http://hdl.handle.net/2440/1089 2013-05-25T03:05:22Z 2013-05-25T03:05:22Z Turner, Renée Jade Corrigan, Frances Emily Vink, Robert http://hdl.handle.net/2440/77416 2013-05-06T05:30:18Z 2011-12-31T13:30:00Z

Title: Magnesium in acute brain injury Author: Turner, Renée Jade; Corrigan, Frances Emily; Vink, Robert Abstract: Acute injury to the central nervous system, such as stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI), is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and represents a significant public health issue worldwide. Despite extensive pre-clinical investigation, few therapeutic treatment options are available to patients meaning that severe disability and requirement of long-term rehabilitation are common outcomes. The majority of the damage that occurs following stroke and TBI is initiated by the primary injury and develops over time. Such secondary injury encompasses a number of damaging biochemical and pathophysiological events. However, the delayed nature of such injury provides an opportunity for therapeutic intervention. Indeed, magnesium decline has been identified as a key secondary injury process, one that is associated with significant functional impairment. Magnesium administration has been extensively evaluated in both experimental and clinical stroke and TBI with varied success. This chapter focuses on the role of magnesium in TBI and stroke pathophysiology, with particular emphasis on magnesium as a potential therapeutic agent.

2011-12-31T13:30:00Z Scoleri, Tony Henneberg, Maciej http://hdl.handle.net/2440/77265 2013-04-29T07:30:16Z 2011-12-31T13:30:00Z

Title: View-independent prediction of body dimensions in crowded environments Author: Scoleri, Tony; Henneberg, Maciej Abstract: This paper considers the problem of inferring the dimensions of non-visible body parts from images of incomplete bodies. This situation often occurs in CCTV videos of crowded scenes where people are mostly occluded. The approach we present relies on the ability to measure an observable body part which correlates to a missing body part. Anthropometric regression equations are then used to predict the dimension of the sought body part from the observable one. The example application of the paper considers acquiring a person’s head height to infer their stature. It is shown how a judicious selection of anthropometric points enables computation of the head height from any perspective images taken in uncontrolled environments with uncooperative subjects. Two regression models are proposed to infer stature from head height. Three real-life case studies have been chosen to assess the performance of our method on subjects observed in low resolution images and under various poses. Results show that the proposed method can yield statures of comparable accuracy to truth and two geometric methods.

2011-12-31T13:30:00Z Sultani, Masooma Stringer, Andrea Marie Bowen, Joanne Marie Gibson, Rachel Jane http://hdl.handle.net/2440/77237 2013-05-06T04:10:10Z 2011-12-31T13:30:00Z

Title: Anti-inflammatory cytokines: important immunoregulatory factors contributing to chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal mucositis Author: Sultani, Masooma; Stringer, Andrea Marie; Bowen, Joanne Marie; Gibson, Rachel Jane Abstract: “Mucositis” is the clinical term used to describe ulceration and damage of the mucous membranes of the entire gastrointestinal tract (GIT) following cytotoxic cancer chemotherapy and radiation therapy common symptoms include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhoea, vomiting, and constipation resulting in both a significant clinical and financial burden. Chemotherapeutic drugs cause upregulation of stress response genes including NFκB, that in turn upregulate the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). These proinflammatory cytokines are responsible for initiating inflammation in response to tissue injury. Anti-inflammatory cytokines and specific cytokine inhibitors are also released to limit the sustained or excessive inflammatory reactions. In the past decade, intensive research has determined the role of proinflammatory cytokines in development of mucositis. However, a large gap remains in the knowledge of the role of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the setting of chemotherapy-induced mucositis. This critical paper will highlight current literature available relating to what is known regarding the development of mucositis, including the molecular mechanisms involved in inducing inflammation particularly with respect to the role of proinflammatory cytokines, as well as provide a detailed discussion of why it is essential to consider extensive research in the role of anti-inflammatory cytokines in chemotherapy-induced mucositis so that effective targeted treatment strategies can be developed.

2011-12-31T13:30:00Z Hannes, Karin Macaitis, Kirsten http://hdl.handle.net/2440/77219 2013-04-28T23:30:05Z 2011-12-31T13:30:00Z

Title: A move to more systematic and transparent approaches in qualitative evidence synthesis: update on a review of published papers Author: Hannes, Karin; Macaitis, Kirsten Abstract: In 2007, the journal Qualitative Research published a review on qualitative evidence syntheses conducted between 1988 and 2004. It reported on the lack of explicit detail regarding methods for searching, appraisal and synthesis, and a lack of emerging consensus on these issues. We present an update of this review for the period 2005–8. Not only has the amount of published qualitative evidence syntheses doubled, but authors have also become more transparent about their searching and critical appraisal procedures. Nevertheless, for the synthesis component of the qualitative reviews, a black box remains between what people claim to use as a synthesis approach and what is actually done in practice. A detailed evaluation of how well authors master their chosen approach could provide important information for developers of particular methods, who seem to succeed in playing the game according to the rules. Clear methodological instructions need to be developed to assist others in applying these synthesis methods.

2011-12-31T13:30:00Z