Multiple pathways to recovery, multiple roads to well-being: an analysis of recovery pathways in the Australian Life in Recovery survey

It is generally acknowledged that there are multiple pathways to recovery from alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems. These may include participation in AOD treatment, mutual aid, or other activities. It is unclear whether particular sociodemographic characteristics shape a person’s recovery journey or whether particular recovery pathways are associated with improved well-being. This article explores these questions using data from the Australian Life in Recovery study (N = 573). Compared to treatment and/or mutual aid pathway groups, the natural recovery group were less likely to have used mental health services and were more socially connected during periods of addiction. Since being in recovery, mutual aid pathway groups more strongly identified as being in recovery and having social networks consisting of a greater proportion of people in recovery compared to the natural recovery group. People in all pathway groups reported high well-being, and there were no significant differences in well-being measures between groups. Findings suggest that people in recovery may experience high well-being irrespective of the pathway they take, but social factors may be influential in which pathways people take. Treatment and recovery systems need to offer multiple recovery pathways so that people can take the pathway that suits them best

Photosynthetic responses of field-grown Pinus radiata trees to artificial and aphid-induced defoliation. Tree Physiology 31: 592–603

The phloem-feeding aphid Essigella californica represents a potential threat to the productivity of Pinus radiata plantations in south-eastern Australia. Five-and nine-year-old field trials were used to characterize the effects of artificial and natural aphid-induced (E. californica) defoliation, respectively, on shoot photosynthesis and growth. Photosynthetic capacity (A max ) was significantly greater following a 25% (D25) (13.8 µmol m −2 s −1 ) and a 50% (D50) (15.9 µmol m −2 s −1 ) single-event uppercrown artificial defoliation, 3 weeks after defoliation than in undefoliated control trees (12.9 µmol m −2 s −1 ). This response was consistently observed for up to 11 weeks after the defoliation event; by Week 16, there was no difference in A max between control and defoliated trees. In the D50 treatment, this increased A max was not sufficient to fully compensate for the foliage loss as evidenced by the reduced diameter increment (by 15%) in defoliated trees 36 weeks after defoliation. In contrast, diameter increment of trees in the D25 treatment was unaffected by defoliation. The A max of trees experiencing upper-crown defoliation by natural and repeated E. californica infestations varied, depending on host genotype. Despite clear differences in defoliation levels between resistant and susceptible genotypes (17 vs. 35% of tree crown defoliated, respectively), growth of susceptible genotypes was not significantly different from that of resistant genotypes. The observed increases in A max in the lower crown of the canopy following attack suggested that susceptible genotypes were able to partly compensate for the loss of foliage by compensatory photosynthesis. The capacity of P. radiata to regulate photosynthesis in response to natural aphid-induced defoliation provides evidence that the impact of E. californica attack on stem growth will be less than expected, at least for up to 35% defoliation

Maternal metabolic profile predicts high or low risk of an autism pregnancy outcome

BackgroundCurrently there is no test for pregnant mothers that can predict the probability of having a child that will be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Recent estimates indicate that if a mother has previously had a child with ASD, the risk of having a second child with ASD is ~18.7% (High Risk) whereas the risk of ASD in the general population is ~1.7% (Low Risk).MethodsIn this study, metabolites of the folate-dependent transmethylation and transsulfuration biochemical pathways of pregnant mothers were measured to determine whether or not the risk of having a child with autism could be predicted by her metabolic profile. Pregnant mothers who have had a child with autism before were separated into two groups based on the diagnosis of their child whether the child had autism (ASD) or not (TD). Then these mothers were compared to a group of control mothers who have not had a child with autism before. A total of 107 mothers were in the High Risk category and 25 mothers in the Low Risk category. The High Risk category was further separated into 29 mothers in the ASD group and 78 mothers in the TD group.ResultsThe metabolic results indicated that among High Risk mothers, it was not possible to predict an autism pregnancy outcome. However, the metabolic profile was able to predict with approximately 90% sensitivity and specificity whether a mother fell into the High Risk group (18.7% risk) or Low Risk group (1.7% risk).ConclusionsBased upon these measurements it is not possible to determine during a pregnancy if a child will be diagnosed with ASD by age 3. However, differences in the folate-dependent transmethylation and transsulfuration metabolites are indicative of the risk level (High Risk of 18.7% vs. Low Risk of 1.7%) of the mother for having a child with ASD

A Systematic Framework to Rapidly Obtain Data on Patients with Cancer and COVID-19:CCC19 Governance, Protocol, and Quality Assurance

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, formal frameworks to collect data about affected patients were lacking. The COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19) was formed to collect granular data on patients with cancer and COVID-19 at scale and as rapidly as possible. CCC19 has grown from five initial institutions to 125 institutions with >400 collaborators. More than 5,000 cases with complete baseline data have been accrued. Future directions include increased electronic health record integration for direct data ingestion, expansion to additional domestic and international sites, more intentional patient involvement, and granular analyses of still-unanswered questions related to cancer subtypes and treatments

A Systematic Framework to Rapidly Obtain Data on Patients with Cancer and COVID-19: CCC19 Governance, Protocol, and Quality Assurance

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, formal frameworks to collect data about affected patients were lacking. The COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19) was formed to collect granular data on patients with cancer and COVID-19 at scale and as rapidly as possible. CCC19 has grown from five initial institutions to 125 institutions with >400 collaborators. More than 5,000 cases with complete baseline data have been accrued. Future directions include increased electronic health record integration for direct data ingestion, expansion to additional domestic and international sites, more intentional patient involvement, and granular analyses of still-unanswered questions related to cancer subtypes and treatments. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, formal frameworks to collect data about affected patients were lacking. The COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19) was formed to collect granular data on patients with cancer and COVID-19 at scale and as rapidly as possible. CCC19 has grown from five initial institutions to 125 institutions with >400 collaborators. More than 5,000 cases with complete baseline data have been accrued. Future directions include increased electronic health record integration for direct data ingestion, expansion to additional domestic and international sites, more intentional patient involvement, and granular analyses of still-unanswered questions related to cancer subtypes and treatments