Recent newspaper articles have attracted attention to the growing use of ultraviolet (UV) lamps in the fixation of eyelash extensions. This practice involves a polymer that acts as an adhesive when exposed briefly to UV light and sets rapidly, bonding the extension to the eyelash. Although industry statements attest to the safety of these systems, the nature of this process raises significant concerns.

BACKGROUND: Hip fractures are a life changing injury for many; often patients sustaining a hip fracture do not regain their pre-injury function. Early rehabilitation improves patient outcomes (e.g. Mobility, independence & function). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients with hip fracture progressed differently depending on their surgery type, specifically whether arthroplasty or internal fixation (IF) was employed as part of the surgical management. METHODS: A prospective audit was completed on hip fracture patients presenting to our unit between October 2019 and October 2020 who received surgical intervention for their fracture. The audit collected data on patient outcomes, specifically Timed Up and Go scores (TUG), Discharge destination and Cumulative Ambulatory Scores. The study group comprised 89 patients with femoral neck fractures (60 females, 29 males). The average age was 77 (range 50–96) years. Sixty-nine patients were managed with an arthroplasty, 20 patients were managed with IF. RESULTS: Results from this audit highlighted that at discharge, TUG scores had improved in both groups with the arthroplasty group completing their TUG in a mean of 46 seconds (median 39 seconds) and the IF group in a mean of 55.7 seconds (median 46 seconds). Eleven (55%) of the patients treated with IF were discharged home directly, while 26 (38%) of the patients treated with an arthroplasty were discharged home directly. Hip fracture patients treated with arthroplasty had lower functional ability on day one post-operatively based on the CAS. Patients treated with arthroplasty showed greater improvement in function and mobility at the time of discharge when compared to the IF group. A greater proportion of the IF group were discharged directly home (55% vs 38%) and able to receive any ongoing rehabilitation as an outpatient while a greater portion of the arthroplasty group required further inpatient rehabilitation (35% vs 48%). CONCLUSION: This audit indicated that irrespective of surgical intervention (Arthroplasty or IR) there is little difference in patient outcomes in the post-operative period.

The optimum treatment for persistent infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is not known. Our case series, across 5 hospitals in 3 countries, describes 11 cases where persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection was successfully treated with prolonged courses (median, 10 days [range, 10-18 days]) of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid). Most cases (9/11) had hematological malignancy and 10 (10/11) had received CD20-depleting therapy. The median duration of infection was 103 days (interquartile range, 85-138 days). The majority (10/11) were hospitalized, and 7 (7/11) had severe/critical disease. All survived and 9 of 11 demonstrated viral clearance, almost half (4/9) of whom received nirmatrelvir/ritonavir as monotherapy. This case series suggests that prolonged nirmatrelvir/ritonavir has a role in treating persistent infection.

Biologic medicines have revolutionized the management of dermatological conditions such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis and their use is likely to not only continue but grow given their success. Most of these medications are delivered through self-injector systems, commonly a prefilled pen made of high-quality plastics that will be disposed of after one use. The success of Novo Nordisk's PenCycle scheme in the UK has offered encouragement that salvaging much of this plastic and recycling it for other purposes is a viable route to significantly reducing the amount of plastic disposed of and, in the context of the global climate crisis, should be considered by all stakeholders.

ObjectivesThis study aims to present an overview of the formal recognition of COVID-19 as occupational disease (OD) or injury (OI) across Europe.MethodsA COVID-19 questionnaire was designed by a task group within COST-funded OMEGA-NET and sent to occupational health experts of 37 countries in WHO European region, with a last update in April 2022.ResultsThe questionnaire was filled out by experts from 35 countries. There are large differences between national systems regarding the recognition of OD and OI: 40% of countries have a list system, 57% a mixed system and one country an open system. In most countries, COVID-19 can be recognised as an OD (57%). In four countries, COVID-19 can be recognised as OI (11%) and in seven countries as either OD or OI (20%). In two countries, there is no recognition possible to date. Thirty-two countries (91%) recognise COVID-19 as OD/OI among healthcare workers. Working in certain jobs is considered proof of occupational exposure in 25 countries, contact with a colleague with confirmed infection in 19 countries, and contact with clients with confirmed infection in 21 countries. In most countries (57%), a positive PCR test is considered proof of disease. The three most common compensation benefits for COVID-19 as OI/OD are disability pension, treatment and rehabilitation. Long COVID is included in 26 countries.ConclusionsCOVID-19 can be recognised as OD or OI in 94% of the European countries completing this survey, across different social security and embedded occupational health systems.

Aspergillus fumigatus has been found to coinfect patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, leading to COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA). The CAPA all-cause mortality rate is approximately 50% and may be complicated by azole resistance. Genomic epidemiology can help shed light on the genetics of A. fumigatus causing CAPA, including the prevalence of resistance-associated alleles. We present a population genomic analysis of 21 CAPA isolates from four European countries with these isolates compared against 240 non-CAPA A. fumigatus isolates from a wider population. Bioinformatic analysis and antifungal susceptibility testing were performed to quantify resistance and identify possible genetically encoded azole-resistant mechanisms. The phylogenetic analysis of the 21 CAPA isolates showed that they were representative of the wider A. fumigatus population with no obvious clustering. The prevalence of phenotypic azole resistance in CAPA was 14.3% (n = 3/21); all three CAPA isolates contained a known resistance-associated cyp51A polymorphism. The relatively high prevalence of azole resistance alleles that we document poses a probable threat to treatment success rates, warranting the enhanced surveillance of A. fumigatus genotypes in these patients. Furthermore, potential changes to antifungal first-line treatment guidelines may be needed to improve patient outcomes when CAPA is suspected.

Large B-cell lymphoma with IRF4 rearrangement (LBCL-IRF4) is a recently described entity included in the revised 4th edition of the WHO Classification of Haematolymphoid Tumours (2017). Here we highlight the difficulties in classification of those cases which arise in adult patients with unusual clinical features. We present three cases with morphological and immunohistochemical features consistent with large B-cell lymphoma arising in adult patients, which were found to have isolated IRF4 rearrangements on FISH analysis. Each patient presented with advanced-stage disease and had a history of immunosuppression; clinical features that are not typical of LBCL-IRF4 and which make the distinction from DLBCL, not otherwise specified (NOS) challenging. We propose that the clinical boundaries of LBCL-IRF4 arising in adult patients need further delineation to allow distinction from true cases of DLBCL, NOS.

France's bedbug resurgence has become a topic of intense media scrutiny and social media commentary in recent weeks, highlighted by the country's position in the global spotlight because of the Rugby World Cup and Paris Fashion Week. However, in the context of a global resurgence in bedbugs over the past two decades, there is limited evidence to suggest that France is an outlier compared with other countries and social media reporting may be distorting this perception resulting in disproportionate fear among the public, politicians and neighbouring countries.

ABSTRACT… Objective: To present our experience of modified del Nido Cardioplegia for chemical arrest and myocardial protection during congenital heart defect in pediatric cardiac surgeries. Study Design: Retrospective Cross Sectional. Setting: Department of Cardiac Surgery, PAQSJIMS, Gambat, Khairpur. Period: 15th March, 2021 to 10th October, 2022. Material & Methods: del Nido solution is generally constituted in plasma lyte A solution, not available in Pakistan; therefore, we constituted del Nido solution in ringer lactate solution. We had collected our data retrospectively for our study to assess the safety and efficacy of modified del Nido cardioplegic arrest during the open heart surgeries for congenital heart defects. We report clinical outcomes of our patients that include spontaneous rhythm, ionotropic score and duration of mechanical ventilation underwent open heart surgeries with. Results: During the study period we had performed 102 surgeries for correction or palliation of congenital heart defects. We have included 54 patients in our study co with 28 (52%) male and 26 female (48%) patients; had a mean age 8.9 (±3.7) years and mean weight 22.4 (±12.7) kg. Majority of patients 29 (54%) belonged to Category 2 on RACHS-1 scale. Our average cross clamp time was 39.7min, and 37(68%) patients required a single dose of cardioplegia. Spontaneous sinus rhythm was established in 48(89%) patients; average ionotropic score of patients at the time of PICU arrival was 8.6 (±5.6) with 31(57%) have score of less than 10, while 2(4%) patients were received without the ionotrope. All the patients were shifted on mechanical ventilators with average time of 253.6 (±219.6) min of mechanical ventilation. Conclusion: Our results show modified del Nido solution is safe, with added benefits of fewer interruption in surgery, greater magnitude of spontaneous sinus rhythm and fewer ionotropic requirements.