Background Ultrathin melanoma was previously demonstrated to have higher risk for melanoma-specific mortality using SEER database. However, these guideline-changing conclusions has been recently challenged by miscoding of thickness. This present study was performed to assess the prognosis of thin and ultrathin melanoma using only surgically-treated, pathologically confirmed and after removal of...

BACKGROUND Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are a rare group of autoimmune syndromes characterized by chronic muscle inflammation and muscle weakness with no known cause. Little is known about their incidence and prevalence. This study reports the incidence and prevalence of IIMs among commercially insured and Medicare and Medicaid enrolled populations in the US. METHODS We retrospec...

STUDY DESIGN A retrospective database analysis. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to compare rates of postoperative dysphagia, length of stay, infection, and wound complications following short and long anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in patients who received local intraoperative steroids and those who did not. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Only one prior small institutional st...

INTRODUCTION Topical benzocaine is a local anesthetic commonly used to relieve pain caused by teething, periodontal irritation, burns, wounds, and insect bites. Oral preparations may contain benzocaine concentrations ranging from 7.5% to 20%. Pediatric exposure to such large concentrations may result in methemoglobinemia and secondarily cause anemia, cyanosis, and hypoxia. METHODS This is a r...

OBJECTIVE To describe the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) project's experience with population-based, active surveillance for vaccine safety and draw lessons that may be useful for similar efforts. PATIENTS AND METHODS The VSD comprises a population of 9.2 million people annually in 8 geographically diverse US health care organizations. Data on vaccinations and diagnoses are updated and extract...

Nucleic acids are under constant assault from endogenous and environmental agents that alter their physical and chemical properties. O6-methylation of guanosine (m(6)G) is particularly notable for its high mutagenicity, pairing with T, during DNA replication. Yet, while m(6)G accumulates in both DNA and RNA, little is known about its effects on RNA. Here, we investigate the effects of m(6)G on ...

We have previously described the value of patients’ reports relating to withdrawal problems and dependence, and violent or suicidal ideation or acts, and their linkage with paroxetine [1]. Here we describe how Yellow Card reporters – health professionals – perceived and reported suspicions of the same kinds of harm. This analysis was made possible only because the organisers of the Yellow Card ...

OBJECTIVES Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) 'report cards' are being developed using administrative databases in many jurisdictions, but little is known about their acceptance by and their usefulness to the medical community. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the publication of Cardiovascular Health and Services in Ontario: An ICES Atlas (Naylor CD, Slaughter P. (eds), 1...

The hepatocarcinogen 2-nitropropane causes oxidative damage to liver DNA and RNA after administration to rats; increases in 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and formation of an unknown moiety (DM ) in DNA, plus increases in 8-hydroxyguanosine and the appearance of two unidentified peaks (KM and R\2) in RNA were observed by high-performance liquid chromatography of nucleosides from 2-nitropropane-treated...

The hepatocarcinogen 2-nitropropane causes oxidative damage to liver DNA and RNA after administration to rats; increases in 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and formation of an unknown moiety (DX1) in DNA, plus increases in 8-hydroxyguanosine and the appearance of two unidentified peaks (RX1 and RX2) in RNA were observed by high-performance liquid chromatography of nucleosides from 2-nitropropane-treate...