Virtual reality current use, facilitators and barriers to implementation in paediatric physiotherapy: cross-sectional online survey of UK paediatric physiotherapists.

Background: The literature is scarce about virtual reality (VR) use and its integration into clinical practice. Given the growing interest toward using VR in healthcare in the UK, the aims of this survey were to explore its current use by paediatric physiotherapists in clinical practice in the UK, identify the facilitators and barriers to VR implementation in clinical practice and investigate the factors that will enhance intentions to use it in the future.

Methods: An online survey using Assessing Determinants of Prospective Take-Up of Virtual Reality (ADOPT-VR2) was distributed to UK paediatric physiotherapists through the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists.

The efficacy of virtual reality interventions compared with conventional physiotherapy in improving the upper limb motor function of children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials.

Purpose: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the commonest motor disability affecting children. This study reviewed the evidence for virtual reality (VR) intervention compared with conventional physiotherapy in upper limb function of children with CP.

Methods: Searches were undertaken in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PEDro, CENTRAL, Web of Science, CINAHL, ERIC, ICTRP, EU-CTR, ClinicalTrials.

Randomized clinical trial of DTaP5-HB-IPV-Hib vaccine administered concomitantly with meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccines during the primary infant series.

Background: Concomitant administration of vaccines simplifies delivery. DTaP5-HB-IPV-Hib is a fully liquid, combination vaccine against 6 diseases. This study evaluated the compatibility of DTaP5-HB-IPV-Hib with 2 different meningococcus group C conjugate (MCC) vaccines in infants.

Improving communication between staff and disabled children in hospital wards: testing the feasibility of a training intervention developed through intervention mapping.

Objective: To develop and test the feasibility of a novel parent-inspired training intervention for hospital ward staff to improve communication with disabled children when inpatients.

Design: Training content and delivery strategies were informed by the iterative process of Intervention Mapping and developed in collaboration with parents of disabled children.

Setting: UK University Hospital children's ward.

A phase III, open-label, randomised multicentre study to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of a booster dose of two different reduced antigen diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis-polio vaccines, when co-administered with measles-mumps-rubella vaccine in 3 and 4-year-old healthy children in the UK.

Aim: To evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of a reduced antigen diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis-inactivated poliovirus (dTap-IPV) vaccine (Boostrix-IPV, GSK) as a pre-school booster in 3-4 year old children as compared to dTap-IPV (Repevax, Sanofi Pasteur), when co-administered with mumps-measles-rubella vaccine (MMRV).

Methods: This phase III, open label, randomised study was conducted in the UK between April 2011 and April 2012. Children due their pre-school dTap-IPV booster vaccination were randomised 2:1 to receive one of two different dTap-IPV vaccines (dTap-IPV or dTap-IPV) with blood sample for immunogenicity assessment just prior and one month after vaccination.

Effectiveness of the Healthy Lifestyles Programme (HeLP) to prevent obesity in UK primary-school children: a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Background: Although childhood overweight and obesity prevalence has increased substantially worldwide in the past three decades, scarce evidence exists for effective preventive strategies. We aimed to establish whether a school-based intervention for children aged 9-10 years would prevent excessive weight gain after 24 months.

Methods: This pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial of the Healthy Lifestyles Programme (HeLP), a school-based obesity prevention intervention, was done in 32 schools in southwest England.

Trial baseline characteristics of a cluster randomised controlled trial of a school-located obesity prevention programme; the Healthy Lifestyles Programme (HeLP) trial.

Background: We have developed a healthy lifestyles programme (HeLP) for primary school aged children (9-10 years), currently being evaluated in a definitive cluster randomised controlled trial. This paper descriptively presents the baseline characteristics of trial children (BMI, waist circumference, % body fat, diet and physical activity) by gender, cluster level socio-economic status, school size and time of recruitment into the trial.

Methods: Schools were recruited from across the South West of England and allocated 1:1 to either intervention (HeLP) or control (usual practice) stratified by the proportion of children eligible for free school meals (FSM, <19%, ≥19%) and school size (one Year 5 class, >1 Year 5 class).

Meaningful health outcomes for paediatric neurodisability: Stakeholder prioritisation and appropriateness of patient reported outcome measures.

Background: Health services are increasingly focused on measuring and monitoring outcomes, particularly those that reflect patients' priorities. To be meaningful, outcomes measured should be valued by patients and carers, be consistent with what health professionals seek to achieve, and be robust in terms of measurement properties. The aim of this study was (i) to seek a shared vision between families and clinicians regarding key aspects of health as outcomes, beyond mortality and morbidity, for children with neurodisability, and (ii) to appraise which multidimensional patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) could be used to assess salient health domains.

Communicating with disabled children when inpatients: barriers and facilitators identified by parents and professionals in a qualitative study.

Background: Communication is a fundamental part of health care, but can be more difficult with disabled children. Disabled children are more frequently admitted to hospital than other children.

Aims: To explore experiences of ward staff and families to identify barriers and facilitators to effective communication with disabled children whilst inpatients.

Health outcomes for children with neurodisability: what do professionals regard as primary targets?

Aim: To identify what aspects of health clinicians target when working with children with neurodisability, and which might be appropriate to assess the performance of health services.

Method: Health professionals were recruited through child development teams and professional societies in England. Professionals participated in four rounds of an online Delphi survey.

Towards a definition of neurodisability: a Delphi survey.

Aim: The aim of this study was to develop, systematically, a consensus-based definition for 'neurodisability' that is meaningful to health professionals and parents of children with neurological conditions.

Method: A multidisciplinary group of health professionals was recruited through child development teams and professional societies in the UK; several parents of children with neurological conditions worked with the research team. Professionals participated in three rounds of a Delphi survey.

The Healthy Lifestyles Programme (HeLP), a novel school-based intervention to prevent obesity in school children: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Over the last three decades there has been a substantial increase in the proportion of children who are overweight or obese. The Healthy Lifestyles Programme (HeLP) is a novel school-based intervention, using highly interactive and creative delivery methods to prevent obesity in children.

Methods/design: We describe a cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of HeLP.

Stomatin-deficient cryohydrocytosis results from mutations in SLC2A1: a novel form of GLUT1 deficiency syndrome.

The hereditary stomatocytoses are a series of dominantly inherited hemolytic anemias in which the permeability of the erythrocyte membrane to monovalent cations is pathologically increased. The causative mutations for some forms of hereditary stomatocytosis have been found in the transporter protein genes, RHAG and SLC4A1. Glucose transporter 1 (glut1) deficiency syndromes (glut1DSs) result from mutations in SLC2A1, encoding glut1.

Glucose transporter-1 deficiency syndrome: the expanding clinical and genetic spectrum of a treatable disorder.

Glucose transporter-1 deficiency syndrome is caused by mutations in the SLC2A1 gene in the majority of patients and results in impaired glucose transport into the brain. From 2004-2008, 132 requests for mutational analysis of the SLC2A1 gene were studied by automated Sanger sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Mutations in the SLC2A1 gene were detected in 54 patients (41%) and subsequently in three clinically affected family members.

Computer-aided lens assembly.

We propose a computer-aided method of lens manufacture that allows assembly, adjustment, and test phases to be run concurrently until an acceptable level of optical performance is reached. Misalignment of elements within a compound lens is determined by a comparison of the results of physical ray tracing by use of an array of Gaussian laser beams with numerically obtained geometric ray traces. An estimate of misalignment errors is made, and individual elements are adjusted in an iterative manner until performance criteria are achieved.

Synthetic aperture interferometry: in-process measurement of aspheric optics.

A scanning probe consisting of a source and receive fiber pair is used to measure the phase difference between wave fronts scattered from the front and rear surfaces of an aspheric optic. This system can be thought of as a classical interferometer with an aperture synthesized from the data collected along the path of the probe. If the form of either surface is known, the other can be deduced.