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Levenson RW, Chen KH, Levan DT, Chen Y, Newton SL, Paul D, Yee CI, Brown CL, Merrilees J, Moss D, Wang G. Evaluating In-home Assistive Technology for Dementia Caregivers. Clin Gerontol 2024; 47:78-89. [PMID: 36732317 PMCID: PMC10394113 DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2023.2169652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Dementia caregivers (CGs) are at heightened risk for developing problems with anxiety and depression. Much attention has been directed toward developing and deploying interventions designed to protect CG health, but few have been supported by rigorous empirical evidence. Technology-based interventions that are effective, scalable, and do not add greatly to the CG burden are of particular interest. METHODS We conducted a nine-month randomized controlled trial in 63 homes evaluating People Power Caregiver (PPCg), a system of sensors in the home connected to cloud-based software that alerts CGs about worrisome deviations from normal patterns (e.g., falls, wandering). RESULTS CGs in the active condition had significantly less anxiety than those in the control condition at the six-month assessment. Greater anxiety reduction in the active condition at the six-month assessment was associated with greater interaction with PPCg via SMS text messages. There were no differences in anxiety at the three-month or nine-month assessments or in depression at any assessment. CONCLUSIONS PPCg shows promise for reducing anxiety associated with caring for a =person with dementia. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Technology-based interventions can help reduce CG anxiety, a major adverse consequence of caregiving that may be difficult to treat due to other demands on caregiver time and energy.
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Miao M, Morrow R, Salomon A, Mcculloch B, Evain JC, Wright MR, Murphy MT, Welsh M, Williams L, Power E, Rietdijk R, Debono D, Brunner M, Togher L. Digital Health Implementation Strategies Coproduced With Adults With Acquired Brain Injury, Their Close Others, and Clinicians: Mixed Methods Study With Collaborative Autoethnography and Network Analysis. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e46396. [PMID: 37725413 PMCID: PMC10548320 DOI: 10.2196/46396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acquired brain injuries (ABIs), such as stroke and traumatic brain injury, commonly cause cognitive-communication disorders, in which underlying cognitive difficulties also impair communication. As communication is an exchange with others, close others such as family and friends also experience the impact of cognitive-communication impairment. It is therefore an internationally recommended best practice for speech-language pathologists to provide communication support to both people with ABI and the people who communicate with them. Current research also identifies a need for neurorehabilitation professionals to support digital communication, such as social media use, after ABI. However, with >135 million people worldwide affected by ABI, alternate and supplementary service delivery models are needed to meet these communication needs. The "Social Brain Toolkit" is a novel suite of 3 interventions to deliver communication rehabilitation via the internet. However, digital health implementation is complex, and minimal guidance exists for ABI. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to support the implementation of the Social Brain Toolkit by coproducing implementation knowledge with people with ABI, people who communicate with people with ABI, clinicians, and leaders in digital health implementation. METHODS A maximum variation sample (N=35) of individuals with living experience of ABI, close others, clinicians, and digital health implementation leaders participated in an explanatory sequential mixed methods design. Stakeholders quantitatively prioritized 4 of the 7 theoretical domains of the Nonadoption, Abandonment, Scale-up, Spread, and Sustainability (NASSS) framework as being the most important for Social Brain Toolkit implementation. Qualitative interview and focus group data collection focused on these 4 domains. Data were deductively analyzed against the NASSS framework with stakeholder coauthors to determine implementation considerations and strategies. A collaborative autoethnography of the research was conducted. Interrelationships between considerations and strategies were identified through a post hoc network analysis. RESULTS Across the 4 prioritized domains of "condition," "technology," "value proposition," and "adopters," 48 digital health implementation considerations and 52 tailored developer and clinician implementation strategies were generated. Benefits and challenges of coproduction were identified. The post hoc network analysis revealed 172 unique relationships between the identified implementation considerations and strategies, with user and persona testing and responsive design identified as the potentially most impactful strategies. CONCLUSIONS People with ABI, close others, clinicians, and digital health leaders coproduced new knowledge of digital health implementation considerations for adults with ABI and the people who communicate with them, as well as tailored implementation strategies. Complexity-informed network analyses offered a data-driven method to identify the 2 most potentially impactful strategies. Although the study was limited by a focus on 4 NASSS domains and the underrepresentation of certain demographics, the wealth of actionable implementation knowledge produced supports future coproduction of implementation research with mutually beneficial outcomes for stakeholders and researchers. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) RR2-10.2196/35080.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Miao
- Graduate School of Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Rosemary Morrow
- Stakeholder with living experience of acquired brain injury, Sydney, Australia
| | - Alexander Salomon
- Stakeholder with living experience of acquired brain injury, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ben Mcculloch
- Stakeholder with living experience of acquired brain injury, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jean-Christophe Evain
- Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation Ward, Caulfield Hospital, Alfred Health Network, Melbourne, Australia
- Stakeholder with living experience of acquired brain injury, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Meg Rebecca Wright
- Stakeholder with living experience of acquired brain injury, Blenheim, Australia
| | - Marie Therese Murphy
- Stakeholder with living experience as a communication partner of a person with acquired brain injury, Sydney, Australia
- Faculty of Education, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
- Faculty of Education and Social Work, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Monica Welsh
- Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit, South Australian Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Liz Williams
- Brain Injury Rehabilitation Community and Home (BIRCH), South Australian Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Emma Power
- Graduate School of Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Rachael Rietdijk
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Deborah Debono
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Melissa Brunner
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Leanne Togher
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Smagula SF, Aizenstein HJ. Initial evidence regarding the neurobiological basis of psychological symptoms in dementia caregivers. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:169. [PMID: 37202392 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02457-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Mood symptoms and disorders are common in dementia caregivers, who can be exposed to a myriad of potential stressors including their care recipient's neuropsychiatric symptoms. Existing evidence indicates that the effects of potentially stressful exposures on mental health depend on the caregiver's individual characteristics and responses. Specifically, prior studies indicate that risk factors measured on psychological (e.g., emotion-focused/behaviorally disengaged coping responses) and behavioral (e.g., sleep and activity restriction) levels of analysis may confer the effects of caregiving exposures on mental health. Theoretically, this process from caregiving stressors and other risk factors to mood symptoms is neurobiologically mediated. This article reviews recent studies that used brain imaging to identify neurobiological factors that are related to psychological outcomes in caregivers. Available observational data indicate that psychological outcomes in caregivers are related to differences in the structure/function of regions involved in socio-affective information processing (prefrontal), autobiographical memory (the posterior cingulate), and stress (amygdala). In addition, two small randomized controlled trials using repeated brain imaging showed that Mentalizing Imagery Therapy (a mindfulness program) increased prefrontal network connectivity and reduced mood symptoms. These studies raise the possibility that, in the future, brain imaging may be useful to detect the neurobiological basis of a given caregiver's mood vulnerability and guide the selection of interventions that are known to modify it. However, there remains a need for evidence on whether brain imaging improves on simpler/inexpensive measurement modalities like self-report for identifying vulnerable caregivers and matching them with efficacious interventions. In addition, to target interventions, more evidence is needed regarding the effects that both risk factors and interventions have on mood neurobiology (e.g., how persistent emotion-focused coping, sleep disruption, and mindfulness affect brain function).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen F Smagula
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Howard J Aizenstein
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Miao M, Power E, Rietdijk R, Debono D, Brunner M, Salomon A, Mcculloch B, Wright MR, Welsh M, Tremblay B, Rixon C, Williams L, Morrow R, Evain JC, Togher L. Coproducing Knowledge of the Implementation of Complex Digital Health Interventions for Adults with Acquired Brain Injury and their Communication Partners: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Res Protoc 2022; 11:e35080. [PMID: 35006082 PMCID: PMC8787662 DOI: 10.2196/35080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Social Brain Toolkit, conceived and developed in partnership with stakeholders, is a novel suite of web-based communication interventions for people with brain injury and their communication partners. To support effective implementation, the developers of the Social Brain Toolkit have collaborated with people with brain injury, communication partners, clinicians, and individuals with digital health implementation experience to coproduce new implementation knowledge. In recognition of the equal value of experiential and academic knowledge, both types of knowledge are included in this study protocol, with input from stakeholder coauthors. Objective This study aims to collaborate with stakeholders to prioritize theoretically based implementation targets for the Social Brain Toolkit, understand the nature of these priorities, and develop targeted implementation strategies to address these priorities, in order to support the Social Brain Toolkit’s implementation. Methods Theoretically underpinned by the Nonadoption, Abandonment, Scale-up, Spread, and Sustainability (NASSS) framework of digital health implementation, a maximum variation sample (N=35) of stakeholders coproduced knowledge of the implementation of the Social Brain Toolkit. People with brain injury (n=10), communication partners (n=11), and clinicians (n=5) participated in an initial web-based prioritization survey based on the NASSS framework. Survey completion was facilitated by plain English explanations and accessible captioned videos developed through 3 rounds of piloting. A speech-language pathologist also assisted stakeholders with brain injury to participate in the survey via video teleconference. Participants subsequently elaborated on their identified priorities via 7 web-based focus groups, in which researchers and stakeholders exchanged stakeholder perspectives and research evidence from a concurrent systematic review. Stakeholders were supported to engage in focus groups through the use of visual supports and plain English explanations. Additionally, individuals with experience in digital health implementation (n=9) responded to the prioritization survey questions via individual interview. The results will be deductively analyzed in relation to the NASSS framework in a coauthorship process with people with brain injury, communication partners, and clinicians. Results Ethical approval was received from the University of Technology Sydney Health and Medical Research Ethics Committee (ETH20-5466) on December 15, 2020. Data were collected from April 13 to November 18, 2021. Data analysis is currently underway, with results expected for publication in mid-2022. Conclusions In this study, researchers supported individuals with living experience of acquired brain injury, of communicating with or clinically supporting someone post injury, and of digital health implementation, to directly access and leverage the latest implementation research evidence and theory. With this support, stakeholders were able to prioritize implementation research targets, develop targeted implementation solutions, and coauthor and publish new implementation findings. The results will be used to optimize the implementation of 3 real-world, evidence-based interventions and thus improve the outcomes of people with brain injury and their communication partners. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/35080
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Miao
- University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Emma Power
- University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Monica Welsh
- See Authors' Contributions, Australia.,Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit, South Australian Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service, Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre, Adelaide, Australia
| | | | - Caleb Rixon
- See Authors' Contributions, Australia.,Genyus Network, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Liz Williams
- See Authors' Contributions, Australia.,Brain Injury Rehabilitation Community and Home, South Australian Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service, Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre, Adelaide, Australia
| | | | - Jean-Christophe Evain
- See Authors' Contributions, Australia.,Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre, Caulfield Hospital, Alfred Health Network, Melbourne, Australia
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Miao M, Power E, Rietdijk R, Brunner M, Debono D, Togher L. A Web-Based Service Delivery Model for Communication Training After Brain Injury: Protocol for a Mixed Methods, Prospective, Hybrid Type 2 Implementation-Effectiveness Study. JMIR Res Protoc 2021; 10:e31995. [PMID: 34889770 PMCID: PMC8704121 DOI: 10.2196/31995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acquired brain injuries (ABIs) commonly cause cognitive-communication disorders, which can have a pervasive psychosocial impact on a person's life. More than 135 million people worldwide currently live with ABI, and this large and growing burden is increasingly surpassing global rehabilitation service capacity. A web-based service delivery model may offer a scalable solution. The Social Brain Toolkit is an evidence-based suite of 3 web-based communication training interventions for people with ABI and their communication partners. Successful real-world delivery of web-based interventions such as the Social Brain Toolkit requires investigation of intervention implementation in addition to efficacy and effectiveness. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to investigate the implementation and effectiveness of the Social Brain Toolkit as a web-based service delivery model. METHODS This is a mixed methods, prospective, hybrid type 2 implementation-effectiveness study, theoretically underpinned by the Nonadoption, Abandonment, Scale-up, Spread, and Sustainability (NASSS) framework of digital health implementation. We will document implementation strategies preemptively deployed to support the launch of the Social Brain Toolkit interventions, as well as implementation strategies identified by end users through formative evaluation of the Social Brain Toolkit. We will prospectively observe implementation outcomes, selected on the basis of the NASSS framework, through quantitative web analytics of intervention use, qualitative and quantitative pre- and postintervention survey data from all users within a specified sample frame, and qualitative interviews with a subset of users of each intervention. Qualitative implementation data will be deductively analyzed against the NASSS framework. Quantitative implementation data will be analyzed descriptively. We will obtain effectiveness outcomes through web-based knowledge tests, custom user questionnaires, and formal clinical tools. Quantitative effectiveness outcomes will be analyzed through descriptive statistics and the Reliable Change Index, with repeated analysis of variance (pretraining, posttraining, and follow-up), to determine whether there is any significant improvement within this participant sample. RESULTS Data collection commenced on July 2, 2021, and is expected to conclude on June 1, 2022, after a 6-month sample frame of analytics for each Social Brain Toolkit intervention. Data analysis will occur concurrently with data collection until mid-2022, with results expected for publication late 2022 and early 2023. CONCLUSIONS End-user evaluation of the Social Brain Toolkit's implementation can guide intervention development and implementation to reach and meet community needs in a feasible, scalable, sustainable, and acceptable manner. End user feedback will be directly incorporated and addressed wherever possible in the next version of the Social Brain Toolkit. Learnings from these findings will benefit the implementation of this and future web-based psychosocial interventions for people with ABI and other populations. TRIAL REGISTRATION Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12621001170819; https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12621001170819, Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12621001177842; https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12621001177842, Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12621001180808; https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12621001180808. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/31995.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Miao
- University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Emma Power
- University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Tang JJ, Guo C, Peng XN, Guo XC, Zhang Q, Tian JM, Gao JM. Chemical characterization and multifunctional neuroprotective effects of sesquiterpenoid-enriched Inula britannica flowers extract. Bioorg Chem 2021; 116:105389. [PMID: 34601295 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.105389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Dried flowers of Inula britannica commercially serve as pharmaceutical/nutraceutical herbs in the manufacture of medicinal products and functional tea that has been reported to possess extensive biological property. However, the neuroprotective constituents in I. britannica flowers are not known. In the current study, phytochemicals of sesquiterpenoid-enriched I. britannica flowers extract and their potential multifunctional neuroprotective effects were investigated. Nineteen structurally diverse sesquiterpenoids, including two new sesquiterpenoid dimers, namely, inubritanolides A and B (1, 2), and four new sesquiterpenoid monomers (3-6), namely, 1-O-acetyl-6-O-chloracetylbritannilactone (3), 6-methoxybritannilactone (4), 1-hydroxy-10β-methoxy-4αH-1,10-secoeudesma-5(6),11(13)-dien-12,8β-olide (5) and 1-hydroxy-4αH-1,10-secoeudesma-5(6),10(14),11(13)-trien-12,8β-olide (6), as well as 13 known congeners (7-19) were isolated from this source. The structures of compounds 1-6 were elucidated by 1D- and 2D- NMR and HR-ESI-MS data, and their absolute configurations were discerned by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Interestingly, inubritannolide A (1) is a new type [4 + 2] Diels-Alder dimer featuring a hepta-membered cycloether skeleton. Most of the compounds showed potential multifunctional neuroprotective effects, including antioxidative, anti-neuroinflammatory, and microglial polarization properties. Specifically, 1 and 6 displayed slight strong neuroprotective potency against different types of neuronal cells mediated by various inducers including H2O2, 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Overall, this is the first report on multifunctional neuroprotective effects of sesquiterpenoid-enriched I. britannica flowers extract, which supports its potential pharmaceutical/nutraceutical application in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang-Jiang Tang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, PR China.
| | - Cong Guo
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, PR China
| | - Xiao-Na Peng
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, PR China
| | - Xiao-Chen Guo
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, PR China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, PR China
| | - Jun-Mian Tian
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, PR China.
| | - Jin-Ming Gao
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products & Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, PR China.
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Tang JJ, Zhao N, Gao YQ, Han R, Wang XY, Tian JM, Gao JM. Phytosterol profiles and iridoids of the edible Eucommia ulmoides Oliver seeds and their anti-inflammatory potential. FOOD BIOSCI 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2021.101295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Miao M, Power E, Rietdijk R, Brunner M, Togher L. Implementation of online psychosocial interventions for people with neurological conditions and their caregivers: A systematic review protocol. Digit Health 2021; 7:20552076211035988. [PMID: 34567610 PMCID: PMC8456620 DOI: 10.1177/20552076211035988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background As the burden of neurological conditions increases globally, online psychosocial interventions offer a potentially scalable solution to enabling healthcare access. However, their successful development and implementation require research into electronic healthcare implementation specifically. Methods Using a search strategy combining the concepts of implementation, electronic healthcare, psychosocial interventions and neurological conditions, we will conduct comprehensive electronic searches for primary implementation evidence in MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, SpeechBITE and NeuroBITE databases. Included studies will be analysed according to the Non-adoption, Abandonment, Scale-Up, Spread, and Sustainability framework, appraised using the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool and evaluated for theoretical underpinning in implementation science, with hybrid studies of effectiveness-implementation research classified according to the type of hybrid design. Discussion This review will be the first to use a theoretical underpinning in the Non-adoption, Abandonment, Scale-Up, Spread, and Sustainability framework to evaluate strengths and gaps in existing implementation research into online psychosocial interventions for people with neurological conditions and/or their caregivers. The results may be useful to provide direction and recommendations for future clinical implementation and research into online psychosocial interventions for people with neurological conditions and/or their caregivers. Systematic review registration PROSPERO 2020: CRD42020186387.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Miao
- Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
| | - Emma Power
- Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
| | - Rachael Rietdijk
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Melissa Brunner
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Leanne Togher
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Australia
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Chen KH, Hua AY, Lwi SJ, Haase CM, Rosen HJ, Miller BL, Levenson RW. Smaller Volume in Left-Lateralized Brain Structures Correlates with Greater Experience of Negative Non-target Emotions in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:15-31. [PMID: 32820325 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Subjective emotional experience that is congruent with a given situation (i.e., target emotions) is critical for human survival (e.g., feeling disgusted in response to contaminated food motivates withdrawal behaviors). Neurodegenerative diseases including frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease affect brain regions critical for cognitive and emotional functioning, resulting in increased experience of emotions incongruent with the situation (i.e., non-target emotions, such as feeling happy when seeing someone grieving). We examined neuroanatomical correlates of subjective experience of non-target emotions in 147 patients with neurodegenerative diseases and 26 healthy individuals. Participants watched three films intended to elicit particular target emotions and rated their experience of negative and positive target and non-target emotions after watching each film. We found that smaller volume in left hemisphere regions (e.g., caudate, putamen, and dorsal anterior insula) was associated with greater experience of negative non-target emotions. Follow-up analyses confirmed that these effects were left-lateralized. No correlates emerged for positive non-target emotions. These findings suggest that volume loss in left-hemisphere regions produces a more diffuse, incongruent experience of non-target emotions. These findings provide a potential neuroanatomical basis for understanding how subjective emotional experience is constructed in the brain and how this can be disrupted in neurodegenerative disease.
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β-Sitosterol Alleviates Inflammatory Response via Inhibiting the Activation of ERK/p38 and NF- κB Pathways in LPS-Exposed BV2 Cells. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:7532306. [PMID: 32596368 PMCID: PMC7273476 DOI: 10.1155/2020/7532306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disease is a disease state in which neurons in the spinal cord and brain are lost. Studies show that sustained neuroinflammatory reactions release toxic factors, damage neurons, and lead to neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, inhibiting neuroinflammation may be an effective measure to alleviate neurodegenerative diseases. Microglia is an important participant in the neuroinflammatory response. β-Sitosterol (BS) is widely found in various vegetable oils, nuts, and other plant seeds. Studies have found that BS has a wide range of anti-inflammatory effects in peritoneal macrophages and other peripheral tissues. However, no studies have reported the effect of BS that impacts microglia activity. Herein, we further study the effect of BS on impacts microglia activity. Firstly, BV2, a murine microglial cell, was treated with different concentrations of BS prior to stimulation of LPS, and then the inflammatory mediators and the expression of related signaling molecules were tested. The inflammatory response results illustrated that BS treatment can reduce the LPS-induced expression of inflammatory mediators (interleukin-6 (IL-6), inducible nitric oxide (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)). The related signaling pathway analysis demonstrated that BS treatment can inhibit the LPS-induced activation of p38, ERK, and NF-κB pathways. To sum up, the results demonstrated that BS impacts microglia activity via repressing the activation of p38, ERK, and NF-κB pathways.
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