University of Bedfordshire

About: University of Bedfordshire is a education organization based out in Luton, Bedford, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 3860 authors who have published 6079 publications receiving 143448 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Luton.

Development and validation of a standardized protocol to monitor human dietary exposure by metabolite fingerprinting of urine samples.

Abstract: Conventional tools for measuring dietary exposure have well recognized limitations. Measurement of food-derived metabolites in biofluids provides an alternative approach and our aim was to develop an experimental protocol which ensures that extraneous variability does not obscure metabolic signals from ingested foods. Healthy adults consumed a standardized meal in the evening before each test day and collected pooled overnight urine. On each test day of three different studies, urine was collected in the fasted state and at different time points after consumption of a standardized breakfast. Metabolite fingerprinting of samples using Flow Infusion Electrospray-Ionization Mass Spectrometry followed by multivariate data analysis showed strong discrimination between overnight, fasting and postprandial samples, in each study separately and when data from the three studies were pooled. Such differences were robust and highly reproducible within individuals on separate occasions. Urine volume was an efficient data normalization factor for metabolite fingerprinting data. Postprandial urines had a stable chemical composition over a period of 2–4 h after eating a standardized breakfast, suggesting that there is a flexible time window for urine collection. Fasting urine samples provided a stable baseline for universal comparisons with postprandial samples. A dietary exposure biomarker discovery protocol was validated by demonstrating that top-ranked signals discriminating between fasting and 2–4 h postprandial urine samples could be linked to metabolites abundant in some components of the standardized breakfast. We conclude that the protocol developed will have value in the search for biomarker leads of dietary exposure.

The impact of social prescribing services on service users: a systematic review of the evidence

Abstract: Background Social prescribing initiatives are widely implemented in the UK National Health Service to integrate health and social care. Social prescribing is a service in primary care that links patients with non-medical needs to sources of support provided by the community and voluntary sector to help improve their health and wellbeing. Such programmes usually include navigators, who work with referred patients and issue onward referrals to sources of non-medical support. This systematic review aimed to assess the evidence of service user outcomes of social prescribing programmes based on primary care and involving navigators. Methods We searched 11 databases, the grey literature, and the reference lists of relevant studies to identify the available evidence on the impact of social prescribing on service users. Searches were limited to literature written in English. No date restrictions were applied, and searches were conducted to June 2018. Findings were synthesized narratively, employing thematic analysis. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool Version 2011 was used to evaluate the methodological quality of included studies. Results Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The evidence base is mixed, some studies found improvements in health and wellbeing, health-related behaviours, self-concepts, feelings, social contacts and day-to-day functioning post-social prescribing, whereas others have not. The review also shows that the evaluation methodologies utilized were variable in quality. Conclusion In order to assess the success of social prescribing services, more high quality and comparable evaluations need to be conducted in the future.International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews number: CRD42017079664.

Impact of Community Pharmacy Diabetes Monitoring and Education Programme on Diabetes Management: A Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract: Objectives: To evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-led patient education and diabetes monitoring program on HbA1c and other cardiovascular risk factors in the community setting. Materials and methods: Patients with Type 2 diabetes (n=46) attending two community pharmacies in Hertfordshire, UK were randomized to one of two groups. The 'intervention' group (n=23) received a program of education about diabetes, its treatment and associated cardiovascular risk factors. They were seen for monitoring/counselling by community pharmacist on 6 occasions over a 12-month period. Measures included HbA1c, BMI, BP, blood glucose and lipid profile. The 'control' group (n=23) underwent these measurements at baseline and at 12 months only, without specific counselling or education over and above usual care. Results: HbA1c fell from 8.2% (65.55 mmol/mol) to 6.6% (48.73 mmol/mol) (p<0.001) in the intervention group, compared with a fall from 8.1% (64.54 mmol/mol) to 7.5% (58.76 mmol/mol) in the control group (p=0.03). BP fell from 146/87 mmHg to 126/81 mmHg in the intervention group (p=0.01) compared with no significant change in the control group (136/86 mmHg to 139/82 mmHg). Significant reductions in BMI (30.8 kg/m2 to 27 kg/m2, p<0.001) and blood glucose (8.8 mmol/l to 6.9 mmol/l, p<0.001) were also observed in the intervention group as compared to no significant changes in the control group. Lipid profile changes were mixed. In the intervention group, improvements were seen in diabetes-related quality of life (p=0.001), diabetes knowledge (p=0.018), belief about the need for medication (p=0.004) and a reduced concern regarding their medication (p<0.001). Conclusion: Education and counselling by community pharmacists can result in favourable improvements to cardiovascular risk profile of patients with Type 2 diabetes.

The impact of indigenous soil and water conservation practices on soil productivity: examples from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda

Abstract: Farmers in many parts of Africa use indigenous soil and water conserving (ISWC) practices as an integral part of their farming systems. Farmers have developed such methods which have maintained productivity and contributed to long-term sustainability, while introduced measures have often been rejected or simply failed to achieve their technical objectives. This paper examines the strengths and weaknesses of some ISWC practices in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. An evaluation has been carried out based on farmers' evaluation criteria as well as criteria identified by researchers. Farmers' criteria are often based on the quality of their natural resources (farmers are more likely to conserve those soils that will give the highest return on their investment), the resource level of the household (particularly income levels and labour availability), cropping intensity as well as cultural traditions related to age, education and gender. Of great importance, however, is the need to maintain or increase soil productivity. Methods that conserve moisture, reduce soil erosion, maintain soil fertility and increase productivity, which are socially acceptable and economically viable, are those which farmers favour. ISWC practices often have these qualities but farmers have not always been able to adjust the techniques to rapid changes in farming systems and increasing intensity of land use. Soil productivity and economic modelling indicate that although yields declines are lower when traditional technologies are used, long-term productivity remains a problem. There is an urgent need to work closely with farmers to improve and develop traditional SWC techniques. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Exploring the commercial value of social networks: Enhancing consumers’ brand experience through Facebook pages

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the factors which impact upon the consumers’ willingness to utilise company Facebook pages and e-word-of mouth by proposing and testing a conceptual framework which is inspired by theories in marketing and information systems fields. The authors believe that only by applying both theories will provide a more complete understanding of the relationship between brand experience and Facebook. The research model attempts to illustrate the factors according to customers’ intrinsic and extrinsic motivations and their impact on brand experience, brand Facebook page loyalty and e-word-of-mouth (E-WOM). Design/methodology/approach – The authors adopted an online survey method for data collection. The subjects the authors used were Facebook users. The data were collected in Taiwan over spring 2011. The authors then used the structural equation model to analyse the data collected. Findings – The findings suggest that users are influenced by the technical characteri...