Quantification of flight times of aerial treatments targeting invasive species: the interplay of helicopter or drone with bait-delivery systems, flight speed and bait form.

Background: Aerial treatments for invasive species management are now common, but we are unaware of any work published in the scientific literature quantifying how the interplay of numerous factors affects flight time and therefore operational costs. Here, we analyse aerial treatment data collected from two ant-eradication programmes, quantifying how the relationships between flight time and area are influenced by numerous aircraft/delivery system/bait/flight speed combinations.

Results: For bait dispersal by helicopters, and when swath widths are equivalent, side-mounted Isolair was significantly more efficient than the simultaneous use of two underslung buckets, and use of two buckets was slightly but not significantly more efficient than one bucket.

Field quantifications of probability of detection and search patterns to form protocols for the use of detector dogs for eradication assessments.

The use of detector dogs within environmental programs has increased greatly over the past few decades, yet their search methods are not standardized, and variation in dog performance remains not well quantified or understood. There is much science to be done to improve the general utility of detector dogs, especially for invertebrate surveys.We report research for detector dog work conducted as part of yellow crazy ant eradication.

Perspectives on Ovarian Cancer 1809 to 2022 and Beyond.

Unlike many other malignancies, overall survival for women with epithelial ovarian cancer has improved only modestly over the last half-century. The perspectives presented here detail the views of a gynecologic oncologist looking back and the view of the academic editor looking forward. Surgical beginnings in 1809 are merged with genomics, surgical advances, and precision therapy at present and for the future.

Communicating out loud: Midwifery students' experiences of a simulation exercise for neonatal resuscitation.

Midwifery students feel unprepared to deal with commonly encountered emergencies, such as neonatal resuscitation. Clinical simulation of emergencies may provide a safe forum for students to develop necessary skills. A simulation exercise, for neonatal resuscitation, was developed and evaluated using qualitative methods.

Development and evaluation of a simulation exercise to prepare midwifery students for neonatal resuscitation.

Background: Simulation provides opportunities for midwifery students to enhance their performance in emergency situations. Neonatal resuscitation is one such emergency and its management is a major concern for midwifery students.

Objectives: This project aimed to develop and evaluate a simulation exercise, for neonatal resuscitation, for 3rd year midwifery students.

Syringocysadenoma papilliferum of the vulva: a rarity in gynaecology.

A case of syringocystadenoma papilliferum of the vulva in a 36-year-old woman is reported .The patient presented with a single cystic lesion on the left labia minora of 8 years duration with a recent increase in size and redness around the lesion. Examination revealed a polypoid cystic lesion with no regional lymphadenopathy.

Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues in the treatment of mixed mullerian tumours of the uterus: two case reports and review.

Subjects/Discussion. Two cases of clinical and radiological response of recurrent mixed Mullerian tumours following treatment with either nasal (Buserilin) or intramuscular (Goserilin) GnRH analogues are reported and a short review of the evidence to support this treatment option presented.

Outcome analysis of 4 years' follow-up of patients referred for colposcopy with one smear showing mild dyskaryosis.

Objective: To assess the 4-year outcome of patients after one smear showing mild dyskaryosis with respect to smear regression rate, prevalence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and the effect of age.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with initial mildly dyskaryotic smear during the year 2000 with a follow-up period of 48 months. These women had not had any previous abnormal smears.

Tumour M2-PK as a predictor of surgical outcome in ovarian cancer, a prospective cohort study.

Background: Optimal cytoreduction is a major prognostic factor in ovarian cancer; several clinical, radiological and biochemical predictors have been studied. Tumour M2-PK (TU M2-PK) is over-expressed in tumour cells and can be detected in plasma samples but its role in ovarian cancer has not yet been evaluated.

Objectives: To assess the potential clinical applications of TU M2-PK in ovarian cancer particularly in relation to surgical cytoreduction.

M2-PK as a novel marker in ovarian cancer. A prospective cohort study.

Background: Pyruvate kinase isoenzyme M2-PK is instrumental to tumour metabolism and hence over-expressed in tumour cells leading to detectable plasma concentrations.

Objectives: To assess the degree of association between M2-PK plasma concentrations and ovarian cancer and to determine the cut-off values for its sensitivity and specificity for differentiating between benign and malignant ovarian disease.

Settings: The Gynaecological Cancer Centre at both King's College and St.

Chronic pelvic pain: a rare complication following a large-loop excision of the transformation zone.

This is the unique report of a patient with deep-seated, left-sided pelvic pain following a large-loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia III. She transpired to have a definite diagnosis of pelvic varicosities which were only on the left side. Our surmise was that the varicosities had risen on the back of an arteriovenous malformation following her LLETZ performed by a colleague.

Why do women still develop cancer of the cervix despite the existence of a national screening programme?

The study looked at why women developed invasive cervical cancer during a 10-year period. It reviewed the hospital records of 66 patients with cervical cancer with an age range of 21-81 years. Screening non-attenders accounted for a disproportionate number of cases.

Prospective evaluation of three different models for the pre-operative diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Objective: To test the accuracy of the risk of malignancy index, the revised risk of malignancy index and Tailor's regression model to diagnose malignancy in women with known adnexal masses.

Design: Prospective collaborative study.

Setting: Gynaecology Assessment Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, King's College Hospital, London.

A pilot study of the efficacy and tolerability of intralesional recombinant human beta-interferons in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Beta-interferons possess anti-viral, cell proliferation inhibition and immunomodulatory characteristics which may be of use in the treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Intralesional administration may avoid systemic side effects. Twenty-six women with cervical punch biopsy proven CIN I and II were treated by interferon injection into the cervical transformation zone according to three dosage regimens--6 million international units (IU) weekly for six weeks, 9 million IU weekly for six weeks and 12 million IU bi-weekly for three weeks.

Pelvic spleen masquerading as an ovarian neoplasm.

A case of a 53-year-old perimenopausal woman who presented with an 18-month history of irregular vaginal bleeding is reported. Vaginal ultrasonography revealed a 10 x 7 cm pelvic mass with an increased blood flow. Her serum CA125 was within the normal range.

Fallopian tube carcinoma--a review.

Although a common site of metastases, primary fallopian tube carcinoma comprises only 0.3% of all gynaecological malignancies. Presenting symptoms are variable and non-specific, with preoperative diagnosis rarely entertained.

Massive ascites due to abdominal pregnancy.

We describe a case of an abdominal pregnancy which presented in the first trimester with rapid accumulation of blood stained ascites. The ascites resolved completely following surgical removal of a gestational sac from the peritoneal cavity. The pathophysiology of ascites in this case may be similar to that in cases of ascites in other non-malignant gynaecological conditions.

The diagnostic value of endometrial thickness and volume measurements by three-dimensional ultrasound in patients with postmenopausal bleeding.

We compared endometrial thickness and volume in patients with postmenopausal bleeding, and examined the value of each parameter in differentiating between benign and malignant endometrial pathology. A total of 103 patients with a history of postmenopausal bleeding were recruited into the study. Patients who were taking hormone replacements therapy or other hormonal preparations with a known effect on the endometrium were excluded.

Use of transvaginal ultrasonography with color Doppler imaging to determine an appropriate treatment regimen for uterine fibroids with a GnRH agonist before surgery: a preliminary study.

The aim was to obtain data that could be used to determine the most appropriate treatment regimen for uterine fibroids with a gonadotropin releasing hormone analog (goserelin) before surgery. Fifteen premenopausal women (aged 27-53 years; mean 40 years) were referred from a gynecological outpatients' clinic. They all had uterine fibroids and were awaiting hysterectomy or myomectomy.

Surgery for gynecologic cancer.

Surgery is an integral part of staging procedures for ovarian, endometrial, and vulvar cancers, with a move toward surgicopathologic rather than clinical staging in cervical cancer. Morbidity can be reduced without compromising patient cure by individualizing surgery for patients with early vulvar cancer, and reproductive potential can be maintained in some women with early ovarian cancer. The place of prophylactic oophorectomy and primary and secondary surgery in ovarian cancer remain controversial and await prospective study.

Association of ovarian malignancy with expression of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor.

Background: At the present time, the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer remains poorly understood, with invasive diagnosis and ineffective treatment for women with the disease. Despite scientific and medical advances in oncology, the overall 5-year survival rate of 30% for ovarian cancer patients has not changed in 20 years. An understanding of the angiogenic process as it occurs in ovarian cancer would not only increase our knowledge of the pathogenesis of this cancer but also might offer novel opportunities for therapeutic intervention.

Nitric oxide synthase activity in human gynecological cancer.

Nitric oxide is generated by the NO synthases, a family of isoenzymes expressed in a wide range of mammalian cells. In the vascular and nervous systems distinct isoforms generate NO to act as a signal transduction mechanism. The isoform induced by cytokines, on the other hand, provides a sustained release of NO which mediates some cytotoxic and cytostatic effects of the immune system.

Intervention debulking surgery in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

Objective: To study whether intervention debulking surgery improves survival in patients with advanced ovarian cancer who have bulky (> 2 cm) residual disease after primary surgery.

Design: A prospective multicentre randomised study.

Setting: Hospitals in the West Midlands.