University of Canterbury

About: University of Canterbury is a education organization based out in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Large Hadron Collider. The organization has 11100 authors who have published 29846 publications receiving 893232 citations. The organization is also known as: Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha & Canterbury College.

Arterial spin labelling reveals an abnormal cerebral perfusion pattern in Parkinson's disease

Abstract: There is a need for objective imaging markers of Parkinson’s disease status and progression. Positron emission tomography and single photon emission computed tomography studies have suggested patterns of abnormal cerebral perfusion in Parkinson’s disease as potential functional biomarkers. This study aimed to identify an arterial spin labelling magnetic resonance-derived perfusion network as an accessible, non-invasive alternative. We used pseudo-continuous arterial spin labelling to measure cerebral grey matter perfusion in 61 subjects with Parkinson’s disease with a range of motor and cognitive impairment, including patients with dementia and 29 age- and sex-matched controls. Principal component analysis was used to derive a Parkinson’s disease-related perfusion network via logistic regression. Region of interest analysis of absolute perfusion values revealed that the Parkinson’s disease pattern was characterized by decreased perfusion in posterior parieto-occipital cortex, precuneus and cuneus, and middle frontal gyri compared with healthy controls. Perfusion was preserved in globus pallidus, putamen, anterior cingulate and post- and pre-central gyri. Both motor and cognitive statuses were significant factors related to network score. A network approach, supported by arterial spin labelling-derived absolute perfusion values may provide a readily accessible neuroimaging method to characterize and track progression of both motor and cognitive status in Parkinson’s disease.

The evolutionary history of the extinct ratite moa and New Zealand Neogene paleogeography.

Abstract: The ratite moa (Aves: Dinornithiformes) were a speciose group of massive graviportal avian herbivores that dominated the New Zealand (NZ) ecosystem until their extinction ≈600 years ago. The phylogeny and evolutionary history of this morphologically diverse order has remained controversial since their initial description in 1839. We synthesize mitochondrial phylogenetic information from 263 subfossil moa specimens from across NZ with morphological, ecological, and new geological data to create the first comprehensive phylogeny, taxonomy, and evolutionary timeframe for all of the species of an extinct order. We also present an important new geological/paleogeographical model of late Cenozoic NZ, which suggests that terrestrial biota on the North and South Island landmasses were isolated for most of the past 20–30 Ma. The data reveal that the patterns of genetic diversity within and between different moa clades reflect a complex history following a major marine transgression in the Oligocene, affected by marine barriers, tectonic activity, and glacial cycles. Surprisingly, the remarkable morphological radiation of moa appears to have occurred much more recently than previous early Miocene (ca. 15 Ma) estimates, and was coincident with the accelerated uplift of the Southern Alps just ca. 5–8.5 Ma. Together with recent fossil evidence, these data suggest that the recent evolutionary history of nearly all of the iconic NZ terrestrial biota occurred principally on just the South Island.

Adolescent psychiatric symptoms following preschool childhood mild traumatic brain injury: evidence from a birth cohort.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine whether childhood mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) is associated with behavioral problems in adolescence. PARTICIPANTS: Children from a longitudinal birth cohort (initial N = 1265) were assigned to 1 of 3 groups: (1) inpatient group (n = 19) comprised children admitted to hospital for MTBI before age 5 years; (2) outpatient group (n = 57), children with any incidence of MTBI before age 5 seen by a general practitioner or at an accident and emergency department and sent home; (3) reference control group (n = 839). OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal and self-report regarding attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, anxiety disorder, mood disorder, and alcohol or illicit substance abuse/dependence obtained using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Third Edition Revised) criteria. RESULTS: At age 14 to 16 years, children who had been hospitalized for MTBI during preschool years were significantly more likely to show symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (odds ratio = 4.2), conduct disorder/oppositional defiant disorder (odds ratio = 6.2), substance abuse (odds ratio = 3.6), and mood disorder (odds ratio = 3.1) but not anxiety disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Preschool MTBI is associated with persistent negative effects on psychosocial development. These continuing problems are consistent with the view that preschool years represent a period of particular vulnerability following MTBI. Language: en