The Effectiveness of Caffeine in Reducing Constipation in Adults: A Systematic Review.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Constipation is defined as infrequent stools/difficultly passing stools, or the sensation of incomplete emptying. The prevalence of constipation is estimated at 14% worldwide. Caffeine is believed to increase gastric motility in the colon, causing a laxative effect.

An Atypical Presentation of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection Mimicking Acute Surgical Abdomen in an Adult.

is a causative organism of atypical pneumonia and often presents with extrapulmonary symptoms and signs involving cardiovascular, dermatological, gastrointestinal and neurological systems. This is mostly seen in children but less commonly reported in adults. This case describes infection in an adult who presented with severe abdominal pain and was initially investigated for surgical causes and underwent diagnostic laparoscopy with unremarkable intraoperative findings.

Classification and measurement of displacement of isolated greater tuberosity fractures: Intra and interobserver reliability.

Background: Literature demonstrates variability in the amount of displacement of isolated greater tuberosity (GT) fractures and measurement techniques that orthopaedic surgeons deem warrant surgical intervention. This study aims to assess the intra and interobserver reliability for classifying and measuring the displacement amount for isolated GT fractures.

Methods: Eight surgeons, consisting of four shoulder specialists and four trainee surgeons, reviewed 25 plain radiographs on two separate occasions, 3 months apart.

Managing Perforated Diverticulitis: An Overview of Treatment Trends and Clinical Outcomes at a Single Centre in the United Kingdom.

Introduction Perforation represents the most critical manifestation of complicated diverticulitis. In 2008, it was estimated that about 2,000 cases of perforated diverticulitis (PD) were diagnosed in the United Kingdom (UK). Management of PD is evolving with considerable variation in approaches between hospitals and countries with an increased trend towards a conservative approach.

Herpes zoster as the initial manifestation of varicella-zoster virus infection in a healthy toddler.

Herpes zoster (HZ), commonly known as shingles, is a painful blistering rash in dermatomal distribution, caused by the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) that was acquired during a primary varicella infection. While commonly afflicting adults, cases of HZ in paediatric patients are infrequently reported. Such cases are predominantly reported in children who have had prior exposure to VZV, either during pregnancy, early childhood or have been vaccinated with live attenuated VZV.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) in Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease: A Systematic Review.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is effective and safe, but its outcomes for patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease are relatively unclear. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar till November 2023 yielded studies evaluating TAVI in BAV patients. Inclusion criteria were applied, and data were extracted on clinical and procedural outcomes, including echocardiographic measures and complications.

Commentary: core descriptor sets using consensus methods support 'table one' consistency.

Background: Inconsistent reporting of patient characteristics in clinical research hampers reproducibility and limits analysis opportunities. This paper proposes condition-specific 'Core Descriptor Sets' comprising key factors like demographics, disease severity, comorbidities, and prognosis to standardize Table 1 reporting.

Methods: Development entails stakeholder involvement, systematic identification of descriptors, value rating, and consensus-building using multiple Delphi rounds.

Ostomy Care Nurses' Knowledge and Practice Related to Prevention and Management of Parastomal Hernias in Adults: A Nationwide Survey of UK Stoma Care Nurses.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the knowledge and practices of ostomy care nurses related to the United Kingdom's Association of Stoma Care Nurses (ASCN) 2016 guidelines for prevention and management of parastomal hernia (PSH) in adults.

Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Subjects And Setting: The target population was approximately 300 stoma care nurses; 120 useable responses to the survey were received, reflecting a response rate of approximately 40%.

Examining the Backpack Weight Relative to Students' Body Weight Among Urban and Rural Schoolchildren: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Schoolbags or backpacks have been an essential part of the education system for a long time. However, a hefty backpack causes the child to arch the back excessively or bend their head and trunk forward to withstand the weight of the schoolbag. If the student carries the backpack on one shoulder, he/she bends to the opposite side to compensate for the extra weight, which may damage the shoulders and spine.

Modelled impact of virtual fractional flow reserve in patients undergoing coronary angiography (VIRTU-4).

Background: The practical application of 'virtual' (computed) fractional flow reserve (vFFR) based on invasive coronary angiogram (ICA) images is unknown. The objective of this cohort study was to investigate the potential of vFFR to guide the management of unselected patients undergoing ICA. The hypothesis was that it changes management in >10% of cases.

Assessing the role of Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 14 in AKI: a European consensus meeting.

Background: Urinary Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 14 (CCL14) is a biomarker associated with persistent severe acute kidney injury (AKI). There is limited data to support the implementation of this AKI biomarker to guide therapeutic actions.

Methods: Sixteen AKI experts with clinical CCL14 experience participated in a Delphi-based method to reach consensus on when and how to potentially use CCL14.

Use of eye-gaze technology feedback by assistive technology professionals: findings from a thematic analysis.

Eye-gaze technology offers professionals a range of feedback tools, but it is not well understood how these are used to support decision-making or how professionals understand their purpose and function. This paper explores how professionals use a variety of feedback tools and provides commentary on their current use and ideas for future tool development. The study adopted a focus group methodology with two groups of professional participants: those involved in the assessment and provision of eye-gaze technology ( = 6) and those who interact with individuals using eye-gaze technology on an ongoing basis ( = 5).

Handling 'carbon footprint' in orthopaedics.

Introduction: The National Health Service contributes 4%-5% of England and Wales' greenhouse gases and a quarter of all public sector waste. Between 20% and 33% of healthcare waste originates from a hospital's operating room, and up to 90% of waste is sent for costly and unneeded hazardous waste processing. The goal of this study was to quantify the amount and type of waste produced during a selection of common trauma and elective orthopaedic operations, and to calculate the carbon footprint of processing the waste.

The Minimisation of Cardiovascular Disease Screening for Kidney Transplant Candidates.

: There is increasing evidence that cardiac screening prior to kidney transplantation does not improve its outcomes. However, risk aversion to perioperative events means that, in practice, testing remains common, limiting the availability of 'real-world' data to support any change. Our objective was to assess perioperative and 1-year post-transplant cardiovascular events in a kidney transplant candidate cohort who received minimal cardiovascular screening.

Comparison of the Glenoid Index by Computed Tomography With Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Introduction Anterior shoulder instability results in labral and osseous glenoid injuries. With a large osseous defect, there is a risk of recurrent dislocation of the joint, and therefore the patient has to undergo surgical correction. An MRI evaluation of the patient helps to assess the soft tissue injury.

Ultrasound for suspected Baker's cyst: A test of limited clinical value?

Introduction: Patients with posterior knee swellings are commonly encountered in clinical practice with the vast majority referred for an ultrasound scan to assess for a clinically suspected Baker's cyst.

Aims: Our aim was to determine the incidence of different pathologies in patients investigated for a posterior knee swelling of a clinically suspected Baker's cyst using ultrasound. We also wanted to investigate the incidence of significant pathologies in the popliteal fossa to assess whether the ultrasound scan findings influenced patient management.

IgG4-related periaortitis presenting as left flank pain.

We present the case of periaortitis which presented initially with left flank pain. A diagnosis of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) was subsequently made and managed as such. IgG4-RD is rare, can be difficult to diagnose, and requires clinical, serological, radiological and pathological correlation, particularly given that serum IgG4 levels may be normal.

A Case Series of Dengue Myocarditis: A Complication Observed in Dengue Patients.

Dengue is a prevalent arthropod-born viral disease with a wide spectrum of clinical presentations ranging from undifferentiated fever to a more severe form of the disease, dengue hemorrhagic fever, and dengue shock syndrome. However, atypical manifestations such as hepatic, neurological, cardiac, and kidney involvement are increasingly being reported, thus the term "expanded dengue syndrome". We report a series of cases with an atypical presentation of dengue fever marked by various cardiac manifestations, including cardiogenic shock secondary to myocardial involvement.

The MAGIC trial: a pragmatic, multicentre, parallel, noninferiority, randomised trial of melatonin versus midazolam in the premedication of anxious children attending for elective surgery under general anaesthesia.

Background: Child anxiety before general anaesthesia and surgery is common. Midazolam is a commonly used premedication to address this. Melatonin is an alternative anxiolytic, however trials evaluating its efficacy in children have delivered conflicting results.