Publications by authors named "Barbara Torlinska"

The association between hypothermia and poor outcomes in severe burn injury is well established. However, the significance of the core-peripheral temperature gradient has not previously been investigated. Institutional guidance at our burns centre advocates avoiding hypothermia and targeting a body temperature between 37.

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Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is often preceded by symptomatic phases during which classification criteria are not fulfilled. The health burden of these "at-risk" stages is not well described. This study assessed health-related quality of life (HRQoL), function, fatigue and depression in newly presenting patients with clinically suspect arthralgia (CSA), unclassified arthritis (UA) or RA.

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Background: Real-world evidence (RWE) plays an increasingly important role within global regulatory and reimbursement processes. RWE generation can be enhanced by the collection and use of patient-reported outcomes (PROs), which can provide valuable information on the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of health interventions from the patient perspective. This systematic review aims to examine and summarise the available PRO-specific recommendations and guidance for RWE generation.

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Background: Major thermal injury induces a complex pathophysiological state characterized by burn shock and hypercatabolism. Steroids are used to modulate these post-injury responses. However, the effects of steroids on acute post-burn outcomes remain unclear.

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Introduction: Hyperthyroidism is a common condition affecting up to 3% of the UK population. Treatment improves symptoms and reduces the risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke that contribute to increased mortality. The most common symptom is weight loss, which is reversed during treatment.

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Strict isolation of vulnerable individuals has been a strategy implemented by authorities to protect people from COVID-19. Our objective was to investigate health-related quality of life (HRQoL), uncertainty and coping behaviours in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey of adult SOT recipients undergoing follow-up at our institution was performed.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A study developed an improved ELISA test that focuses on trimeric spike glycoprotein, leading to better detection of low antibody levels in serum and saliva from non-hospitalized subjects.
  • * Results showed that while hospitalized patients had detectable antibody responses using various antigens, saliva tests were effective for only some symptomatic individuals, indicating that combining saliva and serum testing can enhance understanding of immune responses post-infection.
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Background: This study evaluates the utility of arterial blood gas (ABG) parameters and chest radiography in predicting intubation need in patients with burn injuries with suspected inhalation injury.

Methods: Patients with suspected inhalation injury admitted to a single centre, Burn Intensive Care Unit, between April 4th 2016 and July 5th 2019, were included. Admission ABG parameters and chest radiograph opacification were compared with whether the patient received an appropriate intubation: defined as intubation for a duration of over 48 h.

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Background: The UK's transition from the European Union creates both an urgent need and key opportunity for the UK and its global collaborators to consider new approaches to the regulation of emerging technologies, underpinned by regulatory science. This survey aimed to identify the most accurate definition of regulatory science, to define strategic areas of the regulation of healthcare innovation which can be informed through regulatory science and to explore the training and infrastructure needed to advance UK and international regulatory science.

Methods: A survey was distributed to UK healthcare professionals, academics, patients, health technology assessment agencies, ethicists and trade associations, as well as international regulators, pharmaceutical companies and small or medium enterprises which have expertise in regulatory science and in developing or applying regulation in healthcare.

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Article Synopsis
  • Detecting antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for understanding the virus's spread and the immune response, especially since assessing responses in mild or asymptomatic cases is challenging.
  • An optimized ELISA assay was developed to measure antibody responses in serum and saliva from both symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients, revealing that anti-spike antibodies were more effective than nucleocapsid antibodies in low responders.
  • The study found that antibody responses in saliva were independent of symptom severity, suggesting that testing both saliva and serum is the best way to assess exposure to the virus and immune responses following infection.
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This study compares the ability of liberal vs restrictive intubation criteria to detect prolonged intubation and inhalation injury in burn patients with suspected inhalation injury. Emerging evidence suggests that using liberal criteria may lead to unnecessary intubation in some patients. A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted in adult patients with suspected inhalation injury admitted to intensive care at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham between April 2016 and July 2019.

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Objective: To explore whether thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration in patients with a diagnosis of hypothyroidism is associated with increased all cause mortality and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and fractures.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: The Health Improvement Network (THIN), a database of electronic patient records from UK primary care.

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The most commonly reported symptom of hyperthyroidism is weight loss; successful treatment increases weight. Weight gain faced by patients with hyperthyroidism is widely considered a simple reaccumulation of premorbid weight, whereas many patients feel there is a significant weight "overshoot" attributable to the treatment. We aimed to establish if weight gain seen following treatment for hyperthyroidism represents replenishment of premorbid weight or "overshoot" beyond expected regain and, if there is excessive weight gain, whether this is associated with the applied treatment modality.

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Severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy has been associated with pregnancy/neonatal loss, and adverse pregnancy outcomes; however, the impact of mild-to-moderate iodine insufficiency, though prevalent in pregnancy, is not well-documented. We assessed whether mild iodine deficiency during pregnancy was associated with pregnancy/infant loss, or with other adverse pregnancy outcomes. We used samples and data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), from 3140 singleton pregnancies and from a further 42 women with pregnancy/infant loss.

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INTRODUCTION    Graves ophthalmopathy (GO) is an autoimmune disease associated with Graves disease. Its treatment is largely dependent on the severity and activity of ocular lesions. Particular attention should be given to radioiodine (RAI) therapy.

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The intake of fibre in the diet of a child or an adult, through various foods (such as wholegrain foods, nuts, fruits and vegetables), plays an important role in reducing the risk and lowering the incidence of numerous diseases. The interest of researchers and consumers in the role of diet in the prevention or treatment of many illnesses, and maintaining the general and oral health, has been growing lately. The aim of our study was to underline the role of dietary fibre through its effects on many aspects of the human body and metabolism.

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Background: Graves' disease (GD) as an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome during highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for HIV has previously been reported. However, clinical challenges associated with HIV in the context of thyroid eye disease (TED) are not as well-characterized.

Objective: To determine the frequency of coexisting HIV and TED, describe TED presentation and course in the context of HIV, and evaluate management difficulties as well as potential solutions.

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Context: Hyperthyroidism is common, but opinions regarding optimal therapy with antithyroid drugs or radioiodine (131-I) differ. There are no randomized trials comparing these options in terms of mortality.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine whether mortality associated with hyperthyroidism varies with treatment administered or other factors.

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