The tablet was coated with an impermeable backing layer of ethyl cellulose to ensure unidirectional drug release. Different penetration enhancers were tried to improve the permeation of pravastatin sodium through buccal mucosa. Formulation containing 1% sodium

lauryl sulfate showed good permeation of pravastatin sodium through mucosa. Histopathological studies revealed no buccal mucosal damage. It can be concluded that buccal route can be one of the alternatives available for the administration of pravastatin sodium.”
“This article provides an overview of the clinical profile of the calcimimetic agentcinacalcet (Mimpara (R), Sensipar (R)) in the treatment of patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) undergoing dialysis for end-stage renal disease buy PKC412 (ESRD), followed by a TPX-0005 inhibitor comprehensive review of pharmacoeconomic analyses with cinacalcet in this patient population.

Most patients with ESRD undergoing dialysis develop SHPT, which is associated with disturbances in bone mineral metabolism and the development of fractures, cardiovascular disease and other clinical events. Standard treatment of SHPT includes phosphate binders and active vitamin D derivatives. However, standard treatment alone seldom achieves recommended target plasma or serum levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium and

phosphorous.

The addition of cinacalcet to standard therapy in patients

with SHPT undergoing dialysis for ESRD improves the likelihood of achieving target biochemical levels compared with standard therapy alone. On the basis of association studies, improvements in these intermediate endpoints are likely to reduce LY2603618 research buy the risk of clinical events, such as fractures and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, part of the acquisition cost of cinacalcet is likely to be offset by reductions in other healthcare resource use, such as reductions in costs associated with a lower likelihood of clinical events, as well as potential reductions in dosages of standard treatment.

A number of pharmacoeconomic analyses across various country settings indicate that cinacalcet plus standard therapy is cost effective relative to standard therapy alone if dialysis costs are excluded, or that early initiation of cinacalcet is cost effective compared with delaying cinacalcet treatment until PTH levels become very uncontrolled. However, across analyses with cinacalcet, results were variable and not always favourable. This wide range of results stems from differences in selection of data sources used to populate the models, regional differences in healthcare resource use and costs, as well as other factors. Future cost-effectiveness analyses with cinacalcet should incorporate data on hard clinical outcomes from the EVOLVE study once this information becomes available.

We report the case of a 2-year-old child presenting with LCH and review the literature concerning this rare disease.

Presentation in our case was with a common aural polyp, refractory to medical treatment, Fer-1 concentration which when biopsied, revealed LCH. Radiological evaluation showed multifocal disease.

A sound knowledge of the disease process in vital to the otolaryngologist, thus enabling rapid diagnosis and early treatment for a commonly fatal condition.”
“Objective: To examine the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in parotid tissues from patients with positive

serum HBV markers.

Methods: HBsAg and HBcAg were examined in parotid biopsy tissues from patients with BMS-754807 mouse suspected parotid tumor and positive serum HBV markers by immunocytochemistry, and HBV DNA was detected in parotid tissues by PCR.

Results: Among the 22 patients with a parotid tumor, only one was pathologically confirmed as a neoplasm; all others were benign. HBsAg and HBcAg were present in parotid cells with positive rates of 45.5% (10/22) and 40.9% (9/22), respectively, with an overall positive rate of 54.5% (12/22). Of the 22 cases with serum markers of HBV infection, seven (31.8%) had both HBsAg and HBcAg in the parotid cells. HBV DNA was present in seven of the 12 samples in which hepatitis B antigen was detected (58.3%).

Conclusions: HBV in saliva might originate

from the infected salivary glands and the infectious saliva could transmit HBV. (C) 2008 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Background:

There is no data on the use of subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin (SC LMWH) in cases that require thrombolysis. Objective: Having used SC LMWH with thrombolytics for more than 10 years, we aimed to review our data, share our experiences and find out whether the use of SC LMWH with thrombolytics had been effective and safe. Method: This is a retrospective cohort study. Patients who were diagnosed as acute pulmonary embolism (PE) and received either SC LMWH treatment or SC LMWH with thrombolytics in our hospital (a tertiary hospital) between 2000 and 2010 were included in the study. For both treatments, the rates of mortality and complications were calculated. Results: selleck chemical A total of 392 patients, 210 female (53.5%) and 182 male (46.5%) with an average age of 60 years, +/-16 SD, with acute PE, were included in the study. Of these patients, 107 (27.2%) were massive and 285 (72.8%) were nonmassive and were administered SC LMWH plus thrombolytics and only SC LMWH, respectively. The mortality rate was 16.8% (18 of 107) in patients who were massive and 3.5% (10 of 285) for those who were nonmassive (p < 0.001). Major hemorrhage occurred in 3.7% (n = 4) and 0.7% (n = 2) and minor hemorrhage in 12.1% (n = 13) and in 3.

Results. Test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients) was excellent for the NDI-FI (0.94) and mNPDS-FI (0.91). Factor analysis identified 1 factor for the NDI-FI and 3 factors for the mNPDS-FI; pain intensity, work ability, and activities of daily living. The internal 4SC-202 datasheet consistency value (Cronbach alpha) for the NDI-FI was 0.85, and 0.84, 0.83, and 0.82, respectively, for the 3 factors of the mNPDS-FI. The correlation between neck pain and the NDI-FI was 0.58 (P < 0.001) and 0.72 for the mNPDS-FI (P < 0.001). A statistically significant linear relationship was observed between self-estimated coping and the outcomes of the NDI-FI and the mNPDS-FI.

Conclusion.

The NDI-FI and the mNPDS-FI are reliable, valid instruments for assessing disability among Finnish patients with neck pain.”
“The potential impact of surgical https://www.selleckchem.com/products/btsa1.html service reconfiguration on intensive care unit (ICU) resources needs to be assessed.

To determine the resources required to provide post-operative

ICU care to patients undergoing open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair or endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) at a specialist centre in the HSE South area

For 198 patients, we calculated: (1) ICU bed-days; (2) organ support required; and (3) monetary cost of ICU care.

In total, 82.8 % (101/122) of patients undergoing open AAA repair required post-operative ICU care (52 emergency and 49 elective). Emergency cases required more ICU bed-days (median 4.2 vs. 1.9, p < 0.0005) and were more

likely to require ventilation (odds ratio, OR 11.7, p < 0.0001), inotropes (OR 3.1, p = 0.01) or enteral nutrition (OR 23.3, p < 0.0001). Mean cost per patient was a,not sign3,956 for elective cases and a,not sign16,419 for emergency cases. No patient required ICU admission after EVAR (n = 76).

Open AAA surgery places significant demands on ICU resources. The planned reconfiguration of surgical services in Ireland must provide for parallel investment in ICU facilities and expertise.”
“Most nonphysiological ovarian masses discovered during pregnancy are benign dermoid cysts. The association of dermoid cysts with pregnancy has been increasingly reported since 1918. They usually PF-00299804 molecular weight present the dilemma of weighing the risks of surgery and anesthesia versus the risks of untreated adnexal mass.

We are reporting an illustrative case and presenting a review of the literature for recommendations regarding the management of such cases.

The bilateral dermoid cysts were surgically treated in the second trimester.

Most references state that it is more feasible to treat bilateral dermoid cysts of the ovaries discovered during pregnancy if they grow beyond 6 cm in diameter. This is usually performed through laparotomy or very carefully through laparoscopy and should preferably be done in the second trimester.”
“Study Design.

For electric-field-sensitive PbPc, it is difficult to maintain quasithermal equilibrium conditions over a wide area because the distribution of the diffusing molecules varies as a function

PLX3397 purchase of the spatially nonuniform electric field, which disturbs the long-range oriented growth. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3553859]“
“The resinous portions of Aquilaria plants, called agarwood, have been used as medicines and incenses. Agarwood contains a great variety of sesquiterpenes, and a study using cultured cells of Aquilaria crassna showed that the production of sesquiterpenes (alpha-guaiene, alpha-humulene, and delta-guaiene) was induced by treatment with methyl jasmonate, which led to the cloning of delta-guaiene synthases. In the present study, analyses of genomic organization and Southern blotting of delta-guaiene synthase in A. crassna were performed in order to examine the genomic background of delta-guaiene synthases in Aquilaria plants. Genomic cloning and sequencing revealed five types of sequence in putative delta-guaiene

synthases sharing more than 96% identity in exon regions, and that these enzymes belonged to the class III TPS subfamily with seven exons and six introns. Furthermore, Southern blotting revealed that at least five copies of delta-guaiene synthase existed in A. crassna. The hybridization of digested DNA of A. crassna and A. sinensis with probes made with a delta-guaiene synthase cDNA fragment resulted in different banding patterns for these PHA-848125 two species. It may be possible to identify Aquilaria species by restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses with delta-guaiene synthase cDNA probes.”
“A fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli strain of sequence type ST131 caused severe septic arthritis and contiguous osteomyelitis Smoothened Agonist solubility dmso in an 8-month-old girl, and colonized the girl’s healthy mother, who shared a different fecal E. coli strain with the father. Within-household transmission can contribute to the dissemination of the emerging, multidrug-resistant ST131 clonal group, which has evident

invasive potential for otherwise-healthy children.”
“Longitudinal optical (LO) phonon-assisted luminescence spectra of free excitons in high-quality ZnO crystal were investigated both experimentally and theoretically. By using the rigorous Segall-Mahan model based on the Green’s function, good agreement between the experimental emission spectra involving one or two LO phonons and theoretical spectra can be achieved when only one adjustable parameter (effective mass of heavy hole) was adopted. This leads to determination of the heavy-hole effective mass m(h perpendicular to) (0.8 m(0) and m(h parallel to) 5.0 m(0)) in ZnO. Influence of anisotropic effective masses of heavy holes on the phonon sidebands is also discussed. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.

“
“Purpose of review

Reduction of child mortality is one of the Millennium Development Goals; as low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) advance toward the achievement of this goal, initiatives aimed at reducing the burden of noncommunicable diseases, including childhood cancer, need to be developed.

Recent

findings

Approximately 200 000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer every year worldwide; of those, 80% live in LMICs, which account for 90% of the deaths. Lack of quality population-based cancer registries in LMICs limits our knowledge of the epidemiology of pediatric cancer; however, available information showing selleck inhibitor variations in incidence may indicate unique interactions between Panobinostat environmental and genetic factors that could provide clues to cause. Outcome of children with cancer in LMICs is dictated by late presentation and underdiagnosis, high abandonment rates, high prevalence of malnutrition and other comorbidities, suboptimal supportive and palliative care, and limited access to curative therapies. Initiatives integrating program building with education of healthcare providers and research have proven to be successful in the development

of regional capacity. Intensity-graduated treatments adjusted to the local capacity have been developed.

Summary

Childhood cancer burden is shifted toward LMICs; global initiatives directed at pediatric cancer care and control are urgently needed. International partnerships facilitating stepwise processes that build capacity while incorporating epidemiology and health services research and implementing intensity-graduated treatments have been shown to be effective.”
“Although pulmonary valve-sparing repair is preferable for patients with tetralogy of Fallot, the repair of very small pulmonary valves is challenging. The present study evaluates our modification for preserving severely hypoplastic pulmonary valves in patients with tetralogy of Fallot.

Sixty-eight consecutive patients who underwent complete

repair of a tetralogy of Fallot between 2005 and 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with pulmonary atresia, absence of a pulmonary valve, atrioventricular septal defect and/or subarterial ventricular septal defect Selleckchem Panobinostat were excluded. There were 19 (28%) patients with a severely hypoplastic pulmonary annulus determined by preoperative echocardiography (z-score <-4). For these patients, we collected echocardiographic data and information about their postoperative course.

Valve preserving was successful in 11 of 19 (58%) of the z < -4 group, compared with 48 of 49 (98%) of the z > -4 group. In the z < -4 valve-sparing subgroup (n = 11), the preoperative pulmonary valve diameter z-score was -4.9 (range -6.3 to -4.3), and an approach involving ventriculotomy with no transannular patch was employed at a mean age of 6.9 (range 2.2-16.1) months.

A cross-sectional study comparing the rheumatoid factor (RF) and aCCP status in RA patients and a control group consisting of healthy subjects, and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and scleroderma. The sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative predictive values of the aCCP test alone were 82.5%, 84.9%, 87.6% and 79% versus 81.7%, 90.7%, 92.5%

and 78% for RF alone. The best specificity (95.3) and PPV (95.8%) was observed when both aCCP and RF tests were positive. Patients with erosive disease had a significantly higher mean RF titre compared with those with non-erosive disease (p = 0.007). PU-H71 price There was a trend towards an association of smoking (OR = 4.1, 95% CI = 0.9-18.6) and functional disability (p = 0.07) with RF-positive status. No similar clinical associations were observed

with aCCP. Almost a third of SLE patients were aCCP positive. Despite the best specificity and PPV observed when both the aCCP and RF tests were positive, our findings suggest that testing for aCCP is only cost-effective in the RF-negative patient in whom there is a strong clinical suspicion of RA.”
“Frequent ventricular ectopy is often the cause of debilitating symptoms, even in the absence of structural heart disease or malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Mapping and ablation technology has evolved to offer permanent elimination of the ventricular ectopy as a means to manage symptoms. The majority of idiopathic

ventricular ectopy originate from the endocardium, but some can only be ablated using an epicardial approach.(1-3) LDN-193189 mouse This paper describes two case reports that highlight some challenges of ablating symptomatic premature ventricular contractions arising from the coronary sinus system (CSS). (PACE 2010;34:e74-e77)”
“Intra-articular hyaluronic acid has been used in treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis. Though its effect on pain has been well Y-27632 purchase studied, it is not clear how it affects the articular cartilage. This is a preliminary study to evaluate the kinetics of urinary collagen type-II C-telopeptide (CTX-II) as a biomarker of collagen breakdown in response to intra-articular hyaluronic acid injection in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Intra-articular injections of hyaluronan were administered to ten patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Urine collection for urinary CTX-II was obtained at baseline, before each injection and once every other week for a total of 6 months. Urine CTX-II was measured using a CartiLapsA (c) ELISA kit. There was a statistically significant increase (p = 0.0136) in CTX-II a week after the third intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid (6,216 ng/mmol A +/- 4,428) compared with baseline (2,233 ng/mmol A +/- 1,220). This increase in CTX-II was sustained throughout the entire 6 months follow-up period (repeated measures ANOVA, p < 0.015).

In the NP and the NP + RS groups, the expression of ATF-3 was significantly increased at 7 days after surgery. The expression of ATF-3

AZD5582 price was sustained for 21 days by RS.

Conclusion Concentrations of plasma corticosterone were increased in three groups that underwent RS. The pain-related behavior persisted for the long term in the LDH model. The expression of ATF-3 in DRG neurons increased for 21 days by RS. These results suggest that RS plays a role in the chronicity of pain-related behavior in the LDH rats.”
“The Skin Cancer after Organ Transplant (SCOT) study was designed to investigate the link between genus beta human papillomavirus (HPV) and squamous cell skin cancer (SCSC). We focused on a population receiving immunosuppressive therapy for extended periods, transplant patients, as they are at extremely high risk for developing SCSC. Two complementary projects were conducted in the Seattle area: (i) a retrospective cohort with interview data from 2004 recipients of renal or cardiac Selleck GDC 0068 transplants between 1995 and 2010 and (ii) a prospective cohort with interview data from 328 people on the transplant waiting lists between 2009 and 2011. Within the retrospective cohort,

we developed a nested case-control study (172 cases and 337 control subjects) to assess risk of SCSC associated with markers of HPV in SCSC tumour tissue and eyebrow hair bulb DNA (HPV genotypes) and blood (HPV antibodies). In the prospective cohort, 135 participants had a 1-year post-transplant visit and 71 completed a 2-year post-transplant visit. In both arms of the cohort, we collected samples to assess markers of HPV infection such as acquisition of new types, proportion positive for each type, persistence of types at consecutive visits and number of HPV types detected. In the prospective cohort, we will also examine these HPV markers in relation to levels of cell-mediated immunity. The goal of the

Selleck eFT-508 SCOT study is to use the data we collected to gain a more complete understanding of the role of immune suppression in HPV kinetics and of genus beta HPV types in SCSC. For more information, please contact the principal investigator through the study website: http://www.fhcrc.org/science/phs/cerc/The_SCOT_Study.html.”
“BACKGROUND: The occurrence of low rates of rhabdomyolysis among patients receiving lipid-lowering drugs (LLDs) in randomized clinical trials may be elucidated with population-based studies. OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk of hospitalized rhabdomyolysis associated with LLD therapy.

METHODS: This observational study used claims data from 9 million members of five United States health plans to identify patients (>= 18 years) who received >2 statin and nonstatin LLDs during July 2000 to December 2004. Inpatient International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, codes for rhabdomyolysis (791.3, 728.89, and 728.

Asp/Asp; OR = 1.49 and 95% CI = 1.12-1.98 for (Asn/Asn+Asn/Asp) vs. Asp/Asp]. For XPD Lys751Gln, the individuals with 751Gln did not have increased PCa risk compared with those with 751Arg, and no association was found in the subgroup analyses.

For hOGG1 Ser326Cys, no significant association between the polymorphism and PCa risk was observed in the overall analysis. However, Ser326Cys was significantly associated with PCa risk under homologous contrast in Caucasians and Asians. Conclusions: XPD Asp312Asn OICR-9429 mouse polymorphism is associated with PCa risk in Asians and hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism is associated with PCa risk in Caucasians and Asians. Copyright (c) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“To calculate the measurement error

of the hourly fetal urine production rate (HFUPR) and evaluate the implication of different methods for measuring the HFUPR, i.e. ellipsoid versus sum-of-cylinders method.

The calculation was based on sonographic documentation of the increased bladder volumes during the filling phase, the bladder volume measurement error and the number and time points of bladder image LY411575 in vivo capture.

The probability of a false pathological reading was excluded (0%) with the sum-of-cylinders method for gestational ages of a parts per thousand yen30 weeks. With the ellipsoid method, the risk was higher. The maximum changes which could be exclusively explained by measurement error were four to five times greater with the ellipsoid method compared with the sum-of-cylinders method.

The present paper illustrates a careful evaluation of the HFUPR measurement error and the implications of using different ultrasound methods for bladder volume estimations.”
“The present review aims to show the state of the art on the oxidation mechanisms occurring in wines, as well as the methods to monitor, classify and diagnose wine oxidation. Wine oxidation can be divided in enzymatic oxidation and non-enzymatic oxidation.

Enzymatic oxidation almost entirely occurs in grape must and is largely correlated with the content of hydroxycinnamates, such as caffeoyltartaric acid and para-coumaroyltartaric acid, and flavan-3-ols. Non-enzymatic oxidation, also called chemical oxidation of wine, prevails MK-2206 order in fermented wine and begin by the oxidation of polyphenols containing a catechol or a galloyl group. These phenolic. reactions, both enzymatic and non-enzymatic, result in by-products named quinones. However, in non-enzymatic oxidation, oxygen does not react directly with phenolic compounds. The limitation on the reactivity of triplet oxygen is overcome by the stepwise addition of a single electron, which can be provided by reduced transition metal ions, essentially iron(II) and copper(I). The sequential electron transfer leads to the formation of hydroperoxide radical (HOO(center dot)), hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), and hydroxyl radical (HO(center dot)).

g., fluid-attenuated inversion recovery-diffusion-weighted imaging mismatch), should be considered for early-phase trials.”
“Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of indomethacine, montelukast and methylprednisolone in management of experimental otitis media with effusion.

Methods: Forty Wistar albino rats of which the weights ranged between 310 and 370 g were included in this study. Middle ear effusion was created

by transtympanic histamine injection. The presence of effusion was confirmed by otomicroscopic examination. Thirty-seven rats with effusion were divided into 4 groups (methylprednisolone, montelukast, indomethacine and saline-control groups). All agents were administered for a period of consecutive 10 days. At the 11th days of administration, AZD9291 nmr the recovery of effusion was confirmed by otomicroscopic examination. Tympanic bullae of the rats were removed and histopathological examinations were carried out. In the histopathological examination, the neutrophil leukocytes accumulated in the middle ear submucosa were counted.

Results: The mean numbers of submucosal neutrophils in the methylprednisolone, montelukast, indomethacine, and saline groups were 24.6 +/- 8.1, 54.1 +/- 6.2, 52.3 +/- 7.3, 55.7 +/- 8.3, respectively. The otomicroscopic recovery Belnacasan concentration rates of effusion in the methylprednisolone, montelukast, indomethacine, and saline groups were 18/18 (100%),

8/18 (44%), 2/14 (14%), 2/18 (11%) respectively.

Conclusions: Methylprednisolone and montelukast ameliorate the middle ear effusion. However, only methylprednisolone reduces the submucosal infiltration of the neutrophil leukocytes which are the most evident cell of inflammatory process. Montelukast is effective

in the resolution of experimental otitis media with effusion. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Introduction: X-ray based digital CX-6258 subtraction angiography (DSA) is a common clinical imaging method for vascular morphology and function. Coronary artery characterization is one of its most important applications. We show that bi-plane DSA of rat coronary arteries can provide a powerful imaging tool for translational safety assessment in drug discovery. Methods: A novel, dual tube/detector system, constructed explicitly for preclinical imaging, supports image acquisition at 10 frames/s with 88-micron spatial resolution. Ventilation, x-ray exposure, and contrast injection ate all precisely synchronized using a biological sequence controller implemented as a LabVIEW application. A set of experiments were performed to test and optimize the sampling and image quality. We applied the DSA imaging protocol to record changes in the visualization of coronaries and myocardial perfusion induced by a vasodilator drug, nitroprusside. The drug was infused into a tail vein catheter using a peristaltic infusion pump at a rate of 0.07 mL/h for 3 min (dose: 0.

“
“Many European governments have abundantly cut down public expenditure on health during the financial crisis. Consequences of the financial downturn on health

outcomes have begun to emerge. This recession has led to an increase in poor health status, raising rates of anxiety and depression among the economically vulnerable. In addition, the incidence of some communicable diseases along with the rate of suicide has increased significantly. The recession has also driven structural reforms, and affected the priority given to public policies. The purpose of this paper selleck screening library is to analyse how austerity impacts health in Europe and better understand the response of European health systems to the financial crisis.

The current economic climate, while challenging, presents an opportunity for reforming and restructuring health promotion actions. More innovative Liproxstatin-1 datasheet approaches to health should be developed by health professionals and by those responsible for health management. In addition, scientists and experts in public health should promote evidence-based approaches to economic and public

health recovery by analyzing the present economic downturn and previous crisis. However, it is governance and leadership that will mostly determine how well health systems are prepared to face the crisis and find ways to mitigate its effects. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“This paper brings a short review about a peculiar characteristic of Professor Charcot, the father of neurology: the skepticism, emphasizing his selleck products personal view regarding the prognosis of several neurological conditions.”
“Placement of

C1 lateral mass screws may be facilitated by intentional C2 root sacrifice. Functional outcomes and morbidity following intentional sacrifice of the C2 root have not been reported in the literature. The objective is to find out if intentional C2 nerve root sacrifice affects functional outcomes and operative morbidity in patients undergoing posterior cervical fusion with C1 lateral mass screws. The study is a case report. Twenty-two consecutive elderly patients (10 males, 12 females with an average age of 77 years) with C1-2 instability were treated with posterior cervical fusion using C1 lateral mass screw placement. Five patients had preservation of the bilateral C2 nerve roots (PRES group) and 18 patients had intentional sacrifice of the bilateral C2 nerve root (SAC group). Operative times, blood loss, hospital length of stay, and complications were recorded for each patient. Functional outcomes, pain, and satisfaction scores were compared between the two groups at the time of ultimate follow-up. Average follow-up time was 19.3 months (range 6-66). The SAC group demonstrated significantly decreased operative time (109.4 vs. 187 min) and a trend towards decreased blood loss (344 vs. 1,030 mL).