Can we collect health-related quality of life information from anticoagulated atrial fibrillation participants who have recently experienced a bleed? An observational feasibility study in primary and secondary care in Wales and through a UK online forum.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of recruiting participants diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF) taking oral anticoagulation therapies (OATs) and recently experiencing a bleed to collect health-related quality of life (HRQoL) information. DESIGN: Observational feasibility study. The study aimed to determine the feasibility of recruiting participants with minor and major bleeds, the most appropriate route for recruitment and the appropriateness of the patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) selected for collecting HRQoL information in AF patients, and the preferred format of the surveys. SETTING: Primary care, secondary care and via an online patient forum. PARTICIPANTS: The study population was adult patients (≥18) with AF taking OATs who had experienced a recent major or minor bleed within the last 4 weeks. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes - PROMs: EuroQol 5 Dimensions-5 Levels, Perception of Anticoagulant Treatment Questionnaire, part 2 only (part 2), atrial fibrillation effect on quality of life. Secondary outcomes - Location of bleed, bleed severity, current treatment, patient perceptions of HRQoL in relation to bleeding events. RESULTS: We received initial expressions of interest from 103 participants. We subsequently recruited 32 participants to the study-14 from primary care and 18 through the AF forum. No participants were recruited through secondary care. Despite 32 participants consenting, only 26 initial surveys were completed. We received follow-up surveys from 11 participants (8 primary care and 3 AF forum). COVID-19 had a major impact on the study. CONCLUSIONS: Primary care was the most successful route for recruitment. Most participants recruited to the study experienced a minor bleed. Further ways to recruit in secondary care should be explored, especially to capture more serious bleeds. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: The study is registered in the Clinicaltrials.gov database, NCT04921176.

Investigating the feasibility of recruitment to an observational, quality-of-life study of patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF) who have experienced a bleed while anticoagulated: EQUAL-AF feasibility study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Oral anticoagulation therapies (OATs) are often prescribed in conjunction with medications to restore normal heart rate rhythm which can limit the risk of an atrial fibrillation (AF) related stroke and systemic thromboembolism. However, they are associated with the serious side effect of bleeding. Both clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding (CRNMB) and major bleeding while anticoagulated are believed to have a significant impact on patient quality of life (QoL). There is currently limited research into the effect bleeding has on QoL. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of identifying and recruiting patients diagnosed with AF, who are taking OATs and have recently experienced a bleed and collecting information on their QoL. METHODS: We will recruit a minimum of 50 patients to this cross-sectional, observational study. We will recruit from general practices, secondary care, and through an online AF forum. We will ask participants to complete three validated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), EQ5D, AFEQT, and PACT-Q, approximately 4 weeks following a bleed and again 3 months later. We will randomly select a subset of 10 participants (of those who agree to be interviewed) to undergo a structured interview with a member of the research team to explore the impact of bleeding on their QoL and to gain feedback on the three PROMs used. We will undertake a descriptive analysis of the PROMs and demographic data. We will analyse the qualitative interviews thematically to identify key themes. DISCUSSION: We aim to establish if it is possible to recruit patients and use PROMs to collect information regarding how patient QoL is affected when they experience either a clinically relevant non-major bleed (CRNMB) or major bleed while taking OATs for the management of AF. We will also explore the appropriateness, or otherwise, of the three identified PROMs for assessing quality of life following a bleed. PROMS: Three PROMs were selected following a literature review of similar QoL studies and using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist for comparison. A review of the current literature produced no suitable validated PROM to record QoL experiences in patients who have been diagnosed with AF and have experienced a bleed while anticoagulated. As such, the EQ5D, AFEQT, and PACT-Q (part 2) were deemed most appropriate for use in this feasibility study. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial has been adopted onto the NIHR Portfolio (ID no. 47771) and registered with www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov (no. NCT04921176) retrospectively registered in June 2021.

Phase II multicentre, double-blind, randomised trial of ustekinumab in adolescents with new-onset type 1 diabetes (USTEK1D): trial protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Most individuals newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have 10%-20% of beta-cell function remaining at the time of diagnosis. Preservation of residual beta-cell function at diagnosis may improve glycaemic control and reduce longer-term complications.Immunotherapy has the potential to preserve endogenous beta-cell function and thereby improve metabolic control even in poorly compliant individuals. We propose to test ustekinumab (STELARA), a targeted and well-tolerated therapy that may halt T-cell and cytokine-mediated destruction of beta-cells in the pancreas at the time of diagnosis. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a double-blind phase II study to assess the safety and efficacy of ustekinumab in 72 children and adolescents aged 12-18 with new-onset T1D.Participants should have evidence of residual functioning beta-cells (serum C-peptide level >0.2nmol/L in the mixed-meal tolerance test (MMTT) and be positive for at least one islet autoantibody (GAD, IA-2, ZnT8) to be eligible.Participants will be given ustekinumab/placebo subcutaneously at weeks 0, 4 and 12, 20, 28, 36 and 44 in a dose depending on the body weight and will be followed for 12 months after dose 1.MMTTs will be used to measure the efficacy of ustekinumab for preserving C-peptide area under the curve at week 52 compared with placebo. Secondary objectives include further investigations into the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab, patient and parent questionnaires, alternative methods for measuring insulin production and exploratory mechanistic work. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This trial received research ethics approval from the Wales Research Ethics Committee 3 in September 2018 and began recruiting in December 2018.The results will be disseminated using highly accessed, peer-reviewed medical journals and presented at conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN14274380.

Protocol for a multicentre randomised feasibility trial evaluating early Surgery Alone In LOw Rectal cancer (SAILOR).

INTRODUCTION: There are 11 500 rectal cancers diagnosed annually in the UK. Although surgery remains the primary treatment, there is evidence that preoperative radiotherapy (RT) improves local recurrence rates. High-quality surgery in rectal cancer is equally important in minimising local recurrence. Advances in MRI-guided prediction of resection margin status and improvements in abdominoperineal excision of the rectum (APER) technique supports a reassessment of the contribution of preoperative RT. A more selective approach to RT may be appropriate given the associated toxicity. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This trial will explore the feasibility of a definitive trial evaluating the omission of RT in resectable low rectal cancer requiring APER. It will test the feasibility of randomising patients to (1) standard care (neoadjuvant long course RT±chemotherapy and APER, or (2) APER surgery alone for cT2/T3ab N0/1 low rectal cancer with clear predicted resection margins on MRI. RT schedule will be 45 Gy over 5 weeks as current standard, with restaging and surgery after 8-12 weeks. Recruitment will be for 24 months with a minimum 12-month follow-up. OBJECTIVES: Objectives include testing the ability to recruit, consent and retain patients, to quantify the number of patients eligible for a definitive trial and to test feasibility of outcomes measures. These include locoregional recurrence rates, distance to circumferential resection margin, toxicity and surgical complications including perineal wound healing, quality of life and economic analysis. The quality of MRI staging, RT delivery and surgical specimen quality will be closely monitored. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The trial is approved by the Regional Ethics Committee and Health Research Authority (HRA) or equivalent. Written informed consent will be obtained. Serious adverse events will be reported to Swansea Trials Unit (STU), the ethics committee and trial sites. Trial results will be submitted for peer review publication and to trial participants. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN02406823.

Education is the Key to Solving Sanitation Problems.

Although there is some justification in claiming that an effective sanitation program extends product shelf-life, reduces spoilage, provides protection from disease and infection and improves company productivity, the primary motivating force for management to promote sanitation is its direct impact on corporate planning, corporate marketing and the corporate relationship with the law. Management's commitment to corporate security - its entity and financial security - correlates directly with market share. Since market share is directly related to product acceptability, then effective sanitation becomes an economically viable program. Once a sanitation program has received support by management, and the tools of sanitation have been provided via the sanitarian and QC laboratory, the sanitation message must be taught and followed without exception by management supervisors, employees and inspectors. Industry education may occur through trade associations which prepare Codes of Practice for manufacture and sanitation, universities which offer correspondence courses, professional associations which are committed to improving the professional status of the sanitarian and federal and local regulatory agencies which provide educational materials.

Quality Standards For Retail Meats.

To be of public benefit a quality standard for meat at retail must do as it purports to do - i.e. to reduce the public hazard and/or prevent consumer deception. In addition, it must be technically workable for both the industry and the administrative branches of regulatory agencies. With processed meats and ground beef, it has not been demonstrated that they present a potential hazard. In addition, if a health hazard were demonstrated, it would not be reduced by the use of microbiological quality standards such as Aerobic Plate Count or number of Escherichia coli . Use of the bacterial criterion Aerobic Plate Count of 107/g, in place of organoleptic standards could reduce the retail shelf-life of processed meats by 20-66%. An Aerobic Plate Count, 107/g, could remove in excess of 33% of ground beef sold at retail level. In both instances a substantial quantity of wholesome meat would be prematurely removed from the retail market. Chemical standards such as protein, fat, moisture, cereal, are relatively static and do not substantially change over the retail shelf-life of meat. However the bacterial population in meat demonstrates a dynamic growth pattern. Hence the Aerobic Plate Count may indicate product age, but not necessarily product deterioration or potential health hazard. E. coli , although an intestinal bacterium, is capable of growing outside the host intestine, thrive on a variety of substrates and thrive for long periods. Thus the presence of E. coli cannot be correlated with the extent of initial fecal contamination, nor with the presence of pathogens. A program of increased awareness of personal hygiene, temperature control, stock rotation, elimination of areas for potential cross-contamination and a regular sanitation program throughout the meat cycle will guarantee the microbiological quality of meats at retail.