9 results on '"Emma Yhnell"'
Search Results
2. The safety of at home powdered infant formula preparation: A community science project
- Author
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Aimee Grant, Sara Jones, Vicky Sibson, Rebecca Ellis, Abbie Dolling, Tara McNamara, Jonie Cooper, Susan Dvorak, Sharon Breward, Phyll Buchanan, Emma Yhnell, and Amy Brown
- Subjects
breast milk substitutes ,child health ,food safety ,infant feeding ,infant formula ,PIF ,Pediatrics ,RJ1-570 ,Gynecology and obstetrics ,RG1-991 ,Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases ,RC620-627 - Abstract
Abstract Formula fed infants experience gastrointestinal infections at higher rates than breastfed infants, due in part to bacteria in powdered infant formula (PIF) and bacterial contamination of infant feeding equipment. The United Kingdom National Health Service (UK NHS) has adopted the World Health Organization recommendation that water used to reconstitute PIF is ≥70°C to eliminate bacteria. We used community science methods to co‐design an at home experiment and online questionnaire (‘research diary’) to explore the safety of PIF preparation compared to UK NHS guidelines. 200 UK‐based parents of infants aged ≤12 months were recruited; 151 provided data on PIF preparation, and 143 were included in the analysis of water temperatures used to reconstitute PIF. Only 14.9% (n = 11) of 74 PIF preparation machines produced a water temperature of ≥70°C compared with 78.3% (n = 54) of 69 kettle users (p
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. A randomised feasibility study of computerised cognitive training as a therapeutic intervention for people with Huntington’s disease (CogTrainHD)
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Emma Yhnell, Hannah Furby, Rachel S. Lowe, Lucy C. Brookes-Howell, Cheney J. G. Drew, Rebecca Playle, Gareth Watson, Claudia Metzler-Baddeley, Anne E. Rosser, and Monica E. Busse
- Subjects
Huntington’s disease ,Cognition ,Executive function training ,Cognitive training ,Brain training ,Feasibility ,Medicine (General) ,R5-920 - Abstract
Abstract Background Huntington’s disease (HD) is associated with a range of cognitive deficits including problems with executive function. In the absence of a disease modifying treatment, cognitive training has been proposed as a means of slowing cognitive decline; however, the impact of cognitive training in HD patient populations remains unclear. The CogTrainHD study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of home-based computerised executive function training, for people impacted by HD. Methods Thirty HD gene carriers were recruited and randomised to either executive function training or non-intervention control groups. Participants allocated to the intervention group were asked to complete executive function training three times a week for 30 min for 12 weeks in their own homes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants and friends, family or carers, to determine their views on the study. Results 26 out of 30 participants completed the baseline assessments and were subsequently randomised: 13 to the control group and 13 to the intervention group. 23 of the 30 participants were retained until study completion: 10/13 in the intervention group and 13/13 in the control group. 4/10 participants fully adhered to the executive function training. All participants in the control group 13/13 completed the study as intended. Interview data suggested several key facilitators including participant determination, motivation, incorporation of the intervention into routine and support from friends and family members. Practical limitations, including lack of time, difficulty and frustration in completing the intervention, were identified as barriers to study completion. Conclusions The CogTrainHD feasibility study provides important evidence regarding the feasibility and acceptability of a home-based cognitive training intervention for people with HD. Variable adherence to the cognitive training implies that the intervention is not feasible to all participants in its current form. The study has highlighted important aspects in relation to both the study and intervention design that require consideration, and these include the design of games in the executive function training software, logistical considerations such as lack of time, the limited time participants had to complete the intervention and the number of study visits required. Further studies are necessary before computerised executive function training can be recommended routinely for people with HD. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, Registry number NCT02990676 .
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- 2020
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- View/download PDF
4. Exploring computerised cognitive training as a therapeutic intervention for people with Huntington’s disease (CogTrainHD): protocol for a randomised feasibility study
- Author
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Emma Yhnell, Hannah Furby, Rachel S. Breen, Lucy C. Brookes-Howell, Cheney J. G. Drew, Rebecca Playle, Gareth Watson, Claudia Metzler-Baddeley, Anne E. Rosser, and Monica E. Busse
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Huntington’s disease ,Cognition ,Computerised cognitive training ,Feasibility study ,Medicine (General) ,R5-920 - Abstract
Abstract Background Cognitive impairments, especially deficits of executive function, have been well documented as a core and early feature in Huntington’s disease (HD). Cognitive impairments represent considerable burden and can be devastating for people and families affected by HD. Computerised cognitive training interventions that focus on improving executive function present a possible non-pharmacological treatment option. We propose to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriate outcome measures for use in a randomised controlled feasibility study. Methods/design Participants will be randomised into either a computerised cognitive training group or a control group. Those randomised to the training group will be asked to complete a cognitive training intervention based on the HappyNeuron Pro software tasks of executive function, for a minimum of 30 min, three times a week for the 12-week study duration. Participants in the control group will not receive computerised cognitive training but will receive a similar degree of social interaction via equivalent study and home visits. We will explore quantitative outcome measures, including measures of cognitive performance, motor function, questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures in a subset of participants. Feasibility will be determined through assessment of recruitment, retention, adherence and acceptability of the intervention. Discussion The results of this study will provide crucial guidance and information regarding the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled study into computerised cognitive training in HD. This study is crucial for the development of larger definitive randomised controlled trials which are powered to determine efficacy and for the development of future cognitive training programmes for people affected by HD. Trial registration The study is registered on clinicaltrials.gov and has the unique identifier NCT02990676.
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- 2018
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5. Reviving the Lecture: Using Visually Dynamic Approaches to Teach Physiological Concepts
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Simon C. Cork and Emma Yhnell
- Abstract
The educational benefit of the traditional didactic lecture to learners in Higher Education is hotly debated. Given increasing student numbers, existing technical set ups and many logistical concerns, lectures remain the norm in many Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). In this personal view piece, we discuss the benefits, opportunities, and challenges of incorporating dynamic teaching approaches, including "draw-alongs" and animations into undergraduate lectures, typically with large class sizes, to create more engaging and interactive lectures for learners.
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- 2024
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6. A Longitudinal Operant Assessment of Cognitive and Behavioural Changes in the HdhQ111 Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease.
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Emma Yhnell, Stephen B Dunnett, and Simon P Brooks
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Medicine ,Science - Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is characterised by motor symptoms which are often preceded by cognitive and behavioural changes, that can significantly contribute to disease burden for people living with HD. Numerous knock-in mouse models of HD are currently available for scientific research. However, before their use, they must be behaviourally characterised to determine their suitability in recapitulating the symptoms of the human condition. Thus, we sought to longitudinally characterise the nature, severity and time course of cognitive and behavioural changes observed in HdhQ111 heterozygous knock-in mice.To determine changes in cognition and behaviour an extensive battery of operant tests including: fixed ratio, progressive ratio, the five choice serial reaction time task and the serial implicit learning task, were applied longitudinally to HdhQ111 and wild type mice. The operant test battery was conducted at 6, 12 and 18 months of age. Significant deficits were observed in HdhQ111 animals in comparison to wild type animals in all operant tests indicating altered cognition (attentional and executive function) and motivation. However, the cognitive and behavioural deficits observed were not shown to be progressive over time in the longitudinal testing paradigm that was utilised. The results therefore demonstrate that the HdhQ111 mouse model of HD reflects some features of the cognitive and behavioural changes shown in the human condition of HD. Although, the cognitive and behavioural deficits demonstrated were not shown to be progressive over time.
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- 2016
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7. A randomised feasibility study of computerised cognitive training as a therapeutic intervention for people with Huntington's disease (CogTrainHD)
- Author
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Monica Busse, Emma Yhnell, Anne Elizabeth Rosser, Claudia Metzler-Baddeley, Gareth Watson, Lucy Brookes-Howell, Rebecca Playle, Rachel Lowe, Hannah Furby, and Cheney Drew
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medicine.medical_specialty ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,Disease ,Interview data ,Brain training ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Cognition ,Huntington's disease ,Intervention (counseling) ,Medicine ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Cognitive decline ,lcsh:R5-920 ,business.industry ,Gene carrier ,Research ,Executive function training ,Feasibility ,medicine.disease ,Cognitive training ,Adherence ,Physical therapy ,lcsh:Medicine (General) ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Huntington’s disease - Abstract
BackgroundHuntington’s disease (HD) is associated with a range of cognitive deficits including problems with executive function. In the absence of a disease modifying treatment, cognitive training has been proposed as a means of slowing cognitive decline; however, the impact of cognitive training in HD patient populations remains unclear. The CogTrainHD study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of home-based computerised executive function training, for people impacted by HD.MethodsThirty HD gene carriers were recruited and randomised to either executive function training or non-intervention control groups. Participants allocated to the intervention group were asked to complete executive function training three times a week for 30 min for 12 weeks in their own homes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants and friends, family or carers, to determine their views on the study.Results26 out of 30 participants completed the baseline assessments and were subsequently randomised: 13 to the control group and 13 to the intervention group. 23 of the 30 participants were retained until study completion: 10/13 in the intervention group and 13/13 in the control group. 4/10 participants fully adhered to the executive function training. All participants in the control group 13/13 completed the study as intended. Interview data suggested several key facilitators including participant determination, motivation, incorporation of the intervention into routine and support from friends and family members. Practical limitations, including lack of time, difficulty and frustration in completing the intervention, were identified as barriers to study completion.ConclusionsThe CogTrainHD feasibility study provides important evidence regarding the feasibility and acceptability of a home-based cognitive training intervention for people with HD. Variable adherence to the cognitive training implies that the intervention is not feasible to all participants in its current form. The study has highlighted important aspects in relation to both the study and intervention design that require consideration, and these include the design of games in the executive function training software, logistical considerations such as lack of time, the limited time participants had to complete the intervention and the number of study visits required. Further studies are necessary before computerised executive function training can be recommended routinely for people with HD.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, Registry numberNCT02990676.
- Published
- 2020
8. A Longitudinal Motor Characterisation of the HdhQ111 Mouse Model of Huntington’s Disease
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Stephen B. Dunnett, Emma Yhnell, and Simon Philip Brooks
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0301 basic medicine ,Oncology ,Research Report ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Pathology ,Genotype ,mouse model ,Mice, Transgenic ,Nerve Tissue Proteins ,Disease ,Motor Activity ,Rotarod performance test ,03 medical and health sciences ,Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience ,Mice ,0302 clinical medicine ,Huntington's disease ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,Longitudinal Studies ,Muscle Strength ,Postural Balance ,Gait Disorders, Neurologic ,Balance (ability) ,Analysis of Variance ,Huntingtin Protein ,Body Weight ,Wild type ,Nuclear Proteins ,medicine.disease ,motor characterisation and longitudinal ,Transplantation ,Mice, Inbred C57BL ,Disease Models, Animal ,030104 developmental biology ,Huntington Disease ,Gait analysis ,Rotarod Performance Test ,Mutation ,Sensation Disorders ,RC0321 ,Neurology (clinical) ,Analysis of variance ,Psychology ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Huntington’s disease - Abstract
Background: Huntington’s disease (HD) is a rare, incurable neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG trinucleotide expansion with the first exon of the huntingtin gene. Numerous knock-in mouse models are currently available for modelling HD. However, before their use in scientific research, these models must be characterised to determine their face and predictive validity as models of the disease and their reliability in recapitulating HD symptoms.\ud Objective: Manifest HD is currently diagnosed upon the onset of motor symptoms, thus we sought to longitudinally characterise the progression and severity of motor signs in the HdhQ111 knock-in mouse model of HD, in heterozygous mice.\ud Methods: An extensive battery of motor tests including: rotarod, inverted lid test, balance beam, spontaneous locomotor activity and gait analysis were applied longitudinally to a cohort of HdhQ111 heterozygous mice in order to progressively assess motor function.\ud Results: A progressive failure to gain body weight was demonstrated from 11 months of age and motor problems in all measures of balance beam performance were shown in HdhQ111 heterozygous animals in comparison to wild type control animals from 9 months of age. A decreased latency to fall from the rotarod was demonstrated in HdhQ111 heterozygous animals in comparison to wild type animals, although this was not progressive with time. No genotype specific differences were demonstrated in any of the other motor tests included in the test battery.\ud Conclusions: The HdhQ111 heterozygous mouse demonstrates a subtle and progressive motor phenotype that begins at 9 months of age. This mouse model represents an early disease stage and would be ideal for testing therapeutic strategies that require elongated lead-in times, such as viral gene therapies or striatal transplantation.
- Published
- 2016
9. Huntington's disease: of mice and men
- Author
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Emma Yhnell
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,cognitive training and ‘brain training’ ,mouse model ,translation ,Mice, Transgenic ,Editorial: Neuroscience ,Animals, Genetically Modified ,Translational Research, Biomedical ,Mice ,03 medical and health sciences ,Cognition ,0302 clinical medicine ,Huntington's disease ,Animals ,Humans ,Medicine ,Behavior, Animal ,business.industry ,medicine.disease ,R1 ,Disease Models, Animal ,Huntington Disease ,030104 developmental biology ,Oncology ,Disease Progression ,Cognition Disorders ,business ,Neuroscience ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Published
- 2017
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