Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

PLoS One 2019 9;14(4):e0213831. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.

Lymphatic vessels play an important role in health and in disease. In this study, we evaluated the effects of GSK3-β inhibition on lung lymphatic endothelial cells in vitro. Pharmacological inhibition and silencing of GSK3-β resulted in increased lymphangiogenesis of lung lymphatic endothelial cells. Read More

Heart Lung 2019 Mar 30. Epub 2019 Mar 30.

Centre for Applied Research in Health, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK.

EMBO Rep 2019 Mar 15. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Department of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

Lymphatic vessels are known to be derived from veins; however, recent lineage-tracing experiments propose that specific lymphatic networks may originate from both venous and non-venous sources. Despite this, direct evidence of a non-venous lymphatic progenitor is missing. Here, we show that the zebrafish facial lymphatic network is derived from three distinct progenitor populations that add sequentially to the developing facial lymphatic through a relay-like mechanism. Read More

Zebrafish 2019 Apr 6;16(2):171-181. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

2 Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Chemical interventions are regularly used to examine and manipulate macrophage function in larval zebrafish. Given chemicals are typically administered by simple immersion or injection, it is not possible to resolve whether their impact on macrophage function is direct or indirect. Liposomes provide an attractive strategy to target drugs to specific cellular compartments, including macrophages. Read More

Acta Oncol 2019 Feb 6:1-8. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

b Integrative Physiology and Critical Illness Group, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine , University of Southampton , Southampton , UK.

  Purpose: We evaluate the effect of an exercised prehabilitation programme on tumour response in rectal cancer patients following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT).

Patients And Methods: Rectal cancer patients with (MRI-defined) threatened resection margins who completed standardized NACRT were prospectively studied in a post hoc, explorative analysis of two previously reported clinical trials. MRI was performed at Weeks 9 and 14 post-NACRT, with surgery at Week 15. Read More

Cell Rep 2018 Dec;25(12):3405-3421.e7

State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Jiangning District, Nanjing, 211198, China; State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China. Electronic address:

cGAS-STING signaling is essential for innate immunity. Its misregulation promotes cancer or autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases, and it is imperative to identify effective lead compounds that specifically downregulate the pathway. We report here that astin C, a cyclopeptide isolated from the medicinal plant Aster tataricus, inhibits cGAS-STING signaling and the innate inflammatory responses triggered by cytosolic DNAs. Read More

Patient Educ Couns 2018 12 25;101(12):2065-2082. Epub 2018 Jun 25.

School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK.

Objective: To systematically identify, synthesise and evaluate the strength of the international evidence on copy letter practice.

Methods: A systematic search identified original research studies on copy letters. Searches were limited by date and language as permitted in rapid review methods guidance. Read More

Dis Model Mech 2018 11 29;11(12). Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand

Tumour angiogenesis has long been a focus of anti-cancer therapy; however, anti-angiogenic cancer treatment strategies have had limited clinical success. Tumour-associated myeloid cells are believed to play a role in the resistance of cancer towards anti-angiogenesis therapy, but the mechanisms by which they do this are unclear. An embryonic zebrafish xenograft model has been developed to investigate the mechanisms of tumour angiogenesis and as an assay to screen anti-angiogenic compounds. Read More

Appl Nurs Res 2018 Dec 11;44:6-17. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

University of Huddersfield, Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Electronic address:

Objective: High levels of environmental noise in hospitals disturbs sleep. We aimed to identify, critically appraise and summarise primary research that reports studies that tested interventions to reduce night-time noise levels in ward-settings.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Read More

Psychol Serv 2018 Oct 18. Epub 2018 Oct 18.

Mental Health Service Line, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Program evaluation data from 451 veterans treated with at least four sessions of prolonged exposure (PE) within a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient posttraumatic stress disorder program were examined to explore to what degree change by Session 8 predicted achieving meaningful change (MC; 50% reduction on the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale-Self-Report [PSS-SR]) after Session 8. Read More

Methods Mol Biol 2018 ;1846:71-83

Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Zebrafish are well-established as a model of vascular development. The genetic tractability, external development, permeability to small molecules and optical transparency of zebrafish larvae are all attributes that make this model attractive to the vascular biologist. There are an increasing number of lymphatic reporter lines that enable the visualization of zebrafish lymphatic vessel growth in vivo; these tools, coupled with either forward or reverse genetics, have provided new insights into the process of lymphatic specification and development. Read More

Br J Nurs 2018 Sep;27(17):1004-1010

Professor of Nursing and Applied Health Research, School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, and professor of nursing and applied health research, Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

Background:: patient involvement in the design, planning and delivery of health services is acknowledged to be a local and national priority.

Aims:: to improve service quality through a quality improvement initiative to explore patient preferences for involvement in health services design, planning and delivery.

Methods:: a questionnaire was developed to: assess patient preferences for involvement in hospital service development; and explore differences in responses between patient subgroups. Read More

Physiol Rep 2018 Sep;6(17):e13854

University College London Centre for Altitude Space and Extreme Environment (CASE) Medicine, UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Institute of Sport and Exercise Health, London, United Kingdom.

Electronic nose (e-nose) devices may be used to identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath. VOCs generated via metabolic processes are candidate biomarkers of (patho)physiological pathways. We explored the feasibility of using an e-nose to generate human "breathprints" at high altitude. Read More

Thorax 2018 10 6;73(10):926-935. Epub 2018 Jul 6.

Institute for Sport, Exercise and Health, University College London, London, UK.

Objectives: To characterise the sketetal muscle metabolic phenotype during early critical illness.

Methods: Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies and serum samples (days 1 and 7) were obtained from 63 intensive care patients (59% male, 54.7±18. Read More

Int J Nurs Stud 2018 Oct 23;86:60-73. Epub 2018 May 23.

School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK; Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust, Huddersfield, UK. Electronic address:

Background: Mechanical ventilation is a routine intervention for the critically ill but patients' experiences of this intervention are largely hidden from clinicians. A comprehensive understanding of Intensive Care Units survivors' accounts is required to provide health professionals with evidence about the patients' experience to deliver patient-centred care.

Objectives: To synthesise qualitative findings from international studies to understand Intensive Care Unit survivors' experiences of mechanical ventilation, clarify the components of patient-centred care from the patient perspective and understand what can be done by health professionals to improve care processes. Read More

Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2018 08 26;28(14):2523-2527. Epub 2018 May 26.

State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, People's Republic of China; State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, People's Republic of China. Electronic address:

To further investigate on the structure-activity relationships of immunosuppressive Astin C, seventeen analogues 1-17 were designed and synthetized via amino acid substitution strategy by the solid-phase peptide synthesis method for the first time. In comparison with Astin C (IC = 12.6 ± 3. Read More

Midwifery 2018 Sep 26;64:1-10. Epub 2018 May 26.

Department of Psychology, University of Southampton, United Kingdom.

An evaluation of mindfulness-based childbirth and parenting courses for pregnant women and prospective fathers/partners within the UK NHS (MBCP-4-NHS).

Objective: To explore the usefulness within the National Health Service (NHS) of a brief (four week, ten hour) course based upon the Mindfulness Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) programme (Duncan and Bardacke, 2010) described here as MBCP-4-NHS.

Background: The National Maternity Review (2016) and report of The Independent Mental Health Taskforce to the NHS (2016a, 2016b) in England highlight the need for significant investment into perinatal mental health services, with the Government pledging funding to improve such services through a range of measures. Read More

Comput Biol Chem 2018 Jun 7;74:218-229. Epub 2018 Mar 7.

Heterocyclic Compounds Research Group, Department of Chemistry, Universidad del Valle, A. A. 25360, Cali, Colombia. Electronic address:

Given the wide spectrum of biological uses of pyrazolo[1,5-c]quinazoline and spiro-quinazoline derivatives as anticancer, anti-inflammatory analgesic agents, and their therapeutic applications in neurodegenerative disorders, it is compulsory to find easy, efficient, and simple methods to obtain and chemically diversify these families of compounds, thereby improving their biological applications. In this paper, we report the design and eco-friendly two-step synthesis of novel, fused spiro-pyrazolo[1,5-c]quinazoline derivatives as cholinesterase inhibitors. In addition, we studied their protein-ligand interactions via molecular docking and MM/GBSA calculations for a further rational design of more potent inhibitors. Read More

J Clin Invest 2018 May 26;128(5):1752-1771. Epub 2018 Mar 26.

Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology and.

Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis affecting men. Acute gouty inflammation is triggered by monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposition in and around joints that activates macrophages into a proinflammatory state, resulting in neutrophil recruitment. A complete understanding of how MSU crystals activate macrophages in vivo has been difficult because of limitations of live imaging this process in traditional animal models. Read More

Adv Mind Body Med 2017 Fall;31(4):26-36

Context • Increasing numbers of people worldwide live with a long-term health condition (LTC). Finding new ways to support people diagnosed with LTCs is important, both to improve their health-related quality of life and to manage the demands on health services that their conditions present. This effort includes a recognition of the importance of interventions to promote self-care. Read More

Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs 2018 03 17;17(3):194-195. Epub 2017 Oct 17.

1 Centre for Applied Health Research, School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, UK.

Heart Lung 2017 Nov - Dec;46(6):432-438. Epub 2017 Oct 3.

School of Healthcare, University of Leeds, UK.

Objective: To provide an in-depth understanding of patients' views about the impact of transcatheter aortic valve implantation on self-reported quality of life.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is considered to be the gold standard of care for inoperable patients diagnosed with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. Mid- to long-term clinical outcomes are favourable and questionnaire data indicates improvements in quality of life but an in-depth understanding of how quality of life is altered by the intervention is missing. Read More

Sci Rep 2017 Oct 4;7(1):12657. Epub 2017 Oct 4.

Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

The circadian clock, which evolved to help organisms harmonize physiological responses to external conditions (such as the light/dark cycle, LD), is emerging as an important regulator of the immune response to infection. Gaining a complete understanding of how the circadian clock influences the immune cell response requires animal models that permit direct observation of these processes within an intact host. Here, we investigated the use of larval zebrafish, a powerful live imaging system, as a new model to study the impact of a fundamental zeitgeber, light, on the innate immune cell response to infection. Read More

J Clin Nurs 2017 Dec 8;26(23-24):5206-5215. Epub 2017 Oct 8.

University of Huddersfield/Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, Huddersfield, UK.

Aims And Objectives: To examine the extent that individualised education helps reduce depression and anxiety and improves self-care for people who have undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background: Individualised discharge planning is increasingly important following cardiac surgery due to recurrent admissions as well as the issue of anxiety and depression, often due to lack of preparation. The hospital to home transition is fundamental in the recovery process. Read More

Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs 2018 01 18;17(1):6-22. Epub 2017 Jul 18.

10 Research and Development Department, University of Huddersfield and Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, UK.

Background: Nurses are pivotal in the provision of high quality care in acute hospitals. However, the optimal dosing of the number of nurses caring for patients remains elusive. In light of this, an updated review of the evidence on the effect of nurse staffing levels on patient outcomes is required. Read More

BMJ Open 2017 06 24;7(6):e015127. Epub 2017 Jun 24.

Centre for Applied Research in Health, School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK.

Objective: Informed consent is central to ethical medical practice, but little is known about how the process takes place in clinical practice. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a common revascularisation procedure. Studies report that patients overestimate benefits, forget the risks and are unaware of alternative treatments. Read More

Eur J Prev Cardiol 2017 06;24(3_suppl):77-87

2 Centre for Applied Research in Health, School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield and Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, Huddersfield, UK.

Cardiovascular disease accounts for 17,500 deaths globally, representing nearly half of all non-communicable disease deaths. The World Health Organization has set nine lifestyle, risk factor and medicines targets to achieve by 2025 with the aim of reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by 25%. In order to succeed in this, we need to equip our global health professional workforce with the skills to support patients and their families with making lifestyle changes and being in concordance with cardioprotective medication regimes at every opportunity. Read More

Intensive Crit Care Nurs 2017 Oct 29;42:88-96. Epub 2017 Mar 29.

School of Health Science, University of Salford, Salford, UK. Electronic address:

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) strategies to enable people who are temporarily voiceless due to medical intervention, to communicate.

Methods: A systematic review informed by a protocol published on an international register. Ten databases were searched from January 2004 to January 2017. Read More

Support Care Cancer 2017 08 1;25(8):2437-2444. Epub 2017 Mar 1.

School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), 1720 2nd Avenue South, 2M019H, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1210, USA.

Purpose: Little is known about the impact of family caregiving for adults with poor prognosis cancer on caregivers' own individual self-care practices. We explored differences in caregivers' discrete self-care practices associated with varying levels of caregiver well-being, preparedness, and decision-making self-efficacy.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey within eight community-based southeastern U. Read More

Heart Fail Rev 2017 09;22(5):543-557

School of Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Avenue South, 2M019H, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1210, USA.

Many of the 23 million individuals with heart failure (HF) worldwide receive daily, unpaid support from a family member or friend. Although HF and palliative care practice guidelines stipulate that support be provided to family caregivers, the evidence base to guide care for this population has not been comprehensively assessed. In order to appraise the state-of-the-science of HF family caregiving and recommend areas for future research, the aims of this review were to summarize (1) how caregivers influence patients, (2) the consequences of HF for caregivers, and (3) interventions directed at HF caregivers. Read More

Methods Cell Biol 2017 8;138:31-60. Epub 2016 Oct 8.

University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

The physical attributes of the zebrafish, including optical transparency during embryogenesis, large clutch sizes, external development, and rapid organogenesis were features that initially attracted developmental biologists to use this vertebrate as an experimental model system. With the progressive development of an extensive genetic "tool kit" and an ever-growing number of transgenic reporter lines, the zebrafish model has evolved into an informative system in which to mimic and study aspects of human disease, including those associated with bacterial infections. This chapter provides detailed protocols for microinjection of bacterial strains into zebrafish larvae and subsequent experiments to investigate single-larva bacterial burdens, live imaging of specific neutrophil and macrophage bactericidal functions, and how these protocols may be applied to drug discovery approaches to uncover novel immunomodulatory drugs. Read More

Respirology 2017 02;22(2):263-277

Department of Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Physical activity (PA) levels are low in patients with lung cancer. Emerging evidence supports the use of interventions to increase PA in this population. We aimed to (1) identify and synthesize outcome measures which assess PA levels in patients with lung cancer and (2) to evaluate, synthesize and compare the psychometric properties of these measures. Read More

Int J STD AIDS 2017 01 23;28(1):88-90. Epub 2016 Oct 23.

Royal United Hospital, Bath, UK.

Early identification of HIV infection is of obvious benefit to patients' health, yet many remain unaware of their diagnosis, with detrimental consequences. Current guidelines suggest patients with pneumonia are offered an HIV test. Early diagnosis of HIV infection in critically ill patients within intensive care is vital in reducing mortality and morbidity. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2017 01 4;1:CD004561. Epub 2017 Jan 4.

Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Universities of Brighton and Sussex, BSMS Teaching Building, Uinversity of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, East Sussex, UK, BN1 9PX.

Background: Axillary surgery is an established part of the management of primary breast cancer. It provides staging information to guide adjuvant therapy and potentially local control of axillary disease. Several alternative approaches to axillary surgery are available, most of which aim to spare a proportion of women the morbidity of complete axillary dissection. Read More

Br J Anaesth 2016 Jun;117(6):758-766

National Institute of Academic Anaesthesia Health Services Research Centre, Royal College of Anaesthetists, London, WC1R 4SG, UK, and UCL/UCLH Surgical Outcomes Research Centre, Department of Anaesthetics and UCL Centre for Anaesthesia, University College Hospital, London, NW1 2BU, UK.

Background: Understanding the patient perspective on healthcare is central to the evaluation of quality. This study measured selected patient-reported outcomes after anaesthesia in order to identify targets for research and quality improvement.

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study in UK National Health Service hospitals, recruited adults undergoing non-obstetric surgery requiring anaesthesia care over a 48 h period. Read More

J Obstet Gynaecol 2017 Apr 18;37(3):288-291. Epub 2016 Oct 18.

c Department of Anaesthesia , Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust , Bath , UK.

We performed a prospective observational audit to evaluate the application of the Lucas caesarean section urgency classification to assisted vaginal delivery in the operating theatre. We collected data from 400 women having category 1-3 delivery in the operating theatre. Twenty percent of the caesarean sections and 4% of the vaginal deliveries were category 1. Read More

Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs 2017 02 23;16(2):92-103. Epub 2016 Sep 23.

3 University of Huddersfield and Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust, UK.

Background: Cardiac catheterization is the standard procedure for the diagnosis of coronary heart disease. The threat physically and emotionally from this procedure can affect the patient's perception of their health. The heightened psychological distress associated with this diagnostic procedure can cause adverse patient outcomes. Read More

West J Emerg Med 2016 Sep 26;17(5):574-84. Epub 2016 Jul 26.

University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; University Health Network, Department of Emergency Medicine, Wilson Centre for Health Professions Education, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Introduction: Online education resources (OERs), like blogs and podcasts, increasingly augment or replace traditional medical education resources such as textbooks and lectures. Trainees' ability to evaluate these resources is poor, and few quality assessment aids have been developed to assist them. This study aimed to derive a quality evaluation instrument for this purpose. Read More

Am Psychol 2016 Sep;71(6):509

Fielding Graduate University.

This article memorializes Helen (Lena) Stavridou Astin, who died at her home October 27, 2015 after a long illness. As only the second woman to earn a doctorate in psychology at the University of Maryland, Lena opened the door for other women. Her 1969 classic book, , was the first to provide data to counteract the belief that highly educated women drop out of the labor force to concentrate on family. Read More

Neurol Res 2016 Jun;38(6):504-9

a Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital , Capital Medical University , Beijing , China.

Objectives: Less ischemic volume and better functional outcome are related with good cerebral collaterals in ischemic stroke. But the method of assessing collateral circulation is still undetermined.

Methods: Collateral status was assessed using a computed tomography angiography (CTA) source image (CTA-SI) based and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) based assessment system. Read More

Eur J Heart Fail 2016 07 25;18(7):736-43. Epub 2016 May 25.

Department of Innovative Clinical Trials, University Medical Centre Göttingen (UMG), Göttingen, Germany.

Recent advances in care and management of heart failure have improved outcome, largely as a result of the developing evidence basis for medications, implantable devices and the organization of heart failure follow-up. Such developments have also increased the complexity of delivering and coordinating care. This has led to a change to the way in which heart failure services are organized and to the traditional role of the heart failure nurse. Read More

J Adv Nurs 2016 Oct 12;72(10):2445-56. Epub 2016 May 12.

School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield and Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, UK.

Aim: To explore how practising mindfulness affects people's experiences of living with a long-term condition.

Background: Increasing evidence suggest that mindfulness meditation-based interventions benefit people with long-term conditions, particularly in terms of psychological well-being. Most evidence, however, relates to short-term outcomes and limited information exists about how people use mindfulness in the longer term and how this affects their experience of living with their condition. Read More

Adv Exp Med Biol 2016 ;916:199-218

Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019 Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.

Many solid tumors are known to metastasize through the lymphatic vasculature. This process is facilitated by the generation of new lymphatic vessels (tumor lymphangiogenesis) and also by the remodelling of existing lymphatics. Together these processes enable the spread of tumor cells to distant sites. Read More

Maturitas 2016 Jun 4;88:16-22. Epub 2016 Mar 4.

Dept. of Health Sciences, University of York, UK.

Objective: To assess the quality, readability and coverage of website information about herbal remedies for menopausal symptoms.

Study Design: A purposive sample of commercial and non-commercial websites was assessed for quality (DISCERN), readability (SMOG) and information coverage.

Main Outcome Measures: Non-parametric and parametric tests were used to explain the variability of these factors across types of websites and to assess associations between website quality and information coverage. Read More

Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs 2016 Apr;15(2):114-25

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, Huddersfield, UK.

Background: The traditional use of physically focused outcome measures fails to capture holistic, quality of life issues of importance to patients. The relatively recent, rapidly growing interest in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) attests to this and clinicians are faced with difficult decisions regarding their choice and use.

Aims: The purpose of this review was to identify and synthesise the literature pertaining to the concept of quality of life and the main PROMs used to measure this in the cardiovascular field. Read More

BMC Med Imaging 2016 Jan 21;16:10. Epub 2016 Jan 21.

University College London Centre for Altitude Space and Extreme Environment Medicine, UCLH NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Institute of Sport and Exercise Health, 170 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7HA, UK.

Background: The 'Cytocam' is a third generation video-microscope, which enables real time visualisation of the in vivo microcirculation. Based upon the principle of incident dark field (IDF) illumination, this hand held computer-controlled device was designed to address the technical limitations of its predecessors, orthogonal polarization spectroscopy and sidestream dark field (SDF) imaging. In this manuscript, we aimed to compare the quality of sublingual microcirculatory image acquisition between the IDF and SDF devices. Read More

Cancer Control 2015 Oct;22(4):450-64

School of Nursing, Center for Palliative and Supportive Care, University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL.

Background: Many of the world's population live in rural areas. However, access and dissemination of the advances taking place in the field of palliative care to patients living in rural areas have been limited.

Methods: We searched 2 large databases of the medical literature and found 248 relevant articles; we also identified another 59 articles through networking and a hand search of reference lists. Read More

Anaesthesia 2015 Dec;70(12):1462

Royal United Hospital, Bath, UK.

Br J Gen Pract 2015 Oct;65(639):e677-91

University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter.

Background: Selection of primary care patients for investigation of potential oesophagogastric cancer is difficult, as the symptoms may represent benign conditions, which are also more common.

Aim: To review systematically the presenting features of oesophagogastric cancers in primary care, including open-access endoscopy clinics.

Design And Setting: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Read More

Biol Open 2015 Sep 14;4(10):1270-80. Epub 2015 Sep 14.

Department of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a disabling chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract. IBD patients have increased intestinal lymphatic vessel density and recent studies have shown that this may contribute to the resolution of IBD. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in IBD-associated lymphangiogenesis are still unclear. Read More