Identifying Challenges Related to the Management of Comorbidities in People with Dementia in Residential Care: Expert Delphi Consensus Exercise.

Improving early detection, management, and treatment of comorbid conditions to dementia in residential care could slow down cognitive and functional decline, and increase residents' quality of life. We conducted a Delphi study comprising three rounds (two surveys and an interview) to identify the most difficult dementia comorbidities to deal with in residential care and related issues. Participants were 15 UK-based experts including academics, residential care workers, geriatricians, and neuropsychologists.

Unravelling the Epitaxial Growth Mechanism of Hexagonal and Nanoporous Boron Nitride: A First-Principles Microkinetic Model.

Understanding the chemical and physical mechanisms at play in 2D materials growth is critical for effective process development of methods such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) as a toolbox for processing more complex nanostructures and 2D materials. A combination of density functional theory and microkinetic modeling is employed to comprehensively investigate the reaction mechanism governing the epitaxial growth of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) on Ru(0001) from borazine. This analysis encompasses four key stages prior to the formation of the complete hBN overlayer: (i) adsorption, diffusion and deprotonation of borazine, (ii) dimerization and microkinetic modeling (iii) stability of larger borazine polymers and (iv) formation of nanoporous intermediates.

Evidence Supports the Validity and Reliability of Response Times from a Brief Survey as a Digital Biomarker for Processing Speed in a Large Panel Study.

Survey response times (RTs) have hitherto untapped potential to allow researchers to gain more detailed insights into the cognitive performance of participants in online panel studies. We examined if RTs recorded from a brief online survey could serve as a digital biomarker for processing speed. Data from 9,893 adults enrolled in the nationally representative Understanding America Study were used in the analyses.

Acetochlor degradation in anaerobic microcosms with hyporheic sediments: Insights from biogeochemical data, transformation products, and isotope analysis.

Steep redox gradients and diverse microbial communities in the anaerobic hyporheic zone create complex pathways for the degradation of herbicides, often linked to various terminal electron-accepting processes (TEAPs). Identifying the degradation pathways and their controlling factors under various TEAPs is of great significance for understanding mechanisms of water purification in the hyporheic zone. However, current research on herbicides in this area remains insufficient.

Behind the scenes of EQA-characteristics, capabilities, benefits and assets of external quality assessment (EQA).

The main stakeholders in external quality assessment (EQA) programs are the participants, in whose interests these challenges are ultimately organised. EQA schemes in the medical field contribute to improving the quality of patient care by evaluating the analytical and diagnostic quality of laboratory and point-of-care tests (POCT) by independent third parties and, if necessary, pointing out erroneous measurement results and analytical or diagnostic improvement potential. Other benefits include the option of using EQA samples for other important laboratory procedures, such as the verification or validation of diagnostic medical devices (IVD-MDs), a contribution to the estimation of measurement uncertainty, a means of training and educating laboratory staff through educational EQA programmes or samples, or even for independent and documented monitoring of staff competence, such as on samples with unusual or even exceptional characteristics.

Behind the scenes of EQA - characteristics, capabilities, benefits and assets of external quality assessment (EQA).

This is the first in a series of five papers that detail the role and substantial impact that external quality assessment (EQA) and their providers' services play in ensuring diagnostic (IVD) performance quality. The aim is to give readers and users of EQA services an insight into the processes in EQA, explain to them what happens before EQA samples are delivered and after examination results are submitted to the provider, how they are assessed, what benefits participants can expect, but also who are stakeholders other than participants and what significance do EQA data and assessment results have for them. This first paper presents the history of EQA, insights into legal, financing and ethical matters, information technology used in EQA, structure and lifecycle of EQA programs, frequency and intensity of challenges, and unique requirements of extra-examination and educational EQA programs.

Behind the scenes of EQA - characteristics, capabilities, benefits and assets of external quality assessment (EQA).

External quality assessment (EQA) cycles are the smallest complete units within EQA programs that laboratories can use to obtain external assessments of their performance. In each cycle, several samples are distributed to the laboratories registered for participation, and ideally, EQA programs not only cover the examination procedures but also the pre- and post-examination procedures. The properties and concentration range of measurands in individual samples are selected with regard to the intended challenge for the participants so that each sample fulfils its purpose.

Behind the scenes of EQA - characteristics, capabilities, benefits and assets of external quality assessment (EQA).

External quality assessment (EQA) enhances patient safety through the evaluation of the quality of laboratory-based and point of care testing. Regulatory agencies and accreditation organizations utilize the results and the laboratory's response to them as part of assessing the laboratory's fitness to practice. In addition, where EQA samples are commutable and the assigned value has been determined using reference measurement procedures (RMPs), EQA data contributes to the verification of metrological traceability of assays as part of the post-market surveillance of diagnostic (IVD) medical devices (IVD-MDs).

Behind the scenes of EQA - characteristics, capabilities, benefits and assets of external quality assessment (EQA).

Providers of external quality assessment (EQA) programs evaluate data or information obtained and reported by participant laboratories using their routine procedures to examine properties or measurands in samples provided for this purpose. EQA samples must offer participants an equal chance to obtain accurate results, while being designed to provide results in clinically relevant ranges. It is the responsibility of the EQA provider to meet the necessary requirements for homogeneity, stability and some other properties of the EQA items in order to offer participants a fair, reliable and technically interesting EQA experience.

Paranoia, Functioning, and the Moderating Effect of Well-Being in a Community Sample of Adolescents.

Introduction: Paranoid ideation is a relatively common experience in adolescence, yet it has not been well-explored in relation to psychological well-being and functioning in general population samples of youth. The current study aimed to investigate the relations between paranoia (operationalized as "persecutory ideation"), well-being, and two domains of functioning, social (e.g.

Reduction of pain and functional disability over time in patients treated with zavegepant: a post-hoc analysis of the BHV3500-301 phase 3 randomized controlled trial.

Background: Migraine is a disabling disorder that impacts 40 million people in the US. Zavegepant is the first calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist nasal-spray approved for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. This study aimed to evaluate the proportion of patients in various pain and functional disability states over 48-h, for patients treated with zavegepant 10 mg nasal-spray versus placebo.

IPEM topical report: guidance on 3D printing in radiotherapy.

There has been an increase in the availability and utilization of commercially available 3D printers in radiotherapy, with applications in phantoms, brachytherapy applicators, bolus, compensators, and immobilization devices. Additive manufacturing in the form of 3D printing has the advantage of rapid production of personalized patient specific prints or customized phantoms within a short timeframe. One of the barriers to uptake has been the lack of guidance.

Using the Conserved Hexapeptide in HOX Proteins as an Antagonist of HOX/PBX Interactions.

The HOX and PBX genes encode transcription factors that have key roles in development and cancer, both independently and as a heterodimer within a complex of proteins that recognizes specific sequences in DNA and can both activate and repress transcription of target genes. Due to functional redundancy amongst HOX proteins, knock down or knock out studies of individual genes often do not result in an altered phenotype. An alternative approach is to target the interaction between HOX and PBX proteins, which is dependent on a conserved hexapeptide region within HOX.

A retrospective, observational study of real-world clinical data from the Cognitive Function Development Therapy program.

Introduction: Cognitive deficits are common in psychiatric and mental health disorders, making the assessment of cognitive function in mental health treatment an important area of research. Cognitive Function Development Therapy (CFDT) is a novel therapeutic modality designed to enhance cognitive function and regulate the autonomic nervous system through targeted exercises and activities focused on attention networks and memory systems. The therapy is tracked and based on Primary Cognitive Function (PCF) scores.

Task-sharing with families for early detection of postoperative complications in resource-limited settings.

Postoperative mortality in Africa is twice that of wealthier countries. The SMARTER trial underscores this critical issue and aims to address the high mortality rates by harnessing a readily available resource requiring minimal funding. Conducted in Mbale, Uganda, this innovative trial trained family members to monitor basic vital signs following surgery.

Antifungal stewardship in the UK: where are we now?

Background: Antifungal stewardship (AFS) is the judicious use of today's antifungal agents with the aim of improving patient outcomes and preserving their future effectiveness. Antifungal resistance (AFR) is increasing globally, with more patients at risk of Invasive Fungal Disease (IFD), highlighting the urgent need to standardize AFS practices in the UK. The aim of this position paper is to understand the current AFS landscape in the UK.

Aching for Change: Musculoskeletal Pain in the Operating Theatre Amongst Surgical Trainees.

Objectives: Work-related injuries are common among surgeons with up to 70 % being found to report difficulties. Given the extension expected to career longevity for current trainees, injury prevention is more important than ever. However, ergonomics education for surgical trainees in the UK is deficient.

A rapid systematic review of the effect of health or peer volunteers for diabetes self-management: Synthesizing evidence to guide social prescribing.

Social prescribing is a model of care, usually in the community-setting, which aims to address people's unmet social needs. Volunteers support primary health care and community-based care in non-medical roles. However, few studies focus on volunteers in social prescribing, therefore, aimed to synthesize the effect of health or peer volunteer-led interventions on psychosocial and behavioural outcomes for middle-aged and older adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) to inform future work for volunteering in social prescribing.

Effectiveness of behavior change techniques to address barriers to follow-up colonoscopy: results from an online survey and randomized factorial experiment.

Background: Nonattendance at colonoscopy is associated with reduced colorectal cancer (CRC) survival.

Purpose: The aim of this research was to quantify barriers to colonoscopy and test the effectiveness of behavior change techniques (BCTs) to address them.

Methods: Two studies were conducted.

Re-scoping ultradian rhythms in the context of metabolism.

Rapid, ultradian biological rhythms are only partly comparable to circadian (24-h) rhythms. Often, the ensuing expectations from this comparison are that 1) ultradian rhythms should be driven by discrete oscillators, 2) they are biochemically buffered, and 3) they must be functionally linked to extrinsic events and cycles. These three expectations are not always met, but perhaps there is an adaptive benefit to ultradian rhythms not meeting these expectations, which sets them functionally apart from circadian rhythms.

The ADHD Assessment Quality Assurance Standard for Children and Teenagers (CAAQAS).

Around 5% of the children and teenagers worldwide are affected by Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD], making it a major public health concern. Recently, demand for assessments has substantially increased, putting strain on healthcare and waiting lists. There is concern that pressure to clear service bottlenecks is leading to variable quality and reliability of ADHD assessments in this population.