α-Synuclein impairs macroautophagy: implications for Parkinson’s disease

α-Synuclein impairs autophagosome formation and mislocalizes Atg9 by inhibiting Rab1a

Gut Microbiota and Inflammation

Systemic and local inflammation in relation to the resident microbiota of the human gastro-intestinal (GI) tract and administration of probiotics are the main themes of the present review. The dominating taxa of the human GI tract and their potential for aggravating or suppressing inflammation are described. The review focuses on human trials with probiotics and does not include in vitro studies and animal experimental models. The applications of probiotics considered are systemic immune-modulation, the metabolic syndrome, liver injury, inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer and radiation-induced enteritis. When the major genomic differences between different types of probiotics are taken into account, it is to be expected that the human body can respond differently to the different species and strains of probiotics. This fact is often neglected in discussions of the outcome of clinical trials with probiotics

Supporting Learning Through the Use of Self-Reflection Blogs: A study of the experience of blended learning students in the United Arab Emirates

This exploratory study seeks to examine how the use of student-written blogs support student learning through the student perspective. The blogs were introduced to provide support in four distinct areas: as a medium for facilitating learning; as a medium for interactivity; as a medium for metacognitive thought and reflection; and as a learning tool. This study was conducted over the course of one academic year with undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled in a blended learning university located in the United Arab Emirates. Results indicate that for the students in this study, the use of blogs provided support in all four identified areas, as well as in additional areas not expected by the researchers. This paper provides details of the results of the data analysis, provides suggestions for classroom implementation, discusses the limitations of this research study, and proposes research questions which can guide future research studies on this topic

Exploring knowledge and skills on HIV in student nurses and midwives

A cross-sectional survey design using a self-administered questionnaire was sent to a sample of 62 final-year student nurses and midwives to describe their knowledge of, skills related to, and attitudes towards, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Out of the 47 respondents who return the questionnaire, only 53% stated that they had received class instruction on the topic and 63.8% claimed to have increased their knowledge mainly from reading professional journals. Although only 32% said that they had cared for a patient or knew of a family member or another person with the disease, 91% indicated that they were willing to care for such patients. Overall, the respondents demonstrated positive attitudes towards this group of patients and a good level of knowledge about the subject, although some gaps were evident. However, a large majority stated that their skills to cater for the physical and psychological needs of this group of patients were deficient and would like further training

Discourse on wellbeing in research and practice

The aim of this article is to consider debates around the contested nature of concepts of wellbeing in health and social science research and practice, given that government policy discourse centres around the importance of wellbeing as a tool for making policy and evaluating outcomes. It draws attention to the work of McNaught (2011). He has developed a definitional framework of wellbeing, locating it within a macro concept or area of study concerned with the objective and subjective assessment of how individuals strive, thrive and function. The framework broadens wellbeing to a range of different domains beyond individual subjectivity and extracts it from traditional affiliations with health to incorporate the family, community and society as a whole. The active individual is at the centre of the framework but influences on wellbeing are extended to the other domains. The article argues that the framework provides a point of reference that facilitates the following. Firstly, the framework has capacity to bring some clarity, inclusiveness and holism to research and practice. Secondly, it is useful as tool to enhance theoretical frameworks and guide the design and development of both health and wellbeing interventions. Thirdly, it provides the philosophical underpinnings for wellbeing policy development

Wellbeing: Policy and practice

[Publisher's description] The concept of wellbeing is currently being explored globally, with policy makers debating how to use and measure wellbeing beyond the traditional means that focus upon material and economic indicators. This book details the contemporary research evidence base for health and wellbeing within the global context and discusses how this improved knowledge can be applied to both healthcare policy and practice. It discusses and analyses the many different but inter-facing arguments around wellbeing and its relevance in the modern world