Comorbidity of Cerebrovascular and Alzheimer's Disease in Aging.

Background: Cerebrovascular disease often coexists with Alzheimer's disease (AD). While both diseases share common risk factors, their interrelationship remains unclear. Increasing the understanding of how cerebrovascular changes interact with AD is essential to develop therapeutic strategies and refine biomarkers for early diagnosis.

COVID-19 and cardiac surgery: A perspective from United Kingdom.

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in December 2019, presumed from the city of Wuhan, Hubei province in China, and the subsequent declaration of the disease as a pandemic by the World Health Organization as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in March 2020, had a significant impact on health care systems globally. Each country responded to this disease in different ways, however this was done broadly by fortifying and prioritizing health care provision as well as introducing social lockdown aiming to contain the infection and minimizing the risk of transmission. In the United Kingdom, a lockdown was introduced by the government on March 23, 2020 and all health care services were focussed to challenge the impact of COVID-19.

Longitudinal evaluation of the natural history of amyloid-β in plasma and brain.

Plasma amyloid-β peptide concentration has recently been shown to have high accuracy to predict amyloid-β plaque burden in the brain. These amyloid-β plasma markers will allow wider screening of the population and simplify and reduce screening costs for therapeutic trials in Alzheimer's disease. The aim of this study was to determine how longitudinal changes in blood amyloid-β track with changes in brain amyloid-β.

Feasibility study of a smartphone pupillometer and evaluation of its accuracy.

Measurement of pupillary characteristics, such as pupillary unrest in ambient light, and reflex dilation have been shown to be useful in a variety of clinical situations. Dedicated pupillometers typically capture images in the near-infrared to allow imaging in both light and darkness. However, because a subset of pupillary measurements can be acquired with levels of visible light suitable for conventional cameras, it is theoretically possible to capture data using general purpose cameras and computing devices such as those found on smartphones.

Promoting healthy weight for all young children: a mixed methods study of child and family health nurses' perceptions of barriers and how to overcome them.

Background: Childhood obesity is a global health concern. Early intervention to help parents adopt best practice for infant feeding and physical activity is critical for maintaining healthy weight. Australian governments provide universal free primary healthcare from child and family health nurses (CFHNs) to support families with children aged up to five years and to provide evidence-based advice to parents.

Plasma Amyloid-β Biomarker Associated with Cognitive Decline in Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Using immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry, we recently developed and validated a plasma composite biomarker for the assessment of amyloid-β (Aβ) levels. However, as yet, its relationship with clinical outcomes remains unclear.

Objective: We aimed to examine the relationship between this plasma Aβ composite biomarker and cognitive function in cognitively normal older adults in two independent cohorts.

Modeling cross model non-Newtonian fluid flow in porous media.

Fluids exhibiting non-Newtonian rheologies are used in a range of applications, including hydraulic fracturing, enhanced oil recovery, remediation, and industrial processes. Hydraulic fracturing in particular has received attention from environmental scientists, policy-makers, and the general public due in part to concerns about the possibility of contamination of groundwater resources by the complex and potentially harmful fluids used in the process. The non-Newtonian nature of many hydraulic fracturing fluids complicates the prediction of their movement, and precludes use of most traditional flow and transport models.

Association of deficits in short-term learning and Aβ and hippocampal volume in cognitively normal adults.

Objective: To determine the extent to which deficits in learning over 6 days are associated with β-amyloid-positive (Aβ+) and hippocampal volume in cognitively normal (CN) adults.

Methods: Eighty CN older adults who had undergone PET neuroimaging to determine Aβ status (n = 42 Aβ- and 38 Aβ+), MRI to determine hippocampal and ventricular volume, and repeated assessment of memory were recruited from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) study. Participants completed the Online Repeatable Cognitive Assessment-Language Learning Test (ORCA-LLT), which required they learn associations between 50 Chinese characters and their English language equivalents over 6 days.

Synthesis and preliminary evaluation of a novel positron emission tomography (PET) ligand for imaging fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH).

Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) exerts its main function in the catabolism of the endogenous chemical messenger anandamide (AEA), thus modulating the endocannabinoid (eCB) pathway. Inhibition of FAAH may serve as an effective strategy to relieve anxiety and possibly other central nervous system (CNS)-related disorders. Positron emission tomography (PET) would facilitate us to better understand the relationship between FAAH in certain disease conditions, and accelerate clinical translation of FAAH inhibitors by providing in vivo quantitative information.

Pain management during the withholding and withdrawal of life support in critically ill patients at the end-of-life: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To review and summarize the most frequent medications and dosages used during withholding and withdrawal of life-prolonging measures in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit.

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the Virtual Health Library from inception through March 2019. We considered any study evaluating pharmaceutical interventions for pain management during the withholding or withdrawing of life support in adult critically ill patients at the end-of-life.

Clozapine utilization at the United States Veterans Health Administration: a descriptive report of prescribing patterns and patient characteristics among Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans.

To identify the clozapine utilization rate at Veterans Health Administration, as well as patient characteristics, and correlates of use to garner a better understanding of the Veterans Health Administration-treated clozapine population. A longitudinal retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on all Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans treated with clozapine prescriptions through Veterans Health Administration from 2006 to 2016. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted.

A unified call to action from Australian nursing and midwifery leaders: ensuring that Black lives matter.

Nurses and midwives of Australia now is the time for change! As powerfully placed, Indigenous and non-Indigenous nursing and midwifery professionals, together we can ensure an effective and robust Indigenous curriculum in our nursing and midwifery schools of education. Today, Australia finds itself in a shifting tide of social change, where the voices for better and safer health care ring out loud. Voices for justice, equity and equality reverberate across our cities, our streets, homes, and institutions of learning.

Neo-Adjuvant chemotherapy and its affects to the axilla-Can we safely downgrade axillary surgery to mirror the approach in the breast.

The use of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) to downgrade surgery in the breast from mastectomy to breast-conserving surgery is well-established. In certain patients, the use of adjuvant axillary radiotherapy can be safe and effective in place of axillary node clearance. What remains less clear are the alternative surgical options to the axilla following NACT.

Resilience in first and second semester baccalaureate nursing students.

Objectives Examine and analyze the resilience levels of first and second semester BSN students in order to check for significant increases and decreases in resilience levels and factors. Methods Resilience levels were collected using the Connor Davidson CD-RISC-25 tool in both first and second semester students. Results No significant increases in resilience from first to second semester were noted, as anticipated.

Adult correlates of adverse childhood experiences in Ukraine.

Background: The impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on adult life outcomes is well-documented by a considerable body of research. This study investigates the relationship between ACEs and both physical and mental health outcomes in a nationally representative sample of Ukrainian adults.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze whether ACEs are associated with lifetime physical and mental health outcomes in a nationally representative sample of Ukrainian adults.

Report of a Delphi exercise to inform the design of a research programme on screening for thoracic aortic disease.

Objectives: To inform the design of a clinical trial of a targeted screening programme for relatives of individuals affected by thoracic aortic disease, we performed a consensus exercise as to the acceptability of screening, the optimal sequence and choice of tests, long-term patient management, and choice of trial design.

Methods: Working with the Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland patient association, we performed a Delphi exercise with clinical experts, patients, and carers, consisting of three rounds of consultation followed by a final multi-stakeholder face-to-face workshop.

Results: Thirty-five experts and 84 members of the public took part in the surveys, with 164 patients and clinicians attending the final workshop.

Identification of A Putative T6SS Immunity Islet in Salmonella Typhi.

Typhoid fever is a major global health problem and is the result of systemic infections caused by the human-adapted bacterial pathogen serovar Typhi (. Typhi). The pathology underlying .

Increased glutaminyl cyclase activity in brains of Alzheimer's disease individuals.

Glutaminyl cyclases (QC) catalyze the formation of neurotoxic pGlu-modified amyloid-β peptides found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Reports of several-fold increases in soluble QC (sQC) expression in the brain and peripheral circulation of AD individuals has prompted the development of QC inhibitors as potential AD therapeutics. There is, however, a lack of standardized quantitative data on QC expression in human tissues, precluding inter-laboratory comparison and validation.

The fatty acid amide hydrolase and cyclooxygenase-inhibitory properties of novel amide derivatives of carprofen.

In experimental animals, inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) reduces the gastrointestinal damage produced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents that act by inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX). This suggests that compounds able to inhibit both enzymes may be potentially useful therapeutic agents. In the present study, we have investigated eight novel amide analogues of carprofen, ketoprofen and fenoprofen as potential FAAH/COX dual action inhibitors.

Nicotinic Receptors Underlying Nicotine Dependence: Evidence from Transgenic Mouse Models.

Nicotine underlies the reinforcing properties of tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes. After inhalation and absorption, nicotine binds to various nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes localized on the pre- and postsynaptic membranes of cells, which subsequently leads to the modulation of cellular function and neurotransmitter signaling. In this chapter, we begin by briefly reviewing the current understanding of nicotine's actions on nAChRs and highlight considerations regarding nAChR subtype localization and pharmacodynamics.

Decreased cerebrospinal fluid neuronal pentraxin receptor is associated with PET-Aβ load and cerebrospinal fluid Aβ in a pilot study of Alzheimer's disease.

Multifactorial pathological processes of Alzheimer's disease (AD) begin decades prior to clinical onset. Early identification of patients at risk of developing AD using biomarkers reflecting various aspects of pathogenesis is necessary for prevention and early intervention. Cortical β-amyloid (Aβ) burden assessed by positron emission tomography (PET) or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of Aβ42 are validated biomarkers for early identification.

Differential blood miRNA expression in brain amyloid imaging-defined Alzheimer's disease and controls.

Background: Peripheral blood microRNAs (miRNA) have been identified as potential biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Study results have generally been inconsistent and limited by sample heterogeneity. The aim of this study is to establish candidate blood miRNA biomarkers for AD by comparing differences in miRNA expression between participants with brain amyloid imaging-defined AD and normal cognition.

Adolescent Cannabinoid and Nicotine Exposure Differentially Alters Adult Nicotine Self-Administration in Males and Females.

Introduction: During adolescence, exposure to nicotine or cannabis independently induces effects on neuromaturation and later cognitive function. However, the potential effect of both drugs under co-use conditions has become of increasing concern given the prevalence of e-cigarettes, legalization of cannabis, and availability of synthetic "spice" cannabinoid agonists.

Aims And Methods: The current studies investigated the effects of exposure to a cannabinoid receptor agonist (WIN55,212-2) and/or nicotine over a discrete time period in mid-adolescence on later intravenous nicotine self-administration in adult male and female mice.