fourth annual bsms / bsuh research day

Platelet morphology depends on the surface structure

Podoconiosis is a geochemical disease occuring in those exposed to red clay soil derived from volcanic alkalic rock

The use of imaging in the diagnosis and monitoring of Takayasu's arteritis

Vascular medicine

As the first fourth years begin their year-long research projects, and investment continues in areas such as neurology, paediatrics, elderly care and oncology, BSMS is set to continue its research-active tradition. The fourth annual BSUH / BSMS research symposium this November focused on vascular medicine, encompassing areas of strength including basic sciences, imaging and epidemiology.

The 12 speakers showed the range of local work in this discipline.

Mr Giles Critchley showed how CT perfusion could be used to evaluate the blood flow in intercranial meningiomas, with benefits for surgical planning;

Professor Mike Peters looked at the use of lymphoscintigraphy to investigate lymph flow in swollen limbs, and considered why not all women develop breast cancer-related lymphoedema after axillary lymph node clearance surgery;

Dr Des Watson used a map of Britain to introduce fractals and demonstrated how fractal analysis of lung tumours could yield information about their aggression;

Dr Alastair Hepburn spoke about modelling immune complex processing in vitro;

Dr Melanie Newport described a study on genetic susceptibility to podoconiosis as a model for gene environment interactions in other complex vascular disorders such as diabetes and hypertension;

Dr Laurie Tomlinson (winner of the prize for best poster) and Professor Rajkumar introduced the concept of vascular stiffness and showed the dramatic link between inflammation and arterial stiffness in renal disease;

Dr Karen Walker-Bone and Dr Lyuba Mikhalovska explained their current study comparing patients treated with coronary stents in Brighton and Lille, looking at different types of stents and other factors that predict their success;

Dr Andrew Iverson examined the use of carotid artery ultrasound scans in detecting vascular disease and improving patient motivation;

Lorraine Bennett looked at management of patent foramen ovale, the hole between the left and right atria that as many as one in four people have;

Professor Kevin Davies evaluated, with case studies, the advantages and disadvantages of using MRI and PET imaging to diagnose giant cell arteritis and Takayasu’s arteritis.