Flinders University

About: Flinders University is a education organization based out in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 12033 authors who have published 32831 publications receiving 973172 citations. The organization is also known as: Flinders University of South Australia.

Effect of Losmapimod on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized With Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Abstract: Importance p38 Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)–stimulated inflammation is implicated in atherogenesis, plaque destabilization, and maladaptive processes in myocardial infarction (MI). Pilot data in a phase 2 trial in non–ST elevation MI indicated that the p38 MAPK inhibitor losmapimod attenuates inflammation and may improve outcomes. Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of losmapimod on cardiovascular outcomes in patients hospitalized with an acute myocardial infarction. Design, Setting, and Patients LATITUDE-TIMI 60, a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group trial conducted at 322 sites in 34 countries from June 3, 2014, until December 8, 2015. Part A consisted of a leading cohort (n = 3503) to provide an initial assessment of safety and exploratory efficacy before considering progression to part B (approximately 22 000 patients). Patients were considered potentially eligible for enrollment if they had been hospitalized with an acute MI and had at least 1 additional predictor of cardiovascular risk. Interventions Patients were randomized to either twice-daily losmapimod (7.5 mg; n = 1738) or matching placebo (n = 1765) on a background of guideline-recommended therapy. Patients were treated for 12 weeks and followed up for an additional 12 weeks. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point was the composite of cardiovascular death, MI, or severe recurrent ischemia requiring urgent coronary revascularization with the principal analysis specified at week 12. Results In part A, among the 3503 patients randomized (median age, 66 years; 1036 [29.6%] were women), 99.1% had complete ascertainment for the primary outcome. The primary end point occurred by 12 weeks in 123 patients treated with placebo (7.0%) and 139 patients treated with losmapimod (8.1%; hazard ratio, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.91-1.47; P = .24). The on-treatment rates of serious adverse events were 16.0% with losmapimod and 14.2% with placebo. Conclusions and Relevance Among patients with acute MI, use of losmapimod compared with placebo did not reduce the risk of major ischemic cardiovascular events. The results of this exploratory efficacy study did not justify proceeding to a larger efficacy trial in the existing patient population. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT02145468

Neurochemically similar myenteric and submucous neurons directly traced to the mucosa of the small intestine.

Abstract: Antisera to neuropeptide Y (NPY) gave an intense immunohistochemical reaction of certain nerve cells in the myenteric and submucous plexuses of the guinea-pig small intestine. Each nerve cell had up to 20 branching, tapering processes that were less than approximately 50 micron long and a long process that could be followed for a considerable distance. This morphology corresponds to that of the type-III cells of Dogiel. The long process of each myenteric cell ran through the circular muscle to the submucosa, and in most cases the process could be traced to the mucosa. The submucous nerve cell bodies also had processes that extended to the mucosa. These cell bodies, in both plexuses, also stained with antisera raised against calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), cholecystokinin (CCK), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and somatostatin (SOM), but did not stain with antibodies against enkephalin, substance P or vasoactive intestinal peptide. Thus, it has been possible for the first time to trace the processes of chemically specified neurons through the layers of the intestinal wall and to show by a direct method that CGRP/CCK/ChAT/NPY/SOM myenteric and submucous nerves cells provide terminals in the mucosa.

The relationship between change in self-perceptions of aging and physical functioning in older adults.

Abstract: Negative self-perceptions of aging (SPA) have been linked to poor physical health and functioning outcomes in late life, yet the direction of this relationship remain unclear. Using data from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Aging, we investigated the directionality of the dynamic relationship between self-perceptions of aging and physical functioning in 1,212 adults 65 years and above (mean age = 76.89, SD = 6.12) over 5 waves (up to 16 years). Bivariate Dual Change Score Models (BDCSM) revealed that the best fitting model for the data was that which allowed SPA to predict change in physical functioning over time lags of 1 year. The direction of the relationship remained after controlling for age, gender, partner status, residential care, number of medical conditions, self-rated health, and psychological well-being. Findings suggest that more positive SPA may be protective of decline in physical functioning in late life.

Cochrane review: virtual reality for stroke rehabilitation.

Abstract: Aim Virtual reality and interactive video gaming are innovative therapy approaches in the field of stroke rehabilitation. The primary objective of this review was to determine the effectiveness of virtual reality on motor function after stroke. The impact on secondary outcomes including activities of daily living was also assessed. Methods Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials that compared virtual reality with an alternative or no intervention were included in the review. The authors searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, electronic databases, trial registers, reference lists, Dissertation Abstracts, conference proceedings and contacted key researchers and virtual reality manufacturers. Search results were independently examined by two review authors to identify studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Results Nineteen studies with a total of 565 participants were included in the review. Variation in intervention approaches and outcome data collected limited the extent to which studies could be compared. Virtual reality was found to be significantly more effective than conventional therapy in improving upper limb function (standardised mean difference, SMD) 0.53, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.25 to 0.81)) based on seven studies, and activities of daily living (ADL) function (SMD 0.81, 95% CI 0.39 to 1.22) based on three studies. No statistically significant effects were found for grip strength (based on two studies) or gait speed (based on three studies). Conclusion Virtual reality appears to be a promising approach however, further studies are required to confirm these findings.

The impact of unemployment in relation to age and length of unemployment

Abstract: The study investigated the impact of length of unemployment in two groups of unemployed men in Adelaide, South Australia. The two groups were selected so as to sample two different age ranges, 15 to 24 years and 30 to 49 years. Both groups completed scales concerned with job-seeking activity, employment commitment, self-esteem, psychological distress, use of time, and financial strain. The results indicated differences between the two age groups on some of these variables with more psychological distress, higher self-esteem, and greater employment commitment reported by subjects in the older group. Correlations involving data for all subjects (both groups combined) showed that more financial strain, less time structure, less self-esteem, and more psychological distress tended to accompany increasing length of unemployment but there was little evidence (apart from financial strain) that these relations were stronger for the older age group. In both groups employment commitment and financial strain acted as moderating influences on psychological distress. Results were related to findings from the Sheffield unemployment studies and it is suggested that future research involving different age groups would profit by more contact with theoretical frameworks and empirical findings from life-span developmental psychology.