A comparison of the academic impact of plastic surgery units in the United Kingdom and Ireland using bibliometric analysis

Academic output is just one aspect of a successful career as a plastic surgeon. However, for those with a strong interest in academia, the academic output of a department will likely be a key factor when deciding how to rank jobs. The aim of this study was to quantify and rank the academic output of plastic surgery units across the UK and Ireland. The Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Science Bibliometric analysis tool was used to collate cumulative (1950–2016), 10 year (2006–2016) and 3 years (2013–2015) research output data for plastic surgery units in the UK and Ireland. Sixty-six plastic surgery units were identified. Departments were ranked for each time period according to the number of papers produced, number of citations (Nc) and h-index (a measure of the impact of scientific output). The top 3 departments for number of papers in the last 10 years were The Royal Free Hospital, London (226) Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford (218), and Morriston Hospital and Swansea (188). The top 3 for h-number were The Royal Free Hospital (21) Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester (18) and Morriston Hospital (17). Academic output varies across plastic surgery units in the UK and Ireland. A number of departments have consistently maintained high academic outputs across the years and will be of interest to surgeons hoping to pursue a career in academia.     

Cost-effectiveness of breast cancer screening programme for women in rural China

In low and middle-income countries mammographic breast cancer screening is prohibitively expensive and a cheaper alternative option is to use ultrasound as the primary screening test. In 2009, China launched a breast cancer screening programme for rural women aged 35–64 years with clinical breast examination coupled with ultrasound as the primary tool. Our study aimed to analyse the cost-effectiveness of breast screening compared to no screening among Chinese rural women. We developed a Markov model to estimate the lifetime costs and effects for rural women aged 35 years from a societal perspective. Asymptomatic women in the intervention arm were screened every 3 years before age 64 years. Breast cancer in the non-screening arm can only be diagnosed on presentation of symptoms. Parameter uncertainty was explored using one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Compared to no screening, breast cancer screening cost $186.7 more and led to a loss of 0.20 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Breast screening was more expensive and did harm to health among rural women with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $-916/QALY. The sensitivity analysis identified utility loss from false positives as the factor that most influenced the results, but this did not affect the conclusions. In a rural setting with such low breast cancer incidence, screening for asymptomatic disease is not cost-effective with current screening tools. Priority should be given to ensure that symptomatic women have proper access to diagnosis and treatment at an early stage as this will lead to mortality reductions without the usual screening harms.     

Cosolvency of Dimethyl Isosorbide for Steroid Solubility

Dimethyl isosorbide (DMI), which is currently under investigation for its potential use as a pharmaceutical vehicle and drug permeation enhancer, is a water-miscible liquid with relatively low viscosity. The solubilization behavior of DMI as a cosolvent for nonpolar drugs was characterized via dielectric constant measurements of binary solvent systems containing DMI and either water, propylene glycol (PG), or polyethylene glycol (PEG). Evidence from the dielectric constant profiles and NMR studies suggest that DMI undergoes complexation with water and PG, but not with PEG, through hydrogen bonding interactions. The solvent complexation exhibited a major effect on the solubilities of prednisone, dexamethasone, and prednisolone in the mixed solvent systems. Maximum solubility of each drug was found to occur near a DMI/water or DMI/PG concentration ratio of 1:2. In the DMI–PEG mixed system, while there is no apparent interaction between DMI and PEG molecules, the solubility of prednisone was found to increase with decreasing dielectric constant.     

Mucinous adenocarcinoma arising from chronic perianal fistula

Perianal mucinous adenocarcinoma is a rare tumour which may be associated with long‐standing chronic perianal sepsis. Early diagnosis is challenging and is based on a high index of clinical suspicion and specific histological features. Definitive treatment is surgical, in the form of an abdomino‐perineal resection. We hereby describe a case of a perianal mucinous adenocarcinoma arising from long‐standing recurrent perianal fistula and complement this with a brief review of the literature pertaining in particular to the management of this condition.     

Validity and reliability of the Bengali version of the Hepatitis Quality of Life Questionnaire

Purpose  

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is endemic in Bangladesh, and the quality of life (QoL) of these patients remains unknown as there is no instrument available in the native language. In this study, we translated the 56-item Hepatitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (HQLQ) into Bengali and evaluated its validity and reliability.     

Presentation and outcome of Marfan's syndrome patients with dissection and thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm.

BACKGROUND: In Marfan's syndrome, there is a paucity of data regarding intervention criteria for surgery of the dissected thoraco-abdominal aorta. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 22 Marfan's patients with distal aortic dissection managed between September 1999 and April 2006 was performed. Serial diameters and linear expansion rates were calculated from imaging studies and the outcome of intervention was analysed. RESULTS: There were 14/22 male patients (median age 38 years), and 18 had prior aortic surgery. Surgery was recommended in 20 patients and undertaken in 19 (1 died prior to operation). Of the operated patients, 2 presented with rupture, 2 with airway obstruction, 1 with intermittent paraplegia and 14 underwent planned surgery for increased expansion rate or pain. All patients had residual type A or chronic type B dissection. The median aortic dimension at surgery was 6.7 cm (interquartile range (IQR) 5.5-8.2). The preoperative mean expansion rate increased from 0.5 cm/year to 1.7 cm/year (p<0.001), prior to operation. Fifteen patients underwent Crawford Extent II, two underwent Extent I and two underwent Extent III repair. Profound hypothermia and CSF drainage was used in 16 and 18 patients, respectively. There was no early mortality, paraplegia or renal failure. At a median postoperative follow-up of 56 months (range 6-86), the survival of the operated cohort was 90%. CONCLUSIONS: Thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in Marfan's syndrome can be performed with good outcomes. Intervention should be based on size or accelerated expansion. Any role of endovascular management needs careful consideration.     

Workers' sleep quality as determined by shift system and demographic factors

The present paper is based on the results of a study conducted to examine whether there are any differences in sleep quality between permanent day workers and rotating shift workers working under two- and three-shift systems. Influences of demographic variables such as subjects' age and experience on sleep were also explored. The subjects studied consisted of 125 permanent day workers, 125 fortnightly rotating two-shift workers, and 50 weekly rotating three-shift workers. The method of data collection was that of field study through questionnaire. The results show that, compared to the permanent day workers, sleep quality is poorer for the rotating shift workers and, between the two groups of shift workers, it is poorer for the three-shift workers. These findings imply that a discontinuous two-shift system (without night work) is more convenient than a continuous three-shift system (including night work).     

Preparation of controlled release anticancer agents. I: 5-Fluorouracil-ethyl cellulose microspheres

Microspheres of 5-fluorouracil have been prepared, using three grades of ethyl cellulose as wall forming materials, and utilizing a solvent evaporation technique under ambient conditions. An alcoholic solution of 5-fluorouracil and polymer was dispersed in liquid paraffin containing 33.3 per cent n-heptane. The effect of stirring rate, time of stirring, drug loading, and polymer grade on drug release in two different media were evaluated. The drug loaded particles were spherical in shape and had a diameter range of 25-200 mm and were suitable for incorporating into a gel base. Drug release studies in aqueous media, showed that acidic media provide a faster release rate than neutral media. The drug release study from an aqueous gel base preparation at pH 7.0 through a synthetic membrane was found to be promising for formulation of a gel-microsphere product for the treatment of skin lesions.