Open-Source Image Analysis Software Yields Reproducible CT Measures of Longissimus Muscle Area and Density in Sheep.

Longissimus muscles (LM) in sheep are important for animal scientists who study meat quality and translational researchers who study thoracolumbar spinal disease. Computed tomography (CT) is an established technique for characterizing paraspinal muscles in sheep; however, studies reporting reproducibility of CT measures using open-source software are lacking. The objectives of this prospective pilot study were to develop a standardized protocol for measuring LM area and density in sheep using CT and to determine the reproducibility for measurements.

Adaptation of a stoma care pathway and use of telephone clinics during the pandemic: patient experience survey.

Unlabelled: With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, outpatient clinics had to adjust and reduce the number of face-to-face appointments. The Cambridge stoma service has a recognised pathway of stoma care but needed to adjust this in line with government guidelines. The team took the opportunity to audit the current pathway and complete a patient experience survey to determine the future of the service and potential adaptations to the pathway in the future.