Prevalence of anal fistula in the United Kingdom

BACKGROUND Anal fistula is a pathological connection between the anal canal and perianal skin, which most commonly develops from an infected anal crypt. While the majority of anal fistulas are idiopathic, they are also associated with Crohn’s disease (CD) and other inflammatory conditions. The prevalence of anal fistula is estimated to be 1-2 per 10000 patients, but population-based studies on anal fistula epidemiology are limited and outdated. AIM To assess the prevalence of anal fistula and relevant comorbidities, with and without CD in the United Kingdom and Europe. METHODS A retrospective population-representative observational cohort study was performed in The Health Improvement Network (THIN), a United Kingdom primary care database. Mid-year point prevalence of anal fistula was calculated on the first of July for each year between 2014 and 2017. Estimates were calculated for anal fistula overall and by CD status and standardized to the United Kingdom and European population. Prevalence of relevant comorbidities including lymphogranuloma venereum, hidradenitis suppurativa, anal presentation of sexually transmitted diseases, diabetes mellitus, and radiation in the pelvic area was reported. RESULTS The United Kingdom-standardized overall point prevalence of anal fistula was 1.80 (95%CI: 1.65-1.94) per 10000 patients in 2017, while the Europe standardized estimate was 1.83 (95%CI: 1.68-1.98) per 10000 patients. Both these standardized point prevalence estimates ranged from 1.89 to 2.36 between 2014-2016. The United Kingdom-standardized point prevalence of anal fistula without CD was 1.35 (95%CI: 1.23-1.48) per 10000 patients, while the Europe-standardized estimate was 1.39 (95%CI: 1.26-1.52) per 10000 patients. In contrast, the standardized point prevalence estimate of anal fistula with CD was lower for both United Kingdom and Europe (0.44;95%CI United Kingdom: 0.37-0.52, 95%CI Europe: 0.37-0.51) per 10000 patients in 2017. In 2017, 19% of anal fistula patients without CD and 13% of anal fistula patients with CD had at least one relevant comorbidity. These results show that anal fistulas are infrequent in the general population. 24.5% of prevalent anal fistulas are associated with CD, but other potentially etiological comorbidities are rare. CONCLUSION This real-world evidence study estimated the United Kingdom-standardized prevalence of anal fistula was 1.80 per 10000 patients in 2017. Approximately 25% of cases may be associated with CD, while other comorbidities are rare.

Gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection as a treatment for early neoplasia and for accurate staging of early cancers in a United Kingdom Caucasian population

AIM To investigate the efficacy of endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD) at diagnosing and treating superficial neoplastic lesions of the stomach in a United Kingdom Caucasian population.METHODS Data of patients treated with or considered for ESD at a tertiary referral center in the United Kingdom were retrieved for a period of 2 years(May 2015 to June 2017) from the electronic patient records of the hospital. Only Caucasian patients were included. Primary outcomes were curative resection(CR) and were defined as ESD resections with clear horizontal and vertical margin and an absence of lympho-vascular invasion, poor differentiation and submucosal involvement on histological evaluation of the resected specimen. Secondary end-points were reversal of dysplasia at 12 mo endoscopic follow-up and/or at the latest follow up. Change in histological diagnosis pre and post ESD was also analysed.RESULTS Twenty-four patients were initially identified with intention to treat. 19 patients were eligible after mapping gastroscopy and ESD was attempted on a total of 25 ESD lesions, 4 of which failed and had to be aborted mid-procedure. Out of 21 ESD performed, en-bloc resection was achieved in 71.4% of cases. Resection was considered complete on endoscopy in 90.5% of cases compared to only 38.1% on histology. A total of 6 resections were considered curative(28%), 5 noncurative(24%) and 10 indefinite for CR or non-CR(24%). ESD changed the histological diagnosis in 66.6% of cases post ESD. Endoscopic follow-up in the "indefinite" group and CR group showed that 50% and 80% of patients were clear of dysplasia at the latest follow-up respectively; 2 cases of recurrence were observed in the "indefinite"group. Survival rate for the entire cohort was 91.7%.CONCLUSION This study provides early evidence for the efficacy of ESD as a therapeutic and diagnostic intervention in Caucasian populations and supports its application in the United Kingdom.

Availability of basic life support courses for the general populations in India, Nigeria and the United Kingdom: An internet-based analysis

BACKGROUND:The number of lay people willing to attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR)in real life is increased by effective education in basic life support(BLS).However,little is known about access of general public to BLS training across the globe.This study aimed to investigate availability and key features of BLS courses proposed for lay people in India,Nigeria and the United Kingdom(UK).METHODS:A Google search was done in December 2018,using English keywords relevant for community resuscitation training.Ongoing courses addressing BLS and suitable for any adult layperson were included in the analysis.On-site training courses were limited to those provided within the country's territory.RESULTS:A total of 53,29 and 208 eligible courses were found for India,Nigeria and the UK,respectively.In the UK,the number of courses per 10 million population(31.5)is 79 and 21 times higher than that in India(0.4)and Nigeria(1.5).Course geography is limited to 28%states and one union territory in India,30%states and the Federal Capital Territory in Nigeria.In the UK,the training is offered in all constituent countries,with the highest prevalence in England.Courses are predominantly classroom-based,highly variable in duration,group size and instructors'qualifications.For India and Nigeria,mean cost of participation is exceeding the monthly minimum wage.CONCLUSION:In contrast to the UK,the availability and accessibility of BLS courses are critically limited in India and Nigeria,necessitating immediate interventions to optimize community CPR training and improve bystander CPR rates.

A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF IMPLEMENTING MATERIAL MANAGEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION: UNITED KINGDOM AND HONG KONG EMPIRICAL STUDIES

Construction organizations have a common practice to purchase and to deliver required materials to construction sitesabout one month before activities start. This leads to uneconomical inventory on site and contractors’ warehouses. Thispaper investigates the feasibility in implementing material management in construction. United Kingdom and HongKong are selected for the investigation as one has a long implementation period and another one is just implementingmaterial management as noted by interviewed contractors. Questionnaires and structured interviews are conducted.It is found that United Kingdom construction industry benefi ts are more signifi cant than that in Hong Kong. Thiscan stimulate interests in implementing material management in Hong Kong. Respondents from Hong Kong claimedthat their companies will be willing to implement material management where practicable. This study can also helpcountries currently implementing material management. From that, waste generation can be reduced and a greenconstruction environment can be achieved. Recommendations to improve the implementation are also discussed.

Analysis of an SME using Silicon and Flexible Organic Solar Cells as Replacements for Fossil Fuel Sources of Electricity in UK and Iraq

Currently, 86% of the energy originates from fossil fuelsforelectricity. These are expected to run out, causing severe environmental damage threatening future generations. The total impact of Small and Medium Enterprises （SMEs） on the economy is significant. Solar cells harness the sun＇s energy to generate electricity in an environmentally friendly manner. This study compares silicon solar cells to flexible Organic Photovoltaic solar cells （OPV） for electricity energy for a micro-business in the UK and Iraq. It shows that it is feasible to replace existing fossil fuel sources with solar cells in Iraq due to a greater amount of solar radiation striking the earth＇s surface. Flexible solar cells can replace a proportion of the energy requirements in the UK and a larger proportion in Iraq. Using existing 20% efficient solar cells, 28% and 83% of the energy requirements of the microbusiness can be replaced in UK and Iraq respectively. Assuming 20% efficiency for solar cells placed on windows, 74% and 220% of the energy requirements of UK and Kurdistan can be replaced respectively and the surplus stored.

A Brief Review on the Evolution and Transformation of Universities in UK

This paper is expected to make a brief review on the evolution and development of universities in United Kingdom from the‘Medieval Universities’taking Oxbridge as representatives to the‘New Universities’in twentieth century,with entrepreneurial universities emerging in the twenty first century being included.The conclusion can be drawn from the brief review that when the“old”universities didn’t meet the social demand yet with the unshakable position,the newly learning institution comes into being in the history of HE in United Kingdom.Moreover,each category of universities possesses different characteristics and style.

Trends of central line-associated bloodstream infections in the intensive care unit in the Kingdom of Bahrain:Four years’experience

BACKGROUND The central venous line is an essential component in monitoring and managing critically ill patients.However,it poses patients with increased risks of severe infections with a higher probability of morbidity and mortality.AIM To define the trends of the rates of central line-associated bloodstream infections(CLABSI)over four years,its predicted risk factors,aetiology,and the antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolated pathogens.METHODS The study was a prospective case-control study,performed according to the guidelines of the Center for Disease Control surveillance methodology for CLABSI in patients admitted to the adult intensive care unit(ICU)and auditing the implementation of its prevention bundle.RESULTS Thirty-four CLABSI identified over the study period,giving an average CLABSI rate of 3.2/1000 central line days.The infection's time trend displayed significant reductions over time concomitantly with the CLABSI prevention bundle's reinforcement from 4.7/1000 central line days at the beginning of 2016 to 1.4/1000 central line days by 2018.The most frequently identified pathogens causing CLABSI in our ICU were gram-negative organisms(59%).The most common offending organisms were Acinetobacter,Enterococcus,and Staphylococcus epidermidis,each of them accounted for 5 cases(15%).Multidrug-resistant organisms contributed to 56%of CLABSI.Its rate was higher when using femoral access and longer hospitalisation duration,especially in the ICU.Insertion of the central line in the non-ICU setting was another identified risk factor.CONCLUSION Implementing the prevention bundles reduced CLABSI significantly in our ICU.Implementing the CLABSI prevention bundle is crucial to maintain a substantial reduction in the CLABSI rate in the ICU setting.

The diffi culties of "polluter pays" policy in agricultural pollution in UK and methods to improve it

Agricultural wastes poll,tion became serious after great improvement in technology and the encouragement of production for the government since the end of the World Wai Ⅱ. Economists and environmental scholars suggested that ＂polluter pays＂ policy be employed in agricultural pollution control. However, it was hard to implement ＂polluter pays ＂ policy alone in agricultural wastes pollution.In practice, there were two social faCtors which contrih,ted to the improvement of water quality in the southwest of United Kingdom. One method is to communicate with farmers and then give farmers some advice or exhortation on facilities and management. The other method is to set up a telephone hotline for public to report water quality and probable pollution. Therefore, the consideration and combination of social factors in the control of agricultural wastes pollution are necessary, and important. Edueation of basic natural sciences relevant to agricultural pollution, system management of agricultural pollutants and laws relevant to agricultural pollution is suggested to be the third .social factor that British government can consider.

英国大型阅读推广项目多元协作模式解析

“多元协作”组织实施模式是英国大型阅读推广项目得以成功开展的主要因素之一。政府、社会组织、公共图书馆、企业、公众等多元主体以不同角色和作用结成协作关系及协作网络,形成了特色而有效的协作机制。该模式具有跨界协作、伙伴关系、双核心、专业性、广泛性和适应性等特点及优势,但也存在松散性和不稳定性的潜在问题。我国可从创新和改进政府引导扶持方式、树立公共图书馆多元协作“核心”地位、主动吸纳社会资金并充分利用社会资源、推动跨领域协作、确立规范稳定的协作机制等方面对其经验加以借鉴。

从“学徒制”到“场景化”:英国博士生跨学科联合培养的实践探索

博士生培养模式对保障博士生教育质量、助力拔尖创新人才培养具有重要价值。自中世纪开始,英国便以“精英式”高等教育享誉全球。然而,英国现代意义上的博士生教育滞后于大多数欧美国家,精致的“学徒制”被当作博士生培养的主要模式。随着博士生教育质量的内部诉求与外部问责,英国政府逐步意识到传统“学徒制”模式不再适用新时代博士生培养,开始积极探索新型博士生培养模式。目前,英国政府、大学、企业与其他社会组织形成博士生培养共同体。一方面,英国依托完备的政策制度、成熟的组织体系与充足的资金保障,搭建起稳固坚实的博士生育人“场”;另一方面,英国通过贯通型协同培养、高精度课程整合、导师共享型指导与交往参与式活动,营造了动态灵活的博士生培养“景”。可以说,英国初步构建了助力博士生教育高质量发展的全面“场景化”培养模式。

英国公共图书馆老年人与闭居者服务调查与启示

文章以19个英国公共图书馆为调查对象,采用网站调查法、邮件咨询法和文献调研法,对英国公共图书馆的老年人与闭居者服务内容进行探究。调查发现,英国公共图书馆的老年人与闭居者服务内容主要围绕着健康与医疗服务、无障碍服务、送书上门服务、特惠服务、休闲服务五个方面展开,并通过分析英国公共图书馆面向老年人与闭居者服务的现状、内容和特点,提炼出其对我国公共图书馆开展相关服务的启示。

欧美亚典型发达国家洪水标准及应对气候变化策略

针对洪水标准选用及应对气候变化适应性政策制定问题,系统调研欧美亚典型发达国家在该领域的研究及应用成果,从工程设计洪水标准和流域洪水管理标准等角度综述美国、荷兰、英国和日本洪水标准的制定政策,从气候变化对设计暴雨/洪水的影响角度分析总结英国和日本在应对气候变化上的适应性对策。建议在洪水标准及气候适应对策研究中抛弃单纯依据大坝尺寸确定洪水标准的方式,基于动态发展及整体-局部互馈关联视角,兼顾气候变化对暴雨洪水的影响,从洪水潜在危害及风险角度出发,制定相应的政策规范。本综述可为我国新时期洪水标准选用规则及适应气候变化策略的制定提供参考。

英国西苏格兰大学精神卫生护理专业教育的现状与启示

该文介绍了英国西苏格兰大学精神卫生护理专业教育的目标、课程设置、教学和学习评价方式、实践培训内容与安排,以期为我国精神科护理学课程建设、提升我国护理专业学生的精神卫生护理能力提供参考。

英国职教高校考试招生制度变革的内在逻辑与动力因素——基于历史制度主义的视角

职教高校考试招生制度是我国职业教育顺利迈向高质量发展阶段的关键制度。从历史制度主义考察英国近30年来职教高校考试招生制度的形成和变革,经历了基于扩大教育参与的初创阶段、基于提高职教标准的转型阶段以及对接产业发展战略的新发展阶段,这一发展历程既体现出制度变迁对学术资格考试的路径依赖,也体现了渐进转型的过程,最终摆脱对学术资格考试的依附,形成独立的技术资格考试招生制度。对驱动变革因素考察表明:经济利益驱动与文化认同是主要的结构性动力;制度的自我学习与强化是内生性动力;政府、雇主和高校的利益博弈是推进政策演变的行动性动力。

学术何以接引技能:英国大学参与高等学徒制的实践及启示

自身传统形成的学术倾向与职业教育内含的技能追求之间的矛盾,是影响本科院校积极参与高层次技能型人才培养的关键因素。通过对英国大学参与高等学徒制缘起、基础和具体实施的考察,探究学术接引技能的必要、可能与途径,并为我国大学参与高等学徒制提供对策,即政府顶层设计是前提、多方共同参与是基础、利于招生就业是动力、大学实施改革是保障。

社会-空间视角下的英国保障性住房发展研究

从20世纪中期的大规模公共住房建设到近年来的市场化转型,英国在解决住房短缺问题的过程中,采取了不同的政策导向和城市规划策略,这些策略在取得成效的同时,也不可避免地导致了低收入群体与其他社会阶层之间的隔离现象。这种隔离不仅限制了低收入居民的社会流动性,也加剧了社会不平等和区域发展不均衡。文章通过理顺英国保障性住房各时期的发展脉络,探讨各时期内产生居住隔离现象的成因,以期为保障性住房政策制定提供理论依据和实践参考。

美英日国家图书馆智库服务研究

国家图书馆智库作为国家发展和治理的重要支撑,其建设和发展应受到关注和重视。文章从机构概况、服务内容、服务成果三方面,详细介绍并对比了美国国会图书馆、英国下议院图书馆和日本国立国会图书馆的智库情况,并从人才队伍、组织结构、研究领域以及平台建设等方面,对我国国家图书馆智库建设和服务提出建议。

基于re3data的中英科学数据仓储平台对比研究

以re3data为数据获取源,选取中英两国406个科学数据仓储为研究对象,从分布特征、责任类型、仓储许可、技术标准及质量标准等5个方面、11个指标对两国科学数据仓储的建设情况进行对比分析,试图为我国数据仓储的可持续发展提出建议:广泛联结国内外异质机构,推进多学科领域的交流与合作,有效扩充仓储许可权限与类型,优化技术标准的应用现况,提高元数据使用的灵活性。

世界主要发达国家推动人工智能产业发展对策研究

人工智能(AI)作为推进全球数字化发展的关键技术,已经成为世界各国在新一轮科技竞争和智力较量中的关注焦点。解读全球主要发达国家推动AI产业的对策,有助于为智能时代我国AI领域的政策布局提供前沿视角与参考。选取美国、新加坡和英国作为研究案例,从AI政策的解读和推动AI发展的相关项目出发,聚焦于世界主要发达国家在推进AI产业发展方面的努力,并对比分析这些国家AI产业对策的特征。研究表明,美国致力于保持其全球领先地位,鼓励技术创新,并强调AI的伦理道德问题;新加坡努力打造成为全球AI解决方案的中心;英国则强调其作为全球科研强国的地位,将构建一个充满活力的AI生态系统作为其政策的核心。