Biomedical subjects

John Humphreys

Publications and source records attributed to John Humphreys.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Docking interactions induce exposure of activation loop in the MAP kinase ERK2.

MAP kinases bind activating kinases, phosphatases, and substrates through docking interactions. Here, we report a 1.9 A crystallographic analysis of inactive ERK2 bound to a "D motif" docking peptide (pepHePTP) derived from hematopoietic tyrosine phosphatase, a negative regulator of ERK2. In this complex, the complete D motif interaction defined by mutagenic analysis is observed, including extensive electrostatic interactions with the "CD" site of the kinase. Large conformational changes occur in the activation loop where the dual phosphorylation sites, which are buried in the inactive form of ERK2, become exposed to solvent in the complex. Similar conformational changes occur in a complex between ERK2 and a MEK2 (MAP/ERK kinase-2)-derived D motif peptide (pepMEK2). D motif peptides are known to bind homologous loci in the MAP kinases p38alpha and JNK1, also inducing conformational changes in these enzymes. However, the binding interactions and conformational changes are unique to each, thus contributing to specificity among MAP kinases.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

PubMed2006

Osteoporosis--diagnosis and treatment in a general practice population.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis may be underdiagnosed and undertreated. General practitioners are best placed to redress this. METHODS: The research group invited all GPs in Bendigo (Victoria) (60) to attend an educational evening about osteoporosis, and also to engage in subsequent research involving data extraction from their electronic medical records for 2003. Twenty-three GPs accepted the invitation to participate. The research group calculated the proportion of patients with osteoporosis recorded as a diagnosis in their medical record, and compared them with national prevalence estimates based on radiological diagnosis. RESULTS: The research group assessed 29 356 patient records of the 23 participating GPs, identifying 593 cases of osteoporosis. In patients aged over 59 years, osteoporosis was diagnosed in 12.6% of women and 3.8% of men. Of identified cases, 53.4% were prescribed antiresorptive drugs. DISCUSSION: The occurrence of a diagnosis of osteoporosis was well below radiologically estimated prevalence. Implementation of learning opportunities designed to improve GP recognition and treatment of osteoporosis could be beneficial. Electronic medical records can provide useful research data with privacy protected.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Changing places: the impact of rural restructuring on mental health in Australia.

Significant demographic, social and economic change has come to characterise much of rural Australia, with some authors arguing there are now two sharply differentiated zones, one of growth and one of decline. This restructuring process, which has been similar to other western nations, has had a profound impact upon rural places-socially, economically and physically. Findings from research investigating the relationship between health, place and income inequality suggest that rural 'desertification', which is characterised by decline of the agricultural sector, net population loss and the deterioration of demographic structures, may negatively influence mental health outcomes in these areas. By contrast, the growth in rural areas, which is associated with expanding employment opportunities and the movement of capital and people, may confer positive benefits to mental health. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in mental health and well-being between rural communities experiencing growth and decline as measured by net population change. Utilising a survey methodology, questionnaires were distributed to 20,000 people randomly sampled from the electoral role in rural Australia. We selected four sub-regions from the sample area that were characteristic of areas experiencing population growth and decline in Australia and analysed the results of respondents from these four regions (n = 1334). The analysis provided support for our hypothesis that living in a declining area is associated with poorer mental health status; however, the factors that underpin growth and decline may also be important in influencing mental health. Discussed are the mechanisms by which demographic and social change influence mental health. The findings of this study highlight the diversity of health outcomes in rural areas and suggest that aspects of place in declining rural areas may present risk factors for mental health.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Emotional structure and commitment: implications for health care management.

PURPOSE: This paper aims to determine if the emotional structure of direct healthcare workers was related to their commitment to the organization. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A total of 105 direct healthcare workers completed self-report surveys to determine their emotional intelligence, emotional coping ability, and affective organizational commitment. Pearson Product Moment Correlation and independent sample t tests were used to analyze the data. FINDINGS: A significant correlation was found between emotional intelligence, emotional coping ability, and organizational commitment. In addition, emotional intellect served as a moderating variable between coping ability and commitment such that those direct care workers who exhibited higher emotional coping abilities were more committed when emotional intelligence was high rather than low. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: This was an exploratory study. Larger sample sizes across multiple healthcare settings should be examined before definitive inferences should be drawn. Future studies should likely introduce other variables such as satisfaction, effort, and even performance appraisals to delineate causal relationships. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: It appears that personality constructs such as emotional intelligence and coping ability could possibly be used as predictive instruments to determine who might be most successful in operating in the highly emotionally charged environment of healthcare. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This is the first study that examined the constructs of emotional intellect and coping ability and organizational commitment using a direct healthcare worker sample. It provides support for the conjecture that interpersonal emotional dynamics are critical in emotionally charged environments. This knowledge could assist healthcare managers in addressing the shortage and attrition rates associated with many direct healthcare fields.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2004

Rurality and mental health: the role of accessibility.

OBJECTIVE: The absence of an agreed definition of "rural" limits the utility of existing research into a possible relationship between rurality of residence and mental health. The present study investigates the bipolar dimension accessibility/remoteness as a possible correlate of mental health. METHOD: A continuous area of non-metropolitan Australia was selected to provide a range of scores on the Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA). A questionnaire measuring demographics, the five-factor model of personality and three aspects of mental health (distress, disability and wellbeing) was mailed to 20 000 adults selected randomly from electoral rolls. RESULTS: Responses were received from 7615 individuals (response rate = 40.5%; 57.1% female). ARIA was not associated with either distress or disability measures, but a small negative association was found between accessibility and two measures of wellbeing. Individuals residing in locales with better access to services and opportunities for interaction reported higher levels of satisfaction with life (SWL) and positive affect (PA). Adjusting statistically for a range of demographic and personality correlates did not alter the effect of ARIA on SWL. The effect on PA remained significant after adjusting for demographics, but not once personality correlates entered the model. CONCLUSIONS: By sampling across a single proposed parameter of rurality, a novel profile of correlations was identified. In accord with existing data, accessibility was not associated with distress or disability. In contrast, accessibility was positively associated with the wellbeing aspect of mental health. Further attention to the measurement of rural place and the exploration of accessibility as a parameter with mental health relevance, is warranted.

Australia↗

PubMed2002

Whither rural health? Reviewing a decade of progress in rural health.

The problems associated with rural and remote health have been widely recognised by health workers, rural communities and health professions for some time. Yet it has only been in the past decade that any concerted effort has been made to address rural health issues. Today the state of health in rural Australia remains less than optimal. The tenth anniversary of the Australian Journal of Rural Health provides the opportunity to reflect on what progress has been achieved over the past decade, to recognise those factors that have contributed most to the implementation of policies designed to address the health needs of rural and remote Australians, and to discuss outstanding impediments and barriers to resolving rural health issues.

Australia↗

PubMed2002

The mental health of rural Australians: developing a framework for strategic research.

This paper argues that lack of adequate research is a barrier to the long-term improvement of the mental health and well-being of rural Australians. Following from national mental health policy, potential research avenues in four broad domains (prevention and early intervention, pathways to care, outcome of illness and aetiology) are defined. These four broad domains are interdependent and research into them can be brought together into a simple framework or model. This model could be used to guide research into rurality and mental health. The proposed model uses the inclusive concept of place to capture the potential complexities of the rural locale as a variable in mental health and disorder. The model's predictor variables include both risk and resilience factors, and the outcome variables extend beyond morbidity to positive psychological wellness. It is proposed that this provisional model, and the strategic research that it directs, will act as a useful counterpoint to the more immediate evaluation and resourcing needs that confront rural mental health.

Australia↗

PubMed2002

Does one size really fit all? Why the mental health of rural Australians requires further research.

In this paper the need for further investigation into the mental health of rural Australians will be discussed. It will be argued that while research to date has yielded valuable information, the volume and scope of existing studies has been inadequate to address the needs of the diverse and dynamic communities in non-metropolitan Australia. The diversity that exists within rural Australia is examined and the potential effects of this diversity on mental health status are highlighted. Then a number of issues that are relevant to people living in non-metropolitan areas that underscores the need for further study into rural mental health are identified. Finally, some specific areas that require further examination are outlined and some guiding principles for future mental health research are proposed.

Australia↗

PubMed2002

The best of intentions.

Cynthia Mitchell has finally gotten a plum management opportunity at AgFunds, a Houston-based company that provides financial services to farmers and farmer-owned cooperatives. Peter Jones, regional vice president, has recruited Cynthia to revive the Arkansas district, which has been losing customers for 15 years. The sales force there isn't bad; it's just been poorly managed by an indifferent boss for too long. Still, Cynthia knows she'll need at least one powerhouse sales rep to get things back on track. She thinks she's found that person in Steve Ripley, this year's top trainee at AgFunds, who is inexplicably available three months after the training period is over. In the interview, he proves to be ambitious, intelligent, and personable. But several of Cynthia's colleagues suggest that Steve might not be the best fit for the job: He's a black man in a company whose customer base is mostly conservative and white. Uncomfortably recalling her own experiences at AgFunds--she'd been rejected for a position in a territory that was deemed too unfriendly to female sales reps--Cynthia addresses the issue with Peter. The mostly white farmers in Cynthia's district just won't trust their books to a black professional, Peter explains. And other minority professionals at AgFunds have derailed their careers trying to make inroads in unfriendly districts. "Steve deserves to start out in a more hospitable district. Once the right opportunity opens up, he'll be hired, and he'll do brilliantly," Peter reassures Cynthia, but she's still uncertain. Should she ignore her customers' biases and hire Steve, possibly setting him up to fail? Or would it be better to let Steve wait for a friendlier opportunity? Four experts comment on this fictional case study.

Black or African American↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Health care service provision for country people with developmental disability: an Australian perspective.

Priorities in the delivery of health care to Australian country people with developmental disability were explored through focus groups and interviews of key stakeholder groups from four rural/regional towns. Data were analysed for themes, which converged on lack of access to primary health care providers who lacked knowledge about and had poor attitudes towards developmental disability, discriminatory practices, the burden on support people, and communication difficulties between GPs and people with developmental disability. Potential strategies to address the apparent dissatisfaction with primary health care and GP concerns about working with this group were also evident in the data. In particular, open communication between stakeholders as a mechanism for collaborative problem solving and a strategy to avoid burn out for both support people and GPs is recommended. Facilitation of such communication can best occur through undergraduate training and participation of disability workers in activities of organisations that support GPs.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Just rewards.

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Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Better luck next time.

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Career Mobility↗