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Aims: In 2017, two distinct interventions were implemented in Ireland and England to reduce prescribing of lidocaine medicated plasters. In Ireland, restrictions on reimbursement were introduced through implementation of an application system for reimbursement. In England, updated guidance on items which should not be routinely prescribed in primary care, including lidocaine plasters, was published. This study aims to compare how the interventions impacted prescribing of lidocaine plasters in these countries. Methods: We conducted an interrupted time‐series study using general practice data. For Ireland, monthly dispensing data (2015–2019) from the means‐tested General Medical Services (GMS) scheme was used. For England, data covered all patients. Outcomes were the rate of dispensings, quantity and costs of lidocaine plasters, and we modelled level and trend changes from the first full month of the policy/guidance change. Results: Ireland had higher rates of lidocaine dispensings compared to England throughout the study period; this was 15.22/1000 population immediately pre‐intervention, and there was equivalent to a 97.2% immediate reduction following the intervention. In England, the immediate pre‐intervention dispensing rate was 0.36/1000, with an immediate reduction of 0.0251/1000 (a 5.8% decrease), followed by a small but significant decrease in the monthly trend relative to the pre‐intervention trend of 0.0057 per month. Conclusions: Among two different interventions aiming to decrease low‐value lidocaine plaster prescribing, there was a substantially larger impact in Ireland of reimbursement restriction compared to issuing guidance in England. However, this is in the context of much higher baseline rates of use in Ireland compared to England. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth-lime and hot mixed lime mortars were the almost ubiquitous materials of traditional construction over many thousands of years but have been sorely neglected, if not ignored, by a building conservation community philosophically wedded to the principle of like-for-like and compatible repair in favour of materials with minimal historic precedent for the purposes to which they have been put. This situation has begun to change over recent years based upon growing craft experience using these mortars once more, as well as mounting evidence of the damaging potential of modern natural hydraulic limes (NHL). Historic England, Historic Scotland and CADW are reiterating the demand for like-for-like repair of historic fabric and, in most cases, this will indicate the use of hot mixed air lime or feebly hydraulic hot mixes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthopaedic casts have been used to treat musculoskeletal conditions for hundreds of years and are still a fundamental component of treating a variety of disorders. As surgical techniques have advanced the frequency of use of orthopaedic casts has declined. With orthopaedics being one of the most litigious specialties in medicine, we sought to evaluate how this related to casting in orthopaedics and how we could learn from past mistakes. We analyzed litigation claims related to orthopaedic casts from 1995 to 2010 in which the claims were closed. Forty-three cases were related to orthopaedic casts. The total costs of these claims were over £2.3 million with an average total cost of £48,500 per claim. The most common cause for claim was harm caused when a cast was applied too tight and secondly from removing the cast. This is the first study to evaluate litigation claims related to orthopaedic casts and highlights potential complications that, if avoided, will certainly improve the care of the patients and avoid unnecessary litigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthopaedic casts have been used to treat musculoskeletal conditions for hundreds of years and are still a fundamental component of treating a variety of disorders. As surgical techniques have advanced the frequency of use of orthopaedic casts has declined. With Orthopaedics being is one of the most litigious specialties in medicine we sough to evaluate how this related to casting in Orthopaedics and how we could learn from past mistakes. We analysed litigation claims related to Orthopaedic casts from 1995 to 2010 in which the claims were closed. 43 cases were related to orthopaedic casts. The total costs of these claims were over £2.3 million with an average total cost of £48,500 per claim. The most common cause for claim was harm caused when a cast was applied too tight and secondly from removing the cast. This is the first study to evaluate litigation claims related to Orthopaedic casts and highlights potential complications that if avoided will certainly improve the care of the patients and avoid unnecessary litigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the process behind the changing use of the term "stucco" in relation to plasterwork in England. It describes the two basic types of plaster, gypsum and lime plasters, available in the middle of the eighteenth century to establish the required terminology for the understanding of the usage of this term. It likewise highlights the interpretation of the English language on this Italian term and discusses the failure of English to generate the adequate terminology of this word. Moreover, it discusses the connection of this term in English to the word "stuccoes" of Italy and elaborates their usages in different materials at different dates.

A study was made of 21 renaissance plasters from Jacobean halls within a radius of 60km around Sheffield (England). The compositions of the plasters fell into two groups. Those prepared from carboniferous limestone contained calcium carbonate, quartz and animal hair but no free calcium hydroxide, despite claims in the literature that it might be found. The plasters which had been prepared from dolomitic limestone contained, in addition, magnesium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the decoration of the late Saxon painted wall plaster in the Colchester Castle in Essex, England. According to the author, Anglo-Saxon sculpture and architectural features are often painted. The excavated painted wall plaster fragments from the castle are considered relevant to the Anglo-Saxon art. They featured figures, scrollwork and borders, which all appeared to be of good quality and technique. Although it can be observed that the fragments are difficult to assess because of their shattered condition, excavation reports noted the Saxon context of the wall plaster.

Hessian fibre-reinforced gypsum, known as fibrous plaster, is a common material used for the manufacture of decorative features, including ceilings and walls in historic buildings, such as theatres and ballrooms, since the mid 19th century. It is still fabricated with modern materials for the decoration of new buildings in the UK, the Middle East and elsewhere. Following several recent failures of historic fibrous plaster ceilings in England, there is an urgent need to understand how these materials perform. There is no previous scientific investigation into the physical and mechanical properties of this material. As an initial experimental study, the microstructure of low and high density gypsum plaster were evaluated together with traditional hessian fabrics and modern glass fabrics, which are supplementing or replacing hessian fabrics. The chemical and physical characteristics were evaluated by X-ray diffraction, mercury intrusion porosimetry and dynamic vapour sorption. For the hessian, fibre density was measured and single filament strength measured to ascertain the effect of long-term ageing in new and historic material. Flexural tests were performed on gypsum plaster reinforced with different configurations of hessian and glass fabric reinforcements. Single filaments from historic hessian were weaker than filaments from new hessian and the larger scatter in strength was demonstrated using a Weibull distribution function. High density gypsum absorbed less moisture (0.2%) than low density gypsum (1%), as expected, but the jute fibres in the hessian absorbed more than 20% of the moisture. High density gypsum was considerably stronger than low density material, and random glass mats as reinforcement resulted in the highest flexural strengths and ability to yield to higher strains, due to enhanced interfacial bonding. This work will have high impact by providing a much needed basis for understanding the long-term degradation of fibrous plaster systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the structural techniques observed in the late Saxon painted wall plaster found in the Colchester Castle in Essex, England. The wall plaster found in the castle is described as very sandy and utilizes rounded pebbles, unburnt limestones and shell fragments. Angles reveal that the plaster is filled with panels between square studs. It can also be observed that the presence of various abuttals in the plaster suggests that they are abuttals to door frames. The plaster is also said to be composed of wattles that were woven between horizontal spars.