Spectral effects of dehydration on phyllosilicates

Six phyllosilicates were progressively dehydrated under controlled conditions in an effort to study the spectral effects of their dehydration. The spectra obtained at each level of hydration provide information that may be used in future spectroscopic observations of the planets, as well as a data set which compliments the existing body of terrestrial soil knowledge

Functional outcome in older adults with joint pain and comorbidity: design of a prospective cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Joint pain is a highly prevalent condition in the older population. Only a minority of the older adults consult the general practitioner for joint pain, and during consultation joint pain is often poorly recognized and treated, especially when other co-existing chronic conditions are involved. Therefore, older adults with joint pain and comorbidity may have a higher risk of poor functional outcome and decreased quality of life (QoL), and possibly need more attention in primary care. The main purpose of the study is to explore functioning in older adults with joint pain and comorbidity, in terms of mobility, functional independence and participation and to identify possible predictors of poor functional outcome. The study will also identify predictors of decreased QoL. The results will be used to develop prediction models for the early identification of subgroups at high risk of poor functional outcome and decreased QoL. This may contribute to better targeting of treatment and to more effective health care in this population.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The study has been designed as a prospective cohort study, with measurements at baseline and after 6, 12 and 18 months. For the recruitment of 450 patients, 25 general practices will be approached. Patients are eligible for participation if they are 65 years or older, have at least two chronic conditions and report joint pain on most days. Data will be collected using various methods (i.e. questionnaires, physical tests, patient interviews and focus groups). We will measure different aspects of functioning (e.g. mobility, functional independence and participation) and QoL. Other measurements concern possible predictors of functioning and QoL (e.g. pain, co-existing chronic conditions, markers for frailty, physical performance, psychological factors, environmental factors and individual factors). Furthermore, health care utilization, health care needs and the meaning and impact of joint pain will be investigated from an older person's perspective.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>In this paper, we describe the protocol of a prospective cohort study in Dutch older adults with joint pain and comorbidity and discuss the potential strengths and limitations of the study.</p

Practitioner characteristics associated with psychosocial care for patients with fibromyalgia

The multidimensional nature of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) requires heath care practitioners to adopt a biopsychosocial approach to care in order to select appropriate individualized interventions for patients. The philosophical perspective of the practitioner and the level of frustration held by the practitioner towards patients with FMS are believed to contribute to the adoption of a biopsychosocial approach to care. The purpose of this study was to explore these specific practitioner characteristics and their relationship to the adoption of a psychosocial approach to care for patients with FMS. Specifically, the philosophical perspective of the practitioner and the frustration level of practitioners towards patients with FMS were explored as predictors to attitudes and beliefs about psychosocial care for patients with FMS. The sample for this descriptive correlational study consisted of 134 health care practitioners who care for patients with FMS. The Organicism-Mechanism Paradigm Inventory (OMPI) used to measure practitioner philosophical perspective and the Difficult Doctor Patient Relationship Scale (DDPRQ) used to measure frustration level in relation to attitudes and beliefs about psychosocial care for patients with fibromyalgia, measured by the Physician Belief Scale (PBS). Nurse practitioners and physicians differed significantly on philosophical perspective, frustration levels, and attitudes and beliefs about psychosocial care for patients with FMS. Philosophical perspective was a predictor of attitudes and beliefs towards psychosocial care for patients with FMS in a single predictor model. The same was true for frustration levels towards patients with FMS. However, only frustration level was predictive of attitudes and beliefs about psychosocial care when both variables of interest were entered in to a regression model. These findings have implications for care of patients with FMS. Practitioners who participate in educational interventions aimed at understanding and enhancing communication skills with patients seen as frustrating to the patient-practitioner relationship may improve care by utilization of a biopsychosocial approach

Treatment of chronic pain for adults 65 and over: analyses of outcomes and changes in psychological flexibility following interdisciplinary acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

Objective. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for older adults with chronic pain. Secondarily, we examined the associations between changes on processes of psychological flexibility and treatment outcome variables. Subjects. Participants were 60 adults with chronic pain age 65 and older selected from a larger consecutive sample of 928 adults of any age. All participants had longstanding pain that was associated with significant distress and disability. Methods. Participants completed measures of pain, functioning, and depression, and processes of psychological flexibility at baseline, immediately posttreatment, and at a 9-month follow-up. Treatment consisted of a 2- or 4-week residential program based on principles of ACT delivered by an interdisciplinary team. Treatment was designed to increase daily functioning by enhancing key processes of psychological flexibility, including openness, awareness, and committed action. Results. Participants showed significant improvements in functioning and mental health at posttreatment. Participants also showed significant increases in pain acceptance and committed action from pre to post-treatment. Small effect sizes were observed for most treatment outcome and process variables in the pre-treatment to follow-up intervals; however, these improvements were not statistically significant. In secondary analyses, changes in facets of psychological flexibility were significantly associated with improvements in social functioning and mental health. Conclusion. This study supports the potential effectiveness of ACT for chronic pain among older adults. Future research is needed to determine how to maximize the impact of this treatment, particularly through greater impact on psychological flexibility

Uplifts and hassles are related to worsening in chronic fatigue syndrome: a prospective study

Abstract Background Limited published data suggests that absence of uplifts (minor pleasant events) is associated with clinical worsening in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The current study aimed to assess the relation of illness worsening to the trajectories of social and non-social uplifts and hassles in a six-month prospective study in CFS. Methods Participants were primarily in their 40s, female, white, and ill for over a decade. All participants (N = 128) met criteria for CFS. The interview-based global impression of change rating was used to classify individual outcomes as improved, unchanged, or worsened at six- month follow-up. Uplifts and hassles, both social and non-social, were assessed with the Combined Hassles and Uplifts Scale (CHUS). The CHUS was administered weekly in online diaries over six months. Linear mixed effect models were utilized to examine linear trends for hassles and uplifts. Results No significant differences were found between the three global outcome groups for age, sex, or illness duration; however, work status was significantly lower for the non-improved groups (p < 0.001). Non-social hassles intensity showed an increasing slope for the worsened group (p = 0.03) and a decreasing slope (p = 0.05) for the improved group. For the worsened group, a downward trend was found for frequency of non-social (p = 0.01) uplifts. Conclusion Individuals with worsening as compared to improving illness in CFS show significantly different six-month trajectories for weekly hassles and a deficit in uplifts. This may have clinical implications for behavioral intervention. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02948556