Analysing the structure and nature of medical scheme benefit design in South Africa

Includes bibliographical referencesThis dissertation intends to shed light on open-membership medical scheme benefit design in South Africa. This will be done by analysing the benefit design of 118 benefit options, so as to provide an overview of the structure and nature of the benefit offerings available in the market in 2014. In addition, affordability of these benefit options was analysed in order to identify whether or not there exist connections between the benefits on offer and the price of cover. This paper will argue that at present, the large number of benefit options available in the market, the lack of standardisation between benefit options, together with the mosaic of confusing terminology employed in scheme brochures, creates a highly complex environment that hampers consumer decision making. However, this implicit complexity was found to be necessary owing to the incomplete regulatory environment surrounding medical schemes. The findings of this investigation show that benefit design requires significant attention in order to facilitate equitable access to cover in South Africa

Cannabigerol causes a CB1 receptor-dependent reduction in food consumption and weight gain

Slides describing work leading up to a professional scientific poster, created and presented at psych fest depicting my last two years of work in Dr. Kaplan\u27s BNS lab. I included a reflection paper discussing my time at Western

Developmental intervention with CBD on BDNF levels and prosocial behavior in a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder

Cannabis-based medicines have emerged as a promising therapeutic for a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This manuscript encompasses research investigating the application of the phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) in treating core symptoms of ASD. Chapter one includes a literature review of the neurodevelopmental etiology and current pharmacological strategies for ASD. The second chapter is a paper illustrating the prosocial effects of CBD and cannabis-inspired terpenes in our mouse model of ASD. The third chapter is a pilot study looking into the developmental pathology and adolescent exposure to CBD as an interventional strategy in our preclinical model. This work and continued research can inform cannabis-based treatments for ASD in the effort to improve quality of life and offer wider accessibility to medications for affected individuals

Developmental intervention with CBD on BDNF levels and prosocial behavior in a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder

Cannabis-based medicines have emerged as a promising therapeutic for a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This manuscript encompasses research investigating the application of the phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) in treating core symptoms of ASD. Chapter one includes a literature review of the neurodevelopmental etiology and current pharmacological strategies for ASD. The second chapter is a paper illustrating the prosocial effects of CBD and cannabis-inspired terpenes in our mouse model of ASD. The third chapter is a pilot study looking into the developmental pathology and adolescent exposure to CBD as an interventional strategy in our preclinical model. This work and continued research can inform cannabis-based treatments for ASD in the effort to improve quality of life and offer wider accessibility to medications for affected individuals

Evidence for the Adverse Effect of Starvation on Bone Quality: A Review of the Literature

Malnutrition and starvation’s possible adverse impacts on bone health and bone quality first came into the spotlight after the horrors of the Holocaust and the ghettos of World War II. Famine and food restrictions led to a mean caloric intake of 200–800 calories a day in the ghettos and concentration camps, resulting in catabolysis and starvation of the inhabitants and prisoners. Severely increased risks of fracture, poor bone mineral density, and decreased cortical strength were noted in several case series and descriptive reports addressing the medical issues of these individuals. A severe effect of severely diminished food intake and frequently concomitant calcium- and Vitamin D deficiencies was subsequently proven in both animal models and the most common cause of starvation in developed countries is anorexia nervosa. This review attempts to summarize the literature available on the impact of the metabolic response to Starvation on overall bone health and bone quality

Randomized controlled trials of mind–body interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review

Mind–body interventions (MBIs) include mindfulness-based interventions (MiBIs), meditation- and mantra-based interventions (MMIs), and movement-based interventions (MoBIs). These approaches have demonstrated preliminary efficacy in improving posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses have noted that this area of research is limited by inadequate comparator conditions, heterogeneity of measurement, and absence of objective outcome measures. For these reasons, an updated review of the highest-quality evidence available is warranted. We used the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)-funded evidence tables for the PTSD-Repository to identify relevant studies and assess the risk of bias as follows: The search was conducted between June 2018 and June 2022, and databases included PTSDpubs (formerly PILOTS), Ovid® MEDLINE®, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase®, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL®), SCOPUS, and PsycINFO®. Twenty-six randomized controlled trials met our inclusion criteria. After identifying studies and retrieving risk of bias information from the PTSD-Repository evidence tables, we extracted additional data and synthesized the evidence. The strength of evidence was rated as low for MiBIs and MMIs, largely due to contradicting results, inconsistent use of active versus passive comparators, and high risk of bias. The strength of evidence for MoBIs was rated as moderate due to individual studies consistently favoring the intervention and a relatively large number of studies and participants. Of the 26 included studies, only two included objective outcome measures. Implications for future MBI research and clinical applications for treating PTSD are discussed

“Naciones y nacionalismo”

 - José Cepedello Boiso: 500 preguntas al Nacionalismo Español de Oriol Vidal, Ediciones Martínez Roca, 2006, pp. 303. - Veselina Tzankova on "Ethnicity, Nationalism and Minority Rights" by Stephen May, Tariq Modood and Judith Squires (Ed.) Cambridge University Press, 2004, p.261 - José Mora Galiana sur  "Géopolitique de l’Espagne" par Barbara Loyer, Armand Colin, Paris, 2006, pp. 336. - Eloísa Díaz Muñoz sobre "Estados, naciones y culturas" de Will Kymlicka (Traducción de Juan Jesús Mora; estudio preliminar de Ramón Soriano y Juan Jesús Mora), Editorial Almuzara, Córdoba, pp.114. - Moncef Kartas, Jr. on "Memories of State: Politics, History, and Collective Identity in Modern Iraq" by Eric Davis, University of California Press, 2005, pp.385. - Josh Kaplan on "Deep Mexico, Silent Mexico: An Anthropology of Nationalism" by Lomnitz, Claudio (Public Worlds, number 9.) Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. 2001. Pp. xxiii, 354. - Eugenia López-Jacoiste on "Secession. International Law Perspectives"  by  Kohen, Marcelo, G., (Ed.) Cambridge University Press, 2006, xxxvi + 510p. - Rafael Rodríguez Prieto sobre "Sobre la Nacionalidad" de Manzini, Pasquale Stanislao, (Edición de Antonio E. Pérez Luño), Trad. Manuel Carrera Díaz, Editorial Tecnos, Madrid, 1985. - José Cepedello Boiso: 500 preguntas al Nacionalismo Español de Oriol Vidal, Ediciones Martínez Roca, 2006, pp. 303. - Veselina Tzankova on "Ethnicity, Nationalism and Minority Rights" by Stephen May, Tariq Modood and Judith Squires (Ed.) Cambridge University Press, 2004, p.261 - José Mora Galiana sur  "Géopolitique de l’Espagne" par Barbara Loyer, Armand Colin, Paris, 2006, pp. 336. - Eloísa Díaz Muñoz sobre "Estados, naciones y culturas" de Will Kymlicka (Traducción de Juan Jesús Mora; estudio preliminar de Ramón Soriano y Juan Jesús Mora), Editorial Almuzara, Córdoba, pp.114. - Moncef Kartas, Jr. on "Memories of State: Politics, History, and Collective Identity in Modern Iraq" by Eric Davis, University of California Press, 2005, pp.385. - Josh Kaplan on "Deep Mexico, Silent Mexico: An Anthropology of Nationalism" by Lomnitz, Claudio (Public Worlds, number 9.) Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. 2001. Pp. xxiii, 354. - Eugenia López-Jacoiste on "Secession. International Law Perspectives"  by  Kohen, Marcelo, G., (Ed.) Cambridge University Press, 2006, xxxvi + 510p. - Rafael Rodríguez Prieto sobre "Sobre la Nacionalidad" de Manzini, Pasquale Stanislao, (Edición de Antonio E. Pérez Luño), Trad. Manuel Carrera Díaz, Editorial Tecnos, Madrid, 1985