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Background: Medical grade honey (MGH) has been introduced as a protective measure against surgical site infections in equine surgery, but the effect on suture material has not been investigated., Objective: To evaluate the effect of MGH on the tensile properties of three synthetic absorbable suture materials., Study Design: In vitro experiments., Methods: Ten strands of Polydioxanone USP 2 (PD2), Polyglactin 910 USP 2 (PG2) and Polyglecaprone USP 2-0 (PC2-0) were incubated 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days in MGH, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), equine plasma (EP) and MGH mixed with equine plasma (HP). Mechanical testing was performed recording maximum load at failure (N), strain at failure and Young's modulus (N/mm 2 ). The results were reported from a Welch or regular ANOVA., Results: PD2 in MGH had a significantly higher tensile strength compared to PD2 in EP (p < 0.05, mean difference (md) = 16.95 N, CI95% (9.19-24.70 N)) and PBS (p < 0.05, md = 14.48 N CI95% (6.73-22.23 N)) on day 7 and the remaining time points. PG2 incubated in MGH had a significantly higher tensile strength compared to EP (p < 0.05, md = 69.28 N CI95% (64.16-74.40 N)) and PBS (p < 0.05, md = 56.90 N CI95% (51.78-62.02 N)) until day 28. PC2-0 incubated in MGH had a significantly higher tensile strength compared to EP (p < 0.05 md = 12.40 N CI95% (4.59 N-20.20 N)) and PBS (p < 0.05 md = 11.23 CI95% (3.42-19.03 N)) on day 7 and the remaining time points., Main Limitations: The sutures were unloaded during incubation and a single cycle to failure test was only performed, which does not reflect the in vivo environment where shear forces are present., Conclusions: MGH did not negatively affect the tensile strength of the suture material and can safely be applied in contact with suture materials commonly used in equine surgery., (© 2023 EVJ Ltd.)

The development of new therapies for inflammatory bowel disease is plagued by high costs, potential side effects, and variable levels of effectiveness. Fecal microbial transplant in inflammatory bowel diseases can offer an alternative to traditionally developed pharmacologic therapies and has demonstrated the ability to induce disease remission in randomized control trials. However, questions remain about the ultimate role of this therapy in disease management, including long term safety, and the optimal composition of transplanted stool., (© 2017 American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.)

This study aims at developing a simulation system that predicts the optimal study design for attaining tracer steady-state conditions in brain and blood rapidly. Tracer kinetics was determined from bolus studies and used to construct the system. Subsequently, the system was used to design inputs for bolus infusion (BI) or programmed infusion (PI) experiments. Steady-state quantitative measurements can be made with one short scan and venous blood samples. The GABAA receptor ligand [(11)C]Flumazenil (FMZ) was chosen for this purpose, as it lacks a suitable reference region. Methods. Five bolus [(11)C]FMZ-PET scans were conducted, based on which population-based PI and BI schemes were designed and tested in five additional healthy subjects. The design of a PI was assisted by an offline feedback controller. Results. The system could reproduce the measurements in blood and brain. With PI, [(11)C]FMZ steady state was attained within 40 min, which was 8 min earlier than the optimal BI (B/I ratio = 55 min). Conclusions. The system can design both BI and PI schemes to attain steady state rapidly. For example, subjects can be [(11)C]FMZ-PET scanned after 40 min of tracer infusion for 40 min with venous sampling and a straight-forward quantification. This simulation toolbox is available for other PET-tracers.

Sustained attention develops during childhood and has been linked to the right fronto-parietal cortices in functional imaging studies; however, less is known about its relation to white matter (WM) characteristics. Here we investigated whether the microstructure of the WM underlying and connecting the right fronto-parietal cortices was associated with sustained attention performance in a group of 76 typically developing children aged 7-13 years. Sustained attention was assessed using a rapid visual information processing paradigm. The two behavioral measures of interest were the sensitivity index d' and the coefficient of variation in reaction times (RTCV ). Diffusion-weighted imaging was performed. Mean fractional anisotropy (FA) was extracted from the WM underlying right dorsolateral prefrontal (DLPFC) and parietal cortex (PC), and the right superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), as well as equivalent anatomical regions-of-interest (ROIs) in the left hemisphere and mean global WM FA. When analyzed collectively, right hemisphere ROIs FA was significantly associated with d' independently of age. Follow-up analyses revealed that only FA of right SLF and the superior part of the right PC contributed significantly to this association. RTCV was significantly associated with right superior PC FA, but not with right SLF FA. Observed associations remained significant after controlling for FA of equivalent left hemisphere ROIs or global mean FA. In conclusion, better sustained attention performance was associated with higher FA of WM in regions connecting right frontal and parietal cortices. Further studies are needed to clarify to which extent these associations are driven by maturational processes, stable characteristics and/or experience., (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The cerebral serotonin (5-HT) system is involved in cognitive functions such as memory and learning and animal studies have repeatedly shown that stimulation of the 5-HT type 4 receptor (5-HT4 R) facilitates memory and learning and further that the 5-HT4 R modulates cellular memory processes in hippocampus. However, any associations between memory functions and the expression of the 5-HT4 R in the human hippocampus have not been investigated. Using positron emission tomography with the tracer [(11) C]SB207145 and Reys Auditory Verbal Learning Test we aimed to examine the individual variation of the 5-HT4R binding in hippocampus in relation to memory acquisition and consolidation in healthy young volunteers. We found significant, negative associations between the immediate recall scores and left and right hippocampal BPND , (p = 0.009 and p = 0.010 respectively) and between the right hippocampal BPND and delayed recall (p = 0.014). These findings provide evidence that the 5-HT4 R is associated with memory functions in the human hippocampus and potentially pharmacological stimulation of the receptor may improve episodic memory., (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Cesarean section is a common operation and one of the first surgeries performed independently by trainees/residents in obstetrics and gynecology. Determination of trainees' technical skills level is dependent upon subjective faculty assessment. Based on three studies on learning curves in cesarean section, it is recommended that trainees perform between 10-15 and 40 supervised cesarean sections before operating independently. Surgical technical skills of trainees/residents may be assessed by Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS), which provides a foundation for constructive feedback during surgical training. The Danish, Swedish and British Obstetric and Gynecological Societies' guidelines on cesarean section were reviewed regarding cesarean section surgical technique. Placental removal by traction on the umbilical cord is recommended uniformly; however, the Danish guidelines recommend one-layer uterine incision closure, whereas the Swedish and British guidelines recommend two-layer closure. Maternal complications at cesarean section increase when the primary surgeon is a trainee/resident rather than an experienced surgeon. Basic surgical proficiencies regarding instruments, sutures and surgical technique as well as basic anatomy, should be verified before entering a training program for cesarean section. Such a training program for technical and non-technical skills in cesarean section should include theoretical instruction, video tutorials, practical experience and direct supervision. Development of a specific OSATS for cesarean section is recommended. Training must be individually structured accommodating the differences in trainees' competencies. Before clinical training in the operating room begins, all trainees must attain standardized cognitive and technical skills., (© 2012 The Authors Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica © 2012 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

The purpose of this paper is to undertake a review of the everyday lives and the need for support felt by relatives of adults with malignant cerebral glioma. Through electronic literature searches we identified studies with qualitative, quantitative or mixed method designs. Fourteen studies were identified. They indicated that a relative often assumes the caregiver's role, taking over responsibility for the patient's illness and survival, and that the relative is often overwhelmingly exhausted by this task. The ever-changing circumstances left the relatives fearful, anxious and apprehensive. The relatives lacked information about how to provide day-to-day care and how to manage psychoses and neuropsychiatric problems at home. Likewise, they needed help from the professionals to talk with each other about potentially reduced life expectancy. Most relatives appeared to value specialist nurse support highly, and they found support groups helpful. Relatively few studies were identified, and extant research was found to be diverse in purpose, study design and study population. The majority of the studies focused only on the parts of the relatives' everyday lives in which they were taking care of and supporting the patient. Further research focusing on the impact of the illness on different part of relative's everyday life is needed., (© 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

Objectives: To determine the psychometric properties of the Shape- and Weight-Based Self-Esteem (SAWBS) Inventory in women with eating disorders, and to compare SAWBS scores in women who have eating disorders with women from psychiatric and normal control groups., Method: Women with eating disorders (n = 48), women with other psychiatric disorders (n = 44), and undergraduate control women (n = 82) completed the SAWBS Inventory and measures of depression, self-esteem, and eating disorder symptomatology. Twenty women from the eating disorder group completed the SAWBS Inventory a second time 1 week later., Results: Similar to previous work in undergraduate samples, SAWBS scores were stable over 1 week, and demonstrated concurrent and discriminant validity in women with eating disorders. In between-group comparisons, SAWBS scores were higher among women with eating disorders than in either control group, even after controlling for age, socioeconomic status, body mass index, and self-esteem. A differing relationship between depression and SAWBS emerged as a function of group; SAWBS scores differed significantly among depressed, but not nondepressed women from the three groups., Conclusion: The psychometric properties of the SAWBS Inventory were established in women with eating disorders. As expected, SAWBS scores were higher in women with eating disorders than in the control groups. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

A trial of Duchenne muscular dystrophy involved tracking boys of all ages through a one-year baseline period, followed by a one-year trial of leucine versus placebo treatment. In this paper we develop a model for a total-muscle-strength score that uses the data of the extended baseline period in the evaluation of the leucine treatment. The model is based on a polynomial growth curve in age whose coefficients can vary according to treatment or phase. Maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters of the model are obtained from use of the EM algorithm. We propose tests for the adequacy of the model as well as for treatment effects. A quadratic model appears the most parsimonious fit to the data and there is no evidence of any leucine effect on scores. We examine the asymptotic power of the test for treatment effect and compare it with that of a simpler analysis.

This paper reports the results of a stratified, randomized trial of monthly intradermal injections of Glaxo BCG in addition to conventional therapy (surgery, radiotherapy or no treatment) in a consecutive series of 75 men with confirmed bronchial carcinoma. BCG treatment did not significantly prolong survival but had consistenly more effect in prolonging the period in good general condition and in "acceptable" clinical condition. These were significantly prolonged among the BCG patients (all histopathologies) treated with a full course of radiotherapy (p = 0.01, p = 0.005) and among the 43 patients with squamous carcinoma after adjustment for treatment and general prognostic factors (ratio of observed to expected deaths (O/E) for BCG 0.65, P = 0.025). There was a tendency for BCG patients with oat cell carcinoma to survive less well than controls (O/E for BCG 1.40 not significant). Within comparable groups of patients with squamous carcinoma the delay in decline of general condition was accompanied by reduced weight loss.