The neuroanatomical correlates of subjective wellbeing following head injury

The thesis found results supporting the involvement of the Right Frontal area of the brain in the subjective wellbeing (SWB) of individuals. Additional results suggested SWB is dependent upon Core Affect, itself dependent upon the Right Parietal area of the brain. These results provide evidence that SWB and Core Affect are based upon a neurological substrate. The portfolio investigated the association between chronic medical conditions and anxiety disorders, and how the occurence of anxiety issues can affect overall psychological adjustment to illness.

Basic symptoms in young people at ultra high-risk of psychosis

Basic Symptoms are cognitive and emotional disturbances characteristic of the early stage of psychosis. This study established the utility of an instrument to identify Basic Symptoms amongst young people at high-risk for developing psychosis, thereby facilitating the pathway to treatment for these individuals. The portfolio focuses on how having an unwell parent contributes to and influences the development of psychopathology in offspring. The four clinical case studies are presented in detail, and the intervention strategies for each individual are evaluated.

A nurse-assisted screening and referral program for depression among survivors of colorectal cancer : feasibility study

Objective: To test the feasibility and acceptability of a telephone-based program to screen survivors of colorectal cancer (CRC) for distress, and to refer distressed patients to their treating health service.

Design, setting and participants: A prospective, multicentre study involving 59 patients with CRC recruited from six public and private health services in Melbourne, Victoria, from 15 June 2008 to 22 September 2009. Patients who had completed adjuvant chemotherapy for CRC were contacted (7–10 days after recruitment [outcall one] and again 4 weeks later [outcall two]) by the Cancer Council Victoria’s helpline nurse, and screened for distress with the Distress and Impact Thermometer (DIT); participants were given tailored information and support and those with distress scores of ≥5, and impact scores of ≥4, were referred for follow-up. Telephone interviews were conducted 4 weeks after outcall two. Participating helpline and health service staff were surveyed on the feasibility and acceptability of the service. Main outcome measure: Anxiety and depression, measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Results: Of the 59 patients (87%) who agreed to participate, 63% were men; their mean age was 59 years (SD, 9.5 years). HADS depression decreased significantly from baseline (mean score, 4.93; SD, 4.22) to follow-up (mean score, 3.84; SD, 4.10; Z = −2.375; P= 0.02). However, there was no significant difference in HADS anxiety between baseline (mean score, 5.29; SD, 4.11) and follow-up (mean score, 4.78; SD, 3.65). Outcall one generated two referrals (4% of participants) and outcall two generated four referrals
(8%); five of these six participants took up the referrals. Satisfaction with the program among participants was high; 82% found outcall one “quite or very helpful” and 79% found outcall two “quite or very helpful”. Helpline and health service staff reported a straightforward process that did not adversely affect workloads.

Conclusion: This model of care carries the potential to meet ongoing psychosocial needs of survivors of CRC.

Changes in SWB following injury to different brain lobes

A neurological substrate for subjective wellbeing (SWB) has received little research attention.
Purpose This study was designed to conduct exploratory investigation into the neuroanatomical correlates of SWB, by monitoring the SWB of a head-injured population over a six-month period.
Method Seventy people with head injury (HI), aged 10–65, were studied. The SWB of each participant was measured, and computed tomography (CT) scans were analysed to obtain regional brain injury location (BIL).
Results SWB was associated with BIL. However, the hypothesis that individuals with left frontal injury would report lower SWB was not supported. Instead, it was observed that participants with injury to their right frontal lobe reported higher SWB than individuals with injury to other regions of the brain.
Conclusions This study provides initial exploration into the neuroanatomical correlates of SWB.

What are the policy priorities for sustaining ecological processes? A case study from Victoria, Australia

Developments in ecological theory indicate that ecological processes have major implications for sustaining biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services. Consequently, conservation actions that focus solely on particular species, vegetation communities, habitats or sites ('assets') are unlikely to be effective over the long term unless the ecological processes that support them continue to function. Efforts to sustain biodiversity must embrace both 'assets' and 'process-oriented' approaches. Existing knowledge about ecological processes, incomplete though it is, has not been adequately considered in government decision making. It is, therefore, necessary to consider how to build consideration of ecological processes into legislative and institutional frameworks, policy and planning processes, and on-ground environmental management. Drawing on insights from interviews, a facilitated workshop, and a literature review, this paper identifies a suite of policy priorities and associated reforms which should assist in ensuring that ecological processes are given more attention in policy-making processes. It is concluded that a multi-pronged approach is required, because there are no 'silver bullets' for sustaining ecological processes.

Rapid development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in Psammomys obesus (Israeli Sand Rat)

Background and AimsA major impediment to establishing new treatments for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis is the lack of suitable animal models that accurately mimic the biochemical and metabolic characteristics of the disease. The aim of this study was to explore a unique polygenic animal model of metabolic disease as a model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis by determining the effects of 2% dietary cholesterol supplementation on metabolic and liver endpoints in Psammomys obesus (Israeli sand rat).MethodsP. obesus were provided ad libitum access to either a standard rodent diet (20% kcal/fat) or a standard rodent diet supplemented with 2% cholesterol (w/w) for 4 weeks. Histological sections of liver from animals on both diets were examined for key features of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. The expression levels of key genes involved in hepatic lipid metabolism were measured by real-time PCR.ResultsP. obesus fed a cholesterol-supplemented diet exhibited profound hepatomegaly and steatosis, and higher plasma transaminase levels. Histological analysis identified extensive steatosis, inflammation, hepatocyte injury and fibrosis. Hepatic gene expression profiling revealed decreased expression of genes involved in delivery and uptake of lipids, and fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis, and increased expression of genes involved in very low density lipoprotein cholesterol synthesis, triglyceride and cholesterol export.ConclusionsP. obesus rapidly develop non-alcoholic steatohepatitis when fed a cholesterol-supplemented diet that appears to be histologically and mechanistically similar to patients.

Biotechnological applications of microbial bioconversions

Modern research has focused on the microbial transformation of a huge variety of organic compounds to obtain compounds of therapeutic and/or industrial interest. Microbial transformation is a useful tool for producing new compounds, as a consequence of the variety of reactions for natural products. This article describes the production of many important compounds by biotransformation. Emphasis is placed on reporting the metabolites that may be of special interest to the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries, as well as the practical aspects of this work in the field of microbial transformations.

Effect of respiratory muscle training on pulmonary function in preoperative preparation of tobacco smokers

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito da utilização de um programa de treinamento específico dos músculos respiratórios sobre a função pulmonar em indivíduos tabagistas. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 50 indivíduos tabagistas assintomáticos com idade superior a 30 anos, nos seguintes momentos: A0 - avaliação inicial seguida do protocolo de exercícios respiratórios; A1 - reavaliação após 10 minutos da aplicação do protocolo; e A2 -reavaliação final após duas semanas de treinamento utilizando o mesmo protocolo três vezes por semana. A avaliação foi realizada através das medidas de pressões respiratórias máximas (PImax. e PEmax.), picos de fluxo respiratórios (PFI e PFE), ventilação voluntária máxima (VVM), capacidade vital Forçada (CVF) e Volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo (VEF1). RESULTADOS: Não houve melhora na CVF e VEF1 da avaliação inicial para a final. Houve aumento significativo das variáveis PFI, PFE, VVM e PImax nas avaliações A1 e A2. A variável PEmax. aumentou somente na avaliação A2. CONCLUSÃO: A aplicação de protocolo de exercícios respiratórios com e sem carga adicional em indivíduos tabagistas produziu melhora imediata na performance dos músculos respiratórios, mas esta melhora foi mais acentuada após duas semanas de exercício.

Eficiência de absorção, transporte e utilização de macronutrientes por porta-enxertos de caramboleira, cultivados em soluções nutritivas

O estado nutricional de plantas cultivadas em solução nutritiva pode ser influenciado pelo tipo de solução utilizada, afetando desta forma seu adequado crescimento. Com este trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar a exigência nutricional de porta-enxertos de caramboleira, cultivados em quatro diferentes soluções nutritivas. O delineamento experimental empregado foi inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições, tendo como tratamentos as quatro soluções. Como solução padrão foi utilizada a de Hoagland & Arnon, comparada à outras três soluções. O experimento foi conduzido em condições de casa-de-vegetação, em recipientes plásticos com 8 L de capacidade. Após 150 dias do transplantio, foram determinados a matéria seca e o teor de nutrientes, inferindo-se o conteúdo dos macronutrientes na planta. Com esses resultados calculou-se os índices: eficiência de absorção; eficiência de transporte e eficiência de utilização dos nutrientes. As soluções nutritivas de Sarruge, de Castellane & Araújo e de Furlani foram semelhantes na produção de matéria seca das plantas de caramboleira. O uso da solução nutritiva de Hoagland & Arnon resultou em menor produção de matéria seca das caramboleiras, e, também, menor eficiência de utilização de Ca e Mg pelas plantas. A eficiência de transporte dos nutrientes foi a mais afetada pelas soluções nutritivas utilizadas, enquanto a eficiência de utilização dos nutrientes sofreu pouca variação em função das soluções empregadas.