Talking Glossary of Genomics Terminology: A Genomics Education Module for American Indian Communities

This paper describes the development of an audio visual genomics glossary that was designed as an education tool for American Indian communities. This “Talking Glossary of Genomics Terminology” is a multimedia DVD that was modeled on the “Talking Glossary of Genetics,” which was developed by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). The NHGRI Glossary was modified and expanded with content designed to increase awareness among American Indians about cancer, genomics, and personalized medicine. Partners on the project include the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc., Phoenix Indian Medical Center, Arizona Cancer Center at the University of Arizona, the Translational Genomics Research Institute, as well as Arizona State University and University of Arizona graduate students

Following NICE 2008: a practical guide for health professionals on community engagement with local black and minority ethnic (BME) community groups

Community participation and engagement are now meant to be at the heart of health and social care services. In 2008, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) developed guidelines entitled Community Engagement to Improve Health (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, 2008). However, although these guidelines do recognise that many black and minority ethnic (BME) communities often have specific needs, they do not offer detailed advice on how to consult with these diverse communities. Therefore, while health organisations and providers are increasingly recognising the value of community engagement, health practitioners often lack experience of this process and may not know how to start or progress it. This practical guide to community consultations with BME groups builds on the NICE 2008 guidelines on how to conduct community engagement. The recommendations have evolved as part of an iterative and critical learning process through the authors' experiences of consulting with a range of BME community groups over many years. Although this guide is certainly not definitive, it is hoped that it will encourage the development of positive practice to ensure that the voices of BME community members and other under-represented communities are heard and integrated into the development, planning and delivery of health services, to help to create more inclusive and person-centred services

Interpreting in mental health, roles and dynamics in practice

In mental health, communication is the sine qua non, not only for considering a diagnosis, but also for developing a treatment plan. Words, on the one hand, and the relationship between the clinician and the service user, on the other, are two of the main components of mental health and therapeutic treatment. The presence of an interpreter has the potential to have an effect on the dynamics of the mental health or therapeutic encounter. This may pose a series of challenges and opportunities for all three members of the triad. This paper reports on a study conducted with interpreters working with recent migrants, mainly refugees and asylum seekers at two organisations based in the South of England. Two focus-groups with interpreters were conducted. Several differences between interpreting in mental health and interpreting in other settings were noted by the interpreters. Five overarching themes were identified in this study. These were: the role of the interpreter in the mental health encounter, the dynamics within the therapeutic triad, the interpreter-clinician relationship, power and alliances within the room and the personhood of the interpreter. The first two themes are presented within this paper, although the themes are not entirely discrete categorisations

The Funeral Rites and Cultural Needs of Gypsies and Travellers

Funerals are an integral part of society and funeral rites are commonly used to honour the dead and support the bereaved. Primary research conducted by Dr Pauline Lane (ARU), Johanna Price and Dr Siobhan Spencer MBE (from the Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group) describes a range of common death rituals and customs that are followed by many Gypsy and Traveller families across England and it highlights some of the difficulties that families face when their cultural practices are not understood by the wider community

Gypsy, Traveller and Roma : Experts by Experience

In 2011, the European Commission published a Framework for National ‘Roma’ Integration Strategies (NRIS) and this was adopted by all of the European Union Members. Consequently, all Member States were required to develop their own ‘Roma’ Integration Strategies tailored to the needs of the ‘Roma’ population in their country. This report reviews progress on the Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies from the perspectives of the Gypsies, Travellers and Roma communities living in the UK

Life On and Off of the Hard Shoulder: Older Gypsies living on the Roadside and in Housing

This study looked at the lives of older Gypsies. This is the first study to have been conducted that identified any differences between the lives and experiences of older Gypsies living on the roadside and those living in housing

Therapeutic Strategies Targeting Respiratory Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury: From Preclinical Development to Clinical Translation

High spinal cord injuries (SCIs) lead to permanent functional deficits, including respiratory dysfunction. Patients living with such conditions often rely on ventilatory assistance to survive, and even those that can be weaned continue to suffer life-threatening impairments. There is currently no treatment for SCI that is capable of providing complete recovery of diaphragm activity and respiratory function. The diaphragm is the main inspiratory muscle, and its activity is controlled by phrenic motoneurons (phMNs) located in the cervical (C3–C5) spinal cord. Preserving and/or restoring phMN activity following a high SCI is essential for achieving voluntary control of breathing. In this review, we will highlight (1) the current knowledge of inflammatory and spontaneous pro-regenerative processes occurring after SCI, (2) key therapeutics developed to date, and (3) how these can be harnessed to drive respiratory recovery following SCIs. These therapeutic approaches are typically first developed and tested in relevant preclinical models, with some of them having been translated into clinical studies. A better understanding of inflammatory and pro-regenerative processes, as well as how they can be therapeutically manipulated, will be the key to achieving optimal functional recovery following SCIs

Saying it as it is: Experiences of Gypsies and Travellers caring for family members living with dementia

The aim of this study is to increase the understanding of some of the challenges that Gypsy and Traveller carers experience when caring for loved ones who are living with dementia

Post-diagnosis serum insulin-like growth factors in relation to dietary and lifestyle changes in the Prostate testing for cancer and Treatment (ProtecT) trial.

PURPOSE: The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system is modifiable by diet and lifestyle, and has been linked to prostate cancer development and progression. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 621 men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer to investigate the associations of dietary and lifestyle changes with post-diagnosis circulating levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3. We used analysis of covariance to estimate the associations, controlling for baseline IGF-I or IGFBP-3, respectively. RESULTS: Mean IGF-I levels were 6.5% (95% CI -12.8, -0.3%, p = 0.04) lower in men who decreased their protein intake after diagnosis compared to men who did not change. Men who changed their fruit and vegetable intake had lower IGF-I levels compared to non-changers [Decreased intake: -10.1%, 95% CI -18.4, -1.8%, p = 0.02; Increased intake: -12.0%, 95% CI -18.4, -1.8%, p = 0.002]. IGFBP-3 was 14.6% (95% CI -24.5, -4.8%, p = 0.004) lower in men who achieved a healthy body mass index after diagnosis. Men who became inactive had 9.5% higher average IGF-I levels (95% CI 0.1, 18.9%, p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Decreased protein intake and body mass index, and increased physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake, following a prostate cancer diagnosis were associated with reduced post-diagnosis serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3. Counterintuitively, reduced fruit and vegetable intake was also associated with reduced IGF-I, but with weak statistical support, possibly implicating chance. If confirmed in other studies, our findings may inform potential lifestyle interventions in prostate cancer. ProtecT was registered at International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Registry, http://isrctn.org as ISRCTN20141297