Digital Commons Network^™

Patients’ Experiences Of A Communication Enhanced Environment Model On An Acute/Slow Stream Rehabilitation And A Rehabilitation Ward Following Stroke: A Qualitative Description Approach, Sarah D'Souza, Deborah J. Hersh, Erin Godecke, Natalie Ciccone, Heidi Janssen, Elizabeth Armstrong

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

Patients in hospital following stroke express a desire to continue therapy tasks outside of treatment activities. However, they commonly describe experiences of boredom and inactivity. An enriched environment aims to provide opportunities for physical, cognitive and social activity and informed the development of a Communication Enhanced Environment (CEE) model to promote patient engagement in language activities.

Purpose

Explore patient perceptions of a CEE model, and barriers and facilitators to engagement in the model.

Methods

A qualitative description study from a larger project that implemented a CEE model into acute and rehabilitation private hospital wards in Western Australia. Semi-structured interviews …

It Cannot Happen, Never: A Qualitative Study Exploring Youth Views On Disclosure Of Hiv Diagnosis To Their Sexual Partners In Southern Malawi, Maggie Zgambo, Diana Arabiat, Deborah M. Ireson Dr

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

With the availability of antiretroviral therapy, more children living with HIV live longer than before and grow into young adulthood. This study examined the concerns of youth about disclosure of an HIV diagnosis to their sexual partners and attempted to gain an understanding of their HIV status disclosure experiences, views, and plans. A focused ethnography was undertaken. Using semi-structured interviews, data were collected from 20 youth between the ages of 15 and 24 years who were attending an HIV clinic. The findings highlight that youth generally struggled to disclose their HIV status to their sexual partners. The most frequent reasons …

Host Defence Peptides In Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Patients With Periodontal Disease. A Systematic Review, Muhammad Saad Shaikh, Muhammad Sohail Zafar, Farhan Saleem, Ahmad Alnazzawi, Mohid Abrar Lone, Syed Jawad Ali Bukhari, Zohaib Khurshid

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The aim of the study was to critically assess and review the latest evidence relating the associations between host defence peptides (HDPs), periodontal diseases (PD) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). To explore studies on HDPs, periodontal disease, and DM2, researchers utilised specific key phrases to search the electronic databases PubMed (National Library of Medicine), Embase (Ovid), Medline (EBSCO), and Dentistry and Oral Sciences (EBSCO). Quality assessment was conducted by means of the Newcastle Ottawa scale and the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) tool. Following a thorough screening process, a total of 12 papers (4 case‐control, 6 …

Uptake Of Health Services By Youth Living With Hiv: A Focused Ethnography, Maggie Zgambo, Diana Arabiat, Deb Ireson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

Although several programs have been initiated to increase the uptake of health services amongst youth living with human immunodeficiency virus in the world, disparities in access to these care services still exist.

Aim:

This study aimed to explore the experiences of young people as they attend the human immunodeficiency virus clinic and to identify factors affecting their uptake of health services in southern Malawi.

Methods:

A focused ethnography was conducted to collect data from 20 youths living with human immunodeficiency virus and aged between 15 and 24 years through one-on-one in-depth interviews and casual observations. The interviews data were …

Variation Of Igg N-Linked Glycosylation Profile In Diabetic Retinopathy, Zhiyuan Wu, Huiying Pan, Di Liu, Di Zhou, Lixin Tao, Jie Zhang, Xiaonan Wang, Xia Li, Youxin Wang, Wei Wang, Xiuhua Guo

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

The relationship of immunoglobulin G (IgG) glycosylation with diabetes and diabetic nephropathy has been reported, but its role in diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate and validate the association of IgG glycosylation with DR.

Methods:

We analyzed the IgG N-linked glycosylation profile and primarily selected candidate glycans by lasso (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) regression analysis in the discovery population. The findings were validated in the replication population using a binary logistics model. The association between the significant glycosylation panel and clinical features was illustrated with Spearman's coefficient. The results were confirmed by sensitivity analyses. …

Construct Validity And Invariance Assessment Of The Social Impacts Of Occupational Heat Stress Scale (Siohss) Among Ghanaian Mining Workers, Victor F. Nunfam, Ebenezer Afrifa-Yamoah, Kwadwo Adusei-Asante, Eddie J. Van Etten, Kwasi Frimpong, Isaac Adjei-Mensah, Jacques Oosthuizen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Heat exposure studies over the last decade have shown little attention in assessing and reporting the psychometric properties of the various scales used to measure impacts of occupational heat stress on workers. A descriptive cross-sectional survey including 320 small- and large-scale mining workers was employed to assess the construct validity of the social impacts of occupational heat stress scale (SIOHSS) in the Western Region of Ghana in 2017. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and invariance analysis were carried out using AMOS version 25 and statistical product and service solutions (SPSS) version 26 to examine the model fit and establish consistency …

The Influence Of Mental Fatigue On Sessional Ratings Of Perceived Exertion In Elite Open And Closed Skill Sports Athletes, Joseph O. C. Coyne, Aaron J. Coutts, Robert U. Newton, G. Gregory Haff

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

ABSTRACT: Coyne, JOC, Coutts, AJ, Newton, RU, and Haff, GG. The influence of mental fatigue on sessional ratings of perceived exertion in elite open and closed skill sports athletes. J Strength Cond Res 35(4): 963-969, 2021-The main purpose of this investigation was to examine influence of mental fatigue on sessional ratings of perceived exertion (sRPE) over a training week in elite athletes in open skill (OS, i.e., more unpredictable and externally paced sports) and closed skill (CS, i.e., more predictable and internally paced) sports. Visual analogue scales for mental fatigue, sRPE (CR-10 scale), and training duration were collected from an …

Fitness Testing Parameters For Alpine Ski Racing, James J. Pritchard

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Alpine ski racing requires high levels of isometric, eccentric, and concentric muscle actions through wide ranges of hip, knee, and ankle mobility. The course duration of ∼ 40 seconds for slalom racing to upward of 2.5 minutes for downhill racing necessitates high levels of anaerobic endurance, aerobic power, and force production to be successful. In addition, due to the highly technical skill aspect of ski racing, neuromuscular coordination is of utmost importance. This review identifies the most effective performance testing methods for alpine ski racing, as well as highlighting their relevance to the physiological parameters of the sport.

A Quantitative Exploration Of The Relationships Between Regular Yoga Practice, Microdosing Psychedelics, Wellbeing And Personality Variables, Stephen Bright, Eyal Gringart, Emily Blatchford, Samantha Bettinson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Objective:

The current study aimed to explore whether the subjective effects of microdosing psychedelics are comparable to those of yoga in relation to psychological wellbeing, depression, anxiety and stress. It also explored the relationship between yoga, microdosing and personality.

Method:

The sample comprised 339 participants, yoga (n = 131), microdose (n = 69), microdose and yoga (n = 54) and control (n = 85). All completed measures of personality (M5-50 and Tellegen Absorption Scale), mood (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21) and wellbeing (Ryff Scales of Psychological Wellbeing).

Results:

The yoga and microdosing groups scored significantly higher on psychological wellbeing and …

Intake Of Products Containing Anthocyanins, Flavanols, And Flavanones, And Cognitive Function: A Narrative Review, Samantha L. Gardener, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Michael Weinborn, Catherine P. Bondonno, Ralph N. Martins

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The purpose of this review is to examine human research studies published within the past 6 years which evaluate the role of anthocyanin, flavanol, and flavanone consumption in cognitive function, and to discuss potential mechanisms of action underlying any observed benefits. Evidence to date suggests the consumption of flavonoid-rich foods, such as berries and cocoa, may have the potential to limit, or even reverse, age-related declines in cognition. Over the last 6 years, the flavonoid subgroups of anthocyanins, flavanols, and flavanones have been shown to be beneficial in terms of conferring neuroprotection. The mechanisms by which flavonoids positively modulate cognitive …

Influence Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Mood And Training In Australian Community Tennis Players, Mitchell Turner, Philipp Beranek, Shane L. Rogers, Kazunori Nosaka, Olivier Girard, Travis Cruickshank

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The COVID-19 outbreak has led to the implementation of strict restrictions in Australia, which have severely impacted sporting activities. Tennis is played by 6.2% of the population within the Oceania region, and is a valuable sport for maintaining social, mental, and physical health. Current literature indicates the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the mental health of Australian residents. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in training and match play due to the outbreak, and its effects on emotional well-being of Australian senior tennis players. Additionally, explore any differences between middle aged (41-60 years) and senior (61 years …

Deep Learning For 3d Ear Detection: A Complete Pipeline From Data Generation To Segmentation, Md Mursalin, Syed Mohammed Shamsul Islam

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The human ear has distinguishing features that can be used for identification. Automated ear detection from 3D profile face images plays a vital role in ear-based human recognition. This work proposes a complete pipeline including synthetic data generation and ground-truth data labeling for ear detection in 3D point clouds. The ear detection problem is formulated as a semantic part segmentation problem that detects the ear directly in 3D point clouds of profile face data. We introduce EarNet, a modified version of the PointNet++ architecture, and apply rotation augmentation to handle different pose variations in the real data. We demonstrate that …

Prevalence Of Abdominal Obesity In Chinese Middle-Aged And Older Adults With A Normal Body Mass Index And Its Association With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Nationally Representative Cohort Study From 2011 To 2018, Xuan Chen, Mingrui Duan, Rui Hou, Manqi Zheng, Haibin Li, Manjot Singh, Changwei Li, Kuo Liu, Feng Zhang, Xinghua Yang, Yanxia Luo, Yan He, Lijuan Wu, Deqiang Zheng

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Few studies have focused on the prevalence of abdominal obesity in Chinese middle-aged and older adults with a normal body mass index (BMI). Furthermore, it is still unclear whether abdominal obesity is an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Participants with a normal BMI are usually neglected during assessments of abdominal obesity-associated T2DM risk since the current recommendations for medical interventions are mainly focused on overall body mass index rather than fat deposition patterns. Methods: In this study, 7942 normal-BMI participants aged over 45 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were included to …

Estimating The Magnitude And Risk Associated With Heat Exposure Among Ghanaian Mining Workers, Victor Fannam Nunfam, Kwadwo Adusei-Asante, Eddie Van Etten, Kwasi Frimpong, Jacques Oosthuizen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Many occupational settings located outdoors in direct sun, such as open cut mining, pose a health, safety, and productivity risk to workers because of their increased exposure to heat. This issue is exacerbated by climate change effects, the physical nature of the work, the requirement to work extended shifts and the need to wear protective clothing which restricts evaporative cooling. Though Ghana has a rapidly expanding mining sector with a large workforce, there appears to be no study that has assessed the magnitude and risk of heat exposure on mining workers and its potential impact on this workforce. Questionnaires and …

Glycosylation Of Igg Associates With Hypertension And Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Comorbidity In The Chinese Muslim Ethnic Minorities And The Han Chinese, Xiaoni Meng, Manshu Song, Marija Vilaj, Jerko Štambuk, Mamatyusupu Dolikun, Jie Zhang, Di Liu, Hao Wang, Xiaoyu Zhang, Jinxia Zhang, Weijie Cao, Ana Momčilović, Irena Trbojević-Akmačić, Xingang Li, Deqiang Zheng, Lijuan Wu, Xiuhua Guo, Youxin Wang, Gordan Lauc, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Objectives: Hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus comorbidity (HDC) is common, which confers a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than the presence of either condition alone. Describing the underlying glycomic changes of immunoglobulin G (IgG) that predispose individuals to HDC may help develop novel protective immune-targeted and anti-inflammatory therapies. Therefore, we investigated glycosylation changes of IgG associated with HDC. Methods: The IgG N-glycan profiles of 883 plasma samples from the three northwestern Chinese Muslim ethnic minorities and the Han Chinese were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography instrument. Results: We found that 12 and six IgG N-glycan traits showed significant associations …

Does Warfarin Or Rivaroxaban At Low Anticoagulation Intensity Provide A Survival Benefit To Asian Patients With Atrial Fibrillation?, Dong Lin, Yequn Chen, Jian Yong, Shiwan Wu, Yan Zhou, Weiping Li, Xuerui Tan, Ruisheng Liu

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Low-dose rivaroxaban and low-intensity warfarin are widely used in Asia for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, in Asians, it is unclear whether low-dose rivaroxaban and low-intensity warfarin can improve the prognosis of AF. In this study, we investigate the survival benefits of low-dose rivaroxaban and low-intensity warfarin in Asian patients with AF in clinical practice. Methods: This cohort study used medical records in a single tertiary hospital in China, between 2019 and 2020, to identify patients with AF who used rivaroxaban or warfarin, or had no anticoagulant therapy. Follow-ups were performed through telephone contact or medical record review. …

To Dine In Or Not To Dine In: A Comparison Of Food Selection And Preparation Behaviours In Those With And Without Food Security, Lucy M. Butcher, Therese A. O’Sullivan, Maria M. Ryan, Johnny Lo, Julie Nyanjom, Hugh C. Wilkins, Amanda Devine

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 The Authors. Health Promotion Journal of Australia published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Health Promotion Association Issue addressed: Vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected by food insecurity, resulting in heightened risk of suboptimal dietary intake. Food insecure people appear to implement several coping strategies and dietary compromises to avoid hunger. Less explored in the literature is how these strategies impact consumption of food inside and outside of the home. Methods: An online survey was completed by adults (n = 1292) residing in one of five Australian states. The questionnaire comprised of the six-item …

Pd-L1 Expression On Circulating Tumor Cells May Be Predictive Of Response To Pembrolizumab In Advanced Melanoma: Results From A Pilot Study, Muhammad K. Khattak, Anna L. Reid, James Freeman, Michelle Pereira, Ashleigh Mcevoy, Johnny Lo, Markus Frank, Tarek Meniawy, Ali Didan, Isaac Spencer, Benhur Amanuel, Michael Millward, Mel Ziman, Elin Gray

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

BACKGROUND: PD-1 inhibitors are routinely used for the treatment of advanced melanoma. This study sought to determine whether PD-L1 expression on circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can serve as a predictive biomarker of clinical benefit and response to treatment with the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab.

METHODS: Blood samples were collected from patients with metastatic melanoma receiving pembrolizumab, prior to treatment and 6-12 weeks after initiation of therapy. Multiparametric flow cytometry was used to identify CTCs and evaluate the expression of PD-L1.

RESULTS: CTCs were detected in 25 of 40 patients (63%). Patients with detectable PD-L1

CONCLUSION: Our results reveal the potential of …

Prospective Reporting Of Injury In Community-Level Cricket: A Systematic Review To Identify Research Priorities, Geordie Mcleod, Siobhán O'Connor, Damian Morgan, Alex Kountouris, Caroline F. Finch, Lauren V. Fortington

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 Sports Medicine Australia Objectives: Cricket is a popular sport enjoyed worldwide. Injuries in cricket are not well understood at community level but are important to understand for prevention to ensure the game continues to be enjoyed safely. This systematic review was designed to assess the quality of data collection and reporting, and to summarise the injury data, in studies of community cricket players. Design: Systematic review. Methods: Nine databases were searched to November 2018 using the terms “cricket*” and “injur*”. A nine-item critical appraisal and three-item likelihood-of-bias evaluation was conducted on included studies. Data completeness was evaluated against …

Mentalisation Amongst Maternal And Child Health Nurses Using The Newborn Behavioural Observations With Infant-Mother Dyads: A Qualitative Study, Kim Simkin-Tran, Bronwyn Harman, Susan Nicolson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 Elsevier Inc. Purpose: This study explored Maternal and Child Health Nurses' (MCHN) mentalisation processes towards infant-mother dyads when using the Newborn Behavioural Observations (NBO) system in practice. Design and methods: Ten Australian MCHNs (female; aged 31–66 years), who had used the NBO clinically within the last 12 months, were recruited from a database of NBO-trained practitioners. Interpretative phenomenological analysis of one-on-one semi-structured interviews explored MCHNs experiential meaning-making. Results: Analysis of the data produced four main themes: reflections regarding the dyad, personal reflections, reflection into action, and professional identity and future practice. MCHNs reported that the NBO's focus on …

Survival Rates Of Head And Neck Cancers In Ghana: A Retrospective Study At The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Osei Owusu-Afriyie, W. K.B.A. Owiredu, Alexander Acheampong Oti, Emmanuel Acheampong, Kwabena Owusu-Danquah, Rita Larsen-Reindorf, Linda Ahenkorah Fondjo, Evans Asamoah Adu, Sampson Donkor, Peter Donkor

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

OBJECTIVE: Data was collected to evaluate the survival rates of head and neck (conjunctiva, oropharyngeal and non-oropharyngeal) squamous cell carcinomas in Ghana. DATA DESCRIPTION: We provided data on a retrospective review of 8 years (January 2004 to December 2009) survival rate of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana. The data consist of patient demographic data and clinicopathological findings which includes tumour site, tumour stage and histological grades of the patients. Clinical outcome measurement was death through to January 2013 on record and confirmed from the hospitals birth and death registry department. …

Ntcp Gene Polymorphisms And Hepatitis B Virus Infection Status In A Ghanaian Population, Eric Nyarko, Christian Obirikorang, W. K.B.A. Owiredu, Evans Asamoah Adu, Emmanuel Acheampong, Freeman Aidoo, Emmanuel Ofori, Bright Selorm Addy, Henry Asare-Anane

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 The Author(s). Background: SLC10A1 gene codes NTCP, a receptor through which the hepatitis B virus (HBV) gets access into hepatocytes- A stage of the viral cycle necessary for replication. Polymorphism variants of SLC10A1 play roles in HBV infection, viral clearance, treatment outcome, and complications, in diverse ethnic groups and countries. However, no such study has been conducted in the Ghanaian population, a country with HBV endemicity. Therefore, an exploratory study was conducted to investigate the presence of three (3) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the SLC10A1 gene (rs2296651, rs61745930, and rs4646287) and assessed the risk of HBV infection …

Barriers To Occupational Heat Stress Risk Adaptation Of Mining Workers In Ghana, Victor Fannam Nunfam, Kwadwo Adusei-Asante, Kwasi Frimpong, Eddie John Van Etten, Jacques Oosthuizen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Increasing temperature and climate warming impacts are aggravating the vulnerability of workers to occupational heat stress. Adaptation and social protection strategies have become crucial to enhance workers’ health, safety, productive capacity and social lives. However, the effective implementation of work-related heat stress adaptation mechanisms appears to be receiving little attention. This study assessed the barriers to occupational heat stress adaptation and social protection strategies of mining workers in Ghana. Based on a mixed methods approach, focus group discussions and questionnaires were used to elicit data from 320 mining workers. Workers’ adaptation strategies (water intake, wearing loose and light-coloured clothing, participating …

Association Of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms With Dyslipidemia In Antiretroviral Exposed Hiv Patients In A Ghanaian Population: A Case-Control Study, Christian Obirikorang, Emmanuel Acheampong, Lawrence Quaye, Joseph Yorke, Ernestine Kubi Amos-Abanyie, Priscilla Abena Akyaw, Enoch Odame Anto, Simon Bannison Bani, Evans Adu Asamoah, Emmanuella Nsenbah Batu

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Dyslipidemia is a potential complication of long-term usage of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and also known to be associated with genetic factors. The host genetic variants associated with dyslipidemia in HIV patients on ART in Ghana have not been fully explored. The study constituted a total of 289 HIV-infected patients on stable ART for at least a year. Fasting blood was collected into EDTA tube for lipids measurement. Lipid profiles were used to define dyslipidemia based on the NCEP-ATP III criteria. HIV-infected subjects were categorized into two groups; those with dyslipidemia (cases) (n = 90; 31.1%) and without dyslipidemia (controls)(n = …

Cerebrospinal Fluid Neurofilament Light Concentration Predicts Brain Atrophy And Cognition In Alzheimer's Disease, Kunal Dhiman, Veer Bala Gupta, Victor L. Villemagne, Dhamidhu Eratne, Petra L. Graham, Christopher Fowler, Pierrick Bourgeat, Qiao-Xin Li, Steven Collins, Ashley I. Bush, Christopher C. Rowe, Colin L. Masters, David Ames, Eugene Hone, Kaj Blennow, Henrik Zetterberg, Ralph N. Martins

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Introduction
This study assessed the utility of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light (NfL) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis, its association with amyloid and tau pathology, as well as its potential to predict brain atrophy, cognition, and amyloid accumulation.
Methods
CSF NfL concentration was measured in 221 participants from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers & Lifestyle Flagship Study of Ageing (AIBL).
Results
CSF NfL levels as well as NfL/amyloid β (Aβ42) were significantly elevated in AD compared to healthy controls (HC; P < .001), and in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) compared to HC (P = .008 NfL; P< .001 NfL/Aβ42). CSF NfL and NfL/Aβ42 differentiated AD from HC with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of 0.84 and 0.90, respectively. CSF NfL and NfL/Aβ42 predicted cortical amyloid load, brain atrophy, and cognition.
Discussion
CSF NfL is a biomarker of neurodegeneration, correlating with cognitive impairment and brain neuropathology.

Role Of Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (Vegf) As A Potential Biomarker Of Response To Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy In Advanced Melanoma: Results Of A Pilot Study, Muhammad A. Khattak, Afaf Abed, Anna L. Reid, Ashleigh C. Mcevoy, Michael Millward, Melanie Ziman, Elin S. Gray

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

The development of biomarkers predictive of response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies in advanced melanoma is an area of great interest in oncology. Our study evaluated the potential role of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as a predictive biomarker of clinical benefit and response to treatment with ICIs.

Methods:

Pre-treatment peripheral blood samples were obtained from advanced melanoma patients undergoing ICI therapy as monotherapy or in combination at two tertiary care hospitals in Western Australia. Serum VEGF levels were correlated with response to therapy and survival outcomes.

Results:

Serum VEGF samples were collected from a total of …

Plasma High Density Lipoprotein Small Subclass Is Reduced In Alzheimer’S Disease Patients And Correlates With Cognitive Performance, Steve Pedrini, Eugene Hone, Veer B. Gupta, Ian James, Elham Teimouri, Ashley I. Bush, Christopher C. Rowe, Victor L. Villemagne, David Ames, Colin L. Masters, Stephanie Rainey-Smith, Guiseppe Verdile, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Manfred R. Raida, Markus Wenk, Kevin Taddei, Pratishtha Chatterjee, Ian Martins, Simon Laws, Ralph Martins, Australian Imaging, Biomarkers And Lifestyle (Aibl) Research Group

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

The link between cholesterol and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has received much attention, as evidence suggests high levels of cholesterol might be an AD risk factor. The carriage of cholesterol and lipids through the body is mediated via lipoproteins, some of which, particularly apolipoprotein E (ApoE), are intimately linked with AD. In humans, high density lipoprotein (HDL) is regarded as a “good” lipid complex due to its ability to enable clearance of excess cholesterol via ‘cholesterol reverse transport’, although its activities in the pathogenesis of AD are poorly understood. There are several subclasses of HDL; these range from the newly …

Perceived Influence Of Value Systems On The Uptake Of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Among Men In Kweneng East, Botswana, Thandisizwe R. Mavundla, Fungai Mbengo, Khanyenda Bruce Ngomi

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Botswana is one of the countries in Eastern and Southern Africa significantly impacted by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). To control the spread of HIV, the government in 2009 rolled out the voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) programme as an additional HIV prevention strategy with the goal of circumcising 80% of HIV negative men by 2016. However, the country failed to achieve this goal as less than 30% of the targeted men were circumcised by 2016. A study was therefore conducted to explore and describe …

Australian Consumers Are Willing To Pay For The Health Star Rating Front-Of-Pack Nutrition Label, Sheri L. Cooper, Lucy M. Butcher, Simone D. Scagnelli, Johnny Lo, Maria M. Ryan, Amanda Devine, Therese A. O’Sullivan

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. The Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation has supported the recommendations set out in the 2019 Health Star Rating System Five Year Review Report. Specifically, the forum supported, in principle, Recommendation 9, to mandate the Health Star Rating if clear uptake targets were not achieved while the system is voluntary. Given that mandatory labelling is being considered, it is important to investigate how much consumers value the Health Star Rating in order to understand potential consumer uptake and inform industry. The aim of this study was to assess …

Fruit And Vegetable Knowledge And Intake Within An Australian Population: The Ausdiab Study, Caroline R. Hill, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Simone Radavelli-Bagatini, Marc Sim, Richard J. Woodman, Amanda Devine, Jonathan E. Shaw, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Robin M. Daly, Joshua R. Lewis

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Understanding the relationship between fruit and vegetable knowledge (FVK) and fruit and vegetable intake (FVI) is an important consideration for improved public health and successful targeting of health promotion messaging. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between FVK and FVI in Australian adults and to identify subgroups most at risk of poor knowledge. Using data from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab), we investigated associations between FVK and FVI, as well as demographic and lifestyle factors. Baseline FVK was measured using two self-reported questions. FVI …