'We just need to find space for them to practice so that we can help to make a stronger society': Perceived barriers and facilitators to employing health psychologists in UK public health and clinical health settings.

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, health psychology has received significant attention within the health sector, due to its application to understanding influences on health and well-being and translation of health psychology into interventions to support behaviour change. The number of health psychologists in public health and healthcare settings is growing but remains limited, and is it unclear why. This study aimed to explore the views of potential and current employers of health psychologists, to elucidate barriers and facilitators of employing health psychologists in healthcare settings. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were carried out to explore the experiences of working with and/or employing health psychologists. Opportunities and barriers were explored for increasing access to health psychology expertise in the NHS and public health. Interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Fifteen participants took part in interviews. Participants were mid-senior-level professionals working in varied healthcare settings and/or academic institutions. The majority had experience of health psychology/working with health psychologists, whilst others had limited experience but an interest in employing health psychologists. Three key themes were identified: (1) the organizational fit of health psychologists, (2) perception of competition for roles and (3) ideas for changing hearts, minds and processes. CONCLUSION: Barriers exist to employing health psychologists in healthcare settings. These barriers include misunderstandings of the role of health psychologists and the need to preserve other disciplines due to perceived competition. Recommendations for change included showcasing the benefits and skills of health psychologists and having transparent conversations with employees and multi-disciplinary colleagues about roles.

Using behavioural science in public health settings during the COVID-19 pandemic: The experience of public health practitioners and behavioural scientists.

INTRODUCTION: The emergence of COVID-19 and the importance of behaviour change to limit its spread created an urgent need to apply behavioural science to public health. Knowledge mobilisation, the processes whereby research leads to useful findings that are implemented to affect positive outcomes, is a goal for researchers, policy makers and practitioners alike. This study aimed to explores the experience of using behavioural science in public health during COVID-19, to discover barriers and facilitators and whether the rapidly changing context of COVID-19 influenced knowledge mobilisation. METHODS: We conducted a semi-structured interview study, with ten behavioural scientists and seven public health professionals in England, Scotland, Wales, The Netherlands and Canada. We conducted an inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: We report three key themes and 10 sub-themes: 1.Challenges and facilitators of translation of behavioural science into public health (Methods and frameworks supported translation, Lack of supportive infrastructure, Conviction and sourcing of evidence and Embracing behavioural science) 2. The unique context of translation (Rapid change in context, the multi-disciplinary team and the emotional toll). 3. Recommendations to support future behavioural science translation (Embedding experts into teams, Importance of a collaborative network and showcasing the role of behavioural science). DISCUSSION: Barriers and facilitators included factors related to relationships between people, such as networks and teams; the expertise of individual people; and those related to materials, such as the use of frameworks and an overwhelming amount of evidence and literature. CONCLUSION: People and frameworks were seen as important in facilitating behavioural science in practice. Future research could explore how different frameworks are used. We recommend a stepped competency framework for behavioural science in public health and more focus on nurturing networks to facilitate knowledge mobilisation in future emergencies.

How do members of a fire and rescue service perceive expanding their roles to deliver more health care services?

BACKGROUND: Increasingly, public sector workers are being required to expand their roles into public health. Fire and rescue services, as part of the Emergency Medical Response trial, are at the forefront of role expansion, with increasing capacity due to reducing numbers of fires in recent years. Firefighter roles, successfully implemented, include responding to cardiac arrests and conducting checks on health and wellbeing in people's own homes. In this study, we explored fire service members' perceptions about this role expansion, to increase understanding of how role expansion can be introduced and supported. METHODS: We interviewed 21 firefighters and team members about their perceptions of new roles. Interviews were conducted, transcribed and thematically analysed until reaching thematic saturation. RESULTS: Perspectives differed for responding to cardiac arrests and wellbeing checks. Cardiac arrests were seen as aligned with core roles and thus more acceptable. For both types of new role participants wanted more training and opportunities to provide feedback on implementation. CONCLUSIONS: How team members viewed role expansion depended on new role alignment with core role, training and being able to give feedback to management to shape future services.

Quantifying center of pressure variability in chondrodystrophoid dogs.

The center of pressure (COP) position reflects a combination of proprioceptive, motor and mechanical function. As such, it can be used to quantify and characterize neurologic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to describe and quantify the movement of COP and its variability in healthy chondrodystrophoid dogs while walking to provide a baseline for comparison to dogs with spinal cord injury due to acute intervertebral disc herniations. Fifteen healthy adult chondrodystrophoid dogs were walked on an instrumented treadmill that recorded the location of each dog's COP as it walked. Center of pressure (COP) was referenced from an anatomical marker on the dogs' back. The root mean squared (RMS) values of changes in COP location in the sagittal (y) and horizontal (x) directions were calculated to determine the range of COP variability. Three dogs would not walk on the treadmill. One dog was too small to collect interpretable data. From the remaining 11 dogs, 206 trials were analyzed. Mean RMS for change in COPx per trial was 0.0138 (standard deviation, SD 0.0047) and for COPy was 0.0185 (SD 0.0071). Walking speed but not limb length had a significant effect on COP RMS. Repeat measurements in six dogs had high test retest consistency in the x and fair consistency in the y direction. In conclusion, COP variability can be measured consistently in dogs, and a range of COP variability for normal chondrodystrophoid dogs has been determined to provide a baseline for future studies on dogs with spinal cord injury.

On the potential of hydrated storage for naturally derived ECMs and associated effects on mechanical and cellular performance.

Tissue engineered acellular vascular grafts are an emerging concept in the development of vascular prostheses for the minimally invasive treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds, such as small intestinal submucosa (SIS) and urinary bladder matrix (UBM), offer many advantages over currently available synthetic devices. However, storage of such biomaterials can unduly influence the scaffold properties. This study evaluated the effects of up to 16 weeks hydrated storage on the mechanical and cellular performance of stented and unstented tubular scaffolds. This study aimed to demonstrate the viability, mechanical integrity, and bioactive potential of xenogeneic ECMs as potential off-the-shelf vascular prosthetic devices. Rehydrated ECM samples versus the lyophilized controls showed an increase in UTS and stiffness. The mechanical strength of all samples evaluated was above the average reported aortic tissue failure strength and more compliant than current synthetic materials employed. Post-storage cellular bioactivity investigations indicated that both ECM scaffolds tested were unaffected by increased hydrated storage duration when compared with the controls. Overall, the results indicate that the biomechanical and biologic properties of ECMs are not negatively affected by long-term hydrated storage. Therefore, with further investigations, naturally derived ECM materials may offer potential as an off-the-shelf therapeutic treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Incidence of extrinsic compression of the internal jugular vein in unselected patients undergoing CT angiography.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Little is known about how commonly the internal jugular vein is compressed by extrinsic structures in the upper neck. The purpose of this paper was to identify the frequency and cause of external compression of the superior segment of the internal jugular vein. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of CT angiograms of the neck was performed in 108 consecutive patients. Axial source images were evaluated for moderate (>50%) or severe (>80%) stenosis of the internal jugular vein on the basis of external compression. The cause of extrinsic compression was also recorded. In cases with stenosis, the presence of ipsilateral isoattenuated collateral veins was recorded and considered representative of collateral flow. RESULTS: Moderate stenosis was seen in 33.3% of right and 25.9% of left internal jugular veins. Severe stenosis was seen in 24.1% of right and 18.5% of left internal jugular veins. The most common causes of extrinsic compression included the styloid process and the posterior belly of the digastric muscle. In patients with severe internal jugular vein stenosis, 53.8% of right sides and 55% of left sides had associated condylar collaterals. CONCLUSIONS: Extrinsic compression of the superior segment of the internal jugular vein is a common finding in unselected patients, often caused by the styloid process or the posterior belly of the digastric muscle. Presence of severe stenosis is not universally associated with collateral formation.

A dose dependent impact of prebiotic galactooligosaccharides on the intestinal microbiota of healthy adults.

The goal of this research was to determine the effect of different doses of galactooligosaccharide (GOS) on the fecal microbiota of healthy adults, with a focus on bifidobacteria. The study was designed as a single-blinded study, with eighteen subjects consuming GOS-containing chocolate chews at four increasing dosage levels; 0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0g. Subjects consumed each dose for 3 weeks, with a two-week baseline period preceding the study and a two-week washout period at the end. Fecal samples were collected weekly and analyzed by cultural and molecular methods. Cultural methods were used for bifidobacteria, Bacteroides, enterobacteria, enterococci, lactobacilli, and total anaerobes; culture-independent methods included denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) using Bifidobacterium-specific primers. All three methods revealed an increase in bifidobacteria populations, as the GOS dosage increased to 5 or 10g. Enumeration of bifidobacteria by qRT-PCR showed a high inter-subject variation in bifidogenic effect and indicated a subset of 9 GOS responders among the eighteen subjects. There were no differences, however, in the initial levels of bifidobacteria between the responding individuals and the non-responding individuals. Collectively, this study showed that a high purity GOS, administered in a confection product at doses of 5g or higher, was bifidogenic, while a dose of 2.5g showed no significant effect. However, the results also showed that even when GOS was administered for many weeks and at high doses, there were still some individuals for which a bifidogenic response did not occur.

A school-based health education program can improve cholesterol values for middle school students.

BACKGROUND: This prospective study aimed to measure the impact of a school-based multidisciplinary education program on risk factors for atherosclerosis in sixth-grade students. METHODS: A prospective study was performed in which patients served as their own controls. Healthy sixth-grade students from three middle schools in a city of approximately 100,000 were exposed to an educational program promoting healthful habits through behavioral and environmental change. Risk factors including body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), cholesterol panel, and random blood glucose were measured before program initiation, then 5 months afterward. RESULTS: Of 711 sixth-graders at three middle schools, 287 (47% boys; mean age, 11.5 +/- 0.37 years) consented to participate in the study. The mean total cholesterol value decreased from 169 +/- 26 to 154 +/- 26 mg/dl (p < 0.0001). The low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol value decreased from 86 +/- 25 to 84 +/- 23 mg/dl (p = 0.01), and the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol value decreased from 56 +/- 13 to 50 +/- 13 mg/dl (p < 0.0001). The random glucose value decreased from 96 +/- 13 to 93 +/- 15 mm/dl (p = 0.01). The mean SBP did not change, showing 109 +/- 12.5 mmHg before the program and 108 +/- 11.5 mmHg afterward. The DBP decreased from 63.6 +/- 8.6 to 62.3 +/- 7.8 mmHg (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The Project Healthy Schools program is feasible and appears to be effective. The results showed significant improvement in risk factors for early atherosclerosis among sixth-grade students including total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, random glucose levels, and diastolic blood pressure. Further study with a larger group and a longer follow-up period would be valuable.

Solitary fibrous tumor of the buccal space: treatment with percutaneous cryoablation.

Solitary fibrous tumors are rare spindle cell neoplasms that typically occur in the thorax but have been described in various locations within the abdomen and head and neck region. The most common extrapleural site is the oral cavity, but these tumors have been also described in the orbit, nasopharynx, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands, and larynx. We describe a case of a solitary fibrous tumor of the buccal space successfully treated with percutaneous CT-guided cryoablation.

Family-centred care for children in hospital.

BACKGROUND: Family-centred care (FCC) is a widely used model in paediatrics, and is felt instinctively to be the best way to provide care to children in hospital. However, its effectiveness has not been measured. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this review was to assess the effects of family-centred models of care for hospitalised children when compared to standard or professionally-centred models of care, on child, family and health service outcomes. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched: MEDLINE (1966 to February 2004); the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), (The Cochrane Library, Issue 2, 2004); CINAHL (1982 to February 2004); PsycINFO (1972 to February 2004); ERIC (1982 to February 2004); Sociological Abstracts (1963 to February 2004); Social Work Abstracts (1977 to February 2004); and AMI (Australasian Medical Index) (1966 to February 2004). SELECTION CRITERIA: We searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-randomised controlled trials including cluster randomised trials and controlled clinical trials (CCTs), and controlled before and after studies (CBAs), in which family-centred care models are compared with professionally-centred models of care for hospitalised children (aged up to 12 years). Studies also had to meet criteria for family-centredness and methodological quality. In order to assess studies for the degree of family-centredness, this review utilised a modified rating scale based on a validated instrument. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors undertook the searches, and three authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. We contacted study authors for additional information. MAIN RESULTS: No studies met inclusion criteria, and hence no analysis could be undertaken. Five studies came close to inclusion. Three of these studies were excluded primarily because of inadequate or unclear blinding of outcome assessment, while for one study the age group was outside the parameters of this review. One study met most criteria, but the children were aged up to 18 years. We contacted the study authors who kindly provided a subset analysis, but on further examination the study also proved to have inadequate blinding procedures and so was not included. It was not possible to undertake any subset analysis of populations. Of the other studies identified through the search, 13 met some of the inclusion criteria but were reports of qualitative research and are reviewed elsewhere. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: This review has highlighted the dearth of high quality quantitative research about family-centred care. A much more stringent examination of the use of family-centred care as a model for care delivery to children and families in health services is needed.

How are quality of life ratings made? Toward a model of quality of life in people with dementia.

Quality of life (QOL) has become a focus of research in dementia. In measuring QOL, the views of people with dementia often have not been considered as researchers have proposed that they may not be able to articulate their opinions. This paper counters this belief, presenting a study using a grounded theory methodology to explore the issues that people with dementia felt were important for their QOL. Further, we propose a model of QOL including hypothesised links between important issues (including family and health), QOL and other variables. Twenty-five participants took part in one of nine focus groups. The groups included participants with mild to severe dementia with ages ranging from 49 to 93 years. Results indicate that most of the participants were willing and able to talk about their QOL. Of the 25 participants, only two said that their cognitive problems affected their QOL. Twenty-two issues were discovered through analysis to contribute to QOL, including continuingto live in your own home, independence, spouse and other family, feeling happy and feeling useful. People with dementia used social comparisons in talking about their QOL, as well as direct evaluation of their own happiness. A model of QOL based on theories of coping and response shift is suggested. The fact that so few of the participants talked about disease-orientated issues challenges the large cognitive components included in many QOL measures for use with people with dementia.

Multiple paternity and mating patterns in the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis.

Eggs were sampled from 22 wild American alligator nests from the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in south-west Louisiana, along with the females guarding the nests. Three nests were sampled in 1995 and 19 were sampled in 1997. Females and offspring from all clutches were genotyped using five polymorphic microsatellite loci and the three nests from 1995 were also genotyped using one allozyme locus. Genotypes of the hatchlings were consistent with the guarding females being the mothers of their respective clutches. Multiple paternity was found in seven of the 22 clutches with one being fathered by three males, and the remaining six clutches having genotypes consistent with two males per clutch. Paternal contributions of multiply sired clutches were skewed. Some males sired hatchlings of more than one of the 22 clutches either as one of two sires of a multiple paternity clutch, as the sole sire of two different clutches, or as the sole sire of one clutch and one of two sires of a multiply sired clutch. There was no significant difference between females that had multiple paternity clutches and those that had singly sired clutches with respect to female total length (P = 0.844) and clutch size (P = 0.861). Also, there was no significant correlation between genetic relatedness of nesting females and pairwise nest distances (r2 = 0.003, F1,208 = 0.623, P = 0.431), indicating that females in this sample that nested close to one another were no more related than any two nesting females chosen at random. Eleven mutations were detected among hatchlings at the five loci over the 22 clutches. Most of these mutations (eight of 11) occurred at Ami(mu)-17, the only compound microsatellite locus of the five used in this study, corresponding to a mutation rate of 1.7 x 10-3. Finally, most of the mutations (82%) were homoplasious, i.e., mutating to an allelic state already present in this Louisiana population.

CT of the brain: a comparison of transportable and fixed-platform scanners.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether an in-hospital transportable CT scanner can provide diagnostic brain images and to compare the quality of these images with those from a conventional fixed-platform CT scanner. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with known or suspected intracranial pathology underwent imaging on a transportable scanner and a fixed-platform scanner within 1 hr of each other. Images from each CT examination were evaluated independently by two neuroradiologists who were unaware of patient history. Conspicuousness of intracranial pathology and normal anatomy were rated on a 5-point scale (1 point, optimal; 5 points, poor or not visualized). Statistical comparisons were made using nonparametric tests. RESULTS: Seven CT scans were interpreted as showing normal findings and 20 scans revealed intracranial pathology on both CT scanners. Image quality was higher on the fixed scanner (average rating, 2.42 points; SE = .12) than on the transportable scanner (average rating, 3.10 points; SE = .12) (p = .001). Depiction of the cerebellum, midbrain, and supratentorial gray-white matter was better on the fixed scanner (p < .05). However, we found no significant differences in detection of intracranial pathology between scanners. Both radiologists found images from both scanners to be diagnostic in all 27 patients. CONCLUSION: Images of the brain on the transportable CT scanner were less clear than those on a fixed scanner. However, images from the transportable CT scanner were diagnostic in 27 consecutive patients. The implications of this finding are important for the provision of CT services for critically ill patients who cannot be transported to the radiology department.

Hybridization-based karyotyping of mouse chromosomes: hybridization-bands.

We have developed a method, which we have named hybridization-banding, to identify simultaneously all chromosomes in a mouse metaphase spread. The method uses a combination of hybridization probes labeled with a single fluor to yield a simple, unique, readily identifiable hybridization pattern on each chromosome. The method is superior to Giemsa- or fluorescence-based banding methods for chromosome identification because the hybridization patterns are simpler and easier to identify, and unique patterns can be designed at will for each chromosome. Analysis can be performed with a standard fluorescence microscope, and images can be recorded on film with an ordinary 35-mm camera, making the method useful to many investigators. The method can also be applied to any species for which chromosomes and probes can be prepared.

Application of in situ PCR to yeast cells for screening YAC libraries.

We have used in situ PCR technology in yeast cells with the ultimate goal of cloning and screening genomic yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) libraries. The target sequences in YAC clones were amplified "in situ" in yeast cells by the same set of microsatellite primers used in solution-based PCR screening. The method is fast and sensitive and obviates the steps required for individual isolation of DNAs from hundreds to thousands of YAC clones and thus has an advantage over conventional solution-based PCR screening. This approach can conceivably be applied to the products of automated robotic workstations.

Mus and Peromyscus chromosome homology established by FISH with three mouse paint probes.

Fluorescence-labeled DNA probes constructed from three whole house mouse (Mus domesticus) chromosomes were hybridized to metaphase spreads from deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) to identify homologies between the species. Mus Chr 7 probe hybridized strongly to the ad-centromeric two-thirds of Peromyscus Chr 1q. Most of Mus 3 probe hybridized principally to two disjunct segments of Peromyscus Chr 3. Mus Chr 9 probe hybridized entirely to the whole Peromyscus Chr 7. Three Peromyscus linkage groups were assigned to chromosomes, based on linkage homology with Mus. The data also are useful in interpretation of chromosomal evolutionary history in myomorphic rodents.

MR imaging of implanted depth and subdural electrodes: is it safe?

This study evaluates the safety of imaging chronic epilepsy patients with intracranial depth and subdural electrodes by magnetic resonance (MR). To identify an epileptogenic focus, the precise location of the electrode contacts is necessary, and MR can provide this information. However, many neurosurgeons and neuroradiologists are hesitant to scan patients by MR with these implanted, metallic electrodes for fear of electrode displacement, current induction or heating secondary to the strong magnetic field. In the present study, the subdural electrodes were made of stainless steel with either stainless steel or platinum contacts. The depth electrodes were made of either platinum or a nickel-chromium alloy (nichrome). We reviewed 98 cases in which patients with implanted depth electrodes, subdural electrodes, or both underwent MR scanning. A total of 143 depth electrodes, 688 subdural strips, and 38 subdural grids were implanted in the 98 procedures. MR scanning was performed on a 1.5-T unit and consisted of T1, T2, and/or spoiled gradient echo pulse sequences. There were no documented complications related to the MR scans. Based on this study and a review of the literature, we feel that MR imaging can safely localize intracranial electrodes.

Analysis of large and small colony L5178Y tk-/- mouse lymphoma mutants by loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and by whole chromosome 11 painting: detection of recombination.

Analysis of 122 spontaneous large and small colony mutants derived from L5178Y tk +/- mouse lymphoma cells at 28 heteromorphic microsatellite loci on chromosome 11 showed that extensive loss of heterozygosity (LOH) is common in both large colony and small colony mutants, eliminating most chromosome 11 loci as candidates for a putative growth control locus. These results, in conjunction with historical cytogenetic data, suggest that a putative growth control locus lies distal to the thymidine kinase (Tk1) gene, near the telomere. Thirty seven mutants were hybridized with a chromosome 11-specific whole chromosome painting probe for analysis of rearrangements. Generally, painting confirmed earlier observations that large colony mutants are karyotypically normal, whereas small colony mutants frequently have detectable rearrangements. A point probe distal to Tk1 revealed no evidence of chromosome breakage in small colony mutants that appeared normal on whole 11 painting and had no LOH. Therefore, the molecular difference between large and small colony mutants remains unknown. Models to explain large and small colony mutants consistent with our findings are presented, including loss of a putative growth control gene, differential mechanisms of chromosome breakage/repair and second site mutations as explanations for small colony mutants. Painting revealed translocations and aneuploidy and showed that non-disjunction was not a common explanation for complete LOH. The most common finding was that large regions of LOH do not result from deletions, demonstrating that these cells can detect recombination events as well as previously observed chromosomal rearrangements, deletions and point mutations.

Evaluation of orthodontic relapse using the cubic spline function.

A sample of 72 orthodontically treated patients was reexamined many years out of retention. They had been treated either by the extraction of four premolars or without extractions. The average number of years between the end of treatment and the taking of follow-up records was 20, with a range of 12 to 35 years. Some conventional measurements were studied such as intertooth widths, arch perimeter, and incisor irregularity. In addition, a new method for comparison of arch form at different stages of treatment, which uses the cubic spline function, was used. Cases were grouped into extraction and nonextraction, and statistics were used to test the differences between the two groups. Correlations between the spline variables and conventional variables were computed, and multiple regression analysis was carried out using the spline variables as dependent variables. Some treatment and relapse changes were independent of whether the case was treated with extractions or not, whereas other trends were unique to one treatment group. The correlation analysis revealed strong relationships between variables that measured changes during the same treatment stage. There were also moderate correlations between some of the spline variables and the traditional measurements. Multiple regression analysis was used to account for changes in some spline variables, however, the usefulness of the model as a predictor is limited.