BA and SDE remain important childhood infections in the UK. Antibiotics are essential in the management of these cases. Empiric antibiotic choices require knowledge of likely pathogens and local resistance. Selected infections can be treated without surgical intervention. Long courses of antibiotics were administered. Outcome is good, and neurological sequelae were less common than found in previous series.

Satisfactory osseous tissue integration of the soft tissue graft with bone is the mainstay of healing following surgical reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). However, tissue remodelling is slow and significantly impacts on quality of life by delaying return to work and sport and accelerating the onset of degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis. Delivery of multipotent human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) at surgery could enhance osseous tissue integration. We aim to use hMSCs derived from haemarthrosis fluid (HF) (the intra-articular bleed accrued post-trauma) which is aspirated and discarded as clinical waste. With the aim of improving our bioprocessing methodologies for clinical translation we have investigated the effect of low oxygen tension on the derivation and osteogenic potential of this novel HF-hMSC population. Mononuclear cells were isolated from HF aspirated samples and divided for derivation and culture under normal or low oxygen tension. HF-hMSCs were derived from 100 % of cultures under low oxygen tension compared to 71 % for normal oxygen tension; this was coupled with increased CFU-Fs. We investigated the osteogenic potential and cellular health of HF-hMSC populations following ex vivo expansion. HF-hMSC populations showed enhanced matrix mineralisation and cellular health when differentiated under low oxygen tension. This positive effect of low oxygen on osteogenesis and cellular health was reduced with prolonged culture. These data demonstrate that derivation and culture of HF-hMSC populations under low oxygen tension will enable the translation of a cellular therapy for the treatment of broad patient numbers with optimal osteogenic potency and cellular vitality.

To determine the psychological response (thoughts, perceptions and affect) to a diagnosis of pulmonary nodules following a novel antibody blood test and computed tomography (CT) scans within a UK population. Materials and methods. This study was nested within a randomised controlled trial of a blood test (Early CDT®-Lung test), followed by a chest x-ray and serial CT-scanning of those with a positive blood test for early detection of lung cancer (ECLS Study). Trial participants with a positive Early CDT®-Lung test were invited to participate (n=338) and those agreeing completed questionnaires assessing psychological outcomes at 1, 3 and 6 months following trial recruitment. Responses of individuals with pulmonary nodules on their first CT scan were compared to those without (classified as normal CT) at 3 and 6 months followup using random effects regression models to account for multiple observations per participant, with loge transformation of data where modelling assumptions were not met. Results There were no statistically significant differences between the nodule and normal CT groups in affect, lung cancer worry, health anxiety, illness perceptions, lung cancer risk perception or intrusive thoughts at 3 or 6 months post-recruitment. The nodule group had statistically significantly fewer avoidance symptoms compared to the normal CT group at 3 months (impact of events scale avoidance (IES-A) difference between means-1.99, 95%CI-4.18, 0.21) than at 6 months (IES-A difference between means 0.88, 95%CI-1.32, 3.08; p-value for change over time =0.003) with similar findings using loge transformed data. Conclusion 3 A diagnosis of pulmonary nodules following an Early CDT®-Lung test and CT scan did not appear to result in adverse psychological responses compared to those with a normal CT scan.

Background Lung cancer screening can reduce lung cancer mortality by 20%. Screen-detected abnormalities may provide teachable moments for smoking cessation. This study assesses impact of pulmonary nodule detection on smoking behaviours within the first UK trial of a novel auto-antibody test, followed by chest x-ray and serial CT scanning for early detection of lung cancer (Early Cancer Detection Test–Lung Cancer Scotland Study). Methods Test-positive participants completed questionnaires on smoking behaviours at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months. Logistic regression compared outcomes between nodule (n = 95) and normal CT groups (n = 174) at 3 and 6 months follow-up. Results No significant differences were found between the nodule and normal CT groups for any smoking behaviours and odds ratios comparing the nodule and normal CT groups did not vary significantly between 3 and 6 months. There was some evidence the nodule group were more likely to report significant others wanted them to stop smoking than the normal CT group (OR across 3- and 6-month time points: 3.04, 95% CI: 0.95, 9.73; P = 0.06). Conclusion Pulmonary nodule detection during lung cancer screening has little impact on smoking behaviours. Further work should explore whether lung cancer screening can impact on perceived social pressure and promote smoking cessation.

Background: Treatment of NSCLC is rapidly advancing and academic centers are considered equipped with better expertise. NSCLC outcome trends in novel therapeutic era and impact of initial treatment at academic centers have not been reported. Method: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) with NSCLC incident cases 2004-2013 was used. Overall survival (OS) was plotted by year of diagnosis and type of treatment facility, accounting for several available factors in NCDB. Result: A total of 1,150,722 NSCLC patients were included and separated by initial treatment facility type (academic: 31.5%, non-academic: 68.5%). Several characteristics were significantly different between the two cohorts (Table 1). Median OS for all patients was 13.1 months and improved significantly for those diagnosed in 2010-2013 (14.8 months) as compared to 2004-2009 (12.4 months) (p<0.001). Treatment at academic centers was associated with reduced risk of death [Multivariate HR¼0.91 (95% CI 0.906-0.919), P<0.001]. Four-year OS for academic and non-academic cohorts was 25% and 19%, respectively (p<0.001), the difference more pronounced in stage 1-3 (Fig 1). Conclusion: In this largest analysis thus far, NSCLC survival has improved over time and type of treatment facility significantly influences survival. Factors influencing treatment facility choice should be addressed for easier access to academic centers.

An information storage and retrieval system, designed for use on a minicomputer, was created to access an office collection of articles and reports on the topic of hail. Search capabilities of the system include author, keyword-in-title, year, subject, and location. Software description and suggestions concerning the input of information are detailed with the intent to encourage researchers to design systems for personal use.

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