Salmonella bacteria reside in the intestines of animals and can be transmitted to humans via contaminated food or water. These bacteria cause diseases such as typhoid fever and acute gastroenteritis, posing major health problems throughout the world. The body normally produces an immune response to these invading microorganisms. In a process known as phagocytosis, the blood’s immune cells engulf the bacteria, enclose them in specialized internal compartments, and then release destructive enzymes that kill them. However, Salmonella and several other intracellular parasites have evolved methods to subvert this process. By blocking the delivery of the destructive enzymes, these parasites avoid extermination and are able to survive and multiply inside the immune cells. Ultimately, bacteria escape from the cell and spread throughout the body to cause disease. Dr. Leonard Foster is employing advanced proteomic methods and instrumentation to explore and describe what occurs at the molecular level during phagocytosis. This research will lead to a better understanding of the basic operation of this important aspect of immune function. It will also advance knowledge of the molecular mechanisms employed by Salmonella bacteria to prevent the immune cells from delivering the destructive enzymes, potentially leading to better methods of protecting against Salmonella infection.
Research Location: University of British Columbia
The Canadian healthy resident – healthy patient study
Research has shown that physicians with healthy personal habits are more likely to encourage patients to adopt such habits. This suggests that improving the health of physicians may, in turn, contribute to improved health of patients. Dr. Erica Frank is leading the ‘Canadian Healthy Resident–Healthy Patient’ study which is examining the link between physician health and patient health. Using a survey questionnaire, Dr. Frank is collecting personal and clinical information from medical residents nationally. These data will form the basis for development of interventions to improve the personal and clinical health practices of health professionals in training and practice. Dr. Frank’s study will then pilot those interventions in BC, and disseminate the results nationally and globally. Results from this research hold promise for informing policies and programs involving healthcare providers and communities.
Parents of children with cancer: a study of factors related to their psychological wellbeing
A diagnosis of cancer not only affects the patient, it also greatly affects the family caregivers. The physical and emotional effects of caring for a loved one with cancer can be devastating, with fatigue and burn-out a frequent occurrence. Dr. Anne Klassen is studying factors affecting the wellbeing of parent caregivers of children with cancer, with a specific interest in the direct and indirect relationships and supports that may contribute to differences in psychological wellbeing among these parents. Her study is recruiting a population-based sample, from British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario, of approximately 500 families with children in active treatment for cancer. She is collecting data on a comprehensive set of factors, including background and context variables; child characteristics; caregiver strain; caregiver self-perception; coping factors and psychological wellbeing. Results from Dr. Klassen’s research will further the understanding of why some parents are able to cope with caring for a child with cancer while others cannot. Ultimately this research will help with earlier recognition of families at risk and the development of preventive or other strategies to better meet their needs, for the benefit of children, parents and families.
Gender and ethnic differences in treatment seeking for acute coronary syndromes
Important advances in the diagnosis and treatment of heart attacks have resulted in a growing majority of people recovering and resuming healthy, active lives following a heart attack. In spite of these medical advances, however, little progress has been made in reducing the time it takes for individuals to seek medical assistance after they first experience symptoms of a heart attack. Many people still arrive at a hospital too late to receive the full benefit of clot-busting therapy and other drugs. Patient-related delays result in a significant number of poor health outcomes and deaths. To achieve better clinical outcomes following a heart attack, people must be able to recognize heart attack symptoms and be willing to seek treatment immediately. Dr. Pamela Ratner is examining the many factors that shape people’s understanding of their risk of heart attack, the symptoms that occur, and the course of action that should be taken. She is focusing specifically on gender and ethnicity, together with other socio-demographic, clinical, psychological, and social factors. Dr. Ratner’s research aims to clarify the roles that gender and ethnicity play in modifying these factors, and to develop a theory of treatment seeking for cardiac symptoms. Results from her research will contribute to designing effective interventions that improve responses and decrease patient-related delays.
Structure-based antibiotic discovery on the bacterial membrane
The growing resistance of bacterial infections to standard antibiotic therapies is a major health concern around the globe. The microorganisms that cause serious illnesses such as hospital staphylococcus aureus infections, tuberculosis and meningitis are increasingly developing antibiotic resistant strains both within the hospital and community settings. Some particular bacterial infections, often termed “”superbugs””, have become entirely resistant to all antibiotics currently used in hospitals. Dr. Natalie Strynadka’s research is directed at understanding the way in which bacteria resist current families of antibiotics and at developing new antibiotic drugs that work by inhibiting specific features of the bacterial life-cycle. Her research team will undertake this research by characterizing the three-dimensional atomic structures of molecules critical to the viability of the bacteria, such as their ability to “inject” antibiotic resistant genes into host cells. By describing these structures in fine detail, they will be positioned to design antibiotics that specifically inhibit these critical molecules of the bacteria, destroying its ability to cause disease.
Improving the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: A controlled evaluation of a new behavioural treatment
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common consequence of life-threatening traumatic events (e.g., road traffic collisions, military combat, criminal victimization). PTSD is a severe anxiety disorder that often follows a chronic course and is associated with significant disablement. Existing PTSD treatments are only moderately effective and research is needed to find interventions that can improve treatment outcome. One potential method of improving treatment outcome for PTSD is by reducing anxiety sensitivity, which is described as a person’s fear of experiencing the physical sensations that result from anxiety (e.g. heart palpitations, dizziness) and their belief that these sensations will have harmful consequences. Anxiety sensitivity is elevated in PTSD and is associated with PTSD symptom severity. Interventions that directly target anxiety sensitivity have the potential to enhance PTSD treatment outcome. Dr. Jaye Wald is conducting the first controlled study to examine the effectiveness of interoceptive exposure therapy (IE) on PTSD. While this behavioural intervention has been shown to be effective in treating anxiety disorders, its ability to improve the outcome of existing PTSD treatments has not yet been investigated. Dr. Wald will use IE to repeatedly expose individuals to feared bodily sensations, with the goal of eventually reducing their anxiety sensitivity. Results of this research will have important practical implications for the mental health care field and for individuals with PTSD by enhancing understanding of this disorder and ultimately improving its treatment.
Issues Related to Ethnicity Data Collection in Health Care Settings: A Critical Analysis
To analyze the ethical and other issues related to the collection and use of ethnicity data as a tool for addressing health and health care inequities across population groups.
The Relationship between Organizational Culture and Family Satisfaction in Critical Care
Critical Care depends on the coordination and collaboration of physicians, nurses, and other health professionals to deliver care that is efficient, effective, safe, and patient-centred. As patient perspectives are often difficult to elicit in critical care settings because of the severity of illness, patients’ families frequently become involved in decision-making and care. As a result, being ‘family-centred’ is an important part of being ‘patient-centred’ in critical care.
Non-surgical cosmetic procedures: health, body image and aging
Non-surgical cosmetic procedures (chemical peels, botox injections, laser hair removal, injectable fillers) are becoming more common than cosmetic procedures (breast augmentation, face lifts, liposuction). Non-surgical procedures are less expensive than cosmetic procedures and thus accessible to more people. To date, research into the perception and experience of non-surgical procedures, which are often viewed as more acceptable, less intrusive and medically risky, have largely been ignored. Dr. Laura Hurd Clarke is examining the perceptions and experiences of women aged 50+, both users and non-users of non-surgical cosmetic procedures as well as the perspectives of physicians who provide the treatments. She is interested specifically in analyzing the relationship between women’s attitudes towards non-surgical cosmetic procedures and their perceptions of health, healthy living, aging and body image. Results from her research will provide insights into the changing norms and social acceptance of the ‘medicalization’ of age-related appearance and a better understanding of the continued blurring of the relationship between health and beauty in contemporary society.
Primary health care for Chinese and South Asians: continuous, accessible, and timely
Recent years have seen increasing concern about access to and quality of primary health care in Canada. A substantial amount of provincial and federal funding has gone into revitalizing the primary health care system. The current tools used to assess how the primary health care system works for consumers (such as questionnaires) were originally developed primarily with well-educated, English-speaking Whites of European descent. British Columbia is home to the second largest immigrant population in Canada, where approximately 50 per cent of all BC immigrants are from Asia and one in every ten cannot speak, write, or understand English. Currently, little is known about whether current assessment tools are valid across different ethno-cultural groups who may not speak English. In addition, existing assessment tools may not adequately reflect the issues and concerns about primary health care that are important to different ethno-cultural populations. Dr. Sabrina Wong is studying the dimensions of primary health care that are important to adults from two of the largest ethno-cultural groups living in BC: Chinese and South Asians, who speak Cantonese or Punjabi, respectively. Through focus groups and telephone surveys, she is identifying what dimensions are addressed in existing assessment tools, and what needs to be modified for these ethno-cultural groups. Ultimately, Dr. Wong hopes that her research will result in an assessment tool of primary health care that is equally valid and reliable across English, Cantonese, and Punjabi speaking populations.