Conference on disease with natural foci and parasitological problems...[Moscow, Leningrad, Academy of Science USSR, 1959]

"Sponsored by the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (Zoological Institute, Leningrad) and the Academy of Medical Sciences (Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology imeni)...N. F. Gamaley."

Maternal anxiety and attention problems in children at 5 and 14 years

Objective: This study examines the association between maternal anxiety from pregnancy to 5 years and child attention problems at 5 and 14 years. Method: Birth cohort of 3,982 individuals born in Brisbane between 1981 and 1983 are assessed. Self-reported measures of maternal anxiety are assessed at four time points. Maternal reports of child attention problems using Achenbach’s Child Behavior Checklist are assessed at 5 and 14 years. Results: Children of mothers experiencing anxiety during or after pregnancy are at greater risk of experiencing attention problems at 5 and 14 years. After adjusting for maternal age and child’s gender, antenatal anxiety is strongly associated with persistent attention problems (OR = 3.65, 95% CI = 2.19, 6.07). Children with chronically anxious mothers are 5.67 (95% CI = 3.56, 9.03) times more likely to have persistent attention problems. These associations remain consistent after adjusting for potential confounders. Conclusions: Maternal anxiety appears to increase the rate of child attention problems and identifies a need for treatment programs to have a dual focus—the mother and her child. (J. of Att. Dis. 2009; XX(X) 1-XX)

Randomized controlled trial of cognitive-behavioural therapy for coexisting depression and alcohol problems : short-term outcome

AIMS: Alcohol use disorders and depression co-occur frequently and are associated with poorer outcomes than when either condition occurs alone. The present study (Depression and Alcohol Integrated and Single-focused Interventions; DAISI) aimed to compare the effectiveness of brief intervention, single-focused and integrated psychological interventions for treatment of coexisting depression and alcohol use problems. METHODS: Participants (n = 284) with current depressive symptoms and hazardous alcohol use were assessed and randomly allocated to one of four individually delivered interventions: (i) a brief intervention only (single 90-minute session) with an integrated focus on depression and alcohol, or followed by a further nine 1-hour sessions with (ii) an alcohol focus; (iii) a depression focus; or (iv) an integrated focus. Follow-up assessments occurred 18 weeks after baseline. RESULTS: Compared with the brief intervention, 10 sessions were associated with greater reductions in average drinks per week, average drinking days per week and maximum consumption on 1 day. No difference in duration of treatment was found for depression outcomes. Compared with single-focused interventions, integrated treatment was associated with a greater reduction in drinking days and level of depression. For men, the alcohol-focused rather than depression-focused intervention was associated with a greater reduction in average drinks per day and drinks per week and an increased level of general functioning. Women showed greater improvements on each of these variables when they received depression-focused rather than alcohol-focused treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Integrated treatment may be superior to single-focused treatment for coexisting depression and alcohol problems, at least in the short term. Gender differences between single-focused depression and alcohol treatments warrant further study.

Lifting the lifegiving dollar : case samples of creative practice in health and medical research philanthropy

This study aims to stimulate thought, debate and action for change on this question of more vigorous philanthropic funding of Australian health and medical research (HMR). It sharpens the argument with some facts and ideas about HMR funding from overseas sources. It also reports informed opinions from those working, giving and innovating in this area. It pinpoints the range of attitudes to HMR giving, both positive and negative. The study includes some aspects of Government funding as part of the equation, viewing Government as major HMR givers, with particular ability to partner, leverage and create incentives. Stimulating new philanthropy takes active outreach. The opportunity to build more dialogue between the HMR industry and the wider community is timely given the ‘licence to practice’ issues and questioned trust that applies currently somewhat both to science and to the charitable sector. This interest in improving HMR philanthropy also coincides with the launch last year by the Federal Government of Nonprofit Australia Limited (NAL), a group currently assessing infrastructure improvements to the charitable sector. History suggests no one will create this change if Research Australia does not. However, interest in change exists in various quarters. For Research Australia to successfully change the culture of Australian HMR giving, the process will drive the outcomes. Obviously stakeholder buy-in and partners will be needed and the ultimate blueprint for greater philanthropic HMR funding here will not be this document. Instead it will be the one that wears the handprint and ‘mindprint’ of the many architects and implementers interested in promoting HMR philanthropy, from philanthropists to nonprofit peaks to government policy arms. As the African proverb says, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go with others’.

The Changing world and service problems in bankruptcy

In an age where financial transactions are conducted worldwide and mobility of citizens throughout the world is common, lawyers seeking to serve Bankruptcy Notices and Creditor’s Petitions encounter many problems. To assist lawyers in overcoming some of the service problems that are arising as a result of this changing world, a number of recent cases are considered that highlight a number of issues, including American Express Australia Limited v Michaels [2010] FMCA 103, Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Barnes (2008) 70 ATR 776; [2008] FMCA 7, Battenberg v Restom & Ors (2005) 223 ALR 692; upheld by the Full Federal Court in Battenberg v Restrom and Ors (2006) 149 FCR 128 at 133; [2006] FCAFC 20 and Envee Energy Pty Ltd (In Liquidation) v Stockford [2007] FMCA 1426. While the fact situation of every bankruptcy case will differ, recent decisions may assist lawyers in dealing effectively with bankruptcy matters in these times of transition. Lawyers can facilitate completion of the litigious process within the relevant legislative framework in order to satisfy their responsibility to clients and to the Court by considering this case law.

An investigation of foot and ankle problems experienced by nurses

Relatively little information has been reported about foot and ankle problems experienced by nurses, despite anecdotal evidence which suggests they are common ailments. The purpose of this study was to improve knowledge about the prevalence of foot and ankle musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and to explore relationships between these MSDs and proposed risk factors. A review of the literature relating to work-related MSDs, MSDs in nursing, foot and lower-limb MSDs, screening for work-related MSDs, foot discomfort, footwear and the prevalence of foot problems in the community was undertaken. Based on the review, theoretical risk factors were proposed that pertained to the individual characteristics of the nurses, their work activity or their work environment. Three studies were then undertaken. A cross-sectional survey of 304 nurses, working in a large tertiary paediatric hospital, established the prevalence of foot and ankle MSDs. The survey collected information about self-reported risk factors of interest. The second study involved the clinical examination of a subgroup of 40 nurses, to examine changes in body discomfort, foot discomfort and postural sway over the course of a single work shift. Objective measurements of additional risk factors, such as individual foot posture (arch index) and the hardness of shoe midsoles, were performed. A final study was used to confirm the test-retest reliability of important aspects of the survey and key clinical measurements. Foot and ankle problems were the most common MSDs experienced by nurses in the preceding seven days (42.7% of nurses). They were the second most common MSDs to cause disability in the last 12 months (17.4% of nurses), and the third most common MSDs experienced by nurses in the last 12 months (54% of nurses). Substantial foot discomfort (Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score of 50mm or more) was experienced by 48.5% of nurses at sometime in the last 12 months. Individual risk factors, such as obesity and the number of self-reported foot conditions (e.g., callouses, curled toes, flat feet) were strongly associated with the likelihood of experiencing foot problems in the last seven days or during the last 12 months. These risk factors showed consistent associations with disabling foot conditions and substantial foot discomfort. Some of these associations were dependent upon work-related risk factors, such as the location within the hospital and the average hours worked per week. Working in the intensive care unit was associated with higher odds of experiencing foot problems within the last seven days, foot problems in the last 12 months and foot problems that impaired activity in the last 12 months. Changes in foot discomfort experienced within a day, showed large individual variability. Fifteen of the forty nurses experienced moderate/substantial foot discomfort at the end of their shift (VAS 25+mm). Analysis of the association between risk factors and moderate/substantial foot discomfort revealed that foot discomfort was less likely for nurses who were older, had greater BMI or had lower foot arches, as indicated by higher arch index scores. The nurses’ postural sway decreased over the course of the work shift, suggesting improved body balance by the end of the day. These findings were unexpected. Further clinical studies examining individual nurses on several work shifts are needed to confirm these results, particularly due to the small sample size and the single measurement occasion. There are more than 280,000 nurses registered to practice in Australia. The nursing workforce is ageing and the prevalence of foot problems will increase. If the prevalence estimates from this study are extrapolated to the profession generally, more than 70,000 hospital nurses have experienced substantial foot discomfort and 25-30,000 hospital nurses have been limited in their activity due to foot problems during the last 12 months. Nurses with underlying foot conditions were more likely to report having foot problems at work. Strategies to prevent or manage foot conditions exist and they should be disseminated to nurses. Obesity is a significant risk factor for foot and ankle MSDs and these nurses may need particular assistance to manage foot problems. The risk of foot problems for particular groups of nurses, e.g. obese nurses, may vary depending upon the location within the hospital. Further research is needed to confirm the findings of this study. Similar studies should be conducted in other occupational groups that require workers to stand for prolonged periods.

'The Pianist' and the ruins of Berlin

In this paper I will discuss some of the ways Berlin and the city's main studio complex, Studio Babelsberg, have been promoted and used as sites for international feature film production in recent years. I will use Roman Polanski's film The Pianist, which was shot in part at Studio Babelsberg and in the vicinity of Berlin, to exemplify some of the transformations and discuss some of the repercussions of international production for thinking about cinematic rivalry between places.