Patient and Prescriber Views of Penicillin Allergy Testing and Subsequent Antibiotic Use: A Rapid Review.

About 10% of U.K. patients believe that they are allergic to penicillin and have a "penicillin allergy label" in their primary care health record.

The Global Need for a Trastuzumab Biosimilar for Patients With HER2-Positive Breast Cancer.

Trastuzumab improves survival outcomes for patients with HER2-positive (HER2) breast cancer, yet not all such women receive this important therapy. Trastuzumab was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1998 and the European Medicines Agency in 2000 as treatment for HER2 metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Observational studies between 2000 and 2015 in patients with HER2 MBC suggest that nearly 12% in the United States, 27% to 54% in Europe, and 27.

Achieving high quality standards in laparoscopic colon resection for cancer: A Delphi consensus-based position paper.

Aim: To investigate the rate of laparoscopic colectomies for colon cancer using registries and population-based studies. To provide a position paper on mini-invasive (MIS) colon cancer surgery based on the opinion of experts leader in this field.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PRISMA guidelines for the rate of laparoscopy in colon cancer.

Transforming Growth Factor β Activation Primes Canonical Wnt Signaling Through Down-Regulation of Axin-2.

Objective: Aberrant activation of Wnt signaling has been observed in tissues from patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study aimed to determine the role of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) in driving the increased Wnt signaling, through modulation of axis inhibition protein 2 (Axin-2), a critical regulator of the Wnt canonical pathway.

Methods: Canonical Wnt signaling activation was analyzed by TOPflash T cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor promoter assays.

Outcomes following revision surgery performed for adverse reactions to metal debris in non-metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty patients: Analysis of 185 revisions from the National Joint Registry for England and Wales.

Objectives: Few studies have assessed outcomes following non-metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty (non-MoMHA) revision surgery performed for adverse reactions to metal debris (ARMD). We assessed outcomes following non-MoMHA revision surgery performed for ARMD, and identified predictors of re-revision.

Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study using data from the National Joint Registry for England and Wales.

Access to principal treatment centres and survival rates for children and young people with cancer in Yorkshire, UK.

Background: Principal Treatment Centres (PTC) were established to provide age-appropriate care as well as clinical expertise for children and young people with cancer. However, little is known about the effects of specialist treatment centres on survival outcomes especially for teenagers and young adults. This population-based study aimed to describe access to PTC and the associated trends in survival for 0-24 year olds accounting for stage of disease at presentation and treatment.

Effect of anti-TNF and conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug treatment on work disability and clinical outcome in a multicentre observational cohort study of psoriatic arthritis.

Objectives: To determine the effect of medical treatment on work disability in patients with active PsA in a real-world setting.

Methods: Four hundred patients with active PsA commencing or switching to anti-TNF or conventional synthetic DMARD (csDMARD) were recruited to a multicentre UK prospective observational cohort study. Work disability was measured using the work productivity and activity-specific health problem instrument and peripheral joint activity was measured with the disease activity in PsA composite measure.

Bacteraemia during Transurethral Resection of the Prostate: What Are the Risk Factors and Is It More Common than We Think?

The aim of this work was to investigate the microbial causes, incidence, duration, risk factors and clinical implications of bacteraemia occurring during transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) surgery to better inform prophylaxis strategies. An ethically approved, prospective, cohort study of patients undergoing TURP was conducted. Clinical information and follow-up details were collected using standardized data collection sheets.

A Phase IIb Study of ABT-494, a Selective JAK-1 Inhibitor, in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and an Inadequate Response to Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of ABT-494, a novel selective JAK-1 inhibitor, with placebo in patients with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and an inadequate response or intolerance to at least 1 anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agent.

Methods: In this 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study, 276 RA patients receiving a stable dose of methotrexate (MTX) who had previously received treatment with at least 1 anti-TNF agent were randomized equally to receive immediate-release ABT-494 at 3, 6, 12, or 18 mg twice daily or matching placebo twice daily. The primary end point was the proportion of patients meeting the American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria (achieving an ACR20 response) at week 12.

'Tablet burden' in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Unlabelled: The implications for patients with cancer, of the 'tablet burden' resulting from increasing use of oral anticancer drugs and medication for co-morbidities have not previously been well explored.

Aim: We sought to (i) quantify tablet burden in women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), (ii) establish which groups of drug contribute most to this burden and (iii) gain insight into patients' attitudes towards oral anti-cancer treatment.

Methods: One hundred patients with MBC anonymously completed a questionnaire describing their medication histories and attitudes towards their tablets.

The impact of the introduction of fidaxomicin on the management of Clostridium difficile infection in seven NHS secondary care hospitals in England: a series of local service evaluations.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is associated with high mortality. Reducing incidence is a priority for patients, clinicians, the National Health Service (NHS) and Public Health England alike. In June 2012, fidaxomicin (FDX) was launched for the treatment of adults with CDI.

Survival patterns in teenagers and young adults with cancer in the United Kingdom: Comparisons with younger and older age groups.

Aims: We aimed to describe and compare survival in teenagers and young adults (TYAs) with cancer to that of younger children and older adults, to identify sub-populations at greater or lesser risk of death.

Methods: We compared survival in cancer patients diagnosed in the United Kingdom aged 13-24 years (TYAs) to those aged 0-12 (children) and 25-49 years (adults) using the National Cancer Data Repository. All cases had a first cancer diagnosis between 1st January 2001 and 31st December 2005 with censor date 31st December 2010 or death if earlier.

"New" metastases are associated with a poorer prognosis than growth of pre-existing metastases in patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with chemotherapy.

Introduction: Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) endpoints often only weakly correlate. This analysis investigates how different progression events impact on OS, using data from two phase 3 studies with eribulin in women with advanced/metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

Methods: In Study 301, 1102 women with ≤2 prior chemotherapies for advanced/MBC were randomized to eribulin mesylate (1.

Factors influencing work disability in psoriatic arthritis: first results from a large UK multicentre study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which structural damage, clinical disease activity, demographic and social factors are associated with work disability (WD) in PsA.

Methods: Four hundred patients fulfilling CASPAR (Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis) criteria for PsA were recruited from 23 hospitals across the UK. Demographic, socio-economic, work, clinical and radiographic data were collected.

Epidemiology and aetiology of neonatal seizures.

Neonatal seizures constitute the most frequent and distinctive neurological symptom in the neonatal period. Seizures in the neonatal period differ considerably from those observed later in life with respect to their aetiological profile and clinical presentation. In addition, the aetiological profile in preterm infants is different from that seen in term infants.

The synovio-entheseal complex and its role in tendon and capsular associated inflammation.

Tendon, ligament, and capsular insertions are parts of "enthesis organs" whereby the enthesis itself has an elaborate functional integration with the adjacent soft tissues and the synovium in particular. The purpose of this article is to review the sophisticated degree of integration between insertions and adjacent synovium in what has been dubbed "synovio-entheseal complexes" (SEC). SEC arise at multiple sites in the immediate vicinity of insertions and may also arise within the joint capsule at sites well away from enthesis insertions.

Evaluation of linezolid for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection caused by epidemic strains using an in vitro human gut model.

Objectives: Therapeutic options in Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) are limited. We examined linezolid activity in vitro and potential therapeutic efficacy using a gut model of CDI.

Methods: MICs were determined by agar incorporation for 118 diverse C.

Psychological factors and use of antiepileptic drugs: pilot work using an objective measure of adherence.

Given the current emphasis on the "concordance" prescribing model, a study was designed to determine the influence of patients' beliefs about epilepsy, beliefs about medication and a range of neuroepilepsy variables on drug adherence among a sample of epilepsy patients. A special feature of the study was the use of a credible objective measure of drug adherence. Psychological health was also assessed.

Redefining the R1 resection in pancreatic cancer.

Background: Resection margin (RM) status in pancreatic head adenocarcinoma is assessed histologically, but pathological examination is not standardized. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of standardized pathological examination on the reporting of RM status.

Methods: A standardized protocol (SP) for pancreaticoduodenectomy specimen examination, involving multicolour margin staining, axial slicing and extensive tissue sampling, was developed.

Insulin pump therapy in childhood diabetes-cost implications for Primary Care Trusts.

Aims: Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are now responsible for the planning and delivery of health-care services throughout England and Wales. As the 25 PCTs throughout Yorkshire are representative of the national distribution in terms of population structure and socio-economic status, we aimed to address the paucity of information describing the burden of childhood diabetes in primary care and to evaluate the cost implications of insulin pump therapy on individual PCTs.

Methods: We extracted information from a population-based register in Yorkshire, including 1952 patients diagnosed under the age of 15 years from 1990 to 2003.