Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Ann Surg Oncol 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Surgical Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA.

Pract Neurol 2018 Dec 8. Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Department of Clinical Neurology, John Radcliffe University Hospital, Oxford, UK

The field of central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory diseases has recently broadened to include a new condition associated with pathogenic serum antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). This is distinct from multiple sclerosis (MS) and aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). MOG antibody-associated disease phenotypes are varied and range from classical neuromyelitis optica to acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis and cortical encephalitis. Read More

Simul Healthc 2018 Dec;13(6):413-419

From the Department of Medicine, University of Florida, College of Medicine (C.A.R., J.M.M.), University of Florida Health Science Center Libraries (H.F.N.); Division of Medical Education, Department of Pediatrics (E.B.), Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine (D.E.W.), University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL.

Statement: We identified 24 studies of high-fidelity simulation being used to teach echocardiography. A variety of study designs were used with outcomes ranging from reports of learner self-confidence up to improvement in organizational practice. Most studies were carried out in graduate medical populations, specifically in anesthesia trainees. Read More

Vet Rec 2018 Dec;183(21):658-659

University of Winchester, Winchester, Hampshire SO22 4NR.

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2018 Oct 26. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

Winchester Medical Center, Winchester, Va.

PeerJ 2018 27;6:e5950. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Wildlife fencing has become more prevalent throughout Africa, although it has come with a price of increased habitat fragmentation and loss of habitat connectivity. In an effort to increase connectivity, managers of fenced conservancies can place strategic gaps along the fences to allow wildlife access to outside habitat, permitting exploration, dispersal and seasonal migration. Wildlife can become accustomed to certain movement pathways and can show fidelity to these routes over many years, even at the path level. Read More

Am J Public Health 2018 Nov 29:e1-e4. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Dominic Aldington is with the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester, UK. Chris Ecclestone is with the Centre for Pain Medicine Research, University of Bath, Bath, UK.

We discuss the history and current status of evidence-based medicine for the prevention and treatment of acute and chronic pain as it has developed in the Cochrane Collaboration's Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Review Group. To date, the Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Review Group has published 277 reviews and a further 11 reviews of systematic reviews summarizing the evidence for interventions. The Cochrane Library has readily available high-quality summaries of evidence of pharmacological interventions especially for postsurgical pain but also for chronic musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain. Read More

J Surg Oncol 2019 Jan 27;119(1):101-108. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Northwestern Institute for Comparatives Effectiveness Research (NICER) in Oncology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.

Background/objectives: Proficiency of performing sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for breast cancer varies among hospitals and may be reflected in the hospital's SLNB positivity rate. Our objectives were to examine whether hospital characteristics are associated with variation in SLNB positivity rates and whether hospitals with lower-than-expected SLNB positivity rates have worse patient survival.

Methods: Using the National Cancer Data Base, stage I to III breast cancer patients were identified (2004-2012). Read More

BMJ 2018 Nov 26;363:k4940. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Knowledge for Healthcare, Health Education England, London, UK.

Neurosurgery 2018 Nov 23. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Spine Research LLC, Winchester, Massachusetts.

Anal Chem 2018 Nov 25. Epub 2018 Nov 25.

Single particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) is an emerging technique capable of measuring nanoparticle size and number concentration simultaneously, of metal-containing nanoparticles (NPs) at environmental levels. spICP-MS will become an established measurement method once the metrological quality of the measurement re-sults it produces have been proven incontrovertibly. This paper presents the first validation of spICP-MS capabilities for measuring mean NP size and number size distribution of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Read More

Animals (Basel) 2018 Nov 18;8(11). Epub 2018 Nov 18.

Department of Politics and Society, University of Winchester, Winchester SO22 4NR, UK.

The British people voted to leave the European Union (EU) in a 2016 referendum. The United Kingdom (UK) has been a member of the EU since the Maastricht Treaty was signed in 1993 and before that a member of the European Communities (EC) since 1973. EU animal health and welfare regulations and directives have had a major impact on UK animal protection policy. Read More

Neurocrit Care 2018 Nov 16. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Departments of Neurology and Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) infections are particularly prevalent in the adult neurocritical care patient population and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Factors relevant to the nature of CNS infections pose significant challenges to clinicians treating afflicted patients. Intraventricular (IVT) administration of antibiotics may offer several benefits over systemic therapy; however, the outcomes and current practices of such treatments are poorly described in the literature. Read More

Breast Cancer Res Treat 2018 Nov 15. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Data Working Group, The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL, USA.

Purpose: Despite delays between diagnosis and surgery adversely affecting survival, patients frequently transfer their breast cancer care between institutions. This study was performed to assess the prevalence and effect of such transfers of care (TsOC) on the time to surgery, and its impact on current time-dependent breast cancer quality metrics at Commission on Cancer (CoC) and National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC)-accredited institutions.

Methods: Patients having non-metastatic invasive breast cancer diagnosed between 2006 and 2015 at CoC and NAPBC centers ("reporting facilities") in the National Cancer Database were reviewed. Read More

J Hypertens 2018 Nov 13. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Objective: To determine which ultrasound-based, single-point arterial stiffness estimate is least dependent on blood pressure (BP) to improve assessment of local vascular function.

Methods: Ultrasound was used to assess blood flow and diameters at the left brachial artery of 20 healthy adults [55% female, 27.9 years (5. Read More

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2018 Nov 14. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business, Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA, 22601, USA.

This paper uses the 1990-2010 natural disaster and carbon emission data of G20 countries to examine the impact of natural disasters and climate change on the natural capital component of inclusive wealth. Our study shows that climate change and GDP have no positive impacts on the growth of natural capital. By contrast, trade openness and natural disaster frequency contribute to the accumulation of natural capital in G20 countries. Read More

Eur J Pharm Sci 2019 Jan;126:1-2

CONRAD, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Arlington, VA, USA. Electronic address:

Vet Rec 2018 Nov;183(18):574

Born Free Foundation, Broadlands Business Campus, Langhurstwood Road, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 4QP.

Res Sports Med 2018 Nov 9:1-13. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

d Department of Sport Physiology , Islamic Azad University , Boroujerd , Iran (the Islamic Republic of).

Endurance performance is the result of optimal training targeting cardiovascular, metabolic, and peripheral muscular adaptations and is coupled to effective nutrition strategies via the use of macronutrient manipulations surrounding training and potential supplementation with ergogenic aids. It is important to note that training and nutrition may differ according to the individual needs of the athlete and can markedly impact the physiological response to training. Herein, we discuss various aspects of endurance training adaptations, nutritional strategies and their contributions to towards performance. Read More

Physiotherapy 2018 Aug 8. Epub 2018 Aug 8.

Physiotherapy Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.

Objectives: Physiotherapists may use ventilator hyperinflation to enhance secretion clearance for intubated patients. This study investigated the effects of altering percentage inspiratory rise time (IRT) on sputum movement, ratio of peak inspiratory to expiratory flow rate (PIF:PEF ratio) and net peak expiratory flow (PEF) during ventilator hyperinflation in a test lung model.

Design: Laboratory-based bench study. Read More

Animals (Basel) 2018 Nov 6;8(11). Epub 2018 Nov 6.

School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham LE12 5RD, Leicestershire, UK.

Conditions of pet rabbit breeding colonies and breeder practices are undocumented and very little is known about the pet rabbit sales market. Here, multiple methods were employed to investigate this sector of the UK pet industry. A freedom of information request sent to 10% of councils revealed confusion and inconsistency in licensing conditions. Read More

Sports (Basel) 2018 Nov 5;6(4). Epub 2018 Nov 5.

School of Kinesiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.

: To examine data reporting characteristics in sports nutrition. : We examined 236 papers from ten journals published in 2016. The primary outcome was statistical variance associated with treatment (SD (correct) vs. Read More

Bioimpacts 2018 23;8(4):295-304. Epub 2018 Sep 23.

Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.

: The "autonomous sensory meridian response" (ASMR) is a neologism used to describe an internal sensation of deep relaxation and pleasant head tingling which is often stimulated by gentle sounds, light touch, and personal attention. : An fMRI-based methodology was employed to examine the brain activation of subjects prescreened for ASMR-receptivity (n=10) as they watched ASMR videos and identified specific moments of relaxation and tingling. : Subjects who experienced ASMR showed significant activation in regions associated with both reward (NAcc) and emotional arousal (dACC and Insula/IFG). Read More

Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2018 Nov 3:1-13. Epub 2018 Nov 3.

b Department of Rheumatology and NIHR Clinical Research Facility , University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust , Southampton , UK.

Introduction: Tofacitinib and baricitinib have recently been approved as second-line treatments for Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) though their maximum expected efficacy may be limited by dose-related toxicities. Upadacitinib selectively inhibits Janus Kinase 1 (JAK1) which could potentially reduce JAK2 and JAK3-related side effects. Areas covered: In this paper, we review a newly developed oral selective JAK inhibitor, upadacitinib for the treatment of RA. Read More

Vet Parasitol 2018 Nov 6;263:54-58. Epub 2018 Oct 6.

Department of Animal Health, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Regional "Campus Mare Nostrum".University of Murcia, Spain.

Eimeria infections are common in sheep industry worldwide nonetheless very little is known on infection dynamics and associated risk factors influencing the outcome of clinical ovine coccidiosis. The aim of the present work was to analyse intrinsic (e. g. Read More

PLoS One 2018 1;13(11):e0206329. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Winchester, Winchester, United Kingdom.

Background: This study examined the short-term reproducibility of non-invasive estimates of central and peripheral blood pressure and markers of central systolic loading (augmentation index [AIx; a measure of central systolic loading] and AIx75 [AIx standardised to 75 b·min-1 heart rate]) and the effect of posture and fasting state on these variables in patients with acute stroke.

Methods: Twenty-two acute stroke patients (72 ± 10y) had blood pressure measured using the SphygmoCor XCEL in supine and seated postures and whilst fasted and non-fasted.

Results: Acceptable short-term reproducibility (ICC >0. Read More

Surgery 2019 Jan 28;165(1):44-49. Epub 2018 Oct 28.

NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, Illinois.

Background: Fine needle aspiration has been the traditional method for diagnosing thyroid cancer. Epigenetic chromatin conformation changes offer an alternative method of diagnosing cancer. The purpose of this study is to evaluate an EpiSwitch assay of epigenetic markers that can be used to diagnose thyroid cancer in blood samples. Read More

Sci Rep 2018 Oct 29;8(1):15938. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Winchester Strasse 2, D-35394, Giessen, Germany.

The harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis is native to Asia but has been introduced into many countries as a biological control agent. It is now considered an invasive pest, threatening the biodiversity of native ladybirds globally, in part because of its superior immune system. H. Read More

J Hosp Infect 2018 Nov 7;100(3):280-298. Epub 2018 Jul 7.

NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, London, UK; Health Group, Management Department, Imperial College Business School, London, UK. Electronic address:

Background: National responses to healthcare-associated infections vary between high-income countries, but, when analysed for contextual comparability, interventions can be assessed for transferability.

Aim: To identify learning from country-level approaches to addressing meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Japan and England.

Methods: A longitudinal analysis (2000-2017), comparing epidemiological trends and policy interventions. Read More

J Immunol Regen Med 2018 Mar 25;1:45-56. Epub 2018 Apr 25.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.

The immunosuppressive capacity of human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) renders them promising candidates for treating diverse immune disorders. However, after hundreds of clinical trials, there are still no MSC therapies approved in the United States. MSCs require specific cues to adopt their immunosuppressive phenotype, and yet most clinical trials use cells expanded in basic culture medium and growth conditions. Read More

Vet Rec 2018 Oct;183(16):510-511

RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS.

Vet Rec 2018 Oct;183(16):510

Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, The Granary, Bunstead Barns, Poles Lane, Hursley, Winchester SO21 2LL.

Ann Rheum Dis 2018 Oct 23. Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Autoimmune and Molecular Diseases, Columbia University, New York City, NY 10032, USA

Eur Endocrinol 2018 Sep 10;14(2):86-92. Epub 2018 Sep 10.

MedTech Economics Ltd, Winchester, UK.

Estimate the costs associated with flash glucose monitoring as a replacement for routine self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using intensive insulin, from a UK National Health Service (NHS) perspective. The base-case cost calculation used the frequency of SMBG and healthcare resource use observed in the REPLACE trial. Scenario analyses considered SMBG at the flash monitoring frequencies observed in the REPLACE trial (8. Read More

Global Health 2018 10 22;14(1):100. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET), London, UK.

Background: Global health partnerships (GHP) between high or low-middle income countries are considered one of the best approaches to health systems strengthening. They typically involve highly skilled healthcare workers who volunteer to deliver capacity strengthening projects overseas, often in the form of peer-to-peer support through training and mentoring. Given GHP's strong focus on education and training, a common assumption is that training of trainers (ToT) is a strong predictor of sustainability because of its potential for up-skilling the workforce rapidly, cheaply and exponentially by developing local educators. Read More

Appl Cogn Psychol 2018 Sep-Oct;32(5):526-536. Epub 2018 Jul 4.

University of Southampton Department of Psychology Southampton UK.

Two experiments are presented, which explore the presence of a distinctiveness advantage when recognising unfamiliar voices. In Experiment 1, distinctive voices were recognised significantly better, and with greater confidence, in a sequential same/different matching task compared with typical voices. These effects were replicated and extended in Experiment 2, as distinctive voices were recognised better even under challenging listening conditions imposed by nonsense sentences and temporal reversal. Read More

Ophthalmol Ther 2018 Dec 16;7(2):323-332. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.

Introduction: Amblyopia therapy appears to be most effective in children under the age of 7 years, but results from randomized control trials (RCTs) have shown that occlusion therapy and/or atropine penalization therapy may improve visual acuity in an older age group. Which of these two therapies is the most effective with fewer adverse effects in an older age group has not yet been agreed upon.

Methods: We systematically searched the literature for RCTs that compared atropine penalization therapy and occlusion therapy in terms of their visual acuity outcomes and adverse events and performed a meta-analysis on the visual acuity data obtained. Read More

Curr Pharm Teach Learn 2018 Aug 9;10(8):1097-1103. Epub 2018 Jun 9.

Shenandoah University, Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy, 1775 N. Sector Court, Winchester, VA 22601, United States; Department of Pharmacy Practice, Butler University, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 4600 Sunset Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46208, United States. Electronic address:

Background And Purpose: To determine if changing the focus of team-based learning (TBL) grading from written to verbal responses impacted students' exam performance in those subjects and to assess student perception of utilization of course time.

Educational Activity And Setting: Assessment data from two consecutive respiratory therapeutics semesters was analyzed. These were the classes immediately before and after the TBL structural change. Read More

Curr Pharm Teach Learn 2018 Aug 13;10(8):1055-1061. Epub 2018 Jun 13.

Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy, Shenandoah University, 1775 N. Sector Court, Winchester, VA 22601, United States. Electronic address:

Introduction: Fellowship opportunities are seen by pharmacy students and graduates as an option to assist in furthering pharmacy knowledge in a specific field or area of interest. Pharmaceutical industry fellowships are the most common pharmacy fellowship available to students. There has been little research on what motivates students to pursue a fellowship and what student characteristics may help predict interest in a fellowship. Read More

Br Dent J 2018 Oct 12. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

Birmingham Dental School, 5Mill Pool Way Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7EG.

Plant Dis 2018 Dec 11;102(12):2586-2591. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, 417 Price Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg 24061.

The protectant fungicide quinoxyfen has been used against grape powdery mildew (Erysiphe necator) in the United States since 2003. In 2013, isolates of grape powdery mildew with reduced quinoxyfen sensitivity (here designated as quinoxyfen lab resistance or QLR) were detected in a single vineyard in western Virginia, USA. Field trials were conducted in 2014, 2015, and 2016 at the affected vineyard to determine to what extent quinoxyfen might still contribute to disease control. Read More

Radiographics 2018 Oct;38(6):1786-1798

From the Department of Radiology, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, 41 Mall Rd, Burlington, MA 01805 (J.C.B.); Signature Healthcare, Brockton Hospital, Brockton, Mass (S.F.C.); Winchester Hospital, Winchester, Mass (W.T.K.); and UMass Memorial Medical Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Mass (S.J.B.).

All radiology departments are now expected to create organized and comprehensive quality and safety (QS) programs. No matter the department size, there are fundamental principles that should be at the core of each program. "Just culture" and culture of safety are essential principles in establishing effective programs. Read More

Anticancer Res 2018 Oct;38(10):5831-5835

St George's University of London, London, U.K.

Background/aim: Cannabinoids are widely used in the management of pain, nausea and cachexia in cancer patients. However, there has been no objective clinical evidence of any anticancer activity yet. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of pharmaceutical-grade synthetic cannabidiol on a range of cancer patients. Read More

Health Info Libr J 2018 Sep 28. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

University of Winchester, Winchester, UK.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify and analyse the US Health Sector concept of the 'Meaningful Use' of electronic health records (EHR's) based on the wide diversity of discourses in the published literature. Meaningful Use is defined as 'use of digital medical and health records to improve quality, safety and efficiency of patient health information'.

Methods: Herman Dooyeweerd's philosophical suite of aspects was the chosen research tool used to analyse seminal papers concerning the Meaningful Use of EHRs. Read More

Vet Rec 2018 09;183(12):387-388

Born Free Foundation, Broadlands Business Campus, Langhurstwood Road, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 4QP.

Am J Surg 2018 Sep 21. Epub 2018 Sep 21.

NorthShore University HealthSystem, Department of Surgery, 2650 Ridge Avenue, Walgreen Suite 2507, Evanston, IL 60201, USA.

Background: Primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) is an undertreated disease. This study's purpose is to determine if the calcium levels correlate with prevalence of symptoms and surgical treatment in patients with primary HPT.

Method: Patients treated in 2006-2015 with serum calcium≥10. Read More

Aust Vet J 2018 Oct;96(10):379-384

Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists Ltd, Winchester, UK.

Objectives: To determine the agreement, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of prothrombin (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) using the point-of-care analyser SCA2000™ with IDEXX Coag Dx™ cartridges against a reference laboratory (STAGO Start 4®) in canine blood.

Methods: Citrated blood samples from 47 dogs were submitted for PT and aPTT measurements. The STAGO was taken as the gold standard and sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were calculated. Read More

J Manag Care Spec Pharm 2018 Oct;24(10):1019-1026

3 Department of Pharmacy, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.

Background: The use of novel drug agents in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) has been associated with improved therapeutic outcomes and survival; however, MM continues to pose a significant economic burden on patients and health care systems. Evaluating economic implications of therapies can provide key points of distinctions between available treatment options. Patients with MM may experience productivity loss, including lost days from work or inability to work due to MM symptoms or to undergoing treatment. Read More

Educ Prim Care 2018 11 23;29(6):351-356. Epub 2018 Sep 23.

b Health Education England, working across Wessex , Winchester , United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

This article explores the experiences of General Practitioner (GP) appraisers working in a unfamiliar setting (Jersey) with appraisees new to the process. Findings were interpreted using the learning theory, 'situated cognition', to shed light on the experience of appraisers working with new appraisees more generally and contribute to new understandings of workplace learning. Rich qualitative data derived from transcripts of nine in-depth interviews with GP appraisers were analysed thematically in a rigorous and iterative manner process. Read More