Outcomes for older people with long-term conditions attending day care services delivered by paid staff or volunteers: a comparative study.

Background: Day care services support older people living with long-term conditions (LTC's).

Aims: The aims of the study were to determine outcomes in terms of loneliness and health-related quality of life for older people with LTCs attending day care services in the United Kingdom.

Methods: Newly referred older people with LTCs to day care services in North West of England and Wales were invited to participate.

Socio-Economic Deprivation and Symptom Burden in UK Hospice Patients with Advanced Cancer-Findings from a Longitudinal Study.

Socio-economic deprivation is known to impact on cancer diagnosis, treatment and access to services, but little is known of the impact of socio-economic deprivation on symptom burden in patients with advanced cancer. Patients with advanced cancer attending hospice day services were recruited into a 24 week longitudinal study. An area-based index of social deprivation was collected along with depression and symptom burden at baseline, 8, 16 and 24 weeks.

Comparison of independent and combined effects of the neurotensin receptor agonist, JMV-449, and incretin mimetics on pancreatic islet function, glucose homeostasis and appetite control.

Background: Neurotensin receptor activation augments the biosctivity of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). JMV-449, a C-terminal neurotensin-like fragment with a reduced peptide bond, represents a neurotensin receptor agonist.

Methods: The present study assessed the actions of JMV-449 on pancreatic beta-cells alone, and in combination with GIP and GLP-1.

The issue of "long-term" fit notes for depression in the UK: patient, GP and general practice variation.

: Depression is an important cause of certified sickness absence in the UK. It is not known what factors are associated with variation in length of sickness certificates issued by the GP to the depressed patient.: The purpose of the study was to identify patient, GP and practice factors associated with the issue of a long-term (> 4 week) fit note for depression.

Pilot randomised controlled trial of focused narrative intervention for moderate to severe depression in palliative care patients: DISCERN trial.

Background: Depression is poorly detected and sub-optimally managed in palliative care patients, and few trials of psychosocial interventions have been carried out in this group of patients.

Aims: A pilot trial to determine the effect of a focused narrative intervention on depression in palliative care patients when used in addition to usual care.

Design: Patients scoring 10 or higher on Patient Health Questionnaire-9 randomised to focused narrative intervention in addition to usual care or usual care only and followed up at 2, 4 and 6 weeks.