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Current surgical safety guidelines and checklists are generic and are not specifically tailored to address patient issues and risk factors in surgical subspecialties. Patient safety in surgical subspecialties should be templated on general patient safety guidelines from other areas of medicine and mental health but include and develop specific processes dedicated for the care of the surgical patients. Safety redundant systems must be in place to decrease errors in surgery. Therefore, different surgical subspecialties should develop a specific curriculum in patient safety addressing training in academic centers and application of these guidelines in all practices. Clearly, redundant safety systems must be in place to decrease errors in surgery, in analogy to safety measures in other high-risk industries. Specific surgical subspecialties are encouraged to develop a specific patient safety curriculum that address training in academic centers and applicability to daily practice, with the goal of keeping our surgical patients safe in all disciplines. The present review article is designed to outline patient safety practices that should be adapted and followed to fit particular specialties.

Objectives: We examined the emissivity and temperature profile of passive and active jaws of various laparoscopic ultrasonic devices during cutting, coagulation, and cooling time., Methods: The Harmonic ACE™ (ACE), Covidien Sonicision™ (SNC), and Olympus SonoSurg™ (SS) were applied using pre-set factory cutting and coagulation settings to Bovine mesentery and Lamb renal veins, respectively. The maximum temperature and cooling time to reach 60 °C were recorded using an infrared Fluke Ti55 thermal imager. Histological examination was evaluated after application of energy., Results: The ACE, Sonicision, and SonoSurg had emissivity measurements of 0.49 ± 0.01, 0.40 ± 0.00, and 0.39 ± 0.01, respectively. Maximum cutting temperatures were: ACE = 191.1°, SNC = 227.1°, and SNS 184.8° * (*p < 0.001). Maximum coagulation temperatures did not differ significantly among devices (p = 0.490). The cooling time to reach 60 °C after activation were 35.7 s (ACE), 38.7 s (SNC), and 27.4 s* (SS) (*p < 0.001). The cooling time of passive jaws to reach 60 °C after activation were 25.4 s* (ACE), 5.7 s (SNC), and 15.4 s (SS) (*p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Laparoscopic ultrasonic instruments obtain the same cutting and coagulation objectives but in different manners. The Sonicision improves cutting by getting the blade hotter while the SonoSurg has more precise coagulation effects by heating slower. Emissivity values varied among instruments, providing equally varied results. Depending on the purpose of the devices, a certain device may be more appropriate. Based on emissivity, more studies are needed to identify the ideal material that can predictably and effectively perform in clinical settings. Although different blade geometry is apparent between instruments, the jaws are also designed differently between the generations of instruments.

Recently, diagnoses of small renal masses and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have increased due to the widespread use of radiographic imaging studies (computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging). It appears that biological factors such as obesity and tobacco use increase the risk for RCC. In general, small malignant renal masses are low stage and low grade. The management of asymptomatic renal masses is a surgical challenge since overtreatment of benign masses is not desired, especially for patients with complex medical comorbidities, elderly patients, and those with impaired renal function. Partial nephrectomy has been considered the gold standard when treating small renal masses. However, technical challenges and possible irreversible ischemia-reperfusion injury should be considered when treating these lesions. Preservation of renal function without compromising oncological control is the foundation for nephron-sparing surgery. Laparoscopic renal cryoablation (LRC) emerges as an option to treat small renal masses due to the less invasive procedure with low intraoperative complications rates, with no renal ischemia-reperfusion injury and comparable medium term follow up. It is our objective to demonstrate our technique to perform an effective small renal tumor cryoablation using the laparoscopic approach.

Conventional chemotherapy is associated with poor outcomes in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Advances in the understanding of tumor molecular biology and the implementation of new drugs that target these molecular pathways have increased the arsenal against advanced RCC and improved outcomes in these patients. Herein, we briefly describe the latest data on targeted therapies used in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma. Search strategy was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. Abstracts of relevant studies published in PubMed between 2000 and 2014 were analyzed by two authors. Abstracts were selected if they were published in English, data reported was of phase II or III clinical trials, and outcomes followed FDA approval. If consensus between the two authors was achieved, they were included in the review. Key words used were "target therapy" and "metastatic renal cell carcinoma". The results of the studies analyzed in this review support the benefits of targeted therapy in metastatic RCC. These include improved progression-free survival, overall survival, and quality of life as well as reduced toxicities compared to immunotherapy. The improvement in outcomes in metastatic RCC makes these drugs a preferred option as a primary treatment for these patients., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: None.

This examination of academic works produced by eighteenth-century natural philosophers discusses some recurring ideas about the Chain of Being. To this end, the article analyzes the relations between natural philosophy and theology during the period. It also re-evaluates some elements of the Chain of Being through an exploration of authors who addressed the topic in their writings. Lastly, it identifies a specific element within eighteenth-century discussions of scala naturae, to wit, the various and not always convergent ideas about whether there are differences between humans based on specific characteristics and, consequently, about the places they occupy in the chain of being.

With the advent of laparoscopic surgery, the need of optimal visualization and efficient instrumentation has created a need for better understanding of the characteristics of the surgical plume. Despite the technological advances of digital imaging and dissector technology (ultrasonic, radiofrequency electrical, and bipolar), the inconvenient and sometimes harmful generation of a surgical plume decreases visualization, often requiring the surgeon to remove the scope from the surgical field and remove the obstructing particles. If visualization is suboptimal or lost during bleeding, the outcome can be deadly. Therefore, we reviewed the available reports in the literature focused on the quantification of surgical plumes.

Prostate cryoablation (PCry) is a well-established minimally invasive therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer. Unfortunately, PCry still carries the stigma of a high rate recto-urethral fistula procedure but with the advent of argon/helium gas technology, urethral warmer and high quality transrectal ultrasound imaging, complications decreased and efficacy increased. The Denver Health Medical Center's technique in prostate cryoablation is described as follows.

Background: Advanced renal cell carcinoma is one of the most treatment-resistant malignancies to conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy. The development of new targeted therapy was result of understanding biological pathways underlying renal cell carcinoma. Our objective is to provide an overview of current therapies in metastatic renal cell carcinoma., Methods: MEDLINE/PUBMED was queried in December 2012 to identify abstracts, original and review articles. The research was conducted using the following words: "metastatic renal cell carcinoma" and "target therapy". Phase II and Phase III clinical trials were included followed FDA approval. Total of 40 studies were eligible for review., Conclusion: The result of this review shows benefit of these target drugs in tumor burden, increase progression-free and overall survival and improvement the quality of life compared with previous toxic immunotherapy, although complete response remains rare., (Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.)

Objective: The movie Crazy Heart (2009) draws our attention to alcohol disorders as it has a large number of scenes which portray alcohol consumption and fulfill the new DSM-5 Alcohol Use Disorder (DSM-5-AUD) criteria. In view of the recent launch of DSM-5, this is an appropriate opportunity to explore alcohol consumption in a large number of scenes employing the DSM-5-AUD criteria to study this., Methods: We use media content analysis to identify DSM-5 AUD criteria as portrayed by the main protagonist of the movie Bad Blake in a structured manner. We studied his behavior and attitudes in the context of the film structure and storyline., Results: The severity continuum of DSM-5 AUD can be demonstrated through the trajectory of the character Bad Blake. In the course of the movie, there is some reference to all the DSM-5-AUD criteria, which can be applied to this character within the 21 scenes selected for this study., Conclusion: This film can therefore be helpful and used to introduce students and trainees to the DSM-5-AUD criteria. It also allows teachers to discuss with their students and trainees the options of treatment including decision to quit drinking (total abstinence) and the recovery and relapse of this chronic condition.

In cases of identification of bones, skeletal segments or isolated bones, searching for biotypologic diagnostic data to estimate an individual's age enables comparing these data with those of missing individuals. Enamel, dentin and pulp undergo remarkable changes during an individual's life. The enamel becomes more mineralized, smoother and thinner, and deteriorates because of physiological and pathological factors. Dental pulp decreases in volume due to the deposition of secondary dentin; thus, the dentin becomes thicker with time. In natural teeth, the fluorescence phenomenon occurs in dentin and enamel and changes in those tissues may alter the expression of the natural tooth color. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between age and teeth fluorescence for individuals from different age groups. The sample consisted of 66 randomly selected Brazilians of both genders aged 7-63 years old. They were divided into 6 groups: Group 1 - aged 7-12 years, Group 2 - aged 13-20 years, Group 3 - aged 21-30 years, Group 4 - aged 31-40 years, Group 5 - aged 41-50 years and Group 6 - aged between 51 and 63 years. Upper right or left central incisors were used for the study. Restored and aesthetic rehabilitated teeth were excluded from the sample. The measurement of tooth fluorescence was carried out via computer analysis of digital images using the software ScanWhite DMC/Darwin Systems - Brazil. It was observed that dental fluorescence decreases when comparing the age groups 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 and 51-63 years. The results also showed that there is a statistically significant difference between the groups 41-50 years and 21-30 years (p=0.005) and also among the group 51-63 years and all other groups (p<0.005). It can be concluded that dental fluorescence is correlated with age and has a similar and stable behavior from 7 to 20 years of age. It reaches its maximum expected value at the age of 26.5 years and thereafter decreases., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We present a case of primary malignant pylorus neoplasia, emphasizing its rarity, the difficulty of diagnosis and the importance of an adequate prepare before the endoscopic procedure. Literature shows that tumors compromising the first, third and fourth segments of duodenum are rare, especially those of the pyloric area, representing only 0.35% of all malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Adenocarcinoma is the most common histological type, representing 50% of all malignant neoplasias at this site. The most common symptoms are weight loss, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, abdominal mass, sudden changes in intestinal habits and iron deficiency anemia secondary to chronic intestinal hemorrhage. Survival after five years is only 18%. We report a case of a seventy-one year-old male referring early satiety, epigastric pain, retrosternal burning and dyspepsia, with unspecific results in complementary exams, since complete gastric emptying was not achieved. As symptoms worsened, the patient was submitted to laparotomy, with identification of gastric dilation and severe pyloric stenosis, macroscopically suggesting malignancy. The chosen procedure was a subtotal gastrectomy. Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy were not used. The patient is been followed-up without tumor recurrence so far.

Purpose: Statins are cholesterol lowering agents used to prevent cardiovascular disease. Evidence suggests a dichotomous effect of statins with cancer inhibiting and promoting properties. To our knowledge the effect of statins on the prognosis of muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder remains uninvestigated to date. We tested the hypothesis that statin use impacts oncological outcomes in patients treated with radical cystectomy for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder., Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the records of 1,502 patients treated with radical cystectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy without neoadjuvant therapy at a total of 4 institutions. Cox regression models were used to determine the association of statins with disease recurrence and cancer specific mortality., Results: A total of 642 patients (42.7%) were on statins. At a median followup of 34 months 509 patients (33.9%) experienced disease recurrence and 402 (26.8%) had died of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. Statin users were older (p = 0.003), had a higher body mass index (median 32 vs 28 kg/m(2), p <0.001) and were more likely to have positive soft tissue surgical margins (9% vs 4%, p <0.001). On univariable Cox regression analysis statins, female gender, advanced age, higher body mass index, smoking status, tumor stage, tumor grade, soft tissue surgical margin status, lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis and adjuvant chemotherapy were associated with disease recurrence (p ≤ 0.05) and cancer specific mortality (p ≤ 0.02). On multivariable Cox regression analysis statin use was not associated with either outcome., Conclusions: Statin users were at higher risk for disease recurrence and cancer specific mortality on univariable but not multivariable analysis. These data do not support modification of statin use in patients with high risk urothelial carcinoma of the bladder who will be treated with radical cystectomy., (Copyright © 2013 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To assess the impact of statin use on outcomes of patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). To measure the effect of statin use on the efficacy of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy., Patients and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 1117 patients treated with transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB) for NMIBC at three institutions between 1996 and 2007. Statin use at the time of diagnosis was recorded for each patient. Univariable Cox regression models addressed the association of statin use with disease recurrence, disease progression, cancer-specific mortality and overall mortality in all patients, patients with primary NMIBC, patients not treated with BCG, and patients treated with BCG., Results: Overall, 341 patients (30.5%) used statins and 776 (69.5%) did not. Within a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 62.7 (25.0-110.7) months, 469 patients (42.0%) experienced disease recurrence, 103 (9.2%) progression, 50 (4.5%) cancer-specific mortality, and 299 (26.8%) any-cause mortality. In univariable Cox regression analyses, statin use was not associated with any of these four endpoints (P > 0.05 for all). In subgroup analyses, statin use was also not associated with prognosis in patients with primary NMIBC or patients not receiving BCG (P > 0.05 for all four endpoints). Statin use was not associated with response to BCG (P > 0.05 for all four endpoints)., Conclusion: Statin users did not experience different outcomes compared with non-users and statin use did not affect the efficacy of BCG immunotherapy; these data do not support modification or discontinuation of statin therapy for patients with NMIBC., (© 2013 BJU International.)

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of frozen section tests at different anatomical sites performed in an academic department of pathology., Methods: We conducted a retrospective study from a computerized database of all frozen section tests. These diagnoses were compared to definite paraffin, used as controls. The tests were divided into three groups: inconclusive, consistent and inconsistent, the latter being subdivided into false positives and false negatives. The main indications for examinations and anatomical sites involved with diagnostic disagreements were also analyzed., Results: Four hundred and thirty-three specimens were frozen tested, and the main indication was diagnostic (75.75%). In 404 tests (93.30%) diagnoses of biopsies in paraffin and frozen section were consistent. In 20 cases (4.62%) the results of frozen section biopsy were inconclusive and in 9 (2.08%) they were false negative. There were no false positive results. The most commonly assessed organ was the thyroid (25.64%). In the overall analysis, the body region most related with inconclusive diagnoses was the thyroid (seven cases) and in relation to specific sites it was the lungs/pleura/mediastinum (13.33%). Skin was the organ that showed more discordant diagnoses between frozen biopsies and paraffin., Conclusion: The global accuracy of frozen section was 93.30%; for specific anatomical sites, diagnostic accuracy ranged from 86.67% to 100%.

BACKGROUND: New criteria for the diagnosis and classification of chronic graft-versus-host disease were developed in 2005 for the purpose of clinical trials with a consensus sponsored by the National Institute of Health. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to present the results of a multicenter pilot study performed by the Brazil-Seattle chronic graft-versus-host disease consortium to determine the feasibility of using these criteria in five Brazilian centers. METHODS: The study was performed after translation of the consensus criteria into Portuguese and training. A total of 34 patients with National Institute of Health chronic graft-versus-host disease were enrolled in the pilot study between June 2006 and May 2009. RESULTS: Of the 34 patients, 26 (76%) met the criteria of overlap syndrome and eight (24%) the classic subcategory. The overall severity of disease was moderate in 21 (62%) and severe in 13 (38%) patients. The median time from transplant to onset of chronic graft-versus-host disease was 5.9 months (Range: 3 - 16 months); the median time for the overlap syndrome subcategory was 5.9 months (Range: 3 - 10 months) and for the classic subcategory, it was 7.3 months (Range: 3 - 16 months). At a median follow up of 16.5 months (Range: 4 - 39 months), overall survival was 75%. CONCLUSIONS: It was feasible to use the National Institute of Health consensus criteria for the diagnosis and scoring of chronic graft-versus-host disease in a Brazilian prospective multicenter study. More importantly, a collaborative hematopoietic cell transplantation network was established in Brazil offering new opportunities for future clinical trials in chronic graft-versus-host disease and in other areas of research involving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Introduction: Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is today the gold standard treatment of the end-stage liver disease. Different solutions are used for graft preservation. Our objective was to compare the results of cadaveric donor OLT, preserved with the University of Wisconsin (UW) or Celsior solutions in the portal vein and Euro-Collins in the aorta., Methods: We evaluated retrospectively 72 OLT recipients, including 36 with UW solution (group UW) and 36 with Celsior (group CS). Donors were perfused in situ with 1000 mL UW or Celsior in the portal vein of and 3000 mL of Euro-Collins in the aortia and on the back table managed with 500 mL UW or Celsior in the portal vein, 250 mL in the hepatic artery, and 250 mL in the biliary duct. We evaluated the following variables: donor characteristics, recipient features, intraoperative details, reperfusion injury, and steatosis via a biopsy after reperfusion. We noted grafts with primary nonfunction (PNF), initial poor function (IPF), rejection episodes, biliary duct complications, hepatic artery complications, re-OLT, and recipient death in the first year after OLT., Results: The average age was 33.6 years in the UW group versus 41 years in the CS group (P = .048). There was a longer duration of surgery in the UW group (P = .001). The other recipient characteristics, ischemia-reperfusion injury, steatosis, PNF, IPF, rejection, re-OLT, and recipient survival were not different. Stenosis of the biliary duct occured in 3 (8.3%) cases in the UW group and 8 (22.2%) in the CS (P = .19) with hepatic artery thrombosis in 4 (11.1%) CS versus none in the UW group (P = .11)., Conclusion: Cadaveric donor OLT showed similar results with organs preserved with UW or Celsior in the portal vein and Euro-Collins in the aorta., (Copyright (c) 2010. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objectives: Surgical removal of third molars is a regular surgical procedure, which like all operations, may have complications. The purpose of the study was to analyze the incidence of complications and their relationship with the surgical difficulty in a group of 588 patients treated by the same oral and maxillofacial surgeon., Study Design: This retrospective cohort study consisted of 1699 third molars (M3) removed between 2005 and 2008. The teeth were grouped into a 6-class scale of surgical difficulty rated according to the surgical procedure description in the patient's file: I: upper M3 requiring forceps only; II: upper M3 requiring osteotomy; III: upper M3 requiring osteotomy and tooth section; IV: lower M3 requiring forceps only; V: lower M3 requiring osteotomy; VI: lower M3 requiring osteotomy and tooth section. The complications were grouped into each surgical difficulty class and their incidence and management were also described., Results: 59 complications (3.47%), including pain, root tip fracture, paresthesia, alveolar osteitis, temporomandibular joint discomfort, and oroantral fistula were reported. Surgical difficulty class VI presented the higher incidence of complications (n=38)., Conclusions: The risk of complications in third molar surgery will always exist and increases in proportion to the surgical difficulty. Mandibular M3 requiring osteotomy and tooth section have the highest risk of complications.

A novel method for initiating discrimination training with nonverbal children combines a delayed S+ procedure that requires children to refrain from responding to either of 2 physically different choice stimuli until a prompt stimulus is added onto 1 of the choices, and a delayed prompting procedure that presents the same 2-choice stimulus display, but stimuli are initially added onto both choices. After a short delay, the added stimulus on the S- is removed, and the choice of the S+ is thus prompted. If the children learn to observe and respond to the defining features of the S+ choice stimulus, then they may respond to the S+ prior to the added-stimulus removal. Implementation was successful with 8 nonverbal children who had not previously exhibited simple simultaneous discrimination, suggesting a useful methodology for initiating discrimination training with populations for whom verbal instruction is ineffective.

STDs are a significant public health problem in Brazil. A primary control strategy is the immediate treatment of symptomatic individuals. When services are unavailable, STD patients seek care in alternative settings. Probably the most frequently used settings are commercial pharmacies, where pharmacy clerks provide treatment, although Brazilian law prohibits selling antibiotics without prescription. Our objective was to evaluate prescribing practices by pharmacy clerks for STDs. We performed a cross-sectional study. Trained medical students visited 62 pharmacies in the city of Porto Alegre during March 2002. These were randomly chosen from a list of 863 registered pharmacies. The students presented to the pharmacy complaining of dysuria and urethral discharge. After obtaining a prescription, or not, they asked for additional instructions to be followed. Immediately after leaving the premises, the instructions were anonymously recorded. Of the 62 pharmacies visited, a clerk in 56 (90.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 80.1%-96.4%) provided a prescription. Most frequently prescribed drugs were ampicillin with probenecide (29/51.8%) and rosoxacin (11/19.6%). Ministry of Health-recommended treatment was not suggested by any of the clerks. Forty-six additional recommendations were given. The use of condoms was the most frequent additional advice (42/46). Prescribing by pharmacy clerks is very prevalent in Porto Alegre. This may represent a lost opportunity for more comprehensive prevention effort (counselling, partner management, and diagnosing other STDs). Additionally, the most frequently prescribed drugs are not recommended by international or national health authorities for treatment of STDs, and none of these drugs covers chlamydia. We conclude that pharmacy clerks are a potentially important source of STD treatment and control but that their practices are in need of vast improvement.

The effects of long-term diabetes mellitus on mineral metabolism and bone integrity remain ill defined. Several studies have shown that patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) have reduced bone mass. However, the effect of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) on bone mass has been controversial. Quantitative histologic assessments were completed in iliac crest bone samples obtained from 26 patients (13 male and 13 female) with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and normal renal function (serum creatinine 1.00 +/- 0.04 mg/dl). The mean age was 67.42 +/- 2.74 yrs, range 50-89 yrs. For the control group the bone samples were taken from 20 non-diabetic subjects (11 male and 9 female) with a mean age of 57.95 +/- 3.96 yrs, range 33-91 yrs, n.s, that had suffered sudden or violent death. Significant lower values were present in the diabetic group for bone volume (p < 0.0001), osteoid volume (p < 0.005), osteoid thickness (p < 0.0001), cortical thickness (p < 0.05) and osteoblast surface (p < 0.05). Linear regression analysis revealed significant positive correlations of osteoid volume with osteoid thickness and osteoid surface in both groups. Our results suggest that the mechanism(s) underlying diabetic osteopenia may involve decreased bone turnover as reflected in a paucity of osteoblasts and diminished quantities of osteoid. A proeminent additional feature was a reduction in the cortical thickness.