Poster Session Program Programme des séances
Transcription
Poster Session Program Programme des séances
Poster Session Program Programme des séances-affiches LE RÈVE DES GÉNÉRATIONS FUTURES LE DÉFI DE NOTRE GÉNÉRATION THE DREAM OF FUTURE GENERATIONS THE CHALLENGE OF OUR GENERATION 4th Annual Health Research Conference in New Brunswick 4e Conférence annuelle sur la recherche en santé du Nouveau-Brunswick Thank you to all poster presenters for your participation Please note that abstracts appear in this booklet as submitted Merci à tous les présentateurs d’affiches de leur participation À noter que les résumés publiés dans le livret apparaissent tels que présentés Présentateurs - Présentatrices - Presenters Name Nom Institution Établissement Title of Project Titre du projet Risk-Taking and Secrecy Among Individuals With Eating Disorders Poster number Numéro d'affiche Bartlett Jennifer/ University of New Helena Dayal Brunswick Beyea James Bouffard Vicky Bourque Paul Brown Amy Mount Allison University The effect of DCA and allopurinol on breast cancer cell viability Charlton Pat University of New Brunswick Socio-demographic, Clinical and Health System Factors Associated with Non-Attendance at Diabetes Clinic Appointments 28 Cormier Kevin UdeM /ACRI Identifying the target of a small molecule that induce cell death in renal cancer cells with a loss of von Hippel-Lindau 20 Culf Adrian S Furlong Karen Atlantic Cancer Research Institute University of New Brunswick Novel HDAC6 inhibitors as potential anti-cancer therapy Understanding the experiences of nurses who are learning to use health-care technology: Situating the individual as most salient UNB Automating the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG test) with wearable sensors Université de Un programme d'exercices périMoncton, campus opératoire pour l'arthroplastie de la d'Edmundston hanche: Les effets sur la locomotion/Peri-operative exercice training program for hip arthroplasty: The effect on locomotion Université de Moncton Social context and mental health in homeless people in N.-B. 44 21 1 10 9 8 47 Name Nom Institution Établissement Title of Project Titre du projet Goguen Julie Centre de formation Relationship between Motivation médicale du Nouveau- and Specific types of Physical Activity Brunswick among grade 5 and 6 Students Gouliquer Lynne St. Thomas University Harris Kami D M Hassan Ansar Mount Allison University Saint John Regional Hospital Hussaini Ali Jarrett Pamela Jbilou Jalila Jones Ben Jones Charbachi Serena Aging at home: The voices of rural New Brunswick Seniors / Vieillir chez soi: La voix des aînés du Nouveau Brunswick Constructing a risk map for Lyme borreliosis in New Brunswick The impact of language, socioeconomic status and place of residence on access to and outcomes following cardiac surgery in New Brunswick Institute of Biomedical Compensatory Motions in Engineering (UNB) Transradial Myoelectric Prosthesis Users Horizon Health What do We Know about the Network Patients who are Alternate Level of Care in Horizon Health Network? Centre de Formation Médicale Exploring preferences and acceptance of m-Health as a source of information on sexual health in New Brunswick: An exploratory study among francophone youth in Moncton Institute od Biomedical The Design of a Prosthetic Hand with Engineering, UNB Improved Functionality University of New Brunswick Newcomers' Experience of Workplace Bullying Poster number Numéro d'affiche 48 7 32 49 2 17 3 43 12 Name Nom Institution Établissement Title of Project Titre du projet Poster number Numéro d'affiche Kemp Michael Dr Georges-L.-Dumont Efficacy of a calculated theophylline University Hospital loading dose to augment ECT: A retrospective study. Efficacité d’une dose de charge calculée de théophylline pour optimiser la sismothérapie : Une étude rétrospective. 25 Landry, John UNB Institute of A Novel Device for Autonomous Biomedical Engineering Limb Strength Measurement 29 Legault-Moore Dominique Faculty of Kinesiology, The Take Healthy Eating Active University if New Recreation Today (H.E.A.R.T.) Brunswick Program improves the health and fitness of sedentary adults in just 12 weeks. 37 Lyons Pierre J Université de Moncton Modulation of freeze-associated miRNAs at low temperatures 41 MacDonald Heather UNB Returning to work after depression: Implications for women's health 16 MacIntosh Judith UNB 13 McCloskey Rose McGibbon Chris McKeon Melissa University of New Brunswick University of New Brunswick Saint John Regional Hospital Workplace bullying affects men’s sense of self Alternate Level of Care: Patient and Family Perspectives A framework for biomechanical control of artificial joint motion Direct lateral interbody fusion without posterior stabilization: Initial report of the first 10 consecutive cases. McLean, Verna University of New Brunswick 33 Mohamed, Abeer UNB Participants in the H.E.A.L.T.H. Study show improved health-related fitness at 6-months Modeling and Simulation of Transfemoral Amputated Gait 51 39 46 34 Name Nom Morrison Kate Odjélé André Institution Établissement Title of Project Titre du projet UNB A participant profile at intake into the Healthy Eating, Active Living for Tomorrow’s Health (HEALTH) Study for management of adult obesity Poster number Numéro d'affiche 24 Université de Moncton Targeting tribbles proteins: A punishment that fights the crime for GBMs Sarah Université de Moncton CHANGES IN COGNITION OVER TIME IN ELDERLY CANADIANS Marc Étienne Centre de formation Weigh control and management for médicale du Nouveau- young adult men in New Brunswick: Brunswick Implementing an evidence based intervention in a rural context 42 Patterson Alyssa E 23 Picot Nadia Prickett Karel Razak Roua Synthesis and Anti-cancer Properties of a Novel Family of Platinum Complexes Université de Moncton Mammaglobin 1 regulates breast cancer cell malignancy and anticancer drug sensitivity University of New Guided Active Play Games Elicit a Brunswick Moderate Level of Physical Activity in a Field Setting UNB Enhancing Electromyography Based Locomotion Mode Classification When Using Powered Lower Limb Prostheses Scheme Erik Institute of Biomedical Pattern Detection for Improved Engineering UNB Myoelectric Control Usability 36 Scott-Storey Kelly UNB 19 Pakzad Parent Mount Allison University Abuse as a Risk Factor For Cardiovascular Disease: Modeling the Effects of Lifetime Abuse on CVD Risk as Mediated through CVD Risk Behaviors and Changes in Depressive Symptomatology Among Women 5 4 6 31 11 Name Nom Institution Établissement Title of Project Titre du projet Poster number Numéro d'affiche Quantitative Clinical Assessment of Muscle Spasticity using Wearable Sensors Quantification of the effects of path radius on temporo-spatial gait parameters in healthy walkers 35 Sexton Andrew IBME - UNB Smith Robert University of New Brunswick St-Coeur Patrick-Denis Université de Moncton PF-8380 and closely related analogues synthesis, structureactivity relationship towards autotaxin inhibition and glioma cell viability Stéphanie Université de Moncton Le rôle des récepteurs nicotiniques de l’acétylcholine dans la production et la différenciation des monocytes 15 Tripoteau Ludovic Institut de Recherche sur les Zones Côtières Activités antiherpétiques d'hydrolysats de Cucumaria frondosa - Antiherpetic activities of hydrolysates of Cucumaria frondosa 40 Trites Melissa UNB Benefits of self-management in adolescents with juvenile arthritis 30 Wall Michael Atlantic Cancer Research Institute The Role of Critical Arginine Residues in hnRNP A1 Cytoplasmic Activity 22 Ward Stéphanie Université de Sherbrooke, campus de Moncton Influence of school environment on youth participation in organized and individual physical activities/ Influence de l’environnement scolaire sur la participation des jeunes aux activités physiques organisées et individuelles 45 Weaver Kathryn University of New Brunswick 50 Wilkins Krista UNB Fredericton Peril, Pain, and Advocacy: Voices and Stories of Women Living with Eating Disorders Picture it! Capturing the Complexity of Second Cancer Risk through Photographs Taken by Cancer Survivors St-Pierre 18 27 26 Name Nom Institution Établissement Title of Project Titre du projet Poster number Numéro d'affiche Wilson Adam Institute of Biomedical The UNB Hand System Engineering, UNB 38 Wuest Judith UNB 14 The Intervention for Health Enhancement after Leaving (iHEAL) an Abusive Partner: Findings of a Feasibility and Efficacy Study Posters - Affiches Poster number Name Numéro d'affiche Nom Institution Title of Project Établissement Titre du projet Un programme d'exercices périopératoire pour l'arthroplastie de la hanche: Les effets sur la locomotion/Peri-operative exercice training program for hip arthroplasty: The effect on locomotion 1 Bouffard Vicky Université de Moncton, campus d'Edmundston 2 Hussaini Ali 3 Jbilou Jalila Institute of Biomedical Compensatory Motions in Engineering (UNB) Transradial Myoelectric Prosthesis Users Centre de Formation Exploring preferences and Médicale acceptance of m-Health as a source of information on sexual health in New Brunswick: An exploratory study among francophone youth in Moncton 4 Parent Marc Étienne Centre de formation Weigh control and management médicale du Nouveau- for young adult men in New Brunswick Brunswick: Implementing an evidence based intervention in a rural context 5 Pakzad Sarah Université de Moncton CHANGES IN COGNITION OVER TIME IN ELDERLY CANADIANS 6 Picot Nadia Université de Moncton Mammaglobin 1 regulates breast cancer cell malignancy and anticancer drug sensitivity 7 Gouliquer Lynne St. Thomas University 8 Culf Adrian S 9 Brown Amy Atlantic Cancer Research Institute Mount Allison University Aging at home: The voices of rural New Brunswick Seniors / Vieillir chez soi: La voix des aînés du Nouveau-Brunswick Novel HDAC6 inhibitors as potential anti-cancer therapy The effect of DCA and allopurinol on breast cancer cell viability Posters - Affiches Poster number Name Numéro d'affiche Nom 10 Bourque Paul Établissement Titre du projet Université de Moncton Social context and mental health in homeless people in N.-B. 11 Razak Roua UNB 12 Jones Charbachi 13 MacIntosh 14 Wuest 15 St-Coeur 16 MacDonald Heather UNB 17 Jarrett Pamela Horizon Health Network 18 Smith Robert University of New Brunswick 19 Scott-Storey Kelly UNB Institution Title of Project Enhancing Electromyography Based Locomotion Mode Classification When Using Powered Lower Limb Prostheses Serena University of New Newcomers' Experience of Brunswick Workplace Bullying Judith UNB Workplace bullying affects men’s sense of self Judith UNB The Intervention for Health Enhancement after Leaving (iHEAL) an Abusive Partner: Findings of a Feasibility and Efficacy Study Patrick-Denis Université de Moncton PF-8380 and closely related analogues synthesis, structureactivity relationship towards autotaxin inhibition and glioma cell viability Returning to work after depression: Implications for women's health What do We Know about the Patients who are Alternate Level of Care in Horizon Health Network? Quantification of the effects of path radius on temporo-spatial gait parameters in healthy walkers Abuse as a Risk Factor For Cardiovascular Disease: Modeling the Effects of Lifetime Abuse on CVD Risk as Mediated through CVD Risk Behaviors and Changes in Depressive Symptomatology Among Women Posters - Affiches Poster number Name Numéro d'affiche Nom 20 Cormier 21 Institution Title of Project Kevin Établissement UdeM /ACRI Titre du projet Identifying the target of a small molecule that induce cell death in renal cancer cells with a loss of von Hippel-Lindau Beyea James UNB 22 Wall Michael Atlantic Cancer Research Institute 23 Patterson Alyssa E Mount Allison University 24 Morrison Kate UNB Automating the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG test) with wearable sensors The Role of Critical Arginine Residues in hnRNP A1 Cytoplasmic Activity Synthesis and Anti-cancer Properties of a Novel Family of Platinum Complexes A participant profile at intake into the Healthy Eating, Active Living for Tomorrow’s Health (HEALTH) Study for management of adult obesity 25 Kemp Michael Dr Georges-L.-Dumont Efficacy of a calculated University Hospital theophylline loading dose to augment ECT: A retrospective study. Efficacité d’une dose de charge calculée de théophylline pour optimiser la sismothérapie : Une étude rétrospective. 26 Wilkins Krista UNB Fredericton 27 St-Pierre Stéphanie Picture it! Capturing the Complexity of Second Cancer Risk through Photographs Taken by Cancer Survivors Université de Moncton Le rôle des récepteurs nicotiniques de l’acétylcholine dans la production et la différenciation des monocytes Posters - Affiches Poster number Name Numéro d'affiche Nom 28 Charlton Pat 29 Landry, John UNB Institute of A Novel Device for Autonomous Biomedical Engineering Limb Strength Measurement 30 Trites Melissa UNB Benefits of self-management in adolescents with juvenile arthritis 31 Prickett Karel University of New Brunswick Guided Active Play Games Elicit a Moderate Level of Physical Activity in a Field Setting 32 Harris Kami D M Mount Allison University Constructing a risk map for Lyme borreliosis in New Brunswick 33 McLean, Verna University of New Brunswick Participants in the H.E.A.L.T.H. Study show improved healthrelated fitness at 6-months 34 Mohamed, Abeer UNB 35 Sexton Andrew IBME - UNB Modeling and Simulation of Transfemoral Amputated Gait Quantitative Clinical Assessment of Muscle Spasticity using Wearable Sensors 36 Scheme Erik Institute of Biomedical Pattern Detection for Improved Engineering UNB Myoelectric Control Usability 37 Legault-Moore Dominique Faculty of Kinesiology, The Take Healthy Eating Active University if New Recreation Today (H.E.A.R.T.) Brunswick Program improves the health and fitness of sedentary adults in just 12 weeks. 38 Wilson Adam Institute of Biomedical The UNB Hand System Engineering, UNB 39 McGibbon Chris University of New Brunswick Institution Title of Project Établissement University of New Brunswick Titre du projet Socio-demographic, Clinical and Health System Factors Associated with Non-Attendance at Diabetes Clinic Appointments A framework for biomechanical control of artificial joint motion Posters - Affiches Poster number Name Numéro d'affiche Nom 40 Tripoteau Ludovic 41 Lyons Pierre J 42 Odjélé André 43 Jones Ben 44 Bartlett Jennifer/ University of New Helena Dayal Brunswick Risk-Taking and Secrecy Among Individuals With Eating Disorders 45 Ward Stéphanie Université de Sherbrooke, campus de Moncton Influence of school environment on youth participation in organized and individual physical activities/ Influence de l’environnement scolaire sur la participation des jeunes aux activités physiques organisées et individuelles 46 McKeon Melissa Saint John Regional Hospital 47 Furlong Karen University of New Brunswick Direct lateral interbody fusion without posterior stabilization: Initial report of the first 10 consecutive cases. Understanding the experiences of nurses who are learning to use health-care technology: Situating the individual as most salient 48 Goguen Julie Centre de formation Relationship between Motivation médicale du Nouveau- and Specific types of Physical Brunswick Activity among grade 5 and 6 Students Institution Title of Project Établissement Titre du projet Institut de Recherche Activités antiherpétiques sur les Zones Côtières d'hydrolysats de Cucumaria frondosa - Antiherpetic activities of hydrolysates of Cucumaria frondosa Université de Moncton Modulation of freeze-associated miRNAs at low temperatures Université de Moncton Targeting tribbles proteins: A punishment that fights the crime for GBMs Institute od Biomedical The Design of a Prosthetic Hand Engineering, UNB with Improved Functionality Posters - Affiches Poster number Name Numéro d'affiche Nom 49 Hassan Ansar 50 Weaver 51 McCloskey Institution Title of Project Établissement Saint John Regional Hospital Titre du projet The impact of language, socioeconomic status and place of residence on access to and outcomes following cardiac surgery in New Brunswick Kathryn University of New Brunswick Rose University of New Brunswick Peril, Pain, and Advocacy: Voices and Stories of Women Living with Eating Disorders Alternate Level of Care: Patient and Family Perspectives 1 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Un programme d'exercices péri-opératoire pour l'arthroplastie de la hanche: Les effets sur la locomotion/Peri-operative exercice training program for hip arthroplasty: The effect on locomotion Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Vicky Bouffard Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Bouffard, Vicky. Abstract - Résumé Objectif : L’arthroplastie de la hanche est une intervention chirurgicale reconnue afin de soulager les patients qui souffrent d’ostéoarthrite. Cependant, la réhabilitation en période post-opératoire est longue et ne permet pas toujours une récupération complète. L’objectif de cette étude est de caractériser la biomécanique et la symétrie entre les deux jambes (opérée et non-opérée) pendant la locomotion après un programme d’exercices péri-opératoire (pré et post-opératoire), complémentaire au programme de réhabilitation en physiothérapie, chez des patients à la suite d’une arthroplastie de la hanche. Méthode : Onze patients ont participé à cette étude. Un programme d’exercices péri-opératoire de 8 semaines incluant des exercices cardiovasculaires, musculaires, en plus d’exercices pour la proprioception et la flexibilité, a été effectué. Les paramètres spatio-temporels, un questionnaire sur l’arthrite, la force des muscles de la hanche (fléchisseurs, extenseurs, abducteurs et adducteurs), la cinématique et la cinétique des membres inférieurs (hanche, genou et cheville) ont été analysés et la symétrie a été calculée. Résultats : Après un programme de réhabilitation en physiothérapie et un programme d’exercices péri-opératoire, une augmentation de la force des muscles abducteurs de la hanche et une meilleure symétrie à la hanche, au genou et à la cheville ont été observés durant la locomotion. Conclusion : Un programme d’exercices péri-opératoire semble efficace et devrait être proposé à tous les patients en attente d’une arthroplastie de la hanche. Objective: Arthroplasty is a recognized surgical intervention to relieve patients from hip osteoarthritis. However, post-operatively rehabilitation is long and does not always allow a return to normal function. The aim of the study is to characterize the biomechanical and symmetry between the two legs (operated and non-operated) during locomotion after a peri-operative (pre and post-operatively) exercise program, in addition to the physiotherapy rehabilitation program, in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty. Methods: Eleven patients participated in this study. Peri-operative exercise program, including cardiovascular, muscle strength, proprioceptive and stretching exercises, was performed during 8 weeks (pre and post-operatively). Spatio-temporal, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), symmetry of the hip muscle strength (flexors, extensors, abductors and adductors), kinematic and kinetic of the lower limb (hip, knee and ankle) were assessed and symmetry was calculated. Results: After physiotherapy rehabilitation and a peri-operative exercise training program, an increase in hip abductor muscle strength and a better symmetry was observed for the hip, knee and ankle power during gait pattern. Conclusion: Peri-operative exercise training program seems to be effective and should be proposed to all patients on a waiting list for hip arthroplasty. Page 1/1 2 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Compensatory Motions in Transradial Myoelectric Prosthesis Users Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Ali Hussaini Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Hussaini, Ali; Zinck, Arthur; Kyberd, Peter. Abstract - Résumé Patients who undergo a unilateral transradial amputation experience a reduction in dexterity of their affected upper limb. In addition to the reduced functionality of a prosthetic hand, the associated wrist motions of prosupination, flexion/extension and radioulnar deviation are severely compromised, which relegates the role of the prosthesis bearing arm to that of the non-dominant side. The patient often performs compensatory motions when performing many Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) to accommodate for the reduced range of motion. This study investigates the compensatory motions of patients performing a selected set of bimanual activities. These activities are also repeated with a group of able-bodied subjects who serve as a benchmark for comparison. Able-bodied subjects repeated the activities with an immobilizing hand and elbow splint to limit motion at these joints. Movements are recorded using a motion capture system and the kinematic data is further processed to calculate clinical joint angles. The study found an increased range of motion of the joints proximal to the prosthesis in the patient group. Increases in motion and joint angles were typically spread over a number of joints, identified by observing patterns in synergistic motion of several joints. This was expected as the patient attempts to reduce the motion at any one joint, decreasing the potential for a repetitive strain injury. Other compensations observed included adopting new postures and prepositioning items in the workspace before performing a given activity. Insight into the patient’s solution development and accommodation of their prosthesis is presented. Page 1/1 3 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Exploring preferences and acceptance of m-Health as a source of information on sexual health in New Brunswick: An exploratory study among francophone youth in Moncton Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Jbilou Jalila Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Pakzad, Sarah; Petitpas, Richard; Mompoint, Herleen; El Adlouni, Salah-Eddine. Abstract - Résumé Background: M-Health is defined as “mobile communications technologies for health.” The burgeoning advances in mobile technologies and their high utilization in daily life among youth (e.g.,smartphones) have created opportunities for improving youth’s accessibility to timely adequate information on sexual health and improve their knowledge and positive attitude toward protection and prevention. However, few studies had explored preferences and acceptance of m-Health as a source of information in sexual health (SISH) in New Brunswick. Method: Qualitative research based on the theory of acceptance and use of technology using focus groups with youth aged between 16 and 24 years schooled in francophone education institutions (high school, college and University) in Moncton. We performed content analysis of data. Results: 9 focus groups, 3 (only girls, only boys and boys and girls) in each educational institution to be able to identify gender differences and interaction about content and format preferences of m-Health as a SISH. Our preliminary results show that m-Health is the most preferred SISH. Major factors identified are: 1) User’s characteristics (age, gender, education level); 2) Social factors (parents openness, friends utilization); 3) Format factors (graphic design, information structuration, technologic functionality, variety of options); and 4) Content factors (relevance, utility, variety, positivity). respondents proposed the creation of a personal account that can be accessible and used by their health professional (nurse) as an interface to communicate with them. Contexte: M-santé est définie comme "technologies de communications mobiles pour la santé." Les progrès en plein essor des technologies mobiles et leur utilisation élevée au quotidien chez les jeunes (par exemple, les smartphones) ont créé des opportunités pour améliorer l'accessibilité des jeunes à une information adéquate en temps opportun sur la santé sexuelle et d'améliorer leurs connaissances et leur attitude positive envers la protection et la prévention. Cependant, peu d'études ont exploré les préférences et l'acceptation de la m-santé en tant que source d'information en matière de santé sexuelle (SISH) au Nouveau-Brunswick. Méthode: La recherche qualitative basée sur la théorie de l'acceptation et de l'utilisation de la technologie en utilisant des groupes de discussion avec des jeunes âgés entre 16 et 24 ans scolarisés dans les établissements d'enseignement francophones (secondaire, collégial et universitaire) à Moncton. Nous avons effectué une analyse de contenu des données. Résultats: 9 groupes de discussion, 3 (avec seulement des filles, des garçons et garçons et filles) dans chaque établissement d'enseignement ont permis d'identifier les différences entre les sexes et leur interaction sur les préférences de contenu et le format de m-santé comme SISH. Nos résultats préliminaires montrent que le m-santé est le SISH préféré. Les principaux facteurs identifiés sont les suivants: 1) Caractéristiques de l'utilisateur (âge, sexe, niveau d'éducation); 2) Facteurs sociaux (ouverture des parents, utilisation par les amis significatifs), 3) Format (conception graphique, des informations structuration, la fonctionnalité technologique, variété d'options); et 4) Contenu (pertinence, utilité, variété, positivité). De plus, les répondants ont proposé la création d'un compte personnel qui peut être accessible et utilisé par leur professionnelle de santé (infirmière) comme une interface pour communiquer avec eux. 4 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Weigh control and management for young adult men in New Brunswick: Implementing an evidence based intervention in a rural context Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Parent Marc Étienne Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Jbilou, Jalila; Parent, Marc Étienne; Dupuis , Julien; Mcbeath, Josée Marie; Waite, Mark Edward. Abstract - Résumé Introduction: Prevalence of overweight and obesity (Ov/Ob) is rising in industrialized nations, leading to major challenges for primary care, especially for rural areas. Literature shows that men present higher rates of Ov/Ob compared to women have lower rates of health services utilization, of compliance to health recommendations and of adherence to health prevention advice. Tailoring weight control and management (WC&M) interventions for men increases their satisfaction and adherence; and lowers the incidence of Ov/Ob related complications in this group. However, implementing new models of care in a rural context is a clinical and organizational challenge. Method: A qualitative research design based on a literature scoping review and semi-structured interviews with primary healthcare professionals. Results: Multifaceted interventions for WC&M for young adult men have higher effectiveness. They include weight-loss strategies, auto-monitoring, men’s group workshops, and long term regular follow-up. We derived a multifaceted intervention and evaluated its clinical/organizational acceptability and feasibility in a rural context. Interviews show that minor structural, professional and social adjustments are needed to implement a new model of care in a rural context. However, raising awareness and leveraging appropriation of innovative clinical models need investment in participative approaches, iterative validation strategies, and clinical information and training meetings. Conclusion: Multifaceted interventions offer a structural basis that may improve the implementation and sustainability of innovative primary care practices. Moreover, openness of the clinicians to innovation and their involvement at the first stages of the change process are critical for the adaptation and adoption of new models of care. Page 1/1 5 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche CHANGES IN COGNITION OVER TIME IN ELDERLY CANADIANS Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Sarah Pakzad Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Pakzad, Sarah; Jbilou, Jalila; Routhier, Nicholas; Rockwood, Kenneth; El-Adlounie, Salah-Eddine; Bourque, Paul. Abstract - Résumé Abstract The use of a frailty index based on the accumulation of deficits present in an individual has been proposed as a way to quantify an individual's health status. This index serves to compare the number of signs and symptoms which suggest health issues in an individual with the mean number of deficits present in others of the same chronological age. The present research aims to extend previous findings on the health status of elderly people by examining the association between the frailty index and neuropsychological and psychological variables. The datasets from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (n=9008, aged 65+ years) is used to identify potential neuropsychological and psychological variables associated with cognitive decline within a 10 year interval. Categorical, ordinal and interval variables were recoded into binomial variables, where 0=absence of a deficit, and 1=presence of the deficit. The results revealed that the cognitive deficit index can accurately discriminate and predict mortality and dementia within a 5 year interval. Résumé Les changements des capacités cognitives à travers le temps chez les aînés canadiens L'utilisation d'un indice de la fragilité été proposée comme un moyen de quantifier l'état de santé d'un individu. Cet indice permet de comparer le nombre de symptômes qui suggèrent des problèmes de santé chez un individu avec le nombre moyen de déficits actuels chez d'autres personnes de même âge chronologique. La présente recherche vise à étendre les constatations antérieures sur l'état de santé des personnes âgées en examinant l'association entre l'indice de la fragilité et les variables neuropsychologiques et psychologiques. L’ensemble de données de l'Étude canadienne sur la santé et le vieillissement (n = 9008, âgée de 65 ans) est utilisé pour identifier des variables potentiellement neuropsychologiques et psychologiques associées à un déclin cognitif dans un intervalle de 10 ans. Les variables catégorielles, ordinales et d'intervalle ont été recodées en variables 0-1 intervalle, où 0 = absence de déficit, et 1 = présence du déficit. Les résultats ont révélé que l'indice de déficit cognitif peut prédire avec précision la mortalité et la démence dans un intervalle de 5 ans. Page 1/1 6 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Mammaglobin 1 regulates breast cancer cell malignancy and anticancer drug sensitivity Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Nadia Picot Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Guerette, Roxann; Beauregard, Annie-Pier; Robichaud, Gilles A.. Abstract - Résumé Breast cancer metastasis, a complex process enabling tumour cells dissemination, accounts for more than 90% of breast cancer mortality. The identification of genes involved in breast cancer metastasis is thus essential to mitigate disease progression. One of these factors, mammaglobin 1 (MGB1), is specifically expressed in mammary epithelial tissues and overexpressed in mammary cancers. Normally, MGB1 plays an essential role in cellular homeostasis. More recently, studies show that MGB1 is a useful biomarker for prognostic application and the detection of metastatic breast cancer. However, no studies reveal the cellular and molecular function of MGB1 in this disease. We therefore set out to elucidate the role of MGB1 in breast cancer processes. We developed a breast cancer model with conditioned MBG1 expression to assess molecular and cellular processes leading to breast cancer cell malignancy. After investigation, we observed that loss of MGB1 expression led to the reduction of cancer cell growth which was supported by a suppression of p38, JNK, ERK and NFκB activities. We also found that MGB1 promotes cell migration through the activities of FAK and matrix metalloproteinases. Interestingly, we also found that MGB1 confers breast cancer cell sensitivity to apoptosis and to the effect of various anti-cancer drugs. Our study provides the first molecular elucidation of MGB1 function in breast cancer processes. In summary, it extends our knowledge on the biology of breast cancer malignancy and gives us new tools to achieve new therapeutic and diagnostic strategies against this disease. Le développement de métastase du cancer du sein, un processus complexe qui permet aux cellules tumorales de se déplacer dans le corps, est la cause d’environ 90% des décès associés au cancer du sein. L’identification des gènes impliqués dans ce processus est donc essentielle à la compréhension des mécanismes de cette maladie. Un de ces facteurs, la mammaglobine 1 (MGB1), est exprimé spécifiquement dans les tissus épithéliaux mammaires et surexprimée dans les cancers du sein. Normalement, MGB1 joue un rôle essentiel dans le maintien de l'homéostasie cellulaire. Récemment, plusieurs études montrent l’utilité de MGB1 comme biomarqueur pour le pronostique et la détection du cancer du sein. Cependant, aucune étude ne révèle les mécanismes cellulaires et moléculaires de MGB1 dans cette maladie. Cette étude vise donc à élucider les rôles de MGB1 dans le cancer du sein. Un model cellulaire dans lequel l’expression de MGB1 est conditionnée a été développer afin de déterminer l’influence de cette protéine dans les processus moléculaire et cellulaire manant au cancer du sein. Les résultats obtenus démontrent qu’une perte de MGB1 mène à une réduction de la prolifération cellulaire. Ceci est supporté par une suppression de l’activité de p38, JNK et ERK et de NFκB. MGB1 favorise également la migration cellulaire via l’activité de FAK et des métalloprotéinases matricielles. De plus, une diminution de MGB1 rend les cellules cancéreuses résistantes à l’apoptose et aux effets de plusieurs médicaments anti-cancéreux. Notre étude fournit une première explication moléculaire des fonctions de MGB1 dans les processus du cancer du sein. En résumé, il étend notre connaissance de la biologie du cancer du sein et nous donne de nouveaux outils pour développer de nouvelles approches thérapeutiques et diagnostiques. Page 1/1 7 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Aging at home: The voices of rural New Brunswick Seniors / Vieillir chez soi: La voix des aînés du Nouveau-Brunswick Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Lynne Gouliquer Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Poulin, Carmen. Abstract - Résumé Seniors represent a population that is increasing significantly in size (Statistics Canada, 2007), which correlates with increases in health care costs (Brinks, 2004). Although most elderly people prefer to stay in their own homes (Averill, 2003) and it is the most financial cost effective strategy (Chappell & Penning, 2009), the lack of services often forces them to use more expensive hospital services (Cloutier-Fisher & Joseph, 2000; Howlett, 2010). The situation with elders living in rural areas is even more complex. We also know that the proportion of rural seniors is growing faster in rural areas than in urban centres. Casey, Call, and Klinger (2001) suggest that traditional values such as self-reliance, preferences for informal support networks, and hesitancy to seek medical care may lead rural residents to post-phone care services. Adding to this situation, community-based care has been poorly funded and thought of as a subsidiary area of health and planning (Aronson, 2002). The present study examines how rural NB elders make sense of their daily realities in terms of wellbeing and received care. To date, 23 interviews were completed. A preliminary analysis indicates that family networks play a vital role. Specifically, those with children often are able to tap into an essential, flexible, and unpaid resource. The family network appears to be a fundamental link to keeping elders out of more costly facilities. The discussion will focus on implications of these findings for the next ten years as population demographics continue to change. Les personnes âgées forment une part de plus en plus importante de la population (Satistique Canada, 2007) et ce changement démographique se traduit par une hausse des coûts des services de santé (Brinks, 2004). Bien que la majorité des personnes âgées préfèrent demeurent chez elles (Averill, 2003) et que cette stratégie soit la plus économique (Chappell et Penning, 2009), le manque de services les contraint souvent à se tourner vers des services hospitaliers coûteux (Cloutier-Fisher et Joseph, 2000; Howlett, 2010). La situation est encore plus complexe en ce qui a trait aux aînés qui vivent dans des zones rurales. D’une part, il a été établi que la proportion de personnes âgées augmente plus rapidement dans les zones rurales que dans les centres urbains. De l’autre, des études (Casey, Call et Klinger, 2001) ont révélé que les résidents des zones rurales ont parfois tendance à retarder le moment de faire appel à des services de santé en raison de certaines valeurs traditionnelles comme le sentiment de ne pas avoir à compter sur autrui, les préférences pour des réseaux de soutien informels et la réticence à consulter. Qui plus est, les services de santé communautaires souffrent d’un manque flagrant de financement et sont considérés comme un secteur subsidiaire de la santé et de la planification (Aronson, 2002). La présente étude examine la vision que les aînés des zones rurales du Nouveau-Brunswick ont de leur réalité quotidienne et plus particulièrement de leur bien-être et des soins dispensés. Un total de 23 entrevues ont été menées jusqu’à présent. L’analyse préliminaire montre que les réseaux familiaux jouent un rôle fondamental, surtout chez les personnes qui ont des enfants et par le fait même accès à une ressource essentielle, flexible et gratuite. Le réseau familial semble en effet constituer un lien primordial qui contribue à éviter aux aînés de se retrouver dans des établissements plus coûteux. La discussion portera principalement sur les conséquences de ces Page 1/2 constatations pour les dix prochaines années, alors que la composition de la population continue de changer. Page 2/2 8 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Novel HDAC6 inhibitors as potential anti-cancer therapy Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Adrian S. Culf, Ph.D. research scientist Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Culf, Adrian. Abstract - Résumé HDAC (histone deacetylase isoenzymes) inhibitors can possess three sub-structural motifs: a metal binding moiety attached to a hydrophobic chain which is capped by an enzyme surface recognition group. One such inhibitor, SAHA, is marketed as an anti-cancer drug. HDAC isoenzymes have emerged as a target for cancer therapy. Our goal is isozyme-selective HDAC inhibitors for research probes and therapy. p-nitrobenzylamine was chosen as an intial cell surface recognition cap which served as a rigorous test of synthetic strategy robustness for ensuing library synthesis. Its benzylic methylene linker allowed more conformational freedom for enzyme surface recognition events. Investigation of HDAC enzyme surface interactions is presently under-represented in the literature as a mode of binding enhancement. An NIH NCI-60 screen read-out determined that succinic, glutaric and hexanoylamide derivatives of benzylamine yielded anti-cancer activity thereby setting the length of the hydrophobic chain. Four-day growth curves of human prostate (DU-145, PC-3, RWPE-1) and human breast (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, MCF-10a) cancer cell lines upon addition of DMSO solutions of this library using the MTT assay are reported along with selected IC50 values against recombinant human HDACs. The glutaric acid series (six compounds) showed excellent anti-proliferative activity as hydroxamic acids. Within the series, the parent, 2-fluoro, 1,3-benzodioxole and naphthyl derivatives afforded the highest potency. Page 1/1 9 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche The effect of DCA and allopurinol on breast cancer cell viability Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Amy Brown Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Lefort, Natalie; Brown, Amy; Lloyd, Vett; Touaibia, Mohamed; Culf, Adrian; Cuperlovic-Culf, Mira. Abstract - Résumé Cancer cell metabolism is different from that of normal cells, which can provide targets for chemotherapies. In this project, we treated breast cancer cell lines with two non-proprietary metabolic modulators, dichloroacetate (DCA) and allopurinol. DCA, a pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase inhibitor, and allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase/dehydrogenase inhibitor, have been used singly as chemotherapeutics. However, the combination of the two drugs might prove to be more effective at lower doses, thus reducing side effects. This research assessed the effects of these drugs, singly and in combination, in a Drosophila cancer model and on the viability and apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells and MCF-10A, a normal cell line. Preliminary results show that the effects of combined drug treatment are concentration and cell type specific. In general, allopurinol has limited effect on cell viability but when combined with DCA, show enhanced viability. This suggests a more complex relationship between DCA and allopurinol metabolism than anticipated. To determine if the effect of these drugs is through modulation of PDK and XDH activity directly, or is a secondary effect, we are initiating siRNA knockdowns of these enzymes and assessing the effect on cell viability and metabolite profiles. The difference between individual and combined treatments provides information about the interaction of mitochondria and peroxisome functions and will provide further insight into how the mitochondria of cells, cancerous and noncancerous, respond to these drugs. This project was funded by a CBCF Atlantic Region Studentship Award, administered by the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute to A.B. Page 1/1 10 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Social context and mental health in homeless people in N.-B. Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Sarah Pakzad/Paul Bourque Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Pakzad, Sarah; Jbilou, Jalila; Ringette, Julie; Bergheul, Said; Bourque, Paul; El-Adlouni, Salah-Eddine; Lévesque, Lucie. Abstract - Résumé Homelessness has become a real public health problem, due to the growing prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity and subsequent mortality. Marginalization of the homeless outside the major centers hinders the development of appropriate social and health related policies. Isolated or rural areas are rarely investigated and represent a population for which little information is available about the existence and use of psychological services offered, making interventions incomparable with those of major cities in respect to their usefulness and effectiveness. Using data from the national project At Home / Chez Soi, we will examine the symptomatology, frequency, intensity and duration of the most common physiological or psychological diagnostics for the Greater Moncton Area site. The main purpose of the study is to build a population profile of homeless and identify challenges of accessibility of mental health services for rural communities of southeastern New Brunswick. The results show that more than 76% of the homeless of southeastern in New Brunswick suffer from mental illness and/or from a form of addiction. Le contexte social et la santé mentale des itinérants au Nouveau-Brunswick L’itinérance est devenue un problème de santé publique, dû à la prévalence grandissante de troubles psychiatriques et de comorbidité élevée augmentant de façon subséquente le taux de mortalité chez cette population à risque. La marginalisation des sans-abri à l’extérieur des grands centres entrave le développement de politiques sociales appropriées à cette cohorte. Utilisant des données du projet At Home/Chez soi, nous examinons la symptomatologie, la fréquence, l’intensité et la durée des diagnostics de maladies physiologiques ou psychologiques les plus communes,ainsi que leur historique de traitement. Le but principal objectif de l’étude est de documenter l’accessibilité de services en santé mentale pour les communautés rurales du Sud-Est du Nouveau-Brunswick. Les résultats démontrent que plus de 76% des sans-abris du Sud-Est du Nouveau-Brunswick souffrent des troubles mentaux et/ou d'une forme d'addiction. Page 1/1 11 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Enhancing Electromyography Based Locomotion Mode Classification When Using Powered Lower Limb Prostheses Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Roua Razak Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Razak, Roua. Abstract - Résumé The recent introduction of powered leg prostheses enables users to perform many more tasks than passive legs, such as ascending/descending stairs and ramps with greater ease, and standing from a sitting position. With this increased function comes a need for improved control that may be obtained from neural information recorded as the surface electromyographic (EMG) signal. The EMG signal has been shown to be a promising source of autonomous information to characterize the instantaneous mode of locomotion (level walking, ramp ascent/decent, stairs ascent/decent).The greatest challenge in applying EMG to the control of leg prostheses is EMG distortion that is generated due to the fact that leg prostheses must bear the weight of the user. This introduces considerable force/pressure against the socket and motion/compression of the muscle, and may cause an incorrect interpretation of the locomotion mode.This is a significant barrier to the clinical application of EMG pattern classification for neural control of artificial legs, as incorrect classification may cause the user to fall and suffer serious injuries. Therefore, the focus of this research is to investigate and improve the robustness of EMG signal. An EMG distortion detector and filter is proposed that detects distortion by the fact that normally occurring EMG has a normal amplitude distribution and that distortion manifests itself as extremes or outliers of this distribution. The proposed algorithm was able to remove high amplitudes distortion from EMG signal and it has resulted in 10% locomotion mode classification improvement. Page 1/1 12 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Newcomers' Experience of Workplace Bullying Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Serena Jones Charbachi Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Jones Charbachi, MN Student, Serena. Abstract - Résumé Workplace bullying is unwanted, unwelcome abuse of any power that has the effect or intent to intimidate, control, or strip targets of their rights at work (Carbo & Hughes, 2010). Workplace bullying is a common form of workplace violence around the world (Einarsen, Hoel, & Notelaers, 2009) affecting 3-38.5% of working populations (Hogh, Carneiro, Giver, & Rugulies, 2011). Effects of workplace bullying are extensive and result in negative outcomes for individuals targeted, organizations, and society (Carbo & Hughes, 2010). Newcomers are at increased risk of experiencing workplace bullying (Allan, Cowie, & Smith, 2010; Hogh et al., 2011). Newcomers are already vulnerable with regard to access to health services (Derose, Escarce, & Lurie, 2007), and finding adequate employment (Smith, Chen, & Mustard, 2009), and workplace bullying may increase their vulnerability. I used grounded theory to study experiences of workplace bullying within this population. I invited newcomers to share their stories of workplace bullying to participate in audio-recorded interviews to explore those experiences health, and workforce participation. I assured newcomers who consented of their confidentiality. I used grounded theory practices of simultaneous data collection and analysis, theoretical sampling, and memoing. I interviewed 8 newcomers and am currently completing analysis. My poster shows preliminary findings of how experiences of workplace bullying among newcomers affect health and work. These findings contribute to understanding this problem a new perspective and will help prevent and address workplace bullying to improve working environments. Page 1/1 13 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Workplace bullying affects men’s sense of self Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Judith MacIntosh Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet MacIntosh, Judith; Wuest, Judith; Bulman, Donna . Abstract - Résumé Workplace bullying is a prevalent and destructive type of abuse that consists of offensive or unwanted psychological, physical, or sexual behaviours that humiliate or intimidate another at work. Our past research showed that workplace bullying influenced women’s health promotion, meaning of work, and workforce engagement. The current grounded theory study was designed to generate a substantive theory explaining how men take care of their health and engage in the workforce following workplace bullying and to learn how diversity influences men’s work and their health promotion processes, resources, and experiences. This area had previously been little explored. During 2011-2012, we interviewed 36 NB men aged 30 to 81 from across the province. They worked in professional and non-professional roles, unionized and non-unionized workplaces, in urban and rural locations, and in large and very small workplaces. Their education levels varied from no high school to graduate education. From our preliminary analysis, we indicate the central problem for men experiencing workplace bullying and the emerging process that illustrates how they address it. We have learned how men manage workplace bullying and that most men seek help to do so, with varying measures of effectiveness. There are implications for men’s health and work, for creating respectful workplaces, and for those working with men experiencing workplace bullying. Page 1/1 14 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche The Intervention for Health Enhancement after Leaving (iHEAL) an Abusive Partner: Findings of a Feasibility and Efficacy Study Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Judith Wuest Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Wuest, Judith; Merritt-Gray, Marilyn; Dube, Norma; Hodgins, Marilyn; Majerovich, Jo Ann; Ford-Gilboe, Marilyn; Varcoe, Colleen. Abstract - Résumé The Intervention for Health Enhancement After Leaving (iHEAL) is a 6-month primary healthcare intervention designed to address the health consequences of intimate partner violence (IPV) in women who have left abusive partners. In this poster, we will report the findings of a mixed-method study to examine the feasibility and efficacy of the iHEAL delivered collaboratively by nurses and domestic violence outreach workers in four New Brunswick communities (Frederiction, Miramichi, Saint John, and Sussex). We recruited 52 women, separated from abusive partners no longer than 3 years; 44 completed the iHEAL. Based on preliminary analysis of pre- and post-intervention measures of health, quality of life, and capacity (n=40), significant post-intervention (6 & 12 months) improvements were observed in scores on quality of life, mental health, and mastery, but not on physical health or social support. Scores on symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression were significantly reduced; those on chronic pain, social conflict, and financial strain were not. Data collection will be completed in early October. We will report the pre-post findings, as well as descriptive information regarding the feasibility of the intervention based on chart review and qualitative interviews with interventionists and participants. This exploratory study illuminates how health in women with IPV histories may be enhanced through innovative community-based intersectoral approaches to healthcare delivery. Our partnership of academic researchers, Liberty Lane Inc., NB Women’s Issues Branch, and NB Department of Health facilitates integrated knowledge transfer in this research study funded by CIHR and NBHRF in the PHSI program (2009-2012). Page 1/1 15 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche PF-8380 and closely related analogues synthesis, structure-activity relationship towards autotaxin inhibition and glioma cell viability Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Patrick-Denis St-Coeur Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet St-Coeur, Patrick-Denis; Ferguson, Dean; Touaibia, Mohamed; Morin, Pier Jr. Abstract - Résumé Autotaxin (ATX) is a secreted protein with a lysophopholipase D activity that converts lysophosphatidyl choline (LPC) into lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). ATX levels have been shown to correlate with tumour stage and grade in several human malignancies. ATX is also known to be highly expressed in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), an aggressive type of brain tumours for which current therapeutic approaches are limited. Our project aims at measuring ATX levels in a panel of GBM cell lines and at assessing the impact of ATX inhibition on selected cellular phenotypes with inhibitors developed in-house. ATX mRNA and protein levels were assessed by RT-PCR and Western Blot, respectively, in a series of GBM cell lines. A series of PF-8380 (6-(3-(piperazin-1-yl)propanoyl)benzo[d]oxazol-2(3H)-one) analogues, a recently developed autotaxin inhibitor, was explored. Inhibition of autotaxin by these analogues, as well as by all PF-8380 synthetic intermediates, shows the importance of meta-dichlorobenzyl and benzo[d]oxazol-2 (3H)-one fragments. Interestingly, two analogues, bearing only the benzo[d]oxazol-2 (3H)-one moiety, are more cytotoxic on LN229 glioblastoma cell line than PF-8380 and temozolomide. Findings stemming from this study will further position ATX as a potential therapeutic target for brain tumours and the series of inhibitors developed will serve as important tools in the generation of an ATX-based treatment for GBMs. Page 1/1 16 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Returning to work after depression: Implications for women's health Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Heather MacDonald Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet MacDonald, Heather; MacIntosh, Judith; Lafrance, Michelle; Dube, Norma; Hilchey, Melissa. Abstract - Résumé Depression is an urgent and complex occupational health issue. Seventy percent of the 1 million Canadians who experienced a major depressive episode in 2006 were employed at the time (Statistics Canada, 2006). Depression affects the workforce by impacting work loss and decreasing productivity (Dewa et al., 2003; Dewa et al., 2011). In Canada, 62% of women are employed, with women comprising almost half of the overall workforce. For women who wish to work outside the home, being unable to has a negative impact on their health and well-being. Additionally, interruption in women’s ability to work has major implications for the viability of the provincial and national economies. Many women are forced to leave the workplace because of health problems and among these, depression figures most prominently. In this pilot project 20 New Brunswick women have participated in in-depth interviews. Using grounded theory methodology the data is being analysed and already a number of core concepts have emerged. For example, the women have spoken of their role in acting. These beginning concepts are being reviewed to identify key processes and these early findings are being used to guide a larger study. Page 1/1 17 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche What do we know about the Patients who are Alternate Level of Care in Horizon Health Network Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Pamela Jarrett Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Jarrett, Pamela ; McCloskey, Rose; Stewart , Connie; Oakley, Heather . Abstract - Résumé Introduction: The Canadian Institute of Health Information (CIHI) designates patients who remain in hospital after their acute care phase is completed as Alternate Level of Care (ALC) patients (1,2,3). A better understanding of the ALC population who remain in hospital is needed.(4). Methods: All ALC patients occupying hospital beds within Horizon Health Network (HHN) as of Feb 9, 2012 were identified. A data collection tool, designed for the study, was used. Patient disposition was obtained 6 months after the initial data collection. Results: There were 403 ALC patients identified, occupying 25.2% of all hospital beds within HHN. A random sample of patients from 7 hospitals was taken and this formed the stratified random sample of 223. The mean age of the stratified sample was 73.8 years (SE 0.51). Prior to admission, 23.6% were living in a care institution in the community. Dementia was a diagnosis in 53.0%. The overall median length of stay (LOS) was 141.7 days but varied from 92 to 230 days between hospitals. After 6 months, 36.3% were still in hospital, 13.9% had died and 29.1% were discharged to nursing home. Conclusions: The majority of the ALC patients are elderly with dementia. The length of stay in hospital for those waiting to go to nursing home is long. Even after 6 months, more then one third of the patients remain in hospital. There is variation between hospitals within HHN with respect to length of stay for ALC patients. Page 1/1 18 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Quantification of the effect of path radius on temporo-spatial gait parameters in healthy walkers Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Robert Smith, MEng Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Smith, Robert; McGibbon, Chris. Abstract - Résumé Gait disorders are often diagnosed by measuring parameters of gait while walking in a straight line. However, functional gait is rarely a “straight line” activity. It is also known that asymmetry of gait naturally increases when the gait path is curved. Unfortunately, published literature on gait parameter analysis is limited to straight line walking, and therefore not useful for studying gait in a functional context. New floor sensing technologies, such as the StepScan^TM (Vitrak Inc. Charlottetown, PE), can enable gait to be studied for the first time in realistic environments, but new algorithms are required to account for the non-pathologic asymmetries that occur. This project addresses this gap in knowledge, and will contribute to the development of the StepScan^TM system through an NSERC Engage funded grant with Vitrak Inc. Algorithms were developed to analyze gait that do not assume the walking path is a straight line. Motion analysis data were acquired for 15 healthy young adults walking at three different speeds and nine different walking paths of known curvature. Statistical analysis techniques are used model the change in gait parameters during curved-path walking at various speeds. Results so far suggest a strong relationship between path radius and step length, step width, toe angle, swing/stance ratio, and double support time. As the path radius decreases, the effect becomes more pronounced, but is more difficult to predict reliably. Future studies aim to extract an unknown path radius from motion data, allowing for the concatenation of gait measurements measured along an arbitrary path. Page 1/1 19 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Abuse as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease: Modeling the Effects of Lifetime Abuse on CVD Risk as Mediated through CVD Risk Behaviours and Changes in Depressive Symptomatology Among Women Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Kelly Scott-Storey Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet . Abstract - Résumé Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most serious health challenges facing women today. Investigations into CVD risk factors specific to women have focused primarily on sex-based differences with little attention paid to gender-based differences. Abuse, such as child abuse, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault, is a serious gendered issue affecting a third to half of all women in their lifetimes. Despite beginning evidence that abuse is associated with CVD, the biological, behavioural and psychological pathways by which abuse increases the risk for CVD has received little attention from researchers and clinicians. Using longitudinal data from the Women’s Health Effects Study (2004-2010), structural equation modeling was used to test the effects of lifetime abuse on CVD risk as mediated through CVD risk behaviors of smoking and over-eating as well as changes in depressive symptomatology among 227 women who had left an abusive relationship. Preliminary findings suggest that depressive symptoms are an important mediator between abuse and CVD risk. Furthermore, women experiencing the highest levels of depressive symptoms after leaving continue to struggle with symptoms years later and are at greatest risk for CVD. Findings suggest that multimodal, interdisciplinary interventions which concurrently address abuse history, depressive symptoms, and CVD risk behaviors need to be integrated into the care of women. Additionally, through the novel use of a phantom variable, this study also contributes to the evolving methodology used in studying the concept of cumulative abuse and highlights the importance of lifetime abuse in understanding current health outcomes. Page 1/1 20 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Identifying the target of a small molecule that induce cell death in renal cancer cells with a loss of von Hippel-Lindau Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Kevin Cormier Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Cormier, Kevin; Turcotte, Sandra. Abstract - Résumé Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) accounts for 80% of kidney cancers, which are highly vascular tumors resistant to most cytotoxic therapies. A mutation or inactivation of the Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene is found in up to 85% RCC. A small molecule, STF-62247, has been shown to target these renal VHL-inactivated cancerous cells while having little effects on cells expressing a normal VHL gene expression. While we know that STF-62247 cytotoxicity is accompanied by a chronic induction of autophagy, we still don’t know the direct target of this small molecule. To address this question, we take advantage of the recent development in drug target identification method. We use a method called target identification using drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS), where a protein is less susceptible to proteolysis when it is drug-bound than when it is drug-free. Consequently, we incubated the protein lysates from the RCC4 cancerous cell line with the STF-62247. Afterwards, we digested the proteins with a protease, hoping that the protein-molecule complex will resist the protease degradation. This degraded sample can then be separated on a SDS-PAGE gel. This method coupled with mass-spectroscopy will reveal possible targets of the molecule for further analysis. Here, we show our findings of possible protein targets of the STF-62247 in the RCC cell line. Le carcinome de cellules rénales (RCC) correspond à 80% des cancers du rein. Ce sont des tumeurs hautement vascularisées et résistances à la majorité des thérapies cytotoxiques. Jusqu’à 85% de ces RCC ont une mutation ou une répression du gène Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL). Une petite molécule, le STF-62247 est capable de cibler les cellules cancéreuses RCC déficientes d’un gène VHL fonctionnel, tout en ayant peu d’effet sur les cellules ayant une expression normale de ce gène. Même s’il est connu que le STF-62247 cause une toxicité accompagnée d’une induction de l’autophagie, nous ne connaissons toujours pas la cible directe de cette molécule. Pour attaquer cette question, nous avons profité d’un nouveau développement dans les méthodes d’identification des cibles de drogues. Nous avons utilisé une méthode qui utilise le principe de la stabilité du complexe entre une molécule et sa protéine ciblée pour déterminer l’identité de cette dernière. En effet, un complexe d’une protéine avec une petite molécule a une différente résistance à une dégradation enzymatique qu’une protéine non complexée. Conséquemment, nous avons incubé un lysat d’une lignée de cellules cancéreuses RCC4 avec le STF-62247. Par la suite, nous avons dégradé les protéines avec une protéase, en espérant que le complexe de protéine-molécule résiste à la dégradation. Cet échantillon dégradé est ensuite soumis à une séparation par SDS-PAGE. Cette méthode, couplée avec de la spectroscopie de masse peut facilement révéler de nouvelles cibles potentielles de cette petite molécule. Ici, nous démontrons des cibles potentielles du STF-62247 dans les lignées cellulaires RCC4. Page 1/1 21 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Automating the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG test) with wearable sensors Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche James Beyea Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet McGibbon, Christopher. Abstract - Résumé The Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) is a widely used test for evaluating mobility and falling risk in patient populations who are at elevated risk of falling. The test is simple to conduct: the patient starts from a seated position, rises, walks 3m, turns and walks back to the chair and sits, while an observer times the test with a stop watch. However, the current clinical version of this test (with a stop watch) is not able to document the time required to perform the various “phases” that make up the TUG activity. Different patient populations are likely to performance differently during these phases. As such the observer-based TUG test is neglecting a lot of potential information that could inform clinicians. The objective of this research is to examine the validity of using wearable sensor data to quantify duration of the various phases of the TUG. The hypothesis tested by the experiment is a fiber optic goniometer mounted on a subject’s knee can accurately and reliably identify the transitions at the end of chair rise and walking portions of the TUG and that the accelerometer on the subject’s chest can accurately and reliably detect motion onset and termination at all stages of the TUG. There will be benefits for researchers and clinicians in terms of better observation and therefore control of pathology for doctors and patients once the reliability of each phase of the TUG has been evaluated with respect to detection and measurement of the affects of pathology. Page 1/1 22 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche The Role of Critical Arginine Residues in hnRNP A1 Cytoplasmic Activity Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Michael Wall Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Wall, Michael; Lewis , Stephen. Abstract - Résumé Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1) is an RNA binding protein involved in several cellular processes including alternative splicing, mRNA transport, cap-independent translation, and mRNA decay. Overexpression of hnRNP A1 is associated with several forms of cancer, including cervical and colorectal cancer as well as refractory acute leukemia. While the nuclear functions of hnRNP A1 are well characterized, relatively little is known about hnRNP A1 cytoplasmic activity or its regulation. One possible avenue for regulating hnRNP A1 cytoplasmic activity that has remained largely unexplored is arginine methylation. hnRNP A1 is methylated by protein arginine N-methyltransferases (PRMTs) on up to six arginine residues located in its glycine-rich domain. This domain plays an important role in both RNA-binding and protein-protein interactions, though the exact nature of these interactions in the cytoplasm is unknown. Our research is currently exploring the in vivo role of arginine methylation on hnRNP A1 function using methylarginine-deficient hnRNP A1 mutants. We show that substitution of arginine with alanine in the glycine-rich domain results in decreased in vivo association of recombinant hnRNP A1 with total mRNA and specific target mRNAs. In addition, in vivo translation assays demonstrate that, unlike wild-type hnRNP A1, the hnRNP A1 arginine-to-alanine mutant lacks internal ribosome entry site (IRES) trans-acting factor (ITAF) activity. This suggests that hnRNP A1 mRNA binding and ITAF activity is dependent on arginines (and potentially their methylation) located within its glycine-rich domain. Future experiments will continue to reveal the role of arginine methylation in hnRNP A1 ITAF activity and cytoplasmic function. Page 1/1 23 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Synthesis and Anti-cancer Properties of a Novel Family of Platinum Complexes Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Alyssa E. Patterson Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Patterson, Alyssa; Miles, Brittany; Miller, Jessica; Vogels, Christopher; Decken, Andreas; Morin Jr. , Pier. Abstract - Résumé Cisplatin, cis-[PtCl2(NH3)2], and related platinum-based complexes are currently used as anti-cancer agents against testicular and ovarian malignancies [1]. The primary mechanism of action in these platinum drugs is believed to arise from the metal’s interaction with DNA, where the platinum is believed to bind preferentially with the N-7 positions of the purine bases. There are severe limitations to platinum therapy, however, such as neural and kidney toxicity as well as intrinsic and acquired resistance of tumor cells to the drugs. Although a considerable amount of research has focussed on the development of anti-cancer drugs based on platinum, all have been based on the same family of compounds and, as such, all suffer from the same limitations. In this paper, we report our initial efforts in designing a new family of lipophilic platinum complexes derived from readily prepared Schiff base ligands. All new compounds have been characterized fully and examined for their potential anti-cancer properties in cellular models of glioblastoma multiforme, the results of which are presented within. [1]Di Pasqua, A. J.; Goodisman, J.; Dabrowiak, J. C. Inorg. Chim. Acta 2012, 389, 29. Page 1/1 24 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche A participant profile at intake into the Healthy Eating, Active Living for Tomorrow’s Health (HEALTH) Study for management of adult obesity Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Kate Morrison (health professional) Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Morrison (health professional), Kate; Miedema, Baukje (Bo); Reading, Stacey; Hamilton, Ryan; Easley, Julie. Abstract - Résumé The HEALTH Study is a multi-disciplinary, multi-site, six month intervention designed to assist obese adults in the management of their condition. The intervention is delivered in an urban and rural community using existing infrastructure and consists of one hour physical activity three times per week and one nutritional education seminar once every second week for 27 weeks. The urban site also receives one behaviour modification seminar bi-weekly. Participants: Thirty-five rural and 43 urban participants with a BMI between 30 and 40 enrolled in the study. Results: Far more women enrolled than men (86%/14%) in both sites. The mean age (50 years) and the mean BMI (37) of the participants is similar. However, more rural participants have children (89%/74%), less post-secondary education (57%/91%) and lower incomes (> $ 80,000-20%/37%). More rural participants have been diagnosed with hypertension (51%/35%), lung disease (17%/5%) and high cholesterol (34%/23%). Rural participants, on average, also have slightly poorer lipid profiles and fasting blood sugars. Overall, when assessing nutrition behavior and knowledge, the urban participants have healthier eating habits. Conclusion: Although participants were selected based on having a BMI between 30 and 40, there are marked social and physical differences between the two groups. The rural participants have a lower social economic status and higher levels of chronic disease, poorer lipid profiles, higher blood sugars, and poorer eating habits. In summary, there are differences between the rural and urban participants despite the fact that the recruitment strategy was identical in both of the communities. Page 1/1 25 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Efficacy of a calculated theophylline loading dose to augment ECT: A retrospective study. Efficacité d’une dose de charge calculée de théophylline pour optimiser la sismothérapie : Une étude rétrospective. Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Michael Kemp (Health Professional) Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Kemp, Michael; Pâquet, Myriam; Allard, Jacques; Marcotte, Patrick. Abstract - Résumé BACKGROUND: Ineffective seizures during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can delay response, prolong hospitalizations, and increase healthcare costs. Methylxanthine derivatives (caffeine, theophylline, aminophylline) can be used as adjuvants to increase seizure duration; however, only one small study has been published using theophylline. OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of a calculated theophylline loading dose (resulting in a 10-15 mg/L plasma level) to augment ECT when administered 1.5 hours prior to the ECT. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study using inpatient hospital records between January 2007 and June 2012 at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre. Patients receiving ECT and a calculated oral liquid theophylline dose were selected. Data variables collected include: age, sex, height, weight, ECT parameters for each ECT during the series (electrode placement, charge delivered, static and dynamic impedance, average seizure energy index, EEG endpoint, max sustained coherence, post-ictal suppression index) and medications (name, dose, start date, modifications). Records were also examined for any treatment related side-effects. RESUTLS: We identified 46 cases and analyzed 16 which had no treatment modifications except the addition of theophylline. The mean difference for the EEG endpoint was 164.9 % longer (23.5 seconds) with theophylline (p=0.023). No theophylline-related adverse events were documented. CONCLUSIONS: A calculated theophylline loading dose prior to ECT appears to be well tolerated and is effective in prolonging seizure duration. Its effect on the other efficacy variables (coherence; post-ictal suppression) and dose-response should be further explored as the data for these variables were not available for a sufficient number of cases. CONTEXTE: Les convulsions inefficaces pendant la sismothérapie (ECT) peuvent retarder la réponse, prolonger les hospitalisations, et augmenter des coûts des soins de santé. Les dérivés de méthylxanthine (caféine, théophylline, aminophylline) peuvent être utilisés comme adjuvants pour augmenter la durée des convulsions, par contre seulement une petite étude a été publiée en utilisant la théophylline. OBJECTIF: Déterminer l'efficacité d’une dose de charge calculée de théophylline (concentration plasmatique de 10-15 mg/L administrée 1.5h avant l’ECT par voie orale) pour optimiser la convulsion lors de l’ECT. MÉTHODES: Nous avons effectué une étude rétrospective utilisant les dossiers des patients hospitalisés entre janvier 2007 et juin 2012 au Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dr-Georges-L.-Dumont. Les patients recevant des ECT et une dose calculée de théophylline liquide ont été sélectionnés. Les données recueillies pour chaque ECT reçu au cours d’une série comprennent: l'âge, le sexe, la taille, le poids, les paramètres d’ECT (le placement des électrodes, la charge reçue, impédance statique et dynamique, l'indice d’énergie moyenne de la convulsion, point de terminaison d’EEG, la cohérence maximale soutenue, l'indice de la suppression post-ictal) et les médicaments (nom, dose, date de début, et modifications). Les dossiers ont été également examinés pour des effets secondaires liés à la théophylline. RÉSULTATS: Nous avons identifié 46 cas et analysé 16 qui n'avait pas de modifications de Page 1/2 traitement, sauf l'ajout de la théophylline. La différence moyenne pour le point de terminaison d’EEG était 164.9% (23.5 secondes) plus longue avec la théophylline (p = 0.023). Aucun effet secondaire lié à la théophylline n’a été documenté. CONCLUSIONS: Une dose de charge calculée de théophylline administrée avant l’ECT semble être bien tolérée et est efficace pour prolonger la durée des convulsions. Son effet sur les autres variables d'efficacité (cohérence, l'indice de la suppression post-ictal) et en fonction du dosage devrait être étudié davantage, car les données pour ces variables n'étaient pas disponibles pour suffisamment de cas. Page 2/2 26 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Picture it! Capturing the Complexity of Second Cancer Risk through Photographs Taken by Cancer Survivors Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Krista Wilkins Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Wilkins, Krista. Abstract - Résumé Background: Studies consistently show that cancer survivors are at greater risk of developing a second cancer compared to the general population. Cancer survivors often feel they must take personal responsibility for modifying their second cancer risk. Few studies have examined the societal factors that contribute to cancer survivors’ decisions about modifying their second cancer risk. Purpose: A photo-elicitation study was conducted to more fully describe the context in which cancer survivors construct and respond to their second cancer risk. Methods: Participants captured photographic images that represented second cancer risk and discussed these images in a semi-structured interview. A thematic analysis was used in interpreting the study data. Sample: Seven cancer survivors (2 men, 5 women) participated in the study. Participants had a mean age of 50 years and were 2-17 years post a diagnosis of melanoma, throat cancer, breast cancer, and lymphoma. Results: Three themes emerged from the study data include: (1) the angles of cancer risk, (2) contextual frames of cancer risk, and (3) bringing cancer risk into focus. Taking photographs allowed participants to physically interact with their community and reflect on objects they sometimes ignored in considering their second cancer risk. Conclusion: Photographs offer relevant cues to identify new second cancer risk factors and point to social processes that might influence second cancer risk among cancer survivors. Photography has the potential to become a new mode for communicating complex population health concepts through the lenses of cancer survivors. Page 1/1 27 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Le rôle des récepteurs nicotiniques de l’acétylcholine dans la production et la différenciation des monocytes Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Stéphanie St-Pierre Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet St-Pierre, Stéphanie ; Beaulieu, Anick ; Simard, Alain. Abstract - Résumé Il a été démontré que le système cholinergique, par l’entremise des récepteurs nicotiniques de l’acétylcholine (nAChR), est impliqué dans la régulation de réactions inflammatoires. Des 11 sous-unités de nAChR identifiés, nous savons seulement que la sous-unité α7 est impliquée dans les effets anti-inflammatoires de la nicotine. Par ailleurs, l’effet de la nicotine sur la différenciation des monocytes reste à être élucidé. L’expression des nAChR par des cellules de moelle osseuse de souris a donc été vérifiée par RT-PCR et nous avons trouvé que ces cellules expriment les sous-unités α6, α7 et α9. Par la suite, des essais de cytométrie en flux ont permis d’étudier l’effet de la nicotine sur la différenciation de monocytes induite par le ‘macrophage colony stimulating factor’ (M-CSF) et l’interféron-gamma (IFNγ). Nos résultats montrent que le M-CSF + IFNγ augmente le nombre de monocytes présents dans la moelle osseuse, un effet qui est contré par la nicotine. Pour ce qui en est des marqueurs de surface, nous avons remarqué que l’expression de CD80, CD86 et MHC-II est augmentée lors de la stimulation par M-CSF + IFNγ. Cependant, l’ajout de nicotine inhibe l’augmentation de MHC-II et de CD80. Pour conclure, les cellules immunitaires expriment plusieurs sous-unités des nAChR et la nicotine semble inhiber la prolifération et la différentiation des monocytes pro-inflammatoires. Il nous reste à déterminer le(s)quel(s) des nAChRs exprimés par les monocytes sont impliqués dans ces effets de la nicotine. Les molécules agissant sur les nAChR pourraient donc être utiles pour le traitement des maladies inflammatoires. It has recently been discovered that the cholinergic system can regulate inflammation via nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) expressed by immune cells. Of the 11 known nAChR subunits, only the role of α7 nAChRs in immune regulation has been elucidated to date. Furthermore, the mechanisms by which nicotine exerts anti-inflammatory effects are not clear. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine if nicotine can regulate the differentiation of bone marrow cells into monocytes. First, we assessed whether bone marrow cells expressed nAChRs by RT-PCR, and found that these cells express nAChR α6, α7 and α9 mRNAs. We next studied the effects of nicotine on monocyte colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and interferon-gamma (IFNγ)-induced monocyte production in the bone marrow by flow cytometry. We found that M-CSF + IFNγ treatment increased monocyte production, and that nicotine prevented this effect. Additionally, we found that nicotine inhibited the increase of the monocyte cell surface markers CD80 and MHC-II, but not CD86. We therefore conclude bone marrow cells express multiple nAChRs and that nicotine inhibits bone marrow-derived monocyte production, and their differentiation into pro-inflammatory monocytes. We next need to determine which of the nAChRs expressed on monocytes are involved in these nicotinic effects. nAChR subtype-selective molecules could thus potentially be used to treat inflammatory diseases. Page 1/1 28 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Socio-demographic, Clinical and Health System Factors Associated with Non-Attendance at Diabetes Clinic Appointments Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Pat Charlton Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Charlton, Pat; McGibbon, Dr. Chris. Abstract - Résumé PURPOSE: Education is fundamental for diabetes patients to instill the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to manage their disease. Many patients miss scheduled appointments which increases their risk for serious complications. Understanding the reasons for missed appointments is important to inform strategies to improve attendance and outcomes. OBJECTIVES: To identify demographic, clinical and health system predictors of non-attendance at clinic appointments. METHODS: Type 2 diabetes patients were recruited from three clinics in PEI. Data was obtained from surveys and administrative databases. T-tests, ANOVA, and bivariate correlations were used to assess relationships. RESULTS: Mean HbA1c (n=144) was 8.29% (moderate control) and mean BMI was 33.7 (Obese). 46% had ‘limited’ (21%) or ‘possible limited’ health literacy (25%). Participants attended 94% of their appointments. Attendance was significantly related to distance to the clinic (p=.019). Living less than 10 miles (96%) and 10-20 miles (85%) (p=.015). Significant associations were found between A1C score and employment status (p=.002), hours worked (.000) and age (p=.005). CONCLUSIONS: 46% had inadequate or possible inadequate health literacy and those living closer to the clinic had better attendance. Participants employed full or part-time had higher mean A1C (8.85%) than those retired or not working (7.58%), a difference of 1.27%. This is significant given every 1% reduction in A1C is associated with a 37% decline in risk of micro-vascular complications and 14% lower rate of myocardial infarction. Page 1/1 29 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche A Novel Device for Autonomous Limb Strength Measurement Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche John Landry Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Landry, John; Sexton, Andrew; Hughes, Glen; McGibbon, Chris. Abstract - Résumé Muscle strength measurement is a critical component of physical therapy and rehabilitation and sport science in general. Rehabilitation outcomes for many diseases, disorders and injuries, ranging from stroke to athletic injuries requires assessment of muscle strength in a clinical environment. Research in rehabilitation and sport science often use muscle strength as a primary outcome, and requires measurement of “maximal voluntary isometric contraction” to normalize muscle electromyography assessments. There are currently two choices for obtaining quantitative measurement of muscle strength. Isokinetic dynamometry systems can accurately and reliably measure both isokinetic and isometric muscle strength, but very few clinical facilities have access to such equipment due to its cost of purchase and maintenance as well as its space requirements. Hand-held dynamometry systems are considerably cheaper and require far less resources to maintain, but testing of major joints is difficult to perform, mostly in terms of the tester stabilizing themselves against the patient’s ability to generate force. As such it requires training and experience, and is most often used clinically. Currently there is no strength measurement device available that is inexpensive and portable, and that requires no external support from the therapist or other supporting structure. This paper presents an innovative and novel concept for obtaining measurement of elbow and knee joint strength using a wearable system of sensors and mechanical constraints. The system is easily donned and doffed from the arm or leg, and can measure isometric (fixed angle) strength of both flexor and extensor muscles of the joint. Page 1/1 30 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Benefits of Self-Management in Adolescents with Juvenile Arthritis Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Melissa Trites Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Trites, Melissa; McGibbon, Chris. Abstract - Résumé Juvenile Arthritis (JA) is unpredictable by nature and can affect every aspect of a child’s life. For those who are newly diagnosed or uneducated about their condition, having a chronic illness can be extremely overwhelming. Therefore, the need is high to create and implement an education program containing JA Self-Management strategies so that children and their families can acquire the skills and confidence needed to manage their disease. The physiological impact of these programs is still largely unknown, but the positive impacts of disease management are promising and can help individuals with JIA maximize their quality of life. These benefits include: reduced pain, increased self-efficacy, improved functional health, greater confidence and participation in managing the disease, increased knowledge of the disease, and increased coping skills. Self-management in adolescents is a relatively new topic. Little research has been done in this area thus far. A JA Self-Management Education Manual has been developed for participants to work through. This manual will provide participants with numerous opportunities to learn new skills and techniques to help them manage their arthritis. It will also encourage adolescents to modify current behaviours, which is the key to treatment adherence and increasing self-efficacy. While data has not yet been collected to evaluate the manual it has been developed and is available to present as well as the procedure for its evaluation. Page 1/1 31 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Guided Active Play Games Elicit a Moderate Level of Physical Activity in a Field Setting Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Karel Prickett Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Prickett, Karel; Reading, Stacey. Abstract - Résumé There is limited knowledge on the energy expenditure of guided active play games in a field setting. It is of interest to see if such games may be packaged into programs that help satisfy Health Canada’s Physical Activity Guidelines (Tremblay et.al. 2011) for children (5-12 years of age) in terms of energy expenditure rate and volume. The guidelines indicate that children should be active for 60 minutes every day of the week at a moderate to vigorous intensity. Children participated in 30 minute active play sessions designed to elicit low, moderate, or high intensity physical activity. The data was split into two groups based on age (5-8 yr(n=21), 9-12 yr(n=20)). Energy expenditure rate was measured through accelerometry, skin temperature and galvanic skin response using Sense Wear Armbands. The average MET's of the low intensity session was 5.5 ±.4 and 4.3 ±.2 for the groups 1 and 2, respectively. The average MET's for the moderate intensity session was 5.3 ± .4 and 5.3 ± .2 for groups 1 and 2, respectively. The average MET's for the high intensity session was 6.3 ±.3 and 5.8 ± .4 for groups 1 and 2, respectively. Active play games can be used to engage children to participate in physical activity of moderate intensity. Perhaps the most surprising finding was that children played all games at moderate intensity even when the program was designed to elicit low or high intensity physical activity. This suggests that children self-select moderate physical activity intensity for activities they find engaging. Page 1/1 32 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Constructing a risk map for Lyme borreliosis in New Brunswick Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Kami D. M. Harris Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Harris, Kami D.M.; Joudrey, Joseph; Bradet-Legris, Jonathan; Bradet, Gina; Lloyd, Vett K.. Abstract - Résumé Lyme borreliosis (LB; commonly known as Lyme disease) is the most common arthropod-vectored zoonosis in North America and an emerging disease in Canada. LB is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi infection, usually vectored by Ixodes ticks. In order to assess the risk of LB in New Brunswick we are constructing a risk map for Borrelia burgdorferi infection based on three data sets; the proportion of infected ticks in different regions of New Brunswick, the proportion of dogs infected in different regions of the province and the geographical location of tick encounter in human LB acquired in the province. To date, we have tested Ixodes ticks for presence of Borrelia DNA by nested PCR for the chromosomal flagellin B and the plasmid-encoded OspA genes. The ticks have been collected by passive surveillance from veterinarians and the general public primarily in Southeastern NB. Compilation of canine sentinel data and surveys of humans with confirmed and presumptive LB are in progress. Our results to date indicate that the risk of LB is elevated in Southeastern NB; the risk in Southwestern New Brunswick has previously been shown to be elevated relative to the provincial average due to endemic tick populations. As approximately 50% of the population of NB is concentrated in the southern region, this means that LB poses a significant risk to human and domestic animal health in New Brunswick. Page 1/1 33 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Participants in the H.E.A.L.T.H Study show improved health-related fitness at 6-months Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Verna McLean, Masters Student Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet McLean, Masters Student, Verna; Reading , Stacey; Baukje, Miedema. Abstract - Résumé The Healthy Eating Active Living for Today’s Health (H.E.A.L.T.H.) Study is a 6 month physical activity and nutritional counselling intervention designed to help adults with class I & II obesity learn how to better manage their condition. The hypothesis tested was that participation in the intervention would result in similar health-related fitness improvement for adults living in either an urban (>70,000) or rural (<15,000) community. Study participants attended a 1 hour physical activity session 3 times per week and a 1 hour nutritional education seminar every other week for 26 weeks. Data was collected pre- (t=0) and post-program (t=1). There were 38 (3 men, 35 women: 51.8+7.9 yrs.) and 42 (7 men 35 women; 49+12.3) participants in the rural and urban sites. For those completing the study, BMI and waist circumference decreased by 1.18kg/m² (CI;0.96 to 1.39) and 4.91cm (CI; 4.27 to 5.56) rural vs. 1.44 kg/m² (CI; 1.36 to 1.53) and 0.39 cm (CI; -0.89 to 0.10) urban. Systolic and diastolic BP decreased by 7.62 mmHg (CI; 6.27 to 8.97) and 3.38 mmHg (CI; 2.28 to 4.47) rural vs. 5.97 mmHg (CI; 5.03 to 6.90) and 2.10 mmHg (CI; 1.41 to 2.79) urban. Participants in both sights saw significant improvement in aerobic capacity (3.57 (CI; 2.88 to 4.27) and 4.14 ml/kg/min (CI; 3.87 to 4.40)) and musculoskeletal strength (5.85 kg (CI; 5.22 to 6.48) and 8.90 kg (CI; 8.35 to 9.45)). Thus, 6 months of physical activity and nutritional education programming is equally effective in both rural and urban community settings. 34 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Modeling and Simulation of Transfemoral Amputated Gait Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Abeer Mohamed Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Mohamed, Abeer; Landry, John; Sexton, Andy; Simonsen, Kirsten; McGibbon, Chris. Abstract - Résumé Amputation of the leg above the knee, or transfemoral amputation, has a tremendous impact on an individual's mobility and quality of life. Contemporary prosthetic solutions vary widely, from purely passive devices to micro-controlled devices. Pattern recognition has shown great promise for controlling prosthetic devices from embedded sensors (for upper-extremity). These controllers typically rely on residual limb EMG to determine the user's intent. Although clearly a powerful tool. Much of the existing knowledge for upper limb prosthetic control is not applicable to controlling a transfemoral prosthesis (TFP). The primary goal of this research project is to develop and validate a full body neuro-musculoskeletal model of the transfemoral amputee in order to better understand how biomechanical and neuromuscular signals can be used to improve prediction of user intent. Our specific aims are: Aim 1: To adapt a currently existing neuromuscular model of the human body (SimTK, Stanford University) to include an amputee's leg with a prosthesis, that can be used to model the biomechanical and neuromuscular contributions to human movement during activities of daily living (walking, rising from chair, etc) for micro-controlled TFP users. Aim 2: To use this model to develop simulation tools that will allow researchers, and eventually prosthetists, to “tune” the client’s prosthesis for reducing the training time required to meet the user’s mobility requirements. The long-term objective is to improve “user intent” recognition for maximizing function and safety and minimizing fatigue (both physical and cognitive load) and side-to-side asymmetry Page 1/1 35 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Quantitative Clinical Assessment of Muscle Spasticity using Wearable Sensors Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Andrew Sexton Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet McGibbon, Chris; Jones, Melony; O'Connell, Colleen. Abstract - Résumé Muscle spasticity is a major contributor to chronic mobility impairment in people with neurological conditions, and is characterized by involuntary tonic stretch reflex that causes the muscle to activate inappropriately during functional movements. Spasticity is also associated with abnormal tone in opposing muscles that if not managed appropriately can lead to muscle contractures, chronic pain, and difficulties with basic motor tasks required for self-care and independence. Measurement instruments are needed to reliably and accurately quantify spasticity. Although a number of laboratory-based technologies are available for assessing muscle spasticity, none of these technologies are feasible for clinical use. The instrument used clinically, and for the vast majority of published studies related to muscle spasticity, is the Modified Ashworth scale. Although the test is easy to administer, it is based on a limited ordinal scale (0-4) determined by subjective assessment, and therefore lacks sensitivity to change. Wearable technologies for sensing kinematics, force and muscle electromyography have the potential to detect these characteristics and deliver quantitative objective information that is of interest to the treating therapist. Existing wearable technologies are small, lightweight and unobtrusive, and allow the clinician or researcher to perform unencumbered routine physical examinations while monitoring and collecting important clinical variables. This paper describes the development and testing of a wearable sensor system capable of capturing relevant biomechanical and electrophysiological data during routine spasticity assessment in the clinic that is available to clinicians and researchers in real-time, and shows promise for improving the objective evaluation and quantification of muscle spasticity. Page 1/1 36 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Pattern Detection for Improved Myoelectric Control Usability Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Erik Scheme Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Scheme, Erik; Englehart, Kevin; Hudgins, Bernie. Abstract - Résumé For many years, myoelectric control research for prosthetics has been dominated by pattern recognition systems, validated using classification accuracy as a performance metric. This approach, however, has yet to yield a commercially successful pattern recognition based myoelectric controller. This has been speculated to be, at least in part, due to challenges faced when transitioning to clinical scenarios such as socket fitting issues, residual limb motion and loading, etc. Another contributing factor may be that the classification approach taken during the design of these control schemes may be flawed. Instead, the myoelectric control task more naturally lends itself to a detection problem, where the presence of a known/desired signal is not guaranteed. This subtle difference in philosophy accommodates the notion that the observed active myoelectric signals may not correspond to desired activation of the prosthesis. Current pattern recognition based systems do not consider this scenario. Instead, the assumption is made that all active contractions originate from a desire to activate the prosthesis, resulting in inadvertent movement of the device during aberrant, accidental, or stabilization contractions. In this work, we present a novel detection scheme that is capable of classifying desired motions and rejecting unwanted activity, using a simple confidence score. This control scheme is shown to significantly outperform the state-of-the-art pattern recognition based method in a real-time target tracking test. Page 1/1 37 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche The Take Healthy Eating Active Recreation Today (H.E.A.R.T.) Program improves the health and fitness of sedentary adults in just 12 weeks. Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Dominique Legault-Moore (Health care provider) Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Legault-Moore (Health care provider), Dominique; Reading, Stacey; Miedema, Baukje (Bo) ; Morrison, Kate. Abstract - Résumé The Take H.E.A.R.T. Program is a community-based lifestyle intervention for older adults seeking to transition from a sedentary to more active lifestyle. The program is delivered by an interprofessional team of CSEP® certified exercise specialists and registered dietitians with support from family physicians to maximize participant safety. The program consists of a pre/post program health-related fitness assessment and 10 weeks of three 1 hour guided physical activity sessions that include walking and resistance exercise. Participants also attend a 1 hour nutritional education seminar each week. To date, 258 (177 female; 81 male) participants have completed the program in the Fredericton area between Jan 2009 and May 2012 with 114 females (56±10yrs) and 62 males (57±10yrs) providing complete pre/post data sets. Male and female participants lost on average±95% C.I., 2.1±1.0 and 1.0±0.4kg respectively. Waist circumference decreased by 4.3±1.1 and 5.0±1.6 cm. Male systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lower post program by 5.0±3.5 and 4.4±2.2 mmHg. Female blood pressure did not change. Aerobic capacity was 17.6±6.5 and 15.3±5.3% higher post program in males and females and participants could complete a 1.6km walking distance 1.1±0.4 and 0.9±0.2 minutes faster. Grip strength did not increase in men but increased by 3.0±1.2kg in women. The number of push ups completed increased by 131±41 and 335±91% post program. Since improvement in each fitness index is associated with a reduction in overall health risk, improvement in multiple participant indices is consistent with better overall health as a result of participating in the Take H.E.A.R.T. Program. Page 1/1 38 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche The UNB Hand System Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Adam Wilson Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Wilson, Adam; Losier, Yves; Clawson, Adam; Scheme, Erik; Rogers, Dan; Englehart, Kevin; Kyberd, Peter; Hudgins, Bernie. Abstract - Résumé Multi-degree of freedom (DOF) prosthetic hands are slowly being introduced to the market by various prosthetic component manufacturers in the industry. With the ability to generate a variety of hand grasps, these hands are an appealing upgrade to the conventional single DOF hand most widely used today. For the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, these hands finally offer the multiple grasp capabilities that pattern recognition based control systems have long been able to control. Unfortunately these new hands come with many limitations such as excessive weight and size, high cost, high power consumption, lack of force/slip sensing, poor glove quality, and interfaces which are incompatible with existing prosthetic components. The UNB Hand System has attempted to address all of these issues. After an extensive review of the literature and clinical procedure, a realistic set of specifications for the hand was developed with each of the listed issues in mind. The design process was set out to meet these specifications. The design utilized state-of-the-art design tools, components and manufacturing techniques to produce a multi-DOF hand with a novel thumb design, a novel silicone nano-composite glove material, a low power pattern recognition capable control system and an open bus-based communication standard for the prosthetic field. The UNB Hand System is currently undergoing clinical trials with clients of the Atlantic Clinic for Upper Limb Prosthetics. Our commercial partners are evaluating several products from this work for inclusion in their catalog. Page 1/1 39 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche A framework for biomechanical control of artificial joint motion Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Chris McGibbon Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet . Abstract - Résumé Little is known about how the central nervous system (motor cortex and cerebellum, brain stem and spinal cord) controls normal human movement and even less is known about how movement is controlled when neuromuscular impairments are present, such as leg amputation. Most theory related to locomotion control that has been empirically tested suggests human movements are encoded by the central nervous system (CNS) through spinal circuits, more commonly known as "central pattern generators" or CPGs. Yet, it remains unclear what information the CNS uses to encode such movements, and most importantly, how movement transitions are predicted in advance of their occurrence. Prior research in non-human species suggests that joint kinematics (motion) or kinetics (force production), via tissue proprioceptors and/or muscle spindles, are used by the CNS to encode human movement. This research proposes a framework and provides an experimental validation of the theory by examining the ability to encode and predict the instantaneous energy states (based on kinematics and kinetics) of the knee joint during walking and statistically predicting when transitions in gait phase will occur. Gait data from 8 healthy individuals was used to test the model. It was found that current energy state could be predicted with accuracy >95%, and that critical transitions in energy state of the joint could be predicted in advance of their occurrence with an accuracy of 85%. The results suggest that this framework could be useful for the control of artificial limbs, such as transfemoral (above knee) prostheses. Page 1/1 40 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Activités antiherpétiques d'hydrolysats de Cucumaria frondosa - Antiherpetic activities of hydrolysates of Cucumaria frondosa Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche TRIPOTEAU Ludovic Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet . Abstract - Résumé Environ 80% de la population adulte héberge le virus de l’Herpes simplex VHS à l’état latent. Longtemps considéré comme étant réservés aux seuls boutons de fièvre, les Virus de l’Herpes simplex sont connus pour donner également des formes d’infection graves notamment chez les sujets immunodéprimés (VIH, greffés), les femmes enceintes et les nourrissons. La chimiothérapie antivirale doit affronter actuellemment de nombreux obstacles parmi lesquels : la toxicité des molécules thérapeutiques, l’interférence avec le métabolisme cellulaire normal, la variabilité génétique (source de mutants résistants aux antiviraux) et le caractère incurable de l’infection latente. De plus, la majorité des molécules efficaces commercialisées vont rejoindre le domaine public en 2015. La recherche de nouveaux traitements constitue donc un enjeu de santé public majeur. Depuis deux ans, l’Institut de Recherche sur les Zones Côtières de Shippagan et le Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et Chimie Marines de l’Université de Bretagne-Sud travaillent autour d’un programme commun portant sur la valorisation de coproduits issus des pêcheries de concombres de mer. L’évaluation in vitro de l’activité antivirale d’extraits de Cucumaria frondosa, obtenus après hydrolyse enzymatique, a été réalisée sur le modèle VHS-1/cellule Vero par viabilité cellulaire, à une MOI de 0.01 DI50/cellules pendant 96h. Sur 28 extraits testés, 4 extraits ont montré une activité antiherpétique réelle (CE50 : 2 – 76 µg/mL) sans cytotoxicité (CC50>250 µg/mL). Ces extraits sont en cours de purification. Approximately 80% of the adult population harbors the herpes simplex virus HSV in a latent state. For a long time considered only reserved for cold sores, the herpes simplex virus are also known to give serious forms of infection especially in immunocompromised people (HIV, transplant), pregnant women and infants. Antiviral chemotherapy currently used for, faces many obstacles including: the toxicity of therapeutic molecules, interference with normal cellular metabolism, genetic variability (source of antiviral resistant mutants) and the incurable nature of latent infection. In addition, the majority of commercially effective molecules are joining the public domain in 2015. The search for new treatments is therefore a major public health issue. For two years, the Coastal Zones Research Institute of Shippagan and the Laboratory of Biotechnology and Marine Chemistry of the University of South-Britanny working around a common program based on the upgrading of byproducts of sea cucumber fisheries. In vitro evaluation of the antiviral activity of C. frondosa’s extracts, obtained after enzymatic hydrolysis was carried out on the model HSV-1/Vero cell by cell viability at an MOI of 0.01 DI50/cells for 96 hours. Of 28 extracts tested, four extracts showed an important antiherpetic activity (EC50: 2 - 76 µg / mL) without cytotoxicity (CC50> 250 µg / mL). These extracts are undergoing purification. Page 1/1 41 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Modulation of freeze-associated miRNAs at low temperatures Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Pierre J. Lyons Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Lyons, Pierre J.; Courteau, Lynn A.; Poitras, Julie J.; Storey, Kenneth B.; Morin, Pier Jr. Abstract - Résumé Methods to preserve organs, whether destined for transplants or long-term storage, involve maintaining life at non-physiological temperatures. While our molecular understanding of the freezing process has improved the field of cryopreservation, much remains to be done to comprehend life in the cold and to translate this knowledge to known biomedical applications. Natural models of hypometabolism, such as mammalian hibernators and freeze tolerant insects, may hold keys to our understanding of biochemical processes at play during freezing. Overwintering strategies employed by these models include decreased metabolic rate, reduction in heart rate and, at the molecular level, significant down-regulation of energy-consuming processes. We hypothesized that microRNAs, non-coding RNA transcripts capable of translational repression via mRNA binding, could play a role in the regulation of energy-expensive processes in a freeze tolerant insect, Eurosta solidaginis. Expression of miRNAs was assessed in control (+5 ⁰C) and frozen (-15 ⁰C) insect larvae by miRNA microarray and miRNA-specific quantification was subsequently accomplished by RT-PCR. MiR-1 levels were significantly elevated in frozen E. solidaginis larvae at -15°C whereas miR- 210 levels were significantly reduced at the same temperature. This cold-associated signature of miRNAs could yield crucial information about how these insects can cope with temperature stress and how this strategy could be transposed to higher organisms. Les méthodes employées pour préserver les organes impliquent le maintien de la vie à des températures non physiologiques. Bien que notre compréhension moléculaire du processus de congélation a amélioré le domaine de la cryoconservation, plusieurs aspects demeurent à évaluer pour véritablement comprendre la vie au froid et pour traduire ces connaissances en applications biomédicales. Des modèles d'hypométabolisme, tels les mammifères hibernants et insectes tolérants au froid, existent dans la nature et contiennent les clés de notre compréhension des processus biochimiques impliqués dans la congélation. Les stratégies d'hivernage vues dans ces modèles sont associées à une diminution du métabolisme, une réduction de la fréquence cardiaque et, au niveau moléculaire, une forte régulation négative des processus consommateurs d'énergie. Nous émettons l'hypothèse que des microARNs, transcrits d’ARN non-codantes ayant la capacité d’inhiber la traduction en se liant à l'ARNm, pourrait jouer un rôle dans la régulation des processus consommateurs d'énergie dans un insecte tolérant au froid, Eurosta solidaginis. L'expression de miARNs a été évaluée chez des insectes contrôles (5 ⁰C) et congelés (-15 ⁰C) à l'aide d'une micropuce de miARNs de même que par quantification via RT-PCR. Les niveaux de miR-1 étaient significativement élevés, tandis que les niveaux de miR-210 étaient significativement réduits. Ces miARNs sont les premiers pas vers la caractérisation d’une signature de miARNs qui pourrait apporter des informations importantes sur la façon que ces biomolécules assistent ce modèle dans la gestion du stress de température et comment cette stratégie pourrait être transposée chez d’autres organismes. Page 1/1 42 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Targeting tribbles proteins: A punishment that fits the crime for GBMs Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche André Odjélé Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Odjélé, André; Ferguson, Dean; Morin, Pier Jr. Abstract - Résumé Tribbles proteins are key regulators of multiple signaling pathways and their deregulation has been linked to loss of cellular homeostasis and carcinogenesis. Following the results generated by microarray which focused on identifying differentially regulated kinase mRNAs in primary brain tumour samples, we reported an up-regulation of tribbles-1 (trb-1) and tribbles-2 (trb-2) transcripts in the most aggressive type of glioma: glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). GBMs are correlated with a 12-14 months patient survival and improving the current therapeutic approaches is essential. We next assessed trb-1 and trb-2 transcript levels in a panel of GBM cell lines by RT-PCR. Western blotting was also performed and revealed that selected cell lines did in fact strongly expressed Trb-1 protein. We next wish to differentially regulate Trb-1 expression in selected cellular models and measure the impact of varying tribbles levels on cancerous phenotypes. The goal of our research is to identify proteins that are most likely involved in driving gliomagenesis and GBM development. We thus hope that our findings will lead to the development of a pharmaceutical approach able to target these leads and to the elaboration of an improved therapeutic regimen for GBMs. Page 1/1 43 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche The Design of a Prosthetic Hand with Improved Functionality Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Ben Jones Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Jones, Ben. Abstract - Résumé Feedback from myoelectric prosthetic hand users has highlighted that devices are perceived as heavy, expensive, and non-anthropomorphic in shape and movement. Several new multifunctional hands have become available, which have attempted to resolve these issues. They are either limited in the grip patterns they can achieve, do not have articulating digits, or require manual intervention to rotate the thumb to achieve lateral grip patterns. The objective of this research was to design an anthropomorphic multifunctional hand capable of achieving a wide range of functional grips automatically. This research is important to advance the mechanical design of prosthetic hands so they can meet the demands of more complex control strategies, such as pattern recognition, with the end goal of improving functionality, usability and user acceptance of such devices. A hand prototype has been built which is capable of meeting these objectives. It has 3 brushless DC motors to actuate the movement. The largest motor pulls the digits closed via a force balancing mechanism, which enables the digits to conform to uneven shaped objects. The digits are articulated to give a curling motion. The thumb has two independent degrees of freedom around its base. It is able to flex and rotate to allow the different grip patterns to be achieved. Actuated locking pins can fix the digits in either the open or closed position to achieve tip and tripod grips. It is intended to fit a user with the prototype to investigate the functionality of the device. Page 1/1 44 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche The relationship between risk-taking, secrecy and eating disorder severity. Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Jennifer Bartlett, Helena Dayal Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Bartlett, Jennifer; Dayal, Helena; Weaver, Kathryn; Domene, Jose; Pye, Kathleen. Abstract - Résumé Evidence suggests that eating disorders are becoming increasingly problematic among young women, and is currently one of the most prominent health issues that women must face. While some individuals may find social support or seek help, it is not uncommon for many individuals who suffer from an eating disorder to maintain some level of secrecy around this issue. Specifically, there is a high incidence of excessive alcohol use, substance abuse, reckless driving, sexual promiscuity, and self-injury among individuals with eating disorders. Links have been found connecting eating disorders with secrecy and risk-taking behaviours. However, the existing three-way relationship between eating disorders, secret-keeping and risk-taking behaviours remains to be examined and will be discussed based on a systematic review of the literature and original research being conducted on the topic. Quantitative methodology will be used to examine the relationship between eating disorders, risk-taking behaviours and secrecy. Specifically, we will measure (a) Eating Disorder Severity, (b) Risk-taking behaviour, and (c) Secrecy. Preliminary results suggest that individuals who engage in secret-keeping are more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors indicating that there is a positive relationship between eating disorder severity and involvement with risk-taking behaviors, which is mediated by secret-keeping. This information will be used to raise awareness and inform interventions for this underserved group of women and youth by highlighting the importance of the role of secrecy in the context of eating disorders. Future programs should consider the importance of social support in eating disorder recovery. Page 1/1 45 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Influence of school environment on youth participation in organized and individual physical activities/ Influence de l’environnement scolaire sur la participation des jeunes aux activités physiques organisées et individuelles Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Stéphanie Ward Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet . Abstract - Résumé Background: Only 7% of Canadian youth attain the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day. Schools have been identified as key arenas for promoting physical activity in youth. However, studies have not yet looked at how the school environment can influence participation in specific types of physical activities. The objectives of this study are to identify if school infrastructures and policies are associated with participation in individual, team-based, organized, and non-organized physical activities. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 776 Grade 5 and 6 students from 16 schools across New Brunswick who participated in the Measuring Activities of Teenagers to Comprehend their Habits (MATCH) study. The physical and political environment was assessed through questionnaires which were completed by school representatives. Types of physical activities and physical activity levels were obtained from 3 questionnaires, self-administered by students. Multilevel regression analyses were conducted to examine relationships between the schools’ physical and political environment and the types of physical activities, and levels of physical activity of the students. Results: Although analyses are still preliminary, we observed a positive relationship between the presence of rules guiding physical activity-related behaviours during recess and lunch breaks and youths’ participation in organized physical activities. We have also noted a positive relationship between the number of opportunities for taking part in interscholastic sports and participation in such activities. Conclusion: Offering opportunities and promoting physical activity during recess and lunch breaks could encourage children to participate in higher intensity physical activities. Problématique: Seulement 7% des jeunes accumulent les 60 minutes d’activité physique recommandées quotidiennement. Les écoles ont été identifiées comme des milieux clés pour la promotion d’activité physique, mais aucune étude n’a encore étudié de quelle façon l’environnement scolaire peut influencer la participation à des types spécifiques d’activités physiques. Les objectifs de cette étude sont d’identifier si les infrastructures et les politiques scolaires sont associées à la participation aux activités individuelles, de groupe, organisées, et non-organisées. Méthodes: Cette étude transversale a été menée auprès de 776 élèves de la 5e et 6e année provenant de 16 écoles du Nouveau-Brunswick qui ont participé à l’étude Mesurer les Activités des jeunes pour Comprendre leurs Habitudes (MATCH). L’environnement physique et politique scolaire a été mesuré à l’aide de questionnaires complétés par des représentants scolaires. Les types d’activités physiques ont été mesurés à l’aide de 3 questionnaires auto-administrés par les élèves. Des analyses de régressions multiniveaux ont été effectuées afin d’examiner la relation entre l’environnement scolaire et les types d’activités spécifiques rapportés par les élèves. Résultats : Nous avons observé une relation positive entre la présence de règlements favorisant l’activité physique durant les récréations et la participation des jeunes aux activités organisées. Nous avons également noté une relation positive entre le nombre d’opportunités à participer aux sports interscolaires et la participation à ces types d’activités. Conclusion : Offrir des opportunités et promouvoir l’activité physique durant les Page 1/2 récréations pourrait encourager les jeunes à participer à des activités physiques d’intensité plus élevées. Page 2/2 46 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Direct lateral interbody fusion without posterior stabilization: Initial report of the first 10 consecutive cases. Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Melissa McKeon Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Manson, Neil; McKeon, Melissa; Abraham, Edward. Abstract - Résumé Introduction: Direct lateral interbody fusion (DLIF) offers a novel approach to lumbar spine surgery with excellent potential for treatment of degenerative pathologies and restoration of deformity. Surgical technique recommendations advocate posterior pedicle screw/rod instrumentation to assure stability. The large size/contour of the interbody implant permits positioning between the strong apophyseal ring of each endplate. This confers significant deformity correction via disc height restoration as well as implant security via strong compression forces. Thus, stability may be achieved in a stand-alone fashion. The purpose of this study is to confirm motion segment construct stability after stand-alone DLIF. Methods: A retrospective radiographic review of the first 10 patients treated via DLIF without supplementary posterior instrumentation. Comparison of pre-operative, intra-operative, and final AP/lateral radiographs quantified corrections in disc height, scoliosis, and listhesis. Results: 10 consecutive patients provided 17 operative levels. Per level mean blood loss (32cc), median cage size (12mmX50mm). Endplate failure secondary to osteoporosis occurred in one patient, otherwise there were no complications/revisions. In 9/10 cases disc height was restored (182% of pre-operative) and maintained throughout follow-up. Scoliosis demonstrated marked correction (41% of pre-operative) and was well maintained throughout follow-up. Spondylolisthesis demonstrated excellent intra-operative correction (40% of pre-operative) but deterioration, in one case to near pre-operative severity at follow-up. Conclusion: DLIF offers surgical approach and implant advantages. Its use in a stand-alone fashion further optimizes its minimally invasive nature. This technique is effective at restoring disc height and correcting scoliosis. DLIF can effectively manage spondylolisthesis however, posterior augmentation should be considered. Page 1/1 47 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Understanding the experiences of nurses who are learning to use health-care technology: Situating the individual as most salient Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Karen Furlong Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Furlong, Karen. Abstract - Résumé The purpose of my doctoral study is to understand how nurses learn to use an Electronic Health Record (EHR). Within this presentation, I will describe the significance of my research, and the rationale for selecting narrative inquiry as the primary methodology. Preliminary research findings (Nurses’ stories) suggest that integration and subsequent learning behaviours are significantly influenced by pre-existing realities and a quest to understand how the technology influences patient-care delivery. It is evident that integration of an EHR is a complex endeavour that requires end-user engagement to be successful. Learning is inclusive of both education (understanding workflow adjustments) and hands-on training (system use) initiatives. Although there is a significant rise in the integration and use of technology within a variety of health-care environments, this world-wide reality is plagued with deployment difficulties that remain poorly understood. Individual perspectives are often overlooked due to investigative designs that devalue such viewpoints by exploring the utility of technologies and contextual elements of influence rather than the lived experience of individuals, namely the users of technology. Therefore, the voice of the individual/nurse within my research is perceived as invaluable – a persuasive entity. This ontological orientation is evident within the design of my qualitative investigation: Narrative inquiry does not negate the role of context yet it is the individual’s reality conceptions that are viewed as most salient. Narrative inquiry reverses the flow of power whereby the individual is the resounding force in the shaping of what is known to be real. Page 1/1 48 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Relationship between Motivation and Specific types of Physical Activity among grade 5 and 6 Students Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Julie Goguen Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Goguen, Julie; Bélanger, Mathieu; Caissie, Isabelle; Ward, Stéphanie; Xhignesse, Marianne. Abstract - Résumé Background: Despite the numerous health benefits associated with physical activity (PA), only 7% of youth are achieving the recommended 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA per day. PA also tends to decrease with age and the probability of maintaining participation in different types of PA during adolescence is low to moderate. Little is known about the correlates of participation in specific types of PA. The quantity and type of motivation towards PA greatly influences continued participation in PA; however, it is unknown whether motivation towards PA differs across different types and contexts of PA. We investigated relationships between specific motivations and different PA contexts. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis is based on data from the MATCH study (Measuring the physical Activities of Teenagers to Comprehend their Habits). 802 grade 5 and 6 students from 17 schools in New-Brunswick completed a questionnaire regarding their participation in different types of PA and contexts associated with these practices as well as their motivation towards PA. Associations between frequency of participation in different types of PA, and motivation towards PA were assessed using multilevel linear regression models. Results: Preliminary results indicate that although the most prevalent type of motivation for PA was enjoyment, motivation related to competence was the most discriminatory with regards to different PA contexts. Discriminatory power of other types of motivation differed across the various PA contexts. Conclusion: Motivations to take part in different types of PA appear to vary according to its context. Contexte: Malgré les nombreux bienfaits associés à l'activité physique (AP), seulement 7% des jeunes accumulent 60 minutes d’AP modérée à vigoureuse par jour tel que recommandé. L’AP a aussi tendance à diminuer avec l'âge et la probabilité de maintenir la participation à différents types d’AP pendant l’adolescence est faible à modérée. Peu d’information est disponible sur les facteurs qui influencent la participation à des types spécifiques d’AP. La quantité et le type de motivation a beaucoup d’influence sur le maintien de participation à l’AP, cependant il est incertain si la motivation à l'AP est différente selon les divers types et contextes d’AP. Nous avons étudié les relations entre les motivations spécifiques et les différents contextes d’AP. Méthodes: Cette étude transversale est basée sur les données de l'étude MATCH (Mesurer les AcTivités des jeunes afin de Comprendre leurs Habitudes). 802 élèves de la 5e et 6e année venant de 17 écoles au Nouveau-Brunswick ont rempli un questionnaire concernant leur participation à différents types d’AP et leurs contextes ainsi que leur motivation envers l’AP. Les associations entre la fréquence de participation à différents types d’AP et la motivation envers l’AP ont été évaluées en utilisant des modèles de régression linéaires multi-niveaux. Résultats: Les résultats préliminaires indiquent que bien que le type le plus prévalent de motivation pour l’AP était le plaisir, la motivation liée à la compétence a été la plus discriminatoire concernant les contextes d’AP. Le pouvoir discriminatoire des autres types de motivation variaient selon les divers contextes d’AP Page 1/1 49 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche The impact of language, socioeconomic status and place of residence on access to and outcomes following cardiac surgery in New Brunswick Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Ansar Hassan Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Hassan, Ansar; MacLeod, Jeffrey; Lutchmedial, Sohrab; Pelletier, Marc; Yip, Alexandra. Background: The Canadian health care system is mandated to provide equitable access to medical services. This study investigated the effect of language, socioeconomic status (SES) and place of residence on access to and outcomes following cardiac surgery in New Brunswick. Methods: All patients undergoing cardiac surgery at the New Brunswick Heart Centre between April 2004 and March 2011 were identified. Language was defined as the language used most often at home. SES was estimated using a regional deprivation index. Place of residence was based on the regional health authority (RHA) in which a patient resided. Annual age- and sex-adjusted rates of cardiac surgery were calculated by RHA as were overall rates of in-hospital and 30-day adverse events following surgery. Results: 4575 patients were identified. Rates of surgery differed across RHA. Where RHA-4 had substantially lower rates of surgery, this region was excluded. The predominance of English- vs. French-speaking patients differed across RHA (p<0.0001). Similarly, SES differed across RHA (p<0.0001), with RHA-1, RHA-2 and RHA-3 emerging as the most affluent regions. Patients from RHA-7 experienced greater median surgical wait times (19d vs. 9d, p<0.01). While rates of in-hospital mortality did not differ across RHA (p=0.18), 30-day rates of any complication and/or readmission did (p=0.01), with the highest rates occurring in RHA-1 and RHA-7. Conclusion: Despite a single-tier health care system, New Brunswickers experience geographic variation in access to and outcomes following cardiac surgery. Further analysis will determine the role that language and SES play in creating these differences. 50 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Peril, Pain, and Advocacy: Voices and Stories of Women Living with Eating Disorders Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Kathryn Weaver Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Weaver, Kathryn. Abstract - Résumé Eating disorders – a leading cause of disability among women – represent a significant health problem because of the associated morbidity, chronicity, mortality and high cost of treatment. Within a research program to explore support and recovery needs of persons affected by eating disorders, the perspectives of 232 New Brunswick women, 32 parents, 18 peer facilitators, and 20 allied health professionals were examined using mixed methodologies and triangulated quantitative and qualitative data. This presentation will focus on the stories of over 50 women who participated in five individual projects motivated by the practice need for therapeutic interventions with eating disordered sub-populations. The first study utilized feminist grounded theory method in developing a model of women’s recovery from the perilous self-soothing of anorexia nervosa toward healthy self-nurturance along pathways of self-awareness, self-regulation and self-differentiation. The second project produced a documentary drama of recovery experiences based on focus group and individual interviews with women who experienced anorexia, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. The third involved narrative analysis of diaries, letters, and drawings that resulted in a uniquely combined portrayal of the motives and intentions of a daughter with anorexia nervosa, her mother, and therapist. The fourth and fifth studies illustrate the underlying “pain of difference” and vital role of social support experienced by female university students (a) attending a six-week psychoeducational intervention or (b) seeking support through friends, family members and healthcare providers. It is recommended that the women’s stories be shared to enhance development of public, professional and interdisciplinary sensitivities and knowledge. Page 1/1 51 Title of the research project - Titre du projet de recherche Alternate Level of Care: Patient and Family Perspectives Poster presenter - Nom de la personne qui présentera l'affiche Dr. Rose McCloskey Researchers involved in this project - Chercheurs participant au projet Jarrett, Pamela; Stewart, Connie. Abstract - Résumé Introduction: Considerable attention is given to the growing number of patients who are occupying hospital beds while waiting for the availability of long-term care services. These patients are referred to as Alternate Level of Care (ALC) and much discussion around these individuals’ centers around inappropriate use of health care resources. Considerably less attention is given to the individuals who are designated as ALC. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients/family members who were designated as ALC in one urban and one rural hospital in New Brunswick. Results: Interviews were conducted with 11 ALC patients and 4 family members. All patients were admitted to hospital with an acute illness but were unable to return to home. Only two patients were receiving community supports prior to the hospital admission. Many participants described their living situation prior to the hospitalization as one of declining functional ability and growing dependency on others. With the exception of one, participants were looking forward to relocating to a long-term care facility. Conclusions: The issue of ALC is of importance not only to hospitals and policymakers, but to ALC patients and their families. Concerted effort is needed to ensure the public understands what services are available and how to access them. Page 1/1