Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “WALES”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Rural concentrations of nitrogen dioxide pollution throughout Wales.

Monitoring of nitrogen dioxide was carried out at over 50 rural sites in Wales throughout 1986. All sites were chosen so as to be remote from any local sources of NO(2) and the values obtained were deemed to be minimum values for the different regions. Measurements were made using a diffusion tube technique which aimed to give mean concentrations of NO(2) for 2-week exposure periods. The results obtained have been used to generate pollution maps to show mean monthly levels of NO(2) for rural environments throughout Wales. It is apparent that levels of NO(2) are generally higher during the winter months. In addition, annual mean concentrations of the pollutant are greatest in the north-eastern and south-eastern parts of Wales with the lowest levels being found along the western coast. The work marks the completion of the first national survey of nitrogen dioxide pollution in Wales. The data are discussed in terms of the potential threat rural concentrations of NO(2) pose to crops and natural vegetation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Small intestinal cancer in England & Wales and Scotland: time trends in incidence, mortality and survival.

BACKGROUND: Time trends in mortality from small intestinal cancer have not been studied for the 1990s. OBJECTIVE: To examine secular trends in incidence of, mortality from, and survival from, small intestinal cancer in England & Wales and Scotland from 1975 to 2002, considering also histological type (incidence), subsite (incidence) and indices of social deprivation (incidence and survival). METHODS: Data were extracted from the Scottish Cancer Registry database and the General Register Office for Scotland, and from the National Cancer Intelligence Centre at the Office for National Statistics for England & Wales. RESULTS: Incidence rates for small intestinal cancer increased for both England & Wales and Scotland over the study period. They were highest among older individuals and generally greater for males than for females. Despite the increase in incidence rates, mortality rates from small intestinal tumours tended to remain stable over the study period, and the general trend was towards increasing survival. Indices of social deprivation were not obviously related to the incidence of small intestinal cancer and did not influence survival. CONCLUSIONS: Incidence rates for small intestinal cancer for both England & Wales and Scotland increased in the last quarter of the 20th century, but survival rates improved and mortality rates declined.

Female↗
PubMed2004

Resources for managing trauma in rural New South Wales, Australia.

BACKGROUND: Trauma bypass is not always appropriate in the management of rural trauma because of the large distances and travel times. Rural hospitals in New South Wales, Australia are an essential component of the statewide integrated trauma system. The present study profiles the trauma resources of base hospitals in rural New South Wales. METHODS: A structured questionnaire, addressed to the 'Director, Emergency Department' was distributed to all rural base hospitals in New South Wales. Follow-up telephone interviews were administered to complete data collection. RESULTS: Fourteen hospitals were identified. General and orthopaedic surgeons provided trauma care in all hospitals. Forty-three per cent of hospitals had resident subspecialty surgeons. Fifty per cent of hospitals had a formal hospital trauma team. In the remaining hospitals, the most common reason (86%) stated for the absence of a formal trauma team was a lack of personnel to provide 24 h immediate response to all trauma presentations. Seventy-one per cent of hospitals are staffed by a single doctor after hours. All hospitals had 24 h access to plain radiography and blood products. 86% had 24 h access to ultrasound and computed tomography, although always on an 'on-call' basis after hours. All hospitals had the capability to maintain ventilated patients, averaging two ventilated beds per hospital. An average of two trauma patients per hospital per month is transferred to a larger institution. Sixty-four per cent of hospitals participated in a trauma retrievals for their surrounding areas. Seventy-one per cent of hospitals engaged in quality assurance activities regarding trauma outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Formal responses to major trauma in rural base hospitals in New South Wales are often restricted by a lack of specialist medical personnel. Nevertheless, the majority of hospitals have the resources to manage major trauma.

Australia↗
PubMed1997

The effect of differences in the distribution of maternal age in England and Wales on the performance of prenatal screening for Down's syndrome.

We aimed to determine how differences in the age at which women had their pregnancies influenced the expected detection and false-positive rates of serum screening for Down's syndrome (i) between 1970 and 1993 in England and Wales, and (ii) between regions and districts of England and Wales in 1991. We applied published estimates of Down's syndrome screening to regional and district data on the age distribution of maternities and changes in the age distribution over time in England and Wales obtained from the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. From 1970 to 1993 women, on average, became pregnant at an older age; the percentage of maternities among women aged 35 or more increased from 7 to 9.2 per cent. This was not a great enough change to have had a material effect on the performance of Down's syndrome screening. In 1991, the percentage of maternities among women aged 35 or more varied from 5 to 20 per cent among Health Districts, a difference that would influence the performance of screening; for example, using the triple test and a risk cut-off of 1 in 250, the detection rates would have varied from about 55 to 70 per cent and the false-positive rates from 4.4 to 8.8 per cent across different districts. The tendency for women to have their pregnancies at an older age would have had a negligible impact on the performance of serum screening for Down's syndrome, but differences in the age when women had their pregnancies in different parts of the country would lead to twice as many women being referred for amniocentesis in some districts than in others when offered the same method of serum screening and at the same risk cut-off level. The results will have important implications for the local purchasers of Down's syndrome screening services.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Trends in suicide by drowning in the elderly in England and Wales 1979-2001.

BACKGROUND: Suicide by drowning increases with age but its rates vary between countries and among communities. Drowning suicide rates in some of the available studies may have been over reported or under reported because of misclassification. OBJECTIVE: This study presents data on the time trends, age/sex mortality rates from death by drowning in the elderly in England and Wales between 1979 and 2001. All coroners' verdicts in death by drowning; suicide, deaths undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted were examined. METHODS: Counts of suicide due to drowning and submersion [ICD 9 codes; E954] and undetermined injury deaths [E984] (WHO, 1977), reported in England and Wales between 1979 and 2001 were obtained from National Statistics (ONS). RESULTS: There has been a gradual reduction in suicide by drowning in men and women by more than a third the observed count in 1979 (p < 0.01). However, this decline was less evident in the elderly particularly those over the age of 75. Elderly drownings appear to attract more verdicts of suicide compared to younger age groups (Odds Ratio 4.3 95% CI 2.3-8.3). Women, particularly elderly, are more likely to have a suicide verdict returned in drowning compared to men (Odds Ratio 1.5 95% CI 1.1-1.6). CONCLUSIONS: The high rate of open verdicts in elderly drowning over the study period and compared to any other method of fatal self harm in England and Wales confirms the difficulties in reaching a firm conclusion in drowning death. Therefore combining suicide and all undetermined deaths in drowning as a matter of course, in nationally collected statistics, may result in grossly exaggerated rates and misleading trends in suicidal drowning. Suicide by drowning is probably not amenable to prevention and although the elderly are often thought to benefit more from suicide prevention than younger adults, the study findings seem to suggest that this is not likely to be the case in drowning.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Epidemiology of Varicella-Zoster Virus in England and Wales.

Many countries are studying currently the possibility of mass vaccination against varicella. The objective of this study was to provide a complete picture of the pre-vaccine epidemiology of the Varicella-Zoster Virus in England and Wales to aid in the design of immunisation programs. Population-based data including general practitioner sentinel surveillance, hospitalisation data, and death certificates from England and Wales were analysed. The average incidence rates for varicella and zoster between 1991 and 2000 were 1,291 and 373 per 100,000 years, respectively. Overall hospitalisation rates were equal for varicella and zoster (4.5 vs. 4.4 hospitalisation per 100,000 population) with 5 and 8%, respectively, having underlying immunosuppressive conditions. The age-specific proportion of cases hospitalised and length of stay were similar between the two diseases. However, the overall burden of disease is considerably higher for zoster. The number of inpatient days and case-fatality due to zoster are roughly 4 to 6 times greater than for varicella (11 vs. 3 days and 25 vs. 4 deaths per 100,000 case). These results provide base-line estimates should mass varicella vaccination be introduced in England and Wales.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Remediation of contaminated land and groundwater: experience in England and Wales.

Remediation of contaminated land and groundwater is of common international concern. The context and approach taken to the problem are, however, country-specific. A survey of remedial activity occurring within England and Wales over the period 1996-1999 was commissioned by the Environment Agency (for England and Wales) to establish a baseline against which future trends in remedial activity could be judged. This paper: explains the context of contaminated land and groundwater remediation in England and Wales (Britain); provides an overview of the 1996-1999 survey of remedial activity, discussing its findings within its legislative and institutional context; and, discusses the survey results of significance to the management of contaminated land and groundwater internationally. The survey obtained specific data from 367 remediated sites supplemented by general data from a further 1189 contaminated (not necessarily remediated) sites. The survey aimed to be, and was indicative of remediation practice, and did not seek to identify every remediation scheme operating. Previous anecdotal evidences were generally confirmed. Civil engineering-based techniques dominated and were used at 94% of sites with in situ techniques (predominantly vapour extraction-based) on 16% and ex situ on just 5%. Although disposal to landfill was dominant and occurred at over 80% of sites, integrated use of multiple techniques was common. Remediation was predominantly of soil (rather than water), development-based, designed to protect human health and reflected national development-led and 'suitable for use' policies. Lessons of international relevance from the survey and general British experience are drawn concerning remediation technique selection, regulatory and financial support of innovative remediation techniques and demonstration sites, competent use of risk-based approaches to allow pragmatic remediation and effective use of quality guidelines, need for effective guidance to highlight water quality issues, the necessity of post remediation monitoring to prove remediation effectiveness and the keeping of remediation databases.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed2002

Prevalence and risk factors for depression in a rural setting. Results from the North Wales arm of the ODIN project.

BACKGROUND: Depressive disorders are common, and result in high individual and societal costs. The majority of research assessing depression has occurred in urban areas. There is a paucity of research examining the prevalence of and risk factors for depression in rural general practice. AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of and risk factors for depression in a rural area of North Wales in the context of a large multi-centre European study. METHOD: One thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine people randomly selected from a health authority database underwent a two-phase screening method to identify depression. The first phase involved patients completing a self-rating postal questionnaire (the Beck Depression Inventory or BDI). In the second phase, those scoring above cut-off underwent detailed diagnostic interview (Schedules of Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry or SCAN). The SCAN diagnostic interview can generate either DSM-IV or ICD-10 diagnoses; the DSM-IV classification system was used here. RESULTS: One thousand two hundred and thirty-nine (63 %) people responded to the initial screening questionnaire. The prevalence rate for all DSM-IV depressive disorders was calculated to be 6.1 % (95 % CI 4.1, 9.0) whereas the prevalence rate for DSM-IV major depressive disorder was 5.1 % (CI 3.37, 7.66). Multivariate analysis indicated that several variables were related to BDI caseness, including gender, employment status, social support and negative life events. CONCLUSION: Levels of reported depression are relatively low in North Wales compared to those observed in a neighbouring urban area using comparable data collection methods. A number of factors traditionally associated with increased risk from depression were predictive of scoring above cut-off on the BDI in a rural North Wales sample.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Beyond decentralization: the evolution of population distribution in England and Wales, 1961-1981.

"Using preliminary figures from the 1981 Census, this paper details recent population shifts at a variety of areal scales in England and Wales. It compares trends in the 1971-1981 period with those in the previous decade and assesses the relative contributions of net migration and natural change. Within its broad descriptive objectives, the paper considers whether England and Wales has kept abreast of patterns of counter-urbanization that have been claimed for other industrialized nations." The authors propose some definitions for various terms, including decentralization, deconcentration, and counter-urbanization. "The conclusion is drawn that even if the postulated international continuum of changes ranging from urbanization through to counter-urbanization is valid, the limited geographical size of England and Wales will preclude this country from reaching the final stages of such a model. Finally, some policy implications which stem from the recent population redistributions are introduced and some themes for future research are considered."

Demography↗
PubMed1991

Chernobyl fallout and perinatal mortality in England and Wales.

Previous studies have concluded that radioactive fallout from Chernobyl may have caused an increase in perinatal mortality in West Germany and the U.S.A. The existence of marked geographical variations in contamination from Chernobyl in England and Wales provides an opportunity to investigate this question further by means of a geographical study. The highest doses from Chernobyl in England and Wales were in the counties of Cumbria, Clwyd and Gwynedd where there was heavy rainfall during the passage of the radioactive cloud. However, perinatal mortality in these areas did not rise relative to the national average in the year following Chernobyl. This negative finding was confirmed by a wider study of 14 counties grouped in accordance with levels of radioactive contamination of local milk. It is concluded that this study provides no evidence that radiation from Chernobyl caused a rise in perinatal mortality in England and Wales.

Accidents↗
PubMed1988

Morphology and transmission of Theileria recondita (Theileriidae: Sporozoa) isolated from Haemaphysalis punctata from north Wales.

Adult Haemaphysalis punctata (Canestrini and Fanzago 1877) collected from an area of rough grazing at Mynydd Mawr, Aberdaron, North Wales, transmitted Theileria recondita (Wales); field-collected nymphs failed to transmit this parasite. Following adult tick infestation, piroplasms were first observed in the blood of splenectomised infested sheep 8 days after tick attachment; the parasitaemia lasted 9 days. The parasite can also be transferred by syringe passage of blood from splenectomised to normal sheep and vice versa. Parasitaemias were higher and of longer duration in splenectomised animals. A rise in parasitaemia was detected in a splenectomised ewe after parturition, 19 months following blood-transmitted infection from which it had recovered clinically. The morphometrics of the piroplasms of T. recondita (Wales) were investigated; the rod and the ring forms were the most common. The mean length of the rod form was 2.09 microns and the mean diameter of the ring form was 1.22 micron.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Small cell lung cancer treated in southeast Wales.

AIMS: In small cell lung cancer (SCLC), consolidation thoracic irradiation (CTI) increases 3-year absolute survival by 5.4% in patients with limited disease and a complete response to chemotherapy. Early concurrent thoracic radiotherapy has been shown to improve local control and prolong survival compared with CTI in some trials. The standard management of patients with SCLC in southeast Wales is CTI in individuals with limited disease and a complete response to chemotherapy. A review of patients with SCLC was carried out to establish whether survival locally is comparable with that reported in published studies, and if patients given CTI have survival comparable with that reported in studies where early concurrent thoracic radiotherapy was used. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2002, 303 patients were registered with SCLC in southeast Wales. One hundred and fifteen (47%) patients had limited disease and 60/115 (52%) received CTI. RESULTS: Patients with limited disease receiving CTI had a median survival of 17.7 months (95% confidence interval: 15-27.9 months). The 2- and 5-year survivals were 38 and 13%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results compare favourably with previously published studies on SCLC. There are no plans to change our current treatment policy for SCLC in southeast Wales.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Cocaine-related fatalities in New South Wales, Australia 1993-2002.

AIM: To ascertain the demographic characteristics, circumstances of death, toxicological results, and major autopsy findings of cocaine-related fatalities. DESIGN: Inspection of the coronial records of all cocaine-related deaths that occurred in New South Wales, Australia between 1 January 1993 and 31 December 2002. SETTING: New South Wales, Australia. FINDINGS: 146 cases were identified. Cocaine was implicated in the direct cause of death in 86% of cases, an antecedent cause in 8% and a significant condition contributing to death in 7%. The mean age of decedents was 34.1 years, and 84% were male. Half were employed, and 26% were in professional employment. The predominant route of administration was injection (86%), however nasal (8%), oral (3%), smoking (1%), and anal (1%) administration were all recorded. The most common location of death was a private home (53%). No intervention occurred prior to death in 82% of cases. The median blood benzoylecgonine concentration was 0.40 mg/L (range 0.00-20.00 mg/L). Cases had a mean of 3.5 drugs, with morphine (79%) the most common co-occurring drug. In 5% of cases cocaine was the sole drug detected. Cardiac pathology was noted in 57% of cases, most commonly coronary artery atherosclerosis (39%) and cardiac hypertrophy (14%). In 15% of cases moderate to severe arterial occlusion was noted. Cerebrovascular pathology was noted in 22% of cases, most commonly cerebrovascular atherosclerosis (10%). CONCLUSIONS: Cocaine-related deaths are a significant clinical problem in New South Wales.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

'The edge effect': an exploratory study of some factors affecting referrals to cancer genetic services in rural Wales.

This exploratory study examines the role of rurality in referrals from primary care to the Cancer Genetics Service for Wales (CGSW) through a case study of referrals from Montgomeryshire, a predominantly rural area in mid-Wales located adjacent to the English border. Awareness of CGSW amongst practitioners is low. We found that rurality plays a role in referral behaviour as distance, time travelling and accessibility by car and public transport are all perceived to have an impact on the patient's decision to attend a clinic appointment. Some patients are being referred outside Wales as ease of access to services is considered more important than distance.

Awareness↗
PubMed2004

Incidence and routes of transmission of hepatitis B virus in England and Wales, 1995-2000: implications for immunisation policy.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the UK is low. Since the infection can have serious sequelae, there is a continuing need to examine its epidemiology so as to inform control measures. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe the current HBV incidence and patterns of transmission in the UK, to estimate the rate of new carrier infections, and to discuss implications for the control of HBV through immunisation. STUDY DESIGN: We analysed routine England and Wales laboratory surveillance data of acute HBV infection (1995-2000) and data on migration and global HBsAg prevalence. RESULTS: The estimated annual incidence of HBV infection in England and Wales was 7.4 per 100,000. Injecting drug use was the most frequently reported route of transmission. The number of cases attributed to heterosexual contact was fairly stable, whereas the number of cases in men having sex with men decreased. These observations continue trends reported for the early 1990s. Transmission during childhood was rarely reported, but was more frequent among South Asians. The incidence in South Asians is relatively high, and their main risk factors are medical treatment overseas and heterosexual contact. For about a third of cases of acute HBV infection no route of transmission is reported, but analysis of secular trends and age distribution suggest that many of these may be related to injecting drug use. Endemic transmission gives rise to only a small proportion of all new chronic infections, with the vast majority arising from immigration of established HBV carriers. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of acute HBV infection in England and Wales has remained low, with a similar pattern of reported routes of transmission compared to the early 1990s. The UK prevalence of HBV infection is dependant on global rather than national immunisation policy. Endemic transmission may be reduced by improving immunisation coverage among injecting drug users, which is expected to also reduce the number of cases without a risk factor reported. In addition, immunisation options that better suit the needs of ethnic minorities need to be explored.

Disease Transmission, Infectious↗
PubMed2005

Outcome of direct restorations placed within the general dental services in England and Wales (Part 4): influence of time and place.

AIM: It is aim of this paper to investigate the outcome of direct-placement restorations provided within the General Dental Services in England and Wales, in relation to the factors related to time and place of restoration placement. METHODS: A modified version of Kaplan-Meier statistical methodology was used to plot survival curves for restorations placed at different times and places, within the population of patients for whom data were available. RESULTS: The results indicated that overall, restoration survival time to re-intervention has declined over the last decade, but that most of the decline can be accounted for by the change in the relative numbers of amalgam and other direct restorations. Restoration survival to re-intervention is independent of whether the water is fluoridated in the area of the dentist's surgery address. Variation with region is not great, but restorations placed in Wales survived to re-intervention significantly longer than those in England (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there was some evidence of a reduction in survival times with time. Restorations placed in Wales survived longer to re-intervention than restorations placed in England. Restoration survival was not dependent on whether the dentist who placed the restoration practised in an area in which the water was fluoridated. Performance of amalgam restorations was not found to have altered significantly with time, but performance of composite and glass ionomer deteriorated with time.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed2006

Habitat inventory at a regional scale: a comparison of estimates of terrestrial Broad Habitat cover from stratified sample field survey and full census field survey for Wales, UK.

Estimates of terrestrial Broad Habitat cover for Wales from the Countryside Survey 2000 stratified sample field mapping programme in Britain are compared with the findings of a full census field mapping project, the Habitat Survey of Wales. The Countryside Survey sampling regime comprised a stratified random sample of 1 km squares [corrected] covering <0.5% of the land surface. Comparative assessment indicates that although few of the sample-derived estimates for individual Broad Habitats are within 30% of the full census survey results, relative extents accord with data from the complete census survey for all Broad Habitats apart from Arable & Horticultural. The accuracy of this estimate is improved when the national boundary of Wales is taken into account in the sample stratification scheme. It is suggested that cultural land-use differences between countries render cropland habitat extent less predictable from physical environmental parameters than semi-natural habitat extent. It is also shown that the precision of sample-derived cover estimates is influenced by habitat pattern: the error term associated with habitats of broadly equal extent is greater for those with the most clumped distributions.

Data Collection↗
PubMed2026

Estimating the impact of parvovirus B19 outbreaks on congenital anomalies and fetal outcomes in Wales.

OBJECTIVES: Parvovirus B19 (B19V) is a common infection that can cause complications in pregnancy. Outbreaks of B19V in Europe and the UK were recorded in 2024. We aimed to describe the epidemiology of maternal parvovirus in Wales and to investigate associated fetal outcomes widely and in 2024 specifically. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective observational study. METHODS: All cases of maternal B19V reported to the Congenital Anomaly Register Information Service (CARIS) were analysed. Maternal risk factors included gestational age at the time of infection and maternal age. Spatio-temporal analysis was performed to look for clusters. Poisson regression was used to model incidence of maternal B19V over time. Fetal outcomes were tested for association with risk factors using linear regression and Fisher's exact test. Outcomes and congenital anomalies were descriptively analysed. RESULTS: Between 1998 and 2025, there were 79 cases of maternal B19V across 81 fetuses, mostly reported in South Wales (74/81, 91.3%). There were 24 (29.6%) cases of at least one confirmed congenital anomaly and 57 (70.3%) cases reporting no anomalies; 53 (93%) of these cases had a positive outcome. Congenital anomalies were associated with worse fetal outcomes. Excluding terminations, the overall fetal survival rate was 88%. No association between maternal risk factors and fetal outcome was identified. There was an increase in cases in 2024 with an increase in fetal losses. CONCLUSIONS: The 2024 European B19V outbreak led to an increase in maternal cases and negative fetal outcomes in Wales.

Humans↗