Publications by authors named "Victoria Oliver"
Article Synopsis
- Researchers investigated the experiences of individuals in Australia with Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT) to help create better treatment options.
- *The study involved interviews with 13 participants who, despite linking their symptoms to tick bites, were not all convinced they had Lyme disease; many reported negative experiences with healthcare that worsened their conditions.
- *The findings highlight a significant need for compassionate and patient-centered care, as well as effective treatments that address both the physical and mental health challenges associated with DSCATT.*
Background: Obstetric fistula develops from obstructed labor and is a devastating condition with significant consequences across several domains of a woman's life. This study presents a narrative review of the evidence on the economic consequences of obstetric fistula.
Methods: Three databases were searched, and search results were limited to English language papers published after 2003.
Objectives: Fractures pose serious health and socioeconomic consequences for individuals, their families, and societies more broadly. In many low-resource settings, case fatality and long-term sequelae after a fracture remain high due to individual- and system-level barriers affecting timely access to care. This scoping review explored the burden of fractures in Malawi using long bone fracture (LBF) as a case study by examining the epidemiology of these injuries, their consequences, and the accessibility of quality healthcare.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: To examine the role of ex vivo oxytocin metabolism in post-dose peptide measurements.
Methods: The stability of oxytocin (Study 1) and oxytocinase activity (Study 2) in late-stage pregnancy blood was quantified using liquid-chromatography tandem mass-spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and a fluorogenic assay, respectively. Analyses were conducted using blood from pregnant women (>36 weeks gestation) evaluated in lithium heparin (LH), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and BD P100 blood collection tubes with or without protease inhibitors.
Background: Access to oxytocin for prevention of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) in resource-poor settings is limited by the requirement for a consistent cold chain and for a skilled attendant to administer the injection. To overcome these barriers, heat-stable, non-injectable formulations of oxytocin are under development, including oxytocin for inhalation. This study modelled the cost-effectiveness of an inhaled oxytocin product (IHO) in Bangladesh and Ethiopia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The launch of novel pharmaceuticals in the developing world faces significant barriers that can delay or ultimately inhibit uptake. Implementation research can provide an understanding of factors influencing the introduction and scale up of a new product and thus can inform implementation strategy development.
Objective: This study explored the factors likely to influence introduction of a novel oxytocin formulation for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage in Ethiopia.
Objective: This study assessed the potential operational feasibility and acceptability of a heat-stable, inhaled oxytocin (IOT) product for community-based prevention of postpartum haemorrhage in Myanmar.
Methods: A qualitative inquiry was conducted between June 2015 and February 2016 through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Research was conducted in South Dagon township (urban setting) and in Ngape and Thanlyin townships (rural settings) in Myanmar.
Background: Oxytocin is the gold standard drug for the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage, but limitations in cold chain systems in resource-constrained settings can severely compromise the quality of oxytocin product available in these environments. This study investigated the perspectives and practices of stakeholders in low and lower-middle income countries towards oxytocin, its storage requirements and associated barriers, and the quality of product available.
Methods: Qualitative inquiries were undertaken in Ethiopia, India and Myanmar, where data was collected through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and In-Depth Interviews (IDIs).
Background: In Myanmar, postpartum haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal mortality and contributes to around 30% of all maternal deaths. The World Health Organization recommends training and supporting auxiliary midwives to administer oral misoprostol for prevention of postpartum haemorrhage in resource-limited settings. However, use of misoprostol by auxiliary midwives has not formally been approved in Myanmar.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe sphingosine kinase (SK) inhibitor, SKI-II, has been employed extensively in biological investigations of the role of SK1 and SK2 in disease and has demonstrated impressive anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo. However, interpretations of results using this pharmacological agent are complicated by several factors: poor SK1/2 selectivity, additional activity as an inducer of SK1-degradation, and off-target effects, including its recently identified capacity to inhibit dihydroceramide desaturase-1 (Des1). In this study, we have delineated the structure-activity relationship (SAR) for these different targets and correlated them to that required for anticancer activity and determined that Des1 inhibition is primarily responsible for the antiproliferative effects of SKI-II and its analogues.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Increased smooth muscle tone is a significant component of benign prostatic hyperplasia, the onset of which correlates with age and declining serum testosterone levels. This study investigates the effects of androgens on key regulators of smooth muscle tone: intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in human cultured prostatic stromal cells (HCPSC).
Methods: HCPSC were cultured in the absence or presence of dihydrotestosterone (DHT; 3, 30, and 300 nM) or testosterone (0.