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Study Design: Multicentre comparative analysis of explanted Spine Magnetically Controlled Growing Rods (MCGRs). Objectives: MAGEC X, the latest commercially available generation, was recalled in 2020 due to the risk of post-implantation separation of an actuator end-cap component. Currently, the supply of all MAGEC rods was temporarily suspended in the UK and the EU. Objective of this study is to compare the performance of the MAGEC X MCGR to the earlier MAGEC 1.3 design iteration, by means of retrieval analysis. Methods: Fifteen of both MAGEC X and MAGEC 1.3 rods were consecutively collected from five different hospitals following removal surgery and matched by time to removal. Clinical and implant data was collected for all MCGRs. Analysis comprised visual assessments of external damage, plain radiograph evaluations, force and elongation testing, MAGEC X end-cap torque testing and disassembly. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to statistically compare groups. Results: Rod distraction reached in vivo was significantly higher in the MAGEC 1.3 (P =.002). There was no statistically significant difference in the total external damage score (P =.870), maximum force produced (P =.695) or distraction reached during force test (P =.880). No pin fracture was detected. Elongation of stroke was mildly higher (P =.051) for the MAGEC X implants. One MAGEC X had evident end cap component loosening. Internal damage scores were mildly lower in the MAGEC X group. Conclusion: MAGEC X showed similar performance results than the previous design iteration MAGEC 1.3. End-cap component loosening was observed, with no major consequences on the internal mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer, the most common cause of cancer in men in the UK and one of the most common around the world to date, has no consensus on screening. Multiple large-scale trials from around the world have produced conflicting outcomes in cancer-specific and overall mortality. A main part of the issue is the PSA test, which has a high degree of variability, making it challenging to set PSA thresholds, as well as limited specificity. Prostate cancer has a predisposition in men from black backgrounds, and outcomes are worse in men of lower socioeconomic groups. Mobile targeted case finding, focusing on high-risk groups, may be a solution to help those that most need it. The aim of this systematic review was to review the evidence for mobile testing for prostate cancer. A review of all mobile screening studies for prostate cancer was performed in accordance with the Cochrane guidelines and the PRISMA statement. Of the 629 unique studies screened, 6 were found to be eligible for the review. The studies dated from 1973 to 2017 and came from four different continents, with around 30,275 men being screened for prostate cancer. Detection rates varied from 0.6% in the earliest study to 8.2% in the latest study. The challenge of early diagnosis of potentially lethal prostate cancer remains an issue for developed and low- and middle-income countries alike. Although further studies are needed, mobile screening of a targeted population with streamlined investigation and referral pathways combined with raising awareness in those communities may help make the case for screening for prostate cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preliminary data suggest that the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with COVID-19 is around 13%, but its prognostic role remains unclear. Approximately 3% of patients develop chronic thrombo-embolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) following diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). It is recommended that patients are screened for CTEPH if they remain symptomatic 3 months following diagnosis of PE. The primary aim of the study was to assess the chances of persistent PH following PE secondary to COVID-19. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a District General Hospital (DGH) in the United Kingdom. All patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and PE between April 2020 and October 2021 were examined. Patients were divided into two groups:·COVID-19 and PE with comorbidities (excluding pre-existing PH) and·COVID-19 and PE without comorbidities. We compared the ECHO features suggestive of PH between the two groups at the time of diagnosis of PE and at 3 months following treatment. Results: 80 patients were included in the study (49 with comorbidities and 31 with no comorbidities). Average age of comorbidities and no comorbidities groups were 73 years and 70 years, respectively. Average PaO2/FiO2 ratio for comorbidities and no comorbidities groups were 170 and 195, respectively. Fourteen patients (13 with comorbidities and 1 with no comorbidities) died in total. Results showed that risk of persistent PH and subsequent mortality following PE in COVID-19 is 4.17 times and 1.32 times more in comorbidity group as compared to no comorbidity group, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients with comorbidities are at high risk of persistent PH and mortality due to PE secondary to COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedures by the British civil justice system during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Topics discussed include the adaptability of ADR to online videoconferencing platforms, the adjustments in the online negotiation and mediation processes, and the proposed establishment of an online court that will handle ADR in the midst of the pandemic.

Introduction: At the time of writing, we are all coping with the global COVID-19 pandemic. Amongst other things, this has had a significant impact on postponing virtually all routine clinic visits and elective surgeries. Concurrently, the Magnetic Expansion Control (MAGEC) rod has been issued with a number of field safety notices and UK regulator medical device alerts. Methods: This document serves to provide an overview of the current situation regarding the use of MAGEC rods, primarily in the UK, and the impact that the pandemic has had on the management of patients with these rods. Results and Conclusion: The care of each patient must of course be determined on an individual basis; however, the experience of the authors is that a short delay in scheduled distractions and clinic visits will not adversely impact patient treatment. The authors caution against a gap in distractions of longer than 6 months and emphasise the importance of continued remote patient monitoring to identify those who may need to be seen more urgently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 70% of all healthcare decisions affecting diagnosis and treatment involve the use of tests performed within pathology laboratories. The utilisation of diagnostic laboratory services continues to increase, with growth both in volume of tests requested, as well as in the breadth of test repertoire. Every year in the United Kingdom, approximately 1 billion tests are run in hospital laboratories, equivalent to 14 tests per person. Fifty million tests are requested in primary care. Accordingly, there is an inevitable increase in the number of unexpected laboratory results which clinicians review. This is an important, and potentially time-consuming, issue, which we considered to merit a more detailed discussion. Unexpected laboratory results may be critical or non-critical in nature. They may be absolutely genuine, reflecting a clinical change in the patient's condition, a differential diagnosis not previously considered, or an additional test specifically added by the laboratory. However, such results may also occur due to a variety of different circumstances, including much more rarely laboratory error. As there is little published evidence or guidance available, herein we discuss aspects of the clinical approach for physicians after receiving an unexpected laboratory test result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most empirical examinations of hierarchical interactions among the courts are limited to a single judiciary, the American courts. A significant puzzle that remains is the extent to which lower courts in comparative environments follow the legal pronouncements of their court of last resort. We confront this shortcoming by examining lower court adherence to the precedents of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom. As the Law Lords in the United Kingdom primarily oversee a single lower court, the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, this design provides a unique opportunity to assess the factors that influence hierarchical responses to precedent. We offer a framework in which legal, rather than strategic, factors influence the propensity with which lower court judges rely on the precedents of the House of Lords. Using an original data set of over 13,000 lower court responses to the precedents of the House of Lords between 1970 and 2002, our findings challenge the efficacy of principal–agent accounts and shed new light on how horizontal stare decisis influences decision-making behavior within the United Kingdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the activity of intravesical mitomycin‐C (MMC) to ablate recurrent low‐risk non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and assess whether it may enable patients to avoid surgical intervention for treatment of recurrence. Patients and Methods: CALIBER is a phase II feasibility study. Participants were randomized (2:1) to treatment with four once‐weekly MMC 40‐mg intravesical instillations (chemoablation arm) or to surgical management. The surgical group was included to assess the feasibility of randomization. The primary endpoint was complete response to intravesical MMC in the chemoablation arm at 3 months, reported with exact 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Secondary endpoints included time to subsequent recurrence, summarized by Kaplan–Meier methods. Results: Between February 2015 and August 2017, 82 patients with visual diagnosis of recurrent low‐risk NMIBC were enrolled from 24 UK hospitals (chemoablation, n = 54; surgical management, n =28). The median follow‐up was 24 months. Complete response at 3 months was 37.0% (20/54; 95% CI 24.3–51.3) with chemoablation and 80.8% (21/26; 95% CI 60.6–93.4) with surgical management. Amongst patients with complete response at 3 months, a similar proportion was recurrence‐free by 12 months in both groups (84%). Amongst those with residual disease at 3 months, the 12‐month recurrence‐free proportion was lower in the surgical management group (40.0%) than in the chemoablation group (84%). Recruitment stopped early as chemoablation did not meet the prespecified threshold of 45% complete responses at 3 months. Conclusion: Intravesical chemoablation in low‐risk NMIBC is feasible and safe, but did not demonstrate sufficient response in the present trial. After chemoablation there may be a reduction in recurrence rate, even in non‐responders, that is greater than with surgery alone. Further research is required to investigate the role and optimal schedule of neoadjuvant intravesical chemotherapy prior to surgery for NMIBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Identifying existing recruitment and methodological issues within dementia research conducted in UK studies that included ethnic minorities. Methods: We searched for and included any publication detailing dementia research in the UK that included any ethnic minority. The search results and all titles and abstracts were screened according to the inclusion criteria followed by screening of the full texts. We extracted data regarding the recruitment and methodological issues faced by the researchers. This data was combined and listed, and related issues were grouped into overarching themes and subthemes. Results: Of 52 publications suitable for analysis, 33 provided data collated into six themes: attitudes and beliefs about dementia in ethnic minority communities, recruitment process, data collection issues, practical issues, researcher characteristics, and lack of published research and normative data. These themes allowed us to identify three areas responsible for addressing these recruitment and methodological issues: community and patient education, health services, and researchers' training. Conclusions: This is the first review identifying recruitment and methodological issues within UK dementia research that included ethnic minorities. We now have a compilation of reported existing issues and a framework of areas responsible for addressing them and devising solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of our study was to estimate the levels of Vitamin D, hs CRP and hs Trop I in patients of Myocardial Infarction & to compare it with normal individuals of both sexes. Material and Methods : A hospital based cross sectional study was conducted on patients admitted in the Emergency an Medicine ward of SMI Hospital, Dehradun(UK) for a period of 04 months from June 2018 to September 2018. A total no of 91 cases (65 Male & 26 Female) in the age group with 35-70 years H/o chest pain of more than 20 minute, ST elevation in ECG and elevated Hs Trop I were included in the study. 48 controls (24 Male & 24 Female) which were age matched and without any Myocardial disease were included in the study.Exclusion criteria was age less than 35 years and above 70 years, chronic inflammatory disorders like Rheumatoid Arthritis, SLF etc.5ml of venous blood was drawn from cases within 06 hrs of Acute Myocardial Infarction and controls and were subjected to Biochemical analysis Vitamin D, hs CRP and hs Tro I on a fully automated Analyzer 5600 of Ortho Clinical Diagnostics. The data so obtained was statistically analyzed. Results: We observed significantly raised levels of hs Trop I and hs CRP and significantly low levels of Vitamin D in both male & female cases when compared with their controls respectively. Conclusion: These findings indicate that Hypovitaminosis D and raised hs CRP play an important role in the actiopathogenesis of Myocardial Infarction hs Trop I levels are raised in AMI. Which is highly indicative of MI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine any change over time in the association between deprivation and caries experience between 2003 and 2013 in a nationally representative sample of UK children. Methods: Data from UK Children's Dental Health Surveys, 2003 and 2013, were used. The target population was 5‐, 8‐, 12‐ and 15‐year‐olds. A total of 9604 children in 2003 and 9866 in 2013 were included in the surveys. Outcome variables were any active caries, caries experience and total number of carious teeth. Family socio‐economic position (SEP) or deprivation level was measured at school level using eligibility for free school meals (FSM) to identify children from low‐income families. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) and pooled standardized incidence rates ratios were calculated to measure dichotomous outcome variables by year, age group and status of deprivation. The study continuous outcome was modelled using a zero‐inflated Poisson regression while the dichotomous outcomes were modelled using logistic regressions. The multivariable analyses were run by age groups accounting for year, sex and deprivation status. Results: The percentage of those identified as deprived was significantly higher in 2013 (35.8% in 2013 vs 26.0% in 2003, P < 0.001). Among both deprived and non‐deprived children, the prevalence of any active caries significantly dropped over the years, observed in all age groups. Comparing 2013 with 2003 and accounting for sex, deprivation level, "any active caries," "any caries experience" and "total number of carious teeth" significantly dropped were observed in all age groups. Comparing the years, the association of deprivation with caries outcomes mostly remained the same or decreased. This decrease was predominantly seen in "any caries experience." Only among the 5‐year‐olds, did the association between deprivation and total number of carious teeth over the years significantly increase. For all age groups, the likelihood of "any active caries" and "total number of carious teeth" by deprivation remained the same comparing the two points in time: 2003 and 2013. However, irrespective of year, deprivation was significantly associated with caries observed in all age groups. Conclusion: In the UK, the prevalence of active dental caries and caries experience has decreased in the period between 2003 and 2013. Similarly, the likelihood of having dental caries by deprivation in 2013 was predominantly lower than that observed in 2003. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the UK. Black men are in a higher prostate cancer risk group possibly due to inherent genetic factors. The purpose of this paper is to introduce PROstate Cancer Evaluation and Education (PROCEE), an innovative serious game aimed at providing prostate cancer information and risk evaluation to black African-Caribbean men.Design/methodology/approach PROCEE has been carefully co-designed with prostate cancer experts, prostate cancer patients and members of the black African-Caribbean community in order to ensure that it meets the real needs and expectations of the target audience.Findings During the co-design process, the users defined an easy to use and entertaining game which can effectively raise awareness, inform users about prostate cancer and their risk, and encourage symptomatic men to seek medical attention in a timely manner.Originality/value During focus group evaluations, users embraced the game and emphasised that it can potentially have a positive impact on changing user behaviour among high risk men who are experiencing symptoms and who are reluctant to visit their doctor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postnatal depression affects 10-15 % of all mothers in Western societies and remains a major public health concern for women from diverse cultures. British Pakistani and Indian women have a higher prevalence of depression in comparison to their white counterparts. Research has shown that culturally adapted interventions using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) may be acceptable and may help to address the needs of this population. The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability and overall experience of the Positive Health Programme by British South Asian mothers.Methods: This was a nested qualitative study, part of an exploratory randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted to test the feasibility and acceptability of a culturally-adapted intervention (Positive Health Programme or PHP) for postnatal depression in British South Asian women. In-depth interviews (N = 17) were conducted to determine the views of the participants on the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention.Results: The participants found the intervention acceptable and experienced an overall positive change in their attitudes, behaviour, and increased self-confidence.Conclusions: The findings suggest that the culturally adapted Positive Health Programme is acceptable to British South Asian women. These results support that culturally sensitive interventions may lead to better health outcomes and overall satisfaction.Trial Registration: Protocol registered on Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01838889. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the philosophy of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) within Civil Procedure Rules (CPR), and mentions the power of the court to make the robust adverse costs orders in circumstances where the party has unreasonably refused to engage in ADR.

The article discusses a study on the surgical competency of ear, nose and throat (ENT) trainee surgeons and the Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme (ISCP) in Great Britain. Study results show the performance level scores of trainees using procedure-based assessments and the graduation in the difficulty in surgical operations being assessed during training. An example of myringotomy and ventilation tube insertion competence rating of trainees is presented.

Purpose: To review our experience with and the effectiveness of the ureteral Memokath 051™ metallic stent for the minimally invasive management of retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF). Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with RPF who were treated between April 2008 and February 2013. Success was defined as improvement of renal function and lack of complications after stent placement. Follow-up was at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and annually thereafter. Results: A total of 14 patients were identified. The study included eight female and six male patients. Mean age was 60.2 years±8.4 standard deviation (SD). The majority of patients had idiopathic RPF ( n=12, 85.7%). Stent placement was performed in 23 renal units in 14 patients, 9 (64.3%) of whom had bilateral disease. Ten (71.4%) patients had previously received medical treatment, while three (21.4%) presented with recurrent disease postureterolysis. The mean length of follow-up was 22.5 months (range 3-56 mos). Mean stricture length was 7.6 cm±6.2 SD on the right and 7.7 cm±5.1 SD ( P=0.925) on the left. Patients tolerated the stents well with minimal discomfort. Ureteral obstruction was managed successfully in 78.6% of patients ( n=11/14). All patients had improvement of renal function. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study using metal stents in patients with RPF. Retrograde placement of the ureteral Memokath 051 metal stent can be considered as a promising alternative for initial or salvage postureterolysis minimally invasive management of ureteral obstruction in RPF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies show that 'emergency extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (eESWL)' reduces the incidence of ureteroscopy in patients with ureteric calculi. We assess success of eESWL and look to study and identify factors which predict successful outcome. We retrospectively studied patients presenting with their first episode of ureteric colic undergoing eESWL (within 72 h of presentation) over a 5-year period. Patient's age, gender, stone size and location, time between presentation and ESWL, number of shock waves and ESWL sessions, and Hounsfield units (HU) were recorded. 97 patients (mean age 40 years; 76 males, 21 females) were included. 71 patients were stone free after eESWL (73.2 %) (group 1) and 26 patients failed treatment and proceeded to ureteroscopy (group 2). The two groups were well matched for age and gender. Mean stone size in group 1 and 2 was 6.4 mm and 7.7 mm, respectively, ( p = 0.00141). Stone location was 34, 21, and 16 in upper, middle and lower ureter in group 1 compared to 11, 5, and 10 in group 2, respectively. Mean HU in group 1 was 480 and 612 in group 2 ( p value 0.0036). In group 2, significantly, more patients received treatment after 24 h compared with group 1 (38 vs 22.5 %). The number of shock waves, maximal intensity, and ESWL sessions were not significantly different in the two groups. No complications were noted. eESWL is safe and effective in patients with ureteric colic. Stone size and Hounsfield units are important factors in predicting success. Early treatment (≤24 h) minimizes stone impaction and increases the success rate of ESWL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the safety and clinical efficacy of Tm:YAG laser vaporesection of the prostate (ThuVaRP) at intermediate-term follow-up. Patients and Methods: We identified the first 60 consecutive patients who underwent ThuVaRP at our institute. Operative outcomes assessed were resection time, resection weight, drop in haemoglobin, transfusion rate, catheter time and complication rate. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) was documented at a mean follow-up period of 19 months postoperatively. Results: 45/60 patients underwent treatment due to lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic obstruction, 11/60 patients had a long-term catheter in situ for refractory urinary retention secondary to benign prostatic obstruction, and 4/60 patients had bladder outflow obstruction secondary to adenocarcinoma of the prostate. 1/60 patients developed urosepsis, 1/60 patients developed a urinary tract infection and 1/60 patients required 3-way catheterization and irrigation due to haematuria. No patients required a blood transfusion. The mean IPSS at a mean follow-up interval of 19 months (range 15-28 months) was 5.1 (range 1-23). Postoperative maximum flow rate improved from 7.9 to 17.1 ml/s, and post-micturition residual volume decreased from 254 to 86 ml. Conclusion: ThuVaRP is safe and appears to have durable efficacy at intermediate follow-up. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Memokath 051™ is a semipermanent inert metal alloy ureteric stent which can bridge strictures and, compared to double J stents, causes less bladder irritation and pain, is more resistant to external compression forces and may be more effective in patients with malignant ureteric obstruction. We present our experience with this novel stent in such cases. Methods: All suitable patients referred to us with malignancy-associated ureteric strictures over a 4-year period had ureteric Memokath 051™ stents inserted. Data on aetiology and position of the strictures as well as length of the Memokath stents used and their efficacy and complications were recorded prospectively. Results: 42 ureteric Memokath 051™ stents were inserted in 37 patients (mean age 64 years). 40.5% of strictures were related to gynaecological cancer, 21% to bowel cancer, 14% were post radiation, 14% occurred in prostate cancer patients and 9.5% were found in other cancers. The mean follow-up was 22 months (range 5-60 months). The main complications were stent migrations in 5, urinary tract infections in 3 and blockage of stent due to progressive transitional cell carcinoma of the ureter in 2 cases. Conclusion: Memokath 051™ ureteric stents are safe, effective and durable in the long-term treatment of malignant strictures. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks into the investigations conducted by the defense sub-committee of the British parliament. Its investigations vary in size and scope, from large-scale surveys covering the whole field of defense to specific recommendations on the control of waste and inefficiency. The sub-committee began its work in season 1971-1972 with a general survey of defense expenditure. The first two reports examined the functional headings of the Defense White Paper, in order to survey successively the operational elements in the defense structure, and the back up elements, such as training, repair and other support functions. The most impressive aspect of these broad surveys was the amount of information elicited on a variety of subjects, ranging from major strategic issues to quite limited aspects of managerial aspects.

The article presents two surveys that aim to set acceptable standards of percutaneous nephrostomies (PCN) in Great Britain. A survey by the Royal College of Radiologists reveals that 16.5% of the PCNs were set by general radiologists who do not perform the procedure as part of routine clinical practice. Another survey of urologist practice patters indicated that just 11% of urologists doing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) routinely attained percutaneous access themselves.

The lack of healthcare staff and increasing proportions of elderly population is alarming. The traditional means to look after elderly has resulted in 255,000 reported falls (only within UK). This not only resulted in extensive aftercare needs and surgeries (summing up to £4.4 billion) but also in added suffering and increased mortality. In such circumstances, the technology can greatly assist by offering automated solutions for the problem at hand. The proposed work offers an Internet of things (IoT) based patient bed-exit monitoring system in clinical settings, capable of generating a timely response to alert the healthcare workers and elderly by analyzing the wireless data streams, acquired through wearable sensors. This work analyzes two different datasets obtained from divergent families of sensing technologies, i.e., smartphone-based accelerometer and radio frequency identification (RFID) based accelerometer. The findings of the proposed system show good efficacy in monitoring the bed-exit and discriminate other ambulating activities. Furthermore, the proposed work manages to keep the average end-to-end system delay (i.e., communications of sensed data to Data Sink (DS)/Control Center (CC) + machine-based feature extraction and class identification + feedback communications to a relevant healthcare worker/elderly) below 1 10 th of a second. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article the authors discuss aspects of long-term follow-up health care services of recurrent stone-formers after surgery or treatment in Great Britain. The authors claim that there is a lack of guidelines on periods and length of the follow-up on the disease and the available guidelines only address who should be evaluated and treated. The authors hope that with the facts laid out already, people will start to address the problems it poses.

The article comments on the importance of having a structured supervision and patient assessments in urology outpatient clinics in Great Britain. Training in outpatient clinics needs restructuring. One way to monitor and appraise training is to keep an outpatient clinic logbook. With an increasing role of office-based work in surgical specialties such as urology, it will become more important to ensure that training and monitoring of training in the outpatient clinic is closely scrutinized.

The article reports several developments related to general cardiology in Great Britain. Warfarin treatment can dramatically benefit patients, but improper dosage could result to overdosing and resultant bleeding. A study was conducted to detect myocardial injury among adult patients with severe carbon monoxide poisoning and treated with hyperbaric oxygen.

Reports that the British government will establish two bodies to oversee matters related to genetic research. Establishment of the Human Genetics Commission and the Agricultural and Environment Biotechnology Commission; The government's response to public concern over genetically modified (GM) foods; Response of consumer and environmental groups; Views of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. INSET: Britain backs biotech, seeks tougher regulation.

Describes plans by the Wellcome Trust to expand its Genome Campus in Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, England. Opposition from local authorities; Expansion to house small biotechnology companies; Decision about the expansion to be made by deputy prime minister and environment secretary John Prescott; Results of a public inquiry; Views of Michael Morgan of the Genome Campus; Letters of support for the plan. INSET: Local residents unimpressed by growth plan.

Reports that the government of Great Britain has pledged to put the commercialization of scientific knowledge at the heart of its industrial policy. Controversy about implementing the series of initiatives; Financing of the initiatives according to the government's white paper; Encouragement of academics to work with industry; Views of Peter Mandelson, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; Emphasis on science to create wealth. INSETS: Making a case in the corridors of power;Foresight initiative goes for competitiveness.

Focuses on Britain's Foresight program, which is designed to help facilitate discussion between government and industry regarding future technologies. How Foresight's objectives differ from those of its predecessor Technology Foresight; Focus on science's role in social policy; Future of British science. INSET: The changing culture of British science.

Reports on the growing concern in Great Britain over the increasing use of animals in genetic research. The proposal of a committee to investigate the welfare of transgenic animals used for research and xenotransplants; The debate in the European Parliament on biotechnology patent legislation; The numbers of transgenic animals bred; Comments by Colin Blakemore, professor of physiology at the University of Oxford; Aspects of Great Britain's 1986 Animals Act.

Informs that the Royal Greenwich Observatory in Cambridge, England will close and merge with the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh, Scotland. Cost savings to the British government and the taxpayers; Jobs expected to be cut as a result of the merger; The new center to be called the Astronomy Technology Centre.

Reports that the British government hosted a conference in London on extra-planetary life, to demonstrate that British research can compete with that of the United States. The efforts by Ian Taylor and Colin Pillinger; The charge that British space research has been ignored by the press; The discovery of carbon compounds in a Martian meteorite before the famous discovery of possible evidence of microbial activity in a Martian meteorite by NASA.

Reports that a United States military telegram declassified in 1996 reveals that a 1956 fire in a British nuclear weapons store nearly detonated an atomic bomb similar to the one the United States dropped on Nagasaki, Japan in 1945. The details of the accident; Why information in the American telegram contradicts earlier reports; Other accidents in Britain which nearly led to detonation of atomic weapons; Calls for the British government to be less secretive about nuclear accidents.

Looks at how the 1996 scare over the so-called mad-cow disease in Great Britain is threatening the political link between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) and the agriculture industry. The contention of many that MAFF cannot represent both the beef industry and consumers; The government's unusually quick response to evidence suggesting a connection between the consumption of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

The article presents several studies dealing with ischaemic heart disease in Great Britain. The Euro Heart survey was set out to investigate the prognosis associated with stable angina. Meta-analysis on the administration of aspirin in patient without cardiovascular disease is presented in this article. The amino acid L-arginine is a substrate for nitric oxide synthase has the potential to reduce vascular stiffness.

Discusses the issuing of a draft code of practice for companies in the medical and life sciences sector by the Bioindustry Association (BIA). Aim to manage the flow of scientific information to shareholders in a way that does not affect a company's share price; Problems at British Biotech; Provisions of the code.