Lalit Kumar, and Ian Eliot, and Patrick D. Nunn, and Tanya Stul, and Roger McLean

An objective method is proposed to evaluate the susceptibility of islands to climate change. As used here, susceptibility is an estimate of the potential for physical change of an island coast in response to likely changes in climate–ocean boundary conditions. The evaluation is based on an assumption that the intensity of impact due to climate and ocean processes can be typically related to four physical and quantifiable variables: island rock-type (lithology), island shape (circularity), maximu...

James Kiwanuka-Tondo, and Fredrick Semazzi, and Keon Pettiway

Governmental and non-governmental organizations have increasingly developed climate services and products to improve safety on Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest and the world’s second largest freshwater lake. Despite these efforts and other interests in efficient exploitation of natural resources, Lake Victoria is one of the most dangerous waterways in the world. Each year, around 5,000 people lose their lives on the lake due to navigation accidents. The purpose of this study is to analyze the per...

George Adamia, and Medea Chogovadze, and Liana Chokheli, and George Gigolashvili, and Marlen Gordeziani, and Gia Khatisashvili, and Maritsa Kurashvili, and Marina Pruidze, and Tamar Varazi

The aim of presented work is to estimate remediation potential of the blue-green alga Spirulina (Spirulina platensis), in particular, its ability to uptake 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) that is one of the most widely used military high explosive and a dangerous pollutant of the environment. The obtained results show that Spirulina has high ability to adsorb TNT, and the uptake of TNT and/or its metabolites by Spirulina carried out via adsorption on surface of cellular hydrocarbons coat and then by...

P V Shilpa, and Madhavi Bhargava

Safe drinking water is a basic element of primary health care. The government of India in its Indian Public Health Standards recommends the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) strip test as a desirable component at primary health centers for screening water for fecal coliforms. The objective of the present study was to conduct a water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) survey followed by a H2S strip test of drinking water in a village with ninety households. The test was positive in 88% at the source and the poi...

Faustin LOKINDA, and Norbert LITEMANDIA, and Aimé WAWANA, and John MBELI, and Aimé MOTONDO, and Sylvain ALONGO

This study aims at assessing the characteristics of the rural fish farming in pond at the Biosphere Reserve of Yangambi in DRC. The current study aims at analyzing the socioeconomic factors of the fish growers and the technical factors of the fish farming in order to identify the main constraints to development of this alternative activity to deforestation and in the fight against poverty in rural areas. Structured and semi-structured surveys were conducted among 146 fish farmers between May 201...

Y V Volodin

Thesis includes the analysis of the offshore segment of Russian IT-outsourcing market. The specialization of Russia on global IT-outsourcing market is outlined. Key quantitative parameters of this segment are given together with the assessment of comparison with global IT-outsourcing leaders. Key competitors in large and middle-business sectors are defined. Competitive advantages of Russian IT-outsourcers on the global market are mentioned. Industrial and geographical structure of foreign buyers...

V G Anisimov, and M R Gapov, and E S Rodionova

A model and an algorithm for the formation of an optimal logistic plan for the implementation of a complex of related works are proposed. The model is based on the presentation of the optimization procedure in the form of a non-linear problem of discrete programming, consisting in minimizing the execution time of a complex of related works by a limited number of partially interchangeable executors, while limiting the total cost of work.

Eloize Luvesuto, and Patrícia Domingues de Freitas, and Pedro Manoel Galetti Junior

The culture of the marine shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei has recently boosted the Brazilian shrimp industry. However, it is well known that selection methods based solely on phenotypic characteristics, a reduced number of breeders and the practice of inbreeding may promote a significant raise in the genetic similarity of the captive populations, leading to greater disease susceptibility and impairing both the growth and final size of the shrimps. We used four microsatellite loci to investigate gene...

Shelat Binita, and Rao B, and Vijaya L, and Revathi B, and Garg Dinesh

To study the effect of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) in glaucoma filtration surgery, 13 eyes of 12 patients with glaucoma were subjected to trabeculectomy with intraoperative one minute exposure of 50 mg/ml 5-FU. The average age of patients was 36.42 ± 18.78 years. Two of the patients had developed hypotony in the fellow eye following the use of Mitomycin C with trabeculectomy. The mean follow-up period was 9.54 ± 5.17 weeks. Two patients developed a shallow anterior chamber with choroidal...

José María HERNÁNDEZ DÍAZ

Antonio Gesualdi Júnior, and Érika Sá Viana Sales, and Rafael Souza Freitas, and Fábio da Costa Henry, and Vicente de Paulo Santos de Oliveira, and Ana Cristina Ladeira de Souza Gesualdi

The experiment was carried out with sheep during the finishing phase in a partial confinement system to evaluate the following physiological parameters: rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), productive performance and carcass characteristics. Fourteen uncastrated sheep with an average initial age of 90 days belonging to two genetic groups were used. There were seven Santa Inês animals, whose average initial live weight (ILW) was 23.65 kg, and seven F1 Dorper × St. Inês...

Vlach P., and Švátora M., and Dušek J.

The diet and food niche overlap of five fish species in the Úpoř brook was evaluated. The supply of food represented by benthos was studied, and the proportion of total food particles in the intestine of brown trout Salmo trutta L., chub Squalius cephalus (L.), dace Leuciscus leuciscus (L.), bullhead Cottus gobio (L.) and stone loach Barbatula barbatula (L.) was measured. Evaluations were performed using a new index (Mtotp)...

Mustapha MK

Artisanal fishers in developing world are unaware that fish are capable of suffering or discomfort, though researches have shown that fish do feel pain. Five fish welfare domains have been identified which constitute their rights in their environment. The needs of wild fish are usually provided in their natural, undisturbed and unperturbed aquatic environment, of which the fish will prefer. However, various anthropogenic activities by humans (including artisanal fisheries itself) and some natura...

Pazit Levinger, and Jeremy Dunn, and Nancy Bifera, and Michael Butson, and George Elias, and Keith D. Hill

Abstract Background The number of falls experienced by people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) is almost double the number experienced by people with no OA. The neuromuscular elements required to arrest a fall are more impaired in people with knee OA compared to their asymptomatic counterparts. Therefore, these elements may need to be incorporated into an exercise intervention to reduce the risk of falling. The aim of this study will be to examine the feasibility, safety and patient satisfaction of...

Jordan D. Poley, and Ben J. G. Sutherland, and Mark D. Fast, and Ben F. Koop, and Simon R. M. Jones

Abstract Background Microsporidia are highly specialized, parasitic fungi that infect a wide range of eukaryotic hosts from all major taxa. Infections cause a variety of damaging effects on host physiology from increased stress to death. The microsporidian Facilispora margolisi infects the Pacific salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis oncorhynchi), an economically and ecologically important ectoparasitic copepod that can impact wild and cultured salmonids. Results Vertical transmission of F. mar...

Raphael Couronné, and Philipp Probst, and Anne-Laure Boulesteix

Abstract Background and goal The Random Forest (RF) algorithm for regression and classification has considerably gained popularity since its introduction in 2001. Meanwhile, it has grown to a standard classification approach competing with logistic regression in many innovation-friendly scientific fields. Results In this context, we present a large scale benchmarking experiment based on 243 real datasets comparing the prediction performance of the original version of RF with default parameters a...

Jana Trebatická, and Zuzana Hradečná, and František Böhmer, and Magdaléna Vaváková, and Iveta Waczulíková, and Iveta Garaiova, and Ján Luha, and Igor Škodáček, and Ján Šuba, and Zdeňka Ďuračková

Abstract Background The prevalence of mood disorders in children is a growing global concern. Omega-3 fatty acids (FA) are emerging as a promising adjuvant therapy for depressive disorder (DD) in paediatric patients. The primary objective of this pilot, single-centre, randomized, double-blind controlled study was to compare the efficacy of an Omega-3 FA fish oil emulsion with a control oil emulsion alongside standard treatment for depressive symptoms in children and adolescents suffering from de...

Dieter Benninghoven, and Denise Hamann, and Yskert von Kodolitsch, and Meike Rybczynski, and Julia Lechinger, and Friedrich Schroeder, and Marina Vogler, and Eike Hoberg

Abstract Background Advances in medical, interventional and surgical treatment have increased average life expectancy of patients with congenital heart defects. As a result a new group of adult patients with congenital cardiac defects requires medical rehabilitation. Patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) are a relevant group among these patients. So far, no reports on the effectiveness of specialized rehabilitation programmes for MFS patients exist. We implemented an inpatient 3-week rehabilitatio...

Simmons David, and Cohn Simon, and Bunn Christopher, and Birch Kym, and Donald Sarah, and Paddison Charlotte, and Ward Candice, and Robins Peter, and Prevost A Toby, and Graffy Jonathan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>People with Type 2 diabetes face various psycho-social, self-management and clinical care issues and evidence is mixed whether support from others with diabetes, ‘peer support’, can help. We now describe a 2 month pilot study of different peer support interventions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The intervention was informed by formative evaluation using semi-structured interviews with health professionals, community support groups and observation of diabetes educati...

Pennino, M. G., and Bellido, J. M., and Conesa, D., and López–Quílez, A.

There is currently a global call for more use of an ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM) to provide a holistic view of ecosystem-fisheries interactions. Trophic indicators could therefore be used to support the implementation of an EAFM by providing information on the state of the ecosystem. In this paper we propose a set of indicators such as the marine trophic index (MTI), the fishing in balance (FiB), the cut marine trophic index (cutMTI) and the pelagic/demersal index (P/D) to a...

Fry Bryan G, and Bickford David, and Pahari Susanta, and Kini R Manjunatha

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Snake venom composition varies widely both among closely related species and within the same species, based on ecological variables. In terrestrial snakes, such variation has been proposed to be due to snakes' diet. Land snakes target various prey species including insects (arthropods), lizards (reptiles), frogs and toads (amphibians), birds (aves), and rodents (mammals), whereas sea snakes target a single vertebrate class (fishes) and often specialize on spe...

Hutchins Heather L, and Hallowell Edward M, and Sorgi Paul J, and Sears Barry

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurological condition in children. This pilot study evaluated the effects of high-dose eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on the isolated plasma phospholipids and behavior in children with ADHD (primarily inattentive subtype and combined subtype).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Nine children were initially supplemented with 16.2 g EPA/DHA concentrates per day. T...

Gomez Juan A, and Newman Stephen J, and Rocha Luiz A, and Bordenave Tiana-Rae, and Bowen Brian W, and Gaither Michelle R, and van Herwerden Lynne, and Craig Matthew T

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Coral Triangle (CT), bounded by the Philippines, the Malay Peninsula, and New Guinea, is the epicenter of marine biodiversity. Hypotheses that explain the source of this rich biodiversity include 1) the center of origin, 2) the center of accumulation, and 3) the region of overlap. Here we contribute to the debate with a phylogeographic survey of a widely distributed reef fish, the Peacock Grouper (<it>Cephalopholis argus</it>; Epinephelidae) at 21 locatio...

Epp Laura S, and Wörheide Gert, and Macis Luciana

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An increasing number of studies demonstrate that genetic differentiation and speciation in the sea occur over much smaller spatial scales than previously appreciated given the wide distribution range of many morphologically defined coral reef invertebrate species and the presumed dispersal-enhancing qualities of ocean currents. However, knowledge about the processes that lead to population divergence and speciation is often lacking despite being essential for...

Rosell, C.,, and Navàs, F., and Romero, S.

The reproductive parameters of a wild boar population located in a coastal landscape with a mosaic of cropland and wetland habitats were analysed and compared with those observed in wild boar populations living in other habitats. A total of 296 reproductive tracts of females captured year round at the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park were collected and analysed from 2000 to 2010. The foetuses were counted, sexed and aged and the mating and birth periods were determined. The weight and age of...

Coutinho Evandro SF, and Reichenheim Michael E

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several papers have discussed which effect measures are appropriate to capture the contrast between exposure groups in cross-sectional studies, and which related multivariate models are suitable. Although some have favored the Prevalence Ratio over the Prevalence Odds Ratio -- thus suggesting the use of log-binomial or robust Poisson instead of the logistic regression models -- this debate is still far from settled and requires close scrutiny.</p> <p>Discussi...

Miller David J, and Hayward David C, and Lin Zhiyi, and Reyes-Bermudez Alejandro, and Ball Eldon E

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The coral skeleton consists of CaCO₃deposited upon an organic matrix primarily as aragonite. Currently galaxin, from <it>Galaxea fascicularis</it>, is the only soluble protein component of the organic matrix that has been characterized from a coral. Three genes related to <it>galaxin </it>were identified in the coral <it>Acropora millepora</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>One of the <it>Acropora </it>genes (<it>Amgalaxin</it>) encodes a clear galaxin o...

Ferrero Marcela A, and Di Marzio Walter D, and Guerrero Leandro D, and Riva Mercadal Juan P, and Lozada Mariana, and Dionisi Hebe M

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), widespread pollutants in the marine environment, can produce adverse effects in marine organisms and can be transferred to humans through seafood. Our knowledge of PAH-degrading bacterial populations in the marine environment is still very limited, and mainly originates from studies of cultured bacteria. In this work, genes coding catabolic enzymes from PAH-biodegradation pathways were characterized in coastal sediment...

Benvenuti Marzia, and Colicchio Salvatore, and Dalmasso Bruna, and Martino Matteo, and Fornaro Michele, and Rocchi Giulio, and Escelsior Andrea, and Perugi Giulio

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite multiple antidepressant options, major depressive disorder (MDD) still faces high non-response rates, eventually requiring anticonvulsant augmentation strategies too. The aim of this study was to explore such a potential role for zonisamide.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 40 MDD outpatients diagnosed using the <it>Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders</it>, fourth edition criteria entered a 24 week open trial receiving duloxetine 60...

Freeman Mark A, and Sommerville Christina

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A microsporidian was previously reported to infect the crustacean parasite, <it>Lepeophtheirus salmonis </it>(Krøyer, 1837) (Copepoda, Caligidae), on farmed Atlantic salmon (<it>Salmo salar </it>L.) in Scotland. The microsporidian was shown to be a novel species with a molecular phylogenetic relationship to <it>Nucleospora </it>(Enterocytozoonidae), but the original report did not assign it to a genus or species. Further studies examined the development of th...

Gujjala Radhika, and Aruna Kumari Dara, and Kalyandurg Pujjari Varalaxmi, and Chinnappagari Bhavani

Background: A uniform and reliable clinical and practical evaluation of medical students is always desirable. The method of objective structured practical examination (OSPE)/objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) tests the students on what they can do rather than what they know. This method is now believed to meet the deficiencies of the conventional system of practical/clinical examination. Aims: The aim of the present study is to take the perceptions and opinions of the medical educa...

J.J. Gibson, and S.J. Birks, and Y. Yi, and P. Shaw, and M.C. Moncur

Study region: This study was conducted within a 100,000 km2 area of British Columbia, (B.C.) Canada including Vancouver Island, the Georgia Basin, and the Pacific and Kitimat mountain ranges rising from the Pacific Ocean. Study focus: A stable isotope mass balance method is applied to estimate evaporation loss and water yield from a remote network of 560 lakes on Vancouver Island and coastal B.C., based on helicopter sampling surveys conducted between 2008 and 2015. Spatial patterns in derived h...

Susana B. C Devalle

L. Tosi, and C. Da Lio, and P. Teatini, and P. Teatini, and A. Menghini, and A. Viezzoli

Understanding the continental-marine surficial water–groundwater exchanges in transitional coastal environments is really challenging at large scale. It requires an image of the saltwater–freshwater relationship which is difficult to be obtained especially in wetlands, lagoons, and marine areas. This study is focused on the coastland of the southern Venice lagoon – northern Po river delta (Italy), a precarious environment subject to both natural changes and anthropogenic pressures. Here, s...

Vishal Mevada, and Shradhdha Patel, and Jignesh Pandya, and Himani Joshi, and Rajesh Patel

Salinicoccus sp. BAB 3246 is a halophilic bacterium isolated from a marine water sample collected from the coastal region of Gujarat, India, from a surface water stream. Based on 16sRNA sequencing, the organism was identified as Salinicoccus sp. BAB 3246 (Genebank ID: KF889285). The present work was performed to determine the whole genome sequence of the organism using Ion Torrent PGM platform followed by assembly using the CLC genomics workbench and genome annotation using RAST, BASys and MaGe....

Rachel L. Welicky, and Wynand Malherbe, and Kerry A. Hadfield, and Nico J. Smit

Cymothoid isopods are a diverse group of ectoparasites of fish species, and are particularly conspicuous as they are large and attach to the body surface, mouth, and gill chamber of fish hosts. These parasites transition from juvenile to male to female, and how their size changes with ontogeny and correlates with host size is not well understood. To better understand these relationships, data from field and museum collected samples of South Africa were combined to test for the associations betwe...

Eduardo Loos, and Maycira Costa, and Sophia Johannessen

We describe the underwater light field of the Strait of Georgia in spring and summer, using apparent optical properties (reflectance, attenuation coefficient of downwelling irradiance, the average cosine of downwelling irradiance, and the attenuation of scalar irradiance). Both the attenuation and reflectance of photosynthetically available radiation (PAR; 400–700 nm) are highest in the turbid waters of the Fraser River plume, due to scattering by mainly inorganic particles and absorption by col...

Phillip A. Groves, and Brad Alcorn, and Michelle M. Wiest, and Jacek M. Maselko, and William P. Connor

Unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) were tested for counting Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) redds as a more accurate, safer alternative to manned helicopter flights. Counting redds from the helicopter was less expensive and time consuming, but of the total redds counted at selected sites with a UAS, an average (± SD) of only 77% ± 14% was counted from the helicopter. A river-wide census of redds was not possible with a UAS because the study area was too large for the single field crew to...

Kylie S. Foo, and Alicja A. Skowronski, and Danielle Baum, and Rebuma Firdessa-Fite, and Sebastian Thams, and Linshan Shang, and Rémi J. Creusot, and Charles A. LeDuc, and Dieter Egli, and Rudolph L. Leibel

Abstract Type I diabetes (T1D) is caused by immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic beta cells. This process is triggered, in part, by specific (aa 9–23) epitopes of the insulin Β chain. Previously, fish insulins were used clinically in patients allergic to bovine or porcine insulin. Fish and human insulin differ by two amino acids in the critical immunogenic region (aa 9–23) of the B chain. We hypothesized that β cells synthesizing fish insulin would be less immunogenic in a mouse model of T1...

Laila Ziko, and Al-Hussein A. Saqr, and Amged Ouf, and Matthias Gimpel, and Ramy K. Aziz, and Peter Neubauer, and Rania Siam

Abstract Background Cancer and infectious diseases are problematic because of continuous emergence of drug resistance. One way to address this enormous global health threat is bioprospecting the unlikeliest environments, such as extreme marine niches, which have tremendous biodiversity that is barely explored. One such environment is the Red Sea brine pool, Atlantis II Deep (ATII). Here, we functionally screened a fosmid library of metagenomic DNA isolated from the ATII lower convective layer (L...

Thanasis Manousis, and Constantinos Kontadakis, and Georgios Polyzoulis, and George Mbazios, and Sofia Galinou-Mitsoudi

Abstract Background The Hellenic Seas are influenced by on-going environmental changes and the introduction of alien species, which are expected to have an impact on their biodiversity. This study contributes to the knowledge of the Hellenic marine gastropod biodiversity, expanding data over the entire Greek territory, during the period from October 2008 to March 2017. Results This work presents 45 species of gastropods not previously reported from Greece or reported only once, belonging to 19 f...

Ayumi Nakamura, and Chieko Itaki, and Ayako Saito, and Toko Yonezawa, and Koichi Aizawa, and Ayumi Hirai, and Hiroyuki Suganuma, and Tomisato Miura, and Yasushi Mariya, and Siamak Haghdoost

Abstract Background Reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediate much of the DNA damage caused by ionizing radiation. Among carotenoids, lycopene and β-carotene, present in tomato juice, are known to be strong radical scavengers. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of tomato juice intake on the levels of DNA damage and oxidative stress in human whole blood induced by in vitro exposure to X-rays. Methods Ten healthy adults were asked to drink 190 g of tomato juice, containing 17 mg lycope...

Pankaj Khanna, and André W. Droxler, and Jeffrey A. Nittrouer, and John W. Tunnell Jr, and Thomas C. Shirley

A paucity of natural archives can make resolving rapid ocean rises induced by ice-sheet collapses during past periods of warming difficult. Here the authors show that systematic and common coralgal terraces record punctuated sea level rise events over decades to centuries during the last deglaciation.

Merger Eduard, and Held Christian, and Tennigkeit Timm, and Blomley Tom

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several previous global REDD+ cost studies have been conducted, demonstrating that payments for maintaining forest carbon stocks have significant potential to be a cost-effective mechanism for climate change mitigation. These studies have mostly followed highly aggregated top-down approaches without estimating the full range of REDD+ costs elements, thus underestimating the actual costs of REDD+. Based on three REDD+ pilot projects in Tanzania, representing a...

Elettra Leo, and Kristina L. Kunz, and Matthias Schmidt, and Daniela Storch, and Hans-O. Pörtner, and Felix C. Mark

Abstract Background Ocean acidification and warming are happening fast in the Arctic but little is known about the effects of ocean acidification and warming on the physiological performance and survival of Arctic fish. Results In this study we investigated the metabolic background of performance through analyses of cardiac mitochondrial function in response to control and elevated water temperatures and PCO2 of two gadoid fish species, Polar cod (Boreogadus saida), an endemic Arctic species, an...

Vinidh Paleri, and Joanne Patterson, and Nikki Rousseau, and Eoin Moloney, and Dawn Craig, and Dimitrios Tzelis, and Nina Wilkinson, and Jeremy Franks, and Ann Marie Hynes, and Ben Heaven, and David Hamilton, and Teresa Guerrero-Urbano, and Rachael Donnelly, and Stewart Barclay, and Tim Rapley, and Deborah Stocken

Background: Approximately 9000 new cases of head and neck squamous cell cancers (HNSCCs) are treated by the NHS each year. Chemoradiation therapy (CRT) is a commonly used treatment for advanced HNSCC. Approximately 90% of patients undergoing CRT require nutritional support via gastrostomy or nasogastric tube feeding. Long-term dysphagia following CRT is a primary concern for patients. The effect of enteral feeding routes on swallowing function is not well understood, and the two feeding methods ...

Zolotaryov Konstantin, and Mikhailova Marina, and Nakhod Kirill, and Mikhailov Anton

The paper deals with an algorithm created to analyze the heavy metals content in fish tissues. We developed it to study the distribution of heavy metals in fish tissues as well as to find appropriate mathematical approaches for its assessment. The algorithm consists of two steps. The first one is calculation of mean ratios of all the metals content being studied for every pair of tissues of each fish. The second one is calculation of mean ratios of an every single metal content for every pair o...

Nadine E Foster, and Annette Bishop, and Bernadette Bartlam, and Reuben Ogollah, and Panos Barlas, and Melanie Holden, and Khaled Ismail, and Sue Jowett, and Christine Kettle, and Jesse Kigozi, and Martyn Lewis, and Alison Lloyd, and Jackie Waterfield, and Julie Young

Background: Many pregnant women experience low back pain. Acupuncture appears to be a safe, promising intervention but evidence is needed about its clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. Objectives: To assess the feasibility of a future large randomised controlled trial (RCT) testing the additional benefit of adding acupuncture to standard care (SC) for pregnancy-related back pain. Design: Phase 1: a questionnaire survey described current care for pregnancy-related back pain. Focus group...

Chris Metcalfe, and Kerry Avery, and Richard Berrisford, and Paul Barham, and Sian M Noble, and Aida Moure Fernandez, and George Hanna, and Robert Goldin, and Jackie Elliott, and Timothy Wheatley, and Grant Sanders, and Andrew Hollowood, and Stephen Falk, and Dan Titcomb, and Christopher Streets, and Jenny L Donovan, and Jane M Blazeby

Background: Localised oesophageal cancer can be curatively treated with surgery (oesophagectomy) but the procedure is complex with a risk of complications, negative effects on quality of life and a recovery period of 6–9 months. Minimal-access surgery may accelerate recovery. Objectives: The ROMIO (Randomised Oesophagectomy: Minimally Invasive or Open) study aimed to establish the feasibility of, and methodology for, a definitive trial comparing minimally invasive and open surgery for oesophagec...

Daniel Hind, and James Parkin, and Victoria Whitworth, and Saleema Rex, and Tracey Young, and Lisa Hampson, and Jennie Sheehan, and Chin Maguire, and Hannah Cantrill, and Elaine Scott, and Heather Epps, and Marion Main, and Michelle Geary, and Heather McMurchie, and Lindsey Pallant, and Daniel Woods, and Jennifer Freeman, and Ellen Lee, and Michelle Eagle, and Tracey Willis, and Francesco Muntoni, and Peter Baxter

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare disease that causes the progressive loss of motor abilities such as walking. Standard treatment includes physiotherapy. No trial has evaluated whether or not adding aquatic therapy (AT) to land-based therapy (LBT) exercises helps to keep muscles strong and children independent. Objectives: To assess the feasibility of recruiting boys with DMD to a randomised trial evaluating AT (primary objective) and to collect data from them; to assess ho...