Impact of primary care triage using the Head and Neck Cancer Risk Calculator version 2 on tertiary head and neck services in the post-coronavirus disease 2019 period.

Objective: This study investigates the impact of primary care utilisation of a symptom-based head and neck cancer risk calculator (Head and Neck Cancer Risk Calculator version 2) in the post-coronavirus disease 2019 period on the number of primary care referrals and cancer diagnoses.

Methods: The number of referrals from April 2019 to August 2019 and from April 2020 to July 2020 (pre-calculator) was compared with the number from the period January 2021 to August 2022 (post-calculator) using the chi-square test. The patients' characteristics, referral urgency, triage outcome, Head and Neck Cancer Risk Calculator version 2 score and cancer diagnosis were recorded.

Double faecal immunochemical testing in patients with symptoms suspicious of colorectal cancer.

Background: Faecal immunochemical test (FIT)-directed pathways based on a single test have been implemented for symptomatic patients. However, with a single test, the sensitivity is 87 per cent at 10 µg haemoglobin (Hb) per g faeces. This aims of this study were to define the diagnostic performance of a single FIT, compared with double FIT in symptomatic populations.

Verbal fluency as a quick and simple tool to help in deciding when to refer patients with a possible brain tumour.

Background: Patients with brain tumours often present with non-specific symptoms. Correctly identifying who to prioritise for urgent brain imaging is challenging. Brain tumours are amongst the commonest cancers diagnosed as an emergency presentation.

COVID-19 and cancer screening in Scotland: A national and coordinated approach to minimising harm.

Screening is an important component of cancer control internationally. In Scotland, the National Health Service Scotland provides screening programmes for cervical, bowel and breast cancers. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the suspension of these programmes in March 2020.

Short-term outcomes of a COVID-adapted triage pathway for colorectal cancer detection.

Aim: The dramatic curtailment of endoscopy and CT colonography capacity during the coronavirus pandemic has adversely impacted timely diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). We describe a rapidly implemented COVID-adapted diagnostic pathway to mitigate risk and maximize cancer diagnosis in patients referred with symptoms of suspected CRC.

Method: The 'COVID-adapted pathway' integrated multiple quantitative faecal immunochemical tests (qFIT) to enrich for significant colorectal disease with judicious use of CT with oral contrast to detect gross pathology.

Direct access CT for suspicion of brain tumour: an analysis of referral pathways in a population-based patient group.

Background: Brain tumour patients see their primary care doctor on average three or more times before diagnosis, so there may be an opportunity to identify 'at risk' patients earlier. Suspecting a brain tumour diagnosis is difficult because brain tumour-related symptoms are typically non-specific.

Methods: We explored the predictive value of referral guidelines (Kernick and NICE 2005) for brain imaging where a tumour is suspected, in a population-based patient group referred for direct access CT of the head.

Influences on Polish migrants' breast screening uptake in Lothian, Scotland.

Objectives: Ethnic minorities are known to have low uptake of cancer screening programmes and Polish populations to have low breast screening uptake. Breast screening uptake by women in Poland and Polish migrants to Scotland is low. We interviewed Polish women living in Lothian, Scotland, about their attitudes to breast screening.

Improving primary palliative care in Scotland: lessons from a mixed methods study.

Background: Since 2012, all GP practices across Scotland have been supported to take a systematic approach to end-of-life care, by helping them to identify more patients for palliative care through a Palliative Care Directed Enhanced Service (DES). We aimed to understand the impact of this initiative.

Methods: Routine quantitative data from the 2012/13, and 2013/14 DES were collected from regional health boards, analysed and discussed.

The prevalence of medical reasons for non-participation in the Scottish breast and bowel cancer screening programmes.

Objective: Increasing uptake of cancer screening is a priority for health systems internationally, however, some patients may not attend because they are undergoing active treatment for the cancer of interest or have other medical reasons that mean participation would be inappropriate. This study aims to quantify the proportion of non-participants who have a medical reason for not attending cancer screening.

Methods: Medical reasons for not participating in breast and bowel screening were defined a priori on the basis of a literature review and expert opinion.

Carotid intima-media thickness is greater but carotid plaque prevalence is lower in black compared with white subjects.

Background And Purpose: Carotid IMT is widely used as a surrogate marker for atherosclerosis. Prospective studies in largely white populations demonstrate that it is strongly associated with carotid plaque and is an independent predictor of stroke. There are few data from black populations.

Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: We undertook a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial to test whether intake of artificial food colour and additives (AFCA) affected childhood behaviour.

Methods: 153 3-year-old and 144 8/9-year-old children were included in the study. The challenge drink contained sodium benzoate and one of two AFCA mixes (A or B) or a placebo mix.

Risk factor profile of cerebral small vessel disease and its subtypes.

Background: The mechanisms of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) are unclear. Both atherosclerosis and a non-atherosclerotic diffuse arteriopathy have been reported pathologically. Two pathological and radiological subtypes have been suggested: localised atherosclerotic disease in larger perforating arteries causing larger lacunar infarcts without leukoaraiosis, and diffuse disease in smaller arterioles causing multiple smaller lacunar infarcts with leukoaraiosis.

The impact of a school-based nutrition education intervention on dietary intake and cognitive and attitudinal variables relating to fruits and vegetables.

Objective: To assess the impact of a school-based nutrition education intervention aimed at increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Design: The intervention programme increased the provision of fruits and vegetables in schools and provided a range of point-of-purchase marketing materials, newsletters for children and parents, and teacher information. Curriculum materials at age 6-7 and 10-11 years were also developed and utilised.

Phosphodiesterase 4D gene, ischemic stroke, and asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis.

Background And Purpose: Phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) was identified recently as the first novel stroke gene to predispose to ischemic stroke independently of conventional risk factors. An association was only found with large vessel and cardioembolic stroke, suggesting a mechanism of accelerated atherosclerosis. We sought to replicate this association in ischemic stroke as a whole, and individual stroke subtypes, in a non-Icelandic European population.

Prevalence of coeliac disease and longitudinal follow-up of antigliadin antibody status in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Coeliac disease (CD) is more prevalent in individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM), and when untreated is associated with a number of medical complications, including poor glycaemic control. Identification of patients with CD has been facilitated in recent years by serological screening, including the use of antigliadin antibodies (AGAs) and endomysial antibodies (EMAs). The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of CD in a clinic-based paediatric population with type 1 DM, and to study longitudinal changes in AGA status.

Multiple enzyme restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis for high resolution distinction of Pseudomonas (sensu stricto) 16S rRNA genes.

Members of the genus Pseudomonas (sensu stricto) are important phytopathogens and agents of human infections, while other strains and species have beneficial bioremediation and biocontrol activities. Traditionally, these important species have been difficult to differentiate phenotypically; thus, rRNA lineage analyses have often been invoked. In this report, a newly developed approach is described to rapidly detect and distinguish fluorescent Pseudomonas isolates: PCR amplification of a Pseudomonas-specific 990-bp ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) fragment [Appl.

Temporal and Spatial Distribution of the nifH Gene of N(2) Fixing Bacteria in Forests and Clearcuts in Western Oregon.

Decomposition of plant litter is a primary mechanism of nutrient recycling and redistribution in most terrestrial ecosystems. Previously we demonstrated by a nested PCR protocol that 20 distinctive nifH (the gene encoding nitrogenase reductase) HaeIII restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns were derived from bulk DNA associated with samples of plant litter and soil collected at one Douglas Fir (DF) forest [33]. Five of the nifH DNA patterns (II-VI) were dominant types in DF litter with characteristic fragments of 237-303 bp length, whereas samples from soil contained primarily seven other patterns 131-188 bp length (IX-XV).

Analysis of nifH gene pool complexity in soil and litter at a Douglas fir forest site in the Oregon cascade mountain range.

Nitrogen-fixing microbial populations in a Douglas fir forest on the western slope of the Oregon Cascade Mountain Range were analyzed. The complexity of the nifH gene pool (nifH is the marker gene which encodes nitrogenase reductase) was assessed by performing nested PCR with bulk DNA extracted from plant litter and soil. The restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of PCR products obtained from litter were reproducibly different than the RFLPs of PCR products obtained from the underlying soil.

An effective method to extract DNA from environmental samples for polymerase chain reaction amplification and DNA fingerprint analysis.

A rapid direct-extraction method was used to obtain DNA from environmental soil samples. Heat, enzymes, and guanidine isothiocyanate were utilized to lyse cells. The DNA was purified by agarose gel electrophoresis, amplified with 16S rRNA-based primers by use of the polymerase chain reaction, and then digested with the restriction endonuclease PalI.

A simple mini-method to extract DNA directly from soil for use with polymerase chain reaction amplification.

A rapid, simple method is used that yields amplifiable fungal and bacterial DNAs directly from soil. DNA is separated from soil contaminants by electrophoresis in low-melting-temperature agarose and used directly in polymerase chain reaction amplification. Fifty 20-mg samples can be processed in one day.

Cardiac tamponade from a fine silastic central venous catheter in a premature infant.

A 790 g infant developed cardiac tamponade 17 h after starting parenteral nutrition through a fine silastic catheter, the tip of which was accidentally positioned against the wall of the right atrium. Cold light examination suggested the diagnosis and pericardial aspiration of clear fluid with a high glucose content restored the circulation.

Increasing asthma prevalence in a rural New Zealand adolescent population: 1975-89.

A survey of asthma symptoms and spirometry in 435 adolescent schoolchildren was undertaken in 1989 in a rural, largely Maori population. The survey questionnaires were identical to those used in a 1975 survey at the same school. The prevalence of reported asthma or wheeze significantly increased from 26.

Transconjugation between Bacteria in the Digestive Tract of the Cutworm Peridroma saucia.

Transconjugants arising from transfer of plasmid R388::Tn1721 between donor and recipient strains of Enterobacter cloacae were detected in samples from the digestive tracts and fecal pellets of variegated cutworms (Peridroma saucia).

The cutworm Peridroma saucia (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) supports growth and transport of pBR322-bearing bacteria.

Variegated cutworms were exposed to bean plants in microcosms sprayed with pBR322-carrying strains of Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella planticola, and Erwinia herbicola. The three bacterial species exhibited differential survival on leaves, in soil, and in guts and fecal pellets (frass) of the insects. High numbers of Enterobacter cloacae(pBR322) were detected in all samples, while the other species were unable to establish residence in the insect.

Predictive model of conjugative plasmid transfer in the rhizosphere and phyllosphere.

A computer simulation model was used to predict the dynamics of survival and conjugation of Pseudomonas cepacia (carrying the transmissible recombinant plasmid R388:Tn1721) with a nonrecombinant recipient strain in simple rhizosphere and phyllosphere microcosms. Plasmid transfer rates were derived for a mass action model, and donor and recipient survival were modeled as exponential growth and decay processes or both. Rate parameters were derived from laboratory studies in which donor and recipient strains were incubated in test tubes with a peat-vermiculite solution or on excised radish or bean leaves in petri dishes.