The Age and physiographical relationships of some Cainozoic basalts in Central and Eastern Tasmania

The problems associated with the determination of the age of the Cainozoic volcanic rocks of Tasmania are closely analogous to those presented by similar rocks in Victoria. In Tasmania, as in Victoria, certain volcanic rocks are known to be of pre-Lower Miocene age, while others are known to be post-Lower Miocene from their relationships with fossiliferous marine sediments (Nye and Blake, 1938, pp. 50-51)

Ethically we can no longer sit on the fence - a neuropsychological perspective on the cerebrally hazardous contact sports

Background and objective. The number of male and female contact sport participants is increasing worldwide. The aim of the review is to discuss the potential for deleterious sequelae of sports concussion (mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI)), and management thereof. Discussion. Incidence of concussion in the field contact sports is high, not only for boxing, but also for soccer, football and especially rugby. An overview of studies investigating persistent deleterious cognitive and symptomatic outcome following cumulative sports MTBI suggests that individuals may be at risk for permanent neurological damage following participation in a contact sport. Established sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI) typically involving frontal systems include cognitive decline, behavioural changes such as diminished self-regulation and aggression, and increased risk for Alzheimer's disease. The presence of such consequences hidden within the context of the widely popularised contact sports, has societal implications that should be acknowledged. Compromised scholastic abilities and enhanced aggressive tendencies in association with sports MTBI are in need of further longitudinal research. Conclusion. A comprehensive preventive approach to the management of MTBI in sport is advocated that includes professionally applied neuropsychological assessment as a crucial component. Future policy considerations are the introduction of mandatory informed consent for participation in a high-risk contact sport such as rugby, particularly at youth level, and financial provision for concussion management amongst economically disadvantaged populations. South African Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 19 (2) 2007: pp. 32-3

Age- and activity-related differences in the abundance of Myosin essential and regulatory light chains in human muscle

Traditional methods for phenotyping skeletal muscle (e.g., immunohistochemistry) are labor-intensive and ill-suited to multixplex analysis, i.e., assays must be performed in a series. Addressing these concerns represents a largely unmet research need but more comprehensive parallel analysis of myofibrillar proteins could advance knowledge regarding age- and activity-dependent changes in human muscle. We report a label-free, semi-automated and time efficient LC-MS proteomic workflow for phenotyping the myofibrillar proteome. Application of this workflow in old and young as well as trained and untrained human skeletal muscle yielded several novel observations that were subsequently verified by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM).We report novel data demonstrating that human ageing is associated with lesser myosin light chain 1 content and greater myosin light chain 3 content, consistent with an age-related reduction in type II muscle fibers. We also disambiguate conflicting data regarding myosin regulatory light chain, revealing that age-related changes in this protein more closely reflect physical activity status than ageing per se. This finding reinforces the need to control for physical activity levels when investigating the natural process of ageing. Taken together, our data confirm and extend knowledge regarding age- and activity-related phenotypes. In addition, the MRM transitions described here provide a methodological platform that can be fine-tuned to suite multiple research needs and thus advance myofibrillar phenotyping

Ethically we can no longer sit on the fence - a neuropsychological perspective on the cerebrally hazardous contact sports

Background and objective. The number of male and female contact sport participants is increasing worldwide. The aim of the review is to discuss the potential for deleterious sequelae of sports concussion (mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI)), and management thereof. Discussion. Incidence of concussion in the field contact sports is high, not only for boxing, but also for soccer, football and especially rugby. An overview of studies investigating persistent deleterious cognitive and symptomatic outcome following cumulative sports MTBI suggests that individuals may be at risk for permanent neurological damage following participation in a contact sport. Established sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI) typically involving frontal systems include cognitive decline, behavioural changes such as diminished self-regulation and aggression, and increased risk for Alzheimer's disease. The presence of such consequences hidden within the context of the widely popularised contact sports, has societal implications that should be acknowledged. Compromised scholastic abilities and enhanced aggressive tendencies in association with sports MTBI are in need of further longitudinal research. Conclusion. A comprehensive preventive approach to the management of MTBI in sport is advocated that includes professionally applied neuropsychological assessment as a crucial component. Future policy considerations are the introduction of mandatory informed consent for participation in a high-risk contact sport such as rugby, particularly at youth level, and financial provision for concussion management amongst economically disadvantaged populations. South African Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 19 (2) 2007: pp. 32-3

Cerebral damage in diving: Taking the cue from sports concussion medicine

Within the compressed gas diving arena there is a risk of cerebral damage with deleterious neuropsychological sequelae in association with decompression illness (DCI), hypoxia, gas toxicity, as well as the cumulative subclinical effect of ‘silent’ paradoxical gas embolisms, the last being an area of growing concern. However, within diving medicine there is little evidence of the regular use of neuropsychological evaluation to monitor brain-related sequelae of frequent diving activity. In contrast, in recent years there has been an explosion of interest in the management of sports concussive injury, including emphasis on the pivotal role ofneuropsychological evaluation within that context. Taking the cue from sports concussion medicine, it is proposed that there is an urgent need to incorporate neurocognitive baseline and follow-up screening as a core component in the medical management of those involved in intensive commercial and recreational compressed air diving activities. The objective would be to facilitate (i) accurate neurodiagnostic follow-up of frank DCI or an identifiable hypoxic or toxic incident; (ii) timeous identification of cumulative deleterious effects of repetitive subclinical hypoxic/toxic incidents and/or ‘silent’ paradoxical gas embolisms that might affect them in later life; and (iii) disability assessment following any such eventsor the combination thereof for rehabilitation and compensation purposes

Recognising values and engaging communities across cultures: towards developing a cultural protocol for researchers

Efforts to build research capacity and capability in low and middle income countries (LMIC) has progressed over the last three decades, yet it confronts many challenges including issues with communicating or even negotiating across different cultures. Implementing global research requires a broader understanding of community engagement and participatory research approaches. There is a considerable amount of guidance available on community engagement in clinical trials, especially for studies for HIV/AIDS, even culturally specific codes for recruiting vulnerable populations such as the San or Maori people. However, the same cannot be said for implementing research in global health. In an effort to build on this work, the Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning and University College London in the UK sought to better understand differences in beliefs, values and norms of local communities in Pakistan. In particular, they have sought to help researchers from high income countries (HIC) understand how their values are perceived and understood by the local indigenous researchers in Pakistan. To achieve this end, a group discussion was organised with indigenous researchers at Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning. The discussion will ultimately help inform the development of a cultural protocol for researchers from HIC engaging with communities in LMIC. This discussion revealed five common themes; (1) religious principles and rules, (2) differing concepts of and moral emphasis on autonomy and privacy, (3) importance of respect and trust; (4) cultural differences (etiquette); (5) custom and tradition (gift giving and hospitality). Based on the above themes, we present a preliminary cultural analysis to raise awareness and to prepare researchers from HIC conducting cross cultural research in Pakistan. This is likely to be particularly relevant in collectivistic cultures where social interconnectedness, family and community is valued above individual autonomy and the self is not considered central to moral thinking. In certain cultures, HIC ideas of individual autonomy, the notion of informed consent may be regarded as a collective family decision. In addition, there may still be acceptance of traditional professional roles such as ‘doctor knows best’, while respect and privacy may have very different meanings

Apparent mass of small children: Experimental measurements

A test facility and protocol were developed for measuring the seated, vertical, whole-body vibration response of small children of less than 18 kg in mass over the frequency range from 1 to 45 Hz. The facility and protocol adhered to the human vibration testing guidelines of BS7085 and to current codes of ethics for research involving children. Additional procedures were also developed which are not currently defined in the guidelines, including the integral involvement of the parents and steps taken to maximize child happiness. Eight children were tested at amplitudes of 0.8 and 1.2 m/s2 using band-limited, Gaussian, white noise acceleration signals defined over the frequency interval from 1 to 50 Hz. Driving point apparent mass modulus and phase curves were determined for all eight children at both test amplitudes. All results presented a single, principal, anti-resonance, and were similar to data reported for primates and for adult humans seated in an automotive posture which provided backrest support. The mean frequency of the apparent mass peak was 6.25 Hz for the small children, as compared to values between 6.5 - 8.5 Hz for small primates and values between 6.5 - 8.6 Hz for adults seated with backrest support. The peak value of the mean, normalized, apparent mass was 1.54 for the children, which compares to values from 1.19 to 1.45 reported in the literature for small primates and 1.28 for adults seated with backrest support. ISO standard 5982, which specifies a mean, normalized, apparent mass modulus peak of 1.50 at a frequency of 4.0 Hz for adults seated without backrest support, provides significant differences

Rural to Urban Migration and Changes in Cardiovascular risk Factors in Tanzania: A Prospective Cohort Study.

High levels of rural to urban migration are a feature of most African countries. Our aim was to investigate changes, and their determinants, in cardiovascular risk factors on rural to urban migration in Tanzania. Men and women (15 to 59 years) intending to migrate from Morogoro rural region to Dar es Salaam for at least 6 months were identified. Measurements were made at least one week but no more than one month prior to migration, and 1 to 3 monthly after migration. Outcome measures included body mass index, blood pressure, fasting lipids, and self reported physical activity and diet. One hundred and three men, 106 women, mean age 29 years, were recruited and 132 (63.2%) followed to 12 months. All the figures presented here refer to the difference between baseline and 12 months in these 132 individuals. Vigorous physical activity declined (79.4% to 26.5% in men, 37.8% to 15.6% in women, p < 0.001), and weight increased (2.30 kg men, 2.35 kg women, p < 0.001). Intake of red meat increased, but so did the intake of fresh fruit and vegetables. HDL cholesterol increased in men and women (0.24, 0.25 mmoll-1 respectively, p < 0.001); and in men, not women, total cholesterol increased (0.42 mmoll-1, p = 0.01), and triglycerides fell (0.31 mmoll-1, p = 0.034). Blood pressure appeared to fall in both men and women. For example, in men systolic blood pressure fell by 5.4 mmHg, p = 0.007, and in women by 8.6 mmHg, p = 0.001. The lower level of physical activity and increasing weight will increase the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, changes in diet were mixed, and may have contributed to mixed changes in lipid profiles and a lack of rise in blood pressure. A better understanding of the changes occurring on rural to urban migration is needed to guide preventive measures