Audit of co-morbidity patterns and 5-year survival among patients presenting to a rapid access leg ulcer service.

While leg ulceration is common, data regarding long-term is limited. Historical data indicate that approximately 50% of leg ulcer patients die within 5 years of presentation. However, little is known regarding survival outcomes in contemporary patient populations.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Nonoperative Management for SVS Grade II Blunt Traumatic Aortic Injury.

Background: Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) grade II blunt traumatic aortic injury is defined as intramural hematoma with or without external contour abnormality. It is uncertain whether this aortic injury pattern should be treated with endovascular stent-grafting or nonoperative measures. Since the adoption of the SVS Guidelines on endovascular repair of blunt traumatic aortic injury, the practice pattern for management of grade II injuries has been heterogenous.

Potentially undiagnosed cognitive impairment in patients with peripheral arterial disease: A systematic review of the literature.

Introduction: It is purported that patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) may have impaired cognitive function due to concomitant cerebrovascular disease. Such disease may be clinically unrecognized but can impact on a patient's recovery and prognosis. The purpose of this systematic review was to interrogate the body of published evidence on undiagnosed cognitive impairment in PAD patients.

Diagnostic Performance of Ankle-Brachial Pressure Index in Lower Extremity Arterial Disease.

 Ankle-brachial pressure indices (ABIs) continue to form the basis of diagnostics for lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD). However, there remains a paucity of data to support its accuracy. This study aims to evaluate its diagnostic sensitivity and specificity using established arterial-imaging modalities as a benchmark.

Re-amputation and survival following toe amputation: outcome data from a tertiary referral centre.

Purpose: Toe amputation is a commonly performed procedure for irreversible foot sepsis. However, outcome and predictors of outcome are poorly understood. Our aim was to determine survival and rate of progression to further amputation following index toe amputation.

Investigating the Potential and Pitfalls of EV-Encapsulated MicroRNAs as Circulating Biomarkers of Breast Cancer.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) shuttle microRNA (miRNA) throughout the circulation and are believed to represent a fingerprint of the releasing cell. We isolated and characterized serum EVs of breast tumour-bearing animals, breast cancer (BC) patients, and healthy controls. EVs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), protein quantification, western blotting, and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA).

Compression therapy following ClariVein® ablation therapy: a randomised controlled trial of COMpression Therapy Following MechanO-Chemical Ablation (COMMOCA).

Background: Endovenous treatment of varicose veins has increased in popularity over the last decade. There remains, however, a degree of uncertainty regarding the role of compression bandaging or hosiery following this intervention. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence Guideline Development Group has advocated further research to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of this post-procedure intervention.

Patients referred for arteriovenous fistula construction: a retrospective outcome analysis.

Objectives: With lower rates of sepsis and re-interventions, arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred vascular access modality. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of patients referred for AVF construction at a single center in Cork, Ireland.

Methods: The current study is a single-center retrospective review of all patients who underwent AVF creation between 2015 and 2017.

The changing cost of breast cancer care: lessons from a centralised modern cancer centre.

Background: The cost of new cancer technologies has been the subject of intense debate in recent years. There have been significant advances in therapeutic techniques for breast cancer over the past 20 years. This has been accompanied by the concentration of services in designated cancer centres.

Quantifying patient preferences for symptomatic breast clinic referral: a decision analysis study.

Objectives: Decision analysis study that incorporates patient preferences and probability estimates to investigate the impact of women's preferences for referral or an alternative strategy of watchful waiting if faced with symptoms that could be due to breast cancer.

Setting: Community-based study.

Participants: Asymptomatic women aged 30-60 years.

Exosome-encapsulated microRNAs as circulating biomarkers for breast cancer.

Breast cancer is a highly prevalent disease, accounting for 29% of invasive cancers in women. Survival from this disease depends on the stage at diagnosis, with patients who are detected earlier having more favourable outcomes. It is because of this that research groups are focusing on the development of a blood-based biomarker for breast cancer.

Development and validation of a clinical prediction rule to identify suspected breast cancer: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The number of primary care referrals of women with breast symptoms to symptomatic breast units (SBUs) has increased exponentially in the past decade in Ireland. The aim of this study is to develop and validate a clinical prediction rule (CPR) to identify women with breast cancer so that a more evidence based approach to referral from primary care to these SBUs can be developed.

Methods: We analysed routine data from a prospective cohort of consecutive women reviewed at a SBU with breast symptoms.

Metastatic breast disease: an all too common cause of back pain.

A 50-year-old multiparous woman presented with a 3 month history of back pain. She was initially treated for non-mechanical back pain by her primary care physician, but was subsequently discovered to have a right sided clinical breast cancer and palpable axillary lymphadenopathy. An oestrogen/progesterone receptor positive invasive ductal carcinoma with axillary metastatic disease was confirmed on breast clinic triple assessment.