This study assessed the feasibility of a telephone lifestyle coaching intervention for middle aged and older men in a service club setting and evaluated its impact on behavioural change in terms of ...BMI, physical activity, dietary habits, self-reported quality of life and stages of change. Forty participants from Rotary clubs in Western Australia participated in this pilot intervention. Findings showed significant improvements in lifestyle risk modification indicators. Participants were very satisfied with the interaction with their coaches and rated highly the telephone as a medium for coaching. Findings suggested that telephone coaching was a feasible means of delivering a lifestyle intervention in a ‘real-world’ setting for a hard to reach population group.
Palliative care patients who live alone report greater psychological distress, and are less likely to die at home than those living with a family carer. However, there is a lack of research on the ...value of models of care that specifically address this disadvantage. This article describes the experiences of terminally ill ‘home alone’ people using one of two models of care aimed at maintaining participants’ need for independent living, focusing on the effect of these two models of care on their physical, social and emotional needs. Twenty six palliative care patients of Silver Chain Hospice Care, in Western Australia, were randomly assigned to either having a personal alarm or additional care‐aide hours in their home. An in‐depth qualitative study was conducted in two phases in 2010 using face‐to‐face interviews. The care‐aide model of care resulted in benefits such as easing the burden of everyday living; supporting well‐being; enhancing quality of life and preserving a sense of dignity; and reducing loneliness and isolation. The personal alarm model of care imparted a sense of security; provided peace of mind; and helped to deal with feelings of isolation. Participants in both groups felt that they could remain at home longer. By providing a safer, more secure environment through the use of a personal alarm or additional care‐aide hours, patients were able to continue their activities of daily living, could build a sense of ‘normality’ into their lives, and they could live independently through support and dignity.
While it is generally recognised that early childhood programs play an important role in increasing positive outcomes for children, families and society, there is very little research on the ...Australian playgroup experience and its role in providing support for mothers and addressing identity issues. The research aimed to fill this gap by asking why mothers attend playgroups and in particular what for them is the role of playgroup in supporting or challenging expectations of motherhood. Methods included one-on-one interviews with 11 mothers, aged 26 to 45 years, within the Perth metropolitan area with varied experiences with playgroups and follow-up focus groups with mothers who shared characteristic contexts or situations. The data showed there are three reasons that influence whether mothers will attend playgroup: to develop a sense of belonging; to seek validation as a mother; and, negative experiences of playgroup. This data is discussed in reference to positive and negative experiences, limitations of the study and future research. Author abstract
This project implemented and evaluated two models of care for terminally ill people living alone at home: installing personal alarms (PA) and providing extra care aide (CA) support. The primary aim ...was to assess the feasibility of using a randomised controlled trial (RCT) approach with this group. A secondary aim was to assess the potential impact of the models of care on the participants’ quality of life, symptom distress, anxiety and depression, and perceived benefits and barriers to their use. The two models of care were piloted in collaboration with Silver Chain Hospice Care Service (SCHCS) in Western Australia during 2009–2010. Using a pilot RCT design, equal numbers of participants were randomised to receive extra CA time, PAs or standard care. Attrition reduced the sample size from 20 in each group to 12, 14 and 17 respectively. The intervention period was between 6 and 12 weeks depending on prognosis. The participants were functionally and psychologically well and the majority lived alone by choice. There were physical and psychological benefits associated with provision of the two models of care, particularly for the group supported by CAs in terms of improved sleeping and appetite. However, the impact was mostly not statistically significant due to small sample sizes. The study has highlighted two methodological challenges: the wide variation in the degree of living alone at home leading to complex inclusion criteria, and an RCT approach with attrition differing across groups and patients not wanting to be included in the assigned group. The RCT approach is not considered appropriate for the ‘home alone’ palliative care population that would have been better supported by providing each participant with a personalised model of care according to needs. However, the outcomes of the project have prompted changes in SCHCS practice when providing care to these patients.
On community and environment O' Connor, Moira
Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology,
05/2001, Volume:
11, Issue:
3
Book Review, Journal Article
Spermatogonia stem cell (SSC) self-renewal and differentiation are tightly regulated processes that ensure a continued production of mature sperm throughout male adulthood. In the present study, we ...investigated the role of glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ) in maintenance of the male germline and spermatogenesis. GILZ was detectable in germ cells of wild type mice on the day of birth, suggesting a role for GILZ in prospermatogonia and SSC pool formation. Gilz KO mice were generated and adult males were azoospermic and sterile. During the first wave of spermatogenesis in Gilz KO mice, spermatogenesis arrested part way through pachytene of meiosis I. Subsequent waves resulted in a progressive depletion of germ cells through apoptosis to ultimately produce a Sertoli cell-only phenotype. Further, in contrast to wild type littermates, PLZF(+) cells were detected in the peri-luminal region of Gilz KO mice at day 6 post-natal, suggesting a defect in prospermatogonia migration in the absence of GILZ. At age 30 days, transient accumulation of PLZF(+) cells in a subset of tubules and severely compromised spermatogenesis were observed in Gilz KO mice, consistent with defective SSC differentiation. GILZ deficiency was associated with an increase in FOXO1 transcriptional activity, which leads to activation of a selective set of FOXO1 target genes, including a pro-apoptotic protein, BIM. On the other hand, no evidence of a heightened immune response was observed. Together, these results suggest that GILZ suppresses FOXO1 nuclear translocation, promotes SSC differentiation over self-renewal, and favours germ cell survival through inhibition of BIM-dependent pro-apoptotic signals. These findings provide a mechanism for the effects of GILZ on spermatogenesis and strengthen the case for GILZ being a critical molecule in the regulation of male fertility.
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•The concept of protein quality includes defining intake targets of essential amino acids.•The genome-derive dietary EAA targets can be applied to other monogastric species.•Dietary ...protein matched to exome target improved feed conversion efficiency in mice.•Exome-matched feeds with protein digestibility correction yielded further efficiency.•Different effects on lean to fat body mass ratios were observed for male and female mice.
Meeting requirements for dietary proteins, especially of essential amino acids (EAAs), is critical for the life-long health of living organisms. However, defining EAA targets for preparing biologically-matched nutrition that satisfies metabolic requirements for protein remains challenging. Previous research has shown the advantages of ‘exome matching’ in representing the specific requirement of dietary AAs, where the target dietary AA profile was derived from in silico translation of the genome of an organism, specifically responsible for protein expression (the ‘exome’). However, past studies have assessed these effects in only one sex, for few parameters (body mass and composition), and have used purified diets in which protein is supplied as a mixture of individual AAs. Here, for the first time, we utilise a computational method to guide the formulation of custom protein blends and test if exome matching can be achieved at the intact protein level, through blending standard protein ingredients, ultimately leading to optimal growth, longevity and reproductive function. Mice were provided ad libitum (ad lib) access to one of the four iso-energetic protein-limited diets, two matched and two mis-matched to the mouse exome target, and fed at a fixed protein energy level of 6.2%. During or following 13-weeks of feeding, the food intake, body growth, composition and reproductive functions were measured. Compared to the two mis-matched diets, male and female animals on the exome-matched diet with protein digestibility correction applied, exhibited significantly improved growth rates and final body mass. The feed conversion efficiency in the same diet was also increased by 62% and 40% over the worst diets for males and females, respectively. Male, not female, exhibited higher accretion of lean body mass with the matched, digestibility-corrected diet. All reproductive function measures in both sexes were comparable among diets, with the exception of testicular daily sperm production in males, which was higher in the two matched diets versus the mis-matched diets. The results collectively demonstrate the pronounced advantages of exome-matching in supporting body growth and improving feed conversion efficiency in both sexes. However, the potential impact of this approach in enhancing fertility needs further investigation.
Supermarket operators wishing to maximize profits in their video departments need to have specially trained video staffs, a broad and deep title selection, up-to-the-minute new releases, and ...effective communication between stores.
Encyclopedia Brittanica is entering the home video market with "Britannica's Classic Tales Around the World," a series of animated fairy stories set to debut in August 1990.
Music Meet Held in Midwest McCormick, Moira; O Connor, Karen
Billboard,
10/1989, Volume:
101, Issue:
43
Trade Publication Article
At the Midwest Music Fair held in Chicago IL from October 5 to 8 attendees picked up tips on how to get a leg up in the music business at 14 panels and workshops. Highlights from the conference are ...presented.
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