This case highlights the importance of genetic testing over fibroblast testing and presents the first published thromboelastometry data in vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Objectives: To examine modern media depictions of the third stage of birth in a selection of UK television representations.
Design: Observational study of a sample of televised fictional and real births, audited against current National Institute of Health and Social Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.
Setting: UK television channels BBC (Call The Midwife and This Is Going To Hurt) and Channel 4 (One Born Every Minute).
Participants: 87 births from 48 episodes, sampled from the three shows.
Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was the number of births where the cord was clamped at more than 1 min after birth. Secondary outcomes included place and type of birth, measures of dignity and paternal involvement.
Results: Overall, the timing of cord clamping was clearly shown in 25/87 (29%) of births, of which only 4/25 (16%) occurred at more than 1 min in screen time. The place of birth and caesarean section (CS) rate changed according to the series perspective and era; graphic explicit images were shown, but these related to CS detail.
Conclusions: UK television shows have accurately depicted changes in place, culture and type of birth over the last century. They provide the public with a view of new rituals but an inaccurate picture of good quality care. Early cord clamping was shown in most births, even those set after 2014. No programme informed viewers about the safety aspects. When showing outdated practices, broadcasters have a public health duty to inform viewers that this is no longer recommended.
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare disease of the central nervous system caused by opportunistic infection with JC virus. It presents in patients who are immunocompromised, and diagnosis is made by correlating clinical findings and radiological changes with the detection of JC virus in cerebrospinal fluid. Rarely, a brain biopsy is needed. A 72 year old with high grade B-cell lymphoma developed right arm weakness and limb ataxia shortly after his diagnosis. CNS involvement was excluded with a normal CT head, MRI brain/spine, and CSF examination. A paraneoplastic cause was suspected, and he received 5 cycles of Rituximab-containing chemotherapy to a complete metabolic remission. His neurology evolved during treatment despite serial MRI and CSF examination remaining normal. CSF and serum were both negative for JC virus by PCR. Following completion of chemotherapy, he deteriorated acutely with seizures and personality changes. It was only at this point that a repeat MRI showed new multiple scattered ring enhancing lesions within both cerebral hemispheres. The patient underwent a brain biopsy confirming JC virus positive-PML by immunohistochemistry and passed away one month later. This case illustrates the diagnostic challenges associated with PML and had several atypical features which led to diagnostic delay, specifically the onset of symptoms before starting immunochemotherapy, and the lack of radiological change despite evolving neurology. The eventual MRI abnormalities were not altogether classical for PML which, coupled with the JC-negativity in CSF and serum, meant a brain biopsy was required to reach the diagnosis.
Objectives: To critically appraise the quality of the studies underpinning the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 estimates for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) with respect to i) the GBD 2017 inclusion criteria and ii) population coverage.
Design: Systematic critical appraisal.
Setting: Not applicable.
Participants: Not applicable.
Main outcome measures: Each study was critically appraised with respect to the four GBD 2017 inclusion criteria: representativeness, study method and sample, diagnostic criteria and publication from 1980 onwards. Population coverage was calculated.
Results: Less than half of studies (221/467, 47.3%) were nationally representative. Only 262/467 (56.1%) of studies reported specifically on MDD and more than a third did not use DSM or ICD diagnostic criteria: 94/467 (20.1%) did not specify any diagnostic criteria and 68/467 (14.6%) relied on self-reported depression for diagnosis. Only 62/467 (13.3%) of studies were conducted during the period 2011-2017. Only 107/195 (54.9%) of countries had one or more prevalence studies.
Conclusions: GBD 2017 estimates for MDD are based on incomplete country and population coverage. The inclusion of studies with non-representative populations, that do not use diagnostic criteria and the lack of specific data on MDD reduces the reliability of estimates and limits their value for policy making.
Objective: Sexual misconduct adversely affects the mental and physical health of millions of people each year and has been declared a global pandemic. Incidence in both educational and clinical settings remains high. In the last 5 years, the NHS spent over £4 million settling sexual misconduct-related claims. Effective prevention requires training across all stages of career, beginning in clinical school. Here, we explore training in the UK's medical schools to identify provision and areas for improvement.
Design: Freedom of Information Act 2000 requests for data on training delivery and curricula content.
Setting: 34 public UK universities offering medical education.
Participants: not applicable.
Main outcome measures: Provision and delivery of training, mode of delivery, theme, and continuation of training.
Results: All 34 universities responded. Twenty-two identified offering training. Seventeen made it compulsory. A review of curricula identified, however, only 18 did more just than mentioned sexual misconduct. Nine offered training more than once. Twelve did not offer training, of which three identified no plans to offer such training in the future. The most common delivery modes for training were workshops and lectures. The training was most often within the sexual health curriculum, disconnecting it from professionalism.
Conclusions: There is no standardisation of sexual harassment training across the UK's public medical schools. Many future doctors will not have received relevant education when they assume posts in the NHS. Considering the magnitude of this issue and its critical connection to professionalism and collegiality, universities and professional bodies urgently should address this deficiency.
Pulmonary epithelioid haemangioendothelioma (PEH) is a rare vascular neoplasm. The thoracic manifestation of this disorder is identified via three major imaging patterns, namely multiple primary nodules, diffuse infiltrative pleural thickening, and multiple pulmonary reticulonodular opacities. The commonest pattern of presentation is bilateral multiple nodules. Diagnosis is based on histopathological findings and verified by positive immunochemistry staining. Patients with PEH are usually asymptomatic. We report the case of a 51-year-old female who presented to our facility with a five-month history of cough, pleural nodularity, and pleural effusion. She underwent surgical washout with right pleural biopsies that showed a malignant epithelioid tumor with features of epithelioid haemangioendothelioma (EH). A CXR after treatment did not demonstrate a residual pleural effusion.
Introduction: Endometriosis is a benign nevertheless a chronic condition which impacts greatly the quality of life through cyclic discomfort. We aim to report the case of umbilical endometriosis and a literature review of the different treatment modalities.
Case report: This was a case of a 43-year-old woman, with no history, who presented with a painful hemorrhagic umbilical swelling during the menstrual period associated with dysmenorrhea. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a subcutaneous umbilical mass of non-vascularized tissue nature confirmed on Doppler. Pelvic MRI which confirms the diagnosis of primary umbilical endometriosis. The patient underwent wide local excision of the endometriotic nodule with umbilical reconstruction. Histology confirmed the diagnosis of umbilical endometriosis. Resection margins were clear.
Discussion: Extra-pelvic endometriosis sites are not common, especially the umbilicus. It usually occurs secondary to surgical scars, specifically after laparoscopy or open abdominal surgery. Surgical management is currently described as gold standard. Laparoscopic approach is recommended as it allows better visual inspection for secondary localization of endometriosis. Medical management corresponds to combined oral contraceptives (COCs) or progestins for management of endometriotic implants decreasing inflammatory effects, or Gonadotropin-releasing hormone for long-course treatment. Malignant transformation of the umbilical nodule has been described in literature with a reported risk of malignant transformation to be 3%.
Conclusion: Current management of extragenital endometriosis suggest radical surgery with wide local excision. Due to the rarity, there is a paucity of data on umbilical endometriosis and mostly reported from case reports.
Jejunal diverticulosis is a rare disease which normally presents for the first time with acute complications, often requiring surgical intervention. The diverticulae are acquired, occurring more commonly after middle age, but their aetiology is unclear. We discuss this condition in the context of four cases which presented to our hospital as emergencies over a five year period: small bowel obstruction, gastrointestinal haemorrhage, small bowel volvulus, and visceral perforation. Our aim is to encourage clinicians to include jejunal diverticular disease as a differential diagnosis in patients with abdominal symptoms.

