A National Survey of Prehospital Care Services of United Kingdom for Use, Governance and Perception of Prehospital Point of Care Ultrasound.

Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) has become a common practice in prehospital care over the last 10 years. There is lack of literature on its use and governance structure in United Kingdom (UK) prehospital care services. We aimed to survey the use, governance of prehospital POCUS among UK prehospital services and perceptions of clinicians and services regarding its utility and barriers to its implementation.

Diarrhoea-associated haemolytic uraemic syndrome and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections in New Zealand children: Clinical features and short-term complications from a 23-year cohort study.

Background: Diarrhoea-associated haemolytic uraemic syndrome (D+HUS) is an important cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in young children and it is most commonly associated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Gastrointestinal infections caused by STEC have been increasing in New Zealand over the past two decades, but little is known regarding the acute and short-term outcomes of New Zealand children who develop D+HUS.

Aim: To describe the clinical characteristics, complications and short-term outcomes of New Zealand children with D+HUS identified between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2020.

Barriers to pre-emptive kidney transplantation in New Zealand children.

Aim: Pre-emptive kidney transplantation (PKT) is generally considered the optimal treatment for kidney failure as it minimises dialysis-associated morbidity and mortality and is associated with improved allograft survival. This study aimed to determine rates of paediatric PKT in New Zealand, identify barriers to PKT and consider potential interventions to influence future rates of pre-emptive transplantation.

Methods: Children commencing kidney replacement therapy between 2005 and 2017 in New Zealand were included.

Can non-physician advanced retrieval practitioners (ARP) acquire and interpret diagnostic views of the lungs with sufficient quality to aid in the diagnosis of pneumothorax in the pre-hospital and retrieval environment?

Background: As an adjunct to physical examination, ultrasound is a potentially attractive option for diagnosing pneumothoraces in the pre-hospital and retrieval environment - and could confer a benefit to patient safety. However, the published evidence supporting non-physicians use of ultrasound in this setting is limited.

Aim: We aimed to establish if Advanced Retrieval Practitioners (non-physicians) could acquire ultrasound views of the lungs and interpret them with sufficient quality to diagnose pneumothorax in the pre-hospital and retrieval environment when compared to expert review.

A dosimetric comparison of flattening filter free and conventional VMAT treatments for some common cancer sites.

The aim of this study was to assess the potential for treating various common cancer sites with flattening filter free (FFF) rather than conventionally flattened (cFF) treatment plans considering both in-field and out-of-field dosimetry. This study seeks to extend previous work by others to the Elekta Agility VMAT treatments commonly used at our clinic. Nine matched pairs of conventional and FFF 6X treatment plans for prostate, head and neck, and brain cancer sites were generated using the Monaco treatment planning system (Elekta AB, Stockholm, Sweden).

Nationwide conversion to generic tacrolimus in pediatric kidney transplant recipients.

Background: Bioequivalence between Tacrolimus Prograf® and generic tacrolimus formulations has been demonstrated in adult populations, however clinical experience and safety data regarding generic tacrolimus in pediatric transplant recipients is limited. This study aimed to evaluate conversion from Tacrolimus Prograf® to Sandoz® in pediatric renal transplant recipients nationwide. The primary outcome was a change in mean trough tacrolimus concentration.

Laparoscopic versus open peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion for the management of pediatric acute kidney injury.

Background: Acute pediatric dialysis is provided by a single center in New Zealand. Most acute dialysis in our center is performed in the under 5 age group. The advantage of using peritoneal dialysis (PD) in these children is the ability to perform continuous renal replacement therapy without always requiring an ICU setting, avoiding central venous access and promoting greater cardiovascular stability.

Infectious outcomes following gastrostomy in children receiving peritoneal dialysis.

Background: Early institution of enteral feeding in paediatric end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is recommended. For patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) there is concern that gastrostomy tube (GT) insertion may be complicated by increased peritonitis, in particular fungal. Our unit favours early planned GT insertion, and for those with late presentation, there is prompt consideration of GT insertion following dialysis initiation.

Toward quantifying the composition of soft tissues by spectral CT with Medipix3.

Purpose: To determine the potential of spectral computed tomography (CT) with Medipix3 for quantifying fat, calcium, and iron in soft tissues within small animal models and surgical specimens of diseases such as fatty liver (metabolic syndrome) and unstable atherosclerosis.

Methods: The spectroscopic method was applied to tomographic data acquired using a micro-CT system incorporating a Medipix3 detector array with silicon sensor layer and microfocus x-ray tube operating at 50 kVp. A 10 mm diameter perspex phantom containing a fat surrogate (sunflower oil) and aqueous solutions of ferric nitrate, calcium chloride, and iodine was imaged with multiple energy bins.

Failure of immunisation against sporidesmin or a structurally related compound to protect ewes against facial eczema.

Sixty ewes, divided randomly into four groups of 15, were immunised subcutaneously against sporidesmin (sdm) -bovine thyroglobulin (BTG) or 2-amino-5-chloro-3,4-dimethoxy benzyl alcohol (ACDMBA) coupled to heat killed staphylococci or to bovine gamma globulin. Fifteen ewes served as untreated controls. Approximately 10 weeks after inoculation ewes were dosed orally with sdm at a rate of 0.