HON is conducting a study on Internet use for health/medical purposes
From July 1-31, HON is inviting individuals and medical professionals to take part
in its Summer 2010 survey, which focuses on how the Internet is being used for health
and medical purposes. It includes questions on how one typically searches the Internet
for disease information, how one places importance on various health website characteristics,
and how one typically behaves when faced with situations involving the Internet
and health information.
Do you spend several hours a day caring for an adult aged 18-65 years old with encephalitis?
Would you like to influence change in services that allow carers to take a break?
If the answer to both of these questions is "yes" then we would like to hear from
you. We are a team at King's College London and have been commissioned by the Department
of health to find out about carers need for and experience of replacement care services
(also known as respite care). We would like carers to complete a survey to help
us do this. If you are interested further details are available: -
Further Details
Or else please contact David Williams on 020-7848-5418 or email David Williams
or write to (there is no need to use a stamp):
Freepost RRLJ-JXEA-HYAS,
LTNC Care Study,
King’s College London
Palliative Care, Policy, and Rehabilitation,
Weston Education Centre,
Cutcombe Road,
London, SE5 9RJ
Encephalitis Diagnostic and Management Algorithm
This is an exciting development led by Professor Tom Solomon and the Liverpool Brain Infections Group and supported by the Encephalitis
Society, as well as the Association of British Neurologists and the British Infection
Society.
The Liverpool Group have created a Guideline Development Group consisting of Paediatric
and Adult consultants and clinicians. The Society is represented on the Group by
our Development Manager, Ava Easton.
The aim is to produce a set of adult and paediatric guidelines in parallel which
will improve the management of patients with suspected viral encephalitis (adults
and children.). The intention is that these guidelines would have endorsement of
appropriate Professional Bodies (adult and paediatric). The Group is in the process
of getting approval for their development from key stakeholders such as the Royal
College of Paediatrics and Child Health (or the British Paediatric Neurological
Association).
Currently a local algorithm and guidelines are being used by some hospitals in the
North West. The Guideline Development Group is producing a National Algorithm and
guidelines to be rolled out on a National Scale. The Society will be heavily involved
in these later stages and it is through the generosity of one member in particular
that we have been able to provide support for the development of these guidelines.
The Group aims to produce:
- an A4 sided poster, supported by a review type article that explains in brief the
process of the guidelines development, and provides key supporting evidence.
- a single poster for adults.
- a single poster for children older than one month. Neonates (ie children younger
than 1 month) will not be considered here.
- educational posters and powerpoint presentations to help inform people about the
guidelines (tools for application)
- an audit tool for people to determine whether the guidelines are being implement
The Group intends that the guidelines will be reviewed and updated every 3 to 5
years.
Read the current
diagnositic and management algorithm
Progress with
development of the National Guidelines
The Society firmly believes this algorithm will not only SAVE LIVES (reduce mortality)
but that it can reduce the level and state of disease and disability (morbidity)
following Encephalitis.
Read the original article
Viral encephalitis: a clinicians's guide
If you would like to make a financial contribution to this project and help the
society save lives then please contact Ava Easton
Are you aged between 16 and 25? Did you contract encephalitis before you were 16?
Trust-Ed is looking into setting up a new school specifically for children who have
suffered acquired brain injury, and would very much appreciate your help with answers
to the following questions. The information you provided will purely be used for
purposes of advising the charity. Please do not make any mark on the questionnaire
that might identify you. If you have further enquiry or would like to be kept informed
of the decision regarding the setting up of a new school, please do not hesitate
to contact us.
Questionaire
Contact Us
A research study of memory and language impairments in herpes encephalitis
We would like to enquire whether you would take part in a research study that examines
how you understand and use your language and memory abilities. Before you decide
if you want to take part, it is important for you to understand why the research
is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read the following information
carefully. Ask us if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more
information. Take time to decide whether or not you wish to take part.
Purpose of this study
The main aim of this study is to examine how language and semantic memory is stored
and processed in the brain. Semantic memory is that part of your memory system which
allows you hold on to and later recall different types of information about the
world around you (for example, the names of different animals or household objects).
By observing the kinds of language and memory difficulties you may have, we hope
to be able to increase our understanding of the way language and memory is organised
in the brain.
What we will ask you to do
We will measure memory and language by using psychological tests like ones you may
have performed in the past. Sometimes the tests will be quite short (about 5 or
10 minutes), and sometimes the tests may be longer (up to an hour). The tests involve
doing some very simple tasks. For example, you may be asked to answer some memory
questions, to read or repeat words, or name pictures. Your performance on these
tasks can help us work out why you find some kinds of material more difficult than
others. We would like to run the tests on a number of occasions, each separated
by 6-8 months. If you have any questions about what the test session involves, we
will be happy to answer them before you agree to take part.
In addition to these tests, we would like you to undergo an MRI scan. MRI stands
for “Magnetic Resonance Imaging”. It involves lying still in a tube-like
enclosure for 20 minutes to half an hour while an image of your brain is produced.
It enables us to understand your performance on the psychological tests in the context
of any physical differences which may exist between your brain and that of other
people. This, in turn, helps us to clarify the way in which language and memory
operate in the brain. The procedure does not involve the administration of any radioactive
substance, but works by applying a magnetic field around your head. MRI scans are
a non-invasive procedure and are considered to be very safe. There will be an opportunity
to learn more about the procedure prior to day of scanning, and you will be able
to raise any concerns with a qualified radiographer or clinician on the day itself.
If you prefer not to have the scan, you may withdraw at any time without having
to give a reason.
What we will not ask you to do
You will not need to change any aspect of your lifestyle if you agree to take part,
and we will not ask you to take any additional medication.
What are the benefits in taking part?
Although there will be little personal benefit in taking part, we hope that what
we find will be of interest and assistance to people with memory or language problems
in general. We still have a lot to learn about how we comprehend and hold on to
information about the world around us and we believe that your participation in
our research will enable us to address these issues.
Confidentiality
Under no circumstances will your name or personal details be passed on to anybody
outside of out research group (the Centre for Speech, Language and the Brain), without
your permission.
What happens to the data we collect from you?
We plan to publish our findings in academic journals and we may also present our
findings at conferences. Wherever our findings are presented, we will never disclose
your name or any other personal details.
Who is organising and funding the research
This research is being carried out by staff in the Centre for Speech, Language and
the Brain at the Department of Experimental Psychology, Cambridge University, under
the supervision of Professor Lorraine Tyler. It is funded by the Medical Research
Council.
Contact details
You may contact Mrs Marie Dixon during office hours on 01223 766458, by fax on 01223
766452 or by email at research@csl.psychol.cam.ac.uk to discuss any aspect of the
study. Please send any written enquiries to Mrs Marie Dixon, Department of Experimental
Psychology, University of Cambridge , Downing Street , Cambridge CB2 3EB .
Thanks in advance for your participation, should you agree to take part.
Professor Lorraine K Tyler
CNS Inflammatory Demyelination
- Surveillance commences in September 2009 for a period of 13 months
- Aims: To dertermine incidence of the condition; to report clinical features and
distribution; and to monitor short term outcomes
- Funded: Multiple Sclerosis Society and Action Medical Research Charities
- Ethics approval. Black Country Research Ethics Committee (09/H1202/92) and NIGB
Ethics and Confidentiality Committee approvals ( ECC/BPSU 4-03 [FT1] /2009
- Lead investigator: Dr Michael Absoud
- Project supervisors: Dr Evangeline Wassmer and Dr Carole Cummins
- Email:
Michael Absoud
Aetiology of encephalitis in England: a multi-centre prospective study
In most cases both in this country and overseas, the cause of encephalitis is never
found and this makes it impossible to devise new treatments or develop preventative
strategies. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is now embarking on a study of encephalitis
to improve the number of people who are diagnosed.
The outline protocol for the study was drafted with help from the Encephalitis Society
and the study is being led by Dr. Natasha Crowcroft, Consultant Epidemiologist,
who is a member of the Encephalitis Society Clinical Advisory Panel. The aim is
to improve the ability to diagnose the cause of encephalitis, to discover new causes
and to learn more about how patients are affected by the condition. It also aims
to reduce the current level of 2/3 of patients for whom a cause is never found for
their illness. They will also store patients’ samples for future use when
new diagnostic procedures become available or new causative agents are discovered.”
Natasha said, “Extensive testing, including innovative techniques for new
pathogen discovery will be carried out at the national HPA reference laboratories
and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery to complement local routine
tests in ensuring comprehensive investigation.”
Patients will be recruited over a 2 year period from 18 participating hospitals
located in three geographical clusters in the North West and South West of England
and in London. The study has already started in the South West region.
The study’s findings will aid the development of a standard diagnostic algorithm
for the diagnosis of encephalitis.
The study’s findings will aid the development of a standard diagnostic algorithm
for the diagnosis of encephalitis. Detailed assessment of risk factors and outcome
will also be carried out, so that patients and their families and friends can be
given better information about the disease. The HPA is carrying out the study in
partnership with the NHS and with the support and involvement of the Encephalitis
Society and the Clinical Virology Network.
For more information go to
www.hpa.org.uk/
British Paediatric Surveillance Unit
CNS Inflammatory Demyelination Study
Aims: To dertermine incidence of the condition; to report clinical features and distribution; and to monitor short term outcomes
British Paediatric Surveillance Unit
Last modified: October 2009