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Hyperphosphataemia in patients with chronic kidney disease, particularly those on dialysis, can be ameliorated by oral phosphate binders in conjunction with dietary phosphate restriction. Although phosphate binders reduce serum phosphate in these patients, it remains uncertain whether they improve clinical outcomes. Calcium-based binders are frequently used, but their popularity is waning due to emerging evidence of accelerated vascular calcification. The use of aluminium-based binders has been limited by a perceived risk of aluminium accumulation. The non-calcium-based phosphate binders - sevelamer hydrochloride, lanthanum carbonate and sucroferric oxyhydroxide - have become available and subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for patients on dialysis. The pill burden and adverse effects (particularly gastrointestinal intolerance) associated with phosphate binders often contribute to poor medication adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of topical fibrin glue applied externally to all anastomoses after a pancreaticoduodenectomy ( PD) on drain lipase levels, anastomotic leaks, complication rates and length of hospital stay. Methods A standardized non-pylorus preserving PD was performed with or without fibrin glue applied to each anastomosis. Results Fifty-seven patients were randomized: 32 with and 25 without TISSEEL. There were no statistical differences in each group with respect to drain lipase levels (high 40% versus 43%, P = 0.794), complications including gastric or biliary leaks (24% versus 28%, P = 1.00), wound infection (16% versus 9%, P = 0.28) and a Clavien score of 3 or more (16% versus 25%, P = 0.757) or hospital stay (12 versus 17 days, P = 0.777). Most patients with elevated drain lipase levels had an unaltered clinical course not predictive of adverse outcomes. However, the operative finding of a soft pancreas (27 out of 57 patients) was associated with post-operative complications ( P = 0.002). There were no peri-operative deaths. Conclusions Fibrin glue application to all anastomoses does not alter drain lipase levels., Drain lipase levels are not a significant surrogate marker for clinically significant anastomotic leaks or complications., Fibrin glue application did not reduce the incidence of an anastomotic leak or complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify potentially novel and essential components of plant membrane trafficking mechanisms we performed a GFP-based forward genetic screen for seedling-lethal biosynthetic membrane trafficking mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana. Amongst these mutants, four recessive alleles of GSH2, which encodes glutathione synthase (GSH2), were recovered. Each allele was characterized by loss of the typical polygonal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) network and the accumulation of swollen ER-derived bodies which accumulated a soluble secretory marker. Since GSH2 is responsible for converting γ-glutamylcysteine (γ-EC) to glutathione (GSH) in the glutathione biosynthesis pathway, gsh2 mutants exhibited γ-EC hyperaccumulation and GSH deficiency. Redox-sensitive GFP revealed that gsh2 seedlings maintained redox poise in the cytoplasm but were more sensitive to oxidative challenge. Genetic and pharmacological evidence indicated that γ-EC accumulation rather than GSH deficiency was responsible for the perturbation of ER morphology. Use of soluble and membrane-bound ER markers suggested that the swollen ER bodies were derived from ER fusiform bodies. Despite the gross perturbation of ER morphology, gsh2 seedlings did not suffer from constitutive oxidative ER stress or lack of an unfolded protein response, and homozygotes for the weakest allele could be propagated. The link between glutathione biosynthesis and ER morphology and function is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The standard treatment for early-stage lung cancer is complete tumor excision by limited resection of the lung. Preoperative localization is used before video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) to improve the accuracy of pulmonary nodule excision. However, lung atelectasis and hypoxia resulting from controlling apnea during the localization procedure may affect the localization accuracy. Pre-procedural pulmonary recruitment may improve the respiratory mechanics and oxygenation during localization. In this study, we investigated the potential benefits of pre-localization pulmonary recruitment prior to pulmonary ground-glass nodule localization in a hybrid operating room. We hypothesized that pre-localization pulmonary recruitment would increase the localization accuracy, improve oxygenation, and prevent the need for re-inflation during the localization procedure. We retrospectively enrolled patients with multiple pulmonary nodule localizations before surgical intervention in our hybrid operating room. We compared the localization accuracy between patients who had undergone pre-procedure pulmonary recruitment and patients who had not. Saturation, re-inflation rate, apnea time, procedure-related pneumothorax, and procedure time were also recorded as secondary outcomes. The patients who had undergone pre-procedure recruitment had better saturation, shorter procedure time, and higher localization accuracy. The pre-procedure pulmonary recruitment maneuver was effective in increasing regional lung ventilation, leading to improved oxygenation and localization accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Variceal bleeding is a common and life‐threatening complication in patients with cirrhosis. Screening with upper endoscopy is recommended but is uncomfortable to patients. Non‐invasive assessment with transient elastography for liver/spleen stiffness measurement (LSM and SSM) is accurate in detecting varices. Aims: To test the hypothesis that a new screening strategy for varices guided by LSM/SSM results (LSSM‐guided) is non‐inferior to universal endoscopic screening in detecting clinically significant varices in patients with cirrhosis. Methods: This was a non‐inferiority, open‐label, randomized controlled trial. Adult patients with known chronic liver diseases, radiological evidence of cirrhosis and compensated liver function. The primary outcome was clinically significant varix diagnosed with upper endoscopy. Results: Between October 2013 and June 2016, 548 patients were randomized to LSSM arm (n = 274) and conventional arm (n = 274) which formed the intention‐to‐test (ITT) population. Patients in both study arms were predominantly middle‐aged men with viral hepatitis‐related cirrhosis in 85% of the cases. In the ITT analysis, 11/274 participants in the LSSM arm (4.0%) and 16/274 in the conventional arm (5.8%) were found to have clinically significant varices. The difference between two groups was −1.8% (90% CI, −4.9% to −1.2%, P < .001). The absolute difference in the number of patients with clinically significant varices detected was 5/16 (31.3%) fewer in the LSSM arm. Conclusions: Non‐inferiority of the LSSM‐guided screening strategy to the convention approach cannot be excluded by this RCT. This approach should be further evaluated in a cohort of larger sample size with more clinically significant varices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]