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Background: Previous studies suggest that posterior cortical atrophy may be a useful marker for early onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is associated with less temporal lobe atrophy than AD, though posterior cortical atrophy may be greater. Therefore, we assessed whether visual rating scales for assessing posterior atrophy (PA), medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA), and ventricular enlargement (VEn) aid in the discrimination between AD, DLB, and normal aging.Methods: T1-weighted MRI scans acquired at 3 Tesla were visually rated for PA (range 0–3), MTA (range 0–4), and VEn (range 0–3) in older subjects with AD (n = 36), DLB (n = 35), and healthy controls (n = 35). The diagnostic utility of MTA, PA, and VEn visual ratings in distinguishing AD and DLB from controls as well as AD from DLB was investigated.Results: Significantly higher MTA ratings were associated with AD and DLB compared to controls (p < 0.001). MTA ratings were greater in AD relative to DLB (U = 384.5, p = 0.004). For PA ratings, scores did not differ between groups (p = 0.20). VEn ratings were significantly higher in AD and DLB compared to controls (p = 0.003), but similar between AD and DLB (U = 384.5, p = 0.4).Conclusions: Unlike findings reported in younger subjects, visual ratings for PA are not a reliable marker at older ages for distinguishing AD from controls, or for distinguishing DLB from AD. However, visual ratings of MTA and VEn may be useful markers in distinguishing both AD and DLB from older subjects without dementia.

I read with interest the recent editorial entitled ‘Jumping (or being pushed) from maternity care’.1 The overall conclusion that GPs should still play a role in maternity care is something that is echoed by the findings of a recent study I undertook following the Kings Fund report entitled, ‘The role of GPs in maternity care – what does the future hold?’.2 I issued a …

opted out of publication. Abstract #: 02ITIS023 Data sharing for neglected tropical disease drug discovery: Creating a framework for reducing redundancy and improving global collaboration M. Pollastri; Northeastern University, Boston, MA/US Program/Project Purpose: Context. With the ever widening interest in drug discovery for neglected tropical diseases, increasing numbers of academic and industrial research teams are performing medicinal chemistry optimization of potential new drug agents. One risk of this expansion is the duplication of effort caused by compartmentalized prosecution of research projects that are unknowingly focused on pursuing highly similar research directions. The root cause of this issue is the common practice of doing drug discovery research with high levels of confidentiality, a “best practice” that is typical in the for-profit pharmaceutical industry, where developing and protecting intellectual property (IP) is paramount. A new way of thinking about sharing and protecting research data for NTDs is needed. Project Period. January 2014-onward (indefinite). Why the program/project is in place. The development of a secure data sharing portal could strongly enhance and accelerate NTD drug discovery efforts worldwide, both by reducing redundancy and by engaging smaller, resource-constricted organizations who are performing drug discovery research. Aim. To establish, populate, and operate a new data sharing portal that supports drug discovery for neglected tropical diseases. Structure/Method/Design: Desired Outcomes. We intend to develop a self-sustaining, collaborative data sharing portal that captures chemical structure and biological screening data and that enables the collaborative and informed progression of NTD drug discovery projects, while balancing researchers’ desire for information protection (confidentiality). Participants: The recruitment of participants in the program has been primarily by word of mouth, utilizing social media platforms, professional scientific networks, research seminars and posters, and an opinion piece published in PLOSNeglected Tropical Diseases (DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.000286). Sustainability: Viability will be dictated by: (1) Engagement. We plan to have r portal teleconference meetings to discuss recent deposits and ongoing projects. In addition, we aspire to make available unique research resources for participating members in order to incentivize active participation. (2) Funding: we will seek funding from other organizations (NIH, BMGF) in order to further operate the portal. Outcomes & Evaluation: Successes We have secured $25,000 in funding via crowdfunding and established the database. We have also identified large tranches of data for deposit and shared, and have engaged other academic NTD drug discovery groups Monitoring. None conducted. Going Forward: Ongoing challenges? The primary challenge has been to recruit participants who will deposit data into the portal and agree to deposit new data on an ongoing basis. Are there any unmet goals? No How are/may future program activities change as a result? N/A Funding: The pilot phase of this project has been funded by a crowdfunding campaign ($25,000): Abstract #: 02ITIS024 An assessment of data quality in Haiti’s multi-site electronic medical record system N. Puttkammer, J. Baseman, B. Devine, N. Hyppolite, G. France, J. Honore, A. Matheson, S. Zeliadt, K. Yuhas, K. Sherr, J. Cadet, S. Barnhart; University of Washington, Seattle, WA/US, University of Washington, Seattle, WA/US, International Training and Education Center for Health (I-TECH)–Haiti, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Ministry of Health and Population (MSPP), Port-au-Prince, Haiti, National Program for Control of Malaria (PNCM), Port-au-Prince, Haiti Background: The World Health Organization has identified health information systems as a “building block” for health systems

An objective of all industrial legislation in Australia is that employees victimised because of their participation in the industrial relations system should be able to obtain legal redress. Thus it is sought to give remedies for conduct which Isaacs J. pithily described as amounting to a demand by an employer to an employee of “give up your claim or give up your billet”. Dr O'Donovan exhaustively analyses how the legislation of the Commonwealth and each of the States protects employees from victimisation on account of their union or industrial activities. Differences between the protection and redress given by each piece of legislation are detailed, while the Commonwealth provisions and cases concerning them are highlighted. The article concludes by suggesting matters for reform in this important area of industrial law.