Associations among gender, coping patterns and functioning for individuals with chronic pain: a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Developing strategies for coping with chronic pain is an integral part of successfully living with this often debilitating health condition. While gender differences in pain coping strategies have long been investigated, the relationship between gender-specific engagement in coping and associated functioning in individuals experiencing chronic pain is yet to be clearly understood

One-year stability of glucose dehydrogenase confined in a 3D carbon nanotube electrode with coated poly-methylene green: Application as bioanode for a glucose biofuel cell

International audienceWe report a new approach to fabricate an efficient 3D glucose bioanode based on the co-immobilization of the enzyme glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), its cofactor NADP, and Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) coated with poly (methylene green) (PMG). The MWCNT-PMG composite was obtained by chemical polymerization of methylene green (MG) monomer on the MWCNT surfaces. Structural and chemical analyses clearly showed successful coating of the MWCNTs with PMG that markedly affected their morphological and surface charge properties. Electrochemical investigation of PMG-MWCNTs mixed with GDH and NADP showed high stability with extended bioanode electrocatalytic activity toward glucose oxidation for more than one year

Translating Cultural Safety to the UK

Disproportional morbidity and mortality experienced by ethnic minorities in the UK have been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement has exposed structural racism’s contribution to these health inequities. ‘Cultural Safety’, an antiracist, decolonising and educational innovation originating in New Zealand, has been adopted in Australia. Cultural Safety aims to dismantle barriers faced by colonised Indigenous peoples in mainstream healthcare by addressing systemic racism. This paper explores what it means to be ‘culturally safe’. The ways in which New Zealand and Australia are incorporating Cultural Safety into educating healthcare professionals and in day-to-day practice in medicine are highlighted. We consider the ‘nuts and bolts’ of translating Cultural Safety into the UK to reduce racism within healthcare. Listening to the voices of black, Asian and minority ethnic National Health Service (NHS) consumers, education in reflexivity, both personal and organisational within the NHS are key. By listening to Indigenous colonised peoples, the ex-Empire may find solutions to health inequity. A decolonising feedback loop is required; however, we should take care not to culturally appropriate this valuable reverse innovation

Mechanical and Damping Properties of Resin Transfer Moulded Jute-Carbon Hybrid Composites

Hybrid composites with carbon and natural fibres offer high modulus and strength combined with low cost and the ability to damp vibration. This study investigates carbon (CFRP), jute (NFRP) and hybrid (HFRP) fibre reinforced polymers manufactured using the resin transfer moulding process. Tensile strength reduced with increasing injection pressure for NFRP (72.7 MPa at 4 bar, 45.5 MPa at 8 bar) and HFRP (98.4 MPa at 4 bar, 92.4 MPa at 8 bar). The tensile modulus for HFRP (15.1 GPa) was almost double that for NFRP (8.2 GPa) and one third of CFRP (44.2 GPa). Loss factor reduced at small strains (10−4) with increasing pressure for NFRP (0.0123 at 4 bar, 0.0112 at 8 bar) and HFRP (0.0048 at 4 bar, 0.0038 at 8 bar) but all were greater than CFRP (0.0024). Increased injection pressure improved the surface properties and prevented read through of the weave pattern, NFRP (Ra = 2.15 μm at 4 bar, 1.51 μm at 8 bar) and HFRP (Ra = 1.80 μm at 4 bar, 1.42 μm at 8 bar). Hybridisation of low cost, sustainable jute with carbon fibre offers a more sustainable and economic alternative to CFRPs with excellent damping properties

Supporting the use of research evidence in decision-making in crisis zones in low-and middle-income countries : acritical interpretive synthesis

Abstract: Background: Decision-makers in crisis zones are faced with the challenge of having to make health-related decisions under limited time and resource constraints and in light of the many factors that can influence their decisions, of which research evidence is just one. To address a key gap in the research literature about how best to support the use of research evidence in such situations, we conducted a critical interpretive synthesis approach to develop a conceptual framework that outlines the strategies that leverage the facilitators and address the barriers to evidence use in crisis zones. Methods: We systematically reviewed both empirical and non-empirical literature and used an interpretive analytic approach to synthesise the results and develop the conceptual framework. We used a ‘compass’ question to create a detailed search strategy and conducted electronic searches in CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, SSCI and Web of Science. A second reviewer was assigned to a representative sample of articles. We purposively sampled additional papers to fill in conceptual gaps. Results: We identified 21 eligible papers to be analysed and purposively sampled an additional 6 to fill conceptual gaps. The synthesis resulted in a conceptual framework that focuses on evidence use in crisis zones examined through the lens of four systems – political, health, international humanitarian aid and health research. Within each of the four systems, the framework identifies the most actionable strategies that leverage the facilitators and address the barriers to evidence use. Conclusions: This study presents a new conceptual framework that outlines strategies that leverage the facilitators and address the barriers to evidence use in crisis zones within different systems. This study expands on the literature pertaining to evidence-informed decision-making

Target gene analyses of 39 amelogenesis imperfecta kindreds

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90297/1/EOS_857_sm_FigsS1-S3.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90297/2/j.1600-0722.2011.00857.x.pd

Thoracic and Lumbar Vertebral Bone Mineral Density Changes in a Natural Occurring Dog Model of Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis

Ankylosing spinal disorders can be associated with alterations in vertebral bone mineral density (BMD). There is however controversy about vertebral BMD in patients wuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). DISH in Boxer dogs has been considered a natural occurring disease model for DISH in people. The purpose of this study was to compare vertebral BMD between Boxers with and without DISH. Fifty-nine Boxers with (n=30) or without (n=29) DISH that underwent computed tomography were included. Vertebral BMD was calculated for each thoracic and lumbar vertebra by using an earlier reported and validated protocol. For each vertebral body, a region of interest was drawn on the axial computed tomographic images at three separate locations: immediately inferior to the superior end plate, in the middle of the vertebral body, and superior to the inferior end plate. Values from the three axial slices were averaged to give a mean Hounsfield Unit value for each vertebral body. Univariate statistical analysis was performed to identify factors to be included in a multivariate model. The multivariate model including all dogs demonstrated that vertebral DISH status (Coefficient 24.63; 95% CI 16.07 to 33.19; p <0.001), lumbar vertebrae (Coefficient -17.25; 95% CI -23.42 to -11.09; p < 0.01), and to a lesser extent higher age (Coefficient -0.56; 95% CI -1.07 to -0.05; p = 0.03) were significant predictors for vertebral BMD. When the multivariate model was repeated using only dogs with DISH, vertebral DISH status (Coefficient 20.67; 95% CI, 10.98 to 30.37; p < 0.001) and lumbar anatomical region (Coefficient -38.24; 95% CI, -47.75 to -28.73; p < 0.001) were again predictors for vertebral BMD but age was not. The results of this study indicate that DISH can be associated with decreased vertebral BMD. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the clinical importance and pathophysiology of this finding