Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Identification Of The Role And Competencies Of The Graduate Nurse In Recognising And Responding To The Deteriorating Patient In An Acute Ward Environment: A Mixed Methods Study, Steven Hardman

Theses

The identification of the role and competencies of the graduate nurse in recognising and responding to the deteriorating patient in an acute ward environment: A mixed method study. Patients’ physiological condition can be unstable for prolonged periods before transfer to critical care units. Thus, it is imperative that ward based nurses are able to recognise, respond and initially manage patients with a deteriorating condition. Unfortunately, warning signs of physiological decline are often missed, or ignored by both experienced and newly graduated registered nurses. Complex systems and processes to recognise and respond to clinical deterioration have been developed to try to …

Do Frailty And Comorbidity Indices Improve Risk Prediction Of 28-Day Ed Reattendance? Reanalysis Of An Ed Discharge Nomogram For Older People, Evert Gips, Katrina Spilsbury, Claus Boecker, Rebecca Ng, Glenn Arendts

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Background: In older people, quantification of risk of reattendance after emergency department (ED) discharge is important to provide adequate post ED discharge care in the community to appropriately targeted patients at risk.

Methods: We reanalysed data from a prospective observational study, previously used for derivation of a nomogram for stratifying people aged 65 and older at risk for ED reattendance. We investigated the potential effect of comorbidity load and frailty by adding the Charlson or Elixhauser comorbidity index and a ten-item frailty measure from our data to develop four new nomograms. Model I and model F built on the …

The Factors Influencing Nurse Graduates Use Of Mobile Technology In Clinical Settings In Perth Western Australia: A Mixed Method Study, Benjamin Hay

Theses

The ubiquitous use of mobile technology in today’s society extends to the learning and teaching environment. Most academics in universities encourage its use, aided by libraries offering online resources. Whilst the literature highlights benefits of using mobile technology in learning, particularly for nurses to keep up-to-date, there is limited evidence on such use in clinical settings by graduate nurses in Western Australia (WA). Additionally, there is a lack of information and clarification on the use of such technology in WA hospitals. The purpose of this study was to identify and explore factors influencing the use of mobile technology by newly …

The General Motor Ability Hypothesis: An Old Idea Revisited, Beth Hands, Fleur Mcintyre, Helen Parker

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

While specific motor abilities have become a popular explanation for motor performance, the older, alternate notion of a general motor ability should be revisited. Current theories lack consensus, and most motor assessment tools continue to derive a single composite score to represent motor capacity. In addition, results from elegant statistical procedures such as higher order factor analyses, cluster analyses, and Item Response Theory support a more global motor ability. We propose a contemporary model of general motor ability as a unidimensional construct that is emergent and fluid over an individual’s lifespan, influenced by both biological and environmental factors. In this …

Adolescents' Self-Reported Motor Assessments May Be More Realistic Than Those Of Their Parents, Fleur Mcintyre, Beth Hands

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Introduction: Adolescents' motor competence influences their physical, social and emotional development. Parent-reported assessments may not be truly representative of their adolescent's motor difficulties. This study examined the congruency between parent- and self-reported motor competence in 133 parent-adolescent dyads.

Method: The adolescent-reported Adolescent Motor Competence Questionnaire (AMCQ; ≤83) and the parent-reported Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire 2007 (DCDQ-07; ≤57) cut scores classified 133 (M_age = 14.5 years) adolescents into high and low motor competence. Parents also completed the Swanson, Nolan and Pelham IV (SNAP-IV) for descriptive purposes.

Findings: A moderate correlation (r = 0.56, P < 0.001) was found between the AMCQ and the DCDQ-07 scores. Overall, 42 low motor competence cases were identified by both measures (AMCQ and DCDQ-07). Parents identified more boys (11) than girls (9) with low motor competence, whereas more female adolescents (22) self-reported low motor competence than boys (18). A high proportion agreement (0.82) was seen, which was principally due to the 91 (68.4% of sample) high motor competence case agreements.

Conclusion: Parents identified fewer motor …

Manipulating Field Dimensions During Small-Sided Games Impacts The Technical And Physical Profiles Of Australian Footballers, Brock Fleay, Christopher Joyce, Harry Banyard, T Carl Woods

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

This study investigated the effect of manipulating field dimensions on the technical and physical profiles of Australian football (AF) players during small-sided games (SSGs). A total of 40 male players (23.9 ± 3.5 y) participated in three, five-a-side SSGs; defined as ‘small’ (20m x 30m; 600m²), ‘medium’ (30m x 40m; 1200m²), and ‘large’ (40m x 50m; 2000m²). Notational analyses enabled the quantification of technical skill indicators, while physical activity profiles were measured using microtechnology, resulting in 18 criterion variables. A multivariate analysis of variance modelled the main effect of field dimension on the criterion …

Literature Review: Anthropometric, Strength And Physical Capacities Of Senior And Junior Australian Footballers, Ashley Cripps, Ysabel Jacob, James Walker, Benjamin Piggott

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

This study demonstrates that senior Australian Football players are heavier and possess superior strength characteristics without any meaningful difference in aerobic capacities when compared to under 18 players.

The aim of this study was to compare the anthropometric and physical characteristics of state based junior and senior Australian Football (AF) players. Thirty-One League (age 23.7 ± 2.6 years), 19 Development League (DL) (age 20.5 ± 1.9 years), and 34 Under 18 (U18) players (age 17.4 ± 0.7 years) were recruited from a single AF club. Assessments included height and mass, upper body (bench press and weighted pull-up) and lower body …

The Effect Of Individual Radiographers On Rates Of Attendance To Breast Screening: A 7-Year Retrospective Study, S. Savaridas, J. Brook, J. Codde, M Bulsara, W. Wylie

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

AIM: To establish whether individual radiographers had significantly different rescreening rates whilst controlling for other known confounding factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women aged 50e69 years were identified from a state-wide screening database at their first screening attendance during the study period (2007e2013). The radiographer performing this index screen and potential confounding factors were recorded and subsequent screening behaviour was assessed. Clients with abnormal screens and those known to have died during the time period were excluded. A univariate analysis of the data from 160,028 women was assessed using the chi-square test to compare those women who attended their next mammography …

Comparison Of Neuroprotective Efficacy Of Poly-Arginine R18 And R18d (D-Enantiomer) Peptides Following Permanent Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion In The Wistar Rat And In Vitro Toxicity Studies, Diego Melani, Megan C. Bakeberg, Jane L. Cross, Vince W. Clark, Ryan S. Anderton, David J. Blacker, Neville W. Knuckey, Bruno P. Meloni

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

We have previously demonstrated that arginine-rich and poly-arginine peptides possess potent neuroprotective properties, with poly-arginine peptide R18 identified as being highly effective at reducing infarct volume following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in the Sprague Dawley rat. Since peptides synthesised using D-isoform amino acids have greater stability than L-isoform peptides due to increased resistance to proteolytic degradation, they represent potentially more effective peptide therapeutics. Therefore we compared the neuroprotective efficacy of R18 and its D-enantiomer R18D following permanent MCAO in the Wistar rat. Furthermore, as increased peptide stability may also increase peptide toxicity, we examined the effects of R18 and …

Heat Shock Proteins As Modulators And Therapeutic Targets Of Chronic Disease: An Integrated Perspective, Adrienne L. Edkins, John T. Price, A Graham Pockley, Gregory L. Blatch

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Many heat shock proteins (HSPs) are essential to survival as a consequence of their role as molecular chaperones, and play a critical role in maintaining cellular proteostasis by integrating the fundamental processes of protein folding and degradation. HSPs are arguably among the most prominent classes of proteins that have been broadly linked to many human disorders, with changes in their expression profile and/or intracellular/extracellular location now being described as contributing to the pathogenesis of a number of different diseases. Although the concept was initially controversial, it is now widely accepted that HSPs have additional biological functions over and above their …

Is There A Link Between Vitamin B And Multiple Sclerosis?, Natalie Nemazannikova, Kathleen Mikkelsen, Lily Stojanovska, Gregory L. Blatch, Vasso Apostolopoulos

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Damage to the myelin sheath (demyelination) is one of the main manifestations of multiple sclerosis (MS). Interestingly, both MS and vitamin B deficiencies result in severe myelin degeneration, leading to loss in neuronal signal transmission.

Objective: Deficiency in vitamin B complex vary, although common symptoms include fatigue, increased oxidative stress, inflammation and demyelination. In particular, vitamin B12 (cobalamin) has had increased attention for its role in the methylation process, involvement in myelination and remyelination, and reversal of MS symptoms.

Method: Here, we discuss the role of vitamin B complex (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12) in …

Wearable Activity Technology And Action-Planning (Wataap) To Promote Physical Activity In Cancer Survivors: Randomised Controlled Trial Protocol, Chloe Maxwell-Smith, Paul A. Cohen, Cameron Platell, Patrick Tan, Michael Levitt, Paul Salama, Gregory B. Makin, Jason Tan, Stuart Salfinger, Ganendra Raj Kader Ali Mohan, Robert T. Kane, Dana A. Hince, Ruth Jimenez-Castuera, Sarah J. Hardcastle

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Background/Objective: Colorectal and gynecologic cancer survivors are at cardiovascular risk due to comorbidities and sedentary behaviour, warranting a feasible intervention to increase physical activity. The Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) is a promising theoretical frame-work for health behaviour change, and wearable physical activity trackers offer a novel means of self-monitoring physical activity for cancer survivors.

Method: Sixty-eight survivors of colorectal and gynecologic cancer will be randomised into 12- week intervention and control groups. Intervention group participants will receive: a Fitbit AltaTM to monitor physical activity, HAPA-based group sessions, booklet, and support phone-call. Participants in the control group will only receive …

Demographic And Clinical Predictors Of Trait Impulsivity In Parkinson’S Disease Patients, Maddeson Riley, Megan Bakeberg, Michelle Byrne, Alexa Jefferson, Soumya Ghosh, Rick Stell, Frank L. Mastaglia, Dana A. Hince, Ryan S. Anderton

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Impulsive behaviour has become increasingly recognised as a neuropsychiatric complication of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Thought to be a product of compromised cognitive control, the spectrum of impulsive behaviours in PD ranges from cognitive disinhibition to impulse control disorders (ICDs).

Objective: At present, there are no indicators for trait impulsivity in PD. The objective of the current study was to identify demographic and clinical predictors of susceptibility to trait impulsivity in a cohort of PD patients.

Methods: The current study assessed impulsivity using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11 (BIS-11) in a cohort of 87 PD patients. General linear models (GLMs) …

Mortality In A Cohort Of Remote-Living Aboriginal Australians And Associated Factors, Zoe Hyde, Kate Smith, Leon Flicker, David Atkinson, Osvaldo P. Almeida, Nicola T. Lautenschlager, Anna Dwyer, Dina Logiudice

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Objectives: We aimed to describe mortality in a cohort of remote-living Aboriginal Australians using electronic record linkage.

Methods: Between 2004 and 2006, 363 Aboriginal people living in remote Western Australia (WA) completed a questionnaire assessing medical history and behavioural risk factors. We obtained mortality records for the cohort from the WA Data Linkage System and compared them to data for the general population. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to identify predictors of mortality over a 9-year follow-up period.

Results: The leading causes of mortality were diabetes, renal failure, and ischaemic heart disease. Diabetes and renal failure accounted for 28% …

Poly-Arginine R18 And R18d (D-Enantiomer) Peptides Reduce Infarct Volume And Improves Behavioural Outcomes Following Perinatal Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy In The P7 Rat, Adam B. Edwards, Jane L. Cross, Ryan S. Anderton, Neville W. Knuckey, Bruno P. Meloni

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

We examined the neuroprotective efficacy of the poly-arginine peptide R18 and its D-enantiomer R18D in a perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic (HI) model in P7 Sprague-Dawley rats. R18 and R18D peptides were administered intraperitoneally at doses of 30, 100, 300 or 1000 nmol/kg immediately after HI (8% O2/92%N2 for 2.5 h). The previously characterised neuroprotective JNKI-1-TATD peptide at a dose of 1000 nmol/kg was used as a control. Infarct volume and behavioural outcomes were measured 48 h after HI. For the R18 and R18D doses examined, total infarct volume was reduced by 25.93% to 43.80% (P = 0.038 to < 0.001). By comparison, the JNKI-1-TATD reduced lesion volume by 25.27% (P = 0.073). Moreover, R18 and R18D treatment resulted in significant improvements in behavioural outcomes, while with JNKI-1-TATD there was a trend towards improvement. As an insight into the likely mechanism underlying the effects of R18, R18D and JNKI-1-TATD, the peptides were added to cortical neuronal cultures exposed to glutamic acid excitotoxicity, resulting in up to 89, 100 and 71% neuroprotection, respectively, and a dose dependent inhibition of neuronal calcium influx. The study further confirms the neuroprotective properties of polyarginine peptides, and suggests a potential therapeutic role for R18 and R18D in the treatment of HIE.

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practice Of Oncologists And Oncology Health Care Providers In Promoting Physical Activity To Cancer Survivors: An International Survey, Sarah Hardcastle, Robert Kane, Paola Chivers, Dana A. Hince, Andrew Dean, Dominic Higgs, Paul A. Cohen

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Objective: To investigate knowledge, attitudes and practices of oncologists towards physical 2 activity (PA) in cancer survivors, and the association between oncologists’ own PA behavior 3 and PA promotion. Methods: Oncologists (n=123) completed a survey based on the Theory of 4 Planned Behavior (TPB). Participants reported PA promotion behavior, PA involvement, 5 attitudes, intentions, social norm, Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC), confidence and 6 knowledge of exercise prescription. Structural equation modelling (SEM) evaluated these 7 associations. Results: Less than half of oncologists reported regularly promoting PA to 8 patients (46%), with 20% providing written information and 23% referrals. Only 26% were …

Patterns In Participation: Factors Influencing Parent Attendance At Two, Centre-Based Early Childhood Interventions, Steve Heath, Adam Wigley, John Hogben, Janet Fletcher, Peta Collins, Gemma Boyle, Stephanie Eustice

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Interventions training parents of at-risk children have received considerable empirical support but their effectiveness is undermined by low attendance rates. This research sought to clarify why parents, even with the best of intentions, fail to follow through to full participation in workshop programs; and to provide insight into ways to improve parental engagement. We examined participation in Parents as Partners, a school-based, early childhood intervention. Demographic and ongoing educational, social, emotional and behavioural data for 136 parent-child dyads were gathered from parents, teachers and children. Mitigation of a wide range of factors previously identified as barriers to attendance was also …

Key Features Of Palliative Care Service Delivery To Indigenous Peoples In Australia, New Zealand, Canada And The United States: A Comprehensive Review, Shaouli Shahid, Emma V. Taylor, Shelley Cheetham, John A. Woods, Samar M. Aoun, Sandra C. Thompson

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Indigenous peoples in developed countries have reduced life expectancies, particularly from chronic diseases. The lack of access to and take up of palliative care services of Indigenous peoples is an ongoing concern.

Objectives: To examine and learn from published studies on provision of culturally safe palliative care service delivery to Indigenous people in Australia, New Zealand (NZ), Canada and the United States of America (USA); and to compare Indigenous peoples’ preferences, needs, opportunities and barriers to palliative care.

Methods: A comprehensive search of multiple databases was undertaken. Articles were included if they were published in English from 2000 onwards …

Risk Of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Associated With Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Parity And Breast Cancer, Louise Stewart, Katrina Spilsbury, Susan Jordan, Colin Stewart, C. D'Arcy J. Holman, Aime Powell, Joanne Reekie, Paul Cohen

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Ovarian carcinoma is not a single disease, but rather a collection of subtypes with differing molecular properties and risk profiles. The most common of these, and the subject of this work, is high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSC).

Methods: In this population-based study we identified a cohort of 441,382 women resident in Western Australia who had ever been admitted to hospital in the State. Of these, 454 were diagnosed with HGSC. We used Cox regression to derive hazard ratios (HRs) comparing the risk of disease in women who had each of a range of medical diagnoses and surgical procedures with …

Design And Development Of A Theory-Informed Peer-Led Falls Prevention Education Programme To Translate Evidence Into Practice: A Systematic Approach, Linda Khong, Richard G. Berlach, Keith D. Hill, Anne-Marie Hill

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Peer-led education has been shown to be an effective approach for raising community-dwelling older adults’ beliefs, knowledge and intention to engage in falls prevention strategies in a recent intervention trial. This article outlines the design and development of the intervention, which was a peer-led falls prevention education programme designed to promote older adult’s motivation to change their behaviour in the area of falls prevention. The elements of the programme that contributed to its efficacy are also described. The programme was designed using a four-step approach and was based on the constructs of a theoretical framework (the COM-B model). Feedback from …

Intense Exercise For Survival Among Men With Metastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer (Interval-Gap4): A Multicentre, Randomized, Controlled Phase Iii Study Protocol, Robert U. Newton, Stacey A. Kenfield, Nicolas H. Hart, June M. Chan, Kerry S. Courneya, James Catto, Stephen P. Finn, Rosemary Greenwood, Daniel C. Hughes, Lorelei Mucci, Stephen R. Plymate, Stephan F.E Plaet, Emer M. Guinan, Erin L. Van Blarigan, Orla Casey, Mark Buzza, Sam Gledhill, Li Zhang, Daniel A. Galvao, Charles J. Ryan, Fred Saad

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Introduction: Preliminary evidence supports the beneficial role of physical activity on prostate cancer outcomes. This phase III randomised controlled trial (RCT) is designed to determine if supervised high-intensity aerobic and resistance exercise increases overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Methods and analysis: Participants (n=866) must have histologically documented metastatic prostate cancer with evidence of progressive disease on androgen deprivation therapy (defined as mCRPC). Patients can be treatmentnaive for mCRPC or on first-line androgen receptor-targeted therapy for mCRPC (ie, abiraterone or enzalutamide) without evidence of progression at enrolment, and with no prior chemotherapy for mCRPC. Patients …

Factors Contributing To Australian Adolescents’ Self-Report Of Their Motor Skill Competence, Amanda Timler, Fleur Mcintyre, Beth Hands

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

An adolescents motor skill competence can affect areas such as sports participation, social activities and future academic or employment decisions. The Adolescent Motor Competence Questionnaire (AMCQ) is a 26-item questionnaire that uses a four point Likert response (never, sometimes, frequently, always) to assess motor-related activities during adolescence. This study aims to provide evidence of the construct validity using Principle Component Analysis (PCA) and to identify factors that contributed to Australian adolescent self-reported motor competence. A final aim was to determine whether individual item responses differed between males and females. The AMCQ was completed by 160 adolescents (M_age = 14.45 …

Perinatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy And Neuroprotective Peptide Therapies: A Case For Cationic Arginine-Rich Peptides (Carps), Adam B. Edwards, Ryan S. Anderton, Neville W. Knuckey, Bruno P. Meloni

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in neonates, with survivors suffering significant neurological sequelae including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders. While hypothermia is used clinically to reduce neurological injury following HIE, it is only used for term infants (>36 weeks gestation) in tertiary hospitals and improves outcomes in only 30% of patients. For these reasons, a more effective and easily administrable pharmacological therapeutic agent, that can be used in combination with hypothermia or alone when hypothermia cannot be applied, is urgently needed to treat pre-term (_36 weeks gestation) and …

Time For Change: Fitness And Strength Can Be Improved And Sustained In Adolescents With Low Motor Competence, Beth Hands, Paola Chivers, Tegan Grace, Fleur Mcintyre

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Background: There are few exercise interventions focused on adolescents with low motor competence and most interventions are short with little follow up and engagement over time.

Methods and procedures: Fifty-eight adolescents with low motor competence (39 males, Mean Age=13.6, SD=1.4 years) attended an exercise clinic twice a week for each 13 week program. Two programs ran each year, and participants attended for as long as they felt progress was made or they turned 18 years of age. Performance on the Multistage Fitness Test (MSFT), Curl-ups, Grip Strength, 1RM Leg press and Chest Press, Vertical Jump and Standing Broad Jump (SBJ) …

The Potential Role Of Genetic Markers In Talent Identification And Athlete Assessment In Elite Sport, Ysabel Jacob, Tania Spiteri, Nicolas H. Hart, Ryan S. Anderton

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

In elite sporting codes, the identification and promotion of future athletes into specialized talent pathways is heavily reliant upon objective physical, technical, and tactical characteristics, in addition to subjective coach assessments. Despite the availability of a plethora of assessments, the dependence on subjective forms of identification remain commonplace in most sporting codes. More recently, genetic markers, including several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), have been correlated with enhanced aerobic capacity, strength, and an overall increase in athletic ability. In this review, we discuss the effects of a number of candidate genes on athletic performance, across single-skilled and multifaceted sporting codes, and …

Kettle Test Efficacy In Predicting Cognitive And Functional Outcomes In Geriatric Rehabilitation, Kristie J. Harper, Karleen Llewellyn, Angela Jacques, Katharine Ingram, Sara Pearson, Annette Barton

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Background/aim: Limited research has been available to support the use of the Kettle Test in a subacute rehabilitation setting with patients diagnosed with a variety of medical conditions. The Kettle Test is an occupation based performance measure designed to detect cognitive processes and function. The aim of this research was to measure the correlation between three cognitive tests, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Cognitive Functional Independence Measure (Cognitive FIM) and the Kettle Test. Secondly, to assess the efficacy of these tests in predicting functional outcomes via the motor subscale of the Functional Independence Measure (mFIM).

Methods: A prospective single-centre cohort …

Suboptimal Bone Status For Adolescents With Low Motor Competence And Developmental Coordination Disorder - It's Sex Specific, Paola Chivers, Timo Rantalainen, Fleur Mcintyre, Beth Hands, Benjamin Weeks, Belinda Beck, Nimphius Sophia, Nicolas Hart, Aris Siafarikas

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Australian adolescents with low motor competence (LMC) have higher fracture rates and poorer bone health compared to European normative data, but currently no normative data exists for Australians.

Aims: To examine whether there were bone health differences in Australian adolescents with LMC or Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) when compared to typically developing age-matched Australian adolescents.

Methods and Procedures: Australian adolescents aged 12–18 years with LMC/DCD (n=39; male=27; female=12) and an Australian comparison sample (n=188; boys=101; girls= 87) undertook radial and tibial peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (pQCT) scans. Stress Strain Index (SSI (mm3)), Total Bone Area (TBA (mm2)), Muscle Density …

Morbidity Burden And Community-Based Palliative Care Are Associated With Rates Of Hospital Use By People With Schizophrenia In The Last Year Of Life: A Population-Based Matched Cohort Study, Katrina Spilsbury, Lorna Rosenwax, Kate Brameld, Brian Kelly, Glenn Arendts

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Objective: People with schizophrenia face an increased risk of premature death from chronic diseases and injury. This study describes the trajectory of acute care health service use in the last year of life for people with schizophrenia and how this varied with receipt of community based specialist palliative care and morbidity burden.

Method: A population-based retrospective matched cohort study of people who died from 01/01/ 2009 to 31/12/2013 with and without schizophrenia in Western Australia. Hospital inpatient, emergency department, death and community-based care data collections were linked at the person level. Rates of emergency department presentations and hospital admissions over …

Mitochondria And Neuroprotection In Stroke: Cationic Arginine-Rich Peptides (Carps) As A Novel Class Of Mitochondria-Targeted Neuroprotective Therapeutics, Gabriella Macdougall, Ryan S. Anderton, Frank L. Mastaglia, Neville W. Knuckey, Bruno P. Meloni

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Stroke is the second leading cause of death globally and represents a major cause of devastating long-term disability. Despite sustained efforts to develop clinically effective neuroprotective therapies, presently there is no clinically available neuroprotective agent for stroke. As a central mediator of neurodamaging events in stroke, mitochondria are recognised as a critical neuroprotective target, and as such, provide a focus for developing mitochondrial-targeted therapeutics. In recent years, cationic arginine-rich peptides (CARPs) have been identified as a novel class of neuroprotective agent with several demonstrated mechanisms of action, including their ability to target mitochondria and exert positive effects on the organelle. …

Role Of The Gut Microbiota As A Natural Adjuvant For Vaccine, Nicole Benn, Gerard F. Hoyne

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Vaccines have provided the most beneficial contribution to public health. Generating antigen specific antibody responses and long lasting memory are crucial for the protective immunity offered by vaccination. Unfortunately, not all individuals respond in the same manner to vaccine formulations. The microbiota is established during postnatal development and remains relatively stable for long periods. Our understanding that the microbiota can have beneficial effects on human health has led immunologists to investigate how these organisms may shape the innate and adaptive immune responses of the host. In this review we examine the impact of the microbiota on the host immune responses …