Biomedical subjects

Helen Chapman

Publications and source records attributed to Helen Chapman.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Further validation of LABORAS using various dopaminergic manipulations in mice including MPTP-induced nigro-striatal degeneration.

The automated behavioural apparatus, LABORAS (Laboratory Animal Behaviour Observation, Registration and Analysis System), has been further validated with respect to the ability of the system to detect behavioural impairments in mice, following various dopaminergic manipulations. Initially data were obtained from mice administered with amphetamine, haloperidol, SCH23390, apomorphine and L-DOPA, with the focus on locomotor and grooming activities. The data recorded by LABORAS on administration of these pharmacological tool compounds, is comparable with published findings using standard LMA systems and conventional observer methods. In addition the home cage behaviour of mice administered with the dopaminergic neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) using an acute dosing regimen was also investigated. In LABORAS, mice subjected to MPTP lesioning showed deficits in spontaneous motor activity at day 6-7 post-MPTP administration, over a 24 h test period, as compared to saline treated controls. The data captured and analysed using LABORAS, suggests that the automated system is able to detect both pharmacologically and lesion-induced changes in behaviour of mice, reliably and efficiently.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine↗

PubMed2005

Towards effective group-work in nurse education.

This focus of this paper is on meaningful learning within the context of small group-work in nurse education; a pedagogical approach that is increasingly being used throughout higher education. The paper explores the question: when working with others what conditions and types of interaction are necessary to promote higher learning? Some suggestions are drawn from the literature and a position is articulated. Some implications of this position for curriculum leadership in planning an effective learning environment within higher education are discussed.

Clinical Competence↗

PubMed2004

The impact of clinical placement location on nursing students' competence and preparedness for practice.

The challenges confronting nurses in today's health care environments have highlighted the necessity for graduating students to feel both competent and prepared for practice. The aim of the aspect of the study reported in this article was to determine the relationship between the location of clinical placements and competence and preparedness for practice from the perspective of the nursing students. A quasi-experimental design using a pre-test post-test survey was used. The population consisted of all final year Bachelor of Nursing students at Queensland University of Technology, who undertook their clinical placement in either a rural or metropolitan location. The response rate was 65% in the pretest (n = 137) and 57% in the posttest (n =121). The results of the study highlight the importance of both rural and metropolitan clinical environments in developing not only student competency but also students' satisfaction with their clinical experience. The results suggest that the selection of a rural placement is more likely to occur when students feel competent, confident and organised about their clinical experience. Strategies to increase students' perceptions of competence and confidence to undertake a rural placement are likely to increase students' selection to 'go rural'.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Contemplating, caring, coping, conversing: a model for promoting mental wellness in later life.

This article is based on the premise that mental wellness for older adults can be promoted through communication and presents a model drawing on the constructs of contemplating, caring, coping, and conversing. The importance of interpersonal communication processes in the care of older adults and some barriers to communication and mental wellness are briefly reviewed. This article challenges nurses to develop awareness of their own caregiving styles and communication processes, and to assist others (e.g., family caregivers, care receivers) to communicate and interact more effectively to advance mental wellness for older adults.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2003

Challenges associated with implementing an education program in a residential aged care setting.

The link between independence and well-being of older people in residential care is well established. This paper reports some challenges encountered during implementation of an education program designed to assist nursing staff to adopt an independence-supporting model of residential care. The education program was part of a larger project aimed at developing an example of best practice in supported care which promotes independence, well-being and community linkages. Implementation of the program created many interesting challenges which were overcome by strategies and facilitating forces such as support from management and some staff and the collaborative nature of the project. Positive outcomes of the education program included increased awareness of and change in, practice; increased staff-resident interaction; and increased encouragement for residents to be independent and to engage with the wider community. Moreover, a facilitator manual - Promoting Independence: A Learning Resource for Aged Care Workers was subsequently developed so that the program can be implemented in aged care facilities elsewhere.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2002

Anorectic, thermogenic and anti-obesity activity of a selective orexin-1 receptor antagonist in ob/ob mice.

A single dose of the orexin-1 (OX1) receptor antagonist 1-(2-methylbenzoxazol-6-yl)-3-[1,5] naphthyridin-4-yl urea hydrochloride (SB-334867-A) reduces orexin-A-induced feeding and natural feeding in Sprague Dawley rats. In this study, the anti-obesity effects of SB-334867-A were determined in genetically obese (ob/ob) mice dosed with SB-334867-A (30 mg/kg, i.p.) once daily for 7 days, and then twice daily for a further 7 days. SB-334867-A reduced cumulative food intake and body weight gain over 14 days. Total fat mass gain, determined by Dual Emission X-ray Absorptiometry, was reduced, while gain in fat-free mass was unchanged. Fasting (5 h) blood glucose was also reduced at the end of the study, with a trend to reduced plasma insulin. Interscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT) weight was reduced, the tissue was noticeably darker in colour and quantitative PCR (TaqMan) analysis of this tissue showed a trend to an increase in uncoupling protein-1 mRNA expression, suggesting that SB-334867-A might stimulate thermogenesis. This was confirmed in a separate study in which a single dose of SB-334867-A (30 mg/kg, i.p.) increased metabolic rate over 4 h in ob/ob mice. OX1 receptor mRNA was detected in BAT, and its expression was increased by 58% by treatment with SB-334867-A. This is the first demonstration that OX1 receptor antagonists have potential as both anti-obesity and anti-diabetic agents.

Adipose Tissue, Brown↗

PubMed2002

Utilization of research evidence by nurses.

This paper challenges the hegemony (the mindset prevailing within education and health-care environments) that produces and maintains the problems associated with nurses using research evidence in their practise. The challenge is organized around the construct of change. The envisaged changes concern what nurses think and do in relation to nursing research. The position held in the present paper is that the use of research evidence by nurses in their practise will remain a challenge until changes occur to the ways that nurses understand, value and initiate research. It is argued that changing the ways that nurses understand, value and initiate research requires an ideological shift: a re-education from one set of beliefs, perceptions, values and practises to another. The paper concludes with some suggestions for transforming the hegemonic influences of nurse education systems and the health-care organizations in which nurses work.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed2001

The basal proton conductance of skeletal muscle mitochondria from transgenic mice overexpressing or lacking uncoupling protein-3.

The ability of native uncoupling protein-3 (UCP3) to uncouple mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation is controversial. We measured the expression level of UCP3 and the proton conductance of skeletal muscle mitochondria isolated from transgenic mice overexpressing human UCP3 (UCP3-tg) and from UCP3 knockout (UCP3-KO) mice. The concentration of UCP3 in UCP3-tg mitochondria was approximately 3 microg/mg protein, approximately 20-fold higher than the wild type value. UCP3-tg mitochondria had increased nonphosphorylating respiration rates, decreased respiratory control, and approximately 4-fold increased proton conductance compared with the wild type. However, this increased uncoupling in UCP3-tg mitochondria was not caused by native function of UCP3 because it was not proportional to the increase in UCP3 concentration and was neither activated by superoxide nor inhibited by GDP. UCP3 was undetectable in mitochondria from UCP3-KO mice. Nevertheless, UCP3-KO mitochondria had unchanged respiration rates, respiratory control ratios, and proton conductance compared with the wild type under a variety of assay conditions. We conclude that uncoupling in UCP3-tg mice is an artifact of transgenic expression, and that UCP3 does not catalyze the basal proton conductance of skeletal muscle mitochondria in the absence of activators such as superoxide.

Animals↗