Mechanical property characterization of electrospun recombinant human tropoelastin for vascular graft biomaterials.

The development of vascular grafts has focused on finding a biomaterial that is non-thrombogenic, minimizes intimal hyperplasia, matches the mechanical properties of native vessels and allows for regeneration of arterial tissue. In this study, the structural and mechanical properties and the vascular cell compatibility of electrospun recombinant human tropoelastin (rTE) were evaluated as a potential vascular graft support matrix. Disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS) was used to cross-link electrospun rTE fibers to produce a polymeric recombinant tropoelastin (prTE) matrix that is stable in aqueous environments.

Is executive cognitive function associated with youth gambling?

Our objectives for this report were to identify trajectories of youth gambling behavior, and to examine their relation to executive cognitive function (ECF) and associated problem behaviors. Philadelphia school children, enrolled at ages 10-12 years (n = 387; 49% male), completed three annual assessments of risk behaviors, ECF, impulsivity, problem behaviors and demographics. Across ages 10-15 years, using methods from Nagin et al.

Driving and driving cessation after traumatic brain injury: processes and key times of need.

Purpose: The ability to drive safely is commonly affected by traumatic brain injury (TBI). Driving is a role and activity that is highly valued and also associated with successful community reintegration after TBI. Relatively little is understood about the processes of interruption to driving and potential return to driving that can be experienced by people with TBI and their family members (FMs).

Structural and cellular characterization of electrospun recombinant human tropoelastin biomaterials.

An off-the-shelf vascular graft biomaterial for vascular bypass surgeries is an unmet clinical need. The vascular biomaterial must support cell growth, be non-thrombogenic, minimize intimal hyperplasia, match the structural properties of native vessels, and allow for regeneration of arterial tissue. Electrospun recombinant human tropoelastin (rTE) as a medial component of a vascular graft scaffold was investigated in this study by evaluating its structural properties, as well as its ability to support primary smooth muscle cell adhesion and growth.

Participant feedback and satisfaction with the UQDRIVE groups for driving cessation.

Background: Driving cessation can lead to negative consequences, such as depression and reduced social activities.

Purpose: The University of Queensland Driver Retirement Initiative (UQDRIVE) intensive support program is a six-week program to assist older people with driving cessation.

Methods: Fifty-five participants completed a survey of satisfaction with the program, including identification of the aspects of the program that were useful and they had applied in real life.

The Cochrane review of occupational therapy for cognitive impairment in stroke patients.

Cognitive impairment frequently follows stroke and impairs everyday activities. This review aimed to determine whether occupational therapy improves functional performance of basic activities of daily living (ADL) and specific cognitive abilities in people who have cognitive impairment after stroke. In this review, randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials that evaluated an occupational therapy intervention focused on providing cognitive retraining to adults with clinically defined stroke and confirmed cognitive impairment were included.

Optical properties of nanocrystal interfaces in compressed MgO nanopowders.

The optical properties and charge trapping phenomena observed on oxide nanocrystal ensembles can be strongly influenced by the presence of nanocrystal interfaces. MgO powders represent a convenient system to study these effects due to the well-defined shape and controllable size distributions of MgO nanocrystals. The spectroscopic properties of nanocrystal interfaces are investigated by monitoring the dependence of absorption characteristics on the concentration of the interfaces in the nanopowders.

Assessment of standing in Functional Capacity Evaluations: An exploration of methods used by a sample of occupational therapists.

Objective: The primary aim of the study was to explore the current practice of occupational therapists when assessing standing performance during Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCEs).

Methods: A semi-structured interview was conducted with occupational therapists and the participants were interviewed using both open and closed questions.

Participants: A sample of occupational therapists (n=20) from Queensland, Australia were involved in a survey.

Activation of NMDA receptors in lumbar spinothalamic cells is required for ejaculation.

Introduction: The sexual reflex ejaculation is controlled by a spinal ejaculation generator located in the lumbosacral spinal cord. A population of spinothalamic (LSt) neurons forms a key component of this generator, as manipulations of LSt cells either block or trigger ejaculation. However, it is currently unknown which afferent signals contribute to the activation of LSt cells and ejaculation.

Infliximab and/or azathioprine in the treatment of Crohn's disease-like complications after IPAA.

Purpose: Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis continues to be confounded by Crohn's disease-like complications after surgery. Such patients experience significant morbidity and often require either pouch excision or diversion. This study evaluated the effectiveness in our hands of infliximab and/or azathioprine/6-mercaptopurine in treating this patient population.

Mechanism of laser assisted field evaporation from insulating oxides.

To explain the recent successful three-dimensional atom probe (3DAP) analyses of insulating oxides by laser assisted field evaporation, we investigated the mechanism of the laser-induced field evaporation of oxides by ab initio calculations. The calculated potential energy surfaces (PESs) for the ground and excited states indicated that the activation barrier height for field evaporation is substantially reduced by the accumulation of holes near the tip apex. This would make the direct electronic excitation possible to promote field evaporation along with thermal excitation.

Risk factors for surgical site infections after colorectal resection in diabetic patients.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a well known complication of gastrointestinal surgery and associated with an increased morbidity, mortality and overall cost. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor for SSI. However, there is no clear consensus as to which other risk factors play a significant role.

The revised Bethesda guidelines: extent of utilization in a university hospital medical center with a cancer genetics program.

Background: In 1996, the National Cancer Institute hosted an international workshop to develop criteria to identify patients with colorectal cancer who should be offered microsatellite instability (MSI) testing due to an increased risk for Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC). These criteria were further modified in 2004 and became known as the revised Bethesda Guidelines. Our study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the percentage of patients diagnosed with HNPCC tumors in 2004 who met revised Bethesda criteria for MSI testing, who were referred for genetic counseling within our institution.

CTL induction of tumoricidal nitric oxide production by intratumoral macrophages is critical for tumor elimination.

To characterize mechanisms of CTL inhibition within an ocular tumor microenvironment, tumor-specific CTLs were transferred into mice with tumors developing within the anterior chamber of the eye or skin. Ocular tumors were resistant to CTL transfer therapy whereas skin tumors were sensitive. CTLs infiltrated ocular tumors at higher CTL/tumor ratios than in skin tumors and demonstrated comparable ex vivo effector function to CTLs within skin tumors indicating that ocular tumor progression was not due to decreased CTL accumulation or inhibited CTL function within the eye.

Regeneration of the cavernous nerve by Sonic hedgehog using aligned peptide amphiphile nanofibers.

SHH plays a significant role in peripheral nerve regeneration and has clinical potential to be used as a regenerative therapy for the CN in prostatectomy patients and in other patients with neuropathy of peripheral nerves. Efforts to regenerate the cavernous nerve (CN), which provides innervation to the penis, have been minimally successful, with little translation into improved clinical outcomes. We propose that, Sonic hedgehog (SHH), is critical to maintain CN integrity, and that SHH delivered to the CN by novel peptide amphiphile (PA) nanofibers, will promote CN regeneration, restore physiological function, and prevent penile morphology changes that result in erectile dysfunction (ED).

A caveat for T cell transfer studies: generation of cytotoxic anti-Thy1.2 antibodies in Thy1.1 congenic mice given Thy1.2+ tumors or T cells.

Thy1.1 congenic B6.PL mice were used to simultaneously monitor Thy1.

Aquagenic wrinkling of the palms in an adult cystic fibrosis population.

Background: Aquagenic wrinkling of the palms (AWP) is a rare condition characterised by the development of oedema and excessive wrinkling of the palms following exposure to water. It has frequently been associated with cystic fibrosis (CF). Early reports of AWP have only been case reports or small case series; there has only been one reported prevalence study of AWP in a CF population.

Information provision to clients with stroke and their carers: self-reported practices of occupational therapists.

Background: The literature promotes the use of a wide range of educational materials for teaching and training clients with chronic conditions such as stroke. Client education is a valuable tool used by occupational therapists to facilitate client and carer ability to manage the stroke-affected upper limb. The aim of this study was to identify what information was provided to clients and carers, how this information was delivered, when the information was delivered and the client factors that influenced the method of information provision.

Factors affecting the number and type of impairments of visual perception and praxis following stroke.

Aim: This study aimed to examine the effect of clinical factors including side of stroke, region of affected cerebral circulation, type of stroke and time since stroke, as well as age on the number and type of impairments of visual perception and praxis in patients following stroke.

Methods: Two hundred and eight participants with stroke were conveniently sampled from 12 hospitals in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Background information was collected and each participant was assessed for impairments of visual perception and praxis using the Occupational Therapy Adult Perceptual Screening Test.

Management of patients with cognitive impairment after stroke: a survey of Australian occupational therapists.

Background/aim: Cognitive impairment is a common and often debilitating consequence of stroke. The current practice patterns of Australian occupational therapists who work in this area are not clearly known. The aim of this study was to investigate the theoretical approaches, assessments, interventions and research evidence used by Australian occupational therapists who work with patients who have cognitive impairment poststroke.

Occupational therapy for cognitive impairment in stroke patients.

Background: Cognitive impairment is a frequent consequence of stroke and can impact on a person's ability to perform everyday activities. There are a number of different intervention strategies that occupational therapists may use when working with people who have cognitive impairment post-stroke.

Objectives: To determine whether occupational therapy improves functional performance of basic activities of daily living (ADL) and specific cognitive abilities in people who have cognitive impairment following a stroke.

Peptide amphiphile nanofiber delivery of sonic hedgehog protein to reduce smooth muscle apoptosis in the penis after cavernous nerve resection.

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a serious medical condition that affects 16-82% of prostate cancer patients treated by radical prostatectomy and current treatments are ineffective in 50-60% of prostatectomy patients. The reduced efficacy of treatments makes novel therapeutic approaches to treat ED essential. The secreted protein Sonic hedgehog (SHH) is a critical regulator of penile smooth muscle and apoptosis that is decreased in cavernous nerve (CN) injury and diabetic ED models.

Priorities for an age-friendly bus system.

This article presents the results of a study on the barriers and facilitators to bus use for people aged 60 or older. Two complementary methodologies, nominal group technique and focussed ethnography, were used to identify barriers and facilitators and rank their importance. Two sample sites from Queensland, Australia, were selected, with 227 people participating in the nominal group technique and 40 people participating in the focussed ethnography component.