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1.
Gastrointest Endosc ; 100(3): 492-500, 2024 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38272273

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Small-bowel (SB) capsule endoscopy (CE) is a first-line procedure for exploring the SB. Endoscopic GI PlacemenT (EGIPT) of SB CE is sometimes necessary. Although experience with EGIPT is considerable in pediatric populations, we aimed to describe the safety, efficacy, and outcomes of EGIPT of SB CE in adult patients. METHODS: The international CApsule endoscopy REsearch (iCARE) group set up a retrospective multicenter study. Patients over age 18 years who underwent EGIPT of SB CE before May 2022 were included. Data were collected from medical records and capsule recordings. The primary endpoint was the technical success rate of the EGIPT procedures. RESULTS: Of 39,565 patients from 29 centers, 630 (1.6%) were included (mean age, 62.5 years; 55.9% women). The technical success of EGIPT was achieved in 610 procedures (96.8%). Anesthesia (moderate to deep sedation or general anesthesia) and centers with intermediate or high procedure loads were independent factors of technical success. Severe adverse events occurred in 3 patients (.5%). When technically successful, EGIPT was associated with a high SB CE completion rate (84.4%) and with a substantial diagnostic yield (61.1%). The completion rate was significantly higher when the capsule was delivered in the SB compared with when it was delivered in the stomach. CONCLUSIONS: EGIPT of SB CE is highly feasible and safe, with a high completion rate and diagnostic yield. When indicated, it should be performed with patients under anesthesia, and the capsule should be delivered in the duodenum rather than the stomach for better SB examination outcomes.


Subject(s)
Capsule Endoscopy , Intestine, Small , Humans , Capsule Endoscopy/methods , Female , Male , Retrospective Studies , Middle Aged , Intestine, Small/diagnostic imaging , Aged , Adult , Intestinal Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Intestinal Diseases/diagnosis , Europe , Aged, 80 and over , Anesthesia, General , Young Adult , Adolescent
2.
Emerg Med J ; 41(11): 691-693, 2024 Oct 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39074965

ABSTRACT

The use of dock leaves to ease the discomfort of nettle stings is a well-known folk remedy in the British Isles, yet has never been tested in a clinical trial. A group of Emergency Department doctors designed and conducted the Nettle-induced Urticaria Treatment Study (NUTS) as a research training and team-building exercise to address this gap in the Emergency Medicine evidence base.


Subject(s)
Urticaria , Humans , Urticaria/therapy , Urticaria/etiology , Urtica dioica , Emergency Service, Hospital/organization & administration
3.
Clin Infect Dis ; 76(3): e327-e335, 2023 02 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35686341

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends serial rapid antigen assay collection within congregate facilities. Although modeling and observational studies from communities and long-term care facilities have shown serial collection provides adequate sensitivity and specificity, the accuracy within correctional facilities remains unknown. METHODS: Using Connecticut Department of Correction data from 21 November 2020 to 15 June 2021, we estimated the accuracy of a rapid assay, BinaxNOW (Abbott), under 3 collection strategies: single test collection and serial collection of 2 and 3 tests separated by 1-4 days. The sensitivity and specificity of the first (including single), second, and third serially collected BinaxNOW tests were estimated relative to RT-PCRs collected ≤1 day of the BinaxNOW test. The accuracy metrics of the testing strategies were then estimated as the sum (sensitivity) and product (specificity) of tests in each strategy. RESULTS: Of the 13 112 residents who contributed ≥1 BinaxNOW test during the study period, 3825 contributed ≥1 RT-PCR paired BinaxNOW test. In relation to RT-PCR, the 3-rapid-antigen-test strategy had a sensitivity of 95.9% (95% CI: 93.6-97.5%) and specificity of 98.3% (95% CI: 96.7-99.1%). The sensitivities of the 2- and 1-rapid-antigen-test strategies were 88.8% and 66.8%, and the specificities were 98.5% and 99.4%, respectively. The sensitivity was higher among symptomatic residents and when RT-PCRs were collected before BinaxNOW tests. CONCLUSIONS: We found serial antigen test collection resulted in high diagnostic accuracy. These findings support serial collection for outbreak investigation, screening, and when rapid detection is required (such as intakes or transfers).


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Humans , COVID-19/diagnosis , COVID-19 Testing , Immunologic Tests , Sensitivity and Specificity , Correctional Facilities , Antigens, Viral
4.
PLoS Med ; 19(12): e1004136, 2022 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36454733

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The benefit of primary and booster vaccination in people who experienced a prior Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remains unclear. The objective of this study was to estimate the effectiveness of primary (two-dose series) and booster (third dose) mRNA vaccination against Omicron (lineage BA.1) infection among people with a prior documented infection. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We conducted a test-negative case-control study of reverse transcription PCRs (RT-PCRs) analyzed with the TaqPath (Thermo Fisher Scientific) assay and recorded in the Yale New Haven Health system from November 1, 2021, to April 30, 2022. Overall, 11,307 cases (positive TaqPath analyzed RT-PCRs with S-gene target failure [SGTF]) and 130,041 controls (negative TaqPath analyzed RT-PCRs) were included (median age: cases: 35 years, controls: 39 years). Among cases and controls, 5.9% and 8.1% had a documented prior infection (positive SARS-CoV-2 test record ≥90 days prior to the included test), respectively. We estimated the effectiveness of primary and booster vaccination relative to SGTF-defined Omicron (lineage BA.1) variant infection using a logistic regression adjusted for date of test, age, sex, race/ethnicity, insurance, comorbidities, social venerability index, municipality, and healthcare utilization. The effectiveness of primary vaccination 14 to 149 days after the second dose was 41.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 14.1% to 59.4%, p 0.006) and 27.1% (95% CI: 18.7% to 34.6%, p < 0.001) for people with and without a documented prior infection, respectively. The effectiveness of booster vaccination (≥14 days after booster dose) was 47.1% (95% CI: 22.4% to 63.9%, p 0.001) and 54.1% (95% CI: 49.2% to 58.4%, p < 0.001) in people with and without a documented prior infection, respectively. To test whether booster vaccination reduced the risk of infection beyond that of the primary series, we compared the odds of infection among boosted (≥14 days after booster dose) and booster-eligible people (≥150 days after second dose). The odds ratio (OR) comparing boosted and booster-eligible people with a documented prior infection was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.54 to 1.16, p 0.222), whereas the OR comparing boosted and booster-eligible people without a documented prior infection was 0.54 (95% CI: 0.49 to 0.59, p < 0.001). This study's limitations include the risk of residual confounding, the use of data from a single system, and the reliance on TaqPath analyzed RT-PCR results. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we observed that primary vaccination provided significant but limited protection against Omicron (lineage BA.1) infection among people with and without a documented prior infection. While booster vaccination was associated with additional protection against Omicron BA.1 infection in people without a documented prior infection, it was not found to be associated with additional protection among people with a documented prior infection. These findings support primary vaccination in people regardless of documented prior infection status but suggest that infection history may impact the relative benefit of booster doses.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Humans , Adult , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , Case-Control Studies , Odds Ratio , Vaccination
5.
Dig Dis Sci ; 67(6): 1937-1947, 2022 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35239094

ABSTRACT

Diagnostic unsedated transnasal endoscopy (uTNE) has been proven to be a safe and well-tolerated procedure. Although its utilization in the United Kingdom (UK) is increasing, it is currently available in only a few centers. Through consideration of recent studies, we aimed to perform an updated review of the technological advances in uTNE, consider their impact on diagnostic accuracy, and to determine the role of uTNE in the COVID-19 era. Current literature has shown that the diagnostic accuracy of uTNE for identification of esophageal pathology is equivalent to conventional esophagogastroduodenoscopy (cEGD). Concerns regarding suction and biopsy size have been addressed by the introduction of TNE scopes with working channels of 2.4 mm. Advances in imaging have improved detection of early gastric cancers. The procedure is associated with less cardiac stress and reduced aerosol production; when combined with no need for sedation and improved rates of patient turnover, uTNE is an efficient and safe alternative to cEGD in the COVID-19 era. We conclude that advances in technology have improved the diagnostic accuracy of uTNE to the point where it could be considered the first line diagnostic endoscopic investigation in the majority of patients. It could also play a central role in the recovery of diagnostic endoscopic services during the COVID-19 pandemic.


Subject(s)
Barrett Esophagus , COVID-19 , Barrett Esophagus/pathology , Endoscopy, Digestive System/adverse effects , Endoscopy, Digestive System/methods , Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/adverse effects , Humans , Pandemics/prevention & control
6.
Emerg Med J ; 38(4): 315-318, 2021 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33483340

ABSTRACT

Emergency clinicians worldwide are demonstrating increasing concern about the effect of climate change on the health of the populations they serve. The movement for sustainable healthcare is being driven by the need to address the climate emergency. Globally, healthcare contributes significantly to carbon emissions, and the healthcare sector has an important role to play in contributing to decarbonisation of the global economy. In this article, we consider the implications for emergency medicine of climate change, and suggest ways to improve environmental sustainability within emergency departments. We identify examples of sustainable clinical practice, as well as outlining research proposals to address the knowledge gap that currently exists in the area of provision of environmentally sustainable emergency care.


Subject(s)
Climate Change , Delivery of Health Care/trends , Emergency Medicine/trends , Emergency Medicine/methods , England , Humans , State Medicine/organization & administration
7.
Emerg Med J ; 41(2): 68, 2024 Jan 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38041677
8.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl ; 58(15): 4948-4952, 2019 04 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30633837

ABSTRACT

In living cells, redox chains rely on nanoconfinement using tiny enclosures, such as the mitochondrial matrix or chloroplast stroma, to concentrate enzymes and limit distances that nicotinamide cofactors and other metabolites must diffuse. In a chemical analogue exploiting this principle, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and NADP+ are cycled rapidly between ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase and a second enzyme-the pairs being juxtaposed within the 5-100 nm scale pores of an indium tin oxide electrode. The resulting electrode material, denoted (FNR+E2)@ITO/support, can drive and exploit a potentially large number of enzyme-catalysed reactions.

10.
Emerg Med J ; 35(12): 732-738, 2018 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30217951

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patients presenting with chest pain represent a significant proportion of attendances to the ED. The History, ECG, Age, Risk Factors and Troponin (HEART) Score is validated for the risk stratification of suspected ischaemic chest pain within the ED. The goal of this research was to establish the interoperator reliability of the HEART Score as performed in the ED by different grades of doctor and nurse. METHODOLOGY: Patients with suspected ischaemic chest pain presenting to the ED of an inner city, London Hospital, were recruited prospectively between January and May 2016. Patients that had been enrolled in the study were interviewed by clinicians from four different categories: senior doctor, junior doctor, senior nurse and junior nurse. Clinicians, blinded to other raters' results, calculated the HEART Scores for each patient with the assistance of a pocket-sized HEART Score card. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated as the primary measure of reliability. 120 patients were required to achieve a desired power of 80%. RESULTS: 88 complete comparisons were obtained. There were no significant differences between the distributions of HEART Scores for each clinician group (p=0.95). The ICC for the overall HEART Score was 0.91 (95% CI 0.87 to 0.93). The ICC for troponin and age were '1', for 'history' 0.41 (95% CI 0.30 to 0.52), 'ECG' 0.64 (95% CI 0.54 to0.73) and 'risk factors' 0.84 (95% CI 0.79 to 0.89). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates very strong overall interoperator reliability between the four groups of clinicians studied. This suggests that the HEART Score is reproducible when used by different professional groups and grade of clinician.


Subject(s)
Risk Assessment/standards , Severity of Illness Index , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Chest Pain/diagnosis , Chest Pain/etiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Electrocardiography/methods , Female , Humans , London , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Reproducibility of Results , Risk Assessment/methods , Risk Factors , Triage/methods , Troponin T/analysis , Troponin T/blood
12.
Clin Chem ; 62(10): 1401-8, 2016 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27540028

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Fragile X syndrome (FXS, OMIM #300624) is an X-linked condition caused by trinucleotide repeat expansions in the 5' UTR (untranslated region) of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. FXS testing is commonly performed in expanded carrier screening and has been proposed for inclusion in newborn screening. However, because pathogenic alleles are long and have low complexity (>200 CGG repeats), FXS is currently tested by a single-plex electrophoresis-resolved PCR assay rather than multiplexed approaches like next-generation sequencing or mass spectrometry. In this work, we sought an experimental design based on nonadaptive group testing that could accurately and reliably identify the size of abnormally expanded FMR1 alleles of males and females. METHODS: We developed a new group testing scheme named StairCase (SC) that was designed to the constraints of the FXS testing problem, and compared its performance to existing group testing schemes by simulation. We experimentally evaluated SC's performance on 210 samples from the Coriell Institute biorepositories using pooled PCR followed by capillary electrophoresis on 3 replicates of each of 3 pooling layouts differing by the mapping of samples to pools. RESULTS: The SC pooled PCR approach demonstrated perfect classification of samples by clinical category (normal, intermediate, premutation, or full mutation) for 90 positives and 1800 negatives, with a batch of 210 samples requiring only 21 assays. CONCLUSIONS: Group testing based on SC is an implementable approach to trinucleotide repeat expansion disorder testing that offers ≥10-fold reduction in assay costs over current single-plex methods.


Subject(s)
Fragile X Syndrome/genetics , Genetic Testing/methods , Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion/genetics , Female , Genetic Testing/economics , Humans , Male , Polymerase Chain Reaction
13.
Nano Lett ; 15(11): 7288-93, 2015 Nov 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26372880

ABSTRACT

Graphene and other two-dimensional (2D) materials have emerged as promising materials for broadband and ultrafast photodetection and optical modulation. These optoelectronic capabilities can augment complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) devices for high-speed and low-power optical interconnects. Here, we demonstrate an on-chip ultrafast photodetector based on a two-dimensional heterostructure consisting of high-quality graphene encapsulated in hexagonal boron nitride. Coupled to the optical mode of a silicon waveguide, this 2D heterostructure-based photodetector exhibits a maximum responsivity of 0.36 A/W and high-speed operation with a 3 dB cutoff at 42 GHz. From photocurrent measurements as a function of the top-gate and source-drain voltages, we conclude that the photoresponse is consistent with hot electron mediated effects. At moderate peak powers above 50 mW, we observe a saturating photocurrent consistent with the mechanisms of electron-phonon supercollision cooling. This nonlinear photoresponse enables optical on-chip autocorrelation measurements with picosecond-scale timing resolution and exceptionally low peak powers.

14.
Therap Adv Gastroenterol ; 17: 17562848241242681, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38883159

ABSTRACT

Background: Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) has gained momentum as an alternative modality for the investigation of the lower gastrointestinal tract. Of the few challenges that remain, the comparison and - eventually - matching of polyps at different timestamps leads to the potential for double reporting and can contribute to false-positive findings and inaccuracies. With the impending artificial intelligence integration, the risk of double reporting the same polyp due to the lack of information on spatial orientation underscores the necessity for establishing criteria for polyp matching. Objectives: This RAND/University of California, Los Angeles (modified Delphi) process aims to identify the key factors or components used to match polyps within a CCE video. This involves exploring the attributes of each factor to create comprehensive polyp-matching criteria based on international expert consensus. Design: A systematic qualitative study using surveys. Methods: A panel of 11 international CCE experts convened to assess a survey comprised of 60 statements. Participants anonymously rated statement appropriateness on a 1-9 scale (1-3: inappropriate, 4-6: uncertain and 7-9: appropriate). Following a virtual group discussion of the Round 1 results, a Round 2 survey was developed and completed before the final analysis. Results: The factors that were agreed to be essential for polyp matching include (1) timestamp, (2) polyp localization, (3) polyp vascular pattern, (4) polyp size, (5) time interval of the polyp appearance between the green and yellow camera, (6) surrounding tissue, (7) polyp morphology and (8) polyp surface and contour. When five or more factors are satisfied, it was agreed that the comparing polyps are likely the same polyp. Conclusion: This study has established the first complete criteria for polyp matching in CCE. While it might not provide a definitive solution for matching difficult, small and common polyps, these criteria serve as a framework to guide and facilitate the process of polyp-matching.


Creating criteria and standards for matching polyps (abnormal growth in the bowels) on colon capsule video analysis: an international expert agreement using the RAND (modified Delphi process) process Background: Doctors often use colon capsule endoscopy (CCE), a high-tech capsule with two cameras, to record and check for diseases in the small and large bowels as the capsule travels through the intestines. One of the most common conditions in the large bowel is polyps, which are abnormal growths in the lining of the bowel. Comparing and matching polyps in the same video from the capsule can be tricky as they look very similar, leading to the possibility of incorrectly reporting the same polyp twice or more. This can lead to wrong results and inaccuracies. The literature did not have any criteria or standards for matching polyps in CCE before. Aim: Using the RAND/UCLA (modified Delphi) process, this study aims to identify the key factors or components used to match polyps within a CCE video. The goal is to explore each factor and create complete criteria for polyp matching based on the agreement from international experts. Method: A group of 11 international CCE experts came together to evaluate a survey with 60 statements. They anonymously rated each statement on a scale from 1 to 9 (1-3: inappropriate, 4-6: uncertain, and 7-9: appropriate). After discussing the Round 1 results virtually, a Round 2 survey with the same but revised questions was created and completed before the final analysis of their agreement. Results: The main factors for matching polyps are 1) the timing when the polyp was seen, 2) where it is in the bowel, 3) its blood vessel pattern, 4) size, 5) the timing of its appearance between cameras, 6) surrounding tissue features, 7) its shape, and 8) surface features. If five or more of these factors match, the compared polyps are likely the same. Conclusion: This study establishes the first complete criteria for matching polyps in CCE. While it may not provide a definitive solution for matching challenging and small polyps, these criteria serve as a guide to help and make the process of polyp matching easier.

15.
Lancet Reg Health Eur ; 43: 100960, 2024 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38975590

ABSTRACT

Background: Guidelines recommend high-sensitivity cardiac troponin to risk stratify patients with possible myocardial infarction and identify those eligible for discharge. Our aim was to evaluate adoption of this approach in practice and to determine whether effectiveness and safety varies by age, sex, ethnicity, or socioeconomic deprivation status. Methods: A multi-centre cohort study was conducted in 13 hospitals across the United Kingdom from November 1st, 2021, to October 31st, 2022. Routinely collected data including high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I or T measurements were linked to outcomes. The primary effectiveness and safety outcomes were the proportion discharged from the Emergency Department, and the proportion dead or with a subsequent myocardial infarction at 30 days, respectively. Patients were stratified using peak troponin concentration as low (<5 ng/L), intermediate (5 ng/L to sex-specific 99th percentile), or high-risk (>sex-specific 99th percentile). Findings: In total 137,881 patients (49% [67,709/137,881] female) were included of whom 60,707 (44%), 42,727 (31%), and 34,447 (25%) were stratified as low-, intermediate- and high-risk, respectively. Overall, 65.8% (39,918/60,707) of low-risk patients were discharged from the Emergency Department, but this varied from 26.8% [2200/8216] to 93.5% [918/982] by site. The safety outcome occurred in 0.5% (277/60,707) and 11.4% (3917/34,447) of patients classified as low- or high-risk, of whom 0.03% (18/60,707) and 1% (304/34,447) had a subsequent myocardial infarction at 30 days, respectively. A similar proportion of male and female patients were discharged (52% [36,838/70,759] versus 54% [36,113/67,109]), but discharge was more likely if patients were <70 years old (61% [58,533/95,227] versus 34% [14,428/42,654]), from areas of low socioeconomic deprivation (48% [6697/14,087] versus 43% [12,090/28,116]) or were black or asian compared to caucasian (62% [5458/8877] and 55% [10,026/18,231] versus 46% [35,138/75,820]). Interpretation: Despite high-sensitivity cardiac troponin correctly identifying half of all patients with possible myocardial infarction as being at low risk, only two-thirds of these patients were discharged. Substantial variation in the discharge of patients by age, ethnicity, socioeconomic deprivation, and site was observed identifying important opportunities to improve care. Funding: UK Research and Innovation.

16.
Therap Adv Gastroenterol ; 17: 17562848241290256, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39449979

ABSTRACT

Background: The diagnostic accuracy of colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) depends on a well-cleansed bowel. Evaluating the cleansing quality can be difficult with a substantial interobserver variation. Objectives: Our primary aim was to establish a standard of agreement for bowel cleansing in CCE based on evaluations by expert readers. Then, we aimed to investigate the interobserver agreement on bowel cleansing. Design: We conducted an interobserver agreement study on bowel cleansing quality. Methods: Readers with different experience levels in CCE and colonoscopy evaluated bowel cleansing quality on the Leighton-Rex scale and Colon Capsule CLEansing Assessment and Report (CC-CLEAR), respectively. All evaluations were reported on an image level. A total of 24 readers rated 500 images on each scale. Results: An expert opinion-based agreement standard could be set for poor and excellent cleansing but not for the spectrum in between, as the experts agreed on only a limited number of images representing fair and good cleansing. The overall interobserver agreement on the Leighton-Rex full scale was good (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) 0.84, 95% CI (0.82-0.85)) and remained good when stratified by experience level. On the full CC-CLEAR scale, the overall agreement was moderate (ICC 0.62, 95% CI (0.59-0.65)) and remained so when stratified by experience level. Conclusion: The interobserver agreement was good for the Leighton-Rex scale and moderate for CC-CLEAR, irrespective of the reader's experience level. It was not possible to establish an expert-opinion standard of agreement for cleansing quality in CCE images. Dedicated training in using the scales may improve agreement and enable future algorithm calibration for artificial intelligence supported cleansing evaluation. Trial registration: All included images were derived from the CAREforCOLON 2015 trial (Registered with The Regional Health Research Ethics Committee (Registration number: S-20190100), the Danish data protection agency (Ref. 19/29858), and ClinicalTrials.gov (registration number: NCT04049357)).

17.
Frontline Gastroenterol ; 13(3): 218-224, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35493619

ABSTRACT

Objective: Increases in incidence of collagenous colitis (CC) have been documented across Europe; however, previous data from NHS Lothian (1998-2003) demonstrated this to be a low-prevalence area. We aimed to assess incidence of CC in NHS Lothian over time by comparing a more recent cohort (2013-2018) with our existing cohort. Methods: All histologically confirmed diagnoses of CC between 2013 and 2018 were obtained from the NHS Lothian colorectal pathology department (Western General Hospital, Edinburgh). Case record review was performed to obtain relevant demographic and clinical data. Data were also collected regarding the availability of colonoscopy in NHS Lothian. Results: 224 cases of CC were diagnosed between 2013 and 2018, compared with 25 between 1998 and 2003. Mean annual incidence rose from 0.5/100 000 population to 4.3/100 000 population. Incidence in females ≥60 years old rose from 2.3/100 000 population to 22.4/100 000 population (p<0.001). The total number of colonoscopies performed increased by 179.1% from 15 262 (1998-2003) to 42 600 (2013-2018), with the number of CC cases per 1000 colonoscopies performed rising from 1.7 to 5.3 (p<0.001). Conclusion: We describe the increasing incidence of CC in Southeast Scotland, with temporal trends comparable to other European countries. The increase is particularly marked in older females and parallels increasing numbers of colonoscopies being performed.

18.
Frontline Gastroenterol ; 13(2): 111-118, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35295750

ABSTRACT

Objective: Debate is ongoing regarding the need for universal endoscopic follow-up to ensure gastric ulcer healing. We aimed to assess the value of follow-up oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopies (OGDs) for gastric ulcer healing and stratify patients according to risk of malignancy by developing a risk score. Design/method: All patients in National Health Service (NHS) Lothian with an index OGD and a diagnosis of gastric ulcer between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2018 were identified. Data were analysed with logistic regression to identify factors significantly associated with a diagnosis of cancer; a risk score was derived and externally validated. Results: 778 patients were identified and 60.3% (469/778) of patients had a follow-up OGD. 8.6% (66/778) of patients were diagnosed with cancer. No cases of cancer were found on follow-up OGD of a benign appearing ulcer with negative biopsies. Macroscopic suspicion of malignancy was present at index OGD in 100% (3/3) of those diagnosed with cancer on subsequent OGDs. Older age (p=0.014), increased ulcer size (p<0.001) and non-antral location (p=0.030) were significantly associated with malignancy. A risk score (area under the curve (AUC) 0.868, p<0.001, minimum score=0, maximum score=6) was derived from these variables. 78.0% of patients with malignant ulcers scored ≥3, only 15.8% with benign ulcers scored ≥3 (negative predictive value (NPV) 97.4%). External validation yielded an AUC of 0.862 (p<0.001) and NPV of 98.6%; 84.0% of those with malignant ulcers scored ≥3. Conclusion: Ulcers with a combination of macroscopically benign appearances, at least six negative biopsies and a low risk score do not necessarily need endoscopic follow-up.

19.
Nat Commun ; 13(1): 1547, 2022 03 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35301314

ABSTRACT

SARS-CoV-2 remdesivir resistance mutations have been generated in vitro but have not been reported in patients receiving treatment with the antiviral agent. We present a case of an immunocompromised patient with acquired B-cell deficiency who developed an indolent, protracted course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Remdesivir therapy alleviated symptoms and produced a transient virologic response, but her course was complicated by recrudescence of high-grade viral shedding. Whole genome sequencing identified a mutation, E802D, in the nsp12 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which was not present in pre-treatment specimens. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the mutation conferred a ~6-fold increase in remdesivir IC50 but resulted in a fitness cost in the absence of remdesivir. Sustained clinical and virologic response was achieved after treatment with casirivimab-imdevimab. Although the fitness cost observed in vitro may limit the risk posed by E802D, this case illustrates the importance of monitoring for remdesivir resistance and the potential benefit of combinatorial therapies in immunocompromised patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 Drug Treatment , Adenosine Monophosphate/analogs & derivatives , Alanine/analogs & derivatives , Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized , Coronavirus RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase , Female , Humans , Immunocompromised Host , Mutation , SARS-CoV-2/genetics
20.
Diagnostics (Basel) ; 12(7)2022 Jul 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35885608

ABSTRACT

(1) Background: Villous atrophy is an indication for small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE). However, SBCE findings are not described uniformly and atrophic features are sometimes not recognized; (2) Methods: The Delphi technique was employed to reach agreement among a panel of SBCE experts. The nomenclature and definitions of SBCE lesions suggesting the presence of atrophy were decided in a core group of 10 experts. Four images of each lesion were chosen from a large SBCE database and agreement on the correspondence between the picture and the definition was evaluated using the Delphi method in a broadened group of 36 experts. All images corresponded to histologically proven mucosal atrophy; (3) Results: Four types of atrophic lesions were identified: mosaicism, scalloping, folds reduction, and granular mucosa. The core group succeeded in reaching agreement on the nomenclature and the descriptions of these items. Consensus in matching the agreed definitions for the proposed set of images was met for mosaicism (88.9% in the first round), scalloping (97.2% in the first round), and folds reduction (94.4% in the first round), but granular mucosa failed to achieve consensus (75.0% in the third round); (4) Conclusions: Consensus among SBCE experts on atrophic lesions was met for the first time. Mosaicism, scalloping, and folds reduction are the most reliable signs, while the description of granular mucosa remains uncertain.

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