Systematic review of the cost-effectiveness of screening for lung cancer with low dose computed tomography.

Objectives: Lung cancer (LC) remains a burden for patients and healthcare systems, with most cases only diagnosed once disease is late stage. Screening for LC with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) has shown a stage shift and led to a lung cancer-specific mortality reduction. Economic evaluations have been conducted which explore the benefits and costs of screening, however, previous systematic reviews concluded results were heterogeneous.

Implementation of targeted screening for lung cancer in a high-risk population within routine NHS practice using low-dose computed tomography.

We report a primary care-based lung cancer targeted screening programme using low-dose CT (LDCT) in South Tyneside and Sunderland. Ever smokers with ≥10 pack-years aged 55-74 years were identified at annual COPD review. 925 individuals attended for LDCT.

GPs have key role in improving outcomes in acute asthma.

Asthma deaths in the UK remain among the highest in Europe. The 2014 National Review of Asthma Deaths looked at detailed data over a 12-month period assessing 195 patients who died from asthma and highlighted the avoidable factors in patient deaths. Although faults were found in secondary care, many of the problems related to poor management of patients in the community, both in terms of regular surveillance and assessment and treatment at the onset of attacks.

Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Evaluate the Motor Pathways After an Intraoperative Spinal Cord Injury and to Predict the Recovery of Intraoperative Transcranial Electrical Motor Evoked Potentials: A Case Report.

The authors report a case of unilateral loss of intraoperative transcranial electrical motor evoked potentials (TES MEP) associated with a spinal cord injury during scoliosis correction and the subsequent use of extraoperative transcranial magnetic stimulation to monitor the recovery of spinal cord function. The authors demonstrate the absence of TES MEPs and absent transcranial magnetic stimulation responses in the immediate postoperative period, and document the partial recovery of transcranial magnetic stimulation responses, which corresponded to partial recovery of TES MEPs. Intraoperative TES MEPs were enhanced using spatial facilitation technique, which enabled the patient to undergo further surgery to stabilize the spine and correct her scoliosis.