Bilateral femoral neck fractures and fixation failure due to stiff-person syndrome.

We describe a woman with stiff-person syndrome (SPS), whose muscle spasms resulted in sequential bilateral femoral neck fractures. Orthopaedic fixation of the first fracture was complicated by increased muscle spasm, fracture nonunion and ultimately metalwork fracture. SPS was diagnosed following the fracture of the contralateral femoral neck, neurology assessment and detection of high-titre antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase.

Visualizing Patient Pathways and Identifying Data Repositories in a UK Neurosciences Center: Exploratory Study.

Background: Health and clinical activity data are a vital resource for research, improving patient care and service efficiency. Health care data are inherently complex, and their acquisition, storage, retrieval, and subsequent analysis require a thorough understanding of the clinical pathways underpinning such data. Better use of health care data could lead to improvements in patient care and service delivery.

Conduction system pacing versus biventricular pacing in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and electrical dyssynchrony.

Biventricular pacing (BiVP) has been the cornerstone of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in the management of symptomatic heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and electrical dyssynchrony despite guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). However, BiVP has some limitations, including technical difficulties and high non-response rates. Conduction system pacing encompassing His bundle pacing (HBP) and left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) has recently emerged as a promising alternative to CRT in this group of patients.

Exploring How the Kidney BEAM Physical Activity Digital Health Intervention Improved Mental Health-Related Quality of Life for People Living With Kidney Disease.

Introduction: The Kidney BEAM randomized controlled trial reported clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvements in mental health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical function (sit-to-stand-60, but not the physical component of HRQoL) and patient activation after a 12-week physical activity digital health intervention (DHI). This study explores factors that contributed to the effectiveness of Kidney BEAM through mixed methods analyses.

Methods: Quantitative data analysis was obtained from the recently published primary manuscript.

Parastomal Varices as an Atypical Source of Bleeding From a Urostomy in a Patient With Alcoholic Liver Disease.

Parastomal varices are an uncommon but significant source of hemorrhage in patients with portal hypertension, often posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We report the case of a 73-year-old male with a history of alcoholic liver disease and a urostomy following cystoprostatectomy for bladder cancer. The patient presented with profuse bleeding from his urostomy site.

A Case Report of Atypical Presentation of Metastatic Breast Cancer as Peri-Bronchial Mediastinal Lesion.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women worldwide. Despite significant advancements in breast cancer treatments over the past decade, late recurrence, a hallmark of breast cancer, remains a major challenge for oncologists. In this case report, we present an atypical presentation of late breast cancer recurrence as a peri-bronchial lesion manifesting as dysphagia 14 years after completing treatment for primary breast cancer.

Leveraging Digital Platforms: An Eight-Webinar Teaching Series to Enhance Organised Learning in Orthopaedic Surgery.

Introduction The increasing use of technology and the adoption of online learning platforms have provided more options for delivering medical education. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of a tailored eight-session orthopaedic webinar series designed to enhance knowledge and confidence among medical students, postgraduate trainees, and healthcare providers involved in musculoskeletal care. Methods A total of 427 participants from 43 countries attended the webinar series.

Ten tips to carry out video consultations in nephrology.

Video consultations have seen increasing use in nephrology since the COVID-19 pandemic with an aim to address constraints in F2F outpatient capacity and also patients' concerns around risks of infection when attending healthcare facilities. Nephrologists have learned through experience to use video consultations for providing routine follow up and also for triage of unwell patients. Advantages of video consultations include convenience, cost savings through avoiding clinic overheads, and reducing the carbon footprint of care.

Biomarker-Guided Antibiotic Duration for Hospitalized Patients With Suspected Sepsis: The ADAPT-Sepsis Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: For hospitalized critically ill adults with suspected sepsis, procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) monitoring protocols can guide the duration of antibiotic therapy, but the evidence of the effect and safety of these protocols remains uncertain.

Objective: To determine whether decisions based on assessment of CRP or PCT safely results in a reduction in the duration of antibiotic therapy.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A multicenter, intervention-concealed randomized clinical trial, involving 2760 adults (≥18 years), in 41 UK National Health Service (NHS) intensive care units, requiring critical care within 24 hours of initiating intravenous antibiotics for suspected sepsis and likely to continue antibiotics for at least 72 hours.

Tivozanib Monotherapy in the Frontline Setting for Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma and Favorable Prognosis.

Purpose Of Review: In this review, we discuss which patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) may be most suitable for frontline tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) monotherapy, a treatment option supported by emerging long-term efficacy data including overall survival and quality of life. We specifically focus on tivozanib, a potent and selective inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, which has comparable efficacy to other single-agent TKIs in frontline treatment for mRCC while exhibiting fewer off-target side effects.

Recent Findings: Combination therapy with TKIs and checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) and CPI/CPI combination therapies, as well as TKI monotherapy are recommended frontline treatment options for mRCC.

Diagnostic accuracy of bedside screening tools for aspiration risk in acute stroke, a commentary.

Dysphagia is common after stroke and can lead to serious complications including pneumonia and mortality. Bedside swallow screening tools for aspiration risk associated with dysphagia are available for use by healthcare professionals to quickly assess patients, put in place the necessary interventions and make referral to speech and language therapy. A Cochrane Systematic review aimed to identify the diagnostic accuracy of such tools for use in practice (Boaden et al.

Why are organisational approvals needed for low-risk staff studies in the UK? Procedures, barriers, and burdens.

Background: Health care staff should be given the opportunity to participate in research, but recruiting clinicians via their employing organisation is not always straightforward or quick in the UK. Unlike many countries outside the UK, very low-risk survey, interview or focus group studies can be subject to some of the same governance approval procedures as interventional studies. An exemplar study carried out by the NIHR funded Palliative Care Research Partnership North West Coast is used to highlight the challenges still faced by researchers and health care organisations when setting up a low-risk staff study across multiple NHS and non-NHS sites.

Retinopathy in Mucopolysaccharidoses.

Purpose: To determine the pattern(s) of onset, variation, and progression of retinopathy in patients with Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS).

Design: Prospective, longitudinal, observational study.

Participants: Between November 2015 and March 2023, individuals with MPS were recruited from Ophthalmology clinics at the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, United Kingdom.

Pharmacokinetics of PP353, a formulation of linezolid for intervertebral disc administration, in patients with chronic low back pain and Modic change Type 1: A first-in-human, Phase 1b, open-label, single-dose study.

Background: Bacterial infection of the intervertebral disc is difficult to treat because the tissue is usually not vascularized and systemic antibiotic therapy may not reach optimal antibacterial exposure. Here we characterize the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of PP353, a suspension of micronized linezolid, formulated for direct intervertebral disc administration.

Methods: The safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of an intradiscal administration of PP353, was assessed in Part A of a Phase 1b study and consisted of a single injection of study drug (3 mL of PP353 and 150 mg linezolid).

Kidney Beam-A Cost-Effective Digital Intervention to Improve Mental Health.

Introduction: There is inequity in the provision of physical rehabilitation services for people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The Kidney BEAM trial evaluated the clinical value and cost effectiveness of a physical activity digital health intervention (DHI) in CKD.

Methods: In a single-blind, 11 center, randomized controlled trial, 340 adult participants with CKD were randomly assigned to either the Kidney BEAM physical activity DHI or a waitlist control.

Recurrence of Retinopathy of Prematurity Following Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (Anti-VEGF) Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a neovascular disorder which affects premature infants and can lead to childhood blindness. Treatment includes laser photocoagulation and intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections, both effective options. However, laser photocoagulation can lead to refractive errors, while anti-VEGF therapy can result in disease recurrence.

Enhancing vascular surgery outcomes through geriatric co-management: a study on the impact of the POPS team.

Introduction: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) involves atherosclerotic stenosis and occlusion of lower leg arteries, leading to significant disability, high cardiovascular and cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality. Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is the most severe form of PAD. With the UK's aging population set to increase, the prevalence of PAD and the burden on vascular teams are expected to rise.

When allergies have no name: is idiopathic anaphylaxis driven by co-factors?

Idiopathic anaphylaxis (IA) is a severe allergic reaction without identifiable external triggers, presenting significant challenges in diagnosis and management. However, growing evidence suggests that many cases classified as idiopathic may actually be driven by cofactors such as exercise, hormonal fluctuations, medications, or hidden allergens. This mini-review explores the evolving understanding of IA, highlighting the role of these cofactors in triggering or amplifying anaphylactic reactions.

Physical and psychological aspects of multiple sclerosis: Revisiting the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29).

Background: The MSIS-29 measures the physical and psychological impact of MS.

Objective: The associations between MSIS-29 domains and demographic/clinical aspects were examined and trajectories analysed over time.

Methods: Data were collected in the Trajectories of Outcome in Neurological Conditions study for a diverse population of people with MS, with follow-up for up to 5 years.

Investigation of Long-Term CD4+ T Cell Receptor Repertoire Changes Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Patients with Different Severities of Disease.

Background: The difference in the immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coro-navirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in patients with mild versus severe disease remains poorly understood. Recent scientific advances have recognised the vital role of both B cells and T cells; however, many questions remain unanswered, particularly for T cell responses. T cells are essential for helping the generation of SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses but have also been recognised in their own right as a major factor influencing COVID-19 disease outcomes.

Artificial intelligence in plastic surgery, where do we stand?

Since the pandemic, artificial intelligence (AI) has been integrated into several fields and everyday life as well. Healthcare is not an exception. Plastic surgery is a key focus area of this technological revolution, with hundreds of studies and reviews already published on the use of AI in plastics.