Cardiac abnormalities in Long COVID 1-year post-SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background: Long COVID is associated with multiple symptoms and impairment in multiple organs. Cross-sectional studies have reported cardiac impairment to varying degrees by varying methodologies. Using cardiac MR (CMR), we investigated a 12-month trajectory of abnormalities in Long COVID.

Comparison of faecal calprotectin using two collection and extraction strategies for the BÜHLMANN CALEX® Cap - possible implications for clinical cut-offs?

Background: Faecal calprotectin has been identified as a useful biochemical marker in the differentiation of inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Typically, patients send faecal specimens in a pot for manual extraction by the laboratory. During the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) pandemic, the routine laboratory service was temporarily suspended due to the potential increased risk to staff.

The management of developmental dysplasia of the hip in children aged under three months : a consensus study from the British Society for Children's Orthopaedic Surgery.

Aims: A national screening programme has existed in the UK for the diagnosis of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) since 1969. However, every aspect of screening and treatment remains controversial. Screening programmes throughout the world vary enormously, and in the UK there is significant variation in screening practice and treatment pathways.

Inhibition of PI3K Class IA Kinases Using GDC-0941 Overcomes Cytoprotection of Multiple Myeloma Cells in the Osteoclastic Bone Marrow Microenvironment Enhancing the Efficacy of Current Clinical Therapeutics.

Osteoclasts contribute to bone marrow (BM)-mediated drug resistance in multiple myeloma (MM) by providing cytoprotective cues. Additionally, 80% of patients develop osteolytic lesions, which is a major cause of morbidity in MM. Although targeting osteoclast function is critical to improve MM therapies, pre-clinical studies rarely consider overcoming osteoclast-mediated cytoprotection within the selection criteria of drug candidates.

The Clinical Evaluation of a Modified Fmp in Infant Auditory Brainstem Response Tests.

Objective: The performance of a modified calculation of F statistic using multiple points (Fmp) in auditory brainstem response (ABR) tests in infants was evaluated.

Design: Using UK national guidelines, the ABR threshold was established on 50 infant ears at 4 kHz and 41 infant ears at 1 kHz. A specificity-based Fmp criterion for response presence was established from the distribution of no-response values.

Faster lung function decline in people living with HIV despite adequate treatment: a longitudinal matched cohort study.

Introduction: Chronic lung disease is common among people living with HIV (PLWH). We hypothesised that PLWH receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) have faster lung function decline than matched controls.

Methods: We performed a prospective matched cohort study by including ART-treated PLWH from the Copenhagen Co-morbidity in HIV Infection Study (n=705) and the INSIGHT Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Treatment Pulmonary Substudy (n=425) and frequency matched population controls from the Copenhagen General Population Study (n=2895) in a 1:3 ratio.

Long-term outcomes and prognostic factors for survival of patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Background: Despite newer treatments with immunosuppressive agents, there still exists a considerable morbidity and mortality risk among patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). Since 1994 the European Vasculitis Society (EUVAS) has aimed for an improved outcome for patients with AAV, conducting several prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The aim for the present study was to further evaluate the long-term survival of patients with AAV included in seven RCTs conducted by the EUVAS as well as to identify potential prognostic factors.

Delayed-immediate breast reconstruction: An assessment of complications and outcomes in the context of anticipated post-mastectomy radiotherapy.

Introduction: The detrimental effects of post-mastectomy radiotherapy on breast reconstruction are well known. We report our experience with a delayed-immediate approach involving an initial subcutaneous implant with definitive reconstruction after adjuvant radiotherapy.

Methods: Patients were identified retrospectively from hospital, theatre and implant registry records.

Patterns of Associated Knee Ligament and Chondral Injuries in First-Time Traumatic Patellar Dislocation: A Retrospective Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) -Based Study.

Introduction First-time acute traumatic patellar dislocation, when managed without a knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, may lead to missed diagnoses of important associated knee injuries. The aim of this study was to ascertain the incidence of associated ligamentous and cartilaginous injuries in first-time traumatic patella dislocation. Methods  This was a five-year retrospective study on patients aged 16-45 who had knee MRI scans showing the characteristic bone bruise patterns seen in traumatic lateral patellar dislocation.

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust outpatient services transformation programme to improve quality and effectiveness of patient care.

Background: The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust outpatient services transformation programme is a strategic change programme delivered as a collaborative approach through the Berkshire West Integrated Care Partnership. The main aim of redesign is to improve capacity in clinics and improve patient experience.

Methods: This was done through a best practice menu and 'how to' guides.

The State of Evidence in Prostate Artery Embolization.

Prostate artery embolization (PAE) has emerged over the past two decades as a minimally invasive, nonsurgical treatment for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). While the majority of evidence for PAE stems from retrospective cohort studies, several seminal randomized controlled trials have been performed comparing short-term outcomes of PAE to transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) and against a sham procedure. Across clinical trials, PAE demonstrates consistent improvement in urological symptoms and quality of life in patients with BPH with low complication rates.

Epidemiology of poisoning in Syria (1999 through 2020).

Introduction: Acute poisoning is a significant international public health issue and one of the leading causes of death in the emergency department (ED). In the absence of any previous reports describing the poisoning profile in Syria, we present this study to assess the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of poisoning over 21 years.

Methods: We collected the data retrospectively from the Syrian Poisons Information Centre (SPIC) from January 1999 until December 2020.

Impact of national COVID-19 restrictions on incidence of notifiable communicable diseases in England: an interrupted time series analysis.

Background: Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as travel restrictions, social distancing and isolation policies, aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19 may have reduced transmission of other endemic communicable diseases, such as measles, mumps and meningitis in England.

Methods: An interrupted time series analysis was conducted to examine whether NPIs was associated with trends in endemic communicable diseases, using weekly reported cases of seven notifiable communicable diseases (food poisoning, measles, meningitis, mumps, scarlet fever and pertussis) between 02/01/2017 to 02/01/2021 for England.

Results: Following the introduction of COVID-19 restrictions, there was an 81.

Fundoplication in laparoscopic Heller's cardiomyotomy for achalasia.

Background: Laparoscopic Heller's cardiomyotomy (LHC) is the preferred treatment of achalasia. It improves dysphagia by dividing muscles of the lower oesophageal sphincter, but this intervention can result in debilitating gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms in some patients. To prevent these reflux symptoms, most surgeons add a fundoplication to Heller's cardiomyotomy, but there is no consensus regarding this or the type of fundoplication which is best suited for the purpose.

The development and validation of a novel COVID19 stigma scale among healthcare workers (COVISS-HCWs).

Background And Aim: Fear of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its complications may result in stigmatization of individuals who may carry the virus. This is of special concern to healthcare workers who tolerate additional physical and emotional stress at times of pandemic. The aims of this study are to (1) develop and validate the COVID-19 Stigma Scale (COVISS-HCWs) survey; and (2) investigate the experience of stigma among healthcare workers possibly dealing with COVID-19 patients in five major public hospitals in Damascus, Syria.

Association between childhood maltreatment and atopy in the UK: A population based retrospective cohort study.

Background: Childhood maltreatment affects over one in three children worldwide and is associated with a substantial disease burden. This study explores the association between childhood maltreatment and the development of atopic disease.

Methods: We did a population-based retrospective matched open cohort study using participating general practices between 1st January 1995 and 30th September 2019.

Timing and safety of hip fracture surgery in patients on direct-acting oral anticoagulants.

Background: Many geriatric patients presenting for emergency hip fracture surgery are on direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) most of which are not easily reversible. A safe policy was required to reduce delays to surgery. Prior to institution of our hospital's protocol in January 2021, most of these patients had surgery after 48 h following the last dose of DOAC due to concerns about increased perioperative blood loss.

A Proposal for Expansion of the Medical Specialty of Rehabilitation Medicine.

The workforce of the medical specialty of Rehabilitation Medicine (RM) in the UK is 10 times less than the European average for the specialty of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM). This can be explained partly by the difference in the scope of practice within the specialty between the UK and other European countries and USA. This opinion paper aims to compare the rehabilitation needs in chronic medical conditions and compare the scope of practice between countries within Europe and other regions of the world.

Conflicts of interest in electrophysiology and devices presentations.

Aims: Industry collaboration with arrhythmia and devices research is common. However, this results in conflicts of interest (CoI) for researchers that should be disclosed. This study aimed to examine the quality of CoI disclosures in arrhythmia and devices presentations.

A persistent neutrophil-associated immune signature characterizes post-COVID-19 pulmonary sequelae.

Interstitial lung disease and associated fibrosis occur in a proportion of individuals who have recovered from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection through unknown mechanisms. We studied individuals with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) after recovery from acute illness. Individuals with evidence of interstitial lung changes at 3 to 6 months after recovery had an up-regulated neutrophil-associated immune signature including increased chemokines, proteases, and markers of neutrophil extracellular traps that were detectable in the blood.