The Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy on Wound Healing and Pain Management in Skin Wounds: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a non-invasive application of non-thermogenic light that is proven to promote tissue healing and alleviate pain. The authors aim to conduct the first meta-analysis, evaluating the effects of LLLT on wound healing and pain in skin wounds by comparing it to skin wounds not treated with LLLT. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed by searching the electronic databases.

Molecular Alterations Associated with Histologically Overt Stromal Response in Patients with Prostate Cancer.

Prostate cancer has substantial heterogeneity in clinical outcomes and therapeutic responses, posing challenges in predicting disease progression and tailoring treatment strategies. Recent studies have highlighted the potential prognostic value of evaluating the tumor microenvironment, including the presence of a histologically overt stromal response (HOST-response) characterized by peri-glandular stromal changes and architectural distortions. This retrospective study examined patient records from The Cancer Genome Atlas database to identify genomic alterations associated with the HOST-response in prostate cancer.

Histologically Overt Stromal Response and the Risk of Progression after Radical Prostatectomy for Prostate Cancer.

Purpose: Given the variable clinical course of prostate cancer and the limitations of current prognostic factors, this study was conducted to investigate the impact of a histologically overt stromal response (HOST-response) to prostate cancer on clinical outcomes after radical prostatectomy.

Methods: This retrospective analysis utilized The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to evaluate data from individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy and had available pathology slides. These slides were assessed for the presence of a HOST-response, similar to desmoplasia.

Major incident preparedness in a post pandemic world: A survey of anaesthetists.

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly changed anaesthetic and critical care departments across the UK and fulfilled the definition of a major incident for an extended period of time. It is regularly highlighted that individual and organisational readiness for major incident is inconsistent, as is support in the aftermath. Post-pandemic rates of anxiety and PTSD in healthcare staff have significantly increased, but we still have no embedded method of helping to prevent it.

The Efficacy of the Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Abdominoplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block is a regional abdominal anaesthetic technique frequently used within non-cosmetic abdominal surgery. Its use in cosmetic abdominoplasty procedures is less frequently documented. The literature is devoid of a meta-analysis to quantitatively amalgamate the results of individual reports analysing the efficacy of TAP block compared to alternative analgesic methods in abdominoplasty surgery.

Evaluation of age-banded dosing of oral paracetamol in hospitalised children: a retrospective analysis using clinical data in a tertiary paediatric hospital.

Objective: To evaluate age-banded dosing in paediatric inpatients by determining the proportion of patients whose dose would fall outside the therapeutic range (by weight).

Design: A retrospective observational study. Weight and height measurements and details of hospital admissions were matched from the electronic patient record of a single, tertiary paediatric hospital.

Refractory paraneoplastic hypercalcaemia responding to cinacalcet.

A woman in her late 70s presented with an increased frequency of micturition, suprapubic pain and weight loss. She was found to be having advanced cancer of the urinary bladder, coupled with bilateral hydronephrosis.Whilst undergoing surgical intervention for the latter, she was incidentally found to be having hypercalcaemia.

Effectiveness of Communication Skills Training in Medical Students Using Simulated Patients or Volunteer Outpatients.

Communication skills are the vital basis for patient-doctor interactions in undergraduate medical education. With excellent patient-physician interaction and communication, patients will likely build better rapport and trust with the physician. This allows all the necessary information to be divulged with the reassurance of confidentiality and devise appropriate investigations and treatment plans that patients would be more inclined to follow.

Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of COVID-19: The PAN-COVID study.

Objective: To assess perinatal outcomes for pregnancies affected by suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: Prospective, web-based registry. Pregnant women were invited to participate if they had suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between 1st January 2020 and 31st March 2021 to assess the impact of infection on maternal and perinatal outcomes including miscarriage, stillbirth, fetal growth restriction, pre-term birth and transmission to the infant.

The Fragility Fracture Postoperative Mobilisation multicentre audit : the reality of weightbearing practices following operations for lower limb fragility fractures.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the weightbearing practice of operatively managed fragility fractures in the setting of publically funded health services in the UK and Ireland.

Methods: The Fragility Fracture Postoperative Mobilisation (FFPOM) multicentre audit included all patients aged 60 years and older undergoing surgery for a fragility fracture of the lower limb between 1 January 2019 and 30 June 2019, and 1 February 2021 and 14 March 2021. Fractures arising from high-energy transfer trauma, patients with multiple injuries, and those associated with metastatic deposits or infection were excluded.

Healing of ExcisionAl wounds on Lower legs by Secondary intention (HEALS) cohort study. Part 2: feasibility data from a multicentre prospective observational cohort study to inform a future randomized controlled trial.

Background: Compression therapy is considered beneficial for postsurgical lower leg wound healing by secondary intention; however, there is a lack of supportive evidence. To plan a randomized controlled trial (RCT), suitable data are needed.

Aim: To determine the feasibility of recruitment and estimate recruitment rate; to understand the standard postoperative wound management pathway; to determine uptake of optional additional clinic visits for healing confirmation; and to explore patient acceptability of compression bandaging and plan a future RCT.

Healing of ExcisionAl wounds on Lower legs by Secondary intention (HEALS) cohort study. Part 1: a multicentre prospective observational cohort study in patients without planned compression.

Background: There is no agreed treatment pathway following excision of keratinocyte cancer (KC). Compression therapy is considered beneficial for secondary intention healing on the lower leg; however, there is a lack of supportive evidence. To plan a randomized controlled trial (RCT), suitable data are needed.

Optimized Systematic Review Tool: Application to Candidate Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

This review aims to develop an appropriate review tool for systematically collating metabolites that are dysregulated in disease and applies the method to identify novel diagnostic biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Studies that analyzed metabolites in blood or urine samples where HCC was compared with comparison groups (healthy, precirrhotic liver disease, cirrhosis) were eligible. Tumor tissue was included to help differentiate primary and secondary biomarkers.

Use of a Cytosponge biomarker panel to prioritise endoscopic Barrett's oesophagus surveillance: a cross-sectional study followed by a real-world prospective pilot.

Background: Endoscopic surveillance is recommended for patients with Barrett's oesophagus because, although the progression risk is low, endoscopic intervention is highly effective for high-grade dysplasia and cancer. However, repeated endoscopy has associated harms and access has been limited during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to evaluate the role of a non-endoscopic device (Cytosponge) coupled with laboratory biomarkers and clinical factors to prioritise endoscopy for Barrett's oesophagus.

New Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus as a Manifestation of Tuberculosis of the Central Nervous System.

A 28-year-old male presented to us with new onset refractory status epilepticus. Prior to his seizures, he had a history of fever, headache and blurring of vision, for which he was admitted elsewhere. No cause was found; he was treated symptomatically and was discharged as his symptoms had abated.

Towards nationally curated data archives for clinical radiology image analysis at scale: Learnings from national data collection in response to a pandemic.

The prevalence of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 disease has resulted in the unprecedented collection of health data to support research. Historically, coordinating the collation of such datasets on a national scale has been challenging to execute for several reasons, including issues with data privacy, the lack of data reporting standards, interoperable technologies, and distribution methods. The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 disease pandemic has highlighted the importance of collaboration between government bodies, healthcare institutions, academic researchers and commercial companies in overcoming these issues during times of urgency.