A qualitative meta-synthesis of studies of patients' experience of exercise interventions in advanced cancer.

Background: People with advanced cancer often experience reduced functional capacity and quality of life. Research evaluating the potential benefit of exercise programmes for limiting such decline is accumulating. However, an appraisal of the evidence that considers the patient experience of exercise programmes, what mattered to them and what motivated and encouraged them to engage in exercise, has not been published.

A Molecular Analysis of the Aminopeptidase P-Related Domain of PID-5 from .

A novel protein, PID-5, has been shown to be a requirement for germline immortality and has recently been implicated in RNA-induced epigenetic silencing in the embryo. Importantly, it has been shown to contain both an eTudor and aminopeptidase P-related domain. However, the silencing mechanism has not yet been fully characterised.

Inpatient hospice admissions. Who is admitted and why: a mixed-method prospective study.

Background: Over the next two decades, the numbers of people who will need palliative care in the United Kingdom and Ireland is projected to increase. Hospices play a vital role supporting people who require specialist palliative care input through community-based and inpatient palliative care services. Evidence is needed to understand the role of these different services to inform future service development.

Rapid investigation of BA.4/BA.5 cases in France.

Aim: We aimed to describe the characteristics of individuals infected by BA.4 or BA.5 in France in comparison to BA.

Evaluating and volunteering for crowdsourced interventions: Cross-sectional data on COVID-19 safety from a University Survey.

Despite many innovative ideas generated in response to COVID-19, few studies have examined community preferences for these ideas. Our study aimed to determine university community members' preferences for three novel ideas identified through a crowdsourcing open call at the University of North Carolina (UNC) for making campus safer in the pandemic, as compared to existing (i.e.

Moral distress amongst palliative care doctors working during the COVID-19 pandemic: A narrative-focussed interview study.

Background: Palliative care professionals have had to adapt to rapidly changing COVID-19 restrictions with personal protective equipment and physical distancing measures impacting face-to-face communication with patients and relatives.

Aim: To explore the narratives of palliative care doctors working during the pandemic to understand their experiences at a personal and professional level.

Design: In-depth narrative interviews were carried out via video call.

A randomized, feasibility trial of an exercise and nutrition-based rehabilitation programme (ENeRgy) in people with cancer.

Background: Despite rehabilitation being increasingly advocated for people living with incurable cancer, there is limited evidence supporting efficacy or component parts. The progressive decline in function and nutritional in this population would support an approach that targets these factors. This trial aimed to assess the feasibility of an exercise and nutrition based rehabilitation programme in people with incurable cancer.

Factors influencing adult carer support planning for unpaid caregiving at the end of life in Scotland: Qualitative insights from triangulated interviews and focus groups.

Caring for a relative or friend at the end of life can be rewarding but all-encompassing. These caregivers are often not identified, meaning their diverse needs remain unmet, and the lack of assessment, support and planning increases the likelihood of crisis and burnout. The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 places responsibility on local authorities to implement such a plan, which will be fast-tracked for carers supporting someone at the end of life.

Virtual reality in hospice: improved patient well-being.

Background: Virtual reality (VR) technology as a therapeutic intervention has been gaining attention in healthcare settings in recent years. Studies suggest that using the technology can help alleviate symptoms such as pain and anxiety and induce positive emotions for people in hospital. Managing symptoms and promoting emotional and psychological well-being are core palliative care goals of relieving suffering of people with life-limiting illness.

Relational ethics in palliative care research: including a person-centred approach.

The traditional approach to research ethics is to ensure that all ethical issues are adhered to through the scrutiny of research proposals by research ethics committees, themselves sitting within national research governance frameworks. The current approach implies that all potential ethical issues can be considered and mitigated prior to the research. This article is a perspective piece whereby we consider how this approach, on its own, is not enough to ensure ethical practice.

Rehabilitation in palliative care: a qualitative study of team professionals.

Objectives: There has been a recent drive to embed rehabilitation within palliative care. The concept of rehabilitative palliative care has been advocated to help patients preserve function and independence, through greater patient enablement and self-management. Such an approach requires engagement from all members of the palliative care team.

Patient perceptions of their decision to undergo palliative chemotherapy in the Edinburgh Cancer Centre.

Background: The decision to undergo chemotherapy for incurable cancer demands informed discussions about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments. Research has shown that many patients have a poor grasp of these factors.

Methods: An evaluation of the patient experience of palliative chemotherapy decision-making was undertaken.

Experiences of stroke survivors, their families and unpaid carers in goal setting within stroke rehabilitation: a systematic review of qualitative evidence.

Objective: The objective of the review was to synthesize the best available qualitative evidence regarding the experiences of stroke survivors, their families and unpaid carers, about goal setting within stroke rehabilitation.

Introduction: Clinical guidelines recommend person-centered goal setting in stroke rehabilitation but many barriers exist to its implementation. Individual differences and preferences, of both the stroke survivor and practitioner, may influence involvement in goal setting.

Experience of emotion in frail older people towards the end of life: A secondary data analysis.

People are living longer, but with increased age comes greater frailty and multi-morbidity. This secondary data analysis examines transcripts from interviews with 11 frail older people and 6 informal carers to explore emotion in relation to frailty and deteriorating health. Anger and frustration were frequently experienced with declining functional ability; sadness occurred with social isolation, loss of autonomy and independence; anxiety was evident when transition to a care home was discussed; and contentment was described when connecting with others.

Physical, social, psychological and existential trajectories of loss and adaptation towards the end of life for older people living with frailty: a serial interview study.

Background: The experiences of people with cancer and organ disease have been described across different dimensions of need as they approach death. Such information is lacking for frail older people approaching death, but could highlight how a palliative approach might be relevant for this population.

Methods: Cognitively intact, community dwelling adults considered to be moderately or severely frail were recruited from a medical day hospital.

Different Experiences and Goals in Different Advanced Diseases: Comparing Serial Interviews With Patients With Cancer, Organ Failure, or Frailty and Their Family and Professional Carers.

Context: Quality care for people living with life-limiting illnesses is a global priority. A detailed understanding of the varied experiences of people living and dying with different conditions and their family and professional caregivers should help policymakers and clinicians design and deliver more appropriate and person-centered care.

Objectives: To understand how patients with different advanced conditions and their family and professional caregivers perceive their deteriorating health and the services they need.

TSH receptor activation and body composition.

The impacts of hyper and hypothyroidism on body composition, i.e. the relative quantity and quality of bone, adipose tissue and muscle, have traditionally been attributed uniquely to abnormal levels of free thyroid hormones.

Episodic paralysis in a young male.

A 19-year-old Caucasian male presented acutely describing several episodes of profound paralysis. At the time of admission he had recovered completely and his neurological examination and routine biochemistry were normal. A diagnosis of thyrotoxic periodic paralysis was made after the thyroid function tests returned confirming hyperthyroidism.