Identifying Key Elements of Social Care Practice in Successful Care Settings for Older People in Ireland: Steps towards \u27Wise\u27 Social Care

This article examines wise social care practices in two elder care settings in Ireland, a day centre in Dublin and a nursing home in the West of Ireland. Based on interviews with staff and service-users as well as close observations of interactions in each setting, the paper describes social care practices which have empowering and enabling effects. These practices are explored in the light of understandings of practical wisdom and in the context of connectedness to surrounding communities. The article describes multi-dimensional and authentic relationships which extend beyond the centres themselves and represent a blend of affective, cognitive and ethical capacities of those in charge that elicit positive responsiveness in others. The humane practices we report on here are less observable and translatable into ‘best’ practice than HIQA regulatory standards. Yet, in order to achieve person-centred care, practices that are more strictly measurable should not be the only criteria of ‘excellence’ in care settings. Inspections should also focus on the quality of the relationships that can be termed ‘wise’ practice; these inspections themselves need to be carried out wisely

The Reduction of the Permeability of a Lateritic Soil through the Application of Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation

Lateritic soils are frequently utilised in tropical areas of the developing world as an engineering material in the construction of rural earth roads, usually in the form of engineered natural surface (ENS) roads. The heavy, seasonal rainfalls common to the tropics results in ENS roads becoming quickly saturated with rainwater, and no longer accessible to motorised transportation. Microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) has been successfully used as a treatment process to decrease the permeability of clean, cohesionless sands by studies trying to impede the movement of groundwater, and any pollutants they may contain. In order to see if MICP treatment can also reduce the susceptibility of ENS road lateritic soils to rainwater saturation, this study has treated a Brazilian sample extracted from an ENS road in Espirito do Santo, Brazil, using the MICP bacterium Sporosarcina pasteurii contained within a urea-calcium chloride solution inoculum. Investigation, by means of a Rowe cell, of the post-treatment permeability, to untreated control samples, has shown an average decrease in the vertical coefficient of permeability of 83%, from 1.15 × 10-7 m/s for the untreated control samples, to 1.92 × 10-8 m/s in treated samples

The patients' experience of a bladder cancer diagnosis: a systematic review of the qualitative evidence.

PURPOSE: Bladder cancer (BC) is a common disease with disparate treatment options and variable outcomes. Despite the disease's high prevalence, little is known of the lived experience of affected patients. National patient experience surveys suggest that those with BC have poorer experiences than those with other common cancers. The aim of this review is to identify first-hand accounts of the lived experiences of diagnosis through to survivorship. METHOD: This is a systematic review of the qualitative evidence reporting first-hand accounts of the experiences of being diagnosed with, treated for and surviving bladder cancer. A thematic analysis and 'best-fit' framework synthesis was undertaken to classify these experiences. RESULTS: The inconsistent nature of symptoms contributes to delays in diagnosis. Post-diagnosis, many patients are not actively engaged in the treatment decision-making process and rely on their doctor's expertise. This can result in patients not adequately exploring the consequences of these decisions. Learning how to cope with a 'post-surgery body', changing sexuality and incontinence are distressing. Much less is known about the quality of life of patients receiving conservative treatments such as Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG). CONCLUSIONS: The review contributes to a greater understanding of the lived experience of bladder cancer. Findings reflect a paucity of relevant literature and a need to develop more sensitive patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and incorporate patient-reported outcomes in BC care pathways. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Collective knowledge of the patients' self-reported experience of the cancer care pathway will facilitate understanding of the outcomes following treatment

The human ovarian surface epithelium is an androgen responsive tissue

The pathogenesis of epithelial ovarian cancer remains unclear. From epidemiological studies raised levels of androgens have been implicated to increase the risk of developing the disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the responses of normal human ovarian surface epithelium to androgens. We have established primary cultures of human ovarian surface epithelium from patients undergoing oophorectomy for benign disease. Total RNA was isolated from these cultures and expression of mRNA encoding for the androgen receptor was demonstrated using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The presence of androgen receptor in sections of normal ovary was also investigated using an antibody against androgen receptor. The effects of androgens on DNA synthesis and cell death were determined. Eight out of eight (100%) cultures expressed mRNA encoding the androgen receptor. The presence of androgen receptor in ovarian surface epithelium of sections of normal ovaries was demonstrated in all sections. Mibolerone, a synthetic androgen, caused a significant stimulation of DNA synthesis in 5 out of 9 (55%) cultures when used at a concentration of 1 nM. Mibolerone also caused a significant decrease in cell death in 2 out of 5 (40%) cultures tested. We have demonstrated that the ovarian surface epithelium is an androgen responsive tissue and that androgens can cause an increase in proliferation and a decrease in cell death. These findings have important implications for the pathophysiology of ovarian carcinogenesis

Gastric-type adenocarcinoma of the cervix in a patient with Lynch syndrome: A case report

• Lynch syndrome (LS) is an uncommon, genetic disorder which predisposes affected individuals to colorectal, endometrial and ovarian malignancies. • We report a case of cervical gastric-type adenocarcinoma in a patient with LS. • Immunohistochemistry for mismatch repair proteins is a useful screening tool in tumours suspected to be associated with LS