How to make a functional β-cell

Insulin-secreting pancreatic β-cells are essential regulators of mammalian metabolism. The absence of functional β-cells leads to hyperglycemia and diabetes, making patients dependent on exogenously supplied insulin. Recent insights into β-cell development, combined with the discovery of pluripotent stem cells, have led to an unprecedented opportunity to generate new β-cells for transplantation therapy and drug screening. Progress has also been made in converting terminally differentiated cell types into β-cells using transcriptional regulators identified as key players in normal development, and in identifying conditions that induce β-cell replication in vivo and in vitro. Here, we summarize what is currently known about how these strategies could be utilized to generate new β-cells and highlight how further study into the mechanisms governing later stages of differentiation and the acquisition of functional capabilities could inform this effort.Stem Cell and Regenerative Biolog

Transmission of murine scrapie to P101L transgenic mice

Rona Barron - ORCID: 0000-0003-4512-9177 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4512-9177Item is not available in this repository.The PrP protein is central to the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), and the amino acid sequence of this protein in the host can influence both incubation time of disease and targeting of disease pathology. The N terminus of murine PrP has been proposed to be important in the replication of TSE agents, as mutations or deletions in that region can alter the efficiency of agent replication. To address this hypothesis and to investigate the mechanisms by which host PrP sequence controls the outcome of disease, we have assessed the influence of a single amino acid alteration in the N-terminal region of murine PrP (P101L) on the transmission of TSE agents between mice. Mice homozygous for the mutation (101LL) were inoculated with TSE strains 139A and 79A derived from mice carrying a Prnpa allele, and 79V and 301V derived from mice carrying a Prnpb allele. Incubation times in 101LL mice were extended with all four strains of agent when compared with those in the corresponding mouse genotype from which the infectivity was derived. However, the degree to which the incubation period was increased showed considerable variation between each strain of agent. Moreover, the presence of this single amino acid alteration resulted in a 70 day reduction in incubation time of the 301V strain in Prnpa mice. The effect of the 101L mutation on murine scrapie incubation time appears therefore to be strain specific.https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.19147-084pubpub1

The provision of services in the UK for UK armed forces veterans with PTSD : a rapid evidence synthesis

Background Our research arises from anticipated increases in demand for psychological trauma services in the UK, with particular reference to armed forces veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Commissioning and service provider activity to improve veterans’ health is evolving. Objectives To explore what UK services exist and establish potentially effective models of care and effective treatments for armed forces veterans with PTSD. Design A four-stage rapid evidence synthesis comprising information gathering on UK service provision; an evidence review on models of care; a metareview on treatment effectiveness; and a synthesis highlighting research priorities. Setting For the evidence reviews, any setting that was relevant to the UK health and social care system. Participants UK armed forces veterans with PTSD following repeated exposure to traumatic events. Interventions Any model of care or treatment. Main outcome measures Any relevant outcome. Data sources Information about current UK practice. Searches of databases [including MEDLINE, PsycINFO and PILOTS (Published International Literature on Traumatic Stress)], guidelines and relevant websites, up to November 2016. Review methods We screened titles and abstracts using EPPI-Reviewer 4 (EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London, UK) and EndNote X7 [Clarivate Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters), Philadelphia, PA, USA]. Decisions to include papers were made by two reviewers independently. We conducted a narrative synthesis of research literature on models of care and on treatments, guided by information from UK practice. In our evidence reviews, we assessed (when appropriate) the quality of included studies using established criteria. To help interpret our findings, we consulted recently published public and patient involvement data, a veteran service user and experts with academic, military and commissioning backgrounds. Results We gathered information about current UK practice. Sixty-one studies were included in the rapid evidence review on models of care and seven systematic reviews in the rapid metareview of treatments. The quality of evidence in both evidence reviews was limited. Promising models of care from more robust studies (three randomised controlled trials and one qualitative study) were collaborative arrangements and community outreach for improving intervention access and uptake; integrated mental health services and behavioural intervention on increased smoking abstinence; and peer support as an acceptable complement to PTSD treatment. A poor fit was noted between the research literature and UK service provision. Promising treatments were psychosocial interventions (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing, cognitive processing therapy, trauma-focused and exposure-based intervention) and pharmacotherapy (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics) for improving PTSD and mental health symptoms. Limitations The literature pool was larger than anticipated. Evidence for potentially effective models of care and potentially effective treatments is limited in quality and quantity. Although we aimed for a comprehensive evidence synthesis, pragmatic decisions in searching, screening and inclusion of studies may mean that relevant studies were overlooked. Conclusions There is tentative support for the effectiveness of some models of care and certain treatments currently delivered in UK practice. Our findings are timely for commissioners and service providers when developing present activity in veterans’ health care. Future work We report potential implications for future health-care practice, including early intervention for veterans transitioning from military life, improving general practitioners’ knowledge about services, implementing needs-based service design and tackling wider-system challenges. Regarding potential areas of future research, we have identified the need for more-robust (and longer) evaluative studies in the UK setting. Funding The National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme

The Iowa Homemaker vol.10, no.2

Coeds of the Naughty Ninties by Mary Morrison Beyer, page 1 Color in the Garden by Edna Rhoades, page 2 The Tragedy of Errors by Marjorie W. Smith, page 3 Where Toothbrushes Grow on Trees by Nellie Goethe, page 3 Architectural Features in Small Gardens by Margaret Jane Walker, page 4 Y. W. C. A.’s Fortieth Birthday by Ila Woodburn, page 5 4-H Club by Helen Melton, page 6 State Association by Marcia E. Turner, page 8 Child Health May Day by Anafred Stephenson, page 10 Editorial, page 11 Alumnae News by Dorothy B. Anderson, page 12 Tid Bits for Home Economics by Edith Roberts and Nellie Goethe, page 1

Is it really all about money? A study on incentives in elite team sports

Research question: A key task for sports managers of elite sports clubs is to create an ideal environment that enables athletes to perform at their best. Therefore, we investigate the relationship among monetary incentives, organizational support, and athletic performance in elite team sports. Research methods: This study is the first in sports management to calculate the relative effects of non-monetary incentives of organizational support and monetary incentives on individual performance through job satisfaction. Furthermore, we apply an innovative measurement approach of player performance by using individual performance ratings of coaches. We collect questionnaires from 315 athletes and 34 coaches of 19 professional football, ice hockey, and handball clubs in Germany. Results and findings: Two variables of organizational support—namely, integration of family and private problem support—show strong positive effects on athletes’ job satisfaction. Whereas prior studies have focused mainly on monetary incentives, this study reveals a strong relevance of organizational support. Furthermore, the results confirm a strong relationship between player satisfaction and individual performance. Implications: Sports managers need to recognize the relevance of non-monetary incentives of organizational support and integrate them into their management repertoire to improve job satisfaction and, consequently, facilitate top performance of their players. Further research should focus on the effects of non-monetary incentives and other aspects of organizational support. In addition, researchers should use individual performance ratings of coaches, rather than other measures, to evaluate player performance because of their expertise and superior background information

Faculty test-beds in Gloucestershire: a model

The One Gloucestershire Integrated Care System set up their AHP Council in March 2019. It has 35 members, is an expert advisory group and a connecting forum to the whole health and care system. Through Jane's leadership, the AHP Council members and the ICS leaders saw the HEE funding as an opportunity to secure a decision-making forum of very senior AHP leadership. They formed a faculty, seized the leadership opportunity and now report into the wider AHP Council. The faculty has afforded them set time across agencies, to really deep dive into what they needed to do to enhance their AHP workforce across lots of domains. They applied to take a rounded approach to the faculty and workforce, which was less about the money and more about the validation of their idea. The Gloucestershire faculty used the HEE funding to create leadership capacity to drive this work; formal project management and events/conferences to bring the system together and co-produce solutions. "Having a faculty has helped our AHP Council mission by enhancing our influence and voice. Immediately in our system, there was a common goal for AHPs to complement the perspectives of our traditionally medically orientated leadership"

Practice Development with individuals : A Realistic Evaluation with Occupational Therapists

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Faculty test-beds in Gloucestershire: a model

The One Gloucestershire Integrated Care System set up their AHP Council in March 2019. It has 35 members, is an expert advisory group and a connecting forum to the whole health and care system. Through Jane's leadership, the AHP Council members and the ICS leaders saw the HEE funding as an opportunity to secure a decision-making forum of very senior AHP leadership. They formed a faculty, seized the leadership opportunity and now report into the wider AHP Council. The faculty has afforded them set time across agencies, to really deep dive into what they needed to do to enhance their AHP workforce across lots of domains. They applied to take a rounded approach to the faculty and workforce, which was less about the money and more about the validation of their idea. The Gloucestershire faculty used the HEE funding to create leadership capacity to drive this work; formal project management and events/conferences to bring the system together and co-produce solutions. "Having a faculty has helped our AHP Council mission by enhancing our influence and voice. Immediately in our system, there was a common goal for AHPs to complement the perspectives of our traditionally medically orientated leadership"

Tackling stigma around perinatal mental illness

It is vital to tackle all mental health stigma, including stigma around perinatal mental illness. Stigma is often what prevents people from speaking out and seeking help. Women in the perinatal period need to feel able to speak up and seek help because of the deep and long lasting impact perinatal mental illness can have not only on mothers but also on their children. Speaking out at an early stage can help to prevent mental health problems from becoming more serious