Chlamydia trachomatis from Australian Aboriginal people with trachoma are polyphyletic composed of multiple distinctive lineages.

Chlamydia trachomatis causes sexually transmitted infections and the blinding disease trachoma. Current data on C. trachomatis phylogeny show that there is only a single trachoma-causing clade, which is distinct from the lineages causing urogenital tract (UGT) and lymphogranuloma venerum diseases. Here we report the whole-genome sequences of ocular C. trachomatis isolates obtained from young children with clinical signs of trachoma in a trachoma endemic region of northern Australia. The isolates form two lineages that fall outside the classical trachoma lineage, instead being placed within UGT clades of the C. trachomatis phylogenetic tree. The Australian trachoma isolates appear to be recombinants with UGT C. trachomatis genome backbones, in which loci that encode immunodominant surface proteins (ompA and pmpEFGH) have been replaced by those characteristic of classical ocular isolates. This suggests that ocular tropism and association with trachoma are functionally associated with some sequence variants of ompA and pmpEFGH

The dimensions of prosociality: a cross-cultural lexical analysis

The West is usually portrayed as relatively individualistic. It is further argued that this tendency has influenced academia, leading to an underappreciation of the importance of prosociality. In the interest of exploring this topic, an enquiry was conducted into conceptualisations of prosociality across the world’s cultures. This enquiry focused on so-called untranslatable words, i.e., which lack an exact translation into another language (in this case, English). Through a quasi-systematic search of academic and grey literature, together with additional data collection, over 200 relevant terms were located. An adapted form of grounded theory identified five dimensions: socialising/congregating; morals/ethics; compassion/kindness; interaction/communication; and communality. The analysis sheds light on the dynamics of prosociality, as understood by cultures across the globe. Moreover, the roster of terms featured have the potential to enrich the nomological network in psychology, allowing for a richer conceptualisation of the social dimensions of human functioning

The Die has been Cast? Rediscovering the Essence of Psychiatric Nursing

Examination of the international literature that focuses on the historical ‘developments’ in psychiatric nursing shows a ‘back and forth’ shift in emphasis from interpersonal/therapy-based models to a concentration on pathophysiology, pharmacology and biological causation. Within this context, a number of ontological questions appear with conspicuous regularity and these are worthwhile considerations as they are tied to the very nature of psychiatric nursing. Examination of the relevant literature reflects this historical duality and indicates the existence of (at least) two versions of psychiatric nurse, each with a distinct emphasis. Given this documented duality, it is the duty of each nurse to ask themselves: What type of psychiatric nurse am I? What type do I want to be and what type would I want participating in the care of someone I love? Consequently, this article draws on bodies of literature pertaining to the extent of mental health problems, the views of mental health service users, and the different types of psychiatric nurse, in order to assist nurses in considering these questions. In the light of the clear emphasis evident within contemporary mental health policy and psychiatric nursing curricula, the article concludes that it may not be possible to reconcile the activities associated with both types of psychiatric nurse

What Direction for Mental Health Research?

The drive towards evidence-based practice is one of the current issues facing mental health nurses. Chambers (1998) goes as far as to say that evidence-based practice is one of today\u27s ‘buzz words’, a point of view that is supported by the recent upsurge in nursing literature concerned exclusively with empirical evidence

The Network for Psychiatric Nursing Research’s Journal Club: Review 15

In this article, the author surveys established psychiatric nurses\u27 opinions of the content of advanced practitioner nursing roles by sending a questionnaire to a random sample of 100 members of the Network for Psychiatric Nursing Research (NPNR) network, receiving a response rate of 78%. The results identified elements of the ‘normal’ nursing roles (e.g. basic psychotherapeutic practices), and elements of the ‘advanced’ nursing role (e.g. enhanced autonomy in admission and discharge). The study concluded that an advanced psychiatric nursing role was supported by psychiatric nurses and recommended that pilot sites, to test the acceptability and effectiveness of the role, should be established