A process of healing for the Labrador Innu: Improving health and wellbeing in the context of historical and contemporary colonialism.

In light of the negative effects of historical and contemporary colonialism on the Labrador Innu, healing initiatives grounded in self-determination, renewal of cultural practices, and non-reliance on Western bio-medicine, are known, taught and widely practiced among the Innu. The value of Indigenous healing practices in the treatment of Indigenous people is well-recognized in Indigenous wellness literature, yet non-Indigenous health practitioners know little about healing processes. Moreover, to our knowledge, no studies have examined any contemporary Labrador Innu healing process. The main aim of this paper is to describe the process of healing among the Innu. Although there may be multiple processes of healing, we shed light on a major process that emerged from interviews and focus groups with 39 participants. Five stages of healing were described: being "under the blanket"; finding spiritual strength; extending hands out; finding strength and power; and helping others. Findings highlighted enablement of healing through spiritualities, support from Elders, return to culture, and resistance to negative stereotypes. We provide health professionals with valuable information for considering Innu healing as a model that expands their views for the benefit of Innu seeking mental health services. Implications for non-Innu health and social service providers are about broadening their understanding of the significant role of self-determination among Innu, learning Innu ways-of-knowing and being, recognizing one's own biases, and acknowledging the power imbalances between themselves and Innu people.

Fostering the conduct of ethical and equitable research practices: the imperative for integrated knowledge translation in research conducted by and with indigenous community members.

PLAIN ENGLISH SUMMARY: Integrated knowledge translation is a research approach in which researchers work as partners with the people for whom the research is meant to be of use. A partnered approach can support the use of Indigenous ways of knowing in health research that may then be used in health care. This is important as current health care models do not often support Indigenous values, ways of knowing, and care practices. We describe 1) why it is necessary to co-create knowledge that includes the voices of Indigenous community members, 2) how integrated knowledge translation is a way of doing research that includes many views and 3) how integrated knowledge translation can help those involved in research to agree upon and uphold ethical ways of doing research. Integrated knowledge translation may be used to include Indigenous ways of knowing into mainstream health research and to improve health systems. The use of an integrated knowledge translation approach in research may guide researchers to be research partners with Indigenous people and groups. Integrated knowledge translation may be a way to do research that is respectful and to ensure that Indigenous ways of knowing are included in both health research and health care systems. ABSTRACT: Background Indigenous people are affected by major health issues at much higher rates than for general populations, and Western health care models do not respond or align with Indigenous values, knowledge systems, and care practices. Knowledge translation (KT) describes ways of moving knowledge from theory into health systems' applications, although there are limitations and concerns related to the effectiveness and contributions of Western-informed approaches to research and KT practices that promote health with Indigenous groups. Integrated KT is an approach to research that engages researchers with the people for whom the research is ultimately meant to be of use ("knowledge users") throughout the entire research process. Integrated KT is done in ways that knowledge users may define as useful, relevant, and applicable in practice, and may also be viewed as complementary to Indigenous health research principles. Main In this paper, we raise and discuss questions posed to researchers by Indigenous knowledge-users about perspectives on health research, researchers, and research institutions, and focus on the role and ethical imperative for integrated KT in Indigenous health research. We describe: 1) why it is necessary to co-create knowledge that includes the voices of Indigenous community members within institutional academic spaces such as universities; 2) how integrated KT accommodates Indigenous and Western-informed perspectives in community-research partnerships throughout the research process; and 3) how an integrated KT approach can help those involved in research to define, agree upon and uphold ethical practices. We argue that integrated KT as a collaborative research practice can create opportunities and space within institutional academic settings for different knowledges to coexist and improve health systems. Most importantly, we argue that integrated KT in Indigenous research contexts includes Indigenous KT. Conclusion The use of integrated KT facilitates opportunities to further define and develop understandings about collaborative approaches to research with Indigenous research partners and that may contribute to respectful inclusion of Indigenous KT practices and processes within institutional academic settings. In the pursuit of useful, relevant and applicable knowledge, those within Western research and health systems must examine and expand upon collaborative approaches to KT.

Whole-blood viscosity increases significantly in small arteries and capillaries in hemodiafiltration. Does acute hemorheological change trigger cardiovascular risk events in hemodialysis patient?

Whole-blood viscosity is increasingly being recognized as a factor implicated in the vascular disease progression in high-risk chronic kidney disease patients. Intermittent hemodialysis and hemodiafiltration sessions, characterized by rapid volume changes and anemia correction by erythropoietin stimulating agents, are favorable conditions for enhancing whole-blood viscosity changes and consequently triggering cardiovascular events. To evaluate whole-blood viscosity changes induced by hemodiafiltration, a cross-sectional study has been performed in a group of 28 stable patients. In order to assess the impact of vessel size on whole-blood viscosity changes, we performed a dynamic whole viscosity analysis on a wide spectrum of shear rates reproducing vasculature hemorheologic conditions. Blood viscosity changes are dependent on patient characteristics, hemoglobin, and total plasma protein concentrations. Whole blood viscosity increases significantly during hemodiafiltration over the complete spectrum of shear rates. Dynamic whole-blood viscosity (WBV) increases up to 60%, predominantly at low shear rates in small arterioles and capillary beds. This observation underlines the potential pathogenic contribution of WBV increase in capillaries triggering cardiovascular events in the postdialysis period. Eight patients died from cardiovascular events. Higher WBV increase was noted in this group but did not reach statistical significance due to the insufficient power of the study. Hemorheological changes associated with WBV increase in capillary beds may contribute to aggravate silent tissue hypoxemia and precipitate cardiovascular events in chronic kidney disease patients. Prospective studies specifically designed and powered to evaluate the impact of WBV changes on cardiovascular events in dialysis patients are required.