Digital Commons Network^™

Lowering The Risk Of Spreading Hiv Among Heterosexual Men In Africa, Richard Wamai

Richard G. Wamai

No abstract provided.

Linnaeus Turns 300... Carl Linnaeus, Hans Wohlmuth

Dr Hans Wohlmuth

The article highlights the celebration of the 300th birthday of Carl Linnaeus, or Carl von Linne (as he is known in Scandinavi). Three centuries after his birth Linnaeus remains among the most famous and influential Swedes of all time, indeed his fame as a naturalist is eclipsed only by the great Charles Darwin (1809-1882).

Median Lethal Dose, Antimalarial Activity, Phytochemical Screening And Radical Scavenging Of Methanolic Languas Galanga Rhizome Extract, Hesham Al-Mekhlafi

Hesham M Al-Mekhlafi

The methanolic extract of Languas galanga rhizomes was investigated for antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei (NK65) infections in mice. The median lethal dose was determined to ascertain the safety of the extract in ICR mice of both sexes. The antimalarial activities during early and established infections, as well as the prophylactic activity were evaluated. Phytochemical screening and radical scavenging activity of the extract were also investigated to elucidate the possible mechanism of the antimalarial properties. The acute oral toxicity (LD(50)) of Languas galanga extract in mice was established to be 4,998 mg/kg. The extract of Languas galanga rhizomes demonstrated significant …

Comparison Of 1-Year Survival And Heart Rate Variability In Acute Coronary Syndrome. [Abstract], Patricia R.E. Harris, Phyllis K. Stein, Barbara J. Drew

Patricia Harris

Research Presentation: Simulation And Oncology Nursing Chemotherapy Competence For Undergraduate Nursing Students, Luanne Linnard-Palmer

Luanne Linnard-Palmer

Adrenal Exhaustion, Tini Gruner

Dr Tini M Gruner

No abstract provided.

Non-Syndromic Cleft Lip And Palate: Could Stress Be A Causal Factor?, Graeme Wallace, Jacinta Arellano, Tini Gruner

Dr Tini M Gruner

The aetiology of non-syndromic cleft lip and palate has as yet not been clearly defined. Familial relationships, environmental toxins and nutritional status have all been considered without conclusive results, although in some studies a potential link between non-syndromic cleft lip and palate and any one or more of these factors has been proposed. Elevated stress, particularly an extended term of traumatic stress, can lead to oxidative damage at the cellular level via hypothalmus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, high cortisol and cytokine production. The effect of this hormonal shift is to re-direct the blood supply to the mother's muscles, thereby reducing the …

Diabetes Type 2, Tini Gruner

Dr Tini M Gruner

No abstract provided.

Thyroid Abnormalities, Tini Gruner

Dr Tini M Gruner

No abstract provided.

Diarylheptanoid From Pleuranthodium Racemigerum With In Vitro Prostaglandin E2 Inhibitory And Cytotoxic Activity, Hans Wohlmuth, Myrna Deseo, Don Brushett, Dion Thompson, Graham Macfarlane, Lesley Stevenson, David Leach

Dr Hans Wohlmuth

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of an ethanolic extract of the rhizome of Pleuranthodium racemigerum, a tropical Zingiberaceae species from North-eastern Australia, resulted in the isolation and structural elucidation of 1-(4″-methoxyphenyl)-7-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-(E)-hept-2-ene (1), a new diarylheptanoid related to curcumin. Compound 1 was a fairly potent inhibitor of prostaglandin E2 production in 3T3 murine fibroblasts (IC50 ≈ 34 μM) and also displayed moderate cytotoxicity against this cell line (IC50 = 52.8 μM). The compound also demonstrated cytotoxic activity against the P388D1 murine lymphoblast cell line (IC50 = 117.0 μM) and four human cell lines: Caco-2 colonic adenocarcinoma (IC50 = 44.8 μM), PC3 prostate adenocarcinoma (IC50 …

Human Health And Environmental Hazards Of Farmed Fish, Richard B. Philp

Richard B. Philp

Aquaculture, or fish farming, now provides a significant portion of the world's supply of fin-fish for human consumption. Since 1985, the production of farmed fish has nearly quadrupled. Associated problems include levels of persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals as compared to wild-caught fish, enviromnental problems from waste food and excrement, disease hazards for fish and humans and depletion of wild forage fish to produce food pellets for farmed fish. The recent introduction of genetically modified salmon has added another potential hazard for the environment and possible for human health. These and other problems are discussed with recommendations for human …

Hiv & Aids Self Study Packet Presentation, Bridget Roberts

Bridget R. Roberts

No abstract provided.

Collaborative Test-Taking: An Evaluation Of Teaching Through Testing, Margaret Fink, Barbara Ganley

Margaret Fink

Safety During Simulation: Students And Faculty Perceptions (Poster), Luanne Linnard-Palmer

Luanne Linnard-Palmer

Factors Associated With Attendance In 12-Step Groups (Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous) Among Adults With Alcohol Problems Living With Hiv/Aids, John Orwat, Jeffrey Samet, Christopher Tompkins, Debbie Cheng, Michael Dentato, Richard Saitz

Michael P. Dentato, PhD, MSW

Effect Of Astragalus Membranaceus And Angelica Sinensis Combined With Enalapril In Rats With Obstructive Uropathy, Ken Wojcikowski, Hans Wohlmuth, David Johnson, Glenda Gobe

Dr Hans Wohlmuth

ACE inhibitors (ACEi) reduce renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis but are not completely effective. Combined extract of Astragalus membranaceus and Angelica sinensis (A&A) is a traditional antifibrotic agent in China. The present investigation aimed to determine whether an ACEi (Enalapril) and A&A together have a better antifibrotic effect in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) than monotherapy with either agent. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 4 per group) had either sham operation or UUO alone, with A&A (combined aqueous and ethanol extract equivalent to 2.1 g dried herbs), with Enalapril (in drinking water at 200 mg/mL) or with both treatments. Kidney and liver were …

Does A Dedicated Pediatric Team Within A Busy Mixed Emergency Department Make A Difference In Waiting Times, Satisfaction, And Care Transition?, Gerben Keijzers, Julia Crilly, Benjamin Walters, Rosalind Crawford, Christa Bell

Gerben Keijzers

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of a dedicated, free-floating, pediatric-targeted care delivery model on emergency department (ED) waiting times, parent satisfaction, and transition of care.

Methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted between July 16 and August 12, 2007. It incorporated a before-and-after design with a 2-week preintervention and a 2-week intervention group. In the intervention period, the pediatric ED initiative (PEDI) team was introduced, which consisted of a free-floating doctor and nurse equipped to see pediatric patients. Consenting patients/parents were followed up by telephone 7 to 14 days after discharge regarding satisfaction and waiting times.

Results: …

Systematic Review Of The Effect Of Aerobic And Resistance Exercise Training On Systemic Brain Natriuretic Peptide (Bnp) And N-Terminal Bnp Expression In Heart Failure Patients, N. Smart, M. Steele

Neil Smart

Background: BNP and the N-terminal portion (NT-pro-BNP) have emerged as powerful tools in the diagnosis and prognosis of heart failure on acute presentation. The aim of this work was to systematically review the effect of exercise training on BNP and NT-pro-BNP levels in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. Methods: A systematic search was conducted of Medline (Ovid) (1950–July 2008), Embase.com (1974–current), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL (1981–current) and Web of Science (2000–current) to identify randomized controlled trials of aerobic and/or resistance exercise training in heart failure patients that measured BNP and/or pro-BNP. Primary outcome measures were changes in …

Clinical Diagnostic Criteria For Isolating Patients Admitted To Hospital With Suspected Pandemic Influenza, John Gerrard, Gerben Keijzers, Ping Zhang, Caleb Vossen, Deborough Macbeth

Gerben Keijzers

Extract: Australian hospitals have now experienced the first wave of pandemic H1N1 influenza during a southern hemisphere winter. Patients admitted to Australian hospitals with suspected pandemic influenza during this period were identified by use of approved national clinical diagnostic criteria. However, the imprecise nature of clinical diagnosis limited the ability of hospitals to isolate infectious patients effectively before the laboratory confirmation of infection (which typically takes a minimum of 48 h).

Single Drug Sedation With Fentanyl For Postintubation Sedation In Trauma Patients, Christopher Michetti, J Maguire, A Kaushik, T Boro, R Pullarkat, A Rizo, H Seoudi, M Meehan, L Robinson

Christopher P. Michetti, M.D., F.A.C.S.

No abstract provided.

Probing Transplant And Living Donor Candidates About Their Participation In Organ Vending, Katrina Bramstedt

Katrina A. Bramstedt

The selling of human organs for transplant is illegal in the United States and in most countries; however, such transactions still occur. Transplant hospitals and their personnel have multiple ethical duties, including (1) protecting the safety of their living donors and transplant recipients and (2) protecting the integrity of living donation and transplantation as clinical practices. To date, few psychosocial screening tools exist that pertain specifically to a person's risk or intent of pursuing organ vending (buying or selling). This article presents a series of transplant ethics case consultations that spawned the creation of a set of behavioral prompts for …

Working Out Your Speech Muscles, Linda Shuster

Linda Shuster

No abstract provided.

Why Going Forward With Tele-Health Means An Initial Retreat: Tensions Between Researcher And Provider Requirements, Deborah Fitzsimmons, J. Thompson, G. Mountain

Deborah A Fitzsimmons

No abstract provided.

Review Of The Quality Of Complementary Medicines Information Resources: Summary Report, Treasure Mcguire, Julie Walters, Angela Dean, Mieke Van Driel, Chris Del Mar, Vicki Kotsirilos, Geraldine Moses, Steven Chong, Gary Deed, Barbara Eldred, Janet Hardy, Honey Heussler, Samantha Hollingsworth, Loretta Marron, Joy Mendel, David Pache, Kathryn Steadman, Helen Trenerry, Jared Brown, Margaret Williamson

Treasure McGuire

Recent research conducted by the National Prescribing Service (NPS) has shown the need for improving complementary medicines (CMs) information availability and awareness for Australian health professionals and consumers. CMs information resources have been reported to be of variable quality, with some identified as inaccurate or misleading. To date, there has been no comprehensive evaluation of available information resources to help the Australian community make better informed decisions around the quality use of CMs, in order to meet the demand for high quality information on CMs.

Pharmacologic Responses Of The Mouse Urinary Bladder, A. Erdem, Christopher Chapple, Russ Chess-Williams

Russ Chess-Williams

The aim of the study was to determine pathways involved in contraction and relaxation of the mouse urinary bladder. Mouse bladder strips were set up in gassed Krebs-bicarbonate solution and responses to various drugs and electrical field stimulation were obtained. Isoprenaline (b-receptor agonist) caused a 63% inhibition of carbachol precontracted detrusor (EC50=2nM). Carbachol caused contraction (EC50=0.3µM), responses were antagonised more potently by 4-DAMP (M3-antagonist) than methoctramine (M2-antagonist). Electrical field stimulation caused contraction, which was inhibited by atropine (60%) and less by guanethidine and α,β-methylene-ATP. The neurogenic responses were not potentiated by inhibition of nitric oxide synthase. Presence of an intact …

Blood Kinetics Of Four Intraperitoneally Administered Therapeutic Candidate Bacteriophages In Healthy And Neutropenic Mice, Jumpei Uchiyama, Yoshihiro Maeda, Iyo Takemura, Russ Chess-Williams, Hiroshi Wakiguchi, Shigenobu Matsuzaki

Russ Chess-Williams

Due to multiple-drug resistant bacteria, phage therapy is being revisited. Although most animal experiments focus on therapeutic efficacy, the blood clearance kinetics of phages have not been well described. For further development of an efficient therapeutic strategy, information on phage blood kinetics is important. In this study, time-course concentration changes in peripheral blood of healthy and neutropenic mice were measured using four therapeutic phages (φMR11, KPP10, φEF24C, and KEP10). The results showed a two- to three-day rapid phage clearance, which fits a two-compartment model.

Test 1, Adrian Lugo

Adrian Lugo

No abstract provided.

Helping Prostate Cancer Patients Understand The Causes Of Anxiety And Depression: Comparing Cancer-Caused Vs Patient Response Events, Christopher Sharpley, Vicki Bitsika, David Christie

Vicki Bitsika

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) patients have elevated anxiety and depression, often showing impairments in decision-making and weakened relationships with their partner and family. Although treatment for these psychological side-effects of PCa is strongly recommended, relatively little is known of the causal processes underlying them. This study compared cancer-based lifestyle changes vs patient behavioural responses to cancer as predictors of anxiety and depression among PCa patients. Methods: PCa patients (381) were surveyed for their responses to standardised anxiety and depression questionnaires, plus a questionnaire designed to assess the kinds of lifestyle changes that had occurred to them and their responses to …

Latina Adolescent Outreach Project, Susan C. Schwartz

Susan C. Schwartz

Controlling Balance Decline Across The Menopause Using A Balance-Strategy Training Program: A Randomized, Controlled Trial, S. Fu, Nancy Low Choy, Jennifer Nitz

Nancy Low Choy

Objective: To evaluate effectiveness and long-term benefits of a specific balance-strategy training program in sedentary women aged 40-60 years and whether participation leads to adoption of a more active lifestyle. Method: Fifty healthy women were admitted to the randomized, controlled trial on the basis of their activity level. Subjects were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group, with the former attending twice-weekly for 12 weeks. Assessments made pre- and post-intervention and at 9 months follow-up included: personal demographics, hormone replacement therapy medication, activity level, balance measures, somatosensory function, ankle flexibility and leg muscle strength. Results: The intervention group showed …