Dog swimming and ectoparasiticide water contamination in urban conservation areas: A case study on Hampstead Heath, London.

Widespread occurrence of two ectoparasiticide compounds in the aquatic environment, imidacloprid and fipronil, have prompted concerns about their potential environmental impacts. However, very little focus has been placed on water bodies in urban green spaces used for dog swimming. In this study, occurrence of both substances on Hampstead Heath, London, was compared in ponds with (n = 3) and without dog swimming activity (n = 3), as well as connecting streams above, between, and below these ponds (n = 6).

Faecal haemoglobin concentration and colorectal cancer site, stage and grade in a symptomatic cohort.

Aim: Minimal evidence exists regarding faecal immunochemical tests (FITs) for colorectal cancer (CRC) site, stage and grade in symptomatic patients. The primary aim is to determine any association between faecal haemoglobin concentration (f-Hb) (analysed with OC-Sensor™ Pledia) and these prognostic factors. The secondary aim is to determine the association between f-Hb and anaemia, microcytosis and iron deficiency (Hb, mean corpuscular volume [MCV] and ferritin).

Is combined letrozole and clomiphene superior to either as monotherapy: a systemic review and meta-analysis based on clinical trials.

Objective: This research was conducted to assess the therapeutic advantage of combined letrozole and clomiphene citrate versus monotherapy for polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) patients.

Study Design: Five databases were searched using the search string: (letrozole and clomiphene) AND (clomiphene OR clomiphene citrate OR CC) AND (letrozole OR LE) AND (ovulation induc* OR fertility induc* OR fertility preserv*) AND (polycystic ovarian syndrome OR PCOS). All statistical analyses were conducted in Review Manager 5.

Progressive improvement in time to diagnosis in axial spondyloarthritis through an integrated referral and education system.

Objectives: To assess the delay in the diagnosis of axial SpA (axSpA) in a real-world cohort over a 16-year period and to evaluate factors associated with this delay. We implemented a service improvement project and evaluated its effectiveness in improving time to diagnosis of axSpA.

Methods: A cohort of axSpA patients newly diagnosed between January 2008 and December 2023 were studied.

Health, burnout and well-being of UK cardiology trainees: insights from the British Junior Cardiologists' Association Survey.

Background: Cardiology training is demanding and associated with high workloads. Poor lifestyle and health among clinicians may stretch workforces and impact patient care. It has not been established what impact training in cardiology has on the doctors undertaking it.

Two-Year Outcomes of Prostatic Artery Embolization for Symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: An International, Multicenter, Prospective Study.

Purpose: To describe clinical outcomes among patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) 24 months following prostatic artery embolization (PAE).

Materials And Methods: This was an international, multicenter, prospective trial of males with BPH with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) or acute urinary retention (AUR) treated with PAE. The primary outcome was the 12 month change in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) for patients referred for bothersome LUTS, or urinary catheter independence for patients treated for AUR.

Cardiovascular disease risk in people of African ancestry with HIV in the United Kingdom.

Objectives: Our objective was to describe the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in people of African ancestry with HIV in the UK.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of CVD risk factors in Black people with HIV aged ≥40 years and estimated the 10-year CVD risk using QRISK®3-2018. Correlations between body mass index (BMI) and CVD risk factors were described using Pearson correlation coefficients, and factors associated with 10-year CVD risk ≥5% were described using logistic regression.

Antimicrobial Regimens in Cement Spacers for Periprosthetic Joint Infections: A Critical Review.

Antibiotic-loaded cement spacers (ALCSs) are essential for treating periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) by providing mechanical support and local antibiotic delivery. The purpose of this review is to comprehensively examine the various types of spacers utilised in the management of periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs), including both static and articulating variants and to analyse the fundamental principles underlying spacer use, their clinical benefits, the selection and administration of antimicrobial agents, appropriate dosages, and potential adverse effects. Articulating spacers, which allow joint mobility, often yield better outcomes than static ones.

Treating severe paediatric asthma with mepolizumab or omalizumab: a protocol for the TREAT randomised non-inferiority trial.

Introduction: A minority of school-aged children with asthma have persistent poor control and experience frequent asthma attacks despite maximal prescribed maintenance therapy. These children have higher morbidity and risk of death. The first add-on biologic therapy, omalizumab, a monoclonal antibody that blocks immunoglobulin (Ig)E, was licensed for children with severe asthma in 2005.

Microbial, holobiont, and Tree of Life eDNA/eRNA for enhanced ecological assessment.

Microbial environmental DNA and RNA (collectively 'eNA') originate from a diverse and abundant array of microbes present in environmental samples. These eNA signals, largely representing whole organisms, serve as a powerful complement to signals derived from fragments or remnants of larger organisms. Integrating microbial data into the toolbox of ecosystem assessments and biotic indices therefore has the potential to transform how we use eNA data to understand biodiversity dynamics and ecosystem functions, and to inform the next generation of environmental monitoring.

Desmopressin for prevention of bleeding for thrombocytopenic, critically ill patients undergoing invasive procedures: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled feasibility trial.

Thrombocytopenic patients have an increased risk of bleeding when undergoing invasive procedures. In a multicentre, phase II, blinded, randomised, controlled feasibility trial, critically ill patients with platelet count 100 × 10/L or less were randomised 1:1 to intravenous desmopressin (0.3 µg/kg) or placebo before an invasive procedure.

Granular cell tumour of the breast.

Granular cell tumours (GCT) of the breast have similar clinical and radiological features to breast carcinomas. We present a case of a female patient with a tender, palpable lump, and associated skin changes. Imaging of the lesion was suspicious of malignancy.

Glycated haemoglobin is a major predictor of disease severity in patients with NAFLD.

Objectives: Currently, non-invasive scoring systems to stage the severity of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) do not consider markers of glucose control (glycated haemoglobin, HbA1c); this study aimed to define the relationship between HbA1c and NAFLD severity in patients with and without type 2 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: Data were obtained from 857 patients with liver biopsy staged NAFLD. Generalized-linear models and binomial regression analysis were used to define the relationships between histological NAFLD severity, age, HbA1c, and BMI.

The repeat FIT (RFIT) study: Does repeating faecal immunochemical tests provide reassurance and improve colorectal cancer detection?

Aim: Faecal immunochemical tests (FIT) are highly sensitive for colorectal cancer (CRC) detection. Little evidence exists regarding repeat FIT. The repeat FIT (RFIT) study aimed to determine whether second and third FIT provide reassurance and improve CRC or significant bowel disease (SBD) identification.

The Landscape of Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) for Renal Cell Cancer (RCC).

Renal cell cancer (RCC) has traditionally been considered radioresistant. Because of this, conventional radiotherapy (RT) has been predominantly relegated to the palliation of symptomatic metastatic disease. The implementation of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) has made it possible to deliver higher ablative doses safely, shifting the renal radioresistance paradigm.