Publications by authors named "R P Kearns"

Introduction: Regional anaesthesia provides important clinical benefits to patients but is underutilised. A barrier to widespread adoption may be the focus of regional anaesthesia research on novel techniques rather than evaluating and optimising existing approaches. Research priorities in regional anaesthesia identified by anaesthetists have been published, but the views of patients, carers and other healthcare professionals have not been considered previously.

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Article Synopsis
  • The rise of neurological disorders like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis poses a major global health issue, with existing treatments mainly alleviating symptoms rather than addressing underlying causes.
  • Research indicates that gut permeability and the kynurenine pathway play critical roles in the development of these disorders; compromised gut health can lead to inflammation affecting the brain.
  • Strategies focused on balancing gut microbiota and targeting the kynurenine pathway through diet, probiotics, and lifestyle changes may offer new avenues for reducing neuroinflammation and promoting brain health.
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The gut-brain axis (GBA) is a crucial communication network linking the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the central nervous system (CNS). The gut microbiota significantly influences metabolic, immune, and neural functions by generating a diverse array of bioactive compounds that modulate brain function and maintain homeostasis. A pivotal mechanism in this communication is the kynurenine pathway, which metabolises tryptophan into various derivatives, including neuroactive and neurotoxic compounds.

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Background: Fatigue and gastrointestinal (GI) distress are common among athletes with an estimated 30-90% of athletes participating in marathons, triathlons, or similar events experiencing GI complaints. Intense exercise can lead to increased intestinal permeability, potentially allowing members of the gut microbiota to permeate into the bloodstream, resulting in an inflammatory response and cascade of performance-limiting outcomes. Probiotics, through their capacity to regulate the composition of the gut microbiota, may act as an adjunctive therapy by enhancing GI and immune function while mitigating inflammatory responses.

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During and subsequent to a natural disaster, there is an expectation that certain elements of society will continue to operate with a degree of normalcy. For example, it is expected that emergency medical services will continue to function and remain reliable for the community served. Expectations such as these are based on the presumed reliability of government and the assumption that those responsible for the relevant infrastructure will have made plans to ensure it remains functional and taken steps to mitigate known weaknesses.

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