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In this study, an innovative non-invasive glucose sensor made of nickel nanowire-decorated graphene-gated field-effect transistors is demonstrated. Due to the redox reaction between nickel nanowires and glucose molecules, electron exchange occurs when Ni(III) reacts with glucose to form Ni(II) and gluconolactone. Changes in electron concentration are amplified by transistors at the bottom, improving detection sensitivity. In this study, the electrical properties of glucose sensor fabricated from nickel nanowire/graphene/gold surfaces was studied. Since the CVD-grown graphene film has excellent electrical conductivity, the electrons generated by the redox reaction can be quickly and evenly dispersed. The results show that the glucose sensor with graphene film has good current stability, low detection limit and good linear relationship between current and concentration. The demonstrated nickel wire-decorated graphene-gated FET biosensor can be used for the quantification of glucose with a linear range of 10-50 mM and a detection limit of 51nM.

Background. Hallux valgus (HV) is a common forefoot disorder with hundreds of proposed management techniques. Distal chevron osteotomy with a modified McBride procedure has been traditionally recommended for mild-to-moderate HV because of its simple and less invasive nature with fewer complications, faster postoperative recovery, and reliable outcomes. In recent years, the indications for this procedure have expanded to include HV with severe deformities. This study aimed to directly compare the efficacy of this procedure for HV patients with moderate deformity with that in patients with the severe form of this disorder. Materials and Methods. A retrospective review of medical records identified 99 feet from 94 patients that were treated with distal chevron osteotomy with a modified McBride procedure. These feet were divided by the preoperative HV angle (HVA) and intermetatarsal angle (IMA) into the moderate (M, 64 feet) and severe groups (S, 35 feet). Baseline demographic data, preoperative and postoperative radiographic parameters were analyzed. Results. No significant differences in age, sex, body mass index, operation time, and duration of follow-up were observed between the two groups. Postoperative radiographic parameters significantly improved in both groups after treatment. Mean HVA and IMA normalized to p=0.24). Conclusion. Radiological outcomes suggested that distal chevron osteotomy with a modified McBride procedure was effective and reliable in managing severe HV deformity, despite the slightly higher recurrence rate in this form of HV. Complete reduction of the sesamoids should be further emphasized during the management of severe HV deformity.

Background and Objectives: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is one of the most performed surgeries worldwide. Procedure difficulty and patient outcomes depend on several factors which are not considered in the current literature, including the learning curve, generating confusing and subjective results. This study aims to create a scoring system to calculate the learning curve of LC based on hepatobiliopancreatic (HPB) experts’ opinions during an educational course. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was submitted to the panel of experts attending the HPB course at Research Institute against Digestive Cancer-IRCAD (Strasbourg, France) from 27–29 October 2022. Experts scored the proposed variables according to their degree of importance in the learning curve using a Likert scale from 1 (not useful) to 5 (very useful). Variables were included in the composite scoring system only if more than 75% of experts ranked its relevance in the learning curve assessment ≥4. A positive or negative value was assigned to each variable based on its effect on the learning curve. Results: Fifteen experts from six different countries attended the IRCAD HPB course and filled out the questionnaire. Ten variables were finally included in the learning curve scoring system (i.e., patient body weight/BMI, patient previous open surgery, emergency setting, increased inflammatory levels, presence of anatomical bile duct variation(s), and appropriate critical view of safety (CVS) identification), which were all assigned positive values. Minor or major intraoperative injuries to the biliary tract, development of postoperative complications related to biliary injuries, and mortality were assigned negative values. Conclusions: This is the first scoring system on the learning curve of LC based on variables selected through the experts’ opinions. Although the score needs to be validated through future studies, it could be a useful tool to assess its efficacy within educational programs and surgical courses.

This is a scoping review protocol created in preparation for a scoping review. The purpose of the scoping review is to map the current literature regarding allergic disease and sexual dysfunction.