Brit J Hosp Med
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Palliative care, an integral component of supportive oncology, enhances the quality of life for patients living with cancer. Whilst palliative care has historically been synonymous with the provision of care at the end of life, it is increasingly playing a role earlier in a patient's cancer journey; frequently in conjunction with administration of anticancer treatment. ⋯ This review presents the role of early palliative care within the realm of supportive oncology with respect to the evidence of benefit and ethical, clinical and practical considerations. Relevant papers have been chosen for inclusion on the basis of clinical relevance, timeliness and relevance to cancer patients and clinical teams involved in their care.
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Coeliac disease is a common autoimmune disorder that affects nearly 1% of the general population. Current diagnostic strategies involve active case finding, serological tests, and endoscopy with biopsies. However, many patients with coeliac disease remain undiagnosed due to a wide gap between clinical guidelines and real-world practice in the diagnosis of adult coeliac disease. This highlights the need for increased education, training, and targeted quality-improvement interventions to optimise the diagnosis of coeliac disease.
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The prevalence of paediatric knee injuries is increasing due to higher participation in competitive sports, larger build and more use of imaging in diagnosis. A thorough history of injury (including mechanism and symptoms of pain and instability), together with a comprehensive examination (presence of an effusion, tender areas, range of movement and joint laxity) will dictate the need for radiological investigations. ⋯ Correct identification and management of injuries will help reduce long-term morbidity. The aim of this review is to provide the reader with an understanding of the management of paediatric knee injuries at primary presentation in the community setting or emergency department.
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The incidence and lethality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are increasing annually, and traditional treatments have been proven to be ineffective for patients with advanced stages of the disease. In recent years, immune checkpoint therapy has rapidly evolved, demonstrating promising results across a wide range of cancers and offering new hope for cancer treatment. However, the efficacy of immune checkpoint therapy in HCC varies greatly among individuals, with only a small proportion of HCC patients responding positively. ⋯ Understanding the mechanisms underlying immune evasion is crucial for enhancing the efficacy of immune therapies. In this review, we aim to summarize the mechanisms of immune evasion observed during immune checkpoint therapy and discuss future directions for this therapeutic approach. Our goal is to provide insights that could help overcome immune evasion, thereby improving the efficacy of immune therapies and extending patient survival time.
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Postgraduate leadership fellowships are becoming more popular among doctors-in-training. The author completed a one-year leadership fellowship with the Health Education England (HEE), East Midlands. A personal reflective approach was used to present the experiences of the author following the completion of the fellowship programme. ⋯ Personal benefits for the author were seen in the areas of improved leadership skills; completion of a postgraduate academic qualification; improvement of teaching skills; and honing of major trauma clinical skills. Furthermore, the literature review showed that there was high grade evidence from two randomised controlled trials, for the impact of such programmes in obstetrics/gynaecology simulation, and on team leadership for major trauma resuscitation. In addition, three systematic reviews reported positive impacts of such programmes at an individual level for participants' attitudes, knowledge and skills, with minimal evidence for the overall impacts on healthcare institutions.