University of Salford

About: University of Salford is a education organization based out in Salford, Manchester, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Thin film. The organization has 13049 authors who have published 22957 publications receiving 537330 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Salford Manchester & The University of Salford Manchester.

Assessing the functional value of relatives' knowledge about schizophrenia: a preliminary report.

Abstract: An instrument for assessing and evaluating what relatives know about schizophrenia was evaluated as both a pre- and a post-test for an educational programme. The Knowledge About Schizophrenia Interview (KASI) places emphasis on the functional value of the reported knowledge rather than on the recall of information; it is quick, easy to administer, can be rated reliably, and has face-validity for the relative. The educational programme increased scores from pre-test to a post-test one week after the programme. Relatives with high criticism ratings on the Camberwell Family Interview had lower scores at both tests. Relatives of less chronic patients showed lower scores at pre-test and acquired significantly more information from the programme, while relatives of more chronic patients were less influenced by the information sessions.

Measurement of single kidney function using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI: comparison of two models in human subjects.

Abstract: Purpose To compare two methods for assessing the single kidney glomerular filtration rate (SK-GFR) in humans using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI. Materials and Methods Images were acquired from 39 separate MR studies of patients with atherosclerotic renovascular disease (ARVD). Data from the kidneys and descending aorta were analyzed using both a Rutland-Patlak plot and a compartmental model. MR estimates of the SK-GFR were compared with standard radioisotope measures in a total of 75 kidneys. Results Estimates of renal function using both techniques correlated well with radioisotope-assessed SK-GFR (Spearman's ρ = 0.81, Rutland-Patlak; ρ = 0.71, compartmental model). The Rutland-Patlak approach provided a near one-to-one correspondence, while the compartmental method tended to overestimate SK-GFR. However, the compartmental model fits to the experimental data were significantly better than those obtained using the Rutland-Patlak approach. Conclusion DCE-MRI of the kidneys provides data that correlate well with reference measures of SK-GFR. However, further work, including image registration, is needed to isolate measurement of glomerular filtration to the level of the renal cortex. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Alcohol consumption and psychological distress in patients with psoriasis.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Psoriasis has been associated with excessive alcohol consumption and psychological distress. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the level of alcohol use in a psoriasis population and to determine whether alcohol consumption is linked to psychological distress in patients with psoriasis. METHODS: Ninety-five patients with chronic plaque psoriasis completed validated questionnaires designed to assess psychological distress, current and past alcohol consumption and self-reported physical severity of psoriasis. RESULTS: Using different measures of alcohol consumption, between 17% and 30% of patients were classified as having difficulties with alcohol. Thirteen per cent and 18% of patients with psoriasis believed that they had a current or past drinking problem, respectively. There was a modest but significant association between levels of anxiety and depression and weekly alcohol consumption (r = 0.29, P < 0.01 and r = 0.24, P = 0.03, respectively). Those patients who believed that they had an alcohol problem had higher levels of anxiety (P = 0.03), depression (P < 0.01) and psoriasis-associated disability (P = 0.04). There was a modest but significant association between physical severity of psoriasis and weekly alcohol consumption (r = 0.27, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: A significant minority of patients with psoriasis consumes excessive alcohol. Patients with psoriasis should be assessed for excessive alcohol use and appropriate interventions initiated. Further studies are required to investigate whether such interventions are effective in combating alcohol abuse and in improving the psychological and physical aspects of psoriasis.

Grains of truth: evolutionary changes in small intestinal mucosa in response to environmental antigen challenge.

Abstract: Clinical Sciences Building, Hope Hospital, Eccles Old Road, Salford M6 8HD Michael Marsh Reader in Medicine University of Manchester I had been struck by Booth's chapter in the first series volume of Recent advances in gastroenterology, entitled Physiopathology of intestinal malabsorption,' in which he focussed on the striking differences between 'flat' and 'convoluted' coeliac mucosae as had been recently revealed through the 'dissecting' microscope. Importantly, the question arose as to whether each type of surface structure could be inter-related and hence part of the same pathological process. What was needed was some other technique endowed with high resolving power to show that these stages were distinctive, yet progressive, phases in the natural evolution of the coeliac lesion. Fortunately, the necessary technique for tackling this problem came with the introduction of the first commercial scanning electron microscope by Cambridge (Scientific) Instruments.2 The rest was easy. Nevertheless, at the time, I had no premonition that within a few years I should be asked by the editors to contribute,3 in the second volume of Recent advances, some of the findings that had arisen from my research with Chris (Fig 1). Despite such successes, particularly at a time when the scanning electron microscope had hardly realised its full potential