Teachers\u27 Mental Health Literacy and Capacity towards Student Mental Health

The current youth mental health care system is ineffective at meeting the needs of Canadian youth. More than ever, teachers are placed on the frontlines of mental health care provision, including identification and intervention delivery. The present study explored teachers’ mental health literacy and capacity in the context of providing help to their students. Secondary data from a large-scale survey of teachers in one Ontario school board was analyzed to assess teachers’ current levels of knowledge, awareness and comfort levels in student mental health care. Teachers were compared based on teaching experience, school division, and school location, in terms of what actions they currently take when students present with mental health problems, and their perceptions of mental health supports. Last, a thematic analysis of teachers’ written comments about improving student mental health was performed. In general, teachers requested more professional development and increased contact with mental health experts

The Philosopher\u27s Diagnosis: Sickness in Plato, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, and Heidegger

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Social Studies of Bard College

Bioterroryzm - zagrożeniem dla bezpieczeństwa regionalnego i światowego

Bioterrorism is a multi-faceted phenomenon and dynamic, occurring in various forms. It is difficult now to define a uniform definition of terrorism that is changing under the influence of the development of civilization, and especially the rapid scientific progress. The terrorists perfectly use the latest achievements of biological sciences in their terrorist attacks. The purpose of this article is to bring the phenomenon of bioterrorism

Wąglik (Bacillus anthracis) - jako broń biologiczna

Terrorism is defined as use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to indulge fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, social or religious. Bioterrorism is terrorism by intentional release or dissemination of biological agents, mainly bacteria or viruses. Use of biological weapons is attractive from the terrorists’ point of view because of low production costs, major range and easiness of transmission. The first mention of the use of primitive biological weapons date back to the 6th century. Use of plague-infested corpses as offensive means in the 14th century caused a spread of bubonic plague through the whole Europe. The biggest development of biological weapons took place in the interwar period and in the cold war era. Biological weapon trails and research were conducted by super powers such as USSR, UK, USA and Japan. At the beginning of the 20th century a new form of bioterrorism occurred, which put humanity in the face of a terrifying threat

Cholera (Vibrio cholerae) - jako broń biologiczna

Terrorism is defined as use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to indulge fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, social or religious. Bioterrorism is terrorism by intentional release or dissemination of biological agents, mainly bacteria or viruses. Use of biological weapons is attractive from the terrorists’ point of view because of low production costs, major range and easiness of transmission. The first mention of the use of primitive biological weapons date back to the 6th century. Use of plague-infested corpses as offensive means in the 14th century caused a spread of bubonic plague through the whole Europe. The biggest development of biological weapons took place in the interwar period and in the cold war era. Biological weapon trails and research were conducted by super powers such as USSR, UK, USA and Japan. At the beginning of the 20th century a new form of bioterrorism occurred, which put humanity in the face of a terrifying threat. Cholera is a deadly disease that has caused a worldwide phenomenon throughout history. Its imperative weapon, the Vibrio cholerae bacterium, has allowed cholera to seize control and wipe out a huge percentage of the human population. V. cholerae’s toxins are the primary causes of cholera’s lethal symptoms. The bacterium contains toxins that help it accomplish its job of invading the human system and defeating the body’s powerful immune system. With its sibling bacterium Escherichia coli, V. cholerae has become one of the most dominant pathogens in the known world. V. cholerae’s strategies in causing the infamous deadly diarrhea have been widely studied, from the irritation of the intestinal epithelium to the stimulation of capillary leakage, as well as the internal effects of the disease such as the Peyer’s patches on the intestinal walls. Overall, the Vibrio cholera bacterium has made cholera a tough disease to overcome, and because of its deadly virulence factors, cholera has become one of the most frightening diseases a human body could ever encounter. Vibrio cholerae is a Gram-negative, comma-shaped bacterium. Some strains of V. cholerae cause the disease cholera. V. cholerae is facultatively anaerobic and has a flagellum at one cell pole. V. cholerae was first isolated as the cause of cholera by Italian anatomist Filippo Pacini in 1854, but his discovery was not widely known until Robert Koch, working independently 30 years later, publicized the knowledge and the means of fighting the disease. V. cholerae pathogenicity genes code for proteins directly or indirectly involved in the virulence of the bacteria. During infection, V. cholerae secretes cholera toxin, a protein that causes profuse, watery diarrhea. Colonization of the small intestine also requires the toxin coregulated pilus (TCP), a thin, flexible, filamentous appendage on the surface of bacterial cells

Dżuma (Yersinia pestis) - jako broń biologiczna

Yersinia pestis (formerly Pasteurella pestis) is a type of bacterium. It is believed to have been responsible for plagues of the early 1300s. More accurately, it is a Gram-negative rod-shaped coccobacillus. It is a facultative anaerobe that can infect humans and other animals. Human Y. pestis infection takes three main forms: pneumonic, septicemic, and bubonic plagues. All three forms are widely believed to have been responsible for a number of high-mortality epidemics throughout human history, including the Justinianic Plague of the sixth century and the Black Death that accounted for the death of at least one-third of the European population between 1347 and 1353. It has now been shown conclusively that these plagues originated in rodent populations in China. More recently, Y. pestis has gained attention as a possible biological warfare agent and the CDC has classified it as a category A pathogen requiring preparation for a possible terrorist attack. Every year, thousands of cases of plague are still reported to the World Health Organization, although, with proper treatment, the prognosis for victims is now much better. A five- to six-fold increase in cases occurred in Asia during the time of the Vietnam war, possibly due to the disruption of ecosystems and closer proximity between people and animals. Plague also has a detrimental effect on non-human mammals. In the United States of America, animals such as the black-tailed prairie dog and the endangered black-footed ferret are under threat from the disease

Charakterystyka patogenów mogących mieć zastosowanie w ataku bioterrorystycznym

Bioterrorism is a complex and dynamic phenomenon, occurring in various forms. It is difficult now to define a uniform definition of terrorism that is changing under the influence of the development of civilization, and especially the rapid progress in scientific and technical knowledge. The terrorists perfectly use the latest achievements of biological sciences in their terrorist attacks. The purpose of this article is to bring the phenomenon of bioterrorism

Charakterystyka psychodemograficzna pacjentów z chorobami reumatycznymi w badaniach klinicznych. Wstępne wyniki badań.

Introduction: Clinical trials are an integral part of medical progress. Today, it would be difficult to imagine modern medicine without them. Clinical trials make it possible not only to assess the efficacy of new therapies but also their safety profile. Unfortunately, the increase in complexity of clinical trial protocols that have been observed in recent decades makes patient recruitment for clinical trials increasingly difficult. Patients not only have to meet strictly defined inclusion and exclusion criteria but also have to adapt their daily lives to the requirements of clinical trials. Aim: This study aims to develop psychodemographic characteristics of patients with rheumatic diseases who had completed at least one clinical trial. Material and methods: Sixty-nine (50K/19M) patients with rheumatic diseases were included in the study. The mean age of patients included in the study was 50.8 ± 12.9 years and the mean duration of disease was 13.1 ± 9.3 years. The inclusion criterion for the study was the completion of at least one clinical trial. Patients enrolled in the study completed a questionnaire in which questions covered demographic data, subjective assessment of financial status and health status, and reasons for participating in the clinical trial. Results: Patients participating in clinical trials include 66.5% of those with a secondary or higher education. Fifty-nine (59) per cent of patients rate their financial status as average and 61% of patients are economically active. Eighty-nine (89) per cent of patients rate their health status as poor or very poor before entering the clinical trial. Conclusions: Patients participating in clinical trials are generally those with long disease duration, poor health status and a financial status that does not allow them to buy biologics.Wstęp Badania kliniczne są integralną częścią postępu w dziedzinie medycyny. Dziś trudno byłoby sobie wyobrazić współczesną medycynę bez nich. Badania kliniczne pozwalają nie tylko ocenić efektywność nowych terapii, ale również ich profil bezpieczeństwa. Niestety, wzrost komplikacji protokołów badań klinicznych jaki obserwujemy w ostatnich dekadach powoduje, że rekrutacja pacjentów do badań robi się coraz trudniejsza. Pacjenci muszę spełnić nie tylko ściśle zdefiniowane kryteria włączenia i wykluczenia, ale również muszą dostosować swoje codzienne życie do wymogów badań klinicznych. Cel Celem pracy była próba opracowania charakterystyki psychodemograficznej pacjentów z chorobami reumatycznymi, którzy ukończyli co najmniej jedno badanie kliniczne. Materiały i metody Do badania włączono 69 (50K/19M) pacjentów z chorobami reumatycznymi. Średni wiek pacjentów włączonych do badania wynosił 50,8 ± 12,9 lat, a średni czas trwania choroby 13,1 ± 9,3 lat. Kryterium włączenia do badania było ukończenie co najmniej jednego badania klinicznego. Pacjenci włączeni do badania wypełnili ankietę, w której pytania dotyczyły danych demograficznych, subiektywnej oceny stanu majątkowego i stanu zdrowia oraz powodów uczestnictwa w badaniu klinicznym. Wyniki Wśród pacjentów biorących udział w badaniach klinicznych 66,5% stanowią osoby ze średnim lub wyższym wykształceniem. 59% pacjentów ocenia swój status majątkowy jako przeciętny, a 61% pacjentów jest aktywnych zawodowo. 89% pacjentów ocenia swój stan zdrowia jako zły lub bardzo zły przed przystąpieniem do badania klinicznego. Wnioski Pacjenci biorący udział w badaniach klinicznych to z reguły osoby o długim czasie trwania choroby, złym stanie zdrowia i statusie materialnym, który nie pozwala kupno leków biologicznych

Rheumatic disease patients’ motivations and emotions related to the decision to participate in a clinical trial: preliminary findings

Wstęp Badania kliniczne są niezwykle ważne w rozwoju nowoczesnych terapii. Niestety, obecnie rekrutacja pacjentów do badań klinicznych jest trudna, co wiąże się ze wzrostem kosztów i wydłużeniem czasu ich trwania. Z tego względu coraz większą uwagę przykłada się do emocji i motywacji pacjentów związanych z udziałem w badaniu klinicznym. Ich dokładne poznanie może być kluczowe nie tylko do przekonania pacjentów do udziału w badaniach klinicznych, ale również do utrzymania ich w badaniu. Cel Celem badania było poznanie jakie oczekiwania względem badania klinicznego mają największy wpływ na podjęcie decyzji o udziale w nim w grupie pacjentów z chorobami reumatycznymi. Materiały i metody Do badania włączono 69 (50K/19M) pacjentów z chorobami reumatycznymi. Średni wiek pacjentów wynosił 50,8 ± 12,9 lat, a średni czas trwania choroby 13,1 ± 9,3 lat. Pacjenci włączeni do badania zostali poproszeni o wypełnienie ankiety z pytaniami dotyczącymi ich powodów uczestnictwa w badaniach klinicznych, emocji z tym związanych oraz nastawienia do badań klinicznych. Wyniki W badanej grupie dominującym powodem uczestnictwa w badaniu klinicznym było uzyskanie pozytywnych informacji nt. badania od reumatologa – taką odpowiedź udzieliło 45 (70%) ankietowanych. Drugim najczęstszym powodem zgłoszenia się do badania klinicznego był brak uzyskania poprawy podczas standardowego leczenia – 32 (46%) ankietowanych. Wśród emocji związanych z rozpoczęciem udziału w badaniu klinicznym najczęściej była wymieniana nadzieja – 53 (77%) ankietowanych. Wnioski Osoby z chorobami reumatycznymi decydujące się na udział w badaniu klinicznym najczęściej podejmują taką decyzję w oparciu o rozmowę z lekarzem prowadzącym, a motywacje i nadzieje związane są z lepszą skutecznością nowej terapii.Introduction: Clinical trials are extremely important in the development of modern therapies. Unfortunately, it is currently difficult to recruit patients for clinical trials, which involves increased costs and time. For this reason, increasing attention is being paid to patients' emotions and motivations related to clinical trial participation. Their thorough understanding can be crucial not only to persuade patients to participate in clinical trials but also keep them in the trial. Aim: This study aims to identify which expectations regarding clinical trials have the greatest influence on the decision to participate in them among a group of patients with rheumatic diseases. Material and methods: Sixty-nine (50K/19M) patients with rheumatic diseases were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 50.8 ± 12.9 years and the mean disease duration was 13.1 ± 9.3 years. Patients included in the study were asked to complete a questionnaire with questions about their reasons for participating in clinical trials, their emotions about it and their attitudes towards clinical trials. Results: In the study group, the predominant reason for participating in a clinical trial was to receive positive information about the trial from a rheumatologist, with 45 (70%) respondents giving this answer. The second most common reason for enrolling in a clinical trial was the lack of improvement during standard treatment, with 32 (46%) respondents. The most frequently reported emotion associated with entering a clinical trial was hope — 53 (77%) of respondents. Conclusions: People with rheumatic diseases who decide to participate in a clinical trial most often make this decision based on a conversation with their attending physician, with motivations and hopes associated with improved efficacy of a new therapy

AAV capsid bioengineering in primary human retina models

Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector-mediated retinal gene therapy is an active field of both pre-clinical as well as clinical research. As with other gene therapy clinical targets, novel bioengineered AAV variants developed by directed evolution or rational design to possess unique desirable properties, are entering retinal gene therapy translational programs. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that predictive preclinical models are required to develop and functionally validate these novel AAVs prior to clinical studies. To investigate if, and to what extent, primary retinal explant culture could be used for AAV capsid development, this study performed a large high-throughput screen of 51 existing AAV capsids in primary human retina explants and other models of the human retina. Furthermore, we applied transgene expression-based directed evolution to develop novel capsids for more efficient transduction of primary human retina cells and compared the top variants to the strongest existing benchmarks identified in the screening described above. A direct side-by-side comparison of the newly developed capsids in four different in vitro and ex vivo model systems of the human retina allowed us to identify novel AAV variants capable of high transgene expression in primary human retina cells