Bipolar disorder (BD), previously known as manic depressive disorder, is associated with recurring episodes of depression and mania/hypomania. Currently, no definitive biological mechanisms have been pinpointed with regards to the origin and progression of BD, however, inflammation and oxidative stress have been shown to present in the brains of individuals with BD. Notably, other neurodegenerative disorders which also contain an inflammatory component including Alzheimer’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis display with disruption of the brain blood barrier (BBB). We thus propose a model of BD wherein BBB disruption facilitates inflammation and oxidative stress induced neural damage. This study looked to utilize amphetamine (AMPH) induced mania model and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammatory model to represent BD like conditions in rats and to assess BBB permeability. We observed elevated locomotor data in response to AMPH administration and a trend of increased BBB permeability across regions following low dose chronic AMPH injections. In the LPS induced BBB permeability model, we did not detect any elevated serum C-reactive protein (CRP) or tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels but did see significantly elevated BBB permeability in the LPS group and lithium pre-treatment providing some protection against BBB permeability in one of our cohorts. These trends were further corroborated by a follow-up study and thus warrant further investigation into the mechanistic nature of BBB breakdown in this model. This may provide a breakthrough in understanding the pathophysiology of BD and the underlying mechanistic effects of lithium, paving the way for new more target therapeutic remedies to combat this debilitating disorder. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

No description available.

As the incidence of elderly-type illnesses such as Alzheimer's Disease continues to increase along with the elderly population in Canada, the particular health concerns and formal service needs of dementia patients and their caregivers are becoming more apparent and important to researchers, policy analysts, and ministry representatives. Institutional respite is one service that has been consistently underutilized by the Alzheimer's population, but little research has been conducted to determine the reasons behind why this is the case. As part of its Alzheimer strategy, the Ontario Government has promised to invest $7 million annually into respite services for caregivers. It is essential that these monies be used as appropriately as possible and in ways that best assist caregivers, and one of the easiest ways to do this is to include caregiver input in the processes of service evaluation, modification, and development. This study focuses on uncovering the issues that contribute to Alzheimer's caregivers underutilization of institutional respite, with the hope that this paper and like papers in the future will contribute to the development of more generous and more appropriate respite services for families caring for persons with Alzheimer's Disease. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is composed of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs), pericytes, and astrocytic endfeet, which regulate the transport of molecules into and out of the brain. BMECs possess intrinsic barrier properties that limit the passage of approximately 98% of small molecules into the brain in healthy individuals. However, in some brain diseases, the BBB undergoes structural and functional alterations, which can contribute to disease progression. In this study, we aimed to investigate the BBB by exploring the effects of endothelial cell stretching and the optimal dimensionality of stretching to enhance endothelium barrier tightness in Chapter 2. Subsequently, we developed an endothelium gradient stretching device to further examine the stretching effect in Chapter 3. Additionally, we investigated the promotion of endothelium tightness through the use of electrospun fibers, wherein we controlled the pore size. Based on these findings, we designed and fabricated an organ chip model that incorporates mechanical stretching, microfluidic techniques, electrospun fibers, and hydrogel extracellular matrix (ECM). The results of permeability testing demonstrated that this chip significantly improved the tightness of microvascular selective transport ability and has the potential to be used in drug sorting for central nervous system (CNS) diseases.

The dermal barrier is the first line of defense for working animals, however, little is known on how it fluctuates and reacts to day-to-day events. Many are pursuing dermatological research including nutritional supplementation, decontamination strategies, and treatments of dermatological disease. However, without an in-depth understanding on how the dermal barrier and its resident microbiota fluctuate in response to the environment and basic maintenance practices, these research pursuits may lack accuracy. The presented works provide some preliminary insight into how common measures of dermal barrier such as cutaneous pH and trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) fluctuate throughout the day and their natural response to changes in temperature and humidity in both acclimated and non-acclimated settings. Additionally, the works pursue how these dermal measures fluctuate following an antimicrobial bath with a common veterinary cleanser and if there are associations with the changes seen to the dermal microbiota. These findings have both implications for future research as well as for working animal decontamination procedures.

Bibliography: leaves 318-367. Examines the blood-brain barrier in normal and pathological conditions induced by intravascular and extravascular insults. Intravascular insults were induced by administration of Clostridium perfringens prototoxin; extravascular insults were induced by an impact acceleration model for closed head injury to induce traumatic brain injury. Also examines the integrity of the blood-brain barrier ultrastructurally and by its ability to exclude endogenous and exogenous tracers. Also studies the expression of 2 blood-brain barrier specific proteins, endothelial barrier antigen (EBA) and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1)

Bibliography: leaves 318-367. / x, 367 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Examines the blood-brain barrier in normal and pathological conditions induced by intravascular and extravascular insults. Intravascular insults were induced by administration of Clostridium perfringens prototoxin; extravascular insults were induced by an impact acceleration model for closed head injury to induce traumatic brain injury. Also examines the integrity of the blood-brain barrier ultrastructurally and by its ability to exclude endogenous and exogenous tracers. Also studies the expression of 2 blood-brain barrier specific proteins, endothelial barrier antigen (EBA) and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Anatomical Sciences, 2002?

Bibliography: leaves 318-367. / x, 367 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Examines the blood-brain barrier in normal and pathological conditions induced by intravascular and extravascular insults. Intravascular insults were induced by administration of Clostridium perfringens prototoxin; extravascular insults were induced by an impact acceleration model for closed head injury to induce traumatic brain injury. Also examines the integrity of the blood-brain barrier ultrastructurally and by its ability to exclude endogenous and exogenous tracers. Also studies the expression of 2 blood-brain barrier specific proteins, endothelial barrier antigen (EBA) and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Anatomical Sciences, 2002?

<p>The cost of a road construction over its service life is a function of the design, quality of construction, maintenance strategies and maintenance operations. Unfortunately, designers often neglect a very important aspect which is the possibility to perform future maintenance activities. The focus is mainly on other aspects such as investment costs, traffic safety, aesthetic appearance, regional development and environmental effects.</p><p>This licentiate thesis is a part of a Ph.D. project entitled “Road Design for lower maintenance costs” that aims to examine how the life-cycle costs can be optimized by selection of appropriate geometrical designs for the roads and their components. The result is expected to give a basis for a new method used in the road planning and design process using life-cycle cost analysis with particular emphasis on road maintenance.</p><p>The project started with a review of literature with the intention to study conditions causing increased needs for road maintenance, the efforts made by the road authorities to satisfy those needs and the improvement potential by consideration of maintenance aspects during planning and design.</p><p>An investigation was carried out to identify the problems which obstruct due consideration of maintenance aspects during the road planning and design process. This investigation focused mainly on the road planning and design process at the Swedish Road Administration. However, the road planning and design process in Denmark, Finland and Norway were also roughly evaluated to gain a broader knowledge about the research subject. The investigation was carried out in two phases: data collection and data analysis. Data was collected by semi-structured interviews with expert actors involved in planning, design and maintenance and by a</p><p>review of design-related documents. Data analyses were carried out using a method called “Change Analysis”. This investigation revealed a complex combination of problems which result in inadequate consideration of maintenance aspects. Several urgent needs for changes to eliminate these problems were identified.</p><p>Another study was carried out to develop a model for calculation of the repair costs for damages of different road barrier types and to analyse how factors such as road type, speed limits, barrier types, barrier placement, type of road section, alignment and seasonal effects affect the barrier damages and the associated repair costs. This study was carried out using a method called the “Case Study Research Method”. Data was collected from 1087 barrier repairs in two regional offices of the Swedish Road Administration, the Central Region and the Western Region. A table was established for both regions containing the repair cost per vehicle kilometre for different combinations of barrier types, road types and speed limits. This table can be used by the designers in the calculation of the life-cycle costs for different road barrier types.</p>

The cost of a road construction over its service life is a function of the design, quality of construction, maintenance strategies and maintenance operations. Unfortunately, designers often neglect a very important aspect which is the possibility to perform future maintenance activities. The focus is mainly on other aspects such as investment costs, traffic safety, aesthetic appearance, regional development and environmental effects. This licentiate thesis is a part of a Ph.D. project entitled “Road Design for lower maintenance costs” that aims to examine how the life-cycle costs can be optimized by selection of appropriate geometrical designs for the roads and their components. The result is expected to give a basis for a new method used in the road planning and design process using life-cycle cost analysis with particular emphasis on road maintenance. The project started with a review of literature with the intention to study conditions causing increased needs for road maintenance, the efforts made by the road authorities to satisfy those needs and the improvement potential by consideration of maintenance aspects during planning and design. An investigation was carried out to identify the problems which obstruct due consideration of maintenance aspects during the road planning and design process. This investigation focused mainly on the road planning and design process at the Swedish Road Administration. However, the road planning and design process in Denmark, Finland and Norway were also roughly evaluated to gain a broader knowledge about the research subject. The investigation was carried out in two phases: data collection and data analysis. Data was collected by semi-structured interviews with expert actors involved in planning, design and maintenance and by a review of design-related documents. Data analyses were carried out using a method called “Change Analysis”. This investigation revealed a complex combination of problems which result in inadequate consideration of maintenance aspects. Several urgent needs for changes to eliminate these problems were identified. Another study was carried out to develop a model for calculation of the repair costs for damages of different road barrier types and to analyse how factors such as road type, speed limits, barrier types, barrier placement, type of road section, alignment and seasonal effects affect the barrier damages and the associated repair costs. This study was carried out using a method called the “Case Study Research Method”. Data was collected from 1087 barrier repairs in two regional offices of the Swedish Road Administration, the Central Region and the Western Region. A table was established for both regions containing the repair cost per vehicle kilometre for different combinations of barrier types, road types and speed limits. This table can be used by the designers in the calculation of the life-cycle costs for different road barrier types.