Devastating Transboundary Impacts of Sea Star Wasting Disease on Subtidal Asteroids.

Sea star wasting disease devastated intertidal sea star populations from Mexico to Alaska between 2013-15, but little detail is known about its impacts to subtidal species. We assessed the impacts of sea star wasting disease in the Salish Sea, a Canadian / United States transboundary marine ecosystem, and world-wide hotspot for temperate asteroid species diversity with a high degree of endemism. We analyzed roving diver survey data for the three most common subtidal sea star species collected by trained volunteer scuba divers between 2006-15 in 5 basins and on the outer coast of Washington, as well as scientific strip transect data for 11 common subtidal asteroid taxa collected by scientific divers in the San Juan Islands during the spring/summer of 2014 and 2015.

Ochre star mortality during the 2014 wasting disease epizootic: role of population size structure and temperature.

Over 20 species of asteroids were devastated by a sea star wasting disease (SSWD) epizootic, linked to a densovirus, from Mexico to Alaska in 2013 and 2014. For Pisaster ochraceus from the San Juan Islands, South Puget Sound and Washington outer coast, time-series monitoring showed rapid disease spread, high mortality rates in 2014, and continuing levels of wasting in the survivors in 2015. Peak prevalence of disease at 16 sites ranged to 100%, with an overall mean of 61%.

Evaluation of a hospital-based tobacco treatment service: outcomes and lessons learned.

Background: The efficacy of smoking cessation interventions for hospital patients has been well described, but we know little regarding implementation and outcomes of real-world programs.

Objective: To describe the services provided and outcomes of an academic medical center-based tobacco treatment service (UKanQuit) located in the Midwestern United States.

Method: This is a descriptive observational study.

A study analysing inconsistent responses from people with multiple sclerosis in a recent national audit.

Purpose: An audit of NHS services for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) revealed inconsistency in individuals' responses to different types of questions. The main aim of this subsequent study was to analyse systematically the qualitative data gathered as part of the audit and use the findings to investigate the disparity between the global expressions of satisfaction and the negative, and at times heart wrenching, free text comments made.

Method: This study analysed questionnaires completed by 557 PwMS, 336 of which had made free text comments.

The relationship between mood state, interpersonal attitudes and psychological distress in stroke patients.

This study investigated whether increasing positive mood improved interpersonal attitudes and relieved depression in depressed stroke patients despite levels of cognitive and emotional dysfunction. Depressed stroke (n = 30) and rheumatic/orthopaedic controls (n = 30) were compared on the effect of verbal and nonverbal positive and neutral mood induction on mood state, interpersonal attitudes, psychological distress and related cognitive and emotional processing deficits. Compared with the neutral mood induction condition, the positive mood induction significantly improved mood state, interpersonal attitudes and psychological distress, irrespective of cognitive and emotional processing deficits.

Assessing the cognitive regulation of emotion in depressed stroke patients.

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of a simple scale for measuring positive interpersonal attitudes of depressed stroke patients, with regard to their cognitive limitations. Two versions of the Attitudes Towards Relationships Scale were developed and administered to depressed stroke (n = 48) and control rheumatic/orthopaedic (n = 45) patients during a study that investigated the relationship between mood state, interpersonal attitudes and psychological distress. Both versions produced homogeneous results and showed acceptable concurrent validity, test-retest reliability, internal consistency and measurement specificity.

Pain assessment and cognitive impairment: part 2.

Aim: To evaluate the use of a tool for pain assessment in cognitively impaired adults.

Method: A multi-dimensional tool was implemented and evaluated in relation to use rate; frequency of specific pain indicators; staff perceptions of advantages and disadvantages of pain assessment in this patient group; and factors that aid or impede this assessment.

Results: Some indicators are more likely to be observed and documented.

Pain assessment and cognitive impairment: part 1.

People with cognitive impairment are often unable to inform others of their pain. Nurses need to be able to assess pain in cognitively impaired adults so that appropriate pain management strategies can be implemented. Evidence suggests that certain verbal, facial and behavioural signs may be indicative of pain.