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Introduction General practitioners (GP) are key in the delivery of primary palliative care in the community, so appropriate knowledge and skills are needed. Previous research has suggested there may be gaps in training opportunities. Aims To develop and evaluate a Master Class series presented by a hospice palliative care service to their local GPs and other health-care professionals. A secondary aim was to measure the lasting impacts of the educational intervention. Methods The study setting was the Canterbury region of Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ). GPs and other health-care professionals were surveyed using a research team-designed questionnaire rating self confidence in the nominated learning objectives before and after the Master Classes. The participants were also asked to self-rate the application of the knowledge to their practice 3 years after the Master Class sessions were attended. Results There were 56 sets of questionnaires completed. The participants tended to be experienced female GPs with a range of palliative care patients in their practice. There was significant improvement in most learning outcomes across the Master Classes series. The attendees reported the Master Classes were relevant and clear, with useful resources. The improvements in the learning outcomes were largely sustained over 3 years. Discussion The provision of palliative care education that aligns with clinical practice improves knowledge, skills and confidence in GPs who provide most of the end-of-life care in New Zealand.

Digital inhalers can monitor inhaler usage, support difficult-to-treat asthma management, and inform step-up treatment decisions yet their economic value is unknown, hampering wide-scale implementation.

Domiciliary measurements of airflow obstruction and inflammation may assist health care teams and patients in determining asthma control and facilitate self-management.

Some human endometrial carcinomas contain receptors for estrogen (E2) and dihydrotestosteron (DHT). Analysis of 50 primary endometrial carcinomas by agar gel electrophoresis revealed a varying receptor pattern, absence of both receptors, sole presence of E2- or DHT-receptor, or presence of both. Highly differentiated tumours often had receptors of both types (7/18) and poorly differentiated tumours most often lacked them (1/10). Primary tumours with metastases (Stages III-IV) seldom had combined receptors, only in 2 cases out of 9. Growth of the tumour down in the cervical canal (Stage II) implied absence of combined receptors in all of the 13 cases studied. In 8 different ovarian tumours, presence of either E2- or DHT-receptors was found in 6. The findings are discussed in relation to hormonal treatment of the disease.

The fine structural morphology and the ATP-ase activity of heart muscle at various sarcomere lengths was studied. ATP-ase activity was found on endothelial cells, cell membrane, intercalated disc, sarcoplasmic reticulum and in the Z-line region. It appeared that the activity of the ATP-splitting in the Z-line region was sensitive to PCMB and could be reactivated with cysteine. This points to an activity of “true” ATP-ase according to the terminology ofPadykula et al. (1955) andFreiman et al. (1960). In addition, this cross striational enzyme was strongly activated by Mg++.

Self-management programs have beneficial effects on asthma control, but their implementation in clinical practice is poor. Mobile health (mHealth) could play an important role in enhancing self-management.