Differential effects of oral versus intravenous hydrocortisone and dexamethasone on capillary blood glucose levels in adult inpatients - a single centre study.

Background: Corticosteroids raise blood glucose concentrations; however, it remains unknown which form of administration, oral or intravenous, is associated with the greatest degree of blood glucose rise in hospitalised patients. Furthermore, it is not known whether the pattern of the associated hyperglycaemia throughout the day differs depending on the route of administration.

Methods: This was a single centre retrospective study of 384 adult inpatients receiving oral or intravenous hydrocortisone and dexamethasone.

The Association of HbA Variability with 12 Week and 12 Month Outcomes on Diabetes Related Foot Ulcer Healing.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the relationship between HbA variability and foot ulcer healing at 12 weeks and 12 months.

Methods: Using National Diabetic Foot Care Audit (NDFA) and hospital records, demographics, baseline ulcer characteristics and healing outcomes for subjects presenting with a foot ulcer between 2017-2022 were collected at 12 weeks and 12 months. Subjects had diabetes duration > 3 years and ≥ 3 HbA recordings in the 5 years prior to presentation.

Assessing Chronic Ear Symptoms in Bone-Conduction Hearing Implant (BCHI) Patients Using the Chronic Otitis Media Benefit Inventory (COMBI) Score.

Objective: This study aimed to determine improvement in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using a validated disease-specific patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) questionnaire in patients undergoing bone-conduction hearing implant (BCHI) insertion.

Study Design: A mixed retrospective and prospective correlational study.

Setting: Single tertiary referral center in the United Kingdom.

Glycemic Variability as a Predictor of Graft Failure Following Infrainguinal Bypass for Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Glycemic variability (GV), measured as the change in visit-to-visit glycated hemoglobin (HbA), increases the risk of multiple adverse outcomes. However, the impact of GV on graft patency following infrainguinal bypass (IIB) is unknown. A retrospective cohort study was undertaken to assess the impact of GV on graft patency.

Relationship between the m-FI 11 score and 2-year survival in octogenarians undergoing colorectal cancer resection.

Introduction: The modified Frailty Index (m-FI) offers a simple scoring tool, predicting short-term outcomes in elderly colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. However, links between m-FI scores and 2-year postoperative mortality in octogenarian CRC resection patients remain underexplored. A streamlined frailty index can aid in preoperative assessments to identify elderly patients who are likely to live longer after curative resection surgery to then tailor postoperative care.

The effect of different types of oral or intravenous corticosteroids on capillary blood glucose levels in hospitalized inpatients with and without diabetes.

Purpose: This study investigated: (1) the type of corticosteroid associated with the greatest degree of hyperglycemia, assessed using bedside capillary blood glucose monitoring, in hospitalized patients; and (2) the pattern of hyperglycemia throughout the day with the use of each type of corticosteroid.

Methods: This single-center, retrospective study used data from 964 adult inpatients receiving oral or IV corticosteroids. Data on capillary blood glucose concentrations and time taken over 7 days were collected.

Brief psychological screening for trapeziectomy: Identifying patients at high risk of a poor functional outcome.

Introduction: This study investigates if the psychological subscale from the STarT Back Screening Tool (STarT Psych-sub) identifies patients at high risk of a poor functional outcome after a trapeziectomy based on modifiable psychological factors.

Methods: A total of 83 patients completed the STarT Psych-sub, QuickDASH (Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand), Patient Evaluation Measure (PEM) and a numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) before trapeziectomy. QuickDASH, PEM and NPRS were completed at 6 weeks, 16 weeks and 1 year after the trapeziectomy.

How do medical students want to learn ENT? Perspectives from a consensus forum.

Objective: The UK Medical Licensing Assessment curriculum represents a consensus on core content, including ENT-related content for newly qualified doctors. No similar consensus exists as to how ENT content should be taught at medical school.

Method: A virtual consensus forum was held at the 2nd East of England ENT Conference in April 2021.

Comparison of Disease-Specific, Generic, and Hearing-Specific Instruments Assessing Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients Undergoing Middle Ear Surgery for Chronic Otitis Media: A Prospective Correlational Study.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the responsiveness of three instruments (disease-specific, generic, and hearing-specific) assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adult patients undergoing surgery for chronic otitis media (COM).

Study Design: Prospective correlational study.

Setting: Two otology referral centers in England, United Kingdom.

The Association Between Glycaemic Control, Renal Function and Post-operative Ophthalmic Complications in People With Diabetes Undergoing Cataract Surgery-A Single-Centre Retrospective Analysis.

Introduction: In general surgery, it has been shown that poor peri-operative diabetes control, as measured by glycated haemoglobin (HbA), is associated with adverse post-operative outcomes. National data for the UK suggest that the post-operative complication rate for cataract surgery is 2.8%.

The Association Between Mean Glycated Haemoglobin or Glycaemic Variability and the Development of Retinopathy in People with Diabetes: A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study.

Introduction: To determine the association between mean glycated haemoglobin (HbA) or glycaemic variability and the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in people with diabetes.

Methods: An observational cohort study with people registered with a DR eye screening service between October 2012 and October 2017. Those who had no DR at the start of the study were followed for a maximum of 5 years.

Impact of Hearing Disability and Ear Discharge on Quality-of-Life in Patients with Chronic Otitis Media: Data from the Multinational Collaborative COMQ-12 Study.

Objective: This study aimed to assess how two disease-related factors, hearing disability and ear discharge, affect health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) in patients with chronic otitis media (COM).

Study Design: Multinational prospective cohort study.

Setting: Nine otology referral centers in eight countries.

Presentation of dizziness in individuals with chronic otitis media: data from the multinational collaborative COMQ-12 study.

Purpose: In chronic otitis media (COM), disease chronicity and severity of middle ear inflammation may influence the development of inner ear deficits, increasing the risk of vestibular impairment. This secondary analysis of the multinational collaborative Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire-12 (COMQ-12) dataset sought to determine the prevalence of vestibular symptoms in patients with COM and identify associated disease-related characteristics.

Methods: Adult patients with a diagnosis of COM in outpatient settings at nine otology referral centers across eight countries were included.

Multinational Appraisal of the Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire 12 (COMQ-12).

Objectives: The Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire-12 (COMQ-12) assesses patient-reported health-related quality of life. A multinational collaborative project was performed to translate and appraise the psychometric properties of the COMQ-12 across Europe, Asia, and South America.

Methods: Eight otology units from seven countries (China, Colombia, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Turkey) created native versions of the COMQ-12 by the process of translation and back-translation.

Outcomes of post-operative duplex ultrasound following arteriovenous fistula formation: A pragmatic single-centre experience.

Background: Duplex ultrasound surveillance with pre-emptive treatment of an identified stenosis is increasingly being utilised to help maintain arteriovenous fistula patency. This study aims to determine whether post-operative duplex ultrasound surveillance can improve fistula patency at 12 months and improve the proportion of 'pre-haemodialysis' patients commencing haemodialysis via a usable fistula.

Methods: All arteriovenous fistulae formed between 1st January 2015 and 31st August 2017 in a single, tertiary vascular centre were included.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing as a treatment for tinnitus.

Objectives/hypothesis: To determine the effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) as a treatment for tinnitus.

Study Design: Single-site prospective interventional clinical trial at a university hospital in the United Kingdom.

Methods: Participants were provided with tEMDR.

Assessing the Effect of Piperacillin/Tazobactam on Hematological Parameters in Patients Admitted with Moderate or Severe Foot Infections.

Introduction: Piperacillin/tazobactam is a commonly used antibiotic for the empirical treatment of severe diabetic foot infections. One of the most feared complications of this drug is the development of pancytopenia. The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of piperacillin/tazobactam caused any hematological changes in patients admitted with severe diabetes-related foot infections from a specialist multidisciplinary foot clinic.

The impact of glycaemic variability on wound healing in the diabetic foot - A retrospective study of new ulcers presenting to a specialist multidisciplinary foot clinic.

Aims: Glycaemic variability - the visit-to-visit variation in HbA1c - plays a possible role in the development of micro and macrovascular disease in patients with diabetes. Whether HbA1c variability is a factor determining wound healing in diabetic foot ulcers remains unknown. We aimed to determine whether HbA1c variability is associated with foot ulcer healing time.

The Seasonal Variation of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.

Objective: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is characterized by recurrent episodes of positional vertigo due to dislodged otoconia debris within the semicircular canals. Many studies have proposed a correlation between Vitamin-D deficiency and recurrent BPPV. In the UK, serum Vitamin-D falls during the winter, reaching its lowest level in May and it is highest level in September.

Assessing the quality of primary care referrals to surgery of patients with diabetes in the East of England: A multi-centre cross-sectional cohort study.

Aim: Peri-operative hyperglycaemia is associated with an increased incidence of adverse outcomes. Communication between primary and secondary care is paramount to minimise these harms. National guidance in the UK recommends that the glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) should be measured within 3 months prior to surgery and that the concentration should be less that 69 mmol/mol (8.

Pharmacist provided medicines reconciliation within 24 hours of admission and on discharge: a randomised controlled pilot study.

Background: The UK government currently recommends that all patients receive medicines reconciliation (MR) from a member of the pharmacy team within 24 hours of admission and subsequent discharge. The cost-effectiveness of this intervention is unknown. A pilot study to inform the design of a future randomised controlled trial to determine effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a pharmacist-delivered service was undertaken.

Predictors of Outcomes in Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis Treated Initially With Conservative (Nonsurgical) Medical Management: A Retrospective Study.

The optimal way to manage diabetic foot osteomyelitis remains uncertain, with debate in the literature as to whether it should be managed conservatively (ie, nonsurgically) or surgically. We aimed to identify clinical variables that influence outcomes of nonsurgical management in diabetic foot osteomyelitis. We conducted a retrospective study of consecutive patients with diabetes presenting to a tertiary center between 2007 and 2011 with foot osteomyelitis initially treated with nonsurgical management.