Using the NANA toolkit at home to predict older adults' future depression.

BACKGROUND: Depression is currently underdiagnosed among older adults. As part of the Novel Assessment of Nutrition and Aging (NANA) validation study, 40 older adults self-reported their mood using a touchscreen computer over three, one-week periods. Here, we demonstrate the potential of these data to predict future depression status. METHODS: We analysed data from the NANA validation study using a machine learning approach. We applied the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator with a logistic model to averages of six measures of mood, with depression status according to the Geriatric Depression Scale 10 weeks later as the outcome variable. We tested multiple values of the selection parameter in order to produce a model with low deviance. We used a cross-validation framework to avoid overspecialisation, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to determine the quality of the fitted model. RESULTS: The model we report contained coefficients for two variables: sadness and tiredness, as well as a constant. The cross-validated area under the ROC curve for this model was 0.88 (CI: 0.69-0.97). LIMITATIONS: While results are based on a small sample, the methodology for the selection of variables appears suitable for the problem at hand, suggesting promise for a wider study and ultimate deployment with older adults at increased risk of depression. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified self-reported scales of sadness and tiredness as sensitive measures which have the potential to predict future depression status in older adults, partially addressing the problem of underdiagnosis.

Long-term health outcomes after exposure to repeated concussion in elite level: rugby union players.

BACKGROUND: There is continuing concern about effects of concussion in athletes, including risk of the neurodegenerative disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy. However, information on long-term health and wellbeing in former athletes is limited. METHOD: Outcome after exposure to repeated brain injury was investigated in 52 retired male Scottish international rugby players (RIRP) and 29 male controls who were similar in age and social deprivation. Assessment included history of playing rugby and traumatic brain injury, general and mental health, life stress, concussion symptoms, cognitive function, disability and markers of chronic stress (allostatic load). RESULTS: The estimated number of concussions in RIRP averaged 14 (median=7; IQR 5-40). Performance was poorer in RIRP than controls on a test of verbal learning (p=0.022) and of fine co-ordination of the dominant hand (p=0.038) and not significantly different on other cognitive tests (p>0.05). There were no significant associations between number of concussions and performance on cognitive tests. Other than a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease in controls, no group differences were detected in general or mental health or estimates of allostatic load. In RIRP, persisting symptoms attributed to concussion were more common if reporting more than nine concussions (p=0.028), although these symptoms were not perceived to affect social or work functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a high number of concussions in RIRP, differences in mental health, social or work functioning were not found late after injury. Subtle group differences were detected on two cognitive tests, the cause of which is uncertain. Prospective group comparison studies on representative cohorts are required.

Validation of the NANA (Novel Assessment of Nutrition and Ageing) touch screen system for use at home by older adults.

Prospective measurement of nutrition, cognition, and physical activity in later life would facilitate early detection of detrimental change and early intervention but is hard to achieve in community settings. Technology can simplify the task and facilitate daily data collection. The Novel Assessment of Nutrition and Ageing (NANA) toolkit was developed to provide a holistic picture of an individual's function including diet, cognition and activity levels. This study aimed to validate the NANA toolkit for data collection in the community. Forty participants aged 65 years and over trialled the NANA toolkit in their homes for three 7-day periods at four-week intervals. Data collected using the NANA toolkit were compared with standard measures of diet (four-day food diary), cognitive ability (processing speed) and physical activity (self-report). Bland-Altman analysis of dietary intake (energy, carbohydrates, protein fat) found a good relationship with the food diary and cognitive processing speed and physical activity (hours) were significantly correlated with their standard counterparts. The NANA toolkit enables daily reporting of data that would otherwise be collected sporadically while reducing demands on participants; older adults can complete the daily reporting at home without a researcher being present; and it enables prospective investigation of several domains at once.

Transdisciplinary work with psychology from a population health perspective: an illustration.

One of the important implications of a population health perspective in public health is an increase in the need for transdisciplinary ways of working. The Community Health Research Unit (CHRU) is presented as an example of an environment where psychology and psychologists work with other disciplines to conduct applied research in population health. Research activities were examined to identify how the disciplines collaborate and to provide evidence of successful interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches which incorporate health psychology. The strengths and challenges of multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinary approaches were examined through a poll of CHRU members. Further, members' views about the contributions of psychology to their work were gathered. Issues of working with different disciplines in a transdisciplinary approach are highlighted and future directions are suggested.

Structures of the antigenic O-polysaccharides of lipopolysaccharides produced by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans serotypes a, c, d and e.

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is a gram-negative capnophilic coccobacillus that has been implicated in the etiology of certain forms of early-onset periodontitis as well as non-oral infections, mostly bacterial endocarditis. Five distinct serotypes of A. actinomycetemcomitans have been described. Although the O-polysaccharide (O-PS) of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been shown to define the serologic specificity for this species, only the structure of the O-PS of serotype b has been characterized. The focus of the current study was to define the structures of the O-PS of A. actinomycetemcomitans serotypes a, c, d and e. Structure determination was accomplished through the use of methylation, periodate oxidation, and one-dimensional and two-dimensional NMR methods. The O-PS of A. actinomycetemcomitans (OMZ-542) serotype d had [alpha]D +15 degrees and was composed of D-glucose, D-mannose and L-rhamnose (L-Rha) in a molar ratio of 1:2:1. Methylation, periodate oxidation, and two-dimensional 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR studies showed that the antigenic O-PS was a high-molecular-mass polymer composed of repeating tetrasaccharide units with the structure: [formula: see text] The O-PS of the LPS produced by A. actinomycetemcomitans (ATCC 29523) serotype a had [alpha]D +150 degrees and was found to contain 6-deoxy-D-talose (6dTalp) and O-acetyl (2:1) and was a high-molecular-mass polymer composed of O-acetyl-substituted repeating disaccharide units with the structure: [formula: see text] The O-PS of the LPS of A. actinomycetemcomitans (SUNY 67) serotype c had [alpha]D -170 degrees and was composed of 6-deoxy-L-talose and O-acetyl (2:1). Structural analysis showed that the O-PS was a high-molecular-mass polymer of repeating disaccharide units with the structure: [formula: see text] The O-PS of the LPS of A. actinomycetemcomitans (OMZ 534) serotype e had [alpha]D +57 degrees and was composed of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose and L-rhamnose (1:1) and by chemical and NMR analysis was found to be a polymer of repeating disaccharide units with the structure: -->4)-alpha-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->3)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1-->.

Abusive behavior in the workplace: a preliminary investigation.

Dealing with hostile interpersonal relationships at work has been the topic of many popular books and workshops. Yet, with the exception of sexual harassment, there is surprisingly little mention in the organizational research literature on the nature, extent, and costs of abusive work interactions. These more frequent, more tolerated, and, thus, more damaging interpersonal interactions involve hostile verbal and nonverbal nonphysical behaviors directed by one or more persons towards another. The primary aim is to undermine the other to ensure compliance. In this study, we examined the extent to which students experienced nonsexual nonphysical abusive behavior on their jobs, the impact of this experience on job satisfaction, the characteristics of the actor and target, and responses to these behaviors, particularly turnover. The results indicate that although most of the students had very positive interactions at work, exposure to abusive behavior was familiar, was relatively frequent, and had a negative impact on the targets. The actors tended to be bosses and older than the targets. The quality of the interpersonal relationships at work was related to job satisfaction and intention to leave. The implications of these results are discussed with respect to individual, situational, and organizational factors that may be related to the presence and impact of abusive interpersonal interactions. Avenues for research on the nature, extent, and impact of these behaviors at both the individual and organizational levels are identified.