Should we glue lip lacerations in children?
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Jason Smith.
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We here describe a new strategy for the delivery of oligonucleotides to cells that is based on the use of a short peptide containing three functional units: a membrane-penetrating segment, a DNA-binding domain and a cell-localization sequence. The designed vector binds strongly to oligonucleotides and has membrane-perturbing abilities in vitro. This type of multi-functional device may be a powerful tool to achieve efficient delivery of genetic drugs in vivo.
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OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To study the preliminary hearing results in patients receiving a hybrid hydroxylapatite/titanium bell partial ossicular replacement prosthesis (PORP) and compare these with a cohort of patients receiving a HAPEX PORP. We hypothesized that the design of the hybrid PORP would enhance its acoustic properties. In particular, the titanium bell, which allows the prosthesis to be freestanding, would obviate the need for Gelfoam, preventing fibrosis. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study was made of two cohorts of patients. METHODS: A computerized otologic database was used to identify all patients implanted with either PORP. The four-frequency (500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz) pure-tone average air-bone gap (PTA-ABG) and ABG values for individual frequencies were compared using the Student test. RESULTS: The PTA-ABG for the titanium bell prosthesis was 9.8 +/- 5.7 dB, compared with 13.2 +/- 8.3 dB for the HAPEX PORP, which was statistically significant ( P<.05). The average ABG values at 500 and 1000 Hz were also statistically significantly improved with the titanium bell PORP ( P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The titanium bell PORP showed improved postoperative results for the PTA-ABG and at 500 Hz and 1000 Hz. The prosthesis is freestanding and may provide better coupling with the capitulum, factors which may lead to improved hearing results in the lower frequencies.
OBJECTIVES: The present study was conducted to establish the current criteria for trauma team activation (TTA) in hospitals in the Metropolitan Sydney area, and examine the rationale behind their use. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken of the seven hospitals in the Metropolitan Sydney area designated to receive adult major trauma in March 2004. Trauma coordinators in each hospital provided the criteria used for adult TTA within their hospital. RESULTS: All seven hospitals replied with their TTA criteria and completed the survey. The results show a wide variation in those criteria used by hospitals to activate their trauma team. Universally used criteria included penetrating injury to the head, neck or torso, limb amputation, spinal cord injury and systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg. Physiological limits for TTA varied between hospitals, with different limits for pulse rate and GCS used in different hospitals. All hospitals used mechanism of injury criteria alone as an activation prompt. CONCLUSIONS: The criteria for TTA differ between hospitals within the same region. The criteria currently used will result in over-triage of trauma patients, but this might be of benefit in training the trauma team in centres that do not see a large volume of trauma patients. There are several advantages in standardization of criteria including optimization of patient care, training, research and audit. Further work is needed to validate existing criteria for use throughout the region.