Things in the library 6th Dec...

Things to read...

We had our Reading group Christmas Party this week with a bumper attendance of 14 people. The books for next year are all chosen and will be announced shortly when we have confirmed which book will be read when. I can tell you however that the book we will be reading over Christmas and discussing in our meeting on 8th January will be 'The Snow Child' by Eowyn Ivey set in Alaska in 1920.



Things to attend...
ScHARR are running a course in May next year on 'The Identification and Review of Evidence to Inform Cost Effectiveness Models' there is an early Bird booking fee available until March 6th. The course will enable participants to develop an understanding of the methods available for the identification and review of evidence to inform cost effectiveness models. The course will meet the needs of those involved in health technology assessments and is particularly suited to:

• Health economic modellers wishing to extend their knowledge of how to identify and review evidence

• Information specialists who wish to advance their skills in identifying evidence for cost effectiveness models

• Systematic reviewers who wish to extend their reviewing skills related to cost effectiveness models

Alice Roberts (illus)

Things of beauty (and to use)...
Professor Alice Roberts makes programmes and write books about human anatomy, physiology, evolution, archaeology and history. She is also a medical doctor, and now a university lecturer. She taught human anatomy to students and doctors, and did research into human origins and disease in ancient skeletons - her talents also include watercolours and illustrations. This week she has uploaded many of her anatomy illustrations to her flickr page and says they are free to download and use for private use or any sort of teaching - please credit her as the illustrator.

Things about microbes...
The Annual Christmas Lecture on antimicrobial resistance by pioneers in the field, Professor Simon Foster and Professor David Hornby of the University of Sheffield is taking place Mon 9th Dec at 18:30 Man vs Microbe: Battle to the Death in Lecture Theatre 2 ,The Diamond Building. Whilst everyone is welcome, this event is suggested for those 16 and over, the event is free and open to the public The event is first come first come first served.

Things to make...
Today is Sinterklass in the Netherlands - last night shoes would have magically been filled with biscuits and sweets. My eldest son was born in the Netherlands and is staying with us at the moment so we thought we had better make an effort this year - courtesy of Tesco! However much nicer is to make your own Kruidnoten, Pepernoten or Speculaas. These biscuits are spiced with ginger, cinnamon, white pepper, cardamom, cloves, and nutmeg, with a hint of molasses. The origin of these traditional treats is intricately linked to the history of the Netherlands. The Dutch controlled the spice trade with the East in the 17th century, making the use of spices more accessible to ordinary Dutch people. Spices were still expensive, however, which is why their use was reserved for the holidays.

...and read

An interesting read around the history of this time is Nathaniel's Nutmeg by Giles Minton an adventure story of unthinkable hardship and savagery, the navigation of uncharted waters, and the exploitation of new worlds, not always easy to read but is it a remarkable chapter in the history of the colonial powers of that time.




Things to sing...
The local carol workshop will be held again this year for University staff and friends - a chance to sing some well known and lesser known Christmas carols, many originating from the villages to the north of Sheffield. These workshops were originally put on for staff in what was LeTS, and expanded quickly to include friends in other parts of the University as well as family members and friends.
There will be one session this year:  Friday 20 December  from 12.30-1.50pm  (come and go as you please - no need to book)

The venue is St Andrew's URC Church on Upper Hanover Street (the church with the spire near University tram stop). Supported by members of Worrall Male Voice Choir (Musical Director: Nigel Russell-Sewell) and Broomhall Community Choir (Musical Director: Stephen Vickers), due to popularity the workshops have grown from a few people meeting in the Union TV studio, to Firth Hall, to moving five years ago to St Andrew's.

If you have a copy of "The Blue Book-The Joy of Christmas" please take that with you, otherwise the carols will be available on the day (and copies of the Blue Book will be available for purchase).

Things in the library 22 Sept...

Things to eat...
Enjoy fantastic food at great prices during Dine Sheffield. Starting Thursday, 21 September, foodie’s can sample the cuisine of almost 50 restaurants and cafes throughout the city centre. Participating restaurants include established favourites, independent eateries and unique cafes. Diners will enjoy menus created especially for the week at a cost of either £5, £10 or £15.
The restaurants taking part include Marco’s Italian by Marco Pierre White, gourmet brasserie Browns and meat lover’s paradise Smoke Barbecue. They are joined by some of the city centre’s favourite restaurants and cafes such as tapas restaurant and bar Cubana, popular Indian restaurant Aagrah, new kid on the block Firepit BBQ, El Paso and Silversmiths.


Things about split families...
This article studies shared physical custody in Sweden, the country in the world where the phenomenon is most prevalent. They ask whether children in shared physical custody settings are more likely to report high levels of stress compared to children living in sole custody. The analysis is based on data with combined information from parents, children, and administrative registers. The models are controlled control for interparental as well as parent–child relationship quality and parents’ income. The results show that children sharing residence equally have lower likelihood of experiencing high levels of stress. The results can be interpreted as evidence for a positive effect of continuing everyday-like parental relationships after a family dissolution.

Things about Pediatric tracheotomy...
In this retrospective study, to assess outcomes of pediatric tracheotomy and duration of associated hospital stay according to indications, subjects were 142 consecutive pediatric patients (<18 years old) who underwent tracheotomy at a tertiary referral medical center, National Taiwan University Hospital, in 1997–2012. Age, sex, indications, pre-operative status (oxygen demand, number of repeated intubations), and post-operative status (duration of weaning, length of hospital stay, mortality) were analyzed. They conclude that outcomes of pediatric tracheotomy and duration of hospitalization depend on indications. Children with craniofacial anomalies had earlier tracheotomy age and longer mechanical ventilation before tracheotomy resulted in longer hospitalization. Earlier tracheotomy can shorten the duration of post-tracheotomy mechanical ventilation in several conditions.

Things about antibiotics...

A report, "Antibacterial agents in clinical development – an analysis of the antibacterial clinical development pipeline, including tuberculosis", launched this week by WHO shows a serious lack of new antibiotics under development to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.
Most of the drugs currently in the clinical pipeline are modifications of existing classes of antibiotics and are only short-term solutions. The report found very few potential treatment options for those antibiotic-resistant infections identified by WHO as posing the greatest threat to health, including drug-resistant tuberculosis which kills around 250 000 people each year.
"Antimicrobial resistance is a global health emergency that will seriously jeopardize progress in modern medicine," says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. "There is an urgent need for more investment in research and development for antibiotic-resistant infections including TB, otherwise we will be forced back to a time when people feared common infections and risked their lives from minor surgery."
In addition to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, WHO has identified 12 classes of priority pathogens – some of them causing common infections such as pneumonia or urinary tract infections – that are increasingly resistant to existing antibiotics and urgently in need of new treatments.

Things about birthweight...
An e-pub this week in Acta Paediatrica looks at "Outcomes of infants with a birthweight less than or equal to 500 g in Northern England: 15 years experience" . They aimed to evaluate mortality and short-term neonatal morbidity of babies born ≤500 g cared for in the Northern Neonatal Network over a 15-year period.
They say "In conclusion, we have shown that survival to a year in babies born weighing ≤500 g and ≥22 weeks over the past 15 years is poor. This could be due to a combination of attitudes towards resuscitation and intensive care, or the intrinsic nature of these tiny babies. Manufacturers of equipment and devices should attempt to further miniaturise their products for neonatal intensive care so  that optimal monitoring and management can be offered to this exceptionally vulnerable group of babies, and survival can perhaps be improved."

Things we have achieved...
The University of Sheffield has recognised the work our staff did to make such a success of our 'Book a Librarian' campaign this year and is rewarding us with lunch. This means we will be closed from 12:00 to 14:00 on Wed 27th Sept. Apologies for any inconvenience - when we reopen we will be staying open to the normal 19:00...but we might need a bit of a snooze during the afternoon ...so please don't ask us anything too difficult!


Food for students...

Whether it is trying to walk 'the wrong way' past the hospital against the flow of freshers...or whether your own youngsters have flown the nest...you can't help but notice that the student term has begun again. So if you are, or know someone who is, a student why not look at these  easy recipes... more exciting than beans on toast....but with simple instructions and videos for the non-cook ..and why not try some yourself too. Here is a great simple tomato sauce

Things in the library 9 June...

Things about cystic fibrosis...
An article in European J Pediatrics was published this week on 'Factors associated with changes in health-related quality of life in children with cystic fibrosis during 1-year follow-up' the authors conclude:

"In the group as a whole, HRQoL improved significantly over time. However, changes over time were significantly influenced by age: below 12 years of age, HRQoL improved in most patients whereas a deterioration was observed in most children >12 years. Strategies how to preserve or ideally to improve HRQoL in adolescence should be developed"


Things about antibiotics...

The World Health Organisation has released the latest edition of its essential medicines list which is updated every two years. WHO has grouped antibiotics into three groups—access, watch, and reserve—indicating which can be used for common infections and which should only be used in rare circumstances.

• WHO recommends that antibiotics in the access group, which includes amoxicillin, be available at all times to treat common conditions.
• The watch group includes antibiotics that are recommended as first or second choice treatments for a small number of infections. In this group are ciprofloxacin to treat cystitis and upper respiratory tract infections which, WHO says, should be dramatically reduced to avoid further development of resistance.
• The third group, reserve, includes antibiotics that should be considered last resort options and used only when all other drugs have failed, such as for life threatening infections from multidrug resistant bacteria. The antibiotics colistin and some cephalosporins should only be used when all other treatments have failed in a bid to combat anti-microbial resistance

Things about chronic illness...
Serious chronic illness can have a detrimental effect on school attendance, participation and engagement, leaving affected students at risk of failing to meet their developmental potential. An improved understanding of factors that help to explain or mitigate this risk can help educators and health professionals deliver the most effective support. This meta-review 'Understanding the school experiences of children and adolescents with serious chronic illness: a systematic meta-review.' critiqued the available evidence examining the link between six chronic illnesses (asthma, cancer, chronic kidney diseases, heart diseases, cystic fibrosis and gastrointestinal diseases) and children's and adolescents' school experiences and outcomes, as well as investigating the medical, school, psychosocial and sociodemographic factors that are linked to poorer or better school outcomes.

Things to read...
If you didn't manage to make it to our  Reading Group this week now is the time to start reading the next book 'Elizabeth is Missing' for our meeting on Wed 5th July at 17:15.  Our last book 'Black Diamonds' scored 67% from the group.
'Elizabeth is missing', reads the note in Maud's pocket in her own handwriting. Lately, Maud's been getting forgetful. She keeps buying peach slices when she has a cupboard full, forgets to drink the cups of tea she's made and writes notes to remind herself of things. But Maud is determined to discover what has happened to her friend, Elizabeth, and what it has to do with the unsolved disappearance of her sister Sukey, years back, just after the war.'

Things to see...
At the Graves Gallery, above the Central Library in Sheffield  (next to the Lyceum), they have an exhibition entitled 'An Earthly Paradise: Gardens in Art' which explores the diverse ways artists have represented these uniquely personal spaces in their work.
The exhibition sees the return of a major work to the city, Stanley Spencer’s Zacharias and Elizabeth (1913-14). The painting, co-owned with Tate, goes on display alongside highlights from Sheffield’s visual art and Ruskin collections, including paintings and works on paper by Paul Cézanne, James Tissot, Evelyn Dunbar and more. The exhibition is on until 12th August and is open Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 4pm  (Wednesdays 1pm – 6pm), entry free.

Things to hear...
At the City Hall on Friday 30th June there is a concert 'The Music of James Bond with The Hallé' , the greatest themes and songs of 007 ...listen to the sounds that gave musical voice to the films in catchy title sequences and haunting songs performed by vocalists Alison Jiear and Matthew Ford with the Hallé orchestra.

Things to taste...
With the elderflowers coming into bloom I think we are going to attempt an elderflower gin this weekend at home! If I have enough flowers left I might try these fritters too.

Things in the library 25th November

Things about epilepsy...
Public Health England has published Epidemiological assessment on proposed change to England’s children’s epilepsy surgery service specification. This assessment provides independent epidemiological evidence on how the children’s epilepsy surgery service specification (CESS) may be affected if the proposed changes to the current service specification are implemented.
The proposed changes are:

• to expand the list of operations to be undertaken at designated CESS centres 
• to change the current service specification so that children of all ages needing epilepsy surgery have their operations at one of the four designated CESS centres.

Things about antibiotics...

Public Health England has published English surveillance programme for antimicrobial utilisation and resistance (ESPAUR) report 2016. The ESPAUR report includes national data on antibiotic prescribing and resistance, and hospital antimicrobial stewardship implementation. It forms a standard against which antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance can be compared in successive years and a resource for commissioning and implementing antimicrobial stewardship policies in England.

Things about ...

Recent cohort studies found that 'Implementing evidence-based practices improves neonatal outcomes' and that 'Morphine exposure in preterm infants correlates with impaired cerebellar growth and poorer neurodevelopmental outcome'.  The library has a number of services that can help you find recent evidence based information - ask us if you need help, or checkout this page on our website.

Things about kidney injury...
A recent study discussed in New England Journal of Medicine involved 4683 patients 3 months to 25 years of age who had been admitted to pediatric intensive care units (ICUs) and were expected to require a stay of 48 hours or longer. The study indicates that acute injury is not only common among critically ill children and young adults, but is associated with adverse outcomes, implying that we should look more carefully for markers of acute kidney injury. Given the link between acute kidney injury and subsequent chronic kidney disease, it is possible that identifying and treating acute kidney injury promptly might reduce the prevalence of chronic kidney disease, now estimated as roughly 1 in 8 adults in the United States

Things about our travelling librarian...

The latest news we have from Sarah is that she is washing her socks...oh ... and she has managed to climb to the top of Cayambe the third highest mountain in Ecuador. Its south slope is the highest point in the world crossed by the Equator and the only point on the Equator with snow cover (according to Wikipedia).



Things crunchy...
I have had builders in this week so have limited access to my cupboards and a nice layer of black plaster dust settling out over everything. This recipe for 'Lemon & black pepper crusted salmon' looks quick, easy and tasty and hopefully the black pepper will disguise an unintentional extra crunch!

Things in the library 23 Sept 2016

Resistant things - Antimicrobials
The Prime Minister commissioned an independent review examining the economic issues associated with Antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Lord O’Neill has made recommendations for the international community. The Government’s response to the review can be seen here

Expanding things
Health Education England (HEE) has received funding from the Department of Health to support NHS England in meeting national targets to expand the workforce providing children and young people’s mental health services. Read about it here.


This information is for service providers within and outside the NHS in England who wish to express their interest in accessing a fully-funded scheme to employ and train new staff to provide evidence-based treatment for children and young people.

NICE things
Intravenous fluid therapy in children and young people in hospital Quality standard [QS131]
This guideline covers general principles for managing intravenous (IV) fluids for children and young people under 16 years, including assessing fluid and electrolyte status and prescribing IV fluid therapy. It applies to a range of conditions and different settings. It does not include recommendations relating to specific conditions.


New e-learning things through your OpenAthens account

All OpenAthens account holders now have access to a large set of elearning resources from Health Education England e-Learning for Healthcare (HEE e-LfH). This organisation works in partnership with the NHS and professional bodies to support patient care by providing e-learning to educate and train the health and social care workforce.

HEE e-LfH’s programmes cover subjects from audiology to anaesthesia, dentistry to dermatology, electronic fetal monitoring to end of life care, primary care to prescribing, safeguarding children to statutory and mandatory training. All content is nationally quality-assured and available 24/7.  The online training sessions enhance traditional learning, support existing teaching methods and provide a valuable reference point.



You can find the new content by going to https://openathens.nice.org.uk/Auth/Login. Log in with your OpenAthens username and password, and click on My Resources in the menu on the left hand side. For more information about accessing e-LfH resources via OpenAthens visit: http://support.e-lfh.org.uk/get-started/openathens/.




Digital things
A digital NHS? An introduction to the digital agenda and plans for implementation
This report looks at the key commitments made and what we know about progress to date, grouped under three broad themes:
1) interoperable electronic health records
2) patient-focused digital technology
3) secondary use of data, transparency and consent.

It identifies barriers to further progress and opportunities for delivering on the digital agenda..




Things to cook for the weekend
Following a week of food over indulgence celebrating my wedding anniversary and dinner at the Health Libraries Group conference I thought this would be perfect to get sensible eating back on track especially if the weather holds for the weekend!

Squash steaks with chestnut & cavolo nero pilaf