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Purpose We evaluated the impact of personal melanoma genomic risk information on sun-related behaviors and psychological outcomes. Methods In this parallel group, open, randomized controlled trial, 1,025 Australians of European ancestry without melanoma and aged 18–69 years were recruited via the Medicare database (3% consent). Participants were randomized to the intervention (n = 513; saliva sample for genetic testing, personalized melanoma risk booklet based on a 40-variant polygenic risk score, telephone-based genetic counseling, educational booklet) or control (n = 512; educational booklet). Wrist-worn ultraviolet (UV) radiation dosimeters (10-day wear) and questionnaires were administered at baseline, 1 month postintervention, and 12 months postbaseline. Results At 12 months, 948 (92%) participants completed dosimetry and 973 (95%) the questionnaire. For the primary outcome, there was no effect of the genomic risk intervention on objectively measured UV exposure at 12 months, irrespective of traditional risk factors. For secondary outcomes at 12 months, the intervention reduced sunburns (risk ratio: 0.72, 95% confidence interval: 0.54–0.96), and increased skin examinations among women. Melanoma-related worry was reduced. There was no overall impact on general psychological distress. Conclusion Personalized genomic risk information did not influence sun exposure patterns but did improve some skin cancer prevention and early detection behaviors, suggesting it may be useful for precision prevention. There was no evidence of psychological harm.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) setup pathways. We evaluated patients commenced on CPAP in 2019 (prepandemic) and 2020 (post-first UK wave). Face-to-face (F2F) setup numbers, with CPAP turned on, decreased from 613 patients (98.9%) in 2019, to 6 (1.1%) in 2020. In 2020, setups were F2F without CPAP turned on (403 (71.1%)), or remote (158 (27.9%)). Prepandemic median CPAP usage at first follow-up was 5.4 (2.7–6.9) hours/night and fell by 0.9 hours/night (95% CI 0.5 to 1.2, p<0.0001) in 2020. We found clinically relevant reductions in CPAP usage with pathway changes post-COVID-19.

Each year as part of its International Congress, the European Respiratory Society (ERS) dedicates a session to discuss the key themes in medical education affecting respiratory professionals working not only throughout Europe but worldwide. The forum is open to national societies, public health officials and patient representatives, as well as individual Congress delegates with an interest in medical education.

ZnO is a strong candidate for transparent electronic devices due to its wide band gap and earth‐abundance, yet its practical use is limited by its surface metallicity arising from a surface electron accumulation layer (SEAL). The SEAL forms by hydroxylation of the surface under normal atmospheric conditions, and is present at all crystal faces of ZnO, although with differing hydroxyl structures. Multilayer aryl films grafted from aryldiazonium salts have previously been shown to decrease the downward bending at O‐polar ZnO thin films, with Zn−O−C bonds anchoring the aryl films to the substrate. Herein we show that the Zn‐polar (0001), O‐polar (000true1‾ ), and non‐polar m‐plane (10true1‾ 0) faces of ZnO single crystals, can also be successfully electrografted with nitrophenyl (NP) films. In all cases, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements reveal that the downward surface band bending decreases after modification. XPS provides strong evidence for Zn−O−C bonding at each face. Electrochemical reduction of NP films on O‐polar ZnO single crystals converts the film to a mainly aminophenyl layer, although with negligible further change in band bending. This contrasts with the large upward shifts in band bending caused by X‐ray induced reduction.

Detachment of membranes is an unavoidable complication of therapeutic amniocentesis for twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Subsequent amniocenteses or endoscopic fetal therapy may be hindered or made altogether impossible by this complication. The purpose of this study was to describe our experience in the assessment and management of TTTS patients with iatrogenic preoperative detached membranes (IPDM). Materials and methods: Patients with IPDM referred for fetal surgery for TTTS were considered ineligible for standard surgery and were offered different alternatives, including expectant management, serial amniocentesis, or an attempt at surgery with or without prior amniopatch. Pregnancy outcomes were compared between surgical and non-surgical patients. Results: Nine hundred and forty-four patients with a diagnosis of TTTS were referred between July 1997 and December 2004, of which 322 (34.1%) had a prior therapeutic amniocentesis. Twentysix patients (8%) were complicated by IPDM. Ten patients opted to be managed with subsequent amniocenteses, two of which had an amniopatch. One patient had voluntary interruption of pregnancy. Fifteen patients underwent surgery, 10 of which underwent an amniopatch. Resealing of membranes occurred in 8/12 (66%) of patients. Perinatal outcome was superior in patients treated surgically with or without an amniopatch (12/15, 80% vs. 4/11, 36%, p = 0.04). Conclusion: Membrane detachment is an important complication of therapeutic amniocentesis for the treatment of TTTS. Although successful treatment of IPDM can be achieved with an interim amniopatch in 66% of patients, this alternative is not without risks. Therapeutic amniocenteses should be discouraged in patients considering endoscopic fetal surgery for TTTS.

Pt, Ir, Ni, Pd, and silver oxide Schottky contacts were fabricated on the Zn-polar surface of hydrothermally grown bulk ZnO. A relationship was observed between the barrier height of the contact and the free energy of formation of the 'metal' oxide. This is consistent with the dominating influence of oxygen vacancies (V O ) which tend to pin the ZnO Fermi level close to the V O (+2,0) defect level at approximately E C -0.7 eV, where E C is the conduction band minimum. Valence band x-ray photoemission spectroscopy and the current -voltage characteristics of planar Schottky diodes, measured on similar Zn-polar surfaces, showed the existence of a vacuum activated surface accumulation layer. This is possibly a consequence of the observed OH termination of the Zn-polar surface. The surface accumulation layer is compensated in atmospheric conditions by the presence of acceptor-like adsorbates, such as O 2 and H 2 O. The formation of high quality Schottky contacts to ZnO should therefore involve the reduction of near surface oxygen vacancies and the removal of H or OH from the surface.

We developed a national survey to assess the changes implemented by respiratory departments across England in response to the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online survey was sent to the respiratory clinical leads in 132 NHS trusts in England. The survey was open between