The Journal of surgical research
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Comparative Study
A Comparative Multimetric Assessment of English and Spanish Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Materials.
Spanish-speaking Hispanics living in the United States utilize the internet as a primary means to obtain health information. Accurate, accessible information is important for English speakers; however, it could have even greater utility for Spanish speakers who have lower health literacy levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare online English and Spanish carpal tunnel surgery materials provided by using a multimetric approach. ⋯ Online patient-directed information regarding carpal tunnel surgery exceeded the recommended reading grade level for both English and Spanish-speaking populations. Most Spanish materials were often direct translations and were not contoured to the elevated literacy needs of this demographic. Institutions must caution their authors to tailor their web material in a way that is sensitive to their target population to optimize understanding.
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No standard dehydration monitor exists for children. This study attempts to determine the utility of Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of a peripheral venous pressure (PVP) waveform to predict dehydration. ⋯ FFT of PVP waveforms can predict dehydration in hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. Further work is needed to determine the utility of PVP analysis to guide fluid resuscitation status in other pediatric populations.
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Conventional laparoscopic and open distal gastrectomy procedures have inherent limitations such as restricted movement of straight forceps and tremor of the tip of the devices that can potentially be overcome using robotic distal gastrectomy (RDG). This single-institutional phase II trial aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of RDG with lymph node dissection for clinical stage IA gastric cancer. ⋯ This trial confirmed the safety of RDG with limitation by the restriction of dedicated surgeons. A phase III trial to confirm the superiority of RDG to conventional laparoscopic distal gastrectomy is warranted.
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Trauma recidivism accounts for approximately 44% of emergency department admissions and remains a significant health burden with this patient cohort carrying higher rates of morbidity and mortality. ⋯ The burden of injury after violent trauma extends past discharge as patients have significantly higher mortality rates following hospital release. Over one-quarter present with a second unrelated trauma or death. Improved medical, psychological, and social collaborative treatment of these high-risk patients is needed to interrupt the cycle of violent injury.
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Comparative Study
Radiation With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Does Not Improve Outcomes in Esophageal Squamous Cell Cancer.
Neoadjuvant treatment improves survival for patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Recent evidence suggests that neoadjuvant chemoradiation offers no advantage over chemotherapy alone before surgical resection for adenocarcinoma histology. We sought to examine if this applies to patients with squamous cell histology. ⋯ For patients undergoing neoadjuvant treatment before planned surgical resection of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, the addition of radiation to neoadjuvant chemotherapy did not improve long-term survival and did not appear to impact short-term outcomes postoperatively. Further study with a randomized phase III trial is needed.