497 research outputs found
Using Meta-Ethnography to Synthesize Relevant Studies: Capturing the Bigger Picture in Dementia with Challenging Behavior within Families
In understanding the range and depth of peopleâs experiences, it is important to include the wide range of approaches which capture the richness within a given knowledge base. However, systematic reviews using quantitative data alone risk missing findings that can contribute to a better understanding of a research question. In response, meta-ethnography has emerged as a potentially useful method to synthesize and integrate both qualitative and quantitative data from different perspectives using qualitative methodology. In this case study, we describe how we have used meta-ethnography to better understand how families experience dementia. We address a particular issue of selecting the highest quality evidence across a range of epistemologies
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Acceptance Checklist for Clinical Effectiveness Pilot Trials: a systematic approach.
Conducting a pilot trial is important in preparing for, and justifying investment in, the ensuing larger trial. Pilot trials using the same design and methods as the subsequent main trial are ethically and financially advantageous especially when pilot and main trial data can be pooled. For explanatory trials in which internal validity is paramount, there is little room for variation of methods between the pilot and main trial. For pragmatic trials, where generalisability or external validity is key, greater flexibility is written into trial protocols to allow for 'real life' variation in procedures. We describe the development of a checklist for use in decision-making on whether pilot data can be carried forward to the main trial dataset without compromising trial integrity. We illustrate the use of the checklist using a pragmatic trial of psychosocial interventions for family carers of people with dementia as a case study
Peer support and reminiscence therapy for people with dementia and their family carers: a factorial pragmatic randomised trial
Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate peer support and reminiscence therapy, separately and together, in comparison with usual care for people with dementia and their family carers.
Design Factorial pragmatic randomised trial, analysed by treatment allocated, was used for this study.
Setting The trial ran in Community settings in England.
Participants People with dementia and their family carers were the participants.
Interventions Treatment as usual (TAU) plus one of the following: one-to-one peer support to family carers from experienced carers (Carer Supporter Programme; CSP), group reminiscence therapy (Remembering Yesterday, Caring Today; RYCT) for people with dementia and carers, both or neither.
Main outcome measures Primary outcomes included health-related quality of life (SF-12) for carers and quality of life (QoL-AD) for people with dementia; secondary outcomes included quality of relationship for carers and people with dementia; both were collected by blinded assessors at baseline, 5 and 12â
months (primary end point).
Results Of 291 pairs recruited, we randomised 145 (50%) to CSP (71% uptake) and 194 (67%) to RYCT (61% uptake). CSP and RYCT, separately or together, were not effective in improving primary outcomes or most secondary outcomes. For CSP versus âno CSPâ, adjusted difference in means was 0.52 points on the SF-12 (95% CI â1.28 to 2.32) and â0.08 points on the QoL-AD (95% CI â1.70 to 1.56). For RYCT versus âno RYCTâ, the difference was 0.10 points on the SF-12 (95% CI â1.72 to 1.93) and 0.51 points on the QoL-AD (95% CI â1.17 to 2.08). However, carers reported better relationships with the people with dementia (difference 1.11, 95% CI 0.00 to 2.21, p=0.05). Comparison of combined intervention with TAU, and of intervention received, suggested differential impacts for carers and persons with dementia.
Conclusions There is no evidence from the trial that either peer support or reminiscence is effective in improving the quality of life.
Trial registration number ISRCTN37956201
Experimental constraints on a dark matter origin for the DAMA annual modulation effect
A claim for evidence of dark matter interactions in the DAMA experiment has
been recently reinforced. We employ a new type of germanium detector to
conclusively rule out a standard isothermal galactic halo of Weakly Interacting
Massive Particles (WIMPs) as the explanation for the annual modulation effect
leading to the claim. Bounds are similarly imposed on a suggestion that dark
pseudoscalars mightlead to the effect. We describe the sensitivity to light
dark matter particles achievable with our device, in particular to
Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Model candidates.Comment: v4: introduces recent results from arXiv:0807.3279 and
arXiv:0807.2926. Sensitivity to pseudoscalars is revised in light of the
first. Discussion on the subject adde
Tooth development and replacement in the Atlantic Cutlassfish, Trichiurus lepturus, with comparisons to other Scombroidei
Atlantic Cutlassfish, Trichiurus lepturus, have large, barbed, premaxillary and dentary fangs, and sharp dagger-shaped teeth in their oral jaws. Functional teeth firmly ankylose to the dentigerous bones. We used dry skeletons, histology, SEM, and micro-CT scanning to study 92 specimens of T. lepturus from the western North Atlantic to describe its dentition and tooth replacement. We identified three modes of intraosseous tooth replacement in T. lepturus depending on the location of the tooth in the jaw. Mode 1 relates to replacement of premaxillary fangs, in which new tooth germs enter the lingual surface of the premaxilla, develop horizontally, and rotate into position. We suggest that growth of large fangs in the premaxilla is accommodated by this horizontal development. Mode 2 occurs for dentary fangs: new tooth germs enter the labial surface of the dentary, develop vertically, and erupt into position. Mode 3 describes replacement of lateral teeth, in which new tooth germs enter a trench along the crest of the dentigerous bone, develop vertically, and erupt into position. Such distinct modes of tooth replacement in a teleostean species are unknown. We compared modes of replacement in T. lepturus to 20 species of scombroids to explore the phylogenetic distribution of these three replacement modes. Alternate tooth replacement (in which new teeth erupt between two functional teeth), ankylosis, and intraosseous tooth development are plesiomorphic to Bluefish + other Scombroidei. Our study highlights the complexity and variability of intraosseous tooth replacement. Within tooth replacement systems, key variables include sites of formation of tooth germs, points of entry of tooth germs into dentigerous bones, coupling of tooth germ migration and bone erosion, whether teeth develop horizontally or immediately beneath the tooth to be replaced, and how tooth eruption and ankylosis occur. Developmentally different tooth replacement processes can yield remarkably similar dentitions
Multi-level Dynamical Systems: Connecting the Ruelle Response Theory and the Mori-Zwanzig Approach
In this paper we consider the problem of deriving approximate autonomous
dynamics for a number of variables of a dynamical system, which are weakly
coupled to the remaining variables. In a previous paper we have used the Ruelle
response theory on such a weakly coupled system to construct a surrogate
dynamics, such that the expectation value of any observable agrees, up to
second order in the coupling strength, to its expectation evaluated on the full
dynamics. We show here that such surrogate dynamics agree up to second order to
an expansion of the Mori-Zwanzig projected dynamics. This implies that the
parametrizations of unresolved processes suited for prediction and for the
representation of long term statistical properties are closely related, if one
takes into account, in addition to the widely adopted stochastic forcing, the
often neglected memory effects.Comment: 14 pages, 1 figur
Results from a Search for Light-Mass Dark Matter with a P-type Point Contact Germanium Detector
We report on several features present in the energy spectrum from an ultra
low-noise germanium detector operated at 2,100 m.w.e. By implementing a new
technique able to reject surface events, a number of cosmogenic peaks can be
observed for the first time. We discuss several possible causes for an
irreducible excess of bulk-like events below 3 keVee, including a dark matter
candidate common to the DAMA/LIBRA annual modulation effect, the hint of a
signal in CDMS, and phenomenological predictions. Improved constraints are
placed on a cosmological origin for the DAMA/LIBRA effect.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. v2: submitted version. Minimal changes in
wording, one reference adde
Treatment Interruption and Variation in Tablet Taking Behaviour Result in Viral Failure: A Case-Control Study from Cape Town, South Africa
BACKGROUND: Understanding of the impact of non-structured treatment interruption (TI) and variation in tablet-taking on failure of first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) is limited in a resource-poor setting. METHODS: A retrospective matched case-control analysis. Individuals failing ART were matched by time on ART with 4 controls. Viral load (VL) and CD4 count were completed 4-monthly. Adherence percentages, from tablet returns, were calculated 4-monthly (interval) and from ART start (cumulative). Variation between intervals and TI (>27 days off ART) were recorded. Conditional multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the effect of cumulative adherence 10% and TI on virological failure. Age, gender, baseline log VL and CD4 were included as possible confounders in the multivariate model. RESULTS: 244 patients (44 cases, 200 controls) were included. Median age was 32 years (IQR28-37), baseline CD4 108 cells/mm3 (IQR56-151), VL 4.82 log (IQR4.48-5.23). 94% (96% controls, 86% failures) had cumulative adherence >90%. The odds of failure increased 3 times (aOR 3.01, 95%CI 0.81-11.21) in individuals with cumulative adherence 10% and 4.01 times (aOR 4.01, 95%CI 1.45-11.10) in individuals with TIs. For individuals with TI and cumulative adherence >95%, the odds of failing were 5.65 (CI 1.40-22.85). CONCLUSION: It is well known that poor cumulative adherence increases risk of virological failure, but less well understood that TI and variations in tablet-taking also play a key role, despite otherwise excellent adherence
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