Transnasal endoscopy: moving from endoscopy to the clinical outpatient-blue sky thinking in oesophageal testing.

Background: COVID-19 has severely affected UK endoscopy services with an estimate 86% loss of activity during the first wave. Subsequent delays in diagnostic and surveillance procedures highlight the need for novel solutions to tackle the resultant backlog. Transnasal endoscopy (TNE) provides an attractive option compared with conventional upper gastrointestinal endoscopy given its limited use of space, no sedation and reduced nursing resources.

British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) and British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (BSPGHAN) joint consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of eosinophilic oesophagitis in children and adults.

Background: Eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) is an increasingly common cause of dysphagia in both children and adults, as well as one of the most prevalent oesophageal diseases with a significant impact on physical health and quality of life. We have provided a single comprehensive guideline for both paediatric and adult gastroenterologists on current best practice for the evaluation and management of EoE.

Methods: The Oesophageal Section of the British Society of Gastroenterology was commissioned by the Clinical Standards Service Committee to develop these guidelines.

Widespread gaps in the quality of care for primary biliary cholangitis in UK.

Objective: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a progressive, autoimmune, cholestatic liver disease affecting approximately 15 000 individuals in the UK. Updated guidelines for the management of PBC were published by The European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) in 2017. We report on the first national, pilot audit that assesses the quality of care and adherence to guidelines.

Endoscopy findings in patients on dual antiplatelet therapy following percutaneous coronary intervention.

Purpose Of Study: This study examines the associations between dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), to explore possible predictors of outcomes.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of 3342 patients who underwent PCI between 1 August 2011 and 31 December 2018 in a single centre was carried out. Oesophagogastroduodenoscopies (OGDs) for patients 12 months post-PCI were analysed.

Incidence, pattern and severity of abnormal liver blood tests among hospitalised patients with SARS-COV2 (COVID-19) in South Wales.

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) is a novel coronavirus that emerged in Wuhan, China in late 2019 and since become a global pandemic. As such, its clinical behaviour is a subject of much interest. Initial reports suggested a significant proportion of patients have abnormal liver blood tests.

To scan or not to scan - D-dimers and computed tomography pulmonary angiography in the era of COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had many ramifications on healthcare delivery and practice. As part of this, utilising biomarkers to risk stratify patients has become increasingly popular. During the COVID-19 pandemic the use of D-dimer has increased due to the evidence of COVID-19 induced thrombo-embolic disease.

Comparison of an e-learning package with lecture-based teaching in the management of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT): a randomised controlled study.

Introduction: To compare the impact of an e-learning package with theoretical teaching on the ability of both graduate and undergraduate medical students to learn the management of supraventricular tachycardia.

Methods: We conducted a randomised, controlled, study at two Welsh medical schools. Participants were graduate-entry and undergraduate medical students, who were randomised (in a 1:1 ratio) to either 1 hour of training using an e-learning package or an hour of lecture-based teaching.

G-Eye: ocular manifestations of gastrointestinal disease.

Extraintestinal manifestations of gastrointestinal disease can form an important aspect of the diagnosis, monitoring and management in these diseases. Ocular manifestations in particular are often disregarded and can, albeit rarely, present as an emergency.

Developing a blood-based gene mutation assay as a novel biomarker for oesophageal adenocarcinoma.

The Phosphatidylinositol glycan class A (PIG-A) gene mutation assay phenotypically measures erythrocyte mutations, assessed here for their correlation to neoplastic progression in the gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)-Barrett's metaplasia (BM)-oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) model. Endoscopy patients underwent venipuncture and erythrocytes fluorescently stained for glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins; CD55 and CD59. Using flow cytometry, GPI-anchor negative erythrocytes (mutants) were scored and compared amongst groups.

Endoscopy in 2017: a national survey of practice in the UK.

Introduction: The Joint Advisory Group on Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (JAG), hosted by the Royal College of Physicians, London, oversees the quality assurance of endoscopy services across the UK. Additional questions focusing on the pressures faced by endoscopy units to meet targets were added to the 2017 annual Global Rating Scale (GRS) return. This provides a unique insight into endoscopy services across all nations of the UK involving the acute and non-acute Nation Health Service sector as well as the independent sector.

UK guidelines on oesophageal dilatation in clinical practice.

These are updated guidelines which supersede the original version published in 2004. This work has been endorsed by the Clinical Services and Standards Committee of the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) under the auspices of the oesophageal section of the BSG. The original guidelines have undergone extensive revision by the 16 members of the Guideline Development Group with representation from individuals across all relevant disciplines, including the Heartburn Cancer UK charity, a nursing representative and a patient representative.

Securing a cardiology speciality training programme in the UK: how did other people do it?

Background: Application to cardiology specialty training is competitive with uncertainty among candidates as to what the secret recipe for a successful appointment is. We aimed to investigate objective variables, which were demonstrated by successful appointees to cardiology training schemes in the UK.

Methods: Data from successful cardiology applicants for the years 2014 to 2016 were obtained from the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board under the Freedom of Information Act.

A Case of Acute Hepatitis E Infection in a Patient with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treated Successfully with Ribavirin.

We present the case of a man who, following immunosuppressive treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, became infected with viral hepatitis E. Acute hepatitis E virus infection should be considered in patients with deranged liver function on a background of haematological malignancies or immunosuppression, even without travel to endemic regions. Whilst clearance is usually spontaneous in immune-competent individuals, these at-risk groups may develop a more complicated and protracted disease course.

Hospital doctors' Opinions regarding educational Utility, public Sentiment and career Effects of Medical television Dramas: the HOUSE MD study.

Objectives: To evaluate the opinions of practicing clinicians on medical television dramas and the effects these series have on society as well as their own practice.

Design, Setting And Participants: Observational study using a structured questionnaire disseminated among doctors of all grades and specialties at one tertiary centre and two large secondary care district general hospitals in Wales, United Kingdom. Three hundred and seventy-two questionnaires were distributed over a 3-month period, with 200 completed questionnaires received (response rate, 54%).