Observations on Carcinonemertes (Nemertea: Carcinonemertidae) associated with the smooth pebble crab, Philyra laevis

The occurrence of a nemertine on the crab Philyra laevis, identified as a species of Carcinonemertes similar to C. carcinophila imminuta Humes, 1942, is recorded. The genus has not previously been reported from Australia. Notes are given on the larval, immature and adult stages

Two new notocotylid trematodes from birds in Tasmania and their life histories

Paramonostomum caeci n. sp., adults of which occur mainly in the intestinal caeca of Anas supereiliosa, Cygnus atratus and Polioeephalus polioeephalus, is described. It is considered to closely resemble P. malerisehi from which it differs in being only one-third the size, having a spinose tegument and a cirrus covered with tubercles. P. bursae n.sp., adults of which have been found inhabiting the bursa of Fabricius of Anas supereiliosa is described and considered to be most similar to P. alveatum and P. parvum but to differ from them in the distribution of its vitellaria, the position of its ovary relative to the testes and in having a greater number of uterine loops. The domestic duck, Anas platyrhynehos, was found to serve as an experimental host for both new species. A brackish water snail, Coxiella badgerensis, inhabiting Calverts Lagoon in southeast Tasmania serves as a natural intermediate host for P. caeci n.sp. and P. bursae n.sp. and also for two other undescribed notocotylids. Developmental stages (rediae, cercariae and metacercariae) of both new Paramonostomum species are described. The cercaria of P. caeci n. sp. belongs to the Imbricata group, and that of P. bursae n.sp. to the Yenchingensis group

Two strigeoid trematodes, Apatemon (Apatemon) gracilis (Rudolphi, 1819) and Diploetomum (Dolichorchis)galaxiae n. sp., which encyst in the freshwater fish Galaxias auratus Johnston in Lake Crescent, Tasmania.

The metacercaria and adult of Apatemon (Apatemon) gracilis (Rudolphi) and Diplostomum (Dolichorchis) galaxiae n.sp. are described and figured. Metacercarial cysts of these species occur in different parts of the endemic fish Galaxias auratus: A. gracilis in the body cavity, orbit and vitreous humour, and D. galaxiae n.sp. visible as black spots ('black-spot disease') in the musculature of the body and head. A gracilis which has not previously been recorded from Australia occurs in the black duck, Anas superciliosa, while D. galaxiae n.sp. infects the white-faced heron, Ardea novaehollandiae. The domestic duck, Anas platyrhynchos, is much more susceptible to experimental infection by Apatemon gracilis than by D. galaxiae n.sp. Both flukes inhabit the upper small intestine of their bird hosts. The reproductive system of D. galaxiae n.sp. is amphitypic. D. galaxiae n.sp. most closely resembles D. heronei Srivastava, 1954 and D. ketupanensis Vidyarthi, 1937; a key to species in the sub-genus Dolichorchis is given

Prevalence and characteristics of Australian women who use prayer or spiritual healing: A nationally representative cross-sectional study

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of users of prayer or spiritual healing among Australian women aged 31-36 years. Design and setting: This cross-sectional study was conducted as a part of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH). The sample used in the current sub-study were participants from the 'young' cohort (1973-78) (n = 8180) aged between 31 and 36 years. Main outcome measure: Use of prayer or spiritual healing. Results: Prayer or spiritual healing was used on a regular basis by 20% of women aged between 31 and 36 years in 2009. Women who had symptoms of chronic illnesses (p = 0.001), women who had never smoked (p = 0.001) and women who used other forms of CAM (p < 0.001) were significantly more likely to use prayer or spiritual healing. Conclusion: A signifibasis. Further research is required to better understand their rationale for using prayer or spiritual healing and its perceived impact on health related outcomes and general well-being.cant proportion of women use prayer or spiritual healing on a regular basis. Further research is required to better understand their rationale for using prayer or spiritual healing and its perceived impact on health related outcomes and general well-being

Self-Perceived Pain Assessment Knowledge and Confidence (Self-PAC) Scale for Cancer and Palliative Care Nurses: A Preliminary Validation Study

© 2018 American Society for Pain Management Nursing Background: Pain is highly prevalent in all health care settings, and frequently poorly managed. Effective pain management is predicated on a continuous cycle of screening, assessing, intervening and evaluating. Identifying gaps in nurses’ self-perceived pain assessment competencies is an essential first step in the design of tailored interventions to embed effective pain assessment into routine clinical practice, and improve patient reported pain outcomes. Yet, few validated instruments focus on the competencies required for undertaking a comprehensive pain assessment, with most focusing on clinician's pain management competencies. Aim: To examine the validity of the ‘Self-Perceived Pain Assessment Knowledge and Confidence’ (Self-PAC) Scale. Design: Preliminary instrument validation. Setting: Two Australian cancer and palliative care services. Participants/Subjects: 186 cancer and palliative care nurses. Methods: The Self-PAC Scale was administered to participants online. Factor Analyses, including Exploratory and Confirmatory, were applied to examine the structural validity, Cronbach's alpha was calculated for internal consistency. Criterion validity was investigated by comparing responses from experienced and non-experienced nurses. Results: Two components resulted with a single factor structure for pain assessment confidence and a two-factor structure for the knowledge of pain assessment. The factor loading for the subscales ranged from 0.653 to 0.969, with large proportions of the variances explained by the factors. Cronbach's alpha of the subscales ranged from 0.87-0.92 and significant difference in responses were found between experienced and non-experienced nurses. Conclusion: Preliminary validation of the Self-PAC Scale suggests that it is a helpful instrument for assessing cancer and palliative care nurse’ pain assessment competencies

A new species from Tasmania of the freshwater hoplonomertean, Potamonemertes

A new species of freshwater hoplonemertean, Potamonemertes gibsoni, is described from lakes In Tasmania and its relationship to the type species from New Zealand and to the terrestrial nemerteans of the region is discusse