Preoperative Body Mass Index, 30-Day Postoperative Morbidity, Length of Stay and Quality of Life in Patients Undergoing Pelvic Exenteration Surgery for Recurrent and Locally-Advanced Rectal Cancer

Jessica Beaton,,Sharon Carey,Michael J Solomon,Ker-Kan Tan,Jane Young 대한대장항문학회 2014 Annals of Coloproctolgy Vol.30 No.2

Purpose: Malnutrition is associated with an increased risk of developing complications following gastrointestinal surgery, especially following radical surgeries such as pelvic exenteration. This study aims to determine if preoperative body mass index (BMI) is associated with 30-day morbidity, length of hospital stay and/or quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing pelvic exenteration surgery for recurrent and locally-advanced rectal cancer prior to a prospective trial. Methods: A review of all patients who underwent pelvic exenteration surgery prior to 2008 was performed. Patients were included if they had a documented BMI as well as a QoL measurement (Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy - Colorectal questionnaire). Results: Thirty-one patients, with a mean age of 56 years, had preoperative height and weight data, as well as measures of postoperative QoL, and formed the study group. The numbers of patients with recurrent (n = 17) or locally-advanced rectal cancer (n = 14) were similar. The mean length of stay was 21 days while the mean BMI of the patients was 24.3 (± 5.9) kg/m2. The majority of the patients were either of normal weight (n = 15) or overweight/obese (n = 11). The average length of hospital stay was significantly longer in patients who were underweight compared to those who were of normal weight (F = 6.508, P = 0.006) and those who were overweight and obese (F = 6.508, P = 0.007). Conclusion: This study suggests that a lower body mass index preoperatively is associated with a longer length of hospital stay. BMI is not associated with long-term QoL in this patient group. However, further prospective research is required.

Shear banding in crystallizing colloidal suspensions

Laura T. Shereda,Ronald G. Larson,Michael J. Solomon 한국유변학회 2010 Korea-Australia rheology journal Vol.22 No.4

We characterize the shear bands generated in simple shear flow of a crystallizing colloidal suspension. 35volume % suspensions of poly(methyl methacrylate) colloids of diameter 0.68mm were dispersed in the viscous solvent dioctyl phthalate and subjected to plane Couette flow. The equilibrium structure of this suspension was crystalline and flow accelerated its crystallization kinetics significantly. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and particle tracking were used to characterize the height-dependent velocity profile in the gap of the shear flow. Near each of the two boundary surfaces, a region of high shear rate flow was observed. A low shear rate region was observed at the center of the gap. The differences in the shear rate within the two banded regions were a function of the both the applied shear rate and strain. The effect of strain indicated that the shear band development was a transient phenomenon. We found that the boundary between the high shear rate and low shear rate regions correlated with the location of crystalline and amorphous regions in the gap of the shear cell, as visualized by confocal microscopy. Furthermore, the different local shear rates observed in the banded regions were consistent with the different viscosities of the amorphous and crystalline suspensions. The results demonstrate that shear banded flows accompany shear-induced colloidal crystallization, and that the bands exhibit transient behavior because the crystallization process itself is strain dependent.

HOW DOES DESIGN OF LUXURY HYBRIDS APPEAL TO CONSUMERS? A STUDY OF CONSUMERS’ INTENTIONS TO BUY WEARABLES

Mona Mrad,Marzena Nieroda,Charles Cui,Michael Solomon 글로벌지식마케팅경영학회 2018 Global Marketing Conference Vol.2018 No.07

Innovation in technology has led to the growth of hybrid products, which demonstrate features of more than one product category (Rajagopal & Burnkrant, 2009). This trend is evident in the luxury market (e.g., the Tag Heuer Connected wearable, a hybrid of a luxury watch and a computing device. The combination of technology and luxury can pose challenges in the design and marketing of such devices. This could be a problem for new hybrid luxury products, which consumers typically evaluate in terms of symbolic meanings rather than functional utility. In this research we build on and contribute to the product design literature as we propose a model in which the characteristics of aesthetics, symbolism, functionality, monofunctionality (how many different tasks a product delivers on), and ergonomics are antecedents that drive usage intention for luxury hybrids, specifically wearables. First, we find that perceived ergonomics and perceived multi-functionality influence perceived overall functionality of wearables, which then has a positive effect on intention to use those products. Perceived aesthetics appears as an important characteristic for wearables, as mediation analysis shows it has an indirect effect on use intention, both through perceived symbolism and overall functionality of those hybrids. Such order of effects within product design characteristics has not been explored before and our findings yield implications for academics and practitioners.

Aneurysm of the Posterior Meningeal Artery Embedded Within a Dorsal Exophytic Medullary Hemangioblastoma: Surgical Management and Review of Literature

Kunal P. Raygor,Nathan C. Rowland,Daniel L. Cooke,David A. Solomon,Michael C. Huang 대한뇌혈관외과학회 2014 Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neuros Vol.16 No.3

Hemangioblastomas are World Health Organization (WHO) Grade I neoplasmsof the hindbrain and spinal cord, whose management can becomplicated by preoperative hemorrhage. We report on a case of ayoung female in extremis with posterior fossa hemorrhage following ruptureof a fusiform posterior meningeal artery aneurysm embedded withina medullary hemangioblastoma. We discuss management options, includingoperative staging and embolization, and review similar cases of hemangioblastomaassociated with aneurysm.

Role of shear-induced dynamical heterogeneity in the nonlinear rheology of colloidal gels

Hsiao, Lilian C.,Kang, Heekyoung,Ahn, Kyung Hyun,Solomon, Michael J. The Royal Society of Chemistry 2014 SOFT MATTER Vol.10 No.46

<P>We report the effect of flow-induced dynamical heterogeneity on the nonlinear elastic modulus of weakly aggregated colloidal gels that have undergone yielding by an imposed step strain deformation. The gels are comprised of sterically stabilized poly(methyl methacrylate) colloids interacting through short-ranged depletion attractions. When a step strain of magnitude varying from <I>γ</I> = 0.1 to 80.0 is applied to the quiescent gels, we observe the development of a bimodal distribution in the single-particle van Hove self-correlation function. This distribution is consistent with the existence of a fast and slow subpopulation of colloids within sheared gels. We evaluate the effect of incorporating the properties of the slow, rigid subpopulation of the colloids into a recent mode coupling theory for the nonlinear elasticity of colloidal gels.</P> <P>Graphic Abstract</P><P>We report the effect of flow-induced dynamical heterogeneity on the nonlinear elastic modulus of weakly aggregated colloidal gels that have undergone yielding by an imposed step strain deformation. <IMG SRC='http://pubs.rsc.org/services/images/RSCpubs.ePlatform.Service.FreeContent.ImageService.svc/ImageService/image/GA?id=c4sm01375a'> </P>

Photonic network laser.

Noh, Heeso,Yang, Jin-Kyu,Liew, Seng Fatt,Rooks, Michael J,Solomon, Glenn S,Cao, Hui Optical Society of America 2011 Optics letters Vol.36 No.18

<P>We demonstrated lasing in two-dimensional trivalent network structures with short-range order. Despite the lack of translational and rotational symmetries, such structures possess a large isotropic photonic bandgap. Different from those of a photonic crystal, the band-edge modes are spatially localized and have high quality factor.</P>

Geographical Variation in the Use of Diverting Loop Ileostomy in Australia and New Zealand Colorectal Surgeons

David A. Clark,Bree Stephensen,Aleksandra Edmundson,Daniel Steffens,Michael Solomon 대한대장항문학회 2021 Annals of Coloproctolgy Vol.37 No.5

Purpose: Anastomotic leak (AL) after a low pelvic anastomosis is a devastating complication, with short- and long-term morbidity and increased mortality. Surgeons may employ various adjuncts in an attempt to reduce AL rates or mitigate their impact. These include the use of temporary diverting ileostomy (TDI), transanal or rectal tubes and pelvic drains. This questionnaire evaluates the preferences and routine use of these adjuncts in Australasian colorectal surgeons.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to Australian and New Zealand colorectal surgeons on September 20, 2018. The study survey consisted of 15 questions exploring basic demographics and the number of rectal resections and ileal pouches performed in 12 months, along with the surgeon’s preference for the use of diverting stomas, rectal tubes, and pelvic drains.Results: There were 90 respondents to the survey (31.6%). Surgeons in Western Australia (71.4%) were more likely to use a mandatory TDI in colorectal extraperitoneal anastomoses than surgeons in Queensland (14.3%). South Australian surgeons are more likely to employ a mandatory TDI (100%) for ileal pouches than Queensland surgeons (42.9%). Rectal tubes are not commonly utilized (40.0% never use them), and pelvic drains are (45.6% in all cases). Surgeons consider a median AL rate of 15% was felt to justify the use of a TDI in low pelvic anastomoses and a median AL rate of 10% for ileal pouchesConclusion: There is considerable geographical variation in colorectal surgical practice throughout Australia and New Zealand. While surgeons interrogate the same literature, there are presumably other factors that see translation into variations in clinical practice.

A development study of drain fluid gastrografin as a biomarker of anastomotic leak

David A. Clark,Edward Yeoh,Aleksandra Edmundson,Craig Harris,Andrew Stevenson,Daniel Steffens,Michael Solomon 대한대장항문학회 2022 Annals of Coloproctolgy Vol.38 No.2

Purpose: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is the anathema of colorectal surgery. Its occurrence leads to increased morbidity and mortality and a prolonged hospital stay. Much work has gone into studying various biomarkers in drain fluid to facilitate early detection of AL. This stage 2a development study aims to assess the safety and feasibility of reliably detecting the iodine in Gastrografin (GG; Bayer Australia Ltd.) in drain fluid and stool samples by dual-energy computed tomography (DECT). Methods: This is a prospective, observational, controlled, consecutive cohort study establishing the safety and feasibility of the detection of GG in surgical drain fluid and stool as a biomarker of AL when patients with a low pelvic colorectal anastomosis undergo luminal flushing of the rectal tube with GG. Results: Ten consecutive patients were allocated to the saline flush group and the following 10 to the GG flush group. Three patients in the saline flush group developed an AL. One patient in the GG flush group developed an AL. An elevation in the drain fluid GG was detected using DECT on the day of clinical deterioration. None of the patients in the control group were found to have a positive result on DECT. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the safety of a novel approach to the early detection of AL from extraperitoneal colorectal anastomoses. The technique requires validation in a larger cohort and a multicenter study is planned to investigate the efficacy of GG rectal tube flushes as an early biomarker of AL in low pelvic anastomoses.

Imaging Neuror eceptors in the Living Human Brain

Wagner, Henry N.,Dannals, Robert F.,Frost, J. James,Wong, Dean F.,Ravert, Hayden T.,Wilson, Alan A.,Links, Jonathan M.,Burns, H. Donald,Kuhar, Michael J.,Snyder, Solomon H. 대한핵의학회 1984 핵의학 분자영상 Vol.18 No.2