Airedale NHS Foundation Trust

About: Airedale NHS Foundation Trust is a healthcare organization based out in Keighley, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Acupuncture & Cancer. The organization has 84 authors who have published 103 publications receiving 3038 citations. The organization is also known as: Airedale NHS Trust & Airedale National Health Service Trust.

Raman spectroscopy of biological tissues

Abstract: This article reviews some of the recent advances in Raman spectroscopy, in areas related to natural tissues and cell biology. It summarizes some of the most widely used peak frequencies and their assignments. The aim of this study is to prepare a database of molecular fingerprints, which will help researchers in defining the chemical structure of the biological tissues introducing most of the important peaks present in the natural tissues. In spite of applying different methods, there seems to be a considerable similarity in defining the peaks of identical areas of the spectra. As a result, it is believed that preparing a unique collection of the frequencies encountered in Raman spectroscopic studies can lead to significant improvements both in the quantity and quality of spectral data and their outcomes. This article is the first review of its kind to provide a precise database on the most important Raman characteristic peak frequencies for researchers aiming to analyze natural tissues by Raman ...

Advances in Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of biological tissues

Abstract: This article reviews some of the recent advances on FTIR spectroscopy in areas related to natural tissues and cell biology. It is an update on our previously published review on the applications of...

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for acute pain.

Abstract: Background: This is an updated version of the original Cochrane review published in Issue 2, 2009. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is a non-pharmacological agent, based on delivering low voltage electrical currents to the skin. TENS is used for the treatment of a variety of pain conditions. Objectives: To assess the analgesic effectiveness of TENS for acute pain in adults to see if it had any analgesic effect in its own right. Search methods: The following databases were searched: Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive CareGroup Specialised Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CENTRAL (in The Cochrane Library); MEDLINE; EMBASE; CINAHL; AMED; PEDro; OTseeker; OpenSIGLE; and, reference lists of included studies. The most recent search was undertaken on January 7th 2011. Selection criteria: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of adults with acute pain (less than 12 weeks) were included if they examined TENS given as a sole treatment and assessed pain with subjective pain scales. Studies were eligible if they compared TENS to placebo TENS, notreatment controls, pharmacological interventions or non-pharmacological interventions. Studies on experimental pain, case reports, clinical observations, letters, abstracts or reviews were excluded. Studies on TENS and labour pain, pain due to dental procedures and primary dysmenorrhoea were excluded. Studies where TENS was given with another treatment as part of the formal study design were also excluded. No restrictions were made regarding language. Data collection and analysis: Two review authors independently assessed study eligibility and extracted data.Datawere extracted on the following: types of participants and pain condition, study design and methods, treatment parameters, adverse effects, and outcome measures. Study authors were contacted for additional information if necessary. Main results: No new included studies were included in this update, however, two new studies are awaiting classification. Of 1775 studies identified in the search, 163 were identified as relevant. Of these, 145 were excluded; the vast majority of these were excluded due to TENS being given with another treatment. Six studies were categorised as awaiting classification as the information provided in the full text failed to clarify their eligibility. Twelve RCTs involving 919 participants at entry were included. The types of acute pain conditions included procedural pain, e.g. cervical laser treatment, venipuncture, screening flexible sigmoidoscopy and non-procedural pain, e.g. postpartum uterine contractions, rib fractures. It was not possible to perform a meta-analysis due to insufficient data. Authors’ conclusions: There are no changes to the conclusions since the original version of the review was published in issue 2, 2009. Due to insufficient extractable data in the studies included in this review, we are unable to make any definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of TENS as an isolated treatment for acute pain in adults.Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for acute pain (Review) Copyright © 2011 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by JohnWiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effect of a patient blood management programme on preoperative anaemia, transfusion rate, and outcome after primary hip or knee arthroplasty: a quality improvement cycle.

Abstract: Methods. We retrospectively audited 717 primary hip or knee arthroplasties in a UK general hospital and conducted regression analyses to identify outcome predictors. We used these data to modify previously published algorithms for UK practice and audited its introduction prospectively. The retrospective audit group served as a control. Results. Preoperative haemoglobin (Hb) concentration predicted ABT (odds ratio 0.25 per 1 g dl 21 , P,0.001). It also predicted the length of stay (LOS, effect size 2 0.7 days per 1gd l 21 , P¼0.004) independently of ABT, including in non-anaemic patients. Patient blood management implementation was associated with lower ABT rates for hip (23–7%, P,0.001) and knee (7– 0%, P¼0.001) arthroplasty. LOS for total hip replacement and total knee replacement decreased from 6 (5–8) days to 5 (3–7) and 4 (3–6) days, respectively, after algorithm implementation (P,0.001). The all-cause re-admission rate within 90 days decreased from 13.5% (97/717) before to 8.2% (23/281) after algorithm implementation (P¼0.02).

Acupuncture for cancer pain in adults

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Forty percent of individuals with early or intermediate stage cancer and 90% with advanced cancer have moderate to severe pain and up to 70% of patients with cancer pain do not receive adequate pain relief. It has been claimed that acupuncture has a role in management of cancer pain and guidelines exist for treatment of cancer pain with acupuncture. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate efficacy of acupuncture for relief of cancer-related pain in adults. SEARCH STRATEGY: CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, AMED, and SPORTDiscus were searched up to November 2010 including non-English language papers. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating any type of invasive acupuncture for pain directly related to cancer in adults of 18 years or over. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: It was planned to pool data to provide an overall measure of effect and to calculate the number needed to treat to benefit, but this was not possible due to heterogeneity. Two review authors (CP, OT) independently extracted data adding it to data extraction sheets. Quality scores were given to studies. Data sheets were compared and discussed with a third review author (MJ) who acted as arbiter. Data analysis was conducted by CP, OT and MJ. MAIN RESULTS: Three RCTs (204 participants) were included. One high quality study investigated the effect of auricular acupuncture compared with auricular acupuncture at 'placebo' points and with non-invasive vaccaria ear seeds attached at 'placebo' points. Participants in two acupuncture groups were blinded but blinding wasn't possible in the ear seeds group because seeds were attached using tape. This may have biased results in favour of acupuncture groups. Participants in the real acupuncture group had lower pain scores at two month follow-up than either the placebo or ear seeds group.There was high risk of bias in two studies because of low methodological quality. One study comparing acupuncture with medication concluded that both methods were effective in controlling pain, although acupuncture was the most effective. The second study compared acupuncture, point-injection and medication in participants with stomach cancer. Long-term pain relief was reported for both acupuncture and point-injection compared with medication during the last 10 days of treatment. Although both studies have positive results in favour of acupuncture they should be viewed with caution due to methodological limitations, small sample sizes, poor reporting and inadequate analysis. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is insufficient evidence to judge whether acupuncture is effective in treating cancer pain in adults.