Combining tissue biomarkers with mpMRI to diagnose clinically significant prostate cancer. Analysis of 21 biomarkers in the PICTURE study.

Background: Serum PSA and digital rectal examination remain the key diagnostic tools for detecting prostate cancer. However, due to the limited specificity of serum PSA, the applicability of this marker continues to be controversial. Recent use of image-guided biopsy along with pathological assessment and the use of biomarkers has dramatically improved the diagnosis of clinically significant cancer.

Appraising the relevance of DNA copy number loss and gain in prostate cancer using whole genome DNA sequence data.

A variety of models have been proposed to explain regions of recurrent somatic copy number alteration (SCNA) in human cancer. Our study employs Whole Genome DNA Sequence (WGS) data from tumor samples (n = 103) to comprehensively assess the role of the Knudson two hit genetic model in SCNA generation in prostate cancer. 64 recurrent regions of loss and gain were detected, of which 28 were novel, including regions of loss with more than 15% frequency at Chr4p15.

Whole blood mRNA in prostate cancer reveals a four-gene androgen regulated panel.

Due to increased sensitivity, the expression of circulating nucleotides is rapidly gaining popularity in cancer diagnosis. Whole blood mRNA has been used in studies on a number of cancers, most notably two separate studies that used whole blood mRNA to define non-overlapping signatures of prostate cancer that has become castration independent. Prostate cancer is known to rely on androgens for initial growth, and there is increasing evidence on the importance of the androgen axis in advanced disease.

Method for sampling tissue for research which preserves pathological data in radical prostatectomy.

Background: The diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer is a challenging global healthcare issue requiring significant molecular research. Such research frequently utilizes fresh frozen human tissue which needs to be obtained in a manner acceptable to the pathologist which does not compromise tumor diagnosis or staging.

Methods: Radical prostatectomy specimens were handled in a standardized method before being sliced fresh.

Formatively evaluating the importance of different aspects of an electronic blood transfusion system from the end users' point of view: a questionnaire study.

Blood transfusion is a process in which potential errors may result in serious adverse events to patients. To help improve the safety and efficiency of the blood transfusion process an electronic clinical transfusion management system is being piloted by NHS Connecting for Health. Evaluation of the implementation is being carried out in parallel.

The Oxford clinical intranet: providing clinicians with access to patient records and multiple knowledge bases with internet technology.

The Oxford Clinical Intranet provides clinicians in primary and secondary care across Oxfordshire with: Access to information about their patients held on multiple remote disparate computer systems, including admissions and episodes, Laboratory Medicine reports, Radiology reports and hospital discharge letters. The patient records are managed using CSW Case Notes. Access to support and advisory information, developed both within the organization and collected from other sites and projects, a wide range of internal handbooks, directories and guidelines and links to external resources, including evidence-based resources, the Cochrane Collaboration and the NHS National electronic Library of Health.

An integrated knowledge management system for the clinical laboratories: an initial application of an architectural model.

eLABook is a web-distributed knowledge management system designed to support the needs of clinicians and laboratory staff in the selection and interpretation of investigations in laboratory medicine. Access can be by hyperlinks at any point through the request-report cycle, by browsing down a hierarchy, and by various search approaches. The information describes service issues, which are predominantly locally determined, and clinical implications, which may be local, national, governmental and international.