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Objective: This review summarizes evidence pertaining to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological health of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Materials and Methods: An electronic search was conducted using four major databases--PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Using an umbrella methodology, the reference lists of relevant papers were reviewed, and citation searches were conducted. The study included articles written in English between January 2020 and March 2021 that focused on the psychological health of autistic children and adolescents. Results: All eight studies included in the final review were cross-sectional. Three of the eight studies were conducted in Italy, two in Turkey, and one study each in Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom, with a total of 1,407 participants. All studies used a mixture of standardized and non-standardized questionnaires to collect data. The total number of patients were 1407 at a mean age of 9.53 (SD = 2.96) years. Seven studies report gender; male 74.7% (657/880) and female 25.3% (223/880). The finding showed that behavioral issues in children and adolescents with ASD have significantly increased; 521 (51.9 percent) of the 1004 individuals with ASD presented with behavioral changes, including conduct problems, emotional problems, aggression, and hyperactivity. Some studies also found increased anxiety and difficulties managing emotions. Only one study reported clinical stabilization in children with ASD during COVID-19. Finally, 82.7% of families and caregivers of children with ASD (544 out of 658) faced challenges during COVID-19. Conclusion: Although the studies in this review suggest a general worsening of ASD children's clinical status, it remains difficult to draw definitive conclusions at this moment, with newer COVID-19 variants on the rise worldwide. During this difficult pandemic period, caregivers, families, and healthcare professionals are recommended to pay more attention to the ASD patients' health and care needs.

Doctoral supervision has been deemed as a site of power, knowledge production, and an effort in career progression, mediated by doctoral students and their supervisors. Extensive studies have looked at these interactions from multiple angles. Although research into doctoral supervision has been extensively documented, there lies a paucity of studies exploring the voices of doctoral students with regard to knowledge production during doctoral supervision using photovice artefacts. To fill this lacuna, the current photovoice study aims to inspect doctoral students' voices in perceiving the process of negotiating knowledge with their supervisors during their doctoral supervision. A total of five Indonesian international students enrolled in different universities in Australia, the United Kingdom, Brunei Darussalam, and Taiwan reflected on their experiences with doctoral supervision. The analysis of participants' photovoice revealed two main supervisory styles, namely co-constructed and superior or dominating, that determined the nature of negotiations of knowledge and showed whose legitimised voices were accommodated in doctoral supervision. Our findings suggest that socio-culturally constructed doctoral supervision and power relations need to be better addressed in the negotiations of knowledge production in doctoral supervision. These findings imply that doctoral education should seek a deep understanding of doctoral students' socio-cultural elements and enact this into doctoral program design.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to report the success and long-term outcomes of cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive (CTA) application in the management of corneal perforation disorders. Methods: This retrospective case series describes the profile and outcomes of eyes that underwent CTA for corneal perforation over an 11-year period from January 2009 until January 2020 at a tertiary eye centre in the United Kingdom. Results: In total, 25 eyes underwent CTA application during the study period. Non-traumatic sterile corneal melt was responsible in more than half of the cases (56.0%; n = 14) followed by infection (32.0%; n = 8) and trauma (12.0%; n = 3). Median size of perforation was 2.0 mm (interquartile range, IQR 1.0–3.0). The most common anatomical location of corneal perforation was central (56.0%; n = 14). Ocular surface disease was seen in almost all eyes except two (92.0%; n = 23) with dry eye disease being the most common (48.0%; n = 12). Amongst 23 eyes that completed follow-up (median 27 months; IQR 9.5–46.5), single CTA application was successful in achieving intact globe in 13 (56.5%) eyes and repeat gluing sealed total of 20 (86.9%) eyes. Survival analysis showed cumulative success of 71.0% and 51.2% at 90 and 250 days, respectively. The CTA was retained in the eyes for median of 94.0 days (IQR 30.0–140.5). A total of five patients developed adverse events, including endophthalmitis (n = 2), following CTA application. Conclusions: CTA was highly effective in sealing corneal perforations in acute setting and showed moderate long-term success. However, multiple applications are often required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the esteemed chambers of Westminster, the United Kingdom's members of Parliament engage in rigorous discourse regarding economic policies that have far-reaching consequences. The discourse analysis of their speeches helps us understand the formulation of financial regulations that align with the nation's evolving needs and priorities. Nevertheless, discourse analysis has been criticised for being overtly biased in as much as it cherry-picks the linguistic features it seeks to examine within a data set. Hence, the present study aims to integrate corpus linguistic tools with discourse analysis methods to prepare representative data and to construct an objective pathway for analysis, thereby establishing an impartial avenue for scrutiny while mitigating the critiques often levelled against these two distinct approaches when employed in isolation. To realise these objectives, a corpus-assisted discourse study approach is applied, focusing on the procedural obstacles in the back-and-forth journey between quantitative and qualitative analysis of the discursive representations of the British economy. The study revealed that the integration of corpus tools and discourse methods helped prepare representative data for objective analysis. The integration, also, backed the triangulation of findings and showed that the parliamentarians concentrated on two main discourses of the British economy, namely finance and hardship. The analysis of the linguistic and collocational behaviour of these discourses uncovered that alleviation, scale and source were the three semantic categories of the discursive representation of the British economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doctoral supervision has been deemed as a site of power, knowledge production, and an effort in career progression, mediated by doctoral students and their supervisors. Extensive studies have looked at these interactions from multiple angles. Although research into doctoral supervision has been extensively documented, there lies a paucity of studies exploring the voices of doctoral students with regard to knowledge production during doctoral supervision using photovice artefacts. To fill this lacuna, the current photovoice study aims to inspect doctoral students' voices in perceiving the process of negotiating knowledge with their supervisors during their doctoral supervision. A total of five Indonesian international students enrolled in different universities in Australia, the United Kingdom, Brunei Darussalam, and Taiwan reflected on their experiences with doctoral supervision. The analysis of participants' photovoice revealed two main supervisory styles, namely co-constructed and superior or dominating, that determined the nature of negotiations of knowledge and showed whose legitimised voices were accommodated in doctoral supervision. Our findings suggest that socio-culturally constructed doctoral supervision and power relations need to be better addressed in the negotiations of knowledge production in doctoral supervision. These findings imply that doctoral education should seek a deep understanding of doctoral students' socio-cultural elements and enact this into doctoral program design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of upper limb kinetics and kinematics and shoulder movements during wheelchair propulsion while negotiating a speed bump of 6 cm height using four different wheelchair configurations. 16 healthy males aged 30.8 ± 5.7 years participated in the experiment. The kinetic and kinematic data during wheelchair propulsion were recorded. A smart system was used to collect the push forces and a motion capture system was used to collect upper limb movements. The results show that approximately 50% more pushing force was required to negotiate the speed bump than that of level ground propulsion. At the upward-forward axle position, peak total forces were 95.17 ± 5.70 N which resulted in significantly improved propulsion ergonomics, but 129.36 ± 6.68 N was required at the upward-back axle position at the speed bump push. The findings could help manufactures to design protective gloves for wheelchair users and provide useful rehabilitation information to clinicians and patients. Practitioner summary: This study investigated pushing forces and movements during wheelchair propulsion over a speed bump. Approximately 50% more pushing force was required to negotiate the bump than a level surface propulsion. The upper-forward axle position was found to be reasonably better than other positions during wheelchair propulsion. Abbreviations: UF: upper and forward position; UB: upper and back position; DF: down and forward position; DB: down and back position; ROM: range of motion [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence suggests that people with facial palsy may experience higher levels of distress, but the reasons for this are yet to be explored. This study aimed to explore people's illness beliefs, emotions, and behaviours in relation to their facial palsy and understand how distress is experienced by this group. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted in the UK with adults with facial palsy. Interview questions were theoretically informed by the Common-Sense Self-Regulatory Model (CS-SRM). Thematic Analysis was conducted following a combined inductive and deductive approach. Twenty people with facial palsy participated (70% female; aged 29–84). Patient distress was accounted for by illness beliefs (symptoms, cause, control and treatment, timeline and consequences), and four additional themes (coping behaviours, social support, identity and health service provision). Experiences of anxiety, depression, and anger were widespread, and some participants experienced suicidal ideation. The burden of managing a long-term condition, altered self-perception, and social anxiety and isolation were key drivers of distress. There is a need for more integrated psychological support for patients with facial palsy. Within clinical consultations, patient's beliefs about facial palsy should be identified and systematically addressed. Service development should include appropriate referral to specialist psychological support via an established care pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to be a major public health concern in the United Kingdom (UK). Epidemiological models have shown that narrowing the time between STI diagnosis and treatment may reduce the population burden of infection, and rapid, accurate point-of-care tests (POCTs) have potential for increasing correct treatment and mitigating the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We developed the Precise social science programme to incorporate clinician and patient opinions on potential designs and implementation of new POCTs for multiple STIs and AMR detection. We conducted qualitative research, consisting of informal interviews with clinicians and semi-structured in-depth interviews with patients, in six sexual health clinics in the UK. Interviews with clinicians focused on how the new POCTs would likely be implemented into clinical care; these new clinical pathways were then posed to patients in in-depth interviews. Patient interviews showed acceptability of POCTs, however, willingness to wait in clinic for test results depended on the context of patients’ sexual healthcare seeking. Patients reporting frequent healthcare visits often based their expectations and opinions of services and POCTs on previous visits. Patients’ suggestions for implementation of POCTs included provision of information on service changes and targeting tests to patients concerned they are infected. Our data suggests that patients may accept new POCT pathways if they are given information on these changes prior to attending services and to consider implementing POCTs among patients who are anxious about their infection status and/or who are experiencing symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was conducted to explore and compare the level of mental health in all the districts of Gilgit Baltistan (GB). Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Based at CMH Gilgit, all districts of GB were visited between Mar and Dec 2016. Material and Methods: Data were collected from consenting adults in community setting by administering mental health inventory (MHI). Data were compared with the population mean and inter-district comparisons were performed. Results: A total of 370 (186 males) participants, age ranging from 17 to 80 years (M = 28.54 ± 11.27). Out of these, 240 (64.8%) were married and their education levels ranged from 5 to 16 years of schooling. Males (t=4.5, p<0.001) & married participants (t=2-07, p<0.05) reported better mental health. Participants' living district (F=1.8, p=09), education level (F=1.1, p=0.3), and their age (r=0.04, p=3) did not influence their reported level of mental health. Conclusion: Community members in GB had good level of mental health irrespective of their living area, education, and age. However, their gender and marital status influenced their mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violence risk assessment and management are key tasks in mental health services and should be guided by validated instruments covering both risk and protective factors. This article is part of an international effort to validate the Structured Assessment of Protective Factors (SAPROF) for violence. The SAPROF, Historical, Clinical, Risk Management-20 (HCR-20) and the Psychopathy Checklist-Screening Version (PCL-SV) were administered in a sample of 261 patients in U.K. forensic, general inpatient, and community mental health settings. There was significant variation between these groups on SAPROF scores with fewer protective factors in the forensic group. The prospective validity of the SAPROF for nonviolence in the general inpatient and community samples was moderate (area under the curve [AUC] = .60). Adoption of the SAPROF or similar instruments as a supplement to risk-focused assessments has the potential to improve awareness of protective factors and enhance therapeutic engagement in a range of mental health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the slow destruction of the legal aid sector in Great Britain through several years of cuts. It is said that the sector has faced thirty years of cuts and pressure to do far more for far less, pushing it to the verge of collective action. Claimants are said to be living in utmost poverty finding themselves ineligible for legal aid.

The article highlights some of the findings from an international workshop funded by the British Council's Newton Fund in January 2016 in the Philippines relating to universal healthcare. Topics covered include background to healthcare in the country, the Alma-Ata Primary Healthcare Declaration signed in 1978, and barriers that could be experienced in the country's healthcare system.

This study is two pronged; at one level it explores the role of various mall promotion schemes towards building the image of shoppers. Secondly, it attempts to explain whether this type of promotion can influence the mall patronage. The study is conducted in Lakeside shopping Centre being one of the biggest regional Shopping Centers in the UK with a retail area of more than 1430000 square feet. This study uses the mall intercept technique to collect the data using a questionnaire. The study finds that Mall attitude and mall patronage is influenced by three major factors; mall atmosphere, mall sales promotion and mall assortment. It was also found in the study that, price based promotion is important, however mall management cannot ignore non-price based promotion. Particularly, for developing a positive attitude towards mall, atmospherics and mall assortment is more important than price based promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We aimed to evaluate the number of articles in the British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (BJOMS) written by consultants and trainees within deaneries in the UK. We reviewed the authorship of articles published between January 2010 and July 2011, and subdivided them by deanery and first author. In total, 76 full length articles were published (30 written by consultants and 46 by trainees), and half came from the London, Wessex, and Mersey deaneries. Technical notes were mostly written by trainees; 5 of the 22 published came from London. A total of 38 short communications were published; most were from the Wessex (21%), Yorkshire and Humber (29%), and Mersey (13%) deaneries, and in 32% a consultant was first author. A league table of all publications showed that most came from Wessex (n =25), Mersey (n =23), and Yorkshire and Humber (n =23). Most publications by trainees came from Wessex (n =20), followed by Yorkshire (n =18) and London (n =11). The study shows that the amount of published material varies considerably between oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) units in the UK. To realise their ambitions, potential trainees with an interest in research and publications may consequently find the best support in these deaneries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Septic arthritis is a potential catastrophic complication of intra-articular steroid injection. There is lack of evidence regarding the precautions that should be taken to avoid such a complication, as well as how often it is encountered. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiseptic precautions taken during intra-articular steroid injection of the knee in the United Kingdom (UK), and estimate how often septic arthritis is encountered by health professionals in the UK following steroid injection of the knee. A questionnaire was posted to 100 orthopaedic surgeons, 100 rheumatologists and 50 general practitioners (GPs), asking them about the cases of septic arthritis following intra-articular steroid injection of the knee that they encountered during their practice and the precautions they take when injecting knees. The response rate was 76.4%; 57.6% of the respondents used alcohol swabs to clean the skin, and the remaining 42.4% used chlorhexidine or Betadine. Only 16.3% used sterile towels to isolate the injection site. There were 32.5% of respondents who routinely used sterile gloves when injecting, and a total of 46.6% used either sterile or non-sterile gloves. Also, 91.1% changed needles between drawing the steroid and injecting it into the joint. Only 24 respondents (12.6%) had encountered septic arthritis after steroid injection of the knee (18 once, 3 twice, 2 three times, 1 several times). We concluded that septic arthritis post intra-articular steroid injection of the knee is probably rare. There is a wide variation in the precautions taken to avoid such a complication. However, the trend seems to be towards minimal use of antiseptic techniques. Further large prospective studies are needed to determine how frequently septic arthritis of the knee is encountered post steroid injection, and the exact precautions that should be taken to avoid it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social anthropology and medical anthropology have presented a challenge to the belief that there are universal categories of mental illness. A relativist position would suggest that there are as many categories of mental health (or physical health) as there are languages and culture in which they are expressed. Intermediate arguments suggest that there may be common elements in ideas of mental illness but that cultural expression of syndromes may differ significantly, or that symptoms may cluster in different ways in different cultures. These arguments have been raised, as well as in cross national comparisons, in the context of minority groups (ethnic, cultural, language groups) in Britain. The research, reported here, on South Asian women in Bristol, shows that they have a clear conception of mental health and illness, a clear understanding of relationships between physical and mental health, and make important distinctions between types of mental ill-health. They describe mental distress in a culturally specific set of language terms and their accounts differ from English speakers in important ways. At the same time they describe a syndrome of mental distress which corresponds in a number of features to the category 'depression'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports that sustained increases among homosexual men of unsafe sexual behaviour, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV have caused much concern. Guidelines for the administration of antiretroviral drugs as post-exposure prophylaxis following non-occupational or sexual exposure (PEPSE) have been drawn up in both in the United States and Great Britain. The most serious question that has to be asked about PEPSE is whether it could cause net harm, protecting only a few individuals at the expense of adverse effects on behaviour and increased HIV transmission in the wider community.

This article focuses on a study related to barriers to HIV testing. HIV testing forms an important part of the national strategy for sexual health and HIV of British government. It proposes that all genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic patients who are attending for "their first screening for sexually transmitted infections" should be offered an HIV test. During the study despite relatively high rates of offering and uptake of HIV testing, there were disparities between different groups within the population. Some of the more vulnerable groups within the community appeared less likely to be offered HIV testing despite having the same uptake if a test was offered.