Articles: health.
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Neurosci Biobehav Rev · Mar 2014
ReviewThe trouble with circadian clock dysfunction: multiple deleterious effects on the brain and body.
This review consolidates research employing human correlational and experimental work across brain and body with experimental animal models to provide a more complete representation of how circadian rhythms influence almost all aspects of life. In doing so, we will cover the morphological and biochemical pathways responsible for rhythm generation as well as interactions between these systems and others (e.g., stress, feeding, reproduction). The effects of circadian disruption on the health of humans, including time of day effects, cognitive sequelae, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, diet, obesity, food preferences, mood disorders, and cancer will also be discussed. Subsequently, experimental support for these largely correlational human studies conducted in non-human animal models will be described.
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Health Soc Care Community · Mar 2014
Comparative StudyDifferential impacts of care-giving across three caregiver groups in Canada: end-of-life care, long-term care and short-term care.
Using data from Statistic Canada's General Social Survey Cycle 21 (GSS 2007), this study explores whether differences exist in the impacts of care-giving among three groups of caregivers providing informal care either in the caregiver's or recipient's home, or in other locations within the community: (i) those providing end-of-life (EOL) care (n = 471); (ii) those providing long-term care (more than 2 years) for someone with a chronic condition or long-term illness (n = 2722); and (iii) those providing short-term care (less than 2 years) for someone with a chronic condition or long-term illness (n = 2381). This study lays out the variation in sociodemographic characteristics across the three caregiver groups while also building on our understanding of the differential impacts of care-giving through an analysis of determinants. All three groups of caregivers shared a number of sociodemographic characteristics, including being female, married, employed and living in a Census Metropolitan Area (CMA). ⋯ The impacts of EOL care-giving also negatively influence employment for caregivers when compared with the other caregiver groups. Consequently, EOL caregivers, overall, experienced greater negative impacts, including negative health outcomes, than did long-term or short-term caregivers. This provides the evidence for the assertion that EOL care-giving is the most intense type of care-giving, potentially causing the greatest caregiver burden; this is shown through the greater negative impacts experienced by the EOL caregivers when compared with the short-term and long-term caregivers.
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Newborn screening (NBS) for sickle cell disease (SCD) has occurred in Jamaica since 1973 in two periods, the most recent being since 1995. As a result of NBS, significant lessons have been learnt about management of the disease. Additionally, significant improvements in morbidity and mortality of children affected with the disease have occurred because of the implementation of simple interventions. ⋯ There are challenges including the lack of appropriate governance and policy structures, the technology for high-volume processing and comprehensive care clinics throughout the island. On the other hand, the significant strides made in disease management, the strength and model of care of the Sickle Cell Unit, delicately balancing limited resources and increased survival cannot be disparaged. Therefore, consistent with the World Health Organization's recommendation, we are working toward achieving island-wide screening for SCD, to ensure equitable access to continued improvements in morbidity, mortality and quality of life.
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Some results from cohort investigations indicate that supplemental antioxidants cannot decrease the risks for some diseases and even can play an inverse role because the antioxidant may not be involved in metabolism or may be a pro-oxidant in vivo. Therefore, further studies are required to identify conditions of an antioxidant converting into a pro-oxidant and the pathway of an antioxidant being a metabolic component. Additionally, long-term investigations on large-scale cohorts are required in order to clarify which disease is suitable for antioxidant therapy and how antioxidant intake can really maintain health.
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Review Meta Analysis
Off-hour presentation and outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction: systematic review and meta-analysis.
To assess the association between off-hour (weekends and nights) presentation, door to balloon times, and mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction. ⋯ This systematic review suggests that patients with acute myocardial infarction presenting during off-hours have higher mortality, and patients with STEMI have longer door to balloon times. Clinical performance measures may need to account for differences arising from time of presentation to a healthcare facility.