Does "Enhanced Support" for Offenders Effectively Reduce Custodial Violence and Disruption? An Evaluation of the Enhanced Support Service Pilot.

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of The Enhanced Support Service (ESS) pilot in reducing custodial violence and disruption, and the associated costs, by observing the behavioural change of the 35 service users who participated in ESS intervention within its first 22 months of operation. Frequencies of recorded incidents of aggressive behaviours, self-harming behaviours, noncompliance, and positive behaviours were counted from routine administrative systems using a coding structure developed in previous studies. The count data were analysed using nonparametric tests and Poisson regression models to derive an Incident Rate Ratio (IRR). Findings suggest the ESS is associated with a reduction in aggressive behaviours and noncompliance, with medium to large effect sizes ( r = .31-.53); however, it was not associated with a reduction in deliberate self-harm or increased positive behaviours. The Poisson models revealed that levels of pre-intervention behaviour, intervention length, intervention completion, and service location had varying effects on postintervention behaviour, with those who completed intervention demonstrating more favourable outcomes. The ESS service model was associated with a reduction in behaviour that challenges, which has implications for the reduction in associated social, economic, and political costs-as well as the commissioning of interventions and future research in this area.

A multi-case report of acute renal failure in patients treated with Aggrenox.

BACKGROUND: Aggrenox is used in the secondary prevention of stroke. Acute renal failure, potentially associated with Aggrenox, has been observed in several patients. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine if Aggrenox was associated with acute renal failure and to determine whether it was acetylsalicylic acid, dipyridamole or the combination that led to decline in renal function. METHODS: A case series of three patients suffering severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, renal dysfunction and clinical decline during Aggrenox therapy was examined. Serum creatinine and Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) were measured to evaluate renal function. RESULTS: Analysis of this patient group revealed that Patient 1 experienced nausea, emesis, anorexia, diarrhea and significant clinical decline during treatment with Aggrenox. Patients 2 and 3 also presented with complaints of nausea and emesis. Lab measurements along with clinical symptoms indicated that all three patients experienced acute renal failure, having increases in serum creatinine of 186%, 144% and 249%, respectively. Symptoms and lab work returned to baseline following discontinuation of Aggrenox. CONCLUSION: It is biologically plausible that Aggrenox may contribute to renal dysfunction in patients under certain pathophysiological circumstances.