Stroke thrombolysis: where are we and where are we going?

Stroke is an important cause of death and disability throughout the world. Most strokes are ischaemic, caused by thrombotic or embolic occlusion of blood vessels. The advent of thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke has revolutionised the treatment of acute stroke in the developed world.

Cerebrospinal fluid and plasma cytokines after subarachnoid haemorrhage: CSF interleukin-6 may be an early marker of infection.

Background: Cytokines and cytokine receptor concentrations increase in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients following subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). The relationship between plasma and CSF cytokines, and factors affecting this, are not clear.

Methods: To help define the relationship, paired plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were collected from patients subject to ventriculostomy.

Carbon dioxide laser treatment of rhinophyma: a review of 124 patients.

Background: Rhinophyma is a progressive, localized or generalized nasal deformity resulting from hypertrophy of sebaceous and connective tissue. The CO(2) laser has been used for treatment of rhinophyma, but the long-term efficacy of the treatment is unknown.

Objectives: To review the outcome of 124 patients with rhinophyma treated with the CO(2) laser between 1996 and 2008 in our centre.

Pulsed-dye laser treatment of angioma serpiginosum.

Angioma serpiginosum (AS) is a rare, benign, vascular disorder comprising nonblanchable punctate red to purple lesions in a gyrate or serpiginous configuration. Tunable pulsed-dye laser (PDL) therapy has been successfully used in the treatment of AS. We report our results of treatment of 12 AS sites in eight patients who were treated with PDL.

Medication-related patient safety incidents in critical care: a review of reports to the UK National Patient Safety Agency.

We reviewed all patient safety incidents reported to the UK National Patient Safety Agency between 1st August 2006 and 28th February 2007 from intensive care or high dependency units. Incidents involving medications were then categorised. 12 084 incidents were submitted from 151 organisations (median 40, range 1-634/organisation).

Review article: improving adherence to medication in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Adherence to medications in inflammatory bowel disease is associated with a reduced risk of both relapse and colorectal cancer development in the long term. However, many patients are non-adherent to their prescribed treatment regimen.

Aim: To review and discuss the extent of medication non-adherence in inflammatory bowel disease patients, the predictors of non-adherence, and strategies for optimizing patient adherence.