30913 research outputs found
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Incidence of pregnancy and disease-modifying therapy exposure trends in women with multiple sclerosis: A contemporary cohort study
Full text link© 2019 Elsevier BV. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
This author accepted manuscript is made available following 12 month embargo from date of publication (January 2019) in accordance with the publisher’s archiving policyBackground
Exposure to disease-modifying therapy (DMT) during early pregnancy in women with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) may be increasing.
Objective
To retrospectively determine incidence of pregnancy, DMT exposure and pregnancy outcomes in women with RRMS.
Methods
We identified all women with RRMS aged 15–45 years in the MSBase Registry between 2005–2016. Annualised pregnancy incidence rates were calculated using Poisson regression models. DMT exposures and pregnancy outcomes were assessed.
Results
Of 9,098 women meeting inclusion criteria, 1,178 (13%) women recorded 1,521 pregnancies. The annualised incidence rate of pregnancy was 0.042 (95% CI 0.040, 0.045). A total of 635 (42%) reported pregnancies were conceived on DMT, increasing from 27% in 2006 to 62% in 2016. The median duration of DMT exposure during pregnancy was 30 days (IQR: 9, 50). There were a higher number of induced abortions on FDA pregnancy class C/D drugs compared with pregnancy class B and no DMT (p = 0.010); but no differences in spontaneous abortions, term or preterm births.
Conclusions
We report low pregnancy incidence rates, with increasing number of pregnancies conceived on DMT over the past 12-years. The median duration of DMT exposure in pregnancy was relatively short at one month
The Oscillatory Adsorption of Organosilane Films on Aluminium Oxide: Film Morphology using Auger Electron Spectromicroscopy
Full text link© 2019 Elsevier BV. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
This author accepted manuscript is made available following 24 month embargo from date of publication (January 2019) in accordance with the publisher’s archiving policyThe morphology of Propyltrimethoxysilane films during the oscillatory growth mechanism is shown using Auger Electron Spectromicroscopy. While the link between oligomerisation of silane molecules on the substrate and the oscillatory growth mechanism has been proposed previously, here for the first time we show the presence of silane film islands through Auger Electron Spectromicroscopy elemental mapping of the substrate. Monitoring the
morphology of the film at key peaks and throughout along the oscillatory curve reveals the formation of a stable thin, homogenous film along with the presence of islands approximately 20μm in diameter, whose numbers vary collectively during the adsorption/desorption mechanism. The measurable oscillations in silane substrate coverage has been directly linked to the repeated adsorption and desorption of silane islands on the aluminium substrate. The consequence of this mechanism is such that Propyltrimethoxysilane films behave most like a monolayer during the early stages of film growth, prior to siloxane oligomerisation
Tissue-specific transcriptional biomarkers in medicinal plants: Application of large-scale meta-analysis and computational systems biology
Full text link© 2019 Elsevier BV. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
This author accepted manuscript is made available following 12 month embargo from date of publication (January 2019) in accordance with the publisher’s archiving policyBiosynthesis of secondary metabolites in plant is a complex process, regulated by many genes and influenced by several factors. In recent years, the next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology and advanced statistical analysis such as meta-analysis and computational systems biology have provided novel opportunities to overcome biological complexity. Here, we performed a meta-analysis on publicly available transcriptome datasets of twelve economically significant medicinal plants to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between shoot and root tissues and to find the key molecular features which may be effective in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Meta-analysis identified a total of 880 genes with differential expression between two tissues. Functional enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis indicated that the functions of those DEGs are highly associated with the developmental process, starch metabolic process, response to stimulus, porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and phenylalanine metabolism. In addition, systems biology analysis of the DEGs was applied to find protein–protein interaction network and discovery of significant modules. The detected modules were associated with hormone signal transduction, transcription repressor activity, response to light stimulus and epigenetic processes. Finally, analysis was extended to search for putative miRNAs that are associated with DEGs. A total of 31 miRNAs were detected which belonged to 16 conserved families. The present study provides a comprehensive view to better understand the tissue-specific expression of genes and mechanisms involved in secondary metabolites synthesis and may provide candidate genes for future researches to improve yield of secondary metabolites
“It’s just common sense”: Preconceptions and myths regarding fundamental care
Full text linkCrown Copyright © 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
This author accepted manuscript is made available following 12 month embargo from date of publication (March 2019) in accordance with the publisher’s archiving policyFundamental care has come under increased scrutiny due to high-profile reports globally of poor nursing care. The reasons for these documented care failures are widely debated, with some scholars identifying issues with how fundamental care is valued within healthcare systems and by nurses. During focus groups designed to evaluate a fundamental care education intervention, we identified a perception commonly held by first-year pre-registration (pre-licensure) students that appeared indicative of a de-valuing of fundamental care: students routinely described fundamental care as ‘common sense’ and doubted that such care should form a key part of their education. In this paper, we explore this perception and its potential consequences for nursing education, clinical practice, and research. We argue that a perception of fundamental care as ‘common sense’ is a myth; it undermines the inherent complexity of providing such care to a consistently high standard and has negative implications for nursing education and continuing professional development, patient experiences and outcomes, and the advancement of nursing science. It is a perception that must be challenged
The trajectory of functional decline over the last 4 months of life in a palliative care population: A prospective, consecutive cohort study
Full text linkThis article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for selfarchiving.
© The Author(s) 2019Background:
Understanding current patterns of functional decline will inform patient care and has health service and resource implications.
Aim:
This prospective consecutive cohort study aims to map the shape of functional decline trajectories at the end of life by diagnosis.
Design:
Changes in functional status were measured using the Australia-modified Karnofsky Performance Status Scale. Segmented regression was used to identify time points prior to death associated with significant changes in the slope of functional decline for each diagnostic cohort. Sensitivity analyses explored the impact of severe symptoms and late referrals, age and sex.
Setting/participants:
In all, 115 specialist palliative care services submit prospectively collected patient data to the national Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration across Australia. Data on 55,954 patients who died in the care of these services between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2015 were included.
Results:
Two simplified functional decline trajectories were identified in the last 4 months of life. Trajectory 1 has an almost uniform slow decline until the last 14 days of life when function declines more rapidly. Trajectory 2 has a flatter more stable trajectory with greater functional impairment at 120 days before death, followed by a more rapid decline in the last 2 weeks of life. The most rapid rate of decline occurs in the last 2 weeks of life for all cohorts.
Conclusions:
Two simplified trajectories of functional decline in the last 4 months of life were identified for five patient cohorts. Both trajectories present opportunities to plan for responsive healthcare that will support patients and families
Addressing nutrition and social connection through community gardening: A South Australian study
Full text linkThis article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving. © 2019 Australian Health Promotion Association All rights reserved.
This author accepted manuscript is made available following 12 month embargo from date of publication (February 2019) in accordance with the publisher’s archiving policyBackground
This research aimed to evaluate the benefits of the community gardening program called ‘‘Magic Harvest (MH)” with respect to its key elements: social interaction; gardening skills; and, healthier eating. The MH program supports community participants to grow food, share produce, prepare and preserve food.
Methods
Two focus groups were conducted with participants in MH programs in the south of Adelaide, South Australia. The MH programs were located in lower socio‐economic areas. Focus group interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded and analysed thematically.
Results
Thirteen participants took part in the focus groups and reported gains in community connectedness and shared learning, skills for growing food and healthy eating and making more sustainable food choices.
Conclusion
This study highlights the social and nutritional benefits that can be derived from a community gardening program in low‐income communities. Health practitioners and policymakers should consider community gardening as an effective health promotion strategy that can address physical and social determinants of health and nutrition for low‐income communities
Origins of N-formylmethamphetamine and N-acetylmethamphetamine in methamphetamine produced by the hydriodic acid and red phosphorus reduction of pseudoephedrine
Full text link© 2019 Elsevier B.V.. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
This author accepted manuscript is made available following 24 month embargo from date of publication (March 2019) in accordance with the publisher’s archiving policyN-Formylmethamphetamine (FMA) and N-acetylmethamphetamine (AMA) are suspected to be trace by-products in methamphetamine (MA) produced from pseudoephedrine using the Nagai reaction. However, these amides are not rational by-products of the Nagai reaction.
FMA is an intermediate in the synthesis of MA using the Leuckart reaction. However, as there is the possibility that FMA is a by-product of the Nagai reaction, the significance of FMA as an indicator of the Leuckart reaction has been debated. It is therefore important to establish whether AMA and especially FMA are by-products of the Nagai reaction and thus establish their significance as synthetic route markers.
From the work presented here, FMA is a by-product of the Nagai reaction but the mechanism by which FMA arises could be not determined.
AMA was also shown to be a by-product of the Nagai reaction, most likely due to reaction between MA and phenyl-2-propanone (P-2-P), itself a by-product of the Nagai reaction. Furthermore, during GC analysis of Nagai reaction products, MA has been shown to react with P-2-P or ethyl acetate in the injector to form AMA.
Caution is recommended if the relative abundance of AMA and/or FMA are used as a basis for determining whether MA samples have a common source or not. Furthermore, it is clear that FMA cannot be considered to be a route-specific by-product for the Leuckart reaction – it is the abundance of FMA in a reaction mixture or profile, not simply its presence, that points to the involvement of the Leuckart reaction
The role of surface charge and pH changes in tropical soils on sorption behaviour of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)
Full text linkCrown Copyright © 2019 Published by Elsevier B.V. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
This author accepted manuscript is made available following 24 month embargo from date of publication (April 2019) in accordance with the publisher’s archiving policyThis study investigated the effect of surface charge on the sorption of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) onto 7 tropical soils as a function of pH. The net surface charge became less negative with decreasing pH (from 7.5 to 3.5) in all soils. The rate of change in net surface charge varied from −0.6 to −2.8 (cmol/kg)/pH unit. The effect on sorption behaviour of PFASs was variable among soils. For two soils, the average sorption increased 54- and 45-fold for PFOS, 33- and 9-fold for PFOA, and 39- and 400-fold for PFHxS, across the pH range 7.5 to 3.5. Sorption in another sandier soil showed negligible change with decreasing pH. Sorption in the other soils did not change significantly until the pH decreased to approximately 5.5. The soils with high contents of sesquioxides (Fe and Al oxides) showed the most marked increase in sorption with decreasing pH. This study demonstrated that in addition to hydrophobic interactions with OC and other processes, electrostatic interactions are also important in the sorption process for these chemicals in soils. In acidic, variably charged tropical soils there is the possibility that any PFOS, PFOA or PFHxS sorbed to the soils may become desorbed if management practices (e.g. liming) raised soil pH
α-lipoic acid regulate growth, antioxidant status and lipid metabolism of Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis: Optimum supplement level and metabonomics response
Full text link© 2019 Elsevier B.V. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
This author accepted manuscript is made available following 24 month embargo from date of publication (March 2019) in accordance with the publisher’s archiving policyThe α-lipoic acid (α-LA) is a novel feed additive to improve growth, antioxidant capacity and lipid metabolism in animal husbandry. In this study, isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated at seven levels of α-LA (0, 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, or 9600 mg/kg) and fed to the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis juveniles for eight weeks. According to weight gain and specific grwoth rate, the optimal level of α-LA supplement in the diet is estimated at 1339–1574 mg/kg for E. sinensis. The α-LA supplement significantly increased the activities of SOD, GSH-Px and T-AOC, and the content of GSH in the hepatopancreas except for SOD in the crabs fed 9600 mg/kg α-LA. Excess dietary α-LA supplement increased the content of MDA in the hepatopancreas. The E. sinensis fed 2400 mg/kg α-LA in the diet showed the highest mRNA expressions of es_TGL1, es_TGL2, es_IL and es_DGL and had higher lipid catabolism when taking 300 mg/kg α-LA than other diets, which coincides with higher mRNA expressions of es_IL, es_DGL and CPT-1 in the hepatopancreas. The crab fed 2400 mg/kg α-LA significantly modified 45 metabolites in serum compared with the control. The supplmentation of α-LA significantly influenced fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, carnitine metabolism and accumulation of plant antioxidants. This study indicates that α-LA is a promising feed additive to regulate growth, antioxidant status and lipid metabolism in E. sinensis, but its inclusion in the diet should be <2400 mg/kg α-LA to maximize the benefitial effect and minimize side effects
Trends in Prevalence of Dementia for People Accessing Aged Care Services in Australia
Full text link© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved.
This author accepted manuscript is made available following 12 month embargo from date of publication (March 2019) in accordance with the publisher’s archiving policyStudies in some high-income countries have reported a potential decline in the prevalence of dementia. Improvements in cardiovascular health may be contributing to this decline. The objective was to examine trends in prevalence of dementia and survival with dementia for people accessing aged care in Australia