Translational research in Australian mental health policy: a scoping review.

ObjectivesThe role of translational research in improving mental health care has been highlighted in federal policy; however, an examination of how and to what extent it has been articulated at this level has not been undertaken. The aim of this scoping review was to characterise translational research concepts in federal mental health policy.MethodsAustralian Government websites were searched for federal policy documents that made recommendations for mental health services in primary care and/or community settings.

Brain health: Pathway to primary prevention of neurodegenerative disorders of environmental origin.

While rising global rates of neurodegenerative disease encourage early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention to block clinical expression (secondary prevention), a more powerful approach is to identify and remove environmental factors that trigger long-latencybrain disease (primary prevention) by acting on a susceptible genotype or acting alone. The latter is illustrated by the post-World War II decline and disappearance of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Parkinsonism-Dementia Complex (ALS/PDC), a prototypical often-familial neurodegenerative disease formerly present in very high incidence on the island of Guam. Lessons learned from 75 years of investigation on the etiology of ALS/PDC include: the importance of focusing field research on the disease epicenter and patients with early-onset disease; soliciting exposure history from patients, family, and community to guide multidisciplinary biomedical investigation; recognition that disease phenotype may vary with exposure history, and that familial brain disease may have a primarily environmental origin.

Shared Decision Making in Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia.

Background: Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a primary lymphocytic scarring alopecia which occurs predominantly in Black middle-aged women.1,2 The benefits and prevalence of shared decision-making (SDM) models for CCCA patients have yet to be studied. Our study investigates the role of SDM in the management of CCCA.

Quantitative Analysis of Early White Matter Damage in Cuprizone Mouse Model of Demyelination Using 7.0 T MRI Multiparametric Approach.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is commonly used to follow the progression of neurodegenerative conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS). MRI is limited by a lack of correlation between imaging results and clinical presentations, referred to as the clinico-radiological paradox. Animal models are commonly used to mimic the progression of human neurodegeneration and as a tool to help resolve the paradox.

Supporting primary care practitioners to promote dementia risk reduction in Australian general practice: outcomes of a cross-sectional, non-randomised implementation pilot study.

Background Primary care practitioners worldwide are urged to promote dementia risk reduction as part of preventive care. To facilitate this in Australian primary care, we developed the Umbrella intervention, comprising a waiting room survey and patient information cards for use in consultations. Educational and relational strategies were employed to mitigate implementation barriers.

Evaluation of research co-design in health: a systematic overview of reviews and development of a framework.

Background: Co-design with consumers and healthcare professionals is widely used in applied health research. While this approach appears to be ethically the right thing to do, a rigorous evaluation of its process and impact is frequently missing. Evaluation of research co-design is important to identify areas of improvement in the methods and processes, as well as to determine whether research co-design leads to better outcomes.

Individual, social and area level factors associated with older people's walking: Analysis of an UK household panel study (Understanding Society).

Background: Among older people, walking is a popular and prevalent activity. Walking is key to increasing physical activity levels and resulting physical and mental health. In the context of rapidly ageing populations, it is important to better understand what factors are associated with walking among older people, based on the socioecological model of health.

Organochlorine pesticides and their markers of exposure in serum and urine of children from a nodding syndrome hotspot in northern Uganda, east Africa.

Nodding syndrome (NS) is a neurologic disorder of unknown etiology characterized by vertical head nodding that has affected children aged 5-18 years in East Africa. Previous studies have examined relationships with biological agents (e.g.

'Keeping it real': A qualitative exploration of preferences of people with lived experience for participation and active involvement in mental health research in Australia.

Background: Historically, researchers have been apt at conducting research on, rather than with, the people who are the focus of their efforts. Such approaches often fail to effectively support and benefit the populations they are intended to. This study aimed to explore the preferences of people with lived experience for engagement with research either as research participants within studies, or through active involvement in mental health research.

Qualitative Exploration of Speech Pathologists' Experiences and Priorities for Aphasia Service Design: Initial Stage of an Experience-Based Co-Design Project to Improve Aphasia Services.

Introduction And Aims: Stroke survivors with aphasia (impaired language/communication) have poor outcomes and gaps in the clinical implementation of best practice contribute to this. Little is known, however, about speech pathologist perspectives on the touchpoints (key moments shaping experiences) in the clinical care pathway that have the greatest impact on service delivery nor how this varies by geographical location. We explored the experiences of speech pathologists who provide aphasia services to establish priorities for improvement and design.

Nodding syndrome: A role for environmental biotoxins that dysregulate MECP2 expression?

Nodding syndrome is an epileptic encephalopathy associated with neuroinflammation and tauopathy. This initially pediatric brain disease, which has some clinical overlap with Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) Duplication Syndrome, has impacted certain impoverished East African communities coincident with local civil conflict and internal displacement, conditions that forced dependence on contaminated food and water. A potential role in Nodding syndrome for certain biotoxins (freshwater cyanotoxins plus/minus mycotoxins) with neuroinflammatory, excitotoxic, tauopathic, and MECP2-dysregulating properties, is considered here for the first time.

Understanding experiences, unmet needs and priorities related to post-stroke aphasia care: stage one of an experience-based co-design project.

Objective: People with post-stroke aphasia (language/communication impairment) and their supporters report mixed satisfaction with stroke and aphasia care. To date, however, their journey of care and the key service interactions that shape their experience have not been comprehensively explored. We aimed to investigate the lived experience of post-stroke aphasia care, across the continuum of care and by geographical location, to establish priorities for service design.

A longitudinal study of the impacts of a stay in a Prevention and Recovery Care service in Victoria, Australia.

Background: Prevention and Recovery Care services are residential sub-acute services in Victoria, Australia, guided by a commitment to recovery-oriented practice. The evidence regarding the effectiveness of this service model is limited, largely relying on small, localised evaluations. This study involved a state-wide investigation into the personal recovery, perceived needs for care, well-being and quality-of-life outcomes experienced by Prevention and Recovery Care services' consumers.

Sepsis Associated With Aggressive Cutaneous Angiosarcoma.

Cutaneous angiosarcoma is an aggressive tumor most commonly presenting on the head and neck. In this case report, we describe the presentation of sepsis secondary to an aggressive and rapidly expanding wound, located in a sun-protected area on the body, in a patient with multiple concurrent comorbidities. Treatment was tailored toward targeting the causative organisms, as well as identifying the histologic morphology of the pathologic legion.

The impact of frailty and rapid response team activation on patients admitted to the intensive care unit: A case-control matched, observational, single-centre cohort study.

Background: Frailty is a multi-dimensional syndrome associated with mortality and adverse outcomes in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Further investigation is warranted to explore the interplay among factors such as frailty, clinical deterioration triggering a medical emergency team (MET) review, and outcomes following admission to the ICU.

Methods: Single-centre, retrospective observational case-control study of adult patients (>18 years) admitted to a medical-surgical ICU with (cases) or without (controls) a preceding MET review between 4 h and 14 days prior.

Lost in translation: a narrative review and synthesis of the published international literature on mental health research and translation priorities (2011-2023).

Background: Priority setting in mental health research is arguably lost in translation. Decades of effort has led to persistent repetition in what the research priorities of people with lived-experience of mental ill-health are.

Aim: This was a narrative review and synthesis of published literature reporting mental health research priorities (2011-2023).

I'm still me, I'm still a person: war metaphor use and meaning making in women with metastatic breast cancer.

Purpose: The war metaphor is one strategy used frequently in breast cancer to inspire individuals in a "fight" against cancer and assist patients in navigating their illness experience. Despite prominent use, the emotional impact of this language has not been examined in the context of meaning making among women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

Methods: This study involved a semi-structured interview considering the war metaphor's impact on women's illness experience with MBC.

A co-design living labs philosophy of practice for end-to-end research design to translation with people with lived-experience of mental ill-health and carer/family and kinship groups.

There is increased recognition that people with lived-experience of mental ill-health ought to be centred in research design, implementation and translation, and quality improvement and program evaluation of services. There is also an increased focus on ways to ensure that co-design processes can be led by people with lived-experience of mental ill-health. Despite this, there remains limited explanation of the physical, social, human, and economic infrastructure needed to create and sustain such models in research and service settings.

Evaluation and treatment of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease in adult patients with psoriasis.

Psoriasis is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic syndrome, with patients having an approximately twofold increased risk of each compared to the general population. This increased risk is based on shared underlying genetic and cytokine profiles, as well as similar environmental risks. Many screening guidelines do not address the development of CVD and metabolic syndrome in these predisposed patients.

A mixed-methods evaluation of the impacts of an online Carer wellbeing and connection program.

Objective: To evaluate a facilitated, 90-min session, delivered for four weeks, Online Carer Wellbeing and Connection Program in Victoria, Australia.

Methods: One hundred and three carers took part in the evaluation. Eighty-six completed both pre- and post-program surveys evaluating program impacts on psychological distress, perceived loneliness, and social support.

A scoping review of cardiovascular risk factor screening rates in general or family practice attendees living with severe mental ill-health.

Background: Primary care is essential to address the unmet physical health needs of people with severe mental ill-health. Continued poor cardiovascular health demands improved screening and preventive care. No previous reviews have examined primary care cardiovascular screening rates for people living with severe mental ill-health; termed in the literature "severe mental illness".