Youth in the UK and Greece: young Homeless People and the Meanings of Youth

Deals with the ways in which "youth" is being socially constructed in Great Britain and Greece. Interviews with key informants and young homeless people; Themes of dependence and independence, power and powerlessness, youth as a positive power and youth as "danger"; Juxtapositions and dichotomies that characterize the conceptualization of youth in both societies; Curtailment of youth's citizenship status

PET imaging in breast cancer

The application of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) using 2-[F18] fluoro-2-deoxy- D-Glucose (FDG) and the more recently fused technique of Computerized Tomography and PET (PET/CT) in patients with breast cancer is reviewed. Their role in diagnosis of primary tumour, staging, chemotherapy monitoring and radiotherapy planning, follow-up and restaging is introduced. The advantages of combination of anatomical and functional images are emphasized and the comparison with other imaging techniques is highlighted

Playing its part: An evaluation of professional skill development through service user-led role-plays for social work students

This paper presents the findings of a UK-based evaluation of service user-led role-play interviews for social work students. Skill development relating to ‘procedural competencies’ (relationship forming, communication skills) and ‘meta-competencies’ (linking theory to practice, reflection) is specifically explored using a mixed-method repeated-measures design. Assessment feedback from student self-ratings (N=32), as well as service user (N=7) and practice educator (N=4) ratings was compared at two timepoints. An overall improvement of the students’ professional skills was identified, with a notable divergence regarding what had improved: the students focused on procedural skills, practice educators on cognitive skills, whereas service users focused on relational/embodied aspects of professional skills. Moreover, what counted as ‘improvement’ varied between the groups: when considering ‘problem-solving’ students and practice educators were emphasising the importance of taking time and not rushing to resolutions, whereas service users were praising students who were proactive and solution-focused. The findings assert the value of service user-led educational activities not only as contributing to the improvement of social work students’ skill development, but also as providing a perspective that may challenge the dominance of professional narratives in social work education. The findings have specific implications for curriculum development and evaluation of service user-led activities

The Role of Nuclear Medicine in Imaging and Therapy of Neuroendocrine Tumors

Neuroendocrine tumors (NET’s) constitute a heterogeneous group of tumors characterized by the simultaneous expression of specific marker proteins and cell type-specific hormonal products. Metaiodobenzyluanidine (MIBG), labelled with 131I or 123I, and 111In-pentetreotide (Octreoscan) are the radiopharmaceuticals of choice in the current clinical practice. Positron emitting radiopharmaceuticals that are used in PET imaging are 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), 18F-fluorodopamine (18F-DOPA), 11C-hydroxy-tryptophan (11C-HTP), and Gallium-68 (68Ga-DOTATATE or DOTATOC).  In diagnosis of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEPs) Octreoscan is the preferred imaging method because of its high sensitivity. 131Ι/123Ι-MIBG scintigraphy is useful to characterize and locate intra-adrenal (pheochromocytomas) and extra-adrenal paragangliomas. Octreoscan has also high accuracy for extra-adrenal paragangliomas. 18F-FDG-PET or PET/CT seems to be useful in detecting the pheochromocytomas and GEPs that fail to concentrate MIBG and Octreocan. 123I-MIBG scintigraphy combined with urine analysis of catecholamine metabolites is the most sensitive indicator of neuroblastoma. In diagnosis of small cell lung cancer and pituitary adenomas Octreoscan has a high sensitivity. On the contrary, in medullary thyroid cancer the sensitivity of Octreoscan and 131Ι/123Ι-MIBG is low but sensitivity of 18F-FDG PET or PET/CT and 68Ga-DOTATATE and DOTATOC PET or PET/CT seems to be higher.  With the introduction of 131I-MIBG and octreotide labelled with several radioisotopes, the field of treatment with radionuclides has been extended to a wide range of NETs. 111In-DTPA-Octreotide firstly was used in some clinical trials but recent advances in somatostatin analogues have paved the way to the development of octreotate, which can be labelled with both 177Lu and 90Y radionuclides

Mark my words! Service User and Carer Involvement in Social Work Academic Assessment

This paper discusses the involvement of service users in academic assessment as part of a second year module for social work undergraduate students at Canterbury Christ Church University in the UK. The three main tasks undertaken in partnership are detailed: designing an assessment form, assessment of student group presentations and assessment of a written reflective essay. The paper starts by identifying key questions raised by the assessor team before providing a critical commentary on the process, and identifying challenges and learning points. The experience emphasises the need for a more critical and searching approach towards service user involvement in social work education in academic assessment. Moreover, the team's experience suggests that such work is best achieved in the context of collaborative working relationships based on trust, with opportunities for team reflection and supported by training in academic assessment

Comparison of the Impact of Ga-68-DOTATATE and F-18-FDG PET/CT on Clinical Management in Patients with Neuroendocrine Tumors

This study aimed to assess the clinical impact of 68Ga-DOTATATE and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose with respect to the management plan and to evaluate the prognostic value of both tracers. Methods: A total of 104 patients (55 males, 49 females; median age 58 years, range 20–90) with histopathologically proven neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) underwent both 68Ga-DOTATATE and 18F-FDG PET/CT. Twenty-eight patients (26.9%) had poorly differentiated (PD) and 76 (73.1%), well-differentiated tumors. PET/CT results and SUVs were compared with prognostic factors such as pathologic grading (G1, G2, G3), chromogranin A, and proliferation index (Ki67). Results: 68Ga-DOTATATE and 18F-FDG PET/CT findings were discordant in 65 (62.5%) and concordant in 39 (37.5%) pts. PET/CT results changed the therapeutic plan in 84 (80.8%) pts. In 22 (21.1%) pts decision making was based on 18F-FDG findings, in 32 (30.8%) on findings with both radiotracers, and in 50 (48.1%) on 68Ga-DOTATATE findings. The most frequent management decision based on 18F-FDG was initiation of chemotherapy (10 pts, 47.6%). The most common treatment decision due to 68Ga-DOTATATE was initiation of peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (14 pts, 27.4%). In 11/28 (39.2%) pts with PD NETs the management decision was based only on 18F-FDG results. For 68Ga-DOTATATE, SUVmax was higher for G1 and lower for G3 tumors (p=0.012). However, no significant differences in 18F-FDG-derived SUVs were observed between different tumor grades (p=0.38). Mann-Whitney test showed significant differences in 68Ga-DOTATATE SUVmax between tumors with Ki<5% and tumors with Ki>5% (p=0.004), without significance differences in 18F-FDG SUVmax. Log-rank analysis showed statistically significant differences in survival for patients with bone vs soft tissue or no metastasis for both 18F-FDG (p=0.037) and 68Ga-DOTATATE (p=0.047). Overall survival was found to decline rapidly with increasing histological grade (p=0.001), with estimated survival of 91 months for G1, 59 months for G2, and 48 months for G3. Conclusion: 18F-FDG PET/CT had no clinical impact in G1 NETs and moderate impact in G2 NETs. However in PD NETs, 18F-FDG PET/CT plays a significant clinical role in combination with 68Ga-DOTATATE. 68Ga DOTATATE SUVmax values relate to tumor grade and Ki67 index and can be used prognostically

The influence of early aging on eye movements during motor simulation

Movement based interventions such as imagery and action observation are used increasingly to support physical rehabilitation of adults during early aging. The efficacy of these more covert approaches is based on an intuitively appealing assumption that movement execution, imagery and observation share neural substrate; alteration of one influences directly the function of the other two. Using eye movement metrics this paper reports findings that question the congruency of the three conditions. The data reveal that simulating movement through imagery and action observation may offer older adults movement practice conditions that are not constrained by the age-related decline observed in physical conditions. In addition, the findings provide support for action observation as a more effective technique for movement reproduction in comparison to imagery. This concern for imagery was also seen in the less congruent temporal relationship in movement time between imagery and movement execution suggesting imagery inaccuracy in early aging