19683 research outputs found
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Stepping out of secrecy: heterosexuality, quality of life, and experiences of HIV peer navigation in Australia
No full textHeterosexual people make up a small, but growing proportion of people living with HIV in Australia. This article draws on semi-structured interviews with thirteen heterosexual men and women living with HIV to examine the bearing that sexual identity had on their participation in a peer navigation programme. Our analyses consider the influence of sexuality and gender on the quality of peer relations and the effects of HIV-related stigma on health service engagement and quality of life. Gender and sexuality were significant factors in establishing understanding, acceptance, and community for participants. Having their heterosexuality mirrored by a peer was affirming for men. Women instead emphasised their gendered experiences of HIV. Otherwise, participants’ narratives suggested that an experienced peer could reassure, guide interactions with community and services, and ease treatment-related and nonclinical aspects of life. We see peer navigation as a promising intervention to improve the quality of life for heterosexual people living with HIV. Person-centred support from a peer may be particularly important in HIV service environments adapting to the needs of heterosexual people. Peer navigation programmes should promote choice and employ peers of diverse experiences. Implications for referral and the improvement of social services for heterosexual people living with HIV are discussed.</p
The Role of Biomarkers in Predicting Outcomes of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review
No full textBACKGROUND: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is frequently associated with injuries to other parts of the knee, including the menisci and articular cartilage. After ACL injury and reconstruction, there may be progressive chondral degradation. Biomarkers in blood, urine, and synovial fluid can be measured after ACL injury and reconstruction and have been proposed as a means of measuring the associated cellular changes occurring in the knee. PURPOSE: To systematically review the literature regarding biomarkers in urine, serum, or synovial fluid that have been associated with an outcome measure after ACL reconstruction. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: This review was performed according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases were searched to identify studies published before September 2023 that reported on patients undergoing ACL reconstruction where a biomarker was measured and related to an outcome variable. Of 9360 results, 16 studies comprising 492 patients were included. Findings were reported as descriptive summaries synthesizing the available literature. RESULTS: A total of 45 unique biomarkers or biomarker ratios were investigated (12 serum, 3 urine, and 38 synovial fluid; 8 biomarkers were measured from >1 source). Nineteen different outcome measures were identified, including the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, numeric pain scores, radiological outcomes (magnetic resonance imaging and radiography), rates of arthrofibrosis and cyclops lesions, and gait biomechanics. Across the included studies, 17 biomarkers were found to have a statistically significant association (P </p
Associations between e-bike travel distance and changes in health
No full textIntroduction: Electrically assisted bikes (E-bikes) have the potential to assist with the accumulation of moderate intensity physical activity but the relationship between volume of e-cycling and health has not been fully examined. The aim of this study was to explore the associations between distance travelled during a 4-week e-bike intervention and measures of health. A second aim was to explore individual responses to using e-bikes and the potential effects of weather on the volume of e-cycling.Methods: Twenty-six sedentary adults were assessed before and after 4-weeks using a motion activated e-bike. Health (i.e., blood glucose and blood pressure), cardiorespiratory fitness and musculoskeletal fitness (i.e., lower body strength, power and flexibility) outcomes were obtained before and after the 4-weeks. Travel distance, total monthly rainfall, max and min temperatures (monthly averages) data were collected. Correlations between travel distance and health (body mass, blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure), cardiorespiratory fitness (power output and heart rate (HR) during the Astrand Rhyming test, and predicted VO2max) and musculoskeletal fitness (sit and reach distance, vertical jump height, wall squat time) were analysed. Magnitude of changes relative to baseline values were explored to identify individuals that could potentially benefit more from the intervention.Results: An inverse relationship between travel distance was observed with changes in body mass (p = 0.02 and ρ = −0.46) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.02 and ρ = −0.44). Individuals with higher blood glucose and poorer vertical jump performance at baseline had better magnitude of change results after the 4-weeks e-cycling.Conclusions: Associations between more travel with an e-bike and greater reductions in body mass and diastolic blood pressure were observed. E-cycling has the potential to assist those with poorer health outcomes, but it may need to be supplemented by additional forms of exercise to ensure adherence to the guidelines for physical activity.</p
Becoming a Climate Conscious Lawyer - Tranche 1 Flyer
No full textThis is a flyer to promote the first tranche of the textbook Becoming a Climate Conscious Lawyer: Climate Change and the Australian Legal System published by the La Trobe eBureau in 2024</p
The Role of Chaplaincy in Providing Support for Defence Members Experiencing Suicidality
No full textNo description supplied.</p
Trophoblast Side-Population Markers are Dysregulated in Preeclampsia and Fetal Growth Restriction
No full textDysregulated progenitor cell populations may contribute to poor placental development and placental insufficiency pathogenesis. Side-population cells possess progenitor properties. Recent human trophoblast side-population isolation identified enrichment of 8 specific genes (CXCL8, ELL2, GATA6, HK2, HLA-DPB1, INTS6, SERPINE3 and UPP1) (Gamage et al. 2020, Stem Cell Rev Rep). We characterised these trophoblast side-population markers in human placenta and in placental insufficiency disorders: preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction (FGR). Trophoblast side-population markers localised to mononuclear trophoblasts lining the placental villous basement membrane in preterm control, preeclamptic and FGR placental sections (n = 3, panel of 3 markers/serial section). Analysis of single-cell transcriptomics of an organoid human trophoblast stem cell (hTSC) to extravillous trophoblast (EVT) differentiation model (Shannon et al. 2022, Development) identified that all side-population genes were enriched in mononuclear trophoblast and trophoblasts committed to differentiation under hTSC culture conditions. In vitro validation via 96 h time course hTSC differentiation to EVTs or syncytiotrophoblasts (n = 5) demonstrated ELL2 and HK2 increased with differentiation (p < 0.0024, p < 0.0039 respectively). CXCL8 and HLA-DPB1 were downregulated (p < 0.030, p < 0.011 respectively). GATA6 and INTS6 increased with EVT differentiation only, and UPP1 reduced with syncytialisation. SERPINE3 was undetectable. Trophoblast side-population marker mRNA was measured in human placentas (< 34-weeks’ gestation; n = 78 preeclampsia, n = 30 FGR, and n = 18 gestation-matched controls). ELL2, HK2 and CXCL8 were elevated in preeclamptic (p = 0.0006, p < 0.0001, p = 0.0335 respectively) and FGR placentas (p = 0.0065, p < 0.0001, p = 0.0001 respectively) versus controls. Placental GATA6 was reduced in pregnancies with preeclampsia and FGR (p = 0.0014, p = 0.0146 respectively). Placental INTS6 was reduced with FGR only (p < 0.0001). This study identified the localisation of a unique trophoblast subset enriched for side-population markers. Aberrant expression of some side-population markers may indicate disruptions to unique trophoblast subtypes in placental insufficiency. </p
Drinking to cope as a mediator of the relationship between stress and alcohol outcomes
No full textRelationships between stress and alcohol consumption, alcohol dependence, and alcohol harms as mediated by drinking to cope and moderated by gender and education were investigated. Australian participants completed online surveys during 2020 (T1: n = 589, M age = 51.3, 67.7% female; T2: n = 493; T3: n = 487; T4: n = 311). Participants completed the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales stress subscale, the Drinking Motives Questionnaire for Adults ‘Drinking to cope’ subscale, and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. T1 drinking to cope mediated the relationship between T1 stress and alcohol consumption at all time points (R 2T1 = 0.24, R 2T2 = 0.17, R 2T3 = 0.21, R 2T4 = 0.11). T4 drinking to cope mediated the relationship between T1 stress and T4 alcohol consumption (R 2T1 = 0.15). Furthermore, a stronger effect was found for men in the relationship between T1 stress and T4 alcohol consumption as mediated by T4 drinking to cope (R 2T4 =.18). No other relationships were found. Overall, drinking to cope appears to explain some of the increase in alcohol consumption across time due to stress and patterns of drinking to cope with stress appear to develop more strongly over time for men.</p
Rural community-centred co-planning for sustainable rural health systems
No full textObjective: Sustaining rural healthcare services is challenging because of numerous systemic factors. Rural communities can inform the design of sustainable rural health models; however, further evidence of effective co-design is needed to guide implementation. The study aim was to co-design a series of place-based and evidence-informed rural health models, to improve local health system sustainability. Setting: A rural region (categorised as Modified Monash Model 5) defined by three adjoining Shires in Central and Northwest Victoria, Australia. Participants: A health executive co-planning network led the co-design, with input and oversight from a broader cross-sector group. Healthcare professionals (n = 44) and consumers and carers (n = 21) participated in interviews, and an online survey was completed by healthcare professionals (n = 11) and consumers and carers (n = 7) to provide feedback on the preliminary results. Design: Community-based participatory action research was applied incorporating co-design methods and systems thinking. Data were collected through qualitative interviews followed by an online feedback survey. Mixed method data analysis (QUAL-quant) was conducted with qualitative directed content analysis of interview transcripts and quantitative descriptive analyses of survey responses to aid prioritisation. Results: Healthcare priorities, strengths and challenges, and proposed rural health models are described. A rural health system sustainability strategy was developed with three integrated pillars: 1. Workforce strengthening, 2. Integrated health services and 3. Innovative models of care. Conclusion: Community-centred co-design with rural health stakeholders was effective for generating locally tailored ideas and potential health models that emulate community strengths and resources, and provide a foundation for further planning, implementation and evaluation.</p
Financial inclusion and environmental pollution in sub‑Saharan Africa: moderating effects of economic growth and renewable energy
No full textA thriving literature exists about the role of financial inclusion in socio-economic development. Nevertheless, the environmental effects of financial inclusion are largely unknown in the literature, especially in sub-Saharan African countries. Therefore, this study explores the association between financial inclusion and CO2 emissions utilizing data from 23 sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2004–2019. Based on different estimation methods such as dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS), fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), canonical correlation regression (CCR), and an instrumental variable generalized-method of moment (IV-GMM), the results show that financial inclusion is responsible for a substantial increase in CO2 emissions. In addition, financial inclusion moderates economic growth, resulting in higher CO2 emissions. Alternatively, financial inclusion moderates renewable energy use to lower CO2 emissions. The outcomes also verify the presence of the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis (EKC). This study proposes uniting financial inclusion and environmental policies as a strategy for reducing CO2 emissions in sub-Saharan Africa
Prediction of Covalent Metal-Metal Bonding in Cp-M-M'-Nacnac Complexes of Group 2 and 12 Metals (Be, Mg, Ca, Zn, Cd, Hg)
No full textBimetallic CpMM'Nacnac molecules with group 2 and 12 metals (M=Be, Mg, Ca, Zn, Cd, Hg) that contain novel metal-metal bonding have been investigated in a theoretical study of their molecular and electronic structure, thermodynamic stability, and metal-metal bonding. In all cases the metal-metal bonds are characterized as electron-sharing covalent single bonds from natural bond orbital (NBO) and energy-decomposition analysis with natural orbitals of chemical valence (EDA-NOCV) analysis. The sum of [MM′] charges is relatively constant, with all complexes exhibiting a [MM′]2+ core. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analysis indicates the presence of non-nuclear attractors (NNA) in the metal-metal bonds of the BeBe, MgMg, and CaCa complexes. There is substantial electron density (0.75–1.33 e) associated with the NNAs, which indicates that these metal-metal bonds, while classified as covalent electron-sharing bonds, retain significant metallic character that can be associated with reducing reactivity of the complex. The predicted stability of these complexes, combined with their novel covalent metal-metal bonding and potential as reducing agents, make them appealing targets for the synthesis of new metal-metal bonds