Primary aldosteronism is the most common cause of secondary hypertension. Identifying individuals who have unilateral secretion from aldosterone secreting adenomas allows adrenalectomy. Surgical treatment when feasible may be superior to medical management with improved cardiovascular outcomes and reduced medication dependence. Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is required to biochemically lateralise aldosterone secretion prior to adrenalectomy. However, diagnostic success of AVS is variable and can be poor even at tertiary centres; failure is largely due to unsuccessful adrenal vein cannulation. Intra-procedural rapid semiquantitative cortisol testing (RCT) identifies correct catheter placement in real time. We compared diagnostic success rates of AVS before and after the introduction of intraprocedural cortisol testing at the Royal Adelaide Hospital—a medium throughput tertiary centre (average 6.2 procedures a year over the last 8 years). We observed an increase in success rate from 63% to 94%. Intraprocedural cortisol testing also led to a net financial saving of ~$100 AUD per procedure. RCT is likely to be cost effective if pre-RCT success rate is less than 78%. Procedure time and number of samples collected, however, were increased with RCT. This suggests that intraprocedural cortisol testing will improve success in low to medium throughput centres and may make AVS feasible in less specialised centres.
ESDS Qualidata at the UK Data Archive has recently completed two online teaching resources, specifically designed to assist qualitative methods teaching. The first resource distinguishes different types of interviewing, whilst highlighting and promoting some of the most important collections held in the archive. It offers summaries of seven distinct interview types: structured, unstructured, semi-structured, feminist, psychosocial, oral history and life story interviews. Each typology begins with a summary of what characterises that particular type of interview and is illustrated by selected extracts from some of the most interesting studies held in the UK Data Archive. The second resource looks at five non-interview qualitative methods, including focus groups, the written word, ethnography, visual methods and the Internet, once again using examples from archived collections. This paper provides an introduction to ESDS Qualidata’s teaching resources and demonstrates their potential uses for researchers and methods teachers. It highlights the challenges to reusing qualitative collections for teaching purposes, such as issues of distinguishing research styles, the dissemination of the collections and resources, gaining permissions from depositors, and addressing issues of confidentiality and anonymisation. It further discusses the complex interplay between qualitative methods and data collection.
Botanical illustration has been a key feature throughout history, developing from scientific aid to one of the most universally recognised decorative motifs.Its transition into surface pattern design is most recognisable in the nineteenth century with the emergence of William Morris's wallpapers, and it has formed an ever-changing influence on modern-day design.This article discusses the humble beginnings of botanical illustration, starting out in the cave paintings of prehistoric humans. It then tracks the changing uses and meaning through history, reaching the modern day, where it will discuss botanical illustration's impact on key figures in the fashion industry.The article will also include discussion of the popularity of flowers and research conducted into the emotional impact of depicted florals -touching on the biophilia hypothesis -serving to highlight the continuing importance to humans of florals in any form.
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