Common peroneal nerve palsy after liver transplantation

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Getting children to do more academic work: Foot-in-the-Door versus Door-in-the-Face

In this study we explored whether compliance-without-pressure techniques, known to encourage adults to behave more altruistically, can be used to encourage children to do more academic work. Using three different approaches - Foot-in-the-Door, Door-in-the-Face, and Single-Request - we asked 60 6- to 8-year-old Hong Kong Chinese children to complete a 20-item arithmetic worksheet. The Door-in-the-Face technique was the most effective, eliciting the highest percentage of children who agreed to do the target task, requiring the least adult input to sustain engagement in the task, and producing the greatest amount of accurate work. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.postprin

The role of endoscopic ultrasonography in the management of cystic lesions of the pancreas

Objective. To review the role of endoscopic ultrasonography in the management of cystic lesions of the pancreas. Data sources. MEDLINE literature search (1998-2003). Study selection. Key words for the literature search were 'endoscopic ultrasonography', 'pancreas', 'pseudocyst', and 'cystic tumor'. Data extraction. All relevant studies were reviewed. Data synthesis. In the management of cystic lesions of the pancreas, endoscopic ultrasonography appears to be superior to percutaneous ultrasonography, computed tomography, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, because it can achieve detailed imaging of both the pancreatic parenchymal tissue and the ductal anatomy simultaneously with a high-frequency ultrasound examination at a close proximity. Endoscopic ultrasonography can differentiate benign pseudocysts or benign cystic lesions from malignant neoplasms of the pancreas; the distinction is crucial in the surgical treatment of the patients. The diagnostic accuracy can be further enhanced with endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration of the cystic fluid to detect tumour markers and cytological examination. Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided aspiration with or without endoscopic cystogastrostomy or cystoduodenostomy has become the treatment of choice for patients with pancreatic pseudocysts. The procedure is associated with decreased morbidity and mortality when compared with open surgery. Conclusion. Endoscopic ultrasonography appears to be a useful tool in the management of cystic lesions of the pancreas.published_or_final_versio

Carriers in Cell-Based Therapies for Neurological Disorders

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Technical considerations for ligation of ruptured hepatic artery aneurysm: is arterial reconstruction necessary?

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Little girl who conquered the 'ALPPS'

© 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved. An insufficient future liver remnant (FLR) is associated with post-hepatectomy liver failure. Associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for stage hepatectomy (ALPPS) has been shown to be effective for the induction of rapid FLR hypertrophy so as to improve the resectability in patients with insufficient FLR. We hereby report our experience of this novel approach for a 6-year-old patient with hepatoblastoma. Computed tomography showed a hepatoblastoma measuring 12.5 cm x 9.9 cm x 11.7 cm in the right liver (Couinaud segment IV, V and VIII). Volumetric assessment of the FLR i.e., left lateral section was 112.6 mL i.e., 21.2% of the estimated total liver volume. In view of the small-for-size FLR, ALPPS was contemplated. An anterior approach was adopted for the in-situ parenchymal split without mobilisation of the right liver. FLR volumetry on the seventh postoperative day was 160.7 mL, which represented a 46.1% gain in volume, and a FLR/ESLV ratio of 30.2%. A right trisectionectomy was performed on the eighth postoperative day. Postoperative recovery was uneventful. Patient was discharged on day 16 after the first operation. To our knowledge, this was the first report that showed the applicability of ALPPS to a paediatric patient.published_or_final_versio

Sustained Delivery of Bioactive GDNF from Collagen and Alginate-Based Cell-Encapsulating Gel Promoted Photoreceptor Survival in an Inherited Retinal Degeneration Model

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Resection of T4 hepatocellular carcinomas with adjacent structures, is it justified?

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Impact of split completeness on future liver remnant hypertrophy in associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) in hepatocellular carcinoma: Complete-ALPPS versus partial-ALPPS

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Detection and characterisation of β-globin gene cluster deletions in Chinese using multiplex ligationdependent probe amplification

Background: Deletions in the β-globin cluster causing thalassaemia and hereditary persistence of fetal haemoglobin (HPFH) are uncommon and difficult to detect. Data in Chinese are very scarce. Aims: To use a recently available technique to investigate the frequencies and nature of β-globin cluster deletions in Chinese. Methods: 106 subjects with phenotypes of thalassaemia or HPFH and suspected to have deletions in the β-globin cluster were studied. A commercially available kit employing multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was used to screen for deletions. Gap PCR and direct nucleotide sequencing were used to characterise deletions detected. Results: 17 deletions in the β-globin cluster were found in 17 patients: 8 of Chinese (Aγδβ)0 thalassaemia, 7 of Southeast Asian (Vietnamese) deletion and 2 of Thai (Aγδβ) 0 thalassaemia. The only type of deletion detected in δβ-thalassaemia was Chinese (Aγδβ) 0 thalassaemia. The deletional form of HPFH was rarely seen in only 1 case of Thai (Aγδβ)0 thalassaemia. Deletions presenting as β-thalassaemia trait and raised HbF were all of the Southeast Asian (Vietnamese) deletion type. When these deletions were co-inherited with classical β-thalassaemia mutations in compound heterozygous states, the phenotypes could be very variable. Conclusions: In the Chinese population, there are only relatively few types of deletions seen in the β-globin cluster. MLPA is a fast and effective way of screening for these deletions. Characterisation of these deletions allows the development of simpler and more specific PCR-based tests for routine diagnostic use. Accurate prediction of phenotype is not always feasible. The molecular defects in many cases of HPFH still await discovery.published_or_final_versio