bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of public involvement in research on quality of life and society: a case study of research career trajectories
Authors: Williamson Tracey , Brogden Joan , Jones Elaine , Ryan Julia 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThis case study illustrates the research career trajectory of two lay researchers after they joined a Big Lottery funded study to explore loneliness and isolation among older people living in a town in the north of England, UK. The two lay researchers were of pensionable age themselves and engaged in all aspects of the research process as full members of the research team. Following research methods training and their substantive input into study design, they engaged fully in an approach of peer‐interviewing of other older adults as the main study method. Following this initial exposure to undertaking research, these exemplars of public involvement in research went on to be involved in other research as co‐researchers at a local and national level. Initially the paper sets out the lay researchers' personal backgrounds and expectations from involvement in research. The impact of their involvement in research on their quality of life and that of their community is presented. Latterly, the societal impact of the lay researcher's involvement is examined. The difference they made to the initial study design and conduct is described first followed by their development as substantial research resources for other studies and community initiatives. Overall the impact of these lay researchers has been significant and the paper provides an example of how involvement in research can impact on individuals and communities to great effect.
Viewpoint: let's teach medical students what patient partnership in clinical practice can be, with the involvement of educationally engaged patients
Authors: Barr Jenny , Ogden Kathryn , Rooney Kim 
Published: August 2010

AbstractAs highly influential health consumers, the importance of the patient's voice is portrayed in the literature, leading to new directions in heath policy and practice. The authors' experience of patient partnership in the context of medical education has provided us with an opportunity to develop an understanding of what patient partnership in education should be about and how this can be implemented in a sustainable manner within undergraduate curriculum.This viewpoint outlines the context for our philosophy of providing students with the opportunity to engage with patients' stories and needs, and to graduate students ready to conduct consultations in a patient centred manner. The Patient Partner Program is the vehicle by which this teaching and learning approach occurs.The Patient Partner Program recruits actual volunteer community patients to be educationally engaged with senior medical students, participating in regular weekly small group teaching encounters. The contribution of these patients is significant and there is evidence that patients themselves recognize the importance of their role in the programme. We believe the strength of the Patient Partner Program lies in the nurturing of relationships and the engagement of those involved.The challenges of achieving and maintaining true patient partnership are acknowledged including the students' perception of their learning needs as they move towards their junior doctor role, and providing students with meaningful formative feedback. These challenges should not be deterrents for pursuing partnership with patients in an educational setting.
Does strategic involvement of mental health service users and carers in the planning, design and commissioning of mental health services lead to better outcomes?
Authors: Horrocks Janice , Lyons Christina , Hopley Paul 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThere is an assumption, explicit in the current government policy, that involvement of mental health service users and carers in the planning, design and commissioning of mental health services will lead to better outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine evidence from board‐level participation of service users and carers that might support this assumption. A thematic analysis of documents generated by a strategic Lancashire Mental Health and Social Care Partnership during 2007 was undertaken. Themes for the analysis were generated from priorities identified from a postal survey of mental health services users from across Lancashire.The findings indicate that whilst service user and carer involvement is a high priority, the Lancashire Partnership spent most of its time discussing process and actions. Where service user involvement resulted in better outcomes, these improved outcomes were limited to the individual service users involved, rather than better outcomes for all service users.Whilst the membership of mental health service users and carers on the Lancashire Partnership Board presents a visible commitment from senior officers and may confer greater legitimacy to the decisions made by the Lancashire Partnership, service users and carers do not appear to play the desired instrumental role. Rather, their presence may be largely symbolic. This sends out the message across the health and social care system that partnership with service users and carers and their empowerment is important and has the potential to evolve further.
The recognition and valuing of patient knowledge: a way forward
Authors: Henderson Amanda , Henderson Peter 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThe health care that patients receive, particularly in acute care settings, is mainly based in biomedical knowledge. The scientific method of investigating health conditions has directly contributed to the development of this knowledge. This has made a significant contribution to increased survival rates, reduced recovery periods and extending the duration of life.The influence of consumerism on health‐care management has led to an expectation of increased patient involvement when making decisions about their treatment options. This assumes that the provision of information helps improve patients' understanding of the diagnosed health condition and assists them to make ‘good’ decisions. Accordingly, there is a greater focus on providing information to patients.The information provided to patients mostly involves explanation about the biomedical aspects of their health condition. However, patients also desire information about how the health condition will affect their everyday life. We call the understanding of the implications of this information ‘everyday knowledge’. Provision of this information can assist patients by helping them realize their expectations and providing reassurance to both patients and their significant others.Unfortunately, everyday knowledge that assists patients to understand and manage their daily life has not been as systematically researched or examined. While biomedical knowledge has been extensively developed and promoted through funding regimes, everyday knowledge has not benefited from the same support.The interactions in health‐care settings are influential in the generation and use of knowledge. Practises that encourage sensitivity by health professionals to each patient's situation need to be identified and implemented. An increased focus on the inclusion of everyday knowledge alongside biomedical knowledge is likely to enhance the relevance of the information that patients currently receive.
Public involvement in health genomics: the reality behind the policies
Authors: Avard Denise , Stanton Jean Michèle , Grégoire Gabrielle , Page Madeline 
Published: August 2010

AbstractPublic involvement is increasingly becoming the norm as stakeholders recognize the need to inform, consult and engage the public. However, there is limited understanding about the meaning and implications of public involvement, in particular elements like the levels of public involvement, the goals of the involvement, the type of public to be involved, the methods of involving the public and the need to assess effectiveness. We conducted a systematic review of policy documents/guidelines published between 1998 and 2009, by governments, health professionals and the public regarding public involvement in the area of human genomics. Documents were identified using the HUMGEN database and organizational web sites. A total of 70 documents were retrieved addressing public involvement and human genomics. The review revealed that 22 documents mentioned the active process of partnership and collaboration, whereas 27 mentioned consultation and 29 mentioned education. The most common goals were building trust and respect, followed by education, governance and lastly, understanding risks and benefits. We found that less than a third of the documents defined who the public is, and when mechanisms for public involvement were mentioned, they were rarely placed into a context. Few documents drew attention to evaluation. It is reassuring to see that there has been an emphasis placed on public involvement in the area of health and genomics. The findings underscore the gaps existing in the actual policy documents/guidelines and the need to clarify the goals, the methods, who is the public, what mechanism are appropriate and the need for evaluation when addressing public involvement in health genomics.
Exploratory analysis of Chinese‐American family caregivers' needs and instructional video on dressing stroke survivors
Authors: Lin Shu‐Hwa 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThe aims of this project were to explore the needs of family caregivers in the Chinese‐American community and to develop training videos for caregivers on dressing stroke survivors. In‐depth, semi‐structured, open‐ended interviews were used to explore the problems of caregivers of stroke survivors. Forty participants were recruited from Chinese‐American communities. Verbatim interview transcripts were coded and analyzed. Four main concerns emerged: the impact and adjustment in lifestyle for family caregivers; lack of social activities and failure to seek community support; physical and mental stress and methods to alleviate stress, such as instruction in heavy lifting and guidance for daily activities, which include dressing. An 18‐min video was produced to provide instruction on dressing stroke survivors for those who need this information. Also, this article addresses the lack of social activities and information about community or public services.
Strengthening the voice of mental health service users and carers in Wales: a focus group study to inform future policy
Authors: Thomas Phil , Wilson Christine , Jones Phil 
Published: August 2010

AbstractImproving the mental health of the people in Wales lies at the heart of the Welsh Assembly Government's public health agenda and the current reforms of the National Health Service in Wales. However, relative to its importance as a health problem, spending on mental health is disproportionately low. Statutory authorities in Wales highlight the importance of listening to, and learning from, service users and carers. This is seen as a way of improving services within the limited funding that is available. The aims of this study were to describe the ways in which mental health service users and carers are currently involved in mental health services across Wales; and to consider the need for an all‐Wales mental health service user and carer ‘national mechanism’ to promote genuine partnership. Eight focus groups were held across Wales attended by mental health service users and carers. There is a clear picture of the level and nature of participation, evidence of good practice and user and carer based aspirations for future participation. There is an untapped source of energy and experience that could help transform mental health services for the good of all. To ignore this would be to miss an opportunity to improve the quality of care for all those dependent upon these services, both patients and carers.
Functional and immunocytochemical characterization of the creatine transporter in rat hippocampal neurons
Authors: Dodd Joanna R. , Birch Nigel P. , Waldvogel Henry J. , Christie David L. 
Published: August 2010

J. Neurochem. (2010) 115, 684–693.AbstractCreatine uptake by neurons requires a specific creatine transporter (CRT). The purpose of the present work was to investigate the activity and localization of the CRT in primary cultures of hippocampal neurons obtained from 18‐day rat embryos. Creatine uptake increased as the neurons differentiated in culture. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed most of the CRT was associated with dendrites, although some CRT was present in axons and axon terminals. Neurons contained high levels of Na+‐dependent creatine transport activity (Km = 45.5 μM; Vmax, 1719 pmol creatine/min/mg protein) which was inhibited by competitive inhibitors of the CRT. The IC50 for guanidinoacetate, a precursor of creatine, was 712 μM, ∼ 15‐fold higher than the Km for creatine. Incubation of neurons with 1 mM creatine resulted in the accumulation of high levels of creatine which affected the Vmax but not the Km for creatine transport. The rate of creatine release from neurons increased in the absence of Na+ showing the importance of the electrochemical gradient for creatine retention. This is the first detailed study of the CRT in neurons and identifies primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons as a good model for future studies of the CRT in relation to the effects of creatine on neuronal function and viability.
Experimental models of vascular dementia and vascular cognitive impairment: a systematic review
Authors: Jiwa Nadim S. , Garrard Peter , Hainsworth Atticus H. 
Published: August 2010

J. Neurochem.(2010)115, 814–828.AbstractVascular cognitive impairment (VCI) encompasses vascular dementia and is the second most common cause of dementing illness after Alzheimer’s disease. The main causes of VCI are: cerebral small vessel disease; multi‐infarct dementia; strategic infarct (i.e. located in a functionally‐critical brain area); haemorrhage/microbleed; angiopathy (including cerebral amyloid angiopathy); severe hypoperfusion (e.g. cardiac arrhythmia); and hereditary vasculopathy (e.g. cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy, CADASIL). In this systematic analysis, we aimed to relate cognitive and neuropathological features of experimental models to clinical VCI. We extracted data from 107 studies covering 16 models. These included: brief global ischaemic insults (in rats, mice or gerbils); chronic global hypoperfusion (rats, mice, gerbils); chronic hypertension (in primates or stroke‐prone, spontaneously‐hypertensive rats); multiple ischaemic lesions because of intra‐vascular emboli (in rodents, rabbits or primates); strategic ischaemic lesions (in rats or mini‐pigs); generalised vasculopathies, because of mutant Notch3, hyperhomocysteinaemia, experimental diabetes mellitus or lack of cerebral vasodilator M5receptors (rats or mice). Most cognitive testing showed deficits in working and reference memory. The lesions observed were microinfarcts, diffuse white matter lesions, hippocampal neuronal death, focal ischaemic lesions and micro‐haemorrhages. The most‐used model was bilateral carotid artery occlusion in rats, leading to chronic hypoperfusion and white matter injury.
Could SF‐36 be used as a screening instrument for depression in a Swedish youth population?
Authors: Kristjánsdóttir Jóna , Olsson Gunilla I. , Sundelin Claes , Naessen Tord 
Published: August 2010

Scand J Caring Sci; 2011; 25; 262–268

Could SF‐36 be used as a screening instrument for depression in a Swedish youth population? Objective:  Depression among youth is a condition associated with serious long‐term morbidity and suicide. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a HRQoL instrument, the short form 36 version 1.0 (SF‐36), could be used to screen for depression in a clinical Youth Centre (YC). A second purpose was to describe self‐reported health and depression.Setting:  A clinical YC at a University hospital.Design:  A sample of 660 youths, 14–20 years old was assessed with SF‐36 and Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, self‐screening version (MADRS‐S). Answers to all the questions in both instruments were given by 79% (519/660; 453 women and 66 men). Mean age in the sample was 17.5 ± 1.6 years.Results:  Strong correlations were found between all the SF‐36 subscales and the depression ratio scale MADRS‐S. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis confirmed that the SF‐36 subscales mental health (MH) and vitality (VT) could correctly predict depression on the individual level with Area Under the ROC Curve values 0.87 and 0.84 in ROC curves. Individuals scoring 48 or lower on MH and 40 or lower on VT should be followed up with a clinical interview concerning possible depressive disorder. Mild to moderate depression was common (35.5%), especially among women (37.5%). Men scored higher than women on all SF‐36 subscales except for physical functioning.Conclusions:  The SF‐36 can be used to screen for suspect depression in a youth population followed by interview. This gives an opportunity to detect and treat emerging depressive symptoms early.
Developments in Carpet Printing
Authors: Dunkerley Kenneth 
Published: August 2010

This review gives an outline of the development of carpet printing followed by the current situation and is then divided to cover the following sections: machinery, including roller, screen and transfer printing, the application of dye streams, fixation and washing equipment mechanical and chemical factors affecting the quality of printed carpet special techniques, such as the currently popular resist printing.Although nylon is by far the most important fibre, the printing of other carpet fibres is discussed. Finally, likely future developments are outlined.
Olfactory cues mediating prey‐searching behaviour in interacting aphidophagous predators: are semiochemicals key factors in predator‐facilitation?
Authors: Tapia D. H. , Morales F. , Grez A. A. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractBased on their effect on prey populations, predators can interact synergistically, additively, or antagonistically. Predator attraction by semiochemicals in response to herbivory is well documented; however, the possibility of semiochemicals mediating synergistic interactions has not been explored. Eriopis connexa (Germar) and Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (both Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) interact synergistically with carabid species in Central Chile, a phenomenon in which semiochemicals may be involved. Moreover, olfactory behaviour in these coccinellids is unknown. Olfactometries contrasting non‐infested vs. infested plants with Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris (Hemiptera: Aphididae) were performed to study olfactory prey‐searching in E. connexa, H. variegata, and Trirammatus striatula (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Carabidae). To evaluate whether semiochemicals can mediate synergistic predatory interactions, four experiments were established: olfactometries contrasting (1) infested plants with and without a predator, (2) uninfested plants with and without a predator; (3) predator vs. air, and (4) plants with previous physical activity of a predator vs. clean plants (nine combinations of predator species, according to whether they corresponded to the stimulus or focal individual). Hippodamia variegata and T. striatula were attracted to infested plants when contrasted with non‐infested plants. Infested plants with a conspecific and H. variegata elicited attraction in E. connexa, whereas T. striatula preferred infested plants with E. connexa or H. variegata. Treatments with only predators (with or without the plant) did not elicit responses, except in E. connexa which was repelled by conspecifics and H. variegata, perhaps indicating an antagonistic interaction between them; plants with previous physical activity of predators did not elicit responses. These results corroborated the importance of semiochemicals produced by herbivory in the prey‐searching behaviour of aphidophagous predators. In addition, presence of predators on the foliage may favour emission of aphid alarm pheromones, which could attract E. connexa and T. striatula. Volatiles can intervene in synergistic interactions between carabids and coccinellids; this should be replicable in other systems where predator‐facilitation between aphidophagous predators is observed.
Colonization of Tanacetum vulgare by aphids is reduced by earthworms
Authors: Wurst Susanne , Forstreuter Manfred 
Published: August 2010

AbstractSoil organisms affect plant growth and chemistry and have subsequent effects on aboveground herbivore performance. However, whether herbivores discriminate between plants exposed to different soil organisms when colonizing their host plants is largely unexplored. In a greenhouse study, Tanacetum vulgare L. (Asteraceae) growing in a ruderal plant community in the presence and absence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and earthworms [Aporrectodea spp. (Haplotaxida: Lumbricidae)] was colonized by aphids [Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae)]. The aphids preferred to colonize plants without earthworms in the soil, and the numbers of aphids remained lower on the plants with earthworms, irrespective of the presence of AMF. Although the N, C, and P concentrations of the shoots were not affected by the soil organisms, AMF increased total aboveground biomass, total N, C, and P content, and photosynthetic activity (measured as electron transport rate) in the leaves under high light intensity. These results suggest that earthworms affect chemical cues that are used by aphids to judge host quality prior to feeding. Discrimination between plants with and without exposure to earthworms by aboveground herbivores is a novel aspect of plant‐mediated interactions between below‐ and aboveground organisms.
Skin barrier response to occlusion of healthy and irritated skin: Differences in trans‐epidermal water loss, erythema and stratum corneum lipids
Authors: Jungersted Jakob Mutanu , Høgh Julie K. , Hellgren Lars I. , Jemec Gregor B. E. , Agner Tove 
Published: August 2010

Background. Occlusion of the skin is a risk factor for development of irritant contact dermatitis. Occlusion may, however, have a positive effect on skin healing. No consensus on the effect of occlusion has been reached. Objectives. To investigate skin barrier response to occlusion on intact and damaged skin. Methods. In study A, the response to occlusion (nitrile glove material) for either 8 hr daily for 7 days or for 72 consecutive hours, respectively, was determined and compared with that of non‐occluded skin. In study B, the response to occlusion of for 72 consecutive hours of skin that had been damaged by either sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or tape stripping, respectively, was determined and compared with that of to non‐occluded pre‐damaged skin. Skin barrier function was assessed by measurements of trans‐epidermal water loss (TEWL) and erythema. In study A, stratum corneum lipids were analysed. Results. Occlusion of healthy skin did not significantly influence skin barrier function, ceramide profile or the ceramide/cholesterol ratio. Occlusion of the skin after SLS irritation resulted in higher TEWL than in the control (P = 0.049). Occlusion of the skin after tape stripping resulted in lower TEWL than in control skin (P = 0.007). Conclusions. A week of occlusion did not significantly affect healthy skin, but was found to decrease healing of SLS‐damaged skin, and to improve healing of tape‐stripped skin.