Religion and health : the application of a cognitive-behavioural framework

The empirical examination of the relationship between religion and health has often lacked theoretical direction. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between dimensions of religiosity and health within the context of James and Wells’ cognitive-behavioural framework of religion. A community sample of 177 UK adults completed measures of religious orientation, religious coping, and prayer activity alongside the SF-36 Health Survey. Consistent with the cognitive-behavioural framework of religion, intrinsic religiosity and meditative prayer scores accounted for unique variance in both physical and mental health scores over a number of religious measures. These findings suggest the potential usefulness and importance of a cognitive-behavioural framework to understand the relationship between religion (as measured by meditative prayer and intrinsic religiosity) and health

Presence of Accessible Equipment and Interior Elements in Primary Care Offices

Purpose: To describe the disability accessibility level of primary care office interiors and the presence of accessible examination equipment. Methods: Data from on-site audits of 3993 primary care offices in California for 2013–2016 are descriptively analyzed. Architectural access is assessed using an instrument based on ADA Accessibility guidelines (ADAAG), along with noting accessibility of examination equipment. Results: Compliance across architectural elements was *85%. Accessible examination tables and scales were observed in 19.1% and 10.9% of offices, respectively. Conclusions: Proactive accessibility auditing makes visible the infrequent presence of accessible examination equipment. It offers data for tracking progress to increase medical office disability acces

Modulation of T-cell function using pharmacological agents and retroviruses

Cellular immunotherapy aimed at reconstituting T-cell responses to Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) has proved extremely effective in the treatment of Post Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders. The application of gene therapy to improve the efficacy and survival of T-cells remains a major goal in the development of an optimal immunotherapeutic strategy and current research indicates that the use of genetically modified T-cells in adoptive transfer is a feasible therapy for the clinic. Immunosuppresive drugs such as rapamycin and CsA inhibit T-cell proliferation and may impair the function and efficacy of adoptively transferred T-cells in vivo. Our objective of this project was to enhance the efficacy and survival of Primary Human T-cells in vitro by modification with a retroviral vector containing an immunosuppressive resistant gene. Cell proliferation experiments using a CFSE cell protein dye elucidated the optimal cell stimulation requirements and the optimal day to target Primary T-cells for retroviral infection. Two distinct retroviral infection systems were established in the laboratory and applied to transduce Kit225 T-cells, Primary Human T-cells and EBV- Cytotoxic T-cells. These T-cells were modified with a retrovirus to confer rapamycin resistance (pBabe mTOR S2035T) or a retrovirus to confer CsA resistance (pBabe CNA V314R). The data showed that both the pBabe mTOR S2035T virus and the pBabe CNA V314R virus could confer immunosuppression resistance in the modified T-cell but that this was not demonstrated for every infection. The data also showed that the modification of Primary Human T-cells with these viruses generated cells with a growth advantage and increased cytokine production compared to Primary T-cells modified with control pBabe puro virus. This suggests that the modification of PBLs with the immunosuppressive resistance genes mTOR S2035T or CNA V314R may be a useful strategy to improve the efficacy and function of T-cells. During the course of this project, experiments also showed that the PI3-Kinase inhibitor LY294002 and rapamycin co-operate to inhibit T-cell proliferation. Taken together, the results demonstrated in this project highlight the importance of the TOR and calcineurin pathways in regulating T-cell proliferation, and suggest strategies to improve both immunosuppression and cellular immunotherapeutic regimes

Accessibility of Primary Health Care Settings for People with Disabilities

People with disabilities report physical barriers in doctors’ offices that affect the quality of care. The analysis seeks to describe overall primary care office physical accessibility and identify (1) in which areas offices meet access criteria, (2) which accessibility criteria are most often not met, and (3) whether there are urban/non-urban differences

Protecting Against Predators: An Exploratory Study on the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Young People in Ireland

The sexual exploitation of children is a profoundly damaging human rights violation that has serious, immediate and long-term physical, mental, emotional and social health consequences for the victims. Yet according to Beckett and Pearce (2018) there is 'a continuing societal discomfort around accepting that the sexual exploitation of children can affect any child and, as such is a problem that affects all of us'. This scoping study seeks to confront this discomfort by gleaning insights into the issue of the sexual exploitation of children and young people in Ireland.University College Dublin FoundationCommunity Foundation of Irelan

An assessment of the structural & equipment accessibility of primary care offices

The purpose of this research is to assess the overall structural and equipment barriers encountered by persons with functional limitations when attempting to access medical care. Using data about the physical accessibility of 3991 primary care offices in California, offices were ranked on a scale of accessibility. Results overall show that primary care offices are meeting most, or between 63-87%, of federal accessibility guidelines. It appears that major problematic areas for accessibility are Exam Rooms and Toilet Rooms. Possibilities for this outcome include higher costs for equipment (as opposed to structural/architectural changes), difficulty accommodating interior room layouts, and the office’s perception of need

Histopathologic Evidence of Tumor Regression in the Axillary Lymph Nodes of Patients Treated With Preoperative Chemotherapy Correlates With Breast Cancer Outcome

Background: The benefits of primary tumor downstaging and assessment of chemoresponsiveness have resulted in expanded applications for induction chemotherapy. However, the pathologic evaluation and prognostic significance of response in preoperatively treated lymph nodes have not been defined.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41400/1/10434_2003_Article_734.pd

Rheumatoid arthritis - treatment: 180. Utility of Body Weight Classified Low-Dose Leflunomide in Japanese Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background: In Japan, more than 20 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients died of interstitial pneumonia (IP) caused by leflunomide (LEF) were reported, but many of them were considered as the victims of opportunistic infection currently. In this paper, efficacy and safety of low-dose LEF classified by body weight (BW) were studied. Methods: Fifty-nine RA patients were started to administrate LEF from July 2007 to July 2009. Among them, 25 patients were excluded because of the combination with tacrolimus, and medication modification within 3 months before LEF. Remaining 34 RA patients administered 20 to 50 mg/week of LEF were followed up for 1 year and enrolled in this study. Dose of LEF was classified by BW (50 mg/week for over 50 kg, 40 mg/week for 40 to 50 kg and 20 to 30 mg/week for under 40 kg). The average age and RA duration of enrolled patients were 55.5 years old and 10.2 years. Prednisolone (PSL), methotrexate (MTX) and etanercept were used in 23, 28 and 2 patients, respectively. In case of insufficient response or adverse effect, dosage change or discontinuance of LEF were considered. Failure was defined as dosages up of PSL and MTX, or dosages down or discontinuance of LEF. Last observation carried forward method was used for the evaluation of failed patients at 1 year. Results: At 1 year after LEF start, good/ moderate/ no response assessed by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria using Disease Activity Score, including a 28-joint count (DAS28)-C reactive protein (CRP) were showed in 14/ 10/ 10 patients, respectively. The dosage changes of LEF at 1 year were dosage up: 10, same dosage: 5, dosage down: 8 and discontinuance: 11 patients. The survival rate of patients in this study was 23.5% (24 patients failed) but actual LEF continuous rate was 67.6% (11 patients discontinued) at 1 year. The major reason of failure was liver dysfunction, and pneumocystis pneumonia was occurred in 1 patient resulted in full recovery. One patient died of sepsis caused by decubitus ulcer infection. DAS28-CRP score was decreased from 3.9 to 2.7 significantly. Although CRP was decreased from 1.50 to 0.93 mg/dl, it wasn't significant. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 was decreased from 220.0 to 174.2 ng/ml significantly. Glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) was increased from 19 to 35 U/l and number of leukocyte was decreased from 7832 to 6271 significantly. DAS28-CRP, CRP, and MMP-3 were improved significantly with MTX, although they weren't without MTX. Increase of GPT and leukopenia were seen significantly with MTX, although they weren't without MTX. Conclusions: It was reported that the risks of IP caused by LEF in Japanese RA patients were past IP history, loading dose administration and low BW. Addition of low-dose LEF is a potent safe alternative for the patients showing unsatisfactory response to current medicines, but need to pay attention for liver function and infection caused by leukopenia, especially with MTX. Disclosure statement: The authors have declared no conflicts of interes