Scottish Medical Journal最新文献

Background: This study primarily aims to compare the influence of core stabilization exercise and conventional therapy on motor function, functional independence, and balance, secondarily gait ability, quality of life, and sonographically evaluated core muscle thickness in patients with chronic stroke.

Methods: Participants were randomly allocated into two groups: core stabilization exercise therapy (CSET, n = 25) group received core stability training for 15 min and 30 min of conventional therapy each per day, and conventional exercise therapy (CET, n = 25) group received conventional therapy for 45 min per day, five days per week, for three weeks. Ultrasonography was performed to measure the thickness of the core muscles on both paretic and nonparetic sides. Patients were evaluated at baseline and after three weeks treatment.

Results: Functional Independence Measurement, Berg Balance Scale, 6-Minute Walk Test, Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale and core muscles thicknesses improved significantly in both groups except for the internal oblique muscle of CSET group. The nonparetic side multifidus muscle thickness was significantly different in favor of CSET group (p = .033).

Conclusions: Conventional and core stabilization exercise therapies in patients with chronic stroke have positive effects on functional independence, balance and gait abilities, quality of life and core muscles thicknesses without being superior to each other.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility of performance enhancement coaching (PEC) for newly appointed Urology registrars (ST3s), specifically: whether the concept appealed, and which areas beyond technical skills acquisition were felt to be most relevant or useful.

Subjects and methods: All delegates on the Urology Bootcamp 2023 were invited to take part in an online survey before and after a 2-hour PEC workshop, collecting: basic demographic data, performance challenges, and the important aspects to include in, and consider with, a coaching programme. The workshop was delivered by a surgeon with a professional coaching qualification, to groups of four delegates at a time over 4 days. Ten pre-defined areas were offered during the session.

Results: On a scale of 1 (poor) to 10 (excellent), the 62 participants' overall health was reported as a median of 8/10 (physical) and 7/10 (mental). Anxiety during performance was the most common concern (63%) and was accompanied by a tremor in 55%. The next most popular concerns, with 19% of responses each, were: sleep, insufficient operative skill or expertise, and worry about relationships with trainers. The commonest topics discussed were 'the inner critic' (100%), 'autonomic modulation' (69%), 'not working, well' (13%) and 'optimising study' (6%). Seventy-seven per cent were unaware of PEC for practising surgeons. All respondents felt that they would benefit from PEC to some extent (80% ≥8/10 where 10/10 was 'very useful'), ideally at the ST3 level. Sixty-two percent of respondents said there should be a fee for trainees, whereas 38% thought it should be free and paid for by their training authorities.

Conclusion: The concept of PEC is acceptable to ST3 Urology trainees, with particular interest in techniques to mitigate negative self-talk and autonomic modulation techniques. Existing barriers to coaching for the surgical community would need to be addressed in designing an acceptable coaching programme.

Objectives: Pressured healthcare resources make risk stratification and patient prioritisation fundamental issues for the investigation of colorectal cancer (CRC) in symptomatic patients. The present study uses machine learning algorithms and decision strategies to improve the appropriate use of colonoscopy.

Design: All symptomatic patients in a single health board (2018-2021) proceeding to colonoscopy to investigate for CRC were included. Machine learning algorithms (NeuralNetwork, randomForest, Logistic regression, Naïve-Bayes and Adaboost) were used to risk-stratify patients for CRC using demographics, symptoms, quantitative faecal immunochemical test (qFIT) and haematological tests. Decision curve analyses were performed to determine the optimal decision strategies.

Results: 3776 patients were included (median age, 65; M:F,0.9:1.0) and CRC was identified in 217 patients (5.7%). qFIT > 400 μg Hb/g was the most important variable (%IncMSE = 78.5). RandomForrest had the highest area under curve (0.91) and accuracy (0.80) for CRC. When utilising decision curve analysis (DCA), 30%, 46% and 54% of colonoscopies were saved at accepted CRC probabilities of 1%, 2% and 3%, respectively. RandomForrest modelling had superior net clinical benefit compared to default colonoscopy strategies.

Conclusions: MLA-derived decision strategies that account for patient and referrer risk preference reduce colonoscopy demand and carry net clinical benefit compared to default colonoscopy strategies.

Objectives: To systematically synthesize existing reported literature calculating the carbon footprint (CFP) of urological surgical practice and identify opportunities for improving the environmental impact of urology surgical practice.

Methods: A systematic review was performed following PRISMA guidelines. The Cochrane, Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, and PubMed were searched between 1971 and 2023, with inclusion and exclusion criteria. The outcome measures were mapped across the included studies including assessment of risk of bias.

Results: A total of 345 studies with titles were identified from an initial search, however only 5 were included. Three studies compared singleuse with reusable cystoscopes concluded that single-use cystoscopes are non-inferior to reusable cystoscopes environmentally due to the carbon footprint associated with decontamination and repackaging. Similarly, in a single study, the CFP of single-use and reusable ureteroscopes is comparable. Lastly, a single study concluded that robotics-assisted surgery in prostate cancer may be a better option than other approaches in terms of environmental sustainability.

Conclusions: In conclusion, although minimally invasive (including robotic approaches) and endoscopic surgeries offer significant opportunities to improve healthcare we do need to consider the environmental impact. However, there is a paucity of good-quality literature to guide urological surgical practice to reduce the CFP and improve sustainability.

Introduction: Studies in recent years have shown that ribosome-binding protein-1 (RRBP1) is expressed at high rates in many cancers and that it may be a potential prognostic biomarker. The objective of the present study is to determine the RRBP1 expression level in prostatic carcinoma and neighboring non-neoplastic prostate tissue, the relationship between its expression level with prognostic factors, and the role of RRBP1 in the development of prostate cancer.

Materials and methods: The study included 45 patients who were diagnosed with prostatic carcinoma and underwent radical prostatectomy in our center between the years 2010 and 2021. Pathology reports were reviewed. Mann-Whitney U test was used for the comparison of RRBP1 and GADPH values of the cases (control and tumoral tissue) between the primary tumor stage (pT) and Gleason score (GS) groups. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to explain the effective variables in explaining the RRBP1 value of the research cases.

Results: According to the Mann-Whitney U test, mean and median RRBP1-T values of the cases with GS ≥ 8 were detected to be statistically significantly higher than the mean and median RRBP1-T values of the cases with GS < 8.

Conclusion: We found out that RRBP1 was expressed at higher rates in patients with high GS and advanced-stage patients. This result indicated that RRBP1 expression may be important in predicting the prognosis of prostate carcinoma.

Objective: To provide synthesized evidence on the association between sarcopenia and risk of mortality, recurrence and postoperative complications in patients with bladder cancer and undergoing radical cystectomy (RC).

Methods: Only studies with observational design that investigated the association between sarcopenia and outcomes of interest among patients with bladder cancer undergoing RC were included. The outcomes of interest were mortality, recurrence, and postoperative complications. The systematic search was conducted using three large databases, that is, PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus. A random effects model was used for the analysis and pooled effect sizes were reported as odds ratio (OR) or hazards ratio (HR) along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: A total of 21 studies with 4997 patients were included. Compared to non-sarcopenic subjects, those with sarcopenia had increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR 1.45, 95% CI: 1.32, 1.61), cancer-specific mortality (HR 1.74, 95% CI: 1.49, 2.03) and a lower recurrence free survival (HR 1.84, 95% CI: 1.30, 2.62). Patients with sarcopenia also had higher risk of developing complications within 90 days postoperatively (OR 1.77, 95% CI: 1.23, 2.55).

Conclusion: Sarcopenia among patients with bladder cancer and managed using RC is associated with adverse survival outcomes and an increased risk of postoperative complications.

Introduction: International medical graduates (IMGs) account for 41% of the UK doctor's workforce but often work in isolated roles, receive minimal constructive feedback regarding their work and offered limited opportunities for career progression. We conducted a survey researching the views of IMGs or doctors from ethnic minority backgrounds on the support given to them.

Methods: A survey was carried out on physician demographics, grade and date of first NHS appointment, familiarity and support offered in NHS, induction and study leave, Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board exams and General Medical Council (GMC) referrals. It was drafted via surveymonkey.co.uk platform and circulated via relevant closed medical groups.

Results: A total of 173 IMGs and 16 British trained doctors (controls) took the survey. In the IMGs first job, there was no dedicated supervisor, mentor, induction, shadowing period and study leave for 56%, 86%, 52%, 59% and 52%, respectively. Suggestions given for improvements included teaching sessions, mentors, work orientation, supernumerary period and paid induction by 80%, 78%, 76%, 61% and 41% respectively. While 59% of participants knew of another IMG referred to the GMC, the primary reasons given were lack of knowledge of NHS, bias, communication difficulties and cultural differences.

Conclusion: This paper reflects the views of doctors regarding the support given to IMGs during their first NHS appointment and subsequent jobs in the NHS. IMGs require a focused and detailed induction, mentorship, educational and clinical supervision throughout their transition to the NHS.