Perceptions of carotenoid and melanin colouration in faces among young Australian adults

Objective:  Human skin colour is influenced by three pigments: haemoglobin, carotenoids, and melanin. Carotenoids are abundant in fruits and vegetables, and when consumed accumulate in all layers of the skin, predominantly imparting yellowness (b*). This study investigated the effect of the manipulation of carotenoid-based skin colour, relative to the skin colour conferred by melanin on the perceptions of health amongst a group of Australian adults. Method:  Fifty-seven participants (n = 4 male; mean age 27.9 ± 7.5 years) completed three computer-based experiments on 50 trial faces. In the first two experiments, face image colour was manipulated along one or two independent single carotenoid or melanin axes on each trial to ‘make the face appear as healthy as possible’. In the third trial, face colour was manipulated on both the carotenoid and melanin axes simultaneously. Results:  For the single axis, participants significantly increased melanin colouration and added carotenoid colouration to facial images that were initially low in skin yellowness (b*). When carotenoid and melanin axes were simultaneously manipulated, carotenoid colouration was raised (ΔE  = 3.15 ( SE  ±0.19)) and melanin colouration was lowered (ΔE  = −1.04 ( SE  ±0.1)). Conclusions:  Young Australian adults perceive facial skin colouration, associated with both carotenoid intake from fruit and vegetables and melanin due to sun exposure as conveying the appearance of health in young adults. However, carotenoid colouration was more important to health perception.PostprintPeer reviewe

The Grizzly, September 27, 2007

Going Green: Ursinus Commits to Improving Energy Efficiency • Ursinus Joins Fight Against U.K. Boycott • Grad School Guru Advises UC Seniors • Popping the Pill Continued: DRSP • Hillel and Muslim Student Association Host Break-Fast • Faculty Spotlight: Barbara von Schlegell • Book Review: Vain Art of the Fugue by Dumitru Tsepeneag • Opinions: Ursinus Goes (Not So) Silent for Jena 6; The Arctic Isn\u27t as Neutral Anymore • Superstitions • UC Hosting \u2707 Field Hockey NCAA Championship • Welcome to the Family: UCXChttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1744/thumbnail.jp

Initiation of antipsychotics after moving to residential aged care facilities and mortality: a national cohort study.

BACKGROUND:There is a high burden of antipsychotic use in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) and there is concern regarding potential inappropriate prescribing of antipsychotics in response to mild behavioural symptoms. Antipsychotic use has been associated with a higher risk of mortality in community-dwelling older adults with dementia, but few studies have examined associations upon RACF entry. AIMS:To examine associations between incident antipsychotic use and risk of mortality for people with and without diagnosed dementia in RACFs. METHODS:A retrospective cohort study, employing a new-user design (individuals did not receive an antipsychotic 6 months before enrolment) of 265,820 people who accessed RACFs in Australia between 1/4/2008 and 30/6/2015 was conducted. Cox regression models were used to examine adjusted associations between antipsychotic use in the first 100 days of RACF entry and mortality. RESULTS:In the 100 days after entering care, 29,455 residents (11.1%) were dispensed an antipsychotic. 180,956 (68.1%) residents died [38,249 (14.4%) were related to cerebrovascular causes] over a median 2.1 years (interquartile range 1.0-3.6) follow-up. Of the residents included, 119,665 (45.0%) had a diagnosis of dementia. Incident antipsychotic use was associated with higher risk of mortality in residents with dementia (adjusted hazard ratio 1.20, 95% confidence interval 1.18-1.22) and without dementia (1.28, 1.24-1.31). CONCLUSION:Initiation of antipsychotics after moving to RACFs is associated with a higher risk of mortality. Careful consideration of the potential benefits and harms should be given when starting a new prescription for antipsychotics for people moving to RACFs

The Registry of Senior Australians outcome monitoring system: quality and safety indicators for residential aged care.

ObjectivesTo introduce the Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA) Outcome Monitoring System, which can monitor the quality and safety of care provided to individuals accessing residential aged care. Development and examination of 12 quality and safety indicators of care and their 2016 prevalence estimates are presented.DesignRetrospective.Setting2690 national and 254 South Australian (SA) aged care facilities.Participants208 355 unique residents nationally and 18 956 in SA.Main outcome measuresRisk-adjusted prevalence of high sedative load, antipsychotic use, chronic opioid use, antibiotic use, premature mortality, falls, fractures, medication-related adverse events, weight loss/malnutrition, delirium and/or dementia hospitalisations, emergency department presentations, and pressure injuries.ResultsFive indicators were estimated nationally; antibiotic use (67.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 67.3-67.7%) had the highest prevalence, followed by high sedative load (48.1%, 95% CI: 47.9-48.3%), chronic opioid use (26.8%, 95% CI: 26.6-26.9%), antipsychotic use (23.5%, 95% CI: 23.4-23.7%) and premature mortality (0.6%, 95% CI: 0.6-0.7%). Seven indicators were estimated in SA; emergency department presentations (19.1%, 95% CI: 18.3-20.0%) had the highest prevalence, followed by falls (10.1%, 95% CI: 9.7-10.4%), fractures (4.8%, 95% CI: 4.6-5.1%), pressure injuries (2.9%, 95% CI: 2.7-3.1%), delirium and/or dementia related hospitalisations (2.3%, 95% CI: 2.1-2.6%), weight loss/malnutrition (0.7%, 95% CI: 0.6-0.8%) and medication-related events (0.6%, 95% CI: 0.5-0.7%).ConclusionsTwelve quality and safety indicators were developed to monitor aged care provided to older Australians based on the synthesis of existing literature and expert advisory input. These indicators rely on existing data within the aged care and healthcare sectors, therefore creating a pragmatic tool to examine quality and unwarranted care variation

Direct Medical Costs of Constipation From Childhood to Early Adulthood: A Population-based Birth Cohort Study

Although direct medical costs for constipation-related medical visits are thought to be high, to date there have been no studies examining if longitudinal resource utilization is persistently elevated in children with constipation. Our aim was to estimate the incremental direct medical costs and types of health care utilization associated with constipation from childhood to early adulthood

2017 Research & Innovation Day Program

A one day showcase of applied research, social innovation, scholarship projects and activities.https://first.fanshawec.ca/cri_cripublications/1004/thumbnail.jp

2018 Research & Innovation Day Program

A one day showcase of applied research, social innovation, scholarship projects and activities.https://first.fanshawec.ca/cri_cripublications/1005/thumbnail.jp