Nano-technology contributions towards the development of high performance radioisotope generators: The future promise to meet the continuing clinical demand.

Nanostructured materials attracted considerable attention because of its high surface area to volume ratio resulting from their nano-scale dimensions. This class of sorbents is expected to have a potential impact on enhancement the efficacy of radioisotope generators for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in nuclear medicine. This review provides a summary on the importance of nanostructured materials as effective sorbents for the development of clinical-scale radioisotope generators and outlining the assessment of recent developments, key challenges and promising access to the near future.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast: case report and review of literature.

We report the case of a patient who presented with a painful breast lump that turned out to be an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast. The literature is reviewed, highlighting the good prognosis associated with this rare condition and the current preferred treatment modalities.

All radial scars/complex sclerosing lesions seen on breast screening mammograms should be excised.

AIM: To determine the incidence of pre-malignant and malignant conditions in radial scars identified from screening mammograms in women taking part in the UK NHS breast cancer screening programme. METHODS: All women in our screening population from 1988 to 2002 with a radiological diagnosis of radial scar or complex sclerosing lesion confirmed on subsequent histopathology were included in this study. Patients were investigated with fine needle aspiration cytology then localisation biopsy (n=46) or straight to localisation biopsy (n=78). Patients where divided into two groups, one with pure RS/CSL with no associated epithelial features and the second with associated ADH, DCIS or invasive cancer. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-four lesions were confirmed histologically as radial scar or complex sclerosing lesions. The median age was 58 years. Of the 124 patients, 82 were pure RS/CSL. Forty-two had associated epithelial lesions, 22 patients had ADH and 20 patients had either in situ or invasive carcinoma. Where FNA was performed (n=46), mammograms had shown three lesions suspicious of cancer, which were not proven histologically. Mammograms picked up five malignancies out of the nine RS/CSL with associated cancers. Of these, FNA confirmed malignancy in only two patients. Where FNA was not done (n=78), mammogram had read five pure RS/CSL as cancers. It picked up only four cancers in RS lesions with DCIS/Ca out of 11. CONCLUSION: All screen-detected stellate lesions should be excised due to their association with pre-malignant and malignant conditions.

Prospective audit of quality of colonoscopy in a surgical coloproctology unit.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to prospectively audit the quality of colonoscopy and patient acceptance in a Surgical Coloproctology Unit over a one-year period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 202 consecutive colonoscopies were evaluated over a 12-month period performed by a Consultant, Specialist Registrars and Research fellows. Data where recorded for adequacy of bowel preparation, completion rate, adequacy of sedation, patient tolerance and duration of the procedure. Adequacy of bowel preparation was monitored by scoring bowel content and the percentage of bowel wall visualised. Patients completed a questionnaire to express their sedation satisfaction, discomfort during the procedure and overall satisfaction. RESULTS: The success rate of bowel preparation was 94%. Completion rate was 90% in intended full colonoscopies by the Consultant and Registrars and 74% by more junior grade endoscopists (overall 86%). The mean dose of midazolam and pethidine was higher in patients with unsatisfactory sedation than those with satisfactory sedation. The pain score was higher when trainees performed the procedure than when performed by the Consultant. Fourteen patients refused to undergo the procedure again due to procedure discomfort (n = 7), inadequate sedation (n = 2) and bowel preparation discomfort (n = 5). CONCLUSION: A high completion rate was achieved, compared with published results. However, further improvements are possible especially by improving the performance of junior endoscopists and by ensuring optimal bowel preparation. Patients' tolerance of colonoscopy was highly acceptable but may also be improved by the same methods.

Surveillance versus nonsurveillance for femoro-popliteal bypass grafts.

This is a study of 97 patients who underwent 106 femoropopliteal bypass grafts (9 bilateral bypasses) for short-distance claudication and critical ischemia. Patients were divided into 2 groups. The first group (n=64) was followed up by use of duplex scans. The second group (n=42) was followed up in clinic without duplex surveillance. Twenty-three patients from the surveillance group developed stenoses of the grafts. Of these, 14 underwent successful angioplasty. A total of 43 grafts became blocked. Graft occlusion was significantly more common in the nonsurveillance group (n=29) as compared to the surveillance group (n=14) after both 1 and 3 years of observation (p=0.001). Patients with critical ischemia showed a higher rate of graft occlusion than the claudicants (p=0.0075). Sixteen patients in the nonsurveillance group underwent above/below-knee amputation compared to 1 in the surveillance group. There was no significant difference in the mortality rate in the 2 groups. Graft surveillance helped to improve patency of grafts by identifying the correctable lesions.

Non-vascular claudication: a clinical conundrum.

This is a prospective study of patients referred to our department with symptoms of claudication unlikely to be of vascular origin. After clinical assessment these patients were referred to an orthopaedic physician. Of 1070 patients referred, 33 patients were diagnosed with a non-vascular problem. Of these, 21 were cases of spinal stenosis with or without nerve root irritation, seven had a combination of spinal pathology and peripheral vascular disease, and five were diagnosed with intervertebral disc prolapse (n=3), diabetic neuropathy (n=1) and chronic fatigue syndrome (n=1). The prognosis for patients with non-vascular claudication in respect of the development of premature vascular events is likely to be different from vascular claudicants and they should be counselled appropriately. Furthermore, the potentially less favourable outcome following reconstruction must be clearly explained to patients with a non-vascular contribution to their symptoms before any therapeutic vascular intervention. Failure to do this is likely to have significant medicolegal implications.

Early results of inguinal hernia repair by the 'mesh plug' technique--first 200 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Inguinal hernia repair is the most common surgical procedure performed in the UK. Evidence from several earlier studies suggests that primary inguinal hernia repair has a high recurrence rate of 10-15%. The Royal College of Surgeons of England guidelines suggested the use of layered suture (Shouldice) or prosthetic (Lichtenstein) repair. Per-fix plugs have been used in the US for more than a decade with excellent results. This study was a series of 200 consecutive cases. The aim was to evaluate the mesh plug technique in the repair of all types of inguinal hernias and its results in one consultant practice within a district general hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a 15-month period between 1997 and 1998, all patients with inguinal hernias presenting to the general surgical clinic of one consultant were recruited to the study. All had mesh plug repair under local (n = 40), regional (n = 50) or general (n = 110) anaesthesia either by the consultant, associate specialist or specialist registrar (following initial training), using the same standard technique. The majority 80% (n = 160) were done as day cases. The results were evaluated by questionnaire and personal outpatient review initially at 3 weeks, then at 1 year (9-13 months). RESULTS: 200 consecutive patients with inguinal hernias underwent mesh plug repair; mean age was 54 years (95% CI, 46-61). The majority of patients had primary (n = 180) and others had recurrent (n = 20) hernia. All types of hernia (Gilbert's I-VII) were included. Median follow-up was 1 year (9-15 months). Groin pain, which was the leading symptom at presentation, was relieved in 96% of the patients; 79% returned to previous jobs within 4 weeks (95% CI, 0.71-0.87). All retired patients resumed normal life activities within 2 days. Postoperative pain was minimal; 28 patients did not require any postoperative analgesia. There were very few minor (n = 6) and no major complications. During the follow-up, one recurrence occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Mesh plug repair is associated with minimal postoperative pain, quick recovery and return to work. It is an ideal technique for day-case surgery. Although longer follow-up will be required to assess true recurrence rate, so far the recurrence rate at 0.5% is acceptable, particularly in the light of other published series.