Predictors of Manuscript Publication: A Review of Obstetrics and Gynecology Society Meeting Abstracts.

OBJECTIVE: The authors attempted to understand the manuscript publication rate and predictors of publication of abstracts presented at obstetrical and gynecologic society meetings. METHODS: In 2013, the authors obtained the text of all 2005 abstracts presented at a major generalist- and fellowship-associated society meetings. In this cross-sectional study, a search was completed for publication and identified possible predictors. RESULTS: The authors examined 1405 abstracts; the overall full-text publication rate was 54% (755/1405 publications) and the mean (SD) time to publication was 25.6 (20.8) months. Variables associated with publication in multivariable analysis included number of abstract authors (odds ratio [OR], 1.7; confidence interval [CI], 1.0-1.2), first authorship in American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists district IV (OR, 1.7; CI, 0.9-3.1), prospective design (OR, 1.7; CI, 0.9-3.1), multicenter design (OR, 2.5; CI, 1.3-4.9), and oral presentation (OR, 3.2; CI, 1.4-7.3). Abstracts from specialty meetings were more likely to have these characteristics and, thus, higher publication rates. CONCLUSIONS: This study can guide project development for young researchers by informing them of key study design features associated with manuscript publication.

The effect of an air knot on surgical knot integrity.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical trainees may tie air knots, which have a questionable tensile strength and rate of untying. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an air knot on knot integrity. METHODS: The 5 suture materials tested were 0-0 gauge coated polyethylene, polyglyconate, glycolide/lactide, polypropylene, and silk. The suture was tied between 2 hex screws 50 mm on center. The strands were tied using 5 square throws, and the knot tails were cut at 3-mm length. To create a standardized air knot, a round common nail measuring 3 mm in diameter was inserted between throws before tying square throw #3. The suture loop was positioned around the upper and lower hooks of the tensiometer so the location of the knot was roughly equidistant from the hooks. Ultimately, either the loop broke or the knot slipped. At that time, the peak tensile force as well as the outcome of the knot were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 480 knots were tied. The presence of an air knot significantly lowered the tension at knot failure in the glycolide/lactide (P = 0.0003), polypropylene (P = 0.0005), and silk (P = 0.0001) knot configurations. Air knots had the same integrity as surgical knots when coated polyethylene and polyglyconate suture were used. Linear regression was performed and identified both suture material (P < 0.0001) and presence of an air knot (P < 0.0001) to be independently associated with a lower tension at failure. CONCLUSIONS: Under laboratory conditions, an air knot may contribute to a lower tensile strength at failure for certain suture materials.

The fate of abstracts presented at annual meetings of the american urogynecologic society from 2007 to 2008.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the publication rate of full-text articles after the presentation of abstracts at consecutive annual meetings of the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) over a 2-year period. METHODS: Using abstract books published by the Journal of Pelvic Medicine and Surgery, we obtained the text of all abstracts presented at the 2007 and 2008 AUGS annual meetings. A literature search was performed in the US National Library of Medicine to identify the peer-reviewed publications arising from each of those abstracts and to calculate the full-text publication rate and the mean duration from presentation to publication. RESULTS: The overall full-text publication rate was 56% (239/438 publications). The mean time from presentation to publication was 15.7 months. The published articles appeared in 49 peer-reviewed journals, with notable distribution in the International Urogynecology Journal (27%), American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (26%), and Obstetrics and Gynecology (10%). Oral presentations (85%) were more likely than posters (71%) to have first authors with university affiliations (P = 0.002). The greater the number of abstract authors, the more likely that the article was to be published (P = 0.0059). The odds of an oral presentation being published were 7 times the odds of a poster being published (odds ratio, 6.99; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Because not all presentations are published, it is questionable whether it is acceptable to cite AUGS abstracts that have not passed a journal's peer review process and to implement their results in clinical practice.