The Calderdale Royal Hospital is a hospital situated in the English town of Halifax. It is located in the suburb of Salterhebble and provides general services, emergency services and some specialist services. It is managed by Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.
OBJECTIVE:Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) often presents with various skin complications, which may be worsened by smoking due to its vascular and metabolic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of smoking on cutaneous manifestations and compare the demographic and clinical characteristics of smokers and non-smokers with T1DM. METHODOLOGY:This cross-sectional study was performed at multiple secondary care hospitals and primary care centers. The duration of the study was about six months from November 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025. This study included 220 patients with confirmed T1DM, categorized into two groups based on smoking status: Group A included current smokers (n = 110), while Group B comprised non-smokers (n = 110). Data were collected through clinical examinations and structured questionnaires, including demographic details, lifestyle factors, physiological parameters, and dermatological findings. Statistical analysis was applied using the chi-square test and a Mann-Whitney test, with p < 0.05 reflecting statistical significance. RESULTS:The findings of the study showed that the smokers had a significantly lower mean height (66.17 ± 10.71 inches), BMI (21.18 ± 5.61 kg/m²), respiratory rate (17.34 ± 5.89 cycles/min), and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) values (223.26 ± 75.21 mg/dL) compared to non-smokers (p < 0.05). Most smokers were male, 81 (73.6%), whereas the majority of non-smokers were female, 85 (77.3%) (p < 0.001). Regarding cutaneous manifestations, xerosis fissured skin (59, 53.6%) and bullae (33, 30.0%) were significantly more prevalent in smokers, while ichthyosis (26, 23.6%) and diabetic rubeosis (17, 15.5%) were more frequent among non-smokers (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION:This study concluded that smoking significantly affects the pattern of skin manifestations in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Smokers showed a higher prevalence of xerosis, acanthosis nigricans, and bullae, while non-smokers more often exhibited ichthyosis and diabetic rubeosis.
Childhood myopia is a growing concern in the United Kingdom (UK) and is associated with long-term ocular risks. Early interventions can slow progression and reduce complications. The National Health Service (NHS) manages myopia through visual correction, monitoring and lifestyle advice. Interventions such as dual-focus lenses, orthokeratology and low-dose atropine are typically accessed through private care in the UK. A PubMed search conducted in December 2025 identified 30 studies on evaluating childhood myopia management published between January 2000 and December 2025, with an age limit of 0-18 years and in English. These studies were reviewed using a narrative comparative approach. Studies show these interventions significantly reduce disease progression and axial elongation, supporting their role in myopia control. National guidelines and funded care pathways could help bridge the gap between private and NHS care, ensuring equitable access and reducing the long-term burden of myopia in the UK.
Historical medical texts occasionally preserve therapeutics of unexpected modern relevance. This hypothesis-generating review presents a new translation and interpretation of human milk-based ophthalmic remedies in the Ebers papyrus (∼1550 BC) and evaluates their potential applicability to contemporary dry eye disease. Growth factors abundant in human milk parallel those delivered by autologous serum tears, and emerging evidence, including animal models and limited clinical studies, demonstrates that both human milk and bovine colostrum can promote corneal epithelial healing and reduce ocular surface inflammation. Given the high cost of current therapies and the ethical constraints surrounding donor human milk, bovine colostrum represents a low-cost, scalable alternative warranting further investigation. This historical-biomedical synthesis illustrates how ancient medical practices may inform modern strategies for managing refractory ocular surface disease.
