Expert Panel Consensus for Optimizing Outcomes in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the Context of Suboptimal Response to a Biosimilar: The Role of Aflibercept.

Purpose: The inclusion of ranibizumab biosimilars into National Health Service England commissioning recommendations published in 2022 created a need for expert guidance to optimize treatment outcomes in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) who otherwise may not have received first-line ranibizumab. This article provides a consensus treatment pathway supporting timely identification and management of a suboptimal response to these therapies, thereby aiming to facilitate clinically meaningful outcomes and efficient management of service capacity under specific circumstances where ranibizumab biosimilars may be initiated as a first-line treatment.

Methods: Two structured round-table meetings of UK medical retina specialists were held in person and virtually on September 22 and November 3, 2022, respectively.

Adolescent and Parent Experiences and Perceived Effectiveness of Physical Interventions for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: There is a paucity of evidence on the effectiveness of physical interventions for chronic musculoskeletal pain affecting adolescents. This study explored adolescent and parent experiences and perceived effectiveness of physical intervention for chronic musculoskeletal pain in the UK.

Methods: Using semi-structured interviews, 21 young people receiving treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain and 21 parents were interviewed regarding their healthcare experiences.

"If government is saying the regulations are important, they should be putting in funding to back it up."- An in-depth analysis of local authority officers' perspectives of the Food (Promotion and Placement) (England) Regulations 2021.

Background: As part of the UK government's obesity strategy, the Food (Promotion and Placement) (England) Regulations 2021 were implemented in October 2022 to restrict the prominent placement of products high in fat, sugar, or salt (HFSS) in most retail settings. Local authority (LA) officers have been tasked with enforcement of these regulations. This qualitative study examined the perspectives of LA officers including, trading standards, environmental health, and public health officers to understand enforcement approaches and requirements to optimise business compliance with the regulations.

Severe subacute onset sensorimotor polyneuropathy associated with brentuximab vedotin treatment for refractory classical Hodgkin's lymphoma.

A man in his 30s with a history of refractory classical Hodgkin's lymphoma presented with subacute onset asymmetric sensory disturbance, and severe weakness affecting his right more than left hand. Symptom onset was 18 weeks after commencing brentuximab vedotin (BV) treatment, an anti-CD30 antibody drug-conjugate for relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin's lymphoma. Symptoms progressed to his lower limbs with distal sensory loss, gait imbalance, bilateral foot drop and mild proximal leg weakness.

Classification of Variants of Reduced Penetrance in High Penetrance Cancer Susceptibility Genes: Framework for Genetics Clinicians and Clinical Scientists by CanVIG-UK (Cancer Variant Interpretation Group-UK).

Purpose: Current practice is to report and manage likely pathogenic/pathogenic variants in a given cancer susceptibility gene (CSG) as though having equivalent penetrance, despite increasing evidence of inter-variant variability in risk associations. Using existing variant interpretation approaches, largely based on full-penetrance models, variants where reduced penetrance is suspected may be classified inconsistently and/or as variants of uncertain significance (VUS). We aimed to develop a national consensus approach for such variants within the Cancer Variant Interpretation Group UK (CanVIG-UK) multidisciplinary network.

Impact of frailty in older people on health care demand: simulation modelling of population dynamics to inform service planning.

Background: As populations age, frailty and the associated demand for health care increase. Evidence needed to inform planning and commissioning of services for older people living with frailty is scarce. Accurate information on incidence and prevalence of different levels of frailty and the consequences for health outcomes, service use and costs at population level is needed.

Clinical significance of stone culture during endourological procedures in predicting post-operative urinary sepsis: should it be a standard of care-evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis from EAU section of Urolithiasis (EULIS).

Purpose: Urinary sepsis is the leading cause of mortality in the setting of endourological procedures for stone treatment such as URS and PCNL; renal stones themselves may be a source of infection. Aim of this study is to determine the diagnostic accuracy of stone cultures (SC) collected during URS and PCNL in predicting post-operative septic complications, compared to preoperative bladder urine culture (BUC).

Methods: We performed a systematic review (SR) of literature according to the PRISMA guidelines; Literature quality was evaluated according to The Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies-of Interventions (ROBINS-I) assessment tool.

Gender Demographics in Urology in Europe: Trend Analysis over a 10-year Period.

Background And Objective: We analysed gender trends for urology trainees and consultants across nine European countries (Spain, UK, Netherlands, Norway, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, and Switzerland) over a 10-yr period (2012-2022) to gain insight into gender dynamics in urology and determine if there is increasing representation of women in the profession. This information will help in the development of more effective strategies to promote gender equality.

Methods: Data from the past decade were collected, encompassing trainee and consultant records nationally.

Urology Malpractice Litigation and Complaints Referred to the General Medical Council: A UK-based analysis of Trends, Demographics, and Outcomes over the Last Two Decades.

Background And Objective: Surgical specialties account for a significant proportion of malpractice litigation claims and complaints to the regulatory body. The aim of our study was to analyse trends and outcomes for urology malpractice claims and complaints to the General Medical Council (GMC) in the UK over the last two decades.

Methods: Data were requested from the GMC and NHS Resolution under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The relationship between Zoster serology, vaccination uptake and infection rates: a single-centre cross-sectional study.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) immunity, vaccination uptake and incidence of VZV-related events in inflammatory arthritis (IA) patients initiating biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.

Methods: An observational study was conducted in a single hospital between March 2019 and December 2020. Ninety-three IA patients were included.

Questionnaire-assessed genotypes and associations with symptoms in primary ciliary dyskinesia.

https://bit.ly/4bvKW4R.

Personalised Health Behaviour Support Programme in Adults With Post-COVID Syndrome: A Randomised, Controlled Pilot Feasibility Trial.

Background: We investigated whether a novel 8-week personalised health behaviour support programme, focusing on the stability of symptoms and strategies to improve activities of daily living, was feasible and acceptable in adults with post-COVID syndrome.

Methods: In this randomised, controlled, pilot feasibility trial, 32 adults with post-COVID syndrome (continued symptoms for ≥ 12 weeks) were randomised 1:1 to receive personalised health behaviour support (self-reported physical activity and symptom diaries, plus seven one-to-one remotely delivered personalised self-management support sessions), once weekly for 8-weeks, or usual care (referral to online 'your COVID-19 recovery' programme). The primary outcome was the feasibility of recruiting and randomising adults with post-COVID syndrome.

Postpartum Interventions to Increase Maternal Vaccination Uptake: Is It Worth It?

Background/objectives: Vaccination of pregnant and postpartum women for pertussis, influenza and COVID-19 not only protects themselves but also offspring. Despite the benefits of this approach, vaccination uptake remains suboptimal in pregnancy. Where the opportunity to be vaccinated in pregnancy is missed, the offer of vaccination in the post-partum period may be an alternative strategy.

A Novel Wearable Sensor for Measuring Respiration Continuously and in Real Time.

In this work, a flexible textile-based capacitive respiratory sensor, based on a capacitive sensor structure, that does not require direct skin contact is designed, optimised, and evaluated using both computational modelling and empirical measurements. In the computational study, the geometry of the sensor was examined. This analysis involved observing the capacitance and frequency variations using a cylindrical model that mimicked the human body.

Reference Range of Quantitative MRI Metrics Corrected T1 and Liver Fat Content in Children and Young Adults: Pooled Participant Analysis.

Background: Multiparametric MRI markers of liver health corrected T1 (cT1) and proton density fat fraction (PDFF) have shown utility in the management of various chronic liver diseases. We assessed the normal population reference range of both cT1 and PDFF in healthy child and adult volunteers without any known liver disease.

Methods: A retrospective multi-centre pooled analysis of 102 child and young adult (9.