Visioning change: Co-producing a model of involvement and engagement in research (Innovative Practice).

The involvement of people living with dementia in research has traditionally been located in the realms of 'subject' or 'participant'. However, there has been an increase in demand for greater transparency by academic bidding teams (particularly within the UK) in demonstrating how people with a lived experience have been and will be involved in the research process. Located within the Economic and Social Research Council/National Institute for Health Research (ESRC/NIHR)-funded Neighbourhoods and Dementia Study (2014-2019), led by The University of Manchester (UK), this paper outlines the development of the CO-researcher INvolvement and Engagement in Dementia (COINED) Model, which was co-produced alongside three independent groups of people living with dementia: Open Doors, the Scottish Dementia Working Group and EDUCATE.

An exploratory randomized controlled study of a healthy living intervention in early intervention services for psychosis: the INTERvention to encourage ACTivity, improve diet, and reduce weight gain (INTERACT) study.

BACKGROUND: People with psychosis often experience weight gain, which places them at risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and early death. OBJECTIVE: To determine the uptake, adherence, and clinical effectiveness of a healthy living intervention designed to reduce weight gain. METHOD: An exploratory randomized controlled trial, comparing the intervention with treatment as usual (TAU) in 2 early intervention services for psychosis in England. DSM-IV classification was the diagnostic criteria used to assign the psychiatric diagnoses. The primary outcome was change in body mass index (BMI) from baseline to 12-month follow-up. The study was conducted between February 2009 and October 2012. RESULTS: 105 service users, with a BMI of ≥ 25 (≥ 24 in South Asians), were randomized to intervention (n = 54) or TAU (n = 51) after stratification by recent commencement of antipsychotic medication. Ninety-three service users (89%) were followed up at 12 months. Between-group difference in change in BMI was not significant (effect size = 0.11). The effect of the intervention was larger (effect size = 0.54, not significant) in 15 intervention (28%) and 10 TAU (20%) participants who were taking olanzapine or clozapine at randomization. CONCLUSIONS: The healthy living intervention did not show a significant difference in BMI reduction compared to the TAU group. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.isrctn.org identifier: ISRCTN22581937.

Vitamin D status and bone mass in UK South Asian women.

INTRODUCTION: Low vitamin D status is prevalent among South Asians living in the UK. The relationship, however, between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level (25OHD), serum parathyroid level (PTH) and bone mass in this group of women is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the association between serum PTH, 25OHD and bone mass in a population based sample of young UK South Asian women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Names of South Asian women aged 18 to 36 years of Pakistani origin living in the Greater Manchester area were identified from primary care registers using validated computer software. Subjects were invited to attend for (i) a blood test for assessment of serum calcium (Ca), albumin, PTH and 25OHD and (ii) for bone mineral density (BMD) scanning using the following: areal BMD at the hip (femoral neck, total hip) and lumbar spine using dual X-ray absorptiometry (Hologic QDR 4500), and volumetric BMD at the distal radius using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (Norland Stratec XCT 2000). Linear regression was used to determine the association between serum 25OHD, PTH and BMD at the different sites with adjustments made for age. RESULTS: In all, 78 women (mean age 29.2 years) were included in the analysis. Mean serum Ca level was 2.42 mmol/l, 25OHD, 7.9 ng/ml and PTH, 52.8 pg/ml. The majority of women (94%) had serum 25OHD levels 15 ng/ml, though rose progressively in subjects with levels below 10 ng/ml. Serum 25OHD was positively associated with BMD at the hip and spine while PTH was negatively associated with BMD at the hip and spine. When categorized by serum 25OHD level there was an increase in BMD at the total hip and distal radial site at least up to levels of 15 ng/ml. CONCLUSIONS: Despite widespread recognition, hypovitaminosis D is still prevalent among young UK South Asian women. In these women a decrease in serum 25OHD level