Using biomaterials to improve mesenchymal stem cell therapies for chronic, nonhealing wounds.

Historically, treatment of chronic, nonhealing wounds has focused on managing symptoms using biomaterial-based wound dressings, which do not adequately address the underlying clinical issue. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising cell-based therapy for the treatment of chronic, nonhealing wounds, yet inherent cellular heterogeneity and susceptibility to death during injection limit their clinical use. Recently, researchers have begun to explore the synergistic effects of combined MSC-biomaterial therapies, where the biomaterial serves as a scaffold to protect the MSCs and provides physiologically relevant physicochemical cues that can direct MSC immunomodulatory behavior.

Exploring motivations to be active among amputees: a phenomenological approach to leisure time physical activity.

Purpose: People with disabilities are less active and experience increased burden of disease compared to those without disabilities. Leisure time physical activity (LTPA) participation is strongly related to improved health in all populations. Despite this, research with amputees focuses heavily on prosthetic design and function, leaving amputees an under-represented population in LTPA and motivation research.

Confluence of crises: COVID-19, "gassings", blood draws and the continued importance of community engagement in Zambia.

Nationally representative, household-based, health-related surveys are an invaluable source of health information, but face implementation challenges. In sub-Saharan Africa, these challenges are exacerbated when surveys include the collection of biological specimens. In this study, we describe the potential implementation challenges identified during field practice leading up to the 2020 Zambia Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (ZAMPHIA) survey, and explore the role of two crises on community mistrust of, and apprehension to, participate in the survey.

Natural variation in the oxytocin receptor gene and rearing interact to influence reproductive and nonreproductive social behavior and receptor binding.

Individual variation in social behavior offers an opportunity to explore gene-by-environment interactions that could contribute to adaptative or atypical behavioral profiles (e.g., autism spectrum disorders).

Content and Feature Preferences for a Physical Activity App for Adults With Physical Disabilities: Focus Group Study.

Background: Hundreds of thousands of mobile phone apps intended to improve health and fitness are available for download across platforms and operating systems; however, few have been designed with people with physical disabilities in mind, ignoring a large population that may benefit from an effective tool to increase physical activity.

Objective: This study represents the first phase in the development process of a fitness tracking app for people with physical disabilities interested in nontraditional sport. The aim of this research was to explore user preferences for content, appearance, and operational features of a proposed physical activity app for people with physical disabilities to inform the design of a mobile phone app for increasing physical activity.

Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy for Heterogeneous Anxiety and Mood Disorders in a Psychiatric Hospital Outpatient Clinic.

Recent literature has shown that group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective for individuals with heterogeneous anxiety disorders. However, these studies have used a narrow range of outcome measures, and have not included global measures such as quality of life. In addition, heterogeneous mood disorders have not been well researched.

Motivational interviewing (MINT) improves continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) acceptance and adherence: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is poor. We assessed the effectiveness of a motivational interviewing intervention (motivational interview nurse therapy [MINT]) in addition to best practice standard care to improve acceptance and adherence to CPAP therapy in people with a new diagnosis of OSA.

Method: One hundred six Australian adults (69% male) with a new diagnosis of OSA and a clinical recommendation for CPAP treatment were recruited from a tertiary sleep disorders center.

Cues to starting CPAP in obstructive sleep apnea: development and validation of the cues to CPAP Use Questionnaire.

Background: The reasons that a patient has to start treatment, their "Cues to Action", are important for determining subsequent health behaviors. Cues to action are an explicit component of the Health Belief Model of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) acceptance. At present, there is no scale available to measure this construct for individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Adherence to continuous positive airway pressure therapy in obstructive sleep apnoea sufferers: a theoretical approach to treatment adherence and intervention.

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder associated with significant health, quality of life and psychosocial problems. The aims of this review are to investigate the contribution of psychological constructs and theory to the assessment and treatment of OSA. Adherence to CPAP treatment remains a primary concern for improving treatment outcomes for OSA.

Holistic wellness as a means to developing a lifestyle approach to health behavior among college students.

Objective: The authors examined the influence of a holistic model of wellness on activity level among obese and sedentary college students.

Participants: They recruited 41 participants for an 11-week program.

Methods: Participants were required to record daily walking totals and complete 5 bimonthly classes where principles of holistic wellness were discussed.

The rapid screen of concussion: an evaluation of the non-word repetition test for use in mTBI research.

Primary Objectives: (1) To investigate the Nonword Repetition test (NWR) as an index of sub-vocal rehearsal deficits after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI); (2) to assess the reliability, validity and sensitivity of the NWR; and (3) to compare the NWR to more sensitive tests of verbal memory.

Research Design: An independent groups design.

Methods And Procedures: Study 1 administered the NWR to 46 mTBI and 61 uninjured controls with the Rapid Screen of Concussion (RSC).

Assessing competencies of the public health workforce in a frontier state.

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of perceived proficiency of a public health workforce based on the Public Health Practice Core Competencies. The Public Health Profile and Training Needs Assessment questionnaire was mailed out to public health employees representing mostly public health nursing, environmental health, mental health, and public health management/administration (n = 696). Nearly three-quarters (74%) of participants were female and 96% reported being white.