Comparison of the scope of practice of physician associates with that of healthcare professions with prescribing responsibility from point of registration.

Physician associates (PAs) have been practising in the UK since the mid-2000s and are due to be regulated by the General Medical Council (GMC) after summer 2024. Presently, PAs are not able to prescribe prescription-only medication (POM), but this is anticipated to change following GMC regulation. This research compared the scope of practice (SoP) of PAs with other healthcare professionals who have some level of prescribing authority from the point of registration, to establish the need for PAs to prescribe POM and to explore which of the prescribing authority options would fit the PA role.

Validation of an Alternative Small Stem Assay for Blight Resistance in Chestnut Seedlings and Recommendations for Broader Use.

We evaluated an alternative small stem assay (AltSSA) for blight resistance in backcross hybrid chestnut trees (). Whereas standard small stem assays (SSAs) are done by inoculating small incisions in stems, in our AltSSA, 4- to 5-mm stems are cut off, and the exposed (living) stem tips are inoculated with discs of inoculum and temporarily covered with plastic sleeves. Intended primarily for forward selection, this method was designed to be easy to implement, to consistently induce cankering, and to better enable seedling recovery via the development of lateral shoots from the lower stem.

Is our bTB policy one of the worst attempts to control a major notifiable disease ever seen?

A group of experienced vets argue that the lack of control of endemically TB-infected communities of badgers has resulted in a bovine TB dilemma that is worse now than it was 50 years ago.

'It's oxymoronic for vets to be activist vegans'.

argues that livestock farming is essential to meet the global demand for food and that vets should be focusing on improving the food-animal cycle rather than abolishing it.

Continuing professional development for Physician Associates in primary care.

The Physician Associate role is relatively new to the United Kingdom and is currently undergoing a period of significant expansion. This includes an aim of 1000 PAs working in primary care by 2020. The profession has specific continuing professional development requirements which need to be addressed.

Deregulation of arginase induces bone complications in high-fat/high-sucrose diet diabetic mouse model.

A balanced diet is crucial for healthy development and prevention of musculoskeletal related diseases. Diets high in fat content are known to cause obesity, diabetes and a number of other disease states. Our group and others have previously reported that activity of the urea cycle enzyme arginase is involved in diabetes-induced dysregulation of vascular function due to decreases in nitric oxide formation.

A new kid on the block: the role of physician associates.

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Pain in medical inpatients: an under-recognised problem?

Pain is a common feature of a range of illnesses. Although it is perceived as a significant problem for surgical patients and those with terminal malignancy, there is a paucity of evidence regarding the prevalence of pain in general medical patients. This study set out to determine pain prevalence and the contribution of chronic pain in a teaching hospital medical unit.

Mycoplasma bovis and otitis in dairy calves in the United Kingdom.

Signs of severe otitis media in 20% of dairy calves on one farm were associated with Mycoplasma bovis infection, based on isolation from the external ear canal and nares. Affected calves seroconverted to M. bovis and no other significant bacteria were isolated.

Low-dose warfarin coupled with lower leg compression is effective prophylaxis against thromboembolic disease after hip arthroplasty.

Consecutive patients having elective total hip arthroplasty were prescribed 1 mg of warfarin for 7 days preceding surgery, variable doses while in hospital (target international normalized ratio, 1.5-2.0), and discharged to rehabilitation center or home taking 1 mg daily until 4-week to 6-week follow-up visit.

Do peripheral blood cultures taken in the emergency department influence clinical management?

Background: Blood cultures are routinely used to investigate suspected sepsis in the emergency department despite several studies demonstrating their limited influence on patient management.

Objectives: To quantify the use and clinical relevance of blood cultures obtained in the emergency department.

Methods: A retrospective study of blood cultures taken in the emergency department between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2004.

Do peripheral blood cultures taken in the emergency department influence clinical management?

Background: Blood cultures are routinely used to investigate suspected sepsis in the emergency department despite several studies showing their limited influence on patient management.

Objectives: To quantify the use and clinical relevance of blood cultures obtained in the emergency department.

Methods: A retrospective study of blood cultures taken in the emergency department between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2004.

Can opportunistic case-finding of paraproteins be clinically justified?

The addition of serum protein electrophoresis by laboratory staff upon finding an increased total protein or globulin appears to be practised widely in the UK. The criteria for assessing which samples are subject to electrophoresis vary considerably. They consist of initial objective laboratory data subsequently modified, somewhat subjectively, by other laboratory data and clinical details, but have often been chosen pragmatically.