Elevating Residency Match Success: The Potential Impact of a Home Program on the Surgical Match Rate.

INTRODUCTION: Home residency programs can provide medical students with opportunities for networking, mentorship, research, and exposure to surgeries. The goal of this project was to understand the potential impact of home surgical residencies on student match rates into specific surgical specialties. METHODS: This 5-year retrospective study (2019-2023) analyzed 12,916 matched applicants from 155 United States MD programs through publicly available match lists. Odds ratios (ORs) were used to determine the likelihood of students from institutions with home surgical residency programs (home programs) matching into desired surgical specialties compared to students from institutions without home programs. Additional variables included the Alpha Omega Alpha and the Gold Humanism Honor Society statuses of the medical school, the number of faculty, and the type of residency program. RESULTS: Of the matched applicants, 11,442 had home programs resulting in a 39.1% match rate into surgical specialties compared to a 22.3% match rate for students without a home program (OR: 1.76) (P < 0.001). Of the applicants with a home program compared to those without a home program, 69.2% matched into an academic residency (OR: 1.06), 7.7% matched into a community residency (OR: 0.90), 13.6% matched into a combined residency (OR: 0.95), and 2.5% matched into a military residency (OR: 1.31). CONCLUSIONS: Medical students graduating from institutions with home programs were 1.76 times more likely to match into a surgical residency program compared to those graduating from institutions without a home program. Future studies should look at how access to certain resources may influence a student's match rate.

Chitosan functionalized doxorubicin loaded poly(methacrylamide) based copolymeric nanoparticles for enhanced cellular internalization and in vitro anticancer evaluation.

Doxorubicin (Dox), a chemotherapeutic agent, encounters challenges such as a short half-life, dose-dependent toxicity, and low solubility. In this context, the present study involved the fabrication of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) and N-(3-aminopropyl)methacrylamide (APMA) bearing P(HPMA-s-APMA) copolymeric nanoparticles (P(HPMA-s-APMA) NPs) and their investigation for efficient delivery of Dox. Furthermore, the synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) were coated with chitosan (Cht) to generate positively charged nanoformulations. The prepared formulations were evaluated for particle size, morphology, surface charge analysis, percentage encapsulation efficiency (EE%), and drug release studies. The anticancer activity of Cht-P(HPMA-s-APMA)-Dox NPs was assessed in the HeLa cancer cell line. The prepared P(HPMA-s-APMA)-Dox NPs exhibited an average particle size of 240-250 nm. Chitosan decorated P(HPMA-s-APMA)-Dox NPs displayed a significant increase in particle size, and the zeta potential shifted from negative to positive. The EE% for Cht-P(HPMA-s-APMA)-Dox NPs was calculated to be 68.06 %. The drug release studies revealed a rapid release of drug from Cht-P(HPMA-s-APMA)-Dox NPs at pH 4.8 than pH 7.4, demonstrating the pH-responsiveness of nanoformulation. Furthermore, the cell viability assay and internalization studies revealed that Cht-P(HPMA-s-APMA)-Dox NPs had a high cytotoxic response and significant cellular uptake. Hence, the Cht-P(HPMA-s-APMA)-Dox NPs appeared to be a suitable nanocarrier for effective, and safe chemotherapy.

What Should I Use? Impact of Adhesion Barriers on Postoperative Abdominal Complications: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Adhesions are a feared complication of abdominal surgery. There have been many new adhesion barriers developed and tested; however, there is no recent systematic review analyzing all the published literature. To address this, we aimed to analyze the different types of adhesion barriers, and determine their effects on postoperative outcomes in patients. METHODS: A total of 14,038 articles utilizing adhesion barriers in abdominal surgery were retrieved from the PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus databases. Inclusion criteria were: patients undergoing abdominal surgery, patients receiving an adhesion barrier, and reported postoperative outcomes. Two reviewers independently screened titles/abstracts and full-text articles using Covidence. The ROBINS-I tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Study protocol: Prospero CRD42023458230. RESULTS: A total of 20 studies, with no overall high risk of bias, with 171,792 patients were included. Most studies showed an equivocal benefit for adhesion barriers, with no singular adhesion barrier type that had definitive superior outcomes compared to the others. Bioresorbable barriers emerged as the most extensively researched adhesion barrier type, exhibiting promising results in colorectal surgery. Starch-based adhesion barriers also exhibited a reduction in overall postoperative bowel obstructions and may be beneficial for stoma sites and port closures. On the other hand, many studies raised concerns regarding complications, including risk of abscess formation, fistula development, peritonitis, and anastomotic leakage. CONCLUSIONS: Adhesion barriers should be considered on a case-by-case basis, however, they should not be utilized prophylactically in all abdominal surgeries due to their risk of complications.

The Effectiveness of Patient Education on Laparoscopic Surgery Postoperative Outcomes to Determine Whether Direct Coaching Is the Best Approach: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: As of 2022, patient adherence to postoperative guidelines can reduce the risk of complications by up to 52.4% following laparoscopic abdominal surgery. With the availability of various preoperative education interventions (POEIs), understanding which POEI results in improvement in patient outcomes across the procedures is imperative. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine which POEI could be the most effective on patient outcomes by systematically reviewing all the POEIs reported in the literature. METHODS: In total, 4753 articles investigating various POEIs (eg, videos, presentations, mobile apps, and one-on-one education or coaching) were collected from the PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases. Inclusion criteria were adult patients undergoing abdominal laparoscopic surgery, randomized controlled trials, and studies that provided postoperative outcomes. Exclusion criteria included studies not published in English and with no outcomes reported. Title and abstract and full-text articles with POEI randomized controlled studies were screened based on the above criteria through a blinded, dual review using Covidence (Veritas Health Innovation). Study quality was assessed through the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. The included articles were analyzed for educational content, intervention timing, intervention type, and postoperative outcomes appropriate for a particular surgery. RESULTS: Only 17 studies matched our criteria, with 1831 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, bariatric surgery (gastric bypass and gastric sleeve), and colectomy. In total, 15 studies reported a statistically significant improvement in at least 1 patient postoperative outcome. None of these studies were found to have an overall high risk of bias according to Cochrane standards. In total, 41% (7/17) of the included studies using direct individual education improved outcomes in almost all surgery types, while educational videos had the greatest statistically significant impact for anxiety, nausea, and pain postoperatively (P<.01). Direct group education demonstrated significant improvement in weight, BMI, exercise, and depressive symptoms in 33% (2/6) of the laparoscopic gastric bypass studies. CONCLUSIONS: Direct education (individual or group based) positively impacts postoperative laparoscopic surgery outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42023438698; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=438698.

Otological Assessment in Head Injury Patients: A Prospective Study and Review of Literature.

Head injuries constitute a tragic problem invariably in under-developed, developed and developing countries. The concomitant otological injuries often go unnoticed. The purpose of this study was to assess the various otological manifestations following head injuries. Prospective study with review of literature using PubMed database was done. All the patients were evaluated for their presenting symptoms and signs. Audiological investigations including PTA (Pure tone audiometry), OAE (Otoacoustic emission), Impedance-Audiometry and BERA were done. HRCT temporal bone was advised in cases of suspicion. Relevant literature was reviewed to calculate the pooled prevalence rates. Random-effects model to synthesize overall effects was used. Heterogeneity was evaluated with the I2 statistic. Of 53 patients enrolled in the study, RTA was the most common mode of injury. The audiometric findings showed SNHL, CHL and mixed HL in 34, 20 and 18% of patients respectively. HRCT showed Longitudinal fracture (n = 17; 53.12%); isolated mastoid bone fracture (n = 9; 28.12%), transverse (n = 3; 9.37%) and isolated EAC fracture in (n = 3; 9.37%) patients. The pooled prevalence (n = 1106 patients) of SNHL, CHL, Mixed HL and Normal hearing were-35% (95%CI, 18-55%; I2 = 95.20%; P < 0.00), 24% (95%CI, 16-33%; I2 = 80.01%; P < 0.00), 15%(95%CI, 9-23%; I2 = 79.64%; P < 0.00) and 30% (95%CI, 3-66%; I2 = 98.71%; P < 0.00) respectively. The pooled prevalence (n = 4191 patients) of longitudinal, Transverse, mixed and other fractures were-44% (95%CI, 3-66%;I2 = 99.48%; P < 0.00), 9% (95% CI, 4-16%; I2 = 95.95%; P < 0.00), 4% (95%CI, 1-8%; I2 = 94.13%; P < 0.00) and 1% (95%CI, 0-4%; I2 = 90.37%; P < 0.00) respectively. In patients with head injury coordination between the trauma-surgeon, neurosurgeon and otologist is must to improve the long-term outcomes.

Enhanced Detection of Major Pathogens and Toxins in Poultry and Livestock With Zoonotic Risks Using Nanomaterials-Based Diagnostics.

Nanotechnology has gained prominence over the recent years in multiple research and application fields, including infectious diseases in healthcare, agriculture, and veterinary science. It remains an attractive and viable option for preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases in animals and humans. The apparent efficiency of nanomaterials is due to their unique physicochemical properties and biocompatibility. With the persistence of pathogens and toxins in the poultry and livestock industries, rapid diagnostic tools are of utmost importance. Though there are many promising nanomaterials-based diagnostic tests specific to animal disease-causing agents, many have not achieved balanced sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility, and cost-effectiveness. This mini-review explores several types of nanomaterials, which provided enhancement on the sensitivity and specificity of recently reported diagnostic tools related to animal diseases. Recommendations are also provided to facilitate more targeted animal populations into the development of future diagnostic tools specifically for emerging and re-emerging animal diseases posing zoonotic risks.

Outcome and Pitfalls of Open Rhinoplasty.

The goal of rhinoplasty is to improve the nose aesthetically as well as functionally. Surgical access to the nose can be gained via close rhinoplasty, open rhinoplasty) or a combination of the two. To assess various types of nasal deformities, aesthetic results of open rhinoplasty and pitfalls of open rhinoplasty in patients planned for surgery. This prospective longitudinal study was done in the Department of ENT GMC Jammu between November 2015 and October 2016. This included patients with nasal deformities willing for corrective surgery, above 18 years of age. Postoperative aesthetic parameters were measured to evaluate the aesthetic outcomes on the 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months. Post-operative complications were noted. 20 patients were admitted for open septorhinoplasty; crooked nose was the most common deformity found in 55% of the patients. Nasal trauma (50%) was most common cause of external nasal deformity. Autologous septal cartilage was used in 85% patients while autologous auricular cartilage was used in 15% patients. Eyelid edema was the most common complication seen. In this study according to the patient follow up self-evaluations, 65% patients were partially satisfied and 35% patients are satisfied with the aesthetic results. Additional procedures are required along with rhinoplasty for better results of surgery. Open rhinoplasty is better cosmetic surgery for the correction of nasal framework defects and post-operative complications are quite low with the open rhinoplasty.