Valuing antibiotics: The role of the hospital clinician.

The global public health threat of antibiotic-resistant infections as well as the lack of new treatments in clinical development is a critical issue. Reasons for this include diminished commercial incentives for pharmaceutical companies to develop new antibiotics, which part-reflects a shift in antibiotic marketing paradigm from broad deployment to targeted therapy in relatively small patient populations. Such changes are encouraged by antimicrobial stewardship (AMS).

Global prevalence of ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: For effective health care provision, knowledge of disease prevalence is paramount. There has been no systematic endeavour to establish continent-based AS estimates, however, prevalence is thought to vary by country and background HLA-B27 prevalence. This study aimed to estimate AS prevalence worldwide and to calculate the expected number of cases.

Relationship between arterial dysfunction and extra-articular features in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Systemic inflammation may be a common process that underpins both atherosclerosis and extra-articular features (ExRA) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We evaluated the relationship between ExRA and arterial dysfunction in 114 consecutive patients with RA (82% women) without overt arterial disease aged 40-65 years. A trained research nurse undertook 'SphygmoCor' pulse wave analysis (PWA) using radial applanation tonometry to measure the extent (augmentation index, AIX%) and timing (reflected wave transit time, RWT, msec) of aortic wave reflection.

Phase III Study of Silver Leaf Nylon Dressing vs Standard Care for Reduction of Inframammary Moist Desquamation in Patients Undergoing Adjuvant Whole Breast Radiation Therapy.

Aims: The primary objective of this study was to assess silver leaf nylon dressings as a prophylactic measure in reducing inframammary fold radiation induced dermatitis in women receiving adjuvant whole breast radiotherapy compared with standard skin care. A secondary objective was to assess if the dressing influenced breast skin-related pain, itching and burning resulting from whole breast radiotherapy.

Material And Methods: A prospective randomized trial compared silver leaf nylon dressing worn continuously from the sixth fraction of whole breast radiotherapy until 14 days after therapy completion to standard skin care in patients deemed to be at risk of inframammary radiation induced dermatitis by virtue of a large breast volume or a significant inframammary skin fold in the treatment position.

Fatigue: a principal contributor to impaired quality of life in ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Objectives: To describe quality of life (QoL) in an ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) cohort and make comparisons with a general population sample. In addition, we aimed to take preliminary steps to identify potential disease and psycho-social factors which may determine QoL impairment.

Methods: A population-based case-control study was designed.

Relationship between arterial stiffness and Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire disability in rheumatoid arthritis patients without overt arterial disease.

Objective: To quantify the relationship between Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) disability and arterial stiffness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: A consecutive series of 114 patients with RA but without overt arterial disease, aged 40-65 years, were recruited from rheumatology clinics. A research nurse measured blood pressure (BP), arterial stiffness (heart rate-adjusted augmentation index), fasting lipids, glucose, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and rheumatoid factor (RF).

Arterial stiffness and cumulative inflammatory burden in rheumatoid arthritis: a dose-response relationship independent of established cardiovascular risk factors.

Objective: To quantify the relationship between arterial stiffness and cumulative inflammatory burden in patients with RA.

Methods: We recruited RA patients without overt arterial disease aged 40-65 years, attending hospital rheumatology outpatient clinics. Standardized research nurse assessment included blood pressure (BP), pulse wave analysis (PWA, SphygmoCor), BMI, fasting blood sample (lipids, glucose, RF and ESR), patient questionnaire (smoking, alcohol, diet, exercise, family history of premature coronary heart disease and Stanford HAQ), current medication and medical record review.