Prevalence of opioid dependence in Scotland 2015-2020: A multi-parameter estimation of prevalence (MPEP) study.

Background And Aims: Drug-related deaths in Scotland more than doubled between 2011 and 2020. To inform policymakers and understand drivers of this increase, we estimated the number of people with opioid dependence aged 15-64 from 2014/15 to 2019/20.

Design: We fitted a Bayesian multi-parameter estimation of prevalence (MPEP) model, using adverse event rates to estimate prevalence of opioid dependence jointly from Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT), opioid-related mortality and hospital admissions data.

Longitudinal Studies of Aging in Sub-Saharan Africa: Review, Limitations, and Recommendations in Preparation of Projected Aging Population.

Background And Objectives: The United Nations has projected a 218% increase in older people in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) between 2019 and 2050, underscoring the need to explore changes that would occur over this time. Longitudinal studies are ideal for studying and proffering solutions to these changes. This review aims to understand the breadth and use of longitudinal studies on aging in the SSA regions, proffering recommendations in preparation for the projected aging population.

Health and sociodemographic determinants of excess mortality in Spanish nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a 2-year prospective longitudinal study.

Background: Age, multimorbidity, immunodeficiency and frailty of older people living in nursing homes make them vulnerable to COVID-19 and overall mortality.

Objective: To estimate overall and COVID-19 mortality parameters and analyse their predictive factors in older people living in nursing homes over a 2-year period.

Method: Design: A 2-year prospective longitudinal multicentre study was conducted between 2020 and 2022.

Efficacy of hydroxypropyl-guar drops in improving tear film index and ocular surface dynamics using two treatment methods under a controlled desiccating environment.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of hp-guar eye drops on tear film index and ocular surface dynamics under desiccating conditions using protection and relief treatment modalities.

Methodology: The 12 normal, non-dry eye participants were subjected to adverse environmental conditions using a Controlled Environment Chamber (CEC) where the relative humidity (RH) was 5% and the ambient temperature was 21 °C. The participants were screened for ocular symptoms, tear osmolarity, ocular surface temperature (OST), tear production using the Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire (OSDI), OcuSense TearLab Osmometer, FLIR System ThermaCAM P620, and Schirmer strips.

An Adaptive Temporal Convolutional Network Autoencoder for Malicious Data Detection in Mobile Crowd Sensing.

Mobile crowdsensing (MCS) systems rely on the collective contribution of sensor data from numerous mobile devices carried by participants. However, the open and participatory nature of MCS renders these systems vulnerable to adversarial attacks or data poisoning attempts where threat actors can inject malicious data into the system. There is a need for a detection system that mitigates malicious sensor data to maintain the integrity and reliability of the collected information.

Retinal Fractal Dimension Is a Potential Biomarker for Systemic Health-Evidence From a Mixed-Age, Primary-Care Population.

Purpose: To investigate whether fractal dimension (FD), a retinal trait relating to vascular complexity and a potential "oculomics" biomarker for systemic disease, is applicable to a mixed-age, primary-care population.

Methods: We used cross-sectional data (96 individuals; 183 eyes; ages 18-81 years) from a university-based optometry clinic in Glasgow, Scotland, to study the association between FD and systemic health. We computed FD from color fundus images using Deep Approximation of Retinal Traits (DART), an artificial intelligence-based method designed to be more robust to poor image quality.

'It was kinda like D.I.Y closure'. Using Photovoice to capture the experiences of final year social work students graduating amidst the pandemic.

This article examines a recent research project that explored the lived experiences of 5 final year social work students in Scotland who graduated during the coronavirus pandemic. The project used Photovoice as the primary data collection method, followed by a 3 hour long online focus group where the participants and the researcher worked collaboratively to identify themes for further analysis. The findings demonstrated that while the data collected by participants through the photographs and captions were highly personal to each participant, there were recurring themes that connected all of them which were identified broadly as; (dis)connection, closure and identity - all of which were discussed in great detail in a virtual focus group after the data was collected.

Development of a core outcome set for use in research evaluations of interventions for venous leg ulceration: International eDelphi consensus.

Introduction: Venous leg ulceration (VLU) is a chronic, recurring condition with associated pain, malodour, impaired mobility and susceptibility to infection which in turn significantly impacts an individual's health-related quality of life. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) aim to determine the efficacy of interventions to improve outcomes. To be useful, these outcomes should be consistently and fully reported across RCTs.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccine uptake and risks of severe COVID-19 disease among people prescribed opioid agonist therapy in Scotland.

Background: There is limited evidence quantifying the risk of severe COVID-19 disease among people with opioid dependence. We examined vaccine uptake and severe disease (admission to critical care or death with COVID-19) among individuals prescribed opioid agonist therapy (OAT).

Method: A case-control design was used to examine vaccine uptake in those prescribed OAT compared with the general population, and the association between severe disease and OAT.

Factors associated with pathologic myopia onset and progression: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To synthesise evidence across studies on factors associated with pathologic myopia (PM) onset and progression based on the META-analysis for Pathologic Myopia (META-PM) classification framework.

Methods: Findings from six longitudinal studies (5-18 years) were narratively synthesised and meta-analysed, using odds ratio (OR) as the common measure of association. All studies adjusted for baseline myopia, age and sex at a minimum.

Corneal biomechanics are not exclusively compromised in high myopia.

Introduction: Research assuming linearity has concluded that corneal biomechanics are compromised in high myopia. We investigated whether this assumption was appropriate and re-examined these associations across different levels of myopia.

Methods: Myopic (spherical equivalent refraction, SER ≤ -0.

Topical review: Task shifting and the recruitment and retention of eye health workers in underserved areas.

Unlabelled: Many populations experience difficulty accessing eye care, especially in rural areas. Implementing workforce recruitment and retention strategies, as well as task shifting through widening scope of practice, can improve eye care accessibility. This article provides novel evidence on the compatibility of these strategies aimed at enhancing ophthalmic workforce recruitment, retention, and efficacy.

Views of Service Users, Their Family or Carers, and Health Care Professionals on Telerehabilitation for People With Neurological Conditions in Ghana: Qualitative Study.

Background: Up to 50% of people in low- and middle-income countries do not receive the rehabilitation they require. Telerehabilitation has the potential to improve access to neurorehabilitation services especially in low- and middle-income countries. Although there are reports of the barriers and facilitators to telerehabilitation in such settings, almost all are anecdotal.

Invaluable Benefits of 10 Years of the International Collaboration of Aphasia Trialists (CATs).

Aphasia research has traditionally been considered a (unidisciplinary) niche topic in medical science. The international Collaboration of Aphasia Trialists (CATs) is a global collaboration of multidisciplinary aphasia researchers. Over the past 10 years, CATs has collectively taken a rigorous approach to systematically address persistent challenges to aphasia research quality.

Evaluation of therapeutic efficacy of Emustil drops for ocular discomfort and tear film osmolarity using different treatment management modes under dry environmental conditions.

Background: We aimed to check the efficacy of Emustil (oil in water emulsion) drops on tear film index and ocular surface dynamics in dry environments through protection and relief treatment modalities.

Methods: The subjects were exposed to a dry environment using a Controlled Environment Chamber (CEC) where the relative humidity (RH) was 5% and the temperature was 21 °C and screened for ocular symptoms, tear osmolarity, ocular surface temperature (OST) and tear production using ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire (OSDI), OcuSense TearLab Osmometer, FLIR System ThermaCAM P620 and Schirmer strips/phenol red test respectively. Tear production was calculated by the Tear Function Index test (TFI).

Conceptualizing Sexual Wellbeing: A Qualitative Investigation to Inform Development of a Measure (Natsal-SW).

Despite increasing scientific and policy interest in sexual wellbeing, it remains poorly conceptualized. Many studies purporting to measure it instead measure related but distinct concepts, such as sexual satisfaction. This lack of conceptual clarity impedes understanding, measuring, and improving sexual wellbeing.

Evaluation of Food Homogenates on Cell Survival In Vitro.

A critical review on the approaches to assess the infectivity of the Hepatitis E virus (HEV) in food recommended that a cell culture-based method should be developed. Due to the observations that viral loads in food may be low, it is important to maximise the potential for detection of HEV in a food source in order to fully assess infectivity. To do so, would require minimal processing of any target material.

Characteristics of Occupational Therapy Interventions to Promote Healthy Aging: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

Background: Healthy aging is a pressing public health priority. Focusing on what people do every day may be a meaningful approach to lifestyle change, suggesting a need for occupation therapy interventions to promote healthy aging. A preliminary database search was conducted, and no current or underway systematic or scoping reviews on the topic were identified.

Cost-Effectiveness of 2 Models of Pessary Care for Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Findings From the TOPSY Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: Pelvic organ prolapse is the descent of one or more reproductive organs from their normal position, causing associated negative symptoms. One conservative treatment option is pessary management. This study aimed to to investigate the cost-effectiveness of pessary self-management (SM) when compared with clinic-based care (CBC).

Charting public views on the meaning of illness severity.

Background: Illness severity is a central principle in multiple priority-setting frameworks, yet there is a paucity of research on public views regarding the meaning of illness severity. This study builds on the findings of a Q methodology study with members of the public that identified four general viewpoints on the meaning of illness severity. Here, we investigate the support for those viewpoints among the Norwegian population.