Pharmacist non-medical prescribing in primary care. A systematic review of views, opinions, and attitudes.

Background: Uptake of non-medical prescribing by pharmacists working in primary care has been slow. This is despite benefits such as quicker and more efficient access to medicines for patients, a reduction in doctor workload, and enhanced professional satisfaction. This systematic review explores the views, opinions, and attitudes of pharmacists and graduates towards non-medical prescribing.

Towards personalized speech synthesis for augmentative and alternative communication.

Text-to-speech options on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices are limited. Often, several individuals in a group setting use the same synthetic voice. This lack of customization may limit technology adoption and social integration.

Protective effects of SnF2 - Part II. Deposition and retention on pellicle-coated enamel.

Unlabelled: Deposition of an acid-resistant barrier onto enamel represents a potentially superior means for delivering protection against dietary, erosive acid challenges.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the ability of a stabilised stannous fluoride (SnF2 ) dentifrice to: (1) deposit a SnF2 barrier layer onto pellicle-coated enamel surfaces; (2) increase the intensity of the barrier layer over time; and (3) be retained on the enamel surface for hours after product use.

Methods: Squares of human enamel were exposed to pooled saliva for 1 hour (pellicle formation) and separated into six sets.

Maximizing total end range time is safe and effective for the conservative treatment of frozen shoulder patients.

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to compare range of motion, subjective outcomes, and the prevalence of reoperation in groups of frozen shoulder patients with either low or moderate/high irritability treated with the same total end range time-maximizing protocol.

Design: A total of 36 patients were treated with the total end range time-maximizing protocol (12 patients with low irritability and 24 patients with moderate/high irritability). American Shoulder and Elbow Society Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) scores and external rotation and abduction were recorded before and after the rehabilitation protocol and were compared between the two groups.

High-intensity mechanical therapy for loss of knee extension for worker's compensation and non-compensation patients.

Background: Knee flexion contractures have been associated with increased pain and a reduced ability to perform activities of daily living. Contractures can be treated either surgically or conservatively, but these treatment options may not be as successful with worker's compensation patients. The purposes of retrospective review were to 1) determine the efficacy of using adjunctive high-intensity stretch (HIS) mechanical therapy to treat flexion contractures, and 2) compare the results between groups of worker's compensation and non-compensation patients.

Synthesis and in vitro and in vivo evaluation of a series of dihydroisocoumarin derivatives conjugated with fatty acids, alcohols, and amines as potential anticancer agents.

In this paper, we report the synthesis and biological activity of a series of dihydroisocoumarin analogues conjugated with fatty acids, alcohols, or amines, of varying hydrocarbon chain length and degree of unsaturation, to the dihydroisocoumarins, kigelin and mellein, at the C-7 and C-8 positions on the core dihydroisocoumarin structure. These compounds were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against human breast cancer (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468) and melanoma cells (SK-MEL-28 and Malme-3M) using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Two compounds conjugated with gamma-linolenyl alcohol (18:3 n-6) demonstrated potent antiproliferative activity in vitro with one of these 4-hydroxy-3-oxo-1,3-dihydro-isobenzofuran-5-carboxylic acid octadeca-6,9,12-trienyl ester, demonstrating significant antitumor activity in vivo in a number of human tumor xenograft models.

Caregiver knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding vitamin A intake by Dominican children.

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a major concern in the Dominican Republic. Successful educational interventions are based on needs assessment data specific to the population for which behavioural change is desired. The purpose of this study was to establish a foundation for nutrition education efforts for caregivers of young children to prevent VAD in the Dominican Republic.

Total synthesis of (-)-raumacline.

The total synthesis of (-)-raumacline from L-tryptophan was achieved, featuring a cis-specific Pictet-Spengler reaction, a stereoselective Dieckmann cyclization, and an epimerization step that allowed complete stereocontrol of five chiral centres.

Mechanical therapy for loss of knee flexion.

We hypothesized that adding home mechanical therapy to traditional physical therapy by a physical therapist would significantly reduce the need for surgical management of loss of knee flexion after surgery or injury. From 1990 to 1999, we followed up on 34 patients who added home mechanical therapy after failure of physical therapy alone. Thirty-one (91.

A through-the-scope device for suturing and tissue approximation under EUS control.

Background: The ability to place sutures under EUS control might allow development of a new type of transluminal endosurgery. The aim of this study was to develop endoscopic methods for suturing to variable predetermined depths in the wall of the GI tract and to allow fixation of adjacent hollow organs under EUS control.

Methods: A suturing device was constructed for suturing under EUS control to any desired depth.