Stratifying risk of disease in haematuria patients using machine learning techniques to improve diagnostics.

Background: Detailed and invasive clinical investigations are required to identify the causes of haematuria. Highly unbalanced patient population (predominantly male) and a wide range of potential causes make the ability to correctly classify patients and identify patient-specific biomarkers a major challenge. Studies have shown that it is possible to improve the diagnosis using multi-marker analysis, even in unbalanced datasets, by applying advanced analytical methods.

Biomarkers to assess the risk of bladder cancer in patients presenting with haematuria are gender-specific.

Introduction: Haematuria is a common red flag symptom of urinary tract cancer. Bladder cancer (BC) is the most common cancer to present with haematuria. Women presenting with haematuria are often underdiagnosed.

Clinical features and predictive biomarkers for bladder cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes presenting with haematuria.

Aims: To identify clinical features and protein biomarkers associated with bladder cancer (BC) in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus presenting with haematuria.

Materials And Methods: Data collected from the Haematuria Biomarker (HaBio) study was used in this analysis. A matched sub-cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes and patients without diabetes was created based on age, sex, and BC diagnosis, using approximately a 1:2 fixed ratio.

Chemoprevention in BRCA1 mutation carriers (CIBRAC): protocol for an open allocation crossover feasibility trial assessing mechanisms of chemoprevention with goserelin and anastrozole versus tamoxifen and acceptability of treatment.

Introduction: BRCA1 mutation carriers have a significant lifetime risk of breast cancer, with their primary risk-reduction option being bilateral mastectomy. Preclinical work from our laboratory demonstrated that in BRCA1-deficient breast cells, oestrogen and its metabolites are capable of driving DNA damage and subsequent genomic instability, which are well-defined early events in BRCA1-related cancers. Based on this, we hypothesise that a chemopreventive approach which reduces circulating oestrogen levels may reduce DNA damage and genomic instability, thereby providing an alternative to risk-reducing surgery.

Delivering a research-enabled multistakeholder partnership for enhanced patient care at a population level: The Northern Ireland Comprehensive Cancer Program.

The last 20 years have seen significant advances in cancer care in Northern Ireland, leading to measureable improvements in patient outcomes. Crucial to this transformation has been an ethos that recognizes the primacy role of research in effecting heath care change. The authors' model of a cross‐sectoral partnership that unites patients, scientists, health care professionals, hospital trusts, bioindustry, and government agencies can be truly transformative, empowering tripartite clinical‐academic‐industry efforts that have already yielded significant benefit and will continue to inform strategy and its implementation going forward.

The impact of biomarkers in multivariate algorithms for bladder cancer diagnosis in patients with hematuria.

Background: We appraised 23 biomarkers previously associated with urothelial cancer in a case-control study. Our aim was to determine whether single biomarkers and/or multivariate algorithms significantly improved on the predictive power of an algorithm based on demographics for prediction of urothelial cancer in patients presenting with hematuria.

Methods: Twenty-two biomarkers in urine and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in serum were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and biochip array technology in 2 patient cohorts: 80 patients with urothelial cancer, and 77 controls with confounding pathologies.

Remodeling a clinical ladder: an action research design.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate descriptors of practice designed to help nurses and managers assist the nurse along the advanced beginner to expert continuum. This study was part of a larger action research program integrating a registered nurse (RN) performance appraisal and clinical ladder. Informants selected descriptors corresponding to their routine practice from randomized lists in each nursing domain.