Endorsement of the 66/68 Joint Count for the Measurement of Musculoskeletal Disease Activity: OMERACT 2018 Psoriatic Arthritis Workshop Report.

Objective: The Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) Core Domain Set for randomized controlled trials and longitudinal observational studies has recently been updated. The joint counts are central to the measurement of the peripheral arthritis component of the musculoskeletal (MSK) disease activity domain. We report the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) 2018 meeting's approaches to seek endorsement of the 66/68 swollen and tender joint count (SJC66/TJC68) for inclusion in the PsA Core Outcome Measurement Set (COS).

Standards for the diagnosis and management of complex regional pain syndrome: Results of a European Pain Federation task force.

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome is a painful and disabling post-traumatic primary pain disorder. Acute and chronic complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) are major clinical challenges. In Europe, progress is hampered by significant heterogeneity in clinical practice.

Behaviour change interventions for the management of Raynaud's phenomenon: a systematic literature review.

Objectives: Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is a significant cause of morbidity. Vasodilator medications cause unwanted adverse effects, with behavioural and lifestyle changes forming the mainstay of self-management; this is difficult to implement successfully. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of behaviour change interventions for RP and identify learning points for future treatment development.

A simulated patient study assessing over the counter supply and counseling in Jordan: responding to headache complaints.

Background Community pharmacists are the most accessible health professionals for patients seeking advice on minor ailments and over the counter supply. Objectives To assess the management of patients seeking advice for headache in community pharmacies in Jordan. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted using simulated patient in three cities in Jordan.

Protecting Adolescents in Low- And Middle-Income Countries from Interpersonal Violence (PRO YOUTH TRIAL): Study Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of the Strengthening Families Programme 10-14 ("Familias Fuertes") in Panama.

Background: Interpersonal violence can significantly reduce adolescents' opportunities for becoming happy and healthy adults. Central America is the most violent region in the world and it is estimated that adolescents are involved in 82% of all homicides in this region. Family skills training programmes have been designed to prevent interpersonal violence in adolescents.

A model-free method for measuring dimerization free energies of CLC-ec1 in lipid bilayers.

The thermodynamic reasons why membrane proteins form stable complexes inside the hydrophobic lipid bilayer remain poorly understood. This is largely because of a lack of membrane-protein systems amenable for equilibrium studies and a limited number of methods for measuring these reactions. Recently, we reported the equilibrium dimerization of the CLC-ec1 Cl/H transporter in lipid bilayers (Chadda et al.

Investigation of the Evolution of Crystal Size and Shape during Temperature Cycling and in the Presence of a Polymeric Additive Using Combined Process Analytical Technologies.

Crystal size and shape can be manipulated to enhance the qualities of the final product. In this work the steady-state shape and size of succinic acid crystals, with and without a polymeric additive (Pluronic P123) at 350 mL, scale is reported. The effect of the amplitude of cycles as well as the heating/cooling rates is described, and convergent cycling (direct nucleation control) is compared to static cycling.

Behaviour change interventions for the management of Raynaud's phenomenon: a systematic review protocol.

Introduction: Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) describes excessive peripheral vasospasm to cold exposure and/or emotional stress. RP episodes are associated with digital colour changes, pain and reduced quality of life. Pharmacological interventions are of low to moderate efficacy and often result in adverse effects such as facial flushing and headaches.

Sex Differences in the Relationship Between Conduct Disorder and Cortical Structure in Adolescents.

Objective: Previous studies have reported reduced cortical thickness and surface area and altered gyrification in frontal and temporal regions in adolescents with conduct disorder (CD). Although there is evidence that the clinical phenotype of CD differs between males and females, no studies have examined whether such sex differences extend to cortical and subcortical structure.

Method: As part of a European multisite study (FemNAT-CD), structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were collected from 48 female and 48 male participants with CD and from 104 sex-, age-, and pubertal-status-matched controls (14-18 years of age).

Adjuvant psychological therapy in long-term endocrine conditions.

Consideration of psychological distress in long-term endocrine conditions is of vital importance given the prevalence of anxiety and depression in such disorders. Poor mental health can lead to compromised self-care, higher utilization of health services, lower rates of adherence, reduced quality of life and ultimately poorer outcomes. Adjuvant psychological therapy offers an effective resource to reduce distress in endocrine conditions.

Dual crosslinked pectin-alginate network as sustained release hydrophilic matrix for repaglinide.

Repaglinide, an oral antidiabetic agent, has a rapid onset of action and short half-life of approximately 1h. Developing a controlled and prolonged release delivery system is required to maintain its therapeutic plasma concentration and to eliminate its adverse effects particularly hypoglycemia. The present study aimed to develop controlled release repaglinide loaded beads using sodium alginate and pectin with dual cross-linking for effective control of drug release.

Synthesis and structure of pseudo-three dimensional hybrid iodobismuthate semiconductors.

The synthesis, structures and semiconducting properties of three isostructural, piperazinium-cation based iodobismuthates, [NH(CH)NH][BiI]·4HO, [CHNH(CH)NH][BiI]·3HO and [CHNH(CH)HNCH][BiI]·2HO, are reported. The materials have pseudo-three dimensional structures consisting of infinite chains formed from edge/face sharing [BiI] octahedra with short interchain II interactions of <3.8 Å.

Psychological Approaches to Coping with Pain in Later Life.

A psychological model of coping with the demands of aging is outlined. Chronic pain is conceptualized as a challenge to normal aging, because it threatens identity, risks affective disorder (depression), and interferes with action. The sparse evidence for psychological interventions is reviewed, and a case is made for the types of interventions that should be developed to address the specific presentation of geriatric pain management.

Global cooling as a driver of diversification in a major marine clade.

Climate is a strong driver of global diversity and will become increasingly important as human influences drive temperature changes at unprecedented rates. Here we investigate diversification and speciation trends within a diverse group of aquatic crustaceans, the Anomura. We use a phylogenetic framework to demonstrate that speciation rate is correlated with global cooling across the entire tree, in contrast to previous studies.

International patient and physician consensus on a psoriatic arthritis core outcome set for clinical trials.

Objective: To identify a core set of domains (outcomes) to be measured in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) clinical trials that represent both patients' and physicians' priorities.

Methods: We conducted (1) a systematic literature review (SLR) of domains assessed in PsA; (2) international focus groups to identify domains important to people with PsA; (3) two international surveys with patients and physicians to prioritise domains; (4) an international face-to-face meeting with patients and physicians using the nominal group technique method to agree on the most important domains; and (5) presentation and votes at the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) conference in May 2016. All phases were performed in collaboration with patient research partners.

Effect of Gold/Amine Nanoparticles on Polyaniline Electrochemical Sensitivity to Formaldehyde.

Background: Nanoparticles have a promising potential in electrochemical sensitivity. Polyaniline (PANI) received significant attention in the latest years owing to its high conductivity and excellent electrochemical stability. This research aims to study the effect of gold nanoparticles capped octadecyl amine (Au/ODA) on polyaniline emeraldine salt (ES) electrochemical sensitivity to formaldehyde (FA) using DPV technique.

Comparative assessment of phototherapy protocols for reduction of oxidative stress in partially transected spinal cord slices undergoing secondary degeneration.

Background: Red/near-infrared light therapy (R/NIR-LT) has been developed as a treatment for a range of conditions, including injury to the central nervous system (CNS). However, clinical trials have reported variable or sub-optimal outcomes, possibly because there are few optimized treatment protocols for the different target tissues. Moreover, the low absolute, and wavelength dependent, transmission of light by tissues overlying the target site make accurate dosing problematic.

Measuring Stratigraphic Congruence Across Trees, Higher Taxa, and Time.

The congruence between the order of cladistic branching and the first appearance dates of fossil lineages can be quantified using a variety of indices. Good matching is a prerequisite for the accurate time calibration of trees, while the distribution of congruence indices across large samples of cladograms has underpinned claims about temporal and taxonomic patterns of completeness in the fossil record. The most widely used stratigraphic congruence indices are the stratigraphic consistency index (SCI), the modified Manhattan stratigraphic measure (MSM*), and the gap excess ratio (GER) (plus its derivatives; the topological GER and the modified GER).

Sampling diverse characters improves phylogenies: Craniodental and postcranial characters of vertebrates often imply different trees.

Morphological cladograms of vertebrates are often inferred from greater numbers of characters describing the skull and teeth than from postcranial characters. This is either because the skull is believed to yield characters with a stronger phylogenetic signal (i.e.

Methods and Instruments to Evaluate Cognitive Function in Chronic Pain Patients: A Systematic Review.

Objective: We aimed to systematically review the methods and instruments used to evaluate cognitive function in chronic pain (CP) patients.

Methods: A sensitive search strategy was designed using five databases. Based on the objectives and methodology, we selected cross-sectional studies on adults with chronic non-cancer pain in which cognitive function was assessed using validated instruments.

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: Avoidance-Avoidance Competition Increases Pain-Related Fear and Slows Decision-Making.

Unlabelled: Successful adjustment to dynamic environments requires the simultaneous pursuit of multiple goals. However, the pursuit of multiple goals may bring about goal conflict. Despite evidence indicating that goal conflict can have a detrimental effect on subjective well-being, little is known about the effects of goal competition in the context of pain.