A case of perforated Meckel's diverticulitis tethered to the umbilicus associated with a urachal remnant.

Meckel's diverticulum (MD) occurs in 2% of the population and is often asymptomatic. It is an embryological remnant of the oomphalomesenteric duct and can be associated with another embryonic structure-the urachus. A 23-year-old male presented with generalized abdominal pain and fever on a background of chronic abdominal pain and recurrent urinary infections. A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis revealed an inflamed MD. Next day, the patient deteriorated and was taken to theatre. The MD was found to be both perforated and tethered to the umbilicus, which itself was directly related to an abnormal extra-peritoneal structure-shown to be a urachal remnant. Such cases pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Young males with chronic abdominal pain and recurrent urinary infections should be thoroughly investigated for such pathology. Laparoscopic approach to such cases should be undertaken with caution due to possible umbilical tethering

Buried Versus Exposed Kirschner Wires Following Fixation of Hand Fractures: l Clinician and Patient Surveys

Background: Fractures of the metacarpals and phalanges are common. Placement of Kirschner wires (K-wires) is the most common form of surgical fixation. After placement, a key decision is whether to bury the end of a K-wire or leave it protruding from the skin (exposed). A recent systematic review found no evidence to support either approach. The aim of study was to investigate current clinical practice, understand the key factors influencing clinician decision-making, and explore patient preferences to inform the design of a randomized clinical trial. Methods: The steering group developed surveys for hand surgeons, hand therapists, and patients. Following piloting, they were distributed across the United Kingdom hand surgery units using the Reconstructive Surgery Trials Network. Results: A total of 423 hand surgeons, 187 hand therapists, and 187 patients completed the surveys. Plastic surgeons and junior surgical trainees preferred to leave K-wires not buried. Ease of removal correlated with a decision to leave wires exposed, whereas perceived risk of infection correlated with burying wires. Cost did not affect the decision. Hand therapists were primarily concerned about infection and patient-related outcomes. Patients were most concerned about wire-related problems and pain. Conclusion: This national survey provides a new understanding of the use of K-wires to manage hand fractures in the United Kingdom. A number of nonevidence-based factors seem to influence the decision to bury or leave K-wires exposed. The choice has important clinical and health economic implications that justify a randomized controlled trial

Food-specific response inhibition, dietary restraint and snack intake in lean and overweight/obese adults: a moderated-mediation model

Background/Objectives: The relationship between response inhibition and obesity is currently unclear. This may be because of inconsistencies in methodology, design limitations and the use of narrow samples. In addition, dietary restraint has not been considered, yet restraint has been reported to moderate performance on behavioural tasks of response inhibition. The aim of this study was to investigate performance on both a food-based and a neutral stimuli go/no-go task, which addresses current design limitations, in lean and overweight/obese adults. The moderating role of dietary restraint in the relationship between body composition, response inhibition and snack intake was also measured. Subjects/methods: Lean and overweight/obese, males and females (N=116) completed both a food-based and neutral category control go/no-go task, in a fully counterbalanced repeated-measures design. A bogus taste-test was then completed, followed by a self-report measure of dietary restraint. Results: PROCESS moderated-mediation analysis showed that overweight/obese, compared to lean, participants made more errors on the food-based (but not the neutral) go/no-go task, but only when they were low in dietary restraint. Performance on the food-based go/no-go task predicted snack intake across the sample. Increased intake in the overweight, low restrainers was fully mediated by increased errors on the food-based (but not the neutral) go/no-go task.Conclusions: Distinguishing between high and low restrained eaters in the overweight/obese population is crucial in future obesity research incorporating food-based go/no-go tasks. Poor response inhibition to food cues predicts overeating across weight groups, suggesting weight loss interventions and obesity prevention programmes should target behavioural inhibition training in such individuals

EVALUATION OF SHORT-RUN MARKET PERFORMANCE AND ITS DETERMINANTS USING BINARY MODELS: EVIDENCE FROM AUSTRALIAN IPOS

To determine whether Australian initial public offerings (IPOs) underprice in the short run, and to identify their determinants, this study investigated the short-run market performance of 254 IPOs listed during 2006 to 2011 by industry and year (listing and issue). To measure their short-run performance, the first listing day returns were divided into the primary market, the secondary market, and the total market. The investigation was then extended to a post-day listing analysis that included returns of up to nine trading days. To identify the determinants of short-run market performance, this study estimated binary regression models with offer, firm and market characteristics. Marginal probability analysis was also carried out to estimate the associated probability of each determinant that indicated a directional change in market performance. The study found that, overall, the Australian IPOs underpriced by 25.47% and 23.11% based on the market-adjusted average abnormal return (AAR) in the primary and total market respectively. However, the secondary market analysis indicated that the Australian IPOs overpriced by 1.55% based on the AAR. The examination of post-listing returns showed that the Australian IPOs underpriced based on the average cumulative abnormal return (CAR), and this signals that investors’ wealth can be diluted in the long run. The overall results varied by industry and year. The IPO period, time to listing, LISDs, total net proceeds ratio and market volatility were the main determinants for the observed short-run performance. Marginal probability analysis also indicated that the market volatility and total net proceeds ratio had a significant effect on the directional changes of the short-run performance. The findings support Rock’s hypothesis and the uncertainty hypothesis. Keywords: Australian IPOs, underpricing, binary models, marginal probability analysisFor full Paper: [email protected]

EXPORT SUPPLY RESPONSE OF THE AUSTRALIAN CITRUS INDUSTRY

A model of export supply response of the Australian citrus industry is developed and estimated using cointegration and error correction techniques and quarterly data for the period 1983 to 1993. The estimates suggest that, even in the long run, the supply of citrus exports is inelastic with respect to relative price. The results also show that the adjustment of export supply to changes in relative price is not instantaneous, the domestic production capacity has a significant positive impact on export supply, and export supply in the June quarter in each year is significantly lower than in other quarters

Is there a relationship between international trade and international travel?

This paper investigates, for the first time, whether there is a relationship between international trade and international travel flows using time series econometric techniques. Using data for Australia and four important travel and trading partners, the USA, the UK, NZ and Japan, the paper tests three specific hypotheses: that business travel leads to international trade; that international trade leads to international travel; and that international travel, other than business travel, leads to international trade. Using cointegration and Granger-causality approaches the paper finds support for prior beliefs that there is a relationship between international travel and international trade, and suggests that this may be a fruitful area for further research.