Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Postgrad Med J 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Department of General Medicine, Canterbury District Health Board, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Postgrad Med J 2019 Apr 17. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

General Surgery, Wales Post Graduate Medical and Dental Education Deanery School of Surgery, Cardiff, UK.

Postgrad Med J 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Endocrinology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

Postgrad Med J 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China

Objectives: To describe association between the genetic variation of inflammation-associated gene, , and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) susceptibility.

Methods: Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of gene were genotyped in 673 patients with AS and 687 healthy controls. Allele and genotype frequencies and different genetic models were performed to calculate ORs and 95% CIs, the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients were recorded. Read More

Postgrad Med J 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Neuro-ophthalmology, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.

Postgrad Med J 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

Postgrad Med J 2019 Apr 16. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Purpose Of The Study: Pleural diseases are common in clinical practice. Doctors in training often encounter these patients and are expected to perform diagnostic and therapeutic pleural procedures with confidence and safely. However, pleural procedures can be associated with significant complications, especially when performed by less experienced. Read More

Postgrad Med J 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Postgrad Med J 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Neurology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China

Objectives: The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) is a predictor for the prognosis of acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) and its prediction is time-dependent. We examined the performance of NIHSS at different timepoints in predicting functional outcome of patients with thrombolysed AIS.

Methods: This prospective study included 269 patients with AIS treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). Read More

Postgrad Med J 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA.

Myocardial infarction (MI) remains one of the leading contributors to overall mortality and morbidity in the modern world, even with recent advances in medicine. Various complications can arise following an MI, particularly with delayed or inadequate treatment. Even though many of these complications are uncommon, they can have a significant impact on patient outcomes. Read More

Postgrad Med J 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Internal Medicine Department, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal.

Postgrad Med J 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

Postgrad Med J 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, Taichung city, Taiwan

Postgrad Med J 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Professorial Unit, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Drogheda, Ireland

Background: A survey of medical students from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) at Dublin, Perdana and Penang in Malaysia was undertaken in an attempt to explore attitudes towards a career in surgery and document potential differences between male and female students' perceptions of a surgical career.

Method: A hyperlink to an online, anonymised questionnaire was distributed to medical students in 3rd, 4th and final year at three RCSI campuses. Basic descriptive statistics were used to describe the responses to individual questions and appropriate statistical tests used to compare male and female responses to questions. Read More

Postgrad Med J 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Diagnostic Radiology, National Healthcare Group, Singapore, Singapore.

Postgrad Med J 2019 Apr 4. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China

The incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been increasing rapidly in recent years, seriously endangering human health. Cardiac biomarkers play critical roles in the diagnosis and prognosis of AMI. Troponin is a highly sensitive and specific biomarker for AMI diagnosis and can independently predict adverse cardiac events. Read More

Postgrad Med J 2019 Apr 1. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Department of Neurology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan

Background: Primary headache disorders (PHDs) are associated with sleep problems. It is suggested that headache and sleep disorder share anatomical and physiological characteristics. We hypothesised that patients with PHDs were exposed to a great risk for developing sleep apnoea (SA). Read More

Postgrad Med J 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Internal Medicine, Bhagat Phool Singh, Government Medical College for women Khanpur, Sonipat, Haryana, India.

Postgrad Med J 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

Postgrad Med J 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Department of Acute Medicine, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK

Postgrad Med J 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Rural Clinical School, University of Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.

Purpose: To investigate whether publishing research is an important aspect of medical careers, and how it varies by specialty and rural or metropolitan location.

Methods: Annual national panel survey (postal or online) of Australian doctors between 2008 and 2016, with aggregated participants including 11 263 junior doctors not enrolled in a specialty ('pre-registrars'), 9745 junior doctors enrolled as specialist trainees, non-general practitioner (GP) ('registrars') and 35 983 qualified as specialist consultants, non-GP ('consultants'). Main outcome was in agreement that 'research publications are important to progress my training' (junior doctors) or 'research publications are important to my career' (consultants). Read More

Postgrad Med J 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.

Aim: Patients with small serrated adenomas (SAs) (<10 mm) often undergo surveillance colonoscopy before the routine recommended time. We aimed to determine the appropriate surveillance intervals following polypectomy of small SAs for symptomatic patients.

Method: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 638 patients, including 122 cases and 516 controls. Read More

Postgrad Med J 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

General Surgery, Ulster Hospital, Dundonald, UK.

Introduction: Resilience can be difficult to conceptualise and little is known about resilience in medical doctors.

Aims: This systematic review discusses the existing literature on influences on resilience levels of medical doctors.

Methods: The bibliographic databases PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO were searched from 2008 to November 2018 using keyword search terms resilience* AND ("medical physician*" OR doctor* OR surgeon* OR medical trainee* or clinician*). Read More

Postgrad Med J 2019 Mar 27. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.

Postgrad Med J 2019 Mar 27. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China

Objectives: Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) plays an important role in glucose and lipid metabolism. This study aims to systemically review the evidence regarding the relationship between the FGF-21 levels and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), as well as the related influential factors.

Methods: Research related to plasma/serum FGF-21 levels in patients with T2DM and healthy controls were searched in PubMed, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library databases (up to 31 March 2017). Read More

Postgrad Med J 2019 Mar 24. Epub 2019 Mar 24.

Postgraduate Medical Journal, London WC1H 9JP, UK

Postgrad Med J 2019 Mar 4. Epub 2019 Mar 4.

Department of Neurology, Aomori Prefectural Central Hospital, Aomori, Japan.

Postgrad Med J 2019 Feb 26. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, IRCCS CROB Cancer Referral Center of Basilicata, Rionero in Vulture, Italy.

Postgrad Med J 2019 Feb 26. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

Department of General Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama, Japan.

Postgrad Med J 2019 Feb 26. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China

Background: In the field of prosthetics, the ultimate goal is to improve the clinical outcome by using a technique that prolongs the longevity of prosthesis. Active robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one such technique that is capable of providing accurate implant position and restoring mechanical alignment. Although relevant studies have been carried out, the differences in the efficacy and reliability between active robotic-assisted TKA and conventional arthroplasty have not yet been adequately discussed. Read More

Postgrad Med J 2019 Feb 26. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

Postgrad Med J 2019 Feb 20. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Radiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.

Postgrad Med J 2019 Feb 20. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Department of Internal Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile

Clinical rotations are an essential part of Internal Medicine (IM) residency programmes, where curricular objectives are carried out. To our knowledge, there are no validated instruments to assess IM clinical rotations. Our objective was to develop an instrument for residents to assess the quality of clinical rotations in an IM residency programme, and to test the psychometric properties of the instrument. Read More

Postgrad Med J 2019 Feb 18. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Dongfeng Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most frequent multifactorial disease worldwide and is characterised by endothelial injury, lipid deposition and coronary artery calcification. The purpose of this study was to determine the allelic and genotypic frequencies of two loci (rs2026458 and rs9349379) of phosphatase and actin regulator 1 (PHACTR1) to the risk of developing CAD in the Chinese Han population.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted including 332 patients with CAD and 119 controls. Read More

Postgrad Med J 2019 Jan 14;95(1119):6-11. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Liaison Psychiatry, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK

Background: Busy emergency departments (EDs) are not the optimum environment for assessment of patients in mental health crisis. The Psychiatric Decisions Unit (PDU) was developed by the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust as an enhanced assessment service to ensure patients in mental health crisis receive optimal care.

Aims: To evaluate the activities of the PDU and its impact on the frequency of ED presentations and inpatient admissions, and to explore patient satisfaction. Read More

Postgrad Med J 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Retired, Edinburgh EH12 8UB, UK

Postgrad Med J 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Department of Histopathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

Postgrad Med J 2019 Feb 5. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Department of Neurology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Postgrad Med J 2019 Feb 1. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China

Postgrad Med J 2019 Feb 1. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Academic Cardiovascular Group, School of Medicine, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK

Background: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors are a major development in the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is one of the most significant discoveries since the development of statin therapy. Administration of two human monoclonal antibodies to PCSK9 (alirocumab and evolocumab) can significantly reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) concentrations, thus improving lipid management. Accordingly, guidelines on the specific indications for alirocumab and evolocumab usage have been released. Read More

Postgrad Med J 2018 12;94(1118):675-677

Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Postgrad Med J 2019 Jan 30;95(1119):18-22. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Division of Dyslipidemia, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fu Wai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China

Background: Previous studies have revealed that plasma levels of free fatty acids (FFAs) are related to cardiovascular risk. However, whether FFAs could predict periprocedural myocardial injury (PMI) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) remains unclear.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship of FFAs to PMI in untreated patients with CAD who underwent PCI. Read More

Postgrad Med J 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of Endocrinology, Post Graduate Institute for Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

Postgrad Med J 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of GastroSurgical Research and Education, Sahlgrenska universitetssjukhuset, Goteborg, Sweden.

For millennia, the smile has been recognised as a powerful communication device, offering benefits to both giver and receiver with few drawbacks. A sign of compassion, empathy and friendliness, smiling can benefit healthcare professionals and their patients, helping to build a relationship of trust. But beware the false smile, which is all too easily identified and may do more harm than good. Read More

Postgrad Med J 2019 Jan 29;95(1119):46-47. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China

China has the largest stroke population and at-risk population in the world. However, it has a lower thrombolytic therapy rate and longer onset-to-needle time/door-to-needle time for patients who had an acute stroke compared with developed countries, which might be due to redundant procedures or inefficient systems. Things are changing due to some new initiatives. Read More

Postgrad Med J 2019 Jan 25. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Department of Medicine, Greenwich University Hospital, London SE19 3PS, UK

Paget's disease of bone is characterised by overactive osteoclasts that resorb bone at a higher rate than normal. Osteoblasts attempt to repair the damage by laying down new bone which in turn is resorbed leaving a chaotic pattern of lytic and dense sclerotic bone behind. Deformed bone enlarges, becomes vascularised, bends and fractures. Read More

Postgrad Med J 2019 Jan 25;95(1119):23-31. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in non-diabetic Caucasian adults over 40 years of age. It has an estimated incidence of 8-10 cases per 1 million. Fifty per cent of patients diagnosed with primary MN continue to have nephrotic syndrome and 30% of patients may progress to end-stage renal disease over 10 years. Read More

Postgrad Med J 2019 Jan 23. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle Unversity of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Postgrad Med J 2018 12 23;94(1118):731-732. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Postgraduate Medical Journal, London WC1B 5DN, UK

Postgrad Med J 2019 Jan 23;95(1119):1-5. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.

Background: Decreasing delays for hospitalised patients results in improved hospital efficiency, increased quality of care and decreased healthcare expenditures. Delays in subspecialty consultations and procedures can cause increased length of stay due to reasons outside of necessary medical care.

Objective: To quantify, describe and record reasons for delays in consultations and procedures for patients on the general medicine wards. Read More