The mediation of social influences on smoking cessation and awareness of the early signs of lung cancer.

Background: Whilst there has been no clear consensus on the potential for earlier diagnosis of lung cancer, recent research has suggested that the time between symptom onset and consultation can be long enough to plausibly affect prognosis. In this article, we present findings from a qualitative study involving in-depth interviews with patients who had been diagnosed with lung cancer (n = 11), and people who were at heightened risk of developing the disease (n = 14).

Methods: A grounded theory methodology was drawn upon to conduct thematic and narrative based approaches to analysis.

Knowledge and utilisation of occupational asthma guidelines in primary care.

Aims: To develop an occupational asthma learning module, which could be used both as an educational tool and to evaluate awareness and usage of clinical guidelines in primary care.

Methods: Healthcare professionals were invited to undertake an interactive BMJ Learning module, developed from existing national occupational asthma guidelines. Participants were invited to record immediate post-module feedback, and were also sent an e-mail questionnaire six weeks later to assess the impact of the module.

Rapid and efficient cell labeling with a MRI contrast agent by electroporation in the presence of protamine sulfate.

Aims: To investigate various protocols for magnetic labeling of human cancer cells with ferumoxides with a view to developing an effective and fast technique for potential clinical use in MRI.

Materials & Methods: Transfection methods utilizing poly-L-lysine and protamine sulfate (PS), electroporation, and combination of PS with electroporation were evaluated in this in vitro study.

Results: Although transfection was more effective in terms of uptake rates (95-100%) and intracellular iron concentrations (4.

Ferromagnetization of target tissues by interstitial injection of ferrofluid: formulation and evidence of efficacy for magnetic retraction.

During curative cancer surgery, magnetic retraction could offer advantages over retraction by graspers because of reduced tissue trauma and with the potential for noncontact retraction. To realize magnetic retraction, magnetic fluid was injected into harvested porcine stomachs and an external permanent magnet was used to retract the ferromagnetized tissue. The magnetic forces of four ferrofluids were measured.

Thermographic assessment of tumor growth in mouse xenografts.

In human breast tumors, a 1-2 degrees C increase in skin surface temperature is usually observed at the periphery; it has been proposed that this change is due to the hypervascularity and increased blood flow resulting from tumor-associated angiogenesis. Here we tested the hypothesis that thermal imaging might represent a useful adjunctive technique in monitoring the growth dynamics of human tumor xenografts. Xenografts were established in immunocomprised nude mice using MDA-MB-231 or MCF7 breast cancer cells.

Elasticity of the living abdominal wall in laparoscopic surgery.

Laparoscopic surgery requires inflation of the abdominal cavity and this offers a unique opportunity to measure the mechanical properties of the living abdominal wall. We used a motion analysis system to study the abdominal wall motion of 18 patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery, and found that the mean Young's modulus was 27.7+/-4.

The perceptions of occupational health in primary care.

Aim: A random sample of general practitioners (GPs), practice nurses (PNs) and practice managers (PMs) in Sheffield and Manchester was recruited into a study to evaluate the perceptions of occupational health (OH) in primary care.

Methods: Qualitative data were collected using focus groups with three groups of primary care sector professionals. Quantitative data were collected nationally from 295 GPs using a postal questionnaire.

Shape memory alloy clip for compression colonic anastomosis.

This study was setup to investigate the design and performance of a shape memory alloy clip for colonic anastomosis. The thermo-mechanical properties of the shape memory alloy material were studied and the data were used to derive a nonlinear material model. This enabled the development of computer computer aided design models and finite element analysis of the clip and tissue compression.

Evolution of a percutaneous fetoscopic access system for single-port tracheal occlusion.

Background/purpose: Prenatal tracheal occlusion currently is being assessed as a treatment modality for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). The development of a totally percutaneous fetoscopic access system would help avoid the need for maternal laparotomy and reduce the morbidity rate of fetal surgical procedures for the mother. Laparoscopic radial expansion sheaths and Seldinger technique-based vascular catheters both have been advocated as means of achieving amniotic cavity access.