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Direct-Ink-Writing (or robocasting) is a subset of extrusion-based additive manufacturing techniques that has grown significantly in recent years to design simple to complex ceramic structures. Robocasting, relies on the use of high-concentration powder pastes, also known as inks. A successful optimization of ink rheology and formulation constitutes the major key factor to ensure printability for the fabrication of self-supporting ceramic structures with a very precise dimensional resolution. However, to date achieving a real balance between a comprehensive optimization of ink rheology and the determination of a relevant protocol to predict the printing parameters for a given ink is still relatively scarce and has been not yet standardized in the literature.The current review reports, in its first part, a detailed survey of recent studies on how ink constituents and composition affect the direct-ink-writing of ceramic parts, taking into account innovative ceramic-based-inks formulations and processing techniques. Precisely, the review elaborates the major factors influencing on ink rheology and printability, specifically binder type, particle physical features (size, morphology and density) and ceramic feedstock content.In the second part, this review suggests a standardized guideline to effectively adapt a suitable setting of the printing parameters, such as printing speed and pressure, printing substrate, strut spacing, layer height, nozzle diameter in function of ink intrinsic rheology.

Purpose: Cancer trial participants do not reflect the racial and ethnic diversity in the population of people with cancer in the United States. As a result of multiple system-, patient-, and provider-level factors, including implicit bias, cancer clinical trials are not consistently offered to all potentially eligible patients., Materials and Methods: ASCO and ACCC evaluated the utility (pre- and post-test knowledge changes) and feasibility (completion rates, curriculum satisfaction metrics, survey questions, and interviews) of a customized online training program combined with facilitated peer-to-peer discussion designed to help research teams identify their own implicit biases and develop strategies to mitigate them. Discussion focused on (1) specific elements of the training modules; (2) how to apply lessons learned; and (3) key considerations for developing a facilitation guide to support peer-to-peer discussions in cancer clinical research settings. We evaluated discussion via a qualitative assessment., Results: Participant completion rate was high: 49 of 50 participating cancer programs completed training; 126 of 129 participating individuals completed the training (98% response rate); and 119 completed the training and evaluations (92% response rate). Training increased the mean percentage change in knowledge scores by 19%-45% across key concepts (eg, causes of health disparities) and increased the mean percentage change in knowledge scores by 10%-31% about strategies/actions to address implicit bias and diversity concerns in cancer clinical trials. Knowledge increases were sustained at 6 weeks. Qualitative evaluation validated the utility and feasibility of facilitated peer-to-peer discussion., Conclusion: The pilot implementation of the training program demonstrated excellent utility and feasibility. Our evaluation affirms that an online training designed to raise awareness about implicit bias and develop strategies to mitigate biases among cancer research teams is feasible and can be readily implemented in cancer research settings.

Background: Although predictive models have already integrated demographic factors and comorbidities as risk factors for a prolonged hospital stay, factors related to anaesthesia management in ambulatory surgery have not been yet characterized. This study aims to identify anaesthetic factors associated with a prolonged discharge time in ambulatory surgery., Methods: All clinical records of patients who underwent ambulatory cholecystectomy in a French University Hospital (Hôpital Saint Antoine, Paris) between January 1st, 2012 and December 31st, 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The primary endpoint was the discharge time, defined as the time between the end of surgery and discharge. A multivariable Cox proportional-hazards model was fitted to investigate the factors associated with a prolonged discharge time., Results: Five hundred and thirty-five (535) patients were included. The median time for discharge was 150 min (interquartile range - IQR [129-192]). A bivariable analysis highlighted a positive correlation between discharge timeline and the doses-weight of ketamine and sufentanil. In the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model analysis, the anaesthesia-related factors independently associated with prolonged discharge time were the dose-weight of ketamine in interaction with the dose weight of sufentanil (HR 0.10 per increment of 0.1 mg/kg of ketamine or 0.2 μg/kg of sufentanil, CI 95% [0.01-0.61], p = 0.013) and the non-use of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (HR 0.81 [0.67-0.98], p = 0.034). Twenty patients (4%) had unscheduled hospitalization following surgery., Conclusion: Anaesthesia management, namely the use of ketamine and the non-use of NSAID, affects time to hospital discharge., (Copyright © 2022 IJS Publishing Group Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: TAP is a regional anaesthetic technique where local anaesthesic (LA) is injected between the internal oblique and the transversus abdominis muscles in order to block intercostal nerves. The technique originally described, is based on the identification of the lumbar triangle of Petit as the area where to insert the needle before the LA injection. We performed a study to determine, using ultrasonography, the actual location of the LA when TAP block was performed using landmark-based technique., Study Design: Prospective and observational study., Methods: Fifty-two patients scheduled for ileostomy closure surgery under general anaesthesia received a TAP block (20 mL 0.75% ropivacaine) based on standard anatomical landmarks technique. Ultrasonography was used immediately after the block to determine the LA placement. Failed blocks were considered when the patient required intravenous morphine in the immediate postoperative period for pain localised at the operative site., Results: LA solution was injected in the right place in 14 cases out of 52. Only one of these patient received morphine in the postoperative period. In the remaining 38 blocks, the LA was administered in adjacent anatomical structures and 25 failed. Two injections in the peritoneum were observed., Conclusion: The localization of LA after the TAP block being performed by landmark-based techniques is highly variable. In the majority of patients, the LA was injected in adjacent anatomical structures with unpredictable block results. This may promote the use of ultrasound-guided technique to perform the TAP block., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The cost-effectiveness of propofol anesthesia using target-controlled infusion (TCI) versus a standard regimen using desflurane for anesthesia maintenance was analyzed. This observational study consisted of 100 inpatients 18 to 75 years old with an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status of I or II who were scheduled for otological surgery lasting less than four hours. Patients received one of two treatments. The desflurane-maintenance group received propofol 2-4 mg/kg and sufentanil 0.15-0.30 microg (as the citrate)/kg. A constant fresh gas flow of 1 L/min was used during maintenance of anesthesia. The propofol-maintenance group received TCI propofol and an additional infusion of sufentanil. Anesthesia was induced with 0.15-0.30 microg/kg. One blinded evaluator assessed the postoperative recovery from anesthesia for all patients. The cost of drugs and medical devices used during the intraoperative and postoperative periods was calculated. Effectiveness was defined as the absence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), while the cost-effectiveness of each procedure was the cost per PONV-free episode. The efficiency of each procedure represented the production of effectiveness per dollar invested. Chi-square and t tests, sensitivity analysis, and logistic regression were also performed. The only intergroup difference detected was the frequency of PONV occurring in the early recovery phase (11 in the desflurane group versus 2 in the propofol group). Of those patients requiring antiemetic rescue, 9 were in the desflurane group and only 2 were in the propofol group (p < 0.05). The TCI propofol regimen was more expensive than the desflurane regimen ($45 versus $28 per patient, respectively) (p < 0.001). The differential cost-effectiveness ratio was $94.7 per PONV-free episode. PONV 24 hours after surgery and patient satisfaction were similar between groups. A standard regimen of desflurane was more cost-effective than TCI propofol for anesthesia maintenance in achieving PONV-free episodes.