and the kinetics of conversion of cytochrome P₄₅₀ to cytochrome P₄₂₀ determined for preparations obtained from rats of varying age. There were no significant differences in the kinetics of conversion of cytochrome P₄₅₀ to cytochrome P₄₂₀, suggesting that there are no significant age-related changes in the lipid microenvironment immediately adjacent to cytochrome P₄₅₀. However, there was a slight difference, independent of age, in the rate of conversion of cytochrome P₄₅₀ to cytochrome P₄₂₀ between smooth and rough microsomes. The results are discussed in terms of general experimental approaches toward understanding drug metabolism in senescent organisms.     

Congenital defects of lower limbs and associated malformations: A population based study

As part of a detailed study of limb defects and associated patterns of congenital malformations, cases with lower limb deficiencies were analysed separately. We identified a total of 130 cases with deficiencies of the lower limbs without defects of the upper limbs. This gives an incidence of 1.07/10,000 livebirths, or 1/9,337 for this group of limb defects. Most common were femur deficiencies and deficiencies of the foot. A preponderance of males was found in the group of transverse defects of the leg (fibula/tibia deficiencies) and central axis deficiencies, while females had significantly more often longitudinal tibia defects and preaxial ray defects. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Recurrence after lumpectomy for comedo-type intraductal carcinoma of the breast

The morphologic subgroups of intraductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast may be biologically different. Thirty-eight patients with comedo-type DCIS treated with local resection with or without radiotherapy are presented. Thirteen of 35 patients had a family history of breast cancer, with 11 patients having an affected first-degree relative. This is significantly increased over other series of breast cancer patients. Recurrence was ipsilateral in all patients and occurred at the site of the original disease. Recurrence occurred in 4 of 30 patients treated with local resection only and 2 of 8 treated with local resection plus radiotherapy. The length of mean follow-up was 39 months. Because of the paucity of studies, these results cannot be compared with others, but there does appear to be a significant incidence of local recurrence after resection for comedo-type DCIS. Immunohistochemical and oncogene studies as they relate to comedo-type DCIS are discussed.