Do probiotics prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhoea? Results of a multicentre randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) is a side-effect of antibiotic consumption and probiotics have been shown to reduce AAD.

Methods: A multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial was conducted to evaluate the role of Lactobacillus casei DN114001 (combined as a drink with two regular yoghurt bacterial strains) in reducing AAD and Clostridioides difficile infection in patients aged over 55 years. The primary outcome was the incidence of AAD during 2 weeks of follow-up.

The efficacy of tranexamic acid in hip hemiarthroplasty surgery: an observational cohort study.

Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been shown to reduce perioperative blood loss in elective lower limb arthroplasty surgery. There are potentially even greater physiological benefits in minimising blood loss in hip fracture surgery, however limited evidence exists for TXA use in hemiarthroplasty surgery. This study investigates the effect of TXA use on postoperative transfusion rates and haemoglobin (Hb) levels specifically following hemiarthroplasty surgery for hip fractures.

Inappropriate requests for magnetic resonance scans of the shoulder.

Purpose: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are a useful investigation for some shoulder pathology. They are costly however and a significant burden on radiology departments. In most cases clinical examination, plain radiography or ultrasound scan (USS) are sufficient for a diagnosis.

Permanent pacemaker insertion after CoreValve transcatheter aortic valve implantation: incidence and contributing factors (the UK CoreValve Collaborative).

Background: Permanent pacemaker (PPM) requirement is a recognized complication of transcatheter aortic valve implantation. We assessed the UK incidence of permanent pacing within 30 days of CoreValve implantation and formulated an anatomic and electrophysiological model.

Methods And Results: Data from 270 patients at 10 centers in the United Kingdom were examined.

Group acupuncture to relieve radiation induced xerostomia: a feasibility study.

Background: a distressing complication of radiotherapy treatment for head and neck cancer is xerostomia (chronic oral dryness). Xerostomia is difficult to treat conventionally but there are reports that acupuncture can help. We conducted a feasibility study to examine the acceptability of a standardised group acupuncture technique and adherence to group sessions, together with acceptability of the objective and subjective measurements of xerostomia.