Naresuan University Journal
Not a member yet
39887 research outputs found
Sort by
Brain structure correlates of emotion-based rash impulsivity.
No full textNegative urgency (the tendency to engage in rash, ill-considered action in response to intense negative emotions), is a personality trait that has been linked to problematic involvement in several risky and impulsive behaviours, and to various forms of disinhibitory psychopathology, but its neurobiological correlates are poorly understood. Here, we explored whether inter-individual variation in levels of trait negative urgency was associated with inter-individual variation in regional grey matter volumes. Using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) in a sample (n=152) of healthy participants, we found that smaller volumes of the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and right temporal pole, regions previously linked to emotion appraisal, emotion regulation and emotion-based decision-making, were associated with higher levels of trait negative urgency. When controlling for other impulsivity linked personality traits (sensation seeking, lack of planning/perseverance) and negative emotionality per se (neuroticism), these associations remained, and an additional relationship was found between higher levels of trait negative urgency and smaller volumes of the left ventral striatum. This latter finding mirrors recent VBM findings in an animal model of impulsivity. Our findings offer novel insight into the brain structure correlates of one key source of inter-individual differences in impulsivity
Measurement of four-jet differential cross sections in TeV proton-proton collisions using the ATLAS detector
No full text
Retreatment in patients with psoriasis achieving response with etanercept after relapse due to treatment interruption: results from the CRYSTEL study.
No full textBACKGROUND: In clinical practice, patients with psoriasis may require intermittent therapy as part of their long-term treatment programme. Those achieving Physician's Global Assessment (PGA) of ≤ 1 (almost clear/clear) are more likely to be selected as candidates for intermittent therapy than those with a higher PGA (≥ 2; mild or worse), who may relapse sooner or have a delayed response. The objective of this analysis was to determine if patients achieving PGA ≤ 1 using intermittent etanercept (ETN) therapy could regain response (defined as PGA ≤ 2) after relapse. METHODS: In the CRYSTEL study (clinicaltrials.gov NCT00195507), patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis were treated with ETN 50 mg twice weekly (BIW) for ≤ 12 weeks (or for an extra 12 weeks with ETN 25 mg BIW until PGA ≤ 2 was achieved). Patients who reached PGA ≤ 1 during this time were selected for this post hoc analysis (Cycle 1). Treatment was paused, and patients who relapsed (PGA > 2) were retreated with ETN 25 mg BIW until recovery (PGA ≤ 2, Cycle 2). Treatment cycles were continued for up to 54 weeks. The proportion of PGA responders and the time to attain response were calculated, and patient satisfaction was evaluated using the Patient Satisfaction Survey. RESULTS: During Cycle 1, 131 patients achieved PGA ≤ 1 within a median of 9 weeks and subsequently relapsed after treatment cessation. In Cycle 2, 119 (91%) patients attained PGA ≤ 2 within a median time of 7 weeks. The majority of patients were either 'very satisfied', 'satisfied' or 'somewhat satisfied' during both Cycle 1 (100% in total) and Cycle 2 (97% in total). CONCLUSION: Patients achieving the stringent criteria of PGA ≤ 1 with ETN therapy before ceasing treatment, and subsequently relapsing, were able to quickly regain response during retreatment. The majority of patients considered their therapy to be satisfactory
A randomized controlled trial of green tea catechins in protection against ultraviolet radiation-induced cutaneous inflammation
No full textBackground: Safe systemic protection from the health hazards of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in sunlight is desirable. Green tea is consumed globally and is reported to have anti-inflammatory properties, which may be mediated through the impact on cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways. Recent data suggest that green tea catechins (GTCs) reduce acute UVR effects, but human trials examining their photoprotective potential are scarce. Objective: We performed a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to examine whether GTCs protect against clinical, histologic, and biochemical indicators of UVR-induced inflammation. Design: Healthy adults (aged 18–65 y, phototypes I–II) were randomly allocated to 1350 mg encapsulated green tea extract (540 mg GTC) with 50 mg vitamin C or placebo twice daily for 3 mo. Impact on skin erythema, dermal leukocytic infiltration, and concentrations of proinflammatory eicosanoids was assessed after solar-simulated UVR challenge, and subject compliance was determined through assay of urinary GTC metabolite epigallocatechin glucuronide. Results: Volunteers were assigned to the active (n = 25) or the placebo (n = 25) group. After supplementation, median (IQR) sunburn threshold (minimal erythema dose) was 28 (20–28) and 20 (20–28) mJ/cm2 in the active and placebo groups, respectively (nonsignificant), with no difference in AUC analysis for measured erythema index after a geometric series of 10 UVR doses. Skin immunohistochemistry showed increased neutrophil and CD3+ T-lymphocyte numbers post-UVR in both groups (P <0.01) with no statistically significant differences between groups after supplementation. Cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase metabolites prostaglandin E2 (vasodilator) and 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoicacid (chemoattractant), respectively, increased after UVR (P <0.05), with no differences between supplementation groups. Conclusion: Oral GTC (1080 mg/d) with vitamin C over 3 mo did not significantly reduce skin erythema, leukocyte infiltration, or eicosanoid response to UVR inflammatory challenge. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01032031
Development of an international schedule for the assessment and staging of care for dementia
No full textTransformation in Practice: Sacremental Ministry as a Vehicle of Change
No full textABSTRACTIn response to the current crisis in liberal catholic Anglicanism, this thesis explores and affirms the continuing value and transformational potential of contemporary sacramental ministry exercised by priests in this tradition. Through the lens of vivid, ‘electric moment’ stories - moments in priestly ministry when the presence of God was understood by one or both of the participants to be palpable - seven priests reflect in research interviews on their practice and in dialogue with the researcher articulate what they think they are doing in ministry. Without the trappings of the organisational church, the ministry of these priests is held up for scrutiny and evaluated as a transformative practice. A thematic analysis of the interview material follows which demonstrates that the ministry of these priests conforms to, and is rooted in, the traditional pattern of sacramental ministry, but in a modern way. I call this ‘sacramental improvisation’, a form of ministry that can make God’s action in the world intelligible to unchurched people today. According to my argument, this would depend upon the willingness of priests to be less reticent about speaking of God and then finding ways to do so that both retain the mystery, and at the same time make religious faith more accessible. The research process introduced priests to a reflexive way of thinking: a way to think outwards from experience, with freedom to think new thoughts. This was a creative process for priests and, in itself, transformational - it modelled a process of giving close attention, interpreting and working through. The thesis concludes that these methods could inspire new forms of support for clergy and theological education in the future and be especially beneficial to liberal catholic Anglican priests
Impact of musculoskeletal pain on insomnia onset: a prospective cohort study.
No full textOBJECTIVE: Pain, the most common manifestation of rheumatological conditions, is highly prevalent among older adults, with worse health outcomes found in those with co-morbid insomnia. Proactive prevention of insomnia may reduce the overall disease burden of pain and rheumatological conditions. To inform such development, this study examined the role of pain, physical limitation and reduced social participation in predicting and mediating insomnia onset. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted involving 6676 individuals ≥50 years of age who completed questionnaires at baseline and a 3-year follow-up. Participants were classified into none, some and widespread pain according to the ACR criteria. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between baseline pain and insomnia onset at 3 years. Path analysis was used to test for the mediating role of physical limitation and social participation restriction. RESULTS: Some [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.57 (95% CI 1.15, 2.13)] and widespread [2.13 (1.66, 3.20)] pain increased the risk of insomnia onset at 3 years, after adjusting for age, gender, socio-economic class, education, anxiety, depression, sleep and co-morbidity at baseline. The combination of physical limitation and reduced social participation explained up to 68% of the effect of some pain on insomnia onset and 66% of the effect of widespread pain on insomnia onset. CONCLUSION: There was a dose-response association between the extent of pain at baseline and insomnia onset at 3 years that was substantially mediated by physical limitation and reduced social participation. Targeting physical limitation and social participation in older people with pain may buffer co-morbid insomnia, reducing the overall disease burden
An eHealth Approach to Reporting Allergic Reactions to Food and Closing the Knowledge Gap.
No full textThere is an important knowledge gap in food allergy management in understanding the factors that determine allergic reactions to food, in gathering objective reports of reactions in real time, and in accessing patients' reaction-histories during consultations. We investigate how eHealth methods can close this knowledge gap. We report experiences with an online tool for reporting allergic reactions that we have developed as a web application. This application has been successfully validated by participants from Ireland and the UK, and is currently being used in a pilot where participants report allergic reactions in near-real time