Publications by authors named "Grace Sharp"
Aim: To assess the circulating emm types of pharyngeal isolates of group A streptococcus (GAS) among school children living in Northland, the Gisborne region and Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Methods: GAS were isolated from throat swabs sent to laboratories in Northland (197 in 2013) and Gisborne (115 in 2014-15) and from children enrolled in the Palmerston North Solar Ventilation Project (70 in 2013-14). The incidences of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) cases in the three regions in 2014 were 9, 19.
Background: Hyperbaric oxygen has been used as a therapy for patients experiencing chronic intestinal syndromes after pelvic radiotherapy for decades, yet the evidence to support the use of this therapy is based almost exclusively on non-randomised studies. We aimed to provide conclusive results for the clinical benefits of hyperbaric oxygen in patients with chronic bowel dysfunction after radiotherapy for pelvic malignancies.
Methods: HOT2 was a double-blind, sham-controlled, phase 3 randomised study of patients (≥18 years) with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms for 12 months or more after radiotherapy and which persisted despite at least 3 months of optimal medical therapy and no evidence of cancer recurrence.
Background: Radiation dose distributions created by two dimensional (2D) treatment planning are responsible for partial volumes receiving >107% of the prescribed dose in a proportion of patients prescribed whole breast radiotherapy after tumour excision of early breast cancer. These may contribute to clinically significant late radiation adverse effects.
Aim: To test three dimensional (3D) intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) against 2D dosimetry using standard wedge compensators in terms of late adverse effects after whole breast radiotherapy.