The Murray – Darling Basin Agreement: an illustration of the benefits of transboundary water management strategies

Through this cooperation, states are no longer working with their individual ends in mind, but instead work collectively with other states on extensive projects which will benefit the population on a much larger scale, and will sustain itself for a longer period of time

The UN millennium development goals with respect to water: prospects for achieving them

In September of 2000, the United Nations Millennium Summit produced a set of global goals known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These goals were set to aide the world in ending poverty and hunger as well as take steps to provide worldwide education and healthcare. This paper specifically examines the affect of Goal 7 / Target 10, improving access to clean water and sanitation facilities – its connection to environmental sustainability, the difficulties of measuring success in each country, as well as the results (as of Spring 2006) of their efforts

Global climate change – a crucial aspect of development planning

Author Amanda J. Harvey examines the effect of global warming on the world. Citing concerns over rising sea levels and storm activity, she requests leaders and planners to work together to develop architecture that will take into account continuous climate change

Health Care

Photos and short writings from Public Health & Nutrition undergraduate students describing the Health Care and Community dimensions of the social determinants of health.https://thekeep.eiu.edu/pubh_belonging_exhibit/1005/thumbnail.jp

HIF-1 alpha-independent hypoxia-induced rapid PTK6 stabilization is associated with increased motility and invasion

© 2014 Landes Bioscience. PTK6/Brk is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase overexpressed in cancer. Here we demonstrate that cytosolic PTK6 is rapidly and robustly induced in response to hypoxic conditions in a HIF-1-independent manner. Furthermore, a proportion of hypoxic PTK6 subsequently re-localized to the cell membrane. We observed that the rapid stabilization of PTK6 is associated with a decrease in PTK6 ubiquitylation and we have identified c-Cbl as a putative PTK6 E3 ligase in normoxia. The consequences of hypoxia-induced PTK6 stabilization and subcellular re-localization to the plasma membrane include increased cell motility and invasion, suggesting PTK6 targeting as a therapeutic approach to reduce hypoxia-regulated metastatic potential. This could have particular significance for breast cancer patients with triple negative disease

New horizons: otitis media research in Australia

Otitis media affects nearly all children worldwide. Despite an enormous amount of research, our understanding of this common condition continues to be challenged. New pathogens involved in otitis media are still being identified. The importance of interactions between viral and bacterial infection and the role of new vaccines need to be clarified. The proposal that bacteria can become more resistant to therapy through biofilm formation and intracellular infection could have important implications for treatment. The most important clinical research findings have been summarised in systematic reviews. In developed countries, research supporting “watchful waiting” of otitis media with effusion and acute otitis media have had most impact on evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. Indigenous Australian children remain at risk of more severe otitis media. Research programs targeting this population have been well supported. Unfortunately, interventions that can dramatically improve outcomes have remained elusive. For children at high risk of otitis media, health care services should concentrate on accurate diagnosis, antibiotic treatment of suppurative infections, and scheduled follow-up of affected children. Despite the lack of recent studies, strategies to minimise the impact the hearing loss associated with otitis media are important. Improvements in education, hygiene practices, and living conditions are likely to reduce the incidence and severity of otitis media. Studies of these types of interventions are needed

Profile of the Spleen Transcriptome in Beef Steers with Variation in Gain and Feed Intake

We have previously identified components of the immune system contributing to feed intake and gain in both the rumen and small intestine of beef steers. In this study, we examined the spleen, a major lymphatic organ near the digestive tract, to determine whether it was also influencing individual feed efficiency status through immune responses. Animals (n=16) that were divergent for gain and intake were selected for tissue sampling. The spleen transcriptomes were evaluated by microarray. A total of 1,216 genes were identified as differentially expressed. Genes were over-represented in Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathways including biological regulation, protein folding, cell communication, immune systems process, response to stress and RNA metabolic process. Several stress response or heat shock genes including HSPH1, HSPA1A, HSPA4, DNAJB4, DNAJA4, etc., were identified as a stress response functional gene cluster in the low gain-low intake animals. These genes were up-regulated amongst the low gain-low intake animals compared to all other groups. Canonical pathways associated with the differentially expressed genes included the coagulation system, extrinsic prothrombin activation, protein ubiquitination, unfolded protein response and aldosterone signaling in epithelial cells. An analysis of expressed copy number variable (CNV) genes in the spleen produced some of the same genes and gene families that were differentially expressed. Our data suggests the splenic contribution to some of the underlying variation among gain and intake within this group of animals may be a result of immune function and stress response. In addition, some of the differences in immune response functions may be related to gene copy number

Is the pharmacy profession innovative enough?: meeting the needs of Australian residents with chronic conditions and their carers using the nominal group technique

Background Community pharmacies are ideally located as a source of support for people with chronic conditions. Yet, we have limited insight into what innovative pharmacy services would support this consumer group to manage their condition/s. The aim of this study was to identify what innovations people with chronic conditions and their carers want from their ideal community pharmacy, and compare with what pharmacists and pharmacy support staff think consumers want. Methods We elicited ideas using the nominal group technique. Participants included people with chronic conditions, unpaid carers, pharmacists and pharmacy support staff, in four regions of Australia. Themes were identified via thematic analysis using the constant comparison method. Results Fifteen consumer/carer, four pharmacist and two pharmacy support staff groups were conducted. Two overarching themes were identified: extended scope of practice for the pharmacist and new or improved pharmacy services. The most innovative role for Australian pharmacists was medication continuance, within a limited time-frame. Consumers and carers wanted improved access to pharmacists, but this did not necessarily align with a faster or automated dispensing service. Other ideas included streamlined access to prescriptions via medication reminders, electronic prescriptions and a chronic illness card. Conclusions This study provides further support for extending the pharmacist’s role in medication continuance, particularly as it represents the consumer’s voice. How this is done, or the methods used, needs to optimise patient safety. A range of innovative strategies were proposed and Australian community pharmacies should advocate for and implement innovative approaches to improve access and ensure continuity of care

The Effects of Metformin, Aminoguanidine, and Pyridoxamine on Methylglyoxal Induced Cardiac Myocyte Injury

Advanced glycation end (AGE) products have been under investigation for their role in cardiovascular disease in complications. Methylglyoxal, a byproduct of glucose metabolism, is elevated in the blood of diabetic patients and has shown to be an important intermediate in the production of AGEs. Due to the highly reactive structure of methylglyoxal, it can produce high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the cell via mitochondrial modification which results in a loss of cell membrane potential and possible cell death. The role of methylglyoxal in cardiac cells is not well known; in this study methylglyoxal induced cell injury and ROS generation were investigated by co-treatment of methylglyoxal with metformin, aminoguanidine hydrochloride, or pyridoxamine dihydrochloride. The effects of methylglyoxal on H9C2 myoblast viability were evaluated after incubation of drugs for 24 hours by measuring absorbance at 450 nm by using tetrazolium to differentiate metabolically active and inactive cells (e.g., CCK-8 kit). We found that methylglyoxal (1200 µM) significantly reduced cell viability to 28 ±6% when compared to the untreated control (n=4, p36 hours fluorescence was measured at excitation 488 nm and emission 527 nm (e.g., DCFDA kit). We found that methylglyoxal (1200 µM) significantly increased ROS by 205±25% when compared to the untreated control baseline (n=4,