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In response to budget problems, many urban school systems reduced resources for getting students to come to school, such as truancy officers. Chicago, for instance, in 1991, went from 150 truancy officers down to a total of zero. Is that a good idea? In this study, we explore the effects of increased support by a pro-social adult, or "social capital," delivered through a structured student monitoring and mentoring program called Check & Connect (C&C). We carried out a large-scale randomized controlled trial with C&C in partnership with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to students in grades 1 to 8. Program participation decreased absences in grades 5 to 7 by 4.2 days, or 22.9 percent, but had no detectable effects on students in grades 1 to 4. We also did not find statistically significant effects on learning outcomes such as test scores or GPA, or any detectable spillovers to other students within the schools where the program was administered. The modest impacts per dollar spent, compared to previous evidence on either low-cost "nudges" or relatively intensive, higher-cost interventions, raise the possibility that, for very disadvantaged students, there may be decreasing returns that are then followed by increasing returns to program intensity for the problem of student disengagement.

Background: An ageing prison population with complex health needs combined with punitive sentencing practices means palliative care for incarcerated individuals is increasingly important. However, there is limited evidence regarding the models of care delivery in high-income countries, and their associated challenges and benefits. Aim: To develop a typology of models of palliative care provision for incarcerated individuals, synthesise evidence of their outcomes and describe facilitators of and challenges in delivering different models of palliative and end-of-life care in prisons. Design: Scoping review following Arksey and O'Malley, with narrative synthesis. The protocol was registered prospectively (reviewregistry1260). Data sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, the Social Sciences Citation Index and grey literature were searched on 15th March 2023. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used for quality appraisal. Results: A total of 16,865 records were screened; 22 peer-reviewed articles and 18 grey literature sources met the inclusion criteria. Three models were identified: Embedded Hospice, Outsourcing Care and Community Collaboration. The Embedded Hospice model shows potential benefits for patients and prisons. Outsourcing Care may miss opportunities for comprehensive care. Collaborative Care relies on proactive prison-community relationships that could be formalised for improvement. Psychosocial and bereavement needs of those dying in prison and their caregivers lack sufficient documentation. Conclusion: Further research is needed to evaluate prison hospice costs and examine how prison hospices impact compassionate release usage. Beyond the USA, policies might formalise care pathways and recognise best practices. Further investigation to address psychosocial needs of people in prison with life-limiting illnesses and post-death bereavement support is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adults accessing community mental health services are required to have a care plan, developed in collaboration with the person accessing the service. The variation in care plan templates in use in England and Wales, and their impact on care planning, is unknown. This study evaluates the community mental health care plan templates in use across England and Wales. Data were obtained from a Freedom of Information request to 50 NHS Mental Health Trusts. An evaluation tool was designed and used to extract data. Data were rated red, amber, or green against clinical and design standards. Forty-seven care plan templates were obtained. The clinical aspect of the care plan template had 60% adherence to the national standards, and the design aspects had 87% adherence. A 'high/low' typology is proposed against the design/clinical standards. The study identifies priority areas for improvement in the care plan templates as space to record the actions that service users and carers will take to contribute to their care plan, space to record the name and contact details for their care coordinator or lead professional, plus others involved in the person's care. This study was not registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiencing bereavement as a child or young person (CYP) can have long-lasting effects. The societal and environmental burdens of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic exacerbated the experience of loss and grief for many CYP, who were unable to access their usual the support networks. However, it is still unclear what is currently known and not known about the experiences of CYP bereaved during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This review used the framework of Arksey and O'Malley and included five stages: (1) identifying the research question; (2) identifying relevant studies; (3) study selection; (4) charting the data; (5) collating, summarizing, and reporting the results. The methodological quality of the included studies was also assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool. The PRISMA framework was used for reporting the results. The electronic databases Medline, PsychINFO, CINAHL, and PubMed were searched for relevant articles. A total of three papers meeting the inclusion criteria were included in this review and two main themes identified: (1) support (which included sub-themes; social isolation and the impact on support; support from family and friends; wider support networks); (2) Emotional impact of bereavement during a pandemic. Access to support networks is crucial for CYP to understand and process their emotions relating to their bereavement experience. The pandemic meant that many usual support networks such as family and friends were inaccessible to CYP, who struggled to deal with their experience of grief during this time. Schools are a valuable support mechanism and can help CYP understand their emotions through open discussions about their bereavement. The limited empirical evidence currently available in this area of research demonstrates an important need to further understanding of the long-term impacts of dealing with pandemic-related loss in childhood [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pimavanserin prolongs the QT interval, with mean increases in corrected QT (QTc) of 5-8ms, and is currently being investigated for the treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Objectives: To assess QT interval prolongation in 3 studies investigating once-daily pimavanserin as an adjunct to current antipsychotic treatment in patients with schizophrenia. Methods: Electrocardiograms were unblinded from trials in which pimavanserin or placebo was added to main antipsychotics over 6 weeks (ENHANCE), 26 weeks (ADVANCE), and up to 78 weeks (ongoing 52-week, open-label extension study [study 035]) of treatment. Antipsychotic treatment was permitted throughout these studies. The 3 most frequently used antipsychotic treatments were examined--aripiprazole (including long-acting injectable), risperidone (including long-acting injectable), and olanzapine. QT intervals were corrected (QTc) using Fridericia's method, with elevated risk defined as either postbaseline value maximum of >500ms or change from baseline to postbaseline maximum of >60 ms. Results: Of patients treated with adjunctive pimavanserin in ENHANCE, there were no postbaseline QTc values >481ms; one patient in each of the risperidone and aripiprazole groups had change from baseline to postbaseline maximum >60ms. More patients had change from baseline to postbaseline maximum ranging from 31 to 60ms in the risperidone plus adjunctive placebo group (n = 5; 6.6%) than those in the risperidone plus adjunctive pimavanserin group (n = 3, 4.1%). In the pimavanserin plus antipsychotic group of ADVANCE, one patient had postbaseline QTc value >481ms, and one patient treated with aripiprazole had change from baseline to postbaseline maximum of >60ms. In study 035, a change from double-blind baseline to overall postbaseline maximum >60ms occurred in one patient treated with aripiprazole and pimavanserin and in one patient treated with risperidone and pimavanserin. Similar proportions of patients had changes fromdouble-blind baseline to post double-blind baseline maximum between 31 and 60ms across treatments. No adverse events associated with an increase in the QTc interval were reported. Conclusions: Adjunctive pimavanserin with background antipsychotic treatment showed no evidence of QTc prolongation >500ms postbaseline, consistent with previously reports on QT prolongation with pimavanserin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is concerned with decisions that are made on behalf of adults who lack the capacity to make those decisions for themselves. It has profound [...]

The use of e-cigarettes has risen rapidly in recent years. Joanne Brook and Dr Mary Turner performed a systematic review to identify if e-cigarettes are appropriate for patients with COPD Background: A high smoking-related burden is placed on health services in diagnosing, treating and managing associated long-term illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). While there are many smoking cessation options available, the use of e-cigarettes has risen rapidly. Aim: To identify if the promotion of e-cigarettes is an appropriate intervention for patients with COPD. Methods: A systematic process was used to search databases and identify research papers detailing the effects of e-cigarettes on pulmonary health outcomes in COPD; analysis identified five main themes. Findings: Eight papers were reviewed. Findings support current clinical guidance endorsing the use of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation; however, COPD patients may be at greater risk of inflammatory responses, exacerbation, disease progression and worsening general health. Conclusion: The effects of e-cigarettes are not fully understood, but they are not risk-free. More evidence is needed about both the short and long-term impact of their use in this cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has been conducted on the human serine/threonine kinase, Rho-Kinase II. The kinetic mechanism of this kinase has been investigated via the use of the steady-state kinetic analysis and the results are reported.

'Him of the great fish.' That's how the Koran describes the prophet Jonah. The phrase depicts one scene of the prophet's story that has found its way to canvas and [...]