The implications when offering percutaneous nephrostomy for the management of malignant obstructive uropathy secondary to urological malignancy: can we be more selective?

Background & Objectives: Percutaneous nephrostomy (PN) for malignant ureteric obstruction (MUO) is increasingly accessible with high success rates. However, it is not without associated risks and morbidity, impacting quality of life, while not improving overall survival. In two UK hospitals, we investigated the outcomes of undergoing PN for MUO, to inform future patient counselling and selection for this intervention.

Placental growth factor testing at 19-23 weeks of gestation as a guide to subsequent care in pregnancy: A prospective observational study.

Objective: To determine whether serum placental growth factor (PlGF) at 19-23 weeks of gestation can improve the identification of risk for adverse outcomes.

Design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Setting: Two English maternity units.

Fetal Medicine Foundation charts for fetal growth in twins.

Objective: To derive reference distributions of estimated fetal weight (EFW) in twins relative to singletons.

Methods: Gestational-age- and chorionicity-specific reference distributions for singleton percentiles and EFW were fitted to data on 4391 twin pregnancies with two liveborn fetuses from four European centers, including 3323 dichorionic (DC) and 1068 monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancies. Gestational age was derived using the larger of the two crown-rump length measurements obtained during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Predictors and influencing factors of emotional intelligence among nurses in the North East England, United Kingdom.

Background: Recognising that high levels of emotional intelligence (EI) are required for involvement in the nursing practice, this study was conducted to assess the traits of emotional intelligence, perception of emotional intelligence and factors associated with emotional intelligence among nursing teams in Northeast England.

Materials And Methods: For this descriptive cross-sectional study, a concurrent mixed method was employed (qualitative and quantitative method) using a convenience sampling technique. Data were obtained from one hundred and ten (110) staff nurses practicing with the National Health Service via a validated semi-structured questionnaire and in-depth interview.

Relation of antepartum stillbirth to birthweight and gestational age: Prospective cohort study.

Objectives: To investigate the incidence of antepartum stillbirth in relation to the distribution of neonatal/fetal weight for different gestational ages.

Design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Setting: Obstetric ultrasound departments in two UK maternity hospitals.

A Study Evaluating the Accuracy of Triage for Breast Referrals During the Covid-19 Pandemic in a Tertiary Hospital.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of breast referral triage during Covid-19.

Design: Retrospective case study.

Setting: Primrose Breast Unit, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

Case-control study of serum vitamin D concentrations in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 and hospitalised controls suffering with respiratory tract infections of differing aetiology.

This study explored the prevalence of low serum vitamin D in patients admitted with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) such as COVID-19. This study investigated whether patients with COVID-19 had lower serum vitamin D compared with patients with ARTIs of other aetiology. A case-control study was performed with cases of COVID-19 and controls of non-COVID-19 ARTIs.

Development and validation of a prognostic model for death 30 days after adult emergency laparotomy.

The probability of death after emergency laparotomy varies greatly between patients. Accurate pre-operative risk prediction is fundamental to planning care and improving outcomes. We aimed to develop a model limited to a few pre-operative factors that performed well irrespective of surgical indication: obstruction; sepsis; ischaemia; bleeding; and other.

Ultrasound vs. clinical diagnosis-which is better in diagnosing acute appendicitis?: a cohort study.

Unlabelled: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common causes of right iliac fossa pain which often warrants surgical management. In many cases, abdominal ultrasonography (USS) is done to confirm the diagnosis however negative appendicectomy is common due to atypical presentations and different visualisation rate. The unnecessary operative intervention can result in complications.

Parastomal hernia containing the stomach-a rare complication.

A lady in her 70s presented to hospital with sudden onset nausea and excessive vomiting. She had a constant and worsening abdominal pain that radiated to the back but was focused on her stoma in the left iliac fossa. The patient had bilateral hernias and colostomy following a Hartman's procedure for perforated diverticulosis in 2018 and had presented twice before in the last 6 months with similar symptoms.

Prediction of hypertensive disorders after screening at 36 weeks' gestation: comparison of angiogenic markers with competing-risks model.

Objective: To compare the performance at 35 + 0 to 36 + 6 weeks' gestation of screening for delivery with pre-eclampsia (PE) at various timepoints, using one of three approaches: placental growth factor (PlGF) concentration, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) to PlGF concentration ratio, or the competing-risks model, which combines maternal risk factors with biomarkers to estimate patient-specific risk.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study of women attending for a routine hospital visit at 35 + 0 to 36 + 6 weeks' gestation at one of two maternity hospitals in England between 2016 and 2022. During the visit, maternal demographic characteristics and medical history were recorded and serum PlGF, serum sFlt-1 and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured.

Delivering surgical education: a specialist surgical society and undergraduate student collaboration.

Currently, the delivery of the undergraduate medical curriculum includes various teaching, learning and assessment strategies. Self-directed learning is an important aspect of this mix and includes the use of resources, sometimes not provided by the parent University, in the student's own time to enhance the student's knowledge, skills and professional practice. Societies aimed at a particular specialty contain a pool of professionals that can provide undergraduate students with opportunities for further self-directed learning, development of specialty-specific core skills and exploration of research interests.

Consensus Guidelines for Perioperative Care for Emergency Laparotomy Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society Recommendations Part 2-Emergency Laparotomy: Intra- and Postoperative Care.

Background: This is Part 2 of the first consensus guidelines for optimal care of patients undergoing emergency laparotomy (EL) using an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) approach. This paper addresses intra- and postoperative aspects of care.

Methods: Experts in aspects of management of high-risk and emergency general surgical patients were invited to contribute by the International ERAS Society.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®) Society Consensus Guidelines for Emergency Laparotomy Part 3: Organizational Aspects and General Considerations for Management of the Emergency Laparotomy Patient.

Background: This is Part 3 of the first consensus guidelines for optimal care of patients undergoing emergency laparotomy using an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) approach. This paper addresses organizational aspects of care.

Methods: Experts in management of the high-risk and emergency general surgical patient were invited to contribute by the International ERAS® Society.

Preventing the overdiagnosis of chest sepsis in children: A quality improvement project.

Rationale: Respiratory infections in children are one of the most common causes of hospital attendances and a common cause of sepsis. Most of these infections turn out to be viral in nature. However, the overuse of antibiotics is common and with increasing problems with antimicrobial resistance, changes to antibiotic prescribing practices need to be implemented urgently.

Preeclampsia Prevention by Timed Birth at Term.

Background: Most preeclampsia occurs at term. There are no effective preventative strategies. We aimed to identify the optimal preeclampsia screening and timing of birth strategy for prevention of term preeclampsia.

Knowledge and Treatment Behaviour of Acne Vulgaris among Female Students of University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Background: Acne Vulgaris is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease, with a prevalence of about 80% among adolescents and adults.

Aim: The study was designed to assess knowledge and treatment behavior of acne vulgaris among female students of the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus, Nigeria.

Method: Descriptive survey design was adopted for this study.

Hydroxyurea for children with sickle cell disease in sub-Saharan Africa: A summary of the evidence, opportunities, and challenges.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a common and life-threatening inherited blood disorder that affects more than 300,000 newborns per year. Because of the origins of the sickle gene mutation as a protective mechanism against malaria for those with sickle cell trait, more than 90% of annual SCD births are in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA). Over the past several decades, there have been many important advances in the care of individuals with SCD, including early diagnosis through newborn screening programs (NBS), prophylactic penicillin, the development of vaccines to prevent invasive bacterial infections, and the emergence of hydroxyurea as the primary disease-modifying pharmacologic therapy.

Corrigendum to 'Spontaneous myonecrosis with pyomyositis in a young male with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A case report' [Radiol Case Rep 2023;18:577-80].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.radcr.

Prosthetic joint infections of the shoulder: A review of the recent literature.

Introduction: Shoulder arthroplasty is a common treatment for shoulder arthritis. Prosthetic joint infection of the shoulder (PJIS) is a debilitating complication to the patient and the healthcare system. Incidence of infection is 0.

Development and validation of a multivariable risk factor questionnaire to detect oesophageal cancer in 2-week wait patients.

Introduction: Oesophageal cancer is associated with poor health outcomes. Upper GI (UGI) endoscopy is the gold standard for diagnosis but is associated with patient discomfort and low yield for cancer. We used a machine learning approach to create a model which predicted oesophageal cancer based on questionnaire responses.

An assessment of the dose and image quality difference between AP and PA positioned adult radiographic knee examinations.

Introduction: Knee X-rays are a standard examination to diagnose multiple conditions ranging from traumatic injuries, degeneration, and cancer. This study explores the differences between adult Anterior-Posterior (AP) and Posterior-Anterior (PA) weight-bearing knee examinations using absorbed radiation dose data and image quality.

Methods: The study modelled and compared AP and PA knee X-ray radiation dose data using Monte-Carlo software, an Ion Chamber, and thermoluminescence dosemeters (TLDs) on a Rando phantom.