Is there an app for that? Mobile phones and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Purpose of review: Advances in technology coupled with increased penetration of mobile phones and smart devices are rapidly changing healthcare delivery. Mobile phone applications (‘apps’), text messages, and Internet platforms used alone or in combination are now providing interventions targeting people with multiple cardiovascular risk factors. The present article will review the emerging evidence regarding apps and discuss their potential role in providing secondary prevention interventions via mobile phones. Recent findings: Seven recent randomized controlled trials used text messages or apps for six to 12 months, with or without differing combinations of other technology platforms. All studies, involved cardiac and diabetes populations, and demonstrated at least one positive improvement to cardiovascular risk factor profiles. When measured, acceptability of the intervention was high. Summary: Mobile apps and technology can deliver positive outcomes in the management of cardiovascular risk factors. However, because of the complexity of combination interventions, it is difficult to determine the ‘active’ ingredient. A future challenge for researchers and clinicians will be to respond quickly to these rapidly evolving interventions in order to ensure the delivery of effective, evidence-based outcomes

Centro artístico cultural “nencatacoa” “la integración social, artística y cultural de la zona”

Artículo de GradoGenerando así lugares de encuentro y formación frente a cualificación de competencias básicas en beneficio a las organizaciones y agentes culturales locales, a partir de un análisis de planimetría y normativa junto a la observación física del lugar y una revisión de referentes para las diferentes escalas de proyecto.1. Introducción 2. Metodología 3. Resultados 4. Discusión 5. Conclusiones 6. Referencias 7. AnexosPregradoArquitect

Targeting high-risk cardiac patients and their family members for basic life support training

Currently in Australia, there is disparity between those who are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and those most likely to witness a cardiac arrest. As patients with known cardiac disease are at seven times greater risk of suffering an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and 75% of cardiac arrests occur in the home, it is important that family members of cardiac patients are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Providing training during cardiac rehabilitation is a logical setting for training, yet is seldom included in programs in Australia. This program of research found that incorporating CPR training into cardiac rehabilitation was feasible and well accepted by cardiac patients and their family members

The maternity journey in an organisational context : a case study

The transition to motherhood is a significant life event impacting on all spheres of a woman\u27s life. In an organisational context, changes to women\u27s relationships with their employer and to their social identity occur as they adjust to their new role. A case study was undertaken to describe and compare the workplace experiences of three female employees from one health organisation who were either preparing to commence, currently on or recently returned to work from maternity leave. At all stages of the maternity journey, women expected flexibility from their employer in negotiating their return to work and managing parenting responsibilities. Women\u27s obligations to their employer included being open about their capacity to work and parenting situations which may interfere with their work, as well as maintaining their work performance. Within a supportive work environment that included a shared identity with managers who were also mothers, women\u27s social identity as a worker was not significantly threatened and did not change. Social identity change may be most apparent during the transition to first-time motherhood

Progress in bio-manufacture of platelets for transfusion

Blood transfusion services face an ever-increasing demand for donor platelets to meet clinical needs. Whilst strategies for increasing platelet storage life and improving the efficiency of donor platelet collection are important, in the longer term, platelets generated by bio-manufacturing processes will be required to meet demands. Production of sufficient numbers of in vitro-derived platelets for transfusion represents a significant bioengineering challenge. In this review, we highlight recent progress in this area of research and outline the main technical and biological obstacles that need to be met before this becomes feasible and economic. A critical consideration is assurance of the functional properties of these cells as compared to their fresh, donor collected, counterparts. We contend that platelet-like particles and in vitro-derived platelets that phenotypically resemble fresh platelets must deliver the same functions as these cells upon transfusion. We also note recent progress with immortalized megakaryocyte progenitor cell lines, molecular strategies for reducing expression of HLA Class I to generate universal donor platelets and the move to early clinical studies with in vitro-derived platelets