Evaluation of the Economic Burden of Psoriatic Arthritis and the Relationship Between Functional Status and Healthcare Costs

Doce imágenes de un liposarcoma metastatizado situado en el cerebro de un paciente de 44 años.Twelve pictures of a metastasized liposarcoma located in the brain of a 44-year-old male patient

Well-being is more than happiness and life satisfaction: a multidimensional analysis of 21 countries

Background Recent trends on measurement of well-being have elevated the scientific standards and rigor associated with approaches for national and international comparisons of well-being. One major theme in this has been the shift toward multidimensional approaches over reliance on traditional metrics such as single measures (e.g. happiness, life satisfaction) or economic proxies (e.g. GDP). Methods To produce a cohesive, multidimensional measure of well-being useful for providing meaningful insights for policy, we use data from 2006 and 2012 from the European Social Survey (ESS) to analyze well-being for 21 countries, involving approximately 40,000 individuals for each year. We refer collectively to the items used in the survey as multidimensional psychological well-being (MPWB). Results The ten dimensions assessed are used to compute a single value standardized to the population, which supports broad assessment and comparison. It also increases the possibility of exploring individual dimensions of well-being useful for targeting interventions. Insights demonstrate what may be masked when limiting to single dimensions, which can create a failure to identify levers for policy interventions. Conclusions We conclude that both the composite score and individual dimensions from this approach constitute valuable levels of analyses for exploring appropriate policies to protect and improve well-being

JACK trial protocol: a phase III multicentre cluster randomised controlled trial of a school-based relationship and sexuality education intervention focusing on young male perspectives.

INTRODUCTION: Teenage pregnancy remains a worldwide health concern which is an outcome of, and contributor to, health inequalities. The need for gender-aware interventions with a focus on males in addressing teenage pregnancy has been highlighted as a global health need by WHO and identified in systematic reviews of (relationship and sexuality education (RSE)). This study aims to test the effectiveness of an interactive film-based RSE intervention, which draws explicit attention to the role of males in preventing an unintended pregnancy by reducing unprotected heterosexual teenage sex among males and females under age 16 years. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A phase III cluster randomised trial with embedded process and economic evaluations. If I Were Jack encompasses a culturally sensitive interactive film, classroom materials, a teacher-trainer session and parent animations and will be delivered to replace some of the usual RSE for the target age group in schools in the intervention group. Schools in the control group will not receive the intervention and will continue with usual RSE. Participants will not be blinded to allocation. Schools are the unit of randomisation stratified per country and socioeconomic status. We aim to recruit 66 UK schools (24 in Northern Ireland; 14 in each of England, Scotland and Wales), including approximately 7900 pupils. A questionnaire will be administered at baseline and at 12-14 months postintervention. The primary outcome is reported unprotected sex, a surrogate measure associated with unintended teenage pregnancy. Secondary outcomes include knowledge, attitudes, skills and intentions relating to avoiding teenage pregnancy in addition to frequency of engagement in sexual intercourse, contraception use and diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was obtained from Queen's University Belfast. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated to stakeholders. Funding is from the National Institute for Health Research. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN99459996

S83. The impact of Coenzyme Q10 on the Cognitive Deficits and symptoms of schizophrenia: Protocol and baseline data of a randomised, placebo-controlled study

Background CoQ10 is a vital component of mitochondrial function and metabolism, and its deficiency creates greater vulnerability to disease due to impaired mitochondrial energy generation and cellular antioxidant capacity. CoQ10 functions as an electron carrier within the mitochondrial electron transport chain during cellular respiration. Schizophrenia is a disorder with documented CoQ10 deficiency and mitochondrial dysfunction, and cellular respiration and mitochondrial network dynamics can be impaired due to altered complex 1 activity in the disorder. Key features of schizophrenia such as depression, fatigue and cognitive impairment have been independently associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and increased oxidative stress. In bipolar disorder, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and multiple sclerosis these symptoms have been effectively reduced through CoQ10 supplementation. We assess the impact of CoQ10 supplementation in individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia through a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study. Methods Approximately 300 participants with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, with no neurological or psychiatric co-morbidity will be recruited to this study. Participants will be randomised to take 100 mg dose capsules of CoQ10 or placebo three times daily for six months, and undergo neuropsychological and cognitive testing at three time points (baseline, midpoint, six months post-randomisation). Changes in participants’ global cognitive function, sustained attention, working memory, processing speed, negative symptoms, levels of depression and anxiety, fatigue, blood pressure, quality of life and functional status following CoQ10 supplementation will be assessed. Blood samples are also taken at each assessment session to assess baseline and changes in levels of plasma CoQ10 and mitochondrial function via lactate analysis. Results Currently baseline data is available for 42 participants (mean age = 50.2, SD=10.7). All participants either have a clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia (n=34) or schizoaffective disorder (n=8). The mean estimated IQ of the group is 92.4 (SD=20.5), and participants have a median of 13 years in education. Thirty-nine percent of participants reported mild to severe levels of depression and twenty-three percent reported moderate or severe levels of anxiety. Seventy-three percent of participants reported good to very good quality of life. FACIT-fatigue scores were negatively correlated with both depression and anxiety scores, such that greater fatigue levels were associated with higher levels of depression (r=-.484, p<0.01) and anxiety (r=-.539, p<0.01). Discussion CoQ10 is a mitochondrial agent that plays a fundamental role in energy production and mitochondrial function. The available baseline data suggest a relationship between fatigue and depression and anxiety levels in individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. CoQ10 supplementation has the potential to affect these symptoms, through CoQ10’s ability to restore electron flow in the electron transfer chain and increase mitochondrial antioxidant capacity. The study commenced in November 2016 and patient enrolment and assessment is ongoing. Updated baseline information will be presented including further cognitive assessments. To minimise risk of bias while recruitment and assessments are ongoing, unblinding and outcome analysis will not be conducted at time of presentation

Coenzyme Q10 and neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders: relevance for schizophrenia

Objective: Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Though the exact mechanisms and clinical implications for this dysfunction are not fully determined, there is a hypothesis that deficiency in coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) may contribute to mitochondrial impairments and be reflected in cognitive, affective, and energy disturbances in the disorders. CoQ10 is a critical component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and an essential free radical scavenger, necessary for mitochondrial function. Here, we review the results of CoQ10 supplementation interventions for adults with various neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders and consider the therapeutic potential of CoQ10 supplementation for schizophrenia in light of these studies. Methods: A literature review of randomised controlled trials and open-label studies investigating the effect of CoQ10 as a single intervention in adults with neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders was conducted. Results: CoQ10 supplementation has some positive effects on fatigue, cognitive impairment and affective difficulties in several neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions with associated mitochondrial dysfunction. Discussion: CoQ10 may be of therapeutic value to schizophrenia given evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction in the disorder

Engaging and Active Security Education 2022 (EASE 2022) Workshop

Security is an increasingly important topic within higher education, but it is often challenging to identify effective learning and teaching practices that actively involve all students. The Engaging and Active Security Education (EASE) workshop at the UK ACM SIGCSE Computing Education Practice conference aims to support cyber security educators in exchanging practice as well as devising new practices. The objectives of the EASE workshop are: to expand the community of cyber security educators to provide an avenue for cyber security educators to exchange learning and teaching practice to afford opportunities for cyber security educators to collaborate and form novel learning and teaching practices. The EASE workshop is seeking practices from the wider community that can be presented at the workshop and can be subsequently accessed on the workshop website

Well-being is more than happiness and life satisfaction: a multidimensional analysis of 21 countries

Abstract: Background: Recent trends on measurement of well-being have elevated the scientific standards and rigor associated with approaches for national and international comparisons of well-being. One major theme in this has been the shift toward multidimensional approaches over reliance on traditional metrics such as single measures (e.g. happiness, life satisfaction) or economic proxies (e.g. GDP). Methods: To produce a cohesive, multidimensional measure of well-being useful for providing meaningful insights for policy, we use data from 2006 and 2012 from the European Social Survey (ESS) to analyze well-being for 21 countries, involving approximately 40,000 individuals for each year. We refer collectively to the items used in the survey as multidimensional psychological well-being (MPWB). Results: The ten dimensions assessed are used to compute a single value standardized to the population, which supports broad assessment and comparison. It also increases the possibility of exploring individual dimensions of well-being useful for targeting interventions. Insights demonstrate what may be masked when limiting to single dimensions, which can create a failure to identify levers for policy interventions. Conclusions: We conclude that both the composite score and individual dimensions from this approach constitute valuable levels of analyses for exploring appropriate policies to protect and improve well-being

Well-being is more than happiness and life satisfaction: a multidimensional analysis of 21 countries

Abstract: Background: Recent trends on measurement of well-being have elevated the scientific standards and rigor associated with approaches for national and international comparisons of well-being. One major theme in this has been the shift toward multidimensional approaches over reliance on traditional metrics such as single measures (e.g. happiness, life satisfaction) or economic proxies (e.g. GDP). Methods: To produce a cohesive, multidimensional measure of well-being useful for providing meaningful insights for policy, we use data from 2006 and 2012 from the European Social Survey (ESS) to analyze well-being for 21 countries, involving approximately 40,000 individuals for each year. We refer collectively to the items used in the survey as multidimensional psychological well-being (MPWB). Results: The ten dimensions assessed are used to compute a single value standardized to the population, which supports broad assessment and comparison. It also increases the possibility of exploring individual dimensions of well-being useful for targeting interventions. Insights demonstrate what may be masked when limiting to single dimensions, which can create a failure to identify levers for policy interventions. Conclusions: We conclude that both the composite score and individual dimensions from this approach constitute valuable levels of analyses for exploring appropriate policies to protect and improve well-being

The harvesting behaviour of Irish private forest owners

The Irish government has an ambitious plan to increase the forest cover in Ireland from 10% to 17% by the year 2030 and in doing so achieve a competitive scale of timber production. Substantial financial incentives are available to encourage landowners, especially farmers, to plant. To achieve the desired scale of timber production, the plan assumes that grant-funded forests will be managed and harvested in a similar way to State forests. This study set out to determine the objectives of private forest owners for their forests and to establish whether they planned to thin their stands. It also looked at the factors influencing a private forest owner's decision to harvest and the role that extension plays in this process. A survey of 120 private forest owners who had afforested land since 1980 was conducted in 2007. The study found that while most forest owners hoped to produce timber from their woods many of them either planned to use the timber themselves or were unsure as to whether they would put it on the market. Availing of extension activities significantly increased the likelihood that an owner would thin his/her stand. However, the study raised concerns as to whether owners were making the correct silvicultural decision regarding thinning.Non-industrial private forest owners Thinning Production targets Extension