Upper gastrointestinal training in the UK and Ireland: a Roux Group Study

INTRODUCTION

Surgical training programmes in the United Kingdom and Ireland (UK&I) are in a state of flux. This study aims to report the contemporary opinions of trainee and consultant surgeons on the current upper gastrointestinal (UGI) training model in the UK&I.

METHODS

A questionnaire was developed and distributed via national UGI societies. Questions pertained to demographics, current training evaluation, perceived requirements and availability.

RESULTS

A total of 241 responses were received with representation from all UK&I postgraduate training regions. The biggest discrepancies between rotation demand and national availability related to advanced/therapeutic endoscopy and robotic surgery, with 91.7% of respondents stating they would welcome greater geographical flexibility in training. The median suggested academic targets were 3-5 publications (trainee vs consultant <3 vs 3-5, p<0.001); <3 presentations (<3 vs 3-5, p=0.002); and 3-5 audits/quality improvement projects (<3 vs 3-5, p<0.001). Current operative requirements were considered achievable (87.6%) but inadequate for day one consultant practice (74.7%). Reassuringly, 76.3% deemed there was role for on-the-job operative training following consultant appointment. Proficiency in diagnostic endoscopy was considered a minimum requirement for Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) yet the majority regarded therapeutic endoscopy competency as non-essential. The median numbers of index UGI operations suggested were comparable with the current curriculum requirements. Post-CCT fellowships were not considered necessary; however, the majority (73.6%) recognised their advantage.

CONCLUSIONS

Current CCT requirements are largely consistent with the opinions of the UGI community. Areas for improvement include flexibility in geographical working and increasing national provisions for high-quality endoscopy training.

Schizotypy dimensions do not predict overshadowing

When two cues are presented together and reliably predict an outcome (AB-O1) an "overshadowing" effect is typically observed. That is, the relationship between these cues and the outcome is learned about less well than a cue presented on its own with an outcome (e.g., C - O1). The current study sought to explore the relationship between overshadowing and the positive and negative dimensions of schizotypy. A total of 256 participants completed an overshadowing procedure embedded within a causal judgement task and the Short Oxford-Liverpool Inventory of Feelings and Experiences (O-LIFE) which measured the different dimensions of schizotypy. A unilateral overshadowing effect was observed, however, none of the dimensions of schizotypy predicted the magnitude of this effect. These results are the first to demonstrate this finding using an appropriately powered sample and reveal that a tendency to experience symptoms of schizophrenia does not impact upon the overshadowing effect.

'How I'm feeling today, I probably won't be feeling tomorrow'. Using I-Poems to explore young people's changing emotions during the Covid-19 pandemic - A qualitative, longitudinal study

Background

Relatively little published qualitative research has explored children and young people's (CYP) prolonged or longitudinal experiences of the pandemic, and their emotional responses to such unreserved change to everyday life. As part of a broader, qualitative longitudinal study, this paper explores change and continuity in young people's emotions over time during the Covid-19 pandemic in North East England.

Methods

I-Poems were curated for each of the 26 young people in this study from serial interview transcripts and diary entries, collected over the course of 16 months. Creation of I-Poems require researchers to focus on sentences made by the interviewee that include the word "I," and without changing the order of those sentences, to present them in poetic stanzas.

Findings

Young people's voices and experiences became more poignant and powerful when their 'I' narrative was centralised, silencing the presence of the researcher. Further, presenting the data in this way allowed us to see how the following emotions shifted over time: grief, sadness, frustration, anger, anxiety, joy, pleasure, excitement. We contend that young people experienced significant rupture and change over the course of our 16 month project, with both positive and negative repercussions for their emotional wellbeing.

Conclusions

Large scale (quantitative and qualitative) studies remain much needed to focus on the long-term impacts of the pandemic on young people's social, emotional and cultural lives. Longitudinal and creative qualitative approaches (such as I-Poems) have the potential to centralise participant voice, break down power dynamics, and allow exploration of shifting experiences and emotions over time.

EGS P09 An Ambulatory General Surgical Service, Reducing the On-Call Burden and Improving Patient Experience

Background

The management of acute General Surgical patients is dramatically changing with the emergence of Emergency General Surgery departments. The trend is moving towards consultant-led services, and managing patients on ambulatory pathways. This prospective study aims to demonstrate the impact of a consultant-led ambulatory surgical clinic and primary care telephone access on the acute surgical take in a busy tertiary hospital.

Methods

Data was collected from March 2021-March 2022. Patients were included via the primary care access line, as well as patient attendances either via surgical assessment unit (SAU), or ambulatory surgical clinic (ASC). Their pathways were recorded i.e. admit, discharge, further ambulatory investigation, listed for surgery.

Results

Consultants took 6,948 calls from primary care from March 2021–22. 43.7% of patients were given an appointment for ASC, 37.3% admitted to SAU, 3.5% directed to ED, and 15.5% given advice or redirected elsewhere. 54.6% of those seen in ASC were discharged without further follow up, the other 45.4% were either admitted, followed up or added to a waiting list. General Surgery patient attendances to SAU fell from an average of 1020 per month between March to October 2021 to 542 attendances November 2021 to present.

Conclusions

The introduction of a consultant-led ambulatory service has reduced the on-call burden by half. The dramatic reduction in SAU attendances is likely to be the result of developed ambulatory pathways, improved communication with primary care and Consultant Emergency General Surgeons, and autonomy of Junior Surgical Trainees to redirect ED referrals onto refined and supported ambulatory pathways. A Consultant-led primary care access line has reduced ED attendances and allowed for effective streaming of patients. These changes have improved the patient experience significantly, by directing them straight to specialty with same or next day consultant clinics, and reduced waiting times overall. There has been a significant reduction in complaints and consistent improvement in patient feedback.

Assessment of groundwater salinity using principal component analysis (PCA): a case study from Mewat (Nuh), Haryana, India

In the present study, principal component analysis (PCA) is used to investigate the processes controlling groundwater salinity in the Mewat (Nuh) district, Haryana, India. Twenty groundwater samples were collected from salinity-affected areas in the March-April months of years 2018 and 2019 and were analyzed for chemical variables pH, EC, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, [Formula: see text], Cl^-, SO₄^2-, [Formula: see text], TDS, and total hardness. Three principal components were selected based on the eigen value, which explains 79.58% and 85.08% of the total variation in the years 2018 and 2019, respectively. The first principal component (PC-1) is identified with salinity, the second principal component (PC-2) with alkalinity, and the third principal component (PC-3) described the pollution. When the yearly comparison was made, the samples collected in 2019 were found to have an increased salinity compared to 2018, which shows an increased vulnerability to the aquifer of Mewat on account of the decline in rainfall recharge. It was also evident that declining recharge also triggered the recharge from other sources; thus, the impact of pollution is more pronounced in 2019 compared to 2018.

P-031 AN UNUSUAL CASE OF AN INCARCERATED 5MM PORT SITE HERNIA FOLLOWING LAPAROSCOPIC FUNDOPLICATION

Aim

Port site hernias are a rare, but recognised risk of laparoscopic surgery. Literature supports fascial closure at port sites of 10mm or greater. However, there are few reported cases of herniation through 5mm port sites.

Methods

This case report focuses on a 67-year-old female who underwent an uncomplicated primary laparoscopic Toupet's fundoplication. 11 days post procedure she presented with an incarcerated port site hernia. CT scan demonstrated high grade small bowel obstruction with a transition point at the site of the 5mm right sided port. A laparotomy was performed, the hernia reduced, small bowel was viable, and the port site hernia was closed internally using vicryl sutures.

Results

The incidence of 5mm trocar-site hernias is rare. A recent literature review found only 10 such cases related to general surgery (cholecystectomy:6; appendicectomy: 2; right hemicolectomy: 1; paraesophageal hernia:1). Risk factors for port-site hernias include: high BMI, midline position, size, number and type of trocar tip. The limited current literature identifies excessive trocar manipulation as the major risk factor for developing 5mm port-site hernias, yet routine fascial closure is not supported.

Conclusion

Herniation at 5mm port sites is rare but attention should be paid when patients present with symptoms suggesting its occurrence.

Severity of oEsophageal Anastomotic Leak in patients after oesophagectomy: the SEAL score

Background

Anastomotic leak (AL) is a common but severe complication after oesophagectomy. It is unknown how to determine the severity of AL objectively at diagnosis. Determining leak severity may guide treatment decisions and improve future research. This study aimed to identify leak-related prognostic factors for mortality, and to develop a Severity of oEsophageal Anastomotic Leak (SEAL) score.

Methods

This international, retrospective cohort study in 71 centres worldwide included patients with AL after oesophagectomy between 2011 and 2019. The primary endpoint was 90-day mortality. Leak-related prognostic factors were identified after adjusting for confounders and were included in multivariable logistic regression to develop the SEAL score. Four classes of leak severity (mild, moderate, severe, and critical) were defined based on the risk of 90-day mortality, and the score was validated internally.

Results

Some 1509 patients with AL were included and the 90-day mortality rate was 11.7 per cent. Twelve leak-related prognostic factors were included in the SEAL score. The score showed good calibration and discrimination (c-index 0.77, 95 per cent c.i. 0.73 to 0.81). Higher classes of leak severity graded by the SEAL score were associated with a significant increase in duration of ICU stay, healing time, Comprehensive Complication Index score, and Esophagectomy Complications Consensus Group classification.

Conclusion

The SEAL score grades leak severity into four classes by combining 12 leak-related predictors and can be used to the assess severity of AL after oesophagectomy.

341 Consenting Practices in Plastic Surgery

Introduction

Informed consent is a vital aspect of safe patient care within any surgical specialty, and if not completed thoroughly, may result in misinformation and patient dissatisfaction.

Traditional paper consent forms are notoriously poorly completed by medical professionals, with common issues ranging from ineligible handwriting, to missing key components of the form.

The aim of this audit was to assess our departments’ compliance with standard trust consent forms and compare adherence to local and national consenting policies.

Method

All elective and emergency plastic surgical procedures carried out over a one-week period from 17/05/2021 to 23/05/2021 were identified using eTrauma and Cerner operative records. In total, 40 procedures were identified. Consent forms were then reviewed and assessed for completion in key areas. 4 procedures were excluded due to the consent form not being available for review, and 1 procedure was excluded due to a cancellation.

Results

The risks and benefits of procedures were generally documented to a high standard. Providing written information to patients, confirmation of consent if the procedure was being performed on a different day, and possible additional procedures were poorly completed throughout. 90% of consent forms screened, failed to include confirmation of the surgical site within the specific section of the form.

Conclusions

Overall, the department demonstrated good compliance with completing trust consent forms. Electronic consent forms would likely address the shortcomings identified in this audit and should be adopted. Continued responsibility from the whole team should be highlighted and maintained to ensure a high standard of consenting.

61 Use of Ketamine Sedation for the Treatment of Minor Plastic Surgery Procedures in the Paediatric Emergency Department

Aim

To determine if ketamine sedation is a safe and cost-effective way of treating paediatric patients presenting with minor injuries, requiring plastic surgery procedures, in the emergency department.

Method

A retrospective cohort study was carried out over a 9-month period in children between ages 18 months and 16 years old, presenting to the paediatric emergency department at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital with minor injuries requiring plastic surgery input. The data collected included previously validated co-primary outcome measures of surgical site infection at 7 days and cosmetic appearance summary score at a minimum of 4 months. Parental satisfaction surveys were completed at 4 months to assess perceived quality of treatment. A cost analysis comparison against procedures completed under general anaesthetic was also undertaken.

Results

During the 9-month period of study, 24 minor procedures were performed under ketamine in the paediatric emergency department. There were no serious adverse events recorded. Three cases exceeded the recommended 20-minute maximum procedure duration, but there was no associated adverse outcome. No cases required further procedures under general anaesthesia and there were no cases of surgical site infections at 7 days. Parents reported extremely favourable outcomes using this technique, with an average overall satisfaction score of 9.2 (assessed over a number of parameters, where 10 is complete satisfaction).

Conclusions

Ketamine procedural sedation in the paediatric population is a safe and cost-effective method for the treatment of minor plastic surgery procedures, with low risk for surgical site infection post-operatively, and high parent satisfaction rates

POS0926 NORMALIZATION OF HIGH SENSITIVITY CRP VERSUS CLINICAL RESPONSE TO IXEKIZUMAB AT WEEK 16 IN PATIENTS WITH RADIOGRAPHIC & NON-RADIOGRAPHIC AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS: RESULTS FROM THE COAST STUDIES

Background:

C-reactive protein (CRP), an objective marker of inflammation, can be used to monitor treatment response to biologics in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in addition to evaluating signs & symptoms. CRP is not elevated in all patients with active axSpA questioning its validity as a universal biomarker of response. Ixekizumab (IXE) demonstrated efficacy in axSpA treatment irrespective of baseline (BL) CRP levels. However, response to IXE categorized on CRP change from BL is unknown.

Objectives:

To evaluate response to IXE treatment from BL through week (wk) 16 in patients with axSpA categorized according to change in high sensitivity (hs) CRP.

Methods:

COAST-V (NCT 02696785),-W (NCT02696798), & -X (NCT02757352), were phase 3, multicentre, randomized, controlled trials, investigating the efficacy of IXE 80 mg every 4 & 2 wks in patients with: r-axSpA naïve to biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs; COAST-V); or who were inadequate responders/intolerant to tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi; COAST-W); or who fulfilled Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria for non-radiographic (nr)axSpA (COAST-X).

This post hoc analysis focuses on approved dosing regimens. Depending on BL and wk 16 hsCRP values, patients were categorised as stable low (hsCRP ≤5 mg/L at BL & ≤5 mg/L at wk 16), normalized (hsCRP >5 mg/L at BL & ≤5 mg/L at wk 16) or elevated (hsCRP >5 mg/L at wk 16, irrespective of BL hsCRP). An absolute cutoff of 5 mg/L was used as the stratification factor in all COAST studies. Data were analyzed by treatment arm. Each trial was analyzed separately.

For hsCRP subgroups, patient demographics & other characteristics at BL, as well as trajectory over time for the endpoints ASAS40 & Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) 50 are described. Non-responder imputation was used for missing values.

Results:

In all studies at BL, disease activity & MRI SPARCC score were higher in normalized & elevated subgroups compared to the stable low subgroup - a.

In COAST-V, ASAS40 & BASDAI50 response was observed in IXE-treated patients regardless of hsCRP change status by wk 16 vs placebo. The highest ASAS40 & BASDAI50 response rate was reported in patients with normalized hsCRP - b. Similar findings were observed in COAST-W & -X.

Table 1.

Baseline Patient demographics & other characteristics - ITT population, per CRP subgroup

COAST-V(r-axSpA, bDMARD naive)COAST-W(r-axSpA, inadequate responders /intolerant to TNFi)COAST-X(non-radiographic axSpA, bDMARD naïve)Stable low (n=79)Norma-lized (n=80)Elevated (n=98)Stable low(n=58)Norma-lized (n=34)Elevated (n=126)Stable low (n=78)Norma-lized(n=40)Elevated (n=81)ParameterAge (years)43.7 (12.1)38.9 (10.9)42.7 (12.0)50.4 (13.3)46.1 (13.8)45.7 (12.5)44.0 (12.8)37.2 (14.6)38.7 (12.8)Male gender, n (%)63 (79.7)71.0 (88.8)78 (79.6)39.0 (67.2)30 (88.2)109 (86.5)35 (44.9)23 (57.5)34 (42)Duration of symptoms since axSpA onset (years)17.5 (11.2)14.4 (9.3)16.1 (9.9)21.7 (12.9)16.8 (11.6)18.9 (10.9)12.1 (9.9)10.3 (9.7)9.5 (9.0)HLA-B27 positive, n (%)69 (87.3)75.0 (93.8)89 (90.8)31.0 (91.2)101 (80.2)101 (80.2)48 (61.5)31 (77.5)67 (82.7)BASDAI Total Score6.5 (1.4)6.7 (1.5)7.0 (1.1)7.4 (1.5)7.3 (1.3)7.4 (1.3)6.9 (1.5)7.1 (1.6)7.2 (1.5)ASDAS Total Score3.1 (0.5)3.9 (0.6)4.2 (0.7)3.5 (0.6)4.3 (0.6)4.4 (0.8)3.2 (0.6)4.2 (0.8)4.2 (0.9)Spinal Pain due to AS7.0 (1.5)7.0 (1.5)7.5 (1.3)7.8 (1.5)7.7 (1.5)7.9 (1.4)7.2 (1.7)7.5 (1.7)7.5 (1.6)Patients with peripheral articular manifestations (>=1 TJC or >=1 SJC)47 (59.5)40 (50)62 (63.3)43 (74.1)24 (70.6)86 (68.3)56 (71.8)33 (82.5)66 (81.5)MRI Spine SPARCC ScoreMRI SIJ SPARCC ScoreMRI SPARCC Score6.7 (11.2)21.8 (27.3)20.7 (25.7)1.2 (2.3)7.0 (7.6)10.4 (17.0)5.2 (6.6)6.1 (8.2)6.2 (10.5)

Conclusion:

IXE reduced clinical disease activity in patients with axSpA irrespective of hsCRP change from BL to wk 16. Improvement in hsCRP level was associated with overall response rates.

Acknowledgements:

The authors would like to acknowledge Philana Fernandes, an employee of Eli Lilly and Company, for her for writing and editorial support.

Disclosure of Interests:

Helena Marzo-Ortega Consultant of: Celgene, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB, Grant/research support from: Janssen, Novartis, Xavier Juanola: None declared, Tadashi Okano Speakers bureau: Asahi Kasei, Astellas, Abbvie, Ayumi, Chugai, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eisai, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Novartis, Ono, Pfizer, Sanofi and Takeda, Grant/research support from: Asahi Kasei, Abbvie, Chugai, Eisai, Yves Schymura Employee of: Eli Lilly, Andrew Bradley Shareholder of: Eli Lilly, Employee of: Eli Lilly, Jens Gerwien Shareholder of: Eli Lilly, Employee of: Eli Lilly, Brigitte Monsberger Shareholder of: Eli Lilly, Employee of: Eli Lilly, Soyi Liu Leage Employee of: Eli Lilly, Daniel Aletaha Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Amgen, Celgene, Lilly, Medac, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi/Genzyme, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Lilly, Novartis, Roche, Mikkel Østergaard Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Celgene, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi and UCB, Consultant of: Abbvie, BMS, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Celgene, Eli-Lilly, Hospira, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Novo, Orion, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi and UCB, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, BMS, Merck, Celgene, Novartis

The Use of Social Media in Research on Gambling: a Systematic Review

Purpose of Review

Social media enables a range of possibilities in the way gamblers and gambling operators interact and content communicate with gambling. The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesise the extant literature to identify the ways in which social media has been investigated in the context of gambling.

Recent Findings

A systematic review of the literature identified 41 papers that collected primary data pertinent to gambling and social media from multiple disciplines. These papers broadly fell into three themes: communication, community and calculation (of sentiment). Papers on communication focused on the content of gambling advertising on social media and the impact on people exposed to it. Studies of gambling communities studied the activity and structures of discussion groups on social media concerning recreational or problematic gambling. Papers on calculation collated social media data to assess sentiment and compared it against betting odds.

Summary

There is an emerging multidisciplinary literature that has looked at the use of social media in relation to gambling. There is preliminary evidence that the content and the reach of gambling advertising on social media is a source of concern, particularly for younger people. The themes discussed on gambling support forums appear to be common across communities, focusing on negative emotions, recovery, addictive products and financial support. Using social media to assess sentiment appears to be particularly effective at identifying potential upsets in sporting matches. Future suggestions for research are explored.

450 Retrospective Analysis of Surgical Clerk-Ins Within the Acute Receiving Unit: A Quality Improvement Project

Introduction

Accurate patient documentation at the ARU is vital to patient safety and ensuring smooth handovers to secondary care services. Because the nature of surgical treatment requires frequent patient handovers, and this increases the risk of miscommunication, we aimed to assess the quality of surgical clerk-ins and identify areas for improvement.

Method

Emergency admissions at the Dumfries Galloway Royal Infirmary were audited, looking at documentation quality under various clerk-in sections. Data was analysed before presentation to clinical governance.

Results

When 46 patient clerk-ins were examined, venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis plans were performed in only 24% of admissions - less than 1 in 4 patients.

Comparing out-of-hours and in-hours patient documentation, much higher omission rates were identified in the out-of-hours documentation: in systemic enquiry (42 vs 100%) and family history (31% vs 66%).

Conclusions

These results brought to attention the effect of hospital admission timing on patient documentation quality, and the lack of VTE prophylaxis planning. In surgery, these plans are key to minimising risk of avoidable thromboembolic complications.

A departmental meeting was convened to stress the importance of accurate and comprehensive clerk-ins to ARU doctors. Future audits could explore the factors influencing documentation quality for out-of-hours admissions, and ways to address these issues.

The impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the mental health of healthcare workers in a hospital setting-A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

The SARS-CoV-2 global pandemic has subjected healthcare workers (HCWs) to high risk of infection through direct workplace exposure, coupled with increased workload and psychological stress. This review aims to determine the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mental health outcomes of hospital-based HCWs and formulate recommendations for future action.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed between 31st December 2019 and 17th June 2020 through Ovid Medline and Embase databases (PROSPERO ID CRD42020181204). Studies were included for review if they investigated the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mental health outcomes of hospital-based HCWs and used validated psychiatric scoring tools. Prevalence of ICD-10 classified psychiatric disorders was the primary outcome measure.

RESULTS

The initial search returned 436 articles. Forty-four studies were included in final analysis, with a total of 69,499 subjects. Prevalence ranges of six mental health outcomes were identified: depression 13.5%-44.7%; anxiety 12.3%-35.6%; acute stress reaction 5.2%-32.9%; post-traumatic stress disorder 7.4%-37.4%; insomnia 33.8%-36.1%; and occupational burnout 3.1%-43.0%. Direct exposure to SARS-CoV-2 patients was the most common risk factor identified for all mental health outcomes except occupational burnout. Nurses, frontline HCWs, and HCWs with low social support and fewer years of working experience reported the worst outcomes.

CONCLUSION

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental health of HCWs. Frontline staff demonstrate worse mental health outcomes. Hospitals should be staffed to meet service provision requirements and to mitigate the impact onmental health. This can be improved with access to rapid-response psychiatric teams and should be continually monitored throughout the pandemic and beyond its conclusion.

Cross-sectional study of the prevalence, causes and management of hospital-onset diarrhoea

BACKGROUND

The National Health Service in England advises hospitals collect data on hospital-onset diarrhoea (HOD). Contemporaneous data on HOD are lacking.

AIM

To investigate prevalence, aetiology and management of HOD on medical, surgical and elderly-care wards.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study in a volunteer sample of UK hospitals, which collected data on one winter and one summer day in 2016. Patients admitted ≥72 h were screened for HOD (definition: ≥2 episodes of Bristol Stool Type 5-7 the day before the study, with diarrhoea onset >48 h after admission). Data on HOD aetiology and management were collected prospectively.

FINDINGS

Data were collected on 141 wards in 32 hospitals (16 acute, 16 teaching). Point-prevalence of HOD was 4.5% (230/5142 patients; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.9-5.0%). Teaching hospital HOD prevalence (5.9%, 95% CI 5.1-6.9%) was twice that of acute hospitals (2.8%, 95% CI 2.1-3.5%; odds ratio 2.2, 95% CI 1.7-3.0). At least one potential cause was identified in 222/230 patients (97%): 107 (47%) had a relevant underlying condition, 125 (54%) were taking antimicrobials, and 195 (85%) other medication known to cause diarrhoea. Nine of 75 tested patients were Clostridium difficile toxin positive (4%). Eighty (35%) patients had a documented medical assessment of diarrhoea. Documentation of HOD in medical notes correlated with testing for C. difficile (78% of those tested vs 38% not tested, P<0.001). One-hundred and forty-four (63%) patients were not isolated following diarrhoea onset.

CONCLUSION

HOD is a prevalent symptom affecting thousands of patients across the UK health system each day. Most patients had multiple potential causes of HOD, mainly iatrogenic, but only a third had medical assessment. Most were not tested for C. difficile and were not isolated.

Web Scraping Using R

The ubiquitous use of the Internet in daily life means that there are now large reservoirs of data that can provide fresh insights into human behavior. One of the key barriers preventing more researchers from utilizing online data is that they do not have the skills to access the data. This Tutorial addresses this gap by providing a practical guide to scraping online data using the popular statistical language R. Web scraping is the process of automatically collecting information from websites. Such information can take the form of numbers, text, images, or videos. This Tutorial shows readers how to download web pages, extract information from those pages, store the extracted information, and do so across multiple pages of a website. A website has been created to assist readers in learning how to web-scrape. This website contains a series of examples that illustrate how to scrape a single web page and how to scrape multiple web pages. The examples are accompanied by videos describing the processes involved and by exercises to help readers increase their knowledge and practice their skills. Example R scripts have been made available at the Open Science Framework.

Health assessments and screening tools for adults experiencing homelessness: a systematic review

Background

Homelessness is increasing globally. It results in poorer physical and mental health than age matched people living in permanent housing. Better information on the health needs of people experiencing homelessness is needed to inform effective resourcing, planning and service delivery by government and care organisations.

The aim of this review was to identify assessment tools that are valid, reliable and appropriate to measure the health status of people who are homeless.

Methods

Data sources: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed (and Medline), PsychInfo, Scopus, CINAHL and ERIC from database inception until September 2018. Key words used were homeless, homelessness, homeless persons, vagrancy, health status, health, health issues, health assessment and health screening. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO. The National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC) hierarchy of evidence was applied; methodological quality of included articles was assessed using the McMaster critical appraisal tools and psychometric properties of the tools were appraised using the International Centre for Allied Health Evidence Ready Reckoner.

Results

Diverse tools and measures (N = 71) were administered within, and across the reviewed studies (N = 37), with the main focus being on general health, oral health and nutrition. Eleven assessment tools in 13 studies had evidence of appropriate psychometric testing for the target population in domains of quality of life and health status, injury, substance use, mental health, psychological and cognitive function. Methodological quality of articles and tools were assessed as moderate to good. No validated tools were identified to assess oral health, chronic conditions, anthropometry, demography, nutrition, continence, functional decline and frailty, or vision and hearing. However, assessments of physical constructs (such as oral health, anthropometry, vision and hearing) could be applied to homeless people on a presumption of validity, because the constructs would be measured with clinical indicators in the same manner as people living in permanent dwellings.

Conclusions

This review highlighted the need to develop consistent and comprehensive health assessment tools validated with, and tailored for, adults experiencing homelessness.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-019-7234-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Aging phenotype(s) in kidneys of diabetic mice are p66ShcA dependent

The p66ShcA protein controls cellular responses to oxidative stress, senescence, and apoptosis. Here, we test the hypothesis that aging phenotype(s) commonly associated with the broad category of chronic kidney disease are accelerated in diabetic kidneys and linked to the p66ShcA locus. At the organ level, tissue stem cells antagonize senescent phenotypes by replacing old dysfunctional cells. Using established methods, we isolated a highly purified population of stem cell antigen-1-positive mesenchymal stem cells (Sca-1⁺ MSCs) from kidneys of wild-type (WT) and p66 knockout (p66 KO) mice. Cells were plated in culture medium containing normal glucose (NG) or high glucose (HG). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism was substantially increased in WT MSCs in HG medium in association with increased cell death by apoptosis and acquisition of the senescent phenotype. DNA microarray analysis detected striking differences in the expression profiles of WT and p66 KO-MSCs in HG medium. Unexpectedly, the analysis for p66 KO-MSCs revealed upregulation of Wnt genes implicated in self-renewal and differentiation. To test the in vivo consequences of constitutive p66 expression in diabetic kidneys, we crossed the Akita diabetic mouse with the p66KO mouse. Homozygous mutation at the p66 locus delays or prevents aging phenotype(s) in the kidney that may be precursors to diabetic nephropathy.

Multiple traumatisation and subsequent psychopathology in people with intellectual disabilities and DSM-5 PTSD: a preliminary study

BACKGROUND

Individuals with intellectual disability (ID) are at greater risk of exposure to traumatic life events compared with the non-ID population. Yet no study to date has examined the role of multiple traumatisation and subsequent psychopathology in people with ID. The aim of this study was to explore the association between multiple traumatisation and subsequent mental health.

METHODS

A preliminary cross-sectional study involving 33 participants with DSM-5 post-traumatic stress disorder completed self-report questionnaires on exposure to traumatic life events and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, anxiety, depression and general distress.

RESULTS

A proportion of 42.4% of the sample reported multiple traumatisation, including exposure to life events in both childhood and adulthood. Those who reported exposure to life events in childhood and adulthood reported significantly higher risk of harm, depression and general psychological distress compared with those who reported exposure to life events only in adulthood.

CONCLUSIONS

Preliminary results indicate that more severe psychopathology is associated with multiple traumatisation in childhood and adulthood compared with trauma experienced solely in adulthood.

Does observability affect prosociality?

The observation of behaviour is a key theoretical parameter underlying a number of models of prosociality. However, the empirical findings showing the effect of observability on prosociality are mixed. In this meta-analysis, we explore the boundary conditions that may account for this variability, by exploring key theoretical and methodological moderators of this link. We identified 117 papers yielding 134 study level effects (total n = 788 164) and found a small but statistically significant, positive association between observability and prosociality (r = 0.141, 95% confidence interval = 0.106, 0.175). Moderator analysis showed that observability produced stronger effects on prosociality: (i) in the presence of passive observers (i.e. people whose role was to only observe participants) versus perceptions of being watched, (ii) when participants' decisions were consequential (versus non-consequential), (iii) when the studies were performed in the laboratory (as opposed to in the field/online), (iv) when the studies used repeated measures (instead of single games), and (v) when the studies involved social dilemmas (instead of bargaining games). These effects show the conditions under which observability effects on prosociality will be maximally observed. We describe the theoretical and practical significance of these results.

Results on the Spin-Dependent Scattering of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles on Nucleons from the Run 3 Data of the LUX Experiment

We present experimental constraints on the spin-dependent WIMP (weakly interacting massive particle)-nucleon elastic cross sections from LUX data acquired in 2013. LUX is a dual-phase xenon time projection chamber operating at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (Lead, South Dakota), which is designed to observe the recoil signature of galactic WIMPs scattering from xenon nuclei. A profile likelihood ratio analysis of 1.4×10^{4}  kg day of fiducial exposure allows 90% C.L. upper limits to be set on the WIMP-neutron (WIMP-proton) cross section of σ_{n}=9.4×10^{-41}  cm^{2} (σ_{p}=2.9×10^{-39}  cm^{2}) at 33  GeV/c^{2}. The spin-dependent WIMP-neutron limit is the most sensitive constraint to date.

Improved Limits on Scattering of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles from Reanalysis of 2013 LUX Data

We present constraints on weakly interacting massive particles (WIMP)-nucleus scattering from the 2013 data of the Large Underground Xenon dark matter experiment, including 1.4×10^{4}  kg day of search exposure. This new analysis incorporates several advances: single-photon calibration at the scintillation wavelength, improved event-reconstruction algorithms, a revised background model including events originating on the detector walls in an enlarged fiducial volume, and new calibrations from decays of an injected tritium β source and from kinematically constrained nuclear recoils down to 1.1 keV. Sensitivity, especially to low-mass WIMPs, is enhanced compared to our previous results which modeled the signal only above a 3 keV minimum energy. Under standard dark matter halo assumptions and in the mass range above 4  GeV c^{-2}, these new results give the most stringent direct limits on the spin-independent WIMP-nucleon cross section. The 90% C.L. upper limit has a minimum of 0.6 zb at 33  GeV c^{-2} WIMP mass.

Effect of Wood Biochar in Manure-Applied Sand Columns on Leachate Quality

Agricultural operations can pose a threat to the quality of nearby water sources particularly from nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) losses following land application of manure. Biochar application to soils has the potential to ameliorate degraded soils and reduce nutrient leaching to groundwater. The effects of amending sand soil columns with hybrid poplar biochar ( spp.) made by a slow-pyrolysis process at 450°C at varying rates (0, 1, 2, and 5% by weight) with repeated dairy manure applications over a 56-wk period was examined to evaluate the impact to leachate water quality. Increasing levels of biochar decreased cumulative levels of total N (TN) by 21 to 59%, nitrate (NO-N) by 17 to 46%, and ammonia (NH-N + NH-N) by 46 to 90% in leachate but increased cumulative leaching of total P (TP). Overall leachate pH was increased and peak levels of 5-d biological oxygen demand (BOD) in leachate after manure application were decreased with increasing levels of biochar amendment. The results from this study indicate that biochar amendments could be effective in reducing nitrogen leaching from soils, though further study is needed to determine practical application in a field setting.

Invited review: overview of new traits and phenotyping strategies in dairy cattle with a focus on functional traits

For several decades, breeding goals in dairy cattle focussed on increased milk production. However, many functional traits have negative genetic correlations with milk yield, and reductions in genetic merit for health and fitness have been observed. Herd management has been challenged to compensate for these effects and to balance fertility, udder health and metabolic diseases against increased production to maximize profit without compromising welfare. Functional traits, such as direct information on cow health, have also become more important because of growing concern about animal well-being and consumer demands for healthy and natural products. There are major concerns about the impact of drugs used in veterinary medicine on the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria that can negatively impact human health. Sustainability and efficiency are also increasingly important because of the growing competition for high-quality, plant-based sources of energy and protein. Disruptions to global environments because of climate change may encourage yet more emphasis on these traits. To be successful, it is vital that there be a balance between the effort required for data recording and subsequent benefits. The motivation of farmers and other stakeholders involved in documentation and recording is essential to ensure good data quality. To keep labour costs reasonable, existing data sources should be used as much as possible. Examples include the use of milk composition data to provide additional information about the metabolic status or energy balance of the animals. Recent advances in the use of mid-infrared spectroscopy to measure milk have shown considerable promise, and may provide cost-effective alternative phenotypes for difficult or expensive-to-measure traits, such as feed efficiency. There are other valuable data sources in countries that have compulsory documentation of veterinary treatments and drug use. Additional sources of data outside of the farm include, for example, slaughter houses (meat composition and quality) and veterinary labs (specific pathogens, viral loads). At the farm level, many data are available from automated and semi-automated milking and management systems. Electronic devices measuring physiological status or activity parameters can be used to predict events such as oestrus, and also behavioural traits. Challenges concerning the predictive biology of indicator traits or standardization need to be solved. To develop effective selection programmes for new traits, the development of large databases is necessary so that high-reliability breeding values can be estimated. For expensive-to-record traits, extensive phenotyping in combination with genotyping of females is a possibility.

International Harmonization of Nomenclature and Diagnostic Criteria (INHAND): Progress to Date and Future Plans

The International Harmonization of Nomenclature and Diagnostic Criteria for Lesions in Rats and Mice proposal (INHAND) has been operational since 2005. A Global Editorial Steering Committee manages the overall objectives of the project, and the development of harmonized terminology for each organ system is the responsibility of the Organ Working Groups, drawing upon experts from North America, Europe, and Japan. Great progress has been made with 9 systems published to date--respiratory, hepatobiliary, urinary, central/peripheral nervous systems, male reproductive and mammary, zymbals, clitoral, and preputial glands in Toxicologic Pathology and the integument and soft tissue and female reproductive in the Journal of Toxicologic Pathology as supplements and on a Web site--www.goReni.org. INHAND nomenclature guides offer diagnostic criteria and guidelines for recording lesions observed in rodent toxicity and carcinogenicity studies. The guides provide representative photomicrographs of morphologic changes, information regarding pathogenesis, and key references. The purpose of this brief communication is to provide an update on the progress of INHAND.

Post-operative bilateral adrenal haemorrhage: A case report

•

An unusual complication of intra-abdominal sepsis.

•

A demonstration of diagnostic difficulty in the post-operative patient.

•

A variation from the normal electrolyte profile observed in adrenal insufficiency.

•

Highlights the clinical importance of a high index of suspicion for further investigation of ‘on-ward’ electrolyte abnormalities.

INTRODUCTION

Bilateral adrenal haemorrhage is a rare, but serious, illness carrying an estimated 15% mortality.^1,2 The majority of cases occur in patients with acute, stressful illness, however the exact mechanism underlying adrenal haemorrhage remains unclear. This medical emergency carries significant diagnostic difficulty⁴ with non-specific clinical symptoms and variations in electrolyte abnormalities. Timely treatment is important as it prevents both the acute and long-term sequelae of adrenal failure.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

This report describes a medical emergency in a surgical patient following emergency surgery for intra-abdominal sepsis. The patient reported non-specific symptoms of confusion, mild pyrexia and vague abdominal pain during the post-operative phase, with subtle electrolyte abnormalities and a low serum cortisol suggestive of adrenal crisis. Timely medical treatment, with intravenous hydrocortisone and intensive monitoring, and appropriate medical follow-up with addition of long-term fludrocortisone resulted in a satisfactory outcome.

DISCUSSION

This report describes a potentially life-threatening complication of intra-abdominal sepsis with adrenal crisis secondary to bilateral adrenal haemorrhage. In particular, this case highlights the diagnostic difficulty in such surgical patients due to vague symptoms and, in this case, the presence of a presentation variant with acute hyponatraemia and normal potassium.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights the importance of awareness of both the symptoms and signs and variation in electrolyte profile when assessing surgical patients post-operatively. In addition, this case highlights the benefit of early recognition and initiation of treatment and the importance of follow-up as long-term medical management is often required to prevent further relapse.

First results from the LUX dark matter experiment at the Sanford underground research facility

The Large Underground Xenon (LUX) experiment is a dual-phase xenon time-projection chamber operating at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (Lead, South Dakota). The LUX cryostat was filled for the first time in the underground laboratory in February 2013. We report results of the first WIMP search data set, taken during the period from April to August 2013, presenting the analysis of 85.3 live days of data with a fiducial volume of 118 kg. A profile-likelihood analysis technique shows our data to be consistent with the background-only hypothesis, allowing 90% confidence limits to be set on spin-independent WIMP-nucleon elastic scattering with a minimum upper limit on the cross section of 7.6 × 10(-46) cm(2) at a WIMP mass of 33 GeV/c(2). We find that the LUX data are in disagreement with low-mass WIMP signal interpretations of the results from several recent direct detection experiments.

Hepatitis E: the West of Scotland experience

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Hepatitis E virus is traditionally regarded as a virus of the developing world and is emerging as a leading cause of non-A/B/C hepatitis. We wished to investigate locally acquired transmission of hepatitis E in the West of Scotland and compare our use of traditional serology versus polymerase chain reaction since the introduction of polymerase chain reaction in 2007.

METHODS

Clinical details provided on specimens of blood positive for hepatitis E virus by serology or polymerase chain reaction were collated and analysed.

RESULTS

Since 2007, 30 samples were hepatitis E virus-positive by serology or polymerase chain reaction. Polymerase chain reaction positivity was generally associated with positive serology although four samples were polymerase chain reaction-negative and strongly positive by serology. Interestingly, one-quarter of cases were likely to represent endogenous transmission of the infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Polymerase chain reaction is valuable in reliably diagnosing hepatitis E virus. However, serology is valuable for diagnosing resolved infection. There may be a high level of undiagnosed locally acquired hepatitis E virus in Scotland.

Detailed molecular characterisation of acute myeloid leukaemia with a normal karyotype using targeted DNA capture

Advances in sequencing technologies are giving unprecedented insights into the spectrum of somatic mutations underlying acute myeloid leukaemia with a normal karyotype (AML-NK). It is clear that the prognosis of individual patients is strongly influenced by the combination of mutations in their leukaemia and that many leukaemias are composed of multiple subclones, with differential susceptibilities to treatment. Here, we describe a method, employing targeted capture coupled with next-generation sequencing and tailored bioinformatic analysis, for the simultaneous study of 24 genes recurrently mutated in AML-NK. Mutational analysis was performed using open source software and an in-house script (Mutation Identification and Analysis Software), which identified dominant clone mutations with 100% specificity. In each of seven cases of AML-NK studied, we identified and verified mutations in 2-4 genes in the main leukaemic clone. Additionally, high sequencing depth enabled us to identify putative subclonal mutations and detect leukaemia-specific mutations in DNA from remission marrow. Finally, we used normalised read depths to detect copy number changes and identified and subsequently verified a tandem duplication of exons 2-9 of MLL and at least one deletion involving PTEN. This methodology reliably detects sequence and copy number mutations, and can thus greatly facilitate the classification, clinical research, diagnosis and management of AML-NK.