A comparison of fine particulate matter (PM) in vivo exposure studies incorporating chemical analysis.

The complex, variable mixtures present in fine particulate matter (PM) have been well established, and associations between chemical constituents and human health are expanding. In the past decade, there has been an increase in PM toxicology studies that include chemical analysis of samples. This investigation is a crucial component for identifying the causal constituents for observed adverse health effects following exposure to PM.

Vitamin A deficiency: experience from a tertiary referral UK hospital; not just a low- and middle-income country issue.

Objective: Vitamin A (VA) deficiency, more common in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) secondary to malnutrition, is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The prevalence and impact of VA deficiency in high-income countries (HIC) where chronic conditions may predispose is less well understood.

Design: Interpretation of serum retinol may be affected by inflammation, so C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were sought.

Advances and limitations in the determination and assessment of gunshot residue in the environment.

Gunshot residue (GSR) stemming from the discharge of firearms has been essential to advancements in the field of forensic science however the human and environmental health impacts from GSR are far less researched. GSR represents a multifaceted concern: it contains a complex mixture of inorganic and organic components and produces airborne particles with variable sizes, depositions, and fates. Herein we evaluate studies in the literature examining GSR collection, deposition, composition, environmental contamination, and potential remediation techniques within the last two decades (2000 - 2020).

Multicentre randomised controlled trial on virtual chromoendoscopy in the detection of neoplasia during colitis surveillance high-definition colonoscopy (the VIRTUOSO trial).

Background: Longstanding colonic IBD increases the risk of developing colorectal cancer. The utility of chromoendoscopy with standard-definition white light technology has been established. However, the use of high-definition virtual chromoendoscopy (HDV) in colitis surveillance remains undefined.

Small molecule oral targeted therapies in ulcerative colitis.

The incidence and prevalence of ulcerative colitis are increasing globally. Although the exact cause and pathogenesis of this disease is unclear, research has led to a better understanding of the condition and to identification of new targets for therapy, which in turn has encouraged the development of new therapies. As well as biologic therapies, which have changed the way inflammatory bowel disease is managed, small molecules have been developed for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Successful Treatment of Lower Extremity Telangiectasias Using 585-nm Pulsed-Dye Laser at Low Fluence Combined With Optical Coherence Tomography: A Case Report.

Background: Significant advances have been made in using lasers and intense pulse light sources to treat common vascular lesions such as telangiectasias. However, the treatment of leg telangiectasia, specifically, is more challenging because it involves the clearing of smaller veins as well as the larger feeding veins. The latest guidelines recommend use of short wavelength pulse-dyed lasers (PDL) as an option to treat telangiectasia cases that are unresponsive to sclerotherapy.

Prevention of surgical site infection in lower limb skin lesion excisions with single dose oral antibiotic prophylaxis: a prospective randomised placebo-controlled double-blind trial.

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of a single perioperative prophylactic 2 g dose of cephalexin in preventing surgical site infection (SSI) following excision of skin lesions from the lower limb.

Design: Prospective double-blinded placebo-controlled trial testing for difference in infection rates.

Setting: Primary care in regional North Queensland, Australia.

Compression feedback devices over estimate chest compression depth when performed on a bed.

Introduction: CPR feedback/prompt devices are being used increasingly to guide CPR performance in clinical practice. A potential limitation of these devices is that they may fail to measure the amount of mattress compression when CPR is performed on a bed. The aim of this study is to quantify the amount of mattress compression compared to chest compression using a commercially available compression sensor (Q-CPR, Laerdal, UK).

Survey for potentially necrotizing spider venoms, with special emphasis on Cheiracanthium mildei.

It has proven difficult to identify those spiders which cause necrotic lesions. In an effort to design a simple, inexpensive screening method for identifying spiders with necrotizing venoms, we have examined the venom gland homogenates of a variety of spider species for their ability to cause red blood cell lysis. Those venoms which were positive were further examined for the presence of sphingomyelinase D, and their ability to evoke necrotic lesions in the skin of rabbits.