Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Treat The Cause: Evidence-Based Practice, James M. Rippe, Michael Greger, David L. Katz, John H. Kelly, Margaret Moore, Darren Morton

Darren Morton

Darren was invited by the board of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine to represent the Australasian Lifestyle Medicine perspective on the opening panel of the 2014 American College of Lifestyle Medicine conference in San Diego (Nov, 2014). The dialogue, intended for an international audience, was later published as the mentioned journal article.

Differences In The Prevalence, Severity And Symptom Profiles Of Depression In Boys And Adolescents With An Autism Spectrum Disorder Versus Normally Developing Controls, Vicki Bitsika, Christopher Sharpley

Vicki Bitsika

The prevalence, severity and symptom profiles for major depressive disorder (MDD) were compared in samples of boys and adolescents with and without an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Self-reports were obtained on the Depression subscale of the Child and Adolescent Symptoms Inventory (CASI-D) with 70 ASD and 50 non-ASD male participants between the ages of 8 and 18 from Queensland, Australia who were matched for age and IQ. Results indicated that the ASD participants had significantly higher total CASI-D scores, a greater proportion of participants who qualified for a diagnosis of MDD, and over 50% higher scores for 8 of the …

Professionalism Under Fire: Conflict, War And Epidemics, Michelle Mclean, Vikram Jha, John Sandars

Michelle McLean

Today’s medical students (tomorrow’s doctors) will be entering a world of conflict, war and regular outbreaks of infectious diseases. Despite numerous international declarations and treaties protecting human rights, the last few decades has been fraught with reports of ‘‘lapses’’ in medical professionalism involving torture and force-feeding of detainees (e.g. captured during the War on Terror) and health care professionals refusing to treat infected patients (e.g. HIV and Ebola). This paper provides some historical background to the changing status of a physician’s duty to treat and how medical practitioners came to be involved in the inhumane treatment of detainees during the …

Palliative Pharmacological Sedation For Terminally Ill Adults (Review), Elaine Beller, Mieke Van Driel, Leanne Mcgregor, Shani Truong, Shani Mitchell

Elaine Beller

Terminally ill people experience a variety of symptoms in the last hours and days of life, including delirium, agitation, anxiety, terminal restlessness, dyspnoea, pain, vomiting, and psychological and physical distress. In the terminal phase of life, these symptomsmay become refractory, and unable to be controlled by supportive and palliative therapies specifically targeted to these symptoms. Palliative sedation therapy is one potential solution to providing relief from these refractory symptoms. Sedation in terminally ill people is intended to provide relief from refractory symptoms that are not controlled by other methods. Sedative drugs such as benzodiazepines are titrated to achieve the desired …

Interventions For Enhancing Adherence To Treatment In Adults With Bronchiectasis (Protocol), Amanda Mccullough, Cristin Ryan, Judy Bradley, Brenda O'Neill, Stuart Elborn, Carmel Hughes

Amanda McCullough

More than 600 million people worldwide suffer from chronic respiratory disease (WHO 2007), leading to 4.2 million deaths annually (WHO 2010). Bronchiectasis is an underdiagnosed and underinvestigated condition; research into new treatments is urgently required to improve the health status of patients with this condition (Gibson 2013). The global prevalence of bronchiectasis is currently not known. The most recent prevalence study, which was conducted in the United States, demonstrated that prevalence of the condition is increasing at a rate of 8.7% annually, with an eight-year prevalence of 1106 per 100,000 of the population (Seitz 2012). Bronchiectasis-associated annual healthcare costs are …

Clinically Signficant Change To Establish Benchmarks In Residential Drug And Alcohol Treatment Services, Daniel Billingham, Peter Kelly, Frank Deane, Trevor Crowe, Mark Buckingham, Fiona Craig

Peter Kelly

There is increasing emphasis on the use routine outcome assessment measures to inform quality assurance initiatives. The calculation of reliable and clinically significant change indices is one strategy that organizations could use to develop both internal and externally focused benchmarking processes. The current study aimed to develop reliable and clinically significant change indices for a range of commonly used outcome measures in the substance abuse field. Participants were attending Kedesh Rehabilitation Services, an Australian residential substance abuse service that also accepts people with co-occurring mental health problems (n0595). A range of mental health and substance use measures were administered to …

The Effects Of Phencyclidine Treatment On The Nmdar-Nrg1 Signalling Pathway In Rats, T Morosin, T Du Bois, K Newell, Xu-Feng Huang

Xu-Feng Huang

No abstract provided.

Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Subtype 5 Is Reduced In Schizophrenia Subjects With Comorbid Major Depression And Unchanged Following Antipsychotic Drug Treatment, N Jimenez, Xu-Feng Huang, C Deng, K Newell

Xu-Feng Huang

Abstract of a paper that presented at the Australian Neuroscience Society 32nd Annual meeting.

Olanzapine Treatment And Time-Dependent Changes Of Hypothalamic Ampk-Acc-Cpt1 Signalling, Food Intake And Body Weight In Rats, Meng He, Q Zhang, H Wang, Jiamei Lian, C Deng, Xu-Feng Huang

Xu-Feng Huang

No abstract provided.

Hypodermoclysis To Treat Dehydration: A Review Of The Evidence, Ruth Remington, Todd Hultman

Ruth Remington

Dehydration is a serious acute condition in older adults associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Hypodermoclysis (HDC; the infusion of fluids into the subcutaneous tissue) can provide an alternative to intravenous (IV) rehydration of older adults. This article reviews the relevant literature on the use of HDC to treat mild to moderate dehydration in older adults. A comprehensive search of the literature was conducted to identify research reports on the use of HDC to treat dehydration in older adults. Articles published in English during the previous 10 years were reviewed to reflect current standards of practice. One systematic review; two …

Distress Levels And Self-Reported Treatment Rates For Medicine, Law, Psychology And Mechanical Engineering Tertiary Students: A Cross-Sectional Study, Catherine Leahy, Ray Peterson, Ian Wilson, Jonathon Newbury, Anne Tonkin, Deborah Turnbull

Ian G Wilson

Objective: The aim of this research was to assess tertiary student distress levels with regards to (i) comparisons with normative population data, and (ii) the effects of discipline, year level, and student characteristics. Self-reported treatment rates and level of concern regarding perceived distress were also collected. Method: Students from all six years of an undergraduate medical course were compared with samples from Psychology, Law and Mechanical Engineering courses at the University of Adelaide, Australia. Students participated in one of three studies that were either webbased or paper-based. All studies included Kessler ’ s Measure of Psychological Distress (K10), and questions …

Short- And Long-Term Effects Of Antipsychotic Drug Treatment On Weight Gain And H1 Receptor Expression, Kelly Newell, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng, Tom Burne, Mei Han

Xu-Feng Huang

The present study investigated body weight gain, food intake, open-field activity and brain histamine H1 receptor mRNA and protein expression in rats treated with three types of antipsychotics. Rats were divided into eight groups and treated with aripiprazole (2.25mg/kg/day), olanzapine (1.5mg/kg/day), haloperidol (0.3mg/kg/day) or vehicle (as control) for 1 or 12 weeks. Administration of olanzapine for 1 week led to a threefold increase in body weight gain and a 35% increase in fat deposits compared to controls (p<0.05). In the 12-week olanzapine treatment group, accumulative food intake was significantly higher in the first 7 weeks of treatment compared to …

Effect Of Chronic Treatment With Clozapine And Haloperidol On 5- Ht2a And 2c Receptor Mrna Expression In The Rat Brain, Xu-Feng Huang, Qing Wang, Yean Yeow Tan

Xu-Feng Huang

No abstract provided.

Chronic Treatment With Simvastatin Upregulates Muscarinic M1/4 Receptor Binding In The Rat Brain, Kelly Newell, P Wong, Xu-Feng Huang, Qing Wang, Wilfred Yeo, P Wang, Weihai Ying, Midori Yenari, Ayse Zengin

Xu-Feng Huang

Statins are increasingly being used for the treatment of a variety of conditions beyond their original indication for cholesterol lowering. We previously reported that simvastatin affected the dopaminergic system in the rat brain. This study aims to investigate regional changes of muscarinic M1/4 receptors in the rat brain after 4-week administration of simvastatin (1 or 10 mg/kg/day). M1/4 receptor distribution and alterations in the post-mortem rat brain were detected by [3H]pirenzepine binding autoradiography. Simvastatin (1 mg/kg/day) increased [3H]pirenzepine binding, predominantly in the prefrontal cortex (171%, P<0.001), primary motor cortex (153%, P=0.001), cingulate cortex (109%, P<0.001), hippocampus (138%, P …

Short And Long Term Changes In Nmda Receptor Binding In Mouse Brain Following Chronic Phencyclidine Treatment, Kelly Newell, Xu-Feng Huang, Katerina Zavitsanou

Xu-Feng Huang

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Chronic Treatment Of Olanzapine And Haloperidol On Peptide Yy Binding Densities In The Rat Brain, Xu-Feng Huang, Qing Wang

Xu-Feng Huang

This study examined regional changes of peptide YY (PYY) binding densities in the rat brain after chronic administration of olanzapine (1.2 mg/kg/day and haloperidol (2.0 mg/kg/day)for 36 days. PYY binding densities and distributions were detected by [125I] binding autoradiography after ratswere sacrificed either 2 h or 48 h after the last drug administration to examine both immediate and delayed effects following the drugwithdrawal. Following 2 h of drug administration, it showed that olanzapine administration significantly decreased PYY binding densities, predominantly in the posterodorsal part of medial amygdaloid nucleus (52 percent, pb0.05), dorsal part of medial geniculate nucleus (56 percent, pb0.05), …

Opposing Short- And Long-Term Effects On Muscarinic M1/4 Receptor Binding Following Chronic Phencyclidine Treatment, Kelly Newell, Xu-Feng Huang, Katerina Zavitsanou

Xu-Feng Huang

No abstract provided.

Perinatal Phencyclidine Treatment Alters Neuregulin 1/Erbb4 Expression And Activation In Later Life, Teresa Du Bois, Kelly Newell, Xu-Feng Huang

Xu-Feng Huang

Schizophrenia is a complex and devastating mental disorder of unknown etiology. Hypofunction of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are implicated in the disorder, since phencyclidine (PCP) and other NMDA receptor antagonists mimic schizophrenia-like symptoms in humans and animals so well. Moreover, genetic linkage and post mortem studies strongly suggest a role for altered neuregulin 1 (Nrg1)/erbB4 signaling in schizophrenia pathology. This study investigated the relationship between the NMDA receptor and Nrg1 signaling pathways using the perinatal PCP animal model. Rats (n = 5/group) were treated with PCP (10 mg/kg) or saline on postnatal days (PN) 7, 9 and 11 and were sacrificed …

Perinatal Pcp Treatment Alters The Developmental Expression Of Prefrontal And Hippocampal Muscarinic Receptors, Kelly Newell, Xu-Feng Huang, Chao Deng, Teresa Du Bois, Mei Han

Xu-Feng Huang

Perinatal phencyclidine (PCP) treatment has been used to model brain pathological processes that may be present in schizophrenia such as increased apoptosis during early brain development, and long-term alterations in expression of parvalbumin-containing interneurons and glutamatergic N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. We report that this treatment also affects receptor expression of another excitatory neurotransmitter receptor, the muscarinic receptor. Female rat pups received injections of the NMDA receptor antagonist PCP (10 mg/kg, s.c.) or saline on postnatal days (PN)7, 9 and 11. [3H]Pirenzepine binding to M1/4 receptors was examined at four time-points (PN12, 18, 32 and 96) following treatment cessation. Significant effects of …

Should A Lower Treatment Line Be Used When Treating Paracetamol Poisoning In Patients With Chronic Alcoholism? A Case Against, Paul Dargan, Alison Jones

Alison L Jones

The widespread practice of using a lower plasma paracetamol (acetaminophen) concentration threshold for the treatment of paracetamol poisoning in patients with chronic alcoholism has been introduced on the basis of anecdotal case reports. In animals, acute alcohol loading inhibits toxic metabolic activation of paracetamol whilst chronic alcohol administration results in cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2E1 induction with increased toxic metabolic activation of paracetamol by CYP2E1 and increased hepatotoxicity. However, due to species differences in CYP expression, activity and induction, it is not possible extrapolate the results of these animal studies to clinical situations in humans. Isoenzymes are also responsible for the …

Mechanism Of Action And Value Of N-Acetylcysteine In The Treatment Of Early And Late Acetaminophen Poisoning: A Critical Review, Alison Jones

Alison L Jones

Introduction: The mechanism of action of N-acetylcysteine in early acetaminophen poisoning is well understood, but much remains to be learned of the mechanism of its possible benefit in acetaminophen poisoning presenting beyond 15 hours. Methods: Selective review of medical literature. N-acetylcysteine should be used in all cases of early acetaminophen poisoning where the plasma acetaminophen concentration lies “above the line;” which line is chosen depends on individual preference and whether enzyme induction is suspected. Particular care should be taken with the use of the nomogram for patients with chronic excess ingestion of acetaminophen or for those who have taken slow-release …

Drop Out From Residential Treatment: Is It All Bad News?, C Morgan, Peter Kelly, Frank Deane, Trevor Crowe

Peter Kelly

No abstract provided.

Benchmarking Client Improvement Within Substance Abuse Treatment, Peter Kelly, Frank Deane

Peter Kelly

No abstract provided.

Faith-Based Substance Abuse Treatment: Is It Just About God? Exploring Treatment Providers' Attitudes Toward Spirituality, Forgiveness And Secular Components Of Treatment, Geoffrey Lyons, Frank Deane, Peter Kelly

Peter Kelly

Although spirituality and forgiveness components of substance abuse treatment programs ar'e viewed as important by faithbased substance abuse treatment providers researchers have not compared their relative importance to other treatment components. This study evaluated the perceived importance of spiritually and forgiveness-based treatment components in comparison to other secular psycho-educational components in faith-based treatment programs. A brief survey was completed by 99 Salvation Army drug and alcohol treatment providers employed within Australian residential rehabilitation programs. The survey examined the relative importance treatment providers' placed on spiritual and secular components of treatment. Attitudes towards spiritual components of treatment, such as Christian education …

Association Between Prescribing Patterns Of Anti-Asthmatic Drugs And Clinically Uncontrolled Asthma: A Cross-Sectional Study, Jesper Davidsen, Jesper Hallas, Jens Søndergaard, René Christensen, Hans Christian Siersted, Malene Hansen, Thomas Knudsen, Jesper Lykkegaard, Morten Anderson

Malene Hansen

Objective: Studies based on prescription data have shown that many asthmatics tend to use large quantities of inhaled beta-2-agonists, suggesting poorly controlled disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between clinically uncontrolled asthma and prescribing patterns of anti-asthmatic drugs with a primary focus on short-acting beta-2-agonists (SABA). Methods: In a cross-sectional study 357 subjects, selected by their prescriptions of inhaled beta-2-agonists in Odense Pharmaco-Epidemiological Database, underwent individual clinical assessment including the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) and spirometry. The associations between uncontrolled asthma (ACQ score ≥ 1.50) and individual anti-asthmatic prescribing were analysed by means of …

Substance Abuse Treatment Utilization Among Adults Living With Hiv/Aids And Alcohol Or Drug Problems, John Orwat, Richard Saitz, Christopher Tompkins, Debbie Cheng, Michael Dentato, Jeffrey Samet

Michael P. Dentato, PhD, MSW