Evaluation of a questionnaire to measure parent/carer and child/young person experience of NHS epilepsy services.

Purpose: To validate a patient-reported-experience-measure, PREM, of the NHS paediatric epilepsy service.

Methods: Section 1 of the PREM recorded demographic and clinical characteristics, and Section 2 collected information about the users' experience with the service. Section 2 included eighteen statements around three constructs: communication and provision of information to service users, interpersonal skills of staff, and clinic visits and accessibility to the services.

Global dengue death before and after the new World Health Organization 2009 case classification: A systematic review and meta-regression analysis.

Background: Since the introduction of 2009 WHO dengue case classification, no literature was found regarding its effect on dengue death. This study was to evaluate the effect of 2009 WHO dengue case classification towards dengue case fatality rate.

Methods: Various databases were used to search relevant articles since 1995.

Podiatry intervention versus usual care to prevent falls in care homes: pilot randomised controlled trial (the PIRFECT study).

Background: Common foot problems are independent risk factors for falls in older people. There is evidence that podiatry can prevent falls in community-dwelling populations. The feasibility of implementing a podiatry intervention and trial in the care home population is unknown.

Supplemental Iodide for Preterm Infants and Developmental Outcomes at 2 Years: An RCT.

Background: The recommendation for enteral iodide intake for preterm infants is 30 to 40 μg/kg per day and 1 μg/kg per day for parenteral intake. Preterm infants are vulnerable to iodide insufficiency and thyroid dysfunction. The hypothesis tested whether, compared with placebo, iodide supplementation of preterm infants improves neurodevelopment.

Population-level incidence and monitoring of adverse drug reactions with long-term amiodarone therapy.

Introduction: Amiodarone is associated with significant long-lasting adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Guidelines recommend laboratory monitoring during long-term use. However, data of compliance with laboratory monitoring are lacking.

Safety and Efficacy of Methotrexate in Psoriasis: A Meta-Analysis of Published Trials.

Background: Methotrexate (MTX) has been used to treat psoriasis for over half a century. Even so, clinical data characterising its efficacy and safety are sparse.

Objective: In order to enhance the available evidence, we conducted two meta-analyses, one for efficacy and one for safety outcomes, respectively, according to PRISMA checklist.

Does oral sodium bicarbonate therapy improve function and quality of life in older patients with chronic kidney disease and low-grade acidosis (the BiCARB trial)? Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Metabolic acidosis is more common with advancing chronic kidney disease, and has been associated with impaired physical function, impaired bone health, accelerated decline in kidney function and increased vascular risk. Although oral sodium bicarbonate is widely used to correct metabolic acidosis, there exist potential risks of therapy including worsening hypertension and fluid overload. Little trial evidence exists to decide whether oral bicarbonate therapy is of net benefit in advanced chronic kidney disease, particularly in older people who are most commonly affected, and in whom physical function, quality of life and vascular health are at least as important outcomes as decline in renal function.

Recent trends in glaucoma surgery in Scotland, England and Wales.

Objective: To evaluate national trends of trabeculectomy, aqueous shunts and cycloablation performed in Scotland, England and Wales from 1993 to 2012.

Methods: The annual numbers of trabeculectomies and aqueous shunts carried out between 1993 and 2012 were obtained from national Scottish, English and Welsh National Health Service databases. The annual rates of trabeculectomy, aqueous shunts and cycloablation were calculated per 100,000 of the population and analysed in the following age groups: 0-14 years, 15-59 years, over 60 years.

Maternal and fetal factors which influence cord blood glucose levels in term infants delivered by cesarean section.

Aim: To assess factors contributing to cord venous glucose homeostasis in term infants delivered by elective cesarean section.

Methods: Observational study of women-infant pairs at delivery. Biochemical and clinical data were collected about factors which might affect the levels of glucose, lactate, norepinephrine, epinephrine, cortisol, human growth hormone, glucagon, and insulin.

A summary of the iodine supplementation study protocol (I2S2): a UK multicentre randomised controlled trial in preterm infants.

This paper summarises the study protocol for the randomised controlled trial of iodine supplementation in preterm infants. Iodine is essential for the synthesis of thyroxine, and thyroxine is essential for normal brain development in utero and for the first 2-3 years of life. The recommended iodine intake in parenteral nutrition regimens is 1 μg/kg/day and commercially available parenteral solutions for infants reflect these recommendations.

High-potency statin and ezetimibe use and mortality in survivors of an acute myocardial infarction: a population-based study.

Objective: To determine all-cause mortality in patients with a first myocardial infarct who were treated with simvastatin compared with high-potency statin and simvastatin/ezetimibe combination.

Background: Despite statin use, residual cardiovascular risk remains. Therapeutic options include more potent statins or addition of ezetimibe.

Maternal and umbilical cord levels of T4, FT4, TSH, TPOAb, and TgAb in term infants and neurodevelopmental outcome at 5.5 years.

Context: Relatively little is known in euthyroid populations about the changes in maternal thyroid hormones during pregnancy, the nature of the relationship to cord thyroid hormone levels, and subsequent infant neurodevelopment.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to describe the relationship between maternal and cord thyroid hormone parameters and to describe their associations with neurodevelopment at 5.5 years.

Tailored second-line therapy in asthmatic children with the Arg(16) genotype.

The Arg(16) β(2) receptor genotype confers increased susceptibility to exacerbations in asthmatic children taking regular LABA (long-acting β(2) agonists). We therefore evaluated using montelukast as an alternative to salmeterol as tailored second-line asthma controller therapy in children expressing this susceptible genotype. A total of 62 persistent asthmatic children with the homozygous Arg16 genotype were randomized to receive salmeterol (50 μg, b.

Meta-analysis of Prolene Hernia System mesh versus Lichtenstein mesh in open inguinal hernia repair.

Background: This study was designed to systematically analyse all published randomized clinical trials comparing the Prolene Hernia System (PHS) mesh and Lichtenstein mesh for open inguinal hernia repair.

Method: A literature search was performed using the Cochrane Colorectal Cancer Group Controlled Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase and Science Citation Index Expanded. Randomized trials comparing the Lichtenstein Mesh repair (LMR) with the Prolene Hernia System were included.

The effect of metformin on insulin resistance and exercise parameters in patients with heart failure.

Aims: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is an insulin-resistant state. The degree of insulin resistance (IR) correlates with disease severity and is associated with reduced exercise capacity. In this proof of concept study, we have examined the effect of metformin on IR and exercise capacity in non-diabetic CHF patients identified to have IR.

Diagnostic accuracy of transrectal elastosonography (TRES) imaging for the diagnosis of prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To assess the diagnostic performance of transrectal elastosonography (TRES) for the detection of prostate cancer. Two reviewers independently extracted the data from each study. Quality was assessed with a validated quality assessment tool for diagnostic accuracy studies.

Mild maternal thyroid dysfunction at delivery of infants born ≤34 weeks and neurodevelopmental outcome at 5.5 years.

Context: Mild maternal thyroid dysfunction during early pregnancy is associated with poor neurodevelopment in affected offspring. Most studies are population based or are smaller populations of term/late preterm infants. No studies were found that focused on more preterm infants.

Preoperative serum C-reactive protein levels and post-operative lymph node ratio are important predictors of survival after pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Context: There is paucity of data on the prognostic value of pre-operative inflammatory response and post-operative lymph node ratio on patient survival after pancreatic-head resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of the preoperative inflammatory response and postoperative pathology criteria to identify predictive and/or prognostic variables for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Design: All patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma between 2002 and 2008 were reviewed retrospectively.

Effect of Metformin on mortality in patients with heart failure and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) plus chronic heart failure (CHF) is a common but lethal combination and therapeutic options are limited. Metformin is perceived as being relatively contraindicated in this context, although mounting evidence indicates that it may be beneficial. This study was carried out to investigate the use of metformin therapy for treating patients with DM and CHF in a large population-based cohort study.

Levels of neonatal thyroid hormone in preterm infants and neurodevelopmental outcome at 5 1/2 years: millennium cohort study.

Context: Transient hypothyroxinemia is the commonest thyroid dysfunction of premature infants, and recent studies have found adverse associations with neurodevelopment. The validity of these associations is unclear because the studies adjusted for a differing range of factors likely to influence neurodevelopment.

Objective: The aim was to describe the association of transient hypothyroxinemia with neurodevelopment at 5.

Effect of high-dose allopurinol on exercise in patients with chronic stable angina: a randomised, placebo controlled crossover trial.

Background: Experimental evidence suggests that xanthine oxidase inhibitors can reduce myocardial oxygen consumption for a particular stroke volume. If such an effect also occurs in man, this class of inhibitors could become a new treatment for ischaemia in patients with angina pectoris. We ascertained whether high-dose allopurinol prolongs exercise capability in patients with chronic stable angina.

Clinical improvement in rheumatoid arthritis is associated with healthier microvascular function in patients who respond to antirheumatic therapy.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with increased cardiovascular (CV) mortality. Microvascular endothelial dysfunction occurs early in the development of CV disease and is worsened by inflammation. The effect of drug treatment for RA on microvascular function has been poorly studied.

Actuarial life-table analysis of lower impacted wisdom teeth in general dental practice.

Background: The appropriateness of extraction of asymptomatic impacted third molars has been much debated and as a result the number of extractions has fallen in the UK in the past few years. As a direct consequence of this decrease more impacted third molars are left in situ and yet, little is known about the natural history of these teeth.

Objective: The aim of this study was to create an actuarial life-table and related survival analysis that would shed light on the natural history of an impacted lower third molar.

The value of procalcitonin at predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis and development of infected pancreatic necrosis: systematic review.

Background: Many studies have evaluated serum levels of procalcitonin (PCT) as a predictor in the development of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN). This study assesses the value of PCT as a marker of development of SAP and IPN.

Methods: Medline, Web of Science, the Cochrane clinical trials register, and international conference proceedings were searched systematically for prospective studies, which evaluated the usefulness of PCT as a marker of SAP and IPN.