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The experiences of families on the Autism spectrum in rural coastal communities in England
No full textResearch regarding life in rural coastal communities in England has been limited, while the experience of families further marginalised by disability has been unresearched. To address this topic, a qualitative study was undertaken to explore the lives of families living with autism in rural coastal England. Twenty-two families from Cornwall and West Norfolk were interviewed in early 2019, including young people on the autism spectrum, their siblings, parents (some of whom were themselves also on the spectrum) and grandparents.
Perceived benefits of living in a rural coastal space were identified. These included the location, the sense of community and the sense of ‘going back in time’ as a positive experience. However, families also spoke of barriers and challenges associated with negative aspects of the location, the experience of stigma and intersectionality in relation to autism and rural coastal spaces. Difficulties concerning education, health and social care support were worsened by poor local infrastructure and the impact of a decade of austerity.
The qualitative methodology involving collaboration with families with autism in developing the research tools, participant recruitment and stakeholder validation is considered.
This research explored the intersecting impacts of rurality, coastality and disability to provide a novel and more nuanced understanding of such families' experiences. As such, it contributes to our understanding of those living ‘on the edge’ – regarding physical location, societal and educational marginalisation
Reply to “Stribling & Ibrahim 2023: commentary to the editor
Get PDFIn response to “Stribling & Ibrahim 2023: Commentary to the Editor”, we wish to thank all authors for their interest in our work. The sole motive behind our narrative review, after learning the lesson from the trans-fat history and its impact on the science and food industry, is to prevent harm before it is too late. We agree with the authors regarding the importance of a worldwide unified definition of dietary fibre, but this should not have potential to worsen symptoms of those with functional bowel disorders nor cause more confusion among the public regarding the health benefits of dietary fibre. Thus, we aim to address the authors’ views and concerns, and to provide future recommendations, which will be summarised below. The following abbreviations will be used: FBDs, functional bowel disorders; DF, dietary fibre; LMW DF, low molecular weight dietary fibre; HMW DF, high molecular weight dietary fibre
Review of Hannah Perry, Manual Labour at the Baltic Gallery, Gateshead
No full textThis article reviews Perry's major show at the Baltic Gallery in Gateshead. Her work intermixes film and sculptural installation in order to examine the relationships between motherhood, self-identity, and class
Takotsubo Syndrome or Peripartum Cardiomyopathy? depends on who you are talking to
Get PDFTakotsubo syndrome (otherwise known as broken-heart syndrome or left ventricular apical ballooning) is a rare cause of reversible heart failure that predominantly affects postmenopausal women. It was first described by Japanese researchers in the 1990s and has become established as a differential for heart failure following a physically or psychologically stressful event. This was popularised by a spike in cases following natural disasters in Japan. As the recognition of takotsubo syndrome in the differential diagnosis for sudden, onset heart failure in a previously healthy individual has grown, so has the discussion concerning takotsubo in the peripartum period. Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare cause of reversible heart failure in the latter weeks of pregnancy and the postpartum period. Morbidity and mortality for both cardiomyopathies can be highly variable, ranging from complete recovery of cardiac function to life threatening arrhythmias and even death. This rapid review highlights the similarities between both cardiomyopathies and challenges the hitherto assumption that both takotsubo and peripartum cardiomyopathies are distinct entities that can easily be distinguished from one another. The implications of this are significant within the context of the behavioural aspects of diagnosis, treatment, and outcome
Review of Glenn Ligon, All Over the Place, Fitzwilliam Museum
No full textThis review considers Glenn Ligon's intervention in, and engagement with, the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge
Clinical and cost-effectiveness of first contact physiotherapy for musculoskeletal disorders in primary care: the FRONTIER, mixed method realist evaluation
Get PDFBackground: First-contact physiotherapists assess and diagnose patients with musculoskeletal disorders, determining the best course of management without prior general practitioner consultation.
Objectives: The primary aim was to determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of first-contact physiotherapists compared with general practitioner-led models of care.
Design: Mixed-method realist evaluation of effectiveness and costs, comprising three main phases: A United Kingdom-wide survey of first contact physiotherapists. Rapid realist review of first contact physiotherapists to determine programme theories. A mixed-method case study evaluation of 46 general practices across the United Kingdom, grouped as three service delivery models: General practitioner: general practitioner-led models of care (no first contact physiotherapists). First-contact physiotherapists standard provision: standard first-contact physiotherapist-led model of care. First-contact physiotherapists with additional qualifications: first-contact physiotherapists with additional qualifications to enable them to inject and/or prescribe.
Setting: United Kingdom general practice.
Participants: A total of 46 sites participated in the case study evaluation and 426 patients were recruited; 80 staff and patients were interviewed.
Main outcome measures: Short Form 36 physical outcome component score and costs of treatment.
Results: No statistically significant difference in the primary outcome Short Form 36 physical component score measure at 6-month primary end point between general practitioner-led, first-contact physiotherapist standard provision and first-contact physiotherapist with additional qualifications models of care. A greater number of patients who had first-contact physiotherapist standard provision (72.4%) and first-contact physiotherapist with additional qualifications (66.4%) showed an improvement at 3 months compared with general practitioner-led care (54.7%). No statistically significant differences were found between the study arms in other secondary outcome measures, including the EuroQol-5 Dimensions, five-level version. Some 6.3% of participants were lost to follow-up at 3 months; a further 1.9% were lost to follow-up after 3 months and before 6 months. Service-use analysis data were available for 348 participants (81.7%) at 6 months. Inspecting the entire 6 months of the study, a statistically significant difference in total cost was seen between the three service models, irrespective of whether inpatient costs were included or excluded from the calculation. In both instances, the general practitioner service model was found to be significantly costlier, with a median total cost of £105.50 versus £41.00 for first-contact physiotherapist standard provision and £44.00 for first-contact physiotherapists with additional qualifications. Base-case analysis used band 7 for first-contact physiotherapist groups. A sensitivity analysis was undertaken at band 8a for first-contact physiotherapists with additional qualifications; the general practitioner-led model of care remained significantly costlier. Qualitative investigation highlighted key issues to support implementation: understanding role remit, integrating and supporting staff including full information technology access and extended appointment times.
Limitations: Services were significantly impacted by COVID-19 treatment restrictions, and recruitment was hampered by additional pressures in primary care. A further limitation was the lack of diversity within the sample.
Conclusions: First-contact physiotherapists and general practitioner models of care are equally clinically effective for people with musculoskeletal disorders. Analysis showed the general practitioner-led model of care is costlier than both the first-contact physiotherapist standard provision and first-contact physiotherapist with additional qualifications models. Implementation is supported by raising awareness of the first-contact physiotherapist role, retention of extended appointment times, and employment models that provide first-contact physiotherapists with professional support
SK-VFO test and widefield swept-source oct-guided selective vitrectomy (SV) for vitreous floaters and opacities (VFO)
No full textPurpose : Describe the surgical technique of selective vitrectomy (SV) with removal of only core vitreous floaters and opacities (VFO). Present pre-and-post SV anatomical and functional results using a new testing methodology (SK-VFO Test) and two new and different navigated widefield swept-source OCT (SS-OCT) imaging technologies.
Methods : Retrospective study of 19 eyes (14 patients) with symptomatic VFO underwent the SK-VFO Test: logMAR best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), SK infra-red confocal SLO (SK IRcSLO) (Canon Xephilio OCT-S1, Canon Medical Systems Europe, The Netherlands, Spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering, Germany) , straylight measurements (SM) (HD Analyzer, Keeler, USA), Light Disturbance Analyser (LDA, Binarytarget LDA, Portugal) and C-Quant (Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH, Germany) pre- and post-SV (25-G (n=4) or 27-G (n=15)).
Navigated multiwavelength ultrawidefield imaging with widefield swept-source OCT (SS-OCT) (Silverstone, Optos PLC, Scotland, United Kingdom) was performed pre- and post-SV to assess VFO, vitreoretinal interface (VRI)/posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) status obtaining 200° fundus images and 100 KHz 23 mm long SS-OCT scans with a 2.5mm imaging window. A new widefield SS-OCT technology allowing for 200 KHz 130° field-of-view single-scan 26mm long scans with a 12mm deep imaging window and a navigated imaging technique was also used pre- and post-SV in 4 eyes (DREAM OCT, Intalight, China).
Results : Post-SV, 93.75% of eyes experienced improvement in straylight measurements, 30% reduction in HD-analyser Objective Scattering Index, 58% reduction in LDA (p = 0.02) and 3% reduction in C-Quant log units. Both widefield SS-OCT technologies demonstrated the anatomical features of the pre-SV VFO, VRI/PVD status as well as the post-SV residual vitreous and VRI/PVD status (n=19 (100%)).
Conclusions : Selective Vitrectomy was effective in treating VFO. The SK-VFO Test showed post-SV resolution of VFO symptoms with resolution of VFO in UWF images and SS-OCT scans, improved visual function and improved light scatter results.
Navigated widefield SS-OCT is essential to assess pre- and post-SV VFO and vitreous characteristics. The new 200 KHz 26mm-long scan widefield SS-OCT technology, especially with a 12mm imaging window, allowed for significantly improved visualisation of the VFO, mid and cortical vitreous and VRI/PVD status pre- and post-SV.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024
Genome assembly of the rare and endangered Grantham’s camellia, Camellia granthamiana
Get PDFGrantham’s camellia (Camellia granthamiana Sealy) is a rare and endangered tea species discovered in Hong Kong in 1955 and endemic to southern China. Despite its high conservation
value, the genomic resources of C. granthamiana are limited. Here, we present a chromosomescale draft genome of the tetraploid C. granthamiana (2n = 4x = 60), combining PacBio long-read
sequencing and Omni-C data. The assembled genome size is ∼2.4 Gb, with most sequences anchored to 15 pseudochromosomes resembling a monoploid genome. The genome has high contiguity, with a scaffold N50 of 139.7 Mb, and high completeness (97.8% BUSCO score). Our gene
model prediction resulted in 68,032 protein-coding genes (BUSCO score of 90.9%). We annotated 1.65 Gb of repeat content (68.48% of the genome). Our Grantham’s camellia genome assembly is a valuable resource for investigating Grantham’s camellia’s biology, ecology, and phylogenomic
relationships with other Camellia species, and provides a foundation for further conservation measures
Insular varieties of English in Britain: Mersea Island
No full textMersea Island is a small island off the coast of north-east Essex, UK, which has a rich history of contact, ranging from Viking and Roman settlements to more modern influxes of evacuees and military personnel during both World Wars. The island itself also has a history of isolation, due to its only access road being cut off regularly by lunar tides. However, this isolation has been challenged over more recent years by various building projects, resulting in a large influx of non-islanders moving and settling on the island. This overview will present a range of phonological features across both the consonantal and vocalic systems of Mersea Island English as evidence from both older and younger Islanders to highlight traditional features and the direction of change within the community as a whole. A selection of morphosyntactic features which highlight more salient structures of Mersea Island English is then presented before a discussion of how we may wish to evaluate paths of change moving forward in relation to both socio-cultural and linguistic factor
Chromosome-level genome assembly of the common chiton, Liolophura japonica (Lischke, 1873)
Get PDFChitons (Polyplacophora) are marine molluscs that can be found worldwide from cold waters to the tropics, and play important ecological roles in the environment. However, only two chiton genomes have been sequenced to date. The chiton Liolophura japonica (Lischke, 1873) is one of the most abundant polyplacophorans found throughout East Asia. Our PacBio HiFi
reads and Omni-C sequencing data resulted in a high-quality near chromosome-level genome assembly of ∼609 Mb with a scaffold N50 length of 37.34 Mb (96.1% BUSCO). A total of 28,233 genes were predicted, including 28,010 protein-coding ones. The repeat content (27.89%) was similar to that of other Chitonidae species and approximately three times lower than that of the Hanleyidae chiton genome. The genomic resources provided by this work will help to expand our understanding of the evolution of molluscs and the ecological adaptation of chitons