Evaluating the Safety and Outcomes of Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy in Elderly Patients Presenting With Acute Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

Aims: In the absence of evidence-based guidelines regarding the safety and appropriateness of emergency endoscopy in elderly, co-morbid and frail patients, we aimed to find clinical outcomes in elderly patients who have undergone gastroscopy following an acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB).

Methods: We carried out a retrospective observational study of patients aged 70 years and older who had undergone emergency oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGD) at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, United Kingdom, between May 2020 and January 2022. Data collected for analysis included Glasgow-Blatchford score, age, gender, endoscopic findings, endoscopic treatments, immediate complications, 90-day complications, 30-day and 90-day survival, length of hospital stay and re-bleeding.

The evolution of leg ulcer guidelines and recommendations.

Background: Clinical guidelines aim to consolidate and incorporate the latest evidence and opinion to improve patient outcomes and reduce variations in practice.

Aims And Methods: This article will examine the evolution of clinical guidelines and recommendations in leg ulcer assessment and management, from the seminal Royal College of Nursing clinical guideline (1998) to the current Leg Ulcer Recommendations from the National Wound Care Strategy Program (2023). The evolving definitions of leg ulcers will be discussed, as well as the multidisciplinary approach needed to manage the underlying aetiology of this condition.

The cost of primary care consultations associated with long COVID in non-hospitalised adults: a retrospective cohort study using UK primary care data.

Background: The economic impact of managing long COVID in primary care is unknown. We estimated the costs of primary care consultations associated with long COVID and explored the relationship between risk factors and costs.

Methods: Data were obtained on non-hospitalised adults from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum primary care database.

VIDIIA Hunter diagnostic platform: a low-cost, smartphone connected, artificial intelligence-assisted COVID-19 rapid diagnostics approved for medical use in the UK.

Accurate and rapid diagnostics paired with effective tracking and tracing systems are key to halting the spread of infectious diseases, limiting the emergence of new variants and to monitor vaccine efficacy. The current gold standard test (RT-qPCR) for COVID-19 is highly accurate and sensitive, but is time-consuming, and requires expensive specialised, lab-based equipment. Herein, we report on the development of a SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) rapid and inexpensive diagnostic platform that relies on a reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay and a portable smart diagnostic device.

Toxic leukoencephalopathy versus delayed post-hypoxic leukoencephalopathy after oral morphine sulphate overdose.

Toxic leukoencephalopathy (TLE) is a rare pathology caused by various substances including opioids (notably heroin), immunosuppressants, chemotherapy agents, cocaine, alcohol and carbon monoxide. However, although heroin is metabolised by the body into morphine, there is a striking paucity in cases of primary oral morphine-induced TLE, especially in the adult population. We present the case of a man in his 40s admitted to hospital in respiratory depression with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 6 after taking an overdose of oral morphine sulphate.

Towards AI-augmented radiology education: a web-based application for perception training in chest X-ray nodule detection.

Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI)-based applications for augmenting radiological education are underexplored. Prior studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of simulation in radiological perception training. This study aimed to develop and make available a pure web-based application called for perception training in lung nodule detection in chest X-rays.

A Case of Intramuscular Lipoma of Thenar Eminence With a Short Review of Published Hand Lipoma Case Reports.

Lipoma is a common soft tissue tumour in the human body, but at the same time is very rare in the palm and rarer still in the thenar region. These lipomas in the hand can give rise to various problems such as cosmetic, functional, and neurological compromise among others and removing them becomes important when symptomatic. Diagnosing a hand pathology becomes important as a missed diagnosis can have long-term functional consequences for a patient.

Developing an understanding of the risk factors for falls among adults with intellectual disabilities: a commentary.

: Pope J, Truesdale M, Brown M. Risk factors for falls among adults with intellectual disabilities: A narrative review. J Appl Res Intellect Disabil.

A comparison of perceived image quality between computer display monitors and augmented reality smart glasses.

Introduction: Augmented-reality (AR) smart glasses provide an alternative to standard computer display monitors (CDM). AR smart glasses may provide an opportunity to improve visualisation during fluoroscopy and interventional radiology (IR) procedures when there can be difficulty in viewing intra-procedural images on a CDM. The aim of this study was to evaluate radiographer perception of image quality (IQ) when comparing CDM and AR smart glasses.

Preventing falls at home among people with intellectual disabilities: A scoping review.

Background: Falls are common among people with intellectual disabilities. Many falls happen within the home. Our scoping review aimed to identify evidence for falls-risk factors and falls-prevention interventions for this population.

A Systematic Review Looking at the Current Best Practices as well as Primary Care Practitioner's Views on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Childhood Obesity.

Childhood obesity is a significant and growing issue, with the WHO recognising worldwide childhood obesity rates as an epidemic. Primary care is often the first point for monitoring a child's development over time, hence could play an integral part in recognising and addressing childhood obesity. As a result, our systematic review has two objectives.

Bone mineral density in patients diagnosed with giant cell arteritis taking glucocorticoids: a case-control study.

Objective: The standard treatment for GCA is high-dose glucocorticoids (GCs). It is unknown whether GCs are more detrimental to BMD at the spine or the hip. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of GCs on BMD at the lumbar spine and hip in patients with GCA being treated with GCs.

Imaging of Cartilage and Chondral Defects: An Overview.

A healthy articular cartilage is paramount to joint function. Cartilage defects, whether acute or chronic, are a significant source of morbidity. This review summarizes various imaging modalities used for cartilage assessment.

Multidisciplinary management of laryngeal pathology identified in patients with COVID-19 following trans-laryngeal intubation and tracheostomy.

Background: COVID-19 disease often requires invasive ventilatory support. Trans-laryngeal intubation of the trachea may cause laryngeal injury, possibly compounded by coronavirus infection. Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) provides anatomical and functional assessment of the larynx, guiding multidisciplinary management.

Protein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Monoclonal Antibodies (PCSK9mab) in Clinical Practice at Secondary Care - Real World Multicentre Experience.

Background and Aims Protein convertase subtilisin/Kexin type 9 monoclonal antibodies (PCSK9mab) are a novel addition to the therapeutic options for managing hyperlipidemia. Various guidelines have advocated the addition of these agents if the target low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ( LDL-C) is not achieved by maximum lipid-lowering therapy. They have shown a robust and consistent reduction in LDL-C in clinical trials.

Clinimetric Properties of Outcome Measures in Bronchiectasis.

There is a lack of outcome measures with robust clinimetric properties in bronchiectasis. To determine the clinimetric properties (reliability over 1 year during clinical stability and responsiveness over the course of antibiotics for pulmonary exacerbation) of objective and patient-reported outcome measures. This multicenter cohort study included adults with bronchiectasis from seven hospitals in the United Kingdom.

A scoping review of clinical practices and adherence to UK national guidance related to the placement and position confirmation of adult nasogastric feeding tubes.

Introduction: The administration of nutrition or medication into the lungs or pleura via a misplaced nasogastric feeding tube is considered a never event. Despite guidance from the National Patient Safety Agency and NHS Improvement this never event is regularly reported. Confirmation of correct placement and correct use of nasogastric tubes requires appropriate actions and decisions by a multidisciplinary team.

Complications associated with lumbar discectomy surgical techniques: a systematic review.

Background: Open discectomy (OD) and microdiscectomy (MD) are routine procedures for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS), such as micro-endoscopic discectomy (MED) and full endoscopic discectomy (FED), offers potential advantages (less pain, less bleeding, shorter hospitalisation and earlier return to work), but their complications have not yet been fully evaluated. The aim of this paper was to identify the frequency of these complications with a focus on MIS in comparison to OD/MD.