The British journal of surgery
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Randomized clinical trial of honey-impregnated dressings for venous leg ulcers.
The efficacy of honey as a treatment for venous ulcers has not been evaluated, despite widespread interest. This trial aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of honey as a dressing for venous ulcers. ⋯ ISRCTN 06161544 (http://www.controlled-trials.com).
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Randomized clinical trial evaluating elective laparoscopic appendicectomy for chronic right lower-quadrant pain.
It is questionable whether elective appendicectomy can effectively reduce persistent or recurrent right lower-quadrant abdominal pain due to chronic or recurrent appendicitis. ⋯ ISRCTN48831122 (http://www.controlled-trials.com).
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Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been detected in the peripheral blood of patients following thermal injury. EPCs migrate to sites of active neovascularization in response to mediators released after trauma, contributing to wound healing. The aim was to characterize levels and kinetics of EPCs in burned patients, then relate these to key mobilizing factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 (CXCL 12), and compare them with those in healthy subjects. ⋯ Thermal injury induced a rapid rise in EPCs that was proportional to the extent of the burn and significantly correlated with levels of angiogenic cytokines. Such cytokines may be used to stimulate EPCs as a future therapeutic target in burned patients.
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The significance of circumferential resection margin (CRM) involvement in oesophageal cancer surgery is controversial. This study investigated the relationship between CRM involvement, locoregional recurrence and survival, after surgery alone or with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. ⋯ A positive CRM is an independent predictor of overall survival after oesophageal cancer resection. There has been a significant decrease in CRM involvement with the introduction of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
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The aim was to review a single-institution experience of a prospective treatment protocol for soft tissue sarcoma of the extremity and trunk wall, with particular focus on the smallest surgical margin leading to local control. ⋯ Surgical margin had independent prognostic value for local control. A surgical margin of 2-3 cm provided reasonable local control of soft tissue sarcoma, even without radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is recommended for smaller margins, irrespective of tumour grade.