Improving the care partner experience: an occupational therapy intervention for people with dementia

Improving the Care Partner Experience: An Occupational Therapy Intervention proposes a clinic or telehealth based occupational therapy (OT) treatment intervention to teach care partners how to maximize the occupational engagement of care recipients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and decrease caregiver burden. Caregiver burden contributes to care partner illness and care recipient institutionalization. The intervention consists of a protocol that is both client-centered and designed to foster self-efficacy of the care partner in providing care. A sense of self-efficacy will decrease caregiving burden and improve quality of life for both partners as described in the evidence supporting the project. The first chapter provides an overview of the intent and genesis of the intervention. It includes a description of the author’s work environment, the problem as it was identified and how the intervention fits within the OT practice framework. The next chapter explores factors contributing to the problem including the rural nature of New Hampshire, barriers to accessing adequate treatment and the theoretical basis grounded in Self-efficacy theory and the Model of Human Occupation. The second half of the chapter explores current best practice that exists in the literature. Several programs and interventions are identified and their efficacy is discussed. Based on the findings in chapter two, the intervention itself is outlined in chapter three, with examples of templates and a case scenario available in the appendices. The intervention, administered in the clinic or via telehealth, is based on the evidence of effective treatment in the home, translated into a clinic or telehealth based model. Administration of the program is fully described and reproducible from this document. Finally, a plan for program evaluation along with a budget and dissemination plan are included in the final chapter. The result is an evidenced based, client-centered occupational therapy treatment that can be administered in a consistent manner and contribute to lower caregiver burden and increased quality of life

Fuel quality-processing study. Volume 2: Literature survey

The validity of initial assumptions about raw materials choices and relevant upgrading processing options was confirmed. The literature survey also served to define the on-site (at the turbine location) options for fuel treatment and exhaust gas treatment. The literature survey also contains a substantial compilation of specification and physical property information about liquid fuel products relevant to industrial gas turbines

AVOIDING EDUCATOR BURNOUT: USING MINDFULNESS TO EMBODY TEACHER VALUES

The purpose of this creative thesis is to explore applying mindfulness into an educator’s lesson planning process through identifying a teacher’s core values. It is important not only because of the scarcity of current research on said topic, but findings show there is a strong case that can be made regarding alleviating educator burnout. The suggestion(s) provided in the creative thesis are geared towards teachers already well-versed in a mindfulness practice and looking to take their experience further in a professional setting. Additionally, the sessions cater to educators who may not have much (if any) autonomy in their classroom and feel as though their “hands are tied” with regards to mandated curricula. Since mindfulness is rooted in Buddhist theory and therefore may raise some separation-of-church-and-state concerns, this creative thesis has taken careful steps to employ secular language instead, making these professional development offerings appropriate to be presented in the public-school setting

Mitochondrial DNA structure in the Arabian Peninsula

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Two potential migratory routes followed by modern humans to colonize Eurasia from Africa have been proposed. These are the two natural passageways that connect both continents: the northern route through the Sinai Peninsula and the southern route across the Bab al Mandab strait. Recent archaeological and genetic evidence have favored a unique southern coastal route. Under this scenario, the study of the population genetic structure of the Arabian Peninsula, the first step out of Africa, to search for primary genetic links between Africa and Eurasia, is crucial. The haploid and maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) molecule has been the most used genetic marker to identify and to relate lineages with clear geographic origins, as the African Ls and the Eurasian M and N that have a common root with the Africans L3.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To assess the role of the Arabian Peninsula in the southern route, we genetically analyzed 553 Saudi Arabs using partial (546) and complete mtDNA (7) sequencing, and compared the lineages obtained with those present in Africa, the Near East, central, east and southeast Asia and Australasia. The results showed that the Arabian Peninsula has received substantial gene flow from Africa (20%), detected by the presence of L, M1 and U6 lineages; that an 18% of the Arabian Peninsula lineages have a clear eastern provenance, mainly represented by U lineages; but also by Indian M lineages and rare M links with Central Asia, Indonesia and even Australia. However, the bulk (62%) of the Arabian lineages has a Northern source.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although there is evidence of Neolithic and more recent expansions in the Arabian Peninsula, mainly detected by (preHV)1 and J1b lineages, the lack of primitive autochthonous M and N sequences, suggests that this area has been more a receptor of human migrations, including historic ones, from Africa, India, Indonesia and even Australia, than a demographic expansion center along the proposed southern coastal route.</p

Cuidando la salud de los viajeros. Un encuentro con la Emporiatría

La vulnerabilidad en la salud de los viajeros está relacionada con quienes forman parte del fenómeno de movilidad, lo cual impacta en los cambios culturales y sociales, mismos que pueden repercutir en problemas de salud física y emocional, así como en alteraciones en su alimentación, eliminación o modificación de sus patrones de sueño; traduciéndose esto en una amplia gama de exigencias: intervenciones de emergencia y tratamiento de patologías propias del entorno.Esta investigación hemerográfica fue desarrollada a partir de artículos publicados de 2007 a 2011, procedentes de fuentes electrónicas. La elección de las patologías fue intencionada, en función de la mayor morbilidad. En el preanálisis se codifican datos brutos, asegurando selección y determinación de congruencia de fragmentos, al verificar convergencias y complementariedad, para después reconocer estructuras relevantes. El análisis del contenido es a través de contribuciones de varios autores, emergiendo como unidades temáticas predominantes patologías y medidas preventivas, las cuales se aglutinan en núcleos según mecanismos de transmisión: enfermedades trasmitidas por artrópodos, por agua y alimentos, infecciosas y de contacto sexual. Los resultados muestran patologías a las cuales los turistas no sólo pueden ser vulnerables, sino transportadores y propagadores de enfermedades que no existen en su hábitat. Se señalan las medidas de protección a seguir por todo aquel que viaja, tanto colectiva como individualmente. Se concluye que la prevención de patologías consiste en inmunizarse y evitar prácticas de riesgo, y que la conducta asertiva sea averiguar las condiciones de salud de los lugares a visitar, ya que al solicitar asesoría se propicia la seguridad y protección de la salud, convirtiéndose el turista en preservador del bienestar de la población

A patient with typical clinical features of mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) but without an obvious genetic cause: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>There are currently 23 missense point mutations and one 4 basepair deletion spanning different mitochondrial genes associated with mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). The spectrum of mitochondrial DNA mutations in Arab patients with MELAS is largely unknown.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A standard clinical examination was carried out on a 34-year-old Saudi woman showing clinical features of MELAS. Fresh frozen muscle tissue was subjected to enzyme histochemical analysis. DNA was extracted from her leukocytes and muscle tissue, and the full mitochondrial genome was screened for base substitution mutations and deletions. Additionally, we screened the polymerase gamma-1 nuclear gene for mutations. The patient was negative for the most common m.3243 A>G MELAS mutation. Sequencing the full mitochondrial genome did not reveal any known or potentially pathogenic sequence changes. The polymerase gamma-1 gene was also free from mutations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The clinical picture described here typically fits that observed in patients with MELAS or mitochondrial stroke-like events, but mutations in recognized genes (mitochondrial DNA and polymerase gamma-1 gene) were absent. We report the case of a patient with typical clinical features of MELAS, but without an obvious genetic cause.</p

A unique zinc finger protein is associated preferentially with active ecdysone-responsive loci in Drosophila

Using an immunochemical approach, we have identified a unique antigen, PEP (protein on ecdysone puffs), which is associated in third-instar larvae with the active ecdysone-regulated loci on polytene chromosomes; PEP is not associated with most intermolt puffs and is found on some, but not all, heat shock-induced puffs. The distribution pattern changes with changing puffing patterns in the developmental program. We have screened an expression library and recovered a cDNA clone encoding PEP. PEP possesses multiple potential nucleic acid- and protein- binding regions: a glycine- and asparagine-rich amino terminus, four zinc finger motifs, two very acidic segments, two short basic stretches, and an alanine- and proline-rich carboxyl terminus. The Pep gene maps by in situ hybridization to the cytological locus 74F, adjacent to the early ecdysone-responsive region; however, the gene is not regulated by ecdysone at the level of transcription. The pattern of Pep expression through development suggests that maternal Pep gene transcripts are supplied to the embryo, and that the abundance of Pep gene transcripts decreases to a lower, fairly constant level thereafter. This unusual protein may play a role in the process of gene activation, or possibly in RNA processing, for a defined set of developmentally regulated loci. Keywords: Drosophila-, ecdysone puffs; locus 74F; polytene chromosomes; zinc finger

Absence of mtDNA mutations in leukocytes of CADASIL patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ultrastructural and biochemical abnormalities of mitochondria have been reported in skeletal muscle biopsies of CADASIL patients with mutations in the <it>NOTCH3 </it>nuclear gene. Additionally, it was proposed that <it>NOTCH3 </it>gene mutations may predispose the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to mutations.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We sequenced the entire mitochondrial genome in five Arab patients affected by CADASIL.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean number of mtDNA sequence variants (synonymous and nonsynonymous) in CADASIL patients was not statistically significantly different from that in controls (<it>p </it>= 0.378). After excluding haplogroup specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and proved silent polymorphisms, no known or novel pathologic mtDNA mutation(s) could be detected in any patient. Additionally, there was no difference in the prevalence of different mitochondrial haplogroups between patients and controls.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study group is too small for any valid conclusion to be made. However, if our observation is confirmed in larger study group, then mtDNA mutations or mitochondrial haplogroups may not be important in the pathogenesis of CADASIL.</p