Functional abdominal wall reconstruction improves core physiology and quality-of-life

Introduction One of the goals of modern ventral hernia repair (VHR) is restoring the linea alba by returning the rectus muscles to the midline. Although this practice presumably restores native abdominal wall function, improvement of abdominal wall function has never been measured in a scientific fashion. We hypothesized that a dynamometer could be used to demonstrate an improvement in rectus muscle function after open VHR with restoration of the midline, and that this improvement would be associated with a better quality-of-life. Methods Thirteen patients agreed to dynamometric analysis before and 6 months after an open posterior component separation (Rives-Stoppa technique complimented with a transversus abdominis muscle release) and mesh sublay. Analysis done using a dynamometer (Biodex 3, Corp, Shirley, NY) included measurement of peak torque (PT; N*m) and PT per bodyweight (BW; %) generated during abdominal flexion in 5 settings: Isokinetic analysis at 45°/s and 60°/s as well as isometric analysis at 0°, -15°, and +15°. Power (W) was calculated during isokinetic settings. Quality-of-life was measured using our validated HerQles survey at the time of each dynamometric analysis. Results Thirteen patients (mean age, 54 ± 9 years; mean body mass index, 31 ± 7 kg/m2) underwent repair with restoration of the midline using the aforementioned technique. Mean hernia width was 12.5 cm (range, 5-19). Improvements in PT and PT/BW were significant in all 5 settings (P <.05). Improvement in power during isokinetic analyses at 45°/s and 60°/s was also significant (P <.05). All patients reported an improvement in quality-of-life, which was associated positively with each dynamometric parameter. Conclusion Restoration of the linea alba during VHR is associated with improved abdominal wall functionality. Analysis of rectus muscle function using a dynamometer showed statistical improvement by isokinetic and isometric measurements, all of which were associated with an improvement in quality-of-life

Robust Diversity in Cognitive Science

The target article on robust modeling (Lee et al. in review) generated a lot of commentary. In this reply, we discuss some of the common themes in the commentaries; some are simple points of agreement while others are extensions of a practical or abstract nature. We also address a small number of disagreements or confusions

Robust Diversity in Cognitive Science

The target article on robust modeling (Lee et al.) generated a lot of commentary. In this reply, we discuss some of the common themes in the commentaries; some are simple points of agreement while others are extensions of a practical or abstract nature. We also address a small number of disagreements or confusions

Neonatal Acute Kidney Injury

Neonatal acute kidney injury (nAKI) is highly prevalent but the definition of nAKI remains nebulous. This is because we rely on serum creatinine (SCr) for the estimation of kidney function which is an indirect measure of muscle mass and the maternal placental transfer of SCr in the early post-natal period. Similarly, the physiological transition into the extra-uterine environment should result in a natural improvement in neonatal renal function from 25% to at least 60% of adult renal function within the first post-natal week. This should lead to a natural and steady decline in the SCr from birth to discharge. Neonatal AKI may be defined as a rise in SCr of >0.3 mg/dL, a peak in SCr ≥1.5 mg/dL and/or a “nadir” SCr at discharge ≥0.5 mg/dL. Importantly, infants born preterm and/or small for gestational age are more vulnerable to nAKI. Diagnosis, early medical intervention and longterm follow-up are essential for these individuals to avert the likely progression to chronic kidney disease including hypertension and cardiorenal disease with shortened longevity