Investigation of serum monomeric C-reactive protein and associated auto-antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis

The research described here considers molecular variations of the acute phase response protein, C reactive protein (CRP), and the presence of CRP and anti CRP autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient serum. Monomeric CRP (mCRP) was generated in vitro by 2M urea induced dissociation of native pentameric CRP (pCRP), over a 10 week period in the absence of calcium. The subunit size (23kDa) and identity were confirmed by size exclusion chromatography, and western blotting with mCRP specific antibodies. Once dissociated, it was not possible to induce re-association. Human RA (n=30) and healthy control samples (n=30) were tested for the presence of serum mCRP. RA patients had higher mean mCRP levels than non RA (0.092mg/l, 0.069mg/l), however no samples were elevated above the calculated normal threshold for mCRP (≥ mean + 2SD, 30 control samples). There was no correlation between serum levels of mCRP and pCRP, suggesting physiological dissociation of pCRP may not be solely responsible for the presence of mCRP. Auto-antibody detection by competitive ELISA confirmed the presence of antimCRP and pCRP auto-antibodies of the classes IgG, IgA and IgM in both RA and control groups. Anti-mCRP and pCRP auto-antibodies in RA samples were significantly higher than controls in the female cohort in all but anti-mCRP IgM, with only anti-m/pCRP IgA significantly higher for the males (P<0.01). Both mCRP and pCRP were found to interact directly with anti-IgG at high concentrations of both. A greater proportion of RA samples contained all three auto-antibody classes, anti pCRP - RA 66.6%, control 50%; antimCRP- RA 50%, control 13%. Auto-antibody profile varied between RA and control groups, elevated anti-mCRP IgA antibodies being a key predictor of RA risk P<0.0001, more so when combined with advancing age although no correlation between CRP and auto-antibody concentrations was found. This may prove useful diagnostically

Turning over a new leaf::The health-enabling capacities of nature contact in prison

In this paper we explore the potential applicability of evidence of health-enabling effects of elements of the built environment – particularly access to nature – deriving from research in healthcare facilities to evidence-based design in the custodial context. Drawing on comparative qualitative research conducted in the UK and the Nordic region, we argue that although available data lack direct comparability, there is evidence that access to nature generates the same health-enabling effects in custody as are recognised in healthcare facilities. Reflecting on the differing political contexts of imprisonment in the two study areas, we conclude by advocating further research both to better understand health-enabling elements of the custodial built environment, and to better enable robust findings from healthcare facilities to be applied in custodial contexts

Proclaiming Jubilee: Preaching that Sets Women Free

In Luke 4, Jesus outlines his mission: to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and free the oppressed. Yet the marginalization and oppression of women have been structurally normalized throughout history, both in secular society as well as Christian culture. Through historical, cultural, biblical, exegetical, hermeneutical, and homiletical analysis, this study posits that a jubilee homiletic is a crucial part of embodying liberation from textual interpretations that have prioritized those who are privileged, so that women may reclaim scripture as a source of freedom

Pitching to the Media: Getting the Press to Tell a Story about Your Evaluation Work

Blog post to AEA365, a blog sponsored by the American Evaluation Association (AEA) dedicated to highlighting Hot Tips, Cool Tricks, Rad Resources, and Lessons Learned for evaluators. The American Evaluation Association is an international professional association of evaluators devoted to the application and exploration of program evaluation, personnel evaluation, technology, and many other forms of evaluation. Evaluation involves assessing the strengths and weaknesses of programs, policies, personnel, products, and organizations to improve their effectiveness

Drill, discipline and decency? Exploring the significance of prior military experience for prison staff culture

Building on prior theorization of the prison–military complex and critiques of Foucault’s claim of similarities between the prison and the military, this article uses the example of ex-military personnel as prison staff to consider the nature of this relationship. In a UK context in which policy discourse speaks of ‘military’ methods as an aspiration for the Prison Service but where critical prison scholars use this term more pejoratively, it draws on a unique survey of current and former prison staff to explore the perceived characteristics of ex-military personnel, and the relationship between military service and prison staff culture. The article finds that although some ‘military’ characteristics recall more negative ‘traditional’ cultures, others point towards more professional and compassionate attitudes, challenging the notion that ‘militarism’ necessarily engenders authoritarian and punitive prison regimes.</p

Connecting the Person by Removing the Stigma: Why Ireland Should Follow the Portuguese Model of Drug Decriminalisation

The decriminalisation of drugs and how it can impact addiction, crime and mental health is a subject that inspires global interest and debate.&nbsp;&nbsp;Much has been written about the positive outcomes of decriminalisation from a public health perspective, including the elimination of aggressive policing and community oversight and the shift to offering treatment and social supports for those affected by addiction.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ireland has yet to move to a model of decriminalisation, although a system similar to the one employed in Portugal has been suggested.&nbsp;&nbsp;This article briefly outlines reasons why a paradigm shift is vital if progress is to be made in reducing addiction in contemporary Ireland. The potential benefits could include a reduction in the pervasive social stigma connected with substance abuse, leading to less social exclusion within the Irish population

Just add water:prisons, therapeutic landscapes and healthy blue space

‘Healthy prisons’ is a well-established concept in criminology and prison studies. As a guiding principle to prisoners’ quality of life, it goes back to the 18th century when prison reformer John Howard regarded the improvement of ventilation and hygiene as being essential in the quest for religious penitence and moral reform. In more recent, times, the notion of the ‘healthy prison’ has been more commonly associated with that which is ‘just’ and ‘decent’, rather than what is healthy in a medical or therapeutic sense. This article interrogates the ‘healthy prison’ more literally. Drawing on data gathered from a UK prison located on a seashore, our aim is to explore prisoners’ rational and visceral responses to water in a setting where the very nature of enforced residence can have negative effects on mental health. In expanding the possibilities for the theorization of the health benefits that waterscapes may generate, and moving the discussion from healthy ‘green space’ to healthy ‘blue space’, the article reveals some of the less well-known and under-researched interconnections between therapeutic and carceral geographies, and criminological studies of imprisonment

Balance as a predictor towards independent cycling

Cycling is a milestone for children. Learning to ride a bike is an acquired skill, often obtained with difficulty. Fundamental movement skills (FMS) are generally developed in early childhood. Children have the developmental potential to progress to the mature stage of most FMS by the age of 6, at which point they are able to combine FMS to produce specialised skills in sports and recreational activities like cycling. Balance, a subset of FMS, has often thought to be essential in cycling; however, there is no empirical evidence to support this statement. Thus, this study investigates if balance is a contributing factor to learning to cycle. 72 children (3.7+/-0.5) were assessed pre and post a 5 week intervention. The children were assessed on ability to cycle independently and balance ability. Ability to cycle independently was measured using a traditional bike. If the child was able to cycle without assistance (tester holding onto bike) they were given a score of 1 and if they could not a score of 0. No children were able to cycle independently at pre-intervention. Balance ability was measured using the balance subset of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, second edition (MABC-2). All children attended 10 cycling lessons over 5 weeks. Linear regressions were run to assess whether the balance at pre-intervention predicted if a child would be able the cycle independently post-intervention. Balance ability did not predict cycling independently (r^2=.002, p>.05). The current results would suggest that the FMS skill of balance is not a contributing factor to learning to cycle. This result, while in contrast to the general assumption, is not surprising as most children do not reach the mastery level of FMS till the age of 6. Therefore, between 3 and 5 years, when children generally learn to cycle, they are not yet at the phase of refining FMS to produce sport specific skills. Further research should investigate (i) if other FMS subsets or a combination of FMS contribute to learning to cycle and (ii) if cycling is an independent skill learnt at parallel to FMS

Examining Associations between Mothers\u27 Early Adversity, Depression and Maternal Sensitivity

This study tested two models for the indirect influence of mothers’ early adversity on maternal sensitivity: Model A: Mothers’ appraisal of infant temperament was hypothesized to mediate the influence of mothers’ early adversity and depression on maternal sensitivity There would be no direct influence of maternal depression Model B: Mothers’ depression was hypothesized to have a direct influence on maternal sensitivity Mothers’ perception of infant temperament would not mediate the influence of maternal depression on maternal sensitivit