Many women develop lymphedema, painful swelling in the hand or arm, after treatment for breast cancer. Various therapies can manage lymphedema, but not cure the chronic condition. As a result, women have to live with side effects including restricted movement in the affected arm and increased risk of infection, and some report reduced quality of life due to increased anxiety, emotional distress and depression. Lymphedema is typically diagnosed by measuring arm volume and/or circumference. But the methods used do not measure changes in lymphatic function. Kirstin Lane is developing a test protocol using lymphoscintigraphy to measure lymphatic function, which could be used to evaluate the effectiveness of current treatments for lymphedema. In addition, exercise was originally believed to exacerbate breast cancer-related lymphedema, but recent research suggests exercise may have a positive impact on lymphatic function. The new test could be used to assess the effects of exercise and to develop appropriate exercise guidelines.
Research Location: University of British Columbia - Point Grey
Workplace stress and health: The mediating roles of social support and coping
Stress can play a significant role in physical and mental health. The workplace is one common source of stress, which has been linked to psychological distress, back pain, gastrointestinal diseases, cardiovascular disease and heart disease. It’s also estimated that stress accounts for more than 50 per cent of absenteeism. However, stress in the workplace does not inevitably lead to illness and is preventable. Dayna Lee-Baggley is investigating how coping techniques and strong social support from co-workers, supervisors and family can decrease the harmful effects of workplace stress. Her study focuses on understanding how stress and coping unfold on a daily basis in the workplace, as well as the ways stress can “spillover” at home. The research will help identify individuals who may have difficulty coping with workplace stress and workplaces that may promote or hinder successful coping. The study results will also suggest intervention strategies to support people at risk of suffering from the adverse health outcomes caused by workplace stress.
Attention systems for perception and action
Vision serves two purposes: it allows us to consciously perceive our surroundings (e.g. recognize an object) and to act upon this environment (e.g. reach for the object). However, one or the other of these capabilities is often impaired in people with brain disorders, such as dementia or schizophrenia. While a wealth of research has been conducted on visual perception, less is known about visually guided actions, or how perception and action work together. The dual systems theory of vision allows for the possibility that there are separate attention systems for action and perception in the brain. Geniva Liu’s research focuses on improving understanding of how perception and action interact in vision. Results from the research could contribute to the design of strategies to help people with attention deficits capitalize on alternative resources for visually guided action or perception.
Uncoupling dopamine and glutamine transmission in animal models of schizophrenia
Schizophrenia affects one per cent of Canadians — more than 300,000 people — causing personality and perceptual changes and thought disorders. Physical and biochemical changes in the brain are linked to schizophrenia, but the exact cause is not known. In addition to the devastating effects on patients and families, the economic burden of schizophrenia on the health care system is staggering. Unfortunately, current medications are only partially effective and result in undesirable side effects. Schizophrenia disrupts interactions between dopamine, an important neurotransmitter (messenger) in the brain and glutamine, an amino acid that is one of the building blocks of protein. Richard Swayze is investigating whether proteins critical to signalling between dopamine and glutamine systems are uncoupled in schizophrenia. He hopes this information will lead to more effective drug treatments that improve quality of life for schizophrenic patients and their families, and reduce costs to the health care system.
A longitudinal study of adolescent risk-taking behaviour
Research has shown that smoking and drinking typically begin in adolescence. Stefania Maggi is studying the role of family, peers, school and neighbourhoods in developing risk-taking behaviours including smoking and drinking. She aims to identify the factors present early in life — such as parenting styles and socioeconomic conditions — that can predict smoking and drinking during adolescence. Stefania is closely examining how socioeconomic conditions shape the way parents relate to their children, and how the relationship between self-concept and affiliation with peers influences smoking and drinking. While other researchers have addressed these issues, few studies have examined a representative sample of Canadian children on a long-term basis. Stefania is analyzing data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth. Her study will make a valuable contribution to programs aimed at reducing smoking and drinking among adolescents.
Exposure to air pollutants and the incidence of lung cancer
Research suggests that exposure to air pollution contributes to small increases in lung cancer rates. However, errors in measurement of air pollution exposure, as well as in measurement of other risk factors such as cigarette smoking, limit the ability to quantify the extent to which air pollution increases risk of lung cancer. Elizabeth Matovinovic is developing an assessment of air pollution exposure for British Columbia, which will include an estimate of individual exposures to traffic-related air pollutants. Elizabeth will apply the assessment to data from the National Enhanced Cancer Surveillance registry to produce individual estimates of chronic exposure to air pollutants, with a special emphasis on traffic-related pollutants. The research will help improve understanding of the impacts of air pollution, particularly the relationship between chronic exposure to air pollution and lung cancer, an area that hasn’t been researched extensively.
Perfectionism and cultural influences in the development of eating disorder symptoms
Eating disorders affect an estimated three per cent of women, placing them at risk for physiological problems, social and emotional difficulties and disruption to their working lives. Research has shown that the causes of eating disorders are complex, but studies have identified certain psychological and social risk factors, including personality traits such as perfectionism. Brandy McGee is investigating how perfectionism combines with cultural influences to cause eating disorders. She is examining the idea that when perfectionists compare themselves to physical ideals suggested in cultural images such as advertisements, they feel they have failed in the area of appearance, which contributes to eating disorders. The study involves assessing levels of perfectionism, eating attitudes and eating behaviour of participants. The research will help in the development of preventative health care programs and improve understanding of the psychosocial and cultural issues affecting health.
Molecular dissection of neural stem cells
Damage to the central nervous system caused by conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and spinal cord injuries was once considered irreversible. But recent scientific advances suggest neural stem cells may hold the key to restoring the damaged area of the brain, giving hope to people suffering from these devastating conditions. Scientists have discovered that transplanted neural stem cells have the ability to reproduce themselves and become mature cells capable of performing nervous system functions. However, isolating these cells has proven difficult since researchers have yet to find markers that identify neural stem cells. Barbara Murdoch is working to identify proteins specific to the surface of neural stem cells so she can study their growth requirements. By solving this puzzle, scientists will be able to more effectively use neural stem cells for therapies that promote nervous system recovery.
The role of intraepithelial lymphocytes in cutaneous immunity and in the generation of psoriasiform pathology
Seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis are chronic, inflammatory skin conditions that are extremely difficult to treat. Despite extensive research, the cause of these conditions is not known, although they have been linked to impairment of normal immunological response. Darryl Oble is investigating whether a genetic defect that renders cells unable to signal the immune system to repair damage predisposes people to developing inflammatory skin conditions. Similar genetic issues are involved in other immunologically-based diseases, such as Type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer and other conditions. As a result, this research could help explain how these diseases develop, lead to more successful treatments for a variety of conditions and reduce side effects.
Examining physical perceptions of the body and physical characteristics as predictors of physical activity during adolescence
Research shows that a growing number of Canadian adolescents are becoming less active, threatening their physical and mental health by increasing their risk of being overweight. While there has been substantial research on physical activity, the primary factors that influence levels of activity have not been identified. Catherine Sabiston’s past research has focused on ways adolescents and young adults deal with feelings and emotions related to their body. In this research, she has found initial links between body image and physical activity. She is now looking at whether body image (perceptions and attitudes about one’s body and physical appearance) and actual body characteristics related to shape and weight contribute to decreasing physical activity levels among adolescents. Catherine is also interested in how these factors affect boys and girls differently. Her goal is to come up with realistic recommendations that will lead Canadian adolescents toward increased activity levels and eventually healthier lifestyles.