Effect of Antioxidants on High-Temperature Stability of Renewable Bio-Oils Revealed by an Innovative Method for the Determination of Kinetic Parameters of Oxidative Reactions.

Bio-oils employed for various industrial purposes, such as biodiesel production, undergo extensive oxidation and degradation during transformation processes. Therefore, it is extremely important to predict their stability at high temperature. We report herein a new procedure based on the optically detected profile of headspace O concentration during isotherms at 130 °C for evaluating the oxidation kinetic parameters of several bio-oil feedstocks.

It's important, but not important enough: eHealth as a curriculum priority in medical education in Australia.

Information and communications technology has become central to the way in which health services are provided. Technology-enabled services in healthcare are often described as eHealth, or more recently, digital health. Practitioners may require new knowledge, skills and competencies to make best use of eHealth, and while universities may be a logical place to provide such education and training, a study in 2012 found that the workforce was not being adequately educated to achieve competence to work with eHealth.

Transitioning a home telehealth project into a sustainable, large-scale service: a qualitative study.

Background: This study was a component of the Flinders Telehealth in the Home project, which tested adding home telehealth to existing rehabilitation, palliative care and geriatric outreach services. Due to the known difficulty of transitioning telehealth projects services, a qualitative study was conducted to produce a preferred implementation approach for sustainable and large-scale operations, and a process model that offers practical advice for achieving this goal.

Methods: Initially, semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior clinicians, health service managers and policy makers, and a thematic analysis of the interview transcripts was undertaken to identify the range of options for ongoing operations, plus the factors affecting sustainability.

Quantifying shape changes of silicone breast implants in a murine model using in vivo micro-CT.

A major complication of silicone breast implants is the formation of a capsule around the implant known as capsular contracture which results in the distortion of the implant. Recently, a mouse model for studying capsular contracture was examined using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), however, only qualitative changes were reported. The aim of this study was to develop a quantitative method for comparing the shape changes of silicone implants using in vivo micro-CT.

Investigating the preferences of older people for telehealth as a new model of health care service delivery: A discrete choice experiment.

Introduction Telehealth approaches to health care delivery can potentially improve quality of care and clinical outcomes, reduce mortality and hospital utilisation, and complement conventional treatments. However, substantial research into the potential for integrating telehealth within health care in Australia, particularly in the provision of services relevant to older people, including palliative care, aged care and rehabilitation, is lacking. Furthermore, to date, no discrete choice experiment (DCE) studies internationally have sought the views and preferences of older people about the basic features that should make up a telehealth approach to these services.

Theoretical frameworks in telemedicine research.

The purposive use of theory is a foundational component of research, which underpins the design, methodology, measures, interventions, and interpretation of the research project. This should be considered from the time the nascent idea of the research is born, until the final interpretation of results and write up of the discussion. Several theories relevant to telemedicine are described, discussed, and linked to typical research questions in the field.

Home Telehealth Video Conferencing: Perceptions and Performance.

Background: The Flinders Telehealth in the Home trial (FTH trial), conducted in South Australia, was an action research initiative to test and evaluate the inclusion of telehealth services and broadband access technologies for palliative care patients living in the community and home-based rehabilitation services for the elderly at home. Telehealth services at home were supported by video conferencing between a therapist, nurse or doctor, and a patient using the iPad tablet.

Objective: The aims of this study are to identify which technical factors influence the quality of video conferencing in the home setting and to assess the impact of these factors on the clinical perceptions and acceptance of video conferencing for health care delivery into the home.

Technology support to a telehealth in the home service: Qualitative observations.

Introduction: The Flinders University Telehealth in the Home (FTH) trial was an action research initiative that introduced and evaluated the impact of telehealth services on palliative care patients living in the community, home-based rehabilitation services for the elderly, and services to the elderly in residential aged care. The aim of this study was to understand the issues encountered during the provision of technology services that supported this trial.

Methods: A mixed methods approach was undertaken to analyse the roles of information and communication technology (ICT) and clinical staff in design, technology management and training.

Interferon-γ suppresses intestinal epithelial aquaporin-1 expression via Janus kinase and STAT3 activation.

Inflammatory bowel diseases are associated with dysregulated electrolyte and water transport and resultant diarrhea. Aquaporins are transmembrane proteins that function as water channels in intestinal epithelial cells. We investigated the effect of the inflammatory cytokine, interferon-γ, which is a major player in inflammatory bowel diseases, on aquaporin-1 expression in a mouse colonic epithelial cell line, CMT93.

Telerehabilitation for older people using off-the-shelf applications: acceptability and feasibility.

We investigated the feasibility of providing telerehabilitation in the home as an alternative to conventional ambulatory rehabilitation. Two groups of patients were accepted for telerehabilitation. The first group were community patients who needed rehabilitation, e.

Role of dopamine D1- and D2-like receptor mechanisms in drug-seeking following methamphetamine self-administration in rats.

It has been suggested that dopaminergic mechanisms mediate relapse to drug-seeking behavior and both D1- and D2-like receptor mechanisms have been implicated. In contrast to self-administration of other drugs, there is a relative paucity of studies that has examined the pharmacological basis of methamphetamine (MA) seeking. Accordingly, the present study used an animal model of drug-seeking to determine the role of D1- and D2-like receptor mechanisms in relapse to MA abuse.

Galanin receptor 3--a potential target for acute pancreatitis therapy.

Background: Galanin participates in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis (AP). The galanin receptor (GALR) sub-types involved, however, are unclear. We aimed to determine GALRs messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in mouse pancreas, describe their localization, and ascertain if GALR2 and GALR3 are involved in AP.

Galanin receptor antagonist m35 but not m40 or c7 ameliorates cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mice.

Background/aims: We compared the galanin antagonists C7, M35, M40 and galantide, for their ability to ameliorate acute pancreatitis (AP).

Methods: Galanin antagonists were co-administered with 7 hourly cerulein injections used to induce AP. Plasma amylase and lipase activities were measured as indices of AP, and pancreata were harvested at 12 h for histological examination and estimation of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity.

Octreotide negates the benefit of galantide when used in the treatment of caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mice.

Background: We have previously shown that galantide, a non-specific galanin receptor antagonist, ameliorates acute pancreatitis (AP) induced in mice. Octreotide, a somatostatin analogue, has been used in the treatment of AP with inconsistent outcomes. This study set out to compare the efficacy of a combined treatment of galantide and octreotide with the efficacy of each agent individually in experimental AP.

The islet-acinar axis of the pancreas: more than just insulin.

Although the role of the islets in the regulation of acinar cell function seemed a mystery to investigators who observed their dispersion among pancreatic acini, over time an appreciation for this intricate and unique structural arrangement has developed. The last three decades have witnessed a steadily growing understanding of the interrelationship of the endocrine and the exocrine pancreas. The islet innervation and vascular anatomy have been more fully characterized and provide an appropriate background for our current understanding.

The efficacy of combining feG and galantide in mild caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mice.

We have previously shown that galantide ameliorates mild acute pancreatitis (AP), and the salivary tripeptide analogue, feG, ameliorates severe AP in mice. In this study, we compared the efficacy of combining galantide and feG with that of the individual agents in treating mild AP induced in mice with 7-hourly caerulein injections. Galantide was co-administered with each caerulein injection commencing with the first injection.

Aquaporin-1 in blood vessels of rat circumventricular organs.

Although the water channel protein aquaporin-1 (AQP1) is widely observed outside the rat brain in continuous, but not fenestrated, vascular endothelia, it has not previously been observed in any endothelia within the normal rat brain and only to a limited extent in the human brain. In this immunohistochemical study of rat brain, AQP1 has also been found in microvessel endothelia, probably of the fenestrated type, in all circumventricular organs (except the subcommissural organ and the vascular organ of the lamina terminalis): in the median eminence, pineal, subfornical organ, area postrema and choroid plexus. The majority of microvessels in the median eminence, pineal and choroid plexus, known to be exclusively fenestrated, are shown to be AQP1-immunoreactive.

Methamphetamine self-administration and the effect of contingency on monoamine and metabolite tissue levels in the rat.

A number of studies have shown that exposure to high doses of methamphetamine (MA) is toxic to central dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) neurons. In most of those studies, however, high doses of MA were experimenter-administered during a short exposure time. Because contingency is a determinant for many effects of drug exposure, the present objective was to investigate the effects of self-administered MA on tissue monoamine levels following a short (24 hours) or longer (7 days) withdrawal period.

Galanin mediates the pathogenesis of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in the mouse.

Objectives: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is characterized by pancreatic microcirculatory and secretory disturbances. As galanin can modulate pancreatic vascular perfusion, we sought to determine if galanin plays a role in AP.

Methods: Acute pancreatitis was induced in wild-type and galanin gene knockout mice by intraperitoneal injections of cerulein.

The combination of neurokinin-1 and galanin receptor antagonists ameliorates caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mice.

Both galanin and substance P have been separately implicated in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis. We compared the efficacy of the combination of the galanin antagonist galantide and the neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist L703,606 with that of either alone in the treatment of acute pancreatitis. Acute pancreatitis was induced in mice with 7-hourly caerulein injections.

Effect of D1-like and D2-like receptor antagonists on methamphetamine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine self-administration in rats.

It has been suggested that activation of dopamine D1-like and D2-like receptors contribute equally to the maintenance of drug self-administration. This study compared the contribution of these receptor subtypes to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methamphetamine (MA) self-administration. Effects of pretreatment with the D2-like receptor antagonist, eticlopride (0.

Galanin potentiates supramaximal caerulein-stimulated pancreatic amylase secretion via its action on somatostatin secretion.

Galanin inhibits pancreatic amylase secretion from mouse lobules induced by physiological concentrations of caerulein via an insulin-dependent mechanism. We aimed to determine the effect and elucidate the mechanism of action of exogenous galanin on pancreatic amylase secretion induced by supramaximal concentrations of caerulein. Amylase secretion from isolated murine pancreatic lobules was measured.

Galanin inhibits caerulein-stimulated pancreatic amylase secretion via cholinergic nerves and insulin.

Pancreatic exocrine secretion is affected by galanin, but the mechanisms involved are unclear. We aimed to determine the effect and elucidate the mechanism of action of exogenous galanin on basal and stimulated pancreatic amylase secretion in vitro. The effect of galanin on basal-, carbachol-, and caerulein-stimulated amylase secretion from isolated murine pancreatic lobules was measured.

A virtual reality 3D jigsaw for teaching anatomy.

Virtual Reality has some advantages over traditional teaching and learning media. Here we describe a VR Jigsaw which uses a novel interface to facilitate learning the anatomy of the skull. A small trial was performed which indicates that the software succeeds at engaging students and suggests that their comprehension of complex 3D structures was improved.