65 research outputs found
Blunt cerebrovascular trauma causing vertebral arteryd issection in combination with a laryngeal fracture: a case report
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The diagnosis and therapy of blunt cerebrovascular injuries has become a focus since improved imaging technology allows adequate description of the injury. Although it represents a rare injury the long-term complications can be fatal but mostly prevented by adequate treatment.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 33-year-old Caucasian man fell down a 7-meter scarp after losing control of his quad bike in a remote area. Since endotracheal intubation was unsuccessfully attempted due to the severe cervical swelling as well as oral bleeding an emergency tracheotomy was performed on scene. He was hemodynamically unstable despite fluid resuscitation and intravenous therapy with vasopressors and was transported by a helicopter to our trauma center. He had a stable fracture of the arch of the seventh cervical vertebra and fractures of the transverse processes of C5-C7 with involvement of the lateral wall of the transverse foramen. An abort of the left vertebral artery signal at the first thoracic vertebrae with massive hemorrhage as well as a laryngeal fracture was also detected. Further imaging showed retrograde filling of the left vertebral artery at C5 distal of the described abort. After stabilization and reconfirmation of intracranial perfusion during the clinical course weaning was started. At the time of discharge, he was aware and was able to move all extremities.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We report a rare case of a patient with vertebral artery dissection in combination with a laryngeal fracture after blunt trauma. Thorough diagnostic and frequent reassessments are recommended. Most patients can be managed with conservative treatment.</p
Rapid Plant Identification Using Species- and Group-Specific Primers Targeting Chloroplast DNA
Plant identification is challenging when no morphologically assignable parts are available. There is a lack of broadly applicable methods for identifying plants in this situation, for example when roots grow in mixture and for decayed or semi-digested plant material. These difficulties have also impeded the progress made in ecological disciplines such as soil- and trophic ecology. Here, a PCR-based approach is presented which allows identifying a variety of plant taxa commonly occurring in Central European agricultural land. Based on the trnT-F cpDNA region, PCR assays were developed to identify two plant families (Poaceae and Apiaceae), the genera Trifolium and Plantago, and nine plant species: Achillea millefolium, Fagopyrum esculentum, Lolium perenne, Lupinus angustifolius, Phaseolus coccineus, Sinapis alba, Taraxacum officinale, Triticum aestivum, and Zea mays. These assays allowed identification of plants based on size-specific amplicons ranging from 116 bp to 381 bp. Their specificity and sensitivity was consistently high, enabling the detection of small amounts of plant DNA, for example, in decaying plant material and in the intestine or faeces of herbivores. To increase the efficacy of identifying plant species from large number of samples, specific primers were combined in multiplex PCRs, allowing screening for multiple species within a single reaction. The molecular assays outlined here will be applicable manifold, such as for root- and leaf litter identification, botanical trace evidence, and the analysis of herbivory
Volume and outcomes relationship in laparoscopic diaphragmatic hernia repair
BackgroundThere is no published data regarding the relationship between hospital volume and outcomes in patients undergoing laparoscopic diaphragmatic hernia repair. We hypothesize that hospitals performing high case volume have improved outcomes compared to low-volume hospitals.Materials and methodsWe reviewed the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database between 2008 and 2012 for adults with the diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia who underwent elective laparoscopic repair of diaphragmatic Hernia and/or Nissen fundoplication. Pediatric, emergent, and open cases were excluded. Main outcome measures included logistic regression analysis of factors predictive of in-hospital mortality and outcomes according to annual hospital case volume.ResultsA total of 31,228 laparoscopic diaphragmatic hernia operations were analyzed. The overall in-hospital mortality was 0.14%. Risk factors for higher in-hospital mortality included renal failure (AOR: 6.26; 95% CI: 2.48-15.78; pâ<â0.001), age>60 years (AOR: 5.06; 95% CI: 2.38-10.76; pâ<â0.001), and CHF (AOR: 3.80; 95% CI: 1.39-10.38; pâ=â0.009) while an incremental increase in volume of 10 cases/year (AOR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.81-0.98; pâ=â0.019) and diabetes (AOR: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.12-0.93; pâ=â0.036) decreases mortality. There was a small but significant inverse relationship between hospital case volume and mortality with a 10% reduction in adjusted odds of in-hospital mortality for every increase in 10 cases per year. Using 10 cases per year as the volume threshold, low-volume hospitals (â€10 cases/year) had almost a twofold higher mortality compared to high-volume hospitals (0.23 vs. 0.12%, respectively, pâ=â0.02).ConclusionsThere was a small but significant inverse relationship between the hospitals' case volume and mortality in laparoscopic diaphragmatic hernia repair
Enhanced recovery program implementation: an evidence-based review of the art and the science
© 2019, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. Background: The benefits of enhanced recovery program (ERP) implementation include patient engagement, improved patient outcomes and satisfaction, better team relationships, lower per episode costs of care, lower public consumption of narcotic prescription pills, and the promise of greater access to quality surgical care. Despite these positive attributes, vast numbers of surgical patients are not treated on ERPs, and many of those considered âon pathwayâ are unlikely to be exposed to a majority of recommended ERP elements. Methods: To explain the gap between ERP knowledge and action, this manuscript reviewed formal implementation strategies, proposed a novel change adoption model and focused on common barriers (and corollary solutions) that are encountered during the journey to a fully implemented and successful ERP. Given the nature of this review, IRB approval was not required/obtained. Results: The information reviewed indicates that implementation of best practice is both a science and an art. What many surgeons have learned is that the âsoftâ skills of emotional intelligence, leadership, team dynamics, culture, buy-in, motivation, and sustainability are central to a successful ERP implementation. Conclusions: To lead teams toward achievement of pervasive and sustained adherence to best practices, surgeons need to learn new strategies, techniques, and skills
Quantitative Bioluminometric Method for DNA-Based Species/Varietal Identification in Food Authenticity Assessment
A method is reported for species quantification by exploiting
single-nucleotide
polymorphisms (SNPs). These single-base changes in DNA are particularly
useful because they enable discrimination of closely related species
and/or varieties. As a model, quantitative authentication studies
were performed on coffee. These involved the determination of the
percentage of Arabica and Robusta species based on a SNP in the chloroplastic
trnLÂ(UAA)-trnFÂ(GAA) intraspacer region. Following polymerase chain
reaction (PCR), the Robusta-specific and Arabica-specific fragments
were subjected to 15 min extension reactions by DNA polymerase using
species-specific primers carrying oligoÂ(dA) tags. Biotin was incorporated
into the extended strands. The products were captured in streptavidin-coated
microtiter wells and quantified by using oligoÂ(dT)-conjugated photoprotein
aequorin. Aequorin was measured within 3 s via its characteristic
flash-type bioluminescent reaction that was triggered by the addition
of Ca<sup>2+</sup>. Because of the close resemblance between the two
DNA fragments, during PCR one species serves as an internal standard
for the other. The percentage of the total luminescence signal obtained
from a certain species was linearly related to the percent content
of the sample with respect to this species. The method is accurate
and reproducible. The microtiter well-based assay configuration allows
high sample throughput and facilitates greatly the automation
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