Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation To Optimise Participation In Stroke Rehabilitation – A Sham-Controlled Cross-Over Feasibility Study, Christopher Etherton-Beer, Yee Lui, Miranda Radalj, Ann-Maree Vallence, Barby Singer

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Fatigue and attentional decline limit the duration of many therapy sessions in older adults poststroke. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may facilitate participation in rehabilitation, potentially via reduced fatigue and improved sustained attention poststroke. Objective: To evaluate whether tDCS results in an increase in the number of completed rehabilitation therapy sessions in stroke survivors. Methods: Nineteen participants were randomly allocated to receive 10 sessions of 2-mA anodal (excitatory) tDCS, or sham tDCS, applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for 20 minutes within 1 hour prior to the first rehabilitation therapy session of the day. After a 2-day …

Rehabilitation Strategies Following Oesophagogastric And Hepatopancreaticobiliary Cancer (Restore Ii): A Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial, Linda O'Neill, Emer Guinan, Suzanne Doyle, Deirdre Connolly, Jacintha O'Sullivan, Annemarie Bennett, Grainne Sheill, Ricardo Segurado, Peter Knapp, Ciaran Fairman, Charles Normand, Justin Geoghegan, Kevin Conlon, John V. Reynolds, Juliette Hussey

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Curative treatment for upper gastrointestinal (UGI) and hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) cancers, involves complex surgical resection often in combination with neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemo/chemoradiotherapy. With advancing survival rates, there is an emergent cohort of UGI and HPB cancer survivors with physical and nutritional deficits, resultant from both the cancer and its treatments. Therefore, rehabilitation to counteract these impairments is required to maximise health related quality of life (HRQOL) in survivorship. The initial feasibility of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme for UGI survivors was established in the Rehabilitation Strategies following Oesophago-gastric Cancer (ReStOre) feasibility study and pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT). ReStOre II will now …

Does Fibre-Fix Provided To People With Irritable Bowel Syndrome Who Are Consuming A Low Fodmap Diet Improve Their Gut Health, Gut Microbiome, Sleep And Mental Health? A Double-Blinded, Randomised Controlled Trial, Ran Yan, Mandy Murphy, Angela Genoni, Evania Marlow, Ian Dunican, Johnny Lo, Lesley Andrew, Amanda Devine, Claus T. Christophersen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Introduction:

A diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP) is an effective way to reduce gut symptoms in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This diet reduces the intake of fermentable fibres, leading to changes of the gut microbiota and insufficient fermentation in the large bowel, resulting in reduced production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate, which has unfavourable implications for gut health, sleep and mental health. This study will examine the effect of Fibre-fix, a supplement containing a mix of dietary fibres, on the human gut microbiome composition, fermentative capacity, sleep, quality of life …

Factors That Influence Adherence To Treatment Plans Amongst People Living With Cardiovascular Disease: A Review Of Published Qualitative Research Studies, Amineh Rashidi, Prachi Kaistha, Lisa Whitehead, Suzanne Robinson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

Treatment plan adherence is recognized as a worldwide health issue, particularly important in the management of cardiovascular patients. Healthcare professionals are the primary sources of information and support for people diagnosed with CVD and those who have experienced a cardiac event, yet we know little about how healthcare professionals contribute to the process of adherence to treatment plans that aim to prevent and/or reduce disease and adverse events. Qualitative evidence that explores factors that influence adherence to treatment plans is limited.

Objective

This systematic review identified and synthesised the best available evidence on factors that influence adherence to treatment …

The Use Of Yank-Time Signal As An Alternative To Identify Kinematic Events And Define Phases In Human Countermovement Jumping, Sofyan Sahrom, Jodie C. Wilkie, Kazunori Nosaka, Anthony J. Blazevich

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Detailed examinations of both the movement and muscle activation patterns used by animals and humans to complete complex tasks are difficult to obtain in many environments. Therefore, the ability to infer movement and muscle activation patterns after capture of a single set of easily obtained data is highly sought after. One possible solution to this problem is to capture force-time data through the use of appropriate transducers, then interrogate the signal's derivative, the yank-time signal, which amplifies, and thus highlights, temporal force-time changes. Because the countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) is a complex movement that has been well studied in humans, …

Do Paramedics Have A Professional Obligation To Work During A Pandemic? A Qualitative Exploration Of Community Member Expectations, Cameron Anderson, Julie Ann Pooley, Brennen Mills, Emma Anderson, Erin Smith

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Objectives:

Previous research has identified a lack of clarification regarding paramedic professional obligation to work. Understanding community expectations of paramedics will provide some clarity around this issue. The objective of this research was to explore the expectations of a sample of Australian community members regarding the professional obligation of paramedics to respond during pandemics.

Methods:

The authors used qualitative methods to gather Australian community member perspectives immediately before the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Focus groups were used for data collection, and a thematic analysis was conducted.

Results:

The findings revealed 9 key themes: context of obligation …

Rate Of Torque Development And Striatal Shape In Individuals With Prodromal Huntington's Disease, Travis Cruickshank, Alvaro Reyes, Timothy S. Pulverenti, Tim Rankin, Danielle M. Bartlett, Anthony J. Blazevich, Govinda Poudel, Mel Ziman, Gabriel S. Trajano

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The aim of the present study was to quantify explosive joint torque or the ability to develop joint torque rapidly, typically measured as the rate of torque development, in individuals with prodromal Huntington’s disease and healthy controls and its associations with measures of disease burden and striatal pathology. Twenty prodromal Huntington’s disease and 19 healthy control individuals volunteered for this study. Plantar flexor isometric rate of torque development values were evaluated using isokinetic dynamometry. Pathological changes in striatal shape were evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging. Disease burden was evaluated using the disease burden score and cytosine-adenine-guanine age product score. No …

Clinical Oncology Society Of Australia: Position Statement On Cancer-Related Malnutrition And Sarcopenia, Nicole Kiss, Jenelle Loeliger, Merran Findlay, Elizabeth Isenring, Brenton J. Baguley, Anna Boltong, Alexis Butler, Irene Deftereos, Michelle Eisenhuth, Steve F. Fraser, Rebecca Fichera, Hayley Griffin, Sandi Hayes, Emily Jeffery, Catherine Johnson, Chris Lomma, Barbara Van Der Meij, Carolyn Mcintyre, Tracey Nicholls, Lina Pugliano, Tina Skinner, Jane Stewart, Judy Bauer

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 The Authors. Nutrition & Dietetics published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Dietitians Australia. This position statement describes the recommendations of the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) regarding management of cancer-related malnutrition and sarcopenia. A multidisciplinary working group completed a review of the literature, focused on evidence-based guidelines, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, to develop recommendations for the position statement. National consultation of the position statement content was undertaken through COSA members. All people with cancer should be screened for malnutrition and sarcopenia in all health settings at diagnosis and as the clinical situation …

Autoregulation In Resistance Training: Addressing The Inconsistencies, Leon Greig, Ben Hayden Stephens Hemingway, Rodrigo R. Aspe, Kay Cooper, Paul Comfort, Paul A. Swinton

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020, The Author(s). Autoregulation is a process that is used to manipulate training based primarily on the measurement of an individual’s performance or their perceived capability to perform. Despite being established as a training framework since the 1940s, there has been limited systematic research investigating its broad utility. Instead, researchers have focused on disparate practices that can be considered specific examples of the broader autoregulation training framework. A primary limitation of previous research includes inconsistent use of key terminology (e.g., adaptation, readiness, fatigue, and response) and associated ambiguity of how to implement different autoregulation strategies. Crucially, this ambiguity in …

Chronic Kidney Disease Of Unknown Origin Is Associated With Environmental Urbanisation In Belfast, Uk, Jennifer M. Mckinley, Ute Mueller, Peter M. Atkinson, Ulrich Ofterdinger, Siobhan F. Cox, Rory Doherty, Damian Fogarty, J. J. Egozcue, V. Pawlowsky-Glahn

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020, The Author(s). Chronic kidney disease (CKD), a collective term for many causes of progressive renal failure, is increasing worldwide due to ageing, obesity and diabetes. However, these factors cannot explain the many environmental clusters of renal disease that are known to occur globally. This study uses data from the UK Renal Registry (UKRR) including CKD of uncertain aetiology (CKDu) to investigate environmental factors in Belfast, UK. Urbanisation has been reported to have an increasing impact on soils. Using an urban soil geochemistry database of elemental concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), we investigated the association of the standardised …

Isokinetic Eccentric Exercise Substantially Improves Mobility, Muscle Strength And Size, But Not Postural Sway Metrics In Older Adults, With Limited Regression Observed Following A Detraining Period, Anthony David Kay, Anthony John Blazevich, Millie Fraser, Lucy Ashmore, Mathew William Hill

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020, The Author(s). Introduction: Eccentric exercise can reverse age-related decreases in muscle strength and mass; however, no data exist describing its effects on postural sway. As the ankle may be more important for postural sway than hip and knee joints, and with older adults prone to periods of inactivity, the effects of two 6-week seated isokinetic eccentric exercise programmes, and an 8-week detraining period, were examined in 27 older adults (67.1 ± 6.0 years). Methods: Neuromuscular parameters were measured before and after training and detraining periods with subjects assigned to ECC (twice-weekly eccentric-only hip and knee extensor contractions) or …

Skin Temperatures Of Back Or Neck Are Better Than Abdomen For Indication Of Average Proximal Skin Temperature During Sleep Of School-Aged Children, Veronique Bach, Chris R. Abbiss, Jean-Pierre Libert, Susan M. Mccabe

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose: The tight association between sleep, body temperature regulation, and patterns of skin temperature change highlights the necessity for accurate and valid assessment of skin temperatures during sleep. With increased interest in this functional relationship in infants and children, it is important to identify where to best measure proximal skin temperature and whether it is possible to reduce the number of sites of measures, in order to limit the experimental effects in natural settings. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the most suitable single skin temperature sites for representation of average proximal skin temperature during sleep of …

Activate Or Inhibit? Implications Of Autophagy Modulation As A Therapeutic Strategy For Alzheimer’S Disease, Sharmeelavathi Krishnan, Yasaswi Shrestha, Dona P.W. Jayatunga, Sarah Rea, Ralph Martins, Prashant Bharadwaj

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Neurodegenerative diseases result in a range of conditions depending on the type of proteinopathy, genes affected or the location of the degeneration in the brain. Proteinopathies such as senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain are prominent features of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Autophagy is a highly regulated mechanism of eliminating dysfunctional organelles and proteins, and plays an important role in removing these pathogenic intracellular protein aggregates, not only in AD, but also in other neurodegenerative diseases. Activating autophagy is gaining interest as a potential therapeutic strategy for chronic diseases featuring protein aggregation and misfolding, including AD. Although autophagy activation …

Confirmatory Factor Analysis And Reliability Of The Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (Dtsq) For Arabic Speaking Patients With Type Ii Diabetes, Diana Arabiat, Lisa Whitehead, Buthina Abu Sheikh, Ebenezer Afrifa-Yamoah

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Treatment satisfaction is an important indicator for treatment compliance and glycemic control. Although psychometric properties of the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire have been confirmed in several languages, it remains unclear the extent to which the factorial structure of this tool is valid for Arabic speaking populations.

Purpose: This study set out to confirm the construct validity of the Arabic version of the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ) by investigating the fit of published factor structures and the reliability of responses in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Data were from a large cross-sectional study of 1002 patients with …

Pilot Service Evaluation Of A Brief Psychological Therapy For Self-Harm In An Emergency Department: Hospital Outpatient Psychotherapy Engagement Service, Peter J. Taylor, Kirsten Fien, Helen Mulholland, Rui Duarte, Joanne M. Dickson, Cecil Kullu

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 The Authors. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Psychological Society Background: Brief psychological therapies may be helpful for people who have recently self-harmed. The current paper reports on a service evaluation of a novel brief therapy service based within an Emergency Department, Hospital Outpatient Psychotherapy Engagement (HOPE) Service. This service combines elements of psychodynamic interpersonal and cognitive analytic therapy to help people who present with self-harm-related difficulties. The primary aim of this service evaluation was to ascertain the feasibility of HOPE in terms of attendance rates. …

Plasma High Density Lipoprotein Small Subclass Is Reduced In Alzheimer’S Disease Patients And Correlates With Cognitive Performance, Steve Pedrini, Eugene Hone, Veer B. Gupta, Ian James, Elham Teimouri, Ashley I. Bush, Christopher C. Rowe, Victor L. Villemagne, David Ames, Colin L. Masters, Stephanie Rainey-Smith, Guiseppe Verdile, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Manfred R. Raida, Markus Wenk, Kevin Taddei, Pratishtha Chatterjee, Ian Martins, Simon Laws, Ralph Martins, Australian Imaging, Biomarkers And Lifestyle (Aibl) Research Group

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

The link between cholesterol and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has received much attention, as evidence suggests high levels of cholesterol might be an AD risk factor. The carriage of cholesterol and lipids through the body is mediated via lipoproteins, some of which, particularly apolipoprotein E (ApoE), are intimately linked with AD. In humans, high density lipoprotein (HDL) is regarded as a “good” lipid complex due to its ability to enable clearance of excess cholesterol via ‘cholesterol reverse transport’, although its activities in the pathogenesis of AD are poorly understood. There are several subclasses of HDL; these range from the newly …

The Issue Of Skeletal Muscle Growth And Regeneration, Ayman Ghallab, Ayman Mohammed Ghallab

Dentistry

The aim of our criticism of the paper authored by Makovický and Makovický (2020) was to prevent the readers from being misinformed by a paper based on a major flaw such as confusing splitting muscle fibers with a stretch receptor.

Effect Of Different Scaling Methods And Materials On The Enamel Surface Topography: An In Vitro Sem Study, Mahmoud Al Ankily, Fatma Makkeyah, Mohamed Shamel, Mahmoud Bakr

Dentistry

Aims and Objectives: Scaling is important for maintenance of gingival and periodontal conditions. These procedures have a harmful effect on the dental hard tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hand and ultrasonic instruments made of stainless and titanium on the surface properties of enamel. Materials and Methods: Forty extracted premolars were used in this in vitro study and were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10). Group I received ultrasonic scaling with stainless steel tip, group II received ultrasonic scaling with titanium tip, group III hand scaling with stainless steel tip, and group …

Effects Of Aflatoxin B1 On The Submandibular Salivary Gland Of Albino Rats And Possible Therapeutic Potential Of Rosmarinus Officinalis: A Light And Electron Microscopic Study, Mohamed Shamel, Bassant Ashraf

Dentistry

Background: Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a highly toxic mycotoxin, is one of the contaminants of food items such as corn, rice, nuts, and flour. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of AFB1 on the histology and ultrastructure of the submandibular salivary glands (SMSG) of albino rats and examine the possible therapeutic effect of Rosmarinus officinalis extract. Methods: This study used 21 adult male albino rats equally divided into three groups as follows: Group C (saline-treated control group); Group A (AFB1 treated group) subjected to intraperitoneal injection of AFB1 (2 mg/kg) once daily for four weeks; Group R …

Hyper-Sensitivity Assessment After Immediate Versus Delayed Dentine Sealing In Indirect Composite Restorations: Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial, Hoda Fouda

Dentistry

Aim: to evaluate the efficacy of immediate dentin sealing using universal adhesive in comparison to delayed dentin sealing in the reduction of the hypersensitivity in teeth prepared for indirect tooth composite restorations using Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Materials and methods: Fifty-four patients between 18 and 30 years of age were recruited and randomized to the treatment protocols. After baseline preoperative data collection, diagnosis of caries was done depending on the basis of clinical examination that was done tentatively and radiographic examination was done as well. After cavity preparation was done, for the cavities to be managed with immediate dentine sealing, …

Comparative Study Of Two Fifferent Telescopic Crown Materials Retaining Lower Partial Overdenture, Fardos N. Rizk Prof., Ayman Hany Amin Dr., Gehan Fikry Prof., Amr Ismail Dr.

Dentistry

Background and Objective: This study was conducted to measure the difference between Chrome Cobalt telescopic crowns and Poly ether ether ketone (PEEK) telescopic crowns retaining implant retained partial overdenture.

Materials and Methods: This is a comparitive study that included fourteen lower kennedy class I partially edendulous patients. All patients received posterior implant in the second molar area in each side. The patients were divided into 2 groups, the first group received chrome cobalt telescopic crown and the second group received poly ether ketone telescopic crowns over the implants. Partial overdenture was constructed for all the patients in the two groups. …

Assessment Of Physical Properties Of A Zno/E ~Sealer Modified By Adding Moringa Oleifera: An Experimental In-Vitro Study, Engy M. Kataia, `Maram E. Khallaf, Nada Omar, Yousra Aly, Nancy Elshafei

Dentistry

Aim: In an attempt to move toward exploration of the antibacterial properties of herbal products, this study evaluated the effect of how the addition of Moringa would affect the physical properties of the commercial Endofil sealer. Materials and Methods: An experimental in vitro study was performed using three experimental sealers. There were four groups in this study: Group A (ZnO/E sealer alone), Group B (ZnO/E and Moringa root), Group C (ZnO/E and Moringa leaf), and Group D (ZnO/E and Moringa leaf extract liquid). Measurements were carried out according to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standardization 6876:2012. Moringa oleifera was added …

Effect Of Different Scaling Methods And Materials On The Enamel Surface Topography: An In Vitro Sem Study, Mohamed Shamel, Mahmoud Bakr, Mahmoud Ankily, Fatma Makkeyah

Dentistry

Aims and Objectives: Scaling is important for maintenance of gingival and periodontal conditions. These procedures have a harmful effect on the dental hard tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hand and ultrasonic instruments made of stainless and titanium on the surface properties of enamel. Materials and Methods: Forty extracted premolars were used in this in vitro study and were randomly divided into four groups (n= 10). Group I received ultrasonic scaling with stainless steel tip, group II received ultrasonic scaling with titanium tip, group III hand scaling with stainless steel tip, and group IV …

The Effect Of Smoking On Clinical Presentation And Expression Of Tlr-2 And Cd34 In Oral Lichen Planus Patients: Clinical And Immunohistochemical Study, Enji Ahmed Mahmoud, Nermin Yousif, Nermin Raouf

Dentistry

Background: Oral lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory disease which is considered as a potential precancerous condition. Numerous studies have confirmed that inflammation is a strong risk factor for cancer development. Smoking is associated with potentially malignant disorders of the oral and oropharyngeal mucosa. The adverse consequences of smoking in various pathologies are mediated by its effects on the immune-inflammatory system. Little is known about the influence of cigarette smoke content on the course of OLP and inflammatory response. Methods: Twenty oral lichen planus smoker patients, 20 oral lichen planus non-smoker patients and 20 control patients were included in this …

Vegetable Diversity In Relation With Subclinical Atherosclerosis And 15-Year Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease Deaths In Older Adult Women, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Joshua R. Lewis, Catherine P. Bondonno, Marc Sim, Amanda Devine, Kun Zhu, Wai H. Lim, Richard J. Woodman, Lawrence J. Beilin, Peter L. Thompson, Richard L. Prince, Jonathan M. Hodgson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Increasing vegetable intake and diversity are recommended to maintain better health. Evidence for the health benefits of vegetable diversity, separate from total intake, is scarce. We aimed to investigate the associations of vegetable diversity with subclinical measures of atherosclerosis and atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD) mortality.

Sylc Air Polishing Versus Fluoride Varnish Application In Managing Dentin Hypersensitivity In Non-Carious Cervical Lesions: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Mohamed Fouad Haridy, Dina Ezz Eldin Ahned, Heba Hanza, Mohsen Abielhassan, Mai Mamdouh

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Preparation Type And Tooth Geometry On The Accuracy Of Different Intraoral Scanners, Ahmed Sabet

Dentistry

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of preparation design and tooth geometry on the accuracy of scans obtained from three different intraoral scanners (IOS). Materials and Methods: Full coverage crown and inlay preparations with known axial wall tapers (6ᵒ and 12ᵒ) were performed on typodont teeth using a computer numerical control machine. Reference models were scanned with a highly accurate reference scanner (Ineos X5) and saved in standard tessellation language (STL) format then each IOS (Omnicam, Trios, and i500) scanned each model 10 times. The STL files obtained from the intraoral scanners were compared to the reference models (trueness) and within …

Accuracy And Repeatability Of Different Intraoral Scanners On Shade Determination, Ahmed Sabet

Dentistry

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy and repeatability of different intraoral scanners on shade determination. Materials and methods: Ten different shades of Vita Mark II blocks were used. A disc-shape specimen (10 mm in diameter and 1 mm thick) per ceramic block was fabricated. Ten color measurements per specimen were performed by each instrument (Vita Easyshade V [control], 3shape Trios, Cerec Omnicam, Cerec Primescan) and recorded in Vita Classic color system. The number of correct shade match per instrument for each shade was recorded. Instrumental accuracy was compared using Cochran Q test and repeatability was analyzed using Cronbach's alpha. Results: There …

Lower-Body Power, Linear Speed, And Change-Of-Direction Speed In Division I Collegiate Women's Volleyball Players, Robert G. Lockie, J. Jay Dawes, Samuel J. Callaghan

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 Institute of Sport. All rights reserved. Volleyball players need to sprint and change direction during a match. Lower-body power, often measured by jump tests, could contribute to faster movements. How different jumps relate to linear and change-of-direction (COD) speed has not been analyzed in Division I (DI) collegiate women's volleyball players. Fifteen female volleyball players completed the vertical jump (VJ), two-step approach jump (AppJ), and standing broad jump (SBJ). Peak power and power-to-body mass ratio (P:BM) were derived from VJ and AppJ height; relative SBJ was derived from SBJ distance. Linear speed was measured via a 20-m sprint …

Resistance Mechanisms To Targeted Therapy In Braf-Mutant Melanoma - A Mini Review, Lokeswari P. Tangella, Michael E. Clark, Elin S. Gray

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

The introduction of targeted therapies for the treatment of BRAF-mutant melanomas have improved survival rates in a significant proportion of patients. Nonetheless, the emergence of resistance to treatment remains inevitable in most patients.

Scope of review

Here, we review known and emerging molecular mechanisms that underlay the development of resistance to MAPK inhibition in melanoma cells and the potential strategies to overcome these mechanisms.

Major conclusions

Multiple genetic and non-genetic mechanisms contribute to treatment failure, commonly leading to the reactivation of the MAPK pathway. A variety of resistance mechanisms are enabled by the underlying heterogeneity and plasticity of melanoma …