Promoting and Establishing an Effective Campus-Wide Academic Advising System

This study explored the role of directors of campus-wide academic advising programs and their contributions to promoting and establishing effective campus-wide academic advising systems. Specifically, directors of campus-wide academic advising addressed how they engaged academic units within a unified campus-wide advising system. This included an exploration of how academic advising organizational structures in higher education institutions and leadership styles of directors of campus-wide advising contributed to the effectiveness of their work. Three themes materialized from this study: (a) emergence of the position of director of campus-wide advising, (b) advising organizational structure and culture, and (c) leadership strategies of directors of campus-wide advising. The results can assist provost offices in gaining more knowledge about the work of directors of campus-wide advising and what resources they need to overcome barriers in their work. The results can also assist directors of campus-wide advising with advocating for advising structures needed to best assist students and academic advisors with relationship building. Recommendations for how to further engage in research around the role of directors of campus-wide advising are provided. Advisor: Barbara Y. LaCos

Communication strategies for rare cancers : A systematic review protocol

Funding CB is a summer student being funded by the Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast. Availability of data and materials Data was obtained from peer-reviewed publications which are available in the public domain and may be subject to copyright. The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Implementation-effectiveness trial of an ecological intervention for physical activity in ethnically diverse low income senior centers.

BackgroundAs the US population ages, there is an increasing need for evidence based, peer-led physical activity programs, particularly in ethnically diverse, low income senior centers where access is limited.Methods/designThe Peer Empowerment Program 4 Physical Activity' (PEP4PA) is a hybrid Type II implementation-effectiveness trial that is a peer-led physical activity (PA) intervention based on the ecological model of behavior change. The initial phase is a cluster randomized control trial randomized to either a peer-led PA intervention or usual center programming. After 18 months, the intervention sites are further randomized to continued support or no support for another 6 months. This study will be conducted at twelve senior centers in San Diego County in low income, diverse communities. In the intervention sites, 24 peer health coaches and 408 adults, aged 50 years and older, are invited to participate. Peer health coaches receive training and support and utilize a tablet computer for delivery and tracking. There are several levels of intervention. Individual components include pedometers, step goals, counseling, and feedback charts. Interpersonal components include group walks, group sharing and health tips, and monthly celebrations. Community components include review of PA resources, walkability audit, sustainability plan, and streetscape improvements. The primary outcome of interest is intensity and location of PA minutes per day, measured every 6 months by wrist and hip accelerometers and GPS devices. Secondary outcomes include blood pressure, physical, cognitive, and emotional functioning. Implementation measures include appropriateness & acceptability (perceived and actual fit), adoption & penetration (reach), fidelity (quantity & quality of intervention delivered), acceptability (satisfaction), costs, and sustainability.DiscussionUsing a peer led implementation strategy to deliver a multi-level community based PA program can enhance program adoption, implementation, and sustainment.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, USA ( NCT02405325 ). Date of registration, March 20, 2015. This website also contains all items from the World Health Organization Trial Registration Data Set

Current issues and future considerations for the wider implementation of robotic-assisted surgery : a qualitative study

Acknowledgments We thank the participants for their time, energy and invaluable insight to assist this research. Thanks to Clare Robertson for facilitating the public focus group. Funding This work was supported by Intuitive Surgical (European Research Board) via an unrestricted grant.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Two-Arm Randomized Pilot Intervention Trial to Decrease Sitting Time and Increase Sit-To-Stand Transitions in Working and Non-Working Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Excessive sitting has been linked to poor health. It is unknown whether reducing total sitting time or increasing brief sit-to-stand transitions is more beneficial. We conducted a randomized pilot study to assess whether it is feasible for working and non-working older adults to reduce these two different behavioral targets. METHODS: Thirty adults (15 workers and 15 non-workers) age 50-70 years were randomized to one of two conditions (a 2-hour reduction in daily sitting or accumulating 30 additional brief sit-to-stand transitions per day). Sitting time, standing time, sit-to-stand transitions and stepping were assessed by a thigh worn inclinometer (activPAL). Participants were assessed for 7 days at baseline and followed while the intervention was delivered (2 weeks). Mixed effects regression analyses adjusted for days within participants, device wear time, and employment status. Time by condition interactions were investigated. RESULTS: Recruitment, assessments, and intervention delivery were feasible. The 'reduce sitting' group reduced their sitting by two hours, the 'increase sit-to-stand' group had no change in sitting time (p < .001). The sit-to-stand transition group increased their sit-to-stand transitions, the sitting group did not (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: This study was the first to demonstrate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of specific sedentary behavioral goals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov NCT02544867.The pilot study was supported by funds provided by the Department of Family Medicine & Public Health, UCSD. The work of Andrew J Atkin was supported by the Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), a UKCRC Public Health Research Centre of Excellence (RES-590-28-0002). Funding from the British Heart Foundation, Department of Health, Economic and Social Research Council, Medical Research Council, and the Wellcome Trust, under the auspices of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration, is gratefully acknowledged. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.This is the final version of the article. It was first available from PLOS via http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.014542

How nurturing is our children's house? Glasgow's multi-agency model of care

Within Glasgow, nurture is embedded within education services (Kearney & March, 2017). This article will explore the application of this approach into children’s houses (CHs) across the city through the ‘How Nurturing is our Children’s House (HNIOCH)’ programme

Human Cytomegalovirus Long Non-coding RNA1.2 Suppresses Extracellular Release of the Pro-inflammatory Cytokine IL-6 by Blocking NF-κB Activation.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts of >200 nucleotides that are not translated into functional proteins. Cellular lncRNAs have been shown to act as regulators by interacting with target nucleic acids or proteins and modulating their activities. We investigated the role of RNA1.2, which is one of four major lncRNAs expressed by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), by comparing the properties of parental virus in vitro with those of deletion mutants lacking either most of the RNA1.2 gene or only the TATA element of the promoter. In comparison with parental virus, these mutants exhibited no growth defects and minimal differences in viral gene expression in human fibroblasts. In contrast, 76 cellular genes were consistently up- or down-regulated by the mutants at both the RNA and protein levels at 72 h after infection. Differential expression of the gene most highly upregulated by the mutants (Tumor protein p63-regulated gene 1-like protein; TPRG1L) was confirmed at both levels by RT-PCR and immunoblotting. Consistent with the known ability of TPRG1L to upregulate IL-6 expression via NF-κB stimulation, RNA1.2 mutant-infected fibroblasts were observed to upregulate IL-6 in addition to TPRG1L. Comparable surface expression of TNF receptors and responsiveness to TNF-α in cells infected by the parental and mutant viruses indicated that activation of signaling by TNF-α is not involved in upregulation of IL-6 by the mutants. In contrast, inhibition of NF-κB activity and knockdown of TPRG1L expression reduced the extracellular release of IL-6 by RNA1.2 mutant-infected cells, thus demonstrating that upregulation of TPRG1L activates NF-κB. The levels of MCP-1 and CXCL1 transcripts were also increased in RNA1.2 mutant-infected cells, further demonstrating the presence of active NF-κB signaling. These results suggest that RNA1.2 plays a role in manipulating intrinsic NF-κB-dependent cytokine and chemokine release during HCMV infection, thereby impacting downstream immune responses

Communication strategies for rare cancers: A systematic review protocol

Abstract Background Rare cancers comprise almost a quarter of all cancers in Europe, and patients generally have poorer outcomes than those suffering from more common cancers. This is attributed in part to a general lack of knowledge and awareness of rare cancers. This review aims to examine the communication strategies being used throughout the world to inform on rare cancers and to highlight any opportunities for improvement. Methods A systematic review of literature published in English prior to November 2018 will be conducted, screening articles from the electronic databases MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Grey literature databases (GreyLit, OpenGrey) will also be searched in order to screen for any unpublished works. As well as primary literature, reference lists will be examined via forward and reverse citation screening. The review will be reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). Titles and abstracts will first be examined for eligibility, with remaining studies undergoing a full-text screening before being included in the final review. Individual studies will be screened for bias, and a meta-analysis performed provided there is enough data. If insufficient homogenous literature exists, a narrative summary of the literature will be produced. Discussion Despite the broad topic and width of study type that will be considered, this review hopes to provide a reflective summary of the communication strategies available for people living with and working with rare cancer. It aims to reveal any gaps in the resources available, to contribute to the long-term improvement of diagnosis and management of rare cancers. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD4201809978

Identification of nutrition factors in the metabolic syndrome and its progression over time in older adults: analysis of the TUDA cohort

BACKGROUND: Nutrition is recognized as playing an important role in the metabolic syndrome (MetS), but the dietary components involved are unclear. We aimed to investigate nutrition factors in relation to MetS and its progression in older adults over a follow-up period of 5.4 years.METHODS: Community-dwelling adults (≥ 60y) from the Trinity-Ulster-Department-of-Agriculture study, sampled at baseline (2008-12) and follow-up (2014-18; n 953), were classified as 'with MetS' by having three or more of: waist circumference (≥ 102 cm, males; ≥ 88 cm, females); HDL-cholesterol (&lt; 1.0 mmol/L, males; &lt; 1.3 mmol/L, females); triglycerides (≥ 1.7 mmol/L); blood pressure (systolic ≥ 130 and/or diastolic ≥ 85 mmHg); and hemoglobin A1c (≥ 39 mmol/mol).RESULTS: MetS was identified in 67% of participants, increasing to 74% at follow-up. Predictors at baseline for the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS) at follow-up were higher waist circumference (odds ratio [95%CI]; 1.06 [1.01-1.11]), but not BMI, and increased triglyceride concentrations (2.01 [1.29-3.16]). In dietary analysis (at follow-up), higher protein (g/kg bodyweight/day) and monounsaturated fatty acid (g/day) intakes were each associated with lower risk of MetS (0.06 [0.02-0.20] and 0.88 [0.78-1.00], respectively), whilst higher protein was also associated with lower abdominal obesity (0.10 [0.02-0.51]) and hypertension (0.22 [0.00-0.80]). Furthermore, participants with, compared to without, MetS consumed less high-quality protein foods (P = 0.006) and more low-quality protein foods (P &lt; 0.001), as defined by the protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score.CONCLUSIONS: Dietary interventions targeting protein quantity and quality may have specific benefits in preventing or delaying the progression of MetS in at-risk older people, but this requires investigation in the form of randomized trials.</p