Premature infants spend critical periods of early development in neonatal intensive care. The stress and pain experienced as part of early medical care can lead to the disorganization of infant behaviour or physiologic states, which may reflect risk for adverse neurodevelopment. Research links early stress to changes in brain stress circuits and heart rate regulation and follow-up studies show that high-risk premature infants have a high incidence of attention related deficits. Julianne Petrie-Thomas is examining the complex relationships between behavioural and physiological regulation of attention by studying focused attention and patterns of heart rate in premature infants at 8-months compared with term-born controls. As the infant’s interactions with its mother play an essential role in the regulation of behavioural as well as internal physiological systems, she is also studying the effects of maternal-infant interaction on infants’ behaviour and physiology. The findings could fill major gaps in understanding of how attention problems develop in premature infants and lead to interventions that significantly improve the developmental outcomes of these vulnerable babies.
Year: 2003
Parents' attitudes, intentions and behaviours regarding medication adherence for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) is a persistent childhood disorder that affects about five per cent of children. Symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity at developmentally inappropriate levels. Numerous studies have shown that stimulant medication is the safest and most effective treatment for ADHD. Optimum treatment for ADHD usually requires two to three doses a day, generally administered by parents. But up to 80 per cent of parents frequently fail to give their child the medication as directed by a health professional. Douglas Scoular is examining parents’ beliefs, attitudes and intentions about giving their children stimulant medication for ADHD to determine why parents fail to administer the medication. This research will provide important information on parents’ concerns about administering stimulant medication, help predict which parents will be successful in following the treatment regimen, and ultimately help improve health care providers’ ability to successfully treat children with ADHD.
Impact of delayed childbearing in BC, Canada
Women in developed societies around the world increasingly delay childbearing until the age of 35 or older. In BC, women who are 35 or older account for about 8,000 births a year. There has been little research into the effects of delayed childbearing, and studies that have been undertaken produced contrasting results. Some research suggested an increased risk of complications and other studies showed no greater risk. No research has compared differences in rural and urban settings. Sarka Lisonkova is investigating the impact of delayed childbearing on pregnancy outcomes and infants’ need for health care services in their first year. Using information on 200,000 births across the province from the BC Perinatal Database Registry, Sarka is comparing outcomes and health care utilization from births among 20 to 34-year-old mothers with those 35 and older. She is also reviewing the effect of risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as smoking and fertility problems. The research could help improve prenatal counselling and risk assessment in prenatal care.
Functional analysis of the CD34-related molecule, MEP21, in adhesion and stem cell differentiation
Once organisms are fully developed, stem cells are the basis for replenishing cells that wear out or are otherwise destroyed in the normal course of living. Researchers are now looking for ways of identifying and manipulating stem cells to regenerate organs or tissues such as heart muscle, liver, brain or the surface of the lung and digestive tract that have degenerated due to disease. The most well studied stem cells to date, are hematopoietic stem cells, which are produced in the bone marrow and are the precursors from which all blood cells develop. Dr. Kelly McNagny’s laboratory discovered MEP21, a molecule that appears to have a close connection to stem cells since its activation correlates closely with the appearance of stem cells in tissues. This suggests that the molecule may be involved in stem cell production and the processes by which stem cells grow differentially to become a specific type of tissue. Dr. McNagny’s research has shown that MEP21 is required for survival – i.e., mice lacking the molecule die shortly after birth. He is now studying its role in activating adult stem cells, with the goal of finding new ways of purifying and using stem cells to regenerate tissues.
Appropriate uses of genetic information in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and rheumatoid arthritis
Genetic testing confirms the presence or absence of genes associated with the development of various diseases. Early detection of these genes sometimes enables physicians to recommend interventions that can help to delay onset of disease or prevent the most serious symptoms. The downside, however, is that many of the diseases that are detectable through genetic testing have no treatments or cures. This creates serious ethical and other considerations about when and how such tests should be administered. Dr. Susan Cox is studying the potential benefits and harms of using genetic information to diagnose, treat and prevent two common and devastating chronic diseases: autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Increased availability of genetic screening for ADPKD may have implications for routine screening of people at risk for the disease and for assessing potential kidney donors. The discovery of a gene influencing the severity of some forms of RA may prove to be clinically useful in tailoring drug therapies to persons diagnosed with the condition. Dr. Cox is documenting and comparing perspectives on these developments from patients, families, health care professionals and non-profit agencies. She will use this information to develop criteria for the appropriate use of genetic information in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of ADPKD and RA. Results from the study will also be relevant to other genetic and hereditary diseases.
Centre on Aging, University of Victoria
This internationally recognized research centre studies the social and psychological aspects of aging and population health and health services delivery. Unit funding will assist researchers to focus in three areas: the role of social-psychological, environmental and structural factors in promoting health and preventing illness as people age, with special attention to vulnerable populations; assessing informal and self-care approaches to health, particularly for those with poor health or disability; and assessing formal delivery of care, including specific programs and systems of care.