Physical health among patients with common mental health disorders in primary care in Europe: a scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Mental disorders are increasingly common among adults in both the developed and developing world and are predicted by the WHO to be the leading cause of disease burden by 2030. Many common physical conditions are more common among people who also have a common mental disorder. This scoping review aims to examine the current literature about the prevention, identification and treatment of physical problems among people with pre-existing mental health disorders in primary care in Europe. METHODS: The scoping review framework comprised a five-stage process developed by Arksey & O'Malley (2005). The search process was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Both quantitative and qualitative studies were included, with no restriction on study design. RESULTS: The initial search identified 299 studies, with a further 28 added from the hand-search (total n = 327) of which 19 were considered relevant to the review research question and included for full analysis. Depression was the mental health condition most commonly studied (nine studies), followed by depression and anxiety (seven studies), with three studies examining any mental disorder. Eleven studies examined the effects of various interventions to address physical and mental comorbidity, with the most commonly studied intervention being collaborative care. CONCLUSIONS: With just 19 studies meeting our criteria for inclusion, there is clearly a paucity of research in this area. Further research is essential in order to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the association between mental disorders and chronic conditions.

The impact of green spaces on mental health in urban settings: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Our planet is currently experiencing the largest wave of urban growth in history, with 55% of the world's population (4.2 billion people) currently living in urban areas, a figure set to rise to 70% by 2050. Primary care is the first point of treatment for most mental health disorders. Since the urban environment and health are intrinsically linked, it is useful to examine the effectiveness of Nature-Based Solutions in addressing mental health. AIMS: The aim of this scoping review was to examine "How urban green spaces can improve mental health and wellbeing among patients attending general practice and primary care?" METHODS: The scoping review framework comprised a five-stage process developed by Arksey and O'Malley. RESULTS: Twenty-five studies were included in the review, mostly cross-sectional studies. A wide range of mental health outcomes were identified. Out of the 25 included studies, 23 showed positive associations between mental health and green space characteristics. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that while green spaces are associated with positive mental health outcomes, most studies were cross-sectional in nature and provided limited evidence for association. Furthermore, the population samples used in most of the studies were taken from national survey data and were not specifically primary care patients. Further studies that assess primary care patients specifically are warranted.

Ex vivo evaluation of the biomechanical effect of varying monocortical screw numbers on a plate-rod canine femoral gap model.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the biomechanical behaviour of plate-rod constructs with varying numbers of monocortical screws applied to an ex vivo canine femoral-gap ostectomy model. SAMPLE POPULATION: Twenty Greyhound dog cadaveric femurs. METHODS: Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed with dual x-ray absorptiometry. Bones were assigned to four groups. Bones had a 12-hole 3.5 mm locking compression plate with one bicortical non-locking cortical screw in the most proximal and distal plate holes and an intramedullary Steinmann pin applied across a 20 mm mid-diaphyseal ostectomy. Additionally, one to four monocortical non-locking cortical screws were then placed (Groups 1-4 respectively) in the proximal and distal fragments. Stiffness and axial collapse were determined before and after cyclic axial loading (6000 cycles at 20%, 40%, and 60% of mean bodyweight [total: 18000 cycles]). Constructs subsequently underwent an additional 45000 cycles at 60% of bodyweight (total: 63000 cycles). Loading to failure was then performed and ultimate load and mode of failure recorded. RESULTS: The BMD did not differ significantly between groups. Construct stiffness for group 1 was significantly less than group 4 (p = 0.008). Stiffness showed a linear increase with an increasing number of monocortical screws (p = 0.001). All constructs survived fatigue loading. Load-to-failure was not significantly different between groups. Mean load- to-failure of all groups was >1350N. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ex vivo canine large-breed femurs showed adequate stability biomechanically and gradually increasing stiffness with increasing monocortical screw numbers.

Facial reconstruction using 3-D computer graphics.

Facial reconstruction using 3-D computer graphics is being used in our institute as a routine procedure in forensic cases as well as for skulls of historical and archaeological interest. Skull and facial data from living subjects is acquired using an optical laser scanning system. For the production of the reconstructed image, we employ facial reconstruction software which is constructed using the TCL/Tk scripting language, the latter making use of the C3D system. The computer image may then be exported to enable the production of a solid model, employing, for example, stereolithography. The image can also be modified within an identikit system which allows the addition of facial features as appropriate.

Morphological classification of facial features in adult Caucasian males based on an assessment of photographs of 50 subjects.

Fifty sets of photographs showing facial features of Caucasian males aged 18 to 60 years were examined to establish a morphological classification of the face. It is suggested that such a classification could assist facial identification by photocomparison. The selection criteria stress the importance of interassessor agreement and discrimination among feature subset units in formulating the proposed classification.