Cranio-Cervical Trauma Eidemiology, Classification, Diagnosis and Management

J Spine Neurosurg 2017, 6:5. DOI: 10.4172/2325-9701.1000284

Objective: To provide an overview of current knowledge of the management of Cranio-Cervical (Occipito-cervical) injuries.

Conclusion: Cranio-cervical injuries constitute a significant proportion of high velocity trauma and can be missed. There is a need for high index of suspicion in such patients. Recent trends seem to favour surgical management of these injuries even in the elderly. Aim should be early surgical fixation wherever possible even in elderly patients, if there is no significant co-morbidity or contraindication for surgery.

UHCW Research: Amar Saxena

Measles outbreaks in five areas across UK

Public Health England (PHE) has issued advice for the public to ensure they have had the MMR vaccine after outbreaks of measles are confirmed in five areas of England.

As of 8 December 2017, there have been 28 confirmed cases in Leeds, 18 confirmed cases in Liverpool, 13 confirmed cases in Birmingham, 7 confirmed cases in Surrey, and 4 confirmed cases in Manchester. All of the cases have been reported in children and adults who have not received 2 doses of the MMR vaccine.

Report shows prevalence of key conditions across England

Figures released by NHS Digital provide information on the prevalence of 21 conditions, including asthma, hypertension, dementia, diabetes, and depression.

The annual report, Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) - Prevalence, Achievements and Exceptions Report, England 2016-17 also identifies how the prevalence of these conditions has changed since the previous year.

Males with prolactinoma are at increased risk of incident cardiovascular disease

Clin Endocrinol. Accepted Author Manuscript. doi:10.1111/cen.13498

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increased in patients with prolactinoma.

UHCW Research: Tim Robbins

Adiponectin circulating levels and 10-year (2002–2012) cardiovascular disease incidence: the ATTICA Study

Endocrine (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-017-1434-y

Adiponectin is an adipokine with anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular-protective properties. Existing epidemiological evidence is conflicting on the exact relationship between adiponectin and long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Our aim was to prospectively assess whether circulating adiponectin is associated with long-term incident CVD.

UHCW Research: Ioannis Kyrou

Norovirus: guidance, data and analysis

This guidance collection from Public Health England covers the symptoms, diagnosis, management and epidemiology of norovirus.

The top 10 causes of death

Of the 56.4 million deaths worldwide in 2015, more than half (54%) were due to the top 10 causes. Ischaemic heart disease and stroke are the world’s biggest killers, accounting for a combined 15 million deaths in 2015. These diseases have remained the leading causes of death globally in the last 15 years.

World Health Organization

Giardia: guidance and data

Giardia is a parasite which can grow in the intestines of infected humans or animals and cause giardiasis. Diarrhoea is the most common symptom of giardiasis. Other symptoms include abdominal cramps, bloating and flatulence.

Healthcare associated infections (HCAI): guidance, data and analysis

PHE's Healthcare associated infection (HCAI): operational guidance and standards has been updated:

• Under Epidemiology: seven strands of routine reporting added (Klebsiella, Acinetobacter; Enterococcus; Enterobacter; Proteeae; polymicrobials and uncommon pathogens)
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa: guidance, data and analysis collection.

Long lasting ulcers below the knee are more common than previously thought

Long lasting leg or foot ulcers, those that take more than six weeks to heal, affect about 15 in every 10,000 people. This estimate was higher than expected. Based on the previous state of knowledge it was thought that 5 in every 10,000 people, at any one time, had open leg ulcers. The researchers thought these estimates were imprecise and wanted to improve them.

This research, undertaken as part of the NIHR-funded programme, included eleven new and updated reviews of the existing literature, a survey and interviews with people with complex wounds, their carers and healthcare professionals.

From the NIHR Dissemination Centre

Legionnaires' disease: guidance, data and analysis

The symptoms, diagnosis, management, surveillance and epidemiology of Legionnaires' disease. From Public Health England.

The characteristics and epidemiology of Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a bacterium that causes acute respiratory illness ranging in severity from mild respiratory illness to severe pneumonia. It can be fatal for a small number of people and has rarely been associated with severe complications such as encephalitis.

Most laboratory reports are of infection in children aged from 5 to 14 years, and adults aged 30 to 39 years. The infection is found in patients of all ages, including children under 5 years and occasionally in adults aged 65 years and over.

There is no vaccine against Mycoplasma pneumoniae but it is susceptible to a range of antibiotics. Antimicrobial resistance to macrolides is increasing globally.

PHE Guidance

Zika virus: epidemiology and cases diagnosed in the UK

Historical and current epidemiology of Zika virus infections, including cases in UK travellers.