329 research outputs found
Buttressing staples with cholecyst-derived extracellular matrix (CEM) reinforces staple lines in an ex vivo peristaltic inflation model
No full textThis is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below. Copyright @ Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2008Background - Staple line leakage and bleeding are the most common problems associated with the use of surgical staplers for gastrointestinal resection and anastomotic procedures. These complications can be reduced by reinforcing the staple lines with buttressing materials. The current study reports the potential use of cholecyst-derived extracellular matrix (CEM) in non-crosslinked (NCEM) and crosslinked (XCEM) forms, and compares their mechanical performance with clinically available buttress materials [small intestinal submucosa (SIS) and bovine pericardium (BP)] in an ex vivo small intestine model.
Methods - Three crosslinked CEM variants (XCEM0005, XCEM001, and XCEM0033) with different degree of crosslinking were produced. An ex vivo peristaltic inflation model was established. Porcine small intestine segments were stapled on one end, using buttressed or non-buttressed surgical staplers. The opened, non-stapled ends were connected to a peristaltic pump and pressure transducer and sealed. The staple lines were then exposed to increased intraluminal pressure in a peristaltic manner. Both the leak and burst pressures of the test specimens were recorded.
Results - The leak pressures observed for non-crosslinked NCEM (137.8 ± 22.3 mmHg), crosslinked XCEM0005 (109.1 ± 14.1 mmHg), XCEM001 (150.1 ± 16.0 mmHg), XCEM0033 (98.8 ± 10.5 mmHg) reinforced staple lines were significantly higher when compared to non-buttressed control (28.3 ± 10.8 mmHg) and SIS (one and four layers) (62.6 ± 11.8 and 57.6 ± 12.3 mmHg, respectively) buttressed staple lines. NCEM and XCEM were comparable to that observed for BP buttressed staple lines (138.8 ± 3.6 mmHg). Only specimens with reinforced staple lines were able to achieve high intraluminal pressures (ruptured at the intestinal mesentery), indicating that buttress reinforcements were able to withstand pressure higher than that of natural tissue (physiological failure).
Conclusions - These findings suggest that the use of CEM and XCEM as buttressing materials is associated with reinforced staple lines and increased leak pressures when compared to non-buttressed staple lines. CEM and XCEM were found to perform comparably with clinically available buttress materials in this ex vivo model.Enterprise Irelan
An investigation into two-digit number processing among Chinese children and adults
No full textpublished_or_final_versionPsychologyMasterMaster of Philosoph
Laser and Light Treatment of Acquired and Congenital Vascular Lesions
No full textCHAPTER SUMMARY • Lasers and light sources are the treatments of choice for a variety of congenital and acquired cutaneous vascular lesions. • Based on the principles of selective photothermolysis, laser lights induce photocoagulation of vessels by using wavelengths well absorbed by hemoglobin. • Appropriate pulse durations, equal to or shorter than the thermal relaxation time of the vessels, are chosen to confine the thermal damage. • Lights with longer wavelengths have increased optic penetration and are employed to target deeper dermal vessels. • Epidermal cooling techniques can protect against epidermal injury and improve treatment efficacy by allowing use of higher fluences. • Light-based treatments can be used effectively in the skin of color, but special caution should be made to prevent complications. • Fractional photothermolysis has a potential role in treating hypertrophic portwine stains and involuted hemangiomas. • Photodynamic therapy works by activation of photosensitizer by light sources and can be used to treat recalcitrant or nodular portwine stains. • Lesions treated with light sources include portwine stains, infantile hemangiomas, telangiectasia, facial erythema, poikiloderma, hypertrophic scars and leg veins
Postoperative care after lymphaticovenous anastomosis
No full textIn this report, we discuss the postoperative protocol for patients undergoing lymphaticove-nous anastomosis (LVA) in our unit. Immediately after LVA, the incision site is closed over a small Penrose drain and a simple gauze dressing is applied without compression. In the first 5 days, ambulation is allowed, but limb elevation is actively encouraged to promote lymphatic flow across the newly formed anastomosis. Prophylactic antibiotics are routinely given to prevent infection because this patient group is susceptible to infections, which could trigger thrombosis in the anastomosis
Psychological determinants of exercise behavior of nursing students
No full textBackground: Though expected to be role models in health promotion, research has shown that nursing students often have suboptimal exercise behavior. Aim: This study explored the psychological factors associated with the exercise behavior of nursing students. Methods/Design: A total of 195 first-year undergraduate nursing students completed a cross-sectional quantitative survey questionnaire, which included measures of their exercise behavior, the Physical Exercise Self-efficacy Scale, and the Exercise Barriers/Benefits Scale. Results/Findings: The results showed that male students spent more time exercising and had higher exercise self-efficacy compared with female students, but there were no gender differences in the perceived barriers to or benefits of exercise. Fatigue brought on by exercising was the greatest perceived barrier to exercise, whereas increasing physical fitness and mental health were the greatest perceived benefits of exercise. Multiple linear regression showed that gender, exercise self-efficacy, perceived barriers to exercise, and perceived benefits of exercise were independent predictors of exercise behavior. Conclusion: Nurse educators can endeavor to promote exercise behavior among nursing students by highlighting the specific benefits of exercise, empowering students to overcome their perceived barriers to exercise, and enhancing students' exercise self-efficacy.School of Nursin
The antagonistic interaction of cones in human eyes - a pilot study
No full text202101 bcrcVersion of RecordPublishedC
Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS): a retrospective analysis of 21 cases in a tertiary teaching hospital in Hong Kong.
No full textBACKGROUND: Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is an acute, distinct and severe idiosyncratic reaction with a mortality of 8% to 10%. Owing to the rarity of the syndrome, large-scale studies are limited. Important data including the pattern of etiological agents, clinical and biochemical features and prognosis are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the demographic data, clinical and biochemical characteristics, causative agents, treatment, and outcome of cases of DRESS in Hong Kong. METHODS: A single center retrospective study on 21 cases of DRESS from February 2007 to February 2011. Medical records, clinical photographs, and sequential laboratory data were reviewed. An attempt was made to identify any correlation among the clinical pattern and specific causative agents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical and biochemical pattern for specific drugs, treatment outcome and prognosis of DRESS. RESULTS: Age of onset ranged from 14 to 77. No sex predilection was observed. The most common offending drug was allopurinol (28.6%), followed by phenobarbitone and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Mean latency period was 21.6 days. Exanthematous eruption was the most common cutaneous manifestation. Fever, hepatitis and eosinophilia were present in all cases. Renal impairment was observed in 7 patients (33.3%). Allopurinol-induced DRESS was associated with a higher frequency of preexisting renal insufficiency (P = .02) and increased risk of renal involvement as part of the syndrome (P = .002). Lichenoid dermatitis was the most common histopathologic feature. Systemic corticosteroid was commenced in 15 cases (71.4%). The average initial dose was 54.6 mg/day (0.95 mg/kg/day). The mean duration of corticosteroid use was 33 weeks. Steroid-sparing agents were used in 7 cases. Two cases in the case series developed autoimmune thyroiditis and one case developed bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia on subsequent follow-ups. The overall mortality was 4.8%. Prolonged erythroderma were observed in 2 cases induced by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. CONCLUSION: DRESS is a form of severe cutaneous adverse reaction and associated with a variety of clinical and biochemical features. Allopurinol is a common causative agent of DRESS and its use in patients with pre-existing renal insufficiency should be cautiously monitored. Copyright © 2012 Published by Mosby, Inc
Effects of luminance combinations on the characteristics of the global flash multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG)
No full text2010-2011 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalAccepted ManuscriptRGCOthersRGC: PolyU 5415/06M||Others: GYF32, GU352, J-BB7P, J-BB76PublishedGreen (AAM
Effects of competition on students' self-efficacy in vicarious learning
No full textBackground. Vicarious learning is one of the fundamental sources of self-efficacy that is frequently employed in educational settings. However, little research has investigated the effects of competition on students' writing self-efficacy when they engage in vicarious learning. Aim. This study compared the effects of competitive and non-competitive classrooms on students' writing self-efficacy when they engaged in vicarious learning. Sample. The participants were 71 grade 7 students in Hong Kong. Method. Using prior writing performance for stratified random sampling, students were assigned either to a competitive or a non-competitive classroom. Students learned how to compose similes and metaphors in Chinese. Results. In the competitive classroom, students' self-efficacy decreased when they engaged in vicarious learning. In the non-competitive classroom, students' self-efficacy did not show a significant change when they engaged in vicarious learning. Conclusion. The findings suggested that when students engaged in vicarious learning in a competitive classroom, their self-efficacy might be threatened. Implications for efforts to design constructive context for vicarious learning are discussed. © 2008 The British Psychological Society.link_to_subscribed_fulltex
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