Sexual citizenship in Belfast, Northern Ireland

In this article we examine the contours and construction of sexual citizenship in Belfast, Northern Ireland through in-depth interviews with 30 members of the GLBT community and a discursive analysis of discourses of religion and nationalism. In the first half of the article we outline how sexual citizenship was constructed in the Irish context from the mid-nineteenth century onwards, arguing that a moral conservatism developed as a result of religious reform and the interplay between Catholic and Protestant churches, and the redefining of masculinity and femininity with the rise of nationalism. In the second half of the article, we detail how the Peace Process has offered new opportunities to challenge and destabilise hegemonic discourses of sexual citizenship by transforming legislation and policing, and encouraging inward investment and gentrification

Prioritising Informed Health Choices Key Concepts for those impacted by cancer: a protocol [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]

Background: Few areas of health have been as insidiously influenced by misinformation as cancer. Thus, interventions that can help people impacted by cancer reduce the extent to which they are victims of misinformation are necessary. The Informed Health Choices (IHC) initiative has developed Key Concepts that can be used in the development of interventions for evaluating the trustworthiness of claims about the effects of health treatments. We are developing an online education programme called Informed Health Choices-Cancer (IHC-C) based on the IHC Key Concepts. We will provide those impacted by cancer with the knowledge and skills necessary to think critically about the reliability of health information and claims and make informed choices. Methods: We will establish a steering group (SG) of 12 key stakeholders, including oncology specialists and academics. In addition, we will establish a patient and public involvement (PPI) panel of 20 people impacted by cancer. After training the members on the Key Concepts and the prioritisation process, we will conduct a two-round prioritisation process. In the first round, 12 SG members and four PPI panel members will prioritise Key Concepts for inclusion. In the second round, the remaining 16 PPI members will undertake the prioritisation based on the prioritised Key Concepts from the first round. Participants in both rounds will use a structured judgement form to rate the importance of the Key Concepts for inclusion in the online IHC-C programme. A consensus meeting will be held, where members will reach a consensus on the Key Concepts to be included and rank the order in which the prioritised Key Concepts will be addressed in the IHC-C programme. Conclusions: At the end of this process, we will identify which Key Concepts should be included and the order in which they should be addressed in the IHC-C programme

Oral loratadine in the management of G-CSF induced bone pain: a pilot study

This pilot study aimed to ascertain if bone pain induced by granulocyte-colony stimulating factors (G-CSFs) can be alleviated or eliminated by oral antihistamine loratadine. Twelve patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy were included in the study. Daily pain increased between before treatment started and after cycle 1 in all patients. All 12 participants were started on loratadine on cycle 2; three patients were taking pain medications in addition to this as needed, which were ibruprofen (n=1) or tramadol (n=2). Pain decreased towards the later cycles after patients were started on loratadine in cycle 2, with the exception of one patient who also took tramadol as needed in cycle 3. Oral loratadine was found to be associated with pain reduction in patients with cancer receiving G-CSFs.2019-08-2

Oral loratadine in the management of G-CSF induced bone pain: a pilot study

This pilot study aimed to ascertain if bone pain induced by granulocyte-colony stimulating factors (G-CSFs) can be alleviated or eliminated by oral antihistamine loratadine. Twelve patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy were included in the study. Daily pain increased between before treatment started and after cycle 1 in all patients. All 12 participants were started on loratadine on cycle 2; three patients were taking pain medications in addition to this as needed, which were ibruprofen (n=1) or tramadol (n=2). Pain decreased towards the later cycles after patients were started on loratadine in cycle 2, with the exception of one patient who also took tramadol as needed in cycle 3. Oral loratadine was found to be associated with pain reduction in patients with cancer receiving G-CSFs.peer-reviewed2019-08-2