Contact X-ray Brachytherapy as a sole treatment in selected patients with early rectal cancer - Multi-centre study.

Background And Purpose: Radical surgery is the standard of care for early rectal cancer. However, alternative organ-preserving approaches are attractive, especially in frail or elderly patients as these avoid surgical complications. We have assessed the efficacy of sole Contact X-ray Brachytherapy (CXB) treatment in stage-1 rectal cancer patients who were unsuitable for or declined surgery.

The characteristics of eating, drinking and oro-pharyngeal swallowing difficulties associated with repaired oesophageal atresia/tracheo-oesophageal fistula: a systematic review and meta-proportional analysis.

Introduction: Eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties are commonly reported morbidities for individuals born with OA/TOF. This study aimed to determine the nature and prevalence of eating, drinking and oro-pharyngeal swallowing difficulties reported in this population.

Method: A systematic review and meta-proportional analysis were conducted (PROSPERO: CRD42020207263).

Surgical intervention and long-term renal outcomes of congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction in a young adult cohort.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of surgical intervention on long-term renal outcomes for adult patients with congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO).

Methods: We queried service members diagnosed with UPJO from the United States Military Health System electronic health records from 2005 to 2020. We assessed demographic, laboratory, radiology, surgical intervention, and outcome data.

Brachytherapy for rectal and anal cancer: Where are we and current perspectives?

Anal and rectal cancers were some of the first disease sites treated with brachytherapy due to the anatomic ease of implantation. As external beam radiotherapy grew in popularity the use of ano-rectal brachytherapy declined. However, the past few years have seen a steady resurgence in the use of brachytherapy in the ano-rectum supported by the use of large clinical series and randomized trials.

Pain and symptom relief using inhaled methoxyflurane for gynecologic brachytherapy applicator removal.

Purpose: Intra-cavitary brachytherapy forms an essential part of the curative treatment of cervical and vaginal cancer, and can be used for cure or palliation in endometrial and vulval cancers. Removal of brachytherapy applicators is often performed after anaesthesia has worn off and can be an uncomfortable and anxiety-provoking procedure. In this paper, we present our experience in a series of patients before and after the introduction of inhaled methoxyflurane (IMF, Penthrox™).

Implementing cone-beam computed tomography-guided online adaptive radiotherapy in cervical cancer.

Background And Purpose: Adaptive radiotherapy (ART) in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) has shown promising outcomes. This study investigated the feasibility of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-guided online ART (oART) for the treatment of LACC.

Material And Methods: The quality of the automated radiotherapy treatment plans and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven contour delineation for LACC on a novel CBCT-guided oART system were assessed.

Consensus on level descriptors for a functional children's eating and drinking activity scale.

Aim: To agree wording of level descriptors for a measure of functional outcome of children's eating and drinking.

Method: An online, modified Delphi method was used to gather feedback on current level descriptor wording and generate rewording suggestions. Thirty speech and language therapists, working in a variety of settings and geographical locations, were invited to be part of the Delphi expert panel.

Enhanced Recovery after Uterine Corpus Cancer Surgery: A 10 Year Retrospective Cohort Study of Robotic Surgery in an NHS Cancer Centre.

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust introduced robotic surgery for uterine corpus cancer in 2010 to support increased access to minimally invasive surgery, a central element of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway. More than 1750 gynaecological oncology robotic procedures have now been performed at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust. A retrospective cohort study was performed of patients undergoing surgery for uterine corpus cancer between the 1 January 2010 and the 31 December 2019 to evaluate its success.

Parents' experiences of feeding children born with oesophageal atresia/tracheo-oesophageal fistula.

Background: Feeding difficulties are widely acknowledged following oesophageal atresia/tracheo-oesophageal fistula repair. However, little is understood about the nature and severity of these difficulties. This study explored feeding in children with oesophageal atresia/tracheo-oesophageal fistula from the parent perspective.

Endorectal contact radiation boosting: Making the case for dose AND volume reporting.

Introduction: The various rectal endoluminal radiation techniques all have steep, but different, dose gradients. In rectal contact brachytherapy (CXB) doses are typically prescribed and reported to the applicator surface and not to the gross tumor volume (GTV), clinical target volume (CTV) or organs at risk (OAR), which is crucial to understand tumor response and toxicity rates. To quantify the above-described problem, we performed a dose modeling study using a fixed prescription dose at the surface of the applicator and varied tumor response scenarios.

Microsporidial myositis, keratitis and hypercalcaemia in a cystic fibrosis lung transplant recipient.

A man in his 50s was admitted with 4 months of myalgia, headaches, hypercalcaemia and declining renal function on a background of lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis 5 years prior. MRI confirmed myositis and a muscle biopsy revealed invasive muscular microsporidial infection. Positron emission tomography(PET)/CT revealed widespread dissemination of the infection.

Research Priorities for Pediatric Intensive Care Nutrition Within the United Kingdom: A National Institute of Health Research James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership.

Objectives: To determine research priorities in PICU nutrition, which represent the shared priorities of patients, parents, carers, and PICU healthcare professionals within the United Kingdom.

Design: A national multiphase priority setting methodology in partnership with the James Lind Alliance delivered over 16 months (June 2020-September 2021). Part 1: a national scoping survey asked respondents to submit their research uncertainties related to PICU nutrition.

GEC ESTRO ACROP consensus recommendations for contact brachytherapy for rectal cancer.

Purpose: To issue consensus recommendations for contact X-Ray brachytherapy (CXB) for rectal cancer covering pre-treatment evaluation, treatment, dosimetric issues and follow-up. These recommendations cover CXB in the definitive and palliative setting.

Methods: Members of GEC ESTRO with expertise in rectal CXB issued consensus-based recommendations for CXB based on literature review and clinical experience.

Evolution of bulbar function in spinal muscular atrophy type 1 treated with nusinersen.

Aim: To assess the evolution of bulbar function in nusinersen-treated spinal muscular atrophy type 1 (SMA1).

Method: This single-centre retrospective study identified 24 patients (14 females and 10 males) with SMA1, treated with nusinersen between 2017 and 2020. We adapted and validated the Paediatric Functional Oral Intake Scale (p-FOIS), which is an outcome measure to assess bulbar function.

Dysphagia rehabilitation following acquired brain injury, including cerebral palsy, across the lifespan: a scoping review protocol.

Background: Swallowing impairment (dysphagia) following brain injury can lead to life-threatening complications such as dehydration, aspiration pneumonia and acute choking episodes. In adult therapeutic practice, there is research and clinical evidence to support the use of swallowing exercises to improve swallowing physiology in dysphagia; however, the use of these exercises in treating children with dysphagia is largely unexplored. Fundamental questions remain regarding the feasibility and effectiveness of using swallowing exercises with children.

Genetic Variation of and : Clinical Implications on the Use of Primaquine for Elimination of .

Primaquine, an 8-aminoquinoline, is the only medication approved by the World Health Organization to treat the hypnozoite stage of and malaria. Relapse, triggered by activation of dormant hypnozoites in the liver, can occur weeks to years after primary infection, and provides the predominant source of transmission in endemic settings. Hence, primaquine is essential for individual treatment and elimination efforts.

An Update on the Laboratory Diagnosis of spp. Infection.

species causing human illness are present globally and can cause significant disease. Diagnosis and identification of this intracellular bacteria are challenging with many available diagnostic modalities suffering from several shortcomings. Detection of antibodies directed against spp.

The Applicability of Commonly Used Severity of Illness Scores to Tropical Infections in Australia.

Many patients with leptospirosis, melioidosis, and rickettsial infection require intensive care unit (ICU) admission in tropical Australia every year. The multi-organ dysfunction associated with these infections results in significantly elevated severity of illness (SOI) scores. However, the accuracy of these SOI scores in predicting death from these tropical infections is incompletely defined.

More than a roof; challenges for older women renters in British Columbia, Canada.

The growing issue of housing affordability is an increasing challenge worldwide as the financialization of housing markets undermines housing as a basic human right. One of the most vulnerable segments of the population affected by rising housing costs are older, low-income, females. Drawing on qualitative interviews with older women, we explore lived experiences of housing insecurity using a feminist political ecology perspective.

Dysphonia and dysphagia consequences of paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS).

Importance: Paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome, temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS) is a novel disease first identified in 2020. Recent cohort studies have described the complex presentation and symptomatology. This paper provides detailed description of the dysphagia and dysphonia symptoms, management, and outcome.

Acute and late complications and toxicities of skin brachytherapy.

Skin cancer is the most prevalent malignancy, and its incidence is rising. Surgery is the primary treatment, however, morbidity of surgical resection in certain parts of the body warrant alternate treatment options such as radiation therapy. Complex topology of the skin can pose a challenge for treatment with photon and electron external beam radiotherapy techniques.

COVID-19 pandemic experiences of parents caring for children with oesophageal atresia/tracheo-oesophageal fistula.

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a global health crisis of unparalleled magnitude. The direct risk to the health of children is low. However, disease-containment measures have society-wide impacts.