Coventry University

About: Coventry University is a education organization based out in Coventry, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Context (language use) & Population. The organization has 4964 authors who have published 12700 publications receiving 255898 citations. The organization is also known as: Lanchester Polytechnic & Coventry Polytechnic.

Laxatives or methylnaltrexone for the management of constipation in palliative care patients

Abstract: Background: Constipation is common in palliative care; it can generate considerable suffering due to the unpleasant physical symptoms. In the first Cochrane Review on effectiveness of laxatives for the management of constipation in palliative care patients, published in 2006, no conclusions could be drawn because of the limited number of evaluations. This article describes the first update of this review. / Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of laxatives or methylnaltrexone for the management of constipation in palliative care patients. / Search methods: We searched databases including MEDLINE and CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library) in 2005 and in the update to August 2010. / Selection criteria: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating laxatives for constipation in palliative care patients. In the update we also included RCTs on subcutaneous methylnaltrexone; an opioid-receptor antagonist that is now licensed for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in palliative care when response to usual laxative therapy is insufficient. / Data collection and analysis: Two authors assessed trial quality and extracted data. The appropriateness of combining data from the studies depended upon clinical and outcome measure homogeneity. / Main results: We included seven studies involving 616 participants; all under-reported methodological features. In four studies the laxatives lactulose, senna, co-danthramer, misrakasneham, and magnesium hydroxide with liquid paraffin were evaluated. In three methylnaltrexone. In studies comparing the different laxatives evidence was inconclusive. Evidence on subcutaneous methylnaltrexone was clearer; in combined analysis (287 participants) methylnaltrexone, in comparison with a placebo, significantly induced laxation at 4 hours (odds ratio 6.95; 95% confidence interval 3.83 to 12.61). In combined analyses there was no difference in the proportion experiencing side effects, although participants on methylnaltrexone suffered more flatulence and dizziness. No evidence of opioid withdrawal was found. In one study severe adverse events, commonly abdominal pain, were reported that were possibly related to methylnaltrexone. A serious adverse event considered to be related to the methylnaltrexone also occurred; this involved a participant having severe diarrhoea, subsequent dehydration and cardiovascular collapse. / Authors' conclusions: The 2010 update found evidence on laxatives for management of constipation remains limited due to insufficient RCTs. However, the conclusions of this update have changed since the original review publication in that it now includes evidence on methylnaltrexone. Here it found that subcutaneous methylnaltrexone is effective in inducing laxation in palliative care patients with opioid-induced constipation and where conventional laxatives have failed. However, the safety of this product is not fully evaluated. Large, rigorous, independent trials are needed.

Deposition of anatase on the surface of activated carbon

Abstract: As part of a program looking into utilization of activated carbon prepared from waste material, titanium dioxide was deposited on the surface of active carbon (AC). This will be used in future work as potential photo-catalyst for treatment of chlorinated phenols in aqueous medium. Three different techniques were used: chemical vapour deposition (CVD), direct air-hydrolysis (DAH) and high-temperature impregnation (HTI) techniques. The total TiO2 deposited and amount crystallized into anatase TiO2 by each technique is estimated. The pre-sonication was found useful in introducing part of the hydrolysis step within the small pores. The effect of each deposition procedure on surface area, porosity and thermal stability of the sample was studied by nitrogen adsorption, mercury intrusion, methylene blue (MB) adsorption and thermal gravimetric analysis. Surface texture of the potential catalysts was studied by electron microscopic techniques. Results showed that different procedures gave different yields of total and anatase TiO2. On the other hand, there was significant reduction, which may be due to TiO2 deposition, in porosity and surface area. The reduction in MB adsorption was proportional to anatase TiO2 but not to the total TiO2 deposited. Chemical vapour deposition gave more anatase TiO2 than the direct air-hydrolysis technique, which is thought to form the deposit within the micro-meso pores, and caused more porosity-surface area reduction. It is thought that TiO2 particles inside the pores have more opportunity to crystallize into the anatase form. The deposited layer of TiO2 apparently catalyzed slight weight loss at low temperatures but generally gave more thermal stability for the support. Non-activated carbon (C) was used and its thermal stability, porosity and surface area were not affected by TiO2 deposition. The deposition, in non-activated carbon, is thought to occur on external surface, which may be due to absence of large micropores.

Do Marketers Use Visual Representations of Destinations That Tourists Value? Comparing Visitors’ Image of a Destination with Marketer-Controlled Images Online

Abstract: The study explores visitors’ image of a destination using online visitor-generated photography and compares the findings with images of the same destination that marketers create and control on the Internet. The two studies are conducted with Taiwan as the context-destination. Online visitor-generated photography yielded more than 100 photographs from visitors to Taiwan, and indicates that visitors’ holistic image encompasses notions of Taiwanese uniqueness, ancientness, and authenticity through their perceptions of the natural landscapes, traditional local cuisine, and culture. The second study yielded 1,526 visual image representations of Taiwan collected from a variety of website sources, and findings highlight the disparities between the holistic image construed by visitors to Taiwan and the image created by marketers on the Internet. The findings yield important implications for the effective positioning and promotion of tourism destinations as managers should consider visitors’ holistic images in th...

Social marketing transformed: Kotler, Polonsky and Hastings reflect on social marketing in a period of social change

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of the editorial is to accompany this special issue on “Social marketing: social change”. Design/methodology/approach – The editorial presents three invited reflections by Philip Kotler, Michael Polonsky and Gerard Hastings. It also discusses the articles in this special issue. Findings – Overall, the contributed papers demonstrate that there are many layers to social marketing. Originality/value – The articles featured in this special issue help to advance social marketing theory as well as offer valuable implications and recommendations for managers, practitioners and policymakers.