Perspectives and needs of assistive technology advisors and suppliers in Queensland, Australia.

Purpose: An assistive technology ecosystem requires co-ordinated collaboration between policy, products, provision processes, and personnel. A needs assessment was conducted of the assistive technology sector in Queensland to examine these components from the perspective of all key stakeholders. This paper reports the findings of the expressed needs of the assistive technology sector as experienced by the AT advisors and suppliers.

Understanding the experiences and needs of assistive technology users in Queensland.

Assistive technology (AT) can significantly enhance the daily lives of people with disabilities if matched appropriately to the individual and their context. Gaps remain in the AT sector in terms of provision and uptake. Consequently, this study examined current experiences and needs regarding AT provision throughout Queensland from AT users' perspectives.

"(Not) knowing what you know": Exploring educators' perceptions of critical thinking in occupational therapy.

Background: Critical thinking is key for responsible occupational therapy practice. However, the degree to which educators understand critical thinking and the conceptualizations of such concept in teaching remains unclear.

Aim: This study aimed to describe occupational therapy educators' perceptions and experiences of teaching critical thinking.

Performance of an Anti-Phase Technology-Powered Microwave Ablation System on Ex Vivo Liver, Lung and Kidney: Analysis of Temperature Trend, Ablation Size and Sphericity.

Purpose: Investigating the performance of the new Dophi™ M150E Microwave Ablation System, in terms of temperature distribution, ablation size and shape, reproducibility.

Materials And Methods: The Dophi™ M150E Microwave Ablation System was tested on ex vivo liver, lung and kidney, at 6 different settings of time, power and number of MW antennas (single antenna: 50 and 100 W at 5 and 10 min; double antenna: 75 W at 5 and 10 min). The temperature distribution was recorded by Fiber Bragg Grating sensors, placed at different distances from the antennas.

Specific Cell Targeting by Displaying Functional Single-Chain Variable Fragment as a Novel Strategy; A Proof of Principle.

holds significant therapeutic potential; however, its nonspecific invasiveness results in off-target effects. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether specificity can be improved by surface display of scFv directed against dendritic cells' endocytic receptor, DEC205, and immune checkpoint PD-L1. Anti-DEC205 scFv was anchored to the surface either directly via glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) or by fusion with the SAG1 protein.

Bispecific antibodies tethering innate receptors induce human tolerant-dendritic cells and regulatory T cells.

There is an urgent need for alternative therapies targeting human dendritic cells (DCs) that could reverse inflammatory syndromes in many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases and organ transplantations. Here, we describe a bispecific antibody (bsAb) strategy tethering two pathogen-recognition receptors at the surface of human DCs. This cross-linking switches DCs into a tolerant profile able to induce regulatory T-cell differentiation.

Establishing the normative and comparative needs of assistive technology provision in Queensland from the agency and funding scheme perspective.

Background And Aims: Assistive technology services and devices support the participation and inclusion of people living with disability. In Australia, the regulatory bodies, agencies and schemes that manage assistive technology provision are governed by national and / or state-based Acts and Legislation. This study examined the assistive technology sector from the perspective of the regulatory bodies, agencies and schemes.

Clinical utility and validity testing of a co-designed outcome measure for hand burn injuries.

Introduction: A new outcome measure for hand burn injuries was co-designed within a Participatory Action Research framework with expert clinicians and individuals with hand burn injuries. The outcome measure reviews activities which are commonly interrupted post hand burn injuries and includes 18 activities.

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish the clinical utility, face, and content validity of the newly developed outcome measure.

Women with type 1 diabetes gain more weight during pregnancy compared to age-matched healthy women despite a healthier diet: a prospective case-control observational study.

Purpose: Women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), especially those with suboptimal glucose control, have 3-4 greater chances of having babies with birth defects compared to healthy women. We aimed to evaluate glucose control and insulin regimen modifications during the pregnancy of women with T1D, comparing the offspring's weight and the mother's weight change and diet with those of non-diabetic, normal-weight pregnant women.

Methods: Women with T1D and age-matched healthy women controls (CTR) were consecutively enrolled among pregnant women with normal weight visiting our center.

Nasal administration of recombinant secreting IL-15/IL-15Rα inhibits metastatic melanoma development in lung.

Background: Metastases are the leading cause of mortality in many cancer types and lungs are one of the most common sites of metastasis alongside the liver, brain, and bones. In melanoma, 85% of late-stage patients harbor lung metastases. A local administration could enhance the targeting of metastases while limiting the systemic cytotoxicity.

Environmental sustainability: An exploratory study of the perceived knowledge, attitudes, and skills of occupational therapists practicing in Australia.

Introduction: The threat of climate change to the health and wellbeing of the Australian population is well documented. Literature is emerging to support the role of occupational therapy in environmental sustainability. To date, the perspectives of occupational therapists practicing in Australia are yet to be explored.

Occupation-centred practice and supervision: Exploring senior occupational therapists' perspectives.

Introduction: Occupation-centred practice is core to contemporary occupational therapy; however, knowledge and implementation of occupation in practice vary. New graduate occupational therapists find implementing occupation-centred practice challenging, partly due to the influence of senior occupational therapists. However, little is known about senior therapists' views, knowledge, and use of occupation-centred practice and the impact this has on new graduates.

Diabetes and erectile dysfunction: The relationships with health literacy, treatment adherence, unrealistic optimism, and glycaemic control.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between health literacy, unrealistic optimism, and adherence to glycometabolic disease management related to erectile dysfunction (ED) in male patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) or preDM.

Materials And Methods: This prospective observational study enroled 167 consecutive patients with T2D and ED. All patients underwent the following examinations: (a) medical history collection; (b) Body Mass Index (BMI) determination; (c) hormonal and biochemical assessment; (d) duration of T2D, complications and treatment; (e) International Index of Erectile Function-5 questionnaire to assess ED; and (f) validated questionnaire to evaluate health literacy, unrealistic optimism, and treatment adherence.

Position statement of ANCP and SBGG on shared decision-making in palliative care.

Health care for patients with serious illnesses usually implies the need to make a large number of decisions, ranging from how information is shared to which diagnostic or therapeutic procedures will be adopted. The method of such decision-making has important implications from an individual and collective point of view and may contribute to either relieving or aggravating suffering. In this consensus document, the Bioethics Committee of the Brazilian National Academy of Palliative Care (ANCP) and the Permanent Committee on Palliative Care of the Brazilian Geriatrics and Gerontology Society (SBGG) adopt the principles of compassionate listening proposed by Saunders, of the nature of suffering proposed by Cassel, of dignity-preserving care proposed by Chochinov, and of cultural humility as a starting point for the construction of an official position of ANCP and SBGG on shared decision-making in palliative care.

Glycemic Variability in Subjects with Diabetes and Hypogonadism during Testosterone Replacement Treatment: A Pilot Study.

Background: This is a proof of concept, as a pilot study, with the aim to evaluate continuous glucose monitoring metrics (CGM) in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), treated with nutritional therapy and metformin, before and after testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).

Methods: In this longitudinal observational study, subjects affected by T2DM and starting TRT for documented ED and hypogonadism were enrolled. All subjects mounted a CGM system during the v0 visit, one week before the beginning of the TRT (week-1), during v2, four weeks after the start of TRT (week 4), and v4 (week 12).

The role of thyroid function in female and male infertility: a narrative review.

Purpose: We herein aimed to review the new insights into the impact of impaired thyroid function on male and female fertility, spacing from spontaneous pregnancy to ART, with the objective of providing an updated narrative revision of the literature.

Methods: This narrative review was performed for all available prospective, retrospective and review articles, published up to 2021 in PubMed. Data were extracted from the text and from the tables of the manuscript.

Exploring Patient Outcomes After Participation in an Inpatient Occupation-Based Group: A Longitudinal Observational Cohort Study.

Importance: Occupation-based interventions are used during inpatient rehabilitation, and group models may enhance intervention delivery. However, little is known about the impact of occupation-based groups on patient outcomes.

Objective: To examine the effect of an occupation-based group on patient outcome measures of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) skills over time and explore demographic differences among patients.

Evaluation of an inpatient occupation-based group program using a process evaluation framework.

Introduction: Occupation-based groups are used in inpatient rehabilitation to enhance delivery and intensity of intervention; however, little research is available to understand their effectiveness. The aim of this study was to examine the process of an occupation-based group to understand mechanisms and success factors.

Methods: A mixed methods process evaluation using an evidence-based framework guided implementation and analysis.

The Role of Antihyperglycemic Drugs and Diet on Erectile Function: Results from a Perspective Study on a Population with Prediabetes and Diabetes.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of diet and antihyperglycemic drugs on erectile dysfunction (ED) in a setting of subjects affected by diabetes mellitus (DM) or preDM.

Methods: This is a prospective observational study on 163 consecutive subjects with preDM or DM. All patients have undergone a medical evaluation (age, Body Mass Index (BMI), family history of DM, duration of DM, smoking, physical activity, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular comorbidities, and testosterone and HbA1c levels) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-5 questionnaire.

Uncovering the experiences of engaging in an inpatient occupation-based group program: The LifeSkills group.

Background: Consumer engagement is an important element for developing and maintaining value-based healthcare standards. Occupation-based practice in the context of a group has been adopted by inpatient rehabilitation clinicians, but little research has explored if these groups are valuable and useful to patients.

Aims/objectives: To explore the experiences of patients participating in an occupation-based group intervention for instrumental activities of daily living to understand its value and usefulness in an inpatient rehabilitation setting.

Exploration of individuals perspectives of recovery following severe hand burn injuries.

Introduction: Burns to one or both hands can impact how a person interacts with the world around them. Research regarding the specific impact of hand burn injuries and the experiences of individuals who have sustained hand burn injuries remains limited.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of people with severe hand burn injuries, including their return to daily activities.

Effects of diet and antihyperglycemic drugs on erectile dysfunction: A systematic review.

Background: Erectile dysfunction is recognized as one of the complications of diabetes mellitus. To date, a wide gap of knowledge is present on the efficacy of pharmacological treatments of diabetes mellitus on erectile function, acting not only through metabolic control. Similarly, the effects of different diet regimens on erectile dysfunction are still debated.

Pediatric Acute Liver Failure as Presentation of Autoimmune Hepatitis: Learning from a Fatal Case.

Severe acute liver failure (SALF) is a rare condition in children. Up to 50% of the cryptogenic causes of SALF are associated with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). This report presents a 5-year-old girl with progressive jaundice for 10 days.

Association between baseline Mini-Mental State Examination score and dementia incidence in a cohort of oldest old.

Background: The Brazilian population has aged rapidly. The oldest old, defined as persons aged 80 years or older, is the fastest growing segment of the Brazilian population. Several instruments have been used to assess the cognitive performance of the older people and predict dementia.

Identifying the characteristics of occupation-centred practice: A Delphi study.

Introduction: Occupation-centred practice is key to aligning with the contemporary paradigm. Benefits of this approach for clients and the profession are well documented, yet how to identify occupation-centred practice is not yet understood. Therefore, this study aimed to uncover the characteristics of occupation-centred practice and how they can be identified in practice.