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The study explored the experiences of rural school counselors broaching conversations on race with students. We used a critical research framework with a phenomenological approach to understand the experiences of nine rural school counselors. Our findings relate to the factors that impacted school counselors' broaching behaviors with students. We discuss strategies for how rural school counselors might effectively broach conversations on race within their schools and address implications for school counseling practice and counselor education practice and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the formal role of universities in stimulating regional economic development is relatively recent. However, the role of universities in contributing to regional technological and service variety is underresearched. In this study, we use a data set that has wide geographic coverage. The analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of the UK-wide contribution of university spin-offs (USOs) to the innovation capacity of their host regional economies. We argue that the survival and growth of USOs imply embeddedness in innovation ecosystems in a region. The findings show that the majority of firms in the sample are relatively young, small in size, and are still at the early stages of their life cycle. Hence, the products and services that are offered are fairly small in number. Nevertheless, their products/services based on university research have the potential for value capture by other firms thus implying contributions to a range of related and unrelated industry sectors within a region or beyond the local. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificially intelligent systems (AISs) are in development to aid the clinicians and patients of the United Kingdom's National Health Service. We assess the statutory requirements for product liability claims against producers of defective AISs in clinical use and set out the criteria for bringing a successful claim against a producer to the courts of England and Wales. We argue that the mismatch between product liability and safety regulation leaves patients, and consumers more generally, without an adequate remedy for the consequences of AIS defects. We also discuss the intertwinement of the consumer Protection Act 1987 and the Medical Devices Regulations 2002. Recent developments such as United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union and the updated Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021 are discussed. In addition, we offer novel discussion regarding the tort of 'breach of statutory duty' as provided for by the Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Educational film is a communication tool that helps to present complex information simply and clearly, keeping audiences interested for longer and helping to reinforce important learning. Medical Aid Films produces educational films targeted at communities and health workers, with a focus on maternal and child health (MCH) content. Pilot work suggests that film screenings have attracted male as well as female viewers and have started to increase male involvement in MCH care. We explored stakeholder perspectives and gender-specific responses to educational films screened in a rural district of Serenje, Zambia. Methods: A qualitative study using focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with men and women who had viewed the films at least once, and key informant interviews with health workers who helped deliver the film screenings. Thematic framework analysis was used to derive themes and subthemes, and illustrative quotes are used to substantiate interpretation of the findings. Results: Men's and women's perspectives are clustered around the influence of the films on knowledge and behavior in relation to MCH topics and male involvement and overall community responses to the films. The three themes summarizing key informant perspectives relate to their impressions of the influence of the films on male involvement in MCH and their views on using film to deliver heath information. Conclusion: Educational films have the potential to improve women's and men's knowledge and awareness of MCH topics, including healthy nutrition and welfare of women during pregnancy, the need to seek skilled care during pregnancy and for childbirth, and the importance of male involvement in supporting the care of women and children. Before widespread implementation, decisions must be made about whether and how to integrate the films with community health education programs, the needs, values, and preferences of men and women and how to present and deliver the film content in a way that maximizes participation of men and women in MCH but does not undermine women's rights, autonomy, or safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article theorises, within the context of the law of England and Wales, the potential outcomes in negligence claims against clinicians and software development companies (SDCs) by patients injured due to AI system (AIS) use with human clinical supervision. Currently, a clinician will likely shoulder liability via a negligence claim for allowing defects in an AIS's outputs to reach patients. We question if this is 'fair, just and reasonable' to clinical users: we argue that a duty of care to patients ought to be recognised on the part of SDCs as well as clinicians. As an alternative to negligence claims, we propose 'risk pooling' which utilises insurance. Here, a fairer construct of shared responsibility for AIS use could be created between the clinician and the SDC; thus, allowing a rapid mechanism of compensation to injured patients via insurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Comorbidities are increasingly common among people living with HIV (PLWH) as they age. There is no evidence regarding models of care. We aimed to assess feasibility of a novel methodology to investigate care processes for serious medical events in PLWH. Method: The method was based on the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD). Data were extracted from medical records and questionnaires completed by general practitioners (GPs), HIV physicians, and non-HIV specialist physicians. A panel reviewed anonymized cases and gave feedback on the review process. Results: Eleven of 13 patients consented to the study. Questionnaires were completed by 64% of HIV physicians, 67% of non-HIV specialist physicians, and 55% of GPs. The independent review panel (IRP) advised improvement in the methodology including data presentation and timing. Conclusion: This method was acceptable to patients and secondary care physicians. Further work is needed to the improve GP responses and facilitate IRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines place-specific factors affecting geographies of innovation, that is, the transfer of research from the laboratory to bedside in the healthcare sector in four European bioscience regions. These regions are Medical Delta (MD; Leiden, Rotterdam and Delft, Netherlands) Oxford and the Thames Valley (OTV; UK), Biocat (Catalonia, Spain) and Life Science Zurich (LSZ; Switzerland). Evidence is drawn from the European Union-funded Healthcare Technology and Innovation for Economic Success (HealthTIES) project (2010–2013). The analytical framework, the HealthTIES Innovation Cycle, is organised into resources (inputs), innovation system elements and outcomes. The paper shows that each region represents different positions within international value chains of innovation in the healthcare sector. They range from the highly research intensive but with relatively less in the way of commercial exploitation location (OTV) to the less research intensive but with more commercialisation (LSZ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review assessed the effectiveness of the Common Sense Self-Regulatory Model in the design of interventions to improve adherence behaviours. Of nine eligible studies, six reported improvements in adherence behaviours and three showed moderate to large effects on return to work and lifestyle recommendations. Four studies stated how Common Sense Self-Regulatory Model constructs were addressed in the intervention and five measured illness perceptions as outcomes. Evidence was found for targeting cure/control perceptions in studies aimed at improving adherence behaviours. Future studies need to measure illness perceptions pre- and post-intervention to enable mediational analyses to assess the effect of Common Sense Self-Regulatory Model interventions on improving health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multivariate analysis that identifies the combination of risk factors associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) trauma is important because it provides insight into whether a variable has a direct causal effect on risk or an indirect effect that is mediated by other variables. It can also reveal risk factors that might not be evident in univariate analyses; if a variable’s effect is moderated by other variables, its association with risk may be apparent only after adjustment for the other variables. Most important, multivariate analyses can identify combinations of risk factors that are more predictive of risk than individual risk factors. Hypothesis: A diverse combination of risk factors predispose athletes to first-time noncontact ACL injury, and these relationships are different for male and female athletes. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Athletes competing in organized sports at the high school and college levels participated in this study. Data from injured subjects (109 suffering an ACL injury) and matched controls (227 subjects) from the same athletic team were analyzed with multivariate conditional logistic regression to examine the effects of combinations of variables (demographic characteristics, joint laxity, lower extremity alignment, strength, and personality traits) on the risk of suffering their first ACL injury and to construct risk models. Results: For male athletes, increases in anterior-posterior displacement of the tibia relative to the femur (knee laxity), posterior knee stiffness, navicular drop, and a decrease in standing quadriceps angle were jointly predictive of suffering an ACL injury. For female athletes the combined effects of having a parent who had suffered an ACL injury and increases in anterior-posterior knee laxity and body mass index were predictive of ACL injury. Conclusion: Multivariate models provided more information about ACL injury risk than individual risk factors. Both male and female risk models included increased anterior-posterior knee laxity as a predictor of ACL injury but were otherwise dissimilar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Seeking asylum creates circumstances that impact significantly on occupational opportunities, leading to negative outcomes for individuals, families and the host community. Understanding the specific meaning of occupation during this major life transition provides valuable insights regarding occupation cross-cuIturaIly, during transition or under socio-legal restrictions. Method: This study employed a phenomenological approach, using a series of in-depth interviews to illuminate the role of occupation in the everyday lives of 10 participants. Findings: All participants spoke of the challenges of the asylum process, and the powerful drive to keep busy. They each identified the special role of occupations done for the benefit of others - family, network or community - linking these with cultural ideals and their own desired outcomes of value and purpose. Conclusion: Occupation has enormous potential for enhancing post-migratory experiences, but the choice of occupation is also important. People strive to move beyond simply 'keeping busy' to find occupations of real meaning that foster connections and purpose, and in particular feed their need to feel valued. Occupations undertaken for the benefit of others connect with culturally appropriate collectivist ideals, and seem to do more to promote 'doing, being, belonging' and 'becoming'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem cell therapy has showed considerable potential in the treatment of stroke over the last decade. In order that these therapies may be optimized, the relative benefits of growth factor release, immunomodulation, and direct tissue replacement by therapeutic stem cells are widely under investigation. Fundamental to the progress of this research are effective imaging techniques that enable cell tracking in vivo. Direct analysis of the benefit of cell therapy includes the study of cell migration, localization, division and/or differentiation, and survival. This review explores the various imaging tools currently used in clinics and laboratories, addressing image resolution, long-term cell monitoring, imaging agents/isotopes, as well as safety and costs associated with each technique. Finally, burgeoning tracking techniques are discussed, with emphasis on multimodal imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research which investigated how competition level, type of sport, and athlete's sex influence first-time noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury incidence. Topics addressed include the prevalence of ACL injuries in young athletes in the U.S., the use of National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System database as reference in assessing injury incidence rates, and the injury rate associated with soccer, basketball, and lacrosse.

The article discusses research which investigated femoral intercondylar notch morphometry in patients with first-time noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Topics explored include the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of participating ACL-injured patients, the outcome of the femoral notch measurement process, and the comparative analysis of femoral notch morphometry and ACL geometry.

The article discusses a study on 176 athletes that determined the association of higher posterior-inferior medial and lateral tibial plateau directed slope with higher risks for noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Obtained were magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of subjects and the characterization of subchondral bone part in tibial plateau, coronal tibial slope and medial tibial plateau depth. Results showed 21.7% higher risk in females of noncontact ACL injury than in males.

The article presents a study which evaluates the efficiency of a new stabilized dynamometer system, a hip strength testing device, for hip strength evaluation. It states that a cage-stabilized dynamometer was used to evaluate the supine position for all hip motions of 19 ice hockey athletes. Results show that the device performs good to excellent inter- and intrarater reliability for all tested hip motions.

The article reports a study which was conducted to determine whether high knee abduction moment (pKAM) is associated with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in female athletes. A clinic-based algorithm developed by Myer and colleagues was used in the study. The results show that the pKAM was not associated with noncontact ACL injury in injured athletes.

This paper examines the relationship between formal networks, such as business and occupationally based professional networks, and place in determining network patterns and types in regional economic development. It distinguishes between 'network-rich' and 'network-poor' regions and considers why and how formal networks operate as a service and a resource to participants and as components of regional business infrastructures. Formal networks in the Oxfordshire to Cambridge Arc in the UK are used to illustrate these points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhinitis is characterized by nasal discharge, congestion, blockage and sneezing. These symptoms can have a variety of aetiologies, including allergic, non-allergic or infective causes. This article focuses on the diagnosis and management of patients with non-allergic non-infective rhinitis, but clearly, there are overlaps with the management of rhinitis due to other causes. Non-allergic rhinitis is very common; it is estimated to affect almost one in four adults, particularly elderly patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse drug reactions are a major cause of morbidity, complicating over 5% of therapeutic drug courses. The majority of these events are due to common predictable mechanisms linked to the way the drug works, but about 5% of all reactions are immune-mediated and constitute true allergy. Drug allergy is one of the potential causes of anaphylaxis, angioedema and urticaria and should always be considered when a patient presents with one of these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Referral letters are the key mode of communication between GPs and hospital specialists for routine and acute management of conditions. While verbal communication skills are strongly emphasized in undergraduate training, written communication is relatively neglected. Medical students and postgraduate doctors are rarely formally taught to write referral letters; it is a skill learnt on the job through opportunistic and informal tuition and by reading referral letters written by others. Consequently, the style, content and quality of referral letters differ greatly among doctors. This article discusses professional expectations, outlines components of effective referral writing and provides a referral letter template. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhinitis is an inflammatory condition of the nasal mucosa which causes nasal discharge, itching, sneezing, nasal stuffiness, congestion and blockage. Rhinitis can be due to a variety of causes and is classified as allergic, non- allergic and infective. This article focuses on the diagnosis and management of rhinitis with an allergic aetiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are immediately disabling, costly, take a significant amount of time to rehabilitate, and are associated with an increased risk of developing posttraumatic osteoarthritis of the knee. Specific multiplanar movement patterns of the lower extremity, such as those associated with the drop vertical jump (DVJ) test, have been shown to be associated with an increased risk of suffering noncontact ACL injuries. The Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) has been developed as a tool that can be applied to identify individuals who display at-risk movement patterns during the DVJ.Hypothesis: An increase in LESS score is associated with an increased risk of noncontact ACL injury.Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods: Over a 3-year interval, 5047 high school and college participants performed preseason DVJ tests that were recorded using commercial video cameras. All participants were followed for ACL injury during their sports season, and video data from injured participants and matched controls were then assessed with the LESS. Conditional logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between LESS score and ACL injury risk in all participants as well as subgroups of female, male, high school, and college participants.Results: There was no relationship between the risk of suffering ACL injury and LESS score whether measured as a continuous or a categorical variable. This was the case for all participants combined (odds ratio, 1.04 per unit increase in LESS score; 95% confidence interval, 0.80-1.35) as well as within each subgroup (odds ratio range, 0.99-1.14).Conclusion: The LESS did not predict ACL injury in our cohort of high school and college athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Context: Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are immediately disabling and are associated with long-term consequences, such as posttraumatic osteoarthritis. It is important to have a comprehensive understanding of all possible risk factors for ACL injury to identify individuals who are at risk for future injuries and to provide an appropriate level of counseling and programs for prevention.Objective: This review, part 2 of a 2-part series, highlights what is known and still unknown regarding hormonal, genetic, cognitive function, previous injury, and extrinsic risk factors for ACL injury.Data Sources: Studies were identified from MEDLINE (1951-March 2011) using the MeSH terms anterior cruciate ligament, knee injury, and risk factors. The bibliographies of relevant articles and reviews were cross-referenced to complete the search.Study Selection: Prognostic case-control and prospective cohort study designs to evaluate risk factors for ACL injury were included in this review.Results: A total of 50 case-control and prospective cohort articles were included in parts 1 and 2. Twenty-one focused on hormonal, genetic, cognitive function, previous injury, and extrinsic risk factors.Conclusions: Several risk factors are associated with increased risk of suffering ACL injury-such as female sex, prior reconstruction of the ACL, and familial predisposition. These risk factors most likely act in combination with the anatomic factors reviewed in part 1 of this series to influence the risk of suffering ACL injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee are immediately debilitating and can cause long-term consequences, including the early onset of osteoarthritis. It is important to have a comprehensive understanding of all possible risk factors for ACL injury to identify individuals who are at risk for future injuries and to provide an appropriate level of counseling and programs for prevention.Objective: This review, part 1 of a 2-part series, highlights what is known and still unknown regarding anatomic and neuromuscular risk factors for injury to the ACL from the current peer-reviewed literature.Data Sources: Studies were identified from MEDLINE (1951-March 2011) using the MeSH terms anterior cruciate ligament, knee injury, and risk factors. The bibliographies of relevant articles and reviews were cross-referenced to complete the search.Study Selection: Prognostic studies that utilized the case-control and prospective cohort study designs to evaluate risk factors for ACL injury were included in this review.Results: A total of 50 case-control and prospective cohort articles were included in the review, and 30 of these studies focused on neuromuscular and anatomic risk factors.Conclusions: Several anatomic and neuromuscular risk factors are associated with increased risk of suffering ACL injury-such as female sex and specific measures of bony geometry of the knee joint, including decreased intercondylar femoral notch size, decreased depth of concavity of the medial tibial plateau, increased slope of the tibial plateaus, and increased anterior-posterior knee laxity. These risk factors most likely act in combination to influence the risk of ACL injury; however, multivariate risk models that consider all the aforementioned risk factors in combination have not been established to explore this interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses several court cases. An appellant was convicted at Northampton, England's Crown Court on two counts of incitement to distribute an indecent photograph of a child and three counts of attempting to incite the distribution of an indecent photograph of a child. Peter Coonan was convicted of 13 counts of murder and pleaded guilty to seven counts of attempted murder. Abbas Iqbal and his brother Ilyas Iqbal were convicted of various terrorism-related offences and applied for leave to appeal against their convictions.

This article explores the perspectives of two user groups, general practitioners (GPs) and consultant radiologists (CRs), on the rollout of picture archiving and communications systems (PACS) within acute trusts and eventually to primary care as part of the electronic patient record. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 16 CRs and 31 GPs. Analysis was carried out using a grounded theory approach. Radiologists expressed positive views about the implementation of PACS in secondary care, but were wary of GPs accessing radiological images. GPs expressed concerns about the added burdens that PACS might bring to primary care, but most felt that sharing images with patients could benefit doctor-patient communication and increase patient satisfaction. This study highlights both impediments and pathways to the implementation of PACS in primary care, and illustrates the importance of regarding PACS as socially embedded and users as culturally disparate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is an urgent need to increase opportunistic screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in community settings, particularly for those who are at increased risk including men who have sex with men (MSM). The aim of this qualitative study was to explore whether home sampling kits (HSK) for multiple bacterial STIs are potentially acceptable among MSM and to identify any concerns regarding their use. This study was developed as part of a formative evaluation of HSKs. Methods: Focus groups and one-to-one semi-structured interviews with MSM were conducted. Focus group participants (n = 20) were shown a variety of self-sampling materials and asked to discuss them. Individual interviewees (n = 24) had experience of the self-sampling techniques as part of a pilot clinical study. All data were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using a framework analysis approach. Results: The concept of a HSK was generally viewed as positive, with many benefits identified relating to increased access to testing, enhanced personal comfort and empowerment. Concerns about the accuracy of the test, delays in receiving the results, the possible lack of support and potential negative impact on 'others' were raised. Conclusion: The widespread acceptability of using HSKs for the diagnosis of STIs could have important public health impacts in terms of earlier diagnosis of asymptomatic infections and thus a decrease in the rate of onward transmission. In addition, HSKs could potentially optimize the use of genitourinary medicine services and facilitate patient choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the changing geography of employment in Knowledge-Intensive Business Services (KIBS) in Britain. KIBS represent an important element of the so-called 'knowledge economy' and have been amongst the fastest growing employment sectors in advanced economies in recent years. However, during the 1990s in Britain, this employment growth was very unevenly distributed, both between regions and at the sub-regional level. The evidence presented in the paper suggests that KIBS growth in the 1990s was strongest in London and in a group of inter-linked local economies stretching in a broad arc to the north, west and south of the capital within the 'Greater South East' region. Examples of strong KIBS sector growth outside this region tend to be more isolated. There is little evidence of significant decentralisation of KIBS employment from the largest cities to smaller settlements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clustering of innovative industry both demands and creates a highly skilled local labour market. The growth of this agglomeration of labour, it has been argued, benefits both individuals and firms by providing the opportunity for matching labour demand with labour supply, which is crucial to sustaining innovation. Additionally, mobility within the local labour market is argued to be of collective benefit as the movement of the highly skilled within the cluster is a key mechanism for technology transfer and fostering of interfirm links. Social networks (social capital) are argued in the literature to be the medium by which these activities are facilitated and the development of which is key to innovation-based local economic development. This is exemplified by Silicon Valley. To examine the universality of these assumptions, this article explores the development of social networks among scientists and engineers in the high-technology local economies of Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire. Drawing on the results of a postal survey of the engineers, physicists and chemists in the local labour markets of these regions carried out between November 2000 and March 2001, the article considers the networking behaviour of the highly skilled, focusing on the composition and spatial reach of their networks. It concludes that the importance of local networks should not be overstated on the basis that there are distinct differences within two seemingly similar locations and within the professional associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the issues concerning the agenda around the relationship between universities in Europe and industry. It places the discussion in the context of the European Union's Lisbon Agenda (2000) of raising national expenditures on research and development to create the ‘Europe of Knowledge’ and the Bologna Agreement of 1999 on the European Higher Education Area. It sets out to consider what factors might inhibit the success of such strategies designed at overcoming Europe's problems at the interface between universities and industry, hence universities' potential impact on innovation and economic development. Examples from some of the EU15 countries illustrate the problems for Europe in developing an integrated strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The perceptions of bereaved family members were obtained to evaluate the nature and quality of end-of-life care in community hospitals. Design: During organizational case studies in six community hospitals in the South East and South West of England, bereaved family members were asked to participate in semi-structured interviews. Participants: Fifty-one interviews were conducted with family members of patients who had received end-of-life care in a community hospital within the previous year. Results: Respondents were very positive about the care they and the patient had received. They valued the convenience of access for frequent and long-stay visiting and the familiarity of the local hospital. Comparisons were made with more negative experiences at their nearest District General Hospital. Issues raised included the noise at the community hospitals, and the lack of contact with qualified nurses. Discussion: The results of this study have implications for UK government initiatives, such as the National Framework for Older People, and the Department of Health's 'Keeping the NHS Local'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the UK there are concerns that, in certain groups of dying patients such as the old, those with non-cancer diagnoses and those in rural areas, the quality of care is unacceptably variable. There has been no systematic survey of the extent to which community hospitals provide general palliative care for such patients. Therefore, by means of a structured questionnaire we asked senior nurses/managers at all 478 community hospitals in the UK for information on staff expertise, facilities and specialist equipment, liaison arrangements with specialist palliative care providers, priorities, practice and policy in end-of-life care. Of the 346 hospitals (72%) that responded, only 28 were in urban areas. 73% of hospitals employed at least one nurse with additional training in palliative care, 72% had access to 24-hour specialist palliative care advice and 51% had separate overnight accommodation for relatives, but only 22% had designated palliative care beds. Most hospitals did not have written policies or guidelines for patient assessment or symptom control. These findings add to evidence that community hospitals represent an important resource to improve access to palliative care for groups that are currently under-served. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are reports in the literature describing artefactually raised phosphate concentrations in serum samples of patients with myeloma. However, IgA paraproteins have been reported only rarely as a potential cause. Methods: Following the detection of a grossly elevated phosphate concentration in a patient with an IgA paraprotein and another with an IgG paraprotein, we estimated phosphate concentrations in a further 73 patients with paraproteins using the Bayer ADVIA 1650 and Ortho Vitros 950 analysers. The latter method has been reported to be unaffected by pseudohyperphosphataemia. Results: Deproteinization of the serum samples containing the IgA and IgG paraproteins showed that they were responsible for the interference. No significant difference in serum phosphate concentrations measured by the two analysers was noted for the larger study of serum IgG or IgM paraproteins. However, a statistically significant but clinically trivial difference in phosphate concentration was noted for serum IgA paraproteins, with the Ortho Vitros 950 giving slightly higher phosphate concentrations. Deproteinization of these samples yielded similar phosphate concentrations. Phosphate estimation in serum samples without paraproteins using both analysers yielded results that were not statistically different. Conclusion: On occasion, serum samples containing IgA paraproteins may give rise to erroneous phosphate concentrations when the Bayer ADVIA is used [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the issue of the potential employability of the highly-skilled post-retirement from employment in large firms and research institutions in small high-tech firms. The thesis of the study reported here, funded by the Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire (MKOB) Learning and Skills Council (L & SC), is that reemployment might help address problems of skill shortages in the MKOB region, particularly in its increasing number of high-tech firms. Early retirement removes valuable skills from the labour market. The paper has a more general interest because it highlights the considerable challenges to policy makers faced with a diversity of employment profiles within regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Editorial. Discusses the important role that universities can play in local economic development. Article by David Charles discussing the radical shift in university's role; Analysis of the article by John Glasson; Information on the article by Andrea Piccaluga and Michela Lazzeroni.

Twenty adults who had sustained severe head injury completed the Sickness Impact Profile questionnaire and the Leeds Scales of anxiety and depression five or more years after the injury. All but one of the subjects reported persistent problems, and all but eight were either unemployed or working in a reduced capacity. Patients' reports were supported by those of relatives. It is argued that both patients and relatives should be followed up regularly, for more than just the first year, and that the Sickness Impact Profile would serve this purpose well. The advantages and limitations of this instrument for clinical use are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In Britain, services for people with all forms of disabilities have been undergoing major structural change. However, despite the stake that women have in community care services, as users, carers and workers, a feminist viewpoint has not featured at all in the debate. The stakes are high for women, and feminists need to understand the import of these changes when seen within a gender-aware political context. This article outlines the changes that are occurring in our community care services and draws out the implications for women from a feminist perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives: Depression in older adults is assessed using measures validated in the general adult population. However, such measures may be inappropriate in the elderly due to the similarities between ageing and the symptoms of depression. This article discusses whether these measures are fit for the purpose and the implications of using inappropriate tools. Methods: A commentary on measuring depression in older adults. Results: Depression symptoms may be mistaken for signs of ageing. Several measures of depression include items that may have a physical cause and thus generate measurement error. Those studies that have assessed the psychometric properties of depression measures in older adults have failed to conduct appropriate assessments of discriminant validity. Discussion: Research is needed to determine whether the conceptual similarity between some symptoms of depression and the effects of ageing translate to factorial similarity. If so, there may be a need for a specific depression measure for older adults that prioritises psychological symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which evaluated the effective use of partographs based on the surveyed African midwives who attended a regional midwifery conference in 2003. Survey results suggest that partographs are largely consistent with the use of partographs among midwifes in Great Britain. Moreover, partographs proved to be useful in ensuring standard practice and timely intervention in resource-poor health facilities.

A letter to the editor is presented about a man who developed diabetic ketoacidosis after using clozapine.