The global pharmacy workforce: a systematic review of the literature.

Hawthorne N, Anderson C. (2009) The global pharmacy workforce: a systematic review of the literature. Human Resources for Health, 7:48.

A review of scientific literature on inherited disorders in domestic horse breeds

The full extent to which inherited disorders occur in different breeds of domestic horse (Equus caballus) has not been previously been investigated. A systematic search was carried out to review scientific literature on inherited disorders in domestic horse breeds and examine patterns in potentially inherited disorders. A two-part search was conducted: (i) electronic bibliographic databases for published studies; and (ii) existing online databases of inherited disorders in animals. A total of 230 papers were identified, discussing 102 inherited disorders in the horse. Few cases (17) were found in which disorders were reported to have a direct link to a conformational or phenotypic trait. Forty-nine breeds of domestic horse were described as being predisposed to one or more inherited disorders, but such predispositions did not distinguish between genetic or environmental causes. There were few patterns in the number of disorders to which breeds were reportedly predisposed or in the extent to which disorders were researched. The structure and grouping of disorders presented here could assist with standardisation in the terminology used for describing inherited disorders. © 2012 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare The Old School.

Early Medieval Ireland, AD 400-1100: The evidence from archaeological excavations

Overview and synthesis of early medieval Irish excavations between 1930 and the present.

Mapping Medieval Geographies: Geographical Encounters in the Latin West and Beyond, 300–1600

'Mapping Medieval Geographies' explores the ways in which geographical knowledge, ideas and traditions were formed in Europe during the Middle Ages. Leading scholars reveal the connections between Islamic, Christian, Biblical, and Classical geographical traditions from Antiquity to the later Middle Ages and Renaissance. The book is divided into two parts: Part I focuses on the notion of geographical tradition and charts the evolution of celestial and earthly geography in terms of its intellectual, visual and textual representations; whilst Part II explores geographical imaginations; that is to say, those 'imagined geographies' that came into being as a result of everyday spatial and spiritual experience. Bringing together approaches from art, literary studies, intellectual history and historical geography, this pioneering volume will be essential reading for scholars concerned with visual and textual modes of geographical representation and transmission, as well as the spaces and places of knowledge creation and consumption.

A systematic literature review of surgical interventions for limbal stem cell deficiency in humans

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relative benefits and to identify any adverse effects of surgical interventions for limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD).

DESIGN: Systematic literature review.

METHODS: We searched the following electronic databases from January 1, 1989 through September 30, 2006: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science citation index, BIOSIS, and the Cochrane Library. In addition, reference lists were scanned to identify any additional reports. The quality of published reports was assessed using standard methods. The main outcome measure was improvement in vision of at least two Snellen lines of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Data on adverse outcomes also were collected.

RESULTS: Twenty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. There were no randomized controlled studies. All 26 studies were either prospective or retrospective case series. For bilateral severe LSCD, keratolimbal allograft was the most common intervention with systemic immunosuppression. Other interventions included eccentric penetrating keratolimbal allografts and cultivated autologous oral mucosal epithelial grafts. An improvement in BCVA of two lines or more was reported in 31% to 67% of eyes. For unilateral severe LSCD, the most common surgical intervention was contralateral conjunctival limbal autograft, with 35% to 88% of eyes gaining an improvement in BCVA of two lines or more. The only study evaluating partial LSCD showed an improvement in BCVA of two lines or more in 39% of eyes.

CONCLUSIONS: Studies to date have not provided strong evidence to guide clinical practice on which surgery is most beneficial to treat various types of LSCD. Standardized data collection in a multicenter LSCD register is suggested.