Efficacy of heel lifts for insertional Achilles tendinopathy (LIFTIT): A randomised feasibility trial.

Objectives: Insertional Achilles tendinopathy is a common and disabling condition. This trial aimed to determine the feasibility of conducting a parallel group randomised trial to evaluate the efficacy of heel lifts compared to a sham intervention for reducing pain intensity associated with insertional Achilles tendinopathy.

Methods: Twenty-six people with insertional Achilles tendinopathy were randomised to either the heel lift group or sham intervention group.

LPS Increases Artery but Not Airway Contraction in Precision Cut Lung Slices from a Mouse Model of ARDS.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) results in decreased quality of life, including increased risk of pulmonary hypertension (PH). In animal models, ARDS can be induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which can disrupt the pulmonary endothelium and epithelium and induce inflammation. We tested whether administration or treatment with LPS alters the reactivity of intrapulmonary arteries and airways to constrictors relevant to both ARDS and PH, using the precision cut lung slice (PCLS) technique.

Precision Cut Lung Slices: Emerging Tools for Preclinical and Translational Lung Research. An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report.

The urgent need for effective treatments for acute and chronic lung diseases underscores the significance of developing innovative preclinical human research tools. The 2023 ATS Workshop on Precision Cut Lung Slices (PCLS) brought together 35 experts to discuss and address the role of human tissue-derived PCLS as a unique tool for target and drug discovery and validation in pulmonary medicine. With increasing interest and usage, along with advancements in methods and technology, there is a growing need for consensus on PCLS methodology and readouts.

Unpacking how trust, communication and flow interact to sustain quality relationships between disabled people, family and support workers: a realist qualitative study.

Purpose: Many disabled people require support workers to complete personal care, daily tasks and participate in life roles. Due to the intimate nature of community disability support in domestic environments, understanding what facilitates positive relationships is paramount. We examined the intricate interplay of context and mechanisms that drive positive relationship outcomes for disabled people, their family members and support workers.