Supporting patient self-management: A cross-sectional and prospective cohort study investigating Patient Activation Measure (PAM) and Clinician Support for PAM scores as part of a multi-centre haemodialysis breakthrough series collaborative.

Background: Patient self-management, measured by the Patient Activation Measure (PAM), is associated with reduced healthcare utilisation and better health-related quality of life. Self-management in haemodialysis (HD) is challenging and may require support from clinicians with positive attitudes towards self-management, measured by the Clinician Support for PAM (CSPAM).

Objectives: To assess whether kidney staff CSPAM scores are: 1) associated with their centre's patient PAM scores and 2) modifiable through staff coaching.

Contributions of treatment centre and patient characteristics to patient-reported experience of haemodialysis: a national cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To examine the relative importance of patient and centre level factors in determining self-reported experience of care in patients with advanced kidney disease treated by maintenance haemodialysis (HD).

Design: Analysis of data from a cross sectional national survey; the UK Renal Registry (UKRR) national Kidney patient-reported experience measure (PREM) survey (2018). Centre-level data were obtained from the UKRR report (2018).

Exploring the associations shared by mood, pain-related attention and pain outcomes related to sleep disturbance in a chronic pain sample.

Objective: Sleep disturbance in chronic pain is common, occurring in two-thirds of patients. There is a complex relationship between chronic pain and sleep; pain can disrupt sleep and poor sleep can exaggerate pain intensity. This may have an impact on both depressive symptoms and attention to pain.

Opioids for chronic pain: promise and pitfalls.

Purpose Of Review: The prescribing of opioid medicines is increasing progressively despite a substantial body of literature identifying potential limitations and harms of therapy. Production and dissemination of best practice guidance in relation to prescribing do not yet seem to have an impact on this trend. This article highlights updated concerns about and unanswered questions in relation to opioid treatment to provide focus for further scrutiny and evaluation of opioid treatment for pain.

Ketamine hydrochloride in the treatment of phantom limb pain.

Three cases are described in which phantom limb pain was successfully treated with ketamine hydrochloride. Possible mechanisms for this observation are suggested.

Efficiency of Treatments Involving Ultraviolet Irradiation for Decontaminating Packaging Board of Different Surface Compositions.

Reflectivity, smoothness and geometry of several types of food packaging board were studied in relation to the effectiveness of decontamination treatments involving ultraviolet (UV-C, 254 nm) irradiation. Surfaces containing aluminum in the laminate reflected more light in the 325 to 550 nm range and showed a lower lethal effect when Bacillus subtilis spores were irradiated. Visible light of wavelengths between 325 and 550 nm is known to cause photoreactivation of UV damage in vegetative cells.

Measurement of Residual Hydrogen Peroxide in Preformed Food Cartons Decontaminated with Hydrogen Peroxide and Ultraviolet Irradiation.

A luminometric method was used to determine the levels of residual hydrogen peroxide present in preformed food packaging cartons after a decontamination process using sterile distilled water or 0.1, 1.0 or 30% (wt/vol) hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet (UV-C, 254 nm) irradiation.

Combined Treatment with Hydrogen Peroxide and Ultra-violet Irradiation to Reduce Microbial Contamination Levels in Pre-formed Food Packaging Cartons.

A treatment combining hydrogen peroxide and ultra-violet (UV-C) irradiation was assessed for reduction of microbial contamination in pre-formed food packaging cartons. There was a synergistic effect between low concentrations (0 - 5% wt/vol) of hydrogen peroxide and UV-C irradiation (10 s) on spores of Bacillus subtilis , the maximum lethality occurring between 0.5 and 1% peroxide.