Understanding eating behaviours in Spanish women enrolled in a weight-loss treatment.

Aim: To identify the beliefs and attitudes of a sample of obese and overweight Spanish women undertaking a weight-loss treatment.

Background: Obesity is a global epidemic. Weight-loss treatments focus on changing eating behaviours; however, many patients fail to adhere to the diet.

HIV, hepatitis C, and hepatitis B infections and associated risk behavior in injection drug users, Kabul, Afghanistan.

Limited prevalence data for HIV, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) exist for Afghanistan. We studied a cross-sectional sample of adult injection drug users (IDUs) in Kabul, Afghanistan, from June 2005 through June 2006. Study participants completed interviewer-administered questionnaires and underwent testing for HIV, antibody to HCV, and HBsAg.

Quantitative classification of adhesive bondline dimensions using Lamb waves and artificial neural networks.

Adhesive bonding of metal assemblies is gaining acceptance for use with safety critical structures, and there is a need for effective inspection for both quality assurance (QA) and the assessment of condition in service. One aspect of QA is the need for the dimensions of adhesive bondlines to be within tolerance and measurable. This paper describes the application of ultrasonic Lamb waves in the determination of the principal dimensions of two forms of adhered joints (Lap and T-form) between metal plates.

A qualitative assessment of injection drug use and harm reduction programmes in Kabul, Afghanistan: 2006-2007.

Background: The purpose of this paper was to examine the context of injection drug use in Kabul, Afghanistan among injection drug users (IDUs) utilising and not utilising needle and syringe programmes (NSPs).

Methods: Following identification of themes from eight focus group discussions, free-lists were used for further exploration with both NSP using (n=30) and non-NSP using (n=31) IDUs.

Results: All participants were male, had been injecting for 5 years (mean), and most (95%) had been refugees in the past decade.

Correlates of receptive and distributive needle sharing among injection drug users in Kabul, Afghanistan.

We describe receptive and distributive needle/syringe sharing among injection drug users (IDUs) in Kabul, Afghanistan. In this cross-sectional study, IDUs completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Logistic regression identified correlates of needle sharing in the last six months.

Venous thrombosis in patients with short- and long-term central venous catheter-associated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

Objective: Infection and thrombosis are important complications of intravascular catheters. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of thrombosis in patients with central venous catheter-associated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and the utility of physical examination for diagnosing upper extremity or neck venous thrombosis.

Design: Prospective observational cohort.

A randomized comparison of misoprostol to intrauterine instillation of hypertonic saline plus a prostaglandin F2alpha analogue for second-trimester induction termination in Uzbekistan.

Background: The study was conducted to compare the efficacy and acceptability of second-trimester induction termination using vaginal misoprostol to hypertonic saline and d-cloprostenol, a prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF) analogue, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Study Design: Eleven clinics providing second-trimester induction terminations were randomized to provide one of two regimens for second-trimester induction termination: vaginal misoprostol 400 mcg every 3 h or hypertonic 10% saline intrauterine instillation plus an intravenous PGF analogue, d-cloprostenol, 2.5 mg/h.

The Short FES-I: a shortened version of the falls efficacy scale-international to assess fear of falling.

Background: the 16-item Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) has been shown to have excellent reliability and construct validity. However, for practical and clinical purposes, a shortened version of the FES-I would be useful.

Objective: to develop and validate a shortened version of FES-I while preserving good psychometric properties.

Prevention of Falls Network Europe: a thematic network aimed at introducing good practice in effective falls prevention across Europe. Four years on.

ProFaNE, Prevention of Falls Network Europe, is a four-year thematic network co-ordinated by the University of Manchester, UK, with 25 partners across Europe and funded by the European Community Framework 5. There are also Network Associates from a number of EU and non-EU countries who give their advice and experience at steering meetings, seminars and conferences. There are four main themes (taxonomy and co-ordination of trials; clinical assessment and management of falls; assessment of balance function; psychological aspects of falling).

Occupational stress in palliative medicine, medical oncology and clinical oncology specialist registrars.

A cross-sectional complete enumeration postal survey was conducted to compare stress levels between specialist registrars (SpRs) in palliative medicine, clinical oncology and medical oncology. Four hundred and one UK-registered SpRs responded (response rate 63.1%).

Family practice/Primary health care nurses in Nova Scotia.

The authors describe a study that was designed to explore the current role of family practice/primary health care (FP/PHC) nurses in Nova Scotia. A survey was created and mailed to FP/PHC nurses. Forty-one returned surveys met the criteria of the study.

Psychosocial predictors of health-related quality of life and health service utilisation in people with chronic low back pain.

Psychological and social factors have been shown, separately, to predict outcome in individuals with chronic low back pain. Few previous studies, however, have integrated both psychological and social factors, using prospective study of clinic populations of low back pain patients, to identify which are the most important targets for treatment. One hundred and eight patients with chronic low back pain, newly referred to an orthopaedic outpatient clinic, completed assessments of demographic characteristics, details of back pain, measures of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS), fearful beliefs about pain (Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire), social stresses (Life Events and Difficulties Schedule) and physical aspects of health-related quality of life [SF-36 Physical Component summary Score scale (PCS)].

Force application during cochlear implant insertion: an analysis for improvement of surgeon technique.

Highly invasive surgical procedures, such as the implantation of a prosthetic device, require correct force delivery to achieve desirable outcomes and minimize trauma induced during the operation. Improvement in surgeon technique can reduce the chances of excessive force application and lead to optimal placement of the electrode array. The fundamental factors that affect the degree of success for cochlear implant recipients are identified through empirical methods.

A nascent HIV type 1 epidemic among injecting drug users in Kabul, Afghanistan is dominated by complex AD recombinant strain, CRF35_AD.

Injecting drug use (IDU), common in global centers of heroin production, confers significant risk for HIV-1 infection. Once introduced into IDU networks, an explosive rise in HIV-1 infection typically occurs, fueled principally by needle sharing. New HIV-1 epidemics in IDUs have occurred in Russia, China, Thailand, Spain, Iran, and in other countries, and some have spread into other risk groups in their respective countries.

Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection, risk behavior, and HIV knowledge among tuberculosis patients in Afghanistan.

Objectives/goal: To assess prevalence and correlates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, risk factors, and HIV knowledge among tuberculosis patients in Afghanistan.

Study Design: Adult participants undergoing treatment for tuberculosis in this cross-sectional study completed a questionnaire and HIV testing between November 2005 and February 2006. Prevalence of HIV and high-risk behaviors were calculated, with correlates of high-risk behavior and relevant knowledge assessed.

Older women with operable breast cancer are less likely to have surgery.

Background: Older women are less likely to receive standard management for breast cancer than younger postmenopausal women. Whether differences in general health explain variations in the rates of surgery is not known.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 76 women aged 65 years or more attending breast units in Greater Manchester completed a survey measuring functional status (Elderly Population Health Status Survey's Activity of Daily Living), generic health status (Short Form 12) and health-related quality of life (European Organization for Research on Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30).

Recommendations for promoting the engagement of older people in activities to prevent falls.

Objective: To develop recommendations for promoting uptake of and adherence to falls-prevention interventions among older people.

Design: The recommendations were initially developed from literature review, clinical experience of the core group members, and substantial qualitative and quantitative studies of older people's views. They were refined through a consultation process with members of the falls-prevention community, drawing on Delphi survey and nominal group techniques.

Effectiveness of liaison psychiatric nursing in older medical inpatients with depression: a randomised controlled trial.

Objective: To compare liaison psychiatric nursing with usual medical care in the management of older medical inpatients who screen positive for depression.

Design: Pragmatic randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Medical wards of UK district general hospital in rural East Anglia.

Sexually transmitted disease symptom management behaviours among female sex workers in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess prevalence and correlates of self-treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) among female sex workers (FSW) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Enrolled FSW completed a self-administered questionnaire, HIV serologic testing and optional pelvic examination. STD diagnosis was based on physical examination and/or microscopic findings.

Quality assurance testing of an explosives trace analysis laboratory--further improvements.

The Forensic Explosives Laboratory (FEL) operates within the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) which is part of the UK Government Ministry of Defence (MOD). The FEL provides support and advice to the Home Office and UK police forces on matters relating to the criminal misuse of explosives. During 1989 the FEL established a weekly quality assurance testing regime in its explosives trace analysis laboratory.

Cholinesterase inhibitors reduce cortical Abeta in dementia with Lewy bodies.

Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are effective symptomatic treatments in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), although effects on pathologic mechanisms are unknown. In the first human autopsy study examining the impact of ChEI treatment on brain pathology, we compared treated patients with DLB with matched untreated patients for cortical beta-amyloid (Abeta) and tau pathologies. Treated patients with DLB had significantly less parenchymal Abeta deposition, which is relevant to disease management and treatment of dementia patients using ChEI.

Clinical supervision in the alcohol and other drugs field: an imperative or an option?

There is a growing interest in Clinical Supervision (CS) as a central workforce development (WFD) strategy. This paper provides a definition of and rationale for CS, characterises its various forms, identifies selection and training issues, and advises on policy and implementation issues central to redressing shortcomings in supervision practice within the alcohol and other drugs (AOD) field. Relevant selective literature is reviewed.

Supporting cancer patients with palliative care needs: district nurses' role perceptions.

The aim of this study was to examine UK district nurses' perceptions of their role in supporting palliative care cancer patients. Patients with cancer are living longer with the disease. District nurses are the largest UK workforce caring for people with cancer at home, the preferred place of care.

Association between expatriation and HIV awareness and knowledge among injecting drug users in Kabul, Afghanistan: A cross-sectional comparison of former refugees to those remaining during conflict.

Background: Little is known about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) awareness among Afghan injecting drug users (IDUs), many of whom initiated injecting as refugees. We explored whether differences in HIV awareness and knowledge exist between Afghan IDUs who were refugees compared to those never having left Afghanistan.

Methods: A convenience sample of IDUs in Kabul, Afghanistan was recruited into a cross-sectional study through street outreach over a one year period beginning in 2005.

Non-standard management of breast cancer increases with age in the UK: a population based cohort of women > or =65 years.

Evidence suggests that compared to younger women, older women are less likely to receive standard management for breast cancer. Whether this disparity persists once differences in tumour characteristics have been adjusted for has not been investigated in the UK. A retrospective cohort study involving case note review was undertaken, based on the North Western Cancer Registry database of women aged > or =65 years, resident in Greater Manchester with invasive breast cancer registered over a 1-year period (n=480).