A systematic review of the effectiveness of advance care planning interventions for people with cognitive impairment and dementia.

Background: advance care planning (ACP) allows a patient to state their preferences for care, so that if in future they cannot make decisions their wishes are known. Our aim was to review systematically the effectiveness of ACP interventions in people with cognitive impairment and dementia.

Methods: systematic searches of key electronic databases, supplemented by hand searches of reference lists and consultation with experts.

An overview of reviews evaluating the effectiveness of financial incentives in changing healthcare professional behaviours and patient outcomes.

Background: There is considerable interest in the effectiveness of financial incentives in the delivery of health care. Incentives may be used in an attempt to increase the use of evidence-based treatments among healthcare professionals or to stimulate health professionals to change their clinical behaviour with respect to preventive, diagnostic and treatment decisions, or both. Financial incentives are an extrinsic source of motivation and exist when an individual can expect a monetary transfer which is made conditional on acting in a particular way.

Determination of binding energy and solubility parameters for functionalized gold nanoparticles by molecular dynamics simulation.

The binding energy, density, and solubility of functionalized gold nanoparticles in a vacuum are computed using molecular dynamics simulations. Numerous parameters including surface coverage fraction, functional group (-CH(3), -OH, -NH(2)), and nanoparticle orientation are considered. The analysis includes computation of minimum interparticle binding distances and energies and an analysis of mechanisms that may contribute to changes in system potential energy.

Optically healable supramolecular polymers.

Polymers with the ability to repair themselves after sustaining damage could extend the lifetimes of materials used in many applications. Most approaches to healable materials require heating the damaged area. Here we present metallosupramolecular polymers that can be mended through exposure to light.

[Imaging of pneumonia].

Pneumonia represents a disease with significant epidemiological, clinical and also economical relevance. Diagnostic imaging is important for detection, differentiation and follow up of pneumonic infiltration. However morphology of pulmonary infiltration is unspecific, even with computed tomography (CT).

The effectiveness of strategies to change organisational culture to improve healthcare performance: a systematic review.

Background: Organisational culture is an anthropological metaphor used to inform research and consultancy and to explain organisational environments. In recent years, increasing emphasis has been placed on the need to change organisational culture in order to improve healthcare performance. However, the precise function of organisational culture in healthcare policy often remains underspecified and the desirability and feasibility of strategies to be adopted have been called into question.

The effectiveness of strategies to change organisational culture to improve healthcare performance.

Background: Organisational culture is an anthropological metaphor used to inform research and consultancy and to explain organisational environments. Great emphasis has been placed during the last years on the need to change organisational culture in order to pursue effective improvement of healthcare performance. However, the precise nature of organisational culture in healthcare policy often remains underspecified and the desirability and feasibility of strategies to be adopted has been called into question.

Prediction of lymph node manifestations in malignant lymphoma: significant role of volumetric compared with established metric lymph node analysis in multislice computed tomography.

Objective: Comparison of 2-dimensional and semiautomated 3-dimensional (3D) measurements to distinguish between benign and malignant lymph nodes in patients with malignant lymphoma.

Methods: Whole-body positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) was performed in 33 patients before therapy for malignant lymphoma. Two hundred fifty-seven peripheral lymph nodes (mean size, 13.

Phosphate limitation to control biofouling.

Phosphate limitation as a method to control biofouling of spiral wound reverse osmosis (RO) membranes was studied at a full-scale installation fed with extensively pretreated water. The RO installation is characterized by (i) a low feed channel pressure drop increase and (ii) low biomass concentrations in membrane elements at the installation feed side. This installation contrasted sharply with installations fed with less extensively pretreated feed water (and therefore higher phosphate concentrations) experiencing a high-pressure drop increase and high biomass concentrations in lead elements.

Interventions to change the behaviour of health professionals and the organisation of care to promote weight reduction in overweight and obese people.

Background: The prevalence of obesity is increasing globally and will, if left unchecked, have major implications for both population health and costs to health services.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of strategies to change the behaviour of health professionals and the organisation of care to promote weight reduction in overweight and obese people.

Search Strategy: We updated the search for primary studies in the following databases, which were all interrogated from the previous (version 2) search date to May 2009: The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (which at this time incorporated all EPOC Specialised Register material) (The Cochrane Library 2009, Issue 1), MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCO), and PsycINFO (Ovid).

Prediction of lymph node metastases in NSCLC. Three dimensional anatomical parameters do not substitute FDG-PET-CT.

Purpose: To distinguish between benign and malignant mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with NSCLC by comparing 2D and semi-automated 3D measurements in FDG-PET-CT.

Patients, Material, Methods: FDG-PET-CT was performed in 46 patients prior to therapy. 299 mediastinal lymph-nodes were evaluated independently by two radiologists, both manually and by semi-automatic segmentation software.

Patient preferences for future care--how can Advance Care Planning become embedded into dementia care: a study protocol.

Background: People living with a long term condition may wish to be able to plan ahead, so that if in future they cannot make decisions, their wishes about their care will be known; this process is termed Advance Care Planning (ACP). In dementia, guidance stipulates that ACP discussions should take place whilst the person still has capacity to make decisions. However there is a lack of evidence on the effectiveness of ACP in influencing patient choice and resource use.

Semiautomatic lymph node segmentation in multislice computed tomography: impact of slice thickness on segmentation quality, measurement precision, and interobserver variability.

Objectives: To determine the impact of slice thickness on semiautomatic lymph node analysis.

Materials And Methods: Thoracic multislice computed tomography (MSCT) of 46 patients with NSCLC were reconstructed at 1.0-, 3.

Are there valid proxy measures of clinical behaviour? A systematic review.

Background: Accurate measures of health professionals' clinical practice are critically important to guide health policy decisions, as well as for professional self-evaluation and for research-based investigation of clinical practice and process of care. It is often not feasible or ethical to measure behaviour through direct observation, and rigorous behavioural measures are difficult and costly to use. The aim of this review was to identify the current evidence relating to the relationships between proxy measures and direct measures of clinical behaviour.

The effectiveness of brief alcohol interventions in primary care settings: a systematic review.

Issues: Numerous studies have reported that brief interventions delivered in primary care are effective in reducing excessive drinking. However, much of this work has been criticised for being clinically unrepresentative. This review aimed to assess the effectiveness of brief interventions in primary care and determine if outcomes differ between efficacy and effectiveness trials.

Optimization of scan delay for routine abdominal 64-slice CT with body weight-adapted application of contrast material.

Purpose: Determination of an adequate scan delay for routine abdominal 64-slice CT examinations with body weight-adapted contrast application.

Materials And Methods: 57 patients underwent abdominal CT with a 64-slice scanner. The contrast material was adapted to patient body weight.

Street lighting for preventing road traffic injuries.

Background: Road traffic crashes are a major cause of death and injury, especially in low and middle-income countries. It is estimated that road traffic injuries will have risen from ninth to third in world disease burden rankings by 2020, accounting for 2.3 million deaths globally.

[Accuracy of liver lesion assessment using automated measurement and segmentation software in biphasic multislice CT (MSCT)].

Purpose: To assess the accuracy of liver lesion measurement using automated measurement and segmentation software depending on the vascularization level.

Materials And Methods: Arterial and portal venous phase multislice CT (MSCT) was performed for 58 patients. 94 liver lesions were evaluated and classified according to vascularity (hypervascular: 13 hepatocellular carcinomas, 20 hemangiomas; hypovascular: 31 metastases, 3 lymphomas, 4 abscesses; liquid: 23 cysts).

High contrast solid state electrochromic devices based on Ruthenium Purple nanocomposites fabricated by layer-by-layer assembly.

Electrochromic Ruthenium Purple-polymer nanocomposite films, fabricated by multilayer assembly, were found to exhibit sub-second switching speed and the highest electrochromic contrast reported to date for any inorganic material.

Relaxation therapies for the management of primary hypertension in adults: a Cochrane review.

The objective of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of relaxation to lower high blood pressure. We searched electronic bibliographic databases and grey literature to identify randomized controlled trials comparing relaxation therapies with no active treatment or sham therapy, enrolling adult participants with raised systolic blood pressure (SBP) > or = 140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > or = 85 mm Hg and follow-up > or = 8 weeks. Twenty-five trials with up to 5 years follow-up, assessing 1198 participants, met our inclusion criteria and were meta-analysed.

Relaxation therapies for the management of primary hypertension in adults.

Background: Lifestyle interventions are often recommended as initial treatment for mild hypertension, but the efficacy of relaxation therapies is unclear.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of relaxation therapies on cardiovascular outcomes and blood pressure in people with elevated blood pressure.

Search Strategy: We searched the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Citation Index, ISI Proceedings, ClinicalTrials.

Abdominal mucinous cystic neoplasm in a male child.

Mucinous cystic neoplasms (MCNs) make up a morphologic family of similar appearing tumors arising in the ovary and various extraovarian sites, including the pancreas, hepatobiliary tract, paratesticular soft tissues, and mesentery. Other than the uncommon mucinous cystadenoma of the ovary presenting in adolescence, MCNs are rarely seen by the pediatric pathologist. The present case is a 5-year-old boy with an abdominal mass appearing to arise in the mesentery of the small intestine.

Comparison of sensitivity and reading time for the use of computer-aided detection (CAD) of pulmonary nodules at MDCT as concurrent or second reader.

The purpose of this study was to compare sensitivity for detection of pulmonary nodules in MDCT scans and reading time of radiologists when using CAD as the second reader (SR) respectively concurrent reader (CR). Four radiologists analyzed 50 chest MDCT scans chosen from clinical routine two times and marked all detected pulmonary nodules: first with CAD as CR (display of CAD results immediately in the reading session) and later (median 14 weeks) with CAD as SR (display of CAD markers after completion of first reading without CAD). A Siemens LungCAD prototype was used.

Morphometric parameters of the radial neck: an anatomical study.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to describe the anatomy of the intramedullary canal of the radial neck for stem design of radial head prostheses.

Methods: Radial neck measurement was performed from the proximal edge of the radial tuberosity to the distal border of the articular surface on 40 macerated proximal radii using X-rays and Optosil imprints of the intramedullary canal. Radial neck to shaft angle was measured under image intensification.

Effectiveness of brief alcohol interventions in primary care populations.

Background: Many trials reported that brief interventions are effective in reducing excessive drinking. However, some trials have been criticised for being clinically unrepresentative and unable to inform clinical practice.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of brief intervention, delivered in general practice or based primary care, to reduce alcohol consumption

Search Strategy: We searched the Cochrane Drug and Alcohol Group specialised register (February 2006), MEDLINE (1966 to February 2006), EMBASE (1980 to February 2006), CINAHL (1982 to February 2006), PsycINFO (1840 to February 2006), Science Citation Index (1970 to February 2006), Social Science Citation Index (1970 to February 2006), Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Science Database (1972 to 2003), reference lists of articles.