A tropical Sphagnum peatland ecosystem in lowland Belize.

Tropical peatlands are globally significant ecosystems for carbon cycling and storage, hydrological regulation, and unique biodiversity. There is a diversity of tropical peatland types globally, but tropical peat-forming ecosystems are typically forested without the Sphagnum groundcover that is often characteristic of high-latitude peatlands. Here, we report on a unique tropical peatland situated in Belize that challenges our understanding of both tropical and extra-tropical peatlands owing to the presence of Sphagnum in the undergrowth.

Autoclave reactor synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles, unreported variables, and safety considerations.

Autoclave reactors are widely used across chemical and biological sciences, including for the synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and other nanomaterials. Yet, the details of how autoclave reactors are used in such synthesis are rarely reported in the literature, leaving several key synthesis variables widely unreported and thereby hampering experimental reproducibility. In this perspective, we discuss the safety considerations of autoclave reactors and note that autoclaves should only be used if they are (a) purchased from reputable suppliers/manufacturers and (b) have been certified compliant with relevant safety standards.

Trends in pathology diagnoses during 10 years of a colorectal cancer screening programme.

Aims: We report pathology findings from the first 10 years of the faecal-occult blood-based Northern Ireland Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, presenting summary data and trends in pathology diagnoses and clinicopathological features of screen-detected cancers.

Methods And Results: Data were analysed from a comprehensive polyp-level pathology database representing all endoscopy specimens from programme inception in 2010 until 2021. A total of 9800 individuals underwent 13 472 endoscopy procedures, yielding 25 967 pathology specimens and 32 119 diagnoses.

Development of an accurate low cost NDVI imaging system for assessing plant health.

Background: Spectral imaging is a key method for high throughput phenotyping that can be related to a large variety of biological parameters. The Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), uses specific wavelengths to compare crop health and performance. Increasing the accessibility of spectral imaging systems through the development of small, low cost, and easy to use platforms will generalise its use for precision agriculture.

Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastasis to the Breast: A Rare Presentation.

Worldwide breast malignancy is the most common cancer in women; however, metastases to the breast from extramammary malignancies are very rare and only a few sporadic cases are reported in the international literature. In this article, the authors report a case of a 73-year-old woman, who underwent nephrectomy for clear cell renal cell carcinoma and 3 years later presented with a breast metastasis from renal cell carcinoma (clear cell type).

Access to and sustainability of abortion services: a systematic review and meta-analysis for the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence-new clinical guidelines for England.

Background: Induced abortion is a common procedure. However, there is marked variation in accessibility of services across England. Accessing abortion services may be difficult, particularly for women who live in remote areas, are in the second trimester of pregnancy, have complex pre-existing conditions or have difficult social circumstances.

Retrospective cohort study of statin therapy effect on resected colorectal liver metastases.

Background: Above and beyond their role in cardiovascular risk reduction, statins appear to have a chemopreventive role in some gastro-intestinal cancers. In the quest for new chemopreventive agents, some existing established drugs such as statins have shown potential for re-purposing as chemoprevention. Probing existing drugs, whose pharmacodynamics are familiar, for novel beneficial effects offers a more cost-effective and less time-consuming strategy than establishing brand new drugs whose pharmacodynamic profile is unfamiliar.

ACE Inhibitor Therapy Does Not Influence the Survival Outcomes of Patients with Colorectal Liver Metastases Following Liver Resection.

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been shown to possibly influence the survival outcomes in certain cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of ACE inhibitors on the outcomes of patients undergoing liver resection for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). The secondary aim was to determine whether ACE inhibitors influenced histopathological changes in CRLM.

Statin therapy does not influence the outcome of patients undergoing surgery for pancreatic cancer.

Background: Recently, statins have been associated with improved survival in certain cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of statins on the outcome of patients undergoing surgery for pancreatic cancer. In addition, the effect of statins on the histopathological characteristics of the disease was assessed.

Cyclical progestogens for heavy menstrual bleeding.

Background: Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is a menstrual blood loss perceived by women as excessive that affects the health of women of reproductive age, interfering with their physical, emotional, social and material quality of life. Whilst abnormal menstrual bleeding may be associated with underlying pathology, in the present context, HMB is defined as excessive menstrual bleeding in the absence of other systemic or gynaecological disease. The first-line therapy is usually medical, avoiding possibly unnecessary surgery.

C-reactive Protein is an Independent Predictor of Difficult Emergency Cholecystectomy.

Purpose The objective of this study was to identify variables that predict a difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed in an emergency setting. The secondary aim was to devise a pathway for patients admitted acutely that required a cholecystectomy. Methods Patients admitted to the Emergency General Surgery Department at Nottingham, the United Kingdom that had an emergency cholecystectomy performed during the one-year period from May 2016 to June 2017 were identified.

Abnormal uterine bleeding.

Introduction: It is not uncommon for a woman to suffer from abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) or heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) at some point during her lifetime. Once pathology is excluded, in practice, management needs to be individualised, taking into account the improvement of the woman's symptoms and quality of life.

Sources Of Data: Peer-reviewed journals, governmental and professional society publications.

Coding in surgery: impact of a specialized coding proforma in hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery.

Background: Coding inaccuracies in surgery misrepresent the productivity of hospitals and outcome data of surgeons. The aim of this study was to audit the extent of coding inaccuracies in hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgery and assess the financial impact of introducing a coding proforma.

Methods: Coding of patients who underwent elective HPB surgery over a 3-month period was audited.

Resection margin influences the outcome of patients with bilobar colorectal liver metastases.

Aim: To evaluate the outcome of patients with bilobar colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) and identify clinico-pathological variables that influenced survival.

Methods: Patients with bilobar CRLM were identified from a prospectively maintained hepatobiliary database during the study period (January 2010-June 2014). Collated data included demographics, primary tumour treatment, surgical data, histopathology analysis and clinical outcome.

A comparison of endoscopy versus pathology sizing of colorectal adenomas and potential implications for surveillance colonoscopy.

Background And Aims: The aim of this study was to compare endoscopy and pathology sizing in a large population-based series of colorectal adenomas and to evaluate the implications for patient stratification into surveillance colonoscopy.

Methods: Endoscopy and pathology sizes available from intact adenomas removed at colonoscopies performed as part of the Northern Ireland Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, from 2010 to 2015, were included in this study. Chi-squared tests were applied to compare size categories in relation to clinicopathologic parameters and colonoscopy surveillance strata according to current American Gastroenterology Association and British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines.

Indications for staging laparoscopy in pancreatic cancer.

Background: To identify indications for staging laparoscopy (SL) in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer, and suggest a pre-operative algorithm for staging these patients.

Methods: Relevant articles were reviewed from the published literature using the Medline database. The search was performed using the keywords 'pancreatic cancer', 'resectability', 'staging', 'laparoscopy', and 'Whipple's procedure'.

Spatiotemporal Reconstruction of the Introduction of Hepatitis C Virus into Scotland and Its Subsequent Regional Transmission.

Unlabelled: A more comprehensive understanding of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission dynamics could facilitate public health initiatives to reduce the prevalence of HCV in people who inject drugs. We aimed to determine how HCV sequences entered and spread throughout Scotland and to identify transmission hot spots. A Scottish data set with embedded demographic data was created by sequencing the NS5B of 125 genotype 1a (Gt1a) samples and 166 Gt3a samples and analyzed alongside sequences from public databases.

Sustained Isoprostane E2 Elevation, Inflammation and Fibrosis after Acute Ischaemia-Reperfusion Injury Are Reduced by Pregnane X Receptor Activation.

Liver grafts donated after cardiac death are increasingly used to expand the donor pool but are prone to ischaemic-type biliary lesions. The anti-inflammatory effects of the activated pregnane X receptor have previously been shown to be beneficial in a number of inflammatory liver conditions. However, its role in reducing peri-portal inflammation and fibrosis following ischaemia-reperfusion injury has not been investigated.

Critical review of the prognostic significance of pathological variables in patients undergoing resection for colorectal liver metastases.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors, particularly pathological variables, that influence disease-free and overall survival following resection for colorectal liver metastases (CRLM).

Methods: Patients undergoing CRLM resection from January 2005 to December 2011 were included. Data analysed included information on demographics, laboratory results, operative findings, histopathological features and survival.

Laparoscopic radical trachelectomy is an alternative to laparotomy with improved perioperative outcomes in patients with early-stage cervical cancer.

Objective: Radical trachelectomy is an established surgical approach for managing young women with cervical cancer wishing to preserve fertility. The aim of this study was to compare perioperative outcomes between laparoscopic (LRT) and abdominal radical trachelectomy (ART).

Methods: We reviewed the records of all women undergoing either LRT or ART in our institution since 2004.