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Felgate H, Sethi D, Faust K, Kiy C, Härtel C, Rupp J, Clifford R, Dean R, Tremlett C, Wain J, Langridge G, Clarke P, Page AJ, Webber MA. Characterisation of neonatal Staphylococcus capitis NRCS-A isolates compared with non NRCS-A Staphylococcus capitis from neonates and adults. Microb Genom 2023; 9:001106. [PMID: 37791541 PMCID: PMC10634448 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus capitis is a frequent cause of late-onset sepsis in neonates admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). One clone of S. capitis, NRCS-A has been isolated from NICUs globally although the reasons for the global success of this clone are not well understood.We analysed a collection of S. capitis colonising babies admitted to two NICUs, one in the UK and one in Germany as well as corresponding pathological clinical isolates. Genome analysis identified a population structure of three groups; non-NRCS-A isolates, NRCS-A isolates, and a group of 'proto NRCS-A' - isolates closely related to NRCS-A but not associated with neonatal infection. All bloodstream isolates belonged to the NRCS-A group and were indistinguishable from strains carried on the skin or in the gut. NRCS-A isolates showed increased tolerance to chlorhexidine and antibiotics relative to the other S. capitis as well as enhanced ability to grow at higher pH values. Analysis of the pangenome of 138 isolates identified characteristic nsr and tarJ genes in both the NRCS-A and proto groups. A CRISPR-cas system was only seen in NRCS-A isolates which also showed enrichment of genes for metal acquisition and transport.We found evidence for transmission of S. capitis NRCS-A within NICU, with related isolates shared between babies and multiple acquisitions by some babies. Our data show NRCS-A strains commonly colonise uninfected babies in NICU representing a potential reservoir for potential infection. This work provides more evidence that adaptation to survive in the gut and on skin facilitates spread of NRCS-A, and that metal acquisition and tolerance may be important to the biology of NRCS-A. Understanding how NRCS-A survives in NICUs can help develop infection control procedures against this clone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Felgate
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7UQ, Norwich, UK
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich, UK
| | - Dheeraj Sethi
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7UQ, Norwich, UK
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), NR4 7UY, Norwich, UK
| | - Kirsten Faust
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Cemsid Kiy
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Christoph Härtel
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jan Rupp
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Rebecca Clifford
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich, UK
| | - Rachael Dean
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7UQ, Norwich, UK
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), NR4 7UY, Norwich, UK
| | | | - John Wain
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7UQ, Norwich, UK
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich, UK
| | - Gemma Langridge
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7UQ, Norwich, UK
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich, UK
| | - Paul Clarke
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich, UK
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), NR4 7UY, Norwich, UK
| | - Andrew J. Page
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7UQ, Norwich, UK
| | - Mark A. Webber
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7UQ, Norwich, UK
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich, UK
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Heux L, Rathbone C, Gensburger S, Clifford R, Souchay C. Collective memory and autobiographical memory: Perspectives from the humanities and cognitive sciences. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Cogn Sci 2022; 14:e1635. [PMID: 36428237 DOI: 10.1002/wcs.1635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The current overview provides an interdisciplinary synthesis of autobiographical and collective memory studies, focusing on history and cognitive psychology, to help other scholars bridge the disciplinary gap. We describe the various interpretative frameworks used to build theoretical knowledge on how autobiographical memory and collective memory are intertwined. We expose how research exploring self, social and directive functions of autobiographical memory echoes three main functions that can be identified for collective memory, that is, social identity, social schemata, and means for actions, or a political decision tool of research in these fields. In doing so, we hope to stimulate opportunities for more interdisciplinary research. This article is categorized under: Psychology > Memory Psychology > Theory and Methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucrèce Heux
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LPNC, Grenoble, France.,Department of History, Swansea Univeristy, Swansea, UK
| | - Clare Rathbone
- Department of Psychology, Health and Professional Development, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Sarah Gensburger
- Institut des Sciences Sociales du Politique, UMR CNRS, Nanterre University, Paris, France
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Hopkins RC, Williams S, Brown A, Humphreys I, Clifford R, Nigam Y. Evaluating nursing opinion and perception of maggot therapy for hard-to-heal wound management. J Wound Care 2022; 31:846-863. [PMID: 36240799 DOI: 10.12968/jowc.2022.31.10.846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Maggot therapy (MT) or larval debridement therapy is a recognised, effective but underutilised treatment for the management of hard-to-heal wounds and infected ulcers. It is available on NHS prescription in the UK, where wound management is predominantly nurse-led. Anecdotal reports and published literature suggest that nurses may be reluctant to utilise the therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feelings and opinions of nurses regarding the use of MT. METHOD The first stage of this mixed-methods study was a focus group held to discuss MT and opinions of specialist nurse clinicians. Next, an anonymised web-based online survey was launched through the Nursing Times journal and distributed through social media targeting all nurses. Finally, in-depth interviews were held with specialist and generalist nurses. RESULTS Awareness of MT among all nurses was extremely high. A breakdown of results showed that MT was much more highly regarded by wound specialist nurses than non-wound specialist nurses. The latter exhibited a greater level of reluctance to administer the therapy, with almost one-third of these nurses surveyed saying they found maggots disgusting and that the idea of MT made their skin crawl. In-depth interviews revealed that a lack of knowledge about MT was a prime concern. CONCLUSION Wound specialist nurses are more likely to embrace MT than non-wound nurse specialists, who report a varying degree of wariness to MT. Our study highlights a need for better education and training in MT for all nurses, to address issues with acceptance and willingness to treat or help treat patients with hard-to-heal wounds which are suitable for MT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Cn Hopkins
- Public Health and Health Promotion, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, Swansea University, UK
| | - Sharon Williams
- School of Health and Social Care, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, Swansea University, UK
| | - Amy Brown
- Public Health, Policy and Social Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, Swansea University, UK
| | - Ioan Humphreys
- Health and Wellbeing Academy, School of Health and Social Care, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, Swansea University, UK
| | - Rebecca Clifford
- History Department, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Durham University, UK
| | - Yamni Nigam
- School of Health and Social Care, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences, Swansea University, UK
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Nigam Y, Williams S, Humphreys I, Clifford R, Brown A. An exploration of public perceptions and attitudes towards maggot therapy. J Wound Care 2022; 31:756-770. [PMID: 36113544 DOI: 10.12968/jowc.2022.31.9.756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to explore public opinion and perceptions of maggot therapy (larval therapy), a treatment option for hard-to-heal wounds. METHOD The study used a mixed-method approach to obtain quantitative and qualitative data. A focus group was convened to explore opinions and views of maggot therapy with a small group of members of the public. Analysis of emerging themes from the focus group was used to design an anonymised web-based survey, which was made available online to members of the public through email and social media. RESULTS The focus group participants identified four key themes concerning the acceptability of maggot therapy. The subsequent online survey was completed by 412 participants, analysis of which revealed some worries and fears. Only 36% of survey participants agreed that they would accept maggot therapy as a first choice for a hypothetical painful wound, although this number increased with wound severity. The most predominant concerns regarding maggot therapy were sensation and a feeling of disgust associated with the therapy. However, participants could see some benefits to maggot therapy. CONCLUSION Our study showed that public perception of maggot therapy is varied. Survey participants expressed worries and fears associated with its use. However, positive relationships existed between knowledge scores and potential acceptability of maggot therapy, suggesting that information dissemination and education may be an important factor in public perception and acceptability of maggot therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamni Nigam
- College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, UK
| | - Sharon Williams
- Improvement Science Fellow, College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, UK
| | - Ioan Humphreys
- Health and Wellbeing Academy, College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, UK
| | | | - Amy Brown
- College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, UK
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Clifford R, George T, Button F, Burgess R. Are MSc (pre-reg) Physiotherapy students likely to promote parkrun as a social form of physical activity? A pilot study. Physiotherapy 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physio.2021.10.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Hanna J, Khoory C, Manu N, Clifford R, Fowler H, Fok M, Vimalachandran D. 1288 Colorectal Cancer Surgery Service Provision During The COVID-19 Pandemic: An Assessment of a Single Trust. Br J Surg 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znab259.426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Aim
Post-operative pulmonary complications in perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. To maintain a safe cancer service, the Countess of Chester Hospital adopted “Cold-site” operating and maintained ERAS principles for patients undergoing elective colorectal cancer surgery during the pandemic. A comparative assessment of service was undertaken for benchmarking purposes.
Method
A comparative retrospective audit was undertaken of consecutive patients undergoing elective colorectal cancer surgery from June to November 2019 and compared to June to November 2020. The Somerset Cancer Registry and electronic medical case records were used to obtain the dataset. Outcomes measured were approach to surgery; stoma rate; length of stay; level of care required; post-operative complications (>Clavien-Dindo 2) and survival at 30 days. Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-squared were used for analysis.
Results
There were 33 and 24 elective colorectal cancer operations in 2019 and 2020 respectively. There was no difference in the median age (64:69; p = 0.3) or ASA grade (p = 0.9). The median length of stay was 5 and 4 days respectively (p = 0.3). There was a 32.2% reduction in laparoscopic approach to surgery in 2020 (69.7% vs 37.5%; p = 0.02). There was no difference in the stoma rate (p = 0.9), post-operative complication rate (p = 0.7), ITU admission rate (p = 0.3), length of ITU stay (p = 0.6) and 30-day mortality rates (p = 0.4).
Conclusions
“Cold-site” operating allows robust ERAS care to be adopted to ensure comparative outcomes for patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery and was associated with a non-significant trend to shorter hospital stay during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Hanna
- University of Liverpool School of Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - C Khoory
- University of Liverpool School of Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - N Manu
- The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - R Clifford
- Institute of Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - H Fowler
- Institute of Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - M Fok
- Institute of Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - D Vimalachandran
- The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, United Kingdom
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Manu N, Clifford R, Fowler H, Vimalachandran D. 1522 Management of Benign Anastomotic Strictures Post-Rectal Resection: A Systematic Review. Br J Surg 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znab259.430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Aim
Approximately a third of all colorectal cancers diagnosed in the UK each year are rectal in origin and will undergo surgical resection with formation of an anastomosis. Focus is placed on techniques to ensure anastomotic integrity however an anastomotic leak, pelvic sepsis, distance to the anal verge and stapler choice are all established risk factors for the formation of a benign anastomotic stricture. This review aimed to assess the use of endoscopic salvage techniques in an attempt to avoid surgical re-intervention.
Method
A literature search was performed for published full text articles using the PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus databases. Additional papers were detected by scanning the references of relevant papers.
Results
A total of 40 papers were included focusing upon balloon dilation, stent insertion, electroincision, stapler stricturoplasty and corticosteroid use. Endoscopic balloon dilatation remains the most commonly used technique in the management of anastomotic strictures, with a low complication rate despite the frequent requirement for repeated dilatations. Although established in the role for malignant obstruction, stent insertion is yet to gain an established role in the benign setting.
Conclusions
Benign anastomotic strictures can be a significant problem post-rectal resection, impacting upon quality of life and requiring repeated intervention. Endoscopic management should be utilised in the primary setting to avoid surgical re-intervention. Standardisation of these methods is imperative in establishing the best modality of treatment. For refractory strictures a low threshold of suspicion for malignant recurrence should be maintained.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Manu
- The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - R Clifford
- Institute of Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - H Fowler
- Institute of Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - D Vimalachandran
- The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, United Kingdom
- Institute of Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Toh S, Jayawardena O, Fowler H, Fok M, Clifford R. 457 Survey of Perceived Barriers to Medical Students for Progression into Surgery. Br J Surg 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znab134.145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
Applications for surgical training have been decreasing despite higher numbers of medical school graduates. We sought to explore the perceived barriers to medical students for progression into surgery.
Method
An online anonymised SurveyMonkey® questionnaire aimed at medical students was disseminated in May 2020, with survey invitations advertised through social media.
Results
A total of 271 responses were obtained, with 95% of respondents being undergraduates and a 7:3 female to male ratio. Approximately one-fifth (19%) were considering pursuing a career in surgery. 82% of students had observed in an operating theatre. 54% of respondents agreed that their surgical rotation was a positive experience, 21% neutral, 8% negative.
Most frequent perceived barriers included lack of work-life balance (77%), surgical culture (67%), lengthy post-graduate training pathway (63%), and competitive entry of surgical specialties (63%). Others included a lack of understanding of surgical career pathways (52%), limited exposure to surgery (47%), and lack of interest (37%). Notably, gender bias was a barrier for many (35%). Most wanted more exposure to surgery through surgical skills teaching (85%), theatre experience (67%), surgical placements (59%) and didactic teaching (33%).
Conclusions
Modifiable barriers need to be addressed in undergraduate and postgraduate training to boost the number of applications into surgical training.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Toh
- University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | | | - H Fowler
- University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - M Fok
- Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - R Clifford
- University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester, United Kingdom
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Jayawardena O, Toh S, Fowler H, Fok M, Clifford R. 667 Virtual Learning During The COVID-19 Pandemic Amongst Medical Students in The United Kingdom. Br J Surg 2021. [PMCID: PMC8135813 DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znab134.160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic medical education has predominantly been delivered through virtual learning (VL). This survey was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of VL amongst medical students in the UK. Method An online anonymised SurveyMonkey© survey was distributed through social media amongst UK medical students. Results There were 142 completed surveys, 96.5% of students engaged in some form of VL during the pandemic, compared to 57.8% prior to the pandemic. The most frequently used method to deliver teaching was interactive online lectures (74.7%). The students perceived small group online teaching sessions to be the most effective delivery method (weighted average 7.4/10) followed by interactive online lectures (7.4/10). The least effective teaching method was online lecture notes (5.3/10). Accessibility to coursework (8.6/10) and enhanced flexibility (8.4/10) were considered to be the biggest advantages of VL. Overall, 44% of students felt VL had a negative impact on their learning, with 23% of students considered to have failed to meet the learning objectives set out in these sessions. Conclusions Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic VL will continue to play a role in medical education. However, there is room for improvement in both delivery and engagement to improve student experience and satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - S Toh
- University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - H Fowler
- Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - M Fok
- Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - R Clifford
- Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester, United Kingdom
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Fok M, Toh S, Maducolil JE, Fowler H, Clifford R, Parsons J, Vimalachandran D. 455 Proton Beam Therapy in Rectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Br J Surg 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/bjs/znab135.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
Radiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer is conventionally performed using photon-based radiotherapy (PBR), carrying significant risk of toxicity to organs at risk (OAR). Proton beam therapy (PBT) potentially delivers equivalent dosimetric radiation to the targeted tissue with improved sparing of OAR. We aimed to compare dosimetric irradiation of OAR for PBT versus PBR in patients with rectal cancer and assess any oncological outcomes.
Method
An extensive electronic literature search was performed from inception till April 2020 and subsequent meta-analysis performed.
Results
Six articles met the inclusion criteria. Dosimetric data of irradiation delivered to OAR for PBT and PBR were calculated for the same patients. PBT had significantly less irradiated small bowel compared to 3DCRT and IMRT, (MD -16.95, 95% CI [-24.03, -9.88], p < 0.00001) and (MD -6.96, 95% CI [-12.99, -0.94], p = 0.02) respectively. Similar results were observed for bladder and pelvic bone marrow. Two studies reported clinical and oncological results for PBT in recurrent rectal cancer with overall survival reported as 43% and 68%.
Conclusions
Dosimetric treatment plans have less irradiation of OAR for rectal cancer with PBT compared to PBR. There is a need for further research in PBT and rectal cancer, as promising results have been shown in recurrent rectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Fok
- Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - S Toh
- University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | | | - H Fowler
- Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester, United Kingdom
- University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - R Clifford
- Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester, United Kingdom
- University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - J Parsons
- University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Fowler H, Clifford R, Sutton P, Watson A, Fearnhead N, Bach S, Moran B, Rose A, Jackson R, Vimalachandran D, Bach S, Badrinath K, Branagan G, Bronder C, Butcher D, Lacey‐Coulson J, Dennis R, Duff S, Gossedge G, Hill J, Fearnhead N, Hernon J, Hunt L, Kamal A, Khan J, Masekar S, Mitchell P, Moran B, Nassa H, Rooney P, Sheikh A, Slawik S, Smart C, Smart N, Smith D, Speake D, Stephenson B, Thornton M, Tou S, Tutton M, Watson A, Wilkinson L, Williamson M. Hartmann's procedure versus intersphincteric abdominoperineal excision (HiP Study): a multicentre prospective cohort study. Colorectal Dis 2020; 22:2114-2122. [PMID: 32939956 DOI: 10.1111/codi.15366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
AIM In patients with low rectal cancer it is occasionally necessary to avoid a low coloanal anastomosis due to patient frailty or poor function. In such situations there are two alternative approaches: Hartmann's procedure (HP) or intersphincteric abdominoperineal excision (IAPE). There are few data to guide surgeons as to which of these two procedures is the safest. The aim of this study was to determine the surgical complication rates associated with each procedure. METHOD This was a multicentre, nonrandomized prospective cohort study of patients undergoing either HP or IAPE. The primary objective was to determine surgical complication rates. Secondary objectives included length of stay, time to adjuvant therapy and quality of life at 90 days. RESULTS One hundred and seventy nine patients were recruited between April 2016 and June 2019; approximately two thirds of patients underwent HP and one third IAPE. The overall complication rate was high in both groups (54% for the HP group and 52% for the IAPE group). Surgery-specific complication rates were also high, but not significantly different: 43% for HP and 48% for IAPE. The pelvic abscess rate in HP was 11% and was significantly higher in patients with a palpable staple line (15% vs 2%). There was a higher incidence of serious medical complications following IAPE (16% vs 5%), along with a reduction in 90-day quality of life scores. CONCLUSION This is the largest prospective study to compare HP and IAPE in patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery where primary anastomosis is not deemed appropriate. With similar complication rates, these data support the ongoing use of either HP or IAPE in this patient group.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Fowler
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - R Clifford
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - P Sutton
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | | | - N Fearnhead
- Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK
| | - S Bach
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK
| | - B Moran
- Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke, UK
| | - A Rose
- Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
| | - R Jackson
- Liverpool Clinical Trials Unit, Liverpool, UK
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Clifford R, Nadarajah R, Patil S, Patel P, Gupta S. Educating non-cardiologists improves the initial management of patients with non-ST elevated myocardial infarction. Clin Med (Lond) 2019. [DOI: 10.7861/clinmedicine.19-3-s67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Clifford R, Nadarajah R, Patil S, Patel P, Gupta S. Educating non-cardiologists improves the initial management of patients with non-ST elevated myocardial infarction. Clin Med (Lond) 2019. [DOI: 10.7861/clinmedicine.19-3s-s67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Govindarajah N, Clifford R, Bowden D, Sutton PA, Parsons JL, Vimalachandran D. Sphingolipids and acid ceramidase as therapeutic targets in cancer therapy. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2019; 138:104-111. [PMID: 31092365 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2019.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sphingolipids have been shown to play a key part in cancer cell growth and death and have increasingly become the subject of novel anti-cancer therapies. Acid ceramidase, a sphingolipid enzyme, has an important role in the regulation of apoptosis. In this review we aim to assess the current evidence supporting the role of sphingolipids in cancer and the potential role that acid ceramidase may play in cancer treatment. METHODS A literature search was performed for published full text articles using the PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus databases using the search criteria string "acid ceramidase", "sphingolipid", "cancer". Additional papers were detected by scanning the references of relevant papers. A summary of the evidence for each cancer subgroup was then formed. Given the nature of the data extracted, no meta-analysis was performed. RESULTS Over expression of acid ceramidase has been demonstrated in a number of human cancers. In vitro data demonstrate that manipulation of acid ceramidase may present a useful therapeutic target. In the clinical setting, a number of drugs have been investigated with the ability to target acid ceramidase, with the most promising of those being small molecular inhibitors, such as LCL521. CONCLUSION The role of the sphingolipid pathway in cancer is becoming very clearly established by promoting ceramide accumulation in response to cancer or cellular stress. Acid ceramidase is over expressed in a variety of cancers and has a role as a potential target for inhibition by novel specific inhibitors or off-target effects of traditional anti-cancer agents. Further work is required to develop acid ceramidase inhibitors safe for progression to clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Govindarajah
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of General Surgery, The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - R Clifford
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of General Surgery, The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - D Bowden
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of General Surgery, The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - P A Sutton
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of General Surgery, The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, United Kingdom
| | - J L Parsons
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - D Vimalachandran
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; Department of General Surgery, The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chester, United Kingdom.
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Chung J, Clifford R, Sriram G, Keefer C. 68 Flux analysis of aerobic glycolysis in bovine blastocysts and CT1 cells. Reprod Fertil Dev 2019. [DOI: 10.1071/rdv31n1ab68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryo quality and maternal recognition are crucial for successful initiation of bovine pregnancy. Previous studies have proposed that better quality embryos use aerobic glycolysis to meet a high demand for biomass components. While hexoses are the principal carbon sources that provide energy to glycolysis, little is known about partitioning of hexoses into metabolic pathways or alteration of partitioning when different hexoses are simultaneously available. Specific metabolic utilisation of 13C-labelled substrates can be quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, an excellent noninvasive approach for studying cellular metabolism. To assess hexose flux through central metabolism, bovine blastocysts and CT1 cells (a bovine trophectoderm cell line) were cultured in SOF-based media supplemented with combinations of 50% uniformly labelled (U) and 50% naturally abundant (NA) glucose (Glc) or fructose (Fru) (U−13C Glc+NA Glc, U−13C Fru+NA Fru, U−13C Glc+NA Fru, and U−13C Fru+NA Glc), such that total hexose concentration was 1.5mM. Metabolites in spent media from 24-h cultures of single or 5 blastocysts (40-μL drops; 5% CO2, 5% O2, 90% N2) and 1-, 2-, 3-, 6-, 8-, and 24-h incubations of CT1 cells (150 μL; ~3×104 cells per well; 5% CO2, 95% air) were extracted with a MeOH-CHCl3 reagent, derivatized, and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Measurement of mass isotopomer distributions of metabolites, chiefly pyruvate, lactate, and amino acids, followed by correction for natural abundances and metabolic modelling, revealed several insights. For instance, five Day 7 or Day 8 blastocysts (Day 0=fertilization) supplied with U−13C Glc+NA Fru displayed 13C enrichments of 80.3%±1.4% for pyruvate and 71.6%±2.8% for lactate, whereas when supplied with U−13C Fru+NA Glc, they displayed lower 13C enrichments of 5.7%±2.4% for pyruvate and 2.8%±0.4% lactate (mean±standard deviation, n=3 to 4). Metabolic modelling revealed that when Glc and Fru are simultaneously available, the blastocysts used 2.5±0.2 moles of Fru per 100 moles of Glc used. Furthermore, 13C enrichment of pyruvate was 42.0±0.6% when U−13C Glc+NA Glc was supplied and 37.8±2.7% when U−13C Fru+NA Fru was supplied. Lactate enrichments followed a similar trend. This indicates that, individually, Glc and Fru were utilised majorly through aerobic glycolysis with some involvement of the pentose phosphate pathway. Alanine was negligibly labelled in all of the experiments, suggesting either a low TCA flux or that alanine is diluted by extra- or intracellular amino or fatty acids. Single blastocysts and CT1 cells showed a similar labelling pattern when hexoses were available. Following Glc depletion at 8h in CT1 cultures, the 13C enrichments of alanine and citrate in the media increased, suggesting a sharp alteration of metabolic state. These findings demonstrate that metabolic flux can be comprehensively analysed for single bovine blastocysts and CT1 cell metabolism models that of the blastocyst.
This project was supported by Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant no. 2015-67015-23237 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
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Clifford R, Govindarajah N, Parsons JL, Gollins S, West NP, Vimalachandran D. Systematic review of treatment intensification using novel agents for chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer. Br J Surg 2018; 105:1553-1572. [PMID: 30311641 PMCID: PMC6282533 DOI: 10.1002/bjs.10993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2018] [Revised: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND With the well established shift to neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer, there is increasing focus on the use of radiosensitizers to improve the efficacy and tolerability of radiotherapy. There currently exist few randomized data exploring novel radiosensitizers to improve response and it is unclear what the clinical endpoints of such trials should be. METHODS A qualitative systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines using preset search criteria across the PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus databases from 1990 to 2017. Additional results were generated from the reference lists of included papers. RESULTS A total of 123 papers were identified, of which 37 were included; a further 60 articles were obtained from additional referencing to give a total of 97 articles. Neoadjuvant radiosensitization for locally advanced rectal cancer using fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy remains the standard of treatment. The oral derivative capecitabine has practical advantages over 5-fluorouracil, with equal efficacy, but the addition of a second chemotherapeutic agent has yet to show a consistent significant efficacy benefit in randomized clinical assessment. Preclinical and early-phase trials are progressing with promising novel agents, such as small molecular inhibitors and nanoparticles. CONCLUSION Despite extensive research and promising preclinical studies, a definite further agent in addition to fluoropyrimidines that consistently improves response rate has yet to be found.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Clifford
- Institute of Cancer Medicine, University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | - N. Govindarajah
- Institute of Cancer Medicine, University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | - J. L. Parsons
- Institute of Cancer Medicine, University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | - S. Gollins
- North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre, Glan Clwyd HospitalBodelwyddanUK
| | - N. P. West
- Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, University of LeedsLeedsUK
| | - D. Vimalachandran
- Institute of Cancer Medicine, University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
- Department of Colorectal SurgeryCountess of Chester NHS Foundation TrustChesterUK
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Burns A, Alsolami R, Becq J, Stamatopoulos B, Timbs A, Bruce D, Robbe P, Vavoulis D, Clifford R, Cabes M, Dreau H, Taylor J, Knight SJL, Mansson R, Bentley D, Beekman R, Martín-Subero JI, Campo E, Houlston RS, Ridout KE, Schuh A. Whole-genome sequencing of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia reveals distinct differences in the mutational landscape between IgHV mut and IgHV unmut subgroups. Leukemia 2017; 32:573. [PMID: 29160863 PMCID: PMC5808063 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2017.311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Charsley H, Clifford R, Said M, Vale S, Salter S. P5: ADRENALINE AUTOINJECTOR CARRIAGE AND STORAGE IN THE AUSTRALIAN ANAPHYLAXIS POPULATION. Intern Med J 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/imj.5_13578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H Charsley
- The University of Western Australia; Perth Australia
| | - R Clifford
- The University of Western Australia; Perth Australia
| | - M Said
- Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA), New South Wales; Australia
| | - S Vale
- Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), New South Wales; Australia
| | - S Salter
- The University of Western Australia; Perth Australia
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Page AT, Potter K, Clifford R, McLachlan AJ, Etherton-Beer C. Medication appropriateness tool for co-morbid health conditions in dementia: consensus recommendations from a multidisciplinary expert panel. Intern Med J 2017; 46:1189-1197. [PMID: 27527376 PMCID: PMC5129475 DOI: 10.1111/imj.13215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2016] [Revised: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Background Medication management for people living with dementia is a complex task as it is unclear what constitutes optimal medication management in this population due to the shifting focus of health priorities and the balance between the benefits and harms of medications. Aim This study sought expert opinion to create a consensus list to define appropriate medication management of co‐morbidities for people with dementia. Methods This study used the Delphi technique. We invited multidisciplinary experts in geriatric therapeutics including pharmacists, doctors, nurse practitioners, a patient advocate and a psychologist to participate. Participants were asked to engage into three or more rounds of questioning. Round 1 was a questionnaire comprised of one question defining dementia and seven open‐ended questions about appropriate management of co‐morbidities in people with dementia. Two investigators qualitatively analysed the responses to questions from Round 1 using thematic analysis. The results of this analysis were provided to participants as statements in the Round 2 survey. The participants were asked to rate their agreement with each statement on a 5‐point Likert scale. The median and interquartile range (IQR) were calculated for the responses to each statement. Consensus was pre‐specified as an IQR less than or equal to 1. Statements where consensus was not achieved were presented to participants in Round 3. The Round 2 median and IQR values were provided and participants were again asked to rate their agreement with each statement on a 5‐point Likert scale. The statements where participants agreed or strongly agreed were included in the Medication Appropriateness Tool for Co‐morbid Health conditions in Dementia criteria. Results Fifty‐seven experts agreed to participate in the study, of whom 58% were pharmacists and 36% were medical practitioners. Fifty‐five participants completed the Round 1 (95% response rate). A total of 128 statements was included in the Round 2 survey. Consensus was reached on 93 statements in Round 2 (n = 48 responders, 84% response rate) and on 18 statements in Round 3 (n = 43 responders, 75% response rate). The participants reached consensus on 111 of 128 statements. Of these statements, 67 statements were included in the Medication Appropriateness Tool for Co‐morbid Health conditions in Dementia criteria. The statements were in the broad themes of preventative medication, symptom management, disease progression, psychoactive medication, treatment goals, principles of medication use, side‐effects and medication reviews. Discussion This research provides consensus‐based guidance for clinicians who manage co‐morbid health conditions in people with dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- A T Page
- School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia.
| | - K Potter
- School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia
| | - R Clifford
- School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia
| | - A J McLachlan
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, University of Sydney and Concord Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - C Etherton-Beer
- School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia
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Etherton-Beer C, Potter K, Page A, Clifford R. DEPRESCRIBING IN FRAIL OLDER PEOPLE. Innov Aging 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igx004.3509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- C. Etherton-Beer
- Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia,
- University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - K. Potter
- University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - A. Page
- University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - R. Clifford
- University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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Clifford R, Robson D, Gross C, Moscato F, Schima H, Macdonald P, Jansz P, Hayward C. Diurnal and Patient Activity Related Determinants of Aortic Valve Opening on Continuous Flow LVAD Support. J Heart Lung Transplant 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.healun.2017.01.323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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22
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Clifford R, Kim Y, Robson D, Gross C, Moscato F, Schima H, Macdonald P, Jansz P, Hayward C. Effect of the Lavare Cycle on Pump Function, Aortic Valve Opening, Autonomic Function and Activity Outcomes in Continuous Flow LVAD Patients. J Heart Lung Transplant 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.healun.2017.01.205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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Young E, Noerenberg D, Mansouri L, Ljungström V, Frick M, Sutton LA, Blakemore SJ, Galan-Sousa J, Plevova K, Baliakas P, Rossi D, Clifford R, Roos-Weil D, Navrkalova V, Dörken B, Schmitt CA, Smedby KE, Juliusson G, Giacopelli B, Blachly JS, Belessi C, Panagiotidis P, Chiorazzi N, Davi F, Langerak AW, Oscier D, Schuh A, Gaidano G, Ghia P, Xu W, Fan L, Bernard OA, Nguyen-Khac F, Rassenti L, Li J, Kipps TJ, Stamatopoulos K, Pospisilova S, Zenz T, Oakes CC, Strefford JC, Rosenquist R, Damm F. EGR2 mutations define a new clinically aggressive subgroup of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia 2016; 31:1547-1554. [PMID: 27890934 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2016.359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Revised: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recurrent mutations within EGR2 were recently reported in advanced-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients and associated with a worse outcome. To study their prognostic impact, 2403 CLL patients were examined for mutations in the EGR2 hotspot region including a screening (n=1283) and two validation cohorts (UK CLL4 trial patients, n=366; CLL Research Consortium (CRC) patients, n=490). Targeted deep-sequencing of 27 known/postulated CLL driver genes was also performed in 38 EGR2-mutated patients to assess concurrent mutations. EGR2 mutations were detected in 91/2403 (3.8%) investigated cases, and associated with younger age at diagnosis, advanced clinical stage, high CD38 expression and unmutated IGHV genes. EGR2-mutated patients frequently carried ATM lesions (42%), TP53 aberrations (18%) and NOTCH1/FBXW7 mutations (16%). EGR2 mutations independently predicted shorter time-to-first-treatment (TTFT) and overall survival (OS) in the screening cohort; they were confirmed associated with reduced TTFT and OS in the CRC cohort and independently predicted short OS from randomization in the UK CLL4 cohort. A particularly dismal outcome was observed among EGR2-mutated patients who also carried TP53 aberrations. In summary, EGR2 mutations were independently associated with an unfavorable prognosis, comparable to CLL patients carrying TP53 aberrations, suggesting that EGR2-mutated patients represent a new patient subgroup with very poor outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Young
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - D Noerenberg
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Tumor Immunology, Charité, University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - L Mansouri
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - V Ljungström
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - M Frick
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Tumor Immunology, Charité, University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - L-A Sutton
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - S J Blakemore
- Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - J Galan-Sousa
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Tumor Immunology, Charité, University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - K Plevova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University and University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - P Baliakas
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - D Rossi
- Division of Hematology, Department of Translational Medicine, Amedeo Avogadro University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy.,Hematology, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland and Institute of Oncology Research, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - R Clifford
- Oxford National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre and Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - D Roos-Weil
- INSERM, U1170, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - V Navrkalova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University and University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - B Dörken
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Tumor Immunology, Charité, University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - C A Schmitt
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Tumor Immunology, Charité, University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - K E Smedby
- Department of Medicine Solna, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Karolinska Institutet, and Hematology Center, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - G Juliusson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Stem Cell Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - B Giacopelli
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - J S Blachly
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - C Belessi
- Hematology Department, General Hospital of Nikea, Piraeus, Greece
| | - P Panagiotidis
- First Department of Propaedeutic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - N Chiorazzi
- Karches Center for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Research, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York, USA
| | - F Davi
- Laboratory of Hematology and Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Hopital Pitie-Salpetriere, Paris, France
| | - A W Langerak
- Department of Immunology, Laboratory for Medical Immunology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - D Oscier
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Bournemouth, UK
| | - A Schuh
- Oxford National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre and Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - G Gaidano
- Division of Hematology, Department of Translational Medicine, Amedeo Avogadro University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy
| | - P Ghia
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.,Division of Experimental Oncology and Department of Onco-Hematology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - W Xu
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center For Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - L Fan
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center For Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - O A Bernard
- INSERM, U1170, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - F Nguyen-Khac
- Laboratory of Hematology and Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Hopital Pitie-Salpetriere, Paris, France
| | - L Rassenti
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California at San Diego/Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - J Li
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Collaborative Innovation Center For Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - T J Kipps
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California at San Diego/Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - K Stamatopoulos
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden.,Institute of Applied Biosciences, Center for Research and Technology Hellas, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - S Pospisilova
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University and University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - T Zenz
- Department of Molecular Therapy in Haematology and Oncology (G250) and Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Medicine V, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - C C Oakes
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - J C Strefford
- Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - R Rosenquist
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - F Damm
- Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Tumor Immunology, Charité, University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany.,German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
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Antoniadis S, Clifford R, Chagla L. Five-year local recurrence for breast cancer; the presentation of our local data. Int J Surg 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2016.08.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Abstract
The paper reports on an intervention to help psychology students write better essays by using an Essay Feedback Checklist (EFC). A sample of first year and third year psychology students were asked to rate their own essays in terms of how confident they felt they had been in meeting the departmental assessment criteria. Tutors used the same rating scale when marking the essays and used any mismatches between their rating and that of the student to target their feedback. The aims of the study were to look at the effects of using the EFC in i) writing an essay and ii) clarifying written tutor feedback. Findings showed some mismatches between students and their tutors particularly in the third year. Students were mainly positive about the EFC, although some comments indicated that more help was needed. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of an action research framework and student self-assessment.
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26
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Clifford R, Croffey A, Gunasekera R. Quality improvement audit: General practice general surgical referrals. Int J Surg 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2015.07.170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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27
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Knight SJL, Yau C, Clifford R, Timbs AT, Sadighi Akha E, Dréau HM, Burns A, Ciria C, Oscier DG, Pettitt AR, Dutton S, Holmes CC, Taylor J, Cazier JB, Schuh A. Quantification of subclonal distributions of recurrent genomic aberrations in paired pre-treatment and relapse samples from patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia 2012; 26:1564-75. [PMID: 22258401 PMCID: PMC3505832 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2012.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Genome-wide array approaches and sequencing analyses are powerful tools for identifying genetic aberrations in cancers, including leukemias and lymphomas. However, the clinical and biological significance of such aberrations and their subclonal distribution are poorly understood. Here, we present the first genome-wide array based study of pre-treatment and relapse samples from patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) that uses the computational statistical tool OncoSNP. We show that quantification of the proportion of copy number alterations (CNAs) and copy neutral loss of heterozygosity regions (cnLOHs) in each sample is feasible. Furthermore, we (i) reveal complex changes in the subclonal architecture of paired samples at relapse compared with pre-treatment, (ii) provide evidence supporting an association between increased genomic complexity and poor clinical outcome (iii) report previously undefined, recurrent CNA/cnLOH regions that expand or newly occur at relapse and therefore might harbor candidate driver genes of relapse and/or chemotherapy resistance. Our findings are likely to impact on future therapeutic strategies aimed towards selecting effective and individually tailored targeted therapies.
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Medd P, Littlewood S, Danby R, Malladi R, Clifford R, Wareham D, Jeffery K, Ferry B, Roberts D, Peniket A, Littlewood T. Paraproteinaemia after allo-SCT, association with alemtuzumab-based conditioning and CMV reactivation. Bone Marrow Transplant 2010; 46:993-9. [DOI: 10.1038/bmt.2010.244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Peters S, Rogers A, Salmon P, Gask L, Dowrick C, Towey M, Clifford R, Morriss R. What do patients choose to tell their doctors? Qualitative analysis of potential barriers to reattributing medically unexplained symptoms. J Gen Intern Med 2009; 24:443-9. [PMID: 19089505 PMCID: PMC2659146 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-008-0872-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2008] [Revised: 11/12/2008] [Accepted: 11/20/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite both parties often expressing dissatisfaction with consultations, patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) prefer to consult their general practitioners (GPs) rather than any other health professional. Training GPs to explain how symptoms can relate to psychosocial problems (reattribution) improves the quality of doctor-patient communication, though not necessarily patient health. OBJECTIVE To examine patient experiences of GPs' attempts to reattribute MUS in order to identify potential barriers to primary care management of MUS and improvement in outcome. DESIGN Qualitative study. PARTICIPANTS Patients consulting with MUS whose GPs had been trained in reattribution. A secondary sample of patients of control GPs was also interviewed to ascertain if barriers identified were specific to reattribution or common to consultations about MUS in general. APPROACH Thematic analysis of in-depth interviews. RESULTS Potential barriers include the complexity of patients' problems and patients' judgements about how to manage their presentation of this complexity. Many did not trust doctors with discussion of emotional aspects of their problems and chose not to present them. The same barriers were seen amongst patients whose GPs were not trained, suggesting the barriers are not particular to reattribution. CONCLUSIONS Improving GP explanation of unexplained symptoms is insufficient to reduce patients' concerns. GPs need to (1) help patients to make sense of the complex nature of their presenting problems, (2) communicate that attention to psychosocial factors will not preclude vigilance to physical disease and (3) ensure a quality of doctor-patient relationship in which patients can perceive psychosocial enquiry as appropriate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Peters
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
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Morriss R, Dowrick C, Salmon P, Peters S, Dunn G, Rogers A, Lewis B, Charles-Jones H, Hogg J, Clifford R, Rigby C, Gask L. Cluster randomised controlled trial of training practices in reattribution for medically unexplained symptoms. Br J Psychiatry 2007; 191:536-42. [PMID: 18055958 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.107.040683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reattribution is frequently taught to general practitioners (GPs) as a structured consultation that provides a psychological explanation for medically unexplained symptoms. AIMS To determine if practice-based training of GPs in reattribution changes doctor-patient communication, thereby improving outcomes in patients with medically unexplained symptoms of 3 months' duration. METHOD Cluster randomised controlled trial in 16 practices, 74 GPs and 141 patients with medically unexplained symptoms of 6 hours of reattribution training v. treatment as usual. RESULTS With training, the proportion of consultations mostly consistent with reattribution increased (31 v. 2%, P=0.002). Training was associated with decreased quality of life (health thermometer difference -0.9, 95% CI -1.6 to -0.1; P=0.027) with no other effects on patient outcome or health contacts. CONCLUSIONS Practice-based training in reattribution changed doctor-patient communication without improving outcome of patients with medically unexplained symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Morriss
- Division of Psychiatry, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, South Block, A Floor, Queen's Medical School, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK.
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Salmon P, Peters S, Rogers A, Gask L, Clifford R, Iredale W, Dowrick C, Morriss R. Peering through the barriers in GPs' explanations for declining to participate in research: the role of professional autonomy and the economy of time. Fam Pract 2007; 24:269-75. [PMID: 17504773 DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmm015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The level of participation in research by GPs is low internationally. Previous reports of the reasons why practitioners decline opportunities for research participation have tended to recount the barriers that they describe as if they are objective accounts. OBJECTIVE By theoretical sampling of practitioners who had declined to participate in a research trial, we sought to interpret the functional significance and interrelationship of the barriers that they reported. METHODS Twenty-three GPs who had declined to participate in a trial of training to manage medically unexplained symptoms were interviewed and their accounts analysed interpretatively. RESULTS The practitioners described general practice and research as alien fields. Research lacked intrinsic, clinical or professional value and was linked to evidence-based medicine which they rejected as incompatible with person-centered care. Every doctor described a lack of time for research, but time was an elastic resource that payment could release from the reservoir of their 'own time'. CONCLUSION The findings should inform the design and interpretation of future quantitative surveys to identify how common the attitudes that we report are. Doctors with the attitudes of those whom we interviewed will not be drawn into research by measures predicated on the assumption that it is intrinsically, clinically or professionally valuable. If they cannot be convinced of its utility, value could be conferred by payment for participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Salmon
- Division of Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool, Whelan Building, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L69 3GB, UK.
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Salmon P, Peters S, Clifford R, Iredale W, Gask L, Rogers A, Dowrick C, Hughes J, Morriss R. Why do general practitioners decline training to improve management of medically unexplained symptoms? J Gen Intern Med 2007; 22:565-71. [PMID: 17443362 PMCID: PMC1855690 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-006-0094-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND General practitioners' (GPs) communication with patients presenting medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) has the potential to somatize patients' problems and intensify dependence on medical care. Several reports indicate that GPs have negative attitudes about patients with MUS. If these attitudes deter participation in training or other methods to improve communication, practitioners who most need help will not receive it. OBJECTIVE To identify how GPs' attitudes to patients with MUS might inhibit their participation with training to improve management. DESIGN Qualitative study. PARTICIPANTS GPs (N = 33) who had declined or accepted training in reattribution techniques in the context of a research trial. APPROACH GPs were interviewed and their accounts analysed qualitatively. RESULTS Although attitudes that devalued patients with MUS were common in practitioners who had declined training, these coexisted, in the same practitioners, with evidence of intuitive and elaborate psychological work with these patients. However, these practitioners devalued their psychological skills. GPs who had accepted training also described working psychologically with MUS but devalued neither patients with MUS nor their own psychological skills. CONCLUSIONS GPs' attitudes that suggested disengagement from patients with MUS belied their pursuit of psychological objectives. We therefore suggest that, whereas negative attitudes to patients have previously been regarded as the main barrier to involvement in measures to improve patient management, GPs devaluing of their own psychological skills with these patients may be more important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Salmon
- Division of Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, UK.
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Clifford R. Dental nurse registration with GDC. Br Dent J 2003; 194:585. [PMID: 12819672 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4810237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES The popular press and publications associated with alternative medicine increasingly report that chronic ill health, particularly myalgic encephalitis like conditions, are associated with mercury amalgam fillings. There are no scientifically proven definitive tests to support these claims. One of the more scientific tests in vogue is to assess the level of blood-borne mercury-reactive lymphocytes and to conclude that patients with high levels have developed a hypersensitivity reaction to mercury. The objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of this test. METHODS This study represents an open comparison of mercury-reactive lymphocyte levels in healthy control individuals with those in patients complaining of symptoms associated with adverse effects of dental metal amalgam fillings. The healthy control group consisted of 51 male and female individuals, aged between 12 and 82 years, with and without dental amalgam fillings. The patient group consisted of 70 male and female individuals, aged between 12 and 87 years, and with the exception of one patient, with three or more mercury amalgam fillings of more than 1 year's duration. In vitro lymphocyte responses to mercury, and to nickel, as an example of a metal commonly associated with hypersensitivity reactions, and to more conventional protein antigens were determined. RESULTS In the blood of patients and controls, there were similar levels of specifically reactive lymphocytes to all of the in vitro stimulating agents, but there were significantly higher numbers of sub-normal and non-responders within the patient group. CONCLUSIONS The incidence and quantity of mercury-reactive lymphocytes in the blood are not pathogenic markers of illness associated with dental metal amalgams, but may rather reflect exposure to mercury. The clinical relevance of the decreased in vitro lymphocyte responses in the patient group needs further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- D C Henderson
- Imperial College School of Medicine, Department of Immunology, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Road, London SW10 9NH, UK
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Buetow KH, Edmonson M, MacDonald R, Clifford R, Yip P, Kelley J, Little DP, Strausberg R, Koester H, Cantor CR, Braun A. High-throughput development and characterization of a genomewide collection of gene-based single nucleotide polymorphism markers by chip-based matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2001; 98:581-4. [PMID: 11136232 PMCID: PMC14630 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.98.2.581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 292] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe here a system for the rapid identification, assay development, and characterization of gene-based single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). This system couples informatics tools that mine candidate SNPs from public expressed sequence tag resources and automatically designs assay reagents with detection by a chip-based matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry platform. As a proof of concept of this system, a genomewide collection of reagents for 9,115 gene-based SNP genetic markers was rapidly developed and validated. These data provide preliminary insights into patterns of polymorphism in a genomewide collection of gene-based polymorphisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- K H Buetow
- Laboratory of Population Genetics, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, and Office of Genomics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892-5060, USA.
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Abstract
Most health service organisations depend solely upon spontaneous voluntary reporting of medication incidents and a wide variety of available denominators are used in order to calculate the Medication Incident Rate (MIR). This paper describes how nursing staff and clinical pharmacists reviewed medication incident data, revised and established new systems of reporting and developed a clinically useful, rate-based MIR Clinical Indicator. In order to make the MIR more meaningful, the frequency of occurrence of incidents was considered within the context of the total number of medications given to patients. This was achieved by undertaking a point prevalence audit of all inpatient medication charts (n=372) to determine the total number of doses of medication given to patients during a 24 hour period (n=3211). This value was then used as the denominator for the MIR indicator. During 1998, a total of 475 medication incidents were reported; the average number of incidents was 1.3 per 24 hours. The MIR per 1000 doses was calculated to be 0.4. In most cases (77%) the incident caused no harm to the patient and no change in treatment was required, and the most 'severe' category for any incident was that active treatment was required (3% of reported incidents). The most common type of incident was the omission of a dose of medication (50%). A wide range of drugs were involved in the incidents, most commonly morphine (3.4%). The authors consider that the development and use of the MIR Clinical Indicator has positively influenced clinical practice in some areas at the authors' hospital.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Headford
- Nursing Research and Evaluation, Fremantle Hospital and Health Service
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Clifford R, Lee MH, Nayak S, Ohmachi M, Giorgini F, Schedl T. FOG-2, a novel F-box containing protein, associates with the GLD-1 RNA binding protein and directs male sex determination in the C. elegans hermaphrodite germline. Development 2000; 127:5265-76. [PMID: 11076749 DOI: 10.1242/dev.127.24.5265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Male sex determination in the Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodite germline requires translational repression of tra-2 mRNA by the GLD-1 RNA binding protein. We cloned fog-2 by finding that its gene product physically interacts with GLD-1, forming a FOG-2/GLD-1/tra-2 3′untranslated region ternary complex. FOG-2 has an N-terminal F-box and a novel C-terminal domain called FTH. Canonical F-box proteins act as bridging components of the SCF ubiquitin ligase complex; the N-terminal F-box binds a Skp1 homolog, recruiting ubiquination machinery, while a C-terminal protein-protein interaction domain binds a specific substrate for degradation. However, since both fog-2 and gld-1 are necessary for spermatogenesis, FOG-2 cannot target GLD-1 for ubiquitin-mediated degradation. We propose that FOG-2 also acts as a bridge, bringing GLD-1 bound to tra-2 mRNA into a multiprotein translational repression complex, thus representing a novel function for an F-box protein. fog-2 is a member of a large, apparently rapidly evolving, C. elegans gene family that has expanded, in part, by local duplications; fog-2 related genes have not been found outside nematodes. fog-2 may have arisen during evolution of self-fertile hermaphroditism from an ancestral female/male species.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Clifford
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8232, St Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Clifford R, Edmonson M, Hu Y, Nguyen C, Scherpbier T, Buetow KH. Expression-based genetic/physical maps of single-nucleotide polymorphisms identified by the cancer genome anatomy project. Genome Res 2000; 10:1259-65. [PMID: 10958644 PMCID: PMC310932 DOI: 10.1101/gr.10.8.1259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
SNPs (Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms), the most common DNA variant in humans, represent a valuable resource for the genetic analysis of cancer and other illnesses. These markers may be used in a variety of ways to investigate the genetic underpinnings of disease. In gene-based studies, the correlations between allelic variants of genes of interest and particular disease states are assessed. An extensive collection of SNP markers may enable entire molecular pathways regulating cell metabolism, growth, or differentiation to be analyzed by this approach. In addition, high-resolution genetic maps based on SNPs will greatly facilitate linkage analysis and positional cloning. The National Cancer Institute's CGAP-GAI (Cancer Genome Anatomy Project Genetic Annotation Initiative) group has identified 10,243 SNPs by examining publicly available EST (Expressed Sequence Tag) chromatograms. More than 6800 of these polymorphisms have been placed on expression-based integrated genetic/physical maps. In addition to a set of comprehensive SNP maps, we have produced maps containing single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes expressed in breast, colon, kidney, liver, lung, or prostate tissue. The integrated maps, a SNP search engine, and a Java-based tool for viewing candidate SNPs in the context of EST assemblies can be accessed via the CGAP-GAI web site (http://cgap.nci.nih.gov/GAI/). Our SNP detection tools are available to the public for noncommercial use.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Clifford
- Laboratory of Population Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892 USA
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Clifford R, Lazo-Miller C, Schilling T, Blackmon G, D'Andrea DD. The trend toward paralegal training for LNCs--your professional choice. Natl Med Leg J 2000; 10:3-5. [PMID: 10889712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
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Clifford R. Taking a leap of faith. Natl Med Leg J 2000; 10:1, 8. [PMID: 10889713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- R Clifford
- Medical Analysis Resources, Inc., Kentucky
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Clifford R. Individualised pulse oximetry limits in neonatal intensive care. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2000; 83:F74. [PMID: 10917720 PMCID: PMC1721101 DOI: 10.1136/fn.83.1.f74] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Abstract
SUMMARY A general system for performing multiple independent database searches in parallel is presented. Run-time addition and removal of clients, robust failure and error trapping and near 100% efficiency with very large numbers of clients are achieved by a flexible asynchronous, client-driven approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Clifford
- Department of Computing, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK.
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Clifford R. Keep the quest for perfection in perspective. Natl Med Leg J 2000; 11:3, 8. [PMID: 10732600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- R Clifford
- Medical Analysis Resources, Inc., Kentucky, USA
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Hardman TC, Dubrey SW, Soni S, Clifford R, Chalkley S, Wierzbicki AS. Urinary retinol-binding protein (RBP) excretion and erythrocyte sodium-lithium countertransport (SLC) activity in a cohort of healthy normotensive subjects. J Hum Hypertens 1999; 13:871-3. [PMID: 10618681 DOI: 10.1038/sj.jhh.1000904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- T C Hardman
- Heart Function Group, National Hearts&sLung Institute, Imperial College School of Medicine, Charing Cross Hospital, London W6 8RF, UK
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Clifford R. Do you have what it takes to be an independent LNC in a home office setting? Natl Med Leg J 1999; 9:1, 8. [PMID: 10568929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
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Abstract
To comply with European Commission requirements, the UK is carrying out a monitoring programme on nitrate concentrations in lettuce and spinach. This paper reports the results obtained between June 1996 and April 1998. A total of 182 samples of protected lettuce, 131 samples of outdoor-grown lettuce and 34 samples of fresh spinach were taken from the main growing areas of the UK. Nitrate concentrations in protected lettuce were influenced by the season with summer-grown crops (mean of 2382 mg/kg) having lower levels than those grown in the winter (mean of 3124 mg/kg). Weather conditions also affected concentrations in protected lettuces with long hours of sunshine and low rainfall associated with low nitrate levels. Nitrate concentrations in outdoor-grown lettuces were lower (mean of 1085 mg/kg) than those in protected lettuces but there were insufficient data to determine if they were affected by the weather conditions or season. Similarly there were insufficient data to determine if weather conditions or season influenced nitrate concentrations in spinach (mean of 1900 mg/kg) but regional differences were observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Ysart
- Joint Food Safety and Standards Group, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, London, UK.
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Clifford R. Health care fraud costs millions. Natl Med Leg J 1998; 9:3. [PMID: 9469092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- R Clifford
- Medical Analysis Resources, Inc., Cynthiana, KY, USA
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Clifford R. A consulting lesson from the road. Natl Med Leg J 1997; 8:3. [PMID: 9362859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- R Clifford
- Medical Analysis Resources, Inc., Cynthiana, KY, USA
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Clifford R. Managing mental health care. Focus 1997; 12:5-6. [PMID: 11364941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- R Clifford
- California Coalition for Ethical Mental Health Care, Sunnyvale, CA
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Clifford R. Facing the start-up challenge again. Natl Med Leg J 1997; 8:1, 7. [PMID: 9274356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- R Clifford
- Medical Analysis Resources, Inc., Cynthiana, KY, USA
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