Treatment for depression following mild traumatic brain injury in adults: A meta-analysis

Primary objective: Development of depression after TBI is linked to poorer outcomes. The aim of this manuscript is to review evidence for the effectiveness of current treatments. Research design: Two meta-analyses were undertaken to examine the effectiveness of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for depression after mild TBI Method and procedures: PubMed, Medline, PsychInfo, Web of Science and Digital Dissertations were searched and 13 studies located. Meta Analyst Beta 3.13 was used to conduct analyses of pre- vs post-effects then to examine treatment group vs control group effects. Main outcomes and results: Studies using a pre–post design produced an overall effect size of 1.89 (95% CI = 1.20–2.58, p < 0.001), suggesting that treatments were effective; however, the overall effect for controlled trials was 0.46 (95% CI = −0.44–1.36, p < 0.001), which favoured the control rather than treatment groups. Conclusions: This study highlights the need for additional large well-controlled trials of effective treatments for depression post-TBI

Further validation of the New Zealand test of adult reading (NZART) as a measure of premorbid IQ in a New Zealand sample

Premorbid IQ estimates are used to determine decline in cognitive functioning following trauma or illness. This study aimed to: 1) further validate the New Zealand Adult Reading Test (NZART) in a New Zealand population and compare its performance to the UK developed National Adult Reading Test, and 2) develop regression formulae for the NZART to estimate Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (WAIS–IV) IQ scores. The 67 participants (53 females; 16 Māori), aged 16 to 90 years old (mean age = 46.07, SD 23.21) completed the WASI-IV, the NART and the NZART. The NZART predicted Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) scores slightly better than the NART (r =.63 vs. r = .62) and explained 33% of the variance in FSIQ scores. Reasons for developing regression formulae for the NZART are discussed, regression formulas for the NZART based on the WAIS–IV are included and suggestions of alternate ways of determining premorbid IQ are made

Computerised tomography indices of raised intracranial pressure and traumatic brain injury severity in a New Zealand sample

After traumatic brain injury (TBI) complex cellular and biochemical processes occur¹ including changes in blood flow and oxygenation of the brain; cerebral swelling; and raised intracranial pressure (ICP).² This can dramatically worsen the damage³ and contributes to mortality

Understanding attitudes: research into Kirkwall's car culture.

This investigation into car culture in Kirkwall was undertaken to establish the cultural reasons for Kirkwall’s residents’ attachment to their cars and to provide an understanding of what might be required to produce a behavioural change in Kirkwall, leading to a greater use of sustainable modes. It is anticipated that findings from this research will help to inform and the Sustainable Travel Demonstration Town Project Initiatives and Orkney Islands Councils transport policies and strategies

Healthy eating in the early years : a qualitative exploration of food provision in the childminder setting

Purpose – A nutritious diet is critical to the health and development of pre-school children. Children in the UK consume much food outside the home yet day-care food provision is unregulated, and informed by disparate and conflicting dietary guidelines. Factors affecting nursery food provision have been much studied, but less is known about food provision in the child-minder setting. The purpose of this paper is to examine factors influencing child-minders’ food provision. Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative methods were employed, combining participant observation with semi-structured interviews. Participants were selected via purposive and convenience sampling. Eight child-minders from an English borough were interviewed. Findings – The food provided by child-minders was not consistent with dietary guidelines for young children, following menu plans was reported to be difficult, and knowledge about healthy eating guidelines for young children was various. Child-minders reported limited time for food preparation, and problems catering for fussy children. Some child-minders obtained support through an informal peer network group. Only one child-minder reported availing of professional nutritional advice on healthy food provision. Communication with parents about food was considered important, although there was some evidence of discord between providers and parents in dietary objectives. Research limitations/implications – The study was small in size and regionally based. Due to the local nature of the study, it is not possible to make generalisations to the wider national context. Corroboration of the findings is necessary in a larger study. Practical implications – Child-minders have a pivotal role to play in the nutritional health and development of young children, and whilst their interest in provision of nutritious food was great, outside support was lacking. Support should include provision of one clear set of authoritative guidelines, practical guidance that accommodates the realities of providing food in the child-minder setting, investment to strengthen support structures at local level and the development of network groups. Originality/value – Whilst the factors underpinning food provision in nurseries have been examined in various regions of the UK, little attention has been given to child-minder settings. The current study addresses this gap

Rethinking Conjugality as the Basis for Family Recognition: A Feminist Rewriting of the Judgment in Burden v. United Kingdom

In Burden v. UK, elderly cohabiting sisters unsuccessfully challenged their exclusion from civil partnerships. They claimed this exclusion was a violation of the prohibition of discrimination (Article 14) and the right to peaceful enjoyment of property (Article 1 of Protocol 1) under the European Convention on Human Rights because the surviving sister would be liable to pay inheritance tax whereas a lesbian couple could avoid this liability by registering a civil partnership. The facts of the case and the judgments by both the Chamber and Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights raise interesting questions about the extent to which it is justifiable to base legal protections on conjugality. In this paper, I will explore these questions and consider how the judgment could be rewritten from a feminist perspective

‘I wouldn’t get unduly excited about it’: The Impact of the European Convention on Human Rights on the British Overseas Territories. A Case Study on LGBT Rights in Bermuda

Examines the impact of the ECHR in British overseas territories, with reference to the protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights in Bermuda. Discusses how Bermuda's law on LGBT persons still fails to conform to the ECHR and notes the Convention's influence on public policy. Discusses Bermudan cases in which the ECHR has been read into domestic law and whether constitutional reform is needed to ensure full implementation

Erosion protection benefits of stabilized SnF2 dentifrice versus an arginine–sodium monofluorophosphate dentifrice:results from in vitro and in situ clinical studies

OBJECTIVES: The aim of these investigations was to assess the ability of two fluoride dentifrices to protect against the initiation and progression of dental erosion using a predictive in vitro erosion cycling model and a human in situ erosion prevention clinical trial for verification of effectiveness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A stabilized stannous fluoride (SnF(2)) dentifrice (0.454 % SnF(2) + 0.077 % sodium fluoride [NaF]; total F = 1450 ppm F) [dentifrice A] and a sodium monofluorophosphate [SMFP]/arginine dentifrice (1.1 % SMFP + 1.5 % arginine; total F = 1450 ppm F) [dentifrice B] were tested in a 5-day in vitro erosion cycling model and a 10-day randomized, controlled, double-blind, two-treatment, four-period crossover in situ clinical trial. In each study, human enamel specimens were exposed to repetitive product treatments using a standardized dilution of test products followed by erosive acid challenges in a systematic fashion. RESULTS: Both studies demonstrated statistically significant differences between the two products, with dentifrice A providing significantly better enamel protection in each study. In vitro, dentifrice A provided a 75.8 % benefit over dentifrice B (p < 0.05, ANOVA), while after 10 days in the in situ model, dentifrice A provided 93.9 % greater protection versus dentifrice B (p < 0.0001, general linear mixed model). CONCLUSION: These results support the superiority of stabilized SnF(2) dentifrices for protecting human teeth against the initiation and progression of dental erosion. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Stabilized SnF(2) dentifrices may provide more significant benefits to consumers than conventional fluoride dentifrices

A preliminary assessment of the role of ambient nitric oxide exposure in hospitalization with respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis

Some in vitro studies have indicated a possible link between respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and exposure to Nitric Oxide (NO). However, these studies used much higher NO concentrations than normally found in the ambient environment. This preliminary study explored whether an association was present with short-term exposure to NO in the environment. RSV-related admission data between November 2011 and February 2012 were obtained from Sheffield Children’s Hospital. The dates of admission were linked to contemporaneous ambient NO derived from sentinel air monitors. The case-crossover design was used to study the relationship between daily RSV admissions and NO, controlling for temperature and relative humidity. We found little evidence of association between daily RSV admission rates and exposure to ambient NO at different lags or average exposure across several lags. The findings should, however, be viewed with caution due to the low number of events observed during the time frame. It is possible that the apparent lack of association may be accounted for by the timing of the seasonal RSV epidemic in relation to peaks in NO concentrations. A larger study incorporating a wider range of RSV and NO peaks would determine whether said peaks enhanced the number of RSV hospitalizations in children