Real-Time Dosimetry in Endourology: Tracking Staff Radiation Risks.

Background: To retrospectively investigate scatter radiation (SCR) exposure among staff in the endourology operating theatre.

Methods: During surgeries under fluoroscopic guidance, five professional groups (urological surgeon [US], surgical nurse [SN], assistant surgical nurse [ASN], anaesthetist [A], and anaesthesia care [AC]) wore real-time dosimeters (Philips DoseAware System) on their head and chest over lead aprons between July 2023 and February 2024. The SCR data were analysed and correlated with procedural and patient factors.

Functional Outcome and Safety of Endoscopic Treatment Options for Benign Prostatic Obstruction (BPO) in Patients ≥ 75 Years of Age.

The selection of suitable patients for the surgical treatment of benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) is a challenge in persons ≥75 years of age. : After a systematic literature search of PubMed, 22 articles were included in this review. Clinical and functional parameters were evaluated statistically.

[Imaging in nephroureterolithasis].

In the acute diagnostics of a suspected nephroureterolithiasis, ultrasonography should be the examination modality of choice. In cases of suspected urolithiasis, unclear flank pain with fever or in cases of a solitary kidney, a noncontrast computed tomography (CT) scan should always subsequently be performed. If the sonography findings are inconclusive in pregnant women a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination can be considered.

Gonadal-sparing total body irradiation with the use of helical tomotherapy for nonmalignant indications.

Background: The aim was to demonstrate the feasibility and technique of gonadal sparing total body irradiation (TBI) with helical tomotherapy. Total body irradiation is a common part of the conditioning regimen prior to allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Shielding or dose-reduction to the gonads is often desired to preserve fertility, particularly in young patients undergoing transplant for non-malignant indications.

From starving artist to entrepreneur. Justificatory pluralism in visual artists' grant proposals.

Inspired by French pragmatism and using Bourdieu's notion of "refraction" as an indication of a field's autonomy, we explore in-depth what kinds of justifications visual artists deploy to legitimate their requests for government money. Based on 494 government grant proposals from visual artists between 1965 and 2015 in Belgium, we find six such justifications. The reputational, esthetic, and romantic justifications are grounded in autonomous criteria of worth, such as artistic CVs, the work of art itself, and a compulsive desire to make art.

Invasive pneumococcal disease and serotype emergence in the Auckland region during the vaccine era 2009-16.

INTRODUCTION There is a deficit of knowledge in New Zealand as the epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease varies significantly between countries. AIM Time trends and sociodemographic characteristics of cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in the Auckland region are reviewed after the introduction of a conjugate vaccination, to provide evidence for future vaccine policy and to ensure Auckland region analysis is representative of national trends for subsequent IPD analysis. METHODS Data on all cases of IPD occurring in Waitemata, Auckland and Counties Manukau District Health Boards between 2009 and 2016 were extracted from EpiSurv.

Core Public Health Functions for New Zealand.

This special article defines the public health principles and core public health functions that are combined to produce the public health services essential for a highly-functioning New Zealand health system. The five core functions are: health assessment and surveillance; public health capacity development; health promotion; health protection; and preventive interventions. The core functions are interconnected and are rarely delivered individually.

Linking ambulance, emergency department and hospital admissions data: understanding the emergency journey.

Objective: To assess the accuracy of data linkage across the spectrum of emergency care in the absence of a unique patient identifier, and to use the linked data to examine service delivery outcomes in an emergency department (ED) setting.

Design: Automated data linkage and manual data linkage were compared to determine their relative accuracy. Data were extracted from three separate health information systems: ambulance, ED and hospital inpatients, then linked to provide information about the emergency journey of each patient.

Transmission of pandemic A/H1N1 2009 influenza on passenger aircraft: retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To assess the risk of transmission of pandemic A/H1N1 2009 influenza (pandemic A/H1N1) from an infected high school group to other passengers on an airline flight and the effectiveness of screening and follow-up of exposed passengers.

Design: Retrospective cohort investigation using a questionnaire administered to passengers and laboratory investigation of those with symptoms.

Setting: Auckland, New Zealand, with national and international follow-up of passengers.

Determinants of inequalities in cervical cancer stage at diagnosis and survival in New Zealand.

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess whether ethnic inequalities in cervical cancer mortality are due to differences in survival independent of stage and age at diagnosis, and to assess the contribution of screening to stage at diagnosis.

Methods: Demographic data and cervical screening history were collected for 402 women with histologically proven primary invasive cervical cancer, diagnosed in New Zealand between 1 January 2000 and 30 September 2002. Date of death was available for women who died up to 30 September 2004.

Getting to uptake: do communities of practice support the implementation of evidence-based practice?

Introduction: Practitioners are increasingly encouraged to adopt evidence-based practices (EBP) leading to a need for new knowledge translation strategies to support implementation and practice change. This study examined the benefits of a community of practice in the context of Ontario's children's mental health sector where organizations are mandated to adopt a standardized outcome measure to monitor client response to treatment.

Method: Readiness for change, practice change, content knowledge, and satisfaction with and use of implementation supports were examined among practitioners newly trained on the measure who were randomly assigned to a community of practice (CoP) or a practice as usual (PaU) group.

Structured group psychotherapy in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: results of an open multicentre study.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a serious mental disorder that often persists in adulthood. In a pilot study, a structured skills training group program for adult ADHD led to significant symptomatic improvements. The present study evaluated the program's effectiveness, feasibility, and patient acceptability in a multicenter setting.

Clinical efficacy and cognitive side effects of bifrontal versus right unilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): a short-term randomised controlled trial in pharmaco-resistant major depression.

Background: In most studies right unilateral electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been shown to cause fewer cognitive side effects but less antidepressant efficacy compared with bi(fronto)temporal ECT at certain intensities.

Aims: To compare the short-term efficacy and side effects of right unilateral ECT and bifrontal ECT.

Methods: In a double-blind randomised controlled clinical trial, 92 patients diagnosed with pharmaco-resistant major depression received either six right unilateral ECT treatments (250% stimulus intensity of titrated threshold) or six bifrontal ECT (150% of threshold) treatments over a 3-week period.

Biochemical and genetic studies of the VPg uridylylation reaction catalyzed by the RNA polymerase of poliovirus.

The first step in poliovirus (PV) RNA synthesis is the covalent linkage of UMP to the terminal protein VPg. This reaction can be studied in vitro with two different assays. The simpler assay is based on a poly(A) template and requires synthetic VPg, purified RNA polymerase 3D(pol), UTP, and a divalent cation.