Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Full text release at OhioLINK's ETD Center delayed at author's request.

Early life stress is something that animals used in production often have to experience. What we do not know is if there are any consequences of this treatment later on in life. Zebra finches postnatal treated with the stress hormone corticosterone showed an exaggerated and prolonged stress response later on. To examine the effects of early life stress 77 White Leghorn chicks were used, half of them was stressed from postnatal day 1-14 and then tested between 47-63 days of age. The tonic immobility (TI) test is a commonly used test to evaluate the fearfulness and stress reaction in fowl. The chicks were placed on their back in a V-shaped wooden cradle and TI was induced by applying light pressure on the breast and neck. The number of inductions required to induce TI was recorded as well as the time until the first alert head movement and the total duration of the TI. The birds were tested in a calm environment but also after a stressful situation. There were no differences in the total duration of the TI reactions. However, stressed animals tended to need more induction attempts than the control animals. While looking at the time elapsed until the first head movement stressed chicks had a significantly lower duration. This indicates a dullness or shift in the stress response of the treated birds and there seem to be a more exaggerated response in the males.

Bakgrund: BB vården i de västerländska länderna har genomgått stora förändringar desenaste decennierna. Trots detta visar studier på att ett stort antal kvinnors inte är nöjda medden vård de fått efter barnets födelse. Syfte: Syftet med denna litteraturöversikt är att beskrivanyförlösta kvinnors upplevelser i samband med BB vård på sjukhus. Metod: Enlitteraturöversikt baserad på tio vetenskapliga artiklar med både kvalitativ och kvantitativmetod. Resultat: Fyra huvudteman framkom vid analysen av artiklarna; information,vårdorganisation och vårdmiljö, bemötande och attityder samt stöd. Det visade sig finnasväldigt många olika faktorer som påverkade kvinnors upplevelser av BB vården. Dessa kundevara mer eller mindre betydelsefulla för olika kvinnor. Kunskapen om detta kan bidra till attvårdpersonalen får en ökad förståelse för att varje nyförlöst kvinna är en unik individ medegna specifika önskemål och behov och att BB vården inte får generaliseras. Diskussion: Densjukhusförlagda BB vården måste bedrivas så att den uppfyller kravet på god vård. Detta föratt förhindra att nyförlösta kvinnor upplever onödigt vårdlidande. / Background: Postnatal care in western countries has undergone major changes in recentdecades. Despite this, studies show that many women are not satisfied with the care theyreceived after the birth. Objective: The purpose of this literature review is to describewomen's experiences of postnatal hospital care. Method: A literature review based on tenscientific articles in both qualitative and quantitative approach. Result: Four major themesemerged from the analysis of the articles; information, health care organization and healthcare environment, encounter and attitudes and support. It proved to be very many differentfactors that influenced women's experiences of postnatal care. These could be more or lessimportant for different women. Knowledge of this can contribute to health care professionalswith a better understanding of that each woman that recently given birth is a unique individualwith their own specific wants and needs and that postnatal care can not be generalized.Discussion: The postnatal hospital care must be conducted so that it meets the requirement ofgood care. This is to prevent unnecessary care suffering among women that recently givenbirth.

El ratón triple-transgénico (3xTgAD), portador de los transgenes humanos PS1 M146V, APPSwe y Tau P301L para la Enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA) desarrolla de manera progresiva las patologías cerebrales de la EA con un perfil temporal y anatómico específico que reproduce el patrón que tiene lugar en el cerebro humano. Como parte del progreso en la caracterización y validación fenotípica de los ratones 3xTgAD como modelo animal de la EA, en la presente Tesis Doctoral se ha estudiado el perfil de síntomas no esencialmente cognitivos en diferentes estadios del desarrollo neuropatológico de estos animales trangénicos. Con este objetivo, se han estudiado los reflejos sensorimotores básicos, respuestas neofóbicas y ritmos circadianos de actividad motora, en ratones 3xTgAD de edades jóvenes (2 meses; estadio presintomático) y adultos (4 y 6 meses donde aparece acumulación de bata-amiloide intraneuronal), así como de edades más avanzadas (9, 12 y 15 meses; donde hay evolución progresiva y creciente de neuropatología beta-amiloide extracelular y de ovillos de proteína Tau). Los resultados, a todas las edades, indican que los ratones 3xTgAD presentan signos de neofobia incrementada y de hipoactividad motora basal, mientras que no evidencian problemas sensorimotores En un segundo estudio, se ha caracterizado el perfil cognitivo de ratones 3xTgAD de 4 meses de edad mediante la evaluación clásica de aprendizaje y memoria espacial en el laberinto acuático de Morris, al tiempo que se ha caracterizado el perfil emotivo mediante la medida de las respuestas conductuales en los test de Campo Abierto, la Tabla de 16 agujeros de Boissier, la Caja Blanca/Negra, el Laberinto en Cruz elevado, el Laberinto en túnel radial y la actividad exploratoria circadiana. Un objetivo esencial de este estudio ha sido, además, valorar la capacidad de la estimulación postnatal (durante los primeros 21 días de vida) para prevenir algunos de los déficits o alteraciones (cognitivas o/y emocionales) que presentan los ratones 3xTgAD de 4 meses. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran que estos animales presentan alteraciones cognitivas en el laberinto acuático de Morris a los 4 meses de edad, y una incrementada inhibición conductual en respuesta a la novedad, como reflejo de miedo/ansiedad. Se han hallado diferencias de género, tanto en los test que muestran emotividad como actividad locomotora, siendo los machos 3xTgAD los que muestran una menor conducta ansiosa y una hiperactividad motora (respecto a las hembras transgénicas). El tratamiento de Estimulación Postnatal tiende a reducir el miedo/ansiedad, así como la hiperactividad relativa de los ratones 3xTgAD. Asímismo, la estimulación postnatal reduce significativamente los déficits cognitivos, de aprendizaje espacial, que muestran los ratones 3xTgAD. En conclusión, los resultados replican los datos conductuales existentes en la literatura respecto a las fases iniciales de la neuropatología en ratón 3xTgAD y aportan nuevas evidencias sobre el perfil no cognitivo y emotivo de estos animales. Los resultados refuerzan también la hipótesis de que la beta-amiloide intraneuronal podría ser un marcador primario en el deterioro de la EA, así como que el tratamiento de Estimulación Postnatal presenta una capacidad protectora frente a los déficits cognitivos asociados a la enfermedad en etapas tempranas, además de efectos normalizadores de respuestas no cognitivas o emocionales. / The triple-transgenic mouse (3xTg_AD), harboring PS1M146V, APPswe,TauP301L human transgenes and mimicking many critical hallmarks of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), show a temporal profile and specific anatomical pattern that reproduces the neuropathological progression which occurs in the human AD brain. This mice model progressively develops memory deficits and behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) at early ages, when no overt neuropathology is observed yet but intraneuronal amyloid Aβ-peptide (Aβ) has been described. The first aim of this thesis was to perform a behavioural screening of cognitive deficits and BPSD symptoms at several stages of development of these transgenic animals. We have assessed the basic sensorimotor abilities, neophobic responses and circadian rhythms of motor activity in 3xTgAD mice at young (2 months old), adult (4 and 6 months when only intraneuronal Aβ immunoreactivity has been described) and older ages (9, 12 and 15 months, where there are progressive and increased Aβ neuropathology and extracellular tangles of tau protein). The results indicate that, at all ages, 3xTgAD mice show signs of neophobia and baseline motor hypoactivity, whereas they show no evidence of sensorimotor problems. Likewise, we have characterized the behavioral phenotype of 3xTgAD mice at 4 months of age, including the assessment of cognitive processes as well as BPSD symptoms. Animals were tested for spatial learning and memory in the Morris water maze, while the non cognitive profile was characterized by measuring neophobia (“corner test” index measure), exploratory and emotional/anxiety-like behaviour (Open Field test), anxiety (dark-light box and plus-maze tests), exploration and novelty-seeking behaviors (Boissier’s 16 hole-board) and circadian spontaneus activity (activity cage and radial tunnel-maze tests). On the other hand, early postnatal handling (PH, tactile stimulation administered from postnatal days 1 to 21) is an early-life treatment known to produce profound and long-lasting behavioural and neurobiological effects. Emotionality, reactivity to stressors and exploratory behaviour as well as the functionality of several neurotransmitter systems can be enduringly altered by this procedure. The present study was also aimed at describing the long-lasting effects of PH on the behavioural profile (both cognitive and non-cognitive) of male and female 3xTgAD mice at early stages of the disease, i.e. at 4 months of age. The results obtained show that 3xTgAD mice displayed an impaired spatial learning capacity at 4 months of age as compared to controls. Likewise, we have found gender differences, with 3xTgAD males showing better spatial learning, less anxious behavior and higher levels of motor hyperactivity than 3xTgAD females. Moreover, PH treatment reduced the excessive hyperactivity observed in 3xTgAD males and attenuated anxiety in females. Remarcably, PH treatment improved the acquisition of spatial place learning in the Morris water maze and decreased (the excessive) swimming speed in 3xTgAD mice. Therefore, the results clearly indicate that postnatal handling may exert a preventive effect on both emotional and cognitive alterations which are characteristic of the 3xTgAD model of Alzheimer’s disease.

<p>Bakgrund: BB vården i de västerländska länderna har genomgått stora förändringar desenaste decennierna. Trots detta visar studier på att ett stort antal kvinnors inte är nöjda medden vård de fått efter barnets födelse. Syfte: Syftet med denna litteraturöversikt är att beskrivanyförlösta kvinnors upplevelser i samband med BB vård på sjukhus. Metod: Enlitteraturöversikt baserad på tio vetenskapliga artiklar med både kvalitativ och kvantitativmetod. Resultat: Fyra huvudteman framkom vid analysen av artiklarna; information,vårdorganisation och vårdmiljö, bemötande och attityder samt stöd. Det visade sig finnasväldigt många olika faktorer som påverkade kvinnors upplevelser av BB vården. Dessa kundevara mer eller mindre betydelsefulla för olika kvinnor. Kunskapen om detta kan bidra till attvårdpersonalen får en ökad förståelse för att varje nyförlöst kvinna är en unik individ medegna specifika önskemål och behov och att BB vården inte får generaliseras. Diskussion: Densjukhusförlagda BB vården måste bedrivas så att den uppfyller kravet på god vård. Detta föratt förhindra att nyförlösta kvinnor upplever onödigt vårdlidande.</p> / <p>Background: Postnatal care in western countries has undergone major changes in recentdecades. Despite this, studies show that many women are not satisfied with the care theyreceived after the birth. Objective: The purpose of this literature review is to describewomen's experiences of postnatal hospital care. Method: A literature review based on tenscientific articles in both qualitative and quantitative approach. Result: Four major themesemerged from the analysis of the articles; information, health care organization and healthcare environment, encounter and attitudes and support. It proved to be very many differentfactors that influenced women's experiences of postnatal care. These could be more or lessimportant for different women. Knowledge of this can contribute to health care professionalswith a better understanding of that each woman that recently given birth is a unique individualwith their own specific wants and needs and that postnatal care can not be generalized.Discussion: The postnatal hospital care must be conducted so that it meets the requirement ofgood care. This is to prevent unnecessary care suffering among women that recently givenbirth.</p>

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No description available.

Omega-3 fatty acids are increasingly recognised as playing an important role in human brain development and mental health. The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) include omega-3 and omega-6 fats which are essential fatty acids (EFAs), consumed via the diet. Omega-3 fatty acids are particularly abundant in fish oils. The omega-3 fatty acids are being focused on for their role in depression, the main types being docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is abundant in neural tissue, and also eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) which is biologically very active. There is an emerging literature in relation to omega-3 fatty acid blood levels in depression and the effects of treatment with omega-3. Strong epidemiological evidence has also been published indicating an association between a population's fish intake and depression rates. A specific research focus on omega-3 as a treatment for depression in the perinatal period is also starting to emerge. The importance of this particular area is enhanced by the knowledge that omega-3 depletion occurs during the perinatal period due to fetal diversion for neurodevelopment. In view of the lay public promotion of omega-3 and its appeal to women as a 'natural therapy', there is a need to scientifically evaluate its effectiveness to treat depression in the perinatal period. It is also important to investigate omega-3 as an alternative to antidepressants given the ongoing uncertainties regarding their safety in pregnancy. In this thesis a literature review presents current research relating to this field. This is followed by a description of the methodology and results for the two trials conducted. The results of the double-blind randomised placebo controlled trial of omega-3 as a treatment for depression in the perinatal period were essentially negative. However this result is limited by the small sample size in the study and therefore it may be unwise to interpret the result as conclusive. The case-control study confirmed the hypothesis that omega-3 levels were more depleted in depressed women compared to non-depressed women. A discussion of the results and trial limitations then follows in the thesis. It is concluded that further larger studies are warranted in this area.

This thesis is an ethnography of the postnatal experiences of South Asian migrant women in Perth, Western Australia. I examine cultural differences relating to mothering and argue that the South Asian culture in which these migrant women were socialized can impact greatly on how they experience the feelings of what is called “postnatal depression” in the Western medical arena. I carried out ethnographic research among the members of the Bangladeshi and Indian communities in Perth. The main focus group of this study is first time mothers who gave birth in Australia, but I also worked with other women who had grown up children. Due to migration the South Asian women and their families experienced social isolation, cultural differences, language difficulties, economic hardship and low job satisfaction. Moreover, when these women gave birth in Perth they were faced with a lack of physical and emotional support, and also distress at not being able to perform their traditional birth rituals. Their difficult situations led the women to cry, feel despondent, to suffer and to experience a sense of hopelessness. Their painful postnatal feelings can be defined as an illness - depression - by the Western medicine. However, I found these women did not perceive their negative postnatal feelings as an illness, but accepted them as a part of life. I analysed these women’s postnatal psychological understandings about “postnatal depression” by examining the South Asian convention of female virtue which is practiced through restrictions on female behaviour. The migrant women in my study, having internalizing the South Asian cultural schema of womanhood, articulate their negative postnatal feelings as a prerequisite of motherhood. In this thesis I argue that feelings are not the totality of experience, rather, experience is also formulated by the particular sociocultural perspective of the individual who is having the experience. The culture a person belongs to, defines how that person will experience his or her feelings. I also suggest that it is possible to modify dysphoric affect by altering the meaning of feelings

Thesis (M.A.)--Northern Kentucky University, 2007. / Made available through ProQuest. Publication number: AAT 1447087. ProQuest document ID: 1414126931. Includes bibliographical references (p. 38-40)