Pridinol for cancer-related myofascial pain

Myofascial pain is an important yet under recognised component of cancer pain. It has a prevalence of between 11.9 and 44.8% in cancer patients. Treatments for myofascial pain reduce the prevalence of myofascial trigger points therefore decreasing pain and improving range of motion. Pridinol is a nonbenzodiazepine antispasmodic licenced for the treatment of central and peripheral muscle spasms in adults. This paper describes two case histories where patients with myofascial pain were successfully treated with pridinol. These cases highlight the importance of treating myofascial pain and the potential of pridinol to treat cancer-related myofascial pain

Discrete-time velocity-based multiple model networks

The velocity-based local model (LM) network is a novel modelling approach that overcomes the lack of interpretability associated with the conventional LM network technique. The global dynamics of the nonlinear network are directly related to the underlying sub-model dynamics. Thus, the velocity-based network is ideally suited to the development of local controller (LC) networks. Furthermore, the local models are continuous-time, velocity-based and linear, providing continuity with established linear theory. To date, research has focused on the continuous-time version of the velocity-based network. The application of digital computer is widely popular in the field of control and, therefore, this paper develops a discrete-time velocity-based multiple model representation. A complex nonlinear process, in the form of a simulated continuous stirred tank reactor, is used to examine the modelling capabilities of the proposed discrete-time technique

Optimisation of Urine Sample Preparation for Headspace-Solid Phase Microextraction Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry: Altering Sample pH, Sulphuric Acid Concentration and Phase Ratio

Headspace-solid phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) can be used to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in human urine. However, there is no widely adopted standardised protocol for the preparation of urine samples for analysis resulting in an inability to compare studies reliably between laboratories. This paper investigated the effect of altering urine sample pH, volume, and vial size for optimising detection of VOCs when using HS-SPME-GC-MS. This is the first, direct comparison of H2SO4, HCl, and NaOH as treatment techniques prior to HS-SPME-GC-MS analysis. Altering urine sample pH indicates that H2SO4 is more effective at optimising detection of VOCs than HCl or NaOH. H2SO4 resulted in a significantly larger mean number of VOCs being identified per sample (on average, 33.5 VOCs to 24.3 in HCl or 12.2 in NaOH treated urine) and more unique VOCs, produced a more diverse range of classes of VOCs, and led to less HS-SPME-GC-MS degradation. We propose that adding 0.2 mL of 2.5 M H2SO4 to 1 mL of urine within a 10 mL headspace vial is the optimal sample preparation prior to HS-SPME-GC-MS analysis. We hope the use of our optimised method for urinary HS-SPME-GC-MS analysis will enhance our understanding of human disease and bolster metabolic biomarker identification

Understanding barriers and facilitators to palliative and end-of-life care research: a mixed method study of generalist and specialist health, social care, and research professionals

Background: Palliative care provision should be driven by high quality research evidence. However, there are barriers to conducting research. Most research attention focuses on potential patient barriers; staff and organisational issues that affect research involvement are underexplored. The aim of this research is to understand professional and organisational facilitators and barriers to conducting palliative care research. Methods: A mixed methods study, using an open cross-sectional online survey, followed by working groups using nominal group techniques. Participants were professionals interested in palliative care research, working as generalist/specialist palliative care providers, or palliative care research staff across areas of North West England. Recruitment was via local health organisations, personal networks, and social media in 2022. Data were examined using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Results: Participants (survey n = 293, working groups n = 20) were mainly from clinical settings (71%) with 45% nurses and 45% working more than 10 years in palliative care. 75% were not active in research but 73% indicated a desire to increase research involvement. Key barriers included lack of organisational research culture and capacity (including prioritisation and available time); research knowledge (including skills/expertise and funding opportunities); research infrastructure (including collaborative opportunities across multiple organisations and governance challenges); and patient and public perceptions of research (including vulnerabilities and burdens). Key facilitators included dedicated research staff, and active research groups, collaborations, and networking opportunities. Conclusions: Professionals working in palliative care are keen to be research active, but lack time, skills, and support to build research capabilities and collaborations. A shift in organisational culture is needed to enhance palliative care research capacity and collaborative opportunities across clinical and research settings.NIH

The sustainability of concrete

While Ireland has many deposits for the manufacture of concrete products there is increasing pressure and concern about the environmental impact of emissions from the concrete industry in particular the production of cement the main constituent of concrete. The Irish construction industry has obviously seen an abrupt decline in new developments, which has resulted in a sharp decline of secondary materials such as cement. The market will rebound so CO2 emissions must still be kept at the forefront for the industry to compete and also help Ireland to a more sustainable future. The EPA has reported recently of there been an 18% rise in CO2 emissions in 2012 compared to the 2011 from the cement industry within Ireland which shows this subject is still relevant now. This dissertation reports mainly on the use of substitution materials within cement. “Cement typically contributes some 90 per cent of the carbon footprint of concrete”. (Ecocem, 2013). Research was carried out into the process of making cement more sustainable and also into recently developed materials that will put the industry on the right path to reducing CO2 emissions. Companies in Ireland will also be examined to determine if they are progressing towards a more sustainable choice in the reduction of emissions and also in terms of the overall sustainable sense. Ireland was examined for its current trend in cement production and also the changes that have been and will be made in industry to reach the European targets for sustainable development. This Dissertation was compiled from an extensive review of the relevant literature and by contacting personnel within the concrete and cement production industries. This Dissertation concludes that the construction industry in Ireland needs to move towards a more sustainable future from various changes that will and are taken place in the industry to help towards the 2050 roadmap of between 80 and 95% Greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990. More R & D must be carried out as many studies show that the current measures can only take CO2 reduction so far

Improved analgesia by correction of hypomagnesaemia?

The role of magnesium as an analgesic in patients is unclear. Hypomagnesaemia is a common electrolyte abnormality, in the chronic state symptoms are insidious and often non-specific. It is often undiagnosed and thus untreated. There is evidence from animal studies that magnesium is involved in pain control including an animal model of hyperalgesia induced by hypomagnesaemia. We report two cases of patients admitted for pain control which improved when hypomagnesaemia was treated. Each case had metastatic cancer. Both were found on admission to have asymptomatic hypomagnesaemia and were treated with intravenous magnesium. Treatment for hypomagnesaemia resulted in an improvement in pain control such that analgesia was decreased. The incidence of hypomagnesaemia in palliative patients is unknown although it is thought to be common. These cases suggest that treating hypomagnesaemia may improve pain control.</jats:p

On stability of affine blending systems

This paper presents a novel approach to stability analysis of affine blending systems. The analysis is based on Quadratic Lyapunov functions. The approach considers the nonlinear offset term in affine blending systems as non-vanishing perturbations added to the corresponding nominal linear blending systems. The affine blending systems will be bounded if the corresponding linear blending system is exponentially stable. The bound is determined by an ultimate limit, which is proportional to the maximum of the offset terms of each affine system

Discrete-time velocity-based multiple model networks

The velocity-based local model (LM) network is a novel modelling approach that overcomes the lack of interpretability associated with the conventional LM network technique. The global dynamics of the nonlinear network are directly related to the underlying sub-model dynamics. Thus, the velocity-based network is ideally suited to the development of local controller (LC) networks. Furthermore, the local models are continuous-time, velocity-based and linear, providing continuity with established linear theory. To date, research has focused on the continuous-time version of the velocity-based network. The application of digital computer is widely popular in the field of control and, therefore, this paper develops a discrete-time velocity-based multiple model representation. A complex nonlinear process, in the form of a simulated continuous stirred tank reactor, is used to examine the modelling capabilities of the proposed discrete-time technique