End-of-life conversations and care: an asset-based model for community engagement.

Background: Public awareness work regarding palliative and end-of-life care is increasingly promoted within national strategies for palliative care. Different approaches to undertaking this work are being used, often based upon broader educational principles, but little is known about how to undertake such initiatives in a way that equally engages both the health and social care sector and the local communities. An asset-based community engagement approach has been developed that facilitates community-led awareness initiatives concerning end-of-life conversations and care by identifying and connecting existing skills and expertise.

Clinical and histologic results related to a low-modulus composite total hip replacement stem.

Background: Osteolysis secondary to stress shielding in patients with a total hip arthroplasty has been attributed to greater stiffness of the prosthetic femoral stem compared with the stiffness of the femur. This concern led to the development of a composite femoral stem implant with a structural stiffness similar to that of the native femur. The stem consists of a cobalt-chromium-alloy core surrounded by polyaryletherketone and titanium mesh for bone ingrowth.