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.

Clinical features and natural history of neuroferritinopathy caused by the FTL1 460InsA mutation.

Abstract: Neuroferritinopathy is a progressive potentially treatable adult-onset movement disorder caused by mutations in the ferritin light chain gene (FTL1). Features overlap with common extrapyramidal disorders: idiopathic torsion dystonia, idiopathic Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease, but the phenotype and natural history have not been defined. We studied a genetically homogeneous group of 41 subjects with the 460InsA mutation in FTL1, documenting the presentation, clinical course, biochemistry and neuroimaging. The mean age of onset was 39.4 years (SD = 13.3, range 13-63), beginning with chorea in 50%, focal lower limb dystonia in 42.5% and parkinsonism in 7.5%. The majority reported a family history of a movement disorder often misdiagnosed as Huntington's disease. The disease progressed relentlessly, becoming generalized over a 5-10 year period, eventually leading to aphonia, dysphagia and severe motor disability with subcortical/frontal cognitive dysfunction as a late feature. A characteristic action-specific facial dystonia was common (65%), and in 63% there was asymmetry throughout the disease course. Serum ferritin levels were low in the majority of males and post-menopausal females, but within normal limits for pre-menopausal females. MR brain imaging was abnormal on all affected individuals and one presymptomatic carrier. In conclusion, isolated parkinsonism is unusual in neuroferritinopathy, and unlike Huntington's disease, cognitive changes are absent or subtle in the early stages. Depressed serum ferritin is common and provides a useful screening test in routine practice, and gradient echo brain MRI will identify all symptomatic cases.

Exploring the adoption of building information modelling (BIM) in the Malaysian construction industry : a qualitative approach

Abstract: The construction industry believes that Building In formation Modelling (BIM) is a platform that has th e potential to promote collaborative activities in the construction indust ry. Thus, clients are gradually enforcing the use o f BIM in their projects, resulting in many construction companies investing in BIM techno logy in order to fulfill clients' needs. Therefore, the goal of this study is to explore the process and the level of BIM implementa tion in the Malaysian construction industry. This s tudy was conducted as an exploratory study through literature review and int erviewing the organisations that have had BIM exper ience. The result reveals that Malaysian construction industry players are having difficulties to implement BIM because they do not k now where, when and how to start as there is no national BIM standard and guid eline for them to follow. Lack of government involv ement worsens the current situation besides having the resistance to change f rom people. To reduce the resistance from people, m ost of the companies came out with their own strategy such as developing new BIM unit, developing training and education program, ch anging management style and developing new roles and responsibilities. Thes e activities could facilitate people and the organi sations in adopting BIM because BIM is not only a technology but it is also involve d in changing the current practices and processes i ncluding changing managerial function and hierarchy, including roles and respons ibilities. Small to medium scale pilot projects can be described as the best practice to adopt BIM in reducing the risk when migrating fr om the traditional approach to a new approach. This study also identified that BIM Level in the Malaysian construction industry is between Level 0 and 1.

Delayed administration of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protects against transient cerebral ischaemia in the rat.

Abstract: The cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) has been implicated in ischaemic, excitotoxic and traumatic brain damage in rodents. The naturally occurring IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) markedly reduces neuronal injury in these conditions. However, the effects of IL-1ra on focal, transient cerebral ischaemia in the rat, which is of major clinical relevance, have not been reported. The objectives of this study were to test the effects of IL-1ra on cell death after temporary cerebral ischaemia, and to investigate the therapeutic time window for IL-1ra treatment. Ischaemia was induced by temporary (60 min) occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO) in rats, via surgical insertion (and subsequent removal) of a thread into the internal carotid artery. Damage was quantified at various times after MCAO to investigate the temporal progression of damage and establish an appropriate time to assess the effects of IL-1ra on cell death. Cell death was complete 18-24 h after temporary MCAO. Intracerebroventricular injection of IL-1ra (10 microg) at the time of MCAO and 60 min later reduced the lesion volume measured 24 h (57% reduction) or 48 h (52% reduction) after MCAO. Cell death was also significantly reduced when IL-1ra (20 microg) was administered as a single injection, 1 h (47%), 2 h (57%) or 3 h (46%) after MCAO, when compared to vehicle. These data show that IL-1ra markedly reduces cell death even when administration is delayed until 3 h after induction of reversible, focal cerebral ischaemia in the rat, and support our proposal that IL-1ra may be of therapeutic benefit in stroke.

Relationship between anxiety, depression, and morbidity in adult asthma patients

Abstract: BACKGROUND Symptoms of disease reported by patients reflect the effects of the disease process within the individual and the person9s physical and mental ability to tolerate or otherwise cope with the limitations on their functioning. This study examines the relationship between asthma symptoms, disease severity, and psychological status in patients being managed in routine primary healthcare settings. METHODS One hundred and fourteen subjects from four GP practices, two inner city and two suburban, were studied. Symptoms were assessed by means of the Asthma Quality of Life questionnaire (AQLQ) and a locally devised Q score, and psychological status with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale. Spirometric values and details of current asthma treatment (BTS asthma guidelines treatment step) were recorded as markers of asthma severity. RESULTS Symptoms as measured by AQLQ correlated with peak expiratory flow ( r S = 0.40) and with BTS guidelines treatment step ( r S = 0.25). Similarly, the Q score correlated with peak expiratory flow ( r S = 0.44) and with BTS guidelines treatment step ( r S = 0.42). Similar levels of correlation of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) with symptoms were reported. HAD anxiety and depression scores also correlated to a similar extent with these two symptom scores, but there was hardly any correlation with lung function. Logistic regression analysis showed that HAD scores help to explain symptom scores over and above the effects of lung function and BTS guidelines treatment step. Symptoms, depression, and anxiety were higher for inner city patients while little difference was observed in objective measures of asthma. CONCLUSIONS Asthma guidelines suggest that changing levels of symptoms should be used to monitor the effectiveness of treatment. These data suggest that reported symptoms may be misleading and unreliable because they may reflect non-asthma factors that cannot be expected to respond to changes in asthma treatment.