Each year, about 11,500 people in BC fracture bones in the hand, usually from an accidental fall, a blow or compression between objects. Treatment typically involves immobilizing the fractured hand in a cast or splint for up to four weeks, which is necessary to allow bones to heal, but can also lead to loss of function and the need for further interventions or rehabilitation. Some studies have shown that earlier controlled mobilization of the hand following a fracture could reduce the negative consequences associated with immobilization. But studies havenât addressed whether this earlier intervention is safe or will improve function. Lynne Feehan is examining the safety of two methods for early mobilization to lay the foundation for future research into this potentially useful approach for reducing side effects and improving fracture healing.
Program: Trainee
Improving quantitative occupational exposure assessment methods for retrospective epidemiologic studes
The degree to which occupational exposure to carcinogens causes cancer is uncertain, but many researchers believe that only a small fraction of occupationally related cancers are reported to workersâ compensation systems. The primary challenge in studying occupational cancer is assessing exposure. In the past, most studies used qualitative methods to compare health risks of workers with differing levels of exposure to carcinogens. With todayâs lower levels of exposure in the workplace, quantitative assessment is becoming more important. But there is a lack of standardized methods for quantitatively assessing exposure. Melissa Friesen is developing standardized methods â particularly including the use of statistical modeling â to improve the precision and specificity of quantitative exposure estimates. She will test the methods on data from three large studies of contaminants at BC. Melissa will also work with the US National Cancer Institute to apply the methods to data from case-control studies. This research will lead to improved methods for quantitative exposure assessment, which are necessary for public policy initiatives such as assessing risk, establishing preventative strategies and setting exposure limits.
Structural determination of bacterial type III secretion mechanisms
Overuse and improper use of common antibiotics have reduced their effectiveness because bacteria become resistant to the drugs. As result, there is a growing interest and need to discover new drug therapies to combat bacterial infections. A novel approach to fighting bacteria is to inhibit mechanisms that allow virulence factors to be secreted into host cells. Jason Gunawan is studying a specific secretion mechanism called the Type 111 Secretion System (TTSS), which is found in several bacteria including E.coli and salmonella strains. While there is a wealth of information about the structural components of bacterial TTSS, very little is known about how these components are assembled and how they deliver virulence factors into human cells. Jasonâs research findings may contribute to the development of new antibiotics.
The role of social support in coping with chronic low back pain: help or hindrance?
Approximately 14 per cent of Canadians suffer from chronic low back pain, making it the second most common chronic condition in the country. Some studies suggest that having a high level of satisfaction with social support may increase well-being of people with chronic back pain. However, there is little research that has addressed the potentially harmful effects of social support. Susan Holtzman is examining how support networks help or hinder patients in coping with chronic back pain over time. She will study 200 patients and their partners, using questionnaires and daily records to track pain levels, disability, mood, types of support received, satisfaction with support, coping strategies, and health. Findings from this research may lead to more effective and individualized treatment programs.
Evaluation of common drug review dissemination and use of evidence by drug plans
The cost of publicly funded prescription drug programs in Canada is growing an estimated 15 per cent a year. Studies show drug plan staff have little time to reassess drugs already on the market and are overwhelmed with submissions from pharmaceutical companies seeking approval of new drugs. In September 2001, federal, provincial and territorial Health Ministers launched the Common Drug Review (CDR) to develop a national process for reviewing evidence on new drugs and reducing duplication among provinces. How CDR will integrate with current communication systems to share information between drug plan staff and researchers is not yet clear. Mowafa Househ is assessing how drug plans use and produce evidence within the CDR system, and how virtual networking can improve the exchange of this knowledge. Using web-based conferencing, Mowafa is developing a three-step protocol to improve links between drug plan manager and researchers. He is applying the protocol to three major drug plan issues: assessing new drugs, re-assessing existing drugs, and evaluating the impact of drug policies.
Computational and laboratory characterization of genomic islands of potential relevance to bacterial pathogenicity
Infectious diseases cause one-third of all human deaths worldwide. Microbiologists are beginning to get a clearer picture of some of the bacteria that cause disease, using the increasing number of genome (gene) sequences available for these microbes. In fact, a back log of genetic data is waiting to be prioritized and analyzed. The data shows transfer of genetic material between bacteria seems to be much more common than previously believed. Essentially, bacteria can exchange genes that cause disease. In addition, a significant portion of the genes associated with disease are found in clusters called âpathogenicity islands.â William Hsiao believes that focusing on these genomic islands will narrow the search for disease-causing genes in bacteria. He hopes the information will explain how some bacteria cause disease and how they differ from bacteria that do not.
The relationship between developmental factors and the ability of children to accurately complete a self-report pain scale
Pain is a complex, subjective experience that cannot be measured directly. Self-report rating scales are commonly used to assess an individualâs pain experience, but with children, clinicians need to determine whether a child can accurately complete a scale. Little research has been done on methods to assess childrenâs accuracy in using these scales. As a MSFHR Masters Trainee, Elizabeth Stanford (Job) examined ways children use everyday language to describe pain. Now she is assessing young childrenâs ability to accurately convey their level of pain through methods that include pointing to a series of pain faces developed as a rating scale. The research will increase understanding of how developmental factors â such as language and numerical reasoning â influence childrenâs ability to accurately express pain with these scales, and ultimately lead to more effective pain assessment and treatment for children.
An Evaluation of an Asthma Education Program in a Pediatric Emergency Department
The increasing prevalence in asthma diagnoses in North America over the 1980s and early 1990s has led to increased asthma-related admissions and emergency visits at pediatric institutions. In many cases however early intervention at home may have been a superior method of treatment for milder cases. In an effort to increase parental and patient knowledge about early interventions many asthma education initiatives have been launched. Studies to date on the effectiveness of these initiatives have been mixed. Jay Joseph is assessing retention of knowledge about asthma by specifically studying asthma exacerbation cases presented at the emergency department of BCâs Childrenâs and Womenâs Health Centre. From these cases Jay is analyzing general parental knowledge of asthma and their knowledge of how to cope with specific exacerbation scenarios. Ultimately, Jay hopes results from his study will contribute to reducing GP/pediatrician consultation rates and repeat emergency visit and readmission rates.
Income support and the health of women with disabilities: The dis/abling effects of discourses
Women with disabilities face many barriers to health, including poverty and inequality. Government-administered income support programs are necessary for the survival of many disabled women, yet these programs also create barriers to working, developing abilities and participating fully in activities available to non-disabled people. Sally Kimpson is examining the effects of disability income support policy and programs on women with disabilities. Through in-depth interviews with disabled women, she is studying how they participate in income support programs â including compliance with or resistance to different elements of these programs â and how they learn to participate in society while negotiating constraints related to the programs. Increasing understanding of how disabled women live with income support will help improve policy and programs, which will ultimately benefit women whose health and well-being are closely tied to securing income support.
Mechanistic basis of the inhibitory effect of extracellular zinc on rat Kv3.1
Zinc is a trace element that concentrates in some nerve terminals in the brain. Increased zinc concentration in the brain has been linked to epileptic seizures, which affect about 300,000 Canadians. Zinc is known to inhibit a potassium channel, Kv3.1, essential for neuronal activity, but how this occurs is not yet understood. Daniel Kwan is joint author on two papers in the international Journal of Physiology on research into a protein that controls the movement of potassium ions from heart muscle cells. Now he is extending his studies to determine how zinc binds to and inhibits the Kv3.1 channel. Ultimately, the results may lead to new treatments and drugs for brain disorders such as epilepsy.