Genomic attributes of airway commensal bacteria and mucosa.

Microbial communities at the airway mucosal barrier are conserved and highly ordered, in likelihood reflecting co-evolution with human host factors. Freed of selection to digest nutrients, the airway microbiome underpins cognate management of mucosal immunity and pathogen resistance. We show here the initial results of systematic culture and whole-genome sequencing of the thoracic airway bacteria, identifying 52 novel species amongst 126 organisms that constitute 75% of commensals typically present in heathy individuals.

Longitudinal study to assess impact of smoking at diagnosis and quitting on 1-year survival for people with non-small cell lung cancer.

Objectives: To update the prevalence of smoking in people as they were diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to see whether smoking status at baseline and quitting are independently associated with 1-year survival.

Design: A real-world cohort study following patients from diagnosis for up to 1 year or until death.

Setting: UK multi-centre study (28 sites) based in secondary and primary care.

Prudent healthcare in emergency departments: a case study in Wales.

To deliver a patient-centred service, emergency departments (EDs) must be efficient, effective and meet the needs of the local population. This article describes a service redesign of unscheduled care in a hospital in Wales, which followed the principles of prudent healthcare to improve patient experiences. Extending the roles of nurse specialist practitioners was a major component of the redesign.

The metabolomic detection of lung cancer biomarkers in sputum.

Objectives: Developing screening and diagnosis methodologies based on novel biomarkers should allow for the detection of the lung cancer (LC) and possibly at an earlier stage and thereby increase the effectiveness of clinical interventions. Here, our primary objective was to evaluate the potential of spontaneous sputum as a source of non-invasive metabolomic biomarkers for LC status.

Materials And Methods: Spontaneous sputum was collected and processed from 34 patients with suspected LC, alongside 33 healthy controls.

Emotional content of dreams in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome patients and sleepy snorers attending a sleep-disordered breathing clinic.

Study Objectives: To assess prospectively the emotional content of dreams in individuals with the obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and sleepy snorers.

Methods: Prospective observational study. Forty-seven patients with sleepiness and snoring attending a sleep-disordered breathing clinic, completed a morning diary concerning pleasantness/unpleasantness of their dreams for 10 days, and then had AHI assessed by a limited-channel home sleep study.

Evaluation of FTIR spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool for lung cancer using sputum.

Background: Survival time for lung cancer is poor with over 90% of patients dying within five years of diagnosis primarily due to detection at late stage. The main objective of this study was to evaluate Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) as a high throughput and cost effective method for identifying biochemical changes in sputum as biomarkers for detection of lung cancer.

Methods: Sputum was collected from 25 lung cancer patients in the Medlung observational study and 25 healthy controls.

Infectious mononucleosis complicated by acute hepatitis and myocarditis: a response to corticosteroids.

Infectious mononucleosis, or glandular fever, is a viral illness which commonly affects young adults. Symptoms can vary from sore throat, enlarged lymph glands, lethargy and weight loss to more serious clinical manifestations such as myocarditis or hepatitis. Treatment is usually conservative although there has been significant debate over the role of oral corticosteroids, especially in more serious cases.