Topical anaesthetic effects on skin vasculature with potential implications for laser treatment.

Laser treatment of vascular lesions is affected by parameters including the diameter and depth of the vessels and flow within the vessels. Topical anaesthetics are in common use prior to laser treatment but may have effects on vessel parameters and, subsequently, the efficacy of laser treatment. Eleven patients with capillary vascular malformations were investigated for vessel diameter before and after elective application of a topical anaesthetic, Eutectic Mixture of Local Anaesthetics (EMLA) (AstraZeneca) or Ametop (S&N Health), prior to pulsed dye laser treatment.

Evidence of purinergic neurotransmission in isolated, intact horse sweat glands.

Background: Fluid secretion by sweat glands in response to heat and exercise is underpinned by increases in intracellular calcium. In horses, this is primarily via β2-adrenoceptors, but studies in equine sweat gland cell lines have indicated a possible role for purinergic agonists. Knowledge of equine sweating stimulus-secretion mechanisms in intact glands from healthy animals would allow future comparison to determine whether these mechanisms are affected in equine anhidrosis.

Older people's views on what they need to successfully adjust to life with a hearing aid.

This article reports a study exploring what older people believe would enable them to adjust to and gain maximum benefit from wearing a hearing aid. A mixed methods approach was employed during 2006 involving interviews with key stakeholders, a survey across three Scottish health board areas and focus groups. Nine key stakeholders from six national and local organisations were interviewed about the needs of older people being fitted with hearing aids.

The secretory clear cell of the eccrine sweat gland as the probable source of excess sweat production in hyperhidrosis.

Primary hyperhidrosis is characterized by excessive sweating in palmar, plantar and axillary body regions. Gland hypertrophy and the existence of a third type of sweat gland, the apoeccrine gland, with high fluid transporting capabilities have been suggested as possible causes. This study investigated whether sweat glands were hypertrophied in axillary hyperhidrotic patients and if mechanisms associated with fluid transport were found in all types of axillary sweat glands.

Analyzing free-living physical activity of older adults in different environments using body-worn activity monitors.

This study measured objectively the postural physical activity of 4 groups of older adults (> or =65 yr). The participants (N = 70) comprised 3 patient groups--2 from rehabilitation wards (city n = 20, 81.8 +/- 6.

A direct comparison of pulsed dye, alexandrite, KTP and Nd:YAG lasers and IPL in patients with previously treated capillary malformations.

Introduction: Several studies have reported laser treatment of Capillary Malformations (CMs) using systems other than pulsed dye lasers (PDL). Few, however, have compared different systems in the same patients. This study aimed to directly compare CM fading using five different systems.

Gait characteristics of subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome and controls at self-selected and matched velocities.

Background: Gait abnormalities have been reported in individuals with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) however no studies exist to date investigating the kinematics of individuals with CFS in over-ground gait. The aim of this study was to compare the over-ground gait pattern (sagittal kinematics and temporal and spatial) of individuals with CFS and control subjects at their self-selected and at matched velocities.

Methods: Twelve individuals with CFS and 12 matched controls participated in the study.

Staff attitudes towards working with drug users: development of the Drug Problems Perceptions Questionnaire.

Aim: To evaluate the psychometric properties of an adaptation of the Alcohol and Alcohol Problems Perceptions Questionnaire to measure the attitudes of staff to working with drug users (the DDPPQ).

Design: Postal survey: a questionnaire was mailed to participants on two occasions.

Setting: A large urban National Health Service (NHS) mental health service.

The effect of varying pulse duration, wavelength, spot size, and fluence on the response of previously treated capillary vascular malformations to pulsed-dye laser treatment.

Modern lasers allow different parameters to be altered in an effort to gain further improvement in otherwise resistant capillary vascular malformations (CMs). The aim of this study was to examine the effect of changing the pulse duration, wavelength, spot size, and fluence on the color and capillary architecture of 585-nm pulsed-dye, laser-resistant CMs. Eighteen patients were assessed with a depth measurement videomicroscope (DMV) before and after 12 test patches with ScleroPlus and V-Beam lasers at specified parameters.

Influence of policies on nursing practice in long-term care environments for older people.

Aim: This paper reports a study exploring nurses' awareness of, access to and use of policies within long-term care environments for older people in Scotland.

Background: The provision of the highest quality of nursing care for older people with continuing care needs is facilitated through a number of strategic mechanisms. These encompass regulatory systems, national and local policies and care guidance.

Perception of risk: a study of A&E nurses and NHS managers.

This exploratory study investigates perceptions of two groups of NHS staff, of a range of risks, topical and relevant to accident and emergency (A&E). Literature suggests that the effectiveness of a risk management strategy is lessened if staff exposed to risk, and managers, have different perceptions of the nature and severity of the risk. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to registered A&E nurses and to Trust managers at directorate level and above, working in five large inner-city NHS Trusts.

The use of an air filtration system in podiatry clinics.

A small-scale study was conducted to ascertain the efficiency and effectiveness of an air filtration system for use in podiatry/chiropody clinics (Electromedia Model 35F (A), Clean Air Ltd, Scotland, UK). Three clinics were identified, enabling comparison of data between podiatry clinics in the West of Scotland. The sampling was conducted using a portable Surface Air Sampler (Cherwell Laboratories, Bicester, UK).