Copenhagen Consensus: physical activity & ageing

HART researchers, Joanna Blackwell and Adam Evans, together with international colleagues representing nine countries and a variety of academic disciplines met in Snekkersten, Denmark, to reach evidence-based consensus about physical activity and older adults. It was recognised that the term ‘older adults’ represents a highly heterogeneous population, encompassing those who remain highly active and healthy…Continue Reading Copenhagen Consensus: physical activity & ageing

Improving Healthcare for People in Contact with Probation

        The key to improving healthcare for people in contact with probation lies in four main areas: commissioning, policy, practice, and research. We have created a toolkit for healthcare commissioners which includes: Information on the likely health needs of people in contact with probation An overview of the roles and responsibilities of…Continue Reading Improving Healthcare for People in Contact with Probation

The effect of ANKK1 Taq1A and DRD2 C957T polymorphisms on executive function: A systematic review and meta-analysis

        Research in healthy adults suggests that C957T polymorphism of the dopamine D2 receptor encoding DRD2 and the Taq1A polymorphism of the neighbouring gene ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1 (ANKK1) alter dopaminergic signalling and may influence prefrontally-mediated executive functions. A systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out on the evidence for the…Continue Reading The effect of ANKK1 Taq1A and DRD2 C957T polymorphisms on executive function: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Sociobehavioral and community predictors of unsuppressed HIV viral load: multilevel results from a hyperendemic rural South African population

Extensive antiretroviral therapy scale-up is expected to prevent onward transmission of HIV by reducing the overall community viral load. Despite multiple studies about predictors of detectable viral load derived from clinical setting, to date, no study has established such predictors using a population-based viral load survey in a sub-Saharan African hyperendemic setting to inform interventions…Continue Reading Sociobehavioral and community predictors of unsuppressed HIV viral load: multilevel results from a hyperendemic rural South African population

Eye Movements in the “Morris Maze” Spatial Working Memory Task Reveal Deficits in Strategic Planning

        Analysis of eye movements can provide insights into processes underlying performance of cognitive tasks. We recorded eye movements in healthy participants and people with idiopathic Parkinson disease during a token foraging task based on the spatial working memory component of the widely used Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery. Participants selected boxes…Continue Reading Eye Movements in the “Morris Maze” Spatial Working Memory Task Reveal Deficits in Strategic Planning

Modulatory mechanisms underlying high-frequency transcranial random noise stimulation (hf-tRNS): A combined stochastic resonance and equivalent noise approach.

          High-frequency transcranial random noise stimulation (hf-tRNS) is a neuromodulatory technique consisting of the application of alternating current at random intensities and frequencies. hf-tRNS induces random neural activity in the system that may boost the sensitivity of neurons to weak inputs. Stochastic resonance is a nonlinear phenomenon whereby the addition of an optimal…Continue Reading Modulatory mechanisms underlying high-frequency transcranial random noise stimulation (hf-tRNS): A combined stochastic resonance and equivalent noise approach.

Inter-institutional Relationships in Global Health: Regulating Coordination and Ensuring Accountability

In this paper we will explore issues related to the governance of inter-organisational relationships in the field of global health – taking the multi-layered response to the 2014 West African Ebola Outbreak as our point of departure. We note that, ideally organisations engaged in global health activity would have a clear set of governance rules…Continue Reading Inter-institutional Relationships in Global Health: Regulating Coordination and Ensuring Accountability

Effect of ART scale-up and female migration intensity on risk of HIV acquisition: results from a population-based cohort in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Despite increased antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage, the incidence of HIV infection among women in rural South Africa remains high. While many socio-demographic and behavioral factors have been identified, the effect of female migration intensity on the risk of HIV acquisition before and after ART scale-up has not been evaluated in the country. We followed 13,315…Continue Reading Effect of ART scale-up and female migration intensity on risk of HIV acquisition: results from a population-based cohort in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Suboptimal Nocturnal Glucose Control Is Associated With Large for Gestational Age in Treated Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

We performed a prospective observational study of 162 pregnant women with GDM in specialist multidisciplinary antenatal diabetes clinics. Participants undertook 7-day masked CGM at 30–32 weeks’ gestation. Standard summary indices and glycemic variability measures of CGM were calculated. Functional data analysis was applied to determine differences in temporal glucose profiles. LGA was defined as birth…Continue Reading Suboptimal Nocturnal Glucose Control Is Associated With Large for Gestational Age in Treated Gestational Diabetes Mellitus