Gardening and Mental Health

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The Positive Effects on Mental Health of Visiting Botanic Gardens

This paper continues the Guest Essay theme on the positive contribution that experiences in gardens and nature can make to people. It draws on her own and others’ personal experiences, particularly in Chicago Botanic Garden, to demonstrate that time spent in a garden, whether as a casual visitor or as a participant in specialised horticulture therapy and education programmes, can improve mental health and physical well-being and that this is to the benefit of individuals and society as a whole. The paper finishes with a comment on the value of the scientific work carried out by botanic gardens and how this also contributes positively to mental health by empowering people to do something constructive about the ecological challenges facing society

BRCA and Early Events in the Development of Serous Ovarian Cancer

Women who have an inherited mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes have a substantial increased lifetime risk of developing epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), and epidemiological factors related to parity, ovulation, and hormone regulation have a dramatic effect on the risk in both BRCA mutation carriers and non-carriers. The most common and most aggressive histotype of EOC, high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), is also the histotype associated with germline BRCA mutations. In recent years, evidence has emerged indicating that the likely tissue of origin of HGSC is the fallopian tube. We have reviewed, what is known about the fallopian tube in BRCA mutation carriers at both the transcriptional and translational aspect of their biology. We propose that changes of the transcriptome in BRCA heterozygotes reflect an altered response to the ovulatory stresses from the microenvironment, which may include the post-ovulation inflammatory response and altered reproductive hormone physiology

Field application of Bacillus subtilis and Aureobasidium pullulans to reduce Monilinia laxa post-harvest rot on cherry

Brown rot caused by Monilinia spp. is one of the most important diseases in stone fruits worldwide. Latent infections of fruit by the pathogen often manifest once the fruit is ripe, leading to post-harvest rots. Two microbial strains (Bacillus subtilis -B91 and Aureobasidium pullulans - Y126) have shown antagonistic properties against M. laxa in previous studies. This study assessed the reduction in post-harvest rot of cherry by M. laxa when the two biocontrol (BCAs) strains were applied pre-harvest under field conditions to fruit artificially inoculated with M. laxa. The experiment was carried out for two consecutive years in cherry orchards in Kent. When applied pre-harvest, both strains (B91 and Y126) reduced the incidence of post-harvest rots by 30% - 60%. This promising result helps towards the commercialisation of the two strains, which would reduce reliance on fungicides in commercial cherry production

Tobacco and Nicotine Use in the Perinatal Period: A Postpartum Video Intervention

Tobacco and nicotine exposures in the perinatal period continue to negatively impact the health of women and their families. This is of particular concern in Broome County, where 20% of women reported using tobacco at some point in their pregnancy. It is crucial that nurses have effective tools to intervene and address this health threat during routine care. The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of our newly developed postpartum educational video related to tobacco and nicotine exposure. This pre- post-test study is designed to measure changes in knowledge and self-efficacy after viewing the video in a postpartum hospital setting. These variables, along with demographics, nicotine use behaviors, and attitudes will be collected electronically, using a 22-item survey. The survey, video, and consent for participation will be delivered via iPad or iPhone using the Qualtrics Survey platform. After we provide an orientation to the study, postpartum nurses will recruit women and provide access to the intervention. Participants will include 25 women who are over the age of 18, fluent in English, and have delivered a baby during their current hospital stay. Nurses will be asked for feedback during and at the conclusion of the study as part of a process evaluation. This study will provide preliminary results related to the efficacy of the video and will also allow us to refine our methodology before conducting the study on a larger scale. The ultimate goal is that women who view this video will show increased quit rates related to nicotine use.https://orb.binghamton.edu/research_days_posters_2021/1098/thumbnail.jp

Xenabloom

Proposal for an architectural and structural design of a shade structure at the Leaning Pine Arboretum, employing the Xenaform typology of Poly Shells, LLC

Efficacy and treatment costs of Zoledronate versus Pamidronate in Paediatric Osteoporosis

Intravenous pamidronate has been used in the treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) in children for over 20 years. The more potent zoledronate is an attractive alternative as it is administered less frequently. This study compares the clinical efficacy of intravenous pamidronate (1.5 mg/kg/day over 2 days, every 3 months) versus zoledronate (0.05 mg/kg/dose every 6 months) in 40 children (20 per group) with mild to moderate OI and the treatment costs of the two drugs in a tertiary centre for children with osteoporosis. Lumbar spine bone mineral density and fracture rate did not differ between drug groups following 1 and 2 years of treatment, respectively. Total cost per treatment course per patient was £1157 for pamidronate and £498 for zoledronate. Therefore, zoledronate is a considerably cheaper alternative to pamidronate with comparable efficacy, resulting in substantial annual savings for healthcare providers and a more convenient option for patients due to fewer hospital visits.</jats:p

Barriers and facilitators to the uptake of tuberculosis diagnostic and treatment services by hard-to-reach populations in countries of low and medium tuberculosis incidence: a systematic review of qualitative literature

Summary Tuberculosis disproportionately affects hard-to-reach populations, such as homeless people, migrants, refugees, prisoners, or drug users. These people often face challenges in accessing quality health care. We did a systematic review of the qualitative literature to identify barriers and facilitators to the uptake of tuberculosis diagnostic and treatment services by people from hard-to-reach populations in all European Union (EU), European Economic Area, EU candidate, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. The 12 studies included in this review mainly focused on migrants. Views on perceived susceptibility to and severity of tuberculosis varied widely and included many misconceptions. Stigma and challenges regarding access to health care were identified as barriers to tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment uptake, whereas support from nurses, family, and friends was a facilitator for treatment adherence. Further studies are required to identify barriers and facilitators to the improved identification and management of tuberculosis in hard-to-reach populations to inform recommendations for more effective tuberculosis control programmes

Effectiveness of interventions for diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in hard-to-reach populations in countries of low and medium tuberculosis incidence: a systematic review

Tuberculosis is over-represented in hard-to-reach (underserved) populations in high-income countries of low tuberculosis incidence. The mainstay of tuberculosis care is early detection of active tuberculosis (case finding), contact tracing, and treatment completion. We did a systematic review with a scoping component of relevant studies published between 1990 and 2015 to update and extend previous National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) reviews on the effectiveness of interventions for identifying and managing tuberculosis in hard-to-reach populations. The analyses showed that tuberculosis screening by (mobile) chest radiography improved screening coverage and tuberculosis identification, reduced diagnostic delay, and was cost-effective among several hard-to-reach populations. Sputum culture for pre-migration screening and active referral to a tuberculosis clinic improved identification. Furthermore, monetary incentives improved tuberculosis identification and management among drug users and homeless people. Enhanced case management, good cooperation between services, and directly observed therapy improved treatment outcome and compliance. Strong conclusions cannot be drawn because of the heterogeneity of evidence with regard to study population, methodology, and quality