This article examines authenticity in South Korean hip hop culture. Building on subcultural theory and cultural hybridization theory, it explores authenticity dynamics in this scene, and the role of ...the local media as a cultural mediator. Data were collected using a mixed-methods approach over two stages. Stage 1 was a quantitative content analysis of seminal South Korean hip hop program, Show Me the Money. Stage 2 comprised of qualitative participant observation in Seoul hip hop night clubs, and eight semistructured interviews with rappers and journalists. Key findings suggest there is a constant struggle between authenticity and commodification, where commodification dominates the South Korean hip hop scene. This work contributes to the interdisciplinary field of journalism studies by aligning itself with cultural theory to widen the Western view of South Korean hip hop.
One of the challenges of delivering safe, reliable, quality health care is ensuring the workforce have access to the right training at the right time wherever they are practising. Like other high ...reliability fields, healthcare education has recognised the important role of simulation based education in embedding a culture of readiness for practice. Managed clinical networks (MCNs) have a proven track record in enhancing services for patients. Adapting this approach to ensuring the healthcare workforce has access to the right training at the right time can provide a more equitable national approach to simulation based education. One of the advantages of the MCN concept has been the flexibility to respond to local needs while reliably delivering national standards.
This article shares 5 years of data from a mobile simulation unit (MSU) analysed using the principles of a national managed educational network (MEN). An action research approach was used to identify how the MSU was changing the delivery of simulation based education as part of a national MEN for clinical skills education. One of the key deliverables of the Scottish Clinical Skills Strategy was to support the training needs of the National Health Service workforce, particularly in remote and rural Scotland. The MSU was proposed as part of the solution to the 'inequity of provision of clinical skills education using simulation'. Between 2014 and 2018, data were collected by the Clinical Skills Managed Educational Network (CSMEN) team on the performance of the MSU. Venues visited, job titles of participants and courses attended (a mix of local and national) were recorded by the venue hosts and collated by CSMEN staff.
Evidence of the impact of the MSU using the seven MEN principles to analyse the data (functioning with explicit management arrangements, embedding systems of accountability, agreed expected outcomes, using an evidence base, having a multiprofessional and multidisciplinary focus, engaging in a system of dissemination, generating better value for money and engaging in research and development) are shared.
Few examples of mobile simulation facilities exist in the UK, and none have the longevity of the CSMEN MSU. The results of the analysis supported the business case for an upgraded new MSU and identified the need to explore in more depth the variation in impact across the venues visited. However, some localities did not use the MSU during 2014-2018 and there are still some unanswered questions around its impact in some venues, which require further exploration.
This study aimed to develop and evaluate a scoring system-called the Sepsis-Associated Adverse Outcomes in Pregnancy (SAAP) Score-to identify individuals with maternal infection that have composite ...maternal adverse outcomes (CMAO).
Using the International Classification of Disease codes, we identified pregnant and postpartum (up to 6 weeks after birth) individuals admitted at our center with a primary diagnosis of infection. The primary outcome was CMAO which included any of the following: maternal intensive care unit admission, surgical intervention, vasopressor use, acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary edema, mechanical ventilation, high-flow nasal cannula, disseminated intravascular coagulation, dialysis, organ failure, venous thromboembolism, or maternal death. Regularized logistic regression was used to identify variables that best discriminate CMAO status. Variables were chosen for inclusion following evaluation of statistical and clinical significance. Model performance was evaluated using area under the curve (AUC) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values.
Of the 23,235 deliveries during the study period, 227 (0.9%) individuals met inclusion criteria and among them CMAO occurred in 39.2% (95% CI: 33.1-45.7%). The SAAP score consisted of six variables (white blood cell count, systolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate, lactic acid, and abnormal diagnostic imaging) with scores ranging from 0 to 11 and a score of ≥7 being abnormal. An abnormal SAAP score had an AUC of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.74-0.86) for CMAO. The sensitivity and specificity of the SAAP score for CMAO was 0.71 (95% CI: 0.60-0.80) and 0.73 (95% CI: 0.64-0.80), respectively. The positive predictive value was 0.62 (95% CI: 0.52-0.72) and negative predictive value was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.71-0.86).
Pending external validation, the sixth variable SAAP score may permit early recognition of pregnant and postpartum individuals with infection who are likely to develop adverse maternal outcomes.
· Sepsis is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality.. · Early recognition improves maternal sepsis outcomes.. · The SAAP score may permit early recognition of maternal adverse outcomes due to infection..
Music heritage in cities has become a significant area of interest in the twenty-first century because it is linked to profitable music tourism and a growing cultural economy. Melbourne, the ...Victorian state capital, is used as a case study; in March 2013, the city was unofficially crowned Australia's music capital because it, at the time, had the most music venues and a vibrant music economy. However, this paper argues that this identification is somewhat ahistorical for two reasons. Firstly, it leaves out the colonial and gold rush prehistory of Melbourne's music culture. Secondly, it omits the critical recognition of Melbourne's (and Australia's) first international music superstar exports, such as opera diva Dame Nellie Melba (nee Helen Porter Mitchell), who was named after her home town of Melbourne, and pianist prodigy and composer Percy (Aldridge) Grainger. Drawing on a textual analysis of government policies, economic reports, and the work of historians, musicologists and journalists, this paper synergises the history of Melbourne's music culture from its colonial beginnings in 1835, until 1927, when the city was no longer Australia's political capital. It identifies four early stages of Melbourne's musical development, which laid the foundations for iconic music venues, Australia's first opera company, music entrepreneurs, and the initial nurturing of the nation's first music superstars in Melba and Grainger.
Background: Turning is a complex measure of gait that accounts for over 50% of daily steps. Traditionally, turning has been measured in a research grade laboratory setting, however, there is demand ...for a low-cost and portable solution to measure turning using wearable technology. This study aimed to determine the suitability of a low-cost inertial sensor-based device (AX6, Axivity) to assess turning, by simultaneously capturing and comparing to a turn algorithm output from a previously validated reference inertial sensor-based device (Opal), in healthy young adults. Methodology: Thirty participants (aged 23.9 ± 4.89 years) completed the following turning protocol wearing the AX6 and reference device: a turn course, a two-minute walk (including 180° turns) and turning in place, alternating 360° turn right and left. Both devices were attached at the lumbar spine, one Opal via a belt, and the AX6 via double sided tape attached directly to the skin. Turning measures included number of turns, average turn duration, angle, velocity, and jerk. Results: Agreement between the outcomes from the AX6 and reference device was good to excellent for all turn characteristics (all ICCs > 0.850) during the turning 360° task. There was good agreement for all turn characteristics (all ICCs > 0.800) during the two-minute walk task, except for moderate agreement for turn angle (ICC 0.683). Agreement for turn outcomes was moderate to good during the turns course (ICCs range; 0.580 to 0.870). Conclusions: A low-cost wearable sensor, AX6, can be a suitable and fit-for-purpose device when used with validated algorithms for assessment of turning outcomes, particularly during continuous turning tasks. Future work needs to determine the suitability and validity of turning in aging and clinical cohorts within low-resource settings.
Background
People with schizophrenia die almost 20 years earlier than the general population, most commonly from avertable cardiometabolic disease. Existing pharmacological weight-loss agents ...including metformin have limited efficacy. Recently available glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) receptor agonists such as semaglutide have shown promise for weight loss but have yet to be trialled in this population.
Aims
To examine the efficacy of semaglutide to ameliorate antipsychotic-induced obesity in people with schizophrenia who have been treated with clozapine for more than 18 weeks.
Method
This is a 36-week, double-blinded, randomised placebo-controlled trial. We will recruit 80 clozapine-treated patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, aged 18–64 years, with a baseline body mass index ≥26 kg/m
2
, who will be randomised to subcutaneous semaglutide of 2.0 mg once a week or placebo for 36 weeks. The primary endpoint will be percentage change in body weight from baseline.
Results
This trial will assess the efficacy and side-effects of the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide on body weight and provide evidence on the possible clinical utility of semaglutide in patients with inadequate response to metformin. The study is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (
www.anzctr.org.au
) with clinical trial registration number ACTRN12621001539820.
Conclusion
This research could benefit individuals with schizophrenia who experience significant health issues, leading to premature mortality, owing to antipsychotic-induced weight gain. Study findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
Schizophrenia is a persistent psychotic disorder often accompanied by severe disability and premature mortality. New pharmacological treatments are urgently needed. Sodium benzoate, a common food ...preservative holds potential to be an effective, accessible treatment for schizophrenia, though the optimal dosing and mechanism of action of the compound requires further investigation.
Individuals with persistent treatment-refractory schizophrenia (n=52) will be recruited. Patients will be randomised in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to receive treatment of one of three active doses (1000, 2000 or 4000 mg daily) of sodium benzoate or placebo for 6 weeks duration. The primary outcome measurement is change in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score. Secondary outcome measurements are PANSS subscales, Global Assessment of Function (GAF), Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and Patient Global Impression (PGI-I). Change in concentrations of peripheral amino acids (D-alanine, L-alanine, D-serine, L-serine, glycine and glutamate), plasma sodium benzoate, plasma catalase, 3-nitrotyrosine, malondialdehyde and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) will be determined as tertiary measures.
This trial seeks to build upon previous research indicating potential efficacy of sodium benzoate for reduction of symptoms in individuals with treatment-refractory schizophrenia. The trial aims to improve the understanding of the mechanism of action of the compound.
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12621000327886 . Registered on 23 March 2021.
Single-stranded RNA viruses, infectious to the European honeybee, Apis mellifera L. are known to reside at low levels in colonies, with typically no apparent signs of infection observed in the ...honeybees. Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) of regions of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is often used to diagnose their presence in apiaries and also to classify the type of virus detected.
Analysis of RdRp conserved domains was undertaken on members of the newly defined order, the Picornavirales; focusing in particular on the amino acid residues and motifs known to be conserved. Consensus sequences were compiled using partial and complete honeybee virus sequences published to date. Certain members within the iflaviruses, deformed wing virus (DWV), Kakugo virus (KV) and Varroa destructor virus (VDV); and the dicistroviruses, acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), Israeli paralysis virus (IAPV) and Kashmir bee virus (KBV), shared greater than 98% and 92% homology across the RdRp conserved domains, respectively.
RdRp was validated as a suitable taxonomic marker for the assignment of members of the order Picornavirales, with the potential for use independent of other genetic or phenotypic markers. Despite the current use of the RdRp as a genetic marker for the detection of specific honeybee viruses, we provide overwhelming evidence that care should be taken with the primer set design. We demonstrated that DWV, VDV and KV, or ABPV, IAPV and KBV, respectively are all recent descendents or variants of each other, meaning caution should be applied when assigning presence or absence to any of these viruses when using current RdRp primer sets. Moreover, it is more likely that some primer sets (regardless of what gene is used) are too specific and thus are underestimating the diversity of honeybee viruses.
The first endocannabinoid, anandamide, was discovered in 1992. Since then, two other endocannabinoid agonists have been identified, 2-arachidonyl glycerol and, more recently, noladin ether. Here, we ...report the identification and pharmacological characterization of a novel endocannabinoid, virodhamine, with antagonist properties at the CB1 cannabinoid receptor. Virodhamine is arachidonic acid and ethanolamine joined by an ester linkage. Concentrations of virodhamine measured by liquid chromatography atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-tandem mass spectrometry in rat brain and human hippocampus were similar to anandamide. In peripheral tissues that express the CB2 cannabinoid receptor, virodhamine concentrations were 2- to 9-fold higher than anandamide. In contrast to previously described endocannabinoids, virodhamine was a partial agonist with in vivo antagonist activity at the CB1 receptor. However, at the CB2 receptor, virodhamine acted as a full agonist. Transport of (14)Canandamide by RBL-2H3 cells was inhibited by virodhamine. Virodhamine produced hypothermia in the mouse and acted as an antagonist in the presence of anandamide both in vivo and in vitro. As a potential endogenous antagonist at the CB1 receptor, virodhamine adds a new form of regulation to the endocannabinoid system.
Background:
People with schizophrenia have a 15–20-year reduction in life expectancy, driven in part by the metabolic effects of antipsychotics. Clozapine is associated with the highest rates of ...weight gain. As clozapine remains the most effective antipsychotic for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), identifying treatments to ameliorate clozapine-induced weight gain (CIWG) is urgently needed to reduce this morality gap.
Methods:
We retrospectively analysed digital health records of patients with TRS aged 18–65 newly initiated on clozapine at four tertiary hospitals in south-east Queensland from 1 March 2017 to 30 June 2019. Our primary outcome was the effect of metformin on change in percentage bodyweight at 12 months after clozapine initiation, with secondary outcome being proportion with >5% or >7% bodyweight change. We also explored impact on bodyweight change of other variables including sex, tobacco smoking, type 2 diabetes (T2DM), age, clozapine level and dose and clozapine/norclozapine ratio.
Results:
Among 90 patients initiated on clozapine, metformin use (n = 48) was associated with a smaller increase in percentage bodyweight (1.32% versus 5.95%, p = 0.031), lower rates of >7% gain in bodyweight (37.8% versus 63.0%, p = 0.025) but not >5% gain in bodyweight. Age below the median (32.0 years) was associated with greater bodyweight gain (5.55% versus 1.22%, p = 0.046). Sex, tobacco smoking, T2DM, clozapine dose and level and clozapine/norclozapine ratio were not associated with differences in change in bodyweight.
Conclusion:
In this small retrospective cohort study, use of metformin within 12-months of clozapine initiation was associated with a statistically and clinically significant reduction in CIWG. Although there is increasing evidence for the role of metformin to ameliorate bodyweight gain at time of clozapine initiation, our findings need replication and testing in a randomised controlled trial before recommending metformin co-commencement with clozapine as standard clinical practice.
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