Cyclodextrins as potential human anti-atherosclerotic agents

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are naturally occurring cyclic oligosaccharides. Since it is believed that OxC blocks the removal of normal cholesterol from cells in the artery wall, it is possible that selective removal of OxC in the vessel wall in-vivo may prevent or reverse atherosclerosis.As a prelude to major studies, this research project was designed to answer two critical questions; 1/. What is the best route for delivery of CD. 2/. How do animals (apoE-/- mice) tolerate it. Pilot studies were established and results noted. These studies have provided valuable information in the apoE-/- mouse for subsequent studies to prevent or reverse atherosclerosis in this animal model

Glimpses of future battlefield medicine : the proliferation of robotic surgeons and unmanned vehicles and technologies

The article offers vision of the battlefield medicine and its associated logistics in the future. Topics discussed include the orderly operation of robotic surgical systems, unmanned ground vehicles and robotic ground platforms; human-robot interface; and military medical organisation. The increase in the operating autonomy in the military is noted

Novel & innovative uses of drones (or UAVs) in the fields of Science and Healthcare and their pros and cons

The recreational drone industry has grown in leaps and bounds in the last decade or so with the introduction of affordable, high-capacity lithium batteries and brushless electric motors making models cheaper, lighter and more powerful than their nitro-methanol or diesel-burning predecessors. This relatively new class of aircraft have emerged hand-in-hand with the miniaturisation of high quality cameras like the GoPro ‘Hero’ and with the development of first person view (FPV) technology, which have enabled a multitude of applications across various fields of endeavour. When they are applied as ecological survey tools in field studies they are capable of producing really visually spectacular results due to their high-resolution quality photography and/or live video footage, often in a way that the human eye has never seen before. From flying into the eye of a forest fire or volcano, to filming Humpback whales feeding on large schools of Herring from above, drones can provide this valuable data faster, cheaper and more safely than any previous technology that has been available. Although there are some ‘cons’ inherent with their use, sensible aviation regulations and policies put into place will alleviate these issues. On the whole, the ‘pros’ far outweigh the cons as drones fast become and ‘everyday’ technology with huge benefits to society

Recollections of the 101st Nijmegen 'Four Days March' in the Netherlands as part of the Australian Air Force Cadet team in July 2017

When I first heard the name ‘Nijmegen’ it conjured up, for me, images of some famous WWII battlefield in Europe, due to my keen interest in military history. However upon further reading the upcoming events in Cadet one [(our activity management system in the Australian Air Force Cadets; AAFC)], I could immediately see that it was a marching event. Not just any ‘marching event’ but in fact, as I was soon to discover, it was the largest multiple day marching event in the world. Known as the International Four Day Marches Nijmegen (or the Internationale Vierdaagse Afstandsmarsen Nijmegen in Dutch). Having been run every year in mid-July in Nijmegen, Holland, since its inception in 1909, this event sees both civilian and military participants walk either 30, 40 (Fig.1) or 50km daily depending on their age and gender, and on completion, they receive a royally-approved medal, known as the Vierdaagse Cross (or Cross for Marching Proficiency)

Hand raising of orphaned common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Based on previous personal experience, I have found that attempting to raise orphaned native Australian marsupials such as members of the families: Macropodidae (Wallabies & Kangaroos), Phalangeridae (Possums & Cuscusses), Vombatidae (Wombats) or Phascolarctidae (koalas) requires great dedication, time and patience. However, despite the difficulties that are usually encountered, success in raising an orphaned wild animal (marsupial) to sub-adulthood in peak physical condition and to its eventual release to its native habitat is one of the most satisfying and rewarding experiences that any animal technician can achieve

Human cardiovascular disease and the use of rodent and lagomorph models at the Heart Research Institute

Cardiovascular disease, after malignant neoplasms, is Australia’s second biggest killer (Australian Bureau of Statistics 1995), claiming the lives of approximately one in every two Australians (Australia Bureau of Statistics 1988). Cardiovascular disease appears in many forms, with heart attack, stroke and angina being the most common. The cause of most forms of cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis, which results in reduced blood supply to the heart, brain and other parts of the body. It is this disease that is the focus of the research efforts by the Heart Research Institute at Camperdown, New South Wales. Scientists are researching the origins and mechanisms of atherosclerosis using biochemical, cell biological, molecular biological and immunological approaches. Although somewhat restricted by confidentiality agreements, the aim of this paper is to give a brief and general overview of some of the laboratory animal studies being conducted by the various research teams at the institute

The information superhighway and the animal technologist : simple strategies for dealing with''information overload'

There is no doubt as to the 'explosive' impact that the Internet, as just one of the modes of IT mentioned above, has had on society. Larry Tesler, chief scientist at Apple Computer in the late 1990s commented on this impact to say that 'it has become an indispensable part of modern civilization, essential for business, commerce, science, the arts and entertainment... it will change and enrich our lives for the better, from being able to work at home, to bringing together specialized hobbyists from around the world, to even enjoying the "cyber marketplace" that will change the way we shop3. While we see that most of these predictions have materialized today and while we all continue to benefit from them, there have also been some not-so-great effects, which range from the truly weird and wonderful, to the over-hyped and uninformative, through to the simply trashy material, available out there in cyberspace. On balance though, it can be said that the 'pros' certainly far outweigh the 'cons' and the fact remains that the Internet, just like the other IT modes mentioned, is definitely here to stay. Consequently, the 'symptoms' of IO will continue to be a concern in the future because IT itself continues to evolve and expand at an astonishing pace, with new applications being released to all areas of industry and to a world-wide audience, seemingly endlessly. Thus, by applying and following the simple principles of PSRE, it is possible to sensibly manage and maintain the flow of information in this modern IT age

Redesigning and refurbishing laboratories in hospitals. Part 2

One of the most important issues to clarify is to distinguish between wet labs and dry labs, and core facilities. Of course, one of the reasons for defining wet labs and dry labs is cost. Wet labs are considerably more expensive than dry labs and so flexibility of wet lab use is critical. Both can be built on the same floor (of a multi-storey building) but the two should be kept in separate areas

Mammary fibroadenoma

The most common spontaneously occurring neoplasms in rats are mammary gland tumors, with fibroadenomas having the highest incidence. The incidence of mammary tumors in rats reportedly increases with age and is common in aging rats. Harkness and Wagner reported that spontaneous mammary tumors in rats have an incidence of up to 87% in female rats over two years old

The story of the Australian Air Force Cadets : history and rationale behind the scheme

Formed with the aim of earmarking and providing pre-entry training for air and ground crews for the RAAF during WWII, the Air Training Corps was officially ‘born’ in Feb. 1941, when the War Cabinet authorized the establishment of this new ‘Cadet Corps’ which was, during the interwar years, a part of the RAAF Reserve. It commenced operating the 11th June of that year, under the leadership of its first Director, GRPCAPT. W.A. Robertson (and a few Directorate staff). Shortly afterwards, the ATC’s very first Wing was formed in Aug. of that same year. By Oct., most states and territories of Australia had their own Wings, which were formed by a small group of dedicated volunteers, most of whom were ex-WWI veterans (Australian Flying Corps) all of whom were now RAAF personnel. The ATCs aims worked magnificently, in fact so much so that by Oct. 1943, the ATC had 12,000 cadets in training