Efficacy and safety of gefapixant, a P2X receptor antagonist, in refractory chronic cough and unexplained chronic cough (COUGH-1 and COUGH-2): results from two double-blind, randomised, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trials.

Background: Gefapixant is an oral P2X receptor antagonist that has previously shown efficacy and safety in refractory chronic cough and unexplained chronic cough. We therefore aim to confirm the efficacy and safety of gefapixant in participants with refractory chronic cough and unexplained chronic cough.

Methods: COUGH-1 and COUGH-2 were both double-blind, randomised, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trials.

Evaluation of factors contributing to the response to fosaprepitant in a heterogeneous, moderately emetogenic chemotherapy population: an exploratory analysis of a randomized phase III trial.

Purpose: Fosaprepitant improved prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in a randomized, double-blind phase III trial (PN031). This post hoc analysis explored factors that may have influenced response.

Methods: Adult subjects (N = 1000) scheduled to receive non-anthracycline and cyclophosphamide (AC) moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC) on day 1 were randomly assigned 1:1 to a single-dose, 150-mg intravenous fosaprepitant regimen or a control regimen.

The Evolution of Remote-Controlled Intramedullary Lengthening and Compression Nails.

The operative elongation of limbs has long been a goal of orthopaedic surgeons. Indeed, the very first external skeletal fixators, although designed for stabilization of displaced fractures, were also used to overcome the posttrauma shortening that so commonly accompanies fracture deformities.

Identification of factors that support successful implementation of care bundles in the acute medical setting: a qualitative study.

Background: Clinical guidelines offer an accessible synthesis of the best evidence of effectiveness of interventions, providing recommendations and standards for clinical practice. Many guidelines are relevant to the diagnosis and management of the acutely unwell patient during the first 24-48 h of admission. Care bundles are comprised of a small number of evidence-based interventions that when implemented together aim to achieve better outcomes than when implemented individually.

PRECICE magnetically-driven, telescopic, intramedullary lengthening nail: pre-clinical testing and first 30 patients.

Introduction: Femoral/tibial lengthening with a telescopic, magnetically-powered, intramedullary nail is an alternative to lengthening with external fixation.

Methods: Pre-clinical testing was conducted of the PRECICE in a human cadaver. A retrospective review of the first 30 consecutive patients who underwent unilateral lengthening was also conducted.

A qualitative evaluation to explore the suitability, feasibility and acceptability of using a 'celebration card' intervention in primary care to improve the uptake of childhood vaccinations.

Background: Childhood vaccination remains a primary mechanism for reducing the burden of infectious disease. In the United Kingdom, as in many countries, a sustained effort is required to ensure that vaccination targets are met to afford protection to the whole population from vaccine preventable disease. The Celebrate and Protect programme is a collaborative partnership developed to improve the uptake of childhood vaccination across a number of boroughs within London through the use of a celebration card to encourage attendance for vaccination and enhance relationships between general practices and the parents/carers of children.

Co-production as an approach to developing stakeholder partnerships to reduce mental health inequalities: an evaluation of a pilot service.

Unlabelled: Aim This study aimed to evaluate a pilot cross-sector initiative - bringing together public health, a community group, primary mental health teams and patients - in using co-production approaches to deliver a mental health service to meet the needs of the black and minority ethnic communities.

Background: Black and minority ethnic communities continue to face inequalities in mental health service access and provision. They are under-represented in low-level interventions as they are less likely to be referred, and more likely to disengage from mainstream mental health services.

A retrospective observational analysis to identify patient and treatment-related predictors of outcomes in a community mental health programme.

Objectives: This study aims to identify patient and treatment factors that affect clinical outcomes of community psychological therapy through the development of a predictive model using historic data from 2 services in London. In addition, the study aims to assess the completeness of data collection, explore how treatment outcomes are discriminated using current criteria for classifying recovery, and assess the feasibility and need for undertaking a future larger population analysis.

Design: Observational, retrospective discriminant analysis.

Using geographical information systems and cartograms as a health service quality improvement tool.

Introduction: Disease prevalence can be spatially analysed to provide support for service implementation and health care planning, these analyses often display geographic variation. A key challenge is to communicate these results to decision makers, with variable levels of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) knowledge, in a way that represents the data and allows for comprehension. The present research describes the combination of established GIS methods and software tools to produce a novel technique of visualising disease admissions and to help prevent misinterpretation of data and less optimal decision making.

Improving mental health outcomes: achieving equity through quality improvement.

Objective: To investigate equity of patient outcomes in a psychological therapy service, following increased access achieved by a quality improvement (QI) initiative.

Design: Retrospective service evaluation of health outcomes; data analysed by ANOVA, chi-squared and Statistical Process Control.

Setting: A psychological therapy service in Westminster, London, UK.

Socio-economic deprivation and risk of emergency readmission and inpatient mortality in people with sickle cell disease in England: observational study.

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a cause of frequent emergency readmissions. We examined trends in SCD emergency readmissions and inpatient mortality in England in relation to socio-economic status.

Methods: Data from Hospital Episode Statistics were extracted for all SCD patients admitted in 2005/06.

Pulmonary rehabilitation following hospitalisation for acute exacerbation of COPD: referrals, uptake and adherence.

Rationale: Several randomised controlled trials support the provision of early pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) following hospitalisation for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). However, there is little real-world data regarding uptake, adherence and completion rates.

Methods: An audit was conducted to prospectively document referral, uptake, adherence and completion rates for early post-hospitalisation outpatient PR in Northwest London over a 12-month period.